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DIY Sugar Cookie Scrub - Dreams and Caffeine

DIY Sugar Cookie Scrub

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I have to admit one of my favorite things about the holiday season is the amazing smells!  Seriously, you can’t walk anywhere without experiencing some type of holiday aroma!  My favorite is sugar cookie anything and everything.  I love sugar cookie diffuser blends, body lotions, hand soaps, sugar scrubs, and whatever else I can find!  Therefore, I couldn’t help but share my little DIY Sugar Cookie Scrub.

Ingredients Needed for Sugar Cookie Scrub:

  • ½ Cup Pure Cane Sugar Golden Brown
  • ½ Cup White Granulated Sugar
  • ½ Cup Organic Coconut Oil
  • ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ Teaspoon Almond Extract

Supplies Needed for Sugar Cookie Scrub:

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Measuring Cup
  • Spoon
  • Fork
  • 4 oz. Mason Jars
  • Twine or Ribbon
  • Scissors

Instructions for Sugar Cookie Scrub:

Step 1:  Pour both sugars into the mixing bowl.

Step 2:  Mix the coconut oil into the sugars.  I used a fork to mix it well with the sugars.  Feel free to mix in more coconut oil if you want a wetter scrub or less if you prefer a dryer scrub.

Step 3:  Mix in the vanilla and almond extract.  Mix the scrub well!

Step 4:  Using the spoon, scoop the Sugar Cookie Scrub into the mason jars.

Step 5:  Complete the Sugar Cookie Scrub with placing the lid on and then decorating the top with ribbon or twine of your choice.

sugar-cookie-scrub-close-up-dreams-and-caffeine

This scrub has no preservatives in it, so it will keep between one to two months.  It will keep longer if kept in an airtight container.  This makes the perfect gift for family and friends.  I hope this sugar cookie scrub tutorial comes in handy this holiday season.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Lisa

This post contains affiliate links that, when clicked on and purchased, help support my family.  Thank you very much!

Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards

Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards

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Holy cow… Thanksgiving is coming like a freight train this year!  I feel like we were just in summer mode and now we’re approaching Thanksgiving.  Generally, holidays for us include lots and lots and lots of family and friends.  To give you an idea of how much family we’re talking about, my sister has volunteered to host Thanksgiving this year and there will be about thirty people attending.  A few nights ago, she gave me a call and asked if I would help out with place cards for Thanksgiving dinner… and a blog post was born about how to make Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards!

What you will need for Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards:

  • Yarn – Red Heart Soft Tangerine
  • Pompom Maker – optional – you could just use your hand or a piece of cardboard
  • Scissors
  • Pipe Cleaners
  • Card Stock – you could use construction paper, upcycle brown paper bags, etc.
  • Glue – hot glue, glue dots, tacky glue, etc.

Instructions for Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards:

Step 1:  Make the pompom according to the pompom maker’s instructions.

Step 2:  Cut the pipe cleaner in half and take one of the pieces and loop it through the string that you used to tie the pompom.  Twist twice at the base of the pumpkin.

Step 3:  I left one part of the pipe cleaner straight (for the stem portion) and then the other part of the pipe cleaner I bent into a leaf shape.  Feel free to get creative here!

Step 4:  Trim up the pompom pumpkin then sit aside.

Step 5:  I freehanded a flag on the card stock and then cut it out.

Step 6:  I wrote the person’s name on the flag.

Step 7:  Glue the flag to the stem of the pompom pumpkin.

thanksgiving-pumpkin-place-cards-overview-dreams-and-caffeine

You now have adorable Pumpkin Thanksgiving Place Cards for your special Thanksgiving dinner.  These little guys are quick to create, cheap to make, and adorable!  Once dinner is done, you can remove the stem and flag and let the kiddos have a blast with them.

I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving and as always, if you have any questions on the tutorial, feel free to ask!

Cheers,
Lisa

This post contains affiliate links that, when clicked on and purchased, helps support my family.  Thank you very much!

Mickey & Minnie Mouse Holiday Bark - Dreams and Caffeine

Mickey and Minnie Holiday Bark

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I picked the wrong name for this recipe… it really should be called Mickey and Minnie Holiday SCREAM, because that is what my daughter did when I told her what we were making.  To say the least, the holiday bark was a very successful treat in our household.  Even Superhero dad loved it, which is saying a lot, because he doesn’t care for sweets.

Luckily this recipe is easy-peasy… even with little hands helping!

