Toddler Halloween Costumes Not as Frightening as the Terrible Twos!

October 26, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Toddler Halloween Costumes | Toddler Halloween Costume Ideas | Halloween Costumes for Toddlers | Halloween Costumes | Halloween | Toddlers

At least for one day, a two-year-old should look cuter than he acts sometimes. {We can hope!} Today we have some of the most adorable toddler Halloween costumes you can find, plus some DIY ideas if you like to make your own. This Halloween, your toddler’s costume won’t be as frightening as the terrible twos!

This dashing little Dracula is too cute! All you would need to sew for this costume is a little black cape with black ribbon ties. I don’t think anyone is going to be too afraid of this toddler Halloween costume!

Fashion a face mask out of felt for an easy superhero costume. Add a cape in a coordinating color and your toddler is set. You could take this toddler Halloween costume a step further and add a felt letter to the front of a t-shirt in a color that matches the face mask.

Is this the most terrifying shark you’ve ever seen? Well, it’s definitely the most adorable shark I’ve ever seen! You can find this plush {and warm} costume at Amazon for under $25. This is one of the comfiest and coziest toddler Halloween costumes on the market.

Loving this Wonder Woman costume in toddler girls’ sizes! It comes with everything you see in the picture–headpiece, dress & cape, arm bands and boot covers. Girl power!

Any little guy will feel pretty awesome wearing a cowboy costume. The set includes the hat, vest and chaps. Add a bandana from Dollar Tree in his favorite color, and this toddler Halloween costume is complete!

Now here’s a little witch who’ll stand out from the rest! The Disguise Storybook Witch costume is available at Amazon in size 2T, 3T or 4T for less than $30. It’s going fast, so don’t miss out if you want one!

Sock Monkeys are still cute–and even cuter as a toddler Halloween costume! It includes the costume jumpsuit, headpiece, boot covers and a detachable tail. You’ll also find this one at Amazon. Again, this is one of the coziest and comfiest toddler Halloween costumes out there, so it’s probably a great fit for your fussy two year old.

Happy Halloween!

12 DIY Christmas Gift Baskets for Kids

October 15, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Book Basket

Of course I start with a book basket! Get your children caught up in the magic of Christmas by sharing all your favorite holiday books in their very own basket. Idea source.

Movie Night

Make it a cozy movie night at home with this holiday gift box. Your kids will love opening their favorite holiday movie, complete with a new pair of pajamas and favorite treats. Perfect for a snowy night at home! Idea source.

Advent in A Basket

Advent calendars are a favorite tradition in my home. Make your own “advent in a basket” by stuffing these adorable bags with all sorts of holiday cheer. Your kids will love the little surprises throughout the month! Find the bags here.

Baker’s Basket

Baking is such a wonderful way to spend time together during the holidays. I love sharing my mom’s secret recipes and baking tips with my children. They love hearing stories from my childhood. Continue these traditions and support the little baker in your family with a baker’s Christmas gift basket. Via.

Coke & Cocoa

Bring all of Santa’s favorite drinks into one gift basket for the soda sipper in your family. Combine glass bottles of Coca Cola with little mixers of cocoa and marshmallows. Candy canes and evergreens pull the whole gift together. Get more details here.

Gingerbread House Kit

Another favorite tradition we have in our home is decorating gingerbread houses. My little Lego enthusiasts have so much fun using their engineering skills to come up with some pretty unique house designs. But decorating is always our favorite part! Rather than buying a generic store-bought gingerbread house kit this year, surprise your kids with a DIY basket instead. Via.

Snowman in A Basket

Help your kids be all set to bring Frosty to life again this year with a ready-to-go snowman building kit. Just add water for hours of wintertime fun! Source.

Winter Cold Survival Kit

Help your little one get the better of those pesky flu symptoms with a winter cold survival kit. Get all the details from The DIY Mommy.

