Quesadilla Mummies

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Getting kids to eat before heading out for Trick-or-Treating can be a challenge, but giving kids the opportunity to help make their own fun dinner will get them excited to eat.

These Mummy Quesadillas can be made with your child’s favorite fillings, like chicken, cheese, beans, tomatoes, avocado, and more and are so easy to decorate that even your young ones can help. If you are looking for a food craft for your older kids, they might also like to try to decorating Halloween quesadillas using a stencil.

 

These cute quesadilla mummies were handcrafted by my friend’s young children. They had so much fun making their own unique mummy, then gobbled them up afterwards.

Quesadilla Mummies

Ingredients:

2 tortillas per mummy

fillings – shredded cheese, chicken, ground beef, shredded pork, sliced steak, black beans, refried beans, tomatoes, peppers, etc. *

*We just used cheese, as the kids made these for an afternoon snack, not dinner, but they can be filled with whatever your child likes.

2 jumbo candy eyes **

**We used these because the kids begged me, but you can cut slices of white cheese into small circles then cut the tips off two olives to make eyes that would taste better in a      quesadilla.

Instructions:

I wanted my quesadillas to be a bit smaller than the tortillas I purchased, so I cut them using a round cookie cutter. You can skip this step if you prefer.

For each mummy, you’ll need one whole tortilla and  the other one cut into strips.

Top the whole tortilla with your fillings. Criss-cross the cut tortilla strips to create your mummy.

I cut some of the tortilla scraps into strips so we could have a few extra strips to cover our mummies.

Add the eyes.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until the tortillas are lightly golden brown and the cheese is melted and fillings are heated through, 6-10 minutes.

Serve hot.

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15 Cool Ways To Make A Light Saber

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Finding new ways to make a light saber is one of my kids favorite things. We love Star Wars and all the fun crafts we make to go along with it. (One of our most favorites ever is this R2D2 trash can!)

If your kids love playing with colorful light sabers as much as I do, they will love these crafts!  (affiliates included)

15 Cool Ways To Make A Light Saber

Perfect for the summer, these light saber frozen pop holders keep your hands warm while you snack.

You can even make a light saber popsicle! This mold is pretty much the coolest thing ever!

Make a light saber napkin wrap to host the perfect Star Wars party! These are so cute. From Catch My Party.

Another fun party craft for a Star Wars party are these balloon light sabers. So fun!! From Offbeat Home.

The perfect craft to make for kids in school are these light saber pens.

Make tiny light sabers from hama beads. Love this project!

Customize your own light saber with a few things from around the house – total cost only $2. From Crazy Little Projects.

Make light saber bubble wands that would make the perfect party favor! From The Contemplative Creative.

Use left over pool noodles  and black tape to make some really cool light sabers.

If you can’t find pool noodles (maybe during the cooler months) you can follow this great tutorial to make them with pipe insulation. From Wendolonia.

Here is a really fun way to make a light saber: with your rainbow loom! Love this. From Frugal Fun 4 Boys.

Another fun way to make colorful light sabers is with wrapping paper!

Make a delicious snack with these light saber pretzels – yum! From I Should Be Mopping The Floor.

Wrap Smarties in this unique way to make tiny delicious light sabers! From Jadelouise Designs.

Light saber veggies! This is so cool – just wrap a little aluminum foil on the end of celery or carrots. From Mummy Deals.

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My Little Pony Cookie Cake

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This post is in partnership with Lionsgate

Hold on tight, everypony! My Little Pony: The Movie is blasting to theaters on October 6!

And nobody can be more excited than my kids – so we are celebrating with a My Little Pony: The Movie-inspired cookie cake!

Friendship is magic! Join the littlest ponies on a BIG screen adventure and plan a movie date with your kids and their very best friends. Then celebrate with a Pony Party after the movie. We’re supplying the cookie cake recipe. Don’t forget the lemonade and a few pony activities to keep them talking about the movie.

We’ve created this My Little Pony: The Movie activity mat for you to download for free to keep the kids busy while you cut the cake!

About My Little Pony: The Movie!

A dark force threatens Ponyville, and the Mane 6 – Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – embark on an unforgettable journey beyond Equestria where they meet new friends and exciting challenges on a quest to use the magic of friendship to save their home.

The film has an all-star voice cast including Emily Blunt, Kristin Chenoweth, Liev Schreiber, Michael Peña, Sia, Taye Diggs, Uzo Aduba and Zoe Saldana. The movie features original music and songs performed by Sia, Diggs, Saldana, Chenoweth and Blunt.

 

Make the Cookie Cake

You can’t have a party without cake… and we love cookie cake!

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. In an ungreased 12 inch cake or pizza pan, break up 2 tubes (or 1 large tub) of cookie dough and press it into the bottom of the pan.
3. Bake 15-20 minutes until it is golden brown.
4. Cool completely before decorating (or your frosting will melt!) with icing, colored sugar, and candy sprinkles.
5. Cut into wedges and serve!

Don’t forget to download the Activity Placemat here!

Pony friends forever! Find more about My Little Pony: The Movie Visit at the official movie site. Or on social media: Like on Facebook. Follow on Twitter and Instagram.

