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November 14, 2017 by Krista

13 Gifts For Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate

Finding the right gifts for kids can be so hard. As a mom, I want toys that will help my kids learn and grow, not just cheap pieces of plastic. While I am all about the thought of the gift and being grateful for all the things people give my kids, I will admit that sometimes I groan on the inside when my kids get gifts that I know are going to be forgotten about in a week or two. Or worse yet, broken. So, if you’re wondering what to get those kids on your gift lists, here are some gift ideas for kids that they will love, and so will mom and dad.

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE

13 Gifts for kids that mom and dad won't hate. Gift giving to kids can be hard. They grow so fast and they play hard. Here are 13 gift ideas for kids that last and grow with them for years. And mom and dad won't hate having them around either.

Affiliate Link Disclaimer

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #1: LEGO BRICKS

Lego Bricks. While there’s definitely an appeal to the cool sets (we own so many Star Wars sets, I’ve lost count), I like the basic standard bricks too. We started our collection with the LEGO classic medium box and it served us well for many years. We still play with this set of classic blocks often. It’s perfect for building houses, vehicles, and more!
Gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate. Lego bricks are perfect for a variety of ages!

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #2: GIZMO GEARS

Gizmo Gears. We got this set back in 2012. They have been through all of my kids and are still holding up. There have been a few casualties, but the majority are still in great shape. My 8-year-old doesn’t play with these as much any more, but he’ll still sit down with his brothers and build for a while. My 5-year-old enjoys pulling them out and my 3-year-old is obsessed. They snap together relatively easily, but little hands might need some help.
Gizmo Gears are Gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate. Encourage STEM play with this fun set of gears!

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #3: SNAP CIRCUITS

Snap Circuits. These are great for a little bit older kids. My 8-year-old LOVES them and making different contraptions, including a radio. My 5-year-old doesn’t quite understand the science behind it. While he likes to snap the pieces together, he gets frustrated when nothing happens because the pieces aren’t put together correctly. This is perfect for teaching the basic laws of conductivity and electric currents.We bought the larger set because I knew my science-loving boy would grow with this set. They do have a smaller Snap Circuit set, if you want to try them out first before you shell out for the big one. However, the big one is TOTALLY worth it!
Snap Circuits make great gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate. And it teaches the basic principles of electricity

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #4: TOY CARS

Toy Cars. My kids have all loved to play with cars. For hours. Sometimes they like to play with a car mat, but you can almost always find a few cars in our diaper bag… and there might even be one or two in my purse. The chunky cars with big wheels are perfect for little hands and we have more die-cast cars than I can count. These Blaze and the Monster Machine cars are a big hit with my boys, especially the younger ones.  And I really love the variety of vehicles available in die-cast cars. This Matchbox set has lots of cool options to play with.
Toy Cars offer open-ended play and make great gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #5: WOODEN TRAIN SET

Wooden Train Sets. We have been building our wooden train set collection since my 8-year-old was born. We scored some at garage sales, were gifted some, have found great deals and our collection has just kept on growing. It’s one of the first toys that come out when we have play dates and everyone loves to play. This is one I like to play with my kids. We work together to build amazing tracks.This set of tracks is a great starter kit and these train cars are fun, brightly colored and will fit with any future wooden train toys you decide to acquire. This is a toy that all my kids like to play with, despite their age differences and has grown with my kids.
Wooden Trains make great gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate. Perfect for a variety of ages and encourages creativity every time you play!

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #6: MAGNETIC TILES OR BLOCKS

Magnetic Tiles or Blocks. We got a set of the real-deal Magformers a couple years ago for Christmas and my boys LOVED them. I got a few more to supplement their stash this past summer when I knew they would all be playing with them at the same time, but this time I tried a knock-off brand of magnet tiles and they fit in well with our brand-name tiles. There is a slight size difference, but all the tiles still line up and stick together. We will be adding more tiles to our collection yet again this Christmas and Santas is going to throw in these cool train car bases as a little bonus. All of my kids still play with these usually 2-3 times a week, even though they’ve been around a few years. Those are the toys I find worth having!
These Magnet Blocks are perfect gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! They are suitable for a variety of ages and provide hours of playtime!

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #7: BOARD AND CARD GAMES

Board and Card games. We love a good game night, but it can be hard to find games the whole family enjoys playing together. My mom gifted my oldest with Grabolo this past year and we just love it. All of us really legitimately enjoy playing this game together. It’s fast action, it’s all about observation, reaction time and memory. But, the rules and game play are simple enough for my littlest kids (3 and 5 years), even though the box says 6+ years.

