Tag: Holiday

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

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date November 30, 2019
7 Comments on Easy DIY Snowman Christmas Tree Ornament for Kids Are Great for Gifting

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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!

How to Make a DIY Snowman Handprint Ornament

Materials:

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.

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. 🙂

Tags Christmas, craft, DIY, gifts, handprint, handprint craft, Holiday, infant, infants, keepsake, paint, toddlers

Big Kid Gifts Holiday

Gift Ideas for a 12 Year Old Boy

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date November 10, 2019
2 Comments on Gift Ideas for a 12 Year Old Boy

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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.

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

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.

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?

Other Gift Guides

Gift ideas for a:

Tags big kid, big kids, Christmas, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday

Holiday

Thanksgiving Dinner Must-Haves: Everything You Need for Thanksgiving Dinner

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date November 3, 2019
6 Comments on Thanksgiving Dinner Must-Haves: Everything You Need for Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Dinner Must-Haves, Side dishes, desserts, Thanksgiving appetizers, drinks, the perfect thanksgiving dinner

Think back to your favorite Thanksgiving memories. For me, I think of waking up and smelling food cooking and of the excited anticipation of the day ahead, knowing that I would be seeing family and eating a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

I think of relaxing with my family, laughing, talking, creating more memories to look back on. Mostly though, I think of the years we had a perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Aside from spending time with family and being thankful, the food is literally the most important part of the celebration!

If you’re anything like me, you always feel like you are missing a crucial part of Thanksgiving dinner. You’re worried you will ruin Thanksgiving in some way by forgetting something or not being prepared. No worries, however, as I have come up with a list of Thanksgiving dinner must-haves.

Everything You Need for Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving appetizers:

Vegetables
Party poppers
Cheese and crackers
Spinach dip bites

Main course:

Turkey, obviously. This goes without saying, right? My family also does ham, however.

I found this roaster oven that has a self-basting lid, by the way. Click the link to check it out.

Thanksgiving side dishes:

For a perfect Thanksgiving dinner, you should choose at least 3 side dishes, plus a salad of some sort, and of course, rolls with butter. Some of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes include:

Corn
Green bean casserole
Mashed potatoes
Stuffing
Sweet potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Carrots
Brussel sprouts
Scalloped potatoes

Oh, and you can’t forget the gravy!

With all of these Thanksgiving side dishes, you can browse around for different recipes so that you can make them to your own liking.

Thanksgiving dessert

Pumpkin pie
Apple Crisp
Apple pie
Rhubarb pie
Whipped cream
Pumpkin cheesecake

Drinks to have on Thanksgiving:

This is up to the personal preference of each family. Think about the people you will be hosting in your home, or about the family that is hosting you in theirs. What do they like to drink when they are celebrating a holiday? What pairs well with the foods and desserts being served? Some options include:

Wine
Beer (is this normal or just my family?! LOL)
Cider
Hot cocoa
Water
Coffee
Apple cider sangria (please, please, please Brandy?!?! P.S. – Brandy is my sister, and she makes a killer apple cider sangria.)

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

Other Things to Consider When Making Thanksgiving Dinner

Does anyone have allergies? Are there other dietary needs such as a vegan option? The most important part of planning food for Thanksgiving or taking a passing dish is to consider the other people who will be attending.

Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving Dinner Must-Haves

Thanksgiving time is my favorite time of year. It’s a time for feeling and showing thankfulness, a time for spending with friends and family, and a time for reflecting on the year that has gone by since the last Thanksgiving gathering. Thanksgiving should be close to perfect, so including as many Thanksgiving dinner must-haves as you can is the way to go.

What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Tags fall, Family Activities, Holiday, Meal Plan, Thanksgiving

Allergies Holiday

Popular Halloween Candy That is Not Safe for Allergy Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date October 26, 2019
11 Comments on Popular Halloween Candy That is Not Safe for Allergy Kids

Halloween candy favorites that are not safe for kids with allergies, allergy kids, childhood allergies, unsafe Halloween treats, non-food Halloween treats, allergy-friendly Halloween treats

My son is severely allergic to eggs and since his diagnosis, I have become so much more aware of the ingredients in any food my family eats. Last Halloween was the first time I paid much attention to candy ingredients, and I was shocked by all of the popular Halloween candy that is not safe for allergy kids.

