Rainy Day Activities

As the rainy and cold weather season begins to arrive, I like to keep a few easy indoor activities on hand to do with my kids. Being indoors all day can be exhausting for little humans (and their big humans too!), and I find that a rotation of options helps alleviate stress, frustration, and boredom.

ADDITION PRACTICE

My oldest rascal is 4 years old and he is beginning to understand the concept of addition. He enjoys this activity because he is in charge (yay for control) and he can do it all by himself (yay for independence). My excitement comes from developing his motor skills and math practice.

You need the following:

Two sets of the numbers 1 - 6 on index cards
One set of the numbers 2 - 12 on index cards
Big child friendly dice (like these from Amazon)
A playing board to organize the dice

Let your child roll two dice. After rolling, your child places the dice on the playing board. Next, your child finds the corresponding index cards with the correct number for each die and places them on the playing board. Finally, your child adds the two numbers / dice to find the sum and puts that index card on the playing board. Ta-da!

You can extend this activity with ideas such as: teach your child to use the correct terms for addition (addend, sum, equation), use three or more dice for longer addition equations, convert this activity to subtraction, multiplication, or division, or use 9- or 12-sided dice instead.

COSMIC KIDS YOGA

When we get cooped up inside with the wiggles, I immediately turn to Cosmic Kids Yoga. You can find Jaime (the instructor) on YouTube, Amazon Prime, or their website. Before I forget, Cosmic Kids Yoga is free (though if you stream through Amazon Prime you have to use your Prime membership, which is not free). Using imagination, bright colors, and fantastical storytelling, Jaime leads kids through various adventures in many different settings using yoga poses. More often than not, I join in too! My 2 year old rascal follows along for about half the time, whereas my 4 year old rascal enjoys the full 30 minutes of movement.

CARDBOARD ART

This activity is simple and straightforward and uses whatever you have on hand. If your house is like mine, we tend to receive more packages than I’d like to admit. Instead of immediately recycling the cardboard, I save some for art. Yes, cardboard boxes can be used to make rocket ships and forts, and yes, cardboard boxes can be used to make excellent ramps for matchbox cars, but we also use cardboard as a paper substitute. We draw, color, and paint on the cardboard (instead of paper) for a quick art activity. Use whatever art supplies you have on hand: crayons, markers, paint, glue, tissue paper, stickers, stamps, etc. More often than not, this is not keepsake artwork. This is the artwork that you toss in the recycle bin when the rascals aren’t looking.

Stay strong, entertained, and creative when the weather keeps you indoors.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mom to two rascals, ages 2 and 4.

---

Shop This Post

Knock, Knock, Who's There?

sharing a little laughter

AJ: Can I tell you a joke?

Me: Of course!

AJ: What did the monkey say to his friends? Get it!

Me & Albert: (looking at each other in confusion, and telepathically asking “should we laugh now...?”)

AJ: Do you get it?

This is a reenactment of a real conversation that happened in our house a few weeks ago, and it just continued from there.

AJ is currently obsessed with telling jokes. In fact, he’s started to do stand up comedy. No, seriously. One day in our living room, he told us to sit down, and then proceeded to try and make us laugh…except he didn’t have any jokes. It was so cute, and also a great indication that perhaps he could use a little help on the comedy front.

A friend of ours gave us a book called “Wee Hee Hee.” As a mom, I love the art in and craftsmanship of the book, and our boys love the jokes inside. They’re pretty much all “dad jokes,” which makes them perfect for a bit of cheesy, child-friendly fun. Plus, the book makes Albert laugh too, and gives him dad-joke material for later use.

“Wee Hee Hee” is an award-winning collection of 50 illustrated jokes perfect for little comedians to practice their funny stuff. Inside you’ll find:

• Tips for “just-right” joke telling

• A spot for recording people’s reactions

• A joke to illustrate

• And so much more…

AJ started learning (okay, let’s be honest, memorizing) the jokes from the book and using them in his stand-up routine. He even started telling jokes to his brother...in the middle of dinner. Now we coach him on how to tell the jokes with tips like “pause for answers after the question,” and he enjoys seeing how he gets bigger and bigger laughs over time and with more practice.

Nothing brings people together like sharing a good giggle. According to smarty-pants doctors and researchers, telling jokes is linked to higher intelligence, creativity, sociability, empathy, and self-esteem in kids. These findings are why the folks at Wee Society created this artfully designed book of jokes and pictures, and this is also why it’s my rascal-recommended book for the month.

