Family Crafting Books

 

I am constantly looking for ways to keep my older kid busy (and quiet) while my younger child naps-that doesn't involve a screen! I was happy to try out these family craft books that I thought were so cute and creative. I knew my son would be a tough critic-how many times have you bought your kid something only for them to glance over it and toss it aside, minutes later? Lucky for us both-he loved them and probably logged close to an hour with the mom & me: an art journal to share and Stick it to Em sticker book. (The Hand Lettering A to Z would be great for kids over 8 in my opinion...or myself!)

Each layout in the mom & me journal has a page for the kids and a page for the mom with the same prompt. I found it interesting to see what my son wanted to include on his pages and actually learned a lot about him!

Our unique sticker creations from Stick it to Em! I will say, some of the stickers definitely had an adult theme to them (a sticker that says "vodka is my spirit animal" for example) but thankfully there were lots of kid friendly ones to chose from and I could easily explain the pinata sticker that said "I'd hit that". ;)

Product Love: Hip Peas

Have you heard of Hip Peas? They are a great all natural company that focuses on kids' hair care and other bathroom essentials. We got the chance to try out the products shown above and are big fans! Before I even cracked open the lids, I was swooning over the design and packaging. And the scent itself is lovely, I actually enjoyed that it was a calming scent other than chamomile or lavender. I love those scents but it was nice to have a little departure from the tried and true with the rosemary and green tea. The foaming soap and bubble bath passed the test for my myself and my kiddos. We just used the foaming wash for shampoo but I think I might check out their actual shampoo once we run out.


And heads up for all new mamas to be or people like me who want to get useful gifts for baby showers: they have a cradle cap care product that looks like a must-have! It is made of a blend of natural oils and no harsh soaps-perfect for newborns.

Stuff those stocking with Back to the Roots

As the kids I am gifting for are growing up, we are heading more into "activity" type gifts. The kids are busy with an activity that isn't a screen and the parents are happy for a little quiet time, win-win. Some of our favorite activity gifts include gardening and getting little hands dirty! Don't be afraid of a little dirt, folks, just have a proper set up and you'll be fine. My favorite kits to include in kids' stocking (ages 4-12, in my opinion!) are by Back to the Roots.

It's more and more important to teach our kids where our food comes from and simple kits like the mushroom farm and garden-in-a-can are great tools to get the conversation going. Check your Whole Foods, mine has these all stocked up and ready for gifting!

We are currently doing our mushroom kit and Jonas loved misting it each morning. We always see mushrooms in the yard that I tell him to stomp so it will be fun to explain that these are the kind of mushrooms we can eat! And a random side-note: do you watch The Bachelor/Bachelorette? I am guilty. Second question, did you watch Emily's season of the Bachelorette? Then you might remember the super cute mushroom farmer named Alejandro?

What about now? Yep, that's the same mushroom farmer that started this company, Back to the Roots! Was a fan then, am now a customer, thanks Alejandro and company!

Post Halloween come down with Crispy Green

If you're anything like me, you are happy that the week following Halloween is over. The candy negotiations have lessened, I have secretly thrown out all the Twizzlers and Whoppers and only a few Dum Dums remain at the bottom of my son's pumpkin. It is time for an overhaul! Especially before the holidays and unhealthy eating try to sneak back into our lives. Enter: Crispy Green! Crispy Green is packaged fresh fruit that has been freeze dried. Nothing else.

We love the apple for my kids, my daughter is still too young for regular apples because they are choking hazards but these apples basically melt in her mouth and I love that they are simply Fuji apples, nothing else. There is ever only one thing on their ingredient list-the actual fruit itself. Imagine that! ;)

To encourage healthy snacking, we have them placed in a basket on a lower shelf in our kitchen. Kids should be able to have things they like at plain view. This way my son feels empowered to help himself and snack healthy. A couple bags of these are always floating around my purse and car-excellent to keep on hand for the adults and kids alike.

Find out where to buy Crispy Green here and happy snacking.

My "go to sleep" kit for babies and kids

Now that my daughter is one and her sleep is pretty regular, I am doing my best to keep it that way with nightly routines. With cold season coming up I know we are going to take a hit with my son bringing home lots of germs from preschool which always affect the kids' sleep. I'm sure our future holds many nights with the humidifier and nightly wake-ups due to coughing. I rely on my go-to sleep kit mainly for my daughter but I also can use it on my 4 year old son on especially rowdy nights or when he is sick.

I add a cup or two of magnesium flakes or epsom salts to their bath to start the calming process. Most people are deficient in magnesium and making sure your body is getting enough is key in getting proper rest. Other benefits include: improving circulation, stress relief and improving skin hydration among many more.

I spray Mommy's Bliss sweet slumber mist on my daughter's favorite lovey so she can snuggle it while she drifts off to sleep and not have to worry about the smell overpowering her pajamas. All of Mommy's Bliss products are safe and free of yucky chemicals. Sometimes I spray this on my pillow!

I roll essential oils on her feet as a final step to set the tone for sleepytime. My blend contains lavender and I feel that smell triggers something in her to know its close to naptime or bedtime.

What are your go-to tricks or routines in getting your kids to have good quality rest?