DIY Taggy Blanket

One of the baby items that I make personalized for each of my kids is a taggy blanket. They are so fun to make, and babies love the texture and colors. In fact, my daughter still sleeps and plays with her taggy blanket at four years old. You can customize them and use virtually any theme you want. Do you want a fun blanket that is also an activity for your child? I’ve got you covered. Let me show you how to make your very own!

What You’ll Need

• Cotton fabric
• Minky or plush fabric
• Thread
• Ribbon variety
• Sewing machine
• Cutting tools

COTTON FABRIC
You will need enough cotton fabric for a 12 in x 12 in square. I have gotten fabric at Jo Ann’s, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and online. I personally prefer to use cotton for taggy blankets because the backing will be soft, but you can use flannel if you wish.

MINKY FABRIC
You will need enough minky or plush fabric for a 12 in x 12 in square. I have gotten fabric at Jo Ann’s, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and online. You could also use flannel for the backing, but I prefer to use the super soft minky and plush fabrics.

THREAD
Grab some colored thread that matches your fabric. This is for sewing around the edges.

RIBBON VARIETY
You’ll need a variety of ribbons. I typically use 1″ and 1 1/2″ ribbons. I try to use a mix of textures and patterns. You’ll want at least 4 different kinds. I typically use 6.

SEWING MACHINE
For sewing everything together.

CUTTING TOOLS
You’ll need all your preferred items for cutting fabric.
1) A cutting board or table
2) Scissors or a rotary cutter
3) Measuring tools such as a measuring mat, ruler, etc.
4) A fabric pen or pencil to mark the fabric if you use one

Let’s Get Started

STEP #1
Measure and cut a 12 in x 12 in square out of the cotton fabric.

STEP #2
Measure and cut a 12″ x 12″ square out of the minky/plush fabric.

STEP #3
Measure and cut 16 pieces of the ribbon options. I cut mine about 8″ long.

STEP #4
Fold the 16 ribbon pieces in half. Space out the ribbon pieces evenly with 4 on each side of the cotton square. Leave 1″ of space on each corner. Pin the ribbons into place facing inward on the right side of the fabric. I usually leave a little of the ribbon hanging off the end to make sure it attaches when you sew it on.

STEP #5
Staying close to the edge of the fabric, sew the ribbon into place on the cotton fabric. Cut the excess ribbon so the ribbon and fabric are even.

STEP #6
Pin the minky/plush fabric to the cotton fabric with the right sides together. The ribbons will be on the inside.

STEP #7
Sew the two pieces of fabric together with the seam closer to the middle of the fabric than the first seam. Make sure to leave a gap to turn the fabric right side out. I typically leave about a 2″ gap.

STEP #8
Using the 2″ gap that you left, turn the fabric right side out. Smooth out the fabric.

STEP #9
Fold and pin the opening edges inward so that it matches how the rest of the blanket edge looks. Sew a topstitch all the way around the fabric, including sewing the gap closed. I try to keep it close to the edge of the fabric and run the seam over the ribbon on the inside to help secure it in place even more.

And there you have it! You can now make your very own taggy blankets for your little ones using your favorite fabrics. Happy creating!

Tips for Beach Days with a Baby

Have you ever found yourself stressed trying to plan and execute a beach day with a baby? Have you ever felt lost about what you will need for a day in the sun with a new baby? When my daughter was born, I took her to the beach for the first time just ten days after birth. As a May baby, she went to the beach multiple times as a newborn.

As a mom, the packing list feels so long for any outing. My motto has always been “better safe than sorry”. You never know what your baby might need while out and about, and it is better to be prepared for anything. So you can imagine how daunting it might feel to try and pack for a beach trip with a baby.

People are often surprised when I tell them I took my daughter to the beach at 10 days old, but I loved every minute of it! Taking a newborn to the beach really wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. You don’t have to put off fun beach time until your child gets older. You can take them at any age! Here are some of the best tips and tricks I have learned to help make your beach day with a baby smooth sailing:

Limit Sun Exposure

Limiting sun exposure for a baby is so important. You don’t want to risk sunburn or overheating. So you want to make sure you have some shade from the sun at the beach, such as a tent or umbrella.

Be Proactive While in the Sun

The biggest thing I make sure not to forget when taking a child (especially a baby) to the beach is a sun hat. It is another great way to keep the sun off your baby’s face. Sunscreen is another key to being proactive while out in the sun. For safety, I didn’t put sunscreen on my newborn, but I always make sure to use it on my older babies.

I also made sure to bring a lightweight, breathable blanket to the beach. I used a breathable swaddle blanket. It was easy to use to help cover up my newborn while in the carrier and out of it. It helps to keep them covered without getting hot. For my newborn, I kept her skin covered with clothes and the swaddle blanket.

