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2010/03/10

St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt

Filed under: St. Patrick's Day — Tags: , — nana @ 9:06 pm

St. Patrick’s Day can be a fun day for all ages.  Searching inside or outside for the much sought after Pot ‘O Gold is always a popular activity on St. Patrick’s Day.  Disney FamilyFun submitted this version of a St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt to do just that…to follow fun all the way to a pot of gold!

What You Need
  • Paper
  • Marker
  • Black pot
  • Chocolate gold coins
  • Scissors
  • Green construction paper
Instructions
  1. Hide a pot filled with gold chocolate coins either inside or out, depending on the weather.
  2. Cut out several four leaf clovers from green construction paper. Cut one clover larger than the others.
  3. Write clues leading up to the pot on the smaller clovers.
  4. On the large clover, write the first clue and place it under your child’s breakfast dish, in his lunchbox, or with her after-school snack.
  5. On a larger scale, invite your child’s friends over for a larger St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt…leaving clues to smaller prizes leading up to the Pot ‘O Gold.

Carry the St. Patrick’s Day theme through with St. Patricks Day gifts, activities, treats, and poems.

May the luck of the Irish be with you today and always…

2010/03/04

St. Patrick’s Day Fun: How to Trap a Leprechaun

Filed under: St. Patrick's Day — Tags: , — nana @ 8:14 pm

It’s for the sake of St. Patrick’s Day mischief fighters, three state-of-the-art leprechaun traps are presented here. Each is easily made from ordinary household materials and uses lures and baits drawn from the latest research in leprechaun psychology.  But please take these designs and customize them to make something unique; leprechauns, as we all know, won’t be fooled by the same trap twice!  (crafts provided by Disney FamilyFun)

Leprechaun hat trap

LEPRECHAUN HAT PIT TRAP

Leprechauns have big egos, so a giant version of their own hat is irresistible to them. Once they step on the false top, you’ll have caught a 10-gallon prize. So that the top doesn’t give way too soon, use a lightweight bait, such as a crumpled piece of gold foil.

Our hat, a recycled oatmeal container, is wrapped with green felt secured with double-sided tape. To make the trap, we cut a hole in the lid (see image), then cunningly concealed it with a circle of green felt that will give way when the leprechaun steps on it. Leprechaun hat trap: step image

Leprechauns love to break rules. Warning signs are sure to lure them in.

Natural materials make these woodland creatures feel at home. Our ladder is made from twigs held together with wood glue. (more…)

2010/03/03

St. Patrick’s Day Fun: St. Patricks Day Treats

Filed under: St. Patrick's Day — Tags: , — nana @ 8:01 pm

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th and soon will be here. Make a date with your grandchildren to prepare special St. Patrick’s Day treats. Cooking with children gives you time to bond and share stories. It also can make learning fun including following directions, cause and effect, measuring, and estimating too. One of the recipes below gives children an opportunity to create rainbow colors. Celebrate this lucky Irish holiday with a batch of cheerful green shamrock cookies, St. Patrick’s cupcakes, and a lucky sweet pot ‘o gold. It doesn’t take the luck of the Irish to make these St. Patty’s Day treats favorites for family and friends.  Make extras to send to school or share at work. (Recipes provided by Disney FamilyFun)

St. Patrick’s Pot of Gold

Surprise your favorite little people on March 17th with these wee emerald pots filled with sweet, edible gold.

Ingredients

  • 3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin
  • 6 limes
  • Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving several inches of overhang on each side (this will make removing the gelatin easier). Combine a 3-ounce box of lemon-flavor gelatin and 1 cup of boiling water in a medium bowl, stirring until the gelatin is dissolved. Stir in 1 cup of cold water, then pour the mixture into the baking dish. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill the gelatin for 4 hours or until firm, then slice the gelatin into 1/2-inch cubes.
  2. Cut off the top quarter of each of 6 limes, then, without cutting into the fruit, slice a thin layer of peel from the bottom of each one to help them stand upright. With a small knife, cut around the inside of each lime’s rind to loosen the pulp, then spoon it out to make a shell.
  3. Place a pinch of sugar and 1 teaspoon of whipped cream in the bottom of each shell, then fill each lime pot with gelatin gold. Makes 6. (more…)

2010/02/27

Personalized Easter Gift Ideas

PERSONALIZED EASTER GIFT IDEASPersonalized Gifts for Every Family Member

Matching theme items, too!

