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Non-Candy School Valentines Under 35 Cents Each

Valentines Day is just around the corner and we just finished up a special something for the kid’s to take to school for their friends.  With lots of new allergy related rules in schools I have decided that in lou of candy treats for Valentine’s Day that the kids and I could come up with some other inexpensive ideas that don’t involve food at all.  We put together three great valentines for under .35 cents each, and another for the teachers under .75 cents each.  Because my daughter has a slight straw obsession we choose crazy straws for her preschool friends, and my son choose bouncy balls for his kindergarten class.  We also made some crayon and marker valentines for teachers and a few their friends.

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Cherry Cheesecake Dip – Fun Family Valentines Day Dessert

I love making Valentines Day just a little bit out of the ordinary for my kids.  Things like a special packed lunch at school, heart shaped doughnuts for breakfast, an afterschool scarvenger hunt or a special dessert are just a few of the things that I have done to make their Valentine’s day special.  It doesn’t take a lot of extra time, or money to make their day exciting.  Here is a great recipe that is perfect for any get together where you need to feed a crowd, or a special after dinner treat for your family that is made with love.  We will be enjoying this on Valentine’s day as a special treat.   It is super simple, fast, tasty, and festive topped with red cherry pie filling that your family is sure to love.

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Whooo’s Been Good? – Fun Kid’s Reward System

I think every mother wants to positively reinforce their children’s good behavior.  If you are like me, when you see bad behavior it is something you automatically “hone in on” – to correct it instantly.  Positive behaviors, on the other hand, often don’t get the same amount of attention.  We expect  our children to do certain things and act a certain way, and that is our job as parents to teach them.  Here is a great way to make a big deal out of good, positive behaviors and kind actions that your children choose to do on their own!  “Whooo’s been good” is a little surprise jar that we have in our house for when I catch the kids doing something unexpected and totally awesome!

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Candy Cane Cookies

Here is one last Holiday treat idea for you all.  We will be making our Christmas cookies this weekend and here is a never favorite on our families list of cookies to bake for Christmas time.  Mint creme and special red holiday oroes turn from good to amazing after they are dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with candy cane pieces.  These are easy to make and taste great too!  They are super fun and festive to make during the holidays and will be a hit at any holiday gathering.  We have made three batches of these so far this year and let’s just say they are a new favorite.

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Holiday Fun For Kids – Gingerbread Christmas Trees

I am so excited for the kids to be on Christmas break.  A week of family time, fun, lots of pj wearing and activities with the kids.  Here is a great preschool friendly activity to do with the kids while they are home on break that will really get them in the holiday spirit.  Gingerbread Christmas trees made from sugar cones take seconds to set up and frost so the kids can decorate them however they want.  An assortment of candies and sprinkles make this a simple, and ultra kid friendly, gingerbread project that will keep there attention just long enough for them to finish the job.  If you have little ones – try these fun gingerbread Christmas trees.

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Easy Holiday Dress From A T-Shirt

Here is a fun little craft to make your little girl’s holiday extra special!  What little lady wouldn’t love a comfy little red dress with a sparkly Santa adorning the front?  This comfortable pillowcase style dress was fashioned from an unworn t-shirt in just a few simple steps.  The small amount of time that it took me to make this was well worth the effort because my little lady wants to wear it every day!  Skip the store bought kids clothes and hit the clearanced out holiday shirts so you can refashion them yourself!  Easy, inexpensive, and super cute too.  A comfy, fun little dress for any holiday party.

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Snowball Surprise – Holiday Gifts For Kids To Give Classmates

Here is a super fun way for your kids to give a holiday time gift to their classmates at school!  By wrapping a little surprise in white tissue and crepe paper you create a darling little snowball surprise for your child to give.  This is a great way to give a holiday gift without it being overly Christmas specific.  If you are worried about being “politically correct”  and trying to give something without offending families who may not celebrate Christmas this is a great idea.  It is just a fun way for kids to wrap and give something to someone that is special to them and could work for anybody on their Christmas list too.

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Reindeer Sandwiches – Kid Friendly Holiday Lunch

Here is a fun way to spice up the kid’s packed lunch at school for the holidays that takes little extra time, but will be extra fun for them.  Reindeer sandwiches are the perfect way to make a lunch with a little holiday magic for the kiddos.  A heart shaped cookie cutter turns a regular old Pb&J sandwich into an adorable little reindeer sandwich.  Pretzels for antlers ,chocolate chip eyes, and a red M&M nose make this reindeer as cute as they are tasty.  The kids will love them and request them every day until Christmas arrives!  Make them for school, for a fun lunch at home, or for a kid friendly dish to pass at any holiday party.

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Reindeer Wrap And An Easy Christmas Gift For Teachers

Simple dollar store mugs adorned with the kids sweet handwriting and pictures is the perfect gift for those teachers who love and nurture their curiosity throughout the year.  A simple, but useful gift that the kids can help personalize with the handwriting that those teachers helped form.  We wrapped our mugs in brown paper lunch sacks transformed into cute reindeer with a few simple supplies that thank their teachers for helping to make their futures bright.  These gifts are inexpensive and easy to make, but are full of heart because they are made by the kids for their teachers.

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Cinnamon French Toast Bake – Feeding A Crowd For The Holidays

The holidays get hectic, their is no doubt about it, and if you are in charge of feeding the family, or entertaining – planning ahead is key to you enjoying your holiday.  One of the things that I love most about Christmas morning is our leisurely morning in our pajamas huddled around the Christmas tree.  Here is a great way to avoid spending those precious moments in the kitchen and still serve your family a warm and tasty breakfast on Christmas morning.  This quick, easy recipe for cinnamon french toast bakes up in the oven so you don’t have to stand flipping toast on the griddle.  Throw it together, and get back to your family while it bakes.

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