Someone PLEASE tell me how on earth it's already Friday?!?! This week has FLOWN by but at the same time we've packed in some great family time AND decked our house from top to bottom. It was a productive week!
Friday, November 29, 2019
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Cornbread Recipe
When we moved from Canada to North Carolina there was QUITE the culture shock in several areas... tea was iced not hot, ma'am was a term of politeness and wasn't accusatory and you were ALLOWED TO CALL ADULTS BY THEIR FIRST NAME (think Miss Joyce instead of Mrs. Buchanan). I have VIVID memories of going to a friends house to play and eat dinner and being served a big 'ol plate of corn bread, collard greens and black eyed peas. WHAT?!?!
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Gift Guides - Toddlers, Teens and Teachers
Today I'm wrapping up my gift guides sharing about toddlers, teens and teachers. I'm hoping that this finished covering all of the categories and provides you with some good finds and/or inspiration.
This toddler guide had me allllll kinds of nostalgic - I LOVE kids toys and have always loved finding great toys that encourage creative and imaginative play.
My kids got a shopping cart very similar to this one when they were 5, 2 and a baby and we STILL have it and they STILL use it. It's stood the test of time and is something that I can see us putting into our attic and holding onto.
This series of coloring books is PERFECT for kids because of the larger-scale drawings and thick paper. There are 200 pictures in each book and the price is great.
Magnatiles, magformers, alllll the magnetic blocks. They're great for younger kids and my kids still love building with them.
We got one of these basketball goals when Luke was about two and we have so many fond memories with it. He LOVED it and Dave and I loved shooting baskets from the couch after he went to bed :)
We've always used the counting bears and when I was searching for those I came across this set which looks SO GOOD! Kids can sort, roll the dice and match, count, etc. We always added an additional motor skill element by using tongs, a large spoon, etc. into play.
If you're in the market for a stuffed animal Jelly Cat is the way to go. The softest, best quality, longest lasting toys out there. Ours have been washed hundreds of times and they're just the cutest.
These are painting without the mess! They last for a really long time and are washable.
Another favorite and one that we've gifted often. Kids look at pattern sheets, make the pattern with the screws and then drill them into the board.
Hands down my favorite toddler toy. We have a huge collection of Duplo and my kids still build with them. They last forever, are easy to use and encourage the best creative play.
It was a sad, sad day for me when we passed along our play kitchen. My kids spent hours cooking and serving countless meals out of their kitchen and, in fact, Griffin has a play kitchen on her Christmas list this year. (not happening - but now I'm wishing we'd held onto ours!)
A great basic block set makes the perfect gift because the possibilities are really endless. Towers, castles, garages for Hot Wheel cars, etc.
This is such a fun set - ice cream, toppings, the scoop... Griffin has had this for several years and loves it!
As cute as the felt/fabric play food is, I've always preferred the food from learning resources because you can wash/disinfect it and it looks realistic which my kids loved. We've had lots of different kinds of play foods over the years but the pieces we still have are this kind.
We bought Luke one of these trikes when he was about 4 and then a second one for Mason a couple of years later. We still have both of them and they're one of the things that we for sure won't part with. The quality is awesome, they're really easy for the kids to pedal and steer and because the seat moves so far forward and back they can ride them for years and years.
We have a set of tunnels super similar to this one and I can't tell you how many weekends we had our entire living room filled with them :) The kids would bring pillows into the little tents and played with them constantly. The best part is that they fold up into a tiny little carrying case.
Mason and Griffin both LOVED dressing up and we have always had a stash of imaginative play dress up clothes. Beekeeper, baker, astronaut, doctor, princess, cowboy... they loved them all!
I've talked several times about how much we love our OSMO and I love that they just came out with a Genius Kit geared toward preschool-aged kids. OSMO makes screen time more hands-on and educational and it's screen time that you can feel better about them having!
I feel like teens are always in need of a charger and how fun is this little external power source?!?! I kind of want one for myself :)
They can keep their car keys, drivers license and debit card all handy AND cute on this key ring and matching card holder. (be sure to use ANDREA15 for a discount!!!)
I haaaaaate Crocs but all the kids I know LOVE THEM. Which probably makes them love them even more :) hahaha You're officially old when you see trends come around for a second time, right?!?! #officiallyold
LOVE the pom on this hat!
I think that this would be a perfect gift to have over the door in a bedroom or game room.
