There’s not much that beats a day at the pool in your own backyard oasis. In-ground, above ground, Intex – no matter what kind of pool you have, you can never have enough pool floats, toys, and entertainment, and I’ve got the 4-1-1 on all of this summer’s pool essentials!

This is a must-have, the versatility of being able to lay down or use in multiple ways. Kristy says she’s able to help her son learn how to swim all while relaxing on this water hammock.

Use in or out of the pool since they won’t clog your filter like regular water balloons can and don’t leave a mess around the yard. The fun doesn’t stop once out of the pool…these reusable water balloons are a hit -and they’re 30% off right now when you clip the digital coupon and use code HILIOPWR.

Waterproof playing cards for the lake, beach or poolside. Enjoy a friendly game of poker, solitaire, or war without worrying about getting the cards wet or ruined.

Water Barbies with pools and boats are always a hit – they’re great for imaginative play and sibling play if you’re like me and have three daughters. We like to pair our Barbies with our Ariel mermaid dolls, and don’t forget a water soaker!

My kids love these Banzai mermaids! They play in and out of the water with them, and they will let their two-year-old brother throw them in the pool for them to retrieve for him as a game. It promotes underwater swimming and imaginative play.

3/4 of my kids are swimmers now, but we have always used the puddle jumpers for our non-swimmers when we aren’t actively teaching them how to swim. It eases our mind to have this available and gives our kids a sense of safety and independence when around the pool area.

My kids enjoy using their kick boards for getting around the pool or just taking a minute to hang out and relax without having to kick kick kick. Kick boards really help with strengthening core and legs too. These mini split ring pool floats are also a hit – they are the perfect float for toddlers and bigger kids too.

Swim googles are a must as being able to open your eyes under water brings a whole new element of fun to swimming. These diving mask googles are a kid favorite. They are anti-fog and good for kids who are learning to swim and explore under water.

This watermelon ball is a group favorite! I am still waiting for mine to arrive, but this ball floats, sinks and rises so you’re able to play with it above and below the water. The ball is filled with water and air so it floats like a melon and plays like a ball for loads of fun.

This pool side basketball system brings a classic game of basketball to the pool, adding an element of fun to any pool day. Play H.O.R.S.E or P.I.G to keep it fun!

Diving toys are great for keeping the kids busy for hours of pool play, throwing, diving and collecting rings and sharks over and over again. Diving toys help with underwater swimming and motor skills.

This underwater seek and splash game is one for the whole family to participate in. This game comes with waterproof cards and gems. The gems are placed at the bottom of the pool, and you call out a sequence of gems to find and the first person to bring up all of the gems in the sequence gets a point – the first to 5 wins! Play over and over again!

Nothing gets more classic that a good ole’ super soaker water gun battle! Play in or out of the pool for a friendly game of water tag.

Safety is key, and if you have a multi depth pool, you’ll want to separate the deep end clearly so that your kids or guests know where the deep end begins. This floating pool rope helps clearly divide the pool from shallow to deep end.

I love fun and eye-catching pool floats! The imaginative play of being able to float above the water leads to lots of pool time fun. This unicorn float adds a bit of sparkle to the water, and floats like this are super popular.

Lastly, when you’re ready to wrap the day up, grab yourself a mesh bag to throw all of the toys in! This will allow them to fully dry before storing them inside or in a pool deck box. They come in all different sizes so you can customize to your amount/sizes of pool entertainment.

There’s not much that beats a day at the pool in your own backyard oasis. In-ground, above ground, Intex – no matter what kind of pool you have, you can never have enough pool floats, toys, and entertainment, and I’ve got the 4-1-1 on all of this summer’s pool essentials!

This is a must-have, the versatility of being able to lay down or use in multiple ways. Kristy says she’s able to help her son learn how to swim all while relaxing on this water hammock.

Use in or out of the pool since they won’t clog your filter like regular water balloons can and don’t leave a mess around the yard. The fun doesn’t stop once out of the pool…these reusable water balloons are a hit -and they’re 30% off right now when you clip the digital coupon and use code HILIOPWR.

Waterproof playing cards for the lake, beach or poolside. Enjoy a friendly game of poker, solitaire, or war without worrying about getting the cards wet or ruined.

Water Barbies with pools and boats are always a hit – they’re great for imaginative play and sibling play if you’re like me and have three daughters. We like to pair our Barbies with our Ariel mermaid dolls, and don’t forget a water soaker!

My kids love these Banzai mermaids! They play in and out of the water with them, and they will let their two-year-old brother throw them in the pool for them to retrieve for him as a game. It promotes underwater swimming and imaginative play.

3/4 of my kids are swimmers now, but we have always used the puddle jumpers for our non-swimmers when we aren’t actively teaching them how to swim. It eases our mind to have this available and gives our kids a sense of safety and independence when around the pool area.

My kids enjoy using their kick boards for getting around the pool or just taking a minute to hang out and relax without having to kick kick kick. Kick boards really help with strengthening core and legs too. These mini split ring pool floats are also a hit – they are the perfect float for toddlers and bigger kids too.

Swim googles are a must as being able to open your eyes under water brings a whole new element of fun to swimming. These diving mask googles are a kid favorite. They are anti-fog and good for kids who are learning to swim and explore under water.

This watermelon ball is a group favorite! I am still waiting for mine to arrive, but this ball floats, sinks and rises so you’re able to play with it above and below the water. The ball is filled with water and air so it floats like a melon and plays like a ball for loads of fun.

This pool side basketball system brings a classic game of basketball to the pool, adding an element of fun to any pool day. Play H.O.R.S.E or P.I.G to keep it fun!

Diving toys are great for keeping the kids busy for hours of pool play, throwing, diving and collecting rings and sharks over and over again. Diving toys help with underwater swimming and motor skills.

This underwater seek and splash game is one for the whole family to participate in. This game comes with waterproof cards and gems. The gems are placed at the bottom of the pool, and you call out a sequence of gems to find and the first person to bring up all of the gems in the sequence gets a point – the first to 5 wins! Play over and over again!

Nothing gets more classic that a good ole’ super soaker water gun battle! Play in or out of the pool for a friendly game of water tag.

Safety is key, and if you have a multi depth pool, you’ll want to separate the deep end clearly so that your kids or guests know where the deep end begins. This floating pool rope helps clearly divide the pool from shallow to deep end.

I love fun and eye-catching pool floats! The imaginative play of being able to float above the water leads to lots of pool time fun. This unicorn float adds a bit of sparkle to the water, and floats like this are super popular.

Lastly, when you’re ready to wrap the day up, grab yourself a mesh bag to throw all of the toys in! This will allow them to fully dry before storing them inside or in a pool deck box. They come in all different sizes so you can customize to your amount/sizes of pool entertainment.

Summer break is here! If you’re in the thick of it and looking for some ideas to keep the kids busy, or for rainy day boredom busters, here’s a summer bucket list to help kids and parents survive the long dog days of summer! I’m covering every letter of the alphabet with a fun activity!

A – Amusement Park – Most states offer an amusement park of sorts, but if you happen to live in states like Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming or Utah, I’m sure visiting a fairground with amusement rides could suffice!

B – Build A Sandcastle – Beach sand or backyard play sand, grab your buckets, shovels and building kits and get to it! Use seashells or other nature finds to decorate with paints or markers!

C – Camp out – Whether in the backyard or at a campsite, camping can be quite an adventure, so grab your sleeping bag and tent and make memories!

D – Drive-In Movie – An oldie but still goodie, grab some snacks and drinks and catch a double feature flick!

E – Experiment – Science is cool! Scoop up an experiment kit or grab some ingredients for some fun!

F – Flash Lights in the Dark – There is a lot we miss out on after the sun goes down, so grab those flashlights and head out on a nighttime adventure!

G – Game Day/Night – Perfect for a rainy summer day/night…everyone grab their favorite game and play away!

H – Hike – Find a local spot, grab your comfy shoes, water bottle and snack, and check out some new terrain!

I – Ice-Cream – I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream! Check out a new ice cream parlor or create an ice cream sundae station at home!

