Tag: Holiday

March Momma-razzi Box: A Review

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 15, 2020
5 Comments on March Momma-razzi Box: A Review

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If you’re anything like me, you love having cute, themed photos of your kids, but you hate paying the price for a photoshoot with a professional for each holiday. This is where the Momma-razzi box comes into play.

Because I don’t want to have to pay for seasonal and holiday photos each and every time, I always try to take my own cute holiday photos of my kids, and they always seem to be lacking. I realized it’s because I don’t have enough props!

Professionals always have the best props, right?! Luckily, I learned about something called a Momma-razzi Box. This box is full of cute props and other items to make these candid photoshoots something to remember and treasure forever!

*Disclaimer: I received the March Momma-razzi Box for free in exchange for this review. The opinions in this blog post are 100% my own, and I stand behind everything I have written.*

Inside the Box

I received the “mini-box”, and I was pleasantly surprised by all of the stuff inside! It was a cute added touch that the balloons were placed inside classy gold envelopes, too. Let’s start at the beginning, however, and not just with the cute envelopes.

I opened the box and the first thing I found was an envelope with directions for using the items in the box, and a list of everything I’d find inside.

Then, as I dug deeper into the box, I found the following items:

a white backdrop/flooring
white balloons
colored, twisty balloons
gold coins
green shamrocks
an air pump for the balloons (definitely appreciated!)

Setting Up The Momma-razzi Box Photo Shoot

This was so easy to set up! I actually used thumb tacks to hold the backdrop up on a wall. Then, I blew up all of the balloons.

The colorful balloons were intended to look like a rainbow once they were all together, so I set them up that way. I taped them together because they wouldn’t stay in place otherwise.

I popped so many balloons trying to do this, and that was the biggest issue I ran into. At one point, I had a full rainbow with all colors, but I kept losing balloons as we went along. You’ll notice that I have no red or blue in my rainbow in my photos! Oops.

Then, I twisted 3 white balloons together and added them to the ends of the rainbow. I also randomly laid out some of the white balloons, the gold coins, and the shamrocks. It was that easy, and the photoshoot was ready.

What My Kids Thought

My kids actually love having their pictures taken. They think it’s even more fun when it feels like a real photoshoot, so this was so exciting for them.

They loved seeing the photos afterward and wanted to keep taking more and more pictures. It was definitely a hit.

Once we were done, my 5 year old had fun making designs out of the props.

Final Thoughts on the March Momma-razzi Box

This box made our holiday photoshoot so easy and so much fun! I’ll definitely be ordering these for many other holidays and photoshoots to come. It would be easy to add additional items to the photoshoot, too, to personalize it even more.

The only issue I had was that the balloons popped SO easily, but that could have been on me LOL. Next time I’ll be much more careful with them. I plan on using the little props in a sensory table now that I’m done with them, especially since the kids are off school for three weeks!

What do you think?! If you want to order a box for yourself, check out Cassandra Barksdale’s CrateJoy website at www.cratejoy.com/subscription-box/life-lit-up/.

Tags Holiday, How to, Parenting

Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday Parenting Teenager

13 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date February 15, 2020
21 Comments on 13 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

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February 17th marks National Random Acts of Kindness Day in 2020. With the date approaching, I want to celebrate the day with my kiddos. I’ve been working on teaching them how to be kind to others, so it’s the perfect opportunity to practice.

Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Your Kids

1. Compliment someone

A simple compliment can make someone’s day. Teach your kids to say nice things about those around them. Whether you compliment someone at the grocery store or you have your kids compliment one another at home, this is a good habit for them to form.

2. Pick up trash outside

There is no better way to do a kindness for others than by taking care of the environment. Walk around the neighborhood or a local park and clean up trash. Have the kids wear gloves or put a plastic bag over their hands so they don’t touch anything yucky.

3. Donate some toys to children in need

Let’s face it, most of our kids have too much. I know mine do. Encourage your child to select a few toys that are in good, working condition and donate them to someone in need.

If they have younger cousins or there are young kids in the neighborhood, you could take the toys there. Otherwise, donating to St. Vincent or somewhere similar is a good option.

