4th of July Fruit Kabobs

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Easy to make Fruit Kabobs

We love the 4th of July. Always such a festive holiday for so many reasons. It’s such a great day to show our patriotic side, give thanks for our country, and of course enjoy all the bbq’s, get togethers, and family fun that go hand-in-hand with this holiday.

My kids always love a donut for breakfast, well I guess who doesn’t right?! Unfortunately I can’t give them one all the time, but I will make a fruit kabob that includes a donut or two. This way they get some fruit mixed in with their favorite breakfast food.

We made these simple 4th of July Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients:

Here’s what you’ll need to make these super simple but tasty fruit kabobs

Blueberries

Strawberries

White Donuts

Donut Holes

Marshmallows

To make these kabobs I just put my fruit and donuts rotating to make red, white, and blue in a row.

These 4th of July Fruit Kabobs are so tasty and I don’t feel so guilty letting the kids enjoy them because of course there is fruit involved too!

If you’re still looking for a festive snack for you and the kids this fourth of July, try making this 4th of July Trail Mix. It’s easy to make + it’s the perfect blend of sweet n salty. We love eating the trail mix while watching the fireworks. It’s a great little snack for picnics, bbq’s, or just a festive treat for the kids to enjoy (well…. adults too), because of course I eat it too.

I hope you enjoy your 4th of July this year. Let me know what you think of your kabobs or trail mix if you make some.

Happy 4th of July from me and my kiddos.

4th of July Trail Mix

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Festive Trail Mix

Do you love the 4th of July just as much as we do? I just love all the colorful decorations and festive foods that go along with it. I love the patriotic spirit and pride we show to our country. I love the parades, and gathering with friends and family for a bbq, or picnic, and of course I love the fireworks.

This week is going to be fun because there are so many festive activities to enjoy with the kids and so many colorful and festive food choices too.

Red, White and Blue Trail Mix seemed to be the exact snack we need to kick start our July.

4th of July Trail Mix

It’s so simple here’s what you need.

Ingredients

Red & Blue M&M’s

Cheerios

Mini Marshmallows

Yogurt Covered Raisins

Seasonal Red, White, & Blue Goldfish

I measured less lean 1 cup of each and mixed them all together in a mixing bowl. Then just divided up into small bowls for the kids snack. What was left-over I put into a plastic ziplock bag for later.

I will admit I do see my kids picking through just to eat the M&M’s, but honestly can you blame them? I am a sucker for sweets, so I let it go… plus there’s more crackers and other goodies in this trail mix than actual M&M’s.

Have fun making your 4th of July Trail Mix. If you add another ingredient, let me know what works for you. I’d love to hear what makes up your favorite trail mix snack.

Great American Backyard Campout

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It’s Camping with the Kids Week

I hope you’ve enjoyed this weeks theme - Camping with the Kids. I’ve had a great time sharing lots of backyard camping ideas, recipes, and activities with you, all week long. If you missed any, here are a few of the exciting ways to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors with your kids.

Great American Backyard Campout

Join the fun this Saturday June 28th for the Great American Backyard Campout. If you can’t get outside this weekend, you can take the camping pledge by clicking here. This way you take the pledge to camp outside with your family sometime this summer. Trust me, it’s A LOT of fun!

Backyard Camping Ideas

Here’s a few more ideas to get outside and have some fun with your family.

Easy Indoor Smores Recipe

Here are a few of my favorite activities to enjoy with the kids

Click to download and Enjoy a Backyard Camping Scavenger Hunt

You can’t forget to sing some songs by the campfire or at least try to sing a few. Here’s a few I remember singing and the lyrics are fairly simple for kids to sing along and learn.

Duke of York

The grand old duke of York
He had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again
And when they were up they were up
And when they were down they were down
And when they were only half-way up
They were neither up nor down!

This Land is Your Land

 

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

Are you ready to join the movement and camp with your family this Saturday June 28th? It is The Great American Backyard Campout after-all. Grab a few of my ideas and your tent and I promise you and your kids will have a blast. We plan on getting outside and joining the fun this weekend, I hope you do too!

I can’t wait to see what fun you and your family have while backyard camping. Stop by and share some pictures with me on Facebook or Instagram.

Have fun out there in the great outdoors!

Backyard Camping Ideas for Kids

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It’s Camping with the Kids Week

This is an exciting week at our house, as we have been enjoying our weekly theme - Camping with Kids. Let me tell you, this week is a BIG hit with the kiddos. Sometimes when you sit back and look at your kids and life you realize that children love the simple things in life, no frills. Camping with the Kids would fall into one of those great memories in the making.