If you’d need a little smile, give us a phone call or FaceTime and my little rascals can tell you a joke! We are here to spread a bit of cheer.

Reviewed by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 7. Photo by Simply Adri Photography.

---

Shop the post

Letter from our Head Rascal

Hello there friends,

As I write this, my two little rascals are next to me at our dining table and we are balancing our new reality where the world around us is in limbo. Despite the uncertainty, I hold on to this simple thing called hope. My optimism comes from my kids and husband; when I feel like crying, they are there with a sweet smile or a silly joke and all seems right in the world. I cherish this time with them, but the level of the unknown future is unsettling for me.

Our world is changing. The world has already changed. But we can still create the world in which we want to live in.

It’s the understatement of a lifetime, but I wanted to acknowledge the extremely trying times that have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s be honest, every aspect of our lives has been upended in the past few weeks. As we get lost in the midst of it all on a larger scale, we may find ourselves downplaying how this affects us personally. I know I have.

I wanted to reach out and tell you that it is okay to not feel okay.  In the past few weeks, I’ve shifted from valuing the extra time with my rascals and the ability to slow down our regular routine, to the heaviness of the world reality hitting me at once, to trying to find a way to maintain a daily feeling of joy and gratitude while also grieving my daily connections with the outside world. As I struggle to understand where I am with it, I know, deep down, that everything will work out. 

As content creator for Hello Rascal Kids, it is okay to acknowledge our feelings about losing our creative outlets and routines, about queued posts that need to be pushed further or scrapped completely, about whether we should even be posting “happy” content. It may seem frivolous to worry about these things in the midst of a global pandemic, but these are real ways that our lives have been affected and your feelings are valid. Hello Rascal Kids and my family, like many of your families, had so many plans for the future – travel, Spring Break ideas, Easter activities – and these plans will no longer pan out. That’s okay. Allow yourself to adjust and adapt to our present reality, even if it’s not perfect, because it won’t be. Share your imperfect holiday, share your imperfect celebrations, share your imperfect work-from-home routines, share your imperfect at-home workouts. Share all your imperfection, because it‘s all so beautiful and we are in this together.

We will continue to create content and be consistent in whatever ways we can. Hello Rascal Kids has always been about my rascals and about kids being kids, but that doesn’t mean it always has to be perfect. My joy has always been and remains to be my kids, but that experience will look different now. Presently, it is focused on how to play the role of parent and teacher, how to manage their emotions as we go through changes as a family, and how to navigate working-from-home with two energetic, unpredictable rascals running around. I am still trying to create meaningful experiences for my kids in whatever ways I can because of all the joy they have brought me. Creating these experiences will look different for all of us; it will depend on your values, your abilities, and your present situation as it has been impacted by the pandemic.

Here’s an update about our original rascals. AJ and Ben are making sure to giggle and causing chaos when possible. Nothing has changed much on that front. They are navigating mom and dad’s new role as their teacher(s) for the next few months. Most days, they listen to our instructions and are good students, but there are days they try to test our limits. We are currently trying to teach Ben how to read. It’s a new challenge for all of us. We decided to take it on during this time, because we always relied on preschool to get him ready for kindergarten, but we know it’s important, now more than ever, that we play a big role in it as well. Ben is also going to celebrate his 5th birthday soon, so we are brainstorming ways to celebrate safely at home. AJ started remote classes two weeks ago. Our school sent him home with his laptop the day they announced the school closure and really prepared the kids to take ownership of this learning process. AJ does miss social interaction with his friends. We’ve been trying to schedule FaceTime calls with friends and family, which has been extremely helpful. They have both spent plenty of time playing in the yard; we are making sure they wiggle and move around when the sun is out. We also took this opportunity to rearrange furniture to maximize space in their bedroom and playroom. AJ and Ben have each other, so I know they will get through this. They have always been “better together,” and now I think they will grow to be “stronger together.”

How are your rascals? How are you all? Let’s start a dialogue where we share resources, tips, and stories. I’ll re-share them so we can connect and support each other. For now, I’ve put together a list of resources below in hopes that they will help you hold onto normal in any way possible. These resources are not in any way meant to dismiss your feelings or your struggles. These are meant to be resources that you all can pick and choose from based on what works for you and your family. What works for mine may not work for yours, and vice versa, and that is okay.

I am going to be slowing myself down. Don’t feel discouraged if you have to slow down too. We wish you the best of luck in finding your light. Everybody has their own light, and my hope is that we can help each other illuminate it.

