Peanut Blossom

5 ways to surprise your kids at Disney World

Yesterday I talked about how to get your kids excited before you go to Disney. Today I have 5 tricks up my sleeve for once you get there! The best benefit of these tricks is that they'll help you save a little money in the process because you'll be taking advantage of sales vs. buying at the inflated prices on site.

1. Pre-shop for souvenirs at the Disney Outlet: We are lucky enough to have an official outlet near us. If that doesn't apply to you, start stalking the clearance bins at your local Disney Store. When I first popped into the store with this goal in mind, I was so confused. Isn't the whole point of a souvenir that you picked it out on your trip and brought it home? It made no sense to me to pre-shop for these items even if they were significantly cheaper than at the parks. 

Enter the nicest sales clerk I've ever met. This kind lady gave me SO many ideas for our trip. She talked me into picking up Disney character bubble blowers for entertaining the kids while we stand in line. I plan to keep them in our backpack and only pull them out as a surprise at the last minute. I also got each girl a light-up battery operated fan for cooling off during the hot days and for light sticks during the evening parades. Each of these things was priced at less than half what we would have spent at the park.

2. Character T-shirts: Where is it more fun to wear a Mickey Mouse shirt than AT the park? All the fun of it is in wearing it on vacation, right? I'm a stickler for washing all items of clothing before the girls wear them, so this had a sanitary benefit to it as well! I got clearance priced shirts at the outlet mentioned above, but I know that Kohl's, Old Navy, Target, and Walmart all carry Disney-themed apparel as well. I wrapped up the Peanut's t-shirt as one of her birthday gifts and used it to announce that we were going on our trip but you could easily sneak these into suitcases only to be given upon arrival or for wearing on the trip there.

3. Character Pajamas: My girls LOVE love love to wear matching pajamas. I thought they'd be over the moon about wearing Disney jammies on our vacation so I picked up a pair of them at the outlet as well. I'm going to wash them all up and hide them until our first night in Orlando.

4. Swim Gear: I lucked out and hit the outlet when they were having a sale on swimming gear. I picked up Mickey Mouse goggles for the Peanut and a tote bag for swimming gear for $6 total. I also found red and white polka dot sunglasses and sunhats at Gymboree (thank you Gymbucks!) Thankfully the Disney color palette makes it super easy to find things that feel like "official" gear at a much cheaper price! Just think Red, White, Black, and Polka Dotted and you're all good! And with our trip just before the start of summer, they'll be using these items all summer long. Practical!

5. Don't forget mom and dad!: The biggest surprise of all for our kids will be the morning daddy shows up with a big bright Mickey on his shirt. Handyman Tim does NOT dress like this but agreed to wear a themed shirt I found at the outlet during our vacation. I love his playful attitude, anything for his girls! I know the Peanut will be thrilled to be matching her daddy. This is such a special phase and I know it won't last forever. I'm so grateful we're taking advantage of her sweet preference for dressing alike now while she loves it. 

5 Ways to Kickstart the Disney Magic

I am so excited to share with you that we are taking the girls on our very first trip to Disney World next week. Handyman Tim has been working an insane schedule that has been hard on every last member of the family. We've all had to sacrifice precious time together and it has definitely taken it's toll. I decided that we all needed a little Family Togetherness Bootcamp type experience and where else is a better spot to do that than Disney??

Tim has never experienced the Disney Parks before. He has no idea what he's in for. The Peanut knows we are going but can't even imagine what she is about to see. Little Pea is just happy to be along for the ride. I'm the only one who knows and appreciates what this trip will be like so I've been doing my best to get everyone excited for this big unknown. 

For the last two months, I've been looking for ways to give the girls little teaser items to be used on our trip. So today I'd like to share:

5 Ways to Kickstart the Disney Magic Before Vacation!

1. Matching outfits from Etsy: According to friends who have visited the parks far more recently than I have, it is a pretty big deal to let your little princess dress up to play the part at the parks. Neither of my girls are overly into the Princesses, we don't own any of the costumes already. I couldn't imagine spending the money on expensive costumes just to dress them up in hot and scratchy tulle and satin for an amusement park visit.

