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Fun Friday: Pajama Day & Cozying Up This Winter With Pajamagram

7 Nov

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Now that my girls are older, they always ask if they can wear my clothes and shoes when they get a little older. Or they ask if they can get it in their size. It’s cute. They love to match each other but when they can match mom too— it’s even more exciting.

Every holiday season, the girls pick out a new pair of seasonal Pajamas.  They are the pair they wear on Christmas Eve and open their gifts in on Christmas morning.  We also love our seasonal pajamas for cold and wet winter days, perfect for spending the day in your pajamas. 

This year the girls will be wearing PajamaGram.  And the bonus, I will get to match too. PajamaGram has sets for the entire family–even the pets. The PajamaGram Company is all about giving gifts that remind the ones you love to take a little time for themselves…to help them kick back, relax, and unwind.

Image from pajamagram

Image from pajamagram

Recently my girls and I received a set of  Pajamagram Pajama’s for the Holiday season.  It’s hard to decide which style to pick but my girls favorite was the Nordic style.  We each got our names personalized on the front. Each pair of pajamas came nicely packaged in a blue gift bag (ready to give as a gift).  

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Last weekend (and yesterday), the weather gave us a little taste of what’s in store for this winter.  It was wet, freezing, and the perfect day to stay home in pajamas.  So that’s exactly what we did.  The perfect pajama day was spent in our pajamagrams:

Eating Holiday themed pancakes.

Eating Holiday themed pancakes.

Playing our favorite games. Our absolute favorite this season is Olaf's in Trouble

Playing our favorite games. Our absolute favorite this season is Olaf’s in Trouble

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Watching movies and eating popcorn

Baking cookies together (recipe here)

Baking cookies together (recipe here)

At the end of the day, I asked my girls what they thought of their new pajamas they said they were cozy, comfy, stretchy & soft.  I think they are cute & fun, especially for the Holidays.  They are a great gift for friends and family this season.  Our Elf usually brings a gift when she returns–this year she’ll be flying in with a pair of matching PJ’s for daddy (shhh….)

For more information or to order a gift for this Holiday season visit http://www.pajamagram.com/.

Have a happy Winter with lots of Pajama days 🙂

Disclaimer:  I received sets of pajamas for review.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italics came from pajamagram.  All images are my own unless otherwise noted.

Fun (FOOD) Friday: Under the Sea

3 Oct

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I should be talking about Halloween and pumpkins but my girls can’t stop reminiscing about their summer trip to  Magic Kingdom.  The highlights of course, meeting the princesses.  A new attraction from our last visit a few years ago was Ariel’s Grotto.  It was simply amazing for them to go “Under the Sea” and meet their favorite Mermaid.  For dinner the next night, I decided to do something a little fun with their food.  I made a mermaid (or Ariel) themed dinner, not as beautiful as the “real” Ariel but it was fun and exciting for the girls.

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It was simple to make.  For the…

Head: I got ready made Turkey meatballs from whole foods and heated them up. I then cut eyes and a mouth

Hair: I made spaghetti with Vodka sauce.  I placed the spaghetti around the head so that it looked like hair.

Shells: I used two Driscoll’s Strawberries.

Tail: I sliced up kiwi and placed it on the plate to look like a tail.

Arms: I used two carrots.

Fish: I had S’More Goldfish and took the chocolate fish out and placed them on the plate for an “Under the Sea” look.

The next time I make our Mermaid meal, I will use cooked spinach for seaweed or broccoli for “under water” plant life.

 

Does your child love mermaids as much as my girls do?  Here a few activities you can do to continue your “Under the Sea” themed evening:

 

Happy Friday!

Disclaimer: All images, ideas and opinions expressedare my own.   I was not compensated for this post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fun Friday: Playing With Sand (A Beach Alternative WIth Less Mess)

23 May

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Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  We won’t make it to the beach this weekend but we found an easy alternative for Fun in the Sand at home. My Aunt introduced my girls and I to Kinetic Sand not long ago. Kinetic Sand is easy to mold and build with. It’s fantastic because the grains stick together instead of making a mess all over the place.  It’s easy to clean up making it good  activity for indoor or outdoor play.  The texture is soft, smooth and silky.  It doesn’t dry out and it doesn’t stick to your hands. 

