Category: Toys & Gifts

Make Your Own Harry Potter Howler Valentines!
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! At our house, with my craft-loving kids we love making homemade classroom valentines to hand out! This year my 8-year-old decided she wanted to hand out Harry Potter Howler Valentines, but the only Harry Potter related valentines we could find in the stores had pencils. Which, if I’m being honest, are not the most exciting. I have so many pencils from every school function over the past few years that they just keep piling up. And I don’t know about you guys, but my kids aren’t allowed to bring anything edible so candy is a no-go.

For those reasons, we decided to make some Howler letters and include Harry Potter Stickers inside. See the stickers we used at our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/38MYERa. My daughter loves them and helped throughout the entire process! A little paper folding and tape made her valentines come to life. Below I have pictures and instructions. Hopefully, they inspire you to make your own.

Supplies needed:
- Red paper – similar to this https://amzn.to/2GHmGkB (affiliate link)
- Tape
- Scissors
- Harry Potter Stickers – https://amzn.to/38MYERa (affiliate link)
- Printed Harry Potter Howler Valentines Template (free download below)
Downloadable Valentine Template Download

Instructions:
Fold two corners of the red piece of paper so they come to a point in the middle like the first picture above. Then, fold each long side in towards the middle. Fold the straight end in about an inch and a half and tape in place. This step is simply to make the paper a little shorter so it is totally optional.
Next, fold the whole paper in thirds. Print the valentine template and cut evenly into 3 pieces. On each piece, cut an inch of the white paper off the top and bottom. We will be using these cut pieces for the teeth. Cut slits along each inch wide piece making sure not to cut all the way through. Fold the teeth along the edge of your cuts like the picture above on the right.
Finally, assemble your valentines. I used tape because it is so much faster than waiting for glue to dry, but you could use that too. Tape the valentine template to the folded red paper, on the side with all the paper folds. After that, tape the teeth on the top and bottom and then use a pencil to curl the edges of the top corners of the valentine. Lastly, tape the Harry Potter stickers inside, have your child sign their name and voila you have your own Harry Potter Howler Valentines!

I used heart stickers to keep the valentines closed, but wouldn’t these faux wax seals be so cute! You could also add a little giveaway other than stickers, just get creative. I found some cute bracelets, broom pens, or temporary tattoos as options (affiliate links). Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Love Harry Potter like we do?
Check out our Homemade Harry Potter Dog Costume

Love crafting?
Check out our DIY Light-Up Astronaut Jet Pack
January 28, 2020
Kid Gift Idea: Dig Kits
This year for Christmas my girls received Dig Kits (National Geographic Mega Gemstone Dig Kit and National Geographic Mega Fossil Dig Kit *affiliate links) from their lovely aunt. This was the perfect gift for them as my 8 year old is currently in love with everything crystal and gemstone related and my 6 year old wants to be a paleontologist when she grows up. I’ll start off by saying they LOVED this gift and are proudly displaying their “specimens” on their dressers as I write this. I love that they got to have an experience with this gift and it is not just another plastic toy that they will play with for a week and eventually end up in a landfill. Good job, Auntie! Ok, let’s get to the details.
How these kits work: There are many different types and brands on the market. They start as blocks of hardened, plaster-like material. The kit comes with a plastic digging tool as well as a small brush to brush away dust. The child digs and chips away at the “dirt” on the block until they find a gem/fossil and continue to excavate it. In the pictures above, you can see how the block starts out and if you look closely you can see the rose quartz gem in the middle of the right picture as my daughter brushes away dust.

Details: These blocks can be hard at times to dig into. If you add some water and let it sit for a moment, it does get easier. I had to help my 6 year old along, but my 8 year old excavated all 15 gems on her own. With these particular sets from National Geographic, my daughters found quite a bit of specimens as they worked. The box states the kit includes 15 different gems/fossils, however my 6 year old only found 14 fossils in her kit.

As you can see in the picture above, this process does get quite messy. I placed them inside plastic bins which helped to contain the dust, but we still needed to clean the table and vacuum afterward. This would be a great outdoor activity!

Below are the final fossils and gems that my daughters excavated. They were so proud when they finally finished. The fossils still have a little bit of the dirt/plaster still stuck to them that we need to wash off, but you get the idea. The kits came with booklets that had information about each item they excavated so not only was this a fun gift, but it was educational as well.
I ended up buying my girls these small plastic divided containers to hold their fossils and gems in. They are great, have dividers that can be removed for larger items and are affordable. I have a link to these exact boxes below.

Affiliate links for items in this post:

National Geographic Mega Gemstone Dig Kit
National Geographic Mega Fossil Dig Kit
Plastic Grid Storage Boxes (I hear if you get the 36 grid option, you can remove the dividers and it makes great LOL Doll storage!)

Similar items on Amazon:

National Geographic Rocks & Fossils Dig Kit
Dan&Darci Real Pearl Mining Kit & Bracelet Making Kit
National Geographic Shark Tooth Dig Kit
January 7, 2020
$25 off $100 Toy Purchase at Target! Save on those Christmas gifts Now!

Target is offering $25 off when you spend $100 on toys & games or save $10 when you spend $50 + more savings when stacked with other toy offers! (Legos excluded) Get those toys checked off your holiday shopping lists. But hurry before the most wanted toys sell out. See the deal here: goto.target.com/P9PJz (affiliate link)

December 10, 2019
HOT DEAL! LOL Dolls on Sale TODAY – check this off your Christmas List!

