Tag Archives: fun friday

Fun Friday: Celebrate Spring With The Very Hungry Caterpillar

21 Mar

spring

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!

20140321-142607.jpg

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.

20140321-141807.jpg

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.

20140321-141708.jpg

image from amazon

20140321-141102.jpg

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.

20140321-142310.jpg

20140321-141037.jpg

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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.

DSC_0468

20131115-131415.jpg

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.

DSC_0444

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.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fun Friday: A Pancake Party

13 Sep

DSC_0648

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.

DSC_0653

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.

DSC_0652

  • 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

IMG_7159

  • Skillet or non-stick pan

IMG_7162

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.

DSC_0649

DSC_0651

DSC_0657

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!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Fun Friday: TopGolf

2 Aug
Picture 7

image from TopGolf

My husband loves to golf.  He could hit balls all day.  I’m not a golfer.  I’ve gone to a driving range once and it was a disaster.  Mini-golf is a different story.  I love it and so do my two girls.  We recently spent time in Alexandria, Virginia and were introduced to TopGolf.  TopGolf, is a golfing complex which includes unlimited mini-golf all day on two, 18-hole courses as well as a driving range. Unlike your average driving range in which you hit balls into the open, TopGolf is set up with a variety of interactive and competitive games in which you hit the balls into a specific target. The closer to the center or “bull’s-eye” you get and the farther out you hit your microchipped balls, the more points you receive. There is also a bar and restaurant on site so in-between the two mini-golf courses, you can take a break and grab a bite to eat and a drink.  Table service also comes to the driving range area so you can order drinks and food while you hit balls.  My girls had a blast on the two courses and really enjoyed watching their dad and uncle hit balls against each other while they ate dinner, the food was pretty tasty.  The girls loved the steak and chicken quesadilla and even ate the peppers on them!

20130801-210245.jpg

If you are looking for a Fun Friday evening with the family or just a night out, TopGolf is a great place to go.  We loved it so much, we went back two times in one week!  For more information click the links below:

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italics came from the TopGolf website.

Tags: , , , , , , ,