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Stained Glass Art

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My son loved creating stained glass art using a picture frame, food coloring, and our favorite homemade glue recipe.

When I first saw this project by our friends at Smart School House, I knew it was something we had to try. But instead of using store-bought glue, we decided to make our own!

We love working with Imperial Sugar to come up with these fun projects to teach kids that they can use simple household items to create crafts and have fun. We used their sugar glue recipe as the base for our stained glass art, and I just love how it turned out!

The cool thing about using sugar glue as a base is that as the food coloring spreads along the glue, it soaks into pieces of sugar to create a crystallized look. My son loved trying to guess when a color would continue to bleed and when it would stop. So much fun!

Stained Glass Art

Here’s what you need to make stained glass art:

• Small picture frames with a glass panel
• Food coloring
• Sponge brush
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups water

In a medium-sized saucepan, stir together the flour, sugar, oil, and water over low heat. Cook until smooth, then remove from heat. This will be your glue!

Remove the backing from your picture frames so that only the glass remains. Turn them upside down so that you are working with the inside of the frame.

Use your sponge brush to spread a thin layer of glue onto the glass.

Add drops of food coloring onto the glass. It will spread and bleed along the glue. Some of the colors will mix together and it will look so pretty!

Allow to dry overnight. Display by a window so the light can filter through all of the colors for a beautiful display!

I just love how different each one looks, depending on the colors used and how they flow on top of the glue!

SUGAR IS FOR MORE THAN BAKING

Fall is here and that means it’s time to get crafting! Make sure you visit Imperial Sugar Kids in The Kitchen, where you can find fun recipe and craft ideas for kids using sugar!

And you can check out these fun activities we’ve made using sugar:

• Sugar Tie Dye Shirts
• Bouncing Bubbles
• Rainbow Yarn Art
• Surprise Watercolor Drawings

So what are you waiting for? Grab a bag of sugar and get to making memories!

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10 Must-Have Essential Oils for Moms

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If you’re a mom who’s thinking about using essential oils, you might be wondering what essential oils will be a good fit for you. Here are what we think are the best essential oils for moms!

10 must-have essential oils for moms

• Lavender – There are so many benefits that lavender essential oil has to offer. Not only can help you reduce stress and anxiety, but it can also help you sleep better at night. What mom can’t use a little extra relaxation?

• Fennel – If you’re a mom who’s nursing, you might want to consider trying out fennel essential oil. Apply some of this EO in a carrier oil to the breast (but not directly to the nipple) to help increase breast milk supply.

• Basil – This is another essential oil that can help increase lactation. In addition, it can also help you feel more relaxed and relieve depression.  

• Frankincense – Trying to find a way to get rid of those pesky stretch marks that are lingering from pregnancy? Frankincense essential oil is known to eliminate scars. Add a drop of this essential oil to a carrier, such as coconut oil, and apply it to your stretch marks.

• Lemon – Due to lemon’s disinfectant properties, lemon essential oil can make a great DIY home cleaner. You can use it to clean your floors, countertops, cutting boards, and bathroom mirrors. Lemon essential oil is also great for boosting immunity, so it may help prevent you from catching every cough or cold your child brings home from school!

• Tea Tree – Tea tree essential oil is always good to have on hand. It has so many benefits to offer. It can help treat insect bites, eliminate foot fungus, relieve eczema and dermatitis, soothe acne, and get rid of warts.

• Peppermint – This is another great essential oil for moms to always have on hand. Applying a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil to the abdomen can help relieve cramps or nausea. Peppermint oil can also help draw out ticks and is a great odor eliminator to use around the house.

• Chamomile – If you’re looking for another essential oil to help calm you, look no further! Chamomile essential oil can help calm you. Diluted solutions of chamomile can also be used to treat insect bites and stings, cuts, acne, dermatitis, and eczema.

• Grapefruit – Trying to ward off a headache? Apply some diluted grapefruit essential oil to your temples and forehead to help ward off migraines and tension headaches.
• Eucalyptus — This is another essential oil that works as an excellent home cleaner due to its disinfectant properties. You can create a spray out of it for your kitchen or bathroom.

If you are thinking about using essential oils on your kids, it’s important to do a bit of research beforehand. Babies and young children may not be able to use some essential oils or may require extra diluted versions. When in doubt, talk to your kid’s pediatrician!   

New to Essential Oils?

Ha! Me too…awhile ago.

It can be overwhelming with so many oils & choices.

This exclusive package {available for a limited time} gives you everything you need to get started and the information you need to know what to do!

As a Young Living Independent distributor, I started with their AMAZING starter kit & then added a few things I thought you might like…

…like a super huge essential oil information manual. I use mine ALL THE TIME. It is a place you can look up information about each oil individually or find information by looking up the problem you want to solve.

…like an Amazon gift card for $20! You can use it for additional resources or accessories OR just whatever you want!

…like membership in our group’s private FB community. This is a great place to ask questions, get suggestions and find out how other people are using their essential oils. As part of my team, you can also choose other groups like our business building or blogging communities as well.

Check out this article for more information about how to get this essential oil deal from Kids Activities Blog.

