With all us moms and dads have to remember on a daily basis, we don’t blame you if you forgot to stock up on Kiss Me, I’m Irish tees and shamrock socks in preparation for St. Patricks Day. But that doesn’t mean you have to send your little leprechaun to school without a speck of green. Here are seven simple (and sometimes silly) ideas for how to add some instant green to their look today, to ensure no one gets pinched.
Photo: The Twig and Toadstool
Make a Leaf Crown Forget the store, just stop by the nearest tree to complete your “Luck of the Irish” look. Just follow this easy tutorial from Twig and Toadstool, and your little will rule the day.
Raid the PJ Drawer
No green tees or pants? You may have more luck in the pajama department. For this fun day make a wardrobe exception, and let them wear those dino PJs out into the world.
Photo: Mom100
Pack a Green Lunch Pesto, broccoli, edamame, kiwi, grapes, bell pepper, celery, green apple—we are betting your fridge is stocked with green, so why not challenge yourself to pack an all green lunch today? The Mom100 has more great ideas on adding some color to packed lunches, so check it out here.
Sport a Green Juice Mustache
This idea is so easy it involves doing LESS than you do on a typical day. Just blend up a greens-filled power juice and skip the clean up after, and let your little smoothie sipper sport a green juice mustache all day. Some dripped on their shirt? Even better.
Don A Broccoli and Kale Corsage This one is sure to garner giggles from their schoolmates. Just bundle up a few of the prettiest greens from the crisper drawer and make a prom-worthy (and Iron-packing) corsage. The best part? A healthy snack is always at hand…literally.
Green Hair, Don’t Care All you need is a stick or two of green chalk, some warm water and a little hair gel for an instant and very temporary (promise!) hair dye. Follow these simple instructions from The Krazy Coupon Lady and your kid will head to school looking like you planned for this holiday for weeks.
Raid Mommas Jewelry Box We are betting there are some faux emeralds or even forgotten Mardi Gras beads in that jewelry box of yours, so let you littles sort through your stash and come up with something sparkly and green. Just be sure and remove anything of actual value from the pile of options!
Spring is nearly here and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to stock up on the Easter basket’s fave candy: PEEPS! But why toss in just simple marshmallow treats when you can dress them up, extreme makeover style?
The next time you’re out shopping, make sure to pick up a PEEPS Decorating Kit. Coming in bunny and chick options, each kit comes with five marshmallow, pre-made white icing and fun candy accessories to take your Peeps to the next level. You have your choice of sunglasses, a mustache, flip-flops, a bow tie and other cute candy pieces to make over your marshmallow friend.
Whether you’re heading out to a trunk-or-treat event or just looking spooky-cool for the pumpkin patch, these awesome Halloween themed masks for kids will keep them safe and in character at the same time. Scroll down to snag our favorites.
For toddlers, kids and adults, these Star Wars masks from BespokeBoutiqueAndCo come in Chewy, Yoda, Storm Trooper, Darth Vader & Mando. They also come with filters.
Seattle-based renowned corset maker Period Corsets is making some of the best masks money can buy and they just added stylish Halloween masks to their collection. They come in boys/girls sizes from toddler to big kid and you can even specify if you want them to be over the head or over the ear. as well as some stylish and festive fits for adults.
Get that mustached vibe while staying safe with Billie Blooms masks that come in toddler, and daddy or mommy and me styles. The fitted masks come with an inner pocket to add your own filter.
Cubcoats masks in playful designs transform kids into Kali the kitty, Uki the Unicorn, Papo the Panda and Pimm the Puppy. Each mask is made of two layers of fabric, lined with 100% cotton and contain an inner pocket for filters.
Available at cubcoats.com 12.99 for pack of two, $24.99 for pack of three
Hello! I’m Maria Chambers, the Chicago Editor for Red Tricycle and a full-time working mom of 4 (ages 24, 16, 14, 12) who is extremely lucky to work from home, even when we’re not in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. My kids started remote learning in March and have been in my workspace more than usual this summer with closures and social limitations. This has required a whole lot of patience and creativity—on their part, too—to keep them busy. Scroll through to find my favorite products we found for them (and me!) that have helped us get through the months.
