Categories
Craft crafts Holiday Winter

Easy Christmas Crafts: How to Make a Wine Cork Reindeer with Pipe Cleaners

Easy Christmas crafts are the best. You can use them as decoration, give them as gifts, or turn them into a Christmas tree ornament. This easy Christmas craft is a wine cork reindeer, and you might already have the materials on hand.

How to Make a Wine Cork Reindeer as an Easy Christmas Craft

Required Material:

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

How to Make It:

Step 1

Using a knife, cut one wine cork in half crosswise. Then cut each half lengthwise to make four legs. It’s okay if they are uneven, mine were and the reindeer still stands. 🙂

Step 2

Cut two skinny slices of a second wine cork, crosswise again. One slice will be used for the neck, and the other will be cut to make the tail and ears.

Step 3

Set aside the slice for the neck, and then cut the other slice in half. Set aside one half for the tail, and then cut the other half in half again. These two pieces will be used for the ears.

Step 4

Using your hot glue gun, glue the four legs to one side of a full wine cork.

Step 5

Flip the cork over so that the legs are pointing down as if the reindeer is standing. Then glue the slice of cork intended for the neck on the end of the same full cork.

Step 6

Take another full cork and clue one end of it to the neck, with the rest of the cork hanging over the front of the “body”. This cork is the head.

Step 7

Take the half slice and glue it to the back of the “body” cork, with the curve of the cork facing outward.

Step 8

Find the two ear pieces (the half slice that you cut in half again), and glue them to the “head” cork, on the end where it’s glued to the neck.

Step 9

Twist two brown pipe cleaners around your pinky finger or a pencil to make spirals for antlers. Glue the tips of these pipe cleaners directly in front of the ears.

Step 10

Twist together one red and one sparkly red pipe cleaner to make a scarf for your reindeer. You can use any colors you want, but I used red. Green would be another cute option.

Step 11

Wrap the pipe cleaner scarf around the neck, adding a little hot glue to make sure it covers the neck.

Step 12

Add a green pompom to the front of the scarf (if you want).

Step 13

Place a small red pompom on the tip of the “head” cork to make a red reindeer nose.

Step 14

Add googly eyes.

Other Easy Christmas Crafts

If you love making easy Christmas crafts or doing sensory activities, check out these posts:

Recap: Easy Christmas Crafts – Wine Cork Reindeer with Pipe Cleaners

Now that you have your easy Christmas craft planned, you can get started making homemade ornaments and celebrating with your family.

What is your favorite part of Christmas? Leave a comment and let us know. 

Categories
Family Activities Holiday Our Family Parenting

The Best Matching Pajamas and Outfits for the Holidays

Christmas seems to be the best time of year for matching pajamas and outfits. While matching Christmas pajamas are the most popular, there are also many matching Christmas outfits for the family. If you start planning your family’s Christmas apparel now, it’ll be one less stress for you when the countdown gets closer.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Matching Pajamas and Outfits for Christmas

Matching Pajamas for Christmas

1. Burt’s Bees Pajamas

These pajamas for the whole family are so cute. My favorite print is the reindeer print, but you can also choose between:

  • Winter Hats
  • Snowflakes
  • Christmas Tress
  • Buffalo Check
  • Stripes

2. Elf Green Stripe Family Pajamas

These cute pajamas are fun and festive. You’ll all love wearing them, all they’ll be perfect for a Christmas Eve photoshoot.

3. Plaid Pajamas With a Deer and Tree

I love these pajamas for a few reasons. First, I love plaid. Second, the tree and deer are so cute, and they’re perfect for everyone in the family. The deer and tree aren’t the only patterns available, either, so take a look!

4. Christmas Lights Pajamas

These pajamas are the perfect ones to wear while decorating the Christmas tree together. I love the navy blue with Christmas lights. Plus, you can get pajamas for your family pet, too.

5. Plaid Flapback Pajamas

Is there anything cuter than flapback pajamas? These plaid pajamas have cute little bears on the bottom, making the flap even better. Click the link to check out the other patterns because there are plenty to choose from.