 

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DIY Busy Book for Kids

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Looking for a fun homemade gift to give to your little one? Check out this DIY Busy Book for Kids! It’s perfect for road trips, restaurants, and long waits. It’s small enough to keep in a diaper bag or purse, and if properly stocked (with new paper) will provide hours of fun for little ones!

DIY Busy Book for Kids

To make this craft you will need:

• 3 pieces of colored craft foam (5.5 in x 8.5 in)
• Index cards
• Glue Dots
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Crayons

After gathering supplies, divide one piece of craft foam into 1/3 strips (horizontally). Cut the strips. Apply Glue Dots along the bottom of a second piece of craft foam.

Attach one of the strips to the bottom of the piece of craft foam. Place a few extra Glue Dots along the center of the strip to create 2 pockets inside of the book.

Fold the book in half, then wrap ribbon around the outside. Secure the ribbon with Glue Dots. If desired, cut small shapes (hearts, flowers, superhero symbols) from extra craft foam and attach them to the front of the book with Glue Dots.

Open the book and place small index cards in one pocket and a flat box of crayons on the other side. Close the book and tie with the ribbon to close.

More Fabulous DIY Gifts for Kids

Click the images below for more creative gift ideas for kids!

DIY Superhero Peg People

16 Ways to Upcycle Toys

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Can a 14 y/o REALLY handle Invisalign Clear Aligners?

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My teen received complimentary Invisalign® treatment in exchange for me sharing my honest opinion about the treatment experience.

If you have been a reader here at Kids Activities Blog for awhile, you have known that I was lucky enough to work with Invisalign® brand as a sponsor for my own treatment.  My front teeth were beginning to cross and the last thing I wanted to do in my 40s was get metal braces!  Invisalign treatment was amazing.  I was able to LOOK and ACT like an adult while straightening my teeth.  My treatment is now over and I am wearing the retainers at night.

My middle son, Reid, quietly watched my progress and decided Invisalign treatment was what he wanted to do as well.  He saw the difference between what I went through and what his older brother was enduring with traditional braces (extra trips to the orthodontist, broken brackets on weekends, etc.).  I have to admit to being a little worried.  Reid is an amazing kid, but tends to overlook details, shun schedules and forget things…a lot of things.

Could a 14 y/o boy REALLY do the 22 hours a day of wearing Invisalign clear aligners?

{My inside voice is screaming…NO!}

Reid got his wish.  In June he was evaluated by Dr. Athar at Monarch Dental who said he would be a great candidate for Invisalign.  In fact, speaking with Dr. Athar was fascinating because he is finding that more and more people are good candidates because of the flexibility Invisalign treatment allows Orthodontists to customize a patient’s treatment plan.

At the June visit, Dr. Athar and his staff did a scan that showed exactly where Reid’s teeth are now.

And where they will be after treatment.

The difference is crazy cool!

The next step according to Dr. A thar is that he locks himself in his office to go over the scans and the projected changes.  Once he has adjusted what he recommends, then the scans are sent on to Invisalign system’s lab to be created.  This usually takes 2-4 weeks.

We returned in mid-July for the fitting of the first set of clear aligners.  Dr. Athar placed four attachments on Reid’s teeth.  Attachments are little clear bumps that feel like a large grain of sand.  These attachments are instrumental in rotating teeth in the direction they need to move within the clear aligners.

Reid will also eventually get rubber bands to move his bite.  Those are attached with either the clear aligners themselves through a slit in the aligner or a metal button that is attached to a tooth for the right leverage.

We went home with a box of 11 sets of clear aligners and instructions to change them out every 7 days.  Reid will wear them all the time except for when he eats or drinks anything beside water.  Then before he puts the aligners back in he has to brush his teeth.

The true test…

The true test started the following week.  We had a family trip to London for 10 days.  Plane rides, taxi rides, hotel living, sight-seeing, eating out, a day trip to Paris, riding the train…

Something amazing happened!  Reid did great.  He simply had a little zipper bag with his aligner container, tooth brush and toothpaste in his backpack.  On days he didn’t wear his backpack, he would give it to me to put in my purse.  He was able to fully participate in everything we did, wear his aligners and brush his teeth when necessary.

In fact, I saw that he was much more faithful to wearing the clear aligners more than 22 hours a day than I was!

Once we are home this has continued.

When he started school, he added his zipper pack to his school backpack.

He is on his 12th tray right now and we can already see a big change in his smile.  I wish I had a good picture of it…but did I mention he is a 14 y/o boy?  

The other night he was sitting beside me as we played a board game and I kept staring at him.  I couldn’t see the aligners at all.  In a motherly way, I opened his mouth and tapped on his teeth to make sure.  He did!  And I received a well-deserved eye-roll and a “moooooooom!”  I asked him if his friends had noticed he had Invisalign and he said no one had said anything.  I seriously can’t even tell he has them in.

Reid has proven me wrong.  I am so proud of how he has taken on this responsibility.  I haven’t even had to remind him once.

Now if only I could translate this to picking up the clothes off his bedroom floor…

Find out how Invisalign treatment is great for your teen by clicking here.

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