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How to Make Summer Reading FUN!

21 May

Holy cow, I couldn’t WAIT for summer time when I was a little girl!

Call me a nerd, but I would literally walk to our little town’s bookstore on a hot summer day, head inside, and camp out in front of my favorite book series.  I’d read and read and read until I knew someone would be wondering why I wasn’t at the dinner table.

Now, while books are amazing and wonderful, most kids often find the lure of the sprinkler or the lure of the swimming pool supersedes the lure of reading.

Here are a few great ways to encourage your Happy Buddies to keep their sunscreen-covered noses in a book this summer!

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How Does She? offers an amazing FREE Printable Summer Reading Star Game that will have your Happy Buddies BEGGING to read!

Seriously, I can’t even explain how much fun this printable is (coupon incentives, golden tickets, BINGO style excitement) – you must go check it out!

I kind of want to do it myself this summer. :-)

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Brown Paper Packages also offers a neat Summer Reading Program.

Print the adorable FREE Printable circles (see pic above) that your Happy Buddies will drop into a bucket after completing the task.  At the end of the week you can count up how many circles your Happy Buddy received and reward him/her with something awesome (like a sleepover in the living room with unlimited access to S’mores ingredients).

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Simple As That has a super cute FREE Printable Summer Reading Log to document your Happy Buddy’s hard work!

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Keep things simple with this creative Pick a Spot Jar from Shady Tree Diary.

Brainstorm a bunch of fun places your child can read a book (like in the bathtub).

Jot them down on craft sticks and add them to a container.

When it’s time to read – pick from the jar and follow orders!

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I am loving these FREE Printable bookmarks from lisa storms.

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Speaking of fun places to read a book…

Tatertots and Jello teaches you how to make this awesome Summer Reading Tent.

You might just end up with every kid in the neighborhood wanting to read at your Happy Home if you stick one of these in the backyard!

Looking for more Summer Reading Ideas?

Alphamom has 5 great suggestions (looooove the one about the library card) to spice up summer reading.

And Saving Dollars and Sense has a terrific round-up of several FREE Kids Summer Reading Programs that are available in your community (hello FREE tokens to Chuck E. Cheese).

I hope you will use one of these great Summer Reading Ideas so that all that precious intelligence your Happy Buddy gained from a whole year of school doesn’t drip out of his noggin’ like a melting ice cream cone.

Happy Summer Reading-ing! :-)

*Stay tuned for a post featuring the Happy Buddy’s (and my own) Summer Reading Suggestions*

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The Crash Pile

29 Aug

The last couple of days with the Happy Buddy have been kind of rough!

He started school last week and within one day of attendance, picked up a really bad cold.

So the Happy Buddy hasn’t been very ‘happy.’

After an afternoon of sad whimpers and general discontentment, I got the idea to pull out something that always cheers the Happy Buddy up.

The Crash Pile.Nothing cries “This is Fun” like a giant mountain of pillows and couch cushions.Stand back several feet from your Crash Pile.

Count to 3 and then take a flying leap.Face Planting is necessary for Crash Pile success.Crash Piles are guaranteed to make you forget that you aren’t feeling very well.

I’ve also included a ten second video (click link below) for you to experience our Crash Pile LIVE.

Happy Crash Piling! :-)

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Back to School at Happy Home Fairy

31 Jul

Target and Wal-Mart are stocking their shelves with school supplies and Happy Home Fairy is getting inspired! :-)

Who can resist a brand new box of crayons?

The month of August will be filled with all kinds of family traditions, crafts, school-themed snacks, and FREE Printables for you to celebrate the magic of a new school year with your Happy Home.

Back to School at Happy Home Fairy kicks off TOMORROW with a FREE Printable Back to School Countdown Calendar that will build anticipation and excitement as your Happy Buddy prepares for the big day!

In the meantime…Check out some of Happy Home Fairy’s Best Summer Ever Series by clicking on one of the following links.