Matching Outfits for Christmas

1. Matching Ugly Christmas Sweaters

There are so many options for matching ugly Christmas sweaters. Plan for your holiday get together and choose which pattern is best for your family. I love the dinosaur print ugly Christmas sweaters.

2. Plaid Matching Mommy and Me Christmas Dresses

There is nothing cuter or more fun than matching your mini on Christmas or at a holiday party. These dresses are perfect, but there are other styles available, too.

3. Green Plaid Matching Dresses

These green plaid dresses are adorable and super festive. The best part is that you can easily find matching flannel shirts for the boys to wear. There’s also a red option available.

4. Whole Family Matching Plaid Outfit

I love these matching family outfits because everything you need is on one listing. Dresses available for mom and daughter, and flannel shirts for the boys. You won’t have to look anywhere else for the final pieces.

5. Knitted Ugly Christmas Sweaters

My family loves dinosaurs, so I’m all about dinosaur sweaters. These ugly Christmas sweaters come in all sizes, so everyone in the family can have one. The festive colors make the sweaters perfect for dressing up or down, too.

Fun Matching Accessories

You can pull the outfits together by adding some matching accessories. Consider Santa hats, reindeer antlers, comfy socks, or slippers.

Matching Pajamas and Outfits

The Best Matching Pajamas and Outfits

Get ahead of the holidays and start choosing your matching pajamas and outfits for your family. Which of the matching pajamas and outfits are your favorites? Leave a comment and let us know!

Categories
Gifts Holiday

5 Ways to Find The Perfect Gifts This Christmas

Christmas is getting closer and closer, so now is the time to start thinking about planning your gifts. It can sometimes be a challenge to find the perfect gifts, but it doesn’t have to be this way. These tips will help you find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.

How to Find The Perfect Gifts

Organize The Present As An Event

Be creative with your packaging! Think of the gifting experience as an event rather than just handing them a gift packaged in ordinary wrapping paper. One idea is to put together a scavenger hunt and hide the gift. Another idea is to put the present inside a giant stuffed shark that the receiver must undergo surgery to remove. 

Whatever fun event you choose for your gift-giving, remember how much fun it is to unwrap presents. Quantity isn’t always the best measure of quality, especially if there are a lot of small, individually wrapped items.

Give An Experience

If someone in your life loves the book Les Miserables but already has the book, movie, and movie poster, consider an experience instead. Maybe you can buy the person theatre tickets to see a performance and go on a theatre trip. If they love driving, book a driving experience. Or perhaps they love food and would enjoy a cooking class or a meal out. Gifting an experience is like gifting memories

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Make A List Of All Their Likes And Interests to Find the Perfect Gifts

Make this list as long as you can, spending at least two minutes writing down everything you can think of. Now, think of something to go with each item on your list, no matter how small or large. You don’t have to give all of those presents, but you’ll come up with some unique ideas that you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise, and when you combine a few of them, your recipient will appreciate how personalized and thoughtful you were. Do they love jewelry? Think about opals Australia

Look At The Past 

If the gift-receiver has any favorite memories they would like to share, give a gift related to the memory. If you think you can recreate it, be creative and give it a shot. You can also consider printing out a canvas picture of it for them to hang on their wall.

What Do They Need? 

Everyone needs something, even if they don’t know it. Sometimes, it’s important to think broader. Is there anything a busy, successful business person needs? Most likely time. Consider buying them something that makes them more efficient so they can finish sooner.

If you are unsure what to get, ask your friends or others you know. If your sister goes to nursing school, make a nurse survival kit. By looking at that person on a more general level, you’ll be able to step outside your normal perspective, giving you creative ideas.

