Tag: Holiday

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Gifts Holiday

11 Gifts No One Wants to Get This Christmas

11 Christmas Gifts No One Wants to Get

Each year when Christmas rolls around we buy gifts for the people in our lives. We exchange gifts with our family members, friends, children, and parents. When it comes to giving gifts to those you are closest to, it’s a little easier to buy something you know they’ll like. Sometimes, however, the gift-giving occurs in a group gift exchange or among co-workers, and you may not know what to buy. When this happens, try to avoid buying the gifts no one wants to get.

In these cases, you usually don’t know what specific item to buy, because you either don’t know who will be receiving your gift or you don’t know the person well enough to make an educated decision. This leaves you searching for and buying a gift that most people would like. This can be tricky, as many commonly given gifts in these settings are gifts that no one actually wants.

Now I don’t know about you, but I love to give GREAT gifts. If I gave a gift that no one was excited about or that paled in comparison to the other gifts, I would feel terrible! I would be so embarrassed, and I would feel bad for the person who was stuck with it. No matter who is receiving your gift, you should make sure the gift will be loved so that no one is disappointed (including yourself!).

To help you out, I have compiled a list of the gifts you should avoid giving at Christmas time. Also known as The Gifts No One Wants to Get This Christmas.

11 Gifts No One Wants to Get for Christmas

1. A pet

Giving someone a pet as a gift may seem like a good idea, but it really isn’t. A pet should be personally chosen (by the pet owner) to ensure that there is a bond between the owner and the pet. By gifting a pet, you are giving the receiver a HUGE responsibility.

Welcome to the world of cleaning up after a pet, feeding, grooming, and paying vet bills. While this world is great, it should be something that the pet owner (or the gift receiver, in this case) chooses for themselves. Unless someone specifically asks for a certain pet, avoid this gift at all costs.

2. Exercise equipment

Exercise equipment is a gift no one wants for a couple of reasons.

First, it puts potentially unwanted pressure on the receiver. Either they feel pressured to begin working out, or they just got a gift that will collect dust. There is no in-between.

The second reason that exercise equipment is a bad gift no one wants is that it could be insulting to the receiver. They may feel like you are implying they need to lose weight, which you never want to do when giving someone a gift.

3. Anti-aging cream

Just like with exercise equipment, anti-aging cream could be unintentionally insulting to the receiver. This is a gift best left for personal purchase instead of as a gift.

4. Cleaning supplies

How exciting is it to buy cleaning supplies? Now, consider how fun it is to use or look at cleaning supplies? Not much fun, right? Think about that when you’re buying a gift.

Would someone be excited to unwrap a gift only to find all-purpose cleaner or sponges in the package? I wouldn’t be, especially if everyone around me was opening exciting gifts. If there is nothing pleasurable about it, don’t buy it as a Christmas gift.

5. Gag gifts

While everyone may get a good laugh out of a gag gift at first, it is going to quickly lose its charm. There isn’t much that a person can do with a gag gift, so it ends up being clutter or trash. You don’t want to give a gift that is never used and barely remembered.

Now, ignore this tip if the theme of your gift exchange is gag gifts. Also, ignore this if the gift exchange is between children because children do love a good whoopee cushion or bubble-gum zapper (their parents may hate you for it, though).

6. Lingerie

So, not only could lingerie be an embarrassing gift for the receiver, but it is also a gift that isn’t of much use. If a man gives a woman lingerie as a gift, he is essentially buying a gift for himself. Um, what?!

Men, don’t buy lingerie as a gift for women. Women, don’t give lingerie as a gift for Christmas, either. Save it for a bachelorette party.

7. Socks

Unless the person receiving the gift specifically asked for socks, don’t buy them as a gift. Socks are so impersonal, and it isn’t always very exciting. If you do buy socks as a gift, make sure they are high-quality, fashionable socks. Regular white socks from Walmart should not be a gift.

8. Fruitcake – Gifts no one Wants

I have never in my life met someone who actually likes fruitcake. Why is it still such a popular gift at Christmas time?! Please don’t.

