This activity inspired my creative husband,  is a great way to spend some time together on Mother’s Day!

Why I love it ...
You don’t’ need to be an expert gardener , nor do you need a large gardening space.
Your family can plant a box year after year on Mother’s Day weekend…creating a family tradition.
All family members, young and old can participate.
Planter boxes can be adapted using your own creativity.
Every family is different and their flower boxes will be as well!

You’ll need:
A garden container – window box, terracotta pot, wooden planter box etc.
Tools for decorating – Because our  box was plastic, I used permanent markers, but you can also use paint on a wooden or terracotta planter. Any creative ideas will do - have fun with it!
A separate plant for each member of the family
Planting Mix

How To Make It:
It’s really pretty simple…
Before adding soil, work together to decorate your container;.
Ideas: write your family name, message, year, individuals, pictures, flowers etc.

Fill your planter box about 1/3 full with planting mix. Instruct your kids how to plant their flowers by gently removing them from their containers, loosening the roots (very gently) and placing them in the soil. Add enough soil to cover the roots and gently press down. A little more soil will likely be needed.
Then water – take turns watering throughout the season – and watch your family grow all summer long!

Tip: If you have children in college or no longer living with you – don’t forget to select a flower for them. We included kids, in-laws, our granddaughter and even the family dog Cooper! - Nine flowers in all!
I then added the alyssum for filler because I prefer full planter boxes.

Feel inspired to get out in garden?
Find more children’s gardening ideas on AmazingMoms.com >>

Find more Mother’s Day crafts cards, recipes and more here >>

See you next week --
Keep life fun and festive!

Kit

Create a big celebration without a big expense.

Radio, TV, Internet…no matter where you receive your news, you’re being told to hold on to your purse strings ‘cause it’s gonna’ be a rough ride. This is probably why most of the questions posed by AmazingMoms visitors of late have been budget related…
“Where can I cut corners?” “ Do I have to serve a meal?”  “Do I have to purchase all of the party stuff?”
“Are party favors necessary?”  -- 
I’ve compiled my answers and tips below and I warn you…this week I’m long winded – I just couldn’t stop!

3 Key Money Savers
1.This is not the time to keep up with the Jones’…it’s a time to celebrate your wonderful child.
2. Skimp on junk and throw away items…splurge on creativity!
3. And most importantly…
When it comes to planning a birthday party the best way to protect your budget is to plan ahead.
Last minute trips to the party store, bakery, grocer and/or craft store can really add up.
Next thing you know you’ve easily spent $500.00 on unnecessary impulse purchases and that
doesn’t include the birthday gifts. If possible, try to give yourself 4-6 weeks of prep time. 
Using just a few of the tips below is a great way to start…

Five Budget Conscious Party Themes
These party themes are gentle on the budget but explode with creativity…

Arts and Crafts Party
You may have much of the supplies at home such as markers, playdough,
paint paper egg cartons, baby food jars etc. for making the crafts.

Birthday Sweet Shop
Build and Ice cream sundae or decorate cupcakes and/or or cookies.
There’s no need for an expensive bakery cake and you are providing a fun party activity the kids will enjoy.

Popcorn and a Movie Sleepover
If you keep the group small, you can have a sleepover for less than $50.00. Paint nails with polish you may already have. Fold and decorate paper fortune tellers, bake cookies, make popcorn and watch a movie that you own or rent.
Your local dollar store will have flashlights, and slipper socks for cool party favors!

Tea Party Dress-Up
Use your own tea set and dress-up clothes to host a small tea party for 4-6 girls.
Play traditional parlor games and serve small tea sandwiches.

Sports Fun
Use the athletic supplies you have around the house and go to a park or your back yard to play
relay races and creative games. Prizes and favors can be collector cards and sports drinks.

AmazingMoms Big List of Birthday Party Themes for Kids  >>

Where to Host Your Party?
Without a doubt  the least expensive venue for a party is your home, or a public park.
If space or weather are an issue, consider having your party in your garage or  if you clear
away big furniture pieces, even a small living room will do.

