Fun Stuff Fridays (#17)

Welcome to Fun Stuff Fridays. We love seeing what our readers have been up to and cannot wait to share some of our favorites! Wanna know more about our linky? Click on "Fun Stuff Fridays" above, then "about". We wish we could feature all of them! Can't wait to see your amazing submissions this week! Feel free to submit as many ideas as you want over that time. And remember-spread the word!

One thing we've added is something that we hope you will like. We've been pinning each weeks featured picks into their very own Pintrest board! We hope it brings you loads of linky love....you've earned it! You can find our Featured Pintrest Board HERE!

Our joint favorite pick was Homemade Lollipops submitted by Meaningful Mama.We love the fact that our kids could create their own unique lollipops! Jamie's youngest and Lindsi's oldest are HUGE lollipop fans and this would be a sure fire hit with them!

50 things (other than candy) to put in your child's Easter basket

Candy overload?!!! It seems like once the Halloween candy was gone then the Christmas candy came and when that was gone then the Valentine's candy arrived....so now Easter candy too? Ugh! My kids like candy like every other child out there but we thought it might be fun to share some ideas of what to stuff their Easter baskets with other than candy that won't break the bank.

50. Sunglasses for the coming sunny months
49. Deck of cards, go fish or old maid work great too- my kids think this is the coolest thing ever!
48. A bag of balloons- for water balloon fights this summer
47. Lip balm or lip gloss- my kids go crazy over this one!
46. Terracotta pot- paint it together and plant something pretty
45. Seeds (for planting their favorite colored flower or vegetable)
44. A new book- who doesn't like a new book?
43. A new DVD
42. Puzzles
41. Photo album
40. Small package of crackers
39. A new swimsuit- you are going to need one anyway
38. Play dough
37. Flashlight (trust me your kids will love it!)
36. Bottle of bubble bath

Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies

I've seen lots of variations of toilet paper roll bunnies.  Most involve keeping the toilet paper roll whole.  I had every intention of doing one of those type of bunnies with my girls until I started to make toilet paper roll flowers with them.  Huh?  What--you ask?  What do toilet paper roll flowers have to do with TP roll bunnies?  Nothing really, except that the cut up roll happened to sit on my table similar to what you see below and I thought to myself, "now this is a good bunny!"      

Here's what you'll need to make your own toilet paper roll bunnies like we did:

• Toilet paper rolls (duh!)
• Paint (optional)
• Glue
• 5 paper clips per TP roll

Spring Time Marshmallow Kabobs

Sugar + Marshmallows (more sugar) + Skewers= Springtime Marshmallow Kabobs

Here is what you need:
marshmallows
scissors
skewers
colored sugar

Easter Bunny Foot Prints

It never ceases to amaze me how something simple can be SO big! What am I talking about? Bunny prints, that's what. My mom never hid my Easter basket and I always wished she did. I decided long ago that I would hid the baskets, but last year I took it a step farther, further, farther? Which is correct? Hmmm, I dunno.

I drew some bunny-shaped prints on a piece of paper and then photo copied it several times. I had full intentions of cutting the feet out, but after one set I decided that idea was over rated! So I grabbed my pink marker and traced them.

Fun Stuff Fridays (#16)

Welcome to Fun Stuff Fridays. We love seeing what our readers have been up to and cannot wait to share some of our favorites! Wanna know more about our linky? Click on "Fun Stuff Fridays" above, then "about". We wish we could feature all of them! Can't wait to see your amazing submissions this week! Feel free to submit as many ideas as you want over that time. And remember-spread the word!

One thing we've added is something that we hope you will like. We've been pinning each weeks featured picks into their very own Pintrest board! We hope it brings you loads of linky love....you've earned it! You can find our Featured Pintrest Board HERE!

Our joint favorite pick was More For the Birds submitted by Buzzmills. What a fun way to teach your children about nature and birds nests while helping them along too!  We're always looking for more ways to attract birds into our yard. We love the idea of using scraps of fabric, string and yarn!

"Going Green" Laundry Style

To be completely honest, I hadn't really thought about "going green" as far as my laundry goes until this past year. I've read plenty of blog posts about making your own laundry detergent and how it's much better for you and for the environment and thought to myself, "It would be nice to use more natural laundry detergent since my clothes are against my body 24/7". Problem is, I just don't have the time or energy to make my own detergent.

Paper Mache Easter Eggs

Easter was always a fun time for crafts for with family.  My mom always had fun stuff for my sister and me to do.  One of my favorite things was making paper mache Easter eggs.  This year I decided to make them with my girls.  Remember my paper mache maracas?  Well, this is not one of those posts.  These turned out absolutely adorable!

