The Complete Guide for Beginner Hockey Parents

Hey friends!

Hockey season is approaching fast for us here at the Howard home. It is a very busy time of year for us. Both of my kids, Kade and Leighton, play hockey; and my husband, Ty, coaches & plays as well. Hockey was very foreign to me for most of my life. When I met Ty, he introduced me to the sport and I fell in love with watching the fast paced and exciting game. When our kids started taking interest in it,  I REALLY had to learn the ins and outs. It can be a little overwhelming; if it wasn't for Ty I am not sure how I would have figured it all out, to be honest. Lots of equipment and not a whole ton of information about it online, that I could find. That is why I have decided to create this complete guide for new hockey moms, dads and players!

First I will start off with the equipment run down; what you will need and what you don't need but might want. **Keep in mind all hockey associations are different and many offer rental gear, what is included will probably vary!**

Hockey Equipment

-Helmet with Face Cage

Helmets range greatly in price depending on the quality. Typically at the younger age groups it is not necessary to buy the "top of the line" $300 helmet, because body checking is not allowed until age 13 or older. The fit is the most important thing when looking for a hockey helmet for your kiddo. It should fit tight, but also comfortable. The helmet should not fit your kid like a bucket, because ultimately it is what will protect your child from getting a concussion or any other serious head injury. Most helmets are adjustable in size & it is always a good idea to keep a phillips screwdriver in your bag so you are able to make adjustments when necessary, on the fly. It is best if you can go to a store where your child can try on the helmet in person, but if you are forced to order online, be sure to pay close attention to the sizing charts and follow directions for measuring your child's head. 

Most youth helmets come with a face cage. Keep in mind that if you play in an outdoor rink, the clear "fish bowl" style facemasks tend to fog up. PRO HOCKEY MOM TIP: If your child does have a "fish bowl" style facemask, a quick spray of Pledge Furniture Spray, will prevent fogging.

 Here are links to the helmets our kiddos have; Leighton's helmet (6 years old) & Kade's helmet (3 years old).

Another thing about helmets, when you are putting it on your child, you really have to PUSH HARD to get the snaps into place. The first time I did it I thought it was going to break! They do "wear in" after a while and become a bit easier. Don't be alarmed if it takes a little elbow grease to get the mask and chin guard snapped into place. 

-Hockey Skates

It is not difficult to find youth hockey skates online in the $500-$1000 range; but let's be honest, no beginner needs a skate that is designed for elite level play. Bauer and CCM typically make the best quality and most durable skates.

When finding a skate, much like a shoe, it is best that your child can try it on in person to find the best fit for them. Hockey skates tend to run a size or two smaller than a normal shoe size, this can make online shopping that much more difficult. If your child is still growing, it's a good idea to go for a cheaper pair, since they may grow out of them by the end of the season. Another option, if you anticipate them playing more than once season, is to purchase a higher quality pair in a size bigger so they can have room to grow into them and potentially use them for more than one season, without them wearing out. 

After you find the right skates, you kiddo will need to break them in.

Here is how we do it;

STEP 1: Put a hair dryer inside the boot of the skate, on high heat and high flow, for 3-5 minutes. STEP 2: Take the hair dryer out and have your kid stick their foot in immediately.

STEP 3: Tie the skates as tight as you can, then have the kids walk around the house in them for about 15 minutes. (If you don't have carpet make sure the skates have skate guards on them, click HERE to see the ones we like)

The heat from the hairdryer loosens the gels inside the boot of the skate and then molds to the child's foot, making for a perfect fit. Another way of "baking" the skates is to actually bake them in your oven. HERE is a video describing that process in more detail, if you are interested.

Before the skates actually hit the ice, they will need to be sharpened. You can take them to your local ice rink, or hockey pro shop to have this done. Beginner hockey players should have their skates sharpened at about 5/8". 

Here are the links to the skates our kids have; Leighton's skates & Kades skates.

-Hockey Stick

First and foremost, when it comes to a hockey stick PRICE MEANS NOTHING. Crazy huh? 

Here are the main things you need to consider when choosing a stick:

1.) Material

Composite is the best material for an ice hockey stick. Wood sticks are cheaper, but they are super heavy, and not very durable. What you save in price will be made up in replacement sticks. 