The What Can I Do? Can (with FREE Printables)

Chocolate Play Dough

FREE Printables for Summer

4 Ways to Recycle a Juice Box (super cute craft ideas!)

Painting with Water

Minute to Win It Game Ideas

Summer Fun with Slime

Marshmallows – Not Just for Eating

How to Make a Magic Wand

Fun with Bubbles

Marble-ous Marbles

Amazing Things You Can Do with Kool Aid

Summer Scavenger Hunts

Fun Crafts and Activities to do with Balloons!

How to Make a Cute Paper Plate Turtle

Flip Flop Crafts and Activities

Easy Flip Flop Cookies and a Love Note for the Happy Hubby

Shark-Themed Crafts and Snacks

How to Have a Cereal Party (a great end-of-summer celebration idea!)

Play Dough Monsters

Icebergs in the Tub

Ice Cube Crafts and Activities

Over a Dozen Homemade Popsicle Recipes and Ideas

And there you have it, Happy Home Friends!

I hope you all did, indeed, have the Best Summer EVER!!!

Happy End of Summer-ing! :-)

Popsicle Party

29 Jul

The Best Summer Ever at Happy Home Fairy will be winding down this week as I have been itching to share some awesome inspirations for Back to School.

I know, I know… School is still a bit aways for many of you and I don’t mean to rob you of the glorious savoring of summer’s final weeks…

But you’ll love all of the ideas – I promise. :-)

However, Summer is still going strong and what better way to celebrate the sweltering heat than whipping up some homemade popsicles with your Happy Home?

Here are a few recipes the Happy Buddy and I are trying to choose from…

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Craft kicks things off with 4 different homemade popsicle recipes that look so yummy I almost licked my computer screen.

Seriously. :-)

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Does anyone else equate watermelon with Summer?

These Watermelon Pops from The Idea Room are like the best combination of the season you could ever imagine.

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Does anyone else think that these Rainbow Pops from Sandy Toes and Popsicles are like the most magical-looking dessert ever?!

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Good ole’ fashioned homemade Creamsicles from Almost Unschoolers.

I remember enjoying these in the summer between sprinkler runs when I was growing up.

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Your Happy Home will be rooting for these Root Beer Float Pops from Erin Cooks!

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I am berry excited about Our Best Bite’s Strawberry Creamsicles.

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I think one of my greatest weaknesses in life (besides a giant bathtub of glitter) is chocolate pudding and Oreos.

I am not even kidding when I tell you that I had these popsicles the night before we found out we were pregnant with the Happy Buddy!  I’ve got a bit of a sweet spot for them!

Cookies and Cream Pops from Kraft Foods.

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Pure happiness, right?!

Confetti Pops from Country Living.

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I had to throw something unique in the mix that I know will make your Happy Home go bananas!

Chocolate-Covered Frozen Banana Pops found HERE.

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If your Happy Buddies get really into the whole making-homemade-popsicles-thing, then why not make a popsicle-themed craft too?

Check out this color-learning Rainbow Popsicle idea HERE!

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Or your Happy Buddies can color their own popsicles with this sweet printable coloring page from Make and Takes.

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And if you’re perfectly content with store bought popsicles, the next time you buy a box, grab another, because this cute tag from Eighteen25 will transform it into a fun gift for the neighbors!

I think the Happy Buddy and I are just going to make all of the recipes here and have an End of Summer Popsicle Party.

Happy Popsicle Party-ing! :-)

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Ice, Ice Baby

28 Jul

Chilling out in the tub yesterday with our icebergs only got me thinking that we need some more cooling off kind of activities for our Happy Home!

It is HOT outside!

So, bring on the ice, ice, baby. :-)

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Family Fun made a piece of jewelry that is both stylish and provides personal A/C while running around outside in the summer heat.

I think I will be wearing one of these Ice Cube Necklaces to church on Sunday. :-)

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Your Happy Buddies can sail into the heat with these ice cube boats from Alpha Mom!

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Share and Remember painted with ice cubes.