Meal or No Meal
When hosting a short (1 ½ - 2 hours)  birthday party, it is not necessary to serve a meal.
But only if you don’t have your party during meal tim;10:00-12:00 for little ones
1:00-3:00 or 2:00-4:00 – this could mean a savings of at least $50.00. To be on the safe side, prepare veggies and dip, or cheese and crackers just in case you have hungry kids.

Bakery  Cake?
Want to save some dough on a birthday cake, but don’t have decorating skills?
Colorfully frosted cupcakes place in a cupcake stand look really festive and they are easy to serve.
The cupcake stand can be used for every occasion, so it’s worth the initial investment.
Another easy option is topping a frosted sheet cake with small plastic toys for decorations; super heroes,
PlayMobil, My little Pony, Fisher Price figures etc. make perfect cake decorations and provide a
birthday gift when the party is over.
Birthday Cake Ideas >>

Games and Activities
Traditional party games such as musical chairs , Simon says and Follow the Leader are fun to play,
easy to prepare and require no additional expense. Keep prizes small with stickers, small candies,
homemade cookies or a container of homemade playdough.

Want to include a craft in your party activities, but your closets are void of craft supplies?
Purchasing craft kits may be the way to go. You’ll only get exactly what you need for the craft
and won’t have to purchase extra supplies – supply costs really add up.
Also, free coloring sheets (you’’’ find some on Kaboose) and a box of crayons can go a long way
with kids. 
Printable coloring sheets >>

Party Favors
Okay so here is where you can really save some cash!


Party favors are important. It is your child’s way of saying thank you for coming to my party.
However, they are not presents and need only be a small gesture of appreciation.
I have tons of ideas but here are my favorites…all of them cost less than $2.00 each.

 
Decorate baby food jars by painting the lid , adding ribbons, stickers, write names etc.
Suggested Contents:
Homemade playdough attach a  cookie cutter with ribbon
Fill with M&M chocolates, jelly beans, fruit snacks etc.
Beads and Lanyard lacing

 
Cut the bottom of empty water or soda bottles to make a holder.
Snazz-up the bottle with ribbon or stickers, sticky-backed craft foam shapes etc.
Fill with tissue paper and a treats such as crackers, fruit snacks, candy, stickers.

Send home a bag of homemade caramel corn, cookies or rice crispy treats that have been cut with a cookie cutter – yummy!

Now that I’ve written the world’s longest blog…I just have a few more quick additions.
You don’t have to have a big party every year. Small family parties with a homemade birthday
cake and the birthday child’s favorite dinner are really special and your child will feel loved.
It is not uncommon for parents to have their child choose – party or big present?
My son always picked the present…my daughter the party.
The point is not to break the bank on a birthday party but to truly celebrate your child!

How do you save money on birthday parties? -- please share
Until next week - 
Keep life fun and festive!

Kit

Pampered Chef party hostesses love me!
I am a sucker for kitchen gadgets; cherry pitters, ginger graters, odd shaped wire whisks, cookie presses… 
you name it and I’ve probably got it in my kitchen drawer.
Maybe I think some cool tool will inspire me to cook more often. Or, is it that the gear and a cheery apron, make me feel like a cooking show host?  ~~ whatever the reason my compulsion has created a treasure trove of entertainment for little imaginations. Even if you don’t have a bazaar assortment of utensils, these activities will still prove to be entertaining for you and your kids.

Kitchen Critters
I love it when a good old-fashioned project from my elementary school days can withstand the test of time ~~
a REALLY, REALLY long time!

You’ll need:
Kitchen utensils; spatulas, wooden spoons, cheese grater etc.
Large sheets of cardstock or construction paper.
Pencil
Scissors
Glue stick or glue dots
An assortment of craft “stuff” ; paper scraps, buttons, feathers, pom-poms,ribbon
If you don’t have craft supplies it’s okay…markers, paper and glue will do just fine!
     

How to Make It
Using a pencil, trace the utensil shape onto the paper. Using a marker will likely leave an outline on the edges of your utensil. Cut the shape and provide your children with the supplies. 
Their imaginations will do the rest; add eyes, ears, hair or clothes to make animals, aliens, super heroes …
whatever inspires them!
Variation –Transform your characters into puppets by using stiff cardboard, or attach a paint stirrer to the handles.

If your kids would like to show off their kitchen creations---take a photo and submit them below!

