Family Fun on the Fourth

Along with celebrating our nation’s independence, the Fourth of July is a great time to bring the community together to create fun memories with friends and family. Among the fireworks and parades, the fourth is full of excitement- especially for the kids. Activities such as creating fun crafts, making festive treats and playing outdoor games are always popular among children.

Creating crafts is always a hit with kids, no matter the age. For the younger children, try something as easy and fun as creating a Fourth of July wand, a red, white & blue wreath or simply having them decorate individual napkin holders for your Fourth of July get together. For the middle-aged children in the family, try crafts such as creating a Fourth-inspired word find or patriotic firecracker favors. These crafts are guaranteed to get your kids excited about the festive holiday.

Although kids love crafts, they also love sweets! Making fun holiday treats is always a great way to get the kids ready for the Fourth. Putting together something as simple as red, white & blue cupcakes or attempting more of a challenge with festive sugar cookie bars will light the little ones up like fireworks. Along with being fun and tasty, making treats with the kids is a great way to gain valuable family bonding time over the holiday weekend.

Playing outdoor activities is always a great way to get your kids excited about the Fourth of July.  When it comes to outdoor activities the opportunities are endless. Some hits among children are the bean bag toss, polish golf, and of course potato sack races. These games are great for getting your kids involved with the other children in the community as well as making memories for years to come.

The Fourth of July is a great summer holiday that the family will be sure to enjoy. Whether you choose to create a craft, make treats, play outdoor games or all of the above, your kids will enjoy the fourth in ways they never did before! Check out our Facebook page for even more ideas for family fun on the Fourth.

How to Keep Your Kids Entertained and Happy on Road Trips

Summertime is the perfect time for a family vacation. You can show your kids natural wonders or enlighten them with cultural and historic points of interest. However, whether you are traveling to the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, Yellowstone, or your family cabin up north, your memories can depend on how fun or how big of a headache the journey was. Below are some tips to keep your kids entertained and happy on road trips.

Help Them Visualize
Provide your kids with a map of your trip, pit stops included. It will help dampen the incessant “Are we there yet?” questions if your child can visualize where they are and where they are headed. Plus, being able to read a map is a useful life tip that they can learn. In addition to providing a map, give your child a briefing of the itinerary, such as how long the trip will be and how much time there will be between stops.

Set Expectations and Reward Good Behavior
Kids are never too young to learn a lesson. In addition to practicing patience, setting expectations on how to behave on a long trip can help your child practice good behavior especially if they are awarded. No complaining from “point A” to “point B” can be rewarded with an ice cream cone or control over the radio. Being helpful with siblings could be rewarded with getting first pick on which sight to see or pool time at the hotel. Remember that a little incentive never hurts.

Eat Well, Take Rests
For everyone’s sanity, make sure to make somewhat frequent pit stops. While trying to reach a destination as quickly as possible may be tempting, getting out of a stale car to stretch your legs will go a long way in maintaining a positive outlook for you and your kids. Think about eating healthy and non-messy foods—not just McDonald’s or gas station goods—to stay refreshed. Pack your own small snacks, maybe even meals, to satisfy your appetite and prevent overtiredness and crankiness. Nuts and dried fruit are portable snacks that provided a great pack of nutrients and energy. Also, remember the importance of water and staying hydrated. Stick with healthy habits on your trip because healthy kids are happy kids.

Be Prepared
Parents probably can’t stress this enough: be prepared for every situation. Prepare yourself for bored kids, tired kids, temper-tantrum-throwing kids, and sick kids. Have enough healthy snacks and a variety of medicine and vitamins in case you find a drugstore unavailable. Have each child bring a favorite toy, book, or blanket for some comfort away from home. This will go a long in helping everyone have the best time they possible can.

No, Really. Be Prepared
Pack activity kits for each child. App games and DVD players can be nice to distract your kids, but have a small variety of toys, paper activities, crafts, books, and games so your child can flex their creative minds. You can give them a new activity after every stop so they have something new to look forward to as well.