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I like to put the sand in a small container for an individual set, easy for taking on the go.  Several packages can be put together for more building opportunities. My girls love adding turtles, shells, and using their dolls to pretend they are at the “beach” sunbathing. Perfect for entertaining the little ones during your weekend barbecues. Use your beach toys to play, my girls can’t wait to get their Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cupcake Set out to try with their Kinetic Sand.  When you are done playing, put it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.

 

 

On display at the Time To Play Magazine Playdate. Wacky-tivities is a product of SpinMaster Toys

Loved seeing Kinetic sand on display at the Time To Play Magazine Spring Showcase. Wacky-tivities is a product of Spin Master Toys


Kinetic Sand is available at Michaels!

 

Disclaimer:  I did not receive products or compensation for this post.  All images and opinions expressed are my own!

Fun Friday: Celebrate Spring With The Very Hungry Caterpillar

21 Mar

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My daughter counted down the days until she gets to the Tulip on her school calendar, which marked the first day of Spring!  We ready to pack up our winter jackets and head to the park for hours on end.  We’re excited to chase butterflies, watch the ducks in the pond, and picnic with friends!

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A throw back, catching butterflies at an educational event in NJ.

Did you know yesterday not only marked the first day of Spring but it was also The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day?

I have childhood memories listening to and reading books by Eric Carle.  Some of my childhood favorites included Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, The Mixed Up Chameleon, The Tiny Seed, and but my favorite was The Very Hungry Caterpillar!  For generations, Eric Carle books have been a favorite in classrooms and in homes.   Now that I am a parent, it’s always fun when my girls come home loving books that I loved as a little girl.  My girls are big fans of his books especially The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  For Christmas, the girls received The Very Hungry Caterpillar Take and Toss Game, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Stencil Set, and The Very Hungry Chunky Colored Pencils. To welcome Spring and celebrate Spring we pulled out our game and made art projects.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Twirl and Toss Game is simple to set up. Snap the caterpillar and leaves onto the branch.  Each player receives 3 soft pieces of fruit.  Players help the Very Hungry Caterpillar catch his lunch, by tossing soft-stuffed fruit at the twirling caterpillar.  Be the first to get all three pieces onto the velcro targets to win.  My girls have a great time playing and love cheering each other on to feed their caterpillar friend.

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image from amazon

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Stencil Set & The Very Hungry Chunky Colored Pencils are great for after school coloring and crafting.  The girls have a lot of fun making cards for their friends and family.  This afternoon we will be coloring our favorite shapes, cutting them out and glueing them on a construction paper crown.  With Easter around the corner, these would make a great basket filler.

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20140321-140918.jpgThe World of Eric Carle toys and games are fun for playdates, sleep overs, or to keep busy during the April showers.  You can find other games and activities from your favorite Eric Carle books here.    Want to have a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed Fun Friday find snack ideas and other activities on my The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board on pinterest.  Happy Spring!

Barnes and Noble also carries toys, games, and other Eric Carle favorites!

Barnes and Noble also carries toys, games, and other Eric Carle favorites!

Disclaimer: I received products for review however this did not alter my opinions.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italic are from amazon.com.   All images are my own unless noted in the caption below them.

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Fun FROZEN Friday

7 Mar

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The first attempt at seeing Frozen didn’t go so well!  We went to a pre-screening in 3D.  Ten minutes into the movie we had to leave because my daughter got scared when someone said there was a snow monster that was going to jump out.   Over the Holidays we gave Frozen a second chance, this time not in 3D.  The girls brought their Anna doll they received for Christmas and was able to snuggle up with their grandparents who went with us.  It was a success and they LOVED the movie!  Since seeing the movie and attending Frozen viewing parties, now that it’s On Demand , we’ve done Frozen themed activities and made Frozen themed treats.  Below are a few of our favorites that would be perfect for a Fun Frozen Friday!

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Start the afternoon with fun on the floor with Disney Frozen Busy Books from Barnes and Noble.  The girls love setting the scene and pretending the characters are part of their favorite scenes.  They also liking coming up with their own adventures of Elsa and Anna allowing their imaginations to run free.

