Tag: Christmas

Christmas Gift Guide for HER!

Looking for a gift for the wife, mother, woman in your life? You’ve come to the right place. Everything on this list has been either tested and loved by me (a woman, wife & mother) OR it is something that I myself am asking for this year. I hope you get some good ideas for the loved one in your life, or some ideas to add to you own list!! I’ve added some links to make things a bit easier, some of them are affiliates.

  1. Stanley Cup – A water bottle that holds 40oz but also fits into your cup holder! AND it has a straw. I’m in heaven. If you already have a nice water bottle and don’t want to spend the money on another but you can’t fit it in your cup holder, then you can look into getting an adapter instead – I have this one.
  2. Puzzle Bags – Calling all organizers! These bags are great – I use them not only for puzzles but also for lego sets, calico critters, other figurines & sets that I want to keep together as well as manuals, cords and such.
  3. Charging Station – this was such a game changer in organizing all the electronics and cords in my house. They are all now neatly hidden, the kids know where to put their tablets when their done, and it comes with cords so that you don’t have to buy extra.
  4. Dry Shampoo – A must have – no explanation needed. I like this brand bc it’s more natural. This one has a tint for brunettes.
  5. Nail Dip Kit – These days I would prefer to spend my money on my kids, but I would still love to have my nails looking nice. This dip kit comes with everything you need to pamper yourself a little.
  6. Heated Mug – Any mom can relate to the fact that sometimes it takes ALL day to get to the point where you can actually sit and enjoy your coffee. This mug keeps it nice and cozy.
  7. Kitchen Aid Mixer Lid – Sometimes I just want to put the cookie dough in the fridge for a few hours before I’m ready to bake, or I might need to store some shredded chicken before I have time to make chicken salad. Whatever the reason, sometimes I just need a lid! And this is great because it also doubles as a splash guard for when you’re mixing something messy like four or liquids. This is the one for the tilt mixers and this is the one for the lift mixers.
  8. All Clad Pots & Pans – I really like the All Clad D5 line. This is my favorite pot that we have in my house – it’s just fantastic.
  9. A Good Sports Bra – If you want one with awesome support, try this (it runs small so size up!). If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish but still has a decent amount of support, then this one is your pick.
  10. Leggings – No matter how many she has, she could probably still use another pair, LOL! I really like this brand for everyday and these for more winter thermal. I used to like KolorfulKoala but honestly I can’t recommend that brand anymore – I returned my last pair.
  11. Cheese Board – I love entertaining, and a good cheeseboard/snack tray is essential. I like slate so that you can do chalk labeling, and personally I like the ones with handles so that they are easily moved.
  12. Cord Free Portable Charger – It’s convenient, eliminates and cord & is small enough to fit in a small purse.
  13. Glass Tupperware – I LOOOVE glass tupperware. It’s so much better for you health wise, easier to clean, and just nice. I like this set because it has a variety of shapes (both round and rectangle) as well as different sizes.
  14. Cleaning Service – Seriously, if I could only get one thing, I think this would be it. If you’re in Cincinnati, I’d recommend the Mindful Maid Cleaning Company, if not, then I would suggest going on your local Facebook moms group for some recommendations.
  15. Qeepsake monthly subscription and book – this makes it so easy to actually do something with all the pictures that you take as well as keep special memories that you don’t want to forget!
  16. Claw clips – definitely the ‘in’ hair item right now – I have several and love them
  17. Sono Speaker(s) – this is a splurge, but I’ll tell you what, it’s worth every penny. I love that they can connect throughout the house if you want, or you could just do one. I use mine when I’m cleaning the house, doing dishes and of course for dance parties with the kids.
  18. Belt Bag – AKA a fanny pack – This one from Lululemon is great, I’ve had mine for about 2 years now and it has held up great. You can use it cross body or at the waist.
  19. Comfy sneaker – You can’t go wrong with a classic white sneaker. These ones are so comfy!
  20. Laminator & Laminating Sheets – I use this all the time for preschool with my kiddos – if you follow me chances are you like to do preschool or activities with your kiddos too. If you already have the laminator, then just a pack of the sheets would be perfect!
  21. Truffle Oil – If you like truffle, then this is a game changer to have in your kitchen. If not as a main gift, a small truffle salt would make a great stocking stuffer.

I have more gift ideas for her HERE!!

The ULTIMATE Holiday Planner!!

IT’S HERE!! I am so excited to share this Christmas/Holiday planner with you all.

