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24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition – A Unique Advent Calendar Countdown

October 23, 2018 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Traditions have come to be one of my favorite aspects of a holiday. The familiarity and anticipation of making a special dish or doing a family activity year after year is so special.

Our newest holiday activity is our 24 days of Christmas books tradition – a simple and educational twist on an advent calendar.

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Last year I started this new countdown to Christmas for our family. I wrapped 24 Christmas books and put them under the tree. Every night before bed, the kids got to choose a package to unwrap and we read it together.

Sometimes a cup of hot cocoa or a warm chocolate chip cookie was included as a treat to go along with our book. It’s so fun!

I have tried other advent calendars in the past but it seemed like I was just spending $20 on junk that was not getting played with or used. With the books, I felt good about buying something that we would definitely use and is educational for the kids.

24 Days of Christmas Books Tradition

The best thing about this tradition is that it doesn’t have to cost a lot. My plan to obtain the books for this DIY Advent Calendar is simple and easy.

1. Use What You Have. Find Christmas books that you already have at your home. I was shocked to find we already had 19! We love books, what can I say?

2. Shop for Cheap Books. Go to Thrift stores or use Facebook/Online Garage sales to find seasonal books. I can often find these for just a dollar or two which makes it an inexpensive option.

3. Buy a Few New. I am using Amazon for this because I find their prices on books to be pretty good and they are delivered right to my door. If I am going to buy something new for my kiddos, books are always something that I don’t feel too guilty about and there are many on Amazon for $3-4 dollars.

4. Library You could even use the library to expand your Christmas book selection for free! Just make sure you use care not to get tape on the books (so that you don’t damage the cover). And be sure to keep up with the return due date so that you don’t get charged any late fees.

Creating the Christmas Advent Book Calendar

My daughter absolutely loved this activity last year. She spent tons of time picking out the package that she wanted to open.

It is like 24 days of Christmas blind bags (are your kids obsessed like mine?) with an educational twist. And instead of some dinky toy, we get to read a book together as a family.

First, find 24 Christmas books.

Next, wrap each book individually.

Each night leading up to Christmas, your child selects one book to unwrap and then you read it together.

It is so much fun! And while it may seem like a lot of work to wrap 24 books, it goes really quick and adds so much excitement to the evenings leading up to Christmas.

New Books for Christmas 2019 (2020 Update Below)

Since my oldest will be 6 this year, I am updating and adding a few new books this year. We will still reuse quite a few of the books listed below but will add a couple of new ones to keep things fresh and age appropriate.

Here are the books on my list:

Katie the Candy Cane Fairy

The Mouse in the Hammock, a Christmas Tale

Bear Stays Up for Christmas

Poke A Dot – The Night Before Christmas – This one looks like something my 2 year old will adore.

2020 Update

Here are the updates that I made this year to our library.

Splat the Cat Christmas Countdown

Cocoa’s Cranky Christmas

A Very Fiona Christmas

One Baby Jesus

What If I Don’t Want to Do 24 Days of Books?

Don’t! You can totally customize this to whatever time period that seems reasonable for you. I think 12 days would be a nice intro into this DIY Christmas Advent Calendar.

Original Books for Christmas Advent Calendar

Here are ideas for books that we are reading this holiday season or that we may purchase. After shopping our house for Christmas books, I will search some thrift stores and Amazon for a few fresh books to put into the mix. I hope you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition!

Look & Find Christmas Bible Stories – We have the Rudolph version but I love this biblical version to remind us of the reason for the season.

Touch & Feel Christmas – I got this for my daughter a few years ago and now it is perfect for our newest little one. And my older one still loves to touch and feel the book! So it entertains us all.

Frosty The Snowman Board Book – No list is complete without the classic Frosty the Snowman. I like this one because it plays music and my kids just love to push a button!

Frozen Olaf’s Night Before Christmas – A friend gave us this book last year and it is a favorite. If you have a Frozen obsessed little one, I think they will love this book/cd combo.

