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Everything You Need To Have Your Own Easter Egg Hunt At Home

April 1, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

Unfortunately we are headed into our second quarantine Easter which means that community egg hunts are out again this year. Fortunately my kids have always absolutely loved having our own egg hunt at home which we have done every year in addition to a community hunt. And surprisingly they in fact prefer our annual egg hunt that is just us over a huge, crowded egg hunt with hundreds of kids. Whether it is just your immediate family, or a small gathering with a safe bubble of friends and family, you can still have a memorable and fun egg hunt that your kids are sure to love.

Signs…

Eggs…

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine

Baskets…

Wishing you a wonderful Easter!

Holidays, Home Decor

My Affordable Easter Tablescape

March 28, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

In years past I’ve always used my mother in law’s vintage Pottery Barn plates for our Easter tablescape, but I came across these darling pieces recently and decided to mix it up this year! I’m a huge fan of melamine plates for kids so I don’t have to worry about our sentimental pieces getting broken. Plus they are so affordable which makes them a great option for seasonal/holiday plates that don’t get used often. And despite being plastic, they actually look and feel very high quality! Here’s a little peek at how I will be setting our Easter table next Sunday.

Holidays, Motherhood

What’s In My Kids’ Easter Baskets

March 25, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

Easter is just over a week away, and if you are still needing to fill your kids’ Easter baskets, today I wanted to share what each of my boys are getting this year. To help keep shopping simple, I tend to stick to a theme of activities that get the kids outdoors, some art projects, books, and pajamas.

Cole…

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen

One | Giant bubbles are always so fun for kids and a great way to get them outside

Two | This combines an art project with getting the kids outside and working in the garden

Three | Cole had a tie dye day at school one year ago that was an absolute blast for him. I was thinking this would be a really fun activity we can do outside on a warm day.

Four | It can be hard to find books that he really loves, and I recently bought Cole the first book in this series after hearing these books are hugely popular with tween boys. He absolutely loves it so he’ll be getting a few more books from the series.

Five | When we go for bike rides we often throw a frisbee in the bike cart so we can stop for some games in the park. They always seem to end up going missing, so I wanted to make sure he has one and this one seems to be a big step above your basic frisbee.

Six | I love the idea of having the kids paint these cute little wooden Easter figures which we can put on our Easter table for years to come

Seven | Another fun park game option

Eight | This fun glider comes in a two pack, so you could split them up for multiple kids

Nine | I always love giving my kids something to plant in our garden each year as one of their Easter basket gifts

Ten | Sunny days are upon us and you can never have too many sunglasses

Eleven | I shared some of my favorite spring pajamas for kids in a recent post, but for my tween boy I definitely have to find that balance of things that I think are cute and things he will actually like. He’s really into video games so I felt that these gamer pajamas in a cheerful color are a good compromise.

Twelve | A chocolate bunny is a must, and they always get one in their basket

Thirteen | Another pajama compromise. My kiddo is obsessed with Fortnite (fellow tween parents I’m sure you feel my pain!) and I like that these are a fun spring color and don’t scream “video game themed.”

Fourteen | Evan received a really cute kids gardening set last year for Easter (similar to this) so we really don’t need more gardening tools. However Cole did need some gardening gloves so I’m tossing a pair in his basket.

Evan…

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen | Fifteen | Sixteen | Seventeen | Eighteen

One | I got both kids a stepping stone so they can each decorate their own and put in our garden area

Two | Another gift I got for both kids so they can each make their own Easter decorations

Three | Chocolate is a must

Four | Sidewalk chalk is a great outdoor activity and I love to gift egg shaped chalk in Easter baskets

Five | Bubble guns are always a hit and I know he’s going to go crazy for this shark one

Six | An Easter themed cup is fun for younger kids and you could include a favorite beverage too

Seven | I love that this car is designed for outdoor use and exploring with it’s built in magnifying glass

Eight | These farm themed hand puppets will be great for imaginative play and storytelling

Nine | A bug catching kit is always a great way to get kids outside and exploring

Ten | Last year Evan got a Minecraft sheep which he loves, so this year he’s getting a Minecraft pig. It’s a cute way to do a traditional stuffed animal for the little Minecraft lover.

