Tag: mom hack

25 Easy Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Tis the season for the return of the our friend in the little pointy hat that is pure magic for kids and STRESS for parents. We’ve all had the moment where we shoot up in bed realizing we haven’t moved the elf. Last year I decided to make a list of ideas so I could refer to it and try to plan it out to minimize the stress. I didn’t follow a strict calendar but it was nice to have some pre-planned ideas. This year I decided I would share my list, because we are all in this together!! This year I’m also making note what materials are needed that way I can set them aside beforehand!

Day 1 “I’m back!” It’s a long month ahead so starting off easy – with a simple “I’m back” sign. You can make this however you want! I’m using a popsicle stick and a piece of cardboard.

Day 2: Apple Caterpillar – Materials: Apples (3-6), googly eyes, tooth picks, mini marshmallows

Day 3: Lego Christmas tree – Materials: various green legos, brown and yellow. small base

Day 4: Paper Towel Doodles – Materials: paper-towels, markers. This one is easy, the drawing doesn’t have to be intricate.

Day 5: Playing cards or games with superheroes, barbies, stuffies etc. – Materials: cards or game of choice and other “participants” I also like the duplo card holder here!

Day 6: Christmas countdown – Materials: paper & markers / crayons

Day 7: Letter to Santa – Materials: Paper & pencil or crayon. I’m printing out these templates! This website has lots of cute templates! https://mondaymandala.com/letter-to-santa-templates/

Day 8: Wrapped in “net” from Spidey – Materials: string, Spiderman

Day 9: Hershey’s Kiss Bowling. Materials: Hershey’s kisses, Foil ball

Day 10: Roast Marshmallow – Materials: Marshmallow, stick, fake candle

Day 11: Jenga fort – Materials: Jenga or other blocks

Day 12: Snowflakes / Paper chains – Materials: precut snowflakes – could also leave paper chain material

Day 13: Wrapped as a present – Materials: cardboard, wrapping paper, tape

Day 14: Toilet paper igloo – Materials: cotton bowls, toilet paper, led candle (optional)

Day 15: Lego climbing wall – Materials: various legos / hot glue or double sided tape

Day 16: Scrub a. dub – Materials: small washcloth, q tip

Day 17: Elf walks the dog – Materials: little dog (I used a duplo one) and pipe cleaner

Day 18: Found in fridge – Material – sharpie (draw faces on eggs)

Day 19: Elf Golf – Materials: candy cane, green felt, mini marshmallows

Day 20: Magnatile house – Materials: various magnatiles – could also use blocks or legos!

Day 22: Donut Snowmen – Mini powdered donuts, mini chocolate chips, pretzel sticks

Day 23: Star on the tree – Material: Yellow paper star

Day 24: Ball Pit – Materials: pom poms & bowl or container

Day 25: Whisk / Baking day – Materials: whisk and elf. If you plan to include your kids in holiday baking you can use this day as a way to let them in on baking. Or simply just having your elf be silly and stuck in the whisk.

Even More Ideas:

  • Christmas PJ Delivery – I usually let the elf take credit for bringing new Christmas PJ’s
  • Hot chocolate day – I get the little hot chocolate sticks that all you have to do is add warm milk and it makes it super easy
  • Delivering a holiday puzzle
  • Reading with or to stuffed animals / barbies etc
  • Decorating bananas as minions with a sharpie
  • If you’re going on a holiday adventure (looking at christmas lights, going on a holiday train, going to play in the snow etc) using the elf to announce what adventure you’re going on!

September Recipe Roundup

This summer I tried a ton of new recipes & last month I really focused on meal planning & fueling my body whole foods. For me that means less things out of boxes and instead focusing on adding color and ingredients I can pronounce! I’m sharing the recipes that I loved for anyone who finds themselves in a recipe rut and needs some inspiration this month.

Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups – These are a favorite for lunchtime! Since we avoid soy I paired this with my “psuedo soy” sauce (see the recipe further down!)

Tater Tot Casserole – Now this one doesn’t land at the top of “healthiest” dinners but this is any easy one to prep ahead of time and just pop in the oven!

Zuppa Toscana – It’s officially soup szn! This wasn’t a new recipe I discovered last month but it’s a tried and true recipe that I’ve made every fall for the past few years! I love to add parsley to this recipe and skip the bacon!

Cobb Salad with Carrot Kimchi Dressing – I have been making this salad in jars and they’re the perfect prepped lunch! I love adding shredded chicken to this recipe as well!