My Snowman Book – Not really Christmas but I usually include it since it goes with the winter theme. It is a cute little book with vibrant pictures. I bought this a few years ago for my oldest that will now be passed down to the baby.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – A couple of years ago, my daughter discovered the Grinch movie at Christmas time. In June, we were still watching Grinch at least a couple of times a week. Despite that extreme we didn’t ruin a good thing. We still love this book!

Llama Llama Jingle Bells – The entire Llama Llama series is so good. Those silly llamas always have us giggling.

The Berenstain Bears & the Joy of Giving – The message in the Berenstain series is a good one that I like sharing with my kids.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – You will be reminded of your childhood while reading to your kids with this book. It is a great price too!

Elmo’s Countdown to Christmas – Lift the flap books are great to keep the attention of younger kids. This will be a new one for us but it gets great reviews.

The Sweet Smell of Chrismas – Eeek! It is a scratch and sniff Christmas book! Did you have this as a kid? Scents of hot chocolate, Christmas trees, apple pie & more.

Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas – Since the Fancy Nancy show debuted on Disney Jr. my daughter has been obsessed. The Halloween book was a winner, so this one is going on my list. There is also a Disney Jr. Fancy Nancy Ice Skating book if you don’t mind a winter theme.

Happy Holidays, Bubble Guppies – A lift flap book! We have a non-holiday Bubble Guppies lift flap book and it is always fun to read.

Weird but True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts – This National Geographic kids book would be fun for the Elementary school child. I may add this to our list in the next year or two.

The Begginer’s Bible, The Very First Christmas – A great way to teach younger kids why we celebrate Christmas. This book is such a great price!

A Charlie Brown Christmas – I love bringing some of my childhood memories into my kid’s childhood.

Pete the Cat’s 12 Days of Groovy Christmas – We have other Pete books and they are so funny. We may try this one for our preschooler this year.

Merry Christmas, Mouse – The mouse series is so much fun. I love how they do one for most holidays.

Paw Patrol Holiday Helpers – Paw Patrol is one of those cartoons that actually doesn’t get on my nerves! Here is a cute little holiday book with your kid’s favorite pups.

Just A Snowman – The Little Critter books are a cute series and always so affordable.

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas – The story of one family that is having trouble getting their act together. The author possibly modeled this after my family?! It feels like that sometime. We enjoy this funny take on a classic.

River Rose and the Magical Christmas – The Today show featured this book written by Kelly Clarkson. It also comes with a link to listen to a song recorded by Kelly.

The 12 Engines of Christmas – This Thomas the Train book will entertain both my kids which is always a win.

Christmas Cookie Day – Like many, making Christmas cookies is one of our most anticipated traditions.

This twist on a traditional advent calendar was a complete success at my house last year. Will you try this 24 days of Christmas books tradition this year? Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

If you love to give books as gifts, check out this unique baby shower gift idea.

Thanksgiving Turkey Shaped Eggs In A Basket

November 10, 2018 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Learn how to make a cute Thanksgiving inspired turkey shaped eggs in a basket breakfast for the kids this season.

This turkey shaped eggs in a basket was inspired by a breakfast that my Dad made frequently when I was growing up. People call this concoction of toast with a fried egg in the middle a variety of things.

Eggs in a basket, toad in the hole, eggs in a nest are all common. My Dad always called it a “one eye” so when I see this breakfast, one eye is always my first thought.

And a turkey shaped one eye makes this a perfect breakfast before the big Thanksgiving meal for the kiddos.

(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.)

Thanksgiving Turkey Shaped Eggs in a Basket

Making fun food for my kids is one way that we start getting excited about the upcoming holidays. We have already made these easy turkey shaped bagels with apple feathers and since those went over well, I wanted another cute breakfast treat for the kids.

(ignore the Rudolph pajamas, I try to fight only important battles with 4 year olds)

To make these turkey shaped eggs in a basket, start by baking or frying your bacon. I love to bake the bacon because it frees me up to do another task while the bacon is crisping up in the oven.

