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Hulk Smash Dance Birthday Party

Filed Under: Creative, Kids January 4, 2018

Hulk Smash Dance Birthday Party

We’re super busy during the month of December, with Christmas and then my son’s birthday on New Year’s Eve. We try and separate his birthday from Christmas so it’s a rush the last week of December getting everything prepared. We’ve had some fun birthday themes, and when trying to come up with this one it wasn’t too hard. I think it’s a perfect party for a 4-year-old boy! He absolutely loves the Hulk and anything “Hulk Smash,” and when my sister got married back in June there was a dance floor at the reception that he went nuts over. So we combined the two and had a great time!

The Details of the Hulk Smash Dance Party

My husband had serious doubts when I told him what I wanted to do. I think when I said dance party for some reason I think he pictured ballerinas. However, by the time we decorated he was a believer lol.

Originally we hoped to do it outside, but the weather turned rainy and cold so the night before we opted to do it in the garage. We wrapped a thick black plastic around the garage to cover up some storage bins and the windows. I bought a pack of silver fringe curtains and we hung one in the entrance way of the garage. The remaining fringe curtains we hung up on the wall as a photo backdrop.

I found the cutest disco ball cups for the kids on Amazon. I added the “Hulk Smash” fist to them to tie it all together. We made a green punch to be “hulk” juice.

The cake turned out AMAZING! My mom made the cake and icing and my sister decorated it. The fist was made out of pound cake covered with fondant.

The inside of the cake was green with purple icing. The crumbs around the bottom are oreo. In case you’re wondering…oreo and buttercream go very well together!

I used my Cricut and some vinyl to cut out this Hulk image that was placed on the plastic behind the cake. My son really liked it. In fact, it’s now on the wall beside his bed.

We had some Christmas lights that you could set and change colors on, so we hung them around the garage and set them to green. We also had some green dance party lights that were on the floor while the kids were dancing and a DJ Party Laser light that was on the walls and floor.

I set up a playlist on my Amazon music with for my Echo and the kids had a blast dancing and playing. There is definitely a difference in the speaker quality of the Echo and the Echo Dot. I got a pack of LED light up party favors and glow sticks that were a big hit. The kids had a blast playing with them.

The laser lights were crazy! It really messed with your eyes when it was dark in there but the kids had a blast with it and they didn’t seem to bother their eyes at all.

Dancing, Playing, & Fun For All!

It all turned out fantastic, and my little boy could not have been happier. I think this will definitely be a birthday to remember!

Other Birthday Parties we’ve done:

WellieWisher

18 Steve Jobs Quotes And Lessons That Are Sure To Inspire You

Filed Under: Uncategorized January 2, 2018

18 Steve Jobs Quotes and Lessons That Are Sure To Inspire You

Perseverance- I’m convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.

Quality Is Key- Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. Share on X

Design- Design isn’t about how it looks, it’s about how it works.

Saying No- Say no to 1,000 things We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and everyone should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives

Master The Message– You have to get people excited about what you’re doing in order for them to see your vision

Your Time Is Limited- Use It Wisely. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Realizing Your Possibilities– When you grow up you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it… Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again

18 Steve Jobs Quotes And Lessons That Are Sure To Inspire You Share on X

Embrace every failure. Own it, learn from it, and take full responsibility for making sure that next time, things will turn out differently.

10.

Quality Is Key- When you’re a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you’re not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will see it. You’ll know it’s there, so you’re going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through.

11.

Have Passion. Passion fuels the rocket, but vision is what directs it to it’s destination “You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.”

12.

Do What You Love “People with passion can change the world for the better”

13.

Creativity- Creativity connects things.

14.

Sell Dreams, Not Products– Jobs always felt that people who bought Apple products weren’t consumers, but people with dreams they wanted to achieve.

15.

Create A Great Experience

16.

Embrace every failure. Own it, learn from it, and take full responsibility for making sure that next time, things will turn out differently.

17.

Just Because Others Don’t See It Doesn’t Make It Impossible– In 1979, Jobs saw an early and crude graphical user interface being demonstrated at the Xerox research facility in Palo Alto, California. He knew immediately that the technology would make computers appealing to “everyday people.” That technology eventually became The Macintosh, which changed everything about the way we interact with computers. Xerox scientists didn’t realize its potential because their “vision” was limited to making new copiers. Two people can see the exactly the same thing, but perceive it differently based on their vision.(Carmine Gallo- 7 Success Principles of Steve Jobs)

18.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish– Don’t ever be satisfied. Always push yourself to do the things people say can’t be done.

And a bonus one…
It's About What You DO- Someday you won't remember what you had...but you'll never forget what you did. #truth #stevejobs #life #lessons #blogger #strive Share on X

Do you have favorite quote that inspires you? Share it in the comments!