We also really like Suspend – there’s also a Junior edition that has plastic sticks instead of metal ones. I like the durability of the metal ones, but I’ll admit the sticks have tried to become swords in our home. Both games are a blast and I recommend them both. Rack-O is another family favorite that we have recently been playing with our boys. The two little boys (ages 3.5 and 5.5) play on a team with mom or dad and our 8-year-old can play on his own, with minimal help. This has been perfect for helping my kindergartner practice his numbers to 100.
These family-friendly games are perfect gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! It can be hard to find games that the whole family can play together, but these three are winners for sure!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #8: ACTIVITY TUNNEL

Activity Tunnel. I got one of these for my kids a few years ago and they still play with it. It’s is great shape, considering how my boys play with it. It wasn’t super expensive so I didn’t have to worry about it getting ruined. It’s been used as a hiding spot in Hide-&-Seek, as a tunnel to play with cars in, as part of countless obstacle courses and even as “secret play place” – that was the easiest “fort” I have ever set up! We have one very similar to this Doug & Melissa caterpillar version – the exact one we have isn’t on Amazon anymore and is an off-brand. All of our other Doug & Melissa toys have held up well and this tunnel reviews great. These activity tunnels provide a contained outlet for some of the crazy energy they always have, can be played with indoors and folds up super compact for storage.
This activity tunnel is a perfect gift for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! Get rid of that pent-up energy inside with this fun toy that folds up super compact for easy storage!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #9: SMALL SLIDE

Small Slide. A small slide offers the same pro of helping the kids constructively use all that pent-up energy when it’s too cold to play outside. Ours is used mostly indoors and comes out to play when my kids are good helpers and clean up our family room or when they are jumping off my furniture and clearly need a better outlet for their energy. Even though my oldest has outgrownn this slide, he still enjoys playing with it. And, it makes a really cool ramp for cars… and stuffed animals too. This little slide is great for younger toddlers (1-3 years).

There is a big kid version if you are hoping for something a little taller for your kiddo to grow into. This one fits older toddlers and preschoolers well. I really like the size and compactness of the little one, but my kids love playing on their cousins’ larger slide too, when we visit. And I like that our small one is less distance to the ground if (and by if, I mean when) my kids fall.
This small makes a perfect gift for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! Get rid of that pent-up energy inside with this fun toy that folds up super compact for easy storage!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #10: DRESS-UP CLOTHES

Dress-Up Clothes. Dress up clothes are definitely NOT just for girls. We have a huge bin full of dress up and it’s one of my boys go-to activities. It often gets pulled out when their friends come over too. Dress up offers so much room for imaginative play! I love that. Most of our dress up collection from old Halloween costumes; but, a couple years ago, our kids received Star Wars costumes (Jedi, Darth Vader and Yoda). We made them lightsabers out of pool noodles. Those were the coolest gifts they’d ever been given. And – bonus – we just raided the dress up box for Halloween the next year and we did a family Star Wars theme. It was super fun (and totally affordable, since we had half the costumes already)!

These superhero capes are awesome for every kid who wants to run like The Flash or shoot webs like Spider-Man! If your kiddos are into more realistic pretend play, this doctor costume and accessories set look like a ton of fun and are perfect for exploring caregiving. Or maybe you just have a kiddo who loves Doc McStuffins and wants to run their very own little stuffed animal hospital. And, sometimes you don’t need the whole costume. I really like this set of hats that will get the creative juices flowing. I can only imagine what my kids would come up with between the crown and the cowboy hat.
Dress up clothes make a perfect gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! Let their imaginations run wild and encourage them to explore the world around them!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #11: WOODEN BLOCKS

Wooden Blocks. If you only get your children one kind of blocks, get a set like this! Seriously. These blocks are so versatile. My kids love to build towers with them, of course. But, they also use them with their toy cars, their dinosaur and super hero figurines, and they make race tracks for their hex bugs (another super fun toy). They test their building skills with competitions on who can make the tallest towers, who can build the tower with the most blocks and anything else they can come up with. All of my kids still play with these (and so does my husband…); it’s definitely a must-have toy in my opinion.

The biggest con is the storage space; but, if you take the time to put them away neatly, it really isn’t too bad. We keep our set in a treasure chest box my mom found at a thrift store. Having a specific container to put them all in definitely makes a big difference and this set comes with a great wooden box just for that purpose.
Wooden Blocks make a great gift for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! So many possibilities with these blocks. Perfectly sized for little hands and easy to build with. Great for towers and imaginative play with other toys too!

 

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #12: KEVA BLOCKS

Keva Blocks. We first discovered these fun, seemingly too simple toys at our local children’s museum. How much fun can you have with a bunch of wood planks that are all the same size and shape? Well, we easily spent an hour playing with just these blocks the first time. We’ve since been back to our museum and have played with only these – for the whole entire visit. So, turns out, you can have a TON of fun with them. I love that they allow for open-ended play and cater to a variety of skill levels. My husband was building structures several feet tall while out 8-year-old was trying his hand at building bridges he’d learned about at school. My 5-year-old spent time exploring basic balance and weight principles. And my 3-year-old and I built small towers that he thoroughly enjoyed knocking down.

The box says ages 7+ and I would say that is an accurate suggestion for solo play, but our whole family enjoys playing with these. This beginner kit isn’t huge (it only has 20 planks and 30 instruction cards in it), but this is a case of less is more. The idea is to figure out how 2-dimensional images become 3-dimensional when you build them. It’s a great STEM activity and, of course, you can use them in free play too. If you want to expand your collection, you can get this expansion pack and increase your fun and Keva planks by 10 times! You’ll build some pretty great things with 220 planks. Or check out this cool contraption set with 50 more planks and 6 ideas for some fun Rube-Goldberg type contraptions (my kids are super into dominoes right now and they would LOVE the contraption set).
Keva Blocks make great gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! These blocks encourage engineering and explore basic weight, balance and construction principles while also allowing for creative free play!