Color Your World with Tie Dye
My 12yo daughter has tie-dyed anything white she could get her hands on. Camis, shorts, her bath towel, a bandana for her hair. The dog even spent a few days with rainbow-hued tips, courtesy of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. This was a fun way to get her friends together where they could still socially distance in the driveway.
Our neighborhood pool has always been the center of our summer entertainment. The kids just show up and it's packed with friends, no playdate setup required. Access to pools and splash pads was limited this year, so we opted for a blow-up pool. While we were a bit salty about the loss of pool time at first, the blow-up led to some pretty hilarious afternoons in the backyard.
Buy yours here, one large enough for the family is $119.99.
Also, having an electric air pump in the house was key this summer. Buy yours here, $15.98.
YETI for All
I can't even say for sure how it got started, but my family has become obsessed with YETI. All 4 kids made a big deal about picking out which color would be their signature. Each of my kids has the 26 oz Rambler, while I have the 36 oz beast (in chartreuse) that I fill with 2 iced lattes every morning. Once our district proceeds with in-person learning, the drinking fountains will not be accessible for a while, so these will come in handy.
To personalize their YETIs, the kids chose stickers that fit their interests and personalities. My 14yo son looked for stickers that resembled our pets and SCI-Fi-related shows and games, while my 12yo daughter went for sports. RedBubble gives independent artists a way to sell their creations and was our resource for finding sticker art. And, flipping through the options killed a rainy afternoon.
Find your personality here. Size and cost of stickers ranges, but prices are very reasonable.
DIY Paracord Bracelets
When we were knee-deep in quarantine and most things were closed, my kids and I learned how to make paracord bracelets. My daughter now wears hers every day. It was a fun project and also interesting to learn all the uses for the bracelets when used by soldiers and hunters.
If you're interested in making bracelets for soldiers as a family community service project, find the details on where to send and how they're used here.
Buy your colorful paracord here, a kit is $30.49. If you're looking for colors appropriate to donate to soldiers, buy the kit here, for $14.49.
Tree Swing
We have spent way more time at home than ever before, so one of the projects I worked on this spring was getting my backyard in order. For the last few years, my kids had been spending the majority of their free time out and about in the neighborhood and not hanging in the yard. So, it had gotten a bit unruly and had been neglected. One of the additions we made was hanging a macrame chair swing in the tree.
We have cut way back on eating out since March. I am very much a foodie and enjoy the experience of dinner out with the family. . . a lot. I also tried to cut my grocery runs down to once a week, so HelloFresh was a lifesaver with 3 meals a week delivered to my door at a time when grocery delivery services were experiencing major delays. Truth be told, I've been using HelloFresh for years, but I was very glad three nights of meals were taken off my plate (no pun intended) during a time I was also pretending to have a teaching degree and patience.
Start your meal delivery plan here. Or, find a different plan that works for you here.
My daughter has been spending as much time outside as possible and she's developing her own sense of style—which is kinda fun to watch. She's very active and prefers athleisure over dressy. So, her two favorite purchases for summer were her Birkenstocks (yellow with white bottoms) and her white crocs. As much as I don't love the look of Crocs, I have to say it's convenient she wears shoes you can hose down, which is very useful when you have a kid like my Tate.
Get your Crocs here and you Birkenstocks here. Also, if you have a kid that likes comfy clothes, like my daughter, check out Chicago-mom-owned Makoshey.
Fire Pit Table
Another project I worked on this spring is making my front porch a place the kids wanted to hang out and curl up to read a book. We enjoy it so much, we've started eating dinner around the fire pit table. It's my favorite spot to end an evening, with a cocktail in hand, decompressing from a long day. The kids sometimes invite their friends over to roast marshmallows, which is another great (and delicious) activity that lends itself to being socially distant.
I really like starting my day with a good workout. With gyms being closed, it was a struggle to find ways to keep up the routine. I've made due by purchasing a few things to use in my sad, sad workout space in my bedroom. It was unexpectedly fun with my kids because they would try out the equipment when it arrived, turning it over in their hands as if it came from another planet, trying to figure out its purpose. And, usually guessing wrong, which led to lots of laughs.
