Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

December 8, 2020

Christmas morning, our children run down the hallway to the living room and the excitement that has been building all morning in their bed, comes to a grand peak when they see the gifts under the Christmas Tree. Once the gifts are opened and the presents are revealed, we go and gather up our stockings and sit around and watch the fun gifts that are stuffed inside.

Sometimes, I feel like the stocking is the underdog.

There silly giant socks typically contain some of the best gifts! You can have so much fun with a stocking. I love gathering small, creative gifts and mixing them with practical needs.

Below are some of my top picks for stocking stuffers.

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I have these items and many more highlighted in my Amazon Storefront.

Holiday Gift Guides for 2020

November 23, 2020

Well, I have attempted my Holiday Gift Guides multiple times over the last few weeks, but life, kids, work, and general responsibilities have prohibited me from diving in too far.

So what’s a girl to do? Well, she get an appendicitis attack and needs surgery, and now is ordered to rest, rest, rest, and suddenly I have the time to compile and complete these. I will take the pros with the cons, right?

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My Prediction for the Hottest Toys for 2020

October 16, 2020

I live for Christmas.

I am that person who will announce Christmas is 6 months away and then once we hit Fall, I will share the memes of how many Saturdays there are between now and December 25th. So, if you do not like that type of person, unfollow me now. 🙂

When my husband and I decided to move in with each other during our dating years I learned that we would not be getting an artificial tree like I had grown up with, but would instead be getting a real Christmas tree.

Artificial allowed for flexibility in not only bending those branches for heavy ornaments but for when the tree could go up. So it was a tradition for our Christmas Tree to be up on Thanksgiving weekend.

When I alerted my husband, who was then my boyfriend, that I was going to go buy a tree for our home, it was like sirens went off and I am honestly surprised I somehow made it to wife status with him.

You see my husband comes from a family that planted and sold Christmas Trees, so while this became a fun and festive way to celebrate my favorite holiday, it also became a fight every season on pushing the button of when a live tree could go up in our home.

That said, I also LOVE Black Friday shopping. To me, it marks the official beginning of the holiday season. You will indeed see me at 5 am on Black Friday in leggings, an oversized sweater, high messy bun, and list – with a smile on my face and giddy for shopping the best deals – or just shopping.

It is the super bowl of shopping for me. 🙂

I tell you all of this because this time each year nearly every major retailer and many online circuits release the what they predict will be the holiday seasons most sought after toys.

Given the background I have provided, you can imagine, I am reading these lists. I am also comparing them, and I have been known to go ahead and purchase now what I think I won’t find here in stores or even online in a few weeks.

The last few weeks, those predictions and even mine on what I should snag early has paid off.

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Maybe we can have some fun after the holiday season and see how many of the top twelve gift ideas I successfully predicted!

Happy shopping! Or, should I say, Happy Holiday Shopping.

My 2020 Intentions

January 3, 2020

I know, it is no longer New Year’s eve or day. And with that, I also understand that resolutions and self-proclamations of what the changing year means to me or what I will set forth practicing are now a few days late.

Given the content of this post, you may think it was intentional for me to share these thoughts with you after the fact, but I can assure you that it was not the case.

The reality is, it actually makes me quite sad to see the pressure we put on ourselves just because it is a new year.

Yes, the new year can symbolize a fresh start and clean slate, but it can also create extreme strain to make ourselves better for the wrong reasons. And that stresses me out more than not having a resolution.

Speaking of resolutions, I don’t have one, and I have not practiced having one for many years. Instead, my perspective has shifted on setting intentions. Gone are the days of creating a resolution for the sake of one and failing miserably by mid-January. I like intentions because they are by definition a plan. Things will change, just as plans do. The idea is that I will focus on change in a kind and loving way, which allows me the grace in case I fail along the way.

This year my intentions are as follows:

Be kinder. Maybe it is picking up a coffee for the person next to me in line, or in the manner in which I communicate with my children. It could be taking a moment and making a conscious effort to comment positively on a post someone shared on their social media or trying to practice empathy when dealing with others.