J – Jigsaw Puzzle – I love a good puzzle! Pick out a new puzzle and get the whole family involved! Another rainy day fav!

K – Kite Flying – Whether in the backyard, local park or on the beach, send it soaring up to the highest height! Anyone else humming the Mary Poppins kite song?!

L – Lemonade Stand – Fresh squeezed or mix, there’s nothing quite like a good old fashioned summer lemonade stand! Have the kids choose a local charity to donate a portion of the proceeds to if they wish!

M – Museum – Kids, Art, History…there are a lot to choose from, and summer learning can be fun!

N – Night-time Activity – How about visiting an observatory at night?? Wish upon a shooting star if you’re lucky enough!

O – Obstacle Course – Create a course in your yard and have timed races!

P – Plant a garden – Flower, herb, veggie…don’t be afraid to get those hands a little dirty…and enjoy the rewards!

Q – Quick Trip (Day trip to somewhere new) – North to south, east to west…I’m sure there are adventures to be had at some hidden gem in your state!

R – Road Trip – It doesn’t have to be a cross-country trek, just a couple-day getaway driven in your family vehicle or RV!

S – S’mores – Stock up on those chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows – there’s always room for s’more!

T – Tourist Attraction – Every state has tourist attractions, and I bet there’s one that you’ve never seen or explored before, so go check it out!

U – “U”-Pick Farm Day – Check out a local farm to pick some berries to either eat, freeze for later or bake a pie or muffins with!

V – Visit a new playground – Check out a new playground that you have never been to before, whether it’s outdoor or indoor.

W – Water Park – Visit a local water park for a whole day, or if there isn’t one in your driving range, then make it a water day!

X – “X” Marks the Spot Scavenger Hunt – Create a course and a map with clues. Get creative and they’ll have an amazing time searching for whatever you deem the prize to be!

Y – “YES Day” – Let the kids plan a whole day of activities, with rules and limitations – all you have to do is say “Yes!” I actually have been wanting to plan a yes day for my clan, and they’re still pretty young so I feel like how bad could it get?!

Z – Zoo trip – Plan a day trip to a local or new zoo that you’ve never been to before! Pack a lunch and explore the wild in a safe environment!

How many can you cross off before the end of the summer?!

Summer break is here! If you’re in the thick of it and looking for some ideas to keep the kids busy, or for rainy day boredom busters, here’s a summer bucket list to help kids and parents survive the long dog days of summer! I’m covering every letter of the alphabet with a fun activity!

A – Amusement Park – Most states offer an amusement park of sorts, but if you happen to live in states like Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming or Utah, I’m sure visiting a fairground with amusement rides could suffice!

B – Build A Sandcastle – Beach sand or backyard play sand, grab your buckets, shovels and building kits and get to it! Use seashells or other nature finds to decorate with paints or markers!

C – Camp out – Whether in the backyard or at a campsite, camping can be quite an adventure, so grab your sleeping bag and tent and make memories!

D – Drive-In Movie – An oldie but still goodie, grab some snacks and drinks and catch a double feature flick!

E – Experiment – Science is cool! Scoop up an experiment kit or grab some ingredients for some fun!

F – Flash Lights in the Dark – There is a lot we miss out on after the sun goes down, so grab those flashlights and head out on a nighttime adventure!

G – Game Day/Night – Perfect for a rainy summer day/night…everyone grab their favorite game and play away!

H – Hike – Find a local spot, grab your comfy shoes, water bottle and snack, and check out some new terrain!

I – Ice-Cream – I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream! Check out a new ice cream parlor or create an ice cream sundae station at home!

J – Jigsaw Puzzle – I love a good puzzle! Pick out a new puzzle and get the whole family involved! Another rainy day fav!

K – Kite Flying – Whether in the backyard, local park or on the beach, send it soaring up to the highest height! Anyone else humming the Mary Poppins kite song?!

L – Lemonade Stand – Fresh squeezed or mix, there’s nothing quite like a good old fashioned summer lemonade stand! Have the kids choose a local charity to donate a portion of the proceeds to if they wish!

M – Museum – Kids, Art, History…there are a lot to choose from, and summer learning can be fun!

N – Night-time Activity – How about visiting an observatory at night?? Wish upon a shooting star if you’re lucky enough!

O – Obstacle Course – Create a course in your yard and have timed races!

P – Plant a garden – Flower, herb, veggie…don’t be afraid to get those hands a little dirty…and enjoy the rewards!

Q – Quick Trip (Day trip to somewhere new) – North to south, east to west…I’m sure there are adventures to be had at some hidden gem in your state!

R – Road Trip – It doesn’t have to be a cross-country trek, just a couple-day getaway driven in your family vehicle or RV!

S – S’mores – Stock up on those chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows – there’s always room for s’more!

T – Tourist Attraction – Every state has tourist attractions, and I bet there’s one that you’ve never seen or explored before, so go check it out!

U – “U”-Pick Farm Day – Check out a local farm to pick some berries to either eat, freeze for later or bake a pie or muffins with!

V – Visit a new playground – Check out a new playground that you have never been to before, whether it’s outdoor or indoor.

W – Water Park – Visit a local water park for a whole day, or if there isn’t one in your driving range, then make it a water day!

X – “X” Marks the Spot Scavenger Hunt – Create a course and a map with clues. Get creative and they’ll have an amazing time searching for whatever you deem the prize to be!

Y – “YES Day” – Let the kids plan a whole day of activities, with rules and limitations – all you have to do is say “Yes!” I actually have been wanting to plan a yes day for my clan, and they’re still pretty young so I feel like how bad could it get?!

Z – Zoo trip – Plan a day trip to a local or new zoo that you’ve never been to before! Pack a lunch and explore the wild in a safe environment!

How many can you cross off before the end of the summer?!

Summer is time to set the piggy toes free and let them babies breathe…most of the year they are covered up by socks, closed-toed shoes, boots and more. I personally love to go barefoot as much as I can and so do my kids, but the hubby…not so much! I very much prefer summer footwear – flip flops, sandals – over everything else, and I like to keep it mostly simple with a touch of style so I’m here with my favorite summer footwear trends for you!

Cloud Slides – Is there anything more heavenly sounding than feeling like you’re walking on clouds?! There are many variations of these sandals, but nevertheless, they are supposed to relieve foot pain, discomfort and joint pain. Somehow they relax and decompress your feet with every step that you take. Waterproof, non-slip and non-blistering are other perks of these sandals. At first glance, I wasn’t impressed, but I have to say that they have grown on me and there are lots of colors to choose from.

Havaianas – I was once gifted a pair for my birthday and they are the only flip-flop type sandal that has stood the time test, and they are still around to this day! They appear to be thin, but you’ll feel a weight to them, and they are actually very nice to walk in, even for longer distances! The pair I still have are around 13 years old. They are a slimmer sandal and I do have more of a wide fit, especially after four kids, but I still highly recommend them!

Wedge Heel/Sandal – I have always been a wedge heel kinda gal – at 5’3″ a little extra height is nice, especially for date nights with my 6’4″ hubby! They are a more comfortable option in the footwear realm. You can have a nice mix of casual cork heel and dressy with a mule heel, plus you can choose from backless or strapped options.

Gladiator Sandal – There are so many variations of this mostly flat sandal, and I have been a fan of them for years! These pair nicely with a romper, summer dress for a dressy look, or classic shorts/shirt combo for a more casual look.

Square-Toed Heel – Heels are pretty universal and can be worn during most seasons. Round/almond/pointed toes used to be all the rage, but now the square-toed heel is what’s in. Instead of all of the tootsies being squished together, they can breathe, and this sandal gives a more uniform look so you can really show off that polished pedicure! I love the way the square toe gives dimension and an overall fresh look to an outfit.

Birkenstock Sandals – Birks are comfortable with their cork bottoms, and they’re an easy slip-on sandal to run errands, head to the park with the kids, or enjoy casual day dates or vacation spots. There are waterproof ones, oiled leather, suede, strapped and thong styles.