Resources for the kids:

• Virtual field trips, academic resources, and screen-free activities

• How to communicate/explain COVID-19 to your kids

• Websites for teaching math to your kids

• FAQ/Free online resources for families

• How to talk to your kids about Coronavirus

• Coronavirus and parenting Q & A

• Watch Netflix remotely with friends and family

Resources for you and adjusting to your new routine:

• Coronavirus Coping Kit – The Lily

• Ways to help adults adapt their routines

• Changes the Coronavirus will bring

• Tips for working from home

• How to balance working remotely with kids

One of Hello Rascal Kids’ core values is: “We are an uplifting space, led first by our own attitudes. We know life and parenthood is not always happy, simple, or fun, but we want you to rely on us to help you remember, create, and celebrate uplifting moments with your own family.” We are committed to coming together to get through this crisis as a community.

With Much Love, 

Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Your Head Rascal

Look and Find Books

Great books do not always need to include words. Picture books can be of great interest to children, especially the “Look and Find” type. Look and Find books provide ample entertainment to kids of all ages for a considerable amount of time. These types of books make toddlers feel included in the fun because looking for pictures is something they can easily do, even if they cannot read just yet.

“Look & Find” picture books cater to different ages and come in an assortment of reading levels. The older the age range, the more difficult it is to find the pictures. Have you ever read the “Where’s Waldo” books? These are based on the same principle, but the child is asked to find a list of items that are hidden within each page.

Both my two year old and my 6 year old rascal love these books and reach for them frequently. Some of our favorites include Disney Princess, Cars, Toy Story, and Finding Dory. My favorite moment is when the kids find all the items on the page and display a proud look on their face, showing their sense of accomplishment. Look & Find books are also a nice change for parents, as they are more interactive for the little ones. You can also take the reading experience to the next level and ask the children to make up their own story from the pictures they see on each page. This mama can easily endorse Look & Find books because they promote family time while also fostering rascals’ observation skills, creativity, and imagination.

Here are a few of our favorite Look and Find Books:

Written by Michelle Urriquia, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 6.

---

Shop The Post

Space Odyssey Inspired Party

In a galaxy far, far, away, there is a birthday theme set to blast off at any moment!

Space is an exciting place - so much room for adventure and the mystery of the unknown - why not turn that excitement and wonder into a birthday party theme!

There are numerous directions you can take with a space-themed birthday party. This modern and neutral party POPS with a flame red, burning orange, and space blue color scheme. The options for décor (and treats!) are endless!

Flanked by metallic tinsel and space-gray balloons, the birthday cake and out-of-this-world popcorn and treats were served on futuristic acrylic cake stands - the perfect minimalist touch!

Red and blue water ray-guns spiced up a “color-me-in” table covering and provided lots of room for creativity! Each Explorer even had their own jet pack, how cool is that?

3…2…1…Birthday Blast Off!

Special thanks to the talented vendors:

• Planning & Design: But First, Party!

• Photography: Billye Donya

• Balloons: Bonjour Fete

• Party-ware: Talking Tables, Meri Meri Party, & Daydream Society

• Dessert: The Dessert Pantry

• Calligraphy: Meghann Miniello

• Pinata: TINY GALA

• Table: Rachel Metz

• Chairs & Dessert Table: Wayfair

• Tablecloth & Place mats: Stowey Joey

• Cake Stands: Paper Eskimo

Party reviewed by Crystal Zeyen, mother of 1 year old rascal.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday to you, Dr. Seuss!

In honor of your day, we had our rascals each pick out their favorite book from your collection.

AJ’s Pick: How The Grinch Stole Christmas

It’s Christmas year-round here with the Grinch book. He loves reading about how the grinch’s heart grew three sizes. AJ thinks is funny that someone could be so grumpy. Ben loves the dog Max in this story.

Ben’s Pick: Green Eggs and Ham

The rhyming words from Sam I Am is Ben’s favorite part. The story ends with the main character willing to try new foods and loving them. Every time the boys don’t want to try new foods, I remind them of Green Eggs and Ham.

Mom’s Pick: Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

I love this hopeful story! It’s something I would read before having kids and now with kids of my own I get a bit tearful reading this book to them. This has always been a favorite book to gift during graduations, birthdays, and showers. The message is meaningful in all stages of life.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 7.