2.) Flex

All sticks have a "flex number", this basically represents how "bendy" the stick shaft is. The lower the number, the more bend in the stick. The ideal flex number for your child will be roughly half of their body weight. For example, my daughter weighs 60lbs, so the flex on her stick should be around 30.  Here is a picture of a hockey stick "flexing", I just found it on Google!

3.) Brand

There are a lot of different brands out there. The three we like to stick with are CCM, Bauer & Easton. These companies have been around forever and their technology is top of the line compared to any other brands. They also offer high quality sticks at affordable prices. 

4.)Curve 

Curve is personal preference, which a beginner/child won't typically have. The curve won't make much difference for beginners. Leighton, Kade and Ty all have the same exact curve but in three different brands. The circled column in this picture is the curve they have. This curve is the best for overall performance. Ignore all the other stuff; it's a little confusing!

5.) Length

Your child's stick should come up to their nose height, when they are standing flat footed without shoes or skates on. When they have skates on, it should be just up to their chin. This is Leighton with her stick, flat footed. 

Here are links to Leighton's Stick, and Kade's Stick. 

-Shoulder Pads, Shin Pads & Elbow Pads

Does this remind anyone of rollerskating when they were younger? I remember we all wanted matching sets of these! Ha, ha! Shoulder pads, shin pads and elbow pads are all about comfort. You will want to chose the brand and size that fits your child the most comfortably and each child is different. Typically you can find these three items in sets for a discounted price. Here is the link to Kade's set. Leighton's did not come in a bundle but are part of the Bauer Nexus 7000 line, and all the pieces are available at Hockeymonkey.com. 

-Gloves

The cheaper the better! Yep, you heard me, you can't go wrong with any gloves. Find a good deal and you're set. 

-Hockey Pants (Breezers)

Breezers vary in price, but they are all pretty much the same performance wise. Be sure to use the sizing chart closely to make sure to get the right fit for your kiddo. Leighton's we got used, and Kade has these. 

-Mouthguard

Only 12U and older need mouth guards. You can get them at pretty much any sports equipment store. 

Those are all of the "NEED" items. Here is a list of some other things that you may want to get but don't absolutely need. 

- Shock Doctor Shorts

These are super cool shorts that have a built in jock strap, and velcro at the bottom of the shorts that you can stick your hockey socks to. Both of our kids wear these and it makes keeping the hockey socks on WAY easier. (They work for girls too, even though they have a jock strap! Just take out the cup and enjoy the conversation starter...)

- Hockey Water Bottle

Because the helmets have masks and are pretty difficult for kids to get off by themselves, it's best to get a water bottle for them that has a long bent straw or one that squirts water out into their mouths in a steady stream when it is squeezed. These are the ones we like. 

- Base Layer

Basically the same thing you would wear underneath your snow suit when you go skiing or snowboarding. The ones we have for the kids were from costco, they usually have them every year. It's nice to have at least 2 so you aren't having to wash them super quickly in between practices and games. The first year Leighton just wore sweatpants and a sweatshirt underneath her gear, but a base layer is nice to have.

- Skate Guards

I already linked the ones we like above, they are adjustable and stay on the kids skates well. We dress at home often times so it makes it so the kids can get fully dressed, and be able to walk from the car to the rink with their skates already on. 

- Practice Jersey & Socks

It is nice to have a practice jersey and socks to help with laundry and to keep the game jerseys/socks looking AND smelling and fresh. You can order socks through your association or on Amazon; same goes for practice jerseys. 

- Stick Tape & Sock Tape

Stick tape is thicker and colored, sock tape is usually clear. You can find them on Hockey Monkey, Amazon or your local hockey store if you have one. Some ice rinks sell it as well, (Ours will have them this year!). 

- "My First Book of Hockey", by the editors of Sports Illustrated Kids 

The kids got this book last year as a gift and it is a huge hit! It helps to explain the rules of the game (for the kids and the adults) in a fun way. I wish we had this book from the beginning! 

That is it my friends! I sure hope this helps some cold and confused hockey parent out there. Thanks for reading and please share this with anyone you think would enjoy or benefit! I'll be posting soon about the must haves for your hockey mom/dad bag, too! Happy Hockey Season!

-Kaci

A Night in Snohomish, Washington - A Hidden Gem

Hey Friends! 

