Kelle Hampton's Blog, page 2

2021 Kids Gift Guide

Happy November! We always welcome this month with open arms because it kicks off our holiday preparation festivities–our favorite time of year. Like a lot of others, I started earlier this year; and it feels good to have a good chunk of holiday shopping done to make room for the other things we love about the season (holiday bucket list and illustrated movie guide coming soon!).

This year’s kid gift guide is made up of favorite gifts our kids have loved that have withstood time and changing interests as well as some new things Santa’s bringing this year. Tomorrow, I’ll post the Gift Guide for Crafty and Creative Kids. With no further ado, the 2021 Kid Gift Guide:

1 – Dictionary Combination Lock Box
This was Dash’s favorite gift last year, given to him by my sister who is good at sweeping in and winning Best Gift Award. It looks like a dictionary, but when you open the cover it’s really a combination lock box to hide your stuff–like fidgets and the candy you stole from your sister and the stick you whittled.

2 – Canon Ivy Instant Camera
This is the kids’ camera we take on all our trips. I like it better than the Instax. It takes photos and prints them on inkless paper that has peel-off backing so you can stick the photos in travel journals. It’s great for everyday photos too.

3 – A-frame Dollhouse
I admit, I sort of bought this for myself. But if you have any kids in your life who’d love a dollhouse, may I present the most charming one on the planet. Add some fake snow and trees on the outside, throw some twinkle lights around it, and you have yourself a Christmas dream.

4 – Initial Baseball Hat
The cutest kids’ baseball cap I’ve seen. Dash is getting one of these this year.

5 – Jellyfish Lamp
This is one gift I bought on a whim, and it quickly became a family favorite and something everyone comments on when they come over (everyone asks if the jellyfish are real :o). The realistic jellyfish movement is highlighted by color-changing lights.

6 – Track a Shark Bracelet
This one made me smile because it’s the perfect gift for Lainey who’s obsessed with all things sharks this year. The bracelet comes with a unique tracking link to a real shark so you can follow him at any time.

7 – Canon Ivy Printer
The instant camera is fun, but if kids are using iPads and phones to take pictures (which allows you to edit photos before printing), you can send them straight to this purse-sized bluetooth printer. We have an comparable version of a this printer (not available anymore), and we love it.

8 – Hoverboard
The gift that keeps on giving. My dad and Gary bought our kids hoverboards a few years ago, and they’ve been loved and used ever since–not only our kids but all the kids that come to visit (cue me, running out to ask if they’ve ever used one…”please put this helmet on”….”Is it okay with your mom?”)

9 – Goodnight Chicago PJs
We love and miss our beloved Chicago trips. While we wait to go back, we’re enjoying these super soft PJs that capture all our Chicago loves from stuffed pizza to the Bean (they also have PJs for New York, L.A. &Texas).

10 – PB Kids Puppy Sleeping Bag
Another gift that keeps on giving! Santa brought these sleeping bags for Nella and Dash a few years ago, and they’ve received so much love since! We move our coffee table aside for all family movie nights and cover the floor with these sweet sleeping bags (the puppy head acts as a little pillow).

11 – Incoherent Family Game
Excited for Santa to bring this one this year–I can already hear the kids laughing.

12 – Walker Family Goods Little Louie Sling
We love our Walker Family treasures in this house from their duffel bags to this little fanny pack that Nella and Dash use for vacations and day trips.

13 – Maileg Cigar Box Mice
Maileg Mice are Save Forever Toys. The kids received their first ones a few years ago but have really gotten into collecting them this past year. They’re so beautiful, have so many charming accessories and fit perfectly in the doll house.

14 – Dinkum Doll
We’ve had a lot of baby dolls over the years, and this is one of our favorites–so well made and one to be saved and passed on to grandkids. The clothes and accessories you can buy for it though–adorable!

15 – LED Wings
These are so much fun to bring out at night! Turn off all the lights, turn on some music (might I suggest Harry Styles), and you have a Vegas show!

16 – Jewelry Box
The girls have accumulated a little stash of jewelry over the years, and this box offers the perfect arrangement of drawers to organize and store their treasures.

17 – The Ponycycle
This is a splurge, but this buddy has received its worth in love. Every kid who visits our house goes straight for the Ponycycle.

18 – Wooden Geoboard Toy
A sneaky educational toy, this geoboard will keep kids busy for hours.

19 – Magnatiles
Outside of dolls and Barbies, our Magnatile set receives the Most Timeless and Well-Loved Toy Award in our home. The kids started playing with them when they were toddlers, and they still delight. If I had to suggest one toy for grandparents or aunts/uncles to keep at their home so kids have something to play with when they visit, Magnatiles would be it.

20 – Personalized Chainstitch Sweatshirt
What kid doesn’t love a present with their name on it? And the chainstitching gives these sweet sweatshirts a classic vintage look.

21 – Glow Racetrack
Santa brought Dash one of these a few years ago, and it still gets played with.

22 – Kids Terry Cloth Robe
My kids loved these more than I anticipated when they received them a couple years ago for Christmas. They love having their own “cozy robes” to slip into after baths and showers.

23 – Lush Rainbow Soap Dough
We’re big fans of Lush’s soap dough. It adds colorful fun to bath time and lathers up and works as soap when you add water.

24 – Today by Julie Morstad
Every child library needs a copy of this book. No matter how many times I read it aloud, my kids love to huddle around me and pick out their favorite choices from each page that presents delightful options for all the things we choose to do and wear and eat and see each day.

25 – Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone
The number of Nella’s Taylor Swift performances this microphone has brought our family–can’t even count.

26 – Personalized Apron
Dash has been so interested in helping in the kitchen more, and Lainey recently asked if we could do nights where the kids cook dinner for the adults. Twist my arm!  These darling aprons come in two different sizes (so many other kids aprons are size that’s too little for bigger kids) and can be personalized. Dash is getting one for Christmas along with this kids cookbook and these kid knives to create a kids cooking bundle.

27 – eeBoo Children of the World Puzzle
We love eeBoo floor puzzles! 100-piece puzzles are the sweet spot for us–challenging enough to take a little time and yet not too tedious to make you want to check out. This is one of our favorites. The colored border makes edge pieces easy to assemble (helps make it more doable and fun for Nella).

28 – Personalized Basket
The girls have these on their dressers. They’re cute to display but equally functional. We’ve taken ours to the beach to collect shells, used them to stash sunglasses and trinkets and carried them as purses. Skip the gift bag, and use one of these for a personalized touch. Bonus–great price!

29 – Pindaloo Game
A fun coordination challenge game! I smell a Christmas Day Pindaloo competition.

30 – Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia
Dash is my non-fiction lover–he wants to know all the facts on all the things. This beautifully illustrated encyclopedia is sure to entertain his curiosity.

31 – Echo Dot Kids’ Edition
This is how Dash and Nella listen to music in their rooms–not to mention, it comes with a year of Amazon Kids+ which gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, games and educational skills. Parental controls give me peace of mind.

The post 2021 Kids Gift Guide appeared first on Enjoying the Small Things.

Dash’s Room Glow Up

Kids’ rooms have always been my favorite place to decorate. While we loved Dash’s room the way it was, it was in desperate need of a paint job (it hadn’t been painted since before he was born!). As all decorating projects go, when you give a mouse a cookie, she’ll ask for a glass of milk. We had to take the pegboard down to paint…which led to taking the chair rail off…which led to ordering a new quilt…you get the picture. The result: a complete room glow up. The good news is we reused a lot of what we already had. We just added some new things to it and changed things up for a fresh look. We all love his new room!

Before:

After:

The paint color is the MVP here–Sherwin-Williams 2022 Color of the Year, Evergreen Fog, a yummy grayish green that works well with the camp/lodge vibe of the room and is the perfect background for pops of red. The other star of the room for me is the awning. After taking the pegboard down, I wanted some other statement piece. I had an idea for an awning but wasn’t sure how to do one that wasn’t too complicated. Then I found this one on Etsy, made especially for two tension rods between cabinets which worked perfectly in this room because of the bookshelves. It’s so well made—customized to our dimensions and tension rod size, and includes a durable lining.