Elf ~~On the Shelf~~ In A Basket

Haven’t started the Elf on the Shelf tradition yet? Or maybe it’s just time to add some new fun ways to share in this cute holiday tradition? Here’s your chance! Your kids will be absolutely delighted with an Elf on the Shelf gift basket this Christmas! Find this kit from The Dating Divas.

Lego Advent Basket

Lego advent calendars are an absolute MUST in our home! We’re even guilty of buying one of each version because we love them so much! Have even more more fun building some unique kits with this Lego advent calendar basket. Source.

Activity Gift Basket

Keep your kids happily occupied with an activity gift basket while Santa and Mrs. Claus are busy wrapping presents in the other room. Pile in holiday coloring books, art supplies, toys, and treats to bring it all together. See the idea here.

Ice Cream Sundae Gift Box

It might be cold outside but it’s never too cold for ice cream! Put in everything you’d need to make the perfect ice cream sundaes. My favorite part is the topping-filled ball ornaments! Get more info here.

Fun And Easy Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids

October 13, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

During November when you’re busy with Thanksgiving prep, you may need some fun and easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids to keep them busy and out of your hair. Or if you’re in charge of your kid’s Thanksgiving class party, just snag a few of these ideas to help you put together a class party they’ll love. Either way, check out these awesome Thanksgiving crafts for kids!

Fun & Easy Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids

Take advantage of those beautiful Fall leaves!

Before you do any Thanksgiving crafts with your kids, send them outside to collect their favorite Fall leaves. The reason is because a lot of these craft ideas feature those leaves–there are just so many fun things you can do with them!

If you're looking for something to do with the kiddos during Thanksgiving, check out these Thanksgiving crafts for kids. They will love them.

Fall Leaf Art

Use those Fall leaves as the main component in works of art. Fall leaves are easily glued to paper to make a myriad of fun designs. Just let the kids use their imaginations.

Want to keep the kids entertained during Thanksgiving? Check out these Thanksgiving crafts for kids. They will love them!

For long time preservation of those Fall leaves, let the kids brush their designs with Mod Podge. It dries clear and keeps their artwork pretty and fresh for a long time. The Mod Podge can also be used as the glue to firmly affix the leaves to paper.

Toilet Paper Tube Figures

How adorable are these toilet paper pilgrims? Have the kids make these for your Thanksgiving table. They’ll be thrilled to have their crafts included in the festivities!

There are so many fun crafts that kids can create during the fall. Check out these Thanksgiving crafts for kids and keep them entertained for hours.

Pine Cone Turkeys

We’ve all seen paper turkeys kids make from their own hand prints. Take that craft idea a little further by letting the kids collect pine cones to glue their hand print turkey feathers to.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on craft supplies with these Thanksgiving crafts for kids. Just go outside and grab some of what Mother Nature supplies you with.

It’s also fun for the kids to glue craft feathers to a pine cone turkey. Add a pom pom nose and googly eyes for a silly Thanksgiving craft for kids they’ll love to create.

Need more craft ideas for the kids? Check out these Fall popsicle stick crafts!

Popsicle Stick Crafts For Fall

October 5, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Looking for fun crafts and activities to do with your kids this Fall? Popsicle stick crafts and engineering projects are the answer! Read on for some fantastic ideas to STICK it to boredom.

Gobbling Fun

Gobble up some fun with these friendly popsicle stick turkeys. Use sticks for the body and feet and construction paper for the face, head, and feathers. Source

Stuffed of Fun

This scarecrow project will stuff your afternoon full of creativity and fun. Use permanent marker, wiggly eyes, and craft paper for the hat and hair. Candy corn makes a cute nose and a perfect treat to snack on. Scare up some more details from Activated Nest.

Jack Be Nimble

Jack be nimble. Jack be quick. Jack jump over the ~~candlestick~~ crafting-stick. These cute Jack-O-Lantern popsicle stick crafts are great for more Halloween fun after you’ve already carved your real frightful gourds. See the original ideas and more here.

Caught Up In Fun

These popsicle stick spider webs will have your kids all caught up in fun. Simply paint popsicle sticks black, orange, and white before winding yarn of the same colors around the sticks to make spider webs worthy of the best eight-legged arachnids. Source.