9. Seasonal clothing

If you give someone a Christmas sweater or Christmas leggings as a Christmas gift, they will only be able to wear them that day and then not again until next December. Even if you give the gift a week early, the receiver will only get to wear it a couple of times before the Holidays are over.

10. Gift cards to expensive stores

Unless you are using a large amount of money to buy the gift card, the receiver may actually be inconvenienced here. If you give a $20 gift card to a store that only offers items that cost more than $20, you are forcing the gift receiver to pitch in money for their own gift. They can only use your gift at one store, but if they can’t even afford to buy one item with that gift card, it isn’t really a useful gift. See the problem?

When is a Gift Card Appropriate?

If you want to buy a gift card, make sure it’s to an affordable store or website and put enough money on it that the receiver can buy something without using their own money. Amazon gift cards are my favorite because the receiver of the gift card can literally buy ANYTHING.

11. A vacuum cleaner

If you have carpet in your home, you need a vacuum cleaner. This doesn’t mean anyone (even if they have carpet) wants a vacuum as a Christmas gift. You can say Merry Christmas in a better way than dishing out chores to the receiver. Unless someone specifically requests a new vacuum as a gift, don’t do it.

Gifts No One Wants

Some of the most popular gifts to give are gifts that no one really wants. You may be guilty of giving these gifts yourself. If so, don’t feel bad. Most of us have done it.

This year, avoid giving the worst Christmas gift by avoiding these 11 gifts no one wants. By figuring out which gifts people don’t want to get for Christmas, you have made your choice so much easier. Even if you don’t know what someone DOES actually want, your chances of hitting the mark are much better now.

What gift can you think of that no one wants to get? Better yet, is there a gift that you receive every year that you don’t enjoy? Tell me about it in the comments! Also, tell me what you do with the gifts that you didn’t want after you get them home.

Related post: 5 Tips to Get Away With Re-Gifting (Kidding, Kind Of)

11 Christmas Gifts No One Wants to Get
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Adulting Holiday Wine

13 Amazing Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings That Will Surprise You

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

When you become a parent, Halloween revolves around the kids. You can make it special for you too, however, by trying some wine and Halloween candy pairings.

Once the kids go to bed on Halloween night, you have free rein in their candy bag. Don’t feel bad as you steal a few pieces because, after a long day of Halloween celebration, you deserve to relax.

Or, if you can’t wait until Halloween to try these wine and Halloween candy pairings, plan a night with friends to try them together. It would be the perfect Halloween party theme for adults, or you can have a girl’s night with a few of your closest friends.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

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

Wine and Halloween Candy Pairing

1. Reese’s and Syrah

Syrah complements the peanut butter and chocolate perfectly. Syrah also helps balance the sweet and salty tastes of the Reese’s. Plus, it might remind you of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as you try them together.

2. Snickers and Cabernet Sauvignon

Snickers have a strong flavor that requires a bold wine to compliment it. The sweetness and saltiness of the candy bar will be complemented by the bold Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Reese’s Take-5 and Ice Wine

Ice wine is a dessert wine, but the sweetness is delicate. It’ll complement the sweet and salty flavors of the Reese’s Take-5 candy bar. Ice wine is made by letting the grapes freeze on the vine, which is what gives it its unique flavor.

4. 3 Musketeers and Red Zinfandel

Red zinfandel is semi-sweet and has a jammy flavor with hints of blackberry, black cherry, and plum. It pairs well with the creaminess and fluffiness of a 3 musketeers candy bar.

5. Milky Way and Madeira

This wine is less known to many, but it has hints of caramel, almonds, raisin, and coffee. It is absolutely amazing and compliments the caramel Milky Way perfectly.

6. Skittles and Sauvignon Blanc

I’m not usually a huge fan of sauvignon blanc, but when I tried it with skittles I was blown away. This dry wine compliments the skittles in a way that lets the sweet taste of skittles stand out in a pleasant way.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

7. Starburst and Moscato

These two go well together because they have similar sweetness and fruity flavors. The Starburst and Moscato complement each other and both have a tart flavor.

