Tag: kids

Anora’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Alright moms, it’s time for you to sit back and let your baker-in-training do all the work! Anora, my 12-year-old daughter, is happy to share with you and your kidlets her go to chocolate chip cookie recipe. It’s easy and always a crowd pleaser!

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ANORA’S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

You will need:

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 large egg

2 1/4 cups flour (we like unbleached)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

10 oz. bag of Ghirardelli premium baking chips

METHOD:

  1. Set butter out to get it to room temperature. If you’re ready to start baking right away, 15 seconds in the microwave usually does the trick!
  2. Preheat the oven to 375°.
  3. Beat sugars, butter, vanilla, and egg in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined. Stop mixer and add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low to medium low–dough will be stiff! Remove from mixer and stir in entire bag of delicious chips!
  4. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about two inches apart onto a cookie sheet prepared with baking parchment (if you have it). We always make our balls almost golf ball size to accommodate the large chips.
  5. Bake 10-12 minutes or until the edges get a light brown tint. Cool 3 to 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

makes approximately 2 dozen cookies

SIDE NOTE: We love these cookies even better the second day! Store in a sealed container once completely cooled.

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Yum! Grab some milk and go to town!

Happy baking!

xo.

Pete & Anora

Personalizing and Filling Easter Baskets

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Today we have some ideas to help ease the stress of getting Easter Baskets ready for THIS Sunday!

EASTER BASKET NAME TAGS

Avoid the confusion of who’s basket is who’s by creating cute, simple name tags to attach to each basket.

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To make these, you will need:

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  • plain gift tags or use the template to print some on cardstock: gifttags
  • cute twine or ribbon
  • decorative washi tape
  • your favorite pen or marker

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We love any excuse to use our prettiest handwriting!

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Trim and attach your twine and your tags are ready for their baskets!

FUN IDEAS TO FILL YOUR BASKETS

Raise your hand if you think it’s tricky to find basket fillers that are the right size for your basket! If they’re too large they will knock the entire thing over, if they’re too small they will get lost in the Easter grass! Here are a few ideas we came up with that are just the right size.

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Books are always a great gift! For the big kids we look for books from a series we know they love. For the little ones we pick a pretty book (with good content, of course!) we know we can handle looking at over and over again! Small toys for little hands are always a must. Jewelry and beauty products are fun for our older girls. Sugar-free gum is appreciated for our brace-faced kids, especially after all of the sugar-filled treats! And check out this Snapsy chocolate bunny! Easy to break apart will mean less mess (and no chipped teeth)! Yay!

Balance is key to a good basket! We try to do a little candy, a responsible gift, and a surprise gift that is sure to dazzle!

BEWARE OF CANDY OVERLOAD!

In our homes, candy is almost completely impossible to avoid around the holidays. It’s given out at schools, between friends, at parties, activities, and sometimes you just gotta grab that big bag of Mini Eggs at the checkout line (am I right?!)! One way we discovered you can limit the candy intake is to buy small, individually wrapped pieces instead of dumping large bags of candy into your baskets. This will also help mom and dad stay on track with their diets by not scavenging the hordes of leftovers! 😉

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We hope these ideas are helpful and that you have a wonderful Easter!

xo.

Pete & Repeat

A Bit of Green in a “Pinch”

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Why is it that on St. Patrick’s Day no one in my family can find a single article of green clothing to wear? Let me tell you, the fear of being pinched is REAL! Years ago I came up with a remedy for our lack of green. It was a day I was under intense pressure to have a solution in very little time. With that being said, this project takes no time at all and has a very adorable end result!

You will need:

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  • green felt
  • small white buttons
  • needle & thread
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun
  • hair clips or bobby pins
  • mini safety pins
  • small straight pin
  • clovers template (click here: clovers)

method:

  1. Print clovers template.
  2. Cut out desired sizes of clovers (I used the smaller sizes).
  3. Use a straight pin to attach clover to felt.

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4. Cut around clover pattern.

5. Stitch small white button onto clover.

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6. For hair clips or bobby pins, use hot glue to affix clover.2

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7. For a lapel pin, use the small safety pin to attach to both the clothing and the clover.
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My work here is done. You now have pinch insurance. You’re welcome!

xo.

Pete

Shop Kid’s Easter Clothes Online

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Hey Guys! Easter this year is April 16th. I have to say that more than once in my years of parenthood, I have been shopping for Easter clothes in some of my favorite stores and just can’t find what I’m looking for. A lot of times stores skip ahead to summer themes and so many shops just don’t carry boys’ ties and dress clothes. I just recently checked some hot spots online and found multiple sales for PERFECT Easter clothes. I jumped on it so that I’ll have plenty of time for shipping. Here are some great options that I found.

P.S. Such a bonus to shop and support some local art moms like Hum and Freshly Picked!

