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Holiday How To Sensory Play Summer

How to Make an Easy 4th of July Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles are one of my favorite ways to make a holiday more exciting, and this 4th of July sensory bottle was a hit with my kids. This sensory activity keeps the kids busy as they make the sensory bottle and watch the glitter and small objects swirl together and settle back into the bottom.

Making a sensory bottle is easier than it sounds, and you don’t need many materials. You can also substitute the materials I recommend for something else you have on hand already.

*this post contains affiliate links*

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Benefits of Sensory Bottles for Kids

Research shows that sensory activities benefit children in many ways. It promotes their mental health, encouraging emotional regulation, relaxation, and tension relief. Sensory activities stimulate interest, promoting curiosity and encouraging a child to learn and explore.

Sensory bottles help build sensory skills by stimulating the senses. The differing colors, objects, sounds, and materials help. Additionally, when the child touches the bottle to turn, twist, shake, or squeeze, it furthers the sensory experience.

Sensory bottles stimulate fine and gross motor coordination. They also help a child focus as their eyes follow the movements. It encourages them to be present and set aside distractions.

How to Make a 4th of July Sensory Bottle

Materials:

  • A clear bottle (recyclable water bottle, tea bottle, or a glass jar – I used an empty vinegar bottle)
  • Water (from the tap is fine)
  • Glitter glue (I used the silver from this one, I probably should have used 2 of them)
  • 4th of July necklaces (or confetti)
  • Hot glue gun
glitter glue, sensory bottles, glitter for sensory bottle, craft glitter glue

Directions:

  1. Empty and clean a clear bottle.
  2. Fill the bottle 3/4 of the way up with water. You will fill it more after you add the rest of the materials.
  3. Add 1- 2 bottles of glitter glue, depending on the look you are going for. I used 1, but I wish I would have used 2. My bottle is larger than a regular water bottle, however, because I used a vinegar bottle.
  4. Cut 4th of July beaded necklaces into small pieces and put them into the bottle of water and glitter, or use 4th of July confetti instead of the necklace pieces.
  5. Fill the bottle the rest of the way with water.
  6. Replace the lid, and hot glue it shut.
4th of july, sensory bottle, july 4th, july 4, independence day, america, patriotic

Final Thoughts on 4th of July Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles are easy, fun, and so much fun. This 4th of July sensory bottle was a great way to kick start our July 4th celebrations. What fun activities do you have planned for Independence Day?

For more sensory fun, click here. Or, you can read other 4th of July ideas in a separate post by clicking here.

Categories
Adulting Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday How To Parenting Summer Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

4 Simple Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Home

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays, and in my eyes, it’s the highlight of summer. On the 4th of July, my family normally celebrates by going to a barbeque, playing in the water, spending time relaxing outside and watching fireworks. I also try to do something fun to teach my kids about the meaning of the day.

This year, we will be celebrating at home and I want to make sure we have a good time. I also want to have a simple and relaxing day, so I had to come up with a plan to make the 4th of July simple and exciting.

Fun fact: I love learning new facts, so it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t research things we don’t know about the 4th of July. Another fun fact, I also like to share my random information, so:

things you didn't know about the 4th of july, 4th of july fun facts, Independence Day, July 4

4 Things You Didn’t Know About the 4th of July (but now you do)

Although I teach my kids about the reason for celebrating Independence Day there is still quite a bit we didn’t know, and I wanted to change that this year. I mean, are we really even American if we don’t know a few fun facts about Independence Day?!

1. While the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted by Congress on July 4th, it was actually voted for on July 2nd. Because of this, John Adams celebrated the 2nd of July as Independence day and reportedly turned down celebration invitations on the 4th of July.

2. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826. They are also the only two who signed the Declaration of Independence who then went on to become President of the United States.

3. The tradition of lighting off fireworks began on the one year anniversary of America’s independence.

4. Americans consume around 150 million hotdogs on the 4th of July.

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

Simple Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Home

1. Have a barbecue.

It isn’t July 4th if there is no 4th of July barbeque. The traditional meal of hamburgers and hotdogs with delicious side dishes is a popular way to go, or you can spice it up and offer steak instead. We’ll probably be doing the hotdog/hamburger method since my kids don’t tend to appreciate a good steak.

For 4th of July barbeque ideas click on the image:

4th of July barbeque ideas, ideas for the 4th of July

2. Wear 4th of July themed clothing.

It’s more fun to dress up for special days, and it’s easy to dress up for the 4th of July! Your kids will always remember that part of the tradition, and you’ll get some great pictures out of it!

4th of july outfit, daddy and me 4th of july, july 4th outfit
Matching 4th of July t-shirts (click)

3. Plan fun 4th of July activities.

You can do crafts, sensory activities, games, or even go on a scavenger hunt. Whatever fun activities you plan, your kids will love it, especially if it’s Independence Day themed. For some ideas, check out my post 6 4th of July Crafts and Activities.

If you want to create an easy sensory bottle to celebrate, check out this post:

4. Watch fireworks.

No matter where you celebrate from or what you plan to do, you have to watch fireworks! If you or your kids don’t like loud noises, try sparklers instead. Fireworks (or something similar) are a must when it comes to simple ways to celebrate the 4th of July at Home. They are actually on our Summer Bucket List, and I can’t wait to cross that one off!

things you didn't know about the 4th of july, 4th of july fun facts, Independence Day, July 4

Final Thoughts On Simple Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Home

The 4th of July doesn’t have to be crazy, expensive, or stressful in order to have a good time. A low key and relaxing event can make the day more special to you and your family.