Eggs in a basket or one eye’s are super easy to make and please even a picky eater. To get the eggs in a basket portion going, start by melting a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat.

While the butter is melting, take one slice of bread and make a hole in the middle. You can use a cookie cutter, the top of drinking glass or just tear out a hole if that is more your style (that is how my Daddy does it).

Put the slice of bread into your skillet and crack an egg into the hole. Season with salt & pepper. Cook for about two minutes or until the egg is set up enough for you to flip.

Flip the toast/egg combo. Cook until the egg is at your desired method. When I am making this for kids, I cook for another couple of minutes until the egg is over hard (basically boiled in the middle). They don’t like runny eggs.

Once the egg is done, remove it from the skillet. Now you get to turn the eggs in a basket into a turkey. For the eyes, use candy eyeballs or raisins.

For the nose, I used a piece of cheese cut in a small triangle. The gobbler is just a broken piece of bacon.

Arrange the bacon feathers around the top of your turkey shaped eggs in a basket to complete this yummy Thanksgiving breakfast treat. Would your kids love to see a cute little turkey shaped egg in a basket on their breakfast plate?

Reusable Boutique Face Masks for Kids

July 12, 2020 by Stacy Craft Leave a Comment

Wondering what kind of face covering to pair with your kid’s smocked or dressy outfits?

These reusable boutique face masks for kids come from your favorite small businesses and designer shops. No big box masks here!

A mask mandate was recently implemented for the county that we live in. So that means any time that we go into a public setting, everyone including the kids must wear a facial covering.

To be honest, my kids haven’t gone many places in public since March. But with the possibility of school starting soon, I decided to look for kid sized face masks for that and just in case one day we go somewhere again!

(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.)

Why Wear A Face Mask Or Covering?

The CDC has recommended facial coverings in an effort to try and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Reusable Boutique Face Masks for Kids

I knew that several big box retailers had them for sale but I wanted to find some that met a few of my specific criteria.

For the child face masks, I wanted the following:

Free of TV show characters
Specifically sized for Kids and Toddlers (I have one of both)
From a Small (or Smaller) shop, not a big box store (We are trying to support smaller businesses these days whenever we can)
Would look ok with dressy clothes like smocked dresses or little man button down shirts.

Dressing my kids in boutique clothing is something I really love. And I didn’t want a big Paw Patrol mask ruining the style.

So this list of cloth masks offers simple patterns that are appealing to both kids and mama.

Toddler, Kid, Tween & Adult Facial Coverings

These reusable boutique face masks for kids will meet the requirement for a facial covering. But it will also be as stylish as face masks can be to pair with your kid’s dressy clothes.

Smocked Auctions – White Knit Fabric Mask by Classic Whimsy
Age Options: Kid (9 & Under), Adult (10+)

What We Love: The option to add a monogram or a cute icon like a bow or school bus is available for an additional charge.

Hanna Andersson – Variety 2 Pack
Age Options: Kids Age 3+

What We Love: The Hanna fabric we love for kid’s clothes repurposed into face coverings.

Andy & Evan – Popular Pattern Mask
Age Options: Child (2-7), Youth (8+), Adult

What We Love – Cute age appropriate prints without characters (sharks, rainbows, sports, hearts)
They also have a family pack that saves about $10. There are not options to choose your mix – it is set up for a husband/wife adult combo and a boy/girl child both under 7.

Use Coupon Code STAYHOME30 to save 30% off!

Billie Blooms – Adorable Kid Masks with Facial Features
Age Options: Toddler, Kid, Medium and Large Adult Options

What We Love: These masks have fun facial features like mustache, lips and subtle animal faces that kids will like.

Shrimp & Grits Kids – Plaid and Polka Dot Prints
Age Options: Toddler, Child and Adult

What We Love: The plaid prints are a nice classic option to pair with an outfit when going out.