GIFTS FOR KIDS THAT MOM AND DAD WON’T HATE #13: A SUBSCRIPTION BOX

Subscription Boxes. These are all the rage right now and why wouldn’t they be?! Everyone likes to get mail, especially kids. And there are some really cool subscription boxes for kids! While these may not technically be toys, I couldn’t leave them off this list of Gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad Won’t Hate because these are awesome gifts! My favorite subscription boxes for kids are the KiwiCo Boxes because they have an awesome variety and you’re sure to find a box your kids will love. But, there’s a lot of options out there, so do a little research and check them all out. If you decide to check out KiwiCo, make sure you scroll down under the image and hit that 60% off link to get the best deal!

KIWICO HAS SUBSCRIPTION BOX GIFTS FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES!

The Cricket Crate is designed for kids 0-2. In each box you’ll receive a toy (think soft toys, wooden blocks, bright colored toys and chewables). You’ll also get a board book, which I love. I want all the books. There’s a magazine on child development for mom and dad and access to more online resources. There is a “Newborn Crate” specially designed for babies 0-3 months.

The Koala Crate is designed for ages 3-4. Each of these boxes focuses on one topic – like transportation or reptiles. It contains “creative materials” (mostly art supplies for your child to explore). There’s a guide for parents with activity ideas that support inquiry-based learning. A magazine with information on the topic of the box will expound on the things your child is learning. This magazine makes learning about the topic easy and fun. And all the information is right there, done for you. You’ll also be able to access more online resources and ideas.

The Kiwi Crate was the original boxes this company started with and they were amazing back then. Kiwi Crates are designed for 5-8 year olds. Each Kiwi Crate contains an age-appropriate project. Sometimes it focuses on art. Sometimes it’s more STEM. They’ll get creative learning materials and kid-friendly instructions to encourage their imaginations and tinkering. The Explore magazine with games, experiments and comics will further increase your child’s understanding of the project they did. And, of course, access to more online ideas and resources is also included.

DON’T FORGET THE OLDER KIDS!

The Doodle Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on creative DIY projects. These aren’t just some lame projects, though. It’s things like making color-blocked candles or a wooden clock. If your kiddo is all about visual and creative arts, this is perfect for them. Each box includes everything your child needs to complete these projects, including all materials. There are also step-by-step instructions so they can do the projects and a guide with inspiration and ideas. If the written instructions and inspiration guide aren’t quite enough, they’ll be able to access online videos of the project.

The Tinker Crate is for kids 9-16+ and focuses on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) projects – projects like building a trebuchet or hydraulic claw or using fiber optics to explore constellations. Each box includes all the materials needed to complete each STEM project and a detailed blueprint with step-by-step instructions. They’ll also get the Tinker Zine that has additional experiments and other activities. And there’s the access to online guides, in case the written instructions aren’t enough.
Kiwi Crate Subscription boxes make great gifts for Kids that Mom & Dad won't hate! Once a month kids get a fun, age-appropriate project and all the materials to create it. Projects encourage STEAM exploration and learning.

If you order anytime from now until November 28th, 2017 you can enjoy 60% off your first box. That’s double their usual first month promotion! Try out KiwiCo for less than $15, . Cancel your subscription any time.

 

Do you have any suggestions of gifts your kids have been given that you’ve loved? Share in the comments! I’m always looking for ideas to pass along.

November 7, 2017 by Krista

10 Activities that will encourage gratitude in your kids

I always have grand ideas for November. What about you? You know, things like getting Christmas planned, reminding my children to be thankful with our Gratitude Jar, and maybe even decorating our home a little.

Sometimes, I get some of it done and a lot of the time, I don’t. I hope what they say about good intentions isn’t true. I hope, in this case, it really is the thought that counts.

There are some traditions that I really try to make sure don’t get overlooked in the chaos that leads up to the holidays. One of those is our Thankful Tree and I try to have a toy purge before we’re invaded by gifts from relatives and that jolly old Santa Claus.

But, most of all, I try to find ways to encourage gratitude and get my kids to think about others. While we try to do those things all year long, it seems to be a little easier and more natural when November comes around.

The Gratitude Jar encourages service and gratitude in your family with 10 fun activities that focus on helping others and saying thank you

ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE IN YOUR KIDS BY MAKING IT A GAME

I want to help my kids focus on what we have, not what they want. With Christmas coming, the inevitable “I want, I want” is about to get stuck in high gear.

I want to encourage them to do things for others; but, when you’re little, it can be hard to think about others before yourself. I want to offer my kids the opportunity to learn to put others ahead of themselves. But, it always works out better when they think it’s their idea or that it’s a game. So, a few years ago, I introduced them to The Gratitude Jar.

Encourage Thankfulness with the Gratitude Jar and it's 10 fun activities

A big part of gratitude, to me, is being willing to help others. And to say thank you when others help you. That’s what The Gratitude Jar is all about.

 

HOW TO ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE WITH THE GRATITUDE JAR

The best part about The Gratitude Jar is that you can use it however it best fits into your home.

