Games For 2 Year Olds

February 21, 2019

Looking for games for two year olds? You’re in the right place! I’m sharing my favorite, hand-picked game ideas for toddler aged children!

Having been through the toddler stage with two of my own kids, I know how hard it is to find games appropriate for 2 year olds.

Games for 2 year olds need to be age-appropriate, of course, but they also need to be engaging, fun, and if they’re educational, even better. I’ve gathered the highest rated games for 2 year olds, and am sharing them here today!

Games For 2 Year Olds

Games for 2 Year Olds

Name: Gender Reveal Dipped Oreos
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: Sandwich Cookies; White Candy Melts; Sprinkles

Looking for games for two year olds? You're in the right place! I'm sharing my favorite, hand-picked game ideas for toddler aged children!

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

TOP BRIGHT Toddler Games Fishing Toys

This magnetic, wooden fishing game is colorful, engaging, and perfect for your toddler! They'll learn hand eye coordination and practice fine motor skills as they go fishing!

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Pound-A-Peg Toy With Hammer

While not quite a game, this classic toy is a favorite of amazon shoppers and makes a great gift! I love Melissa & Doug toys and games; they're always the highest quality!

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

ThinkFun Roll and Play Game for Toddlers - Your Child's First Game! Award Winning and Fun Toddler Game

This game is sure to be your toddler's favorite! It helps introduce the basics of playing games, while teaching your little one about animals, colors, counting and more!

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Peaceable Kingdom Where's Bear? The Hide and Find Stacking Block Game for 2 Year Olds

Where's Bear combines two favorite activities- stacking blocks and finding hidden objects-into a game! Parents and kids take turns hiding and finding Bear under the sturdy nesting boxes.

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Peaceable Kingdom Bunny Bedtime The Make a Choice Game for You and Your 2 Year Old

This game is designed especially for 2-year-olds gives parents a new and exciting way to engage with their child through simple and playful fun.

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Boley Rainbow Stacking Block Toy Set - Baby Animal Building Shape Sorter Blocks - Great Educational Learning Toy for Kids, Children, Toddlers

This engaging Rainbow Stacking Block Toy Set includes 21 colorfully vibrant stacking rainbows and animals! Each animal piece comes with a cute design and is labeled with their corresponding animal name.

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

ETI Toys | 19 Piece Unique Educational Sorting Matching Toy for Toddlers

This fun game for 2 year olds is a classic! By figuring out how to drop each shape in the correct hole, your kid will learn crucial developing techniques such as shape and color recognition, organization, eye-and-hand coordination, and fine motor skills.

There you have it: our best games for 2 year olds. Did you find something your little one will love?

Thanks so much for reading all about our favorite games for 2 year olds. Have a lovely day!

**affiliate links are used to help support this blog! thanks so much!

crafty things

How to Dye Pasta

February 19, 2019

Wondering how to dye pasta? It’s SO easy! Today’s post will show you how!

Dyeing pasta is one of those activities from my teaching days that I’ve used as a parent again and again.

It’s quick, it’s easy, and there are so many things you can do with the colored pasta! Sorting activities, patterns, noodle necklaces…the sky’s the limit.

So today, I’m sharing with you all about how to dye pasta! Pick up a few extra boxes this week at the grocery store , make a big batch, and see what imaginative ideas spring to mind!

Here’s what you need:

Boxes of Pasta
Rubbing Alcohol
Food Coloring

Step 1: Take your pasta and separate it into plastic baggies. Just as an FYI-I try to buy different shapes/sizes for variety and to use for sorting activities…but also make sure to have some sort of tube pasta for necklaces!

Step 2: Into each baggie, pour a couple of teaspoons of rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of food coloring. The more food coloring, the deeper the hue (I used roughly half a bottle per bag, but you can definitely use less).

Step 3: Close the bag, double bag it if you’d like, and then, (this is where it gets fun)-shake, shake, shake! The kiddos love helping with this part, as you can imagine.

Step 4: If the color is where you want it, lay pasta out in the sun to dry for a few hours. Once completely dry, store in a plastic bag.

How would you use colored pasta with your kids?

Thanks so much for reading all about how to dye pasta! Have a lovely day!

crafty things

Wreath Supplies {Inexpensive Wreath Supplies from Amazon}

February 15, 2019

Looking for wreath supplies so you can DIY your own wreaths? This post will share our favorite supplies for making wreaths for all seasons!