Luckily for me, both girls LOVE Minnie and Mickey Mouse. I was able to find these adorable halter tops and ruffled shorts outfits on Etsy.  They are all cotton and much more comfy and breathable than any costume would have been. I love the cheerful polka dots! I know my girls will love wearing them this summer even after our trips. Money much better spent!

2. Disney Pin Trading Lanyards: This is another new-to-me item that didn't exist during my last visit to the parks ages ago. Disney has been offering these adorable metal pins for trading since 1999-ish. The kids (or parents too) can trade pins with anyone else they find willing at the parks. There are castmembers that walk around wearing lanyards of Official Castmember pins that are looking to trade with guests. This sounded like something the Peanut would love to experience but starter sets of 4 pins and a lanyard ran about $30. That seemed super high to me and the sets came with such cute pins that I knew the Peanut wouldn't want to trade! Kind of missing the point, right?

I took to Ebay and was happy to discover several sellers offering huge lots of pins for a fraction of the price. We acquired a random assortment of 25 pins for about $15. I didn't care if they were cute or not because they are meant to be traded away. To make it more fun for the girls, we put a single pin inside of each plastic Easter egg along with a few coins for our Disney Jar. They hunted for their pins on Easter morning and it was a huge hit.

The day before Easter, I realized they still didn't have anything to pin the pins on since I hadn't purchased lanyards. In a fit of inspiration, I decided to sew my own. I used this tutorial from Simply Cotton here and followed it almost exactly. The only difference was that I cut my fabric 3 inches wide and instead of folding each side in half way, I only folded them in 1/4 way so that the final width of the strap was a full inch. It's the perfect size. I cut them to be about 24 inches long so they are just right for my girls' necks.

3. Birthday Pins from the Disney Store: The Peanut's birthday was on March 28. Little Pea's will be just a few days after our trip on May 6. When a sales clerk heard I was there shopping for supplies to announce the trip to the Peanut on her birthday, she told me about their special birthday pins. If you're going to be celebrating that occassion on your vacation, you can pick these up for your child. Write their name on the space and have them wear them to the park. I'm told they'll receive special Birthday Girl treatment. I'll have to report back as to just what that might mean!

4. Disney Gift Cards for Special Occassions: The Peanut just lost her very first tooth last week. The Tooth Fairy in her infinite wisdom decided to bring a gift card from the Disney Store in just the right amount for the Peanut to pick out the stuffed animal she's had her heart set on ever since she heard of the trip. (It was her first tooth afterall. I'm sure the Fairy won't be this generous next time.) The gift cards can be set for any amount and can be used at any Disney Store on or off the parks. I've even heard they can be used for snacks and beverages and anything sold at the parks so it would be a great stocking stuffer, birthday treat, Valentine gift, Easter basket filler, etc. etc.

5. The Birnbaum Disney World Guide for Kids: My neighbor just recently told me about these adorable guidebooks made specifically FOR kids. They release a new one every year and her daughter has one for each of the years their family made the trek. It is part guide, part activity book, part scrapbook. The Peanut was thrilled to receive her very own copy since Mommy has had a mile-high stack of guides sitting on the living room table for weeks. At age 5, I feel she is just a smidge too young to get the most out of the book, but I don't regret the purchase at all. Ages 7+ might enjoy it far more. 

Birthday Traditions: Cake helpers

The Peanut has always been my little baking buddy. She loves to help me in the kitchen and I love having her there. I tried to do a little baking with Little Pea and the Peanut had a burst of jealousy, "No, mommy! I do the baking! I'm your helper." 

When it came time to make her birthday cake, the Peanut was thrilled to get back in the kitchen with me. Poor Little Pea had to go in the playpen in the living room so she wouldn't get in the way. It was then that I had a great idea and a new birthday tradition was invented.

I've decided that each of my girls will get to be my baking buddy when it comes to making her own birthday cake. The Peanut won't be able to argue when it is Little Pea's turn with that kind of logic. I know when she heads off to Kindergarten in the fall, Little Pea and I will have more time alone to do that sort of thing together, but I still love the idea of having my girls involved in the making of their own cakes. 