4. Help them write a kind note for their teacher

If your child can write on their own, this is a good one for them to do alone. Otherwise, ask your child what they want to say to their teacher and help them write it. This is perfect for teachers of any grade as they could all use a note to let them know they are appreciated.

5. Donate canned goods to a local shelter

Have your kids help you gather canned goods and take them to a local shelter for donation.

6. Do a chore for a sibling or do an extra chore

I know my kids would be so surprised and happy if their sibling did one of their chores. I also know that the happy sibling would likely do the same in return, so it could end up being a never-ending (but awesome) cycle.

If your child doesn’t have siblings, they can do an extra chore to help their parents out.

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7. Thank emergency services personnel

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other professionals in the emergency services field sacrifice themselves each day to protect us and our towns. Oftentimes they work long hours with very little sleep, and they also work weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts.

By simply making them a picture or writing a note about how much they are appreciated, you are sure to make their day. You could take it a step further and bake cookies or another treat to deliver with your kids.

8. Leave coins on a ride-on toy at the mall or grocery store

Our local grocery store has a pony for kids to ride on. I’m going to have my kids leave a handful of coins on the pony as an act of kindness so that other kids can ride even if their parents don’t have any change on them.

9. Move a neighbor’s garbage can from the end of the driveway back to their house

If you’re anything like me, your garbage can may sit at the end of your driveway for a couple of days before you pull it back up to the house after garbage pick-up day. Teach your kids to help out the neighbor after trash has been picked up by having them pull the can back to the house. It would be a big help!

10. Return someone else’s cart to the cart corral at the store

When someone is finishing up loading their groceries into their car, run over and offer to put it away for them. It’s the simple things in life that are the most meaningful sometimes.

If you see a stranded cart in a parking lot, that’s a good one to put away, too. It’ll help out the store employee who has to collect all of the carts.

11. Share a favorite toy with a sibling or a friend.

Sharing is caring, right? Encourage your child to share their toys as a way of showing kindness to others.

12. Smile at everyone you see

Challenge your children to smile at everyone they pass today. A smile can make someone’s day and it’ll make you and your child feel good, too.

13. Read a book to someone or to a pet

Being read to is soothing and can reduce stress or anxiety. With this being the case, reading a book to someone is one of the kindest things you can do.

If you can’t think of a person to read to, find a pet who is willing to sit still or cuddle. The shelter is full of animals who would love some attention.

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

Final Thoughts on Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

Random acts of kindness are amazing anytime of the year, but with National Random Acts of Kindness Day coming so quickly, it’s a good time to talk about it with your kiddos and spend a day practicing it. By the end of the day, you may find that your kids are coming up with more acts of kindness on their own!

Which random acts of kindness would you add to this list? Tell me in the comments!

Tags big kid, Holiday, little kid, Parenting, Teenager

Free Activities Holiday Printables Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Valentine’s Day Matching Game – Free Printable

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date February 6, 2020

Valentine's Day, Valentines Day, Sight Word Practice, Matching Game, Free Printable

So this Valentine’s Day Matching Game idea first came to me when my son and I were working on his sight words. I remember playing sight words games with our now 12-year-old back when he was in Kindergarten, and the games just seemed to help him get it.

Somehow, it hadn’t crossed my mind to play games to learn sight words with my current kindergartner until now. The best part of this matching game printable that I created, however, is that I can use it for more than just a sight words matching game.

I plan to use it for matching uppercase and lowercase letters, matching numbers, and a few other learning games. The multiple game options also mean it will work for different age groups, depending on which game you decide to play with it.

Free Printable – Valentine’s Day Sight Word Practice Matching Game

Free Printable – Valentine’s Day Matching Game

How I Used Them

So I printed two copies for each kid. On one copy, I wrote the sight words, numbers, or letters (depending on which kid’s I was doing). The second copy was used for cutting.

Before I had the kids cut out the hearts on the second copy, I wrote the matches. Once they cut the hearts out, they were already ready to match them up.

You don’t have to do the second copy this way, however. Instead, you could cut hearts onto pink or red construction paper and then write the matching word, letter, or number onto the heart. I just wanted the kids to cut their own hearts, to be honest. Lazy mom moment.