What’s in the bag?
This activity is a fun language development game for little ones.

Our kids often use their own self-created dictionary…a spatula to us, may be a …."pancake flipper” to our preschoolers.
Before you sit down for your next meal prepare this simple game to play afterwards ~~ it’s easy!
Fill a paper bag with miscellaneous kitchen items. The more unique, the better and of course refrain from including sharp items.To play, pass the bag around the table and take turns guessing what you feel inside.
Every player takes a turn reaching in to guess one item.

I’d love to hear/read what your child had to say – submit it below!

Looking for more easy crafts to do with your kids...find them on AmazingMoms.com >>

Can't get enough family time...find solutions on Kaboose >>

Need help planning a craft, party tips etc -- feel free to ask me a question -- I always do my best to answer!
Until next week --
Keep life fun and festive!
Kit

Over the past several years in honor of Earth Day, I’ve asked AmazingMoms.com visitors how they 
bring new life to recyclable household items – otherwise known as “trash to treasure” crafts!
These crafts not only teach your kids a valuable lesson on living “green” but they also save you some green, by using items you may already have in your recycling bin, junk drawer, office etc. Do you have your own amazing recycled craft to share? Use the comment box below to submit ideas and images. – I’d love to see them!

Little Critter House
A designer home for small collectible plush animals and toys!

You’ll Need:
Plastic Pop or Seltzer Bottle – clean and dry
Cardboard Milk Carton – clean and dry
Scissors, glue sticks, craft or utility knife (adult only), tape
Any of these items…colored paper, fabric, ribbon, sticky-backed craft foam, markers, stickers, buttons,
pom-poms etc.

How to Make It
If you are using the milk carton…
Cut a doorway before covering it with paper or fabric. Keep in mind that little hands may find the covering part difficult; you can do this step and they can embellish the carton on their own. As you can imagine I have a variety of craft supplies around the house, but you really can do this with paper and markers just as effectively.
What I learned: I found covering the carton easier with wrapping paper and fabric .
I attached the paper with glue dots to save time, but you can use craft glue or a glue stick.
If you are using the plastic pop bottle...
First use the utility knife to cut either end from the bottle and to create a door (adults only!).
I cut the bottom because it was easier. Then your child can decorate the container with ribbons, 
paper, stickers, craft foam etc.
What I learned: Glue sticks and glue dots work really well on the plastic…not the craft glue.
Surprisingly the cut edges are quite sharp; protect little fingers by covering the edges with clear packing tape.

Bathtub Fish

You’ll Need:
Clean plastic gallon milk jug
Permanent marker
Scissors or utility knife (adults only!)
Turn the gallon jug onto its side so that the handle is at the top.  With the marker, draw a mouth shape on the base of the jug and extending partway up the sides. Cut along the lines with scissors, creating a wide mouthed scoop. Using the marker, outline the edge of the mouth, add eyes and a fin.
What I learned: Be sure to check for rough or sharp edges where the mouth has been cut and use an emery board where necessary.

Kit’s Mint Tin Solution

I'm addicted to black licorice flavored Altoids ®! The tins of strong mints
are everywhere; in my car, purse, desk drawer, or bedside table.
I also have a habit of saving everything with the slightest potential
of being reused, recycled, or recreated. The discarded mint tins, clearly fall into this category.
As the pile grew to an unmanageable tower, I realized it was time to bring out the art supplies, glue gun and get creative!
These are just a few of my ideas to get your child started. Adult supervision is needed at first to prep the tins. However, if you do the painting first, the kids can finish the rest. 
Try this with a scout troop, classroom, or as an Earth Day family activity. What a creative way to teach the concept of
 "reduce, reuse, recycle!"

You'll Need:
empty, clean mint tins
acrylic paint
paint brushes or sponges
decorative options; ribbon, buttons, craft foam shapes, pom-poms, photos,
magazine cut-outs, glitter glue, feathers...the possibilities are endless!

  
How to make it:
First paint the tins using acrylic paint. If you are making several tins, you may want to use spray paint to save time (adults only). After the paint is dry, it's time add your special flare. I used a glue gun, but glue dots, craft glue or even sticky backed craft foam will do. It's that easy!
Fill your new tins with barrettes, paper clips, earrings,
postage stamps, lost buttons or make a mini-sewing kit for traveling

.  
And here is a small First-Aid kit for the car!