Breaking The Bank For Christmas- Why We Don’t Do It

Filed Under: Wisdom December 28, 2017

Breaking The Bank For Christmas- Why We Don’t Do It

Last year there was a post that went viral about the Mom who spends buys 350 presents for her kids . While I agree, it’s completely her business what she wants to buy and how much she wants to spend I do think it’s kind of insane. When the kids were babies, my husband and I talked about what we wanted to do for Christmas and what realistic expectations we wanted to set.

So Many Gifts, So Little Time

I have an aunt and uncle that used to kill themselves working 2-3 jobs during the holidays so that they could give their 4 kids a giant Christmas. There would be several “big” items. The kids would wind up picking 1-2 they really liked and then ignoring the rest because it was just too much to take in. At no fault of their own, it’s impossible for a kid to truly appreciate and enjoy that many big gifts. Then, the adults would complain because they spend all this money and the kids don’t play with half the stuff…until Christmas fever hit and it started again.

Our Plan

The first year we got a couple small toys and then put some cash into their savings accounts. It’s a lot harder than you would think to stick with buying a few things even when you have an infant at Christmas. The kids are now 6 and 3 (almost 4) and we’ve done a good job at sticking to our budget. We try our best to be able to pay cash for Christmas instead of having to depend on credit cards.

We try and get one major gift, then a few small ones to go along with it and then typically something to share like legos or last year it was a riding toy. I know as they get older it will be harder to stay in the budget that we have for them as things get more expensive. When they are 3 and 6 you can get a decent amount of stuff for a small price.

That Time With All The Dolls

The idea that buying a whole bunch and then the kids not appreciating it really sank in when my daughter was 2 and a family member bought her EVERY Disney 19″ plush doll that the Disney Store had and I’m not exaggerating. My daughter was, of course, excited when she first opened them all and then there were two that she played with. These dolls were $20 each and there were 8 or 9 of them.

This same person made a comment about another child that was older and how they weren’t grateful and just demanded things. I’m sure that if they started out in a similar situation to what was just done with my daughter, they are just letting you know what they want and expect it. How do you teach them to be grateful when you give them one of everything? Being grateful doesn’t necessarily come natural and sometimes you have to help your child learn what it means.

Is It Enough?

This year each kid had 5 presents each from us and there was a moment where I completely felt panicked and thought I needed to go find something else for them to open. I reluctantly didn’t after seriously going back and forth over it and two days later on Christmas morning, they were not disappointed at all. They were excited about what they had and so far have played with it all. The thing that may be worse than overwhelming a kid with a bunch of new stuff is not having a place to put all the stuff, to begin with. We try and be conscious of what they really really want as well as what they’ll be able to get some use out of.

Sometimes we pressure ourselves too much in thinking that our kids expect or want more than they really do. What they want, is for us to be present and involved. Whether they get 1 present or 350 thecy are going to love you the same. I promise.

What they want, is for us to be present and involved. Whether they get 1 present or 350 thecy are going to love you the same. I promise. Share on X

Don’t totally believe me? Kristina Kuzmic has a GREAT video on Christmas that relates to this ❤️ Check it out!

How was your Christmas this year?

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Ones You Love!

Filed Under: Holidays December 15, 2017

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Ones You Love! Part 1 PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

*This post includes affiliate links. This means if you purchase something from the link I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.*

Looking for a gift but not sure what to get for the various people in your life? I know how you feel…trust me! It can get difficult when there are multiple people you’re looking for or when the person you’re looking for is difficult to buy for. I’ve put together this list of Christmas gift ideas for the ones you love to help you with those decisions. Plus! A giveaway of a super hot Christmas toy and how to enter!

For The Small Space

When you live in a small space, or your kid has a lot of things already and you don’t have room to put new stuff, these compact options are helpful!

Epic! Creations Inc– Read the Best Books of All Time, 50 Classic Books that kids of all ages can enjoy! This app allows kids to read thousands of books for $7.99 a month. The first month is free and you can have up to 4 profiles for the one account! There are no in-app purchases and no ads!

Epic! App, Parent Screen. Littlemissblg.com — Sample of Book options

Little Adventures: Chair Covers– These chair covers are great if you have small spaces. They allow kids to play and be creative without taking up a lot of room.

Fairy Door– This adorable door will open your child’s imagination! It includes Magic Key in a Bottle, 3 Stepping Stones, Fairy Lease Agreement, Notepad, and a Fairy Welcome Guide.

The Creative Kid

Little Adventures– Inspire a child’s imagination and play with Little Adventures! They have kids dress up clothes that are not only wearable but washable too. I have bought a lot of dress up clothes for the kids that fall apart the first time I have to wash them. Check out their special deals section for clearance items!