Boo To You

Boo to you with this ghostly view. Buttons and wiggly eyes bring these haunted apparitions to life using eight black popsicle sticks to frame out a window. Orange paper is used as a background to make the white ghosts pop into sight. Take a peek at The Pinterested Parent for more information.

A House of Sticks

Even the Big Bad Wold will agree that this house of sticks will scare up some Halloween fun! Older children in particular will really enjoy putting their engineering skills to use with this one. Source.

H Is For Haunted House

If younger kids are too little to build a 3D popsicle house with their older siblings, this alphabet inspired haunted house is a boo-tastic solution. What other house designs will they be able to spook up? Source.

Picture Perfect

For a non-holiday Fall project, this popsicle stick schoolhouse frame is picture perfect! What an educated idea for sharing all your kids’ best back-to-school photos. Get schooled on the project here.

He’s Alive!

This Frankenstein popsicle craft is electrifyingly amusing. What a perfect way to shock some fun into this Halloween season! Source.

Something To Crow About

This happy scarecrow craft is something to crow about. The body is made almost entire of popsicle sticks while the head and hat are made of paper, straw, and wiggly eyes. Source.

R.I.P

Rest In Popsicle with this creative haunted graveyard project. Paint small popsicle sticks black and wrap them with thin wire to make the fence. Dig up some more info from Lil Blue Boo.

Up It With Puppets

Up the fun with these simple Halloween puppets. Use different colors of paint, wiggly eyes, sharpie, pipe cleaner, and more to create your spooky starring cast. Source.

Popsicle Pilgrims

Teach your kids about the Mayflower Voyage and First Thanksgiving before making these cute popsicle Pilgrims. Source.

Look No Feather

Here’s another turkey craft to help you count your blessings. After making a body and head from craft paper, use colorful popsicle sticks to make a full tail of feathers. Write one thing you’re grateful for on each feather to celebrate Thanksgiving in true holiday spirit. Cluck out the idea from Preschool Alphabet.

How to Survive Your First Month As A New Mom

September 30, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

As you anticipate that first month with baby, new mom worries may seem overwhelming. But there are several tips and tricks to know that will help you survive.

First Month With Baby Tips & Tricks

A dear friend of mine is a recent new mom. As I watch her go through the experience, I remember when I became a mom. I have such sweet memories of those first few months–it’s a profound experience to be a mom! But I also remember how overwhelming it is. You’re just home from the hospital and totally exhausted. And the reality that you are now responsible for someone besides yourself hits big.

All new moms learn a lot that first month. I’m sharing what I’ve learned with you, and one day you’ll pass it on to someone else!

Caring for the Cord

Today there are four simple steps to properly care for baby’s umbilical cord:

Keep it dry: Allow the cord stump to dry out. To do this, avoid covering it up as much as possible. Fold baby’s diaper under the cord so that it stays out of the diaper.
Keep it clean: When the cord stump gets dirty, use a soft cloth and warm water to carefully clean the cord. Gently dab it dry with a clean cloth.
Sponge Baths Only: It’s important to keep the cord stump as dry as possible, so no full baths until the cord has fallen off.
Leave the cord stump alone: Let baby’s cord stump fall off on its own. It should fall off within a few weeks of his birth.

What Baby Wants

I remember one of my biggest concerns was how I would know what my crying baby needed? After baby came, I surprised myself with what I realized… I somehow just knew. Baby didn’t always stop crying right away, but I knew what to do to help. I also realized I was doing all I could. Even after all his needs are taken care of, sometimes baby just needs to cry. And don’t forget, Dad can help and comfort baby, too!

Caring for Diaper Skin

Although you never want to disregard something that causes your baby pain or irritation, diaper rashes are fairly normal. Baby’s skin is adjusting to life out in the world and is super sensitive as a result. Any time her bum is sitting in moisture for too long, a rash can occur. The best way to prevent and treat diaper rash is to apply a diaper cream that contains zinc oxide. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is a great choice!