I used sticky-backed red craft foam to make the cross,
so no glue was necessary. Then, I filled the tin with small
tweezers, ibuprofen and bandages. – makes a great scout troop activity!

Celebrating Earthday --Everyday from Kaboose >>

More Earth Day crafts activities and fun for kids from AmazingMoms.com >>

Until next week...keep life fun and festive!
Kit

The sun is finally out...it’s time to celebrate!

Here in upstate New York we are finally warming up; the snow is just about all melted, we can stay outdoors without all 
of the cumbersome gear and I can begin planting my new flower beds in a couple of weeks. – Let’s celebrate!

Whether you want to invite friends and neighbors for a gathering, or just spend an afternoon with the family, 
these “Spring Fling” party ideas will provide the inspiration you need to make it happen!

INVITATIONS
Show your spring spirit with a simple invitation fashioned with cardstock paper, and a flower or butterfly cookie cutter.
Enlist your kid's help tracing the cookie cutter. Cut your flower shapes and write the party details on the card…
"You're invited to Bloomin' Fun Party"
Add party details and ask your guests dress for play.

DECORATIONS
Not much is needed in the way of decorations for this party.
Cover your table with a white sheet for easy cleaning. Place some fresh pansies in a basket or scatter imitation flowers around the table or  add a vase of fresh flowers as a centerpiece.


A SPECIAL WELCOME
Upon arrival, treat each guest to a spring flower painted on their cheeks using this face paint recipe from AmazingMoms >>
Plan a few fun activities to keep children and adults alike entertained.
Watering Can Water Relay
Use a small plastic watering can to move water from one bucket to another.
Fill The Vase Relay
Teams transport a bouquet (one bloom at a time) from a bucket to a vase.
Winning team member receives the vase of flowers as a prize.
Dirt Shoveling Relay
Use a kid safe shovel to carry dirt from a pile to a bucket.
HopscotchPlay a good old fashioned game of hopscotch, using sidewalk chalk on your cement patio, sidewalk, or driveway …how many of you remember playing as kids!
Hide and Seek
Kids love a good treasure hunt!  Hide spring themed items throughout the yard  and race to find them all -- baseball bat, ball and glove, gardening tools, seed packets, plastic frogs, kite etc…

Need more outdoor activities? Try bicycle races, jump rope, hula hoop or lawn bowling.

Gardening Fun
Provide a terracotta/plastic pot, soil, large spoon or trowel and a marigold or pansy flower for each child. Use a permanent marker to write names on the bottom of the pots before planting. Show the children how to place the soil in the pots by gently removing the plant from the container, loosening the roots, add more soil etc.  We chose marigolds because they are hardy and easy for kids to care for.

If it’s raining in your neck of the woods – no problem! 
Try this indoor guessing game and a craft.

Tape pictures or words with a spring theme, to the back of each guest;
gardening gloves, trowel, wheel barrow, butterfly, baby birds, rainbow,
kite, lambs and other baby animals.
Players receive clues from other players to guess what "they are" by asking “yes or “no” questions.

Spring Crafts and Activities

Decorate Your Own Plant Stake
Dress-up plastic plant stakes (gardening center) using
permanent markers. A large set of colorful markers will add to the fun!
Keep it Simple Spring Craft Activity
Gather around the table for a beautiful spring creation using paper, sticky-backed craft foam flower shapes, markers,  stickers, crayons etc.
If you've invited family, friends or neighbors…each family can use a  sheet of poster board for their masterpiece!


More spring craft ideas are…
Tissue paper flowers
Coffee Filter Butterflies
Make paper kites or a kite decorations

Creative treat solutions…
Serve punch from a NEW clean watering can.
Cut sandwiches with a flower cookie cutter.
Fashion Lollipop flowers with green chenille stems and wrapped lollipops.
Serve a garden cake or cupcakes...
Begin with a green frosted sheet cake or cupcakes. Add rock candies, chocolate cookie crumbs and small silk flowers or gummi flowers.

Happy Spring!
Kit Bennett
AmazingMoms.com

Create edible art and family memories!

