Unicorn Kinetic Sand

This recipe for DIY Unicorn Kinetic Sand may contain affiliate links.

This Unicorn Kinetic Sand is the perfect sensory toy, and in bright, vibrant sparkly colors, it looks just like a unicorn, too! Easy to make and fun to play with, you can make DIY Kinetic Sand at home!

I love kinetic sand. There’s just something so peaceful about squishing it, shaping it, and playing with it. But what I didn’t realize was that I was spending way too much on the kinetic sand at the store… making it at home in my favorite unicorn colors is easy and affordable! Kinetic sand is such a great therapeutic tool, too. My son has autism, and allowing him to play with kinetic sand while listening to me read has been a huge help to him when it comes to focusing. It’s also a great sensory tool! Here’s how to make your very own kinetic sand at home!

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Loaded Italian Stuffed Mushrooms

This recipe for stuffed mushrooms may contain affiliate links.

My mom is devastated, y’all. Seriously, her favorite Italian restaurant, Zio’s, closed their doors unexpectedly… and she didn’t even get to go one last time. One of our absolute favorite dishes to share was an appetizer… stuffed mushrooms. Loaded Italian Stuffed Mushrooms. Oh my goodness, these were good. Now, the chef wouldn’t share his recipe when asked, but he was kind enough to give me an idea of the ingredients they had in theirs, and this is a super close approximation to the real deal… but in jumbo form. See, they used baby bella mushrooms for their dish, but I’m all about the full-sized portabella mushrooms for mine.

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Sesame Caramel Ribs: Perfect for Easter!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. We hope you enjoy this recipe for sesame caramel ribs! #GetGrillingAmerica #CollectiveBias

Skip the ham or lamb this Easter... Ribs are where it's at! These caramel ribs are prepared with a delicious savory-sweet caramel sauce and slow grilled until they're practically falling off of the bone. You'll love the ginger, brown sugar, and buttery flavor of this rib dinner, and your family will be licking their fingers at the end. If you love grilled ribs, you're going to love these caramel ribs on Easter Sunday. They'll grill up perfectly with the extra juicy Smithfield ribs. #GetGrillingAmerica [ad]

Easter Sunday is now less than two weeks away, and we’re planning out our menu around here. Don’t expect our Easter Sunday menu to have ham or lamb or anything, though… we’ve stepped up our game with something that the whole family is going to love. Ribs. See, I don’t know about you, but I love an extra tender, extra juicy rib dinner. But my favorite Easter treat is those delicious caramel-filled eggs, so I’ve decided to have my caramel… and my ribs… at the same time. It’s not as crazy as it sounds; if you’ve ever had a honey barbecue sauce and liked it, you’re going to love these amazing caramel ribs, too. They’re sweet, they’re savory, and they have a little zap of ginger. Perfect for Easter, or for any spring and summer day…

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5 Tips for having the BEST Family Movie Night

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. We hope you enjoy this content about how to have a great family movie night. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

Family movie nights are a great way to bring the whole family together, but you can make them way more fun than just popping in a DVD, without a ton of extra money or time spent on your movie night. This is how we make family movie night AWESOME! (Our favorite tip? Letting everyone pick their own personal snack mix before the movie starts!) Plus, we share how YOU can get a free VUDU credit every month with your Walmart Family Mobile account. #YourTaxCash [ad]

Y’all know that I absolutely love Walmart Family Mobile. Just a couple of weeks ago, I shared all about how I invested in a smartphone for my business with Walmart Family Mobile, so I could keep rocking my business on the go, but that phone plan came with some extra perks that we are loving, like a VUDU credit every month! We decided that the movie credit makes for the perfect work break, which is why we’ve been staying intentional about family movie nights! I’ve figured out 5 foolproof tips for having the best movie night ever.

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Activities for the Book “Very Last First Time”

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What was your Very Last First Time? We all experience important “lasts.” Our last first day of school, our last first time going to the dentist, and more. In the book, the main character experiences her very last first time doing something alone-- going and collecting mussels off of the sea bed. Whether you are rowing the book or just enjoying reading it with your kids, here are some extension activities for the book Very Last First Time. | Five in a Row | FIAR | Homeschooling | Unit Study | Hands-On Learning | Play to Learn | Kindergarten | Arctic Homeschooling Activities | Tundry Homeschooling Activities | Books to Go Along With Very Last First Time |

We all have Very Last First Times in our lives. A very last first day of school, a very last first time doing the monkey bars all by yourself, a very last first thing that you’re doing all on your own. For the main character in Very Last First Time, it is the very last first time she’ll ever walk on the seabed by herself. After that very last first time, she will have already done it before. It won’t be a first time anymore.

The book Very Last First Time is so packed with things you can explore and learn: amazing information about Inuit culture, how mussels are gathered, and what an arctic tundra is like. It’s also packed with information about family relationships. It discusses how to handle fear and important situations. Of course, it is also about growing up and tackling new milestones. Maybe you’re enjoying the book with your child for fun. Or, perhaps you’re rowing it as a part of your Five in a Row curriculum. You might even be tackling the book as part of a unit study. Regardless, there are plenty of fun Very Last First Time activities to do with this book!

