winter

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…

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…

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…

Toddlers can be a tireless, ball of energy.  In constant perpetual motion, they only seem to slowdown to sleep… and sometimes, they even fight that!  The good news is they are also easily and endlessly amused by the simplest, household objects.  Today I am sharing a list of common household…

How many conversation hearts did your child get in their Valentine box this week?  Instead of consuming all those little sugar bombs, you can make a great learning experience with them.  Big M has enjoyed two great activities this month using two different types of candy hearts: Graphing with Sweethearts Conversation…

One thing crafting with young toddlers has taught me… the more you plan a project, the more likely they will decide to create something wholly and entirely different!  These Valentine Relief Paintings emerged last year out of a planned shaving cream art project that went totally awry.  And if there’s…

Big M’s paper plate wreaths are beginning to become a fixture in our kitchen.  As soon as we remove one at the end of one holiday season, she asks to make another one for the next!  So far for Valentine’s Day, we have made 3 easy Valentine wreaths… two paper…

A year after its release, and both my M&Ms are still as Frozen-obsessed as ever.  Big M has dolls named Elsa and Anna (that are not actually Frozen dolls), she orders Siri to “Play Frozen soundtrack” when we drive to preschool every day, and she has to wear her hair…

More than 50 years have passed since the Civil Rights Act was first enacted in 1964, and yet race seems to be as hot a topic today as it was in the 1960s.  In honor Martin Luther King Day and his leadership in the advancement of Civil Rights, Big M and…

As the temperatures have remained sub-freezing this month, we have kept busy and warm indoors.  We have celebrated the snowy season with 6 winter crafts so far… Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? Our snowman busy box keeps Big M quiet while Lil’ M takes her afternoon nap. Marshmallow Snowflakes Quick and…

For years now, we’ve all sent around the Elf Yourself videos.  And this year, at Big M’s preschool, we actually ‘Elf’d’ the kids as a craft to create a bulletin board at our local library to give the town ‘The Gift of Laughter.’  While brainstorming ideas for the board, I…

This time last year, I was stuck indoors with a newborn and a 2 year old who was chomping at the bit to put on her snow pants and go play in the feet of snow that seemed to keep falling without end.  I did my best to bundle her…