Sweet n Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple – The whole family loved this one. I’ll definitely be making this one again while it’s still grilling season!

Psuedo “Soy” Sauce

Maple Pecan Granola (GF)

“Banana Bread” Chia Pudding

5 Tips to Read More

Like most people, I loved reading when I was younger. But fell out of the habit once nursing school, night shifts, and newborn life took over. Over the last two years I really stepped back into reading and made a serious effort to recreate a habit that I had loved so much. I decided to put down my phone and picked up books instead. In 2021 I pushed myself to read 10 books, which may not sound like a lot but it was more than I had read in many years. It felt so good to remember what it felt like to get lost in other worlds, having to stay up late to find out how a book ends! Those 10 books completely re-energized me to prioritize reading into a sustainable habit again. Last year I pushed myself to double my reading goal ended up finishing the year reading 21 books! Today I thought I’d share some tips for fitting more reading into your life, even if you’re like me and live a busy toddler mom life.

  1. Stop reading books you don’t enjoy – if you don’t like a book. put.it.down. don’t force yourself to read books you don’t enjoy! life is too short. I used to force myself to keep reading out of principle, but the reality is you’ll actually read slower and less books if you’re forcing yourself to trudge through stuff you don’t like.
  2. Utilize apps to get free e books. I use a kindle and before I would go back and forth on if i wanted to spend the money on a kindle book, especially as I was getting back into reading and honestly didn’t know what books I enjoyed anymore… Then I found the libby app. Which basically lets you rent ebooks from library. The app is completely free all you need is a library card number, which you can easily get online! This set me free from the mental gymnastics I was doing about actually spending money on e books and allowed me to download books without the pressure of having to feel like it was “worth the money”. This is how I read 99% of my books is through the libby app! You’re able to rent a book for 21 days but pro tip if it’s taking you longer DON’T close out of the book on your kindle. If you leave it up you can keep reading beyond 21 days.
  3. Know you’ll be interrupted – Life with two littles means interruptions, but I still read around them. While they’re playing outside or in their rooms, or when they’re watching a show. I’ll be reading. But I know I’ll get interrupted. When we’re outside I’ll play with them and then tell them “mommys gonna read her book know while you guys play”, and of course there are still interruptions but the more I do it the more they become used to it. My almost 5 year old asked me the other day all about my book, we talked about how words make sentences and how books tell stories and it was such a great conversation for my guy who is on the cusp of reading himself. The key for reading around your kids is don’t wait for *perfect* conditions. Doing this has helped me read so.much.more! Plus the example this sets is so powerful.
  4. Keep a running to-read list: I use the notes app on my phone and have a note dedicated to books I want to read. Whenever I’m at work and someone suggest a book or I’m on IG and someone talks about a book they love I add it to my list. So when I finish one I always have something else on my list to read. I also keep books on hold on the libby app!
  5. Take a book to bed: A few years ago I started charging my phone across the room from my bed. Mostly so I would ensure I would actually get up when my alarm was going off. But instead of taking my phone to bed scrolling until I was falling asleep I now go to bed with my kindle. Some nights I only manage to read a few pages before my eyes close. Other nights I will literally read for HOURS. This has drastically changed how much I read. And is such a better way to fall asleep. We spend a lot of time looking at our phones, being pulled by dings and pings. But reading really forces you to focus which will ultimately lead to better sleep!

What I’m reading currently: Lessons in Chemistry

5 Toddler Books for BIG feelings!

If you have a toddler then you already know, the feelings are BIG. Here are some our favorite books to help make sense of these big feelings. I bought The Invisible String, before going out of town and Will LOVED it! So I thought I would share our favorites for anyone else navigating those BIG feelings.

1. The Boy with the Big, Big Feelings 2. The Invisible String 3. In My Heart 4. The Color Monster 5. My Heart

Things I love about each book:

  • The Boy with The Big, Big Feelings – does a great job actually explaining what it feels like when we get upset “feelings push out of our eyes” aka tears.
  • The Invisible String – I just love this book and the concept that we are always connected to the people we love even if we aren’t with them at that moment. Plus Will LOVED this book!
  • In My Heart – This one has so many emotions & the design is cute!
  • The Color Monster – Will also refers back to this one about feeling mixed up & feeling lots of emotions at once!
  • My heart – I love the illustrations in this one & the simple message!

Do you have a favorite feelings book? If so I’d love to hear what it is!