Christmas

What Nutcracker party is complete without tutus and dancing?!? Motivate your tiny dancer party-goers to dance with these festive DIY Party Favors… today, we are sharing the how-to for snowflake wands to go with the Waltz of the Snowflake. Wednesday I’ll be back with the how-to for the jingle bell…

Our Nutcracker party planning continues… and no party is complete without themed decor.  This week we created a simple burlap holiday banner featuring Nutcracker silhouettes for less than $10, with great Pottery Barn-esque effect! DIY Nutcracker Silhouette Holiday Banner For Day 3 of our Nutcracker series, I created this simple holiday…

The Nutcracker is more than just ballerinas and tutus!  The battle scene features the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers versus the Rat King and his minions.  Today, I’ve recreated this battle with a fun Nutcracker game on a cinnamon stick tic tac toe board! The Nutcracker Series Welcome…

People thought I was crazy when I took Big M, then age 3, to see The Nutcracker last holiday season.  She was captivated from the opening curtain to the final curtsies.  She still watches it almost daily, narrates the scenes, requests to listen to the soundtrack in the car, and re-enacts…

Over the past few Fridays, I have been sharing ways to save money this season, while the rest of the world breaks the bank!  Today’s Financially Savvy holiday savings tip? Bake It, Don’t Buy It.  For many people on your holiday list, baked goods make an excellent Christmas gift.  And…

Along with the cheer of the holiday season comes the drear of colder and wetter weather, making for long dark days stuck indoors.  We cheered things up with some holiday games, including this fun Christmas twist on the traditional cup-and-ball favorite, Cup and Jingle Bell! Cup & Jingle Bell, A…

Growing up, I always looked forward to December 1st, and my Mom’s reveal of our annual Advent Calendar.  On a recent trip through Target, I saw an adorable 3D Christmas tree version… for $30.  And it still needed gifts to go inside.  I knew I could create my own version…

After giving thanks and stuffing yourself with turkey on Thursday, it officially becomes Santa Sighting season!  Check out our list of places to see Santa this year, in and around Milford, CT. 10+ Places to See Santa this Season From local tree lightings to breakfasts and your traditional mall Santas, here’s…

Black Friday pandemonium looms just one week away.  I, personally, have never been one to join in the shopping at midnight insanity.  I prefer to stay home, enjoy my family and let my turkey digest.  I am, however, all in favor of getting a jump start on preparing for Christmas.…

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackPackMixins #CollectiveBias The best part about being a parent is sharing all the things you loved about your own childhood with your children.  I love all things Christmas, and one of my favorite holiday traditions…

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeInTheFun #CollectiveBias Every year, my husband groans and makes himself scarce when I drag out my KitchenAid mixer for my weekend of Christmas cookie baking. He knows the kitchen is about to be inundated for…

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease #CollectiveBias I knew my husband was the one the first time I came home with him for Thanksgiving.  It was my first major holiday away from home.  For a taste of home, I had committed…

The Peanuts Holiday movies are one of my favorite holiday traditions.  I remember watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas each October, November and December for as long as I can remember.  And I have loved passing this tradition on to my kids… albeit when…

More than two decades ago, my mom settled the annual holiday battle between two local sets of grandparents by hosting a Holiday Brunch at our house Christmas morning.  To make the morning preparation super easy, she would make an Egg Strata every year.  Egg Strata is a breakfast casserole consisting…

We are days from Christmas, and if you live long distance from family like we do, chances are, large boxes are descending upon your house.  The shipment from our Texas Santa arrived late this week.  I waited until the girls were asleep to unpack everything… and when I opened the…

I can’t remember the last time I made a gingerbread house… but Big M has become quite Christmas-obsessed this year, and taken especially by gingerbread houses.  Given her propensity to meltdown over a collapsed Lego tower, I knew this could be a treacherous undertaking. So when my mom showed me…

My Instagram project sneak peeks put the pressure on to get these posted!  We first saw these on PopSugar as gifts for Mother’s Day, and like many of you clamoring for the How To…, we fell in love at first sight.  We finally got the chance to make them ourselves,…

There’s nothing quite like baby’s first Christmas – especially for you as the parent.  They will be more fascinated by the lights, wrapping paper and boxes than anything else.  That is, assuming they are even aware of what is going on at all!  Many commemorate the occasion with ornaments, and…

Big M is obsessed with making ornaments for the Christmas tree this year… we are going to need a bigger tree soon, and I’m on a quest for more ideas!  I remembered these candy cane mice my Mom made with us as kids and has made them with her kindergarten…