Simple tips and habits will help you and your kids have an excellent time on your family travels and will help to ensure exciting and hopefully, fantastic memories.

Delightfully Nutritious Meals for Kiddos

Every March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates Nutrition Month - 31 days devoted to helping people develop good eating and exercising habits, as well as learning how to make proper food choices. Though the month of March is over, it’s still important to teach your children about the significance of healthy eating.

To help your family on their journey to optimal health, we’ve made a list of 8 of our favorite healthy recipes, just in time for new spring produce to show up at your grocery store. And while some kiddos are picky eaters, it’s hard for any child to resist food that’s fun to eat!

1. Breakfast Banana Splits

Bright colors (and sprinkles!) make this bowl of fruit and yogurt look like a dessert that your kiddo will ask for no matter the time of day.

2. Cheesy Cauliflower Dippers

A deceptive pizza look-a-like, these dippers are a delicious healthy option! Utilizing the latest clean-eating trend of cauliflower, it’s easy to enhance this recipe for lunch, dinner, or snack time.

3. Broccoli, Chicken & Rice Casserole

Talk about delicious! Casseroles are a Midwestern favorite for a reason. This quickie has only a few ingredients that are easy to find in your fridge, and it’s budget-friendly. Plus: it’s super cheesy, so children will love it.

4. Slow Cooker Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken

This recipe is so versatile, it’ll be your new best friend. Fun flavors combine to create a delicious chicken that’s perfect as a starting point for tortilla soup, the stuffing of tacos and enchiladas, or the main dish itself.

5. French Toast Strips

Brinner, anyone? Using whole grain bread and non-sugared syrup is the key to making this old time favorite a healthy one. Your kids will love the dippable strips option, as well.

6. Creamy Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese

It wouldn’t be a list of food for kids if it didn’t include macaroni and cheese! Ditch the boxed brand and try your hand at homemade. Add veggies like spinach, peas, or broccoli for an added dose of healthy.

7. Freezer Friendly Chicken Nuggets

Another food that’s beloved by children, chicken nuggets have a bad reputation for being unhealthy to the maximum degree. But if you have a bit of patience, homemade chicken nuggets are a breeze, and a total kid-pleaser.

8. Homemade Spaghetti-O’s

If your kids ask consistently to buy canned Spaghetti-O’s, try this version instead. Healthy, dairy-free, and lacking preservatives, this recipe might be the best thing that’s ever happened to your kids.

In search of more family recipes, craft ideas, or parenting tips? Follow us on Pinterest for content that’s updated weekly. If we missed a recipe you and your family love, post it in the comments!

Outdoor Spring Activities for Kids

Whether you're a parent or a teacher, signs of spring are a welcomed change from the cold spells of winter. After being cooped up in the house or classroom, the thought of being outdoors is a welcomed change for children. Now that it is beginning to be warm enough to venture outdoors, here are a few ideas to celebrate the change of temperature!

1. Garden Rock Caterpillar

If your flowerbed is in need of some character, try making this cute little guy! Perfect for a full-fledged family activity, have each of your kids paint a rock before building.






2. Outdoor Color Match





Stop at your local hardware store and grab some paint chips before going on this color expedition. Punch holes in the chips and give them to your kids as they run free trying to match the colors.







3. DIY Bird Feeder




These do-it-yourself bird feeders are completely kid-friendly! Decorate them however you'd like, and watch your kids' excitement as they await the hungry birds.







4. Sidewalk Chalk Puddle Paint




When the snow drains off, create colorful puddles with sidewalk chalk! Use old chunks of chalk, or pieces that are too small. Your kids will love the effects the pain will have on the water and you'll love their enthusiasm.




5. Rainbow Bubble Wrap Tree
 




Starting Spring on a messy note seems to be a theme, as with this rainbow bubble wrap tree! Watch your youngsters go wild while you enjoy their springtime happiness.