Another Way to Play – Learn Sight Words Using Technology

I taught my son how to type his sight words into dictionary.com and listen to the word. If you don’t know how to do this, it’s simple! Type the word into the search box and then when the definition comes up, click on the megaphone icon and it’ll say the word out loud.

This allows your child to play the game on their own and still hear the words spoken aloud. It helps with letter recognition, spelling, and reading.

Don’t leave them to do it on their own every time, though. Kids still learn best through personal connection.

Final Thoughts on Valentine’s Day Matching Game

This game was so much fun and my kids learned so much while playing it! Would you use the sight word version of this Valentine’s Day matching game or would you use it for something different like learning letters or numbers? Tell me about it in the comments!

Tags Holiday, kindergarten, learning, Letter Recognition, letters, little kid, numbers, Preschool, sight words, Toddler, toddler activities, Valentine's Day

Adulting Decor Gifts Holiday

Valentine’s Gifts for Him and Her (+ some cute décor)

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 26, 2020
15 Comments on Valentine’s Gifts for Him and Her (+ some cute décor)

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Valentine’s Day is coming, which means you likely need ideas for Valentine’s gifts for your partner. We don’t make a huge deal of Valentine’s Day at our house, but I always make sure to get my husband and kids a little something to make them smile.

So far in our relationship, I have always made one homemade Valentine’s gift for my husband, and then one store-bought gift. Each year, though, I struggle in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s trying to think of the perfect gift for him.

This post is based on my research for the perfect Valentine’s gift for him, and since I know some of you need a Valentine’s gift for her, I’ve included some of those ideas, too!

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him

Whether you are looking for a Valentine’s gift for a dad, husband, brother or any other man, I’ve got you covered!

1. Engraved, personalized wallet

personalized wallet, Valentine's Day Gift, Valentine's Gift for him, best Valentine's Gift — Click image for link

2. What Do You Meme board game

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3. Carhartt Men’s Hat

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4. YETI Rambler Insulated Mug with Lid

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5. Exceptionally Bad Dad Jokes

6. Pop Up Indoor/Outdoor Golfing Target

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Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her

1. Felt Letter Board

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2. Natural Himalayan Salt with Metal Basket Lamp

3. Electric Stainless Steel S’mores Maker with Compartment Trays and Roasting Forks

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4. Tartan Winter Infinity Scarf with Beanie

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5. Matching Couple Coffee Mugs

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6. Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet

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Valentine’s Day Decor

Click on the image for more information about these cute Valentine’s Decor items.

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Valentine’s Gifts for Him and Her (+ some cute décor)

Valentine’s Day Gifts are sometimes tricky to decide on. Keeping it fun and simple is the way to go. Which gifts on this list would you consider giving or which ones would you like to receive? Leave a comment to let me know!

Tags adulting, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday, Valentine's Day

Big Kid Craft crafts Free Activities Holiday Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Valentine’s Crafts Based on the Book Hedgehugs

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 20, 2020
28 Comments on Valentine’s Crafts Based on the Book Hedgehugs

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When my son brought the book ‘Hedgehugs’ home from school last year, I was so excited. I’d never heard of it before and it quickly became a favorite. While deciding on some Valentine’s Crafts, this book immediately came to mind.

It’s a cute story about a couple of hedgehogs that want to hug but can’t find a comfortable way to do so. By the end of the story, the hedgehogs find a way to hug by wiggling into the end of a torn sock. The sock covers their sharp parts so that they can share their love.

With National Hugging Day on the 21st and Valentine’s Day less than a month away, I figured it was the perfect time to have some fun with this one. If you want to buy this book for your home library, you can get it on Amazon by clicking HERE or by clicking on the photo below.

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

Valentine’s Crafts 1 – Paper Hug

This craft is SO easy and we had everything on hand to make it ahead of time. Even more exciting, our teenager participated in this one!

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Materials

Directions

Cut a large heart onto pink paper.
Using any of the three colors of paper, cut a long, skinny piece and fold it up like an accordion.
Put white paint on one of the child’s hands and have them make a handprint on red paper.
Do the same with the other hand so that you have 2 handprints for each child.
Have the child cut around their handprint and glue one handprint to each arm.
Glue the other end of the arm to the large heart.
Using markers, draw a face on the heart.