What are some of the ways you plan to celebrate July 4th this year? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Adulting Gifts Holiday Parenting

7 Father’s Day Gift Ideas That He Will Love

Father’s Day is one week away, can you believe it?! If you’re anything like me, you haven’t done your shopping yet and need some Father’s Day Gift Ideas. Luckily, if we order on Amazon, it’ll still be here on time.

Amazon is literally my go-to for shopping. They offer a wide variety of products, and they suggest new stuff to me based on my past searches. I can also find tons of items that I can’t find in the store, and it’s generally a better price, too.

Then, the best part is…. you can get free 2-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime. You can sign up for a free trial, but I know you’ll love it so much and want to keep it. It comes with TV shows, music, books, free shipping, and many other perks.

father's day

Anyhow, moving on. Let’s take a look at my Father’s Day Gift Ideas so that we can all have something for our guys to open on Father’s Day.

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

Father's day gift ideas

7 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

1. Panasonic Electric Shaver and Trimmer for Men

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

I am highly considering this electric shaver and trimmer for my husband. You can use it wet or dry, it comes with 5 blades, and it has a pivoting head. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such a cool shaver/trimmer.

2. Compact Circular Saw with Laser Guide

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

This tool is awesome because it comes with everything you will need to cut through many different materials. It’s not too large, so it is easy to move around when needed.

3. Echo (2nd Generation)

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

My husband is a huge fan of Alexa. We have the Echo Dot right now, but it’s a couple years old. He’s been hinting that he wants a bigger one, so this might be the perfect gift for him.

4. Nest Thermostat

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

Your guy will be able to control the temperature of the home from anywhere. The Nest thermostat learns your habits after about a week of use, so it will adjust itself without you having to do a thing. If you decide to change your day up a bit, you can still adjust the temperature of your home to save energy while you are away, even if it is a time you’d normally want your home cooler.

5. Olympic Curl Bar & Weights

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

My husband has been asking for a curl bar and weights for a while now, so I’ve actually already ordered this one for him. Going this route for exercise equipment saves space as opposed to a full size weight bench, too.

6. Quick Dry Hammock

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

This hammock can be hooked up between trees, on a patio, or on a deck. He’ll be able to use this anywhere, giving the dad in your life a chance to relax. Another bonus, it holds two people and is easy to travel with.

7. Apple AirPods

Father's Day Gift Ideas
Link

My guy is definitely an Apple guy, so he would be excited to get these Air pods for Father’s Day. These wireless headphones connect to an Apple device via Bluetooth, and any sound is paused when the Air pods are removed from the ear.

father's day gift ideas

Final Thoughts On Father’s Day Gift Ideas

If you’ve waited until the last minute to do your Father’s Day shopping, I’ve got you covered with this simple gift guide. These Father’s Day gift ideas will at least get you started on your search, and if you hurry, the gifts will still arrive on time.

What gifts did you get (or plan on getting) for the Fathers in your life? Let me know in the comments!

father's day gift ideas
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Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday Home How To Our Family Parenting Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

10 Memorable Easter Ideas To Make This Year Special

In the past, Easter hasn’t been a very memorable holiday for my family. We celebrate with one side of the family the week before Easter, and then not at all with the other side of the family.

We would do Easter baskets in the morning, and then our big kids would head off to spend the day with their mom’s side of the family. The rest of us would just hang out at home and eat “normal day” foods for dinner. We always made it a fun day and spent lots of time playing with the littles, and we would make sure to do a small Easter egg hunt, but it was never an Easter worth remembering.

This year, I am looking forward to something completely different for Easter. I want this Easter to memorable and exciting, so I have spent the last few weeks searching for ideas and preparing for the big day, and I can’t wait until we get to celebrate!

10 Memorable Easter Ideas to Make This Year Special

1. Start the day with an Easter-themed breakfast

While the highlight of Easter morning is normally seeing what goodies the Easter bunny brought, breakfast could be a close second. I found the cutest Easter bunny pancakes while I was browsing Pinterest and immediately added them to my list of Easter festivities.

Since my little Liam is allergic to egg I will have to use my own recipe or substitute for the egg, but the idea will still be the same. I can’t wait to see my kids’ reaction when they see their Easter breakfast!!

memorable easter
Image from DIY Candy (click here for the link)

2. Decorate with fresh flowers

I am absolutely in love with having fresh flowers displayed around my home. Not only do they look beautiful, but they also add a fresh scent to the air that can’t be faked in any way. Love, love, love it.

For me, Easter is the day when I really start to feel like Spring is here (or near). I am hoping my family all feels that way on Easter, and having flowers decorating the house should help with that.

memorable easter
Image from One Good Thing (click for link)

3. Cook a traditional Easter dinner

I know many people cook on the grill on Easter but, for our family, that doesn’t seem very Easter-y. I mean, we cook on the grill so often during the spring and summer that I feel like it just makes Easter seem like any other day.

Having a traditional Easter dinner will make the day seem more festive and special, so my menu this year consists of ham, scalloped potatoes, Easter bunny shaped rolls, asparagus, carrots, and a variety of fruits.

memorable easter
Image from A Spicy Perspective (click for recipe)

4. Fill plastic Easter eggs with something other than candy

My kids get a ton of candy at our family Easter egg hunt so I hate buying them more candy for our own hunt. In the past, I have done it anyway and ended up with more candy than any family needs in a lifetime.