A more concerning symptom you’ll want to watch for is a rash made up of many itchy little red bumps. The itchy little bumps can signal a yeast rash. If you see these bumps, consult your pediatrician for a prescription cream.

About Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is different for every new Mom and baby. Some of your babies take to you without a problem but others may be finicky. Dr. Jane Morton from the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto offers solutions to 10 of the most common problems with breastfeeding.

About Bath Time

Sponge baths are recommended for the first month with baby, until the umbilical cord is gone. After that you can make more of a splash.

Set Up: Be sure to prepare the bath area before you bring baby over. Make sure there are no items within baby’s reach. But be sure that you have easy access to everything you need!
Position: If you use a sink, face baby’s head away from the faucet.
Temperature: Test the water temperature on the inside of your wrist. It should be warm but not hot.
Cup: Use a plastic cup to help rinse soap off of baby. Be careful of her eyes.
Timing: Notice how bath time affects your baby. If he gets energized with baths, plan them during the day. But if bath time relaxes him, plan them right before bed or nap time.

Baby’s Bowel Movements

Breastfed babies have yellow, lose, seedy-looking stools. A formula-fed baby has stools of different colors and odors, but should still be fairly loose. Watch for red, black or white stools, or stool that is hard like small pebbles. Report these signs to baby’s pediatrician.

Caring for the Soft Spot

Another concern during the first month with baby is his soft spot. The soft spot, or fontanelle, is a thick, protective membrane on top of baby’s head where the skull bones haven’t grown together. This is normal, and allows baby to safely navigate out of the birth canal. Like any part of baby’s growing body, protect the soft spot as much as possible. However, it is not something to overly stress about.

Hopefully you feel more prepared for that first month with baby. My other tip is to be sure and take time for yourself!

Holiday Travel Kits For Kids That Keep Parents Sane

September 26, 2020 by Jessica Moore Leave a Comment

Holiday travel can get a little crazy, but holiday travel with kids can be insane if you aren’t prepared! Before you head out on your holiday travels this year, check out the holiday travel kits for kids that will help you stay sane. Put one of these together for your kids, because it’s the best travel investment you’ll ever make!

Holiday Travel Kits For Kids

Everyone knows how big of a pain it is to travel during the holidays, but traveling with kids during the holidays is hard! These holiday travel kits for kids will make you feel much more prepared.

Kids’ Holiday Travel Kits For The Plane

It can be really hard to travel with kids during the holidays. These holiday travel kits for kids will help you feel prepared for whatever comes your way.

The perfect organizer for a kids’ holiday travel kit is something like this hanging toiletries bag. It holds a lot of stuff in one convenient little package. Get one for each child in your family, and then stock it with the following items:

Coloring books
Colored pencils {they don’t melt like crayons do!}
Kindle Fire or other kid-friendly activity tablet with age-appropriate apps installed
Sticker activity book
Any other small toys or travel games you can fit inside your kit

Holiday Travel Kits For The Car

Traveling with kiddos can be tricky, especially during the holidays. These holiday travel kits for kids will make your holiday trips be as smooth as possible.

If you’re taking a holiday road trip, stock a kids’ holiday travel kit inside a backpack for the car before you go. Here are some ideas:

Create a craft binder. A large binder with 3″ rings holds several zip-close pouches you can fill with stickers, colored pencils, markers and paper. When the binder is closed, the top acts as the perfect sized “desk” for your child to work on.
Include a pack of Expo Window Markers. These are fun for drawing on the glass, and easily erase when your child is finished.
Window clings are fun on a road trip. Get a pack of holiday-themed window clings and let your child use the window glass to have hours of fun using her imagination.
A tablet or Kindle Fire works as well in the car as it does on a plane. Before you go, download some brand new apps and games to keep your child’s interest.

Stock a holiday travel kit for the kids, and save your sanity on the plane and in the car. And don’t forget to read up on 10 expert tips for traveling with kids!