One of my favorite things about Dash’s room is that it stays clean and organized because it has so much storage—a place for everything! We added a roomy closet before Lainey was born (this room was originally an office that we changed over to a nursery). Plus, there’s lots of storage in the built-in bookshelves. I switched out the hardware on the cabinets and added black contact paper to the back of the shelves.

The globe light was inspired by While You Were Sleeping. I saw it when I was a teenager and made a note after seeing it in Lucy’s room that someday when I was a mom, my kids would have one.

The open bookshelves (two of these side by side) create even more storage for toys and books. I love having the toys accessible and visible. Seeing where everything goes makes putting things away easier (plus, it makes a cute display).

The little corner ottoman adds even more storage, plus a sitting corner. This one stores all the kids’ dress-up clothes. You wouldn’t believe how many Halloween costumes, wigs and princess gowns can actually be stuffed into that stool.

Wall art:
Most of the pennants are from Oxford Pennant (all places Dash has visited).
Explore Camp Flag
Swiss flag is vintage from Etsy.
Canoe painting is Christy Mandin.
Bossen Forest Digital Print (I printed mine 24 x 36)
M22 sign
Lake Michigan Sign (I bought this at Cutlers, downtown Petoskey, this summer)

My favorite wall art in his room is the horseshoe on the wall because it represents the most special memory and Dash’s great love, the horses of Mackinac Island. We took a carriage ride on the island last summer to our favorite hidden restaurant in the woods. When the carriage driver was leaving, he stopped the carriage for a moment because his horse had lost one of his horseshoes. He saw how enamored Dash was with the horses, so he gave it to Dash for a keepsake. We mounted it and added a brass name plate. It still smelled like horses up until a couple months ago.

Lake Erie Pennant
Gooseneck Industrial Wall Lamp
Red School Clock
Horse Paint by Numbers, eBay

Please note the pretend toasted marshmallows. Thank you.

We already had the down comforter (we have one on every bed in the house). I added this quilt which I love because it’s reversible—two different looks: this plaid on one side and a bold red Christmas plaid we’ll be unleashing for holiday bedding.
Other bedding: Boxter Plaid Sheets
Green Velvet Pillow Covers
Stripe Pillow Covers: Ikea
Wool Camp Stripe Pillow Cover

 

Finally, we added a large rug to ground the room and add some texture. Bonus: this one’s washable!

The real fun begins next week when we put up Dash’s little tree and add the Christmas decorations. Come November 1, we’re diving in.

Room Resources:

Plaid Quilt
Washable Rug
Storage ottoman
Awning
Bossen Forest Digital Print
Wool Camp Toss Pillow
Gooseneck Industrial Wall Lamp
Boxter Plaid Sheets
Globe Light
Red School Clock
Bed
Chandelier

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Best Gifts for Women: My Favorite Things

1 – Eastfork Pottery Mug
There’s a reason this handmade cult favorite mug from the Asheville pottery studio started the hashtag #themug. It’s a legend. I collect them and  named mine after the characters of Little Women. You’ll never use another mug after you sip coffee from this baby.

2 – Bluetooth Headphones
I love a good comfy headphone that goes over my head. These are less than $30, and the battery lasts forever (I use mine for runs and workouts and can’t remember the last time I charged them).

3 – Scentbird Subscription
My friend Brooke got me on to Scentbird. You fill out a scent profile, detailing what you’re looking for in a fragrance, and then you choose from suggestions for your monthly shipment–the perfect little curated bottles of brand-name fragrances. $15/month–super fun.

4 – Salutation Joggers
2020 brought us the love of The Jogger, and it’s here to stay. I’m obsessed with Athleta joggers, and these Salutation ones are a closet staple—comfy, flattering and versatile.

5 – Beach Umbrella and Beach Blanket
This was a 2021 splurge for me with some gift money, but I love it so much. It makes going to the beach so much more fun, and since we live by the beach and go there so often, it’s a worthwhile investment. Every time I set it up, I smile and think, “I’m so glad I bought this.” (You’ll need a sand anchor for the umbrella.)

6 – Rosebud Ankle Socks
I love a drawer full of pretty socks. These ones are my favorite and look so cute peeking out of oxfords.

7 –Pura Diffuser
A great way to add favorite candle scents to your home without burning candles. We have one in our living room and bathroom—and scents and intensity are all controlled with the Pura app. I love the Barr Original Scent or the scent from the famous Capri Blue Volcano candle—a great way for your home to have a “signature scent.”

8 – Lore Pemberton Print
I want to climb into every piece of art Lore Pemberton creates, and I’d hang every one of her prints in my home. This one hangs in my kitchen in the winter, and I have my eye on this one for Nella’s room. Pick out a print to gift now, and buy it next week when Lore’s shop reopens.

9 – No Cure for Being Human
Tearing through this book—definitely one to gift the women in my life so we can talk about it.

10 – Dip Chiller with Ice Base
I’ve always hated how dip and salsa get warm after they’ve been sitting out on veggie trays and platters when I’m entertaining. This serving set is genius—fill the bottom with ice and rest the dip bowl on top. Cold dip all night!

11 – Le Labo Santal 33 Laundry Detergent
I save this for special laundry loads and hand washing delicates—it’s incredible. Less expensive than the perfume (one of my favorite scents) but just as effective because the scent soaks into the fabric and lasts weeks. Laundry’s never been so delightful.

12 – Beauty Counter Cleansing Balm & Charcoal Mask
My skin care indulgence but so incredibly worth it—I use the cleansing balm every night and the charcoal mask weekly.

13 – Aira Facial Steamer
Level up self care and turn any bathroom into a spa with this 5-star reviewed facial steamer. I put a few drops of essential oil in mine (the essential oil cup is included), turn it on, close my eyes, and I’m instantly transformed—not to mention my skin is prepped to absorb skin care products better.

14 – Lisa Leonard Stackable Rings
A classic sure-to-be-loved gift for any woman. I have a stack with my kids’ names engraved on them.

15 – Peepers Reading Glasses
Best reading glasses ever. Now that I’m over 40, I have them everywhere—a pair in the bathroom, in my car, on my nightstand. So many styles to choose from (Center Stage is my favorite). You can also buy them without magnification—cute enough to wear just for looks.

16 – Liberty Floral Cocktail Napkins
I receive compliments on these every time I slide them under a drink. So pretty—and they wash up beautifully (I don’t put them in the dryer).

17 – Brooks Running Shoes
I’ve had so many different brands of running shoes. These ones are my favorite.

18 – Hand Press Juicer
Living in Florida, we go through a lot of citrus. This makes juicing limes, lemons and grapefruits so much easier! We use ours so much, I keep it out on the counter.

19 – Heart Earrings
These are my go to earrings that go with every outfit—and under $10!

20 – Sacred Lotus Journal
A friend gave this to me as a gift, and it’s the prettiest journal I’ve ever owned.

21 – Sleek Candle Lighter
I use candles so often, I like to leave lighters out; but most lighters are not decor-worthy. This sleek rose gold-colored lighter is the exception, pretty enough to leave on your coffee table or nightstand.

22 – Laurel Mercantile Scotsman Candle
This candle was a gift, and the first time I lit it, I was all “Oh. My. God. What is that scent?” It’s Black Pepper & Mandarin, it’s intoxicating, and I’ve since bought it three more times.

23 – Midwest Sweatshirt
For all the Midwest women in your life—cozy and cute.

24 – Soma Satin Pajamas
These are the nicest pajamas I own—that silky fabric with a little bit of weight so they feel completely luxurious.

25 – Lustered Coupe Glasses
My favorite way to sip a fancy drink—in old fashioned coupe glasses. This set of 4 is a bar cart staple.