Try a few of these outdoor activities, or a few of your own springtime games now that the warm weather is back upon us. Whatever your reason to get outdoors with your children or students, take advantage of the upcoming season with some new spring activities.

Having a Succesful Year of Fundraising in 2015

The first month of 2015 is nearly over, and for most organizations, the new year marks a time of rebirth and renewal. Businesses, schools, and nonprofits alike utilize January as a pivotal starting point for new ideas, goals, and trends to increase their fundraising efforts over the next calendar year. So what are the best ways to approach 2015, fundraising-wise?

According to The Non-Profit Times, visual storytelling will be crucial to being successful while fundraising this year. “Organizations will have to find creative and innovative ways to engage supporters in a world full of distractions, and visual components are key,” says Rich Dietz, senior product manager for digital fundraising at Abila Software in Austin, Texas. Previous research indicates that people process visuals at least 60,000 times faster than text, meaning if your organization is looking for engagement, creating something eye-catching is necessary.

Another opportunity to be on top of your fundraising game this year is to be aware of donor’s wants and needs. Most donors are interested in knowing directly where their contributions end up, and as GuideStar points out, there’s a simple formula for how to talk about your strategy in a successful, communicative way.

The “MPI formula,” created by Gail Perry, focuses on three fundamental parts of any fundraising conversation. These basic questions are:

• M: How much money your organization wants to raise.

• P: What project will fund.

• I: What impact your fundraiser will make.

Perry says the initiative works because it requires your organization to define a concrete goal, connect to donors specifically, and inspires communication about your project and what it will accomplish. Successful communication between volunteers, donors, and leaders is key in establishing trust between your organization and the people who help it, which usually results in more investment in the long run.

Another key in having a good fundraising year is understanding your audience. While audiences differ depending on the organization, it has been documented by the Huffington Post that sixty-four percent of donations are made by women, and seventy-seven percent of people in the United States believe everyone can make a difference by supporting causes they care about. Do some research on your audience to cater to your target demographics, and see the difference in your donations.

Last but not least is looking at the role technology plays in your fundraising efforts. The Pew Research Center states that more than ninety percent of all Americans own a cell phone, making it the most popularly used form of technology to date. But is your organization utilizing it the way it should be?

Larger organizations, like nonprofits and schools with larger budgets, will benefit from using responsive design on their website -- allowing users to seamlessly browse from either smartphones, tablets, or computers. Smaller organizations can also use technology. Social media, like Facebook or Twitter, is a great way to draw attention to your fundraiser without spending more money than you can afford.

Of course, there are numerous ways to have a successful fundraiser, and these are just a few trends worth noting as you create your goals for the upcoming year. It is worth pointing out, however, that organizations willing to embrace new ways of thinking and take risks often benefit the most from new trends and research.

We wish your organization the best of luck in the new year, and hope to help you with any and all fundraising you plan to do in 2015!

Christmas Craft Fun

Are you looking to get crafty with your kids this holiday season? We have just the solution for you! Christmas is right around the corner, and we have some excellent craft ideas that your kids are sure to enjoy:

Button Christmas Tree
You will need; green felt, foam sheet, ribbon, various sizes and colors of buttons, glue gun and Elmer's Glue.

Directions: Print out or draw a tree template and cut it out. Trace the shape onto the foam sheet and the green felt, then cut those out. Next, use a glue gun to attach the felt and foam together. Then pick out some buttons, place them on the green felt (for Christmas ornaments) and attach with Elmer's Glue. Lastly, use a scissors to cut a hole at the top of the tree and thread a small strip of ribbon through the hole, and viola- you have a button Christmas tree!

Reindeer Hot Cocoa Cones
You will need: Hot cocoa, mini marshmallows, piping bags, red pom poms, brown pipe cleaners, googly eyes, chocolate chips (optional), and circle sticky tabs.