This year, I am going to fill the plastic Easter eggs with non-candy items instead. At first, I struggled to come up with a variety of items small enough for plastic Easter eggs so, in case you’re like me, I’m including my list of ideas for the Easter egg hunt.

Non-Candy Easter Egg Fillers

  • Tattoos
  • Plastic rings
  • A necklace
  • Pieces of papers with numbers that correspond with a specific larger item (kite, bubbles, chalk, activity book, etc.)
  • Un-inflated balloons
  • Tiny figurines (Dollar General has Paw Patrol characters that are small enough to fit)
  • Fingernail polish
  • “Coupons” (stay up 30 minutes past bedtime, have an extra 30 minutes of screen time, choose your favorite snack at the store, no chores for a day/week, etc.)
  • Coin money
  • Paper money
  • Hotwheels cars (I had to open the package to fit the car in the egg)
  • Goldfish crackers
  • Raisins
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This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

5. Have an “Easter egg hunt” for adults (AKA: Beer hunt)

Easter isn’t just for the kids!! Get out there and have some fun. You deserve it after all the careful planning you did for Easter!

Have a non-drinking adult hide the beer around the yard, and then the rest of the adults all rush off to see how many they can find. You keep (and drink) whatever you find, of course!

6. Do memorable Easter crafts

Easter crafts can be done anytime leading up to Easter, so you can get extra creative with this ideas. This is handy because you won’t have to squeeze all of the fun stuff into one single day. It also makes it possible for you to help your littles with their crafts, or you can take the time to talk about the meaning of Easter while working on crafts with them.

On the actual day of, you can plan a craft that the kids can do all on their own since you’re likely to be pretty busy that day.

A fun idea for a craft during the Easter day celebration is coloring pages. Kids will be able to do this at their leisure, and they won’t require adult assistance.

7. In the week leading up, do Easter-themed activities

This might be my most favorite part of any holiday. Easter is the most fun because of the plastic Easter egg idea, though. You can use plastic Easter eggs for so many activities, learning concepts, and sensory play.

Image from A Little Pinch of Perfect (click for link)
easter, make easter memorable, easy easter with kids, easter egg fillers that aren't candy, non-candy easter egg hunt, easter dinner, easter traditions
Image from The Educators’ Spin On It (Click for link)

Some of the other Easter activities I want to do with my kids this week include:

8. Make a special dessert (or 3)

Dessert is my favorite part of the meal, so I plan on making it extra special. Just like with the adult Easter hunt, adults cannot be forgotten at dessert time, either. I plan on making a few desserts; one that the adults will love, one that the kids will love, and one that everyone will love. This way, no one will be disappointed.

9. Have fun Easter treats throughout the day

You can help your kids get by until dinner with yummy Easter treats. I plan on bringing out one treat when we first start our celebration preparation, one while the food is cooking, and one later on while the adults are catching up. I want these treats to be Easter-themed, but also kind of interactive and fun.

10. Easter “Nailed It” challenge

I am so, so, so excited about this part. This idea came from the TV show on Netflix, and if you haven’t watched “Nailed It” on Nexflix, I highly recommend it. I already bought Easter cookie cutters and we are going to make sugar cookies in the shape of eggs, flowers, bunnies, and other Easter or spring inspired shapes.

Once the cookies are baked and cooled, we are going to choose a couple design ideas from Pinterest and have a challenge to see who can come closer to nailing the design.

easter, make easter memorable, easy easter with kids, easter egg fillers that aren't candy, non-candy easter egg hunt, easter dinner, easter traditions

Final Thoughts On Memorable Easter Ideas

Easter tends to be a “forgotten” holiday in our family. We don’t ignore the holiday or anything, but we have never gone all out before. This year, I plan on changing that. I want to make this Easter memorable for everyone in my family, adults included.

Tell me about your Easter plans!!! What traditions does your family follow? What new ideas do you want to implement?

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Holiday On My Mind

28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

I turned 28 on the 11th (and my baby turned 2 the same day!!) and I spent quite a bit of time reminiscing and reflecting on the past years of my life. With the reflection came some of the life lessons I have learned along the way. There have been so many events in my past that I always think I would want to go back and change but, if those events never happened, I wouldn’t have been able to learn these lessons. So, I guess I should say that I am thankful for the “bad” events in my life since they have guided my learning and living.

I want to be able to remember and recall these lessons quickly if need be. When I am having a bad day or beating myself up about something, I would love to be able to come back here, reference this post, and remember all of the things I’ve learned along the way. So, without further ado, here are 28 life lessons that I have learned in the past 28 years.

Life Lessons I Have Learned

1. You have to learn to love yourself.

2. You have to learn to admit when you are wrong.

3. If you realize something isn’t working for you, it’s OK to change your mind.

4. The opinion of others SHOULD NOT MATTER.

5. You have to say no sometimes.

6. You must communicate with your partner.

7. Being “ready” is impossible.

With all things in life, you will never be completely ready. For a baby, marriage, a new job, etc. You just have to have faith and jump in, ready or not, when life throws huge events your way. If you spend your time waiting until things are perfect or waiting to feel completely comfortable, you will never be able to get things done.

8. Friends are important, even if you are in a relationship.

9. You are harder on yourself than anyone else is.

10. Your past doesn’t define who you are now.

You should consider this when you are thinking of yourself, but also when you are thinking of other people. Everyone deserves a second chance.

11. Mental health and self-care should be a top priority.

I cannot stress this one enough. I spent too much time putting everyone else first when I desperately needed to think of my own well-being. Spending some time taking care of myself and doing things that I enjoy, as well as doing things to promote positive mental health (such as supplementing with natural remedies such as turmeric) all helped along the way.