My girls thought these were just as fun to make as I remember they were at that age.  In fact, I still think they are really fun to make!

To make your own paper mache Easter eggs you'll need:

• Flour
• Water
• Newspaper
• Balloons
• Paint
• Anything you want to put inside

Homemade Heath Bars

These are amazing....enough said! My kids go crazy when I tell them we're making these tasty homemade heath bars.

Here is what you need:
cookie sheet
tin foil
saltine crackers
1 stick of butter
1 cup of packed brown sugar
1 bag of chocolate chips (the minis are the best)
small package of walnuts

Make Rainbows on Your Walls

Technically it's still winter. The first official day of spring isn't until tomorrow. With the unseasonably warm weather we've been having in Minnesota over the past week however (80s in March!!), it's been feeling down right summerish! This has made me and the girls want to do things to get rid of those winter blues...so...in honor of St. Patrick's Day and to get us in the mood for spring and Easter in a few weeks, we decided to make rainbows on our walls.

Making rainbows is great way to cheer you up no matter what time of year it is. It can even be done on a rainy day!

Fun Stuff Fridays (#15)

Welcome to Fun Stuff Fridays. We love seeing what our readers have been up to and cannot wait to share some of our favorites! Wanna know more about our linky? Click on "Fun Stuff Fridays" above, then "about". Can't wait to see your amazing submissions this week! We wish we could feature all of them! Feel free to submit as many ideas as you want over that time. And remember- spread the word!

One thing we've added is something that we hope you will like. We've been pinning each weeks featured picks into their very own Pintrest board! We hope it brings you loads of linky love....you've earned it! You can find our Featured Pintrest Board HERE.
 


Our joint favorite this week was Tent City from Permanent Kisses.  Our kids love tents but it's not always easy to help them set one up.  These look super simple to make, are easy to store, and the kids can play with them by themselves!

Daylight Savings and the Pajanimals

Daylight savings time used to be a fun time when I was a kid. An extra hour of sleep in the fall and an extra hour of daylight in the spring. Now that I am a mother daylight savings time is a time I anticipate a bump in the road for my kids sleeping schedule. We're lucky that our kids sleep as well as they do; they go to bed at 8pm and get up at 8am. When we know the "change in the clock" is approaching we try hard to adjust their bedtime by 15 minutes each day. After a few days we've caught up to the correct time and things seem to be back on track.

One great way to gear my children up for bedtime is by watching the Pajanimals on Sprout TV. If you have never heard of the Pajanimals before I'd highly recommend you check them out. They are soothing and calming and help my children relax and unwind before bedtime. Sprout TV is the only place where you can regularly watch Squacky (the favorite of my twins) and their friends. Furthermore, Sprout TV is the only 24 hour channel dedicated to pre-school television. I love that I never have to worry about what my kids are seeing when we watch Sprout!

Sprout TVs website offers a great collection of tips and tools for dealing with many bedtime issues ranging from dealing with daylight savings time to Dealing with scary dreams.
How do you deal with bedtime troubles? What things do you do in your home to adjust to the daylight savings time?

Check out Sprout’s bedtime tips! Also, by replying below four of our lucky readers will win a prize package - including a Pajanimals DVD and The Sleepeasy Solution book, proven by Hollywood’s celebrity parents and written by the sleep experts at Sleepy Planet.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sprout. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Bunny Bunting Banner

Do you or your kids like Peeps? You know those marshmallows that are shaped into various animals covered in sugar. My kids LOVE them and I think they are pretty cute! I thought it might be fun to make a "Peep" shaped banner for our fireplace with my oldest son.

Here is what you will need:
a variety of colored paper
marker
scissors
ribbon
hot glue (or school glue)
bunny shaped peeps (or a bunny print)

Leprechaun/Shamrock Shakes

There are plenty of Leprechaun/Shamrock Shake recipes out there at this time of year.  We thought we'd share our version.  From what I can tell, it IS a little different than the majority we've seen!

Ok, so it may look a bit weird in the photo above but we guarantee it tastes yummy!

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Milk
• Mint cookies
• Green food coloring
• A blender

Cooking WITH your kids

I know this subject has been touched on before by many people, experts, and blogs but I felt it necessary to reiterate the importance of cooking WITH your kids.

Why cooking with your kids is important:

Cooking with your kids teaches them the importance of eating together as a family

Cooking with kids teaches them simple math

Cooking with kids teaches them problem solving

Cooking with your kids encourages them to try new foods

Cooking with your kids give them a sense of accomplishment

Fun Stuff Fridays (#14)

Welcome to Fun Stuff Fridays. We love seeing what our readers have been up to and cannot wait to share some of our favorites! Wanna know more about our linky? Click on "Fun Stuff Fridays" above, then "about". We wish we could feature all of them! Can't wait to see your amazing submissions this week! Feel free to submit as many ideas as you want over that time. And remember- spread the word!