Bring a Baby Carrier

My baby carrier was the best thing I brought for baby beach days, especially with an infant. In the early days with my daughter, I was afraid of the wind making it hard for her to breathe at the beach. So I simply put her in the carrier to keep her close and keep her face protected. It was the best way I could think of to help shield her from the sun, other people, and the wind to make sure she could breathe comfortably while at the beach.

Bring Items to Keep Baby Entertained

For older infants, you’re going to want some beach toys. If your baby is mobile, likes to play, etc., make sure to bring some beach toys to keep them occupied and have some sand playtime.

If your baby is younger, you could bring a pacifier or chew toy. I always brought my daughter’s pacifier and just clipped it to the baby carrier. When she got a little older, I would clip a little chew toy onto the carrier to keep her entertained and keep it protected from the sand.

Bring Milk and Snacks

Whether your baby is a month old or eight months old, you’re going to want to make sure you bring snacks along on your beach adventure. My kid’s snacking all the time and would sometimes want something randomly while at the beach. If your baby is still being nursed or bottle-fed, make sure you have milk/formula handy for your day at the beach. I nursed my young baby multiple times while at the beach by simply using a lightweight blanket for a cover-up.

Keep Things Clean

One word: sand. The beach is messy no matter how careful you are. I made sure to bring pacifier clips, towels, baby powder, wipes, and water to help combat this. I used pacifier clips to attach some small toys to the baby carrier. This helped to keep the items from falling in the sand and getting messy. I used towels not only for sitting on the sand, but also for covering up when needed, and to help wipe the sand from faces and hands. Baby powder is one of my favorite mom hacks for Summertime because it gets sand off of your body so easily. Simply apply it to the sandy area, and the sand wipes right off. Wipes I used to help clean hands and water you can pour onto anything to help clear off the sand.

Extra Everything

In the early days with a baby, you always want to bring along extra everything for every outing. This includes beach outings. I made sure to have extra clothes, diapers, and wipes on all our beach days. You never know when you’ll need a change of clothes or how many times you’ll have to change a diaper(s) while you’re out.

Make Transportation Easier

The more items you bring along on your beach trek, the harder it is to carry and keep track of your baby/kids. We invested in a beach wagon after having my second child, and it is the best decision we made! We can easily pack it with all of our beach essentials and even put our kids in if needed. As a mom, having your hands free is such a help.

A beach trip with a baby (even a newborn) is very doable. You just have to be flexible and prepared. If you don’t want to be on a timer, simply bring extra things you may need while out. Then you can just relax and not worry about leaving at a set time. It can be a long day, but it can be so fun too. Some of my best family memories are with our kiddos at the beach. I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and just go for it!

July 4th Bucket List Activities

 

I love a good bucket list and couldn’t let July 4th pass without making one for this holiday. Summer is my favorite season, but I often overlook activities for this specific holiday. There are quite a few simple and fun things you can do to celebrate Independence Day and get into the patriotic spirit. After all, everyone deserves a birthday celebration! That includes America. Get your family together and enjoy checking off these items!

Decorate for July 4th

Break out the summer and patriotic décor. Think BBQs, stars & stripes, and fireworks. Change out your garden flag and door wreath. Switch your mantle décor to July 4th items and put out the patriotic towels.

Make July 4th Themed Crafts

Arts and crafts are one of our favorite things! Think of all the fun you can have creating a July 4th craft or making a festive T-shirt like this DIY Handprint Firework Shirt. There are so many fun ideas for crafts. Browse Pinterest and Google for some July 4th ideas.

Draw July 4th Sidewalk Chalk Art

With the sunny and warm weather, it’s the perfect time to get outside and make some July 4th-themed sidewalk chalk art. It’s also the perfect July 4th photo op. So draw away and snap some photos.

Have a July 4th Movie Marathon

In case you hadn’t heard, I am all about the movie marathons for any and every occasion. Pop some popcorn and have a July 4th movie marathon with the family. Think of something historic, patriotic, or related to summer. A couple of our favorites are “Independence Day” and “When Sparks Fly” (Hallmark).

Make July 4th Snacks

Who doesn’t love a festive snack? Put together a little board of red, white, and blue colored fruits and snacks, or decorate your food to look like a flag.

Have a Cookout or BBQ

Summertime and July 4th remind me of cookouts and BBQs. Get some friends and/or family together and grill out, have a potluck or picnic.

Have a Lake or Pool Day

There is no better way to cool off than having a lake or pool day. I’ve spent a few Independence Days at the lake. Those

Read July 4th Books

There are so many cute July 4th themed books for kids. We picked up a couple at Walmart during one of our grocery store runs, and my son loves them!