If you’ve dreamed of a peaceful, stress free, holiday season where you actually get to enjoy the magic Christmas, then this planner is for you!! Keep track of your budget, gifts, stocking stuffers, menus, décor ideas and more. This planner includes October, November & December calendars to help break up the stressful planning into manageable chunks.

This planner comes with 52 pages that you can use in whichever way you prefer. If you like a digital experience, then export the download to an app like GoodNotes and plan away. Are you more of a paper and pen kind of person (like me)? Print out the pages and start prepping for the season. There are 2 formats depending on how you would like to keep your pages – 1 is a regular set up 8.5″x11″ page and the other has increased margin space for if you want to hole punch and put into a binder.

No matter which way you use, this planner is guaranteed to provide less stress during the holiday season, and allow you to spend time on what really matters. SHOP NOW!

Know someone who would enjoy this? I’d appreciate if you shared it with them, or even purchased one for them as a gift! You can get ready for Christmas together!

Pages include:

-Cover

-Christmas Countdown

-Countdown to Christmas checklist by week (3 pages)

-Monthly Calendars (Oct – Dec 3 pages)

-Weekly Calendar (print/copy as many times as needed)

-Daily Calendar (for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day – 3 pages)

-Deal Day Lists (October Deal Days, Black Friday & Cyber Monday – 3 pages)

-Elf on the Shelf Planner

-Christmas Events & Activities Log

-Christmas Bucketlist (Graphic & Fillable – 2 pages)

-Gratitude Journal

-Brain Dump

-To-Do List

-Budget Tracker

-Savings Tracker

-Christmas Card Planner

-Christmas Season/Eve Box Planner

-St. Nick Day Gift Tracker and Plan

-Adult Wish List (print as many as desired)

-Child Wish List (print as many as desired)

-Gift ideas List

-Stocking Stuffer Tracker

-Family Gift Tracker

-Gift Tracker

-Décor Planning Sheet

-DIY Project Planner

-Christmas Movies to Watch

-Holiday Party Planner

-Meal Plan Sheets (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Brunch & Christmas Dinner – 4 pages)

-Holiday Baking Plan

-Recipe Cards (2 pages – 4″x6″ version & full page version)

-Grocery List

-12 Days of Christmas Planner (for the 12 days post Christmas)

-Thank You Notes

-New Year Resolutions

-Post Christmas Reflections

-Notes (2 pages – 1 lined & 1 blank)

-Dividers (16 tabs, some prefilled, some blank for customization)

Christmas Preschool Theme

Christmas Preschool Theme

We cover Christmas over the span of 3 weeks, so I have added 3 different sets of plans to this post. You can mix and match ideas, you can choose your favorites and just do 1 week of Christmas, or you can do everything plus more, it is totally up to you!!

Some of the items on these lists are just introductions to concepts, my intention is not for them to master them. For example, I am not trying to get my daughter to immediately start reading compound words or telling time, but I want to introduce the idea of them to let her know they are a thing. Activities that contain those things will be very assisted.

There will be a video to walk through some of the printables linked shortly, I will post it here when I have it up!

Christmas Preschool Theme Week 1

 M T W Th F 
Religion Read Jonah & the big fish w/ comprehension questions Fingerpaint jonah praying worksheet and add glitter to the waves once it dries Jonah in the Fish*  Learn about the Advent wreath Watch St. Nick Story & St. Nick Sequencing 
Language (2) U sandpaper letter U dot marker U binder Create letter U with play do U miniatures 
Language (4) Christmas CVC word bingo (from measured mom, must be subscriber) Compound word puzzle Compound word select Compound word sort Here is St. Nick Reader 
Math (2) 10 sandpaper number Clip cards with assistance (numbers 1-10) Count 10 on an abacus Use math beads to compare 10 1’s with a 10 strand Count & color 
Math (4) Inchimals game Clip cards Greater or less than measuring (from measured mom, must be a subscriber to access) Use jingle bells to measure objects or ‘christmas presents’ from around the house Intro to time with snowman clock 
Art/Sensory Build a Christmas Tree Christmas sensory bin (red & green rice, christmas figurines, trees)  Make a spin wreath Make Christmas cookies with play do List to Santa 
Science
Geography
History 
5 senses of christmas Fill Santas sack Rudolph rockets Learn about Christmas tree harvesting Since ‘santa’ goes around the world on Christmas, intro time zones 

Comprehension Questions: 
What did God tell Jonah to do? 
What did Jonah tell God? 
Where did Jonah go? 
What happened while Jonah was on the boat? 
What did the sailors do to Jonah? 
How long was Jonah in the whale? 
Sometime it isn’t fun to obey.  What request do you have trouble obeying?   
 