Listen to the God whispers. Have you ever had a nagging to do something for a stranger? Or possibly compliment the person sitting next to you at an appointment? Or maybe there is a constant calling that keeps you awake at night or may even be the thing that nudges you out of bed each morning. I call these God whispers and I want to make an effort to listen intently and act responsibly.

Simplify. We accumulate stuff in all aspects of our life. My closets are full of things. I have old purses that need to be cleaned. My email has over 300+ unread emails. I follow way too many people on my social media that don’t bring value or joy to my day. All of this stuff is unnecessary noise. I want to clear the clutter and strip myself of all the junk that weighs me down.

Stop putting myself last. How can we be our best to others if we are not our best for ourselves? I say this intent with the least amount of selfishness one possibly can. I need to start listening to my body and relax when it calls me to. I need to start feeling my emotions and taking a moment to breathe and meditate when I feel overwhelmed. I need to make my passions more of a priority so I can experience the joys that make me happy. I need to allow myself the grace to feel like I am as important as those I care for.

Start living. I know that sounds strange to read because it felt odd to write but ever since becoming a mom all I have done is go, go, go. For years I have been on the move, bouncing from one thing to the next, feeling the need to accomplish a task and then set my mind on what is next. I want to slow down and live. I need to stop cramming my life into the weekends which makes them extra busy and crazy. I want to put the phone down, slow down, and focus my head and attention to the present, living in the moment, and enjoying the beauty of life.

May God bless you all in 2020, and may you each take a moment to embrace this natural season of change with less pressure and more grace.

Hospital Must-Haves: Packing for Baby

March 25, 2019

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Hey, friends. How ya been doing? It has been a gosh darn delay between posts. Two little ones at home all day will do that to a Momma, this Momma none the less. I really envisioned my time off with these two filled with some great down time to write. HOLD ON, while I go lock myself in my bathroom and laugh. Speaking of locking one’s self in a bathroom, I have tried this method to escape the parenting madness and newsflash… they will find you!

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Easter Basket Ideas for Kids

March 11, 2019

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Easter falls later this year, April 21, 2019. It always seems that when the holiday hits later in Spring, I suddenly feel like it has snuck up on me versus when it falls earlier. I know, that is counter-intuitive, but I think the late date makes me believe I have all the time in the world when the reality is I absolutely procrastinate. Not this year, Karen, not this year.

This holiday season we will have two babies, and before you get all, “Whoa, your hands are super full?!” Eye roll, sip your latte, eye roll – I indeed do.

The transition from one child to two has been hard on me. I am unsure if it is natural (although, I seem to hear this similar sentiment from fellow moms), or if the four years with one child spoiled me, or if this never-ending winter/cold/flu season has crushed my soul, either way, it has been all hands on deck.

So with this awareness, I am planning ahead and kicking procrastination in the butt. Plus, I literally have Amazon arrive every other day since I am ordering diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, kitchen sponges, etc, on the fly. It is so easy!

Easter Basket Ideas for Baby Boy. Gift guide ideas include a bunny onesie, carrot teether, bunny pacifier, and bibs.

Easter Basket Ideas for Toddler Girls. Gift ideas include rain boots, book bag swimsuit, and pool tube.

Did you enjoy this post? You may also enjoy these.
– 5- Non-Candy Easter Gift Ideas Under $50
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Baby Nursery Reveal

January 29, 2019

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We have a new little scrumptious baby to love on. Our son, Luke was born a few weeks ago and I while I will wait on his newborn pictures to share details on his arrival, I wanted to share a peek inside his nursery space.

I knew exactly what I didn’t want for this space more than what I wanted for some time. I knew I didn’t want the typical baby boy is arriving blue. I also didn’t want any characters, or strong boy ties like hunting, fishing, sports, or cars themes. Instead, I wanted a space that was peaceful and calm with neutral colors and soft textures.