The only slightly discouraging side effect? They also then are involved in the decorating of said cakes. Ha! Anyone want to guess the kind of emotional strain I was under while biting my tongue as the Peanut lined up these dinosaurs on our masterpiece? "Sweetie, don't you want to maybe put one over there?"

"No! They are on parade!" 

Well alright then.

Spring has sprung

Don't mess with a pregnant lady. While I was not so patiently waiting for my Peanut, I told anyone who'd listen she was going to be a SPRING baby. Her due date was March 30 and I was praying she'd be just a teeny bit late so she could be an April baby. Just because that sounds more "officially spring" to me.

My girl had other plans though. We'll be celebrating her 5th birthday on the 28th this month. Spring arrives on the 20th. In the end, I was right all along. She is my spring baby. But just to supress the doubters, my pregnant self took a picture of the crocus blooming on the side of our house. If they're up, it has to be spring right?

My girl came running into the house this past weekend calling out about the pretty purple flowers she found outside. Handyman Tim remembered just what they mean to me and sent her to find me. I couldn't resist capturing them for my sweet birthday girl.

Little Pea's First Snow

This has been one crazy winter! I would never have guessed it would take until MARCH before I'd finally be able to take Little Pea out to play in the snow for the very first time. The few bits of snow we've had either haven't been enough for playing in or the weather has been too cold to take her out. 

We were hit with just about 2-3 inches of snow last night and it whirled around like a snowglobe. This morning, both girls were just dying to go out and enjoy the snow. I knew this might be my  last chance to get a photo of Little Pea experiencing this part of winter until next year so we all bundled up and headed out.

If you'd like to see more photos from our "adventure" head on over to Develop and check out my collage. I love the shots of the girls in the sled.

Little Pea had mixed emotions about the white stuff. After her initial thrill wore off, she was more than happy to come back inside for homemade cookies. It was hysterical watching her carefully step through the crunch of the wet snow. 

I can't say I disagree with her conclusion. I've captured my winter photo op. We're ready for spring now, thank you very much!

Doing something different for Leap Day

Today is Leap Day and I just can't let it pass us by without posting. I don't know why, but I feel the need to mark today as special somehow! In honor of a day I feel we should be doing something different and unique, I wanted to share this photo I took over the weekend of the Peanut. 

There's a big story behind this photo that I want to share soon but I have to collect my thoughts to do it justice. The big point behind it though, is a decision to be more intentional with our choices and with our lives. In fact, "Intentional" is the word of the month for March over on Develop's Monthly Inspiration Challenges. 

This crazy dino is a big favorite of my girls. We've seen him 4 times in the last month on our trips back and forth to visit Handyman Tim at his project site. They beg me to stop for gas at this one particular stop along the way and the Peanut was Beyond Thrilled that she got to have her picture taken with him.

This kind of crazy kid joy needs to be documented and I love her big smiley face, even if it is small in relation to the photo. I see this image and I can instantly remember how she skipped back to the car after we were done and how both girls waved and called out "'Bye Bye, Saur!" followed by a chorus of "Roar!!" from the backseat.

So happy Leap Year Day to you. Are you doing something different today?

600 and counting

See those three noggins we're staring at the backs of? Those three mean everything in the world to me. Unfortunately, I don't see them all in the same frame nearly often enough. 

Without indulging in too much whining, 2012 has been one of the more challenging times to plod through for us. In the last couple weeks I've started to be more aware that our time is fleeting with the girls at this size. I feel the need to refocus more closely on my family probably in part because right now the girls have one parent present and one parent working desperately hard from a distance. The girls need me more than normal and naptimes are {SOB} disappearing. With them goes my free time and energy for writing. 

The irony? I have so so much I want to be sharing with you. 

So, I'm not disappearing, I'm just slowing down. I need to not feel guilty about this space being quiet for a few days or more at a time. It's just one pressure too many during a time when I'm being pulled in too many directions. 

The second dose of irony? This is my 60oth post. I can't help but laugh out loud as I type that. I didn't think I'd ever make it this far and then at some point I didn't think I'd ever give up. Now I'm just simply realizing I need to slow down in order to do this blog justice. 