Hope you all had an excellent weekend! Over the weekend, the kids and I made a trip over the mountains to see some of my best and oldest childhood friends. My first stop was my hometown, Enumclaw. Unfortunately I didn't snap any good pics of the area while I was there. Someday I will do a whole post about that sweet little town. It is nestled just below Mt.Rainier with gorgeous views of the mountain almost daily. After leaving Enumclaw I headed toward Snohomish. My friend and her husband recently bought a home there. I had never been to the area before, and I was surprised by how beautiful it was. 

Heading into the downtown area of Snohomish, there were gorgeous views of lucious green farmland and marshes. I am not sure if it is the changing of the seasons, or what it is exactly, but I have recently been in awe of how beautiful nature truly is. It is easy to let this beauty go unnoticed while we are all rushing through life, but taking the time to "stop and smell the roses", really has it's perks. Snohomish is definitely a place I would love to return to for some more exploring. Here are some pictures I took on our way out of town. 

It was a very quick trip, and there wasn't very much time for adventuring. We spent most of our time visiting, catching up and watching the Washington State Cougars beat Cal. But before the game started, we had dinner at Cathouse Pizza. The pizza was so flavorful and the energy in the restaurant was fun and laid back, perfect for a family/friends outing.

Thanks for reading! If you have any more hidden gems in Snohomish I should know about for next time, please share them with me! I love trying new places. I know there is some kind of "haunted" bar there that sounded like a neat place to explore sometime.

-Kaci

Trip to San Francisco - The Best Stops & Shops at Pier 39

Hey Friends!
While we were in San Francisco we decided we had better make a trip to the famous Pier 39. Here we visited the sunning Sea Lions and walked around browsing all of the cute little shops. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for it. If you are in the area I would suggest making a trip here. Parking was a breeze for us luckily, we found a spot about a block away, for free. I would suggest taking the cable car down to the pier if you can, that way you can avoid having to deal with parking.
The pier had so many shops, we weren't really in the mood for shopping so we ended up only visiting a few spots. I don't enjoy looking through all of the nick nacky shops, and the kids really do not enjoy shopping, let alone "window shopping". This is our list of the best places/things to check out (with kids) at the pier.

Sea Lions

For some reason, the Sea Lions all like to gather on the open docks at the pier. There are hundreds of them, all squawking and flopping around; fighting for their perfect spot in the sunshine. Leighton & Kade both enjoyed walking the pier and watching the Sea Lions yell and knock eachother off the docks. They are entertaining, to say the least. This is also a good sightseeing stop, as it is just across from Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Candy Baron

The first shop daddy spotted was the giant candy shop, Candy Baron. The nostalgic shop had buckets and buckets of salt water taffy and other bulk candies. It was obviously a huge hit with the kids, although the adults had fun finding their old childhood favorites as well. My favorite was always lemon heads and jawbreakers! Do you remember those things? I passed on the jawbreaker ( it was HUGE), and grabbed a few lemon heads instead. We ended up all picking out a few candies to have to eat throughout the trip. The prices were a bit steep, (as is everything else in the city) but the experience was fun.

The Carousel 

Just down from the candy shop, we spotted this giant two level carousel. It was $5 for one token or $10 for three, and it cost 1 token per person to ride. Ty's dad decided he would take the kids on; I get motion sickness fairly easily and Ty was still enjoying his spoils from Candy Baron. The kids loved it and it lasted quite a while. TIP: Bring cash, because not all debit/credit cards were accepted, only certain banks.  

Houdini's Magic Shop

Unfortunately I didn't get a very good picture from this place. We walked in and were the only customers in the shop. Immediately Leighton went up to the counter and asked the guy if he knew any magic tricks, since it was a magic shop after all. He said he did, then proceeded to do three different tricks for us and the kids. The guy was so freindly and fun with the kids it was great; he even let them use a "magic wand" to help him complete some of the tricks. The shop had tricks for all ages and interests. We didn't end up purchasing any, but included with each purchase is a private lesson on how to perform the trick. You got to go into a separate V.I.P. room where they would teach you. Pretty cool if you ask me!

Pier 40

It is just a short walk down the street to Pier 40. There you will see massive ships and submarines on display, as well as small maritime museum and some other historical info. If you want to actually board the boats and submarines, you need to purchase an actual ticket; but our kids found it entertaining enough to just walk by them and look from the outside, so we just enjoyed that. Leighton has recently become more comfortable with reading, so it was fun for her to stop and read some of the things to us aloud. 

