Birthday Party Planning

My little boy isn't so little anymore. In just a few weeks he will be turning 10. It doesn't seem possible does it? He is almost as tall as I am. He is super smart, at any given time you can find him writing a book, doodling city scapes, or building epic Lego creations. Recently, he has been making lists of who to invite to his birthday party, and trying to decide what theme he wants it to be. Planning a party is a lot of fun!

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This year, to give my son a chance to be hands on in the planning, we are turning to Basic Invite to create the invitations of his dreams. This has been so much fun for the kid because they are one of the few websites that offer unlimited color combinations. Creating one of a kind birthday party invitations is easy and fun. Even my almost ten year old can do it.

We have been impressed with the quality of the paper the invites are printed on and the vast assortment of color options for envelopes. To make the invitations really special, while saving your time, you can take advantage of the free addressing service that Basic Invite offers. My son thinks this is a really cool feature, and I would have to agree. It makes the invitations seem even classier!

If I were not planning a party for ten year old boys, but maybe my parents, I would use this company for 70th birthday invitations. Teens will also love creating party invitations with this site. There are so many ways to make an invitation to a party, a graduation or even a wedding special with this easy to use site.

Now that we have the invitations covered, we are deciding what kind of party favors we need. We are having a retro arcade party this year and need some really great goodies to share with friends that are totally rad and 80's inspired. If you have any ideas, I hope you will leave me a comment to inspire our goodies bags!

Play Dough Multiplication Activity

This play doh multiplication activity is perfect for an introduction to multiplying for eager little mathematicians.

Rolf has been working really hard on his multiplication in the 3rd grade. During the 1st quarter of the year, he was struggling with the concepts. We tried flash cards, which are not at all fun. We tried making tables, which was also a snore. Then it dawned on me, why not true School House Rock?

That did the trick and made it a little more fun for him. Harp was learning too, so we decided to make the process a hands on fun way to learn to multiply. We do use affiliate links in this post. If you have a purchase I will earn an advertising fee.

We started with ones and twos to keep it simple; while Harp was only 5 at the time of this activity (yes! I sat on these photos for almost a year!) I knew that forming these math facts in her mind was a great way to start her off on the right foot.

Supplies:

Play Doh in Brown and Green

Pony Beads 

Wooden Numbers

Directions:
Roll the brown play doh to resemble a tree trunk
Flatten out a can of green play doh for the leaves
Select two wooden numbers and press them into the top.
Use the edge of a number to make the x symbol
Offer your child a selection of pony beads.
Have them press the correct number of pony beads into the dough.
To explain the concept to my girl I told her to count out the first number of the problem in beads, then to do it again and press them in.

Find more play doh activities here

Reader favorites include:

Play Doh Pre-Writing

Design Your Own Play Doh Ornaments

Play Doh Stamping Activity

Put your old scrap booking stamps to good use with this preschool play doh stamping activity.

It is no secret that we love play doh. From  using it as an early math tool, to making one of a kind Christmas ornaments. Play Doh is one of my favorite tools for preschoolers to learn with!

This activity was inspired by cleaning out my office, where I had a stash of scrap booking stamps collecting dust. I thought about tossing them in the Yard Sale box we keep going year round, but I had a better idea, they make a perfect play doh tool.

Supplies:
Play Doh
Scrap-booking stamps

Directions:
Invite your child to smash or roll a can of play doh out.
Offer an assortment of stamps and encourage them to stamp a scene.

This activity has kept Harper happily creating for weeks. She keeps a few stamps with her play doh collection and loves to pull them out and make unique scenes.

You can find all of my play doh ideas here.

Reader favorites include:

Play Doh Pie Counting

Play Doh Pre-writing Activity

Bed Time Sensory Bag

This easy bedtime sensory bag is perfect for squishing and unwinding before bed for little ones. 

We are big fans of all things sensory. As the kids have grown they have maintained their love of sensory bins and hands on play. They have also not outgrown the bedtime struggle. They need a drink, a snack, a story and a million other little things to delay the inevitable. 

So,I made this super easy and fun to squish bag for them. Giving them a few minutes to squish and squeeze has made a slight difference in the bed time battles. I used what I had and came up with something simple and cute.

Supplies:

Lavender scented baby oil gel

Gold and silver confetti stars

A zipper seal bag.

Squirt about 2 tablespoons worth of baby oil gel in a zipper seal bag.

Add stars.

Hand it over to eager little hands! To squish, squeeze and play!