At least for a while, I'm going to shoot for sharing one great post with you a week. I hope you'll forgive me if I can't keep up with even that.

I'll still be keeping up with my photo projects over on Develop and I have some more food photography stuff brewing on the side that I'll be excited to announce when the time comes. I've got plans for a couple books that I'm dead serious about writing and even have outlines for. What I don't have is the time in the day to do any of this justice!  I'm hoping that by scaling back a bit, I'll be able to actually accomplish more while keeping my girls as the first priority. 

Life should get easier again in another month or two. Maybe my little self-imposed slowdown won't even last that long. But rest assured I'll be stockpiling great ideas for sharing in the interim! 

Thanks for being such awesome readers. I hope you'll stick around!

Three ways to turn your kids into book lovers

As an avid reader myself, I worry sometimes about how to instill that love of reading in my girls. I've been told that they will just naturally pick up on it since I model that behavior but I'm skeptical that that is all it takes. I know too many people who profess that they can't stand reading and with the number of available distractions in today's electronic world, how can a quiet paper bound book compete? 

I stumbled on Jim Trelease's "The Read Aloud Handbook" in a display at a bookstore during one of my browsing dates with Handyman Tim ages ago. That title stuck with me and I finally decided to get a copy from the library last summer. There were some eye-popping statistics in there about just how important reading is for building skills for school and life in general. If ever I was convinced about the importance of this task, it was after reading the first few chapters of that book.

But more importantly, "The Read Aloud Handbook" was invaluable for giving actual advice on getting kids to love reading in a very natural non-pressured way. I've implemented several of the tips and 6 months later, I can definitely say they seem to be working. Here are just three of my favorites:

1. Have books available!: Store baskets of books in every single room of the house, including the bathroom and dining room. Ok, truthfully the bathroom idea skeeved me out, but I did follow this tip and put them in the dining area as well. We are virtually swimming in books of all kinds. There is always something to read an arm's reach away. It isn't something that is contained to a bookshelf in the office or on a shelf in the living room, they are scattered in (neat) little piles on every table. I catch the girls browsing through pages all the time.

2. No television during meal times: This is a rule we have always strictly followed in our home. But with the amount of time that Tim is gone traveling, dinner table discussions can definitely fade when it is just me and a 4 year old. By following rule number 1 above, I can just reach over and grab a book and read to the girls while they eat! Captive audience, wholesome entertainment. This has been by far my favorite tip from the handbook.

3. Don't shy away from reading more advanced materials: Maybe it makes me a horrible mother to admit this, but there are just so many rounds of Curious George I can handle. The Peanut may be only 4 years old but we have started to read chapter books rather than picture books during our reading sessions together. Not all the time, and Curious George still appears plenty, but the Peanut has definitely been capable of reading Winnie the Pooh (the classic version) and a couple Roald Dahl selections (my Favorites!!)

Some of the language may be over her head, she may not grasp the entire plot, but I was pleasantly surprised at just how much she was hanging on to even when it took us a couple weeks to finish the story. We chat after each chapter and I ask her questions about what just happened and what she thinks might come next. We refresh our memories before starting again. It has been an amazing experience being able to share a little more advanced story with her and holds my attention far better. If the reading session is fun for mommy too, you're much more likely to have more sessions!

I highly recommend getting a hold of a copy of Jim Trelease's book. The second half is a lengthy digest of reading suggestions for different ages and different interests. I came away very inspired with reading ideas I may have held off on longer than necessary. 

How about you? Do you have little book worms in your home? How did you help that process along? Any tips or book suggestions you'd like to share?

Carrying on for my cuties

We're still here, believe it or not. How has it been 2+ weeks with no word from me? Oh my, I've really been going through a blogger's indentity crisis since January. Handyman Tim's project continue to drag on and I find all my energy being sapped as I take care of the two peanuts. I do miss regularly posting here though and I'm really hoping to remedy the situation.