And, my new favorite product is the Flawless Hair Remover. I am very fuzzy in the facial region, like a peach. It's all blonde, but still very fuzzy. I once tried to wax around my lip area. That was a huge mistake. I looked like I had an inverted handlebar mustache. Very unfortunate since I also chose to try eyebrow tinting that same day and looked like a blonde Groucho Marx, with a sleek inverted handlebar mustache. Friends and family would not look me directly in the face for weeks.
An also-previously-fuzzy girlfriend clued me into this remover and my makeup goes on much smoother and cleansers don't get stuck in the hairs, creating little dried product balls. Yes, I had that much.
We live close to the DuPage River, so a good friend and I had the idea to purchase blow-up boats and float down the river. My daughter and I were in one boat, and my friend and her daughter were in a second boat. We found a good drop-in spot and just let the current take us. It was actually really fun to see the river we drive and walk past everyday from a different, eye-level perspective. It gave us a newfound appreciation of its beauty and the animals that call it home. And, was also a really chill, soul-centering way to spend the morning.
Buy yours here, $26.99, and the oars here, $17.99.
Fever-Tree Tonic Water
Back to the cocktail I mentioned around the fire pit at the end of a long day. I discovered Fever-Tree Handpicked Elderflower Tonic Water this past spring. My 14yo son has started using it to make mocktails, muddling berries and giving a squeeze of fresh lime juice. It's ridiculously delicious.
One thing my ex-husband, his partner and I did this spring was to schedule a porch photo session with our favorite photographer, Alicia's Photography. This was our quarantine-crew and we wanted to memorialize the (excessive amount of) time together and the memories made.
Shark week is coming! Discovery, Inc. just announced its exciting list of merchandising partners for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2020 airing Sun. Aug. 9 through Sun. Aug. 16. This year the consumer products program includes new and returning partners including Build-A-Bear.
Build-A-Bear is back for a third year with their Shark Week collection.
Great White Shark is available now and will arrive in stores throughout July. This powerful predator is known for its huge size and sharp teeth. This Great White Shark looks extra cool thanks to the official Shark Week logo on its paw pad.
Saw Shark is the newest online exclusive from Build-A-Bear. Known for their long, saw-like snouts and barbels that look like a mustache, saw sharks often swim in coastal waters. With plush fins and shiny blue fur, this smiley shark also features the official Shark Week logo on its paw pad.
You can personalize your sharks outfits, sounds and scents.
“Every year, we look forward to enhancing our viewers’ love for Shark Week by providing them with an appealing and diverse slate of merchandise,” said Carolann Dunn, Vice President, Consumer Products Licensing, Discovery, Inc. “Our goal is to allow shark lovers to go beyond watching shark-themed programming by wearing or playing with shark-themed products, and this year’s consumer products programming provides the opportunity to do just that.”
For up to date information on Shark Week as well as photos and videos, follow #SharkWeek on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
Since going to the local barbershop is still not allowed where we live in Michigan, it fell upon us to figure out the best way to shave my son Dominic’s beard and mustache. Typically, Dominic goes to our local barbershop to get his haircut and his barber (Vince) also takes about 30 seconds to shave his beard and mustache.
This August, it will be five years that Dominic has been going to Vince. That in itself is a huge milestone as anyone with a child or adult with sensory sensitivities knows. Anyway, earlier in the week my hubby, Lauren, and I had all noticed that Dominic’s facial hair definitely needed some assistance. I mentioned to Lauren that I needed to find a “social story” about getting a shave. Before I had a chance to find one, she took it upon herself to find one and print it out, it had both an electric shaver, shaving cream and razor stories!That meant so much to me, because she didn’t have to do that, she wanted to!
I showed the social story to Dominic and said with tons of enthusiasm, “We are going to shave!” He responded with a resounding “no.” I just kind of casually left the social story out on the kitchen table and more than once, I caught him taking a look at it. Since he showed some level of interest, the hubby and I discussed it last night and decided that today would be the day!! I wasn’t sure what time the big shaving session would be but after we did a family walk (a new quarantine activity) and the frozen pizza in the oven for lunch was almost done, I heard my husband say something like, “Daddy is going to shave and then it’s going to be your turn!”