We have used it as a boredom jar in the past. This year, though, we are making it into a game.

When my kids have a free minute, they choose a slip from the jar and do the activity. What has made this successful so far is that The Gratitude Jar is constructive, it’s a privilege. And it’s individual. Sometimes, they do the same activities at the same time. But, if one of them doesn’t want to do the activity that was drawn, or has already done it, they can choose their a different one.

Encourage Thankfulness with the Gratitude Jar and it's 10 fun activities

We’re keeping track of how many good deeds each of them do. At the end of the month, they can choose a reward based on how many activities they complete. There’s 10 activities included that will encourage gratitude and serving others. My kids helped come up with rewards.

  • When they complete 1-3 activities, they get to choose a special treat or candy.
  • When 4-6 activities get completed, they can stay up an extra 30 minutes.
  • If they do 7-9 activities, they can get out of one chore.
  • If all 10 activities get done, we’ll have a family movie night and they get to choose the movie and the snacks.

The competition is against themselves, not each other. They are trying to do their best, not better than their brothers.

Gratitude Good Deeds Jar

 

READY TO ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE IN YOUR OWN FAMILY?

If you’re ready to encourage gratitude in your family this holiday season, download your own high-resolution copy so you can create your own Gratitude Jar.

All you need is

  • a printer
  • a pair of scissors or a paper cutter
  • and a clean container to store the slips in

A dozen snips to more grateful children…?  Can’t hurt to try, right?

 

DOWNLOAD YOURS HERE!

Get your gratitude growing!

 

 

WM-Always-be-Thankful

Like this chalkboard print? You’re in luck, it’s a free printable! Click here to get this print!

October 17, 2017 by Krista

5 Ways to Get a Great Last Minute Halloween Costume {on a Budget}

5 Ways to Get a Great Last Minute Halloween Costume {on a Budget} was originally published on While He Was Napping in 2014. This post has been updated and edited for accuracy and to maintain working links.

Halloween is almost here!  Do you have your candy all picked out and stashed away?  What about the costumes?  All set? Just in case you need a last minute Halloween costume on a budget, I’ve got 5 tips and tricks to help you out.

 

5 Tips to get a great last minute halloween costume on a budget

Affiliate Link Disclaimer

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #1

1. Pajamas.  How easy would it be to turn this set of Batman pajamas into a costume?! All you need is a mask, the pajamas come with a cape! And the purple girly version is an option too if your little lady wants to be The Dark Knight for a night. And bonus: your little one can wear these for more than just a single night (or a couple of nights if you’re a bit of a party animal).  Just add a mask and ta-da!

 

We found a Chewbacca pajama set – similar to this one – that Little J wore last year. The costume was pretty simple and didn’t need much added to it, so we concentrated on face make up instead and it turned out awesome. And Little J still wears those pajamas at least once a week – 1+ years later!! Totally worth it!

These Paw Patrol’s Marshall PJ’s would be perfect. Put a plastic fire hat on your kiddo and maybe a tail pinned to the back. And voila! You’ve got an adorable little pup. Or those Woody and Buzz Lightyear jammies! Aren’t they cute?! Here’s a hat to complete the Woody costume. Get a purple hood and maybe some wings for Buzz. Or the Superman jammies, they come with a cape too. Superman is practically a complete costume.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #2

2. Sweats. You can turn sweat pants into almost anything. Seriously. Some of our best Halloween costumes EVER have been glorified sweats. And they all turned out incredibly cute. It doesn’t get more comfortable than sweats and they are warm too. Perfect for little ones and trick or treating. If you do it right, they can wear them again or just add them to the dress up stash. Sneak peek of our sweats costumes:

I added a hood to the zebra and the rest was felt embellishments – zebra ears, monkey ears and a monkey belly. If that’s more work than you’re looking for, check out this Mickey Mouse hoodie. Just add a pair of black sweatpants, white gloves and a tail. Green sweatpants to complete the Ninja Turtle and a pair of regular old jeans will finish off that Minion.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #3

3. Raid the closet. You would be surprised what you have already in your closets. Big J insisted on being a scarecrow when he was 3. Yes, a scarecrow. I didn’t want to have to buy a scarecrow costume… when was that ever going to get used again? After going through his closet, and attaching a few embellishments, he was a pretty darn cute little scarecrow… for FREE!  That same year, Little J was a dinosaur made from a one-piece pajama set he already had in his closet, a bit of felt, hot glue and a couple googly eyes.  If my husband hadn’t re-organized the server and hidden our family photos somewhere, I’d show you… Completely FREE costumes and everything came out of our closets!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #4

4. Only buy accessories.  A full Halloween costume can be pricey!  And, even late in the game, you don’t have to cough over the big bucks or settle for what ever is left to have a great costume.  Use what you have and only buy the extras.  When Big J was two, he was a cowboy for Halloween.  He already had jeans, a button-down shirt, a bandanna and shoes that passed as boots.  We found a costume set for $10 that had a soft hat, chaps, and a vest.  Because his costume only cost us $10 we decided to splurge on a $20 stick horse that made the costume. The hat, vest and chaps are now in our dress up box and the stick horse is still used as a weapon toy at least once a week.