---

Shop The Post

Animal Thrills Around Houston, Texas

I don’t know what it is about kids and animals, but there is a strong connection of adoration and love - and it goes both ways. There are many articles about the positive effects animals have on humans - tiny humans especially. Pets give unconditional love while possibly decreasing stress, improving heart health, and helping children develop emotional and social skills. Go ahead and snuggle your furry friend! They find security and peace in our comforting hands too!

My husband and I are not ready to bring a pet into our house just yet (two human rascals often prove to be exciting enough), so we are supporters of our local zoo. Recently, I started thinking about animals my kids wouldn’t normally see, experience, or encounter.

Thus began our three road trips to see new critters.

Peeka Ranch

First, we headed to Peeka Ranch in Burton, Texas, to meet alpacas. Yes, ALPACAS! This privately owned ranch offers true Southern charm with private visits to see, pet, and feed the alpacas. What a treat is was for my rascals to see these soft and friendly animals up close! Feeding them was the experience of a lifetime.

Franklin Drive Thru Safari

Next we headed to Franklin, Texas, for the Franklin Drive Thru Safari. Yes, you read that correctly. You stay in the comfort (and maybe even safety) of your vehicle as you travel through acres and acres of open land with hundreds of animals. We purchased animal feed before embarking on the safari; the friendly (and hungry) creatures come right up to you! After the drive thru safari, you can park your car and visit with a host of other animals. Did I mention that most of these animals were rescued by and now cared for by Franklin Drive Thru Safari?

Gator Country

Our final animal trip this summer was to Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas. Yes, gator as in alligator! This place is fantastic because they rescue these animals and provide them with a place to live and grow, as well as offer educational programs and internships to schools and universities! We had a blast feeding the alligators, touching baby reptiles, and spending time in their petting zoo.

Written by Brandi Stanton, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 3.

Let’s Go Shopping!

You don’t have to venture far to have a fun adventure with your rascals. Even the most mundane errand for an adult, such as grocery shopping, can be a world of excitement for a little one. My rascals and I love going to Trader Joe’s stores because they have little shopping carts made specifically for the younger shopper. Each child can push around their own cart and “help” fill it up with everything we need to purchase.

What can potentially be a daunting task as a parent can now be a fun learning experience for your children. This trip provides a great opportunity to teach kids the difference between healthy foods and junk foods. They can help choose the types of snacks they want to bring home. Freeze-dried strawberries, veggie chips, and trail mix are a few of our kid-friendly favorites. 

Once the shopping is complete, the child can push the cart to the register and help unload items for the cashier. At Trader Joe’s, they give kids stickers once they ring up the items, which is an extra incentive for the kids to help out. Older children can even help parents pay and practice their math skills. At the end of the shopping trip, the kids can return their cart to the proper location. This excursion teaches kids responsibility while making an every day task a little more enjoyable for everyone.

Written by Michelle Urriquia, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 6.

---

Shop The Post

Book Review: The Little Blue Truck Series

Reading is an all-time favorite pastime in our house. Often, you can find us reading books, magazines, newspapers, online articles, and even cereal boxes. As a little girl, I often asked my parents if I could watch TV while eating breakfast. Sometimes they obliged, but most of the time they put the cereal box in front of me and told me to read that instead. Now as an adult, it is no exaggeration to say that I encourage all kinds of reading in our house.

A series that we continue to turn to time and again is the Little Blue Truck series. I first purchased the original book, Little Blue Truck, in 2016 after my first rascal was born. Personally, I was bored of the same simple infant books and I needed something to keep me energized and interested. The rhyming structure, vivid illustrations, sounds and noises, and subtle, simple messages from Little Blue made me quickly fall in love with the book.

I soon found other books in the series and added them to our collection. More than three years later, both of my rascals love to “read” these books on their own and often choose one as their bedtime story.

Little Blue Truck is a sweet story of a kind blue truck that, along with a herd of animal friends, helps a dump truck in a hurry.

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way contains a simple moral within the story. Little Blue enters the busyness of city life and teaches the other vehicles the importance of taking turns.

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween is a fun story about farm animals dressed up in Halloween costumes. Your rascals can guess who is hiding beneath each costume.

Little Blue Truck’s Christmas incorporates counting and the kindness of the holiday season as Little Blue delivers Christmas trees to his farm animal friends.

Little Blue Truck’s Beep-Along Book is an engaging musical book with a sing-along to the tune of If You’re Happy and You Know It. Plus, the plush Little Blue beeps when squeezed!

My hope is that you’ll soon come to love this series as much as we do. Be sure to check out the other books in the series: Little Blue Truck’s Springtime, Good Night, Little Blue Truck, and Little Blue Truck Farm Sticker Fun!