After some design scrolling on Pinterest and through Project Nursery, I decided on the gray and white color scheme. It felt relaxed, clean, and calm. You know, three words that do not typically describe little boys!

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Hospital Bag Must Haves

January 21, 2019

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Hello, friends. It has been a while, and even when I did find myself here last year writing on the Blog, most of my posts were sporadic. Apparently having a second baby in your thirties, while working full-time, and managing a toddler… beat me down. Clearly, it wore me thin.

They just don’t make bodies like they use to. 🙂

We have been home for almost three weeks now since our second child’s birth and a million ideas have run through my mind on things to share – Things You Should Know About a C-Section, My Favorite Third Trimester Items, Top Breastfeeding Must Haves, and so much more. These thoughts usually hit me in the middle of a nighttime feeding, or as I stand over our stove boiling bottles for the 100th time, or when I am tracking how many poops and pees in a 24-hour period, but then it ends there.

Hopefully, I will find the time to share my experiences on the Blog, but the reality is learning to juggle two has been a bit more challenging than I expected, so I take one day at a time. Scratch that! More like hour by hour.

Today I challenged myself to share the items you need in your hospital bag because let’s face it, that bag will be one of the most important bags you pack in your life.

Two nights before our son was born, I was in Labor and Delivery. I was sure I was having a baby that night. I was 37 weeks and needless to say, I hadn’t packed my bag, which was just silly considering our daughter was born at 37 and a half weeks. I should have known better.

We rushed around the home throwing things into my bag, a bag for our daughter who was going to my mom’s home, and a diaper bag for our second born. Once we were sent home, and those bags brought in, I took the next 48-hours to unpack those chaotic bags and really, truly think about what I needed and to pack our bags.

Thank goodness, because our son came two nights later.

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Holiday Gift Guide For Your Best Friend

November 24, 2018

She is your best friend. Your go-to-girl. The one you can count on for anything, or perhaps get in the best kind of trouble with. Either way, you know she deserves a special gift from you. The best thing about a gift for your best friend is that you can have fun with shopping and ideas. I love the thought of something that relates to an inside-joke or reflects the true sentiment of your beautiful relationship.

Some gift guide highlights:

Hendrix Coco Soak – These lavish salts are formulated with aloe leaf extract and coconut milk to nourish and soothe dry, dull skin. Each is made with botanic minerals, essential vitamins, and antioxidant, with a plant-based formula.
The Infuser Mugs are a great gift for your tea-loving and sippin friends. Each features a removable cap with an infuser nestled neatly inside that can be removed to serve your hot beverage of choice. Plus, they are microwave and dishwasher safe. Whew!
Golden Girls Monopoly – Do you have a girls game night? Well, you should! Wine, cheeses, laughs, and games – seriously what could be better? I love the idea of a fun, and quirky gift for your girlfriend that is unexpected and sure to bring some good times.

Happy Shopping!

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Holiday Gift Guide for Him

November 18, 2018

Happy holidays! I am kicking off the return of this magical season with my annual gift guides. These are quick roundups of gift ideas organized by the recipients. Every season I try to tackle a few and every year I wish I would have been able to go live with more before Santa is climbing down our chimneys. Here is the thing, I actually take the time to develop these. I know every other blogger out there is showcasing their favorites too in guides, but I really try to showcase a mix of price points and things I would actually buy. That takes some time.

Some Gift Guide Highlights:

The Smart Wallet features a two-way anti-lost and tracking system that can be connected to your phone.
The 11-in-1 Credit Card Tool is made to feature a can opener, cutting edge, flat screwdriver, ruler, beer bottle opener, 4 position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, saw blade, direction ancillary indication (water compass), 2 position wrench, keychain or lanyard hole.
The Outdoor Pizza Oven can preheat in just 15 minutes and make pizzas with a 6 minute cook time!

Happy Shopping!

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