Tag: holiday

DIY

Easter Basket Stuffer Ideas

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Hey Loves!!!

So, really, how is your 2021 treating you? If I’m being honest, there’s still a lot of 2020 energy floating around and lots more Pandemic-style birthdays and celebrations are happening. So, on the with the show, right?

What isn’t changing is how I do any type of celebration or gifts to my kids- NO JUNK!!! I’m the mom that does needs and practical fun items and if you looking for some ideas that are my favorite things-easy, inexpensive and cute- you’re reading the right blog. Leggo!

Something to wear: Seriously, seasons are changing and wardrobes are changing too. If your kids are like mine, they definitely need some additions. I take this opportunity to do something I couldn’t find at consignment and they would enjoy. However, I stay under $15 and have high-hopes for reselling and hand-me-downs.

This category also includes shoes. For some reason, my kids’ feet feel the need to grow entire sizes in a matter of months. For spring/summer shoes, we keep them easy and light. I also keep them low on cost because why not? This year I went with some Vans to coordinate with their dad and I. These were $25 which is a good deal for this brand. 

April Showers Ready: It rains everywhere, some places more than others. I also know kids enjoy kid size umbrellas and throwing on rain jackets and rain boots. These make great additions or can even be the easter basket.

Books: If you know me at all, you know I have a problem when it comes to books. Simply put, I can’t say no. I am always on the hunt for quality books and my kids are budding book-a-holics. Books as gifts are always a hit here.

Crafts: This can be anything from crayons to a craft kit. My kids are getting personalized crayons to keep those hands busy when streaming church and a wooden box they can paint to store their watches and necklaces

Something they can do/use right away and/or Outdoor play: This is a biggie for me. There is no greater annoyance than having to drop everything to assemble something or deal with the emotions because it can’t be used. So, I get something they can use inside or out, rain or shine that doesnt require batteries or an exorbitant amount of my patience. I am pretty sure jump ropes will be a staple for the next couple years and this year I found kid-sized hoola hoops. I would also suggest skates, scooters, sidewalk chalk or card games.

Personalized Items: I mean, why not throw a monogram on a shirt ot bow? You can also add some personalized touches to items that doesnt include their name. I added these “biggie” and “smalls” caps to their easter baskets.

Summer Styling: Sunglasses, caps, swim suits, beach towels, you name it! Let’s get ready for summer fun and look cute while at it. 

Everyday Essentials: Because band-aids, body wash, sponges, character toothbrushes and toothpaste are essential and will be used!

Discipleship tools: This one is near to my heart. James accepted Chtist as his savior on Easter of 2020 and I gotto be there for it and walk hum through it. I will never forget that. I marked that occasion by getting him a cross necklace but I knew then I wanted him to have tools to grow his faith and deepen his relationship. I decided on this devotional for James and this book for Jude. 

I want to wrap this up by saying your easter basket will not be pinterest perfect and that is what makes it beautiful.

Love you. Mean it.

tips

New Traditions!

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Hey Loves!

One of my wife friends and I were talking and we both agreed that it can be difficult for families to ‘let-go’ and allow married couples to form and continue their own traditions for the holidays. When I was growing up, we always traveled for the holidays. When I was in undergrad, all of our family came to my dad’s house and that turned into hosting and running errands.

Now that my husband and I are on our own, have a home and successfully hosting both families for Thanksgiving, our families are kind-of starting the ‘let-go’ process and we can explore things that work and that we want to share with our kids (whenever they get here… *taps foot impatiently*)

With that, we are trying Advent this year and I am so excited! I am always looking for ways to incorporate focusing on and learning about the word of God into every Holiday as well as our daily lives so it seemed right up our alley.

We (meaning me) researched all types of ideas for daily activities. This was harder than I thought because so many of the ideas were for children or married couples with children. Pickings were slim for the young, married and child-less. So, we brainstormed and successfully came up with 24 that we both enjoy. I then found quite a few free printable Advent Calendars and a list of bible verses to read each day (plus a Christmas banner) via Pintrest.

Here are our ideas. If you have any, I would love to hear them!

Like, comment and share!

1. Hang Christmas lights outside
2. Assemble tree and let settle
3. Decorate tree with lights and ornaments
4. Hang Christmas stockings and place other Christmas decor
5. Attend a holiday party
6. Do a random act of kindness for someone
7. Attend a holiday festival and discuss what you learned from this weeks bible readings
8. See a local Christmas production
9. Write each other a letter about what Christmas means with them and put it in their stocking
10. Go for a run in our Jingle Bell Run t-shirts
11. Prepare and send Christmas e-cards
12. Wife picks a Christmas movie to watch
13. Make Christmas Cookies and treats together
14. Discuss what we have learned from this week’s bible readings
15. Go see the Christmas Lights at Dorothy B. Oven park (a park local to us but I am sure there is one near you!)
16. Deliver Christmas cookies and treats!
17. The hubs picks a Christmas movie
18. Go to the gym wearing red or green
19. Watch a holiday special on TV
20. Wrap each other’s presents
21. Discuss what we have learned from this week’s bible readings
22. Share a Christmas devotional with each other (We are both avid users of the Youversion bible app bible plans and we plan on doing one for Christmas)
23. Go look at Christmas lights in our neighborhood
24. Read the story of Jesus’ birth.

Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Tips and Tricks

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Hey Loves!

I am so excited about Thanksgiving this year because my in-laws are finally spending a holiday with us. Ok- I will be honest, at first I was a little stir-crazy, and if you ask my husband I still am. Nonetheless hosting anyone for the holidays can be a big to- do, especially when you add a vegetarian who is gluten-free to a couple of true meat and wheat eating southerners.

Any-who, here are some tips that will have you hostess-ready in no time!

1. Make a schedule (FOR EVERYTHING)- Seriously, breaking down the cooking, shopping and cleaning by separate days and time give you time to get everything done and allow you to catch your breath at the same time. A schedule also allows for a margin of error. I would also advise to do your best scheduling activities. As a host(ess), your guest will look to you for guidance so I have a few ice breakers or games on hand, just in case the air gets stale or WWIII erupts over football. If you’re guest are coming to you for a few days, have some activities lined up that everyone can enjoy over their visit like going to the movies, hitting Black Friday sales or going to community festival(s). I suggest having all the food prepared and in oven-safe storage at least the day before Thanksgiving. This enables you to actually enjoy the holiday, decrease stress and only leaving warming and plating for the day of.

2. Make your list and check it…more than twice- After you and have made the final decisions on your menu, make a grocery list by first going through each recipe for each item. Then make another list combing totals (4 8-ounce packages of cream cheese, 2 packages of gluten-free flour mix, etc). Finally seperate your list by department (a link can be found here) so you aren’t making multiple laps around the grocery store. Make sure you triple- check it. You don’t want to forget anything. (If you do, know ahead if time what grocery stores are open and what time they close. Above I suggested to cook everything but the rolls by at least the Wednesday before but if you can’t, start early on Thanksgiving day!)

3. Make it Festive- This can be achieved in a myriad of ways. I racked up at my local Coton Colors tent sale, getting some super-nice Thanksgiving decor for 75% off. If you don’t have a Coton Colors near you and out of time to order online, don’t forget about Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and craft stores for holiday themed or everyday serving trays and dinnerware. I also got some awesome printables and DIY decor ideas from Pintrest. Don’t forget to compile a list of craft items for diy projects so you have all of your supplies.

Hope this helps you pull of your holiday without a hitch and design on a dime. I will post my decor pics to my Facebook and Instagram pages. Happy thanksgiving!