Lombard Street

This last one is not at Pier 39 but is just a short drive from there. Lombard street is a famous street in San Francisco. It is known for it's one block section of hairpin turns. It is said to be the most crooked street in the world! The view from the top is pretty cool. Ty and I got out and walked down the street, and the kids and Ty's dad drove down to meet us at the bottom. The brick lined street was very neat to see; I tried to walk down the middle of the street to get a quick picture, but was quickly, and loudly reminded by a nearby "guard", that no one is allowed to walk on the street. The kids described the ride down as "like a roller coaster".  The first picture is from the very top of the street, and the second is just a neat looking house I noticed along the road. 

I know it's a short list, but like I said above, it worked best for us to avoid the lengthy window shopping and keep them engaged. The one thing we did not do while we were there was eat. It looked like there were quite a few fun little places to stop and grab a bite. Have any of you been to any you would recommend? Id love to know for next time, and someone else reading this might, too! Thanks for reading, as always!

-Kaci

Trip to San Francisco - Breakfast in the Big City

We only spent two full days in San Francisco, but we managed to cram so much in those two days that I think I will spend this week writing about it in sections. I took about a bazillion pictures, and had plans to post while we were there but we had very little down time.
After a late night family dinner down the street from our hotel at a cute little downtown diner, and half night of sleep we were off! We started our morning with some breakfast at Sears Fine Food. It was just a couple blocks away so we walked from our hotel. We came at just the right time and were able to be sat promptly.

I would highly recommend the food and the experience. Everything was fresh and delicious, & the kids got coins to use in the old fashioned slot machines at the end of our meal. They are world famous for their pancakes and all of their juice is fresh squeezed. It even stated in the menu the fresh fruit used for my fruit and yogurt bowl was, "immediately rushed to the restaurant", at its prime ripeness. Service was great and the food was even better.

The place took you back in time, all the decor looked as if it had been kept the same for the past 80 years it had been open. The walls were covered in old photographs of both sights and people. There is a very interesting description of the history of the restaurant here, on their website. Apparently, the whole thing started with a retired circus clown, oddly enough. 

We didn't win any loot at the end of our meal, but the experience and delicious food was enough of a win for us. Do you know of any awesome breakfast places in the San Francisco area? I am sure in such a metropolis there are plenty.  I would love to hear about them for the next time we venture down there. Thanks for reading, be on the lookout for my next posts that will include our other adventures in San-Fran.

-Kaci

The Secret to Stress Free Travel Prep with Kids

Happy Wednesday friends!

This week we are preparing to leave on a short trip. Here it is the day before and it seems like I have a million things to do! One of my favorite ways to prepare for a trip or an event of any kind, is by making a list. Lists are the only way I can really be sure I haven't forgotten anything. Today I created an awesome, simple, checklist to help get our bags packed and ready to go! It includes a checklist for each person (two kids, two adults) for both suitcases and carry on bags. It also includes some other bonus tips for stress free vacation prep!

My secret to stress free travel preparation, with kids, (or without, honestly!) is to simply make a list, and plan ahead. That's it! No one likes to feel like they are forgetting something, OR like they are rushed. Rushing not only creates stress for you, but your kids as well. Without fail, if I am in a hurry, you can bet my kids will either A) have a melt down, or B) make a huge mess, or both, at the same time. Can we all agree we want to avoid those things at all costs?!

Another awesome thing we do is let the kids pack their bags. No, I don't mean it's a "free for all"! Lord only knows what they might pack if that was the case! Leighton is able to read now, so she can easily look at the checklist and pack her bag herself. Kade is a bit younger, so we just read the things to him and he grabs them for us. In the past I have also created a "picture list" of what to pack and had them do it that way. It takes a little bit longer but it really helps the kids feel involved and teaches them how to pack a bag. Real life lessons are a fave in this house. I don't want to be packing my kids bags forever and ever, (although I am sure I'll miss it, someday).

Here are the kiddos suitcases, all packed and ready to go. You'll notice, in Kade's suitcase, a plastic bag with an outfit in it. Some people like to put each and every outfit in a separate plastic bag, but that is just a little bit too much for me. (No judgement!) I find that when my kids pick out their outfits they are more likely to ACTUALLY get dressed when we ask them to. Yes, sometimes seeing what they come up with can be painful; but like I have said before, I like to pick my battles wisely! So, with that being said, the outfit in the bag is a "nice" outfit. We have a fancier dinner planned for our trip and I want to make sure his outfit stays separate and available for that specific dinner.