I realized that my little man couldn’t eat more than half of the candy in his trick-or-treat bag!! It wasn’t a huge deal last year since he was only a year old, but this year he’s really starting to notice that he doesn’t get what his brothers and sisters get all of the time.

My son isn’t alone in this battle, either. There are 1 in 13 kids in the United States who suffer from an allergy to one of the 8 main allergies.

For these kids, coming into contact with the ingredient can cause a minor reaction of hives and an eczema outbreak OR a serious reaction that requires an EpiPen and hospital visit. Worst case scenario (but completely possible) is that the child could die. I don’t mean to be blunt, but it’s the harsh reality of living with an allergy.

8 Major Allergies

The 8 major allergies that tend to be the most unsafe include:

Peanuts
Tree nuts
Dairy
Egg
Soy
Wheat
Fish
Shellfish

Popular Halloween Candy That Is Not Safe For Allergy Kids

1. Snickers

Of the 8 major allergies, Snickers contains dairy, soy, peanuts, and egg. There is also a warning that it may contain tree nuts.

2. Milky Way

A Milky Way candy bar contains soy, dairy, gluten, and egg.

3. Butterfinger

Of the major allergies, Butterfinger contains peanuts and dairy.

4. Kit Kat

Kit Kat candy bars contain dairy, soy, and gluten.

5. M&M’s

Dairy and soy are both found in M&M’s.

6. 3 Musketeers

This popular candy bar contains dairy, soy, and egg.

7. Twix

One of my favorites, but it, unfortunately, contains dairy, soy, and gluten.

8. Hershey’s Kisses

A Hershey’s Kiss contains both dairy and soy, making them unsafe for many allergy kids.

9. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup

Obviously, this one contains peanuts, but it also contains dairy and soy.

10. PayDay

Many people know that this candy bar contains peanuts, but are surprised to learn that it also includes dairy, egg, and soy.

Allergy Friendly Halloween Treats

So, now that you know most of your favorite Halloween candy contains some of the top 8 allergies, you may be stumped on what to pass out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Think outside of the box here! You can pass out fun toys and other items that kids love just as much as candy.

I love this option, as it includes quite a few choices.

Kids like more than just candy, so it’s not spoiling the fun if you opt-out of the option. Plus, the kids will likely be MORE excited to have an extra surprise that they weren’t expecting in their bag!! Since this day is dedicated to candy, however, I also included allergy-free candy in the list.

Play-doh
Stickers
Tattoos
Coupon books
Dots
Ring Pop
Skittles
Smarties
Sour Patch Kids
Starburst
Swedish Fish
Jelly Belly
Bubbles
Circuit Peanuts
Push Pops
Baby Bottle Pops
Jolly Rancher
Halloween rings
Hot Tamales
Halloween pencils
Mike & Ikes
Halloween erasers
Dum Dums
Welch’s fruit snacks
Fun Dip
Spree
Runts
Matchbox Cars
Small dinosaur toys
Crayons

Please remember: The manufacturing process can change at any time, so always read ingredient labels and check for warnings just in case it has changed since the publication of this blog post. If you are ever unsure about the ingredients in a piece of candy, it is always best to skip that one.

The Teal Pumpkin

If you see a teal pumpkin, this signifies a place with treats that are not food. This movement ensures that all treats are safe for children with allergies, and prevents anyone from being in an unsafe position or feeling left out.

If you see a home with a teal pumpkin on Halloween, they’re likely joining in on the movement for non-food Halloween treats. If you’re interested, check the list above which contains some non-food treats.

***Plus, you can buy a teal pumpkin by clicking on THIS link.***

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

What is the “Switch Witch”?

The “Switch Witch” is where the unsafe candy is traded out in the middle of the night for treats that are safe. Some parents have a non-allergy sibling switch with the allergy sibling, while others buy candy that they know is a safe option to switch with their allergy child’s unsafe candy.