Find The Perfect Gifts This Christmas

This guide should help you find the perfect gift every time. Do you have any other tips that could help you get the right gift this Christmas? Leave a comment and share your tips! 🙂 

Categories
Adulting Gifts Holiday How To Parenting

4 Ways To Save More Money In Your Christmas Budget

Most of us are trying to figure out how to save more money this holiday season. This can be useful if you are struggling with your personal budget right now. Or, it can be useful if you are simply trying to stay ahead of your finances. Luckily, there are some great ways to keep the costs low and ensure that you still have fun with your family. 

Check Out A Gift Guide 

First, you might want to think about exploring a Christmas gift guide at The Art of Doing Stuff or a similar resource. You’ll find lots of guides like this around the festive season that can be ideal for people who are trying to save.

There are always a few budget-friendly choices for a variety of individuals to choose from. You might also want to think about looking at guides that are laid out specifically for certain people. For instance, you can find him/her guides as well as guides for kids, boyfriends, and even those who are tricky to buy for. 

Gift Guides You Make Enjoy

Don’t Forget The Deals 

Next, you can think about exploring different business deals. There are always deals around the holiday season that will be perfect if you’re looking to save.

For instance, you should definitely explore the deals around Black Friday. Be aware that this is starting earlier this year, seemingly as a result of COVID-19. It’s worth noting that Black Friday deals aren’t always quite as they seem. Some products will rise in price a few months early only to drop later. 

You should also think about exploring coupons, codes, and vouchers. You’ll find lots of these online and potentially even a few in your email.

Start Early to Save More Money

A great way to ensure that you can save more money in your Christmas budget is to make sure that you are starting early. It doesn’t need to be the holiday season for you to start buying presents. You can do this at any time during the year and get some great deals on items, too. You could even start buying towards the end of summer. 

Make Your Own Decorations 

Finally, you could think about making your own decorations rather than buying them in-store. This is a great choice if you are concerned about how much you spend decorating your home.

It’s fair to say that the cost of Christmas decorations can certainly add up. You might discover that you are spending at least a couple hundred on your electric bill just to make your house look festive.

If you are interested in this possibility, then you might want to think about exploring a few DIY decoration guides online. This is also something you can do with your kids

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Save More Money In Your Christmas Budget

It isn’t difficult to cut costs and save more money on Christmas this year. COVID-19 has hit everyone hard and you might not be prepared for the massive expense the festive season brings. With these tips you can avoid this expense completely or at the very least, reduce it. Do you have any tips for saving money on Christmas? Tell me about it in the comments!

Categories
For the Home Gifts Holiday

The Best Precious Moments Gift Guide 2020

Nothing says classic like Precious Moments, and it’s the perfect gift to give someone you love. Anyone in your life will love these cute décor pieces. The best part is, there are so many to choose from that you’re sure to find something personal and meaningful.

From ornaments and snow globes to figurines and advent calendars, Precious Moments has everything. There are figurines related to professions (Hello, medical professionals!), lifestyles, holidays, and special events. With many styles, colors, and types, you have plenty of options.

So, as you start planning your Christmas shopping this year, consider some of these Precious Moments Figurines. You’ll be glad you did and your gift will be a hit on Christmas morning.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Precious Moments Gifts 2020

1. All I Want For Christmas Figurine

Precious Moments All I Want For Christmas Figurine

Visiting Santa and telling him what you want is a tradition for most children. This figurine is nostalgic for adults and can help bring Christmas spirit. For children, it’ll be a reminder of the excitement involved in seeing Santa.

2. Tree-mendous Fun

Precious Moments Tree-mendous Fun

This figurine has colors and lights, making it stand out among the other decorations. With tree decorating and carol singing involved, it is sure to inspire happy memories. The button cell batteries are included.

3. Meet Me Under The Mistletoe Limited Edition Figurine

Precious Moments Meet Me Under The Mistletoe Limited Edition Figurine

This mistletoe figurine will bring back memories of Christmas’s past spent with someone special. You could get this figurine for them as a reminder of you that they’ll always cherish.

This figurine is limited edition and Precious Moments is only selling 3,000 of them, so don’t wait if you love this one.