One thing we've added is something that we hope you will like. We've been pinning each weeks featured picks into their very own Pintrest board! We hope it brings you loads of linky love....you've earned it! You can find our Featured Pintrest Board HERE! 

Our joint favorite pick was the Smiling Shamrock Shakes for St. Patrick's Day submitted by Hungry Happenings. Not only does the milkshake look delicious, but it's in an EDIBLE cup!  Seriously--who thinks of an edible cup?!  (Reminds us of that scene in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory where Wonka eats the yellow tea cup!) Total bonus!

Jamie's number one pick was Oatmeal Container Planetarium submitted by Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational. I have always loved the stars and finding the different constellations.  Thanks to the Google Sky Map app on my phone, my girls are also getting into the stars now too.  What a great and fun way to teach them about the stars!

Lindsi's number one pick was Family Tree Pendant submitted by Lady With The Red Rocker.  I bookmarked this for a "hint" to my hubby for a wonderful Mother's Day gift. I can't tell you how much I adore this! I must have it!

Want to know what the most clicked on submission was? It was M & M Rainbow Game. 

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St. Patricks Day Pretzel Treat

This is about one of the easiest treats you can make....and let me say they are awesome, the perfect combination of salty and sweet!

Here is what you need:
pretzels
white chocolate chips
green sprinkles
wax paper

Lucky Clover Hats

Here's a simple and fun craft just in time for St. Patrick's Day.

Here is what you will need:
paper plate
marker
scissors

Magic Leprechaun Pudding Pie

Have you heard of magic leprechaun pudding before?  It's a great thing for younger kids to eat to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  My girls and I decided to take it one step further and make magic leprechaun pudding pie!

This pie was a HUGE hit for the girls to make and it didn't last long in our fridge!  It's super simple to make and I hope it's a huge hit for your family too!

To make your own magic leprechaun pudding pie you'll need:

• Pistachio pudding
• Cool whip
• Pie Crust
• Pistachio nuts (optional)

Dollar General Coupons!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Who doesn't love discount stores?  Lindsi and I frequently shop discount stores because we hate to pay full price for things!  Dollar General happens to be a great store where you get awesome, brand name products at a low price.  Today we're offering our readers a fun and unique way to get Dollar General coupons!  Take the money you save with these coupons (and at Dollar General) and use it to do something fun with your kids!

Dollar General's Bracket of the Brands game on their Facebook page is a playful way of getting into March Madness while saving money.  It's super easy to play and coupon values increase each week which means you can play every week for a larger coupon!
To play the game and unlock your coupons:

• go Dollar General's Facebook page
• click on the "Bracket of the Brands" page on the left side of your screen
• "like Dollar General's page so you can play the game!
• choose which brand you would like a coupon for
• answer 3 trivia questions about the brand
• print your coupon!

Yes, it is that easy!  Yes, you get to choose your own brand!  Don't worry if you can't answer the three trivia questions correctly, you still get your coupon (and if you feel that bad about getting the questions wrong, you can play the game again).

There's even a bonus where you can enter to win a grand prize of 4 tickets to the NCAA Final Four and Dollar General giftcards!  Hurry over to Dollar General's Facebook page and play - you only have until 3/25/12!

Leprechaun Hunt

We went on a Leprechaun hunt the other day. It wasn't anything fancy but they really enjoyed it. It ended up costing me a whopping 99cents! I bought a package of lucky clover stickers at the store a week ago for 99cents and cut them up into separate stickers. I gave each child their own piece of paper to collect the stickers on too.

Fun Stuff Fridays (#13)

Welcome to Fun Stuff Fridays. We had 305 submissions last week! Ohmigosh! Do you wonder if we look at them all....and the answer is YES! We DO go through every sing one and check them out. We figure if you take the time to submit then we can take the time to visit! We love seeing what our readers have been up to and cannot wait to share some of our favorites! Wanna know more about our linky? Click on "Fun Stuff Fridays" above, then "about". We wish we could feature all of them! Can't wait to see your amazing submissions this week! Feel free to submit as many ideas as you want over that time. And remember- spread the word!

One thing we've added is something that we hope you will like. We've been pinning each weeks featured picks into their very own Pintrest board! We hope it brings you loads of linky love....you've earned it! You can find our Featured Pintrest Board HERE! 

