Pinterest nailed it or failed it? …. There are a ton, literally a ton of acorns around our house, and the kids have started gathering them and throwing them (awesome, right?!). I decided that Pinterest must have something we could do with these acorns that would make use of the excess that we have, plus keep us busy one afternoon.
I found various different painted and glitter acorn options that were pretty and cool.
https://www.homestoriesatoz.com/fall-2/how-to-paint-acorns.html https://craftsbyamanda.com/bright-painted-acorns/
Painting Acorns for Fall Craft Project
Super cute, right?! Plus it doesn’t look that difficult to do. After all, it’s an acorn craft. Ha! The joke was on me. It started out with my husband suggested that since we had so many acorns we should put them on a cookie sheet covered with foil and roll them in the paint. The colors winded up being less distinctive (obviously) but the kids were all on board with splattering paint on the pan and rolling acorns around.
There were also some attempts at finger painting the acorns, and let’s just say there were some very messy hands and paint that winded up on the white door. It was fun though, so I can’t say I actually regret it.
We used a painting dropcloth over the table to protect it and so it wasn’t a big deal for any paint to get on that while we did the craft.
For the acorn “hats” we put them on some foil and used spray glue to spray them before sprinkling glitter all over them. Yes, it was as messy and sticky as it sounds, but again, ultimately it was fun to do.
Waiting for the acorns to dry… which takes a surprisingly (or not) long amount of time when there is globs of paint on the acorns.
We decided to add some glitter to some of the acorns as well while they were still a little wet.
Pinterest Nailed it or Failed it
Our Finished acorns went into a couple mason jars for decoration. No, they don’t look like the pretty acorns in the Pinterest pictures but they were fun to do and we spent some time laughing and joking as we did them so I would say it was worth it
Want more Fall Decorating and Craft Ideas?
There’s something about fall, maybe it’s the cooler weather and pretty colors that make me want to go out and do things. It’s the crisp feeling in the air, the fact that you can wear lots of layers, and not to mention you (typically) don’t start sweating as soon as you walk out your front door! Don’t forget to check out more fall fun party edition as well for more fall crafts and decorating!
Fall Wreaths
Wreaths make great home decorating ideas for your own home or as a gift!! Plus, you can do them on a budget! Below are some of my favorite easy fall wreaths!
- 50 Cheap Easy DIY Fall Wreaths
2. Easy Fall Wreath
3. Sunflower Wreath
4. Pumpkin Wreath
5. Simple DIY Fall Wreaths
Fall Decorating
It’s fun to decorate for the season, especially this time of year because many times you have more guests around than usual (while 2020 may look a little different as far as the guests, the decorating will still make you smile.). The thing is, I don’t want to spend a ton of money to put up decorations, I mean let’s face it, there’s already a lot of spending going on at the end of the year. No need to worry though- I’ve found some great options on Fall decorating on a budget!
Here’s an example of some easy fall decorating by one of my favorites..Lauren Conrad
- Fall Decorating on a Budget
2. Chevron Pumpkins
3. Easy Fall Decorating Ideas
4. Easy DIY No Sew Pumpkins
5. Fall Front Porch Decorating on a Budget
6. Painted Pumpkins
7. Mason Jar Crafts for Fall
8. Glittery Acorns
Looking for some summer activities that you can plan during all this uncertainty? Here’s a list of things that are guaranteed to bring a smile and fun memories during your summer!
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- Movie Night – Outside! Love these ideas from Red Triclycle on hosting an outdoor movie night. Buzzfeed has some great indoor movie ideas as well!
- Go for a hike/ ride bikes through a trail – So much scenery to take in and talk about what you see as you walk or ride a bike
- Water Gun Fights: These are great for the Summer because it’s a fun way to cool yourselves down on a hot Summer day!
- Go on a Scavenger hunt: These are good in order to occupy a certain amount of time with kids! It helps them learn competition if you grant the winner a prize in the end!
- Make S’mores: Who doesn’t love s’mores and they are very delicious at the end of a long day roasting them over the fire as a family! Our favorite smores are made using McVities Digestive Cookies (sounds odd, I know but trust me. If you’ve ever gotten a s’more pie from Blaze Pizza you will understand), marshmallow, and chocolate. It’s perfection.