This speaker is portable, durable and connects easily with bluetooth. It can play for 8 hours which is a huge bonus. I brought my similar one to school for a game we were doing one day and the kids all commented on how much they liked it.
Click on the link and look at the pictures of this ball all lit up! SO FUN!
This small sign would be so cute for a desk or locker.
I feel like this is the gift I've heard mentioned more than any other so far this season. I love them so much and think that they would be a huge hit under the tree.
I mean... would it even be a teen gift guide without a hydroflask?!?!
We've played this before and it's a really fun "would you rather" game that gets kids laughing and talking.
LOVE that this camera prints all the way to the edge of the print.
I feel like the name says it all - cozy AND super cute.
TONS of girls I know are asking for this bag for Christmas - it comes in tons of colors and they clean up really easily.
Another popular pick and could be extra fun with a college hoodie or team shirt inside.
Because what else are you going to stick on your hydroflask, phone case, binder, etc.?
I saw these in J Crew not that long ago and they feel like HEAVEN! They're 40% off right now as well!
This game is SO FUN and is great because they can fold it up and carry it in the small tote and then get it out and play whenever and wherever.
I got one of these umbrellas last year and I love it SO MUCH!!! It essentially works the opposite way a regular umbrella does and prevents you from getting a bunch of water in your car or on the floor of your house/classroom.
My favorite teacher gift to give and receive. $5 to Sonic or Starbucks... A Baskin Robins gift card to take their kids out for ice cream or a Cinemark card to check out Frozen II with their kids over break. Write a note, pop the card in the envelope and call it a day!
Barefoot Dreams socks. The end.
A fun desk accessory like a mousepad, little plant, post-it notes, etc.
I've given these as teacher gifts and use mine ALL THE TIME! I have my teacher keys, ID, etc. all on one ring which makes it super easy.
This desk pad is going to be in my stocking this year and I'm SO EXCITED!!!! I love a big desk pad and this one is right up my alley because it's unlined and LARGE!
Someone sent me a link to this the other day and it cracked me up!
I bet your kid knows what their teachers favorite pens are... and whether they're sharpies or flair pens a package of them with a sweet note would make a perfect gift.
I feel like a pair of slippers with a note about putting their feet up over break would be much appreciated!
Happy Tuesday, friends!!!
PS - this post contained affiliate links.... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!
Monday, November 25, 2019
Weeked Recap
Friday was Grandparent's Day and it was such a great one. Every single kid got to come to the mic and say their name and what they're thankful for and then each grade sang a song about being thankful. It was so sweet but I'm having a hard time thinking about it being Luke's last one! It's an elementary-only program and this time next year he'll be in middle school! EXCITING!!!
Friday, November 22, 2019
Friday Favorites
Happy Friday, friends!!! It's an EXTRA Happy Friday over here because we have an early release day and then it's THANKSGIVING BREAK!!! WOO HOO!!!
Erika, Narci and I are all sharing our FAVES today and we'd love it if you'd join us and share your own FAVORITES this week as well! All you need to do is grab our graphic, link back to one (or all!) of us and share your own Friday Favorites post.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Box City
I'm not sure about your house but we have had an influx of boxes at our house due to the holidays and rather than just send those boxes straight to the recycling bin the kids got creative with them and I wanted to share to hopefully inspire some creative play at your house as well.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Gift Guide for Men
Happy Wednesday, friends! Today I'm sharing a quick gift guide for men.... the most challenging people on lots of y'alls gift lists! Here we go...
I ordered footballs from this company last week and they are SUCH GREAT QUALITY! I think a football or basketball with "BEST DAD" or a nickname or "DADS ONLY!!!" would be so much fun!
Y'all. We got this massager in the summer and it is THE BEST THING EVER!!! It has a percussive motion instead of a kneading one and it is incredible. One of my co-workers is also a chiropractor and he is the one who recommended it and we've used it for neck pain/tension, plantar fasciitis pain relief and headaches. It's fantastic.
This is one of those splurge items that you won't know how you lived without once you have it. The big selling point for us was that it doesn't have to be hooked up directly to a water source. You fill the reservoir or fill up the side tank (yes, it's worth it!) and about 30 minutes later you have PERFECT crunchable nugget ice. Dave rolled his eyes a bit when we got it but now he uses it more than I do :)
This is another one of those items that we use on a daily basis. It's great for filling your house with music, using out by the pool or in the garage when you're getting things done. It connects to your phone with bluetooth and the sound quality is great.