Food coloring is a truly magical product.  A few drops can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary! 
This project shows you how you and your kids can use food color to create an edible work of art on 
a boring piece of white bread! 

A little note…After showing my husband the images for this blog, he asked if he could make some 
painted toast as well – how cute is that? This simply proves that family fun moments can sneak up 
and surprise you without a lot of time or money spent!
You’ll see the Bennett toast gallery below!

You'll Need:1 cup of milk
Liquid food coloring - red, yellow, blue and green
Small paint brushes one for each color if possible
White bread – I used hearty white bread
Electric toaster
4 small glasses or cups



How to Make It: Divide the milk between the four glasses. Place several drops of food color into each cup. I used about 8 drops per color. The more color you use, the more vivid your results will be.
Use the paint brushes to apply the “milk paint” on the toast. Let your kids create any design they desire. Try to avoid soaking the bread. When the paint process is complete, lightly toast the bread. You can add butter or eat plain. We also sprinkled a little white sugar on a few pieces thinking it would add a glittery effect. Although that didn’t’ work…it made a nice sweet treat!

Kit’s Tip: Think of the possibilities for this project…
A special message for breakfast in bed.
Birthday breakfast greeting.
Special snack for any holiday.
Sleepover party breakfast activity…particularly a tie dye party!

The Bennett Toast Gallery...

Check out this "play with your food" idea on Kaboose >>
Want even more fun? – find simple family fun ideas just like this on AmazingMoms.com >>

Until next week...keep life fun and festive!
Kit

Banana Dog...hold the onions!

This no-cook banana snack recipe is fun, tasty, and easy for kids to make.
The healthful benefits will be determined by your ingredient selections.
Nutritious treats like granola, peanut butter, and honey will go great with banana--
or dare to go decadent with a peanut butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chip combo.
Hmmm...I wonder which one is healthier!  



YOU’LL NEED:
Bananas – sliced and quartered lengthwise
Whole wheat hot dog bun
Butter knife or wood craft sticks for little hands.

TOPPINGS
Select toppings from the list below and/or let you children come up with some of their own!

Peanut Butter
Yogurt
Honey
Dried fruit, nuts, raisins
Granola
Chocolate syrup
Mini-Marshmallows
M & Ms
Coconut
Chocolate chips
The list goes on and on!


Slice the bananas lengthwise in quarters. Place 2 quarters in the hot dog bun.
Spread peanut butter or yogurt on the banana and top with the extras like nuts,granola chocolate chips etc.
For something really special spray on whipped cream and top with sprinkles!!!
Now take a bite and enjoy...Yummmmy!

Extra Tips: I prefer to use the natural peanut butter because I can practically pour it onto the banana!
Take this treat on the go for a nutritious breakfast when you use yogurt or peanut butter and healthy toppings.

I’d love to hear what combos your children came up with…shoot me an email or enter a comment below!

More Amazing Moms recipes and tips for kids in the kitchen >>
More cooking with kids from Kaboose >>

Keep life fun and festive!
Kit

Create a unique floral bouquet with your kids to celebrate spring.

The daffodil is certainly beautiful without any help from us, but this activity is fun for your kids, teaches a science lesson and in the end you'll have a beautiful spring bouquet!
I feel like such a great mom when I combine a fun activity with something educational!

You may have enough daffodils in your garden to spare some for this project.
If not, purchase a bunch from a florist or grocery store.  I wasn’t able to find any white daffodils locally, so I had to use yellow daffodils and white tulips.

You’ll Need:
Daffodils (white variety works best), white tulips or paper whites
Clear glass jars or drinking glasses
Liquid food color
Scissors

Ask your children what colors they want to make; red, blue and green will have the most dramatic results, but your children may want to mix colors to make purple and orange. Once you’ve established the colors, fill your glass jars or drinking glasses one-third full with water. Using scissors, snip about 1/4-1/2 inch off the bottom of the flower stems. 
Distribute the flowers among the glass jars. Now, have your children drop about 6-10 drops of food coloring into each glass.

 
Leave the flowers to drink up their color…this will take several hours.

When you start to see the color on the tips of the blooms encourage your children to take a peak.
If you look closely you can see little lines or veins of color in the flower. 