When I rounded the corner to the bathroom, my husband was making his best effort to shave Dominic’s facial hair. It didn’t appear to be working because either Dominic has too much facial hair or the electric razor, which I am guessing is at least 50 years old, just couldn’t handle it. The noise was really starting to bother Dominic too and he put on his headphones. When my husband went upstairs to get the shaving cream and a razor, I told Dominic what we were going to try next. My husband put some shaving cream on Dominic’s face and he actually laughed!!
The hubby also got some shaving cream on Dominic’s lips which I wiped off. It took longer with the shaving cream and razor, but Dominic handled it like a pro!!! Lauren, the hubby, and I kept telling Dominic how great he looked and Lauren made the comment that it was a “group” effort to get Dominic shaved.
A few hours after the shaving session, I asked Dominic what he preferred, the electric shaver or the shaving cream and razor combo. He said the shaving cream/razor combo. I asked Dominic why he preferred the shaving cream and the razor and he said it was because the electric razor is “too loud.”
Either way, I don’t know if we would have had the same fabulous results if it weren’t for all of us coming together as a group to achieve the ultimate goal!
I am a stepmom to one and a mom to two. I have been a stay-at-home mom for almost 24 years. Grew up in Maryland and have lived in Michigan since 2001 when my husband got a job here. My 15-year old son has special needs.
You can get a lot of things at a Disney theme park, but did you know you can walk out with a fresh haircut, too? The Harmony Barber Shop located on Main Street, U.S.A. at Walt Disney World has been providing old school cuts for years and is a must-see on your next trip to the park!
When you step inside, guests are immediately transported back in time, where hair tonics line the shelves, leather barber chairs are front and center and a striped barber pole marks the spot. Harmony Barber Shop’s big claim to fame is the special first haircut service that includes “pixie dust,” bubbles, Mickey Mouse stickers, a keepsake lock of hair and a special “My 1st Haircut” set of Mouse Ears and certificate for $25.
Older kids can also get their ears lowered! Haircuts for children age 12 and start at $15 with the option to add colored hair gel for $7.50. Adult cuts start at $19, with beard and mustache trims costing a mere $10.
All stylists are state-licensed cosmetologists, and there are no shampoo services so make sure your hair is clean upon arrival. Due to the popularity, its recommended that guests make a free reservation (cancellation fess apply), although there are limited walk-in appointments available each day.
To make your reservation, simply call 407-939-7529.
Babies in mustaches and glasses are cute any time of the year, but for Halloween, infant attire takes on a whole new level of sweet meets hilarious. From snuggy little skunks (because you know…) to your favorite board game guy, read on for our picks for some of the funniest costumes for babies and toddlers.
1. Baby Skunk: A cozy and supercute costume for your little stinker.
With Halloween around the corner, your little ones may still be deciding … dragon or dinosaur? Moana or Maui? Too many trolls to choose! With the transformative power of face paint, a last minute mind change will never mean you have a costume to return. We rounded up easy ways to trick out your Halloween and keep imaginations spinning all year long. Keep reading to see them all.
1. Keep their eyes on the prize.
Whether your trick-or-treater wants to be a wizard or a witch, an eye mask always completes the makeover. You can find a slew of eye inspiration here, or design your own fun shape and embellishments for a truly unique look.
2. Try out a prowl.
Does it get any easier than a set of whiskers? We don’t think so. And really, they’re all your shy cat or fierce lion needs to play the part. Any black eyeliner will do the trick. In fact, look no further than mom’s makeup bag for tons of fun ways to use everyday makeup as face paint.
3. Color inside the lines.
If freestyling is leaving you uninspired, invest in a stencil set like this one from Create A Face for dozens of great ideas. With plenty of options on hand, these can be reused for birthday parties or rainy-day dress-up down the road. And don’t forget about arms and legs—you can stencil on temporary tattoos too!
4. Face off with a friend.
A partner in candy crime can double the fun. For any full-coverage commitment, be sure to go with natural, non-toxic paints like these from Elegant Minerals. In general, check that any face paint you buy is water-soluble and free of lead, nickel, chromium, or any other skin allergens—the only Halloween heavy metal we’re interested in is of the musical variety.