I love making my own home decor items. Whether it’s wall art, table centerpieces, or wreaths, there’s something so meaningful about creating and displaying something you’ve made with your own two hands.

wreath supplies | wreath making | how to make wreaths | cheap craft supplies | cheap wreath supplies

Often, though, I’ve found that it can be cheaper to buy an item than to make it myself! Craft and decor supplies are sometimes expensive, but today, we’re tackling that by sharing our favorite inexpensive wreath supplies!

twig wreath via all crafty things

Most of these items are from Amazon, because with free and fast Prime shipping, you can purchase supplies and start crafting just a couple of days later!

spring paper wreath via burlap+blue

Let’s get started with our favorite wreath supplies…

Wreath Supplies {Inexpensive Wreath Supplies from Amazon}

Looking for wreath supplies so you can DIY your own wreaths? This post will share our favorite supplies for making wreaths for all seasons!

Darice Grapevine Wreath

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

You can find grapevine wreaths at craft stores as well, but if you're looking for a high-quality option that can be shipped to you, this is one to consider!

Bulk Buy: Darice Grapevine Wreath (3-Pack)

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

You can also buy grapevine wreaths in bulk to save a little bit of money!

Pack of 14 Assorted Artificial Succulents Picks

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Faux succulents are a great addition to spring and summer themed wreaths! Just use hot glue to secure in place!

LaRibbons Deco Poly Mesh Ribbon - 10 inch x 30 feet - Metallic Foil Green/Pink/Blue/Yellow

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Love making mesh wreaths? Here's some metallic mesh ribbon perfect for spring and Easter themed wreaths!

Earth Tones 10 Yard Decorative Mesh Rolls (Pack of 3) for Crafting Wire Wreaths (Gold, Green, Brown)

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

If earth tones are more your thing, you can find mesh ribbon in these warm shades as well!

Learn to Make Deco Mesh Wreaths

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

If you've wanted to learn to make mesh wreaths, this inexpensive book is a great place to start!

DIY Wreath Making Kit - Decorative, Beautiful Supplies for DIY Projects

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

I haven't tried this particular wreath making set, but it's worth considering if you're a beginner who wants to learn more about making homemade wreaths! This set contains lots of wreath supplies to get you started.

Craft Burlap Ribbon No Fray Edges 4 Inches by 10 Yards 3 Pack Wreath Ribbon

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Burlap ribbon is soo versatile! I use it for making wreaths but also for tablescapes!

Burlap Bow

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

A burlap bow is a great way to finish off a wreath; no bow making skills required!

Darice Party Supplies, White 6 Each

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

White foam wreath forms are an inexpensive wreath supply that are great to keep on hand!

Colorbok Designer Paper Pad

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Scrapbook paper is one of my favorite wreath supplies! Cut into leaf shapes and hot glue onto a wreath form for a quick and colorful decor piece.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea! When you have a wreath idea in mind, be sure to browse to find high-quality, but inexpensive wreath supplies to turn your vision into reality!

**affiliate links are used; thank you for helping support this blog!

Thanks so much for reading all about our Wreath Supplies {Inexpensive Wreath Supplies from Amazon}. Have a great day!

food and recipes

Gender Reveal Food Idea {Sprinkle Oreos}

February 11, 2019

Super simple food idea for your gender reveal party! You just need a few ingredients for a fun, colorful and festive treat!

I love anything dipped in chocolate, but these dipped Oreos are a definite favorite, and are the perfect easy treat for your gender reveal party!

Gender reveal parties have become such a popular trend, and they don’t have to be fancy to be fun and creative!

gender reveal food idea | sprinkle oreos | gender reveal party

Full recipe is below. Basically, you’ll need sandwich cookies, candy melts, and sprinkles.

You’ll dip your cookies, cover with sprinkles, and let set on parchment paper. I found these pink and blue sprinkles at Hobby Lobby, but you are welcome to use whatever you can find!

To dip the Oreos, I melt my candy melts in a shallow bowl and use a fork to pick up the Oreo and tap off excess candy.