Valentine’s Crafts 2 – Hedgehog Hugging a Heart Craft

Materials

White paper
Red or pink paper
Brown paint
White paint
One pom-pom for each hedgehog
Googly eyes or eyes made from paper
Black marker
Scissors
Glue stick

Directions

Draw or print a large oval onto white paper and have your kids paint it brown.
Draw or print a medium-sized oval, a medium sized heart, two small ovals for feet, and two long, skinny ovals for arms. At the end of each long, skinny oval, make it flat instead of rounded. (I know, this isn’t an oval anymore).
Mix brown and white paint to make a light brown or tan color. Then, paint the rest of the shapes with this color.
Then, cut out a couple of hearts onto pink or red paper.
Once all of that is done, assemble the hedgehog by beginning with the large brown oval. Using glue, add the medium-sized tan oval next, more toward the bottom of the large oval leaving about half an inch of space at the bottom.
Then add the tan heart so that the top half of the heart is on the brown oval and the bottom half is on the tan oval.
Next up are the feet, which should be put on the very bottom.
Finally, add one of the red or pink hearts right into the center of the tan oval and put the arms so that the flat side of the arms are on the edge of the oval and the rounded parts are overlapping the red or pink heart.
Add a second red or pink heart overtop of the first one and add the googly eyes to the tan heart.
For the final steps, add a pom-pom to the point of the tan heart to make a nose and add claws to the feet using a black marker.

That’s it!! You’re done and you’ve created a cute hedgehog hugging a heart.

Final Thoughts on Valentines Craft Based on the Book Hedgehugs

Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate with your kids. It’s a good time to teach kids fun ways to celebrate rather than spending money to celebrate.

Which craft are you going to do with your kids? Let me know in the comments!

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While you’re at it, parents, go ahead and treat yourself this Valentine’s Day with some pampering and self care.

Tags books, craft, cute craft, easy craft, handprint craft, Holiday, paper craft, Preschool, Toddler, toddler activities, Valentine's Day

Big Kid Craft Free Activities Holiday How To Printables Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Martin Luther King Jr Craft, Experiment and Quotes

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date January 12, 2020
26 Comments on Martin Luther King Jr Craft, Experiment and Quotes

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MLK Day is approaching and as I was planning a Martin Luther King Jr craft and activity, I decided to quiz my kids a little to see what they knew about him. My littles really had no idea and their answers were as follows:

5: I saw him at my school once.
Me: Like, a picture of him?
5: No, the real him.
Me: I don’t think that was him, kiddo, Martin Luther King Jr isn’t alive anymore.

4: Umm, I knew when I was a baby but I forgot now.

2: I see those M&M’s mom. Can I have an M&M, please?

With those kinds of answers, our 12 year old was on his own. He was the most knowledgeable, of course, and gave us the run down. In case your kids are still a little too young to already know, here is a run down you can summarize for them.

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Who is Martin Luther King Jr?

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr had a dream of equality and worked hard to make that happen in America. As a husband and father of four, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wanted his children to live in a world where they wouldn’t be judged by the color of their skin.

To give his kids the life he dreamed for them, MLK lead the civil rights movement by leading peaceful protests, marches and bus boycotts. His most famous march was the March on Washington where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of 250,000 people.

He went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and, after he died, the Congressional Medal of Freedom. Since 1983, we celebrate MLK Day in honor of his birthday. While his birthday was the 15th of January, however, we observe MLK Day on the 3rd Monday in January.

Martin Luther King Jr Book

We started our MLK activities with a book called Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It focuses on the dream idea and kids in the book tell what their dreams are. I think it really helps kids understand that Martin Luther King’s Dream speech wasn’t about dreams when you’re sleeping because my littles struggled with that at first.

Martin Luther King Jr Day book by Robin Hill School — Click for the link

MLK Day Craft

Our craft, like the book, went with the dream idea.

Materials:

Blue cardstock or construction paper
White paper
Glue sticks
Markers
Glitter

Directions

1. Cut the blue paper in half

2. Cut out a cloud from the white paper.

3. Write the dream on the cloud

I wrote Josie and Liam’s for them. Syas insisted on doing his own and who am I to say no, so a translation is on the back. He dreamed that everyone would be nice. Liam was just not participating well and only wanted the M&M’s that we were going to use on the experiment.