Can You Offer Both Options?

Sure! If you keep the allergy-friendly Halloween treats separate from the other candy, most allergy kids will be able to choose those options. Don’t be offended if an allergy child has to refuse if you offer both, but most of the time keeping the candy in a separate container will be fine!

Final Thoughts On Popular Halloween Candy That is Not Safe for Allergy Kids

Allergies are becoming very common for children, and oftentimes these allergies are life-threatening. For these kids and their parents, holidays such as Halloween that revolve around food and treats are incredibly stressful and frustrating as it requires heavy monitoring on the parent’s part and lots of sadness on the child’s part.

Knowing which treats are safe and which ones are unsafe ahead of time can greatly help allergy families during Halloween. The even better option, however, is to have allergy-friendly treats available and separate from the allergen-containing options. Non-candy treats are the best option yet!

What non-candy treats can you think of to pass out on Halloween? Leave your ideas in the comments below!

Tags Allergies, halloween, Holiday, Parenting

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

Easy Fall Sensory Bin With Dyed Rice

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date October 13, 2019
6 Comments on Easy Fall Sensory Bin With Dyed Rice

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The fall fun has begun, and that means we’re doing ALL of the fall activities at our house. When Peyton created his Layers of the Earth 3D Project, I was inspired to dye rice in all fall-inspired colors and create an easy fall sensory bin.

How to Make an Easy Fall Sensory Bin by Dying Rice

What you need:

4 cups of white rice
4 teaspoons of white vinegar
Food coloring (I used orange, yellow, brown, and red)
4 Ziploc bags (any size) – one bag per color
Paper towel

Directions:

Put 1 cup of rice in each Ziploc bag.
Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar into each bag of rice.
Add a differet color of food coloring to each bag.
Zip the bag and mix the rice with the food coloring.
Once the rice is completely coated and dyed to the color you want, dump it onto dry papertowel and let it dry for about 1 hour
Once all of the dyed rice is dry, mix the 4 colors together in a bowl or sensory table.
Add small Halloween toys or fall colored leaves for more fun.

Halloween Dyed Rice Sensory Bin

Using the same ingredients and similar steps, you can make an easy hallowed sensory bin for your kiddos, too! Instead of separating the rice in 1 cup increments into 4 separate bags, you will put two cups of rice into two separate bags (4 cups of rice total, still).

Once the rice is distributed, you will put 2 teaspoons of vinegar into each of the 2 bags, and then put orange food coloring into one bag and black food coloring into the other bag.

Follow the remaining steps, waiting for the dyed rice to dry before mixing colors together.

Another Easy Halloween Sensory Idea

Instead of doing orange and black for the Halloween sensory bin, you could dye all of the rice purple and add fun things like googly eyes or witches cauldrons in the sensory bin.

You could really do this however you want. Just follow the steps and change up the colors as needed.

And if your kids are like my kids they will do this:

I’m not sure if I should blame Liam or Josie for mixing the fall sensory bin with the Halloween sensory bin, and then they added purple and pink rice, too.. they both blamed one another. Still fun, though!

For more Halloween fun checkout these posts:

Final Thoughts On Easy Fall Sensory Bin With Dyed Rice

I love fun and easy activities, so this easy fall sensory bin with dyed rice was perfect for us. It was incredibly easy to make, pretty inexpensive, and the food coloring goes a LONG way so we were able to make a ton of dyed rice in all different colors.

My kids loved this… my 11-year-old loved it just as much as my 2-year-old, so it’s definitely a hit with everyone. My favorite part is that it is easy to clean up. You can simply sweep it up and throw it away, with no sticking or staining.

