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60 Free Books For Kids By Mail

January 27, 2021 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

You can sign up for a program that will send 60 free books for kids by mail from the time of your child’s birth until their 5th birthday!

Getting 60 free books for kids by mail is made possible by Ms. Dolly Parton herself! As a fellow TN gal myself, I just love me some Dolly.

Her love for reading and children was the inspiration for her Imagination Library. She started the library in 1995 & by 2016 she celebrated sending out 1 million free books out to children per month. Per month!

This program is such a great outreach and it is free to any child regardless of income through the age of 5!

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

60 Free Books For Kids By Mail

So how does this program work to get 60 free books for kids by mail? Keep reading for all the details on how to grab these free books and my experience with the program.

Let’s start with my experience. I learned of this program when my daughter was 2 and signed her up immediately. We enjoyed the books until she aged out of the program.

My second child is now on his 3rd year with the Imagination Library. It is also interesting to note that I don’t think we have ever gotten a duplicate book, even with having had two kids in the program over the last few years.

It is such a fun treat to go out to the mailbox and have the kids find something new to read waiting on them. And honestly in a world of bills & junk mail, I don’t mind seeing a new book in our mailbox either!

Who Can Sign Up?

Residents of the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland can sign their child up to receive free books! There is a link on the website to make sure that the program is in your area.

What Age Should My Child Be To Receive Imagination Library Books?

The ideal age would be as soon as the child is born. Dolly’s program starts at birth and continues until your child’s fifth birthday.

If you are just learning of this program, you can still sign up any child that is under the age of 5.

How Many & What Kind of Books Will My Child Receive?

The number of books that your child receives in the mail will depend upon when you sign up for the Imagination Library program. If you sign up at the time of your child’s birth, your child would receive 60 free books by mail by the time they are 5.

If you sign up later, your child will receive one book per month until they turn 5.

We have received all types of books since signing up for the Imagination Library program. Some of the books are very well known and popular classics. And other times we have received books that I was not familiar with but that we have enjoyed as much or more than the more well known authors.

Age Appropriate Content

The monthly book is tailored to your child’s age which provides them with engaging content to listen to as you read.

How Do the Free Books Arrive?

Each month you will receive one book per child wherever you receive mail. We are in the United States so our books are delivered by the United States Postal Service.

Each book is wrapped in a plastic covering to keep it protected from weather elements and other damage during the shipping process.

Most of the books that we have received have been paperback books filled with plenty of colorful pictures.

Where Do I Sign up For 60 Free Kids Books by Mail?

You can check to make sure that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is available where you live here.

Assuming that the program is available in your area, you will fill out a short form and then should receive your child’s first book within 30 days.

Value of the Imagination Library Books Sent to You for Free

I pulled a few of our books off the shelf that we got from Imagination Library and checked them on Amazon to see what their value is if you bought them.

Here are the books I checked:

The books ranged in price but were generally anywhere from $8.99-14.99. That means that even if every book that you got retails at $8.99, you would get a value of $540 in books if you signed your child up at birth.

Wow! Such an awesome service to encourage literacy in our kids.

Donating the Books When Done

This is not necessary as the books are yours to keep. However, whenever my children have outgrown the books that we have received, I love to donate them to schools, churches or other preschool programs.

Donate to the Imagination Library

Speaking of donations, if you are looking to make a charitable donation this year the Imagination Library accepts monetary donations.

The Dollywood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Do you plan to sign up for 60 free books for kids by mail through the Imagination Library?

Check Out these Educational Kid Sensory Bins you can do at Home!

Christmas Reindeer Eggs in a Basket

December 19, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

It is so easy to make Christmas reindeer eggs in a basket. Your kids will get a fun breakfast and you will be happy that they are getting good whole foods without a bunch of sugar.

My Dad always made us a breakfast that he called a “one eye.” It was a piece of bread with the middle torn out and a fried egg in the hole. A simple meal that we always enjoyed as kids.