4. Glue the cloud to the blue paper, leaving space at the top to write.

5. Write “I have a dream…” at the top of the blue paper, above the cloud.

6. Add glitter.

Martin Luther King Jr Experiment

I’ve seen so many of these experiments that use one brown egg and one white egg, but since my little guy has an egg allergy I needed a different option. We decided to use some Christmas M&M’s we had leftover. You could use any color M&Ms, and I honestly would have preferred using a regular pack with more colors.

In the first box of the printable, the kids laid out their different coored M&Ms and drew what they saw. Then, they took one bite of each M&M and put them in the second box where they drew what they saw on the inside.

Once they were done, we talked about how, like M&Ms, we all look different on the outside but the same on the inside. The kids loved this and really seemed to get it!

Heres the free Martin Luther King Jr printable that I created! Feel free to print it for personal use or to share.

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Final Thoughts On Martin Luther King Jr Day Craft and Activity

I feel like Martin Luther King Jr Day doesn’t get enough attention sometimes, so I want to ensure that my kids know and understand the sacrifices Martin Luther King Jr made and how much courage he had. MLK changed America for the better and left us with an amazing message to pass on to our kids.

What do you and your family do to observe Martin Luther King Jr Day? Tell me about it in the comments.

Tags big kid activities, craft, Family Activities, Holiday, learning, paper craft, Printables, quotes, toddler activities

Holiday How To Parenting

16 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 29, 2019
10 Comments on 16 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Kids

New Years, New Year's Eve With Kids, New Year's 2020, New Year's Eve 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Resolution, New Year's Eve craft for kids, New Year's Eve food for kids, celebrate New Year's with kids, New Year's activities for kids

Gone are the days of going out for New Year’s Eve or having a house party with a group of friends. Now, our New Year’s Eve festivities involve our kids and while it is a big change from the past, I wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, celebrating New Year’s Eve with kids is the best way to bring in the New Year.

I love coming up with new ideas to make the night exciting, and it’s also fun to continue with old traditions. A mix of both together make for the perfect New Year’s Eve with kids.

How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Kids

1. Don’t overwhelm them early in the night.

If you throw every activity or event at them right in the beginning of your evening, they’ll quickly become burnt out. Instead, try to spread out all of the fun and introduce new activities one at a time as the night goes on.

2. If you want them to make it until midnight, plan a fun activity for each hour.

This goes along with not overwhelming them, and it gives them something to look forward to each hour. Simply decide what time you want the fun to start, and create an activity for each hour.

In the past, we have used bags and written a time on them (5:00, 6:00, …. midnight) and put an activity inside of each bag. If the activity wouldn’t fit in the bag, we would just write the activity on a slip of paper and put it inside of the bag.

Each hour, on the hour, the kids get to open one and we spend the next hour doing that activity. If it doesn’t last the full hour, we just find somethin else to do until it’s time to open the next bag.

3. Offer simple, child-friendly food, snacks and drinks.

While it is fine (and encouraged!) to have adult treats to indulge in, it is even more important to have child-friendly foods for New Year’s Eve. Pigs in a blanket, milkshakes, s’mores dippers, homemade pizza, punch or sparkling soda, and whatever other treats your kids will be excited for are all great ideas!

4. If you are having champagne or wine at midnight, offer sparkling soda or punch to kids.

The kids will want to celebrate, too! If they see you toasting the New Year’s with your husband or friends, they’ll want in on it. A few years ago my sister just put orange juice in a plastic champagne flute and the kids were so excited!

5. Do a countdown.

Even if you send your kids to bed early on New Year’s Eve, you can still have a countdown with them! There are YouTube videos that do an early countdown to “midnight” as well as a Netflix show that does it.

If you keep them up until the real event, turn on the Times Square countdown or another countdown that you can find, or just have your own countdown complete with shouting, screaming, and celebrating.

6. Watch fireworks.

If there isn’t a fireworks event that you can see from your home, you could always go to an event in your city that has them, or you could buy a few small fireworks to set off yourself. Sparklers are an easy firework option, too!

If none of those options will work for you, you can find a firework show on the internet that you can watch with them.