- Go on a picnic: Picnics are a great way to spend time together as a family! They are fun and you let the kids help to prepare all the food for it!
- Make Ice Cream: Ice Cream is a great treat for a hot day but instead of just going to get ice cream, you can look up a simple recipe online and make it yourselves!
- Go fishing: You may have to help them out a bit, but when they catch their very own fish they are always so surprised and love it!
- Have a Tea Party: This is fun! Whether you get real tea or not they like to have fun with having a little party! Dress it up, stick out your pinky and enjoy!
- Play I Spy: This is a great way to work on their searching skills!
- Go to the Beach: Make sure you take plenty of sunscreen…and things for playing in the sand.
- Draw with Sidewalk Chalk: The possibilities are endless with sidewalk chalk! You can use your creative skills on sidewalks and your driveway!
Looking for more at-home activities? Check out these at home artistic fun activites!
More Post To Check Out:
Virtual school can feel taxing when you can’t leave home. The backyard does offer some relief but knowing that you aren’t supposed to go anywhere can often make you feel like you really just want to go… anywhere!! I was trying to find something new to do when I remembered that I bought a book of science experiments for kids at Christmas because they love science. There’s an experiment in it that asks- Can water and candy make art? It looked easy enough so I decided to try it out. This is a great way to get rid of some Easter candy but not completely waste it!
Candy Science Experiments
First up was Skittles. This is what they used in their example in the book as well.
From the book Awesome Science Experiments for Kids The experiment in the book
First, we got a white plate. Next, I got hot water (which I handled instead of the kids). The kids put the candy on the plate arranging them as they chose. Then, I poured the hot water on the plate with enough to cover the bottom of the candy.
We first tried the skittles, which looked a lot like the image in the book. The kids noted that the candy shell melted off the one side. Almost instantly you could see the colors coming through and becoming more vibrant. They said the Skittle was sweet even with the bottom part of the shell melted off.
Since that was fun, we decided to see what other kinds of candy we could use to do this with as well. Next up, was NERDS.
NERDS Candy Science Experiment
We followed the same steps with the NERDS. The colors ran out and were bright. The colors mixing did come out to a very green/brown color with all the different NERD colors. One was shaped as an exploding volcano which turned out really cool. The kids decided to taste a couple of the nerds afterward and said that because the outside had come off they were tangier than normal.
Jelly Beans Candy Science Experiment
Next up, Jelly Beans!
Initially one started off as a smiley but it changed after my daughter thought about it and didn’t think there would be enough colors to mix together. The jelly beans turned out ok, the colors were lighter than the other two experiments. The kids tasted a jelly bean and determined they were still just as sweet.
M&M’s Science Experiment
While it’s true M&M’s melt in your mouth and not in your hand, there’s an exception when you add hot water to a plate for a candy science experiment!
Because they were having so much fun doing the science experiments, the kids asked if we could do one more. I remembered that we had some M&M’s in the cabinet and took them down. We had some plain ones as well as some hazelnut (hence the different sizes). These were my favorite. The colors were so pretty! This one was their favorite too.
This was a super easy activity, helped us get rid of some candy without just throwing it in the garbage, and there was some learning involved. The kids wrote down their hypotheses and observations of what happened each time. We talked about the scientific method and steps in it (since my 3rd grader is currently covering it in school). They had a sense of pride and accomplishment with their research which was fun to see. They also learned that saw that science is an adventure. Plus, clean up was super easy!
It was a nice break in our day and takes some of the stress out of virtual school, working from home, and feeling like you are stuck.
There are a lot of cute, easy experiments in the book and it’s totally worth the price (currently $8.99 on Amazon).
Check out the book:
Don’t forget to Pin this!—>
Looking for more fun during your stay at home time?