Last Minute Halloween Costume Tip #5

5. Buy things you’ll be able to wear after you use them as a Halloween costume.  This year, Mr. Napping and I needed costumes that matched.  Do you know how hard it is to find matching clothes in men’s and women’s sizes?!  And Mr. Napping is three sizes bigger than me…  We both ended up getting a new pair of pants and a matching men’s shirt, but we can wear the pants after Halloween and Mr Napping says he’ll wear the shirt too.  My shirt will probably get turned into a kid-sized apron after Halloween.  While this is a little more expensive, you’ll get use out of it for more than one or two nights.

And there you have it.  How we keep our Halloween costumes in our budget and make excuses for what expense we do incur. Halloween was never a big holiday in my home while I was growing up. I can count on one hand the number of times I went actual Trick-or-treating. I don’t want my kids to miss out on all the fun of Halloween. We did our first family themed costumes a few years ago – #2 and #5 are the methods I used to put these together…

Halloween costumes on a budget Zookeepers and the zoo

 

How do you keep Halloween costumes in your budget?

 

October 11, 2017 by Krista

All Things Holiday Printable Bundle!

You Guys! It’s Here: The All Things Holiday Bundle!

The Dating Divas have done it again! They have collaborated with some of your favorite digital designers and bloggers to bring you this amazing bundle of holiday printables.

AND, as with all the Dating Divas Bundles, they have put together a KILLER deal for you so you can get in on all that awesomeness for a fraction of what it would cost to piece all this awesomeness together yourself. {Trust me when we say you DO NOT want to miss out on this one!!}

But, you see that lovely little timer below? Well it’s ticking down FAST! And when it hits zero, this deal DISAPPEARS!!

 

32 extremely talented bloggers and designers teamed up with The Dating Divas to create this ULTIMATE Holiday bundle!

 

And we are hooking you up with EVERYTHING you need for…

Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND New Years!

There’s even a little Dia de los Muertos in there too!

 

This bundle is so full of festive fun, you won’t know what to do with it all.

All Things Holiday Printable Bundle. Get ready to ROCK this holiday season! This printable bundle has everything you need for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years!

What you’re looking at is OVER 480 PAGES of printables WORTH OVER $300
all in one handy dandy holiday bundle!

And, we slashed the price for you! So much that you’ll think it’s a typo. It’s not. The deal is THAT FREAKIN’ AWESOME.

You can get over $300 worth of FABULOUS items for only $15-$20!

Holiday decor, countdowns, activities for the kids and for the whole family, planners, gift ideas, gift tags, relationship ideas and MORE – all from your favorite bloggers!

BUT WAIT… no, seriously. It’s about to get real good.

 

If you buy your bundle through one of my links, you’ll get BONUS printables from me!

Something for the kids and a little something (something) for you, too. Wink.

 

These bonuses alone sell in my Etsy shop for $15. So, this deal is seriously FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!

Your bonuses will be delivered next Monday, October 16th, 2017 – after the bundle sale is over – to the email address where you choose to receive your All Things Holiday Bundle. So, don’t freak if you don’t see them right away. You WILL get them. Pinky promise.

Are you convinced? Want this bundle RIGHT NOW? Click that yellow button and GET YOURS!

 

Hmmm, does this sound too good to be true? Are you waiting for the catch? Well, there is a teeny, tiny one…

You’ll have to ACT FAST—this deal only lasts for THREE DAYS!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

This is a 3-Day sale, but the price goes up a little each day. Here’s the breakdown…

  • Buy on the 11th for only $15
  • Buy on the 12th for only $18
  • Buy on the 13th for only $20
  • After that, this deal is GONE FOREVER!

Buy early and SAVE BIG. But wait too long {like after the 13th at midnight MDT} and this deal will be gone FOREVER!

 

Okay, okay. So what’s actually in this bundle, right? Here’s what you’ve been waiting for: THE BIG REVEAL.

This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you could ever WANT or NEED for the holidays {AND MORE!} Including…

  • Thanksgiving Countdown and Gratitude Prompts
  • Thanksgiving Planner
  • Thanksgiving Table Decor
  • Christmas Countdowns
  • 12 Days of Christmas
  • Christmas Memory Pages
  • Christ-Centered Christmas Service
  • Cookie Exchange Party Printables
  • Holiday Gift Bags and Gift Tags
  • Letters from Santa
  • New Year’s Goal Planner
  • AND SO MUCH MORE! {See everything in detail below!}

Yes, you get ALL THAT JAZZ for the same price as many of these sell for all by themselves? This is a no-brainer! Click that yellow button to get yours now!

 

So, that sounds good and all, buuut
EXACTLY WHAT IS IN THIS BUNDLE?!?

I hear ya! I want to know what exactly I can expect from these things. So, below is every single item that is included in the purchase of an All Things Holiday Bundle!

 

HALLOWEEN PRINTABLES

All Things Holiday Bundle has Halloween printables

1. Dia De Los Muertos Party Pack by Mod Podge Rocks – Get everything you need to host a colorful and FUN party for Dia de Los Muertos! Do this as an alternative/in addition to your Halloween festivities. Included is a printable banner, favor bag toppers, candy bar wrappers, cupcake toppers, water/soda bottle labels, photo booth props, and a decorative sign. This all in one party kit allows you to focus on the food since you’ll already have the decorations!