4. My Favorite People Call Me Grandma

Precious Moments My Favorite People Call Me Grandma

Grandmothers tend to love cute figurines like this, and this one will make her even happier. A reminder of how much her grandchildren love and appreciate her will never be forgotten. Plus, we all know that the saying is true, grandchildren truly are their grandma’s favorite people.

5. Quote Pitcher

Refresh Your Spirit Refuel Your Soul Precious Moments Pitcher

While Precious Moments is best known for their figurines, they also have items for your kitchen. This pitcher is so cute and can fit many different kitchen styles.

It is made of glazed ceramic, is 8.5″ high, and can hold 49 oz. of liquid. You aren’t limited to using it for serving liquids, however. It can be used as a decorative vase, instead.

6. Each New Moment Milestone Photo Frame

Precious Moments Each New Moment Milestone Photo Frame

Parents love to document each milestone, especially the firsts. This New Moment Milestone frame does just that, plus it allows the parent to display it in a beautiful way.

Each spot holds a 3″ x 3″ photo. There is a place for first smile, first bath, first teeth, first steps, and first solid food.

7. May Angels Embrace You Photo Frame

Precious Moments May Angels Embrace You Photo Frame

This photo frame holds a 4″ x 4″ photo and is for those who have lost a loved one. They can place a photo inside, and the wings wrap around. It is a reminder that their loved one is always with them and always surrounding them with love.

8. Be Caring, Kind, And Live Joyfully Bear Keepsake Bank

Precious Moments Be Caring, Kind, And Live Joyfully Bear Keepsake Bank

This bank is made of ceramic and is around 5″ tall. It comes with an endangered animal story card so the child can learn about the animal, too. It opens on the bottom to get the money back out, and is the perfect, classic gift for any child.

9. Your Story Has Just Begun Bookends

Precious Moments Your Story Has Just Begun Bookends

If these bookends existed when I was decorating nurseries for my babies, they would have definitely been in there. I am in love with them because the animals are the saying are both adorable.

10. You’re My Honey Exclusive Limited Edition

Precious Moments You’re My Honey Exclusive Limited Edition

If you’ve ever been camping together, this is the perfect gift to give to someone special. It will bring back great memories of time spent around the campfire. This Precious Moments figurine is an Exclusive, so you won’t find it in stores.

11. Fairy Tails Do Come True Exclusive Figurine

Precious Moments Fairy Tails Do Come True Exclusive Figurine

This mermaid figurine is perfect for a little girl’s bedroom. As a little girl pulls on a glittery mermaid tail (or blanket), it inspires imagination. Precious Moments has this same figurine with different hair colors, too, so you’re not limited to the blonde version.

12. You’re My Hero Figurine

Precious Moments You’re My Hero Figurine

Health care workers are definitely heroes. They always have been, but even more so amidst the Corona Virus pandemic. Show your appreciation with this figurine. There are more options available on the Precious Moments website if you want one that looks different than this one.

13. Joy To The Whole Wide World Annual Santa Figurine

Precious Moments Joy To The Whole Wide World Annual Santa Figurine

This might be my favorite figurine of all time because I love that Santa’s bag has a globe popping out. It’s a reminder of how many places Santa has to stop on Christmas Eve.

The figurine is cute for any home, but especially for a home with children in it. It’ll make them more excited and ready for the big day.

classic Christmas gifts everyone will love

Which Precious Moments Figurine Was Your Favorite?

Tell me which one of these figurines you liked best! Even better, check out the Precious Moments website to browse other options and tell me your favorites.

Categories
Gifts Holiday Kindergarten Age Learning Parenting Toys and Games

12 of The Best Board Games for Kids: Meaningful Gift Ideas

I don’t know about you, but I start my Christmas shopping in August. With five kids, it’s essential to begin early and to make sure all my gift plans are in place. My kids love games, so I have been researching the best games for kids.