Kids Made Modern Art Kit– This craft supply kit is filled with more than 1,000 pieces and it includes a divider case for easy organization for all of their craft projects!Cr

Art Making with Moma explore the materials and techniques of Jacob Lawrence, who was known as “a painter of stories,” and the ideas that inspired him—and create their own artworks. Use paints and words to share your own story through pictures. Designed by MoMA educators, the Art Making with MoMA: Storytelling Art Kit is based on art workshops and activities for families at The Museum of Modern Art. (Official Description from Target)

Loog Guitars– Loog offers mini child size guitars that are perfect to introduce a child into playing the guitar. There is also an app to help them learn cords and finger positions.

Schoenhut 30-Key Fancy Baby Grand Schoenhut pianos have been around for a long time, and there’s a reason why. They really are great children’s pianos. I bought the kids one two years ago and they love it still. They sit and makeup songs to play for us. The width of the keys promotes proper finger placement which helps them transition to a larger piano eventually. The Schoenhut pianos are known for their chime line tones that are created by small hammers striking metal rods.

Subscription Boxes- The Gift That Gives For The Whole Year!

Subscription boxes give kids something to look forward to every month in the mail. They’re a great idea to spread out your gift!

Box of Challange– These boxes are for ages 8 and up. The boxes include challenges, brainteasers, puzzles, instructions and tons of inspiration. They are perfect for spending quality time with your family and for hanging out with friends.

Walt Life– Perfect for the Disney lover in your life young or old! Each month get a box delivered with special Disney goodies!

Bookaroo– This subscription service can help a child build their book collection. It’s a great way to encourage the love of reading in a child’s life!

Kidstir– I love this subscription boxes! Each month you get 3 step by step recipes, 2 kid-sized cooking tools, a digital and printable shopping list, an e-newsletter and more!

HOT Toys

American Girl Dolls– My daughter LOVES the Wellie Wisher series! They are a sweet and silly group of girls who each have the same big, bright wish: to be a good friend. They encourage girls to get outside and explore together.

Paw Patrol Car – This rescue vehicle can transport three Paw Patrol vehicles inside or display six when opened up. It comes with Ryder and his ATV vehicle. I purchased this for my 3 year old!

Baby Alive Sweet Tears

Pop the Pig Game

Visiting Disney World During The Holidays

Filed Under: Disney December 14, 2017

Visiting Disney World During The Holidays

Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney World is fun year-round (ok, maybe with the exception of July and August..lol) but visiting during the holidays is one of my favorite times. The lights, the music, the decorations… just make it all more magical. We recently went down for a night to get our holiday fix. We stayed at the Copper Creek Villas, which is part of the Wilderness Lodge. The Wildnerness Lodge is one of our favorite resorts, especially with their Christmas decorations this time of year. I’m a big fan of staying at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts because there’s a lot to be said for being able to skip having to go to park the car, get the kids on the tram, get to the gate, then choose transportation to get to the park. It saves on a lot of stress for us. I always look for a good deal though, which seems to become trickier as rooms get booked up faster.

Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The Copper Creek Villas have a rustic-elegant atmosphere which is Disney’s nod to the rich pioneering heritage of the Pacific Northwest. You are just around the river bend from the Magic Kingdom but in walking through parts of the resort you’d never know it. It really has the Pacific Northwest feel.

Christmas Tree in the lobby of the Wilderness Resort at WDW — Tree inside the Wilderness Lodge

Kitchen area inside studio — Studio Room in Copper Creek Villas part of Wilderness Lodge

When you’re staying at the Copper Creek Villas you enjoy the amenities and activities that are available to the Wilderness Lodge such as the pools and jogging trails. When you arrive, you still come through the Wilderness Lodge for check-in. I love the Wilderness Lodge lobby at Christmas time. There’s a giant Christmas tree!

We had a studio villa, and it was really nice! We had a view of the pool area and a little sitting area outside the room. There’s a little kitchen area with a microwave, refrigerator, coffee pot, sink, and dishes in the cabinet!

There was a bed and a sofa with a fold-out bed available. The sofa bed was actually comfortable and the kids slept really well on it!

Studio Room at Copper Creek Villas (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)

The shower was cool because there was a regular shower head and then a “rain” showerhead in middle.

Exploring The Resort

We went to the park but they were pretty busy so we went back to the resort to hang out for a little bit.

Big Buffalo at the Wilderness Lodge at WDW — Buffalo at Canyon Creek Villas located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Outside the Wilderness Resort at Walt Disney World — Outside View of Peaceful Canyon Creek Villas at the Wilderness Lodge

The kids love the bush shaped buffalo! They thought it was awesome. I had several people stop and ask me where we got my son’s boots from. Target has them for $19.99 and they are adorable!