Eleven | I got Evan a little flower growing kit so he can grow something for our garden this spring

Twelve | Hot Wheels make a great basket filler for any little boy

Thirteen | I knew that Evan would want video game pajamas to be like big brother, so I found him these cheery Minecraft ones

Fourteen | Evan loves the Llama Llama books so I’m sure he’ll enjoy this Easter version

Fifteen | I grabbed this little palm pet on a whim so I’m not sure if it will be a hit or not but it sure looks cute as a little basket filler

Sixteen | Slime is always fun for any kid

Seventeen | We have 2 other books from this series and they are so silly and fun for kids. I’m excited to give Evan the Easter version

Eighteen | These eggs are decorated by chalk and will be a cute decoration he can make year after year

Holidays, Motherhood

Three Ways to Make St Patrick’s Day Fun For Your Kids

March 9, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

St Patrick’s Day is often seen as a party holiday for adults, but having grown up in a small Irish Catholic community, I’ve always seen St Patrick’s Day as a family holiday. Our community always had a huge celebration that included a parade, sheepdog trials, lots of traditional Irish food and dance, and of course fun activities for the kids. I have my own Irish ancestry as my grandmother descended from Irish immigrants, and I love sharing this holiday with my kids so they can learn a bit about their heritage as well. We’ve developed some traditions over the years in how we mark the day, and today I wanted to share my three favorite tips for making this a fun holiday for kids.

Wear Something Festive

It is tradition to wear green on St Patrick’s Day so you don’t get pinched, so have some fun with this and wear something festive. This year our family got matching Shamrock pajamas which are so fun!

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve

Make A Leprechaun Trap

One of our favorite traditions is building a leprechaun trap. I go to the craft store and buy a ton of different items to use to decorate our trap and then let the kids get creative making a trap out of an old box. This one from a two years ago is one of my favorites that the kids ever came up with. They made a cute rope ladder and decorated the box with moss, rocks, shamrock stickers, and had a little pot of gold coins to lure their leprechaun. The kids always excitedly race downstairs St Patrick’s Day morning to check their trap to see if they’ve caught one, and while they haven’t succeeded, they do always find a clue left behind for a treasure hunt. Pinterest has tons of free printable options to make a St Patrick’s Day treasure hunt, and our treasure hunt always leads to a pot of gold chocolate coins and a few little trinkets (like tattoos, socks, stickers).

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten

Cook Something Fun

Milk Bottles | Paper Straws (similar) | Napkins | Flatware | Printable Placemat

My kids’ favorite St Patrick’s Day treat is green pancakes and milk, and I love making this for the kids for breakfast each year. Adding a cute activity placemat makes the meal feel a bit more special too. One year we made shamrock shaped sugar cookies and decorated them with edible gold sprinkles, and this year I think we will make Lucky Charms Bars (think Rice Krispie Treats but with Lucky Charms instead). Every St Patrick’s Day I make a traditional Cottage Pie for dinner, and I would love to have the kids help me make a traditional Irish Soda Bread this year too. Adding a few decorations and festive touches make the meal a little more fun too.

I hope this gives you some ideas for a fun St Patrick’s Day!

Holidays, Home

Easter Decor Edit

March 3, 2021March 3, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

((Clockwise from top)) Easter Egg Wreath | Berry Bowl | Easter Eggs | Bunny Salt & Pepper Shakers | Wooden Bunny | Cherry Blossoms (similar) | Votive Holder (similar) | Carrot Garland | Bud Vase (Target – similar) | Eggs | Ceramic Bunny | Egg Candle | Carrot Wreath | Bud Vases | Pillow | Measuring Spoons | Towel (similar)

March is officially here, Easter is just one month away, and spring is definitely in the air. A few days ago I put out all of our Easter and spring decorations and I’m loving the cheeriness it brings to our home. Adding a few decorations always makes holidays a lot more fun and special for the kids too. Today I wanted to share some Easter and spring decorations I’m loving.

Holidays, Home

Valentines Finds For Around The House

February 4, 2021February 5, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

I love celebrating every holiday and trying to make each holiday feel a bit special for my family. While I don’t go all out with decorating for smaller holidays like Valentine’s Day, I still like to add a few festive touches around the house. Today I wanted to share a few fun finds to add to your home decor this holiday.

One | These sweet wooden bowls don’t scream Valentines Day and could be used year round

Two | I love the blush color of this throw pillow

Three | Make your morning coffee a little sweeter

Four | This tiered serving tray is perfect for serving Valentines treats

Five | Such a sweet doormat

Six | I love this darling little gold heart frame

Seven | A pretty serving tray for your Valentines dinner

Eight | This little “love” trivet is so fun

Nine | A heart throw pillow is a great way to add a little festive touch to any space

Ten | Barefoot dreams makes the coziest blankets, and this blush colored one is on sale!

Eleven | Would be so cute for displaying some Valentines candies

Twelve | A heart shaped wreath is always a simple and fun way to add a little festive touch

Thirteen | I love this ruffled pie dish

Fourteen | I just ordered these rose napkin rings which are on major sale

Fifteen | I also just bought these melamine heart plates! I’ve been looking for heart shaped blush plates for ages and these are perfect.