While lavender scented baby oil isn't necessary, you can use anything from baby oil gel to hair gel, I liked the light purple color in contrast with the shiny stars.

We always have the most fun with the most basic of supplies, this bedtime sensory bag is no exception!
Find all of our easy ideas for sensory play here.
Reader favorites include:
Sensory Party in a Bag
Button Sensory Bags

Lemonade Sensory Bin

This hands on activity is perfect for engaging the senses while serving up an awesome opportunity dramatic play for preschoolers.

Harper and I both love lemons. We like the way they smell and taste. The last time I sliced up a few lemons for my eating pleasures (yes, I eat lemons like oranges!) Harp was intrigued by the seeds. She sweetly demanded  asked to pick out all of the seeds. 

There are worse things a girl of her age could be interested in doing, and an idea was born. I knew we could throw together a really easy lemonade bin that would keep her happy all afternoon. 

Supplies:
A Knife
Clear Plastic Bin
Water
Ice
Lemons
Serving Spoons
Cups
Dishes

Directions:

Pour several cups of ice and water into the plastic bin.

Slice a lemon or two and float the slices in the water.

Add spoons, tongs, cups and bowls for instant fun.

Invite your little ones to make lemonade.
They will want to touch, maybe taste and definitely smell things in here!

This is the perfect way to spend a hot day. Let the kids splash, squeeze and dish up cool spring refreshment!

If you liked this sensory play idea, keep scrolling babe, cause I have so many fun ideas for sensory play!

Reader favorites include:
Easy button sensory bags
Birthday Cake Sensory Bin

Homemade Lilac Perfume

Homemade Lilac Perfume is the perfect easy gift. It is made with the most unlikely ingredient that you may already have at home, vodka.

Lilacs are one of my favorite parts of spring. I love to pick them and fill small vases and bowls with them. The fragrance is almost intoxicating. I have been known to carry scissors on my walks in the spring so that if I run across a bush I can snip a bunch of delicate flowers. How I wish I could preserve that fragrance and enjoy it on winter days!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I earn a small fee from the seller.

The next best thing is this easy to make and super economical perfume. It uses vodka and lilac oil to make a simple and elegant fragrance that is perfect for daily wear. It doesn't smell like alcohol. The jojoba and lilac will blend with it.


I like to make two bottles at a time, one to keep and one to share with a sweet friend.

Homemade Lilac Perfume Supplies for 2 bottles.

20 drops of Lilac Fragrance Oil
1 tablespoon of jojoba oil
1 tablespoon of distilled water
2 tablespoons of vodka

2 smaller roller ball perfume bottles
A small funnel

Directions:

Mix all liquid ingredients in a small glass bowl.
With a micro funnel pour the perfume into the 2 small roller ball bottles.
Shake well and wear.

You can find all of my DIY posts here.

FREE Saint Patrick's Day Coloring Page

Get a free coloring page for St. Patrick's Day below. Print one for your kids or enough to share with the whole class!

We love St. Patrick's Day! It is such a fun way to break up the end of winter and get excited about all things green! We get excited about making easy shamrock crafts, reading all of the books, and of course, seeing what antics the leprechaun has been up to when he stops by our house.

If you are looking for some ideas for easy fun for the kids this St. Patrick's Day you are in the right place. I have loads of ideas for you. From free worksheets and coloring pages and even a green sensory bin.

Click HERE to Print the At the End of the Rainbow Coloring Page

Keep the fun going with these easy shamrock puppets.

If you have an idea for some easy activities or crafts for the kids to make this St. Patrick's Day, leave a comment to share your ideas!

15 St. Patrick's Day Books for Kids

St. Patrick's Day is a great time to dive into a magical story with your kids! I have gathered 15 of my families favorites to share with you. Each of these books are perfect for sharing a little luck of the Irish with your family!

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How to Catch a Leprechaun

The Itsy Bitsy Leprechaun

Happy St. Patrick's Day Curious George

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover

Ten Lucky Leprechauns

That's What Leprechauns Do

The Little Leprechaun Who Loved Yellow

Lucky Tucker

The Story of St. Patrick's Day

Pete the Cat and the Luckiest Leprechaun Chase

O'Sullivan Stew

The Luckiest St. Patrick's Day Ever

The Story of Saint Patrick

How to Trap a Leprechaun

The Story of the Leprechaun

While you are here why not grab a few free printable pages for the kids?
St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages

Or craft up a little St. Patrick's Day fun?
Easy Shamrock Puppets
3D Shamrocks