Written by Brandi Staton, mama of rascals ages 2 and 3.

---

Shop The Post

Llama Inspired Party

Tired of boring birthday party ideas? No proba-llama! Today’s featured First Birthday will have you squealing with delight! Pretty pastels and bright accent colors brought this party theme to life!

Creating a color scheme for a party can be tough, but taking inspiration from one small item - like all the colors that appear on the llama’s saddle - can start you down a colorful path! This beautiful fruit platter helps highlight the pretty pinks and vibrant yellows in the llama cookies.

The icing on the cake at any party (besides the actual cake!) is the pretty paper goods that accompany the decor. Invitations are the first impression that you are sending to your guests. Let them know what to expect by picking out an invitation that truly represents the type of party you will be throwing!

Creating a cute and cuddly seating area is the perfect way for your guest to chill out and take in the party! Some smaller guests may need a quick a place to re-charge as well!

Vendors

Photography Eileen Liu Photography

Balloons & Party Goods Oh Shiny Paper Co.

Paper Flowers Paper Ave

Cookies Compact Cookies

Stationary Paper Sandwich

Hand-lettered Signs Edlyn

Hexagon Backdrop Drop Top Backdrop

Party reviewed by Crystal Zeyen, mother of one rascal, 1 year old.

Playdough at Home

It’s squishy. It’s floppy. It’s malleable. It’s…playdough! Not just any playdough, but the kind you make at home with your kids using ingredients you can trust. I can’t think of anything better than showing my kids how to use kitchen utensils and tools, measuring wet and dry ingredients, and creating their own playdough art masterpieces.

There is a high probability that you already have these ingredients in your pantry; take a peek and get started today! The ingredient list is straightforward:

• 1 cup flour

• 2 tsp cream of tartar

• 1/2 cup salt

• 1 cup water

• 1 tbsp cooking oil

• food coloring

This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled depending on the number of kids, the size of your microwave safe dish, and the capacity of your microwave.

The directions are super easy: First, you want to add all ingredients together into a microwave safe dish.

It’ll look something like this:

Use a large spoon to mix the ingredients together. Put the bowl in the microwave and cook for 1 minute. Remove the bowl from the microwave, stir, and put back in to cook for another minute. Continue this process until the playdough comes together and you can no longer stir it.

Take the playdough out of the bowl (warning: it will be hot) and knead it until it is cool and smooth. Then it is time to let your kids create their masterpieces!

Written by Brandi Stanton, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 3.

Kids Fun Run

It is never too early to teach kids the importance of healthy living. Staying fit as a family may start with healthy eating, but an active lifestyle is also a key ingredient to maintaining lifelong health. A great way to encourage a healthy lifestyle is to sign up for fun runs - many of them are family & child friendly!

One of our favorite events that foster family fun is the Color Run. This is an untimed 5k that encourages everyone to participate. Children can join in and either run or walk (as long as they can finish the 5k) or they can be pushed in a stroller. Inspired by events like mud runs, Disney World of Color, and the Holi festival, each runner will be marked with different colors as they run through color zones throughout the run. There is usually a post race festival that includes both runners and spectators. The Color Run is an event that occurs throughout the US during different times of the year. To find an event near you, visit The Color Run.

Another family friendly run is the Bubble Run. Similarly to the Color Run, the Bubble Run is also an untimed 5k that allows children, even those in strollers, to participate. However, this run offers a slightly different experience, by using colored bubbles (instead of powder) throughout the run. The post-race after party is described to be a mini “bubble festival!” For more information and to find an event near you, please visit Bubble Run.

A fun event hosted in Southern California is the Kids Marathon Mile at Legoland. On the day of the event, Legoland hosts this 1-mile fun run for all children before they open their doors to the public. Everyone can participate by running, walking, being carried, or being pushed in a stroller. The entry fee includes a shirt, medal, and discounted Sea Life Hopper tickets. For more information on this event, please visit Marathon Mile at Legoland.

Another annual Southern California fun run is the all-ages Reindeer Romp in Chino, CA, held in December. There is a ¼ mile run for children 6 years and under, along with a 5k and 10k open to all ages. Parents can even push little ones in a stroller! It is an event that the whole family can enjoy together around the holidays. We signed up our daughter, who was 4 at the time, when she asked for a medal of her own after seeing her father and I come home with Disneyland half marathon medals. Her excitement before the race was contagious and it was cute watching all the kids take off running. The kids typically finish in less than 5 minutes, but the pride and happiness they emit after the run and after receiving their medals is an experience that all parents will remember forever.