26 – Walker Family Goods States Duffel Bag
Best duffel bag ever. We took these to Michigan this summer—they’re as good-looking as they are functional and durable.

27 – Halo Band
Perfect gift for the workout woman—I had a Fitbit, and I like this better. It connects with the Halo app and tracks all my movements and fitness information. Plus, the app has so many good guided workouts and runs.

28 – Makeup Bag
I’ve gone through a lot of makeup bags until I found this one. It holds everything, and is so well organized with multiple pockets and zippers.

29 – Wine Opener Kit
Friends don’t let friends struggle with corkscrew openers.

30 – L.L. Bean Wicked Good Moccasins
Cozy months call for the best slippers ever. I love my L.L. Bean moccs!

31 – L.L. Bean Extra Large Personalized Tote Bag
Another classic foolproof gift. Mine was a gift, and I use it for everything—beach, travel, overnight trips, etc. I bought one for our teachers this year too.

32 – Echo Show 10
We use our Echo Show for everything and I don’t know what we did without it (it also displays all our old photos throughout the day).

33 – Glossier Balm Dot Com and Cloud Paint
Santa puts these in my stocking every year because I use them so much.

34 – Weathered Leather Crossbody
I bought this after I saw my friend’s and fell in love. It’s the perfect everyday bag and less than $45!

35 – Milk Frother
Who needs Starbucks when you can make your own fancy coffee drinks at home? I use my milk frothier every day—it takes my coffee to a whole new level.

36 – Olive & June Complete Manicure System
I switched over to Olive & June polish after several of the girls in my family raved about it. This complete manicure system contains everything a girl needs to transform her nails.

37 – Remote Control Battery Operated Taper Candles
One of my most frequently gushed about products on Instagram. I love the look of taper candles but hate the mess they make with drips (plus they don’t last long). These remote controlled ones look so real (best ones I’ve seen) and turn on and of with a simple click.

38 – Timberland Hiking Boots
My fave hiking boots out there, and you don’t even have to go hiking to wear them—they’re cute enough to wear as your  staple winter boot for all outfits.

39 – Oxford Pennant
No matter who you’re shopping for, there’s an Oxford Pennant to represent everything they love. We’re obsessed with Oxford—we have their pennants and banners all over our house.

40 – Pom Pom Cardigan
The cutest cardigan in all the land—goes with everything and sure to elicit “Where did you get that cardigan?” requests.

41 – Margarita Glasses
My sister introduced me to these—the chicest margarita glasses, slightly restructured from the traditional bowl-and-stem type to make them eye catching.

42 – Library of Flowers Bubble Bath
Luxury bath items are always a great pick for women who are hard to shop for. This bubble bath is exquisite. Did you hear that, Santa?

43 – Personalized Clear Acrylic Dry Erase Calendar
Any mom balancing multiple schedules and responsibilities appreciates a nice calendar, but the large display ones don’t often fit with our aesthetic. This sleek modern one is perfection.

44 – Cabin Porn Inside
Give me all the cozy cabin eye candy for the winter months. Looking through this coffee table book always makes me happy.

45 – C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm
All our family members love this lip balm—it’s in all the Cryderman family stockings.

46 – Vivi & Bette Earrings
Obsessed with everything my friend Brooke makes. Vivi & Bette earrings are the perfect statement piece to level up any outfit.

47 – Free People Sunglasses
I’m not responsible enough to have expensive designer sunglasses, so Free People is my go-to. I love all their styles, and they run around $20 a pair.

48 – Herschel Beanie
I wear mine for all trips to colder weather—comes in multiple colors and does double duty for adding style and keeping me warm.

49 – Auric Blends Love Roller
Another cult favorite in our family—smells divine; sweet and musky. I keep one in my car, Lainey wears this scent now, and it’s getting dropped in both of our stockings because Santa knows what we like.

50 – Olive Lane Ruffle Casserole Dish
Liz Adams debuted her kitchen and home shop earlier this year, and everything is divine. This ruffle casserole dish is my favorite thing in the shop.

51 – Charging Bracelet
This is genius—a simple sleek bracelet that can be used to charge your phone if you’re ever stuck with no battery power.

52 – Plug-in Wax Melter
A simple way to add scent to a room, plus this star-studded one adds a cozy glow. I’ve been using this wax tart in my kitchen with ours this week.

53 – Flour Sack Kitchen Towels
A gift any woman can use. We have these, and I love them—super soft.

54 – The Original Dig & Co Camp Blanket
My friend Nici makes these, and so much time and thought went into the design and materials. It’s the classic timeless blanket you want for picnics, camping or a cozy night at home. Move over Pendleton, the Dig & Co blanket is here.

55 – Justina Blakeney Stripe Kaya Tumblers
I’ve had my eye on these stunning tumblers for our dinner table.

56 – Burt’s Bees Lip & Cheek Stain
My sister’s addicted to this and got me hooked—the perfect stain for a natural flushed look and doubles as lip color.

57 – West Elm Totem Vases
Not your grandmother’s vase, these totem vases are a statement piece for any bookshelf or table.

58 – Cream Whipper
It’s the season of hot cocoa, and we want real whipped cream for our hocho nights. Be your own barista with a cream whipper. All you have to do is add heavy whipping cream and the amount of sweetener you want, pop in a charger and whip away!

59 – Madewell Lugsole Loafer
Classic and chic. I love the lugsole on these!

60 – Threshold Sheets
These feel like luxury linens at an awesome price. We have several sets in our home.

61 – Personalized Stationery

I feel like such a grown-up every time I send a note on my personalized stationery. Lainey asked for some for Christmas this year.

 

62 – Madewell Ribbed Turtleneck
Every winter wardrobe needs a timeless black turtleneck. This one is lightweight, structured and looks amazing with everything.

63 – Best Affordable Backpack
This is my secret best backpack find—that vintage campy look I love, durable and functional. We have three in our home (scroll through the color options to see all the styles—so many!).

64 – Farm (get) Fresh Massage & Body Oil
My friend Nici sells this in her shop. She sent me a package with a bunch of goodies, and I quickly became obsessed with this—smells amazing.

65 – Soma High Leg Vanishing Edge Underwear
Once I discovered these, I threw out all my other underwear. I love them! They don’t budge, and even with leggings, you can’t see panty lines.

66 – Hillhouse Paz Top
The Hillhouse nap dress is a cult favorite that sells out every time a new one releases. Love that they have a shirt version of it—so pretty and can be work casual or dressed up.

The post Best Gifts for Women: My Favorite Things appeared first on Enjoying the Small Things.

It’s Here! The 2021 Stocking Stuffer List for Kids & Teens

Coming in hot, two weeks earlier than I usually release it–the 2021 Stocking Stuffer List is here! I took a cue from all this year’s “Start shopping early advice!” to work on this in October, but it’s always meant to be supportive and fun rather than stressful. I will not let the fear of scarcity drive my holiday shopping because I actually enjoy holiday shopping and have so much fun finding treasures that will delight the people I love. If you’ve been here long, you know stocking stuffers are my favorite things to shop for; so this list is my favorite one to share. I take the challenge of digging through the Internet to find the coolest stocking stuffers very seriously. So grab a cup of coffee and find a nice place to sit. Let’s do this!

1 – Shoelace Charms
How cute are these charms that clip right onto any shoelaces? Perfect creative invitation for any kid who wants to add a little pizzazz to their otherwise ordinary shoes.

2 – Rainbow Magic Gloves
We don’t live where it’s cold anymore, but I certainly haven’t forgotten even after all these years that the #1 winter frustration for homes with kids is, “Why can’t I find any freaking gloves?” Let Santa stock you up with this cute rainbow pack–enough pairs for multiple kids’ stockings, and grip fingers so they don’t have to take their gloves off to touch a screen.