While I know some of the games they would enjoy, there are so many games out there that I have never heard of. I like to buy games for kids that help develop their skills, and all of the games in this post are ones that do just that.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Best Games for Kids

1. Race to the Treasure

I love this game because instead of playing against one another, the kids work together to beat an ogre to a treasure. While playing Race to the Treasure, kids will learn strategy, math concepts, making decisions as a team, and cooperation.

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2. 5 Second Rule Jr.

This is a family-friendly version of the 5 Second Rule adult game. When playing 5 Second Rule Jr., kids will read a card and give an answer within 5 seconds. Since it involves quick thinking, funny answers are bound to happen.

With good laughs and light-hearted fun, this game is perfect for family bonding time. If the child can’t quite read yet, playing on teams is fun, too.

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3. Pie Face Showdown

Pie Face is such a fun game, even if it is a little messy. The original game involved players passing the whipped cream covered hand around the table and turning the crank, hoping to not get hit in the face with whipped cream.

Pie Face Showdown is an upgraded version of the original. This one requires two players to both have their faces in front of a whipped cream covered hand. The players have to push their buttons faster to make the whipped cream hit their opponent.

4. Guess Who?

Guess Who is a classic, and it’s one of my favorites. Each player has a card with a person on it, and their opponent has to figure out which character the other one has. The first to figure out their opponent’s character wins the game.

The way you eliminate characters is by asking descriptive questions. These questions can be “Is your person wearing a hat?”, “Does your person have a mustache?”, or anything else that can help eliminate characters and lead you to your opponent’s character.

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5. Buggaloop

This game features a Hexbug that crawls underneath the “backyard” (the game board). It can climb vertically, horizontally, turn corners, and go through loops and tubes. You have to try and get your game piece all the way across the board before the Hexbug appears and takes you out.

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6. Uno

This simple classic card game is perfect for kids because it teaches so many things at once. Color and number matching, taking turns, and paying attention are all skills they can develop while playing.

I play this game often with my 3 and 4-year-old, as well. The only change I make is that we can see each other’s cards so that I can help as needed.

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7. Rush Hour Jr.

To play this game, kids will shift vehicles out of the way to clear a path to the exit. There are 40 levels, allowing for endless fun and brain stimulation. Rush Hour Jr. can help improve logical and spatial reasoning, planning skills, and problem-solving.

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8. Operation

Another classic, the game of Operation has stood the test of time. Kids love this game, no matter which era they were born in.

It helps develop fine motor skills as kids use tweezers to remove ailments from the patient’s body. If the child misses and hits the side of the opening, the game buzzes, and the patient’s nose lights up. The player who can remove the most ailments wins.

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9. Ravensburger Labyrinth

I am so excited to get this game for my son for Christmas. The game changes each time you play it because the tiles move. This ensure that the child won’t get bored with it, since it’s pretty much a different game each time.

They will move their piece around the board, working their way to a treasure. On each turn, the child will also have the chance to change the path of the maze. It’s the perfect game to teach strategy.

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10. No Stress Chess

This game offers a chance to teach kids how to play chess with little frustration on their part. It comes with a deck of cards that teach the rules of the game and strategies that should be used.

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11. Skillmatics Educational Game: Brain Games

This is a game that is fun for the whole family, as the age range is from 6-99 years. It teaches thinking and reasoning, plus logic and problem-solving skills. As the game is played, the boards can be wiped off and done again.

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12. SpringFlower Sight Word Game

My son isn’t a huge fan of working on his sight words the traditional way. I’m always looking for new activities to help him learn them. When I found this game, I was so excited. I only wish I had come across it sooner!

The kids will use the fly swatters to smack the appropriate sight word when it is called out. It’ll help them recognize the word more quickly, and it’ll be fun, helping to commit it to memory.

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Final Thoughts on 12 of The Best Games for Kids

With as much as my kids love games, I always want to choose the ones that they will love. The best games for kids are the ones that offer a learning opportunity or help develop skills.