So what are you waiting for?? Make that pedi appointment and show off those summer footwear looks!

Summer is time to set the piggy toes free and let them babies breathe…most of the year they are covered up by socks, closed-toed shoes, boots and more. I personally love to go barefoot as much as I can and so do my kids, but the hubby…not so much! I very much prefer summer footwear – flip flops, sandals – over everything else, and I like to keep it mostly simple with a touch of style so I’m here with my favorite summer footwear trends for you!

Cloud Slides – Is there anything more heavenly sounding than feeling like you’re walking on clouds?! There are many variations of these sandals, but nevertheless, they are supposed to relieve foot pain, discomfort and joint pain. Somehow they relax and decompress your feet with every step that you take. Waterproof, non-slip and non-blistering are other perks of these sandals. At first glance, I wasn’t impressed, but I have to say that they have grown on me and there are lots of colors to choose from.

Havaianas – I was once gifted a pair for my birthday and they are the only flip-flop type sandal that has stood the time test, and they are still around to this day! They appear to be thin, but you’ll feel a weight to them, and they are actually very nice to walk in, even for longer distances! The pair I still have are around 13 years old. They are a slimmer sandal and I do have more of a wide fit, especially after four kids, but I still highly recommend them!

Wedge Heel/Sandal – I have always been a wedge heel kinda gal – at 5’3″ a little extra height is nice, especially for date nights with my 6’4″ hubby! They are a more comfortable option in the footwear realm. You can have a nice mix of casual cork heel and dressy with a mule heel, plus you can choose from backless or strapped options.

Gladiator Sandal – There are so many variations of this mostly flat sandal, and I have been a fan of them for years! These pair nicely with a romper, summer dress for a dressy look, or classic shorts/shirt combo for a more casual look.

Square-Toed Heel – Heels are pretty universal and can be worn during most seasons. Round/almond/pointed toes used to be all the rage, but now the square-toed heel is what’s in. Instead of all of the tootsies being squished together, they can breathe, and this sandal gives a more uniform look so you can really show off that polished pedicure! I love the way the square toe gives dimension and an overall fresh look to an outfit.

Birkenstock Sandals – Birks are comfortable with their cork bottoms, and they’re an easy slip-on sandal to run errands, head to the park with the kids, or enjoy casual day dates or vacation spots. There are waterproof ones, oiled leather, suede, strapped and thong styles.

So what are you waiting for?? Make that pedi appointment and show off those summer footwear looks!

Summer break has arrived for mine and Kristy’s family, and that means an immense amount of time is spent outdoors! I have lots of entertainment right in my own backyard. Our pool is a big source, and the Jersey heat…IYKYK! We have a huge play set and playhouse so that comes in handy during intermittent pool breaks! There are a lot of fun activities that can keep the kids entertained…here are some of our favs to share with you – a mix of purchasable items and ways to get creative!

Sprinkler Fun – We purchased the kids a trampoline a couple years ago and we were later gifted a trampoline sprinkler and boy does it take the trampoline, which is already a backyard outdoor fav, to another level! A great alternative to beat the heat if you don’t have a pool!

Water Table Play – My littlest guy isn’t too into our pool just yet and isn’t a fan of sprinklers, but give him a water table and he’s set to go. He loves to pour and dump the water and uses the “tools” to make a welcomed water mess, since it’s outdoors of course!

We have gone through a lot of splash pads – they are very much well-loved and get a lot of use during the warmer summer days when the kids aren’t quite ready to be fully submerged in the pool or when they just need a quick cool down!

Balloon Volleyball – This one is fun for the whole family and is pretty simple – grab a jump rope or hose and make a line to separate your courts – first one to 21 wins! If you have young kiddos and tend to be competitive, just tell them it’s like the keepsy upsy game from Bluey!

Hot Day? Try using water balloons (underhand toss) – don’t drop or squeeze the balloon too hard – first team to pop 21 balloons loses!

Treasure Hunt – Kristy’s kids love this activity and it’s considered one of their favorites. Kristy usually creates her own scavenger hunts based off of what she has in eyesight for her kids. Take a clip board or binder and some crayons or pencils and you have a fun yet simple activity! With the treasure hunts, she will grab fun bulk items from our group page and will hide them in the backyard. She recently had extra stars from her son’s birthday party so that’s what she hid the other day. Whoever collects the most gets to choose the game or movie the family watches that night – and of course keep their findings. 

Sun Melted Crayons – Most kids come home at the end of the year with all of the leftovers from their school desk, with 75% of it being broken crayons. Start by ripping the paper off and putting them inside a cookie cutter sitting on tin foil and place them out in the sun. Have the kids take turns checking the progress of their new crayons in the making. Voila! Now they’ll have fun new crayons for summer! 

Rock/Seashell Art – Kristy lives by the beach so they go a lot, both during the on and off season (so you can imagine the collection of rocks and shells they’ve built over the last 6 years). On rainy days or as a boredom buster, they pull out their paint and markers and start creating masterpieces on the rocks and shells. Over time the rain can wash some things away, but it gives them the opportunity to color again and again! 

Outdoor Movie Nights – If you’re like us we take every opportunity to get outdoors in the summer and that even means winding down for bed!! I mean who wouldn’t love movie nights on a cool summer night, enjoying some s’mores?! Grab some old blankets, outdoor pillows, your favorite snacks {mine is popcorn} and a portable projector and you’ll have endless memories for many summers to come! You can use your vinyl fence (if you have one) as a screen, but you can also grab a portable screen off Amazon or get creative with a sheet, clips and siding hooks!

Some of the best memories are made during the summer months so get outside, enjoy the sun and have some fun!

Summer break has arrived for mine and Kristy’s family, and that means an immense amount of time is spent outdoors! I have lots of entertainment right in my own backyard. Our pool is a big source, and the Jersey heat…IYKYK! We have a huge play set and playhouse so that comes in handy during intermittent pool breaks! There are a lot of fun activities that can keep the kids entertained…here are some of our favs to share with you – a mix of purchasable items and ways to get creative!

Sprinkler Fun – We purchased the kids a trampoline a couple years ago and we were later gifted a trampoline sprinkler and boy does it take the trampoline, which is already a backyard outdoor fav, to another level! A great alternative to beat the heat if you don’t have a pool!

Water Table Play – My littlest guy isn’t too into our pool just yet and isn’t a fan of sprinklers, but give him a water table and he’s set to go. He loves to pour and dump the water and uses the “tools” to make a welcomed water mess, since it’s outdoors of course!

We have gone through a lot of splash pads – they are very much well-loved and get a lot of use during the warmer summer days when the kids aren’t quite ready to be fully submerged in the pool or when they just need a quick cool down!

Balloon Volleyball – This one is fun for the whole family and is pretty simple – grab a jump rope or hose and make a line to separate your courts – first one to 21 wins! If you have young kiddos and tend to be competitive, just tell them it’s like the keepsy upsy game from Bluey!

Hot Day? Try using water balloons (underhand toss) – don’t drop or squeeze the balloon too hard – first team to pop 21 balloons loses!

Treasure Hunt – Kristy’s kids love this activity and it’s considered one of their favorites. Kristy usually creates her own scavenger hunts based off of what she has in eyesight for her kids. Take a clip board or binder and some crayons or pencils and you have a fun yet simple activity! With the treasure hunts, she will grab fun bulk items from our group page and will hide them in the backyard. She recently had extra stars from her son’s birthday party so that’s what she hid the other day. Whoever collects the most gets to choose the game or movie the family watches that night – and of course keep their findings. 

Sun Melted Crayons – Most kids come home at the end of the year with all of the leftovers from their school desk, with 75% of it being broken crayons. Start by ripping the paper off and putting them inside a cookie cutter sitting on tin foil and place them out in the sun. Have the kids take turns checking the progress of their new crayons in the making. Voila! Now they’ll have fun new crayons for summer! 

Rock/Seashell Art – Kristy lives by the beach so they go a lot, both during the on and off season (so you can imagine the collection of rocks and shells they’ve built over the last 6 years). On rainy days or as a boredom buster, they pull out their paint and markers and start creating masterpieces on the rocks and shells. Over time the rain can wash some things away, but it gives them the opportunity to color again and again! 