12. Be honest with yourself and others.

Speaking of mental health, mine stands in the way of my honesty sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes when I say that I am “busy”, I’m really not. I sometimes despise myself for this, but it is easier (at the time), than saying that my depression/anxiety is standing in the way of my social life and that I just want to hibernate in my home until I’m feeling better.

Taking the easy way out may seem like the best option, but it really isn’t. People who truly care about you will understand what you are feeling, and they will respect you for being honest about why you can’t hang out or show up to an event.

13. Stop comparing yourself to others!!

14. Don’t lose your cool when people are looking.

15. Stop wishing your life away.

16. Appreciate the people who are honest with you.

Even if you don’t want to admit the truth.

17. Having kids is HARD, but so fulfilling.

18. There comes a point in life when age really is unimportant.

My husband is 11 years older than me, and we are truly perfect together.

19. Don’t settle!

Jobs, relationships, big investments, etc. Be patient until you find the perfect one for you.

20. Help others whenever you can.

21. You have to be your own person outside of your relationship.

Continue pursuing your own hobbies. Don’t let go of everything you love to do what your partner likes to do.

22. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

23. Avoid debt of all kinds.

24. Follow a budget!!!

25. Co-Parenting is HARD, but it does make life easier.

Happier kids, less stress, and just a more relaxed situation overall.

26. Never take out a student loan.

I learned this a little too late, and my job doesn’t even require a degree. I would take a pay cut if I took a job that I would need my degree for. Now, I have student loan payments monthly for pretty much the rest of my life.

27. Simplicity is key.

28. Children’s artwork DOES count as home decor.

life lessons

Life Lessons From My Husband

My husband wanted to offer some of his own life lessons, which are really helpful. Or something.

  1. Don’t zip your pants zipper too quickly.
  2. Do not lick a frozen pole.
  3. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. (Courtesy of TLC)
  4. Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys. (Courtesy of Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson)

Final Thoughts On 28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

Most of the lessons I’ve learned in life were learned the hard way. I’m sure many of you can relate to at least some of my mistakes.

I know that I’m missing some key lessons, so I’m sure I can relate to some of yours as well!! Leave a comment and let me know some of the life lessons you’ve learned in your years on this earth.

Categories
Family Activities For the Home Holiday Home How To Organization Our Family Parenting

Achievable Goals For The New Year

The New Year is already here, and I just sat down this morning to figure out my New Year’s Resolution. I wanted it to actually be achievable goals for the New Year. It was a tough call because I can honestly say I won’t be going to the gym every day (or even once a week… I have 5 kids LOL), I also won’t ALWAYS eat healthily so I’m not going to restrict myself there, either. Every resolution that I considered just didn’t seem right. 

I instead thought about what areas of my life I wanted to improve in, and things that I wanted to learn about. It seemed that everything I desire fits into two categories:

  • Finances
  • Home improvement
  • Routine
  • Family
achievable goals for the new year

Why This Didn’t Work For Me

Instead of heading into the rest of the year with vague resolutions to improve finances, improve our home, and focus on family, I decided to make a list of how I can accomplish all of those things.

I didn’t go overboard. There are so many more things I could have added to my list, but I wanted to start with an achievable goal. I figure that I will be more likely to follow my goals through when I actually have a goal that seems possible, instead of a vague idea to work toward the goal.

I didn’t want this: Spend more time with family.
Instead, I wanted something specific: Dates with kids weekly.

Then, I even went further into it and wrote:

“Dates with kids weekly. One kid each week, rotating schedule. After 5 weeks of individual kid dates, one big family outing. Then start over.

Not all of my achievable goals for the New Year were that long, either. That was probably the most complicated one. (List of all 10 of my goals for the New Year will be listed at the end of the post).

Later tonight I plan on sitting down and making a concrete schedule of dates with the kids. I may make and print out a calendar of the whole year and write it on there. Then I can put it into a binder so that the kids can always look and see when their next date is.

achievable goals for the new year

Plus, it might be fun to put a memento from the date in the binder afterward. Then, next year on New Year’s Eve we can look back at all of our date memories from the year.

I wanted to figure out a plan to implement each of the things I wanted to achieve. Once I narrowed it all down and wrote out my detailed list, all of the fun ideas came naturally when I began typing up my plans. The “date binder” was one of those that just came as I was planning.

So – back to the achievable goals for the New Year. Instead of just choosing one or two vague ideas of which areas I wanted to improve in, I came up with 10 smaller achievable goals.

10 Achievable Goals For The New Year

achievable goals for the new year
  1. Follow chore/payment chart (blog post about that is coming soon so check back!!)
  2. Start seeing a larger increase in the savings account.
  3. Hire someone to do the yard work. (so serious. we can never keep up and I’m sick of stressing about it.)
  4. FREAKING LAUNDRY. (and yes, this is how I wrote it on my list. I guess this one might be vague but I will be typing a schedule for everyone in the house to follow.)
  5. Dates with kids weekly. One kid each week, rotating schedule. After 5 weeks of individual kid dates, one big family outing. Then start over. (We have 5 kids, hence the 5 weeks. If you have less/more, adjust the number accordingly).
  6. Crunch numbers for vacations for the year before January 14th. Come up with a savings plan and a plan of when to make payments by February 1st.
  7. Post a new blog post 1 time per week.
  8. Make $150 on TextBroker every week.
  9. Lose 40 pounds. 10 pounds every 3 months. First goal: Lose 10 pounds by March 1st.
  10. Buy “clutter baskets” for each person in the home. Put anything they’ve left lying around the house in those baskets and distribute accordingly after school.
achievable goals for the new year

Final Thoughts On Achievable Goals For The New Year

All 10 of these goals are achievable goals for the new year. I won’t have to make a HUGE change in my lifestyle, I’ll just have to plan a little better and look for ways to cut costs while also making more money. Plus, I just need a plan to contain all the freaking clutter that my family accumulates each day.