8. M&M’s and Merlot

M&M’s pair well with most wines, but Merlot is a great one that highlights the chocolate in the candy. The sweetness of the candy will be complemented by smokey flavors with hints of red currant, cherry, berry, and warm spices.

9. Twix and Malbec

The chocolate and caramel candy bar are amazing with Malbec. This wine has hints of blackberries and cocoa, which complement the Twix.

10. Kit Kat and Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is my favorite wine, so I’m happy I found candy to pair it with. The bold flavors of fruit, cherry, and plum make it seem like you’re eating chocolate-covered fruit when you pair it with a kit kat bar.

11. Candy Corn and Chardonnay

If you’re one of those weirdos who like wine as dry as Chardonnay, this one is for you. When paired with candy corn, the buttery flavor of the candy goes with the buttery flavor of the Chardonnay. The wine softens the sugar found in the candy, too.

12. Hershey’s and Syrah

Yes, another candy that goes well with Syrah. As a full-bodied wine, Syrah complements and enhances the chocolatey flavor of a Hershey’s bar. It’s a classic pair and works well every time.

13. Butterfinger and Pinot Grigio

A Butterfinger candy bar is super sweet, and the citrus flavors of Pinot Grigio rounds it out. The dry taste and the hint of citrus highlight the crunch, too, and bring out the buttery taste of the candy bar.

Did I Miss Any Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings?

If you know an amazing wine and Halloween candy pairing that I should try, tell me about it in the comments!!

Be Careful When Consuming Alcohol – Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings

I do not recommend drinking in excess. This blog post is intended to be used as a wine tasting type of post, where you consume a little amount of wine at a time. Be careful, know your limits, and practice safe alcohol consumption.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults
Categories
Gifts Holiday How To

5 Ways To Choose The Perfect Gift

Choose The Perfect Gift

Studies show that giving to others can make you happier than spending the same amount of money on yourself. That joy can come with a bit of a catch, though. It can sometimes be difficult to choose the perfect gift for someone, whether that someone is your six-year-old nephew, your mother-in-law, or that slightly strange co-worker that you got in the office Secret Santa. 

Choose The Perfect Gift
Source

How to Choose The Perfect Gift

1. Consider the Person and Their Interests

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 gifts, but you will come up with some unique ideas that you would not necessarily have thought of otherwise.

When you combine a few of the ideas, the gift receiver will appreciate how personalized and thoughtful you were. Perhaps your nephew loves wooden toys or your colleague is known to be a Game of Thrones fan. If so, consider those as gift options.

2. Consider What They Need and Want

Consider some of that person’s more exciting needs. If there is a mom on your list, consider products to help them run their lives more efficiently. Or, consider something she has been wanting to do but can’t seem to find the time for, such as a home manicure set. Thinking on a broader scale will allow you to step outside of your comfort zone as you choose the perfect gift.

3. Find Something That Matches Their Personality

Consider the gifts that speak about who your recipient is in person, using the list of information that you have compiled. Purchase an arts and crafts supply for an artistic person. Consider the art projects that they have completed or have at the very least shown an interest in starting. 

4. Make the Giving of the Gift an Event in Itself

Use your imagination when it comes to packaging. Rather than simply handing them a gift wrapped in regular wrapping paper, consider the gifting experience to be an event that you want them to enjoy. Try a scavenger hunt, which is great for kids. And never, ever underestimate the joy of unwrapping gifts.

5. Do Not Overthink It

We are all guilty of overthinking the gifts that we buy. We want them to be absolutely perfect for the person receiving them. Most people are overjoyed to receive any gift, and sometimes, the more simple ones – a promise of your time, a home-baked cake, hand-picked flowers, or that little something that you saw that you reminded you of them can be the most special gifts of all. 

Choose The Perfect Gift

When you want to choose the perfect gift, keep an open mind while you also consider the person you are buying for. Make it fun and thoughtful, and they are sure to love it.