Janie & Jack – Muted Checks/Oxford and Florals
Age Options: Mini, Kid and Adult

What We Love: The traditional Janie and Jack styles, converted to CDC recommendations for Face coverings. And they make a donation to the Baby2Baby non-profit group.

Busy Bees – Cotton Family Friendly Prints
Age Options: Toddler, Kid, Tween & Adult Sizes

What We Love: These are cute enough for kids but not too much for adults to wear! These would be great for Mommy and Me options.

Oso & Me – Simple Jungle Print
Age Options: Child and Adult

What We Love: Prints that kids will love while keeping the colors muted so that they aren’t obnoxious! And they make a donation to the Baby2Baby non-profit group.

Paige Lauren – Breathable Better Than Nothing Masks
Age Options: Mini, Child and Adult

What We Love: Made in USA, ethically made & soft fabric!

CubCoats – Make Your Face Look Like a Cub Mask
Age Options: Child Size 4+

What We Love: Look like a bear cub in a subtle manner.

Check out how I dress my kids in boutique clothing for pennies on the dollar.

Summer Water Fun for Kids – Slip N Slide Hack

May 18, 2018 by Stacy Craft 8 Comments

Summer Water Fun for Kids with Inexpensive Slip N Slide Hack

Summer heat. It isn’t in full swing here yet but it is coming! We have already had a couple of 90 degree days and it is still May (all my South Texas friends are probably laughing because it rarely dips below 90 there). Anyway, when it is hot, water play is on my mind for the kids.

This idea is easy to execute and involves just two main items. It will cool the kids off and keep them entertained for hours. If you need simple summer water fun for kids, this is for you!

Quick Disclaimer: Of course when your children are playing near any type of water, remember to always have them under constant supervision.

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.

Check out this Awesome Summer Theme Schedule – An easy way to have fun with kids all summer long.

Summer Water Fun For Kids – Slip N Slide Hack

Last year I bought a cheap slip n slide for my then 3 year old. She did not really understand the concept of running an sliding the way that the slip n slide is intended to be used. It took me 3 days but I finally came up with a way for her to have fun using her new toy!

What you Need:

Slip N Slide

Little Tykes Slide

Baby Shampoo

Set Up Instructions

This does work best if you have any kind of small incline in your yard. We have a very small hill but it gives just enough height to help propel the kiddos down the slide. If you don’t have any kind of hill, it will still work, they just will not go quite as fast.

Place your slide in your yard (preferably at the top of a small incline).
Place the top of your slip in slide a few inches under your slide and secure it into the ground with the included spikes.
Roll out your slip in slide. I always like to check the area as I am unrolling for any big twigs or rocks that might cause boo boos for the little ones as they speed over them.
Attach your Water hose.
Wet your slide, this just helps for the first few slides. Once the kids get going, their wet bathing suits will keep the slide wet.
Drizzle the baby shampoo over the slide and the slip n slide. The baby shampoo helps to get it extra slippery so they slide down fast. You may want to reapply a few times but I don’t end up having to do it much. *Any body wash/shampoo would probably work but I use the tear free variety just in case it gets in the kiddos eyes.

Recommended Ages

I did this for the first year when my daughter was 3. She has already been doing it this year at four. The slide that we have recommends a maximum of 60 pounds so we will probably have at least a few more summers out of this little creation. I would say in general it would probably work for kids aged 3-6 or maybe small 7 year olds.

Why Not buy the Little Tikes Slide & Slip Combo

So it appears that Little Tikes can up with the same idea that I had last year.

Don’t worry, they didn’t ask my opinion and I am not a bizillionaire for my awesome slip n slide hack idea. So why not just buy what they made? Here are my thoughts:

Cheaper – On Amazon, you can buy the two items I suggested for about $6 or $7 less than the combo.
Existing Slide – The Little Tikes first slide is kind of a household staple. I feel like so many people have this for their kids already. So if you already have the slide, for less than $12 you can buy the slip n slide and have a new use for your slide that results in lots of summer water fun for kids!
Longer Slip N Slide – The Slip N Slide I use is 14 feet long. The one that comes with the combo is only 10 ft. So especially as the kids get older, the longer one will probably be a little more fun.

