Creativity Through the Windows in Our World

Do you ever take a walk around your neighborhood at night and notice all of the different windows lit in the buildings around you? Do you think about your neighbors or the people in the office buildings and wonder about their lives? Today we are looking at a new book that talks about all of the windows we see, and the natural curiosity we have for the world around us.

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Snuggle Up this Holiday Season!

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The holidays are a busy time of year full of lots of fun traditions, parties and events. For us, we spend most of November and December running from event to event and marking things off on our to do list. While I enjoy all of the things we do during the holiday season, it is important to me that we take some time to slow down and savor the season together. This year, I decided to carve out part of each day to enjoy our favorite holiday books while snuggled up together.

A Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Tradition

I am a huge fan of the holiday season, and I get really sad when it’s time to take down the decorations and turn off the Christmas music. New Year’s Eve is the last  big hurrah of the season, but it’s often difficult to find ways to celebrate the holiday with the whole family. Today I’m excited to introduce you to an awesome book and gift set which gives you a new family friendly New Year’s tradition to help your family make New Year’s Eve into it’s own fun holiday!

Get Moving with the Elf in the House!

Christmas is right around the corner, so the elves are hard at work! As the weather gets colder and we find ourselves spending more time indoors, I’m always looking for fun ways to get us moving and get some energy out. Get your kids into the elf spirit and use up that energy with this fun read aloud and some festive learning activities!

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Christmas Tree Activities for the Whole Family

I love having the Christmas tree up. When I am playing in the living room with my daughter and the lights are on the tree and Christmas music is on the radio, there is a sense of peace and joy that settles over me. Whether you are an artificial tree family or a real tree family, creating the perfect tree is an important part of the Christmas season for a lot of families. Today’s book is all about the joy of picking and decorating your family Christmas tree!

Christmas Cookies Around the World

Christmas is celebrated in countries all over the world, but we all celebrate it a bit differently. I have always been fascinated with the various traditions and symbols of the holiday season. I even taught an entire unit plan about winter holidays when I was student teaching. Baking cookies is one of my favorite traditions of the holidays, and it is one that is common in many of the countries that celebrate. I have such fond memories of baking with my mom when I was younger, and I love being able to pass this tradition on to my daughter, and to see her enjoy the same tradition with my mom as well. Today we take a look at some of the ways that Christmas is celebrated around the world, and the sweet treats they enjoy!

Personalized Christmas Books to Make the Holidays Special!

Updated: November 2019

Start a family Christmas tradition with these personalized Christmas books for kids! #christmasbooks #holidaybooks #bookgifts #christmastraditionsWhen it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, I am always looking for special gifts that really mean something. Growing up, my parents always bought ornaments for my sister and I to add to our collection, and I continue that tradition now with my daughter. I have also made it a tradition to purchase a new Christmas book for my daughter every year. This year, I was thrilled to be introduced to the beautiful personalized children’s books from Put Me in the Story, and I am so excited that they offer fun Christmas books! I decided to gather a list of some of my favorites (as well as one which would make a great holiday gift for the grandparents!).

How a Learning Tower Can Benefit Your Child

Kids naturally learn from watching and imitating. From the very beginning, babies and toddlers try to speak, move and act like the children and adults around them. How many times have you seen a small child pick up a phone and pretend to have a whole conversation? They learn by watching us and by attempting to do these things on their own. Allowing kids to help around the house is a great way to encourage independence, curiosity and creativity. It also provides opportunities for learning and practicing important skills. We recently had the opportunity to try a great learning tool from Little Partners which allows all ages to get more involved.

Give the Gift of Laughter and Creativity!

One of the best parts of being a parent is the opportunity to act like a kid again. As a teacher, some of my favorite memories are dancing, singing and just having fun with the kids. The same is true now that I am a parent. The other day while emptying the dishwasher, my two year old picked up a spatula, sat on the floor and used it to “row” herself across the kitchen floor — all the while singing “Row Row Row Your Boat”. When she asked me to join, I sat right down with her and scooted across the floor too. And the laughter from that moment will stick with me as an amazing memory.

Pumpkin Activities for Kids!

Updated October 16, 2019
Pumpkin activities to help kids with name recognition and money skills, plus a Jack-o-lantern sensory project and craft! #pumpkincrafts #pumpkinbooks #fallsensory #namerecognition #dramaticplay

I love the fall! If you regularly read the blog or follow me on social media, you may already know this since I tend to mention it a lot. I love the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. I’ve been really excited to get out to our local farmer’s markets and orchards because all of the different apples, pumpkins and vegetables inspire me to create fun projects and recipes with my daughter. Today’s book follows a little boy and his mom as they go out to the farmer’s market in search of the perfect pumpkin, and we paired it with lots of fun pumpkin activities for kids!