Outdoor Movie Nights – If you’re like us we take every opportunity to get outdoors in the summer and that even means winding down for bed!! I mean who wouldn’t love movie nights on a cool summer night, enjoying some s’mores?! Grab some old blankets, outdoor pillows, your favorite snacks {mine is popcorn} and a portable projector and you’ll have endless memories for many summers to come! You can use your vinyl fence (if you have one) as a screen, but you can also grab a portable screen off Amazon or get creative with a sheet, clips and siding hooks!

Some of the best memories are made during the summer months so get outside, enjoy the sun and have some fun!

The anticipation of summer break for students and teachers starts in the month of May, but as June soon comes around so do the end-of-year school party planning! Room parents unite! Themes, games, goodies…nothing is left out during this exciting time of the school year. This event doesn’t have to break the bank either as most things were purchased from the $1.25 store. We’ve got the behind-the-scenes deets on how Kristy and Krista put together their festive and summer fun and circus/carnival end-of-year school parties!

Photo Stations – An easy task with few supplies is all you need no matter your theme! Grab a tri-fold poster board, spray glue a tablecloth to it, then use construction paper to make the arrows and post. If you have a Cricut you can create the beach letters, or purchase sticker lettering – the hanging sun was a dollar store find. Have the students decorate felt frames with stickers or just grab some photo props!

A thick poster board with some decorative items like laminated signs, tinsel foil fringe and photo booth props is how this circus/carnival-themed photo backdrop was created. These photo booths can be used both outdoors and indoors, in case the weather isn’t cooperative.

Activities – Grab canvas tote bags, and again if you have a Cricut you can personalize them with each student’s name, or have the kids decorate them! Students can use fabric pens to sign each other’s bags and bring all of their party stuff home in them – such a creative and fun activity.

Sand art bottles and rock painting are a couple more artistic ways to celebrate the end of another school year. The bottles for the sand art are from the $1.25 store and another parent had some extra sand laying around so they were able to utilize that – look at how cute they turned out! Krista grabbed rocks from her garden and the students painted them, added their initials and year, and could either keep them or hide them around town for their friends to find!

Face painting is ALWAYS a hit no matter what kind of event you’re putting together, so it was an easy decision to add face painter to the lineup for the circus/carnival EOY party! If our readers are located in the South Jersey shore area, Amanda Desouza comes highly recommended! IG: MUABYAD

Games – The F&T fav...the prize punches make more appearances for both of these EOY parties! They are super easy to create and even more fun for the kiddos to play; just fill with fun prizes like temp tattoos, stickers, snap bracelets, and squishy toys and you’re ready to go. Use a disc drop game for some added flair so the kids can punch the cup based on whatever number they landed on!

Think classic games…you can’t have a carnival without ring toss, right, and this large outdoor blow-up ring toss game is the cutest! And who doesn’t love bingo?! Add on a colorful parachute paired with a beach ball, relay races, and water balloon toss using reusable water balloons for some team play, and voila!! These games will never go out of style and are perfect additions to a successful EOY celebration!

Snacks & Treats – Simple and sweet is all that is needed here. Simple is a cute little goody bag with some snacks like sliced fruit, Annie’s GF goldfish {always check for any classroom allergies}, and a juice box or small water. Popcorn is a fan fav, too, especially in those cute little popcorn bags! How sweet are the Ice-Pop filled buckets…all the summer vibes for the kids!

No matter what theme you choose or the size of your class, these EOY parties are always a hit and the kids who have worked hard all school year always have a blast. A big thanks to all of the parents like Kristy and Krista who go above and beyond to create these kinds of memories!

The anticipation of summer break for students and teachers starts in the month of May, but as June soon comes around so do the end-of-year school party planning! Room parents unite! Themes, games, goodies…nothing is left out during this exciting time of the school year. This event doesn’t have to break the bank either as most things were purchased from the $1.25 store. We’ve got the behind-the-scenes deets on how Kristy and Krista put together their festive and summer fun and circus/carnival end-of-year school parties!

Photo Stations – An easy task with few supplies is all you need no matter your theme! Grab a tri-fold poster board, spray glue a tablecloth to it, then use construction paper to make the arrows and post. If you have a Cricut you can create the beach letters, or purchase sticker lettering – the hanging sun was a dollar store find. Have the students decorate felt frames with stickers or just grab some photo props!

A thick poster board with some decorative items like laminated signs, tinsel foil fringe and photo booth props is how this circus/carnival-themed photo backdrop was created. These photo booths can be used both outdoors and indoors, in case the weather isn’t cooperative.

Activities – Grab canvas tote bags, and again if you have a Cricut you can personalize them with each student’s name, or have the kids decorate them! Students can use fabric pens to sign each other’s bags and bring all of their party stuff home in them – such a creative and fun activity.

Sand art bottles and rock painting are a couple more artistic ways to celebrate the end of another school year. The bottles for the sand art are from the $1.25 store and another parent had some extra sand laying around so they were able to utilize that – look at how cute they turned out! Krista grabbed rocks from her garden and the students painted them, added their initials and year, and could either keep them or hide them around town for their friends to find!

Face painting is ALWAYS a hit no matter what kind of event you’re putting together, so it was an easy decision to add face painter to the lineup for the circus/carnival EOY party! If our readers are located in the South Jersey shore area, Amanda Desouza comes highly recommended! IG: MUABYAD

Games – The F&T fav...the prize punches make more appearances for both of these EOY parties! They are super easy to create and even more fun for the kiddos to play; just fill with fun prizes like temp tattoos, stickers, snap bracelets, and squishy toys and you’re ready to go. Use a disc drop game for some added flair so the kids can punch the cup based on whatever number they landed on!

Think classic games…you can’t have a carnival without ring toss, right, and this large outdoor blow-up ring toss game is the cutest! And who doesn’t love bingo?! Add on a colorful parachute paired with a beach ball, relay races, and water balloon toss using reusable water balloons for some team play, and voila!! These games will never go out of style and are perfect additions to a successful EOY celebration!

Snacks & Treats – Simple and sweet is all that is needed here. Simple is a cute little goody bag with some snacks like sliced fruit, Annie’s GF goldfish {always check for any classroom allergies}, and a juice box or small water. Popcorn is a fan fav, too, especially in those cute little popcorn bags! How sweet are the Ice-Pop filled buckets…all the summer vibes for the kids!

No matter what theme you choose or the size of your class, these EOY parties are always a hit and the kids who have worked hard all school year always have a blast. A big thanks to all of the parents like Kristy and Krista who go above and beyond to create these kinds of memories!

I recently made a road trip from New Jersey to South Carolina, with 4 kids in tow…solo! We had a great time and it was a lot of fun for everyone! I wanted to share our experience and what I consider must-see’s and -do’s if you’re in the area!

The best rest stop, the largest convenience store I’ve ever seen, and trust me it’s a must-see, is Buc-ee’s! We were advised to stop there just because “it’s a whole vibe”! We ended up stopping there for our last pit stop (aka potty break) and to grab something for dinner! We somehow ended up spending around 45 minutes at a rest stop haha! We made sure to stop again on our way home too! Make sure if you stop you snap a selfie with the beaver out front!

We visited the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden located in Columbia…it was less than 20 miles away from where we were staying with my best friend. I enjoy our local Cape May and Philadelphia Zoo’s, but this zoo blew me away in more ways than one! Where do I even start?! I don’t want to give everything away, but I’ll touch on our favorite attractions we experienced!

The kids and I fed the giraffes for the first time – well 3/4 kids did! This was so cool to experience with them…the tongue of a giraffe is something else! Two of my daughters also fed the coconut lorikeets, and that might have been cooler than the giraffes! You get a small cup of nectar and once you get a quick briefing, you go into the habitat and the lorikeets come directly to you. Most of the time more than one will land on you and drink the nectar!