We have tons of Little Tikes items that we absolutely love, but for this slip n slide hack I just prefer to make my own!

Want More Fun Summer Ideas? Check these out.

Vegetable Soup Water Table Play

Flower Planting Sensory Bin

Princess Rose Petal Tea Pretend Play

Invitation to Play – Birthday Party!

Beach First Aid Kit for Kids

March 30, 2019 by Stacy Craft 6 Comments

Beach trips are fun for kids of all ages (and adults too)! But getting a beach boo boo can cause a major meltdown if you are not properly prepared.

My DIY beach first aid kit for kids is geared toward little ones but it can be easily modified to provide relief to any beach goer young or old.

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.

Beach First Aid Kit for Kids

Keeping the proper first aid items in your beach bag and at the condo (or home if you are lucky enough to live near the beach) is essential to a relaxing trip. No one wants to experience minor ailments, but especially when a little one experiences the issue a tiny problem can be dramatized into much more!

If you have a properly packed beach first aid kit for kids, you will be prepared to tackle any problems that the surf or sand may bring. And if you have a long trip to the beach, be sure to read the less than $15 must have road trip items for kids to make your drive easier.

What to Pack in Your Beach Bag

In the beach bag, I want first aid items that can help me address minor injuries that may occur on the beach or in the ocean. These are the items that I find useful:

Bandaids

Not just any bandage either. You need super cool bandaids.

We were at a Mother’s Day Out function the other day and my daughter fell down. No blood. No scrape. But the tears, oh they were flowing.

Another mom reached in her purse and pulled out a cute little character bandaid for her. You know what? The tears magically dried up. And I quietly swore to always keep fun bandaids on me. At. All. Times.

Jelly Fish Sting Relief

Sting Relief will be useful if anyone is unfortunately stung by a jelly fish. This is one of those things that you hope you don’t have to use but will be so glad you have it if it is needed. Web MD also recommends the use of vinegar and hydrocortisone cream.

Reusable Cold Pack

When prepping a beach first aid kit for kids, an ice pack should be on your list. I love this adorable pink pig reusable ice pack. Just throw it in your cooler and be prepared for any boo boos that an ice pack would instantly cure.

Electrolyte Freezer Pops

Staying hydrated is so important and my kids do not always drink as much water as they should. Popsicles though, they are always welcome. Instead of a sugary normal pop, these electrolyte pops help keep everyone hydrated and well.

Throw them in your cooler. If it is really hot, you may need to consume quickly if you are wanting them in frozen form but they are still good melted as juice!

Pocket Tissues

Trust me, a yucky sneeze is not something you want to be wiping up with your cute beach towel. We have these Paw Patrol tissues in our beach kit now. My kids always seem to have a runny nose from allergies.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is of course a must for your beach bag. I look like a crazy person constantly applying sunscreen to my kids, I do not want burns on their perfect skin. This is the only sunscreen my kids can use without breaking out.

Hand Sanitizer

Yes, I know the ocean is right there for a little rinse. But before we start eating our snacks, I like to have a squirt of “Magic Soap” as my little calls it. It makes me feel better so we do it.

I got in the habit of doing this when we lived near Galveston, TX. The bacteria in the ocean there is regularly high and so I liked to rid as many germs as we could.

Baby Powder

I am sure you have seen this hack floating around Pinterest. Keeping sand out of mouths and eyes is kind of your part time job if you head to the beach with little ones. A bottle of baby powder might just help your sanity. It really does work to make your skin silky so that the sand slides right off.

I hope this beach first aid kit for kids helps you on your next beach trip. And if you are brave enough to take your baby under 1 to the beach, read this on the #1 item that you have to take with you. I just got back from the beach with our 8 month old & I could not have enjoyed the beach without it!