Gender Reveal Dipped Oreos

An easy recipe idea perfect for your gender reveal party! You just need a few ingredients for these delicious and festive dipped Oreos!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

Sandwich Cookies
White Candy Melts
Sprinkles

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Melt candy melts according to package instructions. I often add a tablespoon or so of coconut or canola oil to help thin the melted candy.

Dip your cookies, place on parchment, and sprinkle with your sprinkles.

Refrigerate until firm.

Notes

Store in refrigerator for 3-5 days

These turned out just so cute and can be made in minutes!

Thanks so much for reading all about our Gender Reveal Food Idea {Sprinkle Oreos}! Have a lovely day.

Tips & Tricks

Best Short Instagram Caption Ideas

February 8, 2019

Looking for short Instagram caption ideas? These witty and fun caption ideas are perfect for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or anywhere else you want to express yourself!

For better or worse, we often want to put our best selves forward on social media. When you’re short on time, though, it can be hard to come up with the perfect, clever caption to explain how you’re feeling in the moment.

instagram | caption ideas | short captions | instagram quotes | instagram caption ideas

Today, I’m sharing favorite short Instagram caption ideas. You can use these on Instagram, Facebook, your blog, or anywhere you want to express yourself in just a few words!

Funny Short Instagram Captions

the Mondayist “day of the week” ever (for when the day really isn’t going according to plan!)
it’s coffee o’clock!
insert funny instagram caption here
I don’t sweat, I sparkle!
confident as Kanye
we all have that one friend…
all things are possible with mascara and coffee
it’s okay if you don’t like me; not everyone has good taste
pretty sure my guardian angel drinks
less thinkee more drinkee (perfect for coffee lovers)
adulting is hard
diamonds were a girls best friend, then leggings happened
that’s enough todaying for today
team (insert “coffee”, “wine”, “friday”, “dry shampoo” here)
allergic to mornings
(insert item here) is not sparking joy
resting coffee face
I run on coffee and grace

“I run on coffee and grace” via burlap+blue

Inspirational Short Instagram Captions

more sunsets, less netflix
dream big, pray bigger
eat, pray, slay
grow through whatever you’re going through
design your happy life
in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years (abraham lincoln)
get busy living or get busy dying (stephen king)
you get what you give
life is a daring adventure or nothing at all (helen keller)
where there is love there is life (mahatma gandhi)
the best things in life aren’t things (art buchwald)
wanderlust and city dust
grateful for where I’m at, excited for where I’m going
living the good life full of good vibes
I need vitamin sea
a year older, a year bolder
be afraid. then go do it anyway
true queens fix each others crowns

Clever and cute short Instagram captions don’t have to be fancy or complicated. If you have a favorite Instagram caption, let us know in the comments!

Thanks so much for reading all about our Best Short Instagram Caption Ideas! Have a lovely day!

Tips & Tricks

DIY Air Freshener {How to Make Your Own Home Air Fresheners}

February 4, 2019

Sharing 10 DIY air freshener recipes that are easy to make and smell great! Pick your mood and spray accordingly to make your house smell fresh, naturally!

Air fresheners purchased at the store can contain harmful chemicals, and you can definitely smell them! It’s a good thing you can easily make homemade air freshener with a few ingredients that you likely have around the house.

All you will need to do is collect your materials, pick your fragrance and combine them in a spray bottle. Now, you will want to use the correct amounts to get the desired effect. You don’t want to have too much or too little essential oil or you risk it being too strong or too weak.

The folks at Simply Self Storage put together a list of 10 DIY Air Freshener recipes that range from fresh and clean to relaxing or invigorating.

Here’s the infographic for how to make 10 DIY Air Fresheners, scroll down for all the recipes!

How to Make DIY Air Freshener in 3 Simple Steps

To make your own homemade air freshener to use around the house just follow the steps below. It’s incredibly easy. Once you get the hang of it you can mix and match scents and play with the strength of the concoction!

1. Gather Your Materials

To make these air fresheners you will need a base of 3 ingredients, and then you will swap out the scents as you wish. You will want a spray bottle that fits 8 ounces, a funnel, distilled water (if you don’t have distilled, tap is fine), and two tablespoons of either 60+ proof vodka or rubbing alcohol.

Vodka and rubbing alcohol both have ethanol which is used to solubilize (or dissolve) the oil into the water and acts as a preservative. They also have mild disinfectant properties.