Having well packed, carry on bags when you have kids, is a must! Here is a general list of things I like to pack in each kids carry on backpack. I like them to have their own, that way they aren't arguing over who's carrying it, or who isn't, etc.

- Snacks: Try to stay away from things that need to be refrigerated and things that are liquid. Those won't make it through security, and no one wants a kiddo crying in the airport because their favorite snack got thrown away! We usually do dried fruit and some sort of cracker.
- Entertainment: This can be different for each kid. Leighton loves to color so I usually pack her a small baggie of crayons (less is more!) and a coloring book. She loves music, so I let her bring her MP3 player to listen to with headphones. I also pack her "Letter Lunchbox". This is something I made before our trip to Disneyland last year. She loves it. It helps her practice her words, and the magnets & dry erase markers are fun for her to use.

For Kade, I also pack some color crayons and a small coloring book. He really likes to stay busy with hands on things so I like to pack a small container of playdough, with some pipe cleaners, and cut straws for him to stick in it and play with. It isn't messy and keeps him entertained. Another great idea for toddlers I have heard about, but haven't tried, is using window clings to let the kids stick on the tray and windows to play with.
- A Change of Clothes: This is not only for the younger kiddos still getting through potty training, but for the older ones too. You never know what kind of spills can happen and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Along with this, I usually bring one used grocery bag in my carry on to put wet or soiled clothes, just in case. It is also a good idea to bring a light jacket or sweatshirt for the kids so they adjust to the temperature on the plane as well as your destination.

I won't go into too much detail about what I pack in my carry on but here are a few of my must haves. I will also say, I love the convenience of carrying a backpack vs a purse. Being hands free, with kids, is a huge bonus!

- Phone charger
- Headphones
- Magazine & Book (My current favorite books are "The Subtle art of not giving a F*ck", and "Simplicity Parenting", although I highly doubt I will have time to read on an airplane with two small children; ha, ha!).
- Breath Mints or Gum
- Water bottle
-  Notebook - I like to have my notebook on me at all times for brainstorming!
-  Wallet - duh.
-  Protein Bar - My favorite ones are the Mint Chocolate Chunk Quest Bars
-  Compact powder makeup 
-  Hair tie 
- Travel size deodorant
- Chapstick 
- Printed flight and hotel info - I have everything on my phone, but I like to have a printed copy just in case!

I sure hope these tips helped you to make your next family trip prep, a breeze. I absolutely love going on adventures with my little family. Sometimes it is easy to let the stress of traveling take over your mood. Don't forget what a blessing it is to be able to do it in the first place, and remember your kids will reflect your mood! Make sure its a positive one and you should be all set!

Thanks for reading & please comment below and let me know if this post was helpful or not! Safe travels and happy adventuring!

*BONUS* If you share my link with some friends on social media, or simply shoot me an e-mail, message or comment & I will send you a FREE PDF of my "Travel Prep Checklist"!

-Kaci

Spooky, Fun Halloween Felt Wall

Hey friends!
I thought I was all done with my Halloween crafts and activities for the season (besides trick or treating of course!). But, as always, my kiddos inspired me to create another fun, seasonal activity.

Leighton and Kade had been working on creating a "spider web" out of string for days, or dare I say it..weeks! They were using tape to put the strings up in doorways and on walls. I let them experiment with it for quite some time until I finally got sick of finding scraps of tape everywhere and "spider web" blocked doorways around every corner. (What a grump, I know!) As I was cleaning up one evening, shoving all the lose strings into a drawer, the idea of a fun felt wall popped into my mind. I made a mental list and was off to the store for supplies the next day.

Here is a list of the supplies!

1. FELT-

  2 yards of black for the spider web, ( I got extra in case I made a mistake while cutting!)1 yard of grey for the background, 2ft of purple, green, white, & small sheets of felt for any other colors you would like to use for shapes. You can find the smaller sheets of felt in the kids craft areas in most stores. The options are endless! 

2. GOOD SCISSORS -

You will want to make sure your scissors are sharp to cut the felt shapes out accurately. 

3. THUMB TACKS - 

I used these to hang up the felt to the wall. 

4. GOOGLY EYES- 

I was originally going to glue these to the shapes I cut out, but decided to instead glue felt to the back of the eyes so the kids were able to move the eyes and put them wherever their little hearts desire. 