I’ve discovered that what I knew as a one eye is called about a thousand other names by others! According to Wikipedia you might call this dish eggs in a hole, eggs in a frame, one-eyed Jack, Toad in the hole, or gashouse eggs.

And after the Turkey shaped Thanksgiving eggs in a basket were such a hit, I knew a Rudolph version was required for December.

This simple Christmas reindeer eggs in a basket is easy to make without any special ingredients. You probably have everything in your pantry to make this right now.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Christmas Reindeer Eggs in a Basket

Making easy and fun food for kids is a great way to get those little mouths interested in what you serve on their plate. And when it is shaped like their favorite reindeer, it is definitely a fun morning.

This holiday shaped breakfast is made with minimal sugar (just one M&M for that bright shiny nose) & you could even sub that if desired. It is nice to be able to serve the kiddos a character breakfast that is pretty healthy vs. a big bowl of red and green sugary cereal.

Here is what you need to make some Christmas reindeer eggs in a basket breakfast meals.

Ingredients for Rudolph Egg in a Hole

Eggs
Bacon
Bread
Raisins
Red M&M’s or even a Dried Cranberry

How to Make Reindeer One Eye Holiday Breakfast

This breakfast is so easy to create. If you can make bacon and eggs, you can make this Christmas reindeer eggs in a basket.

Start by taking a piece of bread and removing most of the middle. You can do this by tearing it out with your hands (my Dad’s preferred method) or using a round cookie cutter.

Melt about half a tablespoon to a tablespoon of butter in a skillet & place your bread in the skillet over medium heat.

Crack an egg into the hole. You can season with salt and pepper if you like but I don’t when it is for the kids. They are plain Jane eaters.

Allow the egg to cook enough to where you can flip the toast/egg combo. Flip it and continue cooking the egg to your desired level. I cook these over hard when for the kids because they don’t like runny eggs.

Once the eggs are done and the toast has browned up some, remove the toast from the pan. Add your reindeer bacon antlers onto the plate and position your bread.

For the eyes, add two raisins to the bread. Next, place a red M&M or a dried cranberry in the center to represent Rudolph’s nose.

Serve your Christmas reindeer eggs in a basket to your kids and watch them eat up a wholesome holiday breakfast that is actually good for them.

Christmas Reindeer Eggs in A Basket

Servings

Ingredients

1 Egg
1 slice bread
2 pieces bacon (cooked)
2 raisins
1 red M&M
1 tbsp Butter

Servings

Ingredients

1 Egg
1 slice bread
2 pieces bacon (cooked)
2 raisins
1 red M&M
1 tbsp Butter

Instructions

Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Remove a circle from the bread.
Place the bread in the skillet & crack an egg into the whole.
Fry the egg/bread until it is done enough to flip.
Flip the egg in a basket and cook until your egg reaches your desired level. (I do over hard eggs for the kids but runny is great if they like it)
Arrange your bacon slices into reindeer antlers & place the egg in a basket underneath.
Place the raisins and M&M to create eyes and a nose and serve.

Elf On the Shelf A to Z

November 29, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Elf on the shelf is so fun but on day 10 you start to run out of ideas and by day 25 you are very tired! This Elf on the Shelf A to Z list gives you a different idea every day based on the letters of the alphabet.

Using this Elf on the Shelf A to Z list makes it is to keep your elf busy and active all through the month of December.

The elf activities here are pretty easy with minimal prep and there are a few surprises thrown in on various days. This Christmas tradition doesn’t have to be a burden and it can be fun with this simple plan that runs through the alphabet.

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Elf On the Shelf A to Z

Here are 26 different ideas on things your elf can do that are fun and entertaining for the kids.

A – Advent Calendar – We do this book calendar but you could have any advent calendar that you like

B – Balance – The Elf loves to find fun places to balance – the top of a lamp or in the Christmas tree.

C – Cereal – One of our favorites is cereal day. Our elf always brings a box of fun Christmas cereal.

D – Dress Up Day – Pile on the bows, dress up in a Barbie Outfit or even a kid clip on tie.