2. Pick Your Scent

Next, you will want to pick the scent you will be using for your DIY Air Freshener.

Citrus scents will feel more invigorating and refreshing, while scents like lavender and chamomile can be soothing. Mix and match until you find a scent that is uniquely yours.

3. Combine Ingredients and Shake

Finally, just grab the spray bottle and use the funnel to pour in about 1 cup of water. You can double the recipe if you want to make 2 cups of air freshener or find the smell too overpowering. Lastly, drop in the prescribed amount of essential oil and shake it up.

10 DIY Air Freshener Recipes

These essential oil air freshener recipes range from invigorating to earthy and are incredibly simple to make.

1. Lemon-Basil

This air freshener has a fresh and clean scent, perfect for a light and bright home. Lemon essential oil is said to nourish the skin while the basil balances with its earthy tones.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 or 6 leaves of fresh basil
5 drops lemon essential oil

2. Tea Tree Eucalyptus

With its herb-like aroma, tea tree essential oil mixed with eucalyptus produces an invigorating scent. The mix also acts as a natural deodorizer for fresh, clean air!

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
4 drops tea tree oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

3. Lavender Chamomile

Relaxing and sweet, this aroma is best to help you wind down after a long day. Spray it on your pillow before bedtime for instant relaxation.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil

4. Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime

Room spray with citrusy notes can provide the opposite effect. Spray this in the morning when you are gearing up for your day for a refreshing boost.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
3 drops grapefruit essential oil
3 drops tangerine essential oil
3 drops lime essential oil

5. Orange Rose

This combination is romantic and revitalizing, great for a soft, feminine atmosphere or anyone who needs a mood boost.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops of orange essential oil
7 drops of rose essential oil

6. Citrus Lavender

Calming yet rejuvenating, this room spray has the best of both worlds. Spray it before your big meeting or interview to relax and awaken your mind.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of orange essential oil
5 drops of tangerine essential oil

7. Invigorating Mint

Just like the name says, the peppermint in this air freshener will open your eyes and get you ready to greet the day. Spray it in the mornings or any time you need a little pick-me-up.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops of orange essential oil
7 drops of peppermint essential oil

8. Sandalwood

The masculine scent of sandalwood mixed with the earthy tones in the tea tree oil make this a lovely scent for your man cave. The lemon adds a hint of brightness to the concoction.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops of sandalwood essential oil
5 drops of tea tree oil
5 drops lemon essential oil

9. Pure and Simple

This simple, classic scent feels refreshing and clean. Spray it on your fresh linens!

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
5 drops lemon essential oil
5 drops lavender
5 drops rosemary

10. Healing Herbs

Eucalyptus and tea tree oil are known for their healing properties, and this freshener has an earthy scent perfect for your zen space.

1 cup water
2 tablespoons vodka or rubbing alcohol
7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
7 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil

Using these homemade air fresheners around your home will help keep your space deodorized and smelling fresh. Depending on your mood you can mix and match recipes or stick to a favorite.

Either way, your family will be reaping the benefits of a natural, inexpensive DIY concoction!

Thanks for reading all about our DIY Air Freshener {How to Make Your Own Home Air Fresheners}. Have a great day!

crafty things

Woodland Nursery Free Printable Art

January 31, 2019

Looking for free printables to decorate your child’s woodland nursery? This post is for you! Sharing free printable art, perfect for a woodland or
outdoor themed nursery, playroom or child’s room.

The woodland theme is soo very popular right now, and for good reason. It’s perfect for boys and girls, babies up to pre-teens!

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You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a woodland nursery or playroom, though. In today’s post, I’m sharing some free printable art; just download, print and frame for instant woodland decor!

These woodland animals printables are super cute, and would be perfect above a crib, bed, or dresser.

This set of nursery alphabet printables are available in all 26 letters of the alphabet. Use one for your child’s first or last name, or choose the letters in your child’s monogram for a fun and personalized art piece!

You can also find these woodland initial printables in chalkboard, too, if you’d prefer!

These watercolor woodland printables are perfect for a girl’s nursery or playroom. The floral crowns add a feminine touch!

Perfect for a boy’s room or playroom, these hipster woodland printables feature a fun and whimsical star background.

