Gift Guide: Keeping Kids Busy

 

  This year, I'm trying extra hard to find gifts that will keep my kids busy and engaged this winter/year as we continue to spend more time at home. I want them outside through all seasons and using their minds as they play or creativity as they discover.  Here are some items we have and love, and I'm getting for my kids this year.
My son read the full Harry Potter series over the first part of quarantine and is a huge HP fan now.  Having something he is so passionate about, helps with gift giving. I hope to keep his mind busy and excited with this 3D Harry Potter puzzle!
The last few Christmases, we've gotten each kid a lego set. That always keeps them busy, then they re-use the legos to build up things of their imagination. This year, I'm getting my son a Harry Potter lego kit (theme) and my daughter a Friends lego kit.
We got a mini table tennis (ping pong) table at the beginning of quarantine and that's been a fun outlet on days we're inside!
I love these books to work their brains - Hidden Pictures and What's Wrong with this Picture?
We go through craft material fast, so my kids always want more and I love giving them craft kits and materials to work their creativity.
We have two sets of Fort Building Playset and the kids love to build different shaped forts and drape blankets over it.
My daughter is really pushing herself to read chapter books like her big brother, so these Rebel Girl books not only have a great message but are for reading levels for age 6-9.
We love busting open geodes. This is great to get them outside so they can see what treasures they can discover!
My kids will spend a lot of time playing with the stomp rocket - a classic, great outdoor toy!

What are your "keeping kids busy" gift ideas?

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Amazon It List: Summer at home edition

 

A few fun finds relevant to summer - especially give our more-at-home situation this summer!  This will be an interesting summer (trips cancelled, camps cancelled, play dates minimized, visits with family/friends limited). What Amazon finds have you found lately (bonus if they entertain the kids)?   With all the added time at home, I've been working overtime to spruce up my home and carve out little areas that feel different.  My screened in patio feels like a little getaway right now, and plants are adding to that feeling. I love this hanging planter that I just got, now I just need to fill it!
I'm a Yeti fanatic (I've tried other versions, and Yeti just works best for me), so stocking up on my summer drinkware, this rambler Yeti is great for cocktails and wine for your summer drinks outside!
And speaking of outdoors: the pools are closed in our area this summer, so we're thankful to already have a blow up water slide that our kids love (and will make them tired after an afternoon playing on it). Here are a few similar options: 

Our weekend fun revolves around picnics with family and friends where we can be outside and remain 6+ ft away, and so a good picnic blanket/mat is a must! I'm also very into this picnic basket/cooler situation!
My husband has been buying any and all outdoor yard games to occupy our kids while we work and have some family fun in the evenings or at said picnics. Our current favorite is corn hole or bags, depending on where you are from. :) And this one is portable and lights up for night games! Here are a few others:

I'm an ice cream lover, but I've been cooling off with frozen fruit that almost magically turns into ice cream! ✨My whole family loves this (so easy to use and clean) frozen fruit soft serve maker, and customizing our own flavor mixtures.
In spending a lot of time multi-tasking at home these days, on a whim, I got this phone holder which adds another screen to my at-home work station and easy to stay up to-date on incoming messages.
I'm loving simple tops that can go from Zoom calls to walks around the neighborhood. I also love the puff sleeve trend happening. The detail on this one is subtle, yet fun ( and comes in multiple colors)!
Anyone else living in yoga pants?  Literally 95% of the time for me... so I picked up this pair in a fun blue color (they have more neutrals, too) because they're light weight and thin, but still have some compression to them.
Nora has the long sleeve/pant version of these sweet little pjs. They have quickly become her favorite because they are so soft. They come in many color options, and light weight for summer!
Like almost everything else in my life, my jewelry has been simplified.  I wear subtle ear cuffs that I hardly even take out - and I am ready to switch out my current ear cuff for these ones!
Summer edition Amazon It List:

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What I'm getting my kids for Christmas!