3 – Magnetic Fidget Rings
My kids would vehemently dispute my thought that there’s a limit on how many fidgets one should have. I’ll admit, this one is one of the cooler ones–one I’ll even pick up and play with.

4 – Kids Polarized Aviators
Whether you’re beach bound this holiday or needing to avoid the glare of snow, these cute aviators are classic and cool for any kid–plus, polarized!

5 – Light Saber Chopsticks
My kids’ favorite stocking stuffers are random cool things they didn’t know existed. Enter light saber chopsticks. They’ll never want to use forks again, and we’ll be eating in the dark from now on. Santa’s bringing these babies to our stockings this year.

6 – Wacky Pals Bookmarks
A slew of distressed critters to choose from (the sea turtle cracks me up), these adorable bookmarks bring personality to partially read books–they look like they’ve been slammed in a book and are stuck between the pages.

7 – Mr. Bubble Bath Foam
A fun once-in-a-while bath treat–soap foam that sprays from a can and smells like fun stuff kids like–cotton candy, bubble gum, orange cream, birthday cake, etc.

8 – Bookplate Labels
Kids love personalizing their stuff. These cute bookplate labels are a great way to keep track of their favorite books.

9 – Drumstick Pens
Have a kid who loves to drop a beat? These pens double as drumsticks (I have vivid memories of my brother using pencils as drumsticks).

10 – Crazy Aaron’s Hide Inside Putty
We’ve loved Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty for years–there are so many different varieties. This one’s fun because it has hidden emojis you have to find.

11 – Magic Trick Foam Balls
Magic trick gifts are always a hit with my kids. I had forgotten about this trick from when I was a kid! Dash will love this one.

12 – Twisty Petz
These little bracelets transform into the cutest little pets and have Nella’s name all over them.

13 – Sushi Cat Keychain
My sister sent me this link, knowing my kids will love these. Totally something that will make them laugh and the perfect flair to add to their backpack zippers.

14 – Coggy Brain Teasers
A super fun brain teaser game that requires matching the cogs to card challenges.

15 – Desktop Bowling
No ugly bowling shoes necessary!

16 – Quip Kids Electric Toothbrush
These are the best electric toothbrushes for kids–sleek and comes with a cover for travel.

17 – Racing Babies
Santa’s bringing these guys for my kids. They’ll think they’re so funny. I see a Christmas morning baby race in our near future.

18 – Mini Brands
Mini brands are still going strong with my kids who have a drawer full of their collection. It’s the thrill of a blind box. This 2-pack is great for two kids’ stockings.

19 – Sticker It Up!
I love this one and would still have fun with it at 42. 8 different scenes ( a cool bedroom, outdoor movie scene, a locker, etc.) and 750 reusable stickers to decorate them with.

20 – Earth Night Light
Realistic 3D photo of the earth–beautiful all lit up.

21 – French Vocabulary Flashcards for Kids
Eeboo is one of my favorite stocking stuffer brands, and their flashcards are the best ones for kids.

22 – Googly Eye Glasses –
Makes for some fun pictures Christmas day!

23 – Exact Change Card Game
A great family game and a fun way for kids to learn how to count change (plays kind of like UNO with a fun change twist).

24 – Carhartt Kids Hat
We love the classic Carhartt beanie for all of us. So many colors to choose from!

25 – Silicone Bracelets with Charm Set
All the fun of the Jibbitz charms you buy for Crocs without having to wear crocs! There are enough in these multipacks to split among mutiple kids’ stockings.

26 – Strawberry Kid Scissors
The cutest kid scissors you ever did see.

27 – Stretchy Poop Fidget – Yep, you read that right. Kids love fidgets. Kids love poop jokes. Put them together, and you have the greatest stocking stuffer ever.

Let’s move on to the teens and tweens, shall we?!

TEEN STOCKING STUFFERS

1 – Every Day Amazing Book
This compendium delivers fascinating facts for every single day of the year. You can read it throughout the year or look up birthdays to see what amazing things happened on that day (such as James Joyce released his first novel on my birthday in 1916).

2 – Reese’s Airpod Case
Switching out the airpod case cover is just another fun way to for tweens and teens to identify themselves. This Reese’s one says, “I’m fun!

3 – Log Cabin Incense Burner
If you’re not headed to a cabin in Vail for winter break, bring the cabin to you. The incense smoke floats out the chimney making this a magical addition to any teen’s bedroom.

4 – LED Yo-yos
Yo-yo in the dark with these light-up yo-yos–a 4-pack (love those multiple kid stocking stuffers!).

5 – Portable Collapsible Straw
A clean reusable straw, available whenever you need it. Clips on their backpack.

6 – Internet Passwords Logbook
Wish I would have started one of these long ago. So tired of requesting new passwords because I can’t remember the old ones.

7 – Full Body Sport Wipes
Great for post sports practices–a shower in a full body wipe!

8 – Dog Lovers Playing Cards
These cards include the cutest descriptions and illustrations for various dog breeds, They make a cat lovers set too.

9 – “You Are So Cool…” Mirror Decal
Nella has this decal on her mirror, and every time it shows up in pictures, I get so many DMs asking where we bought it. Perfect for tweens and teens who need a reminder of how awesome they are.

10 – Funny Face Mask
Germ warfare, but make it classy.

11 – Personal Care Set
So they’ll stop borrowing your nail clippers and losing them.

12 – Carhartt Hat
Every teen needs a good hipster beanie. These ones come in so many great colors.

13 – Saint Harry Styles Candle
Is it wrong that I want one of these for myself?

14 – “I Like Who I’m Becoming” Zipper Pouch
For pencils, makeup, tampons, what have you…Blue Q makes the best pouches, and the phrase on this one is so appropriate for teens.

15 – S’mores Chapstick Set
Winter’s coming, and lips are going to need some extra love. Marshmallow flavored, preferably.

16 – Bluetooth Camera Shutter
I keep one of these in my backpack, and it’s come in handy so many times for group photos. Skip the self timer and take as many pictures you need with this tiny remote. Connects instantly to your phone with bluetooth.

17 – Affirmators! Family Deck
We have the regular Affirmators! deck, and they’re so great for a quick morning dose of witty self love. This deck is specialized for family and togetherness.

18 – Japanese Doll Flash Drive
Your kid will have the cutest flash drive in class, eliciting lots of “Oh my God, where did you get that?”

19 – Leather Cord Organizers
A chic way to keep those headphones and chargers in place.

20 – Washable Makeup Remover Cloths
Lainey and I use these every day, and they’re so great–you don’t even need soap. And they wash up so nice!

21 – Golf Pen & Putting Green Pen Set
Not that they’ll get any work done with these or anything, but fun!

22 – “Butthead of the Household” Socks
Instead of coal, try these socks. Mom of the Year Award for giving these.

23 – Ice Roller
I will forever sing the praises of the ice roller. I’ve got Lainey hooked on it now too. We use it every morning to depuff our eyes and wake up our face.

24 – Running Armband Lights for Runners
Shorter days means more outside activities in the dark. Safety Dad highly recommends armband lights for any kid running or biking after dark.

25 – Face Wash Headband Set
These might be my favorite stocking stuffer for teen and tween girls. The girls around here use them every day for washing our faces and face masks.

26 – Peppermint Shower Tablets
Baths shouldn’t get all the fun. These shower tablets bring an aromatherapy experience to an otherwise ordinary shower. Also, FYI, “Go take a shower” is the cure for all teen grouch fests and fits.

27 – Braid Headband
Why master the perfect braid when you can wear a fake version? When my hair was a little longer, I wore mine all the time and received so many compliments on it.

28 – “What I Love About Being Your Mom” Fill-in-the-Blank Book
Once the jig is up on Santa, this one is a sweet one for any teen stocking.

29 – Recipes for College Students
Train ’em young! My sister sent my niece off to college with this one–all the basic recipes young adults should know how to make.

30 – Mini Zoltar
All the fun of Zoltar in miniature form!