The zoo was huge! You can easily spend the whole day there and still possibly not see/do everything there is to do and see there! We took a tram car up to the botanical gardens and splash pad area called Waterfall Junction! The kids loved this – there was a dinosaur dig area, a tree house, tiny houses, lawn games and more! We ended up spending a good chunk of time there. I would 10/10 recommend checking out this zoo if you’re in the area!

The weather was less than ideal during one of our days there, but I came across a children’s museum called EdVenture, also located in Columbia, and it turns out that Blippi did an episode there! I purchased tickets which were very reasonable at $13 each, and ages 2 & under are FREE! School was already out in SC, add that with a super rainy day, and that leads to an extra-packed kids’ museum! It was crazy busy but we still enjoyed seeing all that it had to offer, all interactive learning fun!

On Memorial Day, we traveled to the Summerton area and reserved a camp site at Palmetto Shores RV Resort. It is located on Lake Marion, which is the largest man-made lake in SC and the 15th largest lake in the US. Fun Fact: part of a town was purposely flooded, and boats have to be careful not to strike the structure that you can still visibly see at times. We took a pontoon out on beautiful Lake Marion and looked for alligators, but we didn’t see any! Palmetto Shores was impressive with their cabins, RV spaces and campsites. It is really kid-friendly with activities like a lazy river, splash pad area, kiddie pools, private beach area, and arcade! I was told that the Lake House restaurant there is amazing, but they were closed for the holiday while we were there! I would 10/10 recommend this resort for your RV/camping/cabin destinations!

I recently made a road trip from New Jersey to South Carolina, with 4 kids in tow…solo! We had a great time and it was a lot of fun for everyone! I wanted to share our experience and what I consider must-see’s and -do’s if you’re in the area!

The best rest stop, the largest convenience store I’ve ever seen, and trust me it’s a must-see, is Buc-ee’s! We were advised to stop there just because “it’s a whole vibe”! We ended up stopping there for our last pit stop (aka potty break) and to grab something for dinner! We somehow ended up spending around 45 minutes at a rest stop haha! We made sure to stop again on our way home too! Make sure if you stop you snap a selfie with the beaver out front!

We visited the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden located in Columbia…it was less than 20 miles away from where we were staying with my best friend. I enjoy our local Cape May and Philadelphia Zoo’s, but this zoo blew me away in more ways than one! Where do I even start?! I don’t want to give everything away, but I’ll touch on our favorite attractions we experienced!

The kids and I fed the giraffes for the first time – well 3/4 kids did! This was so cool to experience with them…the tongue of a giraffe is something else! Two of my daughters also fed the coconut lorikeets, and that might have been cooler than the giraffes! You get a small cup of nectar and once you get a quick briefing, you go into the habitat and the lorikeets come directly to you. Most of the time more than one will land on you and drink the nectar!

The zoo was huge! You can easily spend the whole day there and still possibly not see/do everything there is to do and see there! We took a tram car up to the botanical gardens and splash pad area called Waterfall Junction! The kids loved this – there was a dinosaur dig area, a tree house, tiny houses, lawn games and more! We ended up spending a good chunk of time there. I would 10/10 recommend checking out this zoo if you’re in the area!

The weather was less than ideal during one of our days there, but I came across a children’s museum called EdVenture, also located in Columbia, and it turns out that Blippi did an episode there! I purchased tickets which were very reasonable at $13 each, and ages 2 & under are FREE! School was already out in SC, add that with a super rainy day, and that leads to an extra-packed kids’ museum! It was crazy busy but we still enjoyed seeing all that it had to offer, all interactive learning fun!

On Memorial Day, we traveled to the Summerton area and reserved a camp site at Palmetto Shores RV Resort. It is located on Lake Marion, which is the largest man-made lake in SC and the 15th largest lake in the US. Fun Fact: part of a town was purposely flooded, and boats have to be careful not to strike the structure that you can still visibly see at times. We took a pontoon out on beautiful Lake Marion and looked for alligators, but we didn’t see any! Palmetto Shores was impressive with their cabins, RV spaces and campsites. It is really kid-friendly with activities like a lazy river, splash pad area, kiddie pools, private beach area, and arcade! I was told that the Lake House restaurant there is amazing, but they were closed for the holiday while we were there! I would 10/10 recommend this resort for your RV/camping/cabin destinations!

Ever wonder what all the hype is about when it comes to the Bogg Bag? I don’t own one…yet…but the word is that the Bogg Bag is durable, leak-proof, it doesn’t tip over, and probably the best-selling point is that it’s washable! The original Bogg Bag averages around $90.00, which for me isn’t a price point that I would initially feel comfortable spending, but it does come with a set of two clear insert bags to hold items like a phone, keys, some snacks, etc. Both of the insert bags actually connect to the Bogg Bag holes which is a neat factor. Kristy does own one and she’s got the 4-1-1 on the bag and her favorite accessories!

A Bogg bag can be intimidating with the amount of space it has (especially the extra large ones) and if you’re like Kristy, you’re famous for throwing everything in there and then losing half of it. She’s found accessories to make the most out of your bag! I mean trays?! That’s a no brainer! She loves being able to put her drink, phone or lunch down without including the sand.  The dividers also allow for keeping items organized – her obsession. 

Now this slim drink holder is a MUST-have if you have a family with you! It can hold 10 cans or 6 bottles and the slim ice pack helps keeps it all cold for you!! It also doesn’t take up a lot of space in your bag – it’s small and light enough to carry alongside your bag!

Kristy loves that she can also hide all of her belongings under the tray! Add the wallet organizer (great for your money or Wet Wipes like Kristy has below), a key holder (which can also be used for necessities like lip balm and hair ties), and a sunglasses holder!

Check out this BOGG Bag carabiner clip which is great for holding keys or your waterproof mini Bluetooth speaker. These tassel hangers also work well if you have lots of things to hang!

These clear bags keep her organized for the beach and are perfect for storing snacks, sunscreens, and accessories like sunglasses or hair clips! The see-through material makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for, so no more digging around in the dark! They even come with fun, sparkly labels (snacks, sun, and stuff) so it really takes the guesswork out of it!

The Bogg Bag is the perfect bag for basically all things outdoors and makes a great gift especially for end of year teachers’ gifts! {Peep those cute tags she’s attaching – and stay tuned for our post on EOY gifts for teachers!}

The Bogg Bag is the bag to have and is well worth the price point with all of the features, accessories and versatility. A bag of all bags that is perfect for the single lady or the busy on-the-go mama!

Ever wonder what all the hype is about when it comes to the Bogg Bag? I don’t own one…yet…but the word is that the Bogg Bag is durable, leak-proof, it doesn’t tip over, and probably the best-selling point is that it’s washable! The original Bogg Bag averages around $90.00, which for me isn’t a price point that I would initially feel comfortable spending, but it does come with a set of two clear insert bags to hold items like a phone, keys, some snacks, etc. Both of the insert bags actually connect to the Bogg Bag holes which is a neat factor. Kristy does own one and she’s got the 4-1-1 on the bag and her favorite accessories!

A Bogg bag can be intimidating with the amount of space it has (especially the extra large ones) and if you’re like Kristy, you’re famous for throwing everything in there and then losing half of it. She’s found accessories to make the most out of your bag! I mean trays?! That’s a no brainer! She loves being able to put her drink, phone or lunch down without including the sand.  The dividers also allow for keeping items organized – her obsession. 

Now this slim drink holder is a MUST-have if you have a family with you! It can hold 10 cans or 6 bottles and the slim ice pack helps keeps it all cold for you!! It also doesn’t take up a lot of space in your bag – it’s small and light enough to carry alongside your bag!

Kristy loves that she can also hide all of her belongings under the tray! Add the wallet organizer (great for your money or Wet Wipes like Kristy has below), a key holder (which can also be used for necessities like lip balm and hair ties), and a sunglasses holder!

Check out this BOGG Bag carabiner clip which is great for holding keys or your waterproof mini Bluetooth speaker. These tassel hangers also work well if you have lots of things to hang!

These clear bags keep her organized for the beach and are perfect for storing snacks, sunscreens, and accessories like sunglasses or hair clips! The see-through material makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for, so no more digging around in the dark! They even come with fun, sparkly labels (snacks, sun, and stuff) so it really takes the guesswork out of it!