What are some of the games your kids love? Do you have any games for kids that you want to buy as a Christmas gift this year? Leave me a comment and let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

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Posts Related to the Best Games for Kids

Categories
Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday How To Infant/Toddler Learning Sensory Play Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

DIY Easy Christmas Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottle (also known as discovery bottles, calm down bottles, quiet time bottles, and many other names) are a must-have in our house. We make one for almost every holiday, and we pack them away with that holidays ornaments so that we’re sure to have them when the holiday rolls around the following year. Somehow, we have never made a Christmas sensory bottle, however.

I believe that we have at some point… but it must not have been worthy of saving or even taking pictures of. This year, though, our easy Christmas discovery bottle is perfect. So perfect, in fact, that I HAVE to share it with you!

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Materials Needed for a Christmas Sensory Bottle

  • An empty, clear bottle
  • Lukewarm water
  • 2 Containers of glitter glue, any color (I used silver and gold that I bought HERE)
  • Christmas glitter (I found mine in the dollar spot at Target or you can buy some HERE)
  • Hot glue and a hot glue gun, or just super glue

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Directions to Make a Cute Christmas Sensory Bottle

  1. Peel any paper from the bottle
  2. Fill the bottle just over 1/2 way up with lukewarm water
  3. Add the 2 bottles of glitter glue, put the lid on, and shake it up.
  4. Open the bottle and add the glitter. Add as much of it as you want!
  5. Fill the bottle the rest of the way up, leaving enough space for the water to still move.
  6. Put hot glue around the ridges where the lid goes in order to keep it closed so your kiddos don’t accidentally open it.
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Final Thoughts On Easy Christmas Sensory Bottle

Christmas activities don’t have to cost a ton of money, and if you’re doing Christmas on a budget or just want an easy Christmas activity for kids, a Christmas sensory bottle is the perfect way to go.

What are your favorite holiday activities to do with your kids? Tell me about them in the comments!

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Categories
Adulting Guest Post Holiday How To

Follow This Rule and Save On Christmas for the Kids

When you’re planning a wedding, there are rules. You need something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new. Well, there is a similar set of fun guidelines for how to save on Christmas when shopping for kids. As a perk, sticking to them will save you loads of cash.

**Emily Graham is the creator of MightyMoms.net which offers a wide range of info tailored for busy moms — from how to reduce stress to creative ways to spend time together as a family. She believes being a mom is one of the hardest jobs around and wanted to create a support system for moms from all walks of life.**

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What Is It, Already?

The secret to a successful if scrimping holiday season is to buy kids four things: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.

Something They Want

This should be a fairly easy one. Kids typically have no reservations when telling adults what, exactly, they want. For 2019, the hottest gifts of the season run the gamut from $10 Hatchimals for the littlest present-pickers to the $300 Nintendo Switch for the tweens and tweens. Ask about their preferences, and see if you can narrow it down to something that easily fits within your budget. If everything hits slightly above your spending allowance, don’t give up hope or blow your budget. Spend some time looking at toy deals on sites that collect and sort information on the best prices. Rakuten is one example, and even categorizes toys by character and brand.

Something They Need

What your children need is pretty open-ended. This could mean anything from the dreaded socks and underwear to something more profound, such as time with loved ones. Depending on where you live, you might be able to provide them with experiences that will stick with them for a lifetime. Visit a free zoo, for example, or, if you live in a warmer climate, plan a fishing trip for Christmas morning. You might also consider gifting them with educational tools, particularly if your child struggles with things like organization. Reader’s Digest lists several affordable items, including colored pens and whimsical notebooks that make great stocking stuffers

Something to Wear

Every child has to have a wardrobe, and Christmas is the perfect time to add something they can snuggle up in this winter. A set of new pajamas makes a great Christmas Eve present that won’t tie up your entire shopping budget. Stores like Carter’s and Old Navy tend to run great deals on sleepwear throughout the holiday season. You can stretch the meaning of this a bit by including things like backpacks, headbands, jewelry, and even nail polish.