31 – Popcorn Spice Mix Set
Dill pickle! Siracha! Caramel! Cracked pepper! Are those teen popcorn flavors, or what?

32 – Winter Touchscreen Gloves
The wool lining makes them extra warm.

33 – Extra Long iPhone Charger
We fight over the extra long charger in our house when phones go dead so you can use your phone while it’s charging.

43 – Clear Start Face Wash
Made with teens in mind, this Dermalogica breakout face wash is 5-star rated.

The post It’s Here! The 2021 Stocking Stuffer List for Kids & Teens appeared first on Enjoying the Small Things.

Weekend Links

I hope by now you’re somewhat settled into new school routines and surviving the reentry into the hustle. We’re still in the shoot-for-the-moon phase over here, so when I’m not in car line, moments are filled with monitoring reading charts, helping with homework, confiscating devices, and nary a minute to finish the fall bucket list (it’s coming, I promise!). But a girl can dream, so here are a few things that have sparked joy or thought in between the madness…

1. My sister’s favorite margarita glass. If you’re like me, you’ve been using a juice glass – because a martini glass is too tippy and the margarita glasses from your wedding registry (think Chi-Chi’s) are too clunky. Behold, the goldilocks of margarita glasses. Because a celebratory drink deserves a celebratory glass.

2. This Netflix documentary about the link between soil health and climate change. My sister just watched it and said it’s so good. I added it to my watch list this week after feeling so disheartened about the recent fires and flooding.

3. Three words: ice cream cake. If this recipe doesn’t stop you in your scroll, I don’t know what will. I was climbing on counters and tearing through cupboards to see if I had ingredients for this. They’ve since been added to my shopping list, so stay tuned.

4. My crossbody bag. How does one hold their purse when they’re confiscating a device with one hand and a fidget with the other, you ask? A crossbody. I noticed my friend Katie’s this summer and was all, “Where did you get that?!” This one is real leather for a great price — I get lots of compliments on it.

5. Glass canisters. I don’t know about you, but when my kids are coming down from their school day and the dog is barking and the FedEx guy at the door needs a signature, I feel a little scratchy when I hear the words, “I’m hungry” or “What’s for dinner?”. Creating a self-serve snack bar with these canisters have helped make throwing lunches together and the witching hours, well, a little less witchy.

6. Elf Cosmetics. One of the (many) great things about having nieces and lots of girl cousins is getting the tea on beauty products. They’ve been singing Elf‘s praises for a while now and I finally joined their choir. For a limited time, score free shipping on your first order and the same for subsequent orders over $15. Last I checked, they were having a summer sale. On their already affordable prices. Still not convinced? Check out their ELF Cares tab and read about how they’re living their purpose. (I love their putty blush and eye primer, and my sister and cousin swear by their flawless finish foundation and hydro concealer.

7.) My mini porch refresh. While not quite complete, this little improvement puts a smile on my face every time I pull in the driveway – and I haven’t even added pumpkins yet! Stay tuned for phase 2. You can find my new planters here.

8.) Finally, we’re barely a month in and I’ve already had such positive exchanges with teachers. The academic rigor of high school is hard and school anxiety at any age is real. But empathy and support from teachers makes all the difference in the world. Lainey has come home with the most amazing stories about her teachers and how they are working so hard to make sure each and every student feels safe, seen and celebrated.

Happy Weekending!

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September is Here! A Fall Favorite Round-up

Happy September! As fall approaches, we’re looking forward to seasonal fun, decorating the house and enjoying our favorite fall traditions. Adding little bits of fall decor and planning gatherings in September always helps get me out of the rut that back-to-school monotony can bring. A round-up of some of our fall favorites today:

1 – Zombie Pops
How cute are these zombie popsicles? We have them, and the silicone molds are super easy to slide off, revealing spooktacular little zombies complete with legs (and rib bones inside!).

2 – Ghost Stories
Prepare for an October full of frights with Roald Dahl’s book of short ghost stories.

3 – Skull Earrings
Want to add some fun Halloween flair without going full Ms. Frizzle? This simple little skull studs are the perfect match.

4 – Hello, Harvest Moon
I love a good fall read-aloud that evokes all the cozy feelings of the kind of midwest Autumn nights I miss. This one’s a treasure for both the prose and the illustrations.

5 –Vintage Crew Socks
 The perfect boot sock with some retro camp vibes.

6 – Sweater Weather Banner
Looking for a subtler way to add fall love to your wall without going full on Hobby Lobby “HARVEST” plaque? This sweet little banner is the answer.

7 – Felt Ghost Garland
One of my favorite ways to decorate for any season or holiday in the kids’ bedrooms is adding garland across their headboard. This wool felt ghost one can be saved and reused for years.

8 – Wall Bats
Our inexpensive go-to for Halloween decor. We add these every year up and around our fireplace, and it instantly transforms it into an October masterpiece.

9 – Frankenstein Pillow
Such a cute and easy way to decorate kids’ room for Halloween.

10 – Personal Pumpkin Bread Pans
Everyone in our family loves pumpkin bread, and I only make it in the fall. These little individual loaf pans are such a cute way to make it special for your kids, or wrap up and deliver to friends.

11 – Poems of Gratitude
I love a good pocket poetry anthology, and a gratitude-themed one feels appropriate for the coming season. This one features poems from Rumi, Rilke and Yeats to Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Anne Sexton and Robert Frost. Leave it on the nightstand for a reminder to end the day with poetry.

12 – Scary Bingo
We started seasonal Bingo a few years ago with a Christmas themed one in December, and it was a huge hit. We make a big deal out of it with dollar store prizes and Friday Bingo pizza nights. This monster version is adorable and perfect for some fall fun. It’s been sitting on my dining room table, and the kids keep asking when we can officially start Monster Bingo nights (I’m waiting a couple more weeks to build the excitement :o)

13 – Fall in Love Grace Effect Candle Collection
It’s candle season, and I’m very passionate about candle scents–so much, I created four perfect fall scents with my friends at The Grace Effect. I smelled and tested oils and whittled them down to four scents I’ll be burning all fall–from a warm “Nancy Meyers Kitchen” scent to a sophisticated vetiver scent Kathleen Kelly might light in the Shop Around the Corner. All the Autumn feels in this Fall in Love collection of four candles.

14 – Witch Hats (to hang from the ceiling!)
Last year, I hung these witch hats from our living room ceiling with fish line, and it was a huge hit–a dramatic Hogwarts transformation that brought so much October delight.

The post September is Here! A Fall Favorite Round-up appeared first on Enjoying the Small Things.

A Michigan Summer

Well, here we are—back to school and entering a new season again. I’m ready to shift gears, but before I share anything more here on the blog, I want to go back and revisit summer one more time. Our Michigan visits were always a big part of what I shared here over the years, so I thought I’d share a bit more from this summer but break it down into specific areas of Northern Michigan. Whether you’ve been able to visit that special place of retreat you love these past two crazy years or you’re counting down the days when you can, I think we’d all agree the value of our favorite corners of the world increased a great deal in our minds and memories since the pandemic. Northern Michigan gave us more these past two summers than it ever has before—or maybe that’s just the perspective of someone who appreciates it more and is more acutely aware of how a place you love can anchor you when everything feels to be changing so quickly.