February has been oddly really rough. We are missing Tim most thoroughly because his birthday falls on the 9th and then Valentine's so shortly after. Sadly, we could not be together for either holiday this year. It really took a lot of my normal "oomph" out of these fun mid-winter festivities. We came "this" close to not celebrating Valentine's at all if I'm truly honest.

But look at those sweet faces? While my big manly valentine may have been out of town, I obviously have two other sweethearts to celebrate for and with. So, in a final burst of inspiration I pulled it together and we had a very sweet little evening party.

I got the table set and ready to go during nap/quiet time:

Dinner was kept super simple: noodles with tomato sauce. And <gasp> they weren't even heart shaped! My ladies didn't mind though.

Their gift bags were filled with new matching dresses (possibly for Easter) and coordinating pink canvas shoes and some sweet Valentine books. True to nature, the Peanut was most intrigued by a new coloring book. In stark contrast Little Pea INSISTED on putting on her new dress OVER her Valentine's outfit! Along with the new shoes. She cried and cried when I had to take the dress off before tomato sauce dinner threatened some splatters.

I'm so glad I didn't let this little holiday pass us by this year. It would have been such an easy thing to do and I would have really regretted it.

How did your Valentine's Day go? Do you make a show of things or am I the only nutty one who carries on with our without the husband home?

Growing Veggie Lovers

Today my good friend Zina from Let's Lasso the Moon joins us for a few tips for getting your little ones to eat veggies. It's been a busy week at the house and over at Develop. I look forward to checking in with you again soon.

Have a wonderful weekend,
Tiffany

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Want to grow veggie lovers? Last month Tiffany and I were chatting on the phone when I heard her Peanut scoff at the idea of eating carrots. I mentioned, “Tell her Santa’s reindeer love carrots; that they are one of their dietary staples.” We continued on with our conversation and I hadn’t thought much of the comment until today when Tiffany said her lady is obsessed with carrots now. Ah, it is all about parental marketing!

Today I am going to share five basic (sometimes overlooked) tips for getting your kids to, not just eat veggies, but actually like them.

1. Let them play—I walked away for a moment, when I returned to chop up my stalk of broccoli I found this. {smiles} Of course, I made a big deal out of it, laughed and yelled, “Hey, who’s eating my broccoli tree?” Generally we insist on good manners at dinner, except when it comes to veggies. We let the girls eat green beans with their hands if they wish. If they are putting vegetables in their mouth, I let it go. *Check out the “play” scenario showcased in the video below!
   
   
2. Buy it fresh—I have purchase about a million & one bags of mini, pre-cut, pre-washed carrots in my life. Last year I noticed regular sized organic carrots were only 98 cents; they were sitting next to my $3 bag of minis. The first time I bought whole carrots, peeled, and then cut them I was so enchanted by the fresh smell that I posted on Facebook. I asked, “What have I been missing all these years?”
   
   Let’s Lasso the Moon Tip: Cut your carrot into very small, thin sticks. We usually cut the carrot down to about 2 inches long by ¼ inch thick.
   
   
3. Never utter these infamous words, “You may have dessert after you eat your vegetables.” It is the equivalent of telling your child veggies are yucky & something they inherently should not enjoy. When’s the last time you said, “You’re welcome to play outside after you finished your sucker?” Take away that ‘you have to eat them or else’ stigma. At our house we actually serve dessert with dinner (mind you, a small portion). You’d be surprised how much this has simplified our lives.
   
   
4. Participate—Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I follow in his footsteps by telling you, be the change you want to see in your family. If you want your kids to like eating veggies grab a carrot once and a while. Make vegetable recipes you enjoy.  Stumped? Check out the Peanut Blossom Bring Back the Family Meal board on Pinterest for ideas.
   
   
5. And my favorite, sure fire approach for getting kids to eat veggies? Pop on over to my kitchen table over at Let’s Lasso the Moon & I’ll whisper the secret in your ear.

I’d love to hear any additional suggestions you have… let’s chat in the comments below.

How to spell "Mom": S-U-C-K-E-R

I have been at my wit's end with both my girls and their sudden and forcible pickiness. During the last couple months they seem to have clamped down on the selection of healthy fruits and vegetables they allow to pass those sweet little lips. 