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Adulting Allergies Holiday How To Outside Fun Summer

5 Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

5 Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

Potlucks are a fun way to interact with your neighbors and create meaningful connections for future purposes. They’re also excellent for trying various tasty recipes without breaking the bank and give your kids the opportunity to bond with other kids. However, just like any other party, you need to carefully plan out the activities and prepare your home to avoid a stressful and disorganized event. If you’re looking to organize a potluck party soon, these tips will help you host a successful potluck at home.

potluck at home
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Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

1. Prepare your space

As the potluck’s host, it’s vital to consider your setup options and space to determine how your planning and organization will be. Whether you decide to host it indoors or outdoors, you want your home to be presentable. For instance, you may want to declutter and clean your kitchen, bathrooms, dining area, and living room if you’re going to host indoors.

It will also be best to mow your lawn, clean your windows and fix any roof damage for a pleasing outdoor space if you want to host an outdoor potluck. Additionally, remember to provide adequate seating for your guests and tables to arrange the meals. 

2. Create a theme

While classic potlucks allow your guests to bring their favorite dishes, it’s possible to have duplicate meals. Not only will it make the event boring, but it might also cause food waste which isn’t a sustainable way to go. Therefore, it will be prudent to create a potluck theme to bring out your guests’ creative instincts and provide various delicious meals for the occasion.

You can choose themes such as family heritage or salad supper potlucks; the key is to let your imagination run free. You may also want to assign specific courses to your guests to ensure that you have a complete meal plan (appetizer, main dish, and dessert).

3. Don’t forget the drinks

Every party needs drinks, and potlucks are no exception. Drinks are a fun addition to your meals, and they keep you and your guests hydrated and happy. Fortunately, you can incorporate many drinks to make it more exciting for your guests.

While bringing in enough alcoholic drinks for the party, you may also want to include some non-alcoholic beverages for the kids and guests who don’t take alcohol. You can also create a champagne punch, a rhubarb lemonade slush, and fruit juices with a twist to tantalize your guests’ taste buds. 

4. Factor in dietary restrictions

It might be awkward for guests not to eat anything due to their special dietary needs. Not only will they feel uninvited, but they might also see you in a negative light.

For these reasons, it will be prudent to know of their dietary restrictions ahead of the event. It will also help to use fresh ingredients and provide recipe names and potential allergens that they contain. It allows the guests to know what foods to avoid. 

5. Prepare a playlist

Music creates a fun atmosphere for an event, and you should incorporate it into your party. You can choose songs that go along with your potluck theme or general songs that get everyone in a good mood. It’s best to prepare your playlist ahead of the party to allow for a smooth music flow. 

potluck at home

Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

Potlucks are fun and relaxing, and you want to have fun while organizing yours. These tips will help you plan a successful potluck at home that your guests will remember for a long time.

Categories
Adulting Allergies Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday How To Outside Fun Parenting Spring

Holiday Safety Tips: Don’t Let Mishaps Steal Your Spring Holiday Cheer

Holiday Safety Tips: Don't Let Mishaps Steal Your Spring Holiday Cheer

The coronavirus pandemic has lowered the possibilities of individuals enjoying the Easter holiday. Easter is a joyful celebration, and you can make it possible with a few holiday safety tips. Covid-19 isn’t the only worry, either, with food allergies and other issues being possible.

The traditional Easter activities may be an excellent way to make memories with friends and families. However, you might be worried, especially if you are hosting an egg hunt, that things will go badly. With these holiday safety tips, though, you will be well on your way to a successful Easter celebration.

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

Source

Holiday Safety Tips for Easter

Food Safety

You have to protect your family and guests from food allergies. Online shopping can come in very handy for this, as you get a wider variety of allergy-free foods. You can order some candies that are gluten, peanut, egg, and dairy-free. Additionally, you can go for snacks like popcorn, cheese crackers, or other allergy-free snacks to replace the other treats.

Food safety doesn’t stop at food allergies, and you must make sure the food is cooked and stored properly. Eggs should be thoroughly cooked and cooled before decorating them.

If you use hard-boiled eggs for the Easter egg hunt, hide them minutes before the hunt. Hard-boiled eggs should be eaten within two hours of removing them from the refrigerator. If you are concerned about the safety of hiding real eggs, switch them with plastic ones, instead.