I never follow through with my New Years Resolutions because I never come up with a list of ways to actually accomplish my goals in life. This time is different.

It may sound crazy to have 10 New Years Resolutions, but if they really are achievable goals for the new year, you can hit your goal sooner and see all the progress you have made. Plus, when you do accomplish one, you can come up with an even bigger goal next time.

Did you set any goals for yourself for the New Year? Tell me about them in the comments!

achievable goals for the new year
Categories
Gifts Holiday Home

5 Simple Tips To Get Away With Re-gifting

Before anyone gets offended, this post about re-gifting is *mostly* a joke. You know you’ve done it, though. 😉

We all get little gifts that we may never use… and what do we do with them? Do you store them in a closet for years and forget all about them, or do you re-gift them to someone who may actually get a use out of it?

Re-gifting can be tricky, and you’re taking a chance of someone being offended by your actions. If you do it right, though, no one will ever know, right?!

Before you re-gift something, here are a few tips you should follow.

Tips for re-gifting

Tips For Re-gifting

1. Make sure you don’t re-gift the gift to the person who originally gave it to you.

I know people who have “re-gifting closets” or a “re-gifting shelf” where they store all items they want to re-gift until an occasion comes up that requires a gift. This could be a great idea… until it’s not.

What if you stored a gift in the “re-gifting closet” and then a couple months pass and you need a house-warming gift? You suddenly remember that baking set you got for Christmas a couple months before and you rush to get it and wrap it up. You arrive at the house-warming party, set the gift down, and set about mingling. Fast forward to when it is time to open gifts.

The host of the party begins to open your gift, only to realize that you gifted her (or him) the same present that they had given you for Christmas. When this happens, you will both be embarrassed… the host because you obviously didn’t like the gift they got you, and you are embarrassed because you accidentally re-gifted a gift to the person who originally gave you the gift!!

This could be a problem if you give the gift and another guest at the party recognizes it as the one they gave you, as well.

You have to be careful if you are ballsy enough to re-gift. Maybe tape a piece of paper to the gift that says who gave it to you so that you can prevent a similar situation from happening.

2. Remember to remove the original gift tag.

If there is a gift tag on the bag or the package that the gift is in, make sure you remove it. Nothing will make it a more obvious re-gift than leaving a gift tag right on the gift that says the gift was FOR you, from someone else.

3. Don’t let your kids know you are re-gifting.

Not only do they have big mouths and may possibly blab to the new recipient that the gift was actually given by someone else, they may also pick up bad habits. If they see you re-gifting something you received, they may think it’s okay to not show appreciation. They may also tell the original gift-giver that you didn’t like your gift and gave it to someone else.

4. Don’t give the gift to someone who personally knows the original gift-giver.

Could you imagine one of your good friends giving you a gift and then seeing it in another friend’s home? I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard to make the connection. This could happen with family members, as well.

5. Just keep it.

This is the easiest option. It may collect dust in your closet, but at least your conscience is clear. Plus, there is no chance of the original gift giver or the new gift receiver finding out about the re-gift. You will also be setting a good example for your kiddos.

If you have a best friend, sibling, or even child who would appreciate the gift, just give it to them. Don’t wrap it and claim it as a gift you thought of and picked out on your own. Let them know that you thought of them when you opened it and that you think they would get more use out of it than you would.

Final Thoughts on Re-gifting

Re-gifting can be a tricky situation. While you’d hate to have a gift taking up closet space, you could spare the feelings of all involved by either re-gifting carefully and thoughtfully, or you could just choose to keep the gift.

This is an opportunity to set a good example for your kids, as well. You can say thank you, show appreciation, and then keep the gift that was chosen for you. This may teach your kids to be appreciative and polite.

Another option: You could just give (not as a gift) the item to someone close to you. Make it clear that you received it from someone else but don’t think you’ll use it very much.

We have all re-gifted something at one point in our lives, though, so if you choose to do so this holiday season, remember to follow these tips. Everyone will be spared the hurt/embarrassment associated with re-gifting, and your kids won’t be given the wrong idea.

Have you ever re-gifted something you received? What was it and how did it work out for you?

If you haven’t re-gifted, can you give tips on what to do with the gift instead if you will not be personally using it? Leave a comment!

five tips for re-gifting
Categories
Family Activities For the Home Holiday How To Winter

8 Ways to Get Your Fireplace Ready For Winter

With cold weather coming, you are probably ready to warm up in front of your fireplace. Not only will you stay warm, but your house will also heat up without raising your electricity bill. Before you start a fire, however, you must get your fireplace ready for winter. Doing so will protect your home from a house fire.

Whether this is your first time ever using the fireplace or if you use it every single year, you should complete the process before using it for the season.

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

Get Your Fireplace Ready For Winter, Fireplace, Fireplace safety, get fireplace ready, home, home safety, get home ready for winter, winter, get ready for cold

How to Get Your Fireplace Ready For Winter

Clean and Inspect the Firebox

You only have to clean it if it wasn’t cleaned out the year before. Any soot or old wood in the firebox should be removed. When you’re removing soot, you should wet it down before removing it to avoid having the ash go into the air.