St. Patrick’s Day is literally right around the corner. I’ve compiled some fun facts, crafts, activities, and snacks that can be done to help in celebrating! This post is packed with some fun information so let’s jump in!St Patrick’s Day Crafts
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
St Patrick’s Day is a celebration of St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. He was actually born in Britan but kidnapped and taken to Ireland. The holiday has also become a celebration of all things Irish. Cities such as New York City who has a high Irish population has had a St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1762. The first St. Patricks’s Day celebration was in Boston in 1737.
About St. Patrick’s Day
The Color Green and St. Patrick’s Day
Blue was traditionally the color associated with St. Patrick, but somewhere along the way, green became the commonly connected color. The shamrock, which is the Irish national plant is also a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day. The Chicago River is dyed green every year for St. Patrick’s Day and other landmarks often get into the spirit as well. The Empire State Building and the Sydney Opera House light up green.
The Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day (Getty Images) Sydney Opera House (Getty Images)
*You can find more fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day from The Spruce!
10 Fun St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
These St. Patrick’s Day Crafts are easy and fun to make with kids or in some cases for kids! I think my favorite is the leprechaun trapping kit!
The Catch a Leprechaun kit is one of the cutest ideas I have seen! You can always go get real gold coins from the bank and replace the “bait” for when the kids check their “trap” the next day!
6. Corner Bookmark
How cute are these cups? They are a fun way to make things festive also!
I couldn’t leave out some Disney in this celebration. Why not some Mickey and Minnie ears?
Crayola has FREE Printable Coloring Pages that you can print and use to not only be creative but decorate as well!
5 St. Patrick’s Day Snack Ideas
Icecream Cake Pops
Gold Coin Oreos
Pretzel Bites
Rainbow Skittle Treat bags
Shamrock Dippers with Pot O’ Gold
Rainbow Pretzel Wands
Looking for more Kid Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Food?
Fun Leprechaun Facts
♥ They are a type of fairy ♥ They are the bankers and shoemakers of the fairy world ♥ They are sneaky ♥ They hide gold at the end of the rainbow
♥ If you catch a leprechaun they grant you 3 wishes in exchange for freedom
♥ Leprechaun means “small body” ♥ In 1989 a local businessman in Carlingford, Ireland claimed he found evidence of a real leprechaun on a mountain called Slieve Foye. ♥ Leprechauns are mischievous ♥ Leprechauns are protected under European Law ♥ It is said that there are 236 leprechauns that still live in the caverns of Slieve Foye. In 2009, the EU granted heritage status to the remaining wee people and now they have their own protected sanctuary.
Bonus- Check out these St. Patrick’s Day Jokes for kids
More St. Patricks Day Fun!
St. Patrick’s Day is literally right around the corner. I’ve compiled some fun facts, crafts, activities, and snacks that can be done to help in celebrating! This post is packed with some fun information so let’s jump in!St Patrick’s Day Crafts
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
St Patrick’s Day is a celebration of St. Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland. He was actually born in Britan but kidnapped and taken to Ireland. The holiday has also become a celebration of all things Irish. Cities such as New York City who has a high Irish population has had a St. Patrick’s Day parade since 1762. The first St. Patricks’s Day celebration was in Boston in 1737.
About St. Patrick’s Day
The Color Green and St. Patrick’s Day
Blue was traditionally the color associated with St. Patrick, but somewhere along the way, green became the commonly connected color. The shamrock, which is the Irish national plant is also a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Chicago River is dyed green every year for St. Patrick’s Day and other landmarks often get into the spirit as well. The Empire State Building and the Sydney Opera House light up green.
The Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day (Getty Images) Sydney Opera House (Getty Images)
*You can find more fun facts about St. Patrick’s Day from The Spruce!
10 Fun St. Patrick’s Day Crafts
These St. Patrick’s Day Crafts are easy and fun to make with kids or in some cases for kids! I think my favorite is the leprechaun trapping kit!
The Catch a Leprechaun kit is one of the cutest ideas I have seen! You can always go get real gold coins from the bank and replace the “bait” for when the kids check their “trap” the next day!
6. Corner Bookmark
How cute are these cups? They are a fun way to make things festive also!
I couldn’t leave out some Disney in this celebration. Why not some Mickey and Minnie ears?
