5 Easy Costumes You can Make At Home

Halloween is just around the corner and just a little over month away. Can you believe it?!

Have your kiddos already started telling you what they want to be or do they need a little help deciding?

It has been a long tradition in some families to make their costumes rather than buy and in this post, I wanted to share some fun costumes you can make, with no sewing involved!

1. Got two kids? Do a washing machine and laundry basket. For the washing machine, get a body sized square box and paint it to look like a washing machine. Cut arm-holes and a hole in the top for the head. Glue a, empty detergent bottle on top. Have you child dress in a solid color. For the laundry basket, get and old laundry basket and cut the bottom out. make sandwich board-like straps on the top. Have your child dress in all one color. Prior to getting dressed up, hit glue some old clothes and socks on the inside of the "basket" and if your child is wearing a cap, put some socks on it as well.

2. Bunch of Grapes: I was this one Halloween. I wore a purple sweatsuit and a green beanie. My mom put purple balloons all over my sweats, held on with safety pins. It was super easy!

3. Lego: Get a Box large enough for your child's body that is rectangular and color it all one color. Attach Solo plastic cups to it..three in a row, vertically and evenly spaced.  Make sure they match the color you chose for the "Lego". Cut arm holes and the bottom off your box as well as a hole for the head. Have your child wear a beanie the same color as the chosen Lego.

4. Sheep: Dress you child in black leggings. On a solid white t-shirt, hot glue fluffy stuffing onto it to cover. have your child wear a skin tight long sleeve black shirt under. Make sure to paint a "nose" on your little sheep. For ears, just cut out from felt and attach to a headband. This would be super cute if you have a bunch of kids dressed this way!

5. Bag of Cotton Candy: Get a clear, child sized clean (obviously!) trash bag. Cut leg and arm holes. Have your child dress in all pink.Fill the bag with pink fluff (stuffing can be found at craft stores). Cinch the top.

Top Your Pancakes With These!

Pancakes are a kid's favorite! Drowned in syrup or topped with just butter, you can't go wrong with this breakfast favorite.

If you or your kids are getting bored with the variety of syrups out there and want to try something new, feel free to give these a spin!

1. Bacon and candied pecans. To get the crispiest bacon around, bake it in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes on a cookie sheet. Make sure it is the kind with a lip on it to catch the grease. When it comes out, cool and crumble. To make candied pecans, just make a simple syrup with equal parts water and sugar simmered in a pan. Add your pecans and coat well. Allow to dry.

2. Peanut Butter and Bananas. Elvis is said to love this combination on his sandwiches. Why not on a pancake?

3. Honey and Cinnamon. It's still sweet like kids like, but a little more natural that the sugar laden maple syrup you find in the stores.

4. Yogurt and fresh fruit. What could be better that this favorite on the go combo on top of a pancake? To make less runny, make sure to drain your fruit well or use a less runny fruit such as fresh peaches.

5. Fried apples. To make fried apples, cut 3 tart apples such as Granny Smiths into 8ths, removing the seeds and peels. Place in a skillet on medium heat with a dash of lemon juice, 3/4 cup Brown sugar, a dash of ground cloves and 1 tablespoon cinnamon. When the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat to low, cover and simmer until soft. Put on pancakes warm and top with whipped cream.

6. Caramel and whipped cream. Dulce de YUMMY!

7. Turn an ordinary pancake into a celebration with a scoop of ice cream! This would be perfect for a birthday boy or girl.

8. Shredded coconut and pineapple. Bring a little tropical flavor to your pancakes and if you like, toast the coconut in the oven for a few moments.

5 Ways To Teach Your Child To Be Generous

We all want kids that share and are conscious of other's needs. Kind children who have a giving heart. The truth is, kids have a world that very much revolves around their little self and their own needs and need to be taught to remember others.

How do you teach this skill to a child?

In this post, I will share 5 ways you can teach your child to be a generous giver. It is never too late to start these lessons!

1. Model generosity in your own life. Kids of all ages learn from their parents. Have a giving spirit and show your children how to have one in their own lives. Take situations and turn them into lessons.

2. Sign your child up to volunteer with you. It is not only fun to do volunteer work, but kids will see real-life impact. Visit seniors in a nursing home facility, play with the dogs and kitties at the animal shelter and serve meals in a soup kitchen.

3. Help you child be aware of other people's wants and needs. Teach them to wait their turn, share something of theirs and invite others to join them in fun. Don't just say things like, "Don't be selfish!". Turn it around and say, "I bet Michael would love it if you shared your toy."

4. When your child does something kind for another person without being asked, make sure to give them a lot of praise. This kind of positive reinforcement sets them up for that "warm fuzzy feeling" we all love when we do things for others.

5. Help your child understand helping others who do not have what they have. Ask them to go through their toys a couple times a year and give the ones they no long want to a battered women's shelter or children's shelter. When they get an allowance, ask them to pick a charity and donate part of it periodically. Give them a sense of pride in doing so.

What other ways do you show generosity?