It’s not magic…it’s science!
Do you remember doing this project in science class using celery stalks?
I’ve enjoyed it ever since.

How it Works
The flowers have small tubes called xylem. Water moves up the xylem through a process called capillary action. 
The petals of the flowers have small holes, but we can't see them. Water evaporates through these holes. This is called transpiration. After the water evaporates, the flower needs more, so it drinks the colored water. The water evaporates and leaves the color behind.
Try it with other white flowers; carnations, daisies, baby's breath, Queen Anne's lace and even white roses.
Submit your results below...I'd love to see them!

Related Links...
Spring Craft Ideas for Kids
Easter Crafts and Family Fun from AmazingMoms.com

See you next week... and remember to keep life fun and festive!
Kit

How can you keep bag lunches fun and nutritious?

Many elementary school classrooms are celebrating 100 days of school around this time. This also means your children have eaten 100 lunches at school.
My son wouldn’t go near the hot lunch at school  …so keeping his brown bag lunches  appealing proved to be a challenge. Here are the tips that worked for me…how do you pack nutritious and appealing lunches?

I LOVE cookie cutters – I have one of those boxes of 100 cookie cutter shapes so I could make themed lunches easily.  
Use the cookie cutters to cut sandwiches and/or slices of cheese, add matching stickers, fruit snacks or special treats.
Themes to rememebr: St. Patrick's Day, Celebrate Spring, Cars, Barbie, Let's Read, Dr. Seuss, Dog Lover, Cat Lover, Horse Lover

Party Napkins – Purchase the discounted napkins from your local party supply store.
Licensed characters are always a favorite. Keep thet themes abopve in mind when you purchase napkins and stickers.

Include notes and stickers!

Pinwheel sandwiches made with tortilla wraps, cream cheese and other favorites were usually a hit.

Include a riddle in the lunch with the answer following the next day.

Keep cold food cold, by freezing juice boxes prior to packing.

Provide a variety of menu items that you know your child enjoys. It's becomeing more popular to include unique items such as hummus, pita bread and bento boxes.

Kids love to dip! – pack fresh fruits and/ veggies with small containers of yogurt , cream cheese dip or ranch dressing.
Include your children in the lunch preparation. They are more likely to eat what they prepare.

These pages will help you discover more fun lunch ideas >>
Super Bag Lunch Ideas from Amazing Moms
Bag Lunch Tips
Lunch Recipes Kids Love from Kaboose

Keep life fun and festive!
Kit

How to keep it fun and festive...

When I was teaching I truly appreciated the parents attempt to include a healthy snack in our class parties. As a room mom I returned the favor to my children’s teachers. I’m certainly not a health fanatic…as a matter of fact I have a horrible sweet tooth,  but  I feel less guilty giving my kids candy and cupcakes when they’ve at least eaten something nutritious as well.
The trick to keeping the nutritious party snack festive is all in the presentation. Here are some of the ideas I’ve used in years past, please add your own…I’d love to hear from you creative moms!

Cut kid-friendly sandwiches with small heart shaped cookie cutter. It’s easy and festive!

You can also use a small cookie cutter to cut cheese slices. Place the slices on a Valentine’s Day
plate with crackers.

Fill Valentine’s Day cupcake liners with healthy snacks such as…
grape clusters, nuts and dried fruit, goldfish crackers, cheese cubes and crackers, veggie slices.
Note: You can do the same with Valentines’ party cups.

Wrap trail mix or Chex Mix in clear plastic wrap and tie with red and pink ribbon.
Place the pouches of snacks on a platter for the class party.

Bring a blender into the classroom along with the ingredients for a pink smoothie; vanilla yogurt and frozen strawberries will do. Serve the smoothies in Valentine’s party cups or clear plastic cups. Top with whipped cream (not so healthy) and sprinkles.

Remember that presentation makes the difference. It’s amazing how a simple healthy treat can look festive with the addition of a red platter, heart shaped bowls  etc.

Don’t forget to check with the teacher about food allergies before bringing in any snack!

For more Valentines’ Day party ideas, crafts and easy family celebration ideas visit the Amazingmoms website >>

I’d love to read your ideas…include them below>>