Your Happy Buddies will love making a mess, creating art, and cooling off all at the same time!

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Sweeter Than Sweets made Rainbow Ice using some colorful Color Bath Dropz by Crayola.

The perfect thing for you to add to your Happy Buddy’s water table!

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Do you remember the Melt the Ice Cube Game I featured back in January???

It is the easiest and most fabulous game ever.

I am not even kidding about that.

Serving Pink Lemonade played it with her Happy Buddies and there was a ridiculous amount of laughing and memory-making and getting wet-ing.

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My Delicious Ambiguity fished for ice in their living room – this is a really awesome science experiment/magic trick!

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How Does She? went fishing for ice, too, but theirs was more of a game that involved Lassoing Lincoln (the ice cube with a penny frozen inside).

Too cute!

Finally, what do you get when you have a wading pool filled with ice cubes and lots of Happy Buddy feet?  This hilarious Foot Freeze game at Family Fun is just what you need for some afternoon cool down fun – TODAY!

BONUS ICE IDEA!

**If you are under the age of 20 do not continue reading this post as it is about to get a little STEAMY!**

The bedroom is a place where things can get pretty hot between you and your Happy Hubby.

Wink! Wink! :-)

So, why not bring down the heat a bit with an idea I found HERE involving ice cubes and kissing??

That’s the Ice, Ice Baby we are talking about, Happy Home Friends!

Happy Ice Activity-ing! :-)

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Icebergs in the Tub

27 Jul

It may be summer, but in our Happy Home we are pretty chilly.

(No, Happy Hubby-if-you-are-reading-this, we did not accidentally turn the air conditioning down to 65 and leave it there all day long again.)

We decided to put our freezer to work and make a few icebergs for some bath time fun.

And not just any icebergs – these icebergs had toys trapped in them!

Here’s what we did…Let me introduce you to the Happy Buddy’s best bath buds.

Guys 1, 2, 3, and 4.

I am not even kidding – those are their names.  When he loses one he shouts, “4! 4!” or, “2! 2!”I put Guys 1, 2, 3, and 4 in four separate plastic cups and filled them halfway with water.Since these guys float, I froze them halfway in the water and then poured more water on top and froze again.

This way the guys were stuck in the center of the iceberg.Then the treasure-filled icebergs were added to the Happy Buddy’s tub time!He was a little uncertain about the fact that his favorite toys were trapped in what appeared to be a solid mass of freezing-ness – This is the Happy Buddy’s nervous face.This is him trying to climb out of the tub to get away from them. :-) But then when the ice melted a bit and he realized that his Guys were coming back to life -He LOVED it!

Free at last!

When everything had melted away, the Happy Buddy asked me about 100 times if we could put them in ice again.

Stay tuned for more Ice-tastic ideas coming tomorrow!

Happy Iceberg in the Tub-ing! :-)

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How to Have a Cereal Party

25 Jul

Let me introduce you to a sight that will give you goosebumps.

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Does anyone else see the heavens open up on that bowl of cereal goodness and the angels singing out with the Hallelujah Chorus?!

I am not even kidding when I tell you that one of the Happy Hubby’s and my first dates was to the cereal aisle at our local grocery store – that is how much I love cereal.

So this passion of mine could only lead to inspiration for a super fun party the Happy Hubby and I planned for his niece and nephew a couple of summers ago.

A CEREAL PARTY!First, go to Wal-Mart and purchase 4-5 different kids of cereal.

I tried to pick out all of our guest’s favorite kinds (even the sugary kinds that they don’t get to eat like ever).

I even went for a box of these probably not the best for you awesome cereal accessories.

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Then pour the cereal into fun glass jars and use that as your centerpiece.If you have Mickey Mouse bowls, now would be a good time to break them out.Hang some plastic colored spoons from your chandelier with ribbons.It’s okay – just dig right in with your hands.

Anything goes at this Cereal Party.That, my friends, is some serious bowl of cereal.