Fun ways to celebrate Autumn with your Kids

One of my favorite seasons is Autumn. Crisp leaves crunching under my feet..warm scents in the air of apples and spice...bright orange pumpkins...ahhh!

Kids love Autumn, too. What are some fun ways you can welcome the crisp season of fall for very little?

Take a look at the list and feel free to comment with your own!

• Go for a fall hike. Feel the leaves crunch under your boots. For extra fun, do a scavenger hunt for things like acorns, different colored leaves and even mushrooms.
• Go to an apple orchard and pick apples. Have your kids help you decide what to make and get them involved. 
• Do leaf prints. Take leaves that are just fallen and not crunchy yet and place a sheet of paper over them on a hard surface. Rub a crayon over the top of them.
• Have your kids help you make bird feeders with pine cones. Just coat a pine cone with peanut butter (or soy butter if you have allergies) and roll in bird seed. Tie a string on the end and hang near a window to watch the birds.
• Go to a pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin. Get a small one. Use markers and glitter and decorate it. No cutting involved!
• Don't forget the classic leaf pile jump! Great for taking priceless pictures!
• If you have a mini-football fan, host a fun football theme party for kids!

Whatever you do, have a blast! 

How to Save Money on School Lunches

School lunches can get expensive. But never fear money smart mom or dad, Kidzies has some tips to lighten the expense and give your kids some variety as well!

9 Tips to lowering school lunch costs:

1. Never buy pre-packaged snacks and lunch box fillers. These can cost 50-75% more than just portioning out from a larger package.

2. Use leftovers from dinner. Cold pizza, ham made into sandwiches and chicken salad can be great for lunch boxes.

3. Don't buy disposable drink pouches. Instead, opt for a reusable water bottle. If your child doesn't like plain water, try adding a packet of sugar free drink mix. To make sure their drink doesn't get lost, make sure you also invest in a Huggerz at a great price of $6!

4. Don't brown bag it. A reusable lunch bag is much more economical.

5. For sweet treats, spend a day on the weekend and make cookies or something similar for lunches rather than buying some.

6. Buy fruit that is in season to send with your kiddo. This is always a more economical choice.

7. Does your child like fruit snacks? Either buy dried fruit in bulk or make your own in a dehydrator. Much healthier and much more budget friendly.

8. Skip sandwich baggies and go for re-usable containers.

9. Don't forget to make sure your child likes what you are sending. It is a total waste of time and money if what you send with them doesn't get eaten.

Have a happy school year!

Ways to Help Kids Wind Down For BedTime

If bedtime is a crazy time in your house, you are looking for any and all suggestions to make the madness stop. Here are some ways to help bring opn the calm at bedtime in your home.

Depending on your child's age, a journal may help. Kids may enjoy writing down their thoughts about the day in a special book you both pick out at the store. Not only will this help bring the excitement level down, it will sharpen writing and thinking skills. Double score!

What do you want to wind down? Does a back rub sound nice? Your kids may like one, too. Not only is this a great bonding activity, but the soothing and calming wind down can be a great time to quietly discuss school issues.

Give your child an evening snack. Something warm such as oatmeal, or even something cool such as applesauce make great bedtime snacks.

The classic story time is usually pretty good at getting kids to wind down. If you have an older child, try reading a chapter book. Read a chapter nightly and your child may even look forward to this nighttime regimen.

Make sure to make winding down easier by cutting out TV or other electronics right before bed. Instead, allow your child to play imaginatively and quietly with non-electronic toys 1-2 hours before bed.

Get in a routine. When kids know when to expect bedtime, they will naturally start to get tired and calmer when the time draws near. Make sure you always stick to the schedule.

Tips for Getting a Picky Eater to Try New Things

Most kids go through it, some stay in it longer than others. Moms and Dads..you know what I am talking about: Picky eaters.

It can be extremely frustrating to deal with a picky eater. Meal times turn into stressful events spent begging, pleading and getting angry, even. You feel like throwing in the towel and making separate meals for everyone.

Don't give up yet! Here are some tips for getting picky eaters to eat.

1. Don't force your child to eat any foods. Many times, the lack of desire to try new foods is just a way of power struggling with you. Instead, just keep patiently offering.

2. Make sure to introduce only a few new foods every month or so. Don't expect your child to try something new every meal or week, even.

3. Don't bribe with dessert for eating a new food. Make sure to encourage by using phrases such as " I am very proud of you for trying that food you were unsure about" rather than "You are a good girl for eating that asparagus".

4. If you are unsure if your child will try something, offer it in a fun way. Give veggies a fun dip to go with or cut something into fun shapes.

5. Try having your child help make dinner. Many times, children are more interested in something if they have a part in preparing it.

6. Try, try and try again. Don't harp on your child to try something, but don't give up after the first try either. Keep offering the new food periodically and they may get curious about it. Also, Children's taste buds change over time. One year they may not like something, but the next year, it might be a favorite.

7. Most importantly, model a healthy relationship with all kinds of foods. It's OK not to like everything, but just as you want your child to try new things, be willing to do so in front of them as well.