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After playing on the floor, have a dance party to the Frozen Soundtrack, definitely worth purchasing on iTunes.  We listen to it at least once a day, sometimes more.  The girls don’t have the Frozen dress-up clothes (yet) so they make-do with what they have.  My oldest adds a scarf to her Cinderella costume to “keep warm” as she dances through the snow.  They sing, dance, and pretend they are Elsa and Anna.

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After the dance party serve “Snowmen for Dinner”

A party wouldn’t be complete without something sweet.  Olaf Ice Cream or “Snowflakes Falling on Arendelle” Rice Krispie Treats make a great dessert.

To make one Olaf: Use a Tablespoon and scoop out 3 tablespoons of vanilla ice cream for “Olaf’s” body.  Use 1 orange rainbow sprinkle for the “carrot nose”, 3 white sprinkles for Olaf’s hair.  Use three chocolate chips for the buttons and two for eyes.  Pretzel sticks work great for the arms.  Put back in the freezer until ready to eat.

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To make Snowflakes Falling on Arendelle, follow the directions to make Rice Krispie Treats.  Add a little blue coloring to the melted marshmallows.  After you place rice krispie treats on pan, use a snowflake shaped cookie cutter and cut out shapes.  Use white gel icing to make the snowflake outline on top of treats.

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After everyone is ready for bed, snuggle up with popcorn and download Frozen.  Make personal sized by filling Aladdin mason cups.  To add a Frozen touch, download and print the characters here, hole punch them, and tie them around the cups with ribbon.  It’ll be a hit!

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For more ideas check out my Frozen Party ideas board on Pinterest!  Have a Fun Frozen Friday!

Disclaimer:  Unless noted, all images and opinions are my own.

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Fun Friday: Let’s Have A Camp Out

15 Nov

I have many childhood memories of camping out. My family used to visit the Mountains in Virginia. We would pop up a tent, build a fire, and explore nature. Those trips were always fun but I’m definitely not ready for an adventure like that with my girls just yet. I was able to tell them stories about our trips while having a “Camp Out” in our living room.  This is how we had our very own camping adventure at home:

We used the B.Toys TeePee from Target as our tent for our Fun Friday Camp Out.  My girls added their pillows, princess sleeping bags (also from Target), and a few books to read when it was almost time for bed.

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The B. TeePee is great for small spaces. It doesn’t take up much space.  It is easy to set up and take apart. Save the box for storing when you want to break it down. My girls use their TeePee everyday. When they need to rest they like to lay in it with their books. They also like using it for pretend play with their baby dolls. They love the colorful light that hangs above and projects stars around the TeePee.  The B. TeePee would make a great gift for the Holidays. Available for $39.99 at Target in Raspberry (featured) and Sea.

The best part of camping, roasting Marshmallows and making S’mores was not lost thanks to the Hammacher Schlemmer Flamless Marshmallow Roaster.  I was surprised that these marshmallows got just as golden brown as I like them around a camp fire.

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Caution

In the past I have used a S’More maker that requires a sterno.  Those made me nervous.  I love that this is electric.  A fun activity for a chilly evening.  Available at Hammacher Schlemmer for 69.95. Caution: This gets very HOT and requires supervision at all times when using with kids.

 

After our treats the girls headed back to their TeePee. We turned out the lights, turned on the lamp in the tent to have the stars and moon twinkle as my husband read them their favorite books.

It was a fun evening together. This camp out was just the four of us but my daughter asked to include a few friends next time!  We can’t wait!

Happy Camping!

Disclaimer: I received samples of the products to review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

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Fun Friday: A Color Me Mine Halloween

11 Oct
Image from Color Me Mine

Image from Color Me Mine

One of our favorite outings is to Color Me Mine.  My girls love picking their pottery and using as many colors as they can to paint it.  Our favorite to go is around Halloween.  The girls love going to the themed workshops.

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This month the Tribeca Location will have these “Spooky Workshops”:

image from Color Me Mine. Click for the entire October Schedule!

image from Color Me Mine. Click for the entire October Schedule!

Our Spooky Collection!

Our Spooky Collection!