Play with Sparklers

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved doing sparklers for the Fourth of July. They are an easy thing for younger kids to do as well, with minimal risk of injury. So light some up and have some good family fun!

Watch Fireworks

A July 4th Bucket List wouldn’t be complete without fireworks. It’s a staple all over the US for fireworks on July 4th. Shoot off some of your own or go enjoy a big show in your local community. There is no better way to celebrate America’s birthday than with some good fireworks.

If you’re looking for some more generic summer activities, then check out my Summer Bucket List Activities. What are your favorite July 4th activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Independence Day!

DIY Handprint Firework Shirt

July 4th is coming up, which means more festive, patriotic crafts in our house! Who doesn’t love a good holiday DIY? I made these firework shirts with my kids last year, and they have been a favorite to wear all year long. So I wanted to share with you this simple and cute step-by-step guide to making your own.

What You’ll Need

• White t-shirt
• Blue paint
• Red paint
• Paintbrush

WHITE T-SHIRT

You’ll need a plain white t-shirt to paint on.

BLUE PAINT

Blue fabric paint for painting onto the t-shirt. You can get cheap fabric paint at Walmart or Hobby Lobby.

RED PAINT

Red fabric paint for painting onto the t-shirt. You can get cheap fabric paint at Walmart or Hobby Lobby.

PAINTBRUSH

Finally, you’ll need a paintbrush. Any will do. I just used what I had at home.

Let’s Get Started

STEP #1
Pick what color firework you want (red or blue) and paint your child’s hand that color. For my daughter, we did blue, and for my son we did red.

STEP #2
Place your child’s painted hand in the center of the shirt. Let it dry.

STEP #3
Using a paintbrush, paint the blue and red firework streaks around the outside of the handprint. Let it dry.

And there you have it, your own homemade T-shirt for the holiday. You now have a cute, patriotic keepsake for Independence Day. Happy creating!

Disney World During a Pandemic

The first week of May, we went on a family vacation to Florida. What’s a trip to Florida without a stop at the most magical place on earth? I was excited to take my kids to Disney but also nervous about what to expect and how it would be. The last time we visited was September 2019, when everything was still normal. I was a bit anxious about how strict they would be and how the kids would do with the extra precautions Disney had taken due to the pandemic.

I wanted to share our experience with how it went and what to expect in the hopes of helping anyone else planning a trip or thinking about going to Disney soon. Right after we came home, Disney started changing even more by stopping temperature checks and loosening mask requirements. As we get back to normal, I’m sure they will continue to change. So while some things have changed since we were there, I would recommend keeping an eye on their policies so you are up to date with any changes.

Disney Springs

Out of all our Disney stops, Disney Springs was the first place we visited on our trip. I thought it would be a good way to gauge how everything would work while at the parks. The parking garage we initially planned to park at was closed. They kept one garage open, I assume, to help funnel people going in and out to one area.

My first impression of Disney Springs was that they were super strict here, even for kids. They had security and mask checkers throughout the parking garage. They also had a security checkpoint set up in the garage before you enter Disney Springs. They searched bags, checked for masks, and took temperatures. I was honestly surprised to see this. When we went in 2019, there were no security checkpoints to enter Disney Springs at all.

We had our kids in their double stroller. They did make our daughter (who was 3 at the time) wear a mask. Our son was asleep, so they didn’t say anything about him. Once inside, it was packed. They had employees throughout the area to check for masks, but I personally never saw anyone being asked to put one on or fix theirs. So many people had masks pulled down while walking around.

All the shops and restaurants had lines (like normal). They had a huge, long line set up outside for the big Disney Store. They funneled everyone into one entrance and then let people in little groups based on capacity. We didn’t have to wait too long. By the time we walked through the maze of line setup (it looked like a ride waiting line at the parks), we only had to wait a couple of minutes to actually enter the store. Everything inside the store moved smoothly.

We ate at a restaurant, shopped in the Disney Store, and walked around Disney Springs. I hadn’t heard anything about the policies at Disney Springs and had assumed that since it was all outside, it would be more relaxed, but that was not the case. I did understand their measures since it was very crowded. It felt like they were the strictest at Disney Springs than anywhere else.

Disney Springs at a Glance

• Super strict (even for kids)
• Parking lots closed/funneled entrances
• Heightened security/mask checkers
• Packed (even outside)
• A long line to get into Disney Store

Animal Kingdom

This was the first time going to Animal Kingdom for our whole family. Last time we did Magic Kingdom for two days, so this time we decided to do one day at Magic Kingdom and one day at Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom was our first park stop on our trip. One of the hardest parts of planning our park visits this go-around was that we had to purchase tickets ahead of time. You also have to make a park reservation for which park you plan to visit on what day ahead of time.