Crayola has FREE Printable Coloring Pages that you can print and use to not only be creative but decorate as well!
5 St. Patrick’s Day Snack Ideas
Icecream Cake Pops
Gold Coin Oreos
Pretzel Bites
Rainbow Skittle Treat bags
Shamrock Dippers with Pot O’ Gold
Rainbow Pretzel Wands
Looking for more Kid Friendly St. Patrick’s Day Food?
Fun Leprechaun Facts
♥ They are a type of fairy
♥ They are the bankers and shoemakers of the fairy world
♥ They are sneaky
♥ They hide gold at the end of the rainbow
♥ If you catch a leprechaun they grant you 3 wishes in exchange for freedom
♥ Leprechaun means “small body”
♥ In 1989 a local businessman in Carlingford, Ireland claimed he found evidence of a real leprechaun on a mountain called Slieve Foye.
♥ Leprechauns are mischievous
♥ Leprechauns are protected under European Law
♥ It is said that there are 236 leprechauns that still live in the caverns of Slieve Foye. In 2009, the EU granted heritage status to the remaining wee people and now they have their own protected sanctuary.
Bonus- Check out these St. Patrick’s Day Jokes for kids
More St. Patricks Day Fun!
Valentines Day is a great day just to remind those close to you that you are thinking about them. I’ve compiled a list of Valentines Day gift ideas for the kids, friends, and teachers in your life. Plus, there’s only one selection that is candy so if you’re trying to avoid sweets for someone there are some good options here for you to check out!
Top 10 Gift for Valentines Day
- Decorate Your Own Wooden Heart Kit
Chocolate always winds up getting thrown away at our house it seems. This mostly happens because the kids just forget about it. That’s why I like this gift idea so much. It’s an activity they can do and then use later as well.
This adorable chest gives the gift of DIY and a heart-shaped chest. Kids can make it their own and then use it for their treasure!
2. Piggy Paint
Piggy Paint is a non-toxic “natural as mud” polish for kids. I love it and use it for my daughter. Kids tend to put their fingers in their mouth and this is a nice balance of still getting to paint their nails without having to worry about chemicals in the paint. It comes in a variety of different colors and can also be found in Target!
3. LEGO BrickHeadz Valentine’s Bee
Legos are definitely a favorite thing to do at our house currently. This LEGO BrickHeadz Valentine Bee is cute and will satisfy the LEGO lover in your house. LEGOS are a great STEM toy and have been shown to help boost children’s STEM skills.
Speaking of LEGO, have you seen my post on the Legoland Florida Resort?
4. Don’t Laugh Valentines Challange
Getting kids to read is important, which is why I love this next idea. “The Don’t Laugh Challange Joke Book” Valentines Day edition is a great way to do that without it seeming like work or something that isn’t fun. This book one up’s that by making it a challenge, where you sit at eye level in front of your opponent and take turns reading the jokes to see who laughs first. On Amazon’s site, you can get a ‘sneak peek’ inside the book where you can check out some of the jokes inside.
5. Emoji Heart Bracelet
This emoji heart bracelet is only $9.99 at Amazon. It’s cute and sure to make the emoji lover in your life smile and think of you when they look at it.
6. Tacos are my Valentine T-Shirt
For the one in your life that loves tacos and funny t-shirts, this is for them!
7. Ferrero Rocher
If you want to give chocolate, it’s important to give good chocolate and these you can never go wrong with. Whether this gift is for a teacher, friend, or child (one that’s big enough to eat nuts of course) this is a yummy option!
8. One Smart Cookie
I love this gift idea, and it’s a cute gift to give a teacher as well. Have a Cricut? You could easily make this with some iron-on vinyl, a spatula and a pack of cookie mix. Not feeling crafty or don’t have the time? Check out this One Smart Cookie gift on Etsy!
9. Coffee Warmer
This is another cute option for a teacher or friend. The best part is, this warmer can be used for tea, cocoa, or even soup! Yes, soup! How brilliant is that??
10. Valentines Pillow
Who couldn’t use a pillow? This one is adorable with a bicycle and hearts. Amazon has a few different options but this was one of my favorites. You could even pair it with some chocolates or a book.
