The Fourth is officially here and that means summer is in full swing. Hip, hip, hooray!
With the holiday weekend came lots of fun... and lots of messes. Instead of stressing out about the hooplah and the mess left around our house, I decided to embrace the art of a quick cleaning and got to work first thing this morning.
Within just a few minutes, we had wiped down every surface with Clorox, from counter tops to doorknobs and made sure to mop because little Miss is on the move lately. We used our Viva Vantage paper towels & Clorox to scrub down sticky messes, from the sloppy sauce splattered on our stove top to the sticky fingerprints left on our cabinets, it all cleaned up quickly and easily... and well, with the extra time on our hands, I also decided it was time for us to get a little crafty, especially once the paper towel roll was emptied!
With it being the "Fourth of July eve", it only made sense to try and get crafty with my little firecracker. In the spirit of Independence Day, we decided to make a super simple little firecracker for her to play with... especially because shes fascinated with small pieces of paper lately. 😂
If you have a little one, you'll want to give this craft a try. Watching the curiosity on her face as the pieces of colorful paper came streaming out of our "firework" was seriously the cutest and then the joy she had playing in the "confetti". Plus, you can use the colorful paper as a learning experience, talking about all the colors, the shapes of the paper and the paper towel roll, etc. While she loved the toy and I loved being able to craft and play with her, the best part is, we were able to upcycle our Viva Vantage Paper Towel roll in a fun way!
If you're like us, you probably went through a few rolls of Viva paper towels this weekend with all kinds of fun messes to clean up. If so, this craft is totally easy and you are likely to have everything you need around your house - so get ready to make your own firework - it's going to be a blast!
This craft is actually fairly simple. I made the video below to show how it all came together but here's a quick summary.
You'll begin by taping/gluing your paper to your paper towel roll. Next, design your firework... I was really sloppy with mine, but you get the idea. After that, stack a few pieces of colorful paper together and cut into small, quarter inch size strips - this will be your confetti.
Last but not least, stuff your firework full of the fun confetti and shake! Get ready for some fun... and bonus, it's easy to pick up all the confetti and "set off" your firework again and again.
As you can tell, we are embracing all the fun the 4th has to offer... while also making sure our house is looking fresh! If you need to #UnleashtheClenaningSquad on your 4th of July weekend mess or if you have some extravagant plans for tomorrow and a pig sty to clean up today, don't forget to call in some back up in the form of Viva Vantage Paper Towels and Clorox... You can grab them both at Walmart and be sure to snag your rebate via Ibotta on BOTH members of your cleaning squad!
So tell me, how are you celebrating the 4th this year? I'd love to hear about your plans in the comments below!
This post contains a few affiliate links, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.
Making crafts is something I love to do with Lainey, I hope she always feels the same way. For now, we spend short little bits of time getting creative because well, she's a normal 9 month old and she likes to explore and then keep moving and exploring.
With that said, I wanted to try finger painting with her... but didn't want the mess of chasing her almost mobile self around the house with paint covered hands. SO, we got crafty and the end result is so cute. We made her daddy a little something special and she got to experience finger painting without the mess.
Hoping you can "finger paint" with your tiny tot? Here's one way you can make that happen, mess free!
To make this cute "DAD" sign you'll begin by placing two sheets of printer paper on the box or foam board.
Next add a few spots of paint on the paper, covering with plastic wrap fairly loosely, with one piece securing the paper horizontally and the other vertically.
Now, let your little one slap around on the paper - spreading the paint but not making a mess!
Once your little one is ready to move on to the next activity go ahead and clean up by removing the plastic wrap and placing the box in your recycling! Let your gorgeous creation dry, take a photo of babe with it, and have your sweetie hand it to Daddy on Father's Day.
I bet he'll cherish it and the coolest part is, it was mess free and fun to make! Now, if your little one is anything like Delainey, they're ready to move on to the next fun activity... so tell me, what kind of fun stuff do you and your little tike love doing? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!
Curious about Delainey Kate's outfits?
The blue flower bow is from 21 Blessings! You can score one of these beauties AND help fund the adoption of a sweet babe with down syndrome by clicking here. [save with the code 15Delainey].
Her tie dye shirt is made by mama & pants are second hand.
The dress in the other photos is from one of our favorite small shops - creekbaby & co. [use code CBCfriends to save].
Her precious mustard colored bow is from Accessories by Sabrina [mention code Delainey10 to save].
Lastly, those precious gladiators are from The Mini Princess Designs [and again, mention Delainey to save]!
It's safe to say I have the best husband, ever... and that obviously means Delainey has the best DAD there ever could be. So celebrating my hubby on his first Father's Day is something Delainey and I plan on doing all month long! On that note, we've been crafting our hearts out lately. Today I want to share a super fun DIY gift idea for your kiddo's dad and the best part is, you can even complete this thoughtful project in just a couple of minutes!
something to write with * we used paint *
aprinter& a frame *optional*
To start, all you'll need to do is write out the letters D and A on a plain white sheet of paper. We used paint for ours,but any writing utensil will work.
