Life is Sweeter By Design

Helping you recapture the joy in life.

Mini Popsicle Cupcakes

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What says summer like popsicles?  Well if your kids are like mine...they love popsicles in any form and that is why these Mini Popsicle Cupcakes are such a hit!  Did I mention these are ADORABLE and really quick to make?  :) Mini Popsicle Cupcakes As a busy mom, don't you love it when you can make something super cute and it looks like you put a ton of effort in...but you know that you didn't, LOL!  It is fun to be able to present a platter of fun cupcakes without spending all day decorating them! Summer themed parties, cookouts and even mother-daughter pedicures are the perfect setting for popsicle cupcakes! It would be fun to have a "summer" themed day where we make seashell crafts, mermaid slime and eat popsicle cupcakes afterwards!  I know we could find plenty of friends to join us for that kind of fun! How to Make Mini Popsicle Cupcakes To make the little popsicles, first cut off about a third of a toothpick at one end. Repeat until … [Read more...]

DIY Fish Slime

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Summer time makes me think of the beach.  One thing at the beach...is the ocean! There are lots of colorful fish in the ocean and this DIY Fish Slime will definitely make your kids think they are at the ocean!  DIY Fish Slime This fish slime would make a great activity for a SUMMER party! Making the slime will keep kids busy and once they are done it will be fun to play with. Then you can package it up and send it home with the guests. Ingredients Needed for Fish Slime 1 airtight container 1 5 oz bottle of clear glue ½ cup water ½ tsp baking soda 1 tbsp contact solution Gel Coloring (I used a mix of neon blue and navy) Blue extra fine glitter Clear fishbowl beads Plastic fish How to Make DIY Fish Slime In a bowl, pour the entire 5 oz bottle of clear glue.   Add in ½ cup of water. Drop a few colors of blue coloring.  We use these soap dyes. I love them - there are a ton of colors to choose from and they don’t color your … [Read more...]

DIY Patriotic Suckers

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Want a fun project to do with your kids before Memorial Day or 4th of July?  How about making some DIY Patriotic Suckers!  These are SO cute...taste great and would make great gifts for your guests. DIY Patriotic Suckers Don't be intimidated by the thought of making homemade suckers. It really isn't hard and it is nice to know exactly what is in the candy you are eating (or sucking on, LOL). I love that these DIY Patriotic Suckers only have 5 ingredients too.  I had everything in my pantry except the cherry flavor. :) How to Make DIY Patriotic Suckers 1. Spray a small amount of non stick cooking spray on a piece of paper towel and rub the cooking spray in the sucker molds. 2. Add about a 1/2 teaspoon of red, white and blue sprinkles to each mold with a lollipop stick.     3. In a heavy bottomed pot, combine your sugar, light corn syrup and water and mix well. 4. Bring your ingredients to a boil on medium heat stirring constantly with a wooden … [Read more...]

Alexa Skill Blueprints is Keeping My Family Connected

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This post was sponsored by Amazon as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. We recently got an Amazon Echo and have been loving getting to know Alexa and all she can do. Well there is even more fun to be had with Alexa. Alexa Skill Blueprints is keeping my family connected and we are having a blast too. Alexa Skill Blueprints is Keeping My Family Connected I love finding ways to use technology to improve our family time. Amazon Echo really comes though with the new Alexa Skill Blueprints.  Alexa Skill Blueprints lets us personalize our Alexa experience and be imaginative!!  What is Alexa Skill Blueprints? This may be the first you have heard of Alexa Skill Blueprints. Let me give you a little background information.  Many customers already use Alexa skills in their daily life. There are literally thousands of Alexa skills that already exist. These skills are found and managed in the … [Read more...]

Easy Seashell Crafts for Kids

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Do you collect shells on your tropical vacations? WE DO--every time! I actually have a little seashell obsession, LOL. Well a great way to keep your kids busy this summer is to do some easy seashell crafts for kids. It is a double bonus...your kids stay busy and you use some of those shells that are sitting around! Easy Seashell Crafts for Kids I have actually gotten a sore neck from looking down at the sand trying to find shells on the beach. I did a lot of looking for shells when we were in Puerto Vallarta last year.  Luck was on my side because I even found a few sand dollars. Woot Woot.   Shells are Fun for All Ages I love that so many of these seashell crafts for kids work for a wide age range!  My kids are spaced out so I need to be able to keep different ages occupied. Some of these would make great gifts too!  Think of Mother's Day and Father's Day coming up. Crab Fridge Magnets - Red Ted Art Coral Shell Resin Bangles - The Soccer Mom … [Read more...]