Inside the Disney Vacation Club Villas Building

The walk going toward the Disney Vacation Club Villas is a covered boardwalk type area. During Christmas, it’s decorated and festive.

There’s a nice tree in the lobby of this building too! It’s very cozy, and there were tables and chairs around as well as a fireplace for you to hang out around.

The Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

I want to stay in one of these cabins so bad! It’s definitely on my goals list for the next year

It does not feel like you’re in Lake Buena Vista. That’s for sure! On the walkways, there are animal tracks that the kids were following trying to guess what animal they were from.

There were a lot more cabins that I initially realized. They have a few different looks on the outside which is cool and makes it feel a little more authentic.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

For dinner, we went to one of our favorite Walt Disney World restaurants, the Whispering Canyon Cafe. Whispering Canyon is a “themed” restaurant where the waiters are blunt (but not mean). They are known for coming to the table and throwing a handful of straws at you. One time we visited and my son was 2 and was whiney. The waitress looks at him and says “Oh stop the whining! You’re at the happiest place on earth for heaven’s sake!” he just stopped. I burst into laughter. It was hilarious.

Mini Christmas Tree at Whispering Canyon At WDW — The tree inside the Whispering Canyon Cafe

We Need Ketchup!

Another fun thing about the Whispering Canyon is asking for ketchup. They bring you all of it. When someone else asks at another table, they yell as loud as they can “We need ketchup!” and you have to get up and get it to them quickly.

More Fun- The Ponies

The kids’ favorite part of the Whispering Canyon Cafe is the ponies! They have stick ponies that they kids do a loop on around the restaurant while music plays and everyone swings their napkins in the air.

The Food

We always get the “All You Can Eat Skillet” which is $29-32 per person. It consists of family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing and Fresh-baked Cornbread. The skillet has Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Chicken, Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cobb, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans. We aren’t typically the kind to get “all you can eat” plates because we don’t ever finish it, but this… is so good! Most of the time we get a refill on at least a couple of the items.

The Magic Kingdom

After dinner, we headed back over to the Magic Kingdom via boat. I cannot express how much easier it is to take two little kids back to the park via boat (or in some cases monorail) as opposed to the whole getting in the car process.

We had set up some fast passes on My Disney Experience for Buzz Light Year, the race cars, and Dumbo. We walked around the park and looked at the decorations. I love the Magic Kingdom when it’s all decorated for the holiday season!

The park at night with the lights everywhere are pretty in general too. Here’s the carousel at night-

While we were waiting on the boat to go back to the hotel we caught the light parade on the Seven Seas Lagoon

Light Parade at Disney World on the Seven Seas Lagoon — Water Parade

It was a fun time! The next day we went over to Hollywood Studios to see the new Frozen show which was a little different for the holidays. It’s one of my favorite shows and never disappoints. We also checked out the Disney Junior Live On Stage and visited with Doc McStuffins, BB8, and Chewbacca. It was just an overnight trip but still packed with lots of fun.

Walt Disney World is crazy around the holiday season. It’s hard to guess whether they will be busy or not. Two years ago we went on December 23rd and 24th and it wasn’t bad at all. I think it’s because most people who were planning to come and celebrate Christmas there were possibly coming in later on the 24th. Typically early December isn’t too bad, but again it’s been a long time since I’ve seen “slow” Disney.

If you’re able to check it out during the holidays I definitely recommend it!

Here’s a picture by Candi from Magical Pix by Candi Clark to wish you a Merry Holiday Season! If you are at Disney you have to check Candi out, she’s a fantastic photographer who has done our photos while we were down in the past. She’s really awesome!

Merry and Bright Magic Kingdom Picture by Magical Pix by Candi — Pic by Magical Pix by Candi Clark

Have you checked out Walt Disney World During the holidays?

Check out these other Disney Resorts!

Grand Floridian

The Contemporary Resort

Beach Club Resort

A Different Kind Of Christmas- Feeling Sad During The Holidays

Filed Under: Wisdom December 11, 2017

A Different Kind Of Christmas- Feeling Sad During The Holidays

I’ve always loved the holiday season. I don’t just mean Christmas; I mean the whole season that covers Thanksgiving to New Years. I love the lights, the smells, finding gifts for people, all of it. In 2010 though, that changed some. Then, again in 2012 and once again in 2015. It was in these years that I lost some very important people in my life. The holidays went from happiness and love, to happiness, love, and a lot of sadness.