Once the firebox is cleaned, you should look for any cracks or areas that are missing mortar. Make note of those areas so you can have them repaired.

Inspect the Fue and Damper

The flue and damper regulate the airflow inside the chimney. If they are dirty, they may not open and close properly. You should clean them, and then make sure they are working properly.

Inspect the Gasket

The gasket seals the door and should be inspected every year before the fireplace is used. The door should also be checked for damage. Damaged or missing gaskets can cause too much oxygen to reach the fire, which may cause a house fire.

Clean the Blower

Some fireplaces have a blower, so if yours has one, it needs to be cleaned every year. If you don’t, buildup can occur.

Have your Chimney Swept

Once a year, you should call a professional to sweep your chimney. Oftentimes, soot and debris are left in the chimney from the previous winter. When this happens, it can cause a house fire if it isn’t cleaned out before being used the following year. A professional should always do the chimney sweeping because they have the necessary equipment and expertise.

Inspect the Outside of the Chimney

Check for cracks, loose bricks, or missing mortar in the structure of the chimney and the lining. Make a note of anything you see that may be an issue.

Have any Damages Repaired When You Get Your Fireplace Ready For Winter

A professional should handle all of the repairs. Professionals have the proper materials to fix both the inside and the outside of the fireplace. Plus, a reliable professional (read reviews before hiring anyone!!) knows for certain what they are doing. If the repairs are done incorrectly, it could cause a house fire.

Make Sure the Fireplace Has a Cap

Having a cap on your chimney prevents birds, rain, leaves, small animals, and other debris from going into the chimney. You will want to make sure yours is still there and that it doesn’t need to be repaired or replaced.

What to do When Your Fireplace is Ready

Before you light the first fire of the season, make sure your smoke detectors are working properly. If they aren’t, replace the batteries or install new detectors.

Get Your Fireplace Ready For Winter

After that, you can sit back, read a book, and get cozy in front of your fireplace.

Categories
Holiday Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning Toys

Gift Ideas for a 3 Year Old Girl

Christmas is coming so we all have a whole list of people to buy for. It can become overwhelming trying to find the PERFECT gift for so many people. A gift guide can come in handy for that. We have five kids and a large extended family so, while I LOVE shopping for gifts, sometimes I draw a blank on what gift to give to a certain person and I look for gift ideas online.

When I have to buy gifts for a child of a different age range than I am familiar with, I look on Pinterest for a gift guide. Do you do the same? If you do, I can help you out with some of those. I’m starting with a gift guide for a 3-year-old girl first because my daughter’s birthday is coming up.

My daughter is turning 3 years old next week!! It is so unbelievable.

I’m excited about her birthday because I know she is going to LOVE her gifts. She is a girly girl, but she also doesn’t mind playing rough and getting dirty.

The only problem is, she already has the stuff she really loves. We don’t want to buy her toys that she will get bored with, and we don’t have space for many more large objects. In desperate need of gift ideas, I turned to Amazon.

Once I began looking on Amazon, things just started standing out to me that I KNOW he will love. I’m sure you all run into that with the kids in your life, too. Gift giving can become tricky. That is where a nice gift guide full of gift ideas comes in handy.

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

Gift Guide for 3 year old

Gift Ideas For a 3-Year-Old Girl

JaxoJoy Complete Kids Cooking and Baking Set – 11 Pcs

gift for a 3 year old girl

My daughter loves to pretend she is a chef or baker, dressing up and pretending to cook. She also loves to wear an apron and chef hat while she helps me make dinner or bake brownies. She would be so excited to unwrap her own chef set.

This JaxoJoy Complete Kids Cooking and Baking chef set comes with an apron, chef hat, oven mitt, glove, whisk, wooden spoon, rolling pin, and four cookie cutters. My favorite thing about this set is that it comes with an oven mitt and glove. The polka dots and frills are so cute, as well.

The best part about this chef set is that the utensils can actually be used for cooking and baking. She doesn’t just have to pretend with this set… she can actually help cook with utensils that are her size! How fun is that?!

Of course, she can still play pretend with it. My daughter wears a chef hat and apron (not nearly as cute as this one, though) while she’s playing in her toy kitchen. It is the cutest thing.

The apron and chef hat can both be washed in the washing machine, so there is no worry if they get messy. Both items are also made to fit any size girl. The hat is elastic, and the apron can be tied at different sizes.

Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk

gift for 3 year old girl

This Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk comes with four shirts, three skirts, two headbands, one tiara, one choker, three bracelets, one pair of earrings, one necklace, three rings, and a storage trunk. The outfits and accessories allow the child to become Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White.

The storage trunk is made of cardboard, which has been decorated to fit the princess theme.

My daughter loves to dress up, so I know this one will be a hit. I do wish that it came with shoes, but for this price, those could always be purchased separately.

This dress up playset is rated 3.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. The problems with this dress up play set are that Belle and Snow White have to share the yellow skirt, so four children could not play at one time. Another issue is that the material isn’t made from the best quality.

Even with the low quality, my daughter will love this playset and the cost is great.

Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper

Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper gift for 3 year old

It’s a Pogo stick for toddlers!! This Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper is made of foam (obviously), a spring made from bungee type material, and has a foam grip for the handles. and has a squeaker, so it makes a fun noise when the child jumps on it.

An added bonus: This toy is intended for toddlers but can hold up to 250 pounds. This means that adults and kids of all ages can try it out!