PERSONALIZED GIFT CATEGORIES

Valentines Day

St. Patrick’s Day

Easter Gifts

Mothers Day

Fathers Day

Wedding Gifts

Grandparent Gifts

Friendship Day

Sweetest Day

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Birthday Gifts

Graduation Gifts

Teacher Gifts

Memorial Gifts

Baby Gifts

Christening Gifts

Bridal Party Gifts

Anniversary Gifts

Eggcellent Coffee Mug

Happy Easter Personalized Doormat

Happy Easter Sweatshirt

Hoppy Easter Personalized Picture Frame

Just Hatched Personalized Fleece Romper

My First Easter Picture Frame

Personalized Letter From The Easter Bunny

Personalized Somebunny Loves You Easter Bunny

Some Bunny Loves Me Baby Bib Pink

Some Bunny Loves Me Fleece RomperBlue

To Dye For T-Shirt

Easter Joy Garden Flag

Who Needs The Easter Bunny Fleece Romper

Easter Gift Basket Pink Bunny

Easter Gift Basket Blue Bunny

5 Simple Ways To Make The Easter Holiday More Delightful For Children And Adults

For most people, young and old alike, Easter is one of the most meaningful holidays celebrated, and as such, we give the holiday a lot of attention and preparation. Not only do we plan family events and get-togethers, but we also decorate and shop for special gifts and treats. This is especially important for anyone that has special children in their lives. Let’s face it, most adults agree that the joy and delight experienced by kids on Easter is what puts fun in the holiday. The truth is that most adults have wonderful memories of childhood Easters. These are cherished memories that usually center around The Easter Bunny and the fun things related to him. And adults always want the children they love to enjoy life in every way possible. Therefore, it just makes sense that adults want to continue and share well-loved traditions. These are ways that adults can help children capture the magical essence of Easter.

While the holiday has a very religious basis it also symbolizes new beginnings and hope. And of course, this aspect of Easter is important, but for kids everywhere it is The Easter Bunny that makes the holiday special. With that in mind, it’s not surprising then that adults strive to keep children believing in The Easter Bunny for as long as possible. The truth is that adults enjoy the idea of magic and miracles as much as kids do, and when a child no longer believes in The Easter Bunny the Easter holiday seems to lose some of its glitter.

Even though every family is unique and thus, will observe some traditions that are distinctively their own, there are still some holiday basics that are somewhat universal. And fortunately, there are some simple steps that can be taken to help keep children believing in The Easter Bunny for a long, long time. Check out the ideas below – you’re sure to find at least a couple that you can add to your Easter holiday plans. Both you and the kids will have a great time!

  • Plan a special time for writing letters to The Easter Bunny. Whether we know it or not, most kids write Easter Bunny letters every year. It’s true that this is sometimes done secretly – usually because the child feels unsupported in the act of believing in The Easter Bunny. The reality is that kids love it when adults encourage and support such fun activities. Show enthusiasm and encourage your child to write about favorite candy and treats as well as his or her behavior. After all, The Easter Bunny keeps track of which little boys and girls have been good. They’re the ones that get special treats, right? You can also add to the fun by prompting the children to decorate the letters and envelops in a special way for The Easter Bunny.
  • Don’t forget that your children will be hoping to receive a Letter From The Easter Bunny. Of course, you can try to write a letter that will look convincing enough to make your child believe it came from The Easter Bunny. The letter should include at least a bit of personalized information in order to make it more believable. Be sure to include your child’s name and maybe even the name of a friend. Adding the child’s town will help provide assurance that The Easter Bunny knows where to find him or her. Believe it or not, a Letter from The Easter Bunny can make a huge difference in how long a child believes in the idea that Peter Cotton Tail will be delivering goodies on Easter.
  • Be sure to use nice paper that gives an authentic appearance. It’s a good idea to add a letterhead  that depicts The Easter Bunny. That will add to the genuine look. You can create this effect yourself or you can purchase special stationery that will work really well.
  • Encourage your child to leave a special snack out for The Easter Bunny. It’s up to you what sort of snack you leave out – it could be a carrot, a cookie, or just about anything at all. You see, if you participate in this process it will show your child that you believe as much as he or she does. The idea is to use this time as an opportunity to spend quality time with your child. These are the building blocks of cherished memories.
  • Along with the snack you can also leave a little note for The Easter Bunny. This note can include any final requests for a special treat or goodie as well as a special message to The Easter Bunny that will let him know that the treat was made especially for him.
  • Don’t forget to make it look like The Easter Bunny actually ate the snack. You can leave some pieces or even scribble a quick ‘Thank You’ note from The Easter Bunny. Another quick idea is to make some large ‘rabbit footprints’ in your house. That is proof that The Easter Bunny visited.
  • About a month after Easter you can send your children a postcard from The Easter Bunny. This will help keep your children believing and it will let them know that The Easter Bunny thinks about them year round. This helps to establish the fact that The Easter Bunny lives and loves all the time, not only at Easter. And if your child wonders about what The Easter Bunny does at other times during the year this will help provide some easy answers.
  • Let The Easter Bunny send your child a birthday message. This technique works hand in hand with the postcard idea. Once again a greeting from the Easter Bunny at a time other than Easter will help make him more real to children. It proves that he is there all the time, not just during Easter, and that adds to the magical power of the holiday hero. Your child will love knowing that The Easter Bunny knows and remembers his or her birthday.

These are the things that cherished memories are made of – this is how to create a childhood that will always be remembered fondly. Writing letters to The Easter Bunny and receiving a personalized letter from The Easter Bunny adds time for families to connect in a positive way. The Easter holiday becomes even more meaningful to everyone involved as the entire family enjoys a stronger bond. And when your child becomes an adult you can trust that he or she will want the same ideals for his/her own family. The favorite traditions will be passed on through the generations and The Easter Bunny will continue to live in our hearts forever!

These tips brought to you by The Easter Bunny! Get a Personalized Letter from The Easter Bunny today at: www.PackageFromTheEasterBunny.com

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