Losing A Grandmother

I come from a very tight knit family. My grandparents were the pillars of this family. No matter what, they were the glue that held us all together. My maternal grandmother passed away in August 2010. It felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest and I felt like the world was crumbling. She suffered from Congestive Heart Failure, and had a long battle with it. Knowing that death is coming doesn’t make it any easier. That first Christmas was painful. It was one where we all made a valiant effort to be there for each other though.

In May 2011, I gave birth to my first child. That Christmas, while it was exciting to be celebrating my baby’s first Christmas- it was also heart wrenching in wishing my Grandma could be there to see her and experience this moment with us.

The Loss Of Two In One Year

In 2012, I lost my maternal grandfather and my paternal grandmother. This again, made it feel like this foundation my life was built on was cracking. It was a lot of loss, and overwhelming to try and deal with. Both of them had been sick for a while, but actually losing them still hurt so much. Losing all my grandparents made Christmas feel especially hard because they were always a huge part of it. Growing up, and even as an adult we all went to my maternal grandparents Christmas morning. My Nanny (my paternal grandmother) would always come visit on Christmas Eve. It left a huge hole in Christmas for me.

The Unexpected

In 2013, I was pregnant on Christmas and my baby was due to be born on New Years Eve. I mourned that my grandparents would never meet my baby boy to be. During a time of joy and happiness I found myself crying and sad. I thought this was turning around in 2014, maybe just maybe our family would stay intact and we wouldn’t worry about a phone call that someone was in the hospital or gone.

In August 2015, I unexpectedly lost an uncle. He was a good man, he passed away from a heart attack. It was early in the morning, I noticed a missed call on my cellphone when I woke up at 6 am and called my mom. She told me they were on their way to a hospital about an hour and a half away where my uncle lived because he had been taken there. I rushed and got dressed, I went to take my toddler out of his crib and the phone rang again…I was too late. He was gone. I felt as though I couldn’t breathe.

Life had pulled a rug out from underneath me after convincing me it was ok to stand there. My uncle loved my kids, he had a special connection with my baby boy. On top of my loss, I was sad for my kids who would not grow up spending time with this man. This may have been the worst pain of them all. He wasn’t all that old, he kept up with his health, it just didn’t seem fair. My uncle always made a buttermilk pie (I know, you’re thinking…buttermilk?!), yes buttermilk. It was light and sweet and so, so good. He always brought it especially to Thanksgiving dinner. Some have tried to attempt it since and while they were good it isn’t the same. It’s even something that’s hard to eat because it makes me miss him so much. Missing leads to sadness and the regret I feel that my kids won’t have him as part of their lives.

Time and Wounds

New Years makes me mark another year they’ve all been gone. While it’s been said that time heals all wounds, that’s not really the case. Time is irrelevant when it comes to love and memories. A memory that was so long ago can feel like you can reach out and touch it regardless of the years between.

Driving home the other day, I heard a song my Mark Shultz, “A Different Kind Of Christmas.”

“Putting candles in the windows
Lights upon the tree
But there’s no laughter in this house
Not like there used to be
There’s just a million little memories
That remind me you’re not here
It’s just a different kind of Christmas this year”

It wasn’t my exact situation, but it captured the sadness of not having people you love with you. You want to be happy, but the million little memories you have of them aren’t warming you they’re just reminding you who’s not there. Then, it gives this reminder-

“There’s voices in the driveway
Families right outside the door
And we’ll try to make this Christmas like the ones we’ve had before
As we gather round the table, I see joy on every face
And I realize what’s still alive is the legacy you made

It’s time to put the candles in the windows, the lights upon the tree
It’s time to fill this house with laughter like it used to be
Just because you’re up in heaven, doesn’t mean you’re not near”

And I realize what’s still alive is the legacy you made Share on X

That line… oh how I needed to realize it myself. It’s ok that I feel a little sad that some of my loved ones are gone during the holidays. It’s ok that I cry. What I have to come back to and remember is that it’s their legacy that is still here. It’s my job to make sure that each of their legacy live on. The legacy of family, kindness, love, generosity, humor, and perseverance. In these things, I find that they are close to me. While it isn’t always easy, I will push through continue to pass the legacy left for me to my children. I’m beginning to understand that it’s ok to be sad, it’s ok to cry- but then you have to focus on the good and the strength that their legacy left behind to keep moving forward. So this year, we’ve added some more decorations and even an outdoor tree. When I look at them, I won’t just miss my grandparents but I’ll smile at how much they loved Christmastime and lights. I’ll tell my kids the stories of Christmas past and incorporate those things in the present to pass along memories.

If you get down, and feel sad around the holidays, please know that you aren’t alone. There’s nothing wrong with you, and it’s completely normal. There are some great resources to help you find ways to get through it.

Mayo Clinic Tips For Coping

When You’re Depressed During The Holidays

Coping With Grief And Loss During The Holidays

Do You Have Any Suggestions For Coping During The Holidays?