So where in Michigan are we talking about? As beautiful as the entire state is, the Northern part of Michigan is, in my opinion, where the real magic exists—more lakes, more trees, more quiet roads that wind for miles between forests or along rocky shores. My dad’s place in Lewiston is the foundation of our summer visit and where we camp out most of the time, but we make several trips north to explore some of our other favorite Northern Michigan towns which make for great day trips or a few nights away. If you’re holding your left hand up to represent the “mitten” map as true Michiganders do, Lewiston would fall at about the top knuckle of your middle finger. It’s a very small town, established long ago by loggers and now inhabited by about 900 residents year round but nearly 5,000 on summer weekends if you count cottage owners and guests. There’s a simple Main Street that consists of an old True Value hardware, a tiny library, a coffee shop, a mercantile, a bar known for its award winning Talley burgers and a few businesses in between that change in ownership every couple of years. And then there’re the lakes—East and West Twin near town and 40 other smaller ones a short drive from town. These lakes and their allure are the backdrop of our summer. We live near the gulf in Florida, but there’s something about a Northern Michigan lake in the summer—the way everyone knows its peak magic lasts for a short window every year, so it’s more special. The outlining trees, the sunsets, the pontoon cruises, the night swims, the loon calls in the morning, the cold clear water that takes your breath away for one tiny second when you dip past your shoulders and then wakes you up in a way that makes you feel like you’re living in a book you once read about the magic of summer—it’s hard to describe.

I take a lot of pictures of it to fill the gaps where I don’t have the words to describe it.

My dad and Gary expanded their treasure of Northern Michigan real estate to include another cottage this year—one street over from Bliss, their beautiful little garden compound. They’ll host family and friends there, and we’re so grateful we got to be the first to enjoy it—-much more room and convenience than the charming bunkhouse we used to make our summer digs. We loved it, but it’s weathered over the years and needs quite a bit of repair. The new cottage has the cutest little bunk room for the kids.

We still walked over to Bliss every day and enjoyed what my dad and Gary have worked so hard to create—-a summer wonderland.

As for venturing out to other corners of Northern Michigan, we know what we love and continue to return to our favorite destinations but always try and explore one new place every summer. This year, that was the Upper Peninsula.

Upper Peninsula
I’ll be honest, we didn’t love the UP as much as we love some of our other favorite cities along Lake Michigan; but we also know that some of the best places to visit in the UP have a lot of miles between them, and we didn’t want to spend that much time driving being that we drove 24 hours to get to Michigan. The UP is also very different from the well-known tourist destinations along Lake Michigan. There aren’t as many charming restaurants, cute libraries, hotels, etc. We had rented a pontoon to see the Pictured Rocks from Lake Superior at sunset, but the waves were too big that day and all pontoon rentals were canceled. That said, what we saw of Pictured Rocks was still beautiful.

In Munising, we hiked Miner Falls, Miners Castle Trail and Munising Falls.

But I think what we’ll remember most of our UP visit is the little place where we stayed and how there was nothing but a party store close by; so we ate frozen pizza, bagged coleslaw and pop tarts for dinner while we watched old DVDs while it stormed outside. “We’re going to remember this forever,” we kept telling each other.

 

Mackinac Island
It’s no secret Mackinac Island is our favorite place in Northern Michigan. We’ve been visiting for years, and we talk about the secret corners of the island like we’re the only ones that know about them. Mackinac Island is a tiny island in between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas and known for the fact that there are no cars on the island. You arrive by ferry, and once you’re there, you have three modes of transportation—foot, bike or horse—although the island is only 8 miles wide, so you’re not traveling far. No matter where you are on the island, you can hear the clip-clop of horse hooves and likely have a view of Lake Huron.

We’ve stayed at several different hotels—the Island House, Harbour View and Mission Point. The most famous hotel on the island is the Grand Hotel, but it’s not cheap to stay there.

We love visiting the Grand—having a Big Porch Ale on the front porch, sitting in the bar on the top floor, looking for the secret garden in the woods—but we’ve been loving Mission Point Resort to stay. I love that it’s on the quiet end of the island and so close to Arch Rock so I can hike up there alone when I wake up before my family. The front lawn at Mission Point is also quite glorious, and we have the best spot for sea glass hunting right in front of it.

Our Mackinac Island Favorites:

– The Woods Restaurant
It’s like a secret Hansel & Gretel cottage in the woods. Make a reservation early! And it’s a 30 minute carriage ride to get there, so plan accordingly lest you be running down Main Street with kids crying to keep up, trying to catch the last carriage cab before you miss it—not that I know anyone that’s happened to or anything. Have a drink in the little hunting lodge bar and bowl a game in the little alley.

– Stores: Poppins, Caddywampus, Little Luxuries, Doud’s Market (we pick up snacks late at night and take them to Mission Point lawn or the park by the harbor)

– Watercolor Cafe (little art cafe hidden behind a Bed and Breakfast right in front of the harbor)

– Mackinac Island Library

Ride a carriage. Rent a bike. Hike to Arch Rock. Have a beer at the Pink Pony. Sit on the front porch of the Grand Hotel. Play mini golf at Mission Point. Play at the island school playground. Walk all the way from Mission Point to Grand hotel, along the water, and choose which house you wish was yours. This is what we do all day every day when we’re there. We walk and talk and drink it all in.

Harbor Springs

Last year was the first time we explored Harbor Springs, and I fell in love. I had been to Petoskey before but had never spent much time in Harbor Springs. “This is where we’re coming back,” I told Brett last year as were sitting next to the marina one night, watching the kids hunt for Petoskey stones. And then during a post Christmas slump earlier this year, I did some online research, found a little cabin right along the Tunnel of Trees and booked it to have something to look forward to. My, my, did that ever turn out to be the best decision ever.

The cabin we rented was straight out of a storybook, complete with a sun porch where I sat early in the morning with my coffee memorizing every inch of the landscape to store in my happiness archives.

Harbor Springs Favorites:

– Drive the tunnel of trees through the little town of Good Hart (stop at the general store!) to Legs Inn at Cross Village. Order the pierogies.
– The Pier restaurant
– Tom’s Moms Cookies
– Rocking Horse Toy Company
– The library downtown
– Zorn Park Beach
– Bar Harbor

– Pond Hill Farm. So many of you messaged me about Pond Hill Farm, and—Oh my Goodness! It did not disappoint. We spent hours there—loved it so much we’re going back this October. The kids ran around and played with the animals, explored the barns, hunted for gnome houses on the trails and climbed on the playground. We all ate lunch up on the deck (had the best rhubarb hard cider, and I’ve been dreaming about it since). We could have stayed all day.

Glen Arbor/Sleeping Bear Dunes

Finally, our cherry on top—Sleeping Bear Dunes. We saved it for the very last week we were in Michigan. It was bittersweet visiting because we knew we were headed home; but it was also our last big hug from this state we love, and it was a good one. So many people message me questions about Michigan—mostly “If we are coming to visit, what’s the one place we should see?” Mackinac Island is great, but it’s a haul getting there and worth staying at least two nights. Glen Arbor and Sleeping Bear Dunes is perfect for that one big “Wow!” and will make you fall hopelessly in love with Northern Michigan. We usually arrive right before lunch and head to town first. If you’re visiting for the first time, you won’t be able to contain your delight.

Glen Arbor Favorites:

– Cherry Republic. Eat lunch there (everything is good!). Pick up true cherry preserves and chocolate covered cherries to bring home. Sit in the tasting room and try some wine while you look out the window and watch the kids compete at cherry pit spitting. Buy the kids some cold Boom Chugga Lugga and *Cheers!* to Michigan.

– The Cottage Book Store. Without even thinking, you’ll hold your phone up to take a picture because it’s straight out of a story book. Check out all the books about local landmarks in the front room. Buy an art print. Wander into the precious little children’s room and pick up something for a child you love. Don’t forget the side wall by the cash register where all the beautiful books about cabins and cottages will lure you into buying one because you’re feeling it in this little book cottage. 

– The Pine Cone, the old school ice cream shop. Order a soft serve cone. Bring cash because they don’t take credit cards. The best ones never do.

– Bay Lavender Trading Company. It’s right by the water. Smell all the soaps. Test the sand blaster lotion and wash it off in the little sink right there in the shop. Buy soap souvenirs for friends at home.

– The beach by the resort. Keep walking past Bay Lavender Trading Company, down by the resort, right onto the beach. Behold, the land of the Best Skipping Stones ever. Flat and smooth. Take a handful home because they’re perfect canvases for painting.