E – Eat! Whether your elf gets into a bowl of holiday M&Ms, the fruit bowl or the dog food – it always gets a good laugh.

F – Family Photos – Whether the elf just tries to get in on the family pictures or puts red noses on the entire family, this is a fun day.

G – Games – Our elf loves to grab a board game and play with another elf or a Barbie.

H- Help (everything is a big mess, Help clean)

I- Ice Ice Baby – The elf grabs a dish towel for a blanket and sits inside the freezer. The cold & ice remind her of home sweet home at the North Pole.

J- Jammies – Our Elf loves to bring a fun pair of Chrismas Pjs – usually with an Elf on them.

K- Kris Kringle! Have the elf write a letter to Santa about behavior or leave some blank p

L- Look, Look all around! The Elf created a candy cane hunt just for you! Look high and low to find all the candy.

M- Merry Money – Get the free printable money and find out how to teach the kids to earn this magical currency here.

N- Nativity – Our elf likes to get in on the real reason for the season.

O- Ouch! Kids and elves alike love fun bandaids. The elf covers herself in several bandaids.

P- Pandemic Elf – Our elf normally has a sick day but this year a mini mask (ribbon) & sanitizer seem fitting.

Q- Queen – She grabs a princess crown and dresses up like a queen.

R- Reading a Christmas book. This could be a book your have or a brand new gift! Our elf is reading her copy of The Littlest Elf.

S- Stuck! Sometimes she wraps up in Christmas lights, yarn or even dental floss. Sometimes another toy even gets in on the fun like a Barbie or Army figurine.

T- Toys, Toys, Toys. Let the Elf play with your kid’s toys.

U- Unwrap. A few times each season, our elf likes to bring a little treat for the kids. You can check out a bunch of Dollar Tree Elf gift ideas or Elf gifts under $5 here.

V- Vacation! Our elf is always trying to find ways to go places with us. Getting in the kid’s backpacks on a Sunday morning (oops kids don’t go to school that day elfie) or hopping in my purse.

W- Santa is Watching! And this little elf is sending him photos.

X- X marks the spot. Print off a Free Christmas Lights Scavenger hunt and take the kids on a fun and free adventure. Steph at Dresses and Dinosaurs has a cute one here.

Y- Yule Log (a fun sweet treat before the end of the season).

Z- ZZZZ Tired Elf – Our elf loves to make a bed. In the past this has been as simple as using a pot holder mitt as a sleeping bed or using some of my daughter’s doll furniture and her sleep mask.

Want more Christmas Ideas?

Santa’s Gifts for an Infant

No Junk Stocking Stuffers for a 3-5 Year Old Girl

Christmas Book Advent Calendar – An Educational and fun countdown to Christmas

Stocking Stuffers for a 1 year old

L.O.L Surprise Dolls Gift Guide for Young Girls

August 26, 2018 by Stacy Craft 3 Comments

In this LOL Surprise Dolls gift guide, you will find all kinds of products that feature the LOL doll characters without adding more dolls to your daughter’s collection.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

If you have a young daughter or need to buy a gift for a young girl for a birthday or Christmas, LOL dolls are a very safe bet. My 4 year old is absolutely obsessed and I am constantly hearing moms of kids in elementary school sharing in the realization that these dolls are the only toys that their kids want.

Unfortunately, I am already seeing shortages on the dolls themselves! I am buying one here or there when I see them in the stores or on Amazon at regular price so that I am not scrambling during the month of December. These little dolls are crazy popular right now.

This L.O.L surprise dolls gift guide will give you lots of fun LOL products that the LOL obsessed little girl will love. These products are not the dolls themselves but other fun products featuring the doll characters.