Once your letters are ready, set your kiddo up in a nice, bright spot in your home - nearby a window and get ready to snap some photos quick, especially if you have a little one that'll eat anything and everything.
Hand your kiddo the letters you created and let them get silly, serious, or whatever emotion they are feeling that day. Have fun while taking their photos but make sure each letter is visible.
Now once you have the perfect photos, turn them into a collage using an app like layout for Instagram or Paint (on your computer)! Post this cute, personalized gift for everyone to see or keep things hush and give your other half his gift closer to Father's Day.... either way, I bet he will love this super easy and thoughtful gift!
*This content is completely my own, although it does contain Amazon affiliate links - that just means if you click through and make a purchase on Amazon, you'll be helping my family - nothing more!*
Thanks to Kay Jewelers for sponsoring today's post, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.
Believe it or not, Mother's Day is just around the corner...
The day when we celebrate all the wonderful things our mamas do for us. From holding us on their hips, to cleaning faces with their freshly licked thumbs, to creating an epic last minute diorama for a school project the night before it's due, mamas are the perfect mixture of nurturing and helpful. Basically, we are all super heroes - but we run on little-to-no sleep, just try to do our best, and love our kids fiercely. That's why all mamas deserve to be celebrated... Can I get an amen?!
I'm pretty excited to be celebrating my first Mother's Day with Delainey... and I'm ecstatic because I get to spend the day with my mother as well! While I'm still learning the ropes and adjusting to my new "super hero" life as a mother, I'm lucky enough to have my best friend to coach me through it all.
It's funny, our relationship has gone through so much - from her being my entertainment committee when I was a kiddo, to my favorite person to share clothing with during my teen years, and now, well now, she's a friend - my best friend. The bond a mother and daughter share is unlike any other and I feel that way with Delainey and I'm certain my mama feels that way about me (and my sister).
While I plan on spoiling my mama, I was still on the fence about what to get her. Are you in the same boat? If so, here are 4 different items from Kay Jewelers that I bet your mama has on her wish list:
1. From accessories to outfits, we all know your mama always has the most beautiful items, but one thing she needs (and every other mama in the world needs) is Diamond Solitaire Earrings from Kay Jewelers. These timeless beauties are the perfect addition for every mama's accessories collection and every mama I know would go absolutely gaga if she was given a pair of these earrings on Mother's Day.
2. If anyone loves rings, it's my mama... but I know she's not the only one! Is your mama a ring lover as well? Then I'm certain she would love to have this Open Hearts Ring. It's not only beautiful, the design represents giving and receiving love and having an open heart, the perfect representation of motherhood.
3. When you see a piece of jewelry and it takes your breath away, I think it's meant to be your Mother's Day present... right? This Diamonds in Rhythm bracelet is gorgeous and so perfect for any mama, but this is what I have on the top of my Mother's Day wish list. The whole Diamond in Rhythm collection is really on my list--actually, the diamonds are made to be captivating from any angle... which means myself and other new mamas can be chasing after our toddlers and catch a glimpse of these as we are grabbing their precious little hands and be reminded that we are loved and appreciated.
4. Last but not least, we all know the way to a mama's heart is her kids - that's why this key necklace is the perfect gift for your mom on Mother's Day. If you're a dad or son trying to find the perfect present, you've unlocked the answer with this Diamonds in Rhythm Heart Key Pendant Necklace.
Showing appreciation on Mother's Day is what the day really is all about and these are just a few beautiful options offered at Kay Jewelers that will make your mama smile. Do you want to get your mom something beautiful and meaningful for Mother's Day? Check out the Kay Jewelers and find the perfect present for your mom.
Making memories and starting traditions is what I'm attempting to do with Delainey as each holiday approaches, with high hopes and a pinterest board full of inspiration I always think I'm going to do all of these amazingly fun crafts... then life happens! And well, we end up making little last minute crafts like this.
Don't get me wrong, I love getting creative and doing something simple, yet adorable, with Miss D... that's why I'm sharing how we made these cute little bunny photo crafts last minute and how you can make one yourself! Grab these items from around your house and get to work on something adorable!
What you'll need for this project:
Packing paper or construction paper
Cotton balls
glue
paint in white and a few springy colors
paint brushes
Printer & photo paper
felt (optional)
This project is super simple, yet an adorable keepsake that can be hung on your fridge all spring long. To start, you'll need a clean kiddo foot and a few pieces of colored paper. Simply paint little one's foot with white (non-toxic) paint and stamp it onto a piece of paper. I did this a few times so we could make a few bunnies!