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Spicy-As-Heck Sticky Ribs

Some links in this post about sweet and spicy ribs may be affiliate links.

Do you like it hot? These spicy-as-heck sticky ribs are for you, then! A little bit sweet, a lot spicy, and oh-so-finger-licking delicious…. Use your favorite hot sauce to really kick up the heat level more, and more, and more for these spicy ribs you can make in your oven at home! Tone down the spice with a little sweet brown sugar, and you’ve got a meal that will stick to your own ribs, and your fingers, in the most delicious way. | oven-baked ribs | spicy ribs | sweet ribs | barbecue ribs | baby-back ribs |

Being from Kansas City, not much beats a good barbecue rib. Burnt ends, sure, but when it comes to ribs, around here, it’s usually barbecue. Now, I love barbecue ribs, don’t get me wrong. But sometimes I really want to take it up a few notches and to do that, I have to get spicy. That’s when these spicy-as-heck sticky ribs come in.

Why spicy-as-heck? Because you’re using a whole heck of a lot of hot sauce on them. And why sticky? Because to offset all of that spice, you have to have a little bit of sweet, and that comes in the form of brown sugar that caramelizes on the ribs and makes these stick to your fingers (in the best way… you’ll be licking them clean, trust me). You can bake these in your oven or toss them on the grill and have these spicy ribs practically falling off of the bone.

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Semi-Homemade Toaster Pastries

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I love a good toaster pastry, especially Pop Tarts, but if you make these, you are never going to buy storebought again… flaky crust, hearty filling, deliciously sweet, tender flavor, and sprinkles in any color of the rainbow! Plus, they’re super easy to make with a semi-homemade filling! Get these yummy toaster pastries on your table in a matter of minutes (and get your kids enjoying some real fruit inside!) A homemade toaster pastry is the perfect breakfast treat for your on-the-go family! | homemade pop tarts | easy breakfast idea | breakfast pastry recipe |

One of my favorite childhood breakfasts was Pop Tarts. I just love something grab-and-go in the mornings, especially because I’m a reluctant breakfast-eater. I know the importance of it now, but it’s taken me years to even be that excited about breakfast. Toaster Pastries just have that awesome feeling that transports you back to childhood, and there’s something nostalgic about biting into a toaster pastry in your favorite flavor. But you can actually make a homemade toaster pastry (or semi-homemade toaster pastry) that is so easy and so delicious, you may think twice about buying the store-bought ones.

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7 Ways to Rock Your Home Business With Your Smartphone (And why Tax time is the BEST time to get one!)

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

Whether you're a blogger, in direct sales, or have your own craft business, if you're a work from home mom, chances are you're missing out big time if you don't know how to properly rock your business from your Smartphone. Here are 7 ways to ROCK your business with your smartphone, and why tax time is a great time to get a smartphone for your business! #YourTaxCash [ad]

These days, it seems like there are fewer and fewer Stay at Home Moms and more moms who would consider themselves Work at Home Moms. Every day in my news feed, I see another friend promoting and rocking her home-based business, whether she is selling leggings or lotions, writing a blog, or creating handcrafted items. I love seeing the great businesses my friends are working from home, and I love when they support my small business, too, but it seriously shocks me that so many of them aren’t utilizing their smartphone data in the smartest possible way to rock their at-home business! After launching my site about 5 years ago, and after trying direct sales more than a few times over the last decade, I’ve found some really awesome ways to really maximize your business with a smartphone!

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Posted in Fun

DIY Ombre Flower Monogram

Some links in this Ombre Flower Monogram DIY Wreath article may be affiliate links.

If you’re looking for the perfect door hanging or office decor, you’re going to love this impossibly easy ombre flower monogram! If you can trace a circle, fold a piece of felt, and use a hot glue gun, you can make this! It is the perfect substitute for a DIY Wreath, or looks great on any wall! Just pick the letter or wooden shape that appeals to you, and you’re all set to make this fun creation!

You know when you’re walking through a store and you see something and think “I need that.”? It happens to me all the time. Usually, I can silence that inner voice that says “BUY IT!” but with this one? No. I had to give in this wooden letter. When it comes to easy DIYs, you really can’t beat this one. It’s so simple. Your floral monogram can be ready to hang in about the time that it takes you to watch an episode of This Is Us. Or, you know, a show where you aren’t too busy sobbing to craft… but still. Timewise, it’s do-able to make this DIY Wreath in the length of a TV episode.

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Kielbasa Pepper Cups (Easy Weeknight Meal!)

Looking for an easy, delicious weeknight meal that can also double as a stunning appetizer for your next party? These Kielbasa Pepper Cups fit the bill! They're SO easy to make, and packed with delicious filling like kielbasa and peppers. The best part? They take very little prep time! If you love kielbasa or polish sausage, you'll love these easy pepper cups!

You know I love easy weeknight meals. Life is busy, but dinner should NOT be a hassle. That said, I don’t usually want to sacrifice taste, or heck, elegance. That’s where these Kielbasa Pepper Cups come in. Starting with some wonton wrappers from the produce section, a few fresh peppers and onions, and your favorite kielbasa (or use Polish sausage, I won’t tell), and you’ve got dinner. Easily.

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