Do you have any Valentine gift ideas?
More Valentines Day Post-
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Looking for fun Valentines crafts to do with your kids? Here are some of my favorite! They are easy and allow for creativity and learning fun in the process of making them. It is always fun when you can take concepts such as colors, patterns, sizes and make them useful to kids which helps them better understand the concept. I’ve talked before how important creativity and imagination are for kids and this ties into that as well.
Heart Bookmarks
These Heart Bookmarks from Easy Peasy Fun are adorable and functional! They could be left plain or decorated and personalized!
Fingerprint Tree
This Valentine Heart Fingerprint Tree is adorable for kids of all ages! It makes a great keepsake memory and is adorable! This is another one from Easy Peasy and Fun!
Valentine Heart Crafts
This valentine art is easy and you can easily incorporate counting, colors, and patterns into your Valentine craft fun!
Butterfly Valentine
These Butterfly Valentine crafts are so cute! They are easy and fun, plus I’m a sucker for anything with tiny handprints on it. Toddlers may come out a little messy (maybe that just happens with me lol!) but it’s still a fond memory that you’ll look back on.
Heart Wreath
This is another one of the crafts that can work for kids of all ages. It is also one that you can incorporate colors, sizes, patterns, and counting into.
Pattern Heart Garland
I love paper garland for various holidays! It can add a pop of color and isn’t hard to do. As the name suggest you can definitely discuss patterns and what kind of pattern the garland has as you put it together with our kids! This one is from Simple As That blog.
Heart-Shaped Dog Valentine Craft
This adorable craft is easy and fun! For smaller kids, you’ll have to cut out the shapes but still talk about where the ears, eyes, nose, tongue go on the dog. This is still a fun one for older kids too and they can get creative with the colors and designs of the dog!
“You Stole A Pizza My Heart”
Pizza + Valentines Day= YES! Simple and fun without a lot of mess!
Thumb Print Heart
There are so many options with this fun, easy craft! Colors, patterns, designs of the hearts- it’s another easy, fun way to get creative with kids of any age in making Valentine crafts.
Washi Tape Suncatcher
I love this! I remember painting suncatchers as a kid and this washi tape craft option gives a great effect and you don’t have to worry about paint!
Unicorn Valentine
Unicorns seem to be all the rage which makes this craft perfect. Plus, it is super easy which is a bonus. There are lots of ways to get creative with it using colors and maybe even some sparkles! You can check this one out over at Crafty Morning!
Paper Bag Puppet
This craft is perfect for you lovebug! Plus, it’s another one that is easy to do and something that little ones especially will have fun doing and can get creative without leaving a mess.
Do you have a favorite Valentine’s craft?
Getting costumes for kids can add up quick! There are some costumes that can only be worn once or twice so it can be a little frustrating when you’re spending $40+ to buy it. It is not only cost effective but can be very fun and creative to come up with costumes with things that you either already have or that can be worn again besides just for Halloween or a Fall Festival. Here are some easy diy kid costumes!
1. Farmer Costume
I love this costume! It is not only adorable, but can be worn through out the year. Plus, you can easly sawp out shirts for the overalls or bottoms for the tops and create new outfits!
Overalls
Red and Blue
Pink Shirt
Farmer Hat
2. Rosie the Riviter
This is a classic! The outfit can be worn together or seperatley with other pieces later on.
Bandana
Denim Outfit
3. Minnie Mouse
Definitley a favorite! This dress could be worn for other occassions as well and if you’re planning a Disney Trip, both the dress and ears will come in handy!!
Minnie Dress
Minnie Ears
4. Hunter
For all the outdoor lovers, Here’s a fun costume that can not only be worn again, but also won’t get dirty fast! (Well, never say never..lol)
Camo Pants
Shirt
5. Superman
Easy and super cute!! A dress shirt and pants is always a good thing to have. You can also pair them with other bottoms and tops as well as the Superman shirt!
Black Dress Pants
White Dress Shirt
Superman Shirt
6. Mime
This costume has an extra bonus…. your child has to stay quiet! It may only last for 30 seconds or less but they will definitley look adorable in this costume!