The Flybar Pogo Jumper is a great way for a child to stay active, so on days when the weather isn’t cooperating and she has to stay inside, she can still get her wiggles out and exercise in the house. This toy can also help enhance hand-eye coordination, balance, and strength.

It is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Two big complaints about the Foam Pogo Jumper: (1) It squeaks and (2) that……. the squeaker stops working pretty quickly. Um, what? Some hate it, others hate that it doesn’t last longer… it seems there is no happy medium.

Educational Insights Playfoam Combo 8-Pack

gift for 3 year old

Playfoam can be molded in shapes and creations, and it is supposed to never dry out. It also isn’t supposed to stick to anything, so unlike with play-doh, slime, and putty, your couch and carpet should be safe.

For my daughter, I plan on using it to practice making letters and shapes just like we did with play-doh.

Not only is this Playfoam just going to be so much fun, but it also has some educational and developmental bonuses, too. It helps to develop and enhance the child’s artistic ability, creative play, tactile, and sensory exploration.

Another perk; the muscles that she will be using to play with this Playfoam are the same muscles that she will later be using for writing and drawing.

It is rated 3.9 out of 5 stars. One problem is that it can leave a stain on surfaces. Other issues are that if collects pet fur and fuzzies if it falls on the floor, it doesn’t come in re-sealable containers, and there is only a small amount of each color.

VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier

gift for 3 year old girl

VTech’s Care for Me Learning Carrier could be perfect for teaching a little girl how to care for a puppy, or to give a “pet” to a little girl who doesn’t have a real one. It comes with a stuffed animal puppy, a comb, bottle, a  food dish, dog toy, and of course, the carrier.

Whenever the door of the carrier is opened, the carrier says a phrase that helps the child learn opposites. The buttons on the outside of the carrier light up and when they are pushed, they teach colors, shapes, and pet care tips.

Another awesome feature is that when the letter beads are moved, the carrier teaches the child letters and plays music.

This VTech pet carrier is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The only complaint is that the door of the carrier is hard for a toddler to open and close, so they often need help with that part.

KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture

gift idea for a girl 3 year old girl gift guide

I have been wanting to get my daughter a dollhouse since I first found out I was pregnant with a girl. I’m not kidding.

With Christmas coming up, I spent the last couple of weeks researching doll houses and searching for the right one. I wanted one that was big and had lots of rooms.

The biggest struggle was the price point, however, because I didn’t want to spend over $100 on a dollhouse for a three-year-old. Luckily, I found the perfect one and I am so excited for her to see it under our Christmas tree.

This KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage has two staircases, three floors, and 17 pieces of furniture. Another awesome feature is that the windows actually open and close, which my daughter will love. This dollhouse is big enough that my other littles can play with her if they want.

The house is made for four-inch dolls, but five-inch dolls work fine, too. The dolls don’t come with it, though, so those would have to be purchased separately.

It is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars. There are images on the walls of the house that show a toilet, a stove, and other household items, but then there is also physical furniture for the toilet and stove. Another issue is that some of the dollhouses come with pieces that don’t fit together properly.

Our Generation Dolls Violet Anna Doll

Gift for girl, gift for 3 year old girl, gift guide

My daughter has been wanting a doll that she can dress up and do her hair. After researching, I came across the Our Generation dolls. I chose the Violet Anna ballet doll because I am signing Josie up for a ballet class as soon as she turns three.

This doll has arms and legs that move, and her outfit can be changed. Our Generation offers SO MANY cute outfit options that can be ordered separately. The ballet doll comes with a leotard, tutu, tights, and ballet shoes, so it is perfect for what we need right now.

You can also buy vehicles, animals, sports equipment, career items, and many other accessories to accompany the Our Generation dolls.

Spirit Riding Free Barn Playset

Spirit Riding Free barn, gift for 3 year old girl, gift for a girl
My daughter is OBSESSED with horses and loves the show Spirit on Netflix. This Spirit Riding Free Barn Playset comes with a Lucky doll (the main character), Spirit (Lucky’s horse) a bridle, wheelbarrow, tack box, trough, hay, weathervane, bucket, ladder, chair, ottoman, lamp, a sign, and a sheet of stickers so the child can decorate the barn how she wants it.

This barn playset also comes with eight fence pieces, so she can build a fenced in area next to the barn. The barn has an upstairs area for the characters to hang out, and the lower level holds three horses. It has a sliding door to make it easy for the horses to come in and out.

There are two sides to this playset so more than one child can play at a time, too. Extra horses and characters can be purchased separately (more gift ideas, maybe?).

This barn playset is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Complaints are that there are many small pieces, and also that the materials used are cheap.

Playskool Mrs. Potato Head

Mrs Potato head, 3 year old gift idea, girl gift idea

This Mrs. Potato Head comes with 10 accessories including eyes, a nose, mouth, purse, hairdo, tongue, hands, ears, and legs with shoes. All of the pieces can be used on other Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figures, so they are interchangeable.

The child can work on putting all of the pieces where they “belong”, or she can put an ear on the face and the eyes on the side. This toy is so much fun because she can do whatever she wants with it.

I am thinking that this could be the perfect quiet time toy because it is fun and engaging at the same time, and can keep a child busy for quite some time since they can put the pieces where ever they want.

It was rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The biggest complaint is that the hair doesn’t stay on. There were also complaints that the storage area in the potato isn’t big enough to hold all of the accessories, so you may need a different storage solution.