What is your favorite easy sensory activity to do with your kids? Have you tried dyed rice before? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, DIY, fall, halloween, Holiday, How to, Preschool, sensory play, toddler activities, tot school

Craft crafts Free Activities Holiday Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

4 Simple Fall Handprint Crafts For Kids

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 23, 2019
16 Comments on 4 Simple Fall Handprint Crafts For Kids

**I originally wrote this Fall Handprint Crafts post for my old blog, which I do not post to anymore. I decided to move it over here when I realized it was still being shared.**

Years ago, I worked as an infant/toddler teacher. I taught one-year-old toddlers, which was so much fun. Between my classroom of Wonderful One’s and my own babies at home, I did lots of simple crafts that could be used as keepsakes for years to come.

Handprint crafts are always my favorite because, let’s face it, what parent doesn’t want to see their tiny toddler’s handprint when that tiny toddler grows to become a not-so-tiny child, teen, adult, etc.? I know that my little’s won’t be little for long, and I want every memory possible of how little they once were.

Without further ado, here are a few of my favorite simple handprint crafts for fall.

Simple Fall Handprint Crafts

1. Frankenstein handprint craft

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For this cute little Frankenstein, you’ll just paint 4 of the child’s fingers black (do not pain the thumb), and the rest of the hand (not the thumb) green. Then, place their hands flat on the paper. Once the paint is dry, use a sharpie or other black marker to draw the face and the lines.

2. Handprint pumpkin with fingerprint stem

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For this fall handprint craft, you will paint your little one’s hand orange and place it flat on a white piece of paper. Then, paint their pointer finger green and place that flat on the same sheet of white paper. While you wait for the paint to dry, cut an orange pumpkin shape and a green stem shape out of construction paper.

Once the paint is dry, you’ll cut around the handprint and around the fingerprint. Have your little one help you glue the handprint to the pumpkin shape and the fingerprint stem to the green paper, and then glue the stem to the pumpkin.

3. Handprint leaves

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I love, love, love this one!! You’ll paint the child’s hand 3 separate times, once for a yellow handprint, one for red, and once for orange. You’ll put all 3 handprints on the same page, wait for them to dry, and then draw “stems” through the handprint leaves.

Check out my post about this craft here —-> Fall Crafts for Kids – Handprint Leaves – Mom Wife Wine

4. Handprint spider

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This one was so much fun and the kids really loved it. You’ll paint your child’s hand black (excluding the thumb) and put it flat on the paper but sideways. Then, you’ll do the same with the other hand, overlapping the palms of the hand. Once the paint is dry, add a white smile and googly eyes. You can even add a spider web to the craft, too.

Side Notes on Fall HandPrint Crafts

*If you don’t know what kind of paint to use, here is the link to what I use!

*Always remember to write the child’s name and the date somewhere on the craft (this could be on the back).

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

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Final Thoughts on Simple Fall Handprint Crafts

You could really turn any Halloween or fall-themed idea into a fall handprint craft of some kind. You just have to be creative and use your imagination (or Pinterest, of course).

What do you think? Which ones are your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know!

Do you love fall as much as I do?

Check out my free fall bucket list printable!

Tags craft, cute craft, easy craft, fall, fingerpaint, halloween, handprint, handprint craft, Holiday, infants, keepsake, little kid, paint, painting, Toddler, toddler activities, toddlers, tot school

Family Activities Holiday Parenting Printables

Fall Bucket List – 25 Things to do This Fall (+ a free fall printable!)

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 22, 2019
26 Comments on Fall Bucket List – 25 Things to do This Fall (+ a free fall printable!)

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Fall is one of my favorite seasons… probably my most favorite if I’m being honest with myself. While I love all things summer, fall has a sweet place in my heart. It’s the first sign that the holidays are coming, there are so many fun things to do in the fall, and you’re not as likely to sweat your butt off doing outdoor activities. This fall bucket list will ensure you complete all of the wonderful fall activities you desire.

Cute clothes, warm drinks, family time, pretty leaves, football, getting cozy watching movies, pumpkin everything, apple everything else…. I could go on and on. I made a list of all the things I want to do this fall, and I decided to share my fall bucket list and printable with you!

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

25 Things to do This Fall: Fall Bucket List

1. Apple picking

Find a local apple orchard and make a day trip out of it! Bring home all the apples you need to make apple pie, apple crisp, apple strudel, apple bars, apple sauce… be prepared to share with your friends and family!