Girls Shirt
Boys Shirt
Girls Pants
Boys Pants
Looking for more costume ideas?
Check out-
Adorable Halloween Costumes For Baby
Awesome Costumes That Will Last After Halloween
The Aadams Family- Easy DIY Costumes
Easy DIY Costumes: The Parent Trap
Do You Have A Favorite DIY Costume? I’d LOVE to hear about it!!
It Started With Bold Week
In the business of life, we sometimes forget that we are a part of our overall community. It’s easy to do when you are already being pulled in so many different directions. This past year, we started attending a new church and during a week in August they have something called “Bold Week.” It’s a week where several of the local churches in the community get together and go into the 6 local schools in that part of the city and they help teachers get things together- they clean, they paint, whatever is needed- they do it. They feed teachers and administration and help them prepare for students and get the school year off on the right foot. The goal of Bold Week is to show the community that the local church as a whole- not one denomination or another- is coming together to serve the community. They invest into the community by serving schools which in turn serves students, which can get their school year started off on a positive step. It can change the direction of a child’s life. It never occurred to me that the schools might need help getting all of this together or that there may be ways that I could help serve the local school to make a positive impact. I know the statement sounds sort of dumb- but the fact is life gets crazy and we overlook the simple things.
A Vinyl Idea
You’ve probably seen on Facebook, Pinterest, or even the internet in general school bathrooms where positive sayings and affirmations are being applied to stall doors with either paint or vinyl. It brightens up the school bathrooms and also is there to encourage students. I came across a post about it and thought it was brilliant. I debated on asking my child’s school about doing it there but I wasn’t even sure if they had stalls there (or if they were individual bathrooms). This school is not in the same community where we attend church and wasn’t one of the six that were being served at.
Self Confidence is something that I still struggle with but I sucked it up and emailed the school to ask if they’d be open to having it done. To my shocking surprise withing thirty minutes of me emailing the principal emails me back and said: “We were actually supposed to have someone do this but they had to cancel at the last minute.” I let her know I’d be more than happy to do it for them and we scheduled a meeting.
Come to find out, there were 25 bathroom stalls, then shared individual bathrooms for Kindergarten and First Grade at the school. A piece of me wondered what I was getting into but, then I thought- I’m up for the challenge!
Quotes, Cutting and Weeding Lots Of Vinyl
Over the next few weeks, I went through lots of quotes and affirmations to find the ones I felt would work best. Making sure that the fonts could be read by younger kids so that it wasn’t just “pretty” and served a purpose. I don’t know exactly how many hours went into it, but it was a lot. Luckily, I found a lot of really great quotes at lovesvg.com. I created some, which took a while and then others I was able to edit png images through Cricut Design Studio.
If you don’t have a Cricut but are a crafty person- these things are amazing! The older ones you were much more limited because you had to use cartridges but for the new ones the possibilities are endless!
You want to use permanent vinyl which can be found at Cricut.com or also at 651vinyl.com.
A Few Vinyl Quotes/Affirmations That Were Cut
See the Hidden Mickey? 😉
My daughter helped with the weeding process on some of the quotes. At first, I didn’t tell her what we were doing it for but then I wanted her to know that we were doing it as a way of investing in the school. I want her to know she should take pride in her school and that we see it as an important thing. There are many different ways to convey this to your child, this was at the moment, the way we were able to convey it to ours.
Installing Vinyl On Bathroom Stalls
This Batman one was my favorite in the sense of the quote meaning. I have a picture of BatKid in our walk-in closet as a reminder to myself that what I Do defines me.
above: the picture that inspires me daily
A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength but by the strength of his heart.
My husband and another fantastic mom helped in installing the vinyl. It took a few hours but we all agree it was well worth it. I hope that it inspires a child. Maybe if their day is a little rough it can make them smile. Maybe it will serve as a reminder to them. It may be later down the road when they look back and remember it being there that they see someone hoped to brighten their day. We can’t fix everything, and we don’t have time to. But it’s important to stop and realize that we can still do something, no matter how small.