 

  So many gift guides, so little time. I just hand my kids the toy catalogs (Target is a long time fav, and this year, the Amazon sent a toy catalog) and let them circle away. I, of course, balance with things I think they need and would love, and they don't get everything (not even half!) of what they circle.
So instead of a gift guide, per se, I'm sharing what we're getting our kids in case it gives you any ideas for your own kids, nieces/nephews, grandkids, other kiddos in your lives!
For reference, my kids are in kindergarten and 2nd grade! 
They are both (unbeknownst to them) wanting the following items:

My daughter, who is baby crazy and loves anything "so cute" is liking:

My son is pretty predictable with a few curve balls (a new love for cars):

And then a few things I throw in because they NEED them and will thank me later (like when their feet aren't cold):

I linked to all the lowest prices (so varies between Amazon and Target mostly).  What are YOU getting for your kids?

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Amazon's Holiday Shopping

 

  This was the first year I received not just one, but two catalogs from Amazon, the all digital giant. One was fashion focused and the other all toys.  Both full of great ideas and a great way to get you off the computer, flipping through actual pages (with easy to scan QSR codes to take you digitally).  There is something about relaxing with a magazine (catalogs count!), cup of coffee and blanket that I love.
Toy catalogs have long been all the rage with my kids in order to make their holiday lists, so they were excited to get another one to flip through - circling items they're interested in. 

In case you didn't get one or both of these (or even if you did),  I am highlighting some favorite holiday gift items/must-haves featured in the catalogs and online. Amazon is nothing if not an abundance of choices.
You can see all the top toys here. 
And all of Amazon's gift guides here (including Oprah's favorite things).

 Some favorite fashion/tech picks:

These matching star pajamas for the whole family

Party dresses (outfit pieces) for one and for all

Holiday items & gifts for the men

 Some favorite toy picks:

Or you can shop all my favorite items for the holidays (including bonus items) below:

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A Break from the Sun with Dragons!

 

  After a very cold and snowy winter and then a very wet spring, we threw ourselves into summer as fast as we could.  Parks, picnics, sprinklers, the pool and a lot of SUN just within the first two weeks caused for some very sleepy evenings and much needed afternoon quiet time. My kids don't nap anymore, so we enforce quiet time - which most of the time they complain incessantly about the entire time (so... not very quiet). This past weekend, after pulling them in from the pool for a much needed break from the sun on their fair, fresh from winter skin, I had a surprise for them. 
We are HUGE 'How To Train Your Dragon' fans in our house, watching the first two on repeat. They are movies not only both my kids can agree on (a small feat), but ones that both my husband and I enjoy watching, too. So, now that How To Train Your Dragon 3 is out, we had to do it right.
Walmart has an extra special version - How To Train Your Dragon 3 Walmart Exclusive DVD Gift Set that includes 2 Funko keychains - and with the extra bonus of t-shirts and dragon toys this was a real treat for the kids. We popped some popcorn and all took our rest time immersed in the movie. Liam had already seen this movie in theaters, but it was the first time for the rest of us - and we were all so excited, especially Nora, to see a female dragon!
The movie is full of action, love and friendship, and looking for solutions. I love that the movie includes unconventional leaders and path that is constantly re-assessed as the end goal changes. I think it shows my kids that anyone can step up to be anything they want and challenges along the way doesn't mean it's over. Not to give too much away, I have to say my favorite part was the end. A happy ending for all (though not the one originally envisioned) gave us all a good feeling as we ran back out into the sun!
You can grab the new release of How to Train Your Dragon 3 Walmart Exclusive DVD Gift Set at Walmart today and make those breaks from the great outdoors this early summer a real hit!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TrainYourDragonAtWalmart http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

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Untangling my daughter's massive tangles

