Category Archives: Kid Activities

Pampers Easy Ups Party // Potty Training Advice

May 20, 2016

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Goodie Baskets

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Party and Potty Training AdvicePotty training is a huge milestone in a both a child, and parents life.  Toilet training toddlers is one of the first real signs of childhood independence, and it is a really exciting time!

I’m excited to partner with Pampers Easy Ups to share with you a little bit of my insight as a mom who has gone through potty training with all of my three kids.

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Party and Potty Training Advice

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Party and Potty Training AdvicePampers Easy Ups Potty Training Kids Party and Potty Training Advice

Pampers Easy Ups Potty Training Kids Party and Potty Training AdviceI had a lot of fun putting together and throwing a potty training party play date with some of my good friends and their kids!

Pampers Potty Training Party Healthy Meals for Kids

 


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Recipe // Healthy Muffin Tin Meals for Kids

April 20, 2016

Easy Snacks for Kids served in Muffin Tins

Healthy Kids Snacks served in a Muffin Tin

Some times it can be hard to come up good ideas for healthy meals for kids, but you don’t have to sweat it.  Kids love simple, and serving up some healthy kids snacks in a muffin tin tray is a fun way to get kids to eat healthy!

Healthy Kids Snacks served in Muffin Tins

On those busy days when I am working, or not in the mood to make a big fuss over a meal, I whip out the Muffin or cupcake tins, and get started filling them up with healthy options that my kids love.

I don’t know what it is about the way it is presented, but my kids go nuts over having little compartments full of snacks and healthy foods to eat.  They love not having a plate, and sometimes I put a blanket out, and they can just snack and munch on the floor picnic style.

Easy Snacks for Kids served in Muffin Tins

There really aren’t any rules to what you can put in the tins, but here are a few things I usually use:

  • Fresh fruit-  sliced fresh fruit, or whole fruits.  I just make sure it is washed and bite sized.  You could even add dried fruits, like raisins, or freeze dried strawberries.
  • Fresh Vegetables-  again, washed and cut bite-sized ready to eat.  You could even save a tin for some dipping sauces like hummus, or ranch if your kids prefer that.
  • Cheese-  If I have a minute I’ll let the kids help cut out fun shapes with cookie cutters in the cheese, or I’ll just cut up some string cheese, or cube some different varieties of cheeses.
  • Meats- I’ll find some good quality deli-meats free from nitrates or antibiotics and cut them up in cubes, or roll them up.  We also love salamis, or sausages.
  • Nuts- Sometimes I’ll add some raw nuts.  Almonds, peanuts, cashews.  My kids do not have any allergies, so they enjoy snacking on nuts.
  • Crackers-  I love adding some crackers in the tins.  My oldest loves to make little “sandwiches” with the crackers and meats and cheeses.  We love the Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies, and Rice Crackers.
  • Themed-  When it is near a certain holiday like St. Patrick’s Day, I have made the snack tins with all green foods.  It’s fun for the kids, and they love something new and festive for lunch.

Healthy Kids Snacks

The best part about the Muffin Tin Meals is that you really can do what ever you want.  Anything goes!  If there is a bit-sized healthy snack or food that your child loves, throw it in there!  They will be thrilled!  You could even pack it up, cover it up and bring it along to the park with you for some snacking on-the-go as it tends to be at the park when the kids rather run around and play instead of sitting still and eating.  Or is that just my kids?!

Getting your kids to eat healthy meals and snacks can always be a stressful time of day, but it doesn’t have to be if you make it more fun for them.  They always love a little escape from the norm, so throw a blanket down, toss the plates and forks aside, and let them have at it!

All photos by me

Minted // How to throw a Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating Party

February 11, 2016

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

My little first grader Norah just LOVES anything to do with a party.  So, we decided to invite her classmates over for a little Valentine’s heart cookie decorating party.  She was in heaven helping me plan out all the details.  When I throw a party, I used to hand make every last detail, which was fun for me, but so time consuming.  This time, I wised up, and order some cute Valentine’s party decor from Minted.

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Minted has a great selection of party decor by theme.  The Valentine’s selection is really cute, and we went with the Ombre Love party decor.  You can customize your party package, and change the signs according to what you need for your party.  It was so easy to customize her party, with custom signs, banners, garland, straws, place cards, stickers, flags, table confetti.  So many cute details!   It was so nice to be able to have most of the party ready to go and delivered from Minted from their party decor line, even the plates, straws, and napkins came in the party pack we ordered!  This made it so convenient and easy!

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Party Via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

I thought it would be easiest to set up a place for each girl with their own frosting and sprinkles to avoid sharing any germs, since kids at their age tend to lick the knife. I made it easy, and ordered some heart shaped Valentine sugar cookies from Harmons Grocery, and made the buttercream frosting.  I bought various Valentines sprinkles, and some Valentine candy to decorate the cookies.  The girls had a good time decorating their cookies, and eating them!  For the girls who wanted to bring them home, we placed them in the bags that came with the party favors from Minted.

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Minted Valentine's Day Garland and Hello Maypole Felt Ball Garland via Armelle Blog

Felt Ball Garland and Minted Party Decor

I made a garland with the circle garlands from Minted, and used some Hello Maypole felt balls to string up some felt ball garlands on my mantle.  I just used some bakers twine and a fine point needle and string the felt balls to the size I needed.

Minted Valentine's Day Garland and Hello Maypole Felt Ball Garland via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Bingo Game for Kids via Armelle Blog

I found these cute Valentine Bingo cards at Target, and instead of the pieces, we used little heart candies for the bingo pieces.  The girls loved playing the bingo game, and we gave out a few Valentine themed prizes for the lucky winners!

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

Valentine's Day Heart Sugar Cookie Decorating Party for little Girls via Armelle Blog

It is so much fun that my little lady enjoys party planning just as much as her mama!  It was so fun to plan, and work on this little party with my girl, and even more fun to watch her enjoy it with all of her friends.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

All photos by me.