And I know you are all wanting to know if anyone got sick after this sugar-coma-inducing cereal party -

Nope. :-)

Finally, make some cereal necklaces and call it a day because I don’t think it can get any more magical than this!!

Or, just as a bonus, have your Cereal Party Guests take these fun cereal quizzes…

What Kind of Cereal Are You? Quiz

Breakfast Cereal Trivia

Wouldn’t this be an AWESOME thing to do as an End of/Last Day of Summer Celebration?!

What Happy Buddy doesn’t like having cereal for dinner?

Happy Cereal Party-ing! :-)

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Play Dough Monsters

23 Jul

They’re only the greatest craft invention known to man.

Googly eyes.

You can always find googly eyes around our Happy Home.  In fact, I think the Happy Hubby found one in his lasagna one evening after a particularly crafty afternoon with the Happy Buddy. :-)

So when I saw this idea HERE, I thought – BRILLIANT!The Happy Buddy got a giant set of Play Dough for his birthday.

He is quite ecstatic about it and every morning after breakfast you will find us on the kitchen floor playing with the ever popular non-toxic reusable modeling compound*.

*I didn’t want to use the word Play Dough too much in this post, so I went to Play-Doh’s website and that is apparently what the pros call it.  I tell you this because it’s important to share these fun facts with your Happy Buddies. :-)

The other day we thought we’d kick the fun up a notch by adding some googly eyes to our Play Dough creations.There was quite a bit of giggling as our Play Dough Monsters came to life.We thought this would be a fun surprise for whoever opened the green can next.And I was stifling some serious laughter because the Happy Buddy had that on for a good 20 minutes before he realized that his foot was keeping an eye on things.

Plus, I knew you all would want to see a picture of those cute, chubby feet.

Happy Play Dough Monster-ing! :-)

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Shark Attack!

22 Jul

Sharks are always getting a bad rap.

They are big, have ridiculously sharp teeth, and there are a lot of scary movies about them.

But after you check out this crafty round-up of ideas, I think you are going to realize that sharks are just largely misunderstood. :-)

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This paper plate shark craft from Almost Unschoolers is my fave!

Nobody was injured playing with this razor-toothed fish!

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This shark (made out of an envelope!) from I Heart Crafty Things likes to play educational games with your kids.

He is sure to keep your Happy Buddies’ minds sharp this summer. :-)

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It’s o-FISH-al.

Activity Village made the most adorable shark out of a wooden spoon and some craft foam.

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Snack Attack!

Martha Stewart brings us some simple shark cupcakes – the fins are blue construction paper!

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You know if you whip up a batch of these shark pudding cups from Muffin Tin Mom, your Happy Buddies’ jaws will be chompin’!

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And FIN-ally, everyone you know is going to want to sink their teeth into this awesome snack from Sun Scholars!

Seriously, people.

After all that cuteness -

Why do we fear sharks so much?

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Oh yeah.

I’ll take the cupcake version, please.

Happy Shark Craft-ing! :-) This post is partying over at Design Dazzle’s Summer Linky Party!

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FREE Printable Summer Love Note for the Happy Hubby

21 Jul

I have been talking about flip flops a bunch around Happy Home Fairy – it only seemed fair to include the Happy Hubby in the flip flop mix!

Here is what the Happy Hubby is going to find when he gets home from work today.So cute, right?!

The Happy Hubby looooooves him some Nutter Butters!I just added some flip flop straps with a little icing gel pen and used a mini M&M to finish it off!

I think they look so summer-y on that beach ball paper plate I found at Wal-Mart for $1 (pack of 50)!You know I am all about a good pun. :-)

Just click the image below to print your own Flip Flop Love Note.

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I know your Happy Hubby will flip over this thoughtful little gesture!

If you are flipping out over this FREE Happy Home Fairy printable, please ‘Like’ the Fairy on Facebook and stay up to date on all the Happy Home magic!

Happy Summer Flip Flop Love Note-ing! :-)

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