These are my favorite kinds of sweaters for Dave and I love the waffle weave texture of this one.
How much FUN is this mug?!?! You could personalize it for a grandpa or uncle or dad (or mom, aunt, grandma!) and you could even use a pet picture. LOVE IT!
I sang the praises of the air pods on my Women's Gift Guide post and I really can't say enough great things about them. There MAY be a pair under the tree for Dave this year!
This is my favorite cologne EVER. It smells so good but isn't overpowering. Trust me.
Dave got this last year for Christmas and has used it daily since! If you have a Whataburger fan at your house this is a must!
So I bought these toothbrushes on Prime Day in the summer and Dave loved them even more than me which says a lot because I was pretty much instantly obsessed.
This is on my short list for my dad this year - I think it would be great because you can email photos right to it. It would take up minimal space and be a great piece for his office.
I got Dave UGG slippers several years ago and he LOVES them! They look brand new and he wears them every day in the Fall/Winter.
Listen, it's not just ladies who love to snuggle up in a Saranoni blanket. This is my go-to-gift for my dad and father-in-law.
The kids gave this to Dave for Father's Day and it's HIT!!! You fill it with regular table salt and then can shoot flies with it. It's hilarious and awesome and way more fun than a swatter.
I've had my eye on a corn hole set for Dave for several years and am loving that this one glows for nighttime playing.
Because would it even be a men's gift guide without socks?!?!
Our family loves games and I like to pick out a new one and wrap it up for Dave on Christmas. He's probably the biggest game-lover at our house and it's just become a sweet tradition. If you want to see all of our favorite games check out this post.
PS - this post contained affiliate links. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
Weekend Top 10
Friday night means a face mask! Love that she requests these girly "spa" treatments :) Friday, November 15, 2019
Friday Favorites
Happy Friday, friends!!! We're in DESPERATE need of some Thanksgiving Break over here but we've pretty much made it to the weekend and so I'm going to count that as a win :) For real though - it's been so busy and I feel like everyone is kind of on the verge of getting a cold and I'm so thankful for a couple of down days!
Erika, Narci and I are all sharing our FAVES today and we'd love it if you'd join us and share your own FAVORITES this week as well! All you need to do is grab our graphic, link back to one (or all!) of us and share your own Friday Favorites post.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Womens Gift Guide
Today I'm sharing my Women's Gift Guide which I had so much fun putting together!!! I hope you enjoy it and get an idea or two of what to buy for someone on your list or put on your own list this year.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Lasagna Casserole
Last week I tried a new recipe and have already made it again because it was SO GOOD and SO EASY! All three kids loved it and it made plenty for a meal and leftovers.
Tuesday, November 12, 2019
Girls Gift Guide
Happy Tuesday, friends!!! Today I'm sharing my girl's gift guide and I'm going to dive right in because it's SO MUCH FUN!!!
There's nothing better than these retro my little ponies... they're scented and just like we all remember them. Griffin has several and plays with them ALL THE TIME! They're $10 which makes them a perfect price point as well.
Griffin is back in ballet and is OBSESSED with all things dance. I think that this ballet barre is going to be her gift from Santa and I love that she can have it in her room or downstairs and that you can take it apart and transport it in a bag. I ordered her this mirror from IKEA to go up in her room as well to use with it.
We're totally puzzle people and Mud Puppy is one of our favorite brands.
This set of dolls would be perfect to take to restaurants, games, etc. They're quirky and fun and G loves anything mermaid related :)
I feel like these don't need an explanation because what little girl doesn't love a set of sparkly pink bracekets
I've talked about these in a road trip post because they're a non-messy craft project that's perfect for at home and on the go. They can work on it a little bit at a time and the results are always really impressive.
Maileg mice are some of Griffin's very favorite toys to play with. They're handmade and absolutely precious and I love all of the creative play they encourage.
Mason has one of the larger polaroid cameras and Griffin is always asking to use it. This one is a little bit smaller and I like that it prints all the way to the edges of the print. From what I read this one also lets you see the picture before you decide to print it which seems like it would be a great feature to have.
You can read all about my love for OSMO in this post and I can't say enough great things about it.