Galaxy Cupcakes and a Free Printable Solar System Matching Game

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What is more fun than the milky way and a galaxy far, far away? How about making Galaxy Cupcakes and free printable solar system matching game! These are perfect for school treats or even a birthday party for a space loving kid!  Galaxy Cupcakes The great part about these cupcakes is that they are quick to make, but it looks like it took you all day!!  I start off with some easy peasy cupcakes from a cake mix. I can even make the cupcakes up the day before and just frost them the day of the party.  These would also be fun for kids to decorate at a birthday party...make your own galaxy cupcakes.  :) How to Make Galaxy Cupcakes Use the black food color to tint chocolate frosting black.  Just mix some black food coloring in until the brown becomes black. Next color about a ½ cup of the white frosting purple by adding some purple food coloring until it is the shade of purple you like. Frost all the cupcakes black and use the purple … [Read more...]

15 Family Friendly Backyard Games

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Are you as excited for warmer weather as I am? We have had some big cold bursts the past 2 weeks and it feels like spring weather is never going to get here. I am already planning fun things we can do as a family when it warms up a little more. I came up with 12 family friendly backyard games that everyone in the family will LOVE and beg to play again! 12 Family Friendly Backyard Games   1. DIY Ring Toss:  I love how easy this DIY Ring Toss is to make. Plus the fact that even toddlers will have fun trying to throw the rings onto the dowels.  You can paint it to match your house too! 2. Outdoor Tic Tac Toe:  This outdoor tic tac toe game is cute enough to stay on the deck all year long. It can be customized to fit your decor too. Who doesn't want to hang out on the deck and play tic tac toe? 3. Water Balloon Drop:  When the weather warms up it will be time to play water balloon drop. This doesn't involve much effort and I know a lot … [Read more...]

Cajun Popcorn Seasoning and Jumanji for Family Movie Night

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WelcomeToFamilyNight #Jumanji #CollectiveBias  Has your family seen Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle yet? Well...if not you are missing out on the best movie of the year!! My family is so excited to get this movie on DVD so we can watch it over and over again. We are having a family movie night with some Cajun popcorn seasoning on our popcorn...an awesome dinner and a hilarious movie. Cajun Popcorn Seasoning and Jumanji for Family Movie Night I like to make family movie night FUN while still keeping it easy for ME so I can have a good time too. It helps to have a movie our whole family enjoys...there won't be any fighting over what we are going to watch now that we have Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle in our DVD collection.  I have to admit...some of my favorite stars are in this movie TOGETHER. The combination of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kevin Hart and … [Read more...]

Fun Accessories for Your American Girl Doll That Won’t Break the Bank

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Do your daughters have the American Girl obsession going on?  It is running wild at my house for sure! We have Bitty Baby and American Girl Dolls and my girls LOVE them. The problem is obvious....the stuff costs BIG MONEY.  They love all the cute accessories, but mom doesn't like the price tag attached to these items. I have found some fun accessories for your American Girl doll that won't break the bank!  Fun Accessories for Your American Girl Doll That Won't Break the Bank I have been lucky that besides having a "real" American Girl doll...my girls don't care if the other stuff is "real" or not!  They love any doll clothing or accessories they get and don't look at the tags. I will be the first to admit that American Girl has good quality items, but my kids are hard on toys and it is hard to justify spending that much money on doll accessories. Here are some FUN accessories for your American Girl doll that aren't too expensive! My go-to place to shop … [Read more...]

Owl Memory Game Printable

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Whoo doesn't love owls?  Okay---I know that was a bad pun, LOL...but I couldn't resist!!  I have been playing memory with my little one lately and we are getting sick of doing the same Frozen Memory Game over and over.  I decided there was no reason I couldn't create some fun memory games myself for us to play.  This Owl Memory Game Printable is fun because these owls are ADORABLE! Owl Memory Game Printable Not every memory game is created equally.  There are what I call "levels" to memory games.  Some games are very simple because each set of cards is totally different from each other.  Other games are more complex because the sets of cards are similar and you have to really watch for the details.   This Owl Memory Game is going to be a little more complex because all the cards are OWLS!  Now each owl set is different---different colors, accessories, etc.  So the players will have to pay close attention to get the matches!  I … [Read more...]

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