PicassoTiles 26 Piece Building Blocks

I bought these Picasso Tiles as a cheaper alternative to Magnatiles for my 10-year-old for Christmas last year and they were a hit. My 10 Y/O loved them, but so did my toddlers. My daughter is always trying to sneak into my son’s room to get his Picasso Tiles. He doesn’t like the littles to play with them, though, because … siblings.

The best thing about the Picasso Tiles is that it is an amazing opportunity for children to learn in many different ways. They can learn colors, shapes, and numbers, all while learning about magnets and using their imagination. I also love that more than one child can play at a time.

These are definitely being bought for Josie this year. She will be so excited that she has her own Picasso Tiles! I know this is my favorite choice of all the gift ideas so far.

The Picasso Tiles are rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The only complaint has been that the 26 pieces aren’t enough, but I think that for a 3-year-old it is plenty.

Play-Doh Cake Party Gift Ideas

gift guide, gift ideas for 3 year old girl

My kids and I love play-doh. It is so much fun. There are so many creative options, and so much learning potential.

This Play-Doh Cake Party set can be perfect for a 3-year-old girl because she is starting to understand how things work. She will have a blast making cakes by using the oven and cutters.

This set comes with five play-doh cutters, a decorating tool, two plates, a spatula, fork, knife, three containers of play-doh confetti compound, and two containers of regular play-doh.

With so many different options, this play-doh set might keep my daughter busy for at least an hour. I can’t wait to find out!

Final Thoughts On Gift Ideas for a Girl

There are so many options when it comes to gifts for a 3-year-old girl. It can be hard to choose the right one. She may receive three of the same gift, or she may just be uninterested in the toy that was advertised at your local toy store. It’s hard to say exactly how a child will react to a gift. So, I’m hoping that my gift guide will help you out.

I am an experienced mom, and I have a daughter who is turning three in just TWO DAYS (Where does the time go!?), so take my advice – I know what 3-year-old girls like. Even if she doesn’t reaaallly know herself, I normally have a pretty good idea for gift ideas.

Are there any gift ideas you would add to this list? Is there a gift you’ve been considering but you’re unsure of? Which gift on this gift guide is your favorite? Tell me all about it in the comments! I love to chat!

P.S.

I am going to be posting gift ideas for a 10-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, and a 1-year-old boy in the next couple of weeks so watch for those, too!! I’ve already put together a gift guide for a 4-year-old boy so if you’d like to check that out, here it is: Gift Guide for a 4-year-old Boy.

I hope your holiday shopping goes well and that you find the perfect gift for every person on your list. (If you don’t find the perfect gift, just search on Pinterest for a gift guide).

Categories
Big kid fun Craft Family Activities Holiday Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

6 Easy and Fun 4th of July Crafts and Activities for Kids

I like to make holidays memorable for my kids. One way I do it is by doing holiday-themed crafts and activities in the days leading up to the holiday. My kids love it, I get keepsakes, and it offers an opportunity to discuss what the holiday means. 4th of July activities and crafts make the holiday more fun and exciting. Plus, there are plenty of ideas to choose from.

The 4th of July is always busy for us. We have a cookout the day of the holiday and another party the weekend after. It’s hard to talk about the meaning of the holiday with so much going on. Luckily, our craft time gives us that needed time to connect. 

4th of July Activities and Crafts

This year we’ve done two crafts already, including:

4th of July Ripped Paper Wreath Kids Craft

These ripped paper wreaths were fun and easy. We used white paper, cut it into a circle (or close enough), and cut a round hole in the middle. Then, the kids ripped blue and red paper to glue on. I cut out stars to put on at the end. We hung the finished wreaths on the kids’ bedroom doors.

Handprint Firework Craft

Handprint Fireworks

This one is my favorite one we have made so far this year. It’s so cute, and I love handprint keepsakes. I painted their hands red before helping them put their hand flat on white paper. Then, using blue and red paint (separately so it doesn’t turn purple), they used their fingers to make the “fireworks” part. Super simple.

Other 4th of July Crafts and Activities

There are three other crafts I want to do with them before the 4th of July and one scavenger hunt.

Kids Blowers Patriotic Craft Idea

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These patriotic kids blowers from Natural Beach Living are so cute. The kids can use them during fireworks displays to add more festivity.

Footprint Rocket Pop

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I love this Footprint Rocket Pop craft from Tippytoe Crafts. It’s another keepsake for Mama and a craft the kids will love. It could be a general summertime craft, but with the red, white, and blue, it gives me patriotic vibes.

Painted Rocks

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We want to paint some rocks like these Painted Rocks for the 4th of July created by Thrifty Nifty Things. I don’t know if this is popular everywhere, but where I’m from, people paint rocks and hide them for others to find. When you find a rock, you’re supposed to post a picture on the dedicated Facebook site and say where you found it. Then, you re-hide it in a new location. I want to paint them this weekend and hide them in the couple of days before the 4th of July. My kids LOVE hiding and finding rocks around town, so it’s perfect for them.

4th of July Scavenger Hunt

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I fell in love with this 4th of July Scavenger Hunt Printable from Women With Intention on Pinterest. I’m bummed that the link didn’t work, and the website no longer exists, so I can’t download it directly from who created it. Later tonight I’ll make a scavenger hunt printable to use at home on the 4th of July and maybe a second one for the larger party the weekend after.

Recap: 4th of July Activities and Crafts

How do you teach your kids about holidays? Are you doing any fun crafts or activities with them for the 4th of July? Tell me about it in the comments!