2. Pumpkin patch

This is another day trip you can do with your entire family. Not only can you pick out your own pumpkins, some pumpkin patches offer tractor rides and corn mazes.

3. Corn maze

There is nothing that says fall quite like a corn maze. I let my kids take turns picking which way to go, and it doesn’t always turn out well. It sure is fun, though, no matter how long it takes!

4. Tractor ride

Our favorite pumpkin patch offers a tractor ride that takes you to the corn maze. Convenient, right?!

5. Jump in leaves

This is one of the most simple and easiest fall activities you can do. You’ll feel like a kid again.

6. Fall photo shoot

Get your kids cute one day (or make yourself cute… no one said it has to be a kid photo shoot), and take pictures in the leaves. Get beautifully colored trees in the background, put some pumpkins in there… get creative! Fall offers all the free backdrops.

7. Haunted house

It’s not Halloween time without a haunted house. You can’t skip out on this one.

8. Halloween craft

My kids and I love to do crafts. I like to decorate my kitchen with crafts that they’ve made. It might look cluttered, but they love to see their artwork on display, and it really gives a festive feeling to the house.

9. Thanksgiving craft

Think turkeys and thankfulness… you can’t go wrong there. Use Thanksgiving craft time to talk to your kids about the meaning of Thanksgiving and how it originated.

10. Carve a jack-o-lantern

You didn’t go to the pumpkin patch just to look around, did you? Use those pumpkins for something scary!

11. Watch a scary movie

Better yet, make it a marathon with all your favorite snacks. I like to make this a date night for the hubby and I after our kids go to bed.

12. Go for a scenic walk & look at leaves

We love to take quick walks around our neighborhood in the evenings to look at the leaves changing and falling. Sometimes we head downtown and explore, as all of the businesses look so pretty when the leaves start to change in front of them.

13. Make home made soup

Nothing says fall like a bowl of hot soup. Find a new soup recipe, throw it in the crock pot, and have yourself a delicious fall meal.

14. Paint nails a fall color

Fall colors are so much fun and can really set the tone.

15. Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

This is a favorite to do with my kids!! We eat our favorite fall treats and cuddle up to watch together.

16. Bake pumpkin bread

Share some with your neighbors, friends, or family.

17. Make apple pie

Don’t share this. Keep it all to yourself. Just kidding, kind of.

18. Drink cider & eat donuts

You can’t have cider without donuts. Well, I guess you can, but it’s not the same.

19. Chili & football night

I choose a day when my husband’s favorite NFL team (even though the Raider’s suck) is playing for chili and football night. I also make a few yummy finger foods and get a variety of drinks so that everyone enjoys it… even my hubby when his team is losing.

20. Caramel apples

I’m really excited to do this. I’ve never done it with my kids before, and I plan on slicing the apples into wedges, putting them on skewers, dipping them in caramel and offering a couple candy options.

21. Read “October” by Robert Frost

This made the list because of my love for Robert Frost. I read it aloud to my kids, hoping to instill a love for his work in them, too.

22. Have a bon fire

Fall is bon fire season. Not too cold, but cold enough to enjoy sitting next to a hot fire. S’mores anyone?

23. Create a craft using materials from nature

Our favorite thing is to gather leaves from our yard to use for fall wreaths, sensory bottles, and just gluing onto paper.

24. Go for a nature walk

We like to find nearby trails that we can explore. If your kids are joining, do a nature scavenger hunt with them. You can make a list of items and challenge your kids to collect these while walking.

Your list can include small insects, flowers, and even stones. Add an exciting twist to the activity by allowing the kids to examine what they have gathered, and discover what these are made of through an easy-to-use kids microscope.

This activity is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while learning and having fun at the same time. Also, using a kids microscope would guarantee a 100% wow-factor for the whole family.

25. Donate to a food bank

Fall is the time to really show how thankful and appreciative you are of all you have and to give back to those who are less fortunate.