Written by Michelle Urriquia, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 6.

Forget Messy and Bring On The Fun - Arts & Crafts at Home

I have to be honest - I am an ORGANIZING MACHINE. I mean it. Everything in my house has a specific place. When things are organized, it makes it easy to know where to find something and where to return it to when you’re finished. Dishes. Clothes. Shoes. Hats. Dinosaur toys. Blocks. Trucks and cars. Diapers. Wipes. I can’t help it; if things aren’t organized, my stress level goes through the roof.

If you don’t believe me, check out the photo above. This is just one shelf in my boys’ play room. It does take some time to build this type of system, but once you have it in place, it’s easy to enforce and maintain with your little ones.
Top row: arts and crafts manipulatives (scissors, crayons, markers, paint, paint brushes, sponges, tissue paper, random cut pieces of paper, pipe cleaners, glue, confetti, googly eyes, cupcake liners, etc)
2nd row: bins for construction paper, stamps, activity boards, blank cards and postcards, and play-doh
3rd row: puzzles, puzzles, puzzles, and puzzles (sorted by kind)
4th row: separate bins for different categories of toys (blocks, etc) 5th row: board books in height order
bottom row: paper books

Let’s take a look at the arts and crafts bins.

These supplies are on the highest shelves for a reason: so little hands are not able to make a mess when I’m not watching. In all seriousness, it is really both for my kids’ safety and my sanity. If the supplies are out of the rascals’ reach, I have to be asked to bring them down to arts & crafts time. I’m able to then monitor what supplies they want to use and make sure that glue isn’t going into someone’s mouth.

The bin organization system makes it easy to choose the supplies we need instead of having piles of stuff everywhere. It also helps my little ones see what supplies we have available for their creativity to run wild!

Take a look at the almost-two-year-old:

He is in CONTROL of his own arts and crafts projects. Kids having choice, power, and independence is crucial to their development. In this photo, he asked to use markers, so I gave him one sheet of paper and the baggie of markers. He is able to selects the color he wants, remove the caps (and holds it in his hand), use the marker to his heart’s content, replacs the cap, and return the marker to the baggie. All. On. His. Own. Then, he repeats the steps with each color that is a part of his masterpiece. He’s able to maneuver these choices while also helping maintain my system of organization.

My three-and-a-half-year-old has more independence than the little guy. He is able to use multiple supplies at one time. My rule is that he has to retrieve the items himself (after I help bring the bins down to his level) and return the supplies to the bins (reinforcing the importance of taking care of our stuff). He can also use super small manipulatives (googly eyes are his favorite!). He has kid scissors and he knows how to safely hold and transport the scissors to and from the supply bins. He is capable of returning all the tools to their specific bins and understanding that everything has its place.

I know many parents who are apprehensive about doing arts and crafts at home due to the potential of an overwhelming mess. My goal is to alleviate that fear by sharing my organizational tips and tricks that keep my stress level down while also allowing my kids to get creative on a regular basis.

Fear not - if you aren’t ready to take the plunge to a full on in-home art studio, start small. Our favorite art supply that requires very little setup and storage is this double-sided table top easel by Melissa & Doug. Rascal approved as big bro and little bro play together. Be still my heart!

Written by Brandi Stanton, mother of two rascals ages 2 and 3.

---

Shop The Post

Camp Inspired Birthday Party

Big trees and room to run - that’s why camping is so much fun!

This modern and minimalist 1st birthday party brings together all the fun aspects of camping (hello, s’mores!) with all the love and traditions of a Korean Dol celebration.

The themed invitations and signage are reminiscent of children’s books about woodland creatures you might find scurrying about a camp site. The simple pinecone and greenery arrangements pair perfectly with tree circle cake stands topped with the most amazing treats! Don’t you wish you had these delicious bites when you went to camp?

The Dol ceremony, seen in the last photo, is a traditional celebration of a child’s 1st birthday in which the little one selects a few items that symbolize potential career and lifestyle opportunities!

Vendor List

Photography & Photo Booth: Erin J Saldana Photography

Venue: York Manor

Floral, Planning, & Design: Sarah Park Events

Floral Backdrop: Poppy Design Co

Stationery: Kelli Murray

Cake: Sweetleemade

Catering: Stonefire Grill

Linens: La Tavola

Entertainment: Beat Buds

Face Paint: Happily Ever Laughter

Party reviewed by Crystal Zeyen, mother of one rascal, 9 months.