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Mini Boden, Hum Stitchery, June and January, & Apparel, J. Crew, Target, Freshly Picked, Called to Surf, Saltwater Sandals

How to Host a Killer Nerf Party

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When it comes to six-year-old boys it’s fairly safe to assume they are packed with energy and LOVE to shoot stuff! My sister-in-law, Rachel, had the brilliant idea to throw her son a Nerf party for his sixth birthday. Originally she planned to have this party outdoors, but the weather in Utah in January was not cooperating! She came up with some creative ideas to make this party just as fun indoors.

To start this party off right, Rachel set out a row of Nerf guns for each attendee to take home as a party favor and use during the party. She got an amazing after Christmas deal on these babies at Target online. You could also suggest attendees bring their own guns if they have them on the invitation.

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She also purchased plenty of Nerf darts using Wish. Seriously discounted darts. No, seriously–check it out! Just plan well in advance because shipping takes some time!

Rachel and her husband, Hiro set up super fun target stations all through the house using cardboard boxes, duct tape, printed targets, army men, and balloons. So clever and the kids loved it!

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Each balloon target was worth a different amount of points.

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Check out the little spinners on these targets!

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I just love the army guys!

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Cute baby brother is locked and loaded–LOOK OUT!

I also love how everything ended up color-coordinated. Rachel stuck to a simple palette of red, blue, orange, and white. Even the guns and darts matched the party!

For food, Rachel kept it simple and ordered pizza–always a crowd pleaser!

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And for the cake, the birthday boy’s request: Vanilla cupcakes with a peach filling and peach buttercream icing, decorated with a fondant target and sprinkles (made by me!).

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In case you need a close-up of that luscious peach buttercream:

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I want to thank Rachel for sharing this special day with us! Hopefully this post inspires you for future parties and events!

Click here to download printable targets for your own party: target

xo.

Pete

Note: To avoid injuries set ground rules before the party gets going. For example, only shoot at targets, not people! –Just thought I should add that! 😉

 

 

valentines, “gal”entines, or “pal”entines

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Have you gotten supplies for Valentine’s Day yet? I’ve had it on my mind, looking at all of the edible and non edible options, but I didn’t commit to anything until this morning. I find that keeping it simple makes every holiday more fun for me with kiddos. Look at how cute keeping it simple can be!

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I always start by finding a pack of party toys. I looked through an Oriental Trading catalog, but decided I didn’t want to risk cutting timing close with shipping. I might try that next year! Here were some options I found at my closest store.

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The next step is to come up with a clever pun or corny compliment:

  • you’re pretty “sharp”–pencil sharpeners (hot item in classrooms where kids aren’t allowed to get up to sharpen pencils!!–so I hear!)
  • you’re all-“write”–pencils
  • I think you’re “fly”– toy airplane
  • We’re so “mint” to be–mints
  • you make my heart “saur”–toy dinosaurs
  • you’re the coolest thing on wheels–mini skateboards, toy cars

Here are some templates you can download in our Freebies section and print on card stock!

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To attach the toy, I used blue sticky tak.

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Good luck and have fun!!!

xo.

Repeat

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide For Kids

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How many years in a row have I completely forgotten to grab a little gift for my kids on Valentine’s day?! I guess all the running around, buying school treats, making class Valentines, organizing class parties, and planning a date night with my main squeeze has me a bit preoccupied!

This year, I vow to be better. So when the kids come home from school with high hopes of rosy colored balloons and chocolates I will be ready! I did some online browsing at Target and came up with these ideas.

xo.

Pete

WATERCOLOR & SALT HEART PROJECT

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When I was first learning how to paint with watercolors I was taught a technique of adding salt to my painting to create an interesting design and texture. This little trick has stuck with me for years and popped in my head when I was thinking about ways to get festive for Valentine’s Day. This project is fun and simple enough to involve even the the tiniest of hands!

To make these lovely, and very versatile hearts, you will need:

  • watercolor paints (any quality will do!)
  • watercolor paper
  • scissors
  • paint brushes
  • salt
  • heart-shaped cookie cutter or stencil
  • a jar full of clean water
  • paper towels (to sop up excess water)

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To get started, allow yourself to experiment with the paint. Try using concentrated amounts of paint in some areas and watered down paint in others.

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Terese and I decided to limit the colors we used to create a Valentine’s Day palette (however, there was no limiting our helpers!).

Once you have painted an area of your paper, sprinkle the wet paint with salt.

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The salt will create the most beautiful texture:

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I recommend painting the entire paper to maximize the amount of hearts you can make!

Once you have finished your paintings lay them out to dry. When the paintings are dry turn them over to the backside and trace as many heart as you can fit on the paper. You may have some excess salt rub off of the paper, but fear not, the design will stay in tact!

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Next, cut out all of your traced hearts. **Yes, mama needs a manicure!**

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Voila! You have dozens of beautiful hearts!

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With these babies, the possibilities are endless!

Sew them together to make garland. Glue them to card stock to make a special Valentine. Affix them to bags to make party favors.

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I hope you’ll give this project a try! Let me know how it works out for you!

xo,

Pete