Free Fall Bucket List Printable

Final Thoughts On Fall Bucket List: Things to do This Fall

Printing this fall bucket list and displaying it on my refrigerator has gotten me so excited about fall. Next up, pulling out all of my fall decorations!

What is your favorite thing about fall? Tell me about it in the comments!

Tags craft, fall, Family Activities, Goals, Holiday, nature, Parenting, Plans, Printables, Things to Do

Adulting Big Kid Family Activities Holiday Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

National Give Something Away Day: Two Free Printables – Updated

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 14, 2019
6 Comments on National Give Something Away Day: Two Free Printables – Updated

Updated 9/20/2019 to add my Christmas gift to you – a free Christmas list printable!

As I was preparing for the upcoming holiday season, I decided I wanted to give my readers an early Christmas gift. I hope you and your children enjoy it!

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Happy National Give Something Away Day!! Today I encourage you to find things in your home that you could do without and give them to someone who could use them. My kids and I will all be giving a few things away, but I also want to give something to all of my readers!

Have You Thought About Starting a Blog?

If you have ever thought about starting a blog but life got in the way, there is no better time than right now!! It’s not as hard as you think, and you can do things at your own pace. Trust me, I have 5 kids, work a job outside of my home, and I still find time to run this blog.

It’s so possible to have an awesome blog even with a busy life, and it’s FUN. When I have time to myself to relax, I choose to work on my blog. You won’t regret taking the plunge!

If you want to know how to start a blog in 3 easy steps, check out my blog post that tells you how to do it!

Free Blog Checklist Printable

If you already have a blog or you decide to start one today, this blog checklist printable will be perfect for you! Now, this is the checklist I follow on a daily basis, meaning after work and spending time with my family. When I have some free time, I will likely spend way more time on each category.

daily-blog-checklist-3 Download

Final Thoughts On National Give Something Away Day

Now, after you start your blog, download the printable, and get started on setting everything up, find something in your home to give to someone else. The things that get little to no use in your own home may make a huge difference in someone else’s life.

Tags adulting, big kid, Blog, Holiday, Printables, Teenager, Toddler

Adulting For the Home Gifts Holiday

12 Amazon Prime Day Must-Haves

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 13, 2019

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Amazon Prime Day (AKA: Christmas in July) happens only one time per year, and Amazon offers TONS of amazing deals you can’t find any other time. I love Amazon all year long, but I’m even more fond of it in July. Prime day is on the 15th and 16th of this month, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Since I am an Amazon Affiliate partner, I get early access to Prime Day deals and a sneak peak of the deals to come. It would just be rude if I kept all of this awesome info to myself, so I’m going to share it with you, too!

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

Amazon Prime Membership Perks

There are literally SO MANY benefits for Amazon Prime members, it’s probably impossible to list them all. Just so you can get an idea of some of the best benefits, though, I’ll give it my best to list as many as possible.

Free shipping (sometimes same day!!)
Awesome deals that aren’t available for non-members
Watching movies and TV shows
Free games
Ad free music

How to Join Amazon Prime

It’s so easy to join Amazon Prime. All you have to do is click the image below, and you’ll be taken straight to the sign-up page. You can do a free trial at first to make sure you love all the awesome features and exclusives that come with it.

You can cancel at any time, so there is no commitment if you sign up. It’s super easy to cancel, too. You won’t have to deal with calling anyone or waiting a certain amount of time, you can simply cancel right on the Amazon website (although I’m certain you won’t want to cancel).

Must-Have Prime Day Deals

Fire TV Stick
Instant Pot
Bosch Drill
Robot Vacuum
Laptops
Amazon Echo Dot
Kindle Paperwhite
Phone accessories such as this wireless charger
Xbox 1
PlayStation 4
TVs
Air Fryer

Final Thoughts On Amazon Prime Day Must-Haves

There are going to be SO MANY awesome deals on Prime Day, and there are even some offers leading up to the actual even, so the sooner you sign up the better! What items are you hoping to find for a good deal on Prime Day? Tell me about them in the comments!