Incredible Christmas Light Displays You Have To See

Filed Under: Holidays December 10, 2017

Incredible Christmas Light Displays You Have To See

Christmas light displays are so much fun to drive around and look at. We love to grab a coffee or hot chocolate from Starbucks and check out all of the Incredible Christmas Light Displays. There’s something magical about the twinkling lights at night time that make all seem right with the world. There are some parts of town that I think have some pretty incredible Christmas light displays and there are others from around the country that definitely goes above and beyond!

Holiday Light Displays

This is a light display featured on 2014’s Great Christmas Light Fight

More photos from Christmas on Crystal Springs:

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You can also visit their Facebook page!

One of my FAVORITE local Light displays is a whole community that participates with lights

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I thought these were pretty awesome (which they are). A friend then introduced me to the lights from their hometown neighborhood-

Welcome to Dyker Heights

This neighborhood in New York is more than 120 years old. It is said their Christmas light displays started in 1986. It’s huge. HUGE. Understandably it’s frustrating to neighbors because of parking and traffic, but WOW. It’s just incredible!

Incredible Christmas Lights Display at Dyker Heights Christmas Lights — Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

As you can see from just one photo, it’s a tourst hot spot!

The 2017 Display:

Pretty insane don’t you think? Insane in the best of ways for sure!

Do you like to check out Christmas Light Displays during the holidays? Have any favorites?

The Perfect Gift Ideas For Kids on your list

Filed Under: Holidays December 4, 2017

The Perfect Gift Ideas For Kids On Your List

It’s that time of year… when you are on the hunt for gifts for the kids on your list. It can be difficult to figure out what to get, but I have searched the web for you! Here are some awesome gift suggestions for the kid in your life!

This post includes affiliate links. This means if you decide to make a purchase from one of them I may recieve a small comission at no additional cost to you

Book Gift Ideas

I always have a hard time, especially with nieces and nephews. I have a couple “go-to” items if they don’t’ have any specific request and books are one of them. Books are one of those items that can always be useful and they’ll be able to get something out of it.

Laugh Out Loud Jokes For Kids– Kids LOVE jokes, and joke books that have jokes they can share. It’s a great way to encourage and get kids to read more without it feeling like a chore to them.

Have You Filled Your Bucket Today? This book is a great way to tch kids about hapinesss.

The Crippled Lamb– This is an incredible Christmas story (or anytime really). I cry every time I read it. It’s the story of Joshua, the crippled lamb who often wondered why he was different and how he found his purpose in a very important moment. It’s a children’s book, but honestly I recommend it for kids or even those older in your life that are maybe struggling with their purpose.

5 Minute Pete the Cat Stories We LOVE Pete the Cat! These 5 minute stories are great for bedtime or quick reads for toddlers. Pete always gives something to learn and a valuable lesson in his tales.

The Monster at the end of this Book– An adorable book about an adorable monster named Grover. He teaches that sometimes was sounds fearful, really isn’t. My kids absolutely love this book!

The Story of Ferdinand– I always think of the movie “The Blind Side” when I see this book. Ferdinand wanted to be who he was, and not necessarily what people expected him to be. A very valuable lesson for us all.

There’s a Bear on my Chair– this is another book that my kids love. Little Miss B often reads it to her little brother on the way home during the week.
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie– Want to know what happens? Check out this book! There’s also a TV series which is adorable, as well as other books in the series. I wasn’t sure at first, but after reading it with the kids it’s become a quick favorite!

Dress-up Clothes- Imagination and Play

Imagination and play are a big part of childhood. Little Adventures offers a variety of dress-up outfits for kids. The best part? They are washable! Yes… they won’t fall apart when you wash them! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve bought dress up clothes that have fallen apart in the first wash.

These are some of my favorites!
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Also from Little Adventures- Chair Covers

These are great when you have limited space but want your little one to be able to play!

These are a couple of my favorites

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Scooters! For The Kid On The Go!

Globber Scooters offer scooters with 3 wheels which provide extra stability for kids just learning how to ride. They use a lean-to-steer method which helps kids learn how to balance and turn, before graduating to a 2 wheel scooter. The 3 wheel set up of the scooters is one of the biggest differences in this scooter and others. From Globbers website- “Help your child learn to maneuver the Globber 3 Wheel Fixed Scooter easily by activating the Patented Secure Direction Button Lock on the front of the deck, which ensures the scooter moves in a straight line. Ball bearings offer front wheel pivot supports to simplify assisted steering, and the low deck height delivers a stable ride. The X-Cross deck design improves turning performance and adds strength to the steel-plate reinforced deck. Your child can roll along smoothly on the high-rebound PU wheels with ABEC-5 bearings, and he or she can hang on tightly to the dual-injection grips. The long rear brake covers the entire back tire for reliable stops.”