---

Shop The Post

Pack a Lunch, Love a Bunch

It’s hard being a mom. Sometimes success is simply putting on pants. Or taking a shower. Sometimes, we have superhero mom moments and are able to cut the crusts off sandwiches, pack for school the night before, or remember that it’s your week to bring dessert to the classroom and actually manage to squeeze out a few dozen cupcakes before you take the kids to school.

One thing I love to do is write little notes to my boys and leave them in their lunchboxes. This is definitely not an everyday occurrence, by any means; it’s just something I do when I have a little extra foresight.

Here’s my secret: I pre-write some sweet notes of encouragement when I have spare time, and then put one in their lunch on a day when I think they might appreciate it. That’s it!

My favorite part is when the boys excitedly come home and tell me all about their day, including how proud they were to show the note to all their friends. The joy they felt at lunch to find the little surprise lasts on their face all day and that makes me so happy.

If you want to do this too, here are a few suggestions:

• Start small- this habit began with post it notes - and for your rascals, they have the exact same effect as fancy cards.

• Keep it simple- depending on the age of your child, they may not be able to read much. So draw. If you have a much older child, don’t assume they want to read a long paragraph. It’s all about knowing that you thought of them in advance, and even a simple “thinking of you” will make them feel special.

• Don’t stress- this should be a moment of joy for both you and your rascal. If you stress out about it, it’s not fun. Make it easy, make it sporadic, and make it stress-free.

Recently I found these cards. They’re so cute! I love seeing the boys enjoying them and it’s an even easier way for me to give them a little love note. There are even games and activities on it that they can play with their friends. We love these cards and stocked up on enough to use them all year.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 7. Photo by Simply Adri Photography.

---

Shop The Post

Cookies for Santa - Our Best Recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our rascals have a special love for chocolate chip cookies, so this holiday season we are planning to leave Santa a few from of our favorite recipe.

Makes: 20 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/4 cup granulated (white) sugar

• 1 large egg (cold or room temperature, either is fine)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (more if desired)

• Coarse sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, heat the butter for 15-20 seconds in your microwave, until just melted.  Whisk in the two sugars until thoroughly combined.  Let the mixture cool for a minute, then whisk in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.

3. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over top of the mixture and stir in, then add the flour and stir until fully combined and a smooth dough is formed.  Fold in the chocolate chips.

4. Drop the dough in rounded tablespoons onto cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart.  The dough should make approximately 20 cookies.

5. If desired, sprinkle additional coarse sea salt over top of the cookies (you can also do this after they’re baked).  Bake for 9-10 minutes.  NOTE: the cookies will look underdone, but they’ll firm up as they sit.

6. Let cookies cool on sheet for at least 5 minutes, then cool completely on a rack.  Store, tightly covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Cookies for Santa to take to the North Pole

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 6. Photo by Simply Adri Photography.

Holiday Sweet Smorgasbord

We get plenty of sweet treats as gifts during the holiday season. This year, we used these goodies to create a sweet smorgasbord grazing platter that has a little something for everyone!

Steps in creating your own Holiday Sweet Smorgasbord

Collect Platters: Festive holiday platters and trays are a must! If you don’t have one around, use a simple white plate. But something holiday-ish is ideal as a starting point.

Gather Supplies: I pool together all the pre-made desserts and candies I can find. You can use anything in the pantry you have from past parties. To make sure you have a well-rounded selection, your additional shopping list could include holiday cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels/nuts/candies, and fresh fruits.

Build Your Masterpiece: Layer the items together on the tray. The fuller the tray is, the better it looks. Color is important too - make sure to mix in some vibrant fresh fruits if you have them available. Don’t stack all the chocolate together; it will look like a big brown mess.

Garnish: It’s all in the details! I use any holiday decor I can find to add the finishing touches to my smorgasbord.

It’s meant to be easy - so don’t overthink it and enjoy!

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 6. Photo by Simply Adri Photography.

Duff's Cakemix x Kinada Events

Sweetness overload! Our two rascals were invited to a private party for Duff’s Cakemix x Kinada Events in Pasadena, CA. They were able to experience the greatness of cake decorating first hand and they were so proud of their creations!

What’s sweeter than birthday cake? How about a birthday party where you get to decorate your own cake AND hang out with top-notch decorators? Well you can do all of this and MORE at Duff’s Cakemix (five locations in Southern California), founded by Food Network superstar, Duff Goldman!