  Nora's hair is super prone to tangles. So much so that we dread the post shower brush-out and it's a huge fight from her to let me finish brushing her hair out. Her hair is semi-curly (seems to be getting less curly as she gets older, which makes me sad...) doesn't seem coarse or anything, but it just catches against itself, I guess.
So, after a lot of trial and error - I have found a product routine that has taken the struggle out of brushing her hair and I had to share in case anyone else out there is chasing their kid trying to brush their hair.
1. Recently, I got this new Dove ultracare repair conditioner that is legit. Not only does it smell good, but really gets her hair silky (I use it, too, to repair my ends!). Her tangley hair above looks 10x better than it did getting out of the shower before this stuff.
2. While rinsing the conditioner out, I have her brush hair with this hair scalp massager. (bonus - feels great!)
3. After the shower, we dry her hair with a cotton t-shirt instead of a towel (there is also this anti-frizz hair towel if you don't want to use a t-shirt). I do this with my own hair, and Nora wanted to wrap a t-shirt around her head like mama. But I actually think this has helped! The terry cloth of the towel roughs up her hair too much as she dries it.
4. After her hair is t-shirt dried a bit, I use this hair detangling spray (but I'm sure you could use any kind) and this de-frizz leave-in conditioner and styling cream (this was seriously a game-changer). Then I brush with short strokes - use the wet brush and tangle teaser hairbrush (just whichever one is around, they both are great).
5. In addition, she has silk-like pillowcases that she sleeps on each night. This helps her hair stay smoother longer (since we don't wash her hair every night). I have these same pillowcases (in white). 

This marble tray is my favorite way to corral products (hand soap, lotion, hair products) in a bathroom/near a sink.
Shop the products to no-tangles:

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Back to School 2018!

 

  These little turkeys are back to school and feeling cool in some new duds - which we're anxiously awaiting chillier weather to really rock it all, but until then, we'll be running around barefoot!  I just can't believe how OLD these babies of mine are. They look like little adults.
Nora is in her LAST year of pre-K, and I just can't believe it. The thought of her going to Kindergarten next year sends me into a sob fest. Her personality is busting at the seems. Last weekend, we were getting ice cream with our friends, and after telling the girls to be careful as they were climbing over everything... my fellow mama friend turned to me, and said, 'did Nora just roll her eyes?!'  Yes, yes she did...already.
Liam is all smiles for FIRST grade! He was SO excited to get back to school, see his friends and play at recess. I think he thrives on routine and does really well with school. This year is so different than last (see his first day of Kindergarten post here), he not only looked like a baby with a missing front tooth/baby teeth and all, but didn't know but one person so was shy and unsure. This year he went into his school and class with so much confidence, which made me so happy.
Here's hoping for a happy, healthy and successful new school year!
Shop their new fall clothes:

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A Frozen Easter & Cozy Brunch!

  Our Easter was filled with sleet/ice and COLD.  Not very Easter like, but we got in church and brunch with my family at (one of my quickly becoming favorite brunch spots) American Slang Modern Brasserie, located within the Intercontinental Hotel just off the Plaza.  It's always so bright and cherry in there, despite the grey outside, with a great view of the Plaza - and wonderful food and drinks! What more could you want?  You can see my last visits here and here.
You can also see a pretty dramatic difference in Liam from the last post - just a few days prior to Easter morning. He got a major haircut the day before (just in the nick of time) - and we let him have total creative freedom. It had been way too long, so I was just glad to tone down that puff ball, and now he looks SO old!
Nora has become obsessed with drinking her (kid-friendly) drinks out of my old coffee cups and calling it her coffee - so they were really sweet to give the kids their chocolate milk in to-go coffee cups.   She thought she was pretty cool. ;)
We ended up not making it to my larger-family gathering later that evening, as the weather really picked up and we were seeing lots of accidents on the roads. We decided not to risk it, and I ended up cleaning out both kids closets and dressers! So I call that a win, plus we had a wonderful morning with my parents (just missed my sister!).  Hope you all had wonderful Easters!
Our Easter Outfits:

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