Jonah in the Fish Add a triangle tail to right side a paper plate.  Cut a horizontal slit in the middle of the plate.  Add an eye and mouth on the left side to create a fish.  Draw a face on the back of a plastic spoon and slide the spoon (Jonah) into the slit. 

Christmas Preschool Theme Week 2

 M T W Th F 
Religion Read an Angel visits Mary Trust walk* Angel worksheetReady to serve baskets* Tissue paper angel* 
Language (2) Sandpaper letter D Help with letter sound matching from 4yr old Letter D binder D is for donkey from Christmas ABCs D miniatures 
Language (4) Double E introduction with SEE primer & practice Letter sound matching Santa color by sight word Double L introduction and practice Holiday easy reader 
Math (2) Count to 10 with jingle bells Stuff a stocking game Christmas counting stockings  Winter clip cards from measured mom (must be a subscriber to access) Help with 4yr old activity 
Math (4) Use a cup of jingle bells to talk about capacity – full, half full, empty, 8oz etc… Stuff a stocking game Compare capacities Winter clip cards from measured mom (must be a subscriber to access) Make a Christmas treat and talk about measurements used in cooking 
Art/Sensory Make a Christmas card Reindeer training Christmas stamps Pom pom Christmas tree Shaving cream sensory play with red & white for candy canes  
Science
Geography
History 
Christmas around the world Snowman Glyph Magnet experience Build a boat for gingerbread man Dancing jingle bells 

Trust walk – Mary trusted God even though she didn’t understand. Blindfold your child and guide them on a path using verbal commands. Them trusting you is like how we put our trust in God even though it might be a little scary. 

Angel Worksheet – Color and cut out the Angel worksheet.  Glue to a piece of construction paper.  Outline the angel with glue and sprinkle with glitter.  Let dry.  Discuss how the angel told Mary and Joseph that baby Jesus was going to be born. 

Ready to Serve basket – Mary served God in bringing Jesus into the world and her act was a blessing to everyone else here on Earth. You can make your own little gift basket to donate to an organization like Toys for Tots or the YMCA. Talk about the joy of giving and how the act of service makes both us and the person who recieves it happy. 

Tissue paper angel – Paint the Tissue Paper Angel worksheet with watered-down glue.  Cover the angel with small pieces of tissue paper.  Let dry and then cut out. 

Christmas Preschool Theme Week 3

 M T W Th F 
Religion Read Jesus is Born & Comprehension* Watercolor Journey to Bethlehem worksheet Nativity memory game* Make baby in a manger scene* Nativity Sequencing 
Language (2) Review letters with sandpaper Help with letter matching from 4yr old Shepherd to Jesus prewriting Review Christmas ABCs Clothespin plate letter match 
Language (4) Intro some double o words Letter matching gingerbread house Double consonant word search Zoo reader (not christmas but practices oo & ee) CVC symbol reader (just one) 
Math (2) Use colored paperclips to make and connect AB patterns Easy Christmas light patterns Winter clip cards with assistance (from measured mom must be 
subscriber) 
Math is art today Nativity patterning 
Math (4) Use a scale and objects around the house to compare weight then do which weighs more worksheet  Harder Christmas light patterns Then weigh the crayons/markers you use to complete the patterns) Winter clip cards from measured mom (must be a subscriber to access) Then weigh the clips used to clip the cards Let kids explore with balance scale  Christmas roll & cover (from measured mom, must be a subscriber to access)  
Art/Sensory Reindeer sensory bin (oats, glitter, jingle bells, figurines) Candy cane craft Christmas scavenger hunt  Practice patterning by painting lines on a candy cane Christmas stencils  
Science
Geography
History 
Christmas in America film – got ours from here Make a parachute for santa (coffee filters, tissue paper, string, tape, half of an index cards) Guess the mystery snowman (from measured mom must be a subscriber) Dissolving candy canes Play sink or float with different holiday objects 

Comprehension Questions: 

Where did Mary lay baby Jesus? 

What kind of noises would you hear in a barn? 

If you had to sleep in a barn, where would you sleep? 

Nativity Memory Game 

Directions: Purchase or use a nativity set with individual pieces. Place the pieces on a table and have the children close her eyes. Remove one of the pieces and have the child figure out which piece is missing. After the missing piece is discovered, talk about its significance in the Nativity. For instance, if you take away a shepherd, explain to the child how an angel appeared to the shepherds in the field to tell of Jesus’ birth. 