A caboodle doesn't JUST have to be for hair accessories and nail polish... I think that this would be so cute stuffed with new markers and stickers and a notebook making it a fun little art tote. I just found this caboodle that your daughter can DOODLE ON!!! It comes with markers... how cool is that?!?!
I haven't tried this out first hand but it's going on G's Christmas list because she LOVES play dough and I love the idea of her learning about circuits as she plays
Griffin is loving Playmobil and I think she's at the perfect age for it because of how small and detailed some of the pieces are. There's literally a set for every kid... space, doll house, horses, pirates, etc., etc., etc.
Griffin has a set of scrubs that she loves and this set comes with a whole bag which is so cute. I had her set of scrubs monogrammed with "Dr. McAnally" and she plays with them all the time.
Every time I try to get away from LOL dolls she goes crazy for them again. They're cute so I'm not super mad about it ;) The glitter dolls are on sale HERE
Griffin has the "Cat Fashion" set but this dance bunny set may have to make it's way into her stocking. This is the perfect toy to toss into your bag when you're headed out in the car!
Santa brought Griffin a bike just like this one last year and it is AWESOME!!! I feel like every little girl should have a banana seat at some point in her childhood. Add a basket and call it a day!
Griffin is getting an American Girl doll for Christmas and I have been loving looking for accessories. This desk set is SO CUTE and since we know how much Griffin loves setting up her desk I think she'll love setting up a doll desk just as much :)
How fun are these straws and connectors. The building possibilities appear to be endless and I like that the projects can be large or small scale.
Griffin is always up for painting and she's really enjoyed these Aquarellum sets in the past. The projects turn out beautifully and there's almost a scientific element as kids have to follow directions and mix the liquid watercolors to make different shades/colors.
This doll house was G's big present last Christmas and she has played with it constantly all year long. She really wanted a Barbie dream house and we struggled with spending that kind of money on a plastic toy and this dollhouse has been so great because the quality is outstanding, the wheels allow her to move it wherever she wants to play, she can play with it from all 4 sides and it fits Barbie dolls.
LOVE a purse (toss in some Lip Smackers and a pack of gum and she'll be ready to go!) and I think that this one would coordinate with a ton of different outfits.
Griffin got this keyboard for her 6th birthday and it has been a huge hit with all three kids. You connect it to your iPad and the keys light up helping them learn to read and play music. There are tutorial videos for hand position and other basics and they've all learned a lot. I love that you can plug headphones into it :)
Happy Tuesday, friends!!!
PS - You can find my boys gift guide HERE.
PSS - This post contained affiliate links. Thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!
Monday, November 11, 2019
Weekend Top 10
Today's weekend top 10 is actually a top 8 list because it was blissfully low key!
Bring a stuffed animal to music class day?!?! She's on it.
Clinique Gift With Purchase
Today I have a special BONUS post because I have an awesome deal to talk about that ends this week!
I'm the first to admit that I am NOT A BEAUTY BLOGGER... but let that be an encouragement to you because if I can handle these products then you can too :) My routine is simple and my makeup is minimal but I have been paying more attention to my skin in the last couple of years and have been so pleased with the Clinique products that I've tried. I've pledged my allegiance to their moisture surge for YEARS and had a Clinique eyeshadow palette that I used to the very last little speck. I've always found Clinique products to be a great value, gentle on my sensitive skin and a high quality product. I made my way over to the Clinique counter at Nordstrom this weekend because they're offering really great Gift with Purchase right now that I had to check out for myself.
Right now when you spend $30 on Clinique products you can get one of two special gift bags for FREE!
Use promo code EYES and receive: a cosmetics bag and deluxe samples of Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly, 7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse-Off Formula, Take the Day Off Makeup Remove for Lids, Lashes & Lips, Quickliner for Eyes Intense Eyeliner Pencil, High Impact Mascara in Black, and Moisture Surge Eye 96-Hour Hydro-Filler Concentrate.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Friday Favorites
Happy Friday, friends!!! I can't believe that it's already Friday! I have a fun roundup of FAVORITES this week like this couch full of cousins...