Sixteen | A candle is one of the easiest ways to add a festive touch

Seventeen | These watercolor heart prints are so pretty

Eighteen | Festive dish towels are another super simple way to add a little Valentines fun to your kitchen

Home

Get Organized With These Calendars And Planners

January 6, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

As a busy mom juggling distance learning, therapy appointments, Taekwondo lessons, doctors appointments, and all of the other things that inevitably pop up – I have to keep everything written down. I’m someone that prefers things written down instead of using an app, plus having a calendar hung up in a central location for the whole family to see helps us all keep track of each other’s schedules. I’m using this last week of our Christmas vacation to take an afternoon to get started on filling out my 2021 calendar so that when school starts next week, I feel organized and ready to go. Today I’m sharing some pretty and functional calendars and planners to help you have your most organized year yet.

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven

One | This pink and gold calendar is subtle and feminine

Two | This calendar is like a lovely piece of art

Three | Perfect for the minimalist

Four | A fun way to keep track of all of the silly daily holidays and give yourself a reason to celebrate every day

Five | Such a pretty and feminine planner

Six | I love that this pretty planner has designated spaces for goal planning, gratitude, and to do lists

Seven | Start your year of bright with this colorful calendar

Eight | This calendar has columns for each family member and also comes with some fun stickers and magnets

Nine | A chic faux leather in a pretty feminine pink

Ten | Just looking at this planner makes me happy and even includes some sticker sheets for more fun

Eleven | Perfect for the floral lover

Holidays, Home

Farewell Holiday Season! Storage Solutions For All Of Your Holiday Decor

January 3, 2021January 3, 2021by BrookeLeave a Comment

This weekend I’ve been working on slowly putting away all of our Christmas decorations. It’s always such a big chore that it often takes me a few days to finish, but getting the house back in order really gives me the feeling of starting a fresh new year and I think we are all in need of that this year! A few years back I invested in a number of storage options for storing all of our holiday decorations, and it definitely makes the process of clean up a bit easier. Today I wanted to share some great storage options with you to help with your holiday cleanup.

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight

One | I have and love this box for storing all of our tree ornaments

Two | I bought a hanging gift wrap organizer a few years back and it’s amazing for storing all of my gift wrap, tissue, and bows.

Three | Large bins are essential

Four | A good system for storing Christmas lights and keeping them tangle free will save you hours of frustration

Five | A figurine box for storing all of those breakable Christmas figurines

Six | I have a wreath storage bag like this that also fits garlands as well

Seven | Get rid of that old box your tree came in and switch to a bag to store your tree

Eight | Perfect for storing odds and ends like seasonal blankets and pillows

Holidays

Ring In The New Year With These Party Finds

December 30, 2020by BrookeLeave a Comment

GOODBYE and good riddance 2020! I’ve never been happier to be arriving at the end of a year, and while we won’t be going out to celebrate, I still plan to have a little celebration at home with the kids. This year I’m planning on an evening of fondue, games, and mocktail/milk and cookie toasts. Adding a little decor will definitely make the evening more fun, and here’s a few ideas to help you ring in the New Year a bit more festively.

One | These scalloped plates are really elegant for disposable plates

Two | These festive straws are perfect for midnight milk and cookie toasts

Three | Fun props for an at home photo booth (there are some fun photo booth apps you can download to take authentic photo booth style pics – I like Pocketbooth!)

Four | These glitter champagne flutes are so pretty and no worries about kids breaking them

Five | New Year’s fortune cards would be a fun activity

Six | A pretty backdrop for your photo booth or behind your food/drink table

Seven | 2021 balloon decor

Eight | Some pretty gold and black noisemakers that match the decor

Nine | A New Year’s banner is a must

Ten | An escape room game that will be fun for the whole family and a good way to pass the time until midnight

Eleven | My kids love these mini sparkling ciders for making mocktails

Twelve | Temporary tattoos are always so fun for kids

Thirteen | These large party poppers look like a lot of fun

Fourteen | Rock candy is perfect for making mocktails a little more special

Fifteen | I’m planning on making fondue this year which is always a ton of fun for everyone

Sixteen | This New Years bingo game looks fun and even matches the decor

May 2021 bring health, prosperity, joy, and blessings. Happy New Year!

Holidays

Snapshots From Christmas & The Sales I’m Shopping

December 28, 2020December 28, 2020by BrookeLeave a Comment

Our Christmas festivities have come to an end, but we made the most of this past week by celebrating with several Zoom parties, FaceTiming with family, and having a simple Christmas Day celebration at home.