Did you see yesterdays post showing you how to make Indoor Smores? If you missed it, make sure to check it out here or pin for later. It’s a super EASY Smores recipe - you make all from the comforts of your own home.

I grew up tent camping with my family usually in the woods or near a lake somewhere in California, so sharing the joy of the great outdoors and nature with my own kids is truly a great feeling. Who knew, pitching a tent in your own backyard could be so fun?…. Well, I’ll tell you it’s a great bonding experience for you and your kids.

First we set up the tent (well my hubby did) I did a fantastic job supervising, if you ask me. Next, the kids got their camping chairs out from the garage and put their sleeping bags inside our home away from home.

Backyard Camping Ideas for Kids

Then we let the good times roll…..

I got the kids involved and excited about our Scavenger Hunt.

Click to Download a free Camping Scavenger Hunt for Kids

After our scavenger hunt we played a good ol’ fashioned game of Tic Tac Toe.

Again, just some simple games but such a thrill for the kids, they didn’t even realize we were in our own backyard camping.

My son decided to use some of the rocks we found from our scavenger hunt and make some fun rock sculptures.

More sorting and using rocks from our backyard scavenger hunt game.

Next we made friendship bracelets. This reminded me of camp from when I was a girl. You know, staying at camp for a week, making crafts, and having a blast outdoors - such great memories. My daughter must’ve made like 5 bracelets, and necklaces. We used Creatology Pony Beads and Kids Braiding Cord to make the bracelets.

We got the backyard fire-pit lit and decided to grill up some hot-dogs for dinner. I did cheat and add some french fries from inside the house on this part (but otherwise we were outside camping).

With nice full bellies we were ready to play some Backyard Bingo. We used some great printables from My Insanity posting at ThirtyHandMadeDays. We used those rocks we found from the scavenger hunt.

Click here to view Backyard Bingo

Once the sun set and night settled in we enjoyed our campfire in our backyard. Luckily we have a fire-pit so this part was a whole lot of fun. The kids used glow sticks and flashlights to light the tent. From the smiles on the kids faces I knew that camping in the backyard was a huge success.

We couldn’t camp without making Smores. If you missed my last post on how to make Indoor Smores, you can check it out by clicking here. So easy, and a must-have for camping, at least for me.

Who knew, camping in your own backyard could be SO fun! Join the movement this Saturday June 28th for The Great American Backyard Campout. The kids are really loving the great outdoors, so we will definitely be outside camping in the backyard. With all these fun ideas, will you join the fun and pitch a tent in your backyard too?

I hope you and your family get a chance this summer to join The Great American Backyard Campout fun. It’s a hit with the kids and honestly with parents too! I love how you don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to make this a memorable camping experience for your kiddos.

Indoor Smores

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It’s Camping with the Kids Week

With summer in full swing, I’m trying to keep the kids busy + learning while they are out of school. So, each week I’m featuring a new theme to make summer both educational while making great memories for the kids too. This week our theme is Camping with Kids.

Did you know, Saturday June 28th is the annual Great American Backyard Campout? It’s a great event that encourages families to get outside, enjoy the great outdoors either camping in your yard, or at a campground. Either way, it’s a great night to spend with your family and friends outdoors under the stars to be part of a national movement to help support programs that give back to our precious wildlife. Camping is a great way to teach kids to foster the love and appreciation of the great outdoors and nature.
Each day this week I’ll feature a fun activity that explores camping with the kids.
First on my list….. Making Smores. Not only is it super easy… and when I say easy, I’m not joking… it’s so simple and all done indoors. Yes, indoors… camping is done outside, but if you don’t have a fire-pit waiting in your backyard, then here’s a great way to get the kids involved during your backyard camping…Smores, of course.
Because, you just can’t camp without making Smores, here’s an easy way to make them.

Easy Indoor Smores

Ingredients:

Graham Crackers
Chocolate Bar
Large Marshmallows
Tin Foil
Sheet Pan

Here’s What To Do:

Layer your sheet pan with tin foil and heat your oven to the broil setting.
Have the kids break the graham crackers in half and lay them onto sheet pan.
Break your chocolate bar into squares
Top 1/2 the graham crackers with marshmallow. Top the other 1/2 with a chocolate piece.

Leave the graham crackers face open and place into the oven.

Warning: They cook QUICK! With the broiler setting, maybe less than 2 minutes.
Once you pull from the oven, put your Smores together like a sandwich and enjoy this yummy treat!

Now, making indoor smores may seem odd, but honestly they taste delicious with less mess, especially if you can’t get to a bbq or fire pit in your backyard. Plus, it’s so easy and the kids absolutely love it. As you can see my son had no problem enjoying his indoor Smores - he actually ate 2 of them, they are SO good.