🔥 HOT DEAL! Amazon Deal of the Day – Save up to 40% on select L.O.L Surprise!, Poopsie and More. See all the deals at our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/2QVeiE3

November 26, 2019
Alex Brand Toys on Sale Today! Get your Holiday shopping done early!

🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.

Need Kids Holiday Gift Ideas?

Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day is on Alex Brand toys including science kits! If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know how much we love giving science kits as gifts. They are a super fun way to gift an experience for kids and make great holiday gifts. Check out all the details here: https://amzn.to/37gGPtA

November 20, 2019
Kid Gift Idea: Science Kits

One of my all time favorite gifts to give kids of all ages are science kits, particularly this Primary Science Lab Set by Learning Resources. I purchased it as a holiday gift for my daughter back when she was only 3 years old and, as you can see in the picture above, it still gets plenty of use. 🛍️ This post contains affiliate links– thank you for supporting us.

Both of my daughters enjoy following the simple steps on the experiments cards included with the kit. They also have endless fun using the beaker, magnifying glass, eyedroppers, tweezers, goggles and test tubes with just water, vinegar and baking soda. Add some food coloring and they play for hours! I like this set in particular because the items included are sturdy and hold up over time.

A science kit is a fantastic gift for any age. We have tried others like this My First Mind Blowing Science Kit by Scientific Explorer. This one doesn’t have all of the fancy supplies like the Learning Resources kit but the price is right for 11 different fun experiments. Some experiments in this kit may need adult assistance; it makes for a fun family activity.

Other Kits to consider:

Scientific Explorer Crime Catchers Spy Science Kit for Ages 8 and up

Crayola Color Chemistry Set for Kids for Ages 7 and up

Learn & Climb Kids Science Kit for Ages 6 and up

October 18, 2019
Halloween Countdown Calendars – get yours now before October starts!

Halloween Town Countdown

As a kid, I LOVED getting an Advent Calendar at the beginning of December. You know, the paper kind with a tiny piece of chocolate behind a door you opened each night leading up to Christmas? As a fan of everything Halloween, I thought I would search for something similar for the month of October. Enter: Countdown Calendars for Halloween!

Ghostly Gathering Countdown

Super cute! They don’t come with chocolate, but instead have either a spooky joke behind each door or a clue to lead you to which door to open next. I love these because they are just as fun to open, but don’t offer kids even more sugar during October. Also, they’re not too expensive which is a plus! Now, comes the hard part – picking which one to get.

Get them here through our affiliate links:

Halloween Town Countdown: https://amzn.to/2mvwAyD
Ghostly Gathering Countdown: https://amzn.to/2kGohja
Little Goblins Countdown: https://amzn.to/2mDFLgN

Little Goblins Countdown

If you’re looking for something a little larger, check out this Felt Countdown Calendar. It comes with a cute little bats that you put into a new pocket each day of the countdown and detachable ghost ornaments. You can get it here with our affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2kAX1Cr. Happy Haunting!

Felt Halloween Countdown

September 23, 2019
Kid Gift Idea: Melt & Mold Jewelry from Klutz
Our family has always been a fan of Klutz! I remember my own “Official Koosh Book”. Did anyone else have an obsession with Koosh and anything Klutz? Yes? Well, they continue to make fantastic books and crafts for children. We received Kultz’s Melt & Mold Jewelry as a gift – wink 😉, Aunt Carolyn! She had used it with her girls and knew it would be a hit.

How it works: You melt the plastic discs in hot water and add the melted wax into the mold of your choice. My daughter is eight and needed assistance with the water because it needs to get fairly hot. She was able to choose the colors and add the wax to the mold. The best part of this craft is that it is very forgiving. You can always re-melt the wax. HIGHLY recommend this kit! It’s reasonable price it makes the perfect birthday or Christmas gift! Check it out on Amazon HERE.

*affiliate links
September 13, 2019
Unicorn Sprinkler – Because Summer is More Fun with Unicorns

You guys – Target has this 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler on sale for $45 dollars this week! Do you need a 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler? No, probably not. But will you the hit of the neighborhood, and parent of the year, by getting a 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler. Yes.

Right now, this sprinkler is $45 and if you add another qualifying toy or game to spend $50 you will get a $10 Target Gift Card! Seems like a no-brainer.

*affiliate links

May 28, 2019
Mighty Meg – A Great Story for All Ages
In our house, we prize reading. It can be anything, really; chapter books, picture books, magazines, comics, graphic novels, or even the backs of cereal boxes. We are constantly looking for new reading material for our two girls, and given their varying tastes, finding something to read with the two of them at bedtime that appeals to both of them can sometimes be a little challenging.

That was why we were so happy to find the Mighty Meg series.

The series focuses on the title character, Meg, an inquisitive and kind young girl who receives a beautiful, antique ring as a birthday gift. When she discovers the ring imbues her with superpowers, Meg embarks on some challenging adventures, and has to decide how – and whether – to put her new powers to use, all while trying to master them.

The books are adventurous, family-friendly, and are appropriate for a wide range of ages (we read these to our 6 and 8 year-old daughters). In addition, Meg tales seem short enough to appeal to kids that may struggle with longterm focus, and also have illustrations on nearly every page, which will certainly help keep younger readers engaged. I really loved the focus on the importance of family, how Meg struggles with the idea of keeping her powers a secret from those she cares about, and how, even being as young as she is, Meg understands the importance of helping others.

We weren’t even halfway through the first book when my girls began to ask if we could read the second book together, and I was more than happy to tell them that we would!

In short, this is a fun, kid-friendly series with wide appeal. Highly recommended for family reading time!

Find the whole series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JRn8PJ
* affiliate links
May 20, 2019