My name is Gina Bell, but you might know me better as " East Coast Mommy."  After 10 years of living in Toronto, my husband and I decided to head back to our home on the East Coast to raise our three little boys.  I am currently a stay-at-home mom and blogger who loves to craft and spend time with family and friends. As a longtime subscriber, I am totally excited about this opportunity to blog for Canadian Living.  I am always looking for easy/reliable recipes and new craft ideas, and Canadian Living never disappoints. " East CoastMommy" is my way of trying to provide a little bit of support and encouragement to other moms.  I have been inspired by other bloggers, and I hope my blog is a source of inspirations to the people that take the time to read it.  I like to share  easy and inexpensive ways that moms can make the time they spend with their family a little more special.  I hope you will join me.  :-) So... here is my first post.  My boys love to help me bake, so recently we decided to make some simple chef hats for them to wear.  Cute, right?   To put it together, follow these three simple steps: 1)  Cut a strip of bristol board 4 inches wide. 2)  Fit the strip around the child's head and secure with tape. 3)  Tape the edges of the tissue paper to the inside of the bristol board headband, and "fluff up" the tissue paper.  {See below.}

 

When baking with my boys, I like to use simple recipes that provide lots of opportunities for them to "help".  "Cut out" cookies are always a favorite around here.  You can find an easy {Canadian Living} Orange Butter Cookie recipe here. I hope you make these hats with your little ones, and that they love them as much as my boys did. ♥  Gina Bell ( aka East Coast Mommy)