10 Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date July 9, 2019
18 Comments on 10 Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

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Teenagers seem like a tough group of kids to buy gifts for. Does anyone ever know what it is they truly want for their birthday or Christmas? I sure didn’t, but our newly 15-year-old planned ahead and gave me a detailed list to follow, so I’ve got plenty of gift ideas for a teenage girl.

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

If you’re anything like me, gift giving is a big deal and you want to give the best gifts. This also means having to know exactly what to buy, or at least a general idea of what that person loves. If you have a teenage girl to shop for, this teenage girl gift guide should steer you in the right direction!

Gift Ideas For a Teenage Girl – Gifts She Will Love

1. Air Pods

Apple Air Pods were at the top of our teenager’s birthday list this year, which I’m really not surprised by. At first, I didn’t want to spend the money on something that I thought was so silly, but since she wanted them so badly, we went ahead and made the purchase. I’m so thankful that we did now, because she uses them literally every day and is so appreciative and happy about them.

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2. Air Force 1 Shoes

When I was a teenager Air Force 1’s were hot, and everyone had them or wanted them. It seemed like everyone had them, at leas. Now, my teenager wears them!! This is just crazy to me.

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3. Nike Leggings

We all know how much teenagers love leggings (and maybe us mom’s love leggings a little, too), so of course our teenager asked for specific Nike leggings for her birthday this year. I wasn’t kidding when I said she gave a detailed list. She’s into the high waist style, so she got one regular fit and one high waist.

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Black Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/32e7dSz

Gray Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/2LBRBSK

4. Photo Clip Lights

These photo clip lights are perfect for any style of bedroom, so it’s pretty safe to say that any teenage girl would love them. Nevaeh (our 15 year old) has so many photos hanging around her room and loves different kinds of lights, and she was pretty excited to open this on her birthday and put more pictures up.

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5. Makeup Vanity Mirror with Lights

Nevaeh really wants this vanity mirror with lights, and she may just get it from Santa this year. It’s so cute and will give her a quiet place to use all of her makeup, skin, and hair products. I’m hoping that it also means she’ll start storing her products in her bedroom instead of all over my bathroom, too. Wishful thinking, I’m sure. LOL!

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6. Victrola Vintage Bluetooth Turntable with Speakers

This is probably the coolest bluetooth speaker I’ve ever seen. Nevaeh got it as a gift from her aunt, and she uses it all the time. It gives her room a vintage vibe, and she can actually play records on it.

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7. Bath Bombs

Teenage girls love to pamper themselves, and there is no better way to begin a pamper session than in a bathtub full of hot water with a bath bomb. When buying a gift for a teenage girl, she would love this variety pack by itself, or with a candle and her favorite kind of chocolate.

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8. Vlogging Camera

So a vlog is a video blog, which is what you see in YouTube videos oftentimes. Teenagers are way into vlogging right now, and they love having a vlogging camera to record themselves and their friends living their lives. It’s so much fun for them, and I’m all about encouraging this kind of creativity and skill set.

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9. Wall Tapestry

These are SO cute and fit the theme of our teenager’s bedroom. They’re really popular right now, and you can’t really go wrong if you choose this wall tapestry or something similar. Bedroom decor is normally a safe bet when choosing a gift for a teenage girl.

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10. Hydro Flask Water Bottle

So honestly, I’m not sure that I see the hype here, but teenage girls are obsessed with these Hydro Flask water bottles. They come in all different colors, but Nevaeh chose white for herself. Once they have the water bottle, they’ll want to order stickers from a website called RedBubble, and cover the outside of the water bottle in the stickers.

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Other Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

iTunes giftcard
Amazon giftcard
Apple music subscription
Gift Card to her favorite store
Ipsy subscription
A trip to a place she has never been

Final Thoughts on Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

While they may seem complex and difficult, teenage girls are actually very easy to please. So, as long as you know what the girl is into, you can likely find an easy gift to give her that she will love. All of the gift ideas in this blog post will make her happy, or you can simply choose a gift card or subscription that she will love.

What other gift ideas for a teenage girl can you think of? Let me know in the comments!

Other Gift Guides

Tags Birthday, Gift Guide, gifts, Holiday, Teenager