Some of my favorites

Pink Scooter from Globber Scooters. Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids- littlemissblog.com — Pink 3 Wheel Adjustable Scooter

Globber Primo 3 Wheel Adjustable Height Scooter with LED Light Up Wheels. Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids- littlemissblog.com — 3 Wheel Adjustable Height Scooter

5-in-one-convertable scooter from Globber Scooters. Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids- littlemissblog.com — 5-in-one-convertable scooter

Big Wheel Bike

Speaking of wheels…. I can’t NOT mention this classic-

Radio Flyer Big Deluxe Flyer

Educational Toys

Here are some of our favorite Educational Toys! They are fun, and allow kids to be creative and learn all while enjoying them!

Legos Kids love legos! They are a a fun way for kids to learn about organizing, planning, and construction. They help kids with lateral thinking, as well as seeing things three dimensionally. Yes, they are a pain if you step on a lego, but there are a lot of educational benefits to them as well!

Dinosaur Toys that take apart with Tools This set of 6 toys improves coordination and problem-solving skills! If the kid in your life is anything like my 3-year-old they’ll love being able to use tools to take apart dinosaurs not even knowing that they are learning great skills in the process!

Wellie Wishers by American Girl Dolls The Wellie Wisher series teaches young girls about friendships, empathy, expressing emotion and enjoying the outdoors. There are also great books to go along with them such as Camille’s Mermaid Adventure.

Illuminate World Globe This globe has a built-in LED for night viewing also! This is a great way to teach kids about geography and help them understand the world.

Do you have any suggestions for great kid gifts? Let’s here about it!

Gifts That Help Get Healthy And Stay Healthy

Filed Under: Holidays November 23, 2017

Gifts To Get Healthy and Stay Healthy

A good gift makes you happy and helps you accomplish things. These are some great gift ideas for working on getting healthy and staying healthy! After all, when you give a gift that helps someone do that you are giving them so much more than just that gift.

The Perfect Yoga Gifts for Under $20

These gifts are awesome because everybody can enjoy yoga! The New York Times has a great article on why people of any age can participate. I’ve even started trying poses with my 6 & 3-year-olds.

Yoga & Pilates Rings –strengthen your core and balance without the strain of heavy weights? The ProSource Pilates Resistance Ring is a small but powerful tool that provides light resistance, designed for total body conditioning.

Yoga Towels -the lightweight ProSource Arida Yoga Towel provides a non-slip surface, designed to absorb moisture. The thin, mat-sized towel provides greater stability and is versatile for yoga, Pilates, or any other fitness activity

Yoga Gloves -Grippy Gloves make yoga or Pilates easier, whether you’re a hot yoga fan, practice your poses on the carpet at home, or struggle with sliding in poses. The open-finger, non-slip design reduces slipping for better balance and stability – no mat required!

Yoga Mats – This mat is great to help reduce pain and perfect your poses with the ProSource extra thick yoga and Pilates mat.

Stability Balls -This helps develop core muscles and overall strength, increase balance, and improve posture with the versatile ProSource Stability Exercise Ball

6 Gifts for CrossFitters Under $25

Speed Jump Ropes – These help develop coordination, agility footwork and overall conditioning. These are used to target upper and lower body reflexes.

12 Rung Agility Ladder – These have often been used by coaches to improving footwork, speed, and quick directional changes. It helps improve coordination, balance, and body awareness. These are great for ANY age!

Rubber Medicine Balls -These are great for strengthening and developing core muscles

Multi-grip Pull Up Bars – Perfect for pull ups, push ups, dips and abdominal training.

Kettle Bells – These are awesome because they can be for squats, cleans, swings, get-ups and more! The heavy, uneven distribution of weight forces you to engage your core and strengthen multiple muscles at once

Sports Towels – These are ultra-light, super soft 100% microfiber towels that absorbs large amounts of moisture easily, and dries quickly so you can pack and carry it without a mess after use!

Gift Ideas to Help Aging Parents Stay Healthy

Anti-shock hiking and trekking poles -made to suit the great outdoors and pavement for daily exercise and long hikes. These are great for easing pressure on elbows, knees, and wrist.

Lightweight dumbbells – These are great for building strength and creating a lean, toned physique.

Stackable Resistance Band Sets – I LOVE these! They are actually great whether you are old or young. Great for at-home use, rehabilitation, travel, or daily gym workouts. Theyallow you to move through a greater range of motion to improve coordination and stability.

Extra Thick Yoga Mats (Multiple Color Options) -Great for yoga or pilates!