7. Have a photoshoot.

Use a tablecloth or some wrapping paper as a backdrop, add streamers and balloons, and a New Year’s banner. If you’re feeling extra celebratory, you can get photo props to go along with it.

8. Get dressed up.

Use this night as an opportunity to get our your fanciest clothes and dress up. Just think, it’s going to be the 20’s, after all, so make sure you look your best.

9. Have a dance party.

Create a playlist of your family’s favorite songs and have a dance party in your living room. You could even have a dance contest and give out prizes such as candy or party favors.

10. Set New Year’s resolutions.

Talk to your kids about setting goals and resolutions and what it means to do so. Then, have everyone in the family set one or two resolutions for themselves. Help them to make sure that the goals they are setting are realistic. You could even set a resolution for the entire family to accomplish together.

11. Build a fort.

Kids always love to build a fort, so why not make it part of your New Year’s Eve with kids celebration? You could eat snacks, watch movies, play games, or even watch the countdown inside of the fort.

12. Play board games.

Pull out a favorite board game or two, or grab one that they got for Christmas and haven’t gotten to play yet. Spend some time playing games, bonding, and laughing during your New Year’s Eve with kids celebration.

13. Do a New Year’s craft.

There are SO many options for this New Year’s activity! One of my favorites is New Year’s firework craft with card board tubes. Another idea is to have them put 4 handprints on a piece of paper (with paint), then when the handprints dry paint or write a 2 on one hand, a 0 on the next, a 2 on the third, and a 0 on the fourth hand.

14. Prepare in advance a ‘Year in Review’ photo slideshow to watch on NYE.

Spend some time in the days before New Year’s Eve going through photos from the past year. Choose your favorites and put them together in a slideshow to watch with your kids on New Year’s Eve.

15. Play dodgeball with marshmallows.

How often do you let your kids throw food in the house? Never? Me either. But, this is New Year’s Eve and we have to make it fun for them! You can make your own rules or use traditional dodge ball rules.

16. Choose a New Year’s printable to fill out.

A quick Pinterest search will bring up tons of New Year’s printables. There are some that review the year, allowing your kids to list out all of their favorites from the year past, and there are also printables that allow your kids to start looking ahead at the New Year and deciding what they want their 2020 to look like.

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Final Thoughts on How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Kids

New Year’s Eve with kids can be just as fun (if not more fun) than the crazy New Year’s Eve of times past. With a simple mix of activities, crafts, and yummy treats, you’ll give your kids a New Year’s Eve they’ll always remember.

What are your New Year’s Eve plans? Tell me about them in the comments!

Tags Family Activities, Holiday, How to, Parenting

Adulting Holiday Life

New Year’s Resolutions – Goals for 2020

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 22, 2019
6 Comments on New Year’s Resolutions – Goals for 2020

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

With the new year quickly approaching, we are likely all thinking of our New Year’s resolutions and coming up with ideas of how to be happier, healthier, or more successful in 2020. I know I am! Before coming up with resolutions for 2020, however, I wanted to revisit the goals I’d set for myself to accomplish in 2019.

Some of the goals I set, I know I met without a problem while others didn’t go as planned, unfortunately. I want to revisit those that I didn’t accomplish and think about WHY I wasn’t successful and to try and think of a new plan for that goal. There’s no reason to set totally new goals if you didn’t quite meet some of your 2019 goals!

A Year in Review – My 2019 New Year’s Resolutions

To see the full blog post, click HERE. This is just a quick run-down of the goals I had set for myself to achieve in 2019.

Follow a chore chart
We actually did follow this, but I think it was a bit more complicated than it could be. I also planned on writing a blog post and including a free printable, but I never got around to that part simply because I didn’t take the time to simplify it.
Start seeing a larger increase in our savings.
I did accomplish this, but I think we can do better in 2020.
Hire someone for the yard work.
Didn’t do this… yard still needs work. LOL. Any lawn care companies reading this, I’ll give you free ad space on the blog in exchange for mowing, weeding, and leaf removal. JK kind of.
FREAKING LAUNDRY.
Nope. Definite fail.
Dates with kids weekly.
We did really well with this in the beginning of the year, but then life got overwhelmingly busy when spring sports season hit and we kind of fell off.
Crunch numbers for vacations.
I actually did this!! Worked out perfectly.
New blog post once a week.
So, I may have missed a couple of weeks. But I think overall I did okay.
Make $150 on TextBroker weekly.
I’m not even sure why I thought this would be possible, honestly. If I was a stay at home mom it would be possible but with a job outside of the home, definitely not. It is an awesome side hustle, though, and it made up a large portion of our “fun money” this year.
Lose 40 pounds.
Pretty sure I actually gained weight this year.
Buy “clutter baskets”.
Seriously, all year long I talked about buying these but I was never sure where to put them so I didn’t. I still want to though.