Related Post: Living With Allergies: Our Journey to the Diagnosis

Fire Safety

Fire incidents increase drastically during the holidays. You can easily get preoccupied during big family gatherings. To prevent occurrences of fire that can ruin your holiday cheer:

  • Avoid congestion in the kitchen and try as much as possible to keep children out of the kitchen.
  • Always make sure that you are alert when in the kitchen. Don’t use the stove or oven when you are sleepy or drunk. Don’t leave anything unattended; use a timer always.
  • Whenever there is a stove fire, turn off the burners and keep the door open.
  • Be cautious when frying things. In case of a small fire, restrict the flame by gliding the lid to cover the pan and turn off the burner.

Pet Safety

The spring holiday cannot be complete without your furry friends. Ensure that they also get to enjoy their festivities by protecting them from all known toxins and dangers. As a pet owner, you know that the chemicals present in chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs. It can cause coma, seizures, heart failure, or even death.

Some flowers can be deadly when consumed by cats, so you must be careful with those, too. Flowers like lilies, which bloom during spring, can cause kidney failure or even death in cats. Check your cat for signs of poisoning like fatigue, lack of appetite, and vomiting. Contact a vet immediately if you suspect that your cat has consumed any of the toxic plants.

Egg-hunt Safety

When inside the house, avoid hiding eggs in light sockets, near electric outlets, and in glasses. Instead, keep them below the participants’ eye level and always count and track the eggs you hid.

When outside, avoid hiding eggs in any foliage rooms, animal homes, or play areas. Throw away any eggs that have been cracked to ensure the candy doesn’t become contaminated.

Holiday Safety Tips

The spring holiday comes with many enjoyable family activities, and as a parent or guardian, you need to make sure that you keep safety in mind. Hunt safely, keep food allergies in mind, practice egg safety, protect your pets, and avoid fire accidents.

Do you have any other Easter safety tips to add? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Holiday How To Recipe

Easy, Delicious and Fun St Patrick’s Day Trail Mix Your Kids Will Love

St Patrick's Day Trail, St Patrick's Day Trail Mix

St Patrick’s Day is coming, and it is one of our favorite holidays to celebrate. It is so much fun, and there are so many exciting things you can do. This St Patrick’s Day trail mix is the perfect snack to munch on while you do St Patrick’s day crafts and activities.

This trail mix is easy to make, delicious, and your kids will have fun eating it. Let them enjoy it as they play in a St Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin or while they make Leprechaun Finders. Whatever activities you have planned, this St Patrick’s day snack mix will go along perfectly.

St Patrick's Day Trail, St Patrick's Day Trail Mix

How to Make St Patrick’s Day Trail Mix

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups mini marshmallows
  • 3 cups Golden Grahams (I considered using Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead)
  • 3 cups fruit loops

How to Make it:

To make this snack mix, all that you have to do is add three cups of each cereal and two cups of marshmallows to a large bowl and mix it all together. Then, you can distribute it to your kids in snack bags or in smaller bowls. That’s it – it’s super simple!

More Ideas

Sylas (my 6-year-old) added mini-chocolate chips to his trail mix, too. It went along perfectly and, while the colors weren’t St Patrick’s Day related, it was well worth it.

You can switch this up to fit your child’s taste. Other things you could put in it include Lucky Charms, green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, or anything else. The possibilities are endless, so you’re sure to love what you create!

If you’re a super-parent, you could even take your child to the store and let them choose what they want to add. Use this trail mix as a fun activity that can be eaten when it’s finished.

St Patrick's Day Trail, St Patrick's Day Trail Mix

St Patrick’s Day Trail Mix

This easy St Patrick’s Day trail mix is so easy to make. Plus, it isn’t messy and your kids will love it. What do you have planned for St Patrick’s Day? Let me know in the comments!

Categories
Holiday How To Sensory Play

Fun and Easy St Patrick’s Day Sensory Activity Your Kids Will Love

St Patrick's Day Sensory Activity

My kids love sensory play, and this St Patrick’s Day Sensory activity was no exception. Not only is it fun to make, but my kids have already spent hours playing in it. It’s easy to clean up, too, since you can just sweep it up if it gets on the floor.