What you will need to make the Mickey & Minnie Holiday Bark:

1 Package regular Oreos
1 Package mini Oreos
1 Package of “Minnie Mouse” Candy Bows
1 Container of Holiday-Themed Sprinkles
Melting Chocolate – Vanilla
1 Cookie Sheet
Parchment Paper

Directions for the Mickey & Minnie Bark:

Step 1:  Place the cookie sheet on a flat surface and lay the parchment paper on the cookie sheet.  The parchment paper will make cleaning up quick!

Step 2:  Prepare the Oreos by pulling them apart. I just put the side that has cream on it face down into the chocolate.

Step 3:  Open and prepare the bows to be dropped into place.

Step 4:  Open the sprinkles and have them ready as well.

Step 5:  Prepare the melting chocolates per instructions on the container.

Step 6:  Pour the melted chocolate in the cookie sheet in a thin layer.  Try to keep the layer of chocolate about a quarter inch thick.  Use a spatula to smooth things out.

Step 7:  Decorate with the Oreos, sprinkles and bows.

Step 8:  Place the cookie sheet in the fridge for about 15 minutes.

Step 9:  I used a knife to guide my cuts then broke the rest of the bark by hand.  Just be careful next to the bows and Mickey & Minnie… they will break as I found out when I was making mine.

Step 10:  Grab a glass of milk and enjoy with your littles!  Keep the extras in a sealed container in the fridge.

mickey minnie mouse holiday bark plate dreams and caffeine

I hope you give this fun recipe a try… we had a great time making it together, plus its delicious!

Cheers,
Lisa

Fall Bucket List for Toddlers - Dreams and Caffeine

Fall Bucket List for Toddlers

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Fall is my favorite season and so I thought I would share our family’s Fall Bucket List for Toddlers.  I hope you can read this and try some of these ideas as well as think of many others!

Fall Bucket List for Toddlers

  1. Go for a walk and collect leaves of various colors.  While on your walk discuss the different colors and why the leaves are falling off the trees.  You can also touch on the month, season, and holidays that will be coming up.  This is a great opportunity to turn a simple activity educational.
  1. Create a fall-themed sensory tub.
  1. Go to a local farm and pick fall harvest items (apples, pumpkins, squash, etc.)  You can then go home and wash it together and prepare it for a snack or a meal for the whole family to enjoy.
  1. Go to a pumpkin patch.
  1. Catch a hay ride with the whole family.
  1. Paint faces on pumpkins.  While painting faces on the pumpkins discuss feelings.  You can have your toddler show you different faces and how they feel when they make that face.  Remember to keep it simple.
  1. Decorate your porch for fall.  My kiddo loves decorating, so this is a ton of fun for our family!
  1. Bundle up and play in the rain.
  1. Make cookies together… or your child’s favorite treat.
  1. Cozy up on the couch with the treats you made and together watch Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest.
  1. Read Little Blue Truck’s Halloween by Alice Schertle.
  1. Create a “Thankful Plate.”  Pick up a glass plate and using paint or Sharpies write or draw things that your kiddo is thankful for… then bake it in the oven and put it out on display for everyone to see.
  1. Put together treat bags and deliver them to your local servicemen (fire fighters, police officers, doctors, etc.).  Explain what these people do to help others and that it is important to thank them for their hard work and dedication.
  1. Fill the bath tub and have a finger painting bubble bath.
  1. Make applesauce together with fresh apples.
  1. Rake leaves and clean up the yard together.
  1. Help your little one put on a little song and dance recital in your living room.
  1. Have art time and create pictures of the four seasons.  Discuss the weather and how we dress for each season.  The possibilities are endless.
  1. Create puppets and put on a puppet show.
  1. Make fall flavored Playdoh then play with fall themed cookie cutters.
  1. Create an ABC coloring that is fall-themed.  If you’re not super artsy, just google or Pinterest the idea and lots of things will pop up that should help you with this one.
  1. Create a fall squishy bag.  To add extra fun, tape it to a window to let light in it.
  1. Go bobbing for apples.
  1. Craft a musical instrument.  Take an empty bottle (water bottle, etc.) and fill with corn kernels and then hot glue the lid on and have a great time.
  1. Carve a pumpkin.
  1. Bake pumpkin seeds then enjoy them together.
  1. Save pumpkin seeds to plant a pumpkin for next year.
  1. Do some Halloween Yoga for kids.  Great way to unwind.
  1. Go for a drive in the car and enjoy the fall scenery.
  1. Plant a tree.

I hope you enjoyed my list.  I had a blast creating the list and my whole family is super excited about it.  Be sure to leave a comment with any other ideas to be added to the Fall Bucket List for Toddlers.

Cheers,
Lisa