THANKSGIVING PRINTABLES

All Things Holiday Bundle has Halloween printables

2. Thanksgiving Countdown by A Lively Hope– A 12 page kit with everything you need to make a darling and memorable countdown to Thanksgiving! Includes an activity idea for each day (plus extra blank cards so you can include your own family traditions). This is the perfect way to help your family express gratitude for your blessings and make the most of the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

3. 2 Thanksgiving Countdowns PLUS 30 Gratitude Prompt Cards by Timesavors – Countdown to Thanksgiving with this darling turkey or fall tree advent calendar! Simply print, cut, and you’re ready to go! Each day, say something you are grateful for as you by using the included prompt cards to stimulate ideas and dinner conversations. Happy Thanksgiving!

4. Thanksgiving Table Printable Bundle by Paper & Taigh – Impress your guest with these swoon-worthy Thanksgiving Table Printables! It’s everything your table needs for an inviting Thanksgiving dinning experience!

5. Printable Thanksgiving Planner by Peoples Life On Paper – This 23-page kit includes everything you need to plan and host a successful Thanksgiving dinner. From planning checklists and recipe organizers to menu planners and cooking schedules, you’ll stay organized and stress less!

6. Apple and Cherry Pie Favor Box Set by Piggy Bank Parties – Send your guests home with a slice of pie without having to turn on the oven! These yummy full-color digital favor box templates are great for holiday gatherings, backyard picnics and afternoon playdates. We love filling these mouth-watering slices with wrapped caramels and sour cherries!

7. Kids Table Manners Kit and Thanksgiving Bonus by The Little Inkspot Co. – This Table Manners Kit is perfect for teaching basic table manners to kids and toddlers (ages 3 – 10). Kit includes 2 printables, 1) 11 x 14 poster to hang by the dining table and 2) 8.5 x 11 table manners reward chart to help kids and parents keep track – a great way to help make family mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family and teach basic beginner table manners that will last a lifetime! Add these adorable Thanksgiving Tags to fresh baking, jams, or your garden’s harvest and give as a thoughtful token of thanks to neighbors, friends, and family!

CHRISTMAS PRINTABLES

All Things Holiday Bundle has Christmas printables

8. Christmas Town Advent Calendar by Little Paper Racoon – This beautiful paper Advent calendar is also a great Christmas decoration and a great construction game ! Once the boxes are filled with chocolates or trinkets you can create your very own Christmas town. Each box has its own design, and represents a piece of building (window, door, roof) or a Christmas tree. These building boxes let you choose between two colors, red or light brown to create different houses or buildings, so the combinations are endless!

9. Christmas Advent Countdown Activity Jar by While He Was Napping – Ever wish you could simplify Christmas, focus on family and make memories instead of your stress taking over during the holidays? Then you need this Christmas Countdown Jar because that’s exactly what it will do. Make lasting memories with your whole family during the cold countdown to Christmas with easy and fun activities that focus on the important things – each other! Use the activities as an advent calendar by choosing one per day or use them as boredom busters over the winter break.

10. 12 Days of Christmas Service Idea by The Dating Divas– ‘Tis the season for giving! Get your family in the holiday spirit with our 12 Days of Christmas. Each night for the 12 nights leading up to Christmas, you can use this festive printable pack to leave little surprises for a lucky recipient. We have created not one, but TWO options for your holiday service spree. We have an entire pack of tags, poems, and more for gifting a neighbor, as well as an entire set of poems designed specifically with your spouse in mind! This Festive Pack Includes: Shopping List and Organizer- Gather ideas for gifts in advance and keep track of them all with ease! Bag Covers- Give your Gifts in Style! Your service recipient will look forward to these colorful bags night after night! Gift Tags- Each tag coordinates with a day and includes a poem. There are two versions available in this pack, one for your neighbor and one for your spouse-be sure not to mix them up!

11. Camp Christmas by 4 The Love of My Heart – Celebrate Christmas with the family in a new fun, creative way with Camp Christmas! This bundle has everything you need to plan your “camp” with crafts, activities, care packages, and more for the entire month of December. Who doesn’t love Christmas, and who doesn’t love camp? When you combine the two together, just think of all the fun your family will have this Christmas!

12. Christmas Memories Printable Pack by A Girl and a Glue Gun – Keep track of all those fun Christmas memories with these great printables! There are printables to help you remember the food you ate, movies you watched, songs you sang, how your Christmas tree was decorated, people who visited, and presents you gave and received! Print it year after year and your kids will have a blast reading about all the fun things they have done over the years! (I wish I had this growing up! Don’t you wish you could remember what you got for Christmas when you were 10!!)

13. Disneyland Holiday Bundle by Beauty, Baby, and a Budget – Thinking about taking your little elves to Disneyland for Christmas this year? Or maybe even giving them a Disneyland trip for Christmas (because who wouldn’t love that?). Then this is the perfect bundle for you! It comes with a 2017 Disneyland Holiday Checklist which includes 25 things you MUST do at Disneyland during the holiday season. It also comes with a Disneyland countdown and a “We’re going to Disneyland sign” perfect for a photo op with your cute family!