Accupressure Mats (Multiple Color Options) – These are used to help relieve stress, headaches, weariness, tension, back pain, insomnia, and muscle aches. My husband is actually a big fan of acupuncture (which is weird because he HATES needles) and he’ll be getting this as a present :)!

Want more options? Check out this review of the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 for kids!

Crafting with Cricut- All The Things Cricut Can Do

Filed Under: Creative November 9, 2017

Crafting with Cricut

Do you love doing DIY crafts? Crafting with Cricut makes DIY fun and easy. It is amazing the number of things you can do and how easy they are to do with a Cricut!

I previously had the Cricut Explore and not too long ago purchased the Cricut Air Machine. With my first Cricut, I made birthday invites for my daughter’s second and third birthday along with decorations. I also made charts, as well as office decorations. The precision of cutting is amazing! I would have never been able to complete these things if it was left up to me and some scissors!

One of my favorites is this Disney Countdown to Christmas Chart I made. We took an old frame, but some glitter paper behind it and then attached string so that we could use mini-cloths pin holders to attach Mickey pieces to. Each day we’d remove one to countdown. The kids LOVE it!

You can create crafts from cardstock, home decor including iron-on material, kraft boxes, felt and more! The possibilities are endless, whether you want to keep them for yourself, create gifts, or even sell creations it is completely feasible with a Cricut Machine.

One of the coolest things is With the Explore Air 1 and 2 you can use cartridges or even upload your own images! You can shop Cartridges & Images at Cricut here!

Right now you can get special pricing on Cricut Machines through 11/23/17! Cricut One available for $134.99, Cricut Air available for $149.99, and Cricut Air 2 available for $199.99

There’s a Cricut Explore Air 2 Sky Machine plus the Ultimate Bundle which includes-

Cricut Explore® Deep Cut Blade With Housing
Cricut® Tools Scoring Stylus
Cricut Explore® Candy Shop Pen Set
Cricut® Tools Basic Set
Cricut® Cutting Mat Variety 3 pack
Cricut® Window Cling, Black

There’s also an inspiration page to help give you some ideas if you can’t decide where to start!

Why Should You Do Crafting with Cricut?

Crafting with Cricut makes almost any craft possible and saves a ton of time especially when cutting something that it detailed or small. It also gives uniformity to things whereas when done by hand you naturally have some differences. The Cricut machines are fantastic for home, school, creating gifts, or even using it for a small business. The possibilities are endless!

Check out my Hulk Smash Dance Party and what I was able to do with my Cricut!

lmbadmin

Hulk Smash Dance Birthday Party

The Details of the Hulk Smash Dance Party

Dancing, Playing, & Fun For All!

Other Birthday Parties we’ve done:

18 Steve Jobs Quotes and Lessons That Are Sure To Inspire You

Do you have favorite quote that inspires you? Share it in the comments!

Breaking The Bank For Christmas- Why We Don’t Do It

So Many Gifts, So Little Time

Our Plan

That Time With All The Dolls

Is It Enough?

How was your Christmas this year?

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Ones You Love! Part 1 PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

For The Small Space

The Creative Kid

Subscription Boxes- The Gift That Gives For The Whole Year!

HOT Toys

Visiting Disney World During The Holidays

Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Exploring The Resort

Inside the Disney Vacation Club Villas Building

The Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Whispering Canyon Cafe

We Need Ketchup!

The Food

The Magic Kingdom

Have you checked out Walt Disney World During the holidays?

Check out these other Disney Resorts!

A Different Kind Of Christmas- Feeling Sad During The Holidays

Losing A Grandmother

The Loss Of Two In One Year

The Unexpected

Time and Wounds

Do You Have Any Suggestions For Coping During The Holidays?

Incredible Christmas Light Displays You Have To See

Holiday Light Displays

Welcome to Dyker Heights

The 2017 Display: <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xmrKt_vtcTU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Do you like to check out Christmas Light Displays during the holidays? Have any favorites?

The Perfect Gift Ideas For Kids On Your List

*This post includes affiliate links. This means if you decide to make a purchase from one of them I may recieve a small comission at no additional cost to you*

Book Gift Ideas

Dress-up Clothes- Imagination and Play

Also from Little Adventures- Chair Covers

Scooters! For The Kid On The Go!

Some of my favorites

Big Wheel Bike

Educational Toys

Do you have any suggestions for great kid gifts? Let’s here about it!

Gifts To Get Healthy and Stay Healthy

The Perfect Yoga Gifts for Under $20

6 Gifts for CrossFitters Under $25

Gift Ideas to Help Aging Parents Stay Healthy

Crafting with Cricut

Why Should You Do Crafting with Cricut?

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This post includes affiliate links. This means if you decide to make a purchase from one of them I may recieve a small comission at no additional cost to you