So what's a mom to do? Pull out all the stops. I cracked open an Annabel Karmel cookbook I've had waiting. The thing I love the most about her books is the variety of produce she manages to work into each dish. The photography is gorgeous and super appealing as well. Knowing full well that the recipes take quite a bit more time to prepare, I sat the Peanut down with "Finger Foods" and allowed her to pick ANY recipe she wanted. Her dish of choice was the Welsh Rarebit Rabbit.

We talked about how if I went through the effort to buy the ingredients and put it together, she absolutely HAD to eat every last item on the plate whether she liked it or not. I got a slightly scared, slightly skeptical look but she agreed. Off to the store we went. 

Have you ever had Welsh Rarebit? I have not. Even I was a bit skeptical about this one: It involves shredded cheddar, an egg yolk, a bit of milk, and worcheshire sauce mixed together then spread over an english muffin and broiled. I put my doubts aside and started prepping the veggies.

The plate in the picture above is exactly what I served each of my girls for lunch this afternoon. And shocker of all shocks, both plates were CLEAN when the meal was over! My fussier than fussy girls each ate: snow pea pods, cherry tomato, raw carrot, green onions, and two servings each of blueberries. Are the quantities tiny? Yes. Does it even count as a single serving of vegetables? Probably not. But they tried it. 

I asked the Peanut what she thought of her meal when she was done. "Mommy, I didn't like it." I laughed out loud at her response. But then she surprised me with, "But some of the parts were ok." I asked her which ones: "The tomato, bunny ears, bunny eyes, and the carrot." So apparently the Welsh Rarebit part was the part she didn't like. Even funnier if you ask me.

I told her how proud I am that she cleared her plate of all the things she had been nervous about and promised that since she was so adventurous we could experiment with another recipe from the book sometime.

Do I cook like this every day? HA! No. Was I willing to try this crazy experiment to get some new veggies in? Definitely. I count it a success.

So I may be a sucker for those gorgeously unattainable serving suggestions, but there is definitely something in the magic of presentation.

How NOT to take a Christmas card photo, 3rd Edition

Will I ever learn? I'm thinking no. 

This is my THIRD annual How Not To Take A Christmas Card Photo post. You can see the original here, and the second edition here. You'd think by now I would have run out of things to say on the topic but with each year the girls give me fresh challenges! Each pair of ages brings their own set of difficulties and this year was the Year of the Wiggly Toddler.

My struggles with the Peanut are in getting her to smile and/or pose naturally without a cheesey grin or awkward body position. Generally, I can make it work because she and I can communicate and she responds to bribes. {cough, cough} 

Little Pea on the other hand?! Not only is she not interested in even facing the camera, but she has almost zero interest in staying in the spot I'm hoping to capture. 

So with that in mind, here is the 2011 list of how NOT to take a holiday photo of your toddler and young child:

1. Do NOT dress a toddler in a dress if you don't want a diaper to be on display in your photo. Believe it or not, an 18 month old does not understand why she should keep her knees together like a lady.

2. Do NOT ask a 4 year old to smile at the camera unless you're going for a bug-eyed permagrin crazy face. Instead of asking her to say "cheese", tell her to say the phrase: "Daddy wears dirty diapers." Then be ready to move quickly with a photo. This may only work one time. It does not work on an 18 month old.

3. Do NOT ask your 4 year old to hug her sister. The photo above speaks to the reasoning why. Poor girl is actually trying to follow several rules all at once: Keep ankles together, keep bottom on chair, hug sister. NOT a natural pose at all but she earned lots of praise for trying as mommy disolved into giggles and moved on to a whole new tactic. 

4. Do NOT assume you will be able to capture the Christmas tree in the background of your shot if there is a toddler involved. Be open minded and shoot in an area where you might be able to capture several angles and still be happy with the backdrop. However, if you tie Goldfish crackers to the branches, you might have a chance of getting some greenery in the picture.

5. Do NOT require your photo to have all of your kids in the same image at the same time if you want to keep your sanity. In the end, I did find a keeper of a shot with both girls in it for the front of our card but neither one is facing the camera. My favorite two images came from hours after the session was over and features each girl separately. I found a template that let me tie it all together: Grandma pleasing group shot on the front, personality showcasing images on the back. Our card this year is definitely a snapshot in time of what our lives are like in this moment. And isn't that the point of the card in the first place?