Our joint favorite pick was the Dr. Seuss City submitted by Madtown Macs. Absolutely crafty and brilliant!  Why can't we think of this stuff?  We think could actually do this! Hopefully this will be a fun project in the near future!

Jamie's number one pick was Cardboard Box Car submitted by Repeat Crafter Me. Brilliant!  Who doesn't have a diaper box at that age and who's kids don't love playing in boxes!  My girls would have loved this when they were younger.  If I can find a larger box, I'm sure they'd love it now!

Lindsi's number one pick was Pizza On A Stick submitted by Inspired By Family Magazine.  My older three children are picky eaters (and yes, even pizza can be negotiation) and this actually might be one worth trying for them! Not only is this a great idea but it certainly adds a little fun to dinner time!

Want to know what the most clicked on submission was? It was Sight Word in Kindergarten.

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Plates In The Dryer--Sponsor Spotlight!

Tickets for our Plates In The Dryer event are now on "sale"!

Scoop yours up HERE today as there are a limited amount available!

Not sure what Plates In The Dryer is?  Click on the banner above.

We have some AWESOME sponsors who are helping us put on this unique event and we thought we'd show them off a bit.  Some are local, some are nationwide so there's a mix for everyone!

First and foremost is our largest sponsor and our host, Color Me Mine in Eagan, MN!  Color Me Mine is a paint your own pottery place that is a TON of fun!  Prices are totally reasonable, and they have pottery that appeals to everyone from a new mom looking to preserve little hand and foot prints, to a teen wanting to make something unique for themselves, to a grandma looking for a gift for a newlywed grandchild.  Not artistic?  Don't worry, they have all kinds of stuff to help even the sloppiest of painters create something absolutely beautiful (trust us, Jamie isn't the most artistic person in the world yet she has made some pretty amazing pieces there!)  The sky's the limit on ideas and enjoyment at Color Me Mine!  Not local to Eagan?  No problem!  Color Me Mine has franchises all over the US and in multiple other countries!  Click HERE to see if there's one near you!

The only thing we can say is "Oh Yum!" when it comes to Muddy Paws Cheesecake!  You'll be getting your own taste of this mouthwatering stuff at Plates In The Dryer!  Boasting 222 (and counting!) flavors of cheesecake, Muddy Paws has the most flavors in the world.  They were also the first cheesecake bakery in Minnesota!  Who else can hold both of those titles?  Muddy Paws cheesecake is baked to order and is made from scratch with the freshest, all natural ingredients.  It's perfect for events like ours, special occasions, office meetings, or even as a wedding cake!  Don't live in Minnesota?  You can STILL try Muddy Paws Cheesecake!  They deliver anywhere in the US by mail order!

We love coffee, especially Caribou Coffee!  Lindsi and I always stop at our local Caribou on our way to each others' houses (no lie!).  I love the decaf Turtle Mocha while Lindsi is partial to the Mint Condition Cooler.  The Lakeville, MN Caribou Coffee is generously supplying us with coffee for Plates In The Dryer.  Want to find a Caribou near you?  Click HERE.

The Imagery Portrait Photography Studio in Burnsville, MN is kindly taking photographs of our Plates In the Dryer event so that Lindsi and I can spend time painting with our kids and socializing with you!  They will also provide you with an individual photo of you and your child/children for a $10 donation to Spare Key charity!  Rod's photographs are stunning! His recent achievements include the 2011 Top 3 MN Master of Photography and Kodak Gallery Award winner and 2010 Portrait Photographer of the Year and Photographer of the Year from the Twin Cities Professional Photographer's Association.  The Imagery is definitely a place to consider for your next portraits! 

What's a fun event without door prizes?? 

• The Mall of America is providing us a family 4-pack of tickets to Nickelodeon Universe! 
• The Science Museum of Minnesota is providing us with a family 4-pack of tickets to the museum plus admission to The Real Pirates exhibit! 

And swag?  Let's not forget about swag!

• Nature's Hand is a Minnesota based (available nationwide) granola company that has super good granola!  See our review post.  They are providing samples of their newest granola product.
• Christopher's Masonry & Tile, LLC is Jamie's husband's company.  Her husband specializes in brick, stone, and tile.  Mention "Plates (or Toys) In The Dryer" when you call for a quote and he'll give you a discount!  He is providing coloring books.
• RELYmedia is Lindsi's husband's company.  Her husband's company provides various promotional products (his company put Jamie's husband's logo on the coloring books!).  He is providing USB flash drives for the parents to save all their photos and files on.

We're hoping to have a few more sponsors before the actual Plates In The Dryer event on April 30th.  We'll mention them as they come in.  Don't forget to get your tickets before they run out!