My husband’s annual work party couldn’t happen as normal this year, so instead they organized a zoom “Santa-y Sip” where everyone was sent several bottles of wine for a virtual tasting. Prior to the party we were asked to watch Bottle Shock on Netflix which featured the Chardonnay wine we would be tasting. We were also asked to wear ugly Christmas sweaters with prizes for the best sweaters. The kids and I dressed up for the family portion where they had the ugly sweater contest and Santa even made an appearance! For the adult portion of the evening with the wine tasting, we had Napa Valley wine sommelier to walk us through which was really neat!

My Sweater | Evan’s Sweater (Target – similar) | Cole’s Sweater

Evan is part of an organization here in Boise for medically fragile children. They provide amazing support to families like ours and we are so thankful for all they do to make our lives a little brighter! Several weeks back they sent us a holiday gift, which included a golden ticket for the Polar Express and hot cocoa, marshmallows, and cookie mix. This week we got cozy in our pajamas with our cocoa and treats, and settled in for a virtual ride on the Polar Express with the train conductor who did a reading of the book.

Another really fun opportunity we had was a drive through Christmas Light show called Christmas in Color (they have several locations around the country). As it was all inside our car it was of course Covid safe (and also warm and cozy inside the car!). We bundled up in our matching pjs with a cup of cocoa and went to see the lights (we will probably go back this week because the kids loved it so much!).

The skies cleared just in time to see the Star of Bethlehem (the Great Conjunction) literally from our front porch. My camera even captured a few of Jupiter’s moons.

Cole got to do a really fun project for school. He made an “ugly tee shirt” to wear for his last day of school. He came up with the design and did it almost completely on his own. I’m still cracking up over what he came up with! His teacher also made the last day of school feel special for the kids by dropping off a “party in a bag” the day prior so the kids could have a virtual party together.

In the days leading up to Christmas we enjoyed many of our usual traditions. Gingerbread houses, cookie baking and decorating, and watching our favorite holiday movies.

Our Christmas Day celebration didn’t look too different from typical years. We usually have a simple day at home opening presents, spending the day lounging in pjs, and then enjoying a nice dinner.

My Pajamas | Headband | Slippers | Boys’ Pajamas

Santa brought him the hot sauce he asked for!

Christmas was bittersweet this year. I’m incredibly thankful that we are all here together. But it has also been a very hard year filled with a lot of difficulty. I admit I’m somewhat glad it’s over because the pressure to create all the fun and magic is now off, and now we can spend a few weeks just relaxing and having some fun together. In truth, the past few days since Christmas have been more fun than all the days leading up to it this year. We’ve been spending our days lounging in our pjs, playing board games, getting outside for some fresh air, and eating lots of leftovers. And I’ve been indulging in some retail therapy and taking advantage of the after Christmas sales! I wanted to share some of the things I’ve grabbed during the sales over the past few days.

As you can see I’ve bought a ton of workout gear. Lululemon has SO many things on sale right now. This is a great time to stock up on new workout gear to help you keep your New Years fitness resolutions! I always find that cute outfits help motivate me to go for a run even if I’m not really feeling like it. I’ve been wanting to try out Sweaty Betty too for awhile, and some great sale prices encouraged me to order a few pieces. I bought a pair of their shine leggings in the blue pictured above, and another pair in a pretty dark forest green. I’m not sure how well they will work for running, but they will be cute for athleisure “mom” outfits nonetheless. I also grabbed a nice wool sweater that was half off that will be great for casual wear or skiing and their sale is definitely worth checking out for some amazing deals.

J Crew Factory is having some killer deals too (use code NEW4YOU to get 75% off all clearance). They are a go-to for great affordable basics for the kids and I. The tartan skirt I grabbed will be hopefully getting some use next year at the holidays ($10 with sale code), and the cute leopard skirt is a fantastic year round piece ($15 with sale code). No I don’t have anywhere to wear it this year, but the metallic blouse is a perfect NYE top (it’s under $10 with sale code).

I also grabbed a few great sweaters on sale at Nordstrom. Halogen cashmere sweaters are half off and are under $50. I already ordered the grey crewneck and the black turtleneck is sitting in my cart. These also both come in a bunch of other colors. The chunky Free People sweater is also a great buy under $50 and comes in a few other colors as well. I just received it (in the sandcastle color), and it’s definitely going to be a wardrobe staple for the remainder of winter.

A few other random things. Le Creuset is having a sale with some select items on sale. I’ve been amassing a bit of a collection during this pandemic and while I don’t need another casserole dish, I love the 2 in 1 pieces that you get with this set. Sephora is also having a big sale so I jumped on a OUAI set which was an additional 20% off with code MAJORSALE. There’s some really good things in their sale on sale, so it’s definitely worth taking a look.