Directions: Fill your piping bags with hot cocoa, and top with marshmallows (and a few chocolate chips if you choose) then tie the bag off. Next, wrap your pipe cleaner around the knot and position them like antlers. Use the sticky circles to attach the googly eyes and red pom pom nose. 

Snowman Milk Jugs
You will need: Milk jugs, chenille stems, pom poms, card stock, and adhesive.

Directions: Use the black cardstock and randomly cut eyes and mouth shapes. With the orange cardstock, create noses and glue the pieces to clean milk jugs. Next, glue chenille stems to each side of the milk carton. Lastly, glue pom poms on the end of each chenille stem to create earmuffs. 

Popsicle Stick Santa Claus
You will need: felt, cotton balls, popsicle sticks, googly eyes, pom poms and hot glue.

Directions: Start by gluing some popsicle sticks together. Place two sticks horizontally, and lay more on top vertically until you have a flat surface. Glue sticks into place using a hot glue gun. Next, cut a triangle-shaped hat for santa and add pom poms to it at the top. Shred the cotton balls for Santa’s beard and use a glue stick to glue it at the bottom. Lastly, add googly eyes and a red pom pom for his nose.

These are just a few easy crafts to try for your kids to show off some creativity. Encourage them to add their own unique pieces. Do you have any fun holiday craft ideas? Share them with us!

Easy Holiday Meals

The holiday season is just around the corner and we know what that means; lots of traveling, family, cooking, and even stress. Wouldn't it be nice if you could prep, and even freeze, a whole meal that is ready to go when you need it? Well, we have done just that for you!

The appetizer: Pull Apart Cheese Bread
First start by slicing the bread into cubes, combine the cheese (and any mix in’s) and stuff in into the bread. Then pour melted butter over the top, and wrap the loaf tightly. From this point you can choose to freeze the bread until it is time to use it or the bread can be stuffed a few hours ahead of when you plan to serve. It will be fine on the counter for an hour, or you can refrigerate it (wrapped in foil) for a few hours. Wait to pour the butter over the top until just before you put it in the oven.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1wwEVxZ

The side dish: Mashed Potatoes
Start this dish by peeling then cubing the potatoes.. Then, boil them until tender. Drain, and mash the potatoes then add your liquids (milk, sour cream, butter, yogurt, whatever you like) and your mix ins (bacon pieces, garlic powder, cheese, etc.). Let them cool, and freeze flat in a freezer bag. Then to reheat them spread the mashed potatoes into a baking dish and dot the mashed potatoes with butter and bake in the oven until the butter has melted and the potatoes are warm.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1uymngj

The main dish: Ham and Pea Casserole
This recipe is great for ham lovers, leftovers, and non-traditional celebrators. Simply butter a casserole dish. In a bowl, toss the ham, cornbread, peas and thyme; transfer to the baking dish. In the same bowl, beat together the milk, eggs and yolk and salt. Pour into the baking dish. Let stand for 15 minutes.  Bake until the custard is just set in the center, 40 to 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving or freezing. The day of you can thaw and reheat to let it warm up again.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1tW4rHm




The dessert: Mini Cheesecakes
This recipe only calls for five ingredients (not including the crust, the crust you could substitute with vanilla wafers). You will start by adding the crust (or vanilla wafers) in a mini muffin tins (use liners for easier clean up and serving) then simply mix the cheesecake batter on top of the crust and bake for fifteen minutes. Then remove from the oven, let cool and place in a freezer safe storage until time to serve. Then the morning of serving remove from freezer, Thaw for 5-10 minutes at room temperature and top as desired before serving.

Get the full recipe: http://bit.ly/1vdbzGp

We hope these recipes will not only be delicious but help you relieve some stress. If life is really getting the best of you, we are here to help. With our wonderful and delicious frozen foods. We offer so many yummy sweets that we guarantee you, your family, and friends will love and they will last! 

Do you have other tasty holiday recipes you love? Share with us and comment below!