LOL Surprise Dolls Gift Guide for Toys & Crafts

LOL Dollhouse – I am pretty sure this is going to be on every 4-11 year old girl’s Christmas list this year! You can preorder it now. I plan to do this because I am betting it will sell out quick.
L.O.L Stylin Studio – Includes over 250 pieces such as stickers, crayons, markers and paper dolls that can be decorated.
L.O.L Fizz Factory – Using household ingredients, the child can create fizz balls, hide surprises and then unbox the surprises. If you don’t know much about the LOL dolls, most of the fun is in the actual unwrapping of the surprise ball. So if they like the dolls, the fizz factory will be a fun craft to create.
Light Up Diary – Kids can store all their secrets in this new light up diary with surprise stickers included.
LOL The Game – The LOL board game is for her and 3 of her friends to play with their favorite LOL doll characters.
LOL Surprise Puzzle – A 60 pc puzzle. The puzzle is a surprise so you don’t know what character puzzle you will get until you open it. (These kids are obsessed with surprises)
LOL Color Change Lip Gloss – Some of the LOL dolls change colors when exposed to hot/cold water. I can’t even explain how many bowls of water I fill up each week so my daughter can see what each doll does. This is on her Christmas list. Color changing lip gloss that you create yourself, what could be better?
LOL Confetti Nail Art – Make your own confetti nail polish and be as pretty as a Glitter Series LOL Doll!
LOL Surprise Secret Message Jewelry – Make your own beaded jewelry and use the decoder to reveal your secret message.
LOL Fashion Plates – Fun craft to make crayon rubbings of top LOL doll characters.
LOL Watercolor Paint Book – My daughter loves these books with watercolor paints. An LOL doll version is so fun.
LOL Ruckus Card Game – Fun card game Ruckus that has been branded with LOL! Great stocking Stuffer!
LOL Display & Collectors Case – You will definitely need a storage system for all these dolls! Don’t miss reading how I organize the L.O.L Surprise Dolls at my house.
LOL Kick Scooter – A great way to get kids active using their favorite LOL doll scooter.

LOL Surprise Dolls Gift Guide for Clothing

LOL Surprise Panties – This pack of LOL briefs will be loved by the LOL enthusiast. Great stocking stuffer & it even comes with a surprise pair!
Time to Shine LOL Raglan – We just took this to a birthday party. Very cute shirt that is nice and soft. I felt like it was good quality for the price.
LOL Sock Set – Another cute little gift at a stocking stuffer price. I think we are going to get these for crazy sock day at school.
LOL 3 Pc Pajamas – These are so adorable! The 3 Pc set is great because the child can wear in cool or warm weather.
LOL Nightgown – Sweet long sleeve LOL nightgown for sweet dreams of L.O.L Surprise dolls.

LOL Surprise Dolls Gift Guide for Bags & Accessories

LOL Glitter Wristlet – Cute little purse for the LOL Surprise doll lover. This would be cute to give as a gift stuffed with #2 below.
LOL Hairclips – She can add fun LOL clips to her hair before school.
LOL Stick On Earrings – So cute for the little one that doesn’t have pierced ears yet.
LOL Sunglasses and Case – If your sassy LOL loving kid likes accessories, these sunglasses are too cute.
LOL Lap Desk – I love this for snacks, homework or even a space to play with dolls.
LOL Smart Watch – My daughter always loves things that look like adult things and this “smart” watch is no exception.

Under $6 LOL Stocking Stuffers

We are LOL obsessed in this house and our stockings are no exception. If you need some other stocking stuffers that will appeal to your 4-5 year old little girl click here. All items on this list are under $5 & can be purchased online!

LOL Bath Set with Bath Bombs – Take LOL dolls to the tub! This is a pretty big set for the price!
LOL Cup – This would fit perfectly in a stocking.
LOL Christmas Candy Case – Included 5 pieces of candy and comes in a cute LOL case
LOL Fashion Crush – She can accessorize her dolls with extra outfits. These are perfect for a stocking.

I hope LOL surprise dolls gift guide helps you in your quest to provide the best birthday or Christmas gift for your LOL loving child! Do you have any other cool LOL doll items that you have found?

Toys That Get Played With From 24 Months to 3 Years

November 2, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

There is nothing worse than spending money on toys that get played with for a couple of hours and then go to the corner of the room to die a slow death.

I’ve put together a list of tried and true toys that get played with from 24 months to 3 years old.