– M22 Store (Buy a sweatshirt!)

Then stop by the IGA and pick up some snacks and drinks for the dunes. You’ll want to get there before sunset. There are plenty of dune stops and places to climb, but we are creatures of habit, lovers of tradition. We drive the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (choose your playlist accordingly—you’re going to the feel the music on this drive!) up to Overlook 9 & 10. We take a blanket. When we arrive, the kids disperse. They know this place well and run off to find their secret hideaways. Nella’s been running up to the same little bluff for years. She stands up there alone and waves her wand. The scene is literally breathtaking, and I always tear up just a bit from the sheer beauty of it and how happy it makes me.

…there you have it—an entire summer in Michigan packed into one post.

And now that that creative exhale’s out of the way, onward we go.

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Travel Journaling for Kids

One of my favorite things about our road trip and summer adventures is our travel journals. We’ve done different kinds of journals over the years, but I’m excited for this year’s because I put a lot of thought into what I know my kids will love and set them up with creative tools to make the experience of journaling more inviting. This past year, Lainey really got into journaling as a creative tool—not so much deep dive writing into all her feelings (although I hope that comes) but more a creative collection of thoughts and ideas she noticed in the world: cutting out fun things she liked and gluing them in her scrapbook, making lists, collecting quotes, compiling affirmations, etc. The open-ended scrapbook approach kept her busy for hours. This year’s travel journals are similar in that they’re very open-ended—blank books and all the fun things a kid would want to write, draw, cut and paste things they see, taste, hear, experience and collect as they adventure. Everything fits into a pouch (I used paint pens to write their names) to keep them organized and make them easy to transport. I found these wet dry pouches in the Dollar Spot at Target, but these are similar and the same size.

I bought these Soft Cover Spiral Notebooks. They come in a 3-pack, so it worked great for my kids (I ended up buying an additional one for me). They’re the perfect size—a little smaller than a regular school notebook, and they’re unlined so great for scrapbooking and art. To build some excitement for the trip, I’ll have the kids decorate the covers of their journals the night before we leave.

Inside Our Pouches: colored pencils, good journal pens, kid scissors (for cutting things to scrapbook), fun travel themed stickers, double sided tape, glue stick

I found stacks of Michigan travel brochures on eBay for a few dollars as well as some Michigan tourism magazines that include places we’re visiting. They have a lot of great things the kids can cut and scrapbook. I distinctively remember a road trip we took out west when I was maybe 12 years old. My friend Tisha and I collected free travel brochures everywhere we went and cut them up to document our trip. We even made dioramas with them when we returned home.

Another fun addition to travel journals is photos.  We’ve bought a couple of kid-friendly cameras over the years, and my current favorite is the Canon Ivy. I find the picture quality is better than the Instax, and I really like the Zip instant photos with the peel-off paper if you want to turn them into stickers. The cameras are great for kids to take their own pictures. Even better, you can use your phone or iPad to take photos and print them straight from the phone with a Portable Bluetooth Printer. I have the Polaroid one (I don’t think they make it anymore, and the ones left on Amazon are more than double what I paid for), so I linked the comparable Kodak one. These are great because you can use editing apps to adjust brightness, contrast, etc. before you print photos so you’re really getting a good quality photo.

As for what to put in the journals, I try and encourage the kids to be as creative as they want—no rules! They can draw, make lists, write, cut things up, etc. In case they get stuck though, I taped this list of fun journal prompts in the front of their journals:

TRAVEL JOURNAL PROMPTS
1. Describe/Journal the things you brought on this trip
2. What you ate today (write a menu description for it)
3. Rose & Thorn (best part of the day and worst part of the day)
4. Something new you learned
5. A funny thing that happened today
6. A funny quote someone said
7. Somebody you met or saw today
8. How you made someone feel good about themselves today
9. What happened today from the perspective of your stuffed animal
10. An interview with someone you’re with
11. Write a pretend postcard to a friend in your journal
12. Write a review of restaurant/hotel/Airbnb
13. Look up three Sherwin Williams paint color names. Write about today—you must include those three descriptions.
14. You are creating a travel advertisement for a place you visited. Write the advertisement in your journal. Sell it!
15. Make a Pirate’s Treasure Map of where you are. Label all the good places!
16. Journal “How To” Instructions for someone, detailing something on your trip (example: How to annoy your sibling in the car, How to enjoy Sleeping Bear Dunes, How to catch a fish, How to make the perfect s’more, etc.)
17. Make a list of animals you’ve seen on your travels
18. Draw favorite outfits you’ve worn on the trip
19. Make a list of travel tips based on your trip
20. Write a review of your Uber driver (Daddy)
21. If there was a bestselling book based on this trip, design the cover of the book
22. Research a place you visited and journal 5 facts you learned
23. Design a T-shirt for a place you visited or the state you’re in
24. Journal a list of the 5 best souvenirs to bring home
25. Journal a guide for the “Best Day Ever” on this trip
26. Journal a list of Best Smells/Worst Smells on this trip
27. Make a soundtrack for your day. What songs would you include?
28. Today, find something for each of these and document (either words, drawings or photos) what you find: SOMETHING BLUE, SOMETHING GROSS, SOMETHING COLD, SOMETHING DELICIOUS, SOMETHING SHARP, SOMETHING PURPLE, SOMETHING SAD, SOMETHING THAT SMELLS GOOD

Even though we’re using blank books for open ended travel journals this year, I can’t write a post about travel journaling without including a couple of my favorites for more structured journals.

Go! Travel Journal
This is such a great journal for little kids who need a bit more prompting. It’s so well designed and includes so many creative prompts for documenting every fun aspect of visiting new places from what to pack to good things you eat.

I Was Here Travel Journal from Chronicle Books
This one is great for older kids, teens and adults. Includes great prompts for recording the details and discoveries of your trip, a pocket to store ephemera, graphic pages for notes, etc.

Now, we just need to hit the road so we can start documenting our travels. We’re so excited!

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Road Trip Hacks for Family

We are counting down the days for our favorite event of the entire year—our road trip to Michigan. I wouldn’t completely agree with the over-Pinterest’d quote “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” because we’re talking about Northern Michigan here, and—Newsflash—it’s about the destination.  I will however agree that the journey getting there holds its own magic. I love road trips, and because this one is especially long and a repeated tradition for our family, it’s even more special. Besides the anticipation of the destination, there’s so much more crammed into the (cramped) quarters of our car for the 1,522 miles it takes to get there—the snacks, the games, the Audible books, the rest area breaks to stretch our legs, the cheering and honking every time we pass a state line, and all the stops along the way.

We’ve taken this trip year after year since Dash was a baby. Consequently, I’ve learned a lot of things about what makes road trips memorable, fun and as easy as they can be considering five people and a dog are stuck in a car together traveling the entire stretch of I-75. This is what my kids are going to remember someday though. As beautiful as the ordinary details of our day-to-day life are, the memories of them will grow fuzzy with time. These road trips though? They won’t forget them.

So we’re talking all the road trip things today. I’m sharing things we pack to entertain the kids, fun traditions we’ve started and a few hacks to keep things organized.

First up:

The “When Are We Going to Be There?” Display
Several Instagram followers messaged me the cutest TikTok video of this hack (I can’t find the original because I don’t know how to search TikTok). To give your kids a good idea of where you are on the trip, how far you have to go and where your stops are, stretch a piece of masking or painter’s tape (I used white painter’s tape) along the width of the car ceiling above the dash, and write out locations you’ll pass through from home to your destination. I underlined and added red stars to cities where we are staying overnight. Print off and laminate a photo of a car (I pulled a photo of ours from the Internet and photoshopped our bodies in it) and add Velcro or duct tape rolls to the back (Velcro won’t stick on all car ceilings). As you are traveling, move the car along the length of the tape so the kids understand a good visual of your location in reference to where you’ve been and where you’re going.