Something to Read

Giving your children the gift of the written word is perhaps the most meaningful gift you can bestow. Reading has a virtually unlimited bounty of benefits for kids of all ages, infants included. If your independent reader is already absorbed in a series (think Percy Jackson or Harry Potter), add to their collection or look for supplemental guides that will add extra depth to their stories. For younger kids, you can’t go wrong with Little Golden Book titles like Mister Dog, Tootles, and The Pokey Little Puppy, all of which tend to cost $5 or less.

I Don’t Like Rules!

If you would rather stick with a larger gift or a more traditional pile of presents, there are still ways to save on Christmas without draining your savings. Start by shopping at stores that offer rewards cards. GameStop, Kohl’s, and most other major retailers have loyalty programs that can help you get some cash back or other perks. GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards might be a good choice if game systems are on their wish list; Kohl’s has its YesToYou program, which gives you money back to spend at the store on the first day of the month after your purchase.

The point here is that you don’t have to compromise your financial future to play St. Nick. If you don’t have the money to overdo it, then don’t. Not only do you put yourself under undue stress, but you’re also teaching the kids that the holidays revolve around the cash register.

Image via Pexels

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Final Thoughts

**I just want to take a minute to say thank you to Emily for writing this awesome post and sharing it with my readers!! This is not the first guest post Emily has written for Mom Wife Wine, and I hope it isn’t the last! If you’re interested in reading the other post then click HERE to read about the The Relationship Challenges New Parents Face After the Baby Arrives.

Before you go, leave a comment and let us know your favorite way to save on Christmas! **

Categories
crafts Decor Gifts Holiday Winter

Easy DIY Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament for Kids Are Great for Gifting

There is nothing more special than a homemade Christmas tree ornament, especially when the ornaments are made by kids. A few years ago, my dad said that he wanted Christmas tree ornaments made by all of his grandkids, so these are the ones the kids made for him! The DIY snowman handprint ornament was a hit because not only did Papa love his handmade gifts, the kids also loved making them!

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How to Make a DIY Snowman Handprint Ornament

Materials:

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Directions:

For the jar lids, I used lids of spaghetti and Alfredo sauce jars and painted them red with acrylic paint. I had to do several coats of red paint to cover up the words on the lids completely because I didn’t want to see anything through the paint.

Once the lids were completely covered and dried, I used white paint on the kids’ hands to make the snowmen. I painted their fingers (3 fingers for Sylas and Peyton, 4 fingers for Josie and Liam) to create the snowmen. I also painted the top of their palm to make a snowy hill underneath the snowmen.

Peyton’s hands were too big for this (he was 10-years-old), so I had him do the top half of his fingers and use a paintbrush to create the snowy hill. Once the white paint dried completely, I added the scarves with green paint, hats, eyes, buttons, and mouths with a black sharpie and the noses with orange paint. Peyton did his own, but I did this part for the babies.

Once everything is dried and ready to go, you will spray one coat of clear spray paint over the front and back of the ornament. This ensures that the paint doesn’t flake off.

Finally, you will use a hot glue gun to glue the string or ribbon in a loop at the top of the ornament. Make sure you put the glue on the back so that it is hidden from sight.

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Final Thoughts On DIY Snowman Handprint Ornaments

I love the finished product SO MUCH that I wanted to keep them for myself. My dad loved them, and the kids really enjoyed making them and giving them as a gift.

I’d love to see the Christmas crafts you’ve done or are planning to do with your kiddos this season!! Please share them in the comments. 🙂

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Big Kid Gifts Holiday

Gift Ideas for a 12 Year Old Boy

Whether you need birthday gifts, a “just because” gift, or Christmas gift ideas for a 12-year-old boy, this is the perfect gift guide. At 12, boys stop asking for toys as much and become a little more difficult to buy gifts for. I think it’s important to still find gifts for boys to “play” with, so I make sure to mix in toys for a 12-year-old with the video games and electronics that they always tend to ask for.

Since they are sometimes hard to buy for, I did my research (including asking our own son) and put together this list of gift ideas for a 12-year-old boy.