5. Go abstract.
Bold colors and swooping lines are a simple way to pull off a strong, dramatic, and one-of-a-kind look. And if you only need a handful of colors, Go Green Face Paint’s organic, stackable kit packs in plenty o’ paint to get the job done.
photo: Becky Baran
6. Add a little lip.
Nothing is cuter than when your pup starts talking like a toddler. If you want to make the mouth a key part of the animal fun, again ensure safety by going with food-based ingredients. It will take a little extra prep work, but you’ll save a lot of time worrying! This recipe by Mommypotamus largely consists of cornstarch, flour, honey, water, and natural food dye.
7. Bling out.
If you have a kid who will jump for gems, they are a perfect way to add that little extra pizazz. Mama Clown’s assorted self-adhesives make it easier than ever to bedazzle your design. Try adding a necklace or forehead hat or crown to complete the look.
8. Get in the hot seat.
Why not take the first spin? Your Halloween artists may come up with ideas they never would have thought of without brushes in their own hands. If you’re in need of the right tool for the job, check out Silly Farm’s extensive assortment of supplies.
9. Remember a ‘stache.
Second to whiskers, little is easier than adding a mustache. Consider going multi-colored to kick things up a notch. Extra points if you make use of eyebrow real estate! Dress Up America’s Face & Body Crayons will give you extra control with color and are another great option for kids to use themselves.
10. Cheek to cheek … and sweet.
Less can truly be more. Give everyone you trick or treat a reason to smile with something as simple as a rainbow, heart, or peace sign. The Klutz Face Painting Craft Kit has several step-by-step cheek designs to pull off that most classic look of all.
Plan to face paint this Halloween? Share your ideas in the Comments below!
Go for glamorous gold and silver accents with a star-themed party perfect for couples waiting to find out if they're having a boy or a girl. Star garlands, metallic star balloons, gold cupcake wrappers, star cut-out cookies and star-stamped macarons make a studded affair. While art stating "twinkle twinkle little star, do you know how loved you are," is downright sweet.
Sometimes having a surprise is half the fun. Make the fact that your baby-to-be's gender is still an unknown a game for your guests. At this clever shower, everyone was asked to take a mustache or bow based on whether they thought the baby was going to be a boy or girl. And the theme carried on with a bow and mustache garland, blue frosted mustache cookies and pinked frosted, bow-adorned cupcakes.
Make this party for the mama-to-be a literary affair, of the juvenile kind. We love how Kio Kreations used building blocks and children's storybook classics create a whimsical decor for this baby shower. And the theme is universal for both boys, girls and genders-to-be-determined.
Haven't confirmed pink or blue yet? Use both hues in your shower theme like this vintage affair created by Eventfully You. With mason jar centerpieces, a painted vintage bike at the entrance and a chevron decorate cake this party is one your guests will remember. We especially love the rhyme shown above.
Make sweet, white, sheep the center of your baby shower decor. Follow the ideas found on Catch My Party including a yarn centerpiece, little lamb cookies and gorgeous, rustic, white and brown color scheme.
Especially cute for spring and summer babies, this party theme is all about bees and they're sweet honey of course. The decor here plays off bee hives and honeycomb as well as they cute little striped bugs themselves. Plus, the personalized jars and bottles of honey as party favors are absolutely perfect.
Don't know whether to focus on pink or blue - focus on a rainbow of colors instead with sprinkles. Sprinkles everywhere. Sprinkles on everything. Your guests are going to love the array of sprinkle-covered sweets you can create from cake pops and cupcakes to pretzels and Rice Krispie Treats. Find more sprinkle-y details from Lulu's Event Design.
Go for gender-neutral yellow in the cutest of ways, by using a theme centered around rubber duckies. Make bathtub displays and bath time favors featuring soaps and salts guests will actually use. Then decorate cupcakes with ducky toppers and other foods and drinks with ducky tags. Rubber ducky is just making more than just bath time fun now!
While yellow is a classic hue for the "waiting to be surprised" crowd, this party gives it a trendy twist by pairing it with grey. A patterned fabric garland created a beautiful backdrop, while yellow frosted cupcakes on a stand made from hat boxes added interest to the dessert table.