14. Christ-like Christmas Service by Chicken Scratch n Sniff – Light your Christmas with acts of service this year with over 40 pages of adorable and festive printables to help you fill your season with acts of love. Sprout candy canes in your friend’s yard, leave random acts of love behind, say Thank You to those with the most festive houses. From bag toppers and advents to gift tags and candy wrappers; you’ll discover what you need to make this the best Christmas yet.

15. Cookie Exchange Party Printables by Everyday Party Magazine – The Printable Rustic Cookie Exchange Party Collection Includes the following: Cookie Box Labels, Recipe Cards , Voting Card, Favor Hang Tag, Folding Label, Party Circles, and Editable Invitations. Instructions and printing recommendations are also included.

 

 

All Things Holiday Bundle has Christmas printables

16. Holiday Cookie Exchange Bundle by How Does She – Have you ever done a holiday cookie exchange? It’s one of our favorite traditions and a great reason to throw a party with your BFF’s. This bundle includes everything you need to throw a mean cookie exchange…well, everything except the cookies!

17. Printable Holiday Gift Bags by Homemaking Organized – Three printable Holiday Sparkle gift bags give you a PERFECT way to present your tokens of appreciation this season.

18. Letter from Santa Printable by Hoot Invitations – Create some magic and surprise your child with a personalized letter from Santa this holiday season! Let them know Santa is watching and on his way with this 8″ x 10″ PDF editable letter from Santa. All text in main body can be edited. Just print at home on a color printer – fits on 8.5″ x 11″ paper or A4 paper.

19. Vintage Santa Letter Kit by The CreativiDee Workshop – This stylish Vintage Santa Letter Kit has everything you need to create fun holiday memories for everyone! From Wish Lists and Letters to Treat Labels for Christmas Eve, your family is sure to have a great time with this festive collection.

20. Holiday Jam Labels & Matching Cards by Our Kerrazy Adventure – These cute jam labels make it so easy to give gifts to neighbors and teachers. Print and place them on your canning jar. You can even print out a coordinating card to write sweet note. Our printables make gift giving a breeze this holiday season!

21. Christmas Gift Name Tags, Wish Lists, & Treat Gift Tags by Papers & Plenty – These adorable, buffalo plaid Christmas gift name tags are fun and easy to use! Set includes 8 tags, personalize them with a name(s) or special message on the back, the perfect addition to any Christmas gift! Then, make Christmas shopping a little easier on Santa this year with these adorable, kid-friendly, buffalo plaid Christmas wish lists! These fill-in-the-blank lists are fun and easy to use for kids and adults! Finally, dd these adorable, buffalo plaid Christmas treat gift tags to any special holiday treat! Set includes 6 tags, write in a name(s) or special message at the bottom, fun for kids, neighbors, teachers and more!

22. Fun Holiday Gift Tags by Pretty Paper Violet – Give your family and friends a smile this holiday season with this collection of printable gift tags. Perfect for your DIY gifts and anything else that lands under your tree. Print as many as you need for this year and next!

23. Holiday Fun Coloring Pages by Printable Crush – Enjoy Coloring these Holiday Coloring Pages for adults or kids! Includes 10 pages for the major US Holidays. Print these pages over and over again and try new coloring styles for gorgeous holiday art.

24. All Inclusive Holiday Binder by Thirty Handmade Days – Get ready for the holidays with this awesome All Inclusive Holiday Binder. Not only is it fun and colorful but it will help you stay organized during the chaos. You can download party prep, calendars, checklists, budgeting sheets and more!

NEW YEAR’S PRINTABLES

All Things Holiday Bundle has New Years printables

25. New Year’s Photo Booth Props by Simply Everyday Me – You’ll enjoy ringing in the New Year with these whimsical & kooky photo booth props by SimplyEverydayMe. This kit consists of 45 DIY printable props including: Top Hat, Happy New Year’s Hat, Bowler Hat, Party Hat, Party Crown, Champagne Bottle with Cork, Champagne Glasses, Martini Glasses, Father Time Beard & Mustache, Sickle, Pocket Watch, Hour Glass, Big Clock Face, Baby New Year Hat/Hair, Baby New Year Sash, Baby New Year Mouth, Binkie, Glasses, Star Glasses, Bow Tie, Pearl Necklace, Party Blower, Party Blower Fringe, Camera, Snap Burst, Fizz Burst, Pop Burst, Mustaches, Lips, and Instructions. Plus information for materials needed & paper suggestions.

26. Make Over Your Year Course by Money Saving Mom – Make Over Your Year is a simple, effective 4-week, hands-on course to help you take your big dreams and ideas and turn them into realistic goals and a doable action plan. When you download this course, you’ll get immediate access to 4 group coaching session videos, a 47-page printable PDF workbook, weekly projects to break down the goal-setting process & set yourself up for success, and printable worksheets to take you step-by-step through each of the projects in the course.