Our free printables are so easy to download and print out. Just follow these steps:

Click on the printable(s) you’d like to download, and save to your computer.
Send to your favorite photo printer to have printed on either matte cardstock or photo glossy paper (at-home printing is, of course, an option, but I find professional printers usually print colors and images more vividly and clearly).
Printables print best at 8×10.
Frame, display (or gift!) and admire!

Thanks so much for reading all about our favorite Woodland Nursery Free Printable Art. Have a lovely day!

crafty things holidays Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Messages for Kids Tradition

January 29, 2019

Looking for an easy tradition to start with your kids? This Valentine’s Day messages for kids activity is perfect not only for Valentine’s Day, but for birthdays, too!

Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away. I started this countdown activity with my kids last year, and we loved it so much, I decided to make it an annual tradition!

This Valentines’s Day messages countdown is perfect for birthdays as well. It’s a fun way to share with kids all the many things you love about them, and it’s inexpensive and easy, as well!

You can make this countdown as long as you like; I stick to about 14 days (starting on February 1st). Just cut out (or purchase) some cardstock hearts (here’s a link to some on Amazon you can check out)!

I purchased red and pink hearts, one color for each of my kids. You can also purchase a variety of colors and mix and match (I did this last year).

Each day leading up to Valentine’s Day (or your child’s birthday, if you’re doing this as a birthday countdown), tape one heart to his/her door using washi tape (which should be able to be removed easily once the countdown is done).

My kids loved reading their Valentine’s Day messages last year, and I can’t wait to start this tradition up again this year! Such a GREAT way to list all of the wonderful things that make your kid(s) special!

We have more easy and fun Valentine’s Day activities and printables here!

Thanks so much for reading all about our Valentine’s Day Messages for Kids Tradition. Have a lovely day!

crafty things Spring

Twig Wreath {Make a Spring Succulent Twig Wreath}

January 28, 2019

An easy twig wreath that is the perfect way to welcome spring to your home! Make this twig wreath using succulents, ribbon and any initial of your choosing!

Spring is almost here! If this is as exciting to you as it is to me, make this easy twig wreath to add some warm-weather flair to your home. There are so many ways to customize this wreath; make it once and use it for years to come!

This wreath only took about 30 minutes! Here’s what you’ll need…

Grapevine Wreath Form
Variety of Faux Succulents (If you’re looking for a GREAT price on faux succulents, try here)
Wide Ribbon
Burlap Bow (this one from amazon is a great price)
Monogram Letter (you can find these in craft stores or online)
Hot Glue

Step 1: You’ll want to start by trimming the stems of the succulents using wire cutters (if needed). Next, arrange them on your wreath until you are happy with the placement.

I did this by placing the larger succulents first (wait to hot glue them until you are sure you’re happy with the arrangement), then filling in with the smaller ones.

Next, use hot glue to secure your succulents in place.

Next, attach your bow to your wreath. I wanted to add a little extra pop of color and pattern to my bow, so I just took a length of ribbon and hot glued it to my bow.

This step adds an extra, welcome burst of color! I’ll use the same ribbon for hanging the wreath, so it’s a nice way to create a cohesive feel.

Use command squares to to hang your initial of choice to the middle of your door. I found my initial at Hobby Lobby!

If desired, you can spray paint your wooden initial. For some added color/pattern, you could also use Mod Podge to decorate your initial with scrapbook paper, fabric, or even glitter!

Thanks for reading all about how to make this spring twig wreath! Have a lovely day!

**contains affiliate links

food and recipes

Keto Candy {The Best Keto Candy Recipes to Try}

January 22, 2019

Looking for delicious and easy-to-make keto candy recipes? Today, I’m sharing a compilation of keto-friendly chocolate recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers!

I love keeping an eye on various internet trends and seeing what people are searching. Lately, one much-sought-after search term keeps cropping up in results–Keto Candy!

For those who don’t know, the Ketogenic Diet is a high fat, low carbohydrate diet that touts many health benefits (including weight loss).

Typically on the Keto Diet, chocolate, with it’s vast amounts of sugar, is a no-no.

Fortunately, some of my favorite food bloggers have found a way around this, and have created Keto Candy recipes that use chocolate (usually dark chocolate, which has less sugar), are Keto-friendly, and taste great!

Let’s take a look at some Keto-friendly, lower-carb Chocolate recipes to try!