My youngest just turned 3 and with Christmas coming up, toys are on the brain. I was doing a review of the things in my house that have really been played with over the last year and thought I would share with ya’ll.

So if you have a 2-3 year old or are shopping for a grandchild or niece/nephew, this will give you some ideas of products that will bring lots of joy at play time.

Get value for your money with this list of toys that get played with from 24 months to 3 years! Since I have a boy and a girl, you will find options for both and gender neutral gift ideas as well.

(Affiliate Links are used in this post. A small commission may be paid to me at no extra cost to you and that helps to support this page. Please see my disclosures page for additional information.)

Toys That Get Played With From 24 Months to 3 Years

Getting a good, quality toy doesn’t mean that it has to be expensive. Here you will find a wide range of toys that range from inexpensive to splurges. These toys are tried and true gifts that have been used in our home for at least the last year (some for a lot longer than that).

Find something that fits in your budget and enjoy the entertainment that it provides to your little one.

Budget Friendly Gifts for Toddlers

Little Tikes You Drive Remote Control Car

This is a great first remote control car for toddlers! It is easy to operate and didn’t get stuck like I thought might be an issue with a 2-3 year old using a remote control car.

LeapFrog Sweet Treats Learning Cafe

The play that this one gets may be a result of my coffee obsession but he loves making coffee for me. It is also a great way to have the feel of a play kitchen if you don’t have room for the whole big setup.

Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice cream Set

Lots of Ice cream shop has been played since we got this cute set.

Cleaning Toys

My littles have both enjoyed doing tasks like mom. So the Fisher Price Vacuum and a broom just their size both get a lot of use. When I’m cleaning, they go get their tools to help.

Bouncy Hopper

My 3 year old is getting another one of these for Christmas because after riding his for approximately 900 hours (lol) he popped his old one.

Mid Range Toys That will Get Played With from 24 Months to 3 Years

Little Tikes Trampoline

My kids (3 & 6) love jumping on this trampoline. There favorite time is when I am exercising & they like to do their “exercise.” It is also a great way to get some of their energy out during the cold and dreary winter months.

Cozy Coupe Car

This is an old classic that kids still love. We have played with this outdoors and even indoors when the weather is bad. Don’t forget the gas station pump to go with it.

Step 2 Vanity

My daughter really enjoyed this from about 3-5. It is recommended for 2 & up but she didn’t get it until 3. We still have it and she turns 7 next month. She enjoys using it while playing dress up.

Check out this simple dress up station to organize dress up clothes, jewelry, make-up and more.

Black & Decker Toy WorkBench

Some of the activities on this bench may be too advanced for a young two year old but they will still enjoy the tools. As they get a bit older, they will be able to adjust the bolts and screw the screws.

My little boy loves to grab his tools whenever we have people working on something around the house.

Toy Splurges for 2-3 Year Olds

6 Volt Paw Patrol Ride On Chase, Marshall or Skye

My little guy got this for his 2nd birthday and at 3 it still gets used a couple of times a week. Even our almost 7 year old gets in on the action. While this toy is a little large, it works indoors and he has a path that goes through the house.

You can read a full review of this toy here.

Pottery Barn Personalized Anywhere Chair

While this might not qualify as a traditional toy, kids love furniture that is just their size. These chairs get used when we watch movies and they love them.

Little Tikes Inflatable Bounce House

We bought 4 years ago for my daughter’s birthday party instead of renting a bounce house. Since then, we have used it for several more birthday parties and my kids jump on it frequently throughout the year.

It is a bit bulky but when I know the weather will be nice, we will put it out on a Friday and leave it out all weekend. The kids love it and it keeps them active.

I hope this list of toys that get played with from 24 months to 3 years helps make your Christmas shopping a little easier this year.

More Toy Guides

Best Outdoor Toys For Preschoolers

Active Play Sports Toys for Toddlers

10 Toys that You can Get a 3 Year Old That They Will Still Play with At Age 5

Little Tikes Water Slide Review