If you want to join the movement and take the camping pledge, check out backyardcampout.org for even more ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature with your family.
I hope you get outside this week and maybe try camping in your backyard with the kids. We’ll be outside this weekend camping, will you?
Today’s indoor Smores was just our first stop in making a backyard campout a huge success.  My kids loved camping in the backyard and can’t wait to do it again this weekend, so stay tuned this week, I will show you even more fun activities, games, and ways to make your backyard camping a BIG hit with the whole family.

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

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It’s Smoothie Saturday

Summer is officially here, woo-hoo! I hope you and your family are enjoying the long days, and beautiful weather just as much as we are. Well…I’m actually battling a cold at the moment, but all in all this mama keeps on going (with a little rest here n there) when I can.
I’m feeling the summer vibe with sunshine and warm weather so this week’s menu features a:

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

For me, these two flavors combined make me think of Hawaii, which in some way makes me again think of summer…
so here we go, another Smoothie Saturday served up just for you.

Ingredients:

1 Cup of Pineapple (fresh or frozen)
1 Cup of Mango (fresh or frozen)
1 Banana, sliced
1 Cup of Almond Milk
3-4 Ice Cubes
1 Tsp Ground Flaxseed (optional)

Mix it up and you’ve got yourself a summer blend of Pineapple and Mango whipped up in this delicious smoothie. This recipe makes a lot - 24oz to be exact, you can share with the kids or just devour yourself. I won’t lie, I drank the whole thing instead of sharing, it was so good I just couldn’t help it. My kids do love Pineapple so I know this will be a popular smoothie this summer.

Thanks so much for joining me for another Smoothie Saturday. I hope you enjoy mixing up your smoothie this week.

Stay tuned next Saturday, I’ve got a Watermelon recipe in the works, perfect for summer and for the 4th of July.

So Cal Baton on Instagram

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I Got to Hold the Baton

This week I had the privilege of participating in So Cal Baton. Julie from Girl on the Move is so amazing she decided to put together a So Cal Baton collaborative community through Instagram, where locals can share photos of their piece of Southern California.

Each day a new follower of So Cal Baton takes a turn at holding the baton and sharing their Southern California photos through this collaborative Instagram account known as SoCalBaton. 

Once I heard about this exciting opportunity I emailed Julie for more details. I loved her idea and couldn’t wait to hold the baton and show you my little piece of Southern California where I love living.

During my turn at So Cal Baton my first stop was going to be one of my favorite spots in all of San Diego for breakfast… Konos in Pacific Beach. I’ve been going to Kono’s for their cheap but yet amazingly delicious breakfast since before my days of actually living in San Diego. It’s a must-stop for any local or tourist alike. Lines are usually half way down the street but move quickly and the food is cheap but well worth the wait.

My next stop was directly across the street from Konos, which happens to be the Pacific Ocean. Lying over the ocean is a wonderful historical landmark called The Crystal Pier. Built in 1927 this classic hotel is something everyone should try once. They are known for their pier cottages where you are “sleeping over the ocean”. The Crystal Piers cottages are one of a kind, built on top of an actual pier. I have some wonderful memories here spent with family, I couldn’t help but make this a stop while holding the baton. Here are a few photos I shared over at So Cal Baton.

Next I headed north up Mission Boulevard towards La Jolla. I love a good scenic route so I drove the coast up to La Jolla, just a few short miles from Pacific Beach area of San Diego. Once we arrived in La Jolla I stopped for a nature walk with my kiddos. The wether was absolutely beautiful, crisp, ocean-air and just plain old amazing that day! We stopped to overlook the gorgeous coastline of La Jolla Cove. We took a walk to see The Childrens Pool hoping to see lots of Sea Lions - we saw a few, but the gorgeous ocean view is what really drew me to La Jolla. Here are a few photos I shared on So Cal Baton.

Last stop while holding the baton was my favorite pizza joint in San Diego named Pizza Port. It’s a tiny little spot located in Solana Beach area along the coast. Great pizza and beer, although I had kids in tow so I only enjoyed a slice of pizza during this trip Here’s the front door of this must stop pizza place in San Diego.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about my neck o’ the woods here in Southern California. If you or someone you know lives here and would like to join the fun, stop by and email Julie at Girl on the Move and make sure to become a follower of So Cal Baton on Instagram.

This is really a unique opportunity to be a part of such an exciting and growing Instagram collaborative community, plus it’s also a great way to learn more about beautiful Southern California.
To see some more photos of our journey stop by Krafts and Kiddos on Instagram and let’s be friends.