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22 Best Gift Ideas for a 12 Year Old Boy

1. Atmosphere Smart Galaxy Star Projector

This projector can transform the color and mood of the room in only seconds. There are 16.7 million colors to choose from, and he can control the speed settings and brightness. The best part is that this is a smart projector, so it can be controlled right from a phone. It can also be connected to an Alexa or Google device, and you can set a timer for when it shuts off.

2. Game System

A PlayStation 4 or Xbox 1 are both great gifts for a 12-year-old boy, and Fortnite gifts are always a safe choice.

2. Xbox Live Membership

If your son plays online (which is the case with most games) this is a necessity. You can choose a 6-month option or a 12-month option. This allows the gamer to play online with his friends.

3. Drone

Drones are so much fun, and they normally get kids outside to play. If you’re unfamiliar with a drone, the child will use a remote control to fly the device through the air.

4. Amazon Echo

Our 12 year old loves to listen to music, and we are always finding our kitchen Echo in his room. He’d LOVE to have his own, so I know that it is a great gift for a 12-year-old boy.

5. Fortnite Nerf gun

It seems as if kids are growing up quicker than ever before, and I’ve found that 12 is about the age when kids stop asking for as many toys. This one is perfect because it does help them return to their younger years and relax a little more, but it is also a little cooler because it is Fortnite. 😉

Really, though, our son doesn’t ask for many toys anymore, but I always make sure to get him one Nerf gun. Since I only get him one, I make sure it’s cool and different from anything he’s had before.

6. Xbox controller

If the 12 year old boy plays video games, he could normally use another controller. And if he doesn’t NEED one but wants a cooler one, why not, right?

7. Bluetooth headset

Again, if your son plays online and with his friends a lot the Bluetooth headset is kind of a necessity. They want to be able to communicate with their friends while gaming.

8. Legos

There are so many Legos to choose from, and it can be difficult to choose just one Lego set for a 12 year old boy. To avoid the stress of picking the “perfect” one, you could choose an option that allows the child to build many different thins.

9. Wireless ear buds

If your son has a smartphone, and an older sibling, this one is definitly a want on their wish list. And lets be honest. No one likes the wires;)

10. Apple Watch or Fitbit

If your son has a smartphone this comes in handy as a parent as well as a kid. Kids like it because its the latest and greatest and you’ll love it because you’ll always be able to get ahold of them (without an excuse) and kids don’t follow the “street light” rule anymore.

11. Waterproof Bluetooth speaker

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12. K’Nex Thrill Rides

There are so many cool options when it comes to K’Nex Thrill Rides as a great gift for a 12-year-old. It was so hard for me to decide on one as a gift for a tween, only because there were so many potential options.

13. Monopoly Voice Banking

14. Chromebook

15. Over the door basketball hoop

16. Electric scooter

17. Go pro

18. Gaming chair

So I never knew why kids wanted “office chairs” for their bedrooms when they never sat at their desk anyway, but then I learned that these are “gaming chairs”. My bad. Anyway, if you’re buying for a kiddo who plays video games, he’d love something like this!

19. Madden 20

This is one game that I have found that boys of all personalities love! I buy the newest version each year.

Playstaton 4:

Xbox One:

20. NBA 2K20

PlayStation 4:

Xbox One:

21. Champion clothing

22. Amazon Music Membership

If you are interested in giving Amazon Music Unlimited as a gift for a 12-year-old boy, you can try it out yourself first. If you’re anything like me, you have to feel confident in the gifts you’re giving. The free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited will allow you to see exactly what it is before you gift it.

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Final Thoughts On Gift Ideas for a 12 Year Old Boy

With the holidays coming, there are so many kids to buy for. It can be hard to come up with awesome gift ideas for a 12-year-old boy since that’s about the age when they stop asking for toys as much. Luckily, I’ve done the research for you, and I hope this gift guide for a 12-year-old helps you find the perfect gift!

What would you add to this list of best gifts for a 12-year-old boy?

gifts for a 12 year old boy, best gifts for 12 year old, gifts for middle schooler

Other Gift Guides

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