Next you'll want to let these little white bunny bodies dry while you play with your kiddo for a bit! Then once they go down for a nap, add details like ears on the bunny, eggs, flowers, grass, etc to the bunny.
While that is drying, pick out a few photos and print them off. Choose only photos where your little one is looking directly at the camera. Once the photos are printed, cut your sweetie's face out of the photo and attach to the bunny body with glue.
You'll then want to add a little torn off piece of a cotton ball to make the tail, using glue to secure it.
I added little felt bows that were simple enough to make. Just one or two pieces glued together, folded.
That's it, now your little bunny and you have a cute, super simple to make keepsake! I love that we have this craft that showcases how teeny tiny her foot is on her First Easter... and I imagine we will try to do a craft similar to this each year.
Maybe next year we'll make butterflies or chicks? I can't wait to continue to attempt to be a super crafty mama. Until then, I hope y'all enjoy doing simple projects like this with me!
So tell me, what do your Easter plans include? I can't wait to hear all about how you'll be celebrating this blessed day in the comments below.
It's interesting how having a child instantly makes holidays feel a little bit more exciting, I knew the moment we found out we were expecting that Christmas would be different this year and now that we're celebrating Thanksgiving with her today, I'll admit Turkey day is a little better and brighter with her in it! Although next year will be even more fun when she can try the food with us... for now I'll snuggle her up while I'm nursing her and whisper how thankful I am that she's my daughter in her tiny little ears.
With that said, I've been doing a lot of thinking about how to raise her. Whenever you find out you're pregnant, the duties of parenthood run through your head... that's inevitable. I know I thought about all kinds of situations, some that I put my parents through, some that would only be relevant to her generation, and I'm certain there are some that I haven't even contemplated yet. One thing I do know about parenthood and how I plan on raising her is that I want her to be thankful. I want her to know that while she is loved, she isn't entitled. I want her to thank her elders and smile when asked to extend a helping hand and while I'm no parenting expert, I have been reading up on the matter and today I want to share 7 tips to help you raise a more thankful child.
1. Initiate a thankful habit and count your blessings - While D is really little, I help her do this. We look around at all the amazing clothing and toys she has and while these are great, I want to teach her to be thankful for her blessings in life. Ranging from her amazing Nonnie, her loving aunties, her Gigi that considers her a real life princess - these people are truly blessings in her life and I remind her of that daily. When she gets a little older I hope to keep up this practice but have her tell me who or what she considers a blessing in her life, outside of just the materials she's lucky enough to have.
2. Work Hard and Spend Wisely - I want Delainey to know money doesn't grow on trees and that we work for what we want in our house. I don't plan on practicing slave labor, or anything of the sort, but she will start doing chores when she's old enough and desires certain possessions. When she's 5 and wants a new barbie, learning how to do a task around the house will be her way of earning that reward. This lesson won't be one that we learn for a while but it's definitely one I hope she grasps quickly.
3. Please, Excuse Me, and Thank You - Learning her manners is an important part of teaching her to be thankful and polite. When she's super young she may not really understand what these words mean but teaching them to her when her vocabulary first starts growing is one of my main goals. I want her to know that these words mean a lot, in my opinion, and make you seem like a more gracious guest in someone's home, a kind girl in social situations, and ultimately, just a better person in general.
4. Listen Up - Teaching her how to listen is important too. While she's pretty small to teach about eye contact and choosing her tone of voice, this is on our agenda to teach older D. I think the best way to teach her this will be to listen to her when she speaks, teaching her how to properly make eye contact by demonstrating the behavior and listening intently to whatever she's trying to tell me. While this won't always be possible, doing this as much as I can will encourage her to mimic my behavior... or at least that's what the experts say.
5. Show and Tell...the Truth about life - While exposing D to homeless people currently isn't on our agenda this turkey day, we do plan on eventually spending this holiday volunteering at a shelter with her when she grows up. I want to expose her to the less fortunate, preferably around this time of the year to remind her how lucky we have it. It's eye-opening to do things like this and while I don't want to scare her, I want her to know life isn't rainbows and butterflies all the time for everyone and that we need to help others whenever possible, two lessons in one turkey day... I'm looking forward to this.
6. Spring Clean with the Kids - This may sound like an extra chore, along with doing the chores... but it'll be worth it! Have the kids choose clothing and toys they no longer want during the spring months (or any time really) and donate these items to those in need! Teaching your kids to live minimally while also ridding your house of the extra "stuff" will be good for everyone involved. This is something I know Delainey and I will be doing, I have a bad shopping habit and this will be the perfect way to keep that in check and we'll both learn from it.
7. Get the family in on the thankful fun - This one should be easy, all you have to do is get the family on board with the thankful lifestyle. Encourage grandparents to overuse the word thanks when your kiddo is around or tell older cousins to tell babe their definition of being thankful. It's fun to get everyone involved in being thankful and it spreads the goodness all around!