The Bogg Bag is the perfect bag for basically all things outdoors and makes a great gift especially for end of year teachers’ gifts! {Peep those cute tags she’s attaching – and stay tuned for our post on EOY gifts for teachers!}

The Bogg Bag is the bag to have and is well worth the price point with all of the features, accessories and versatility. A bag of all bags that is perfect for the single lady or the busy on-the-go mama!

Kristy is not only the face of F&T, she also love love loves contributing to her daughter’s class at school! She absolutely adores being able to relive her childhood through her children, and I am right there with her for sure! Field day is just an absolute classic am I right?! Of course, it was it wasn’t even a second thought for her to help by creating a bag for the kids in the class to get them excited for the day and just maybe create a little competition among the other classes! Here is what she put together for a fun day for the kiddos!

Water bottles are perfect for field day to keep the kids hydrated – kick it up a notch and add little individual packets of Gatorade for those extra electrolytes! Don’t forget snacks as well to keep their energy level up. Something as simple as Pirate’s Booty popcorn and dried fruit does the trick!

Sweatbands for their little heads and wrists haha! Can’t you just see them now! I am totally getting Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro vibes from them!

Even after the sunglasses and decorative eye “blue” stickers which were also must haves, they realized that they needed something more. Kristy said that a couple of moms got together and added these life size personalized hand fans with the teachers faces on them…these are seriously going to be epic – (of course they got permission from the teachers before proceeding to get them made). Could you imagine!

TIP: check your local printing service as they may be able to create them for you at a lower cost.

Placing all of the items in a cute reusable tote bag keeps everything together and *voila* – you’ve got yourself a whole field day fun bag!

“I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” …I know the parents are just going to love us for this as we have little cowbells that will be paired with lanyards for when they are running around. I just can’t with this!

Her daughter’s class is the dark blue team so that’s the color they grabbed everything in, if you couldn’t already tell! GO TEAM!

Kristy cannot wait to be on that field cheering her daughter’s class on as the many faces of her teacher are scattered all over – sure will make for a memorable year for everyone! Be sure to follow us on LTK, FB, IG and TikTok for lots more fun ideas and other awesome deals!

Kristy is not only the face of F&T, she also love love loves contributing to her daughter’s class at school! She absolutely adores being able to relive her childhood through her children, and I am right there with her for sure! Field day is just an absolute classic am I right?! Of course, it was it wasn’t even a second thought for her to help by creating a bag for the kids in the class to get them excited for the day and just maybe create a little competition among the other classes! Here is what she put together for a fun day for the kiddos!

Water bottles are perfect for field day to keep the kids hydrated – kick it up a notch and add little individual packets of Gatorade for those extra electrolytes! Don’t forget snacks as well to keep their energy level up. Something as simple as Pirate’s Booty popcorn and dried fruit does the trick!

Sweatbands for their little heads and wrists haha! Can’t you just see them now! I am totally getting Will Ferrell in Semi-Pro vibes from them!

Even after the sunglasses and decorative eye “blue” stickers which were also must haves, they realized that they needed something more. Kristy said that a couple of moms got together and added these life size personalized hand fans with the teachers faces on them…these are seriously going to be epic – (of course they got permission from the teachers before proceeding to get them made). Could you imagine!

TIP: check your local printing service as they may be able to create them for you at a lower cost.

Placing all of the items in a cute reusable tote bag keeps everything together and *voila* – you’ve got yourself a whole field day fun bag!

“I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” …I know the parents are just going to love us for this as we have little cowbells that will be paired with lanyards for when they are running around. I just can’t with this!

Her daughter’s class is the dark blue team so that’s the color they grabbed everything in, if you couldn’t already tell! GO TEAM!

Kristy cannot wait to be on that field cheering her daughter’s class on as the many faces of her teacher are scattered all over – sure will make for a memorable year for everyone! Be sure to follow us on LTK, FB, IG and TikTok for lots more fun ideas and other awesome deals!

Themes, invitations, decorations, sweets, entertainment, goodie bags…yes! That’s right! I am talking about planning kids’ birthday parties! Perfect timing for this post, since both Kristy and I recently planned and celebrated our sons’ second and fourth birthdays with family and friends! We’re going to take you behind the scenes of how we put together our kids’ birthday parties!

Choosing a theme! This is where it all begins – figuring out themes has been quite fun since having four littles! Some of my son’s favorite things are balls, cars, and dinosaurs, so I knew that I would take one of those and play it up for him. I ultimately decided on a Jurassic World theme.

Kristy came up with her Super Mario theme because that is what her son is really into right now, and let’s be honest, it’s Mario…it has made a huge comeback this year and don’t act like you don’t know the words to the “Peaches” song by Jack Black! She said this was hands-down one of her favorite parties to plan…maybe it had something to do with the age (4 is one of her favorites!) or the fact that both of her kids were into this theme, and also both very into helping her out this year – a huge plus!!

Invitations! I like to use Zazzle for my invitations, and I can be pretty picky, so it took me awhile to find just the right fit for what I was looking for! I ended up going with a Two Wild Dinosaur one, and I was super happy with how they turned out!

Kristy uses these really cool digital birthday invitations from Etsy that give you such an extra flair when guests open them. It’s so fun that I’ll try one for the next planned party!

Entertainment! We usually do backyard birthday parties since we have two summer, one fall and one spring birthday, and the weather is typically nice enough to get away with it. This year we did a Jurassic World-themed bounce house from Life’s A Ball Rentals LLC and hired a local artist who does face painting and balloon twisting for our entertainment! We used Creative Juices by Kari – she’s truly amazing at what she does, and I highly recommend her as this is our second time booking her! Both of these entertainments are local to the South Jersey area and if you’re looking for an inflatable for your next event, Life’s A Ball Rentals is offering F&T followers an exclusive promo of $50 off any 1 unit when you mention this blog or Frugal & Thriving!

Kristy also had a bounce house, along with a lot of fun games and stations. She did a “pin the nose on Mario” game with prizes for the kids, a cotton candy station, and even a “create your own Mario face” station…how super is that?! She had lawn games like Connect 4, corn hole, and Jenga, as well as water tables for the kids to splash around with!

The Sweet Stuff! Yes, I am talking about the birthday cake, cupcakes, cake pops, etc. For me, I am big on doing cupcakes – they are easy, fun and the perfect size for guests! I usually go with a local baker or cottage baker because I like to support small business, but this year I went the Sam’s Club route! I went with 30-count cupcakes and a full-size cookie cake {Jurassic World theme of course}! The cupcakes had 15 of those rings that the kids could keep, but I also didn’t want anyone upset about not getting something, so of course I found these cute little dinosaur cake toppers and grabbed two packs and put them on the cupcakes that didn’t have a ring, and I placed the rest around the cookie cake! If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I do recommend their fresh bakery – they have so many themes to choose from, plus you can’t really beat the prices!

Kristy made this awesome snack station and got creative with food items that looked like items from the game – cheese balls for Fire Power, a veggie platter designed like the Fire Plant Power Up, Princess Peach Rings, Bowser Bones (lollipops), Colby jack cheese for Mystery Blocks (she put these in her absolute favorite RIGWA bowls – use exclusive code KRISTY10 for 10% off your order sitewide!!), and Mushroom Power Ups as marshmallow pops (marshmallow and melted chocolate). If you’re throwing your own Super Mario party and want some help with snack signage, check out our free printables page! She also typically uses her local grocery store (Shop Rite) for all of the catering and cake! When she placed an order in advance for pick-up, they offered her a 20% discount – this doesn’t always happen but even without the fantastic discount the food is always absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. Her guests are always so surprised when she tells them where she got it from! She had 3 artisan sandwich platters, a salad with dressing, and veggie platter for 20 people and it only cost her $111! That’s about $5 a person! Look into your local grocery store – you might be surprised at what they offer!