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

St Patrick's Day Sensory, sensory play, st patrick's days sensory play, sensory table, sensory activity

St Patrick’s Day Sensory Bin

I didn’t feel like pulling the sensory table in, so we opted for a sensory bin this time. It was perfect because the kids could use it at the table and, when they finished, put the lid on it and put it away.

The best part about sensory play is that it doesn’t have to cost a ton of money. You can use things you already have around the house, or you could go to Dollar Tree and snag a few holiday items.

What You Need

How to Put it Together

Step 1: Dye the rice

If you don’t know how to dye rice for a sensory activity, check out my blog post Dyed Rice Layers of the Eart Project, where I explain how to do it. It’s so easy!

You will have to adjust the amount of rice you use, and you can dye as much as you want in the same bag since you will only be doing one color.

Step 2: Let the Rice Dry

This step is mentioned in the post I linked to above, but I just want to make sure you don’t miss it! Since I did such a large amount of rice for this St Patrick’s Day sensory activity, I spread out parchment paper on my dining room table.

Then, I spread the rice out in a thin layer and let it dry. It only takes a couple of hours to dry, and then you can put it away.

Step 3: Put the Rice in a Container

I used a small storage box with a lid so we could put it away easily.

Step 4: Add in Other Items

I let my kids open the black pots, filler, and gold coins and put them in the container of rice. Then, I stepped back and let them have some fun!

St Patrick's Day Sensory, sensory play, st patrick's days sensory play, sensory table, sensory activity, St. Patrick's Day

St Patrick’s Day Sensory Activity

This St Patrick’s Day sensory activity is so much fun. The kids can play with it up until the holiday, and it keeps them occupied for so long.

Do your kids enjoy sensory play? Tell me about their favorite activities in the comments! I’d love to hear about them.

Categories
Craft crafts Family Activities Free Activities Holiday How To Parenting Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

How to Make an Easy Last-Minute Valentine’s Card Box

How to Make an Easy Last-Minute Valentine's Card Box

I’m that mom who sees the note about the class Valentine’s party and only reads halfway through. I get the date and the number of Valentine’s cards we need, and that’s about it. Well, this time, my quick-scan method failed me because I didn’t realize we needed a Valentine’s card box!

As we were getting all of the Valentine’s Day stuff packed up for the next day, I re-read the note to make sure we weren’t forgetting anything. I’m sure you can see where I’m going with this. My preschooler needed a Valentine’s card box for school. Oops.

No worries, though. He had a cute Valentine’s card box for his class party that we made without running out to the store. Plus, it was super easy to make.

Valentine's Card Box

How to Make a Valentines Card Box

Step 1: Find a box that is big enough to hold Valentine’s Day treats and cards.

You can use literally any box you have. We used a pop-tart box. There are only 10 kids in his class so his didn’t need to be very big.

Step 2: Paint the box or cover it with paper.

It took a couple of coats of paint to hide the pop-tart logo. I let it dry in between each coat but it didn’t take long.

For some reason, the sides of the box were giving us the most trouble (or maybe I was just over it). So, we cut cute craft paper and placed it on each end. We didn’t do anything with the bottom of the box.

  • Valentine's Card Box for kids
  • Valentine's Day Card Box

Step 3: Add stickers and other embellishments.

We had some Valentine’s stickers so my little guy put stickers all over the box. You could also cut hearts out of different colored paper and glue those to the box.

We cut his name out of cute paper and glued that on, too. Use whatever you have and be creative. Other ideas include letting your child paint designs on the box or adding glitter.

Step 4: Cut a hole in the top.

Make sure the hole is big enough to fit treats through and not just cards.

Valentine's Card Box

While this Valentine’s card box was nowhere near perfect, my little guy loved it. Sometimes it is all about taking the time to help them create something rather than worrying about a perfect result. Sure, I could have run out to Target and hoped they had some left, but this ended up being so much more fun and I didn’t have to change out of my sweatpants.

How to Make an Easy Last-Minute Valentine's Card Box, Valentine's Card Box

Please tell me I’m not the only mom who does everything last minute?! And if you are a parent who plans ahead and already has their child’s Valentine’s card box ready, I’d love to see it!