I think I may as well admit that I'll see you about this time again next year with the 4th edition. Stay tuned.

Stock Your Stash: St. Nick's Morning

 

Welcome to the second post in the Stock your Stash series. If you missed the first round, you can get all caught up here.

This week we're talking stocking stuffers for St. Nick. Does your family celebrate St. Nicholas Day? I know not everyone is familiar with this tradition, so you can check out a little snippet of an explanation here.

Growing up, St. Nick always brought my sister and me a wall calendar for the coming year and a box of chocolate covered cherries. He usually filled our stockings with Lifesavers and chocolate coins and tubes of M&Ms. My mom always said it was a perfect little teaser holiday to get us in the Christmas mood. 

Now with kids of my own, St. Nick has taken on a little bit of a change. When the Peanut was just a year old, a wall calendar and cherries didn't seem exactly appropriate. St. Nick came up with a substitute that was much more fitting and luckily it has grown with her over the years. 

When each of my girls empty their stockings this year they will discover:

- a new Christmas picture book
- a single holiday movie for the family to enjoy
- matching Christmas pajamas
- an ornament for the tree

And in lieu of too many candies I don't really want them indulging in (anyone else STILL have Trick or Treat bags laying around?!) St. Nick brings us a family treat platter for sharing. 

Oddly enough, this treat basket was the item that was the most memorable for the Peanut last year. She has specifically asked whether I think we'll be getting it again this year.  

Items found on our festive red platter include: 

- "Snowballs": white cheddar puff balls
- Yardstick of popcorn kernels
- Red velvet pancake mix
- Raspberry white chocolate & Eggnog flavored scone mixes
- Eggnog streusel muffin mix
- Holiday shaped pasta
- Peppermint chocolate piroutte cookies
- Peanut butter filled, chocolate covered pretzle bites 

I use this collection to make several festive weekend breakfasts during December and we celebrate will little holiday themed meals and snacks all month long. These are all treats I'd likely find myself buying anyways over the course of the month. Bundling them together and putting them on a bright red platter underneath our stockings just makes them stand out as that much more special. I love that it also promotes sharing our treats together. 

What does your family enjoy most? Your gift basket could include:

- Hot cocoa and new mugs with fun pepperment stir sticks and marshmallows

- Holiday baking basket with packaged cupcake wrappers, mixes, and various sprinkles or cookie cutters and parchment paper

- Gingerbread house decorating basket with plenty of candies for coating it roof to base

Chances are likely these are things you'd be doing this season anyways. It's just all in the presentation!

Are you looking for other St. Nick ideas and Advent inspiration? 

Let's Lasso the Moon is sharing a fantastic printable with activities and games to do with your kids that will make more of the Christmas season.

Diet & Ridicule is sharing some healthy ideas to fill stockings for St. Nick. 

Then be sure to check back again the coming weeks as we really dig in on the holiday shopping lists!

Finding my sanity

The Peanut likes to play "Detective." She comes to me with a notepad and marker and says, "So, what's the trouble? I heard you lost something and you need me to find it."

So on one particularly busy evening, I told her, "I've lost my sanity."

"Ok, ma'am. What does your sanity look like?"

I chuckle. "It's . . . round. And . . . fluffy. With. . . purple spikes on it." before turning back to the casserole I'm prepping.

And lo and behold, look what she finds!

"Mommy!! I FOUND it! Here's your sanity." 

So the puff ball is blue and not purple. I say close enough. Like any good mother, I squealed with joy and promptly placed "my sanity" on the fireplace mantle so I don't lose it again.

And there it sits now in it's place of honor. This is one childhood treasure I am hanging onto for sure.

Stock Your Stash: Gift guide for kids

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I have several friends who are already done but I haven't been quite that on the ball this year. Since I know I'm not alone, I've partnered up with some blogging friends to bring you a fantastic gift buying guide starting today and running right up until the end of December.