27. New Year- New Marriage Pack by Enduring All Things – Commit to making this year the best yet for your marriage! We make all kinds of resolutions in the new year, why not add your most important relationship to that list? The New Year – New Marriage Pack includes a cheat sheet to use for weekly couple check-ins, a list of fun holidays to celebrate together this year, a template for a date night bucket list and more. Use these to bring your marriage back to the top of your priorities this year!

28. Couple’s Journal by The Happy Life Balance Co. – Bring positivity and kindness into your relationship with this Couple’s Journal. In this journal, you will complete a series of daily and weekly exercises which are designed to help you gain a deeper appreciation for each other and learn to enjoy the time you spend together more.

29. Printable Goal Planner by Jessica Marie Design – Stay organized and keep up with your goals with this printable Goal Planner. The printable planner can be instantly downloaded and printed at home or a local print shop. The Goal Planner is perfect for organizing and keeping track of your goals. The Goal Planner includes 10 unique pages including yearly overview pages, goal overview pages, a goal breakdown page, and goal tracking pages. Simply download the PDF files, open them in Adobe Reader, add text to the fillable sections, print on Letter size paper, and insert into a binder. Use the files over and over every year!

30. Clean & Colorful Cooking by Ashley’s Fresh Fix– 32 deliciously colorful recipes made exclusively with whole, real food. All are dairy free, sugar free, and grain free! Including a variety of breakfasts, entrées, light fare items, dips, and desserts! Perfect for helping you stay on track during the holidays and into those New Year’s resolutions.

31. Printable Meal Planner by Carrie Elle– This printable meal planner has everything you need to take control of dinner once and for all! Plan your weekly meals and also holiday gatherings and parties with this pretty and functional planner.

32. 11×17 Themed Table Setting Placemats by Linda Winegar – Themed Table Setting Placemats meant for families, teens & kids! Perfect for at home practice, at a restaurant as a reminder, while teaching an Etiquette Class or for table setting relay races! Patterned after the official standards of etiquette which The Emily Post Institute continues to teach for proper Table Settings. Each theme adds a special flare to your table!

And remember, if you order your All Things Holiday Bundle from me, you’ll get those awesome bonuses listed above!

WHEW! So there you have it. Pretty much everything you could ever want for the holidays. We are dying from all that goodness and we just CAN’T WAIT to get our hands on it.

Only 15-20 buckaroos {for OVER $300 worth of goodies?!}
SHEESH! Sign. Me. Up.

 

Three super, duper important things to remember:

The price JUMPS tomorrow!
It’s only available for THREE DAYS!
Midnight MDT on the 13th, this deal is gone FOREVER!

What are you waiting for?!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

October 5, 2017 by Krista

Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar

This Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar originally appeared on askannamosely.com in 2014 as a contributor post. Content, possibly including links and photos, may have been updated or changed to maintain the integrity and accuracy of this content since it was originally shared.

 

Are you looking for some new October traditions? Does the witching hour seem to hit even harder once the weather starts to chill? Do you want to celebrate this month but don’t know how to squeeze it in? Then this Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar will be a great addition to your October!

This Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar takes just a few minutes and a handful of materials to put together. You'll have fun ideas to celebrate all October long.

WHO IS THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR FOR?

In less than 30 minutes and with just a handful of materials, you’ll have a whole bunch of fun activities to celebrate this month that you can grab when you need it most. Are you:

  • looking for some fun new traditions?
  • just trying to keep the kids from demolishing the house?
  • fighting to keep cool and sane until bedtime?
  • making family time a priority this month?

Don’t miss out on all the fun that October has to offer with this fun project the kids can help put together and then use when you need a little fun and family time or a few minutes with the kids occupied.

Printable Halloween Countdown Activity Jar

 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR:

Materials Needed:

  • Clean jar or other container to store the activity slips
  • FREE download of my KIDS’ HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY JAR
  • Scissors or paper cutter
  • Tape or glue to adhere the label to the jar

This Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar takes just a few minutes and a handful of materials to put together. You'll have fun ideas to celebrate all October long.

Directions:

  • Print out the Halloween Jar Activities.
  • Cut out each colored rectangle and the square jar label with the scissors or paper cutter.
  • Fold each activity in half or in fourths, whichever you prefer, and put them in the jar.
  • Apply the label to the outside of the jar and you’re all set for some Halloween fun!

 

WANT MORE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN FUN?

This set includes 10 activities plus the jar label – perfect for a weekend activity or those after school evenings when there’s just a little too much free time, the weather is a little too chilly or you need something to entertain the kiddos for a little bit. If you’d like to download the entire set – which contains 36 activities+a blank template to write in your own traditions and activities. Full set also includes updated labels and full printable instructions – you can get it in my Etsy shop.

This Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar takes just a few minutes and a handful of materials to put together. You'll have fun ideas to celebrate all October long.

 

 

Happy October!
 

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I'm Krista. Ringleader here on While He Was Napping, wife to my handsome Mr. Right & momma to my THREE energetic boys, Big J (9), Little J (6) & Little N (4). We FINALLY added a beautiful little girl to our family last December.

I’m knee-deep in Tonka trucks & Thomas trains. I survive our crazy days with Vanilla Coke, Sonic slushies, sweet snuggles and little giggles. When I tuck them in tight & kiss them good night, I get a little time to create & just be me.


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