*Does anyone in your child’s class have food allergies? If so, read this article: Keep Valentine’s Day Sweet and Safe for Those With Food Allergy.*

Categories
Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To

The Best Halloween Decor Must-Haves to Buy Now

Halloween Decor, Decorating for Halloween, Festive Halloween, Best Decor for Halloween, cute Halloween decor

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for. The Halloween decor is so cute, and there are options for every taste and design idea.

No matter how much I bought the year before, I still find myself adding to my Halloween collection when the season is approaching. Do you find yourself doing this, too, even after promising yourself you wouldn’t? LOL!

I gathered all of my favorite Halloween decor from Amazon and put them into this post for you! Since I can’t buy it all, I’m hoping I can live vicariously through some of you!! In the end, I’ll let you know which pieces I decided to add to my collection this time around!

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

Halloween decor, halloween decor must-haves, halloween vibes

Halloween Decor for the Kitchen and Dining Room

Decorating these two rooms can be so much fun! From centerpieces to cute Halloween plates and napkins and adorable runners or tablecloths, the options are endless. Plus, you definitely have to have dish towels for the kitchen and placemats for the dining room.

DII 54x72" Rectangular Polyester Lace Tablecloth, Black Spider
Lace Tablecloth with Black Spider Webs
Cornucopia Brands Black 16-Ounce Glass Apothecary Bottles (3-Pack); Boston Round Bottles with Designer Labels Ideal for Aromatherapy, DIY, Herbal Treatments and Halloween, Matte Black Coated Bottles
3 pack, Black Glass Apothecary Bottles with Labels
DII Halloween Accessories Party Décor, 14.7x13.5x6.3, Spider Candy Dish Color:Spider Candy Dish
Spider Candy Dish
DII Jute/Burlap Placemat, Set of 4, Haunted House - Perfect for Halloween, Dinner Parties and Scary Movie Nights
Set of 4, Burlap Halloween Place mats
DII Cotton Halloween Holiday Dish Towels, 18x28" Set of 3, Decorative Oversized Kitchen Towels, Perfect Home and Kitchen Gift
Oversized Halloween Dish Towels

Halloween Decor for the Living Room and Bedroom

Both the living room and the bedroom should be cozy, so lots of the decor can be interchangeable between the two rooms. Throw pillows, blankets, Halloween wall decor, flowers, and small pieces to go on a shelf are all perfect.

Manny's Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf - Spooky Gothic Decor for The Home - Black Hanging Wooden Shelf for Wall or Table Top - 14 Inches Tall by 7 Inches Wide
Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf
Twinkle Star Halloween Decorations, 18.5" Lighted Table Artificial Flowers, Halloween Ghoulish Garden Succulent Piranha Plant Fake Corpse Flowers, Horror Biting Blossoms Centerpieces Tabletop Decor
Light Up Artificial Flowers
Dulcii 3 in 1 Halloween Black Lace Spider Web Lampshade Topper/Window Wag/Fireplace Mantle Scarf, Halloween Home Decor Essentials, Size:20x60inch / 51x152cm, 2 Pack
Halloween Black Lace Spider Web Lampshade Topper
PSDWETS Happly Halloween Decorations Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4 Home Decor Cotton Linen Throw Pillow Covers Cushion Cover 18 X 18
Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4
NTBAY Flannel Throw Blankets Super Soft with Black and White Stripe (51"x 68")
Flannel Throw Blanket

Want to see some cute and easy Halloween crafts for kids?

Check out this post —–> Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween Decor for the Bathroom

While the bathroom may seem like a weird place to decorate for Halloween, it is actually one of the most fun! You can choose a creepy bath mat or hand towel or, if you’re feeling super festive, you can even get a Halloween shower curtain. Plus, there are other Halloween decor items that are designed just for the bathroom.

Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Vanity, Desk, Office Organizer, Stationary, Decor Planter by Wicked Vanity Beauty
Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Office Organizer
Kikkerland JK17 Palm Reader Jewelry Stand
Palm Reader Jewelry Stand
Shocur Halloween Shower Curtain Set, Pumpkin Lights, Bats and Moons Over The Ghost Woods, Bathroom Decor Polyester Fabric 69 x 70 Inches with 12 Hooks
Halloween Shower Curtain Set
Bloody Bath Mat – Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet – Make Your Own Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White – Sheet, for Shower/Bathroom – Novelty Gag Gift
Color Changing Sheet Turns Red When Wet to Make Bleeding Footprints That Disappear White

Did you know many Halloween candy favorites contain common allergens?

Click to read this post! >> Popular Halloween Candy That Isn’t Safe for Kids With Allergies

Halloween Decor for the Entryway or Outside

You can’t go wrong with a Halloween mat inside of your doorway. Plus, Halloween door hangings are the perfect way to set an immediate tone of festivity for your home.

For the outside of your home, fall-inspired flower pots filled with mums or other fall plants are a must-have. Put in some pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and corn stalks and it will be a complete look.

If you are going for something creepy, you can include skeletons and other creepy creatures.

Wonderwin Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We're Tired of Hiding The Bodies 8” x 12” Retro Metal Sign Vintage Bar Decor Yard Signs
Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We’re Tired of Hiding The Bodies Metal Signs
Crazy Bonez Pose-N-Stay Skeleton
Pose-N-Stay Skeleton
JOYIN Halloween Décor Groundbreaker Zombie with Sound and Flashing Eyes for Yard Decorations
Zombie with Sound and Flashing Eyes
LUOEM Halloween Hanging Welcome Sign Trick or Treat Wooden Plaque Board for Haunted House - Witch is in
The Witch is in Halloween Hanging Welcome Sign

Homeschooling or looking to work on math with your child?

Check out this post —- Halloween Math With Free Printable

Halloween Decor for the Office

Since you spend much of your time in the office or at work, you have to decorate there, too! You’ll want to make sure the decor won’t take up much space but still sets an awesome Halloween vibe.

Twinkle Star Halloween Decorations Ghoulish Garden Artificial Flowers with Pumpkin
Ghoulish Garden Artificial Flowers with Pumpkin
Skeleton Set Hear See Speak No Evil, Set of 3 Brand: Skeleton Decor
Skeleton Set Hear See Speak No Evil
DWK - Murder & Mystery - Ravens on Skulls Bookends Gothic Poe Crow Reading Bookshelf Library Home Décor Book Shelf Accent, 8.5-inch
Ravens on Skulls Bookends

Halloween Decor For Anywhere in Your Home

akeke Skull Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Print Two Set - Skull Decorations Gentleman Lady Hat - Bone Art Wall Decor 8x10 inch Unframed Skull Couples Gifts...
Skull Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Prints
White Barn Candle Company Bath and Body Works 3-Wick Scented Candle w/Essential Oils - 14.5 oz - Halloween 2020 - Hot Cocoa & Scream
White Barn Candle Company Bath and Body Works – Hot Cocoa & Scream
Bath and Body Works Halloween Night 3 Wick Candle Holder.
Bath and Body Works Halloween Night 3 Wick Candle Holder

Looking for things to do with your kids this fall?

Check out these 2 posts!

1. Fall Sensory Play with Dyed Rice (this dyed rice is SO easy to make!)
2. Fall Bucket List With Free Printable

My Picks – Halloween Decorations

I seriously want every Halloween decoration I posted in this blog post. Unfortunately, I could only choose a few! So, after long deliberation, I chose:

1. Hot Cocoa and Scream Candle
2. Skill Decor Vintage Dictionary Art Prints
3. Ravens on Skulls Bookends
4. Beware of Well Just Beware & No Trespassing We’re Tired of Hiding The Bodies Metal Signs
5. Palm Reader Jewelry Stand
6. Skull Makeup Brush Holder, Pen Holder, Office Organizer
7. Crow Skull and Pumpkin Pillow Covers Set of 4
8. Mysterious Oddities Coffin Shelf

Tell Me!

Which ones were your favorites? What is your favorite holiday to decorate for?

Let me know in the comments! I can’t wait to hear from you!

Categories
Gifts Holiday Kindergarten Age Learning Parenting Toys and Games

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

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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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