We'll be featuring guides by recipient, today's theme is what to get for your peanuts! Or, should I say for the peanuts on your list.

For years, I've taken the route of quality over quantity with my girls. They have more than their fair share of toys, but I try to limit the clutter and find more memorable items even if it means spending a little more and buying a little less. My list of suggestions will not necessarily be found on Amazon or Toys R Us but if you're looking for something memorable or unqiue, I hope you'll be pleased with what you find here.

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Pint-sized Paparazzi:

My 1st Camera: Think your child is ready for their own camera? I wrote an entire post about our experience here. Christmas is a wonderful time for this very special gift. 

Custom Camera Strap: With that first camera, this is nearly essential. If you can sew in a straight line, you can do this project in an hour. See my DIY camera strap tutorial here.

Just Like Mommy Camera Bag: Is mommy toting a fancy camera bag purse? Why not let the little one join the fun? Vera Bradley carries tiny padded purses (the Little Betsy style is featured in the photo to the left) that are just the right size for her to tote her camera and other small items. Be sure to check out the colors on sale for the best deals. This turquois one is available for $29. 

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Kitchen Helpers:

The Right Tools: Every kitchen helper needs the right tools for the job. I'm a big fan of these adorable aprons from Chasing Fireflies. The Peanut loves her kitchen apron and at some point I'll be buying a set of personalized ones for the girls to match. I also love this tiny tool set from Paula Deen. They are the right size for little hands but are actual kitchen utensils, dishwasher safe. You can buy similar small and colorful items from World Market if you're want to customize exactly which tools come in the set.

Cutie Cupcake Kit: Assemble a cupcake kit for your tiny baker and fill it with cute paper liners, candy sprinkles, a small frosting spreader, and a sweet little plate to put her masterpiece on before it is devoured. I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven but a brightly colored kit like this along with the promise of baking together would definitely suffice.

Kiddie Cookbook: There are tons on the market but I have my eye on You Can Cook by Annabel Karmel. I love Annabel's books and used them when feeding the girls their first foods. Most recipes were big hits and the photo/illustration stylings are so sweet and appropriate.

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Art vs. Craft:

My 1st Sewing Machine: Ever since reading Fanny to the Peanut I've been waiting to give her a very first sewing machine just like Fanny receives for her birthday. We're not quite there yet, but I've bookmarked this tiny sewing machine for when the day comes. Include her own copy of Fanny and some fabric and thread and this would be an amazing holiday gift.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Another book on my wishlist for the Peanut this year is The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet. The reviews on Amazon are fantastic and I love the concept of teaching her color theory. She is such the little artist and spends hours with her art box. I bought an old-fashioned metal lunchbox with Hello Kitty on the front and filled it with crayons, colored pencils, and markers in every color. She has a safe "Little Pea-proof" place to store her tools and totes it all around the house. Make your own art box and include it with this book for a fabulous kit.

Paint Your Own Fairy House Kit: Collect an unpainted birdhouse from a craft store, some paints and some glitter and label it Tinkerbell's new abode. Perfect winter craft that can be saved and put outside in your garden come spring time.  

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Simple Stocking Stuffers:

Stripey Straws from Shop Sweet Lulu: The Peanut went NUTS for these when I got a care package of them from my mother-in-law for my birthday. Santa will be bringing a package all her very own in her favorite color. 

Doodle Roll: Perfect for tossing in your diaper bag or purse, this Doodle Roll is the perfect solution for your artist on the go. 30 feet of paper rolled up into the dispenser with a spot to stash some crayons. 

Flower headbands by Banner Boutique: I stocked up on a few of these last winter and the girls look darling in them. Unfortunately, ours are all pink and clash with their Christmas red outfits. I'm scoping out the sweet white and sparkly versions they have available, we just love them.

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Looking for more inspiration?

You're in luck. Go check out:

Zina at Let's Lasso the Moon who's sharing her educational take on children's gifts today.

Carrie at Diet & Ridicule is sharing her fitness themed gift ideas for your kids. I love the creative ideas for keeping the whole family healthy!

And be sure to come back again in the coming weeks as we cover the rest of the recipients on your list!