Baby in a Manger Scene: Cut out the small baby Jesus from the Baby Jesus worksheet.  On a piece of construction paper, glue enough small pieces of brown and yellow yarn to form a bed.  Glue Baby Jesus into the bed.  Glue craft sticks around the baby to make a manger. 

More Christmas Activity Ideas

Video with more Christmas craft ideas coming soon!!

Gingerbread Man Craft – Cut out a ginergerbread man out of brown felt paper. Then get googly eyes, buttons, jingle bells, glitter clue, pipe cleaners etc.. and let the children decorate the man 

Cookie Decorating –  sprinkles, icing, candy eyes, m&ms, other candy 

Tissue Paper Tree – Cut a tree shape out of green construction paper. Then have the child tear and crinkle different color tissue paper and glue them on the tree as ornaments

25 Days of Christmas Countdown

Another year, and another Christmas bucketlist countdown!

Every year I come up with a slightly different list of 24 activities that I want to do with my family. I take that list and it becomes like our advent calendar for the year. You can see my 2020 Bucketlist here which is slightly different than this years. Both are available as a free printable.

This year I will again be making a Christmas chain and I have an easy printable for that too. You can see my bucketlist explanation and tutorial to make the chain in this video. In past years I have also written the activities on small slips of paper and tucked them into the pockets of our advent calendar (I have this one). Each day one of the girls gets to put a figurine up and the other one gets to grab the ‘activity’ of the day.

Grab one (or both) of my Christmas Bucketlist countdowns here!! If you are not a subscriber, you can sign up for the newsletter and the password will be emailed directly to you.

If you are looking for some advent activities, I have a little compilation of those here too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Best Gifts for Baby 6-12 Months

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies

I love gifts that babies want to use over and over and that help them master developmental skills. This list are the toys that have done just that over and over again with my girls. These are toys that we have and still do LOVE!

This is also a perfect list of to be able to send to family and friends who are asking what they should get for your little one.

Best Toys for Babies 6-12 Months

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon Baby 6-12 Month Gift Guide here.

Scarf Pull

Rolling Drum

Spinning Drum

Foam Playset

Baby Doll

Coin Box

Stacking Cups

Toddler Utensils

Egg & Cup

Toddler Drinking Cups

Large Knob Puzzle

Pop Up Toy

Ball Drop Object Permanence Drop

20 in 1 Block Set

Shape Sorter

Ring Stacker

Poke A Dot Book

Best Gifts for Baby 0-6 Months

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies

When it comes to babies, a lot of times wrapping paper and boxes are what they end up playing with the most. So if you’re looking to save some money, you might want to go with things that they NEED like diapers or teethers.

But, if you’re like me and still want to get them a little something, these are the perfect gifts that babies 0-6 months will actually use. And even if you don’t want to get something, it’s the perfect list to be able to send to friends and family members who are asking what they should get.

I’m a mom of 3 with a 5 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old so I have been able to test a lot of toys and see which ones babies REALLY gravitate toward. This list is filled with things my kids have loved and used over and over again.

Wooden Play Gym

Black & White Cards

Wooden Rattle

Rolling Bell Cylinder

Spinning Drum

Interlocking Disks

Teething Spoons

Textured Balls

Teething Toy

Tag Lovie

Wooden Clutching Toy

Floor Mirror

Maracas

Baby Brush Set – This one is great for cradle cap!

Best Gifts for 1 Year Old Baby/Toddler

2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Babies/Toddlers

At one year, your toddler can do a lot more than he/she could just a couple of months ago. They are little sponges learning and taking in something new every second and quickly gaining new abilities. Toys can be tricky at this age because they can outgrow them as they enter these new stages.

This list contains toys that I have tested with my own children, and toys that they have grown with and still love. Make sure you send it to your family and friends too!

Best Gifts for 1 Year Old Baby/Toddler

(This list contains affiliate links for your convenience. This means at no cost to you, if you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission).

You can find my complete Amazon 1 Year Old Gift Guide here.

Duplo Set

Buckle Toy

Toddler Drinking Cups

Toddler Utensils

Barn & Animals Set

Jumbo Tweezers

3 Drawer Object Permanence Box

Push Wagon

Mini Flashlight

4-in-1 Trike

Shopping Cart

Pounding Toy

Pretend Wallet

Animal Figurines

Skoolys

Lock Practice Puzzle

Object Permanence Box Sorter

Large Lacing Beads

Horizontal Dowel

Egg Matching

Cutting Play Food

Pop Up Toy

Car Ramp Racer

Carrot Size Sorting

Stacking Boxes

Musical Instruments

Fine Knob Puzzles

Pull Toy