After gathering the supplies, I began cutting. I just cut out a large circle for the spider web. Then cut a slightly larger square for the background. After that I folded the circle three times over, and cut it like this. 

After that I laid it out and tacked it all onto the wall. I put it in the play room area in our house next to the kids' rooms, low enough for them to both be able to reach it. Then I began cutting out fun shapes for the kids to stick onto the web. I did ghosts, spiders & bats. I wish I would have bought some orange felt to add to the mix! I ended up having a ton of extra fabric so Kade and I decided to make a house along with the web. Next, I glued the felt to the back of the googly eyes. I think they both turned out super fun and cute! 

As soon as Leighton got home from school she started playing with it and moving the shapes around. She ended up also creating her own shape! A monster! I kept the extra felt out so she is able to create whatever she wants to add. While I was at the store I saw some pre cut felt letters. I feel like this would be an awesome purchase, along with the orange felt to add to the potential of this activity. 

Thanks for reading friends! When it comes to felt, the options are endless.Such a great activity for developing fine motor skills, along with creativity, colors and shapes. Adding the pre-cut letters would really add to the fun, too. There are tons of other fun shapes and things you could add to this project. I know there are some super creative people reading, I would love to see some of your felt ideas and projects!

-Kaci

D.I.Y. Tailgate Mimosa Bar

Hey friends!
Hope you all had fun filled weekends, making memories! I know I sure did. This weekend really was one for the books. Our family is fortunate enough to be Washington State University football season ticket holders. This means we usually spend 6 or 7 of our Saturdays each season in Pullman, Washington, surrounded by family and friends. It is one of our favorite things to do as a family, throughout the season.
Each season my husband and I chose an "adults only" game to go to together. Ty and I met while I was in college at W.S.U., after a football game, so it's fun to spend the weekend reliving those early days in our relationship. This year our pre planned "adults only" game, happened to also land on the weekend ESPN's College Game Day decided to come visit Pullman. In order to get a spot at the game day filming location, we had to wake up at 2:45am! The show runs from 6am to 9am, so a tailgate breakfast and mimosa bar was a must.

 Here is a list of all the things you need for an awesome D.I.Y. tailgate mimosa bar.

1. Champagne of your choice 

I bought one bottle of my favorite prosecco, but then went with a 2nd bigger bottle of the cheaper stuff, considering we were serving a large group of people. You can make about 6-8 mimosas out of every bottle of champagne.

2. Juice

For the juice it is good to have the classic orange juice with 2 or 3 other non traditional options. It's fun to create a new yummy twist on the classic mimosa. I used orange juice(no pulp please!), grapefruit juice, and an orange mango juice. Another one of my favorite juices for mimosas is pineapple.

3. Personalized Mason Jar Cups

Since we were at a Coug game, I used reusable Coug decal stickers. I found them here in town at Party City. I ended up having to cut them so the sticker would fit on the flat surface of the jar without peeling off of the rounded edge. You can find mason jars at any grocery store.

4. Napkins & Straws

These come in so many colors and patterns. It is easy to add them to your table and coordinate them with whatever theme you would like. I am a sucker for cute paper straws. They do get soggy after a little while, so make sure you bring extras. I didn't get a great picture of the napkins we used, but I got two small packages, one had the coug logo and the other had footballs.

5. Ice Bucket

I found a super cute game day themed tin bucket at Target. I was originally going to use it for ice, or to keep the champagne chilled. At the last minute I decided to use it to put all of the mason jar cups in instead. Our champagne and juice had been chilling in the cooler overnight, so it wasn't necessary to keep it all on ice. 

6. D.I.Y. Banner

This was so fun to make! All you need is a blank banner, some sticker letters, washi tape in your teams colors, and some twine. It was super easy and quick to put together. I also added a football banner to ours, just because I found a perfect one at target and couldn't pass it up!

7. A non-Alcoholic Option 

Some of the people in our group prefer not to drink alcohol. I feel like it is always good to include a non alcoholic option at group events. We used martinelli's sparkling cider, but another fun option would be sprite or 7-UP. 

Has anyone else made their own D.I.Y. mimosa bar? I know they are super popular for all kinds of celebrations. The next "bar" I want to try is a hot cocoa bar! Post pictures of your mimosa bar below to share with everyone! We would all love to see what you have come up with. Thanks for reading and I hope you all have an awesome Sunday evening!

-Kaci