Here’s one last pic of my kiddos soaking in the sites of sunny San Diego.

 

Thanks for following along with me and thanks to Julie at Girl on the Move for the opportunity to hold So Cal Baton.
I can’t wait to sign up again!

Handprint Mermaid Painting

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It’s Under the Sea Week

We are in full swing with this weeks theme - Under the Sea. The kids and I are both enjoying our weekly theme so far. Not only have we made some really creative and colorful crafts, we went for a nature walk at the beach. My daughter even brought her notepad and took “notes” - for a 6 year old, I was pretty impressed. I’ve tried incorporating Sea Life into our week by reading books about water, beaches, sea life, and animals making this a super exciting week for us all!

Today we had a blast creating a Handprint Mermaid.
Our creative and colorful under-the-sea masterpiece is sure to be a big hit!

Supplies

White Construction Paper 11 x 14 size
Paint (assorted colors)
Paper plates or Tray (for paints)
Red Marker
Some children who don’t mind getting their hands a little messy

Instructions

Choose your mermaid hair color then add that paint color onto paper plate or tray. Dip your child’s hand in the paint and press onto paper where the head will be. Continue this step a few more times to get more hair. - Let dry at least 10 minutes.

Mix paints to get the skin color you want. Fingerprint circles to make the face directly below the hair. I covered the hair line a little to make the face larger.
Using the same paint color, fingerprint the neck, shoulders and arms. Let dry.

Flip your paper upside-down and have your child dip their whole hand into green paint. Starting at the edge of the body place their handprint down. This will form the mermaid body.

Ready to make the tail…..Press 3 fingers into green paint, place fingers facing downwards to make the tail. Repeat to make the other side of the tail. Let dry.
To make the scales on the mermaids body just fingerprint using blue paint - all the way down the body.

Add eyes by dipping your marker tip into white paint. Place the marker onto face where you want the eyes. Once dry add a dab of blue, green, or brown for inside eye color.

Fingerprint a red mouth, once dry use a red marker to finish up the sides. Add eyelashes using a marker.

If you want to add some colorful fish or jellyfish onto your Handprint Mermaid painting - pick your paint colors, then fingerprint a circle + use the side of your little finger to create tentacles for your jellyfish. Same idea for the fish.

This painting was a whole lot of fun to make, the hardest part is waiting for the paint to dry in between steps. Besides waiting for paint to dry this was a big hit with my daughter! She even drew a few mermaids of her own (which is fantastic because my drawing skills need a little help).
I hope your family has just as much fun creating your mermaid using their little fingers and hands. Painting a Handprint Mermaid really is a lot of fun and exciting to see it come to life on the paper.

If you liked todays craft, I have a few more ideas that I’m sure will inspire some Under the Sea creativity.

I’d love to see how your Under the Sea themed crafts come out.
Stop by and share on our Facebook or Instagram.
I love seeing what you create.

Thanks for stopping by and saying hello over here at Krafts and Kiddos.

CD Fish Craft

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It’s Under the Sea Week

I hope you are enjoying our Under the Sea Week so far. Each day this week I will feature a fun Under the Sea related craft, activity, or book for you and your kids to enjoy to encourage the love of learning - all summer long.
Today we are making CD Fish using old or scratched cd’s and some basic supplies. It’s a great way to teach your child how to recycle and make a craft.

These colorful CD Fish can be hung up and reflect light near a window or used as a creative tabletop decoration.

CD Fish Craft

Supplies

1 - 8×11 Yellow construction paper
1 - CD (old or un-used)
Black Sharpie
Glue
Tape
Scissors
Markers (red, black, and orange)
1 - Googly eye
Honestly, we have so many old CD’s around the house, this was a great way to recycle some of those and inspire a fun activity for the kids.

Instructions

1) Have the kids draw scales on the back of your CD using a Sharpie. Fill in the whole CD to the circle in the center.

2) Add a Googly eye
3) Using your yellow construction paper - cut out the shapes for lips and fins. For the center fin make sure it’s long and narrow towards the center so you can insert into the center hole of the CD.

4) Using tape, apply the lips and fins to the back of the CD.

5) Now let their inner creativity shine by adding circles, lines, and shapes using colored markers.

Check back throughout the week for super exciting Under the Sea activities, crafts, and stories, that are all about Sea Life. It’s a perfect way to kick-start the summer!
If you missed yesterdays post, stop by here and check out the Seahorse craft we made using Cheerios.

Thanks for stopping by Krafts and Kiddos. I hope I was able to inspire some cool crafts with the kids this summer.