From their website: “Duff’s Cakemix is the first DIY cake and cupcake decorating studio where the customer is the artist. {Their] studio provides the decorating tools, embellishments, and expert guidance. But you bring the most important ingredient of all: creativity.”

With five locations in the Southern California area, guests are invited to pick up a decorating pack to-go or set up a reservation to create their masterpieces in-studio!

Guests are encouraged to stop by the “Tool Box” and see what catches their eye. These tools help bring out the cake designer in all of us.

Duff’s Cakemix is perfect for birthdays, holiday parties, graduations, anniversaries, team buildings, bridal showers, client appreciation.. the list goes on! You can choose to either decorate a set of cupcakes or a cake, and enhance your event with their party package, (aka THE “CELEBRATION”) which includes a celebration cake, balloons, aprons and workshop.

Duff’s Cakemix and Kinada Events have partnered together to create a program for non-profits and corporate companies and will soon be introducing a program for the Girl Scouts of America, set to launch in 2020.

Ready to party? Contact Kinada Events at hello@kinadaevents.com to set up your next event.

Sweet dreams!

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 6 and Crystal Zeyen, mother of one rascal, age 1. Photos by Erin J. Saldana Photography. Private party hosted by Kinada Events.

Gnome Cards

When was the last time you sent a text message?  Easy to recall, right?  What about the last time you sat down and wrote a letter?  Maybe a thank you card?  It’s been a while, huh?

With all of the amazing advancements in technology, it’s so easy to write a quick text to get your point across.  But, back in the day, writing letters by hand was the thing to do! Imagine waiting patiently for the mailperson to deliver the goods - and when you opened your mailbox, you had a real life “You’ve Got Mail” experience!  It was truly a treat to open the envelope and find a cute card from your friend who moved to the other side of the country.

We at Hello Rascal Kids believe that everyone deserves to have that feeling! That is why we have partnered with the folks over at YayMail to bring you these adorable Gnome Cards!  These cards can be used as holiday cards, or just a fun anytime card to send to your pen pal.

Now, a pen pal does not have to be someone who lives far away - they can be your classmates, neighbors, or whoever you’d like!  We want to challenge you to get the address of one friend you can write to over winter break!  Imagine how excited they will be when they open their mailbox and see this Gnome!

Written by Ngoc Nguyen Lay, Head Rascal. Mother of two rascals, ages 4 and 6. Photo by Simply Adri Photography. Printable Origami Gnome Card: YayMail

The Art of Writing Thank You Notes

My rascals are 2 and 3 years old and they love art. They love creating art, making art, and even destroying art. I strive to find ways to incorporate art into each day. We do sidewalk chalk, we color with markers and crayons, we practice our scissor and tearing skills, we dance to music, and we even paint our bodies (so messy, but so cute!).

One of my favorite ways to incorporate art in our regular lives is to include my rascals while writing thank you notes. (The actual art of writing thank you notes seems to have transitioned to extinction or email, but we still practice the skill with paper and pen.) Neither of my boys can write their name or letters just yet, but they sure can create something beautiful and fun.

Let me tell you, the recipients of these notes LOVE them. I always get comments from the receivers that they enjoyed getting something other than junk mail and bills, and they love that the artwork is handmade.

In my house, we write thank you notes for lots of reasons: friends came over for a visit, a grandparent brings over a book, gifts were received for birthdays and holidays, for trips, adventures, and experiences with friends and family, and for hand-me-down items from other families.

The boys love creating letters and cards. My oldest rascal even dictates what I should write as the note. In the simplest fashion, my rascals use markers and stickers to decorate their cards. When we have more time, we utilize paint, glue, and photography. There are no limits to the creativity of a handmade card!

A few tips I have learned along the way:

• Paper folded in half or thirds works equally well for letting writing.

• Keep lots of envelopes on hand.

• Collect cards for all occasions everywhere you go.

• The charities to which we donate often send us blank cards in exchange for the donation. We use these!

• Amazon sells cards in bulk. Some are blank, some are themed, some are for special occasions. These are great to have on hand.

• Stores like Half Price Books and Dollar Tree are great places to buy cards in bulk for a discount.

• I buy blank postcards for all sorts of letter writing. Save a few pennies by buying postcard stamps from the Post Office instead of using regular stamps.

This is a great way to invest in your child’s manners and understanding of etiquette, while also sharing their artwork with family and friends!

Written by Brandi Stanton, mama of two rascals, ages 2 and 3.

---

Shop The Post