Decorations! I try to play it smart when it comes to decor for a birthday party – I try not to go too overboard and I am in-between subtle and borderline close to too much. With outdoor parties, the weather can be so unpredictable, and I try to plan accordingly, so I’ll pick decor that can be used both outdoors and indoors in case I need to pivot! This year I went with some adorable dinosaur signage that I could place on our vinyl fencing or indoors on windows/doors etc., as well as some removable wall decals to place around. I added some themed mylar balloons and odds and ends I found at a local store I frequent during party planning. The last handful of parties, I have gotten into backdrops and balloon arches, so I grabbed a large themed backdrop to snap some pics!

Kristy also grabbed a backdrop and some other Mario-themed party supplies including tablecloths, a banner, and disposable plates, cups and napkins. She even made these awesome balloon towers! She says that this one stumped her for a bit – this was the first time she ever made one, and trying to make a piranha plant without directions was interesting, to say the least! TIP: if you plan this and don’t wait until the day of like she did (whoops), you can get white dot stickers and place them on the red balloons to really give it that Mario feel.

TIP: Use glue dots instead of tape when putting decorations on walls/windows/vinyl etc. It’s less of a hassle to remove and doesn’t ruin your paint/drywall/vinyl!

Outfits! I think it drove my hubby nuts in the beginning, but now with as many themed parties as we’ve hosted, he’s just used to my shenanigans, and I always have themed shirts or outfits planned for the guest of honor and mom and dad! This year was no different! I got a “Rawr! I’m 2” shirt for my son and a “Motherhood / Fatherhood is a walk in the park” shirts for myself and my hubby! I am a hat person, so I even got myself a really cute themed dino mama hat to add in a little extra somethin’…it has four little dinosaurs to represent my four littles!

Kristy made this adorable tee for her son to wear on his big day…if you have a Cricut machine, it’s super easy to design any apparel to match your theme!

Favors! I came across these little dino-themed bubbles and my son LOVES bubbles! I originally was just going to leave them out for the kiddos to grab and play, but then I found these dinosaur eggs that I just couldn’t pass up on. I originally planned on doing a dino egg dig and excavation as an activity but the weather had different plans, so I ended up putting the dino eggs and bubbles in their pinata bags for them to take home! Speaking of pinata, I ended up filling ours with my son’s favorite lollies (aka dum-dums) and packs of fruit snacks!

Kristy had adorable Mario-themed bags with all types of goodies like temporary tats, snacks, stampers, PEZ-dispensers and other Super Mario-themed party favors!

Queens of themes? Kristy and I have had fun with past party themes, so if you are looking for theme inspo, I think that we’ve got you covered! I have done: Rainbow Room, Ladybug Garden, Pumpkins & White Pumpkin Painting Party, The Big O.N.E, Luau, Frozen in Summer, Taco TWOsday, Farm Friends, Unicorn Universe, and Mermaid Adventures. Kristy has done Three Rex, TWO Infinity and Beyond, Splish-Splash Under the Sea, Minnie Mouse Clubhouse, and Minions! Happy Planning!

Themes, invitations, decorations, sweets, entertainment, goodie bags…yes! That’s right! I am talking about planning kids’ birthday parties! Perfect timing for this post, since both Kristy and I recently planned and celebrated our sons’ second and fourth birthdays with family and friends! We’re going to take you behind the scenes of how we put together our kids’ birthday parties!

Choosing a theme! This is where it all begins – figuring out themes has been quite fun since having four littles! Some of my son’s favorite things are balls, cars, and dinosaurs, so I knew that I would take one of those and play it up for him. I ultimately decided on a Jurassic World theme.

Kristy came up with her Super Mario theme because that is what her son is really into right now, and let’s be honest, it’s Mario…it has made a huge comeback this year and don’t act like you don’t know the words to the “Peaches” song by Jack Black! She said this was hands-down one of her favorite parties to plan…maybe it had something to do with the age (4 is one of her favorites!) or the fact that both of her kids were into this theme, and also both very into helping her out this year – a huge plus!!

Invitations! I like to use Zazzle for my invitations, and I can be pretty picky, so it took me awhile to find just the right fit for what I was looking for! I ended up going with a Two Wild Dinosaur one, and I was super happy with how they turned out!

Kristy uses these really cool digital birthday invitations from Etsy that give you such an extra flair when guests open them. It’s so fun that I’ll try one for the next planned party!

Entertainment! We usually do backyard birthday parties since we have two summer, one fall and one spring birthday, and the weather is typically nice enough to get away with it. This year we did a Jurassic World-themed bounce house from Life’s A Ball Rentals LLC and hired a local artist who does face painting and balloon twisting for our entertainment! We used Creative Juices by Kari – she’s truly amazing at what she does, and I highly recommend her as this is our second time booking her! Both of these entertainments are local to the South Jersey area and if you’re looking for an inflatable for your next event, Life’s A Ball Rentals is offering F&T followers an exclusive promo of $50 off any 1 unit when you mention this blog or Frugal & Thriving!

Kristy also had a bounce house, along with a lot of fun games and stations. She did a “pin the nose on Mario” game with prizes for the kids, a cotton candy station, and even a “create your own Mario face” station…how super is that?! She had lawn games like Connect 4, corn hole, and Jenga, as well as water tables for the kids to splash around with!

The Sweet Stuff! Yes, I am talking about the birthday cake, cupcakes, cake pops, etc. For me, I am big on doing cupcakes – they are easy, fun and the perfect size for guests! I usually go with a local baker or cottage baker because I like to support small business, but this year I went the Sam’s Club route! I went with 30-count cupcakes and a full-size cookie cake {Jurassic World theme of course}! The cupcakes had 15 of those rings that the kids could keep, but I also didn’t want anyone upset about not getting something, so of course I found these cute little dinosaur cake toppers and grabbed two packs and put them on the cupcakes that didn’t have a ring, and I placed the rest around the cookie cake! If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I do recommend their fresh bakery – they have so many themes to choose from, plus you can’t really beat the prices!

Kristy made this awesome snack station and got creative with food items that looked like items from the game – cheese balls for Fire Power, a veggie platter designed like the Fire Plant Power Up, Princess Peach Rings, Bowser Bones (lollipops), Colby jack cheese for Mystery Blocks (she put these in her absolute favorite RIGWA bowls – use exclusive code KRISTY10 for 10% off your order sitewide!!), and Mushroom Power Ups as marshmallow pops (marshmallow and melted chocolate). If you’re throwing your own Super Mario party and want some help with snack signage, check out our free printables page! She also typically uses her local grocery store (Shop Rite) for all of the catering and cake! When she placed an order in advance for pick-up, they offered her a 20% discount – this doesn’t always happen but even without the fantastic discount the food is always absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. Her guests are always so surprised when she tells them where she got it from! She had 3 artisan sandwich platters, a salad with dressing, and veggie platter for 20 people and it only cost her $111! That’s about $5 a person! Look into your local grocery store – you might be surprised at what they offer!

Decorations! I try to play it smart when it comes to decor for a birthday party – I try not to go too overboard and I am in-between subtle and borderline close to too much. With outdoor parties, the weather can be so unpredictable, and I try to plan accordingly, so I’ll pick decor that can be used both outdoors and indoors in case I need to pivot! This year I went with some adorable dinosaur signage that I could place on our vinyl fencing or indoors on windows/doors etc., as well as some removable wall decals to place around. I added some themed mylar balloons and odds and ends I found at a local store I frequent during party planning. The last handful of parties, I have gotten into backdrops and balloon arches, so I grabbed a large themed backdrop to snap some pics!

Kristy also grabbed a backdrop and some other Mario-themed party supplies including tablecloths, a banner, and disposable plates, cups and napkins. She even made these awesome balloon towers! She says that this one stumped her for a bit – this was the first time she ever made one, and trying to make a piranha plant without directions was interesting, to say the least! TIP: if you plan this and don’t wait until the day of like she did (whoops), you can get white dot stickers and place them on the red balloons to really give it that Mario feel.

TIP: Use glue dots instead of tape when putting decorations on walls/windows/vinyl etc. It’s less of a hassle to remove and doesn’t ruin your paint/drywall/vinyl!