What I Will Do Differently to Achieve the Goals I Missed

My plan is to put those unachieved goals back on my list for the New Year, while also adding a few more New Year’s Resolutions. I still want to have 10 ideas for how to improve my day-to-day life, but I also plan on coming up with a specific success plan for each goal this time around.

2020 New Year’s Resolutions

1. Simplify the chore chart.

I found that key things weren’t getting done as often as they should, and I had each little piece of a room written separately on the chore chart. For example; Wiping the kitchen counters and stove is worth $2, doing the dishes is worth $2, and sweeping the floor is $1.

When the kids were asked to choose one chore, they would always choose the easiest (obviously), and the entire rooms weren’t getting done. This still left me with an overwhelming amount of house work. I want to simplify it and make cleaning the entire kitchen one chore for more money.

Doing it this way would give more time for some of the other things on last year’s list like laundry and yard work.

2. Put $20 in the savings account weekly, and then an additional $100 at the end of the month.

3. Weekly dates with kids.

This is one thing I ALWAYS want to make sure we are doing. With 5 kids in the house, it’s so hard to find one-on-one opportunities, so scheduling them is the best way for us.

4. Lose 50 pounds.

I really just need to be more active and choose healthier snacks. Easier said than done, wish me luck.

5. Buy clutter baskets.

Seriously, I just need somewhere to put everyone’s crap when they leave it around the house so that I don’t have to take care of everything for everyone.

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, New Years Resolutions, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

6. Write in a journal regularly.

I used to do this and it was always so therapeutic. I just find excuses for reasons that I don’t have time to write in a journal now, and I honestly think it could help with some of my anxiety.

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

7. Pay off 25% of our total debt.

This is something my husband and I have been talking about. I don’t have a total number or plan yet, but I’ll be figuring that our in the next week or so.

8. Go on regular dates with my husband.

Like most parents, my husband and I don’t spend nearly enough alone time together. It seems like we hardly get to talk when there is so much going on every day. We want to start having date nights together at least every two weeks.

9. Use social media less.

I find myself scrolling aimlessly through my Facebook timeline, not even interacting with people. Sometimes, I wonder how much time I waste this way and while I have no idea the exact amount of time, I do want to lessen the time spent. One way I plan to do this is by not getting on it in the mornings.

10. Practice self care daily.

I want to start doing at least five small self care tasks each day or one big one. I just want to be happy this year and minimize the depression and anxiety that seemed to consume me this year.

Final Thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions – Goals for 2020

You can’t just give up on your failed New Year’s Resoltions. Instead, figure out WHY you weren’t successful and figure out a new plan to achieve them in 2020. The key to personal growth is learning from your mistakes and trying again, so make sure your New Year’s Resolutions for 2020 reflects that!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions and were there any from last year that you didn’t achieve? Tell me in the comments!

Tags Goals, Holiday

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

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date December 18, 2019

Christmas, Christmas sensory bottle, sensory activity, easy Christmas sensory activity, easy activity for Christmas, sensory play, discovery

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!

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

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

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!

Tags big kid activities, Christmas, Family Activities, Holiday, learning, sensory play, toddler activities

Adulting Guest Post Holiday How To

Follow This Rule and Save On Christmas for the Kids

Post author By Emily Graham
Post date December 5, 2019
2 Comments on Follow This Rule and Save On Christmas for the Kids

how to save on Christmas, Christmas on a budget, save money on christmas

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.**

how to save on Christmas, Christmas on a budget, save money on christmas, save on christmas for the kids

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

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! **

Tags adulting, Christmas, Guest post, Holiday, Parenting