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Girls Trip to Boston
Happy Thursday, friends!!! I'm back from a trip to Boston with girlfriends feeling refreshed and a little dazed after jumping right back into "real life" after a few days of eating, shopping, strolling and laughing more than I do the rest of the year combined :)
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Leftover Halloween Candy Cookies
I'm not sure about your house but there is A LOT of candy hanging around our place and somehow eating it in cookie form seems better than just eating it on it's own ;) These cookies were a HIT at our house and with some co-workers we shared a batch with - everyone loved that you never really knew what was going to be in each bite and they were chewy and absolutely delicious.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Gift Guide for Boys
Happy Tuesday, friends! Today I'm sharing a gift guide for boys... but the truth is all of these ideas would work for any kid with interests similar to my boys :) You can click on any of the images below to shop! Let's get started!
Luke is a HUGE Harry Potter fan and he would FLIP over these illustrated editions. I've seen them in person and they are beautifully done.
This is the coolest! I ordered it for Mason and I'm hoping it's a great "wall ball football" for him. He should be able to throw it up against the wall and then it bounces back and he can catch it. You have to go watch the video on the Amazon page :)
I've eyed these watches/activity trackers for at least a year and am finally ready to bite the bullet for Mason. He is VERY motivated by lists and the fact that this has an option to add chores and other tasks to earn coins is what's finally sold me on it.
One of Mason's friends brought one of these hover helmets to school for show-and-tell and I swear that Mason hasn't stopped talking about it ever since. It doesn't necessarily DO anything other than just hang out and float but apparently it's super cool :) If you have a big football fan on your hands this could be something that they get a big kick out of.
I think that this is what Santa is going to bring our boys this year. A teacher friend of mine was telling me all about it after a training she went to and after watching a TON of videos and reading alllllll the reviews I think it's something that my boys would play with all the time. They have all sorts of labs and experiments and challenges for them to work on and I love that it's waterproof.
If you have a golfer who loves to practice this net enables them to practice their drive without sending balls flying all over the place
Both of my boys are into drawing cartoons and they love tracing pictures from books for the characters. The light board makes the tracing so much easier and if you have an artist at your house this is for sure something to check out.
This football net is at the top of Mason's list as he works on his passing.
Luke got this Meccano robot for his birthday an he LOVED it! It took him WAY longer than a typical Lego or erector set to build and he plays with the robot all the time. It was definitely an intense project so keep that in mind as you're shopping but if you have a kid who can burn through a building project in no time flat, this could be the perfect gift for them.
We're puzzle people and this Harry Potter one fits our criteria of "defined areas" (aka no landscapes) and a fun picture.
With nights getting darker sooner I know that my boys would LOVE this glow basketball. They spend lots of time out in the driveway and this would be the perfect addition.
Because duh :)
Mason got an electric scooter for his birthday and he rides it daily. Luke has one on his list for Christmas and his fingers are crossed!
I surprised Luke with these a couple of weeks ago and he FLIPPED!!!
This game is HILARIOUS and so much fun. It can be a little confusing the first couple of times but once you get the hang of it it's addicting and the cards are seriously so funny
Again with the golf practice :) Lots of chipping is happening at our house and this will give him something to aim at which is perfect.
Because would it even be Christmas without Legos?!?! Always exciting, always a great gift.
We were first introduced to this tool kit at a Playstreet Museum event and were immediately impressed. It's a set of tools designed to help kids construct things out of cardboard and it's one of Mason's very favorite things to play with. It comes with a special saw for cutting the cardboard, a screw driver and special screws enabling kids to hold pieces together as well as make working joints. My kids are always creating something with boxes that arrive and I love how creative it enables them to be.
I'm going to keep talking about Ticket to Ride until everyone has a game at home :) Our entire family plays and it's been our FAVORITE game for about two years.
I've talked about these several times - they're so much fun to play with and they're one of the things that the kids get out the most often.
Mason got a magic set for Christmas last year and it was his favorite gift. We saw MANY a magic show and I think he loved the performance aspect as much as the actual tricks :)
So there you go!!!! I'm going to link to some of my previous guides as well. Happy Tuesday, friends!!!
PS - this post contained affiliate links... thank you so much for reading and supporting my blog!
Monday, November 4, 2019
Thanksgiving Decor
Happy Monday, friends!!! This weekend I packed up all of the Halloween decor and added a few Fall/Thanksgiving touches. Nothing major but just some festive pieces to hold us over until Christmas comes out ;)
Friday, November 1, 2019
Friday Favorites - Happy Halloween Edition
Happy Friday, friends!!! It's been a busy week and after all the Halloween festivities we are DRAGGING! hahaha
But worth it because...
... we had the BEST time!!!