Outfits! I think it drove my hubby nuts in the beginning, but now with as many themed parties as we’ve hosted, he’s just used to my shenanigans, and I always have themed shirts or outfits planned for the guest of honor and mom and dad! This year was no different! I got a “Rawr! I’m 2” shirt for my son and a “Motherhood / Fatherhood is a walk in the park” shirts for myself and my hubby! I am a hat person, so I even got myself a really cute themed dino mama hat to add in a little extra somethin’…it has four little dinosaurs to represent my four littles!

Kristy made this adorable tee for her son to wear on his big day…if you have a Cricut machine, it’s super easy to design any apparel to match your theme!

Favors! I came across these little dino-themed bubbles and my son LOVES bubbles! I originally was just going to leave them out for the kiddos to grab and play, but then I found these dinosaur eggs that I just couldn’t pass up on. I originally planned on doing a dino egg dig and excavation as an activity but the weather had different plans, so I ended up putting the dino eggs and bubbles in their pinata bags for them to take home! Speaking of pinata, I ended up filling ours with my son’s favorite lollies (aka dum-dums) and packs of fruit snacks!

Kristy had adorable Mario-themed bags with all types of goodies like temporary tats, snacks, stampers, PEZ-dispensers and other Super Mario-themed party favors!

Queens of themes? Kristy and I have had fun with past party themes, so if you are looking for theme inspo, I think that we’ve got you covered! I have done: Rainbow Room, Ladybug Garden, Pumpkins & White Pumpkin Painting Party, The Big O.N.E, Luau, Frozen in Summer, Taco TWOsday, Farm Friends, Unicorn Universe, and Mermaid Adventures. Kristy has done Three Rex, TWO Infinity and Beyond, Splish-Splash Under the Sea, Minnie Mouse Clubhouse, and Minions! Happy Planning!

Potty breaks, food/fuel stops, and keeping them entertained…the mere thought of hitting the road with kids (and in my case, 4 of them) may seem like such a daunting task, but I am here to assure you that it is possible and with some tips and tricks, road trips could actually be, dare I say it…enjoyable! We’re traveling from New Jersey to South Carolina for some Memorial Weekend fun so here’s my go-to road trip essentials and tips!

I have younger kids (ages 2-6.5) so the potty breaks can be frequent, and as you may know, they can’t always wait until the next exit or rest stop, so we have this portable travel potty that has been a life saver – we also take it to the beach and other places where a bathroom is scarce or when I try to avoid the port-a-potty. I highly recommend this because of its space saving capabilities as it folds up, so I can keep it under a seat or in a seat pocket and I can also put it in my backpack or stroller. It’s easy to both set up and fold back down. It comes with a pee-blocker so it’s good for both my daughters and my son to use. You can use almost any disposable liner bags as most are universal!

Travel Tip – The last time we made this trip, we left at night around the time the kids would be heading to bed essentially so they would just end up sleeping for the majority of the 12-hour trek. My husband and I also split the trip so each of us could get in some shut eye, too. This time we will leave in the morning after breakfast, and I’ll also be refreshed to take on the entire drive since I’ll be riding solo! Wish me luck!

Our family has a little bit of built-in entertainment as we have a Chrysler Pacifica which has the two built-in screens so they can play games and watch movies, which very much comes in handy. When the kids are over watching the movies, we have a fun road trip game that keeps them busy for a while, or until the cards run out! Of course, we cannot forget about the all-time kid fav indoor entertainment – the tablet! My kids don’t normally get a ton of tablet time, but I can always count on having less arguing and “I’m bored” or “are we there yet” convos. I love pairing their tablets with these headphones so that I can get some quiet time and a personal jam sesh or podcast in myself! For non-tablet users or just an alternative form of entertainment, LCD writing tablets are a no-brainer! My kids love them and I love them because it invokes their creativity, there is no mess, and they can erase and start over as many times as they want with the push of one button!

Snacks and drinks are key to any successful road trip, decreasing the amount of unnecessary stops being made and keeping you on track for a timely arrival to your destination. Bento boxes are great for this! Having a variety of snacks in their own container, being able to personalize to their taste buds, and them having the ability graze on their own time instead of having to pull over and distribute among the entire vehicle is a win-win scenario. As for drinks, I am a big fan of the insulted (to keep their water cold) and ever-so-important spill-proof tumblers for especially for my son who is heavily into the throwing stage of toddler life. I like to keep a small cooler for additional snacks/drinks for myself or to replenish the kiddos when we do stop to fuel or stretch our legs.

Travel Tip – I get the ick when it comes to public bathrooms and especially port-a-potties, but I came across these toilet seat covers and I keep them in our family vehicle and my backpack when we’re out and about and it makes me feel a lot better.

So if you have a road trip planned, I hope this helps! And if you have been thinking about whether or not to attempt one, I hope that this encourages you to move forward. I wouldn’t hesitate as it’s not as bad as you might think, and there will be plenty of memories made…adventure awaits!

Potty breaks, food/fuel stops, and keeping them entertained…the mere thought of hitting the road with kids (and in my case, 4 of them) may seem like such a daunting task, but I am here to assure you that it is possible and with some tips and tricks, road trips could actually be, dare I say it…enjoyable! We’re traveling from New Jersey to South Carolina for some Memorial Weekend fun so here’s my go-to road trip essentials and tips!

I have younger kids (ages 2-6.5) so the potty breaks can be frequent, and as you may know, they can’t always wait until the next exit or rest stop, so we have this portable travel potty that has been a life saver – we also take it to the beach and other places where a bathroom is scarce or when I try to avoid the port-a-potty. I highly recommend this because of its space saving capabilities as it folds up, so I can keep it under a seat or in a seat pocket and I can also put it in my backpack or stroller. It’s easy to both set up and fold back down. It comes with a pee-blocker so it’s good for both my daughters and my son to use. You can use almost any disposable liner bags as most are universal!

Travel Tip – The last time we made this trip, we left at night around the time the kids would be heading to bed essentially so they would just end up sleeping for the majority of the 12-hour trek. My husband and I also split the trip so each of us could get in some shut eye, too. This time we will leave in the morning after breakfast, and I’ll also be refreshed to take on the entire drive since I’ll be riding solo! Wish me luck!

Our family has a little bit of built-in entertainment as we have a Chrysler Pacifica which has the two built-in screens so they can play games and watch movies, which very much comes in handy. When the kids are over watching the movies, we have a fun road trip game that keeps them busy for a while, or until the cards run out! Of course, we cannot forget about the all-time kid fav indoor entertainment – the tablet! My kids don’t normally get a ton of tablet time, but I can always count on having less arguing and “I’m bored” or “are we there yet” convos. I love pairing their tablets with these headphones so that I can get some quiet time and a personal jam sesh or podcast in myself! For non-tablet users or just an alternative form of entertainment, LCD writing tablets are a no-brainer! My kids love them and I love them because it invokes their creativity, there is no mess, and they can erase and start over as many times as they want with the push of one button!

Snacks and drinks are key to any successful road trip, decreasing the amount of unnecessary stops being made and keeping you on track for a timely arrival to your destination. Bento boxes are great for this! Having a variety of snacks in their own container, being able to personalize to their taste buds, and them having the ability graze on their own time instead of having to pull over and distribute among the entire vehicle is a win-win scenario. As for drinks, I am a big fan of the insulted (to keep their water cold) and ever-so-important spill-proof tumblers for especially for my son who is heavily into the throwing stage of toddler life. I like to keep a small cooler for additional snacks/drinks for myself or to replenish the kiddos when we do stop to fuel or stretch our legs.

Travel Tip – I get the ick when it comes to public bathrooms and especially port-a-potties, but I came across these toilet seat covers and I keep them in our family vehicle and my backpack when we’re out and about and it makes me feel a lot better.

So if you have a road trip planned, I hope this helps! And if you have been thinking about whether or not to attempt one, I hope that this encourages you to move forward. I wouldn’t hesitate as it’s not as bad as you might think, and there will be plenty of memories made…adventure awaits!