Because the parks still have capacity limits, they fill up fast, so you have to book and reserve ahead of time. On one hand, this was nice because we knew the parks wouldn’t be overcrowded, but on the other hand, it was hard having to choose ahead of time. Normally, we would decide while on vacation depending on the weather and what we feel up to doing each day, etc. I would recommend making restaurant reservations ahead of time as well because they fill up fast. A lot of the little snack and restaurant shops around the parks are closed because of the capacity limits.

Parking at Animal Kingdom was as smooth as normal. We paid for parking upon entering, and they had parking attendants who guided you on where to park. We were able to park not too far from the entrance. Walking from the parking lot to the park entrance, the attendants made sure you were wearing your masks. Getting out tickets went smoothly as well.

As we neared the entrance, they checked temperatures and masks. They asked how old our daughter was, and she had to wear a mask. However, they didn’t even ask about our son. We went through security and entered the park. The park itself never seemed too full. We were able to get any pictures we wanted. You were allowed to remove your mask for photos and put it back on after. There were still lines for rides, but they weren’t too long. I think the longest we waited was about 15 minutes.

It was cool to explore a new park. Our kids loved all the animals, and my highlight was the safari ride. They had a lot of little carts throughout the park with small snacks (ice cream, popcorn, popsicles, drinks, etc). This was very convenient for us, especially for how hot a day it was. Since we had never visited this park before, I didn’t know what to expect. It was a fun day, and I’m glad we went. However, there weren’t as many kid-friendly rides, and there wasn’t as much to do as Magic Kingdom.

Animal Kingdom at a Glance

• Buy park tickets ahead of time
• Make a park reservation for the day you plan to visit ahead of time
• Temperature/mask checks
• Busy but not overcrowded

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom day is always my favorite! This trip we actually visited on my daughter’s 4th birthday was so fun. On our last trip in 2019, we went on my son’s 1st birthday, so being able to take my daughter on her birthday too was so special. Just like with Animal Kingdom, you have to purchase tickets and make park reservations ahead of time. Due to capacity limits and restrictions, a lot of restaurants and special activities are closed. The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was closed for one, which I was bummed about.

Parking at Magic Kingdom went smoothly, as normal. Upon getting close to the entrance, they had the temperature and mask checks. They asked about both of the kids. My daughter was a trooper about having to wear her mask at all the parks. We tried to give her breaks as much as we could with snacks and drinks. Magic Kingdom was busier than Animal Kingdom, which I expected, but it wasn’t as packed as it normally would have been.

It was easier to take photos on Main Street and near the castle because of fewer people. We were able to ride all the rides we wanted to. Many were 20-30 minute waits, which isn’t too bad for us adults but was a little hard on the kids some of the time. We were also able to do all the shows we wanted. They had plexiglass up in between group sections for all shows, and everyone was seated at a distance.

Magic Kingdom was still full of its usual fun and magic. However, the biggest downside was that there were no character meet-and-greets. The kids and I were really bummed about that. However, they were doing mini character parades down Main Street every 20 mins instead. We got to catch a few of them, and the kids loved them. But it just wasn’t the same as getting to meet them up close. My daughter was sad we didn’t get to see Tinker Bell (we met her last trip, but she was off the day we went this time), but we did get to see her on the Peter Pan ride, so I think that helped.

A lot of the little restaurants were closed, and there weren’t very many snack carts out and about like at Animal Kingdom. We had a hard time finding somewhere to eat when we were hungry and ended up just getting some snacks instead. They were stricter with masks at this park as well, which I expected. We were told a couple of times to make sure our daughter’s mask was over her nose here. I’m so proud of how well my daughter handled having to wear a mask. I honestly think it depends on the workers how strict they are, especially with the kids. As a mom of two young kids who normally don’t have to wear masks, I was a bit stressed about this aspect, but it went better than I thought. I think people are more understanding with little kids and the struggle to have them keep a mask on properly.

Magic Kingdom at a Glance

• Temperature/mask checks
• 20-30 minute waits for most rides
• No princess/character meet and greets
• Regular mini character parades
• Easier to take photos by the Castle
• Lots of restaurants and little snack shops closed

Right after our visit, Disney stopped doing temperature checks, and they have also since relaxed their mask policies and capacity limits. I’m excited for the day we can visit again, with it being like it used to be when we visited back in 2019, and for all the character meet-and-greets again! But even with the changes, this trip was still a blast. We made the most of it and made many memories. Disney really is the most magical place on earth!