 

While I was looking up the events to sign-up for this Halloween, I discovered they also have PJ Party themed sessions on certain Fridays during the month.  If you paint in your PJ’s you will receive 50% off the studio fee!  Color me mine also allows you to bring your own food and drinks! In addition to Halloween, Color Me Mine also has other Holiday events.  The pottery makes a great gift for parents, grandparents, and friends.  A trip to Color Me Mine would make a great uKloo surprise too!  Find a Studio and Schedule of Events near you to get painting!

 

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Photos unless noted are my own!

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Fun Friday with Ukloo

4 Oct

20131003-225939.jpgMy daughter is finally adjusting to school. Now that she is settled in she is anxious to learn. One of her goals for the year is to learn to read.
Recently, we tried Ukloo, a treasure hunt game to help children ages 4 and up learn to read! To play, leave clue cards out to help your child find the surprise card (treasure) at the end. My daughter knows she will always find her first clue on the dining room table. There are three levels to choose from. Starting with level 1 and only a few clue cards is best for early readers.  The child reads each clue, with a picture helper to aid them if they don’t know a word.  When they learn the game and become more comfortable reading, add more clue cards and move up a level.  I accidentally put a level 3 out, it took awhile but she was able to find the next clue. Be sure to leave the picture helper somewhere your child can easily find it.   The first few times I left it next to the first clue. You can also leave it on the refrigerator when you aren’t playing for your child to look at as a refresher!  Several blank clue cards and surprise cards are included for you to personalize them for your child.

It’s been fun watching my daughter as she finds her surprises.  Changing up the surprises kept her wanting to play more. We have made it part of our daily routine, giving her more exposure to the sight words.  I have clues set up every afternoon when she returns from school.  I do “bigger/ better” surprises on Friday.  Surprise Ideas include:

  • Sweet treats: Lollipop, cookie, piece of candy
  • Money
  • Extra iPad time
  • A new book
  • Special Time with Mommy and/or Daddy
  • Fill out a surprise card for a “Fun Friday” movie or outing
  • PJ Party with a friend

Ukloo makes reading funds, builds self-confidence, encourages independence, promotes sight-reading (visual word recognition), offers basics of sentence structure and introduces research skills.  A great gift for birthdays, Holidays and for teachers (to include in their classrooms).  To buy click here.  Coming soon: Ukloo 2 for ages 7+ and the Ukloo Reading Adventure App.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  I received a sample of Ukloo for the purpose of this review but did not alter my opinions.

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Fun Friday: A Pancake Party

13 Sep

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Over the summer, the girls had a blast having Pancake Parties with their friends-morning, day, or night.  My oldest had so much fun she requested one for her 5th birthday, which happened to be last Friday.

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Pancake Parties are easy!  All you need:

  • Aunt Jemima Complete Pancake Mix (make a head of time)
  • Small bowls for you favorite “mix-in” ingredients.  Our favorites include; strawberries, blueberries, bananas, sprinkles, and chocolate chips.

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  • Tea cups for the pancake batter, one for each child.
  • Spoons for each child to stir ingredients and one for each “mix-in” bowl (to prevent pancake batter from getting into the fruit, sprinkles, etc.
  • Plates (if you use paper you can write names on them with permanent marker, if you use a regular plate use Wilton icing gel or writers for names

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  • Skillet or non-stick pan

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Some tips and suggestions for a successful Pancake Party:

  • Prepare a head of time.  Cut fruit, make batter, and put everything into bowls before children arrive.
  • Include a variety of “mix-in” ingredients.  My girls like very different ingredients in their pancakes and we want to make sure there is something for everyone.
  • Watch and make sure the kids aren’t putting too much in their batter because some kids like EVERYTHING in their pancake and it makes it hard to cook if there it too much in there.
  • Place teacups on the plate with their name so their batter doesn’t get mixed up.DSC_0650
  • Include activities for the kids to do while you clean up and cook the pancakes.  Putting on a cartoon for the kids to watch is always a good one or they play dress-up in their room.
  • Read a story about Pancakes while they are eating.

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Whether you are looking for something for a Fun Friday Night or something to do over the weekend, Pancake Parties are always a hit.  Happy Friday!

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