The License Plate Game
We’ve played versions of this game with state stickers, journals and a wooden puzzle (too bulky to bring in a packed car), but I wanted to make something easy this year and kick up the fun factor with some prizes. The goal is to find as many state license plates on the road as possible. I made a printable with all the states listed (minus Hawaii and Alaska because the chances are so low of seeing those on the road) and created a little incentive guide for tallying them up. I left the incentive number blank depending on the age of kids and length of road trip, but the prizes are fun for all. There’s pre-packed car goody bags when my kids find license plates for 15 states, a drive-thru stop for ice cream or milk shakes for 25 states, a $3 iTunes or in-app purchase for 35 states, a gas station stop for treats for 35 states and a “mystery prize” (yet to be determined) for all 48 states. Want to print one? Download yours here.

Goody Bags
Speaking of goody bags, I used to make up goody bags to pass out when my kids were toddlers; and guess what? They still love them. It’s all about the mystery of what’s inside. This year, I made them for the “15 states found” goal on our license plate game. What to put inside? I did a little shopping at Five Below and dropped in several candy treats (they have the best bulk candy—treats you don’t normally find other places), a fidget (they’re all the rage now), some cool neon gel pens and a pad of black paper for Lainey and some travel stickers for their travel journals (Travel Journal post coming later this week). Other fun things to put in goody bags: jewelry making supplies (friendship bracelets are fun to make on road trips), hair accessories, fuzzy socks, a card game, etc.

Road Trip Entertainment
As far as road trip entertainment, I have no problem with my kids being on devices in the back seat. Thank the Lord in heaven for iPads and phones and the way they’ve made traveling with kids easier. But even the kids get weary of screens after a while, and there are so many fun road trip games and activities we all love that make our trips memorable. Some of our favorites:

Rubberneckers – A Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Game where opponents acquire different point values by achieving the things on their cards—fun things like spotting a dog in the backseat of someone’s car, spotting someone singing while they’re driving, convincing a truck driver to honk back at you, etc. This similar version is also great.

Road Trip Mad Libs – Nothing brings me more joy than hearing my children laughing uncontrollably trying to get through a Mad Libs story where they have offered nothing but inappropriate words for answers.

50 Cool Things to Do in the Car – This little tin is full of so many great ideas for families to do in the car—creative games, questions to ask, conversation starters, etc.

Grab & Go Battleship – I loved this game as a kid, and this version is the perfect size to take along in the car.

Difficult Riddles for Smart Kids – My kids LOVE these questions and get very competitive trying to be the first one to answer it. Such a great activity to kill time in the car.

The Best Brain Rebus Puzzles – I fell in love with plexers when I was in fourth grade. I couldn’t get enough of them. Kids will get hooked on trying to figure these out (and they’re good brain builders!).

Family Talk – Trapped in the car for hours with each other? Might as well have some meaningful conversations together. This little keychain holds so many great conversation starters for families. I love these questions so much…questions like: Whose house is the most fun to visit? How are you different from everyone else, and what does ‘celebrate your differences’ mean? What are some creative ways to TELL each other you love them, and what are ways to SHOW it? Is it ever okay to lie? 

Usborne Never Get Bored Cards – A great collection of wipe-clean cards full of puzzles, games and treasure hunts for both one-player activities as well as multiple player.

Other Things We Bring on Road Trips:

Bissell USB Charged Car Vacuum – This is the game changer right here. I’ve done enough road trips to Michigan where my car is absolutely trashed by the time we arrive. I bought this car vacuum a couple weeks ago, and I’ve already sold three friends on it. I’m obsessed. It’s compact, portable, charges with a USB cord right in your car and has two attachments. And it works! I used the brush attachment on the kids’ bodies the other night at the beach to get the sand off them before they climbed in the car. The best part is the kids love to use it themselves, so they’re cleaning up the back seat on their own.

Kids Travel Tray – This is a great lap set-up for kids for long trips. We have one that Nella uses. It holds everything—lots of pockets for crayons and notebooks, a whiteboard built into it, hard surface for drawing, a foldable iPad holder that props up, etc. And it all folds flat into a compact pouch.

Or you can go the simple clip board route. They slide under the seat and are available for the kids when they want to write or draw.

Plastic bins – An online friend suggested these bins for road trip eating. They’re great because they all stack together, and you can keep them in the back of the car but pull them out for lap trays when you need to eat meals in the car. They keep everything contained for spills and crumbs and give the kids a flat surface to hold a drink and have something to eat on. I bought them for our road trip but used them as snack trays for our movie night this past weekend, and I wish I would have thought of them before—they’re perfect.

Headphones – Headphones are a must if the kids are on different devices. Lainey has ear buds, but we love these for Nella and Dash. When Nella was smaller, we loved these headband headphones (the bulky headphones sometimes slipped off her head).

Pouch or Ziplock for Device Charging Cords and Cord Labels – I got smart and started labeling our cords for trips. With all the devices we bring (iPads, phones, portable projector, back up batteries, etc.), it’s easy to mix up cords or forget them—and then everyone starts blaming each other for taking their chargers. I keep a zip pouch for all our cords, so when we’re staying at motels or Airbnb’s, I can keep them all organized and in one place. I label all our cords with color-coded labels so we can quickly identify and locate the one we need.

Other basics we always have in the car for long trips:
Wipes
First Aid Kit
Plastic Grocery Bags for garbage and miscellaneous needs
Dog Waste Bags, collapsible bowl for Friday’s food & water
Ball (for tossing or kicking at rest area stops)
Snacks – We love pretzels, Goldfish, Cuties oranges, fruit leathers from Trader Joe’s., trail mix, granola bars. Also, road trips are a fun place to get wild and be Fun Mom who pulls out Fruit by the Foot and Combos.

I almost forgot one of the most important road trip tips: DOCUMENT THE CAR! We often think to take photos and video of the destinations, but there’s so much love inside the car on these trips. Grab 5-10 second snippets of video of what’s happening inside your car—the kids playing games in the back seat, your partner driving, the baby’s head all slumped over in the car seat while she sleeps, the cars passing by as you drive, the mountains in the distance, the rain falling on the windshield. Piece it all together in iMovie later with a great song, and you have yourself an epic family video for the archives. Need a great song for your family movie? Check out my list of favorite songs for family movie montage videos.

Whew! That was a long one. Later this week, I’ll be sharing posts for travel journals and a list of our favorite summer books. Summer and Christmas are always my favorite times to share content—so many things we are loving that I love to pass on.

Also, if you didn’t see the printable Summer Bucket List this year, you can print yours here.

Are you adventuring this summer? Hitting the road? We love to hear where you are going and any great road trip tips you have along the way!

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The 2021 Summer Bucket List

I don’t think there’s ever been a year where I’ve looked forward to summer more. If you’ve followed here long, you know that bucket lists are a big part of how we embrace new seasons. The promise of a fun summer easily dazzles us and summons visions of picnics and pool days, but often—as all seasons go—we get busy and forget to take time for the simple joys that summer’s all about.

When we started making bucket lists, not only was our intent to brainstorm ideas of things to do, but to hold ourselves accountable. We hang our bucket list in a main area of our home for a visual reminder to do those things we said we’d do. Make the s’mores. Run through a sprinkler. Get out in that hammock to read a book. Most of the things on our lists are simple joys that don’t take a lot of money or planning to accomplish—just a little thought and effort. That’s what summer magic’s really made of.

Last year, at the end summer when we were all recalling our favorite moments and memories, it wasn’t the big ticket items my kids wanted to remember. It was the night our family all walked out to the dock near midnight and sat huddled in blankets, watching the meteor shower. (Also, a little fun pre-pandemic throwback to when I shared Summer Bucket List joy on the Today Show.) 

Let’s move to this year’s Summer Bucket List, shall we? It includes some repeated favorites as well as some fun new ones. As always, we love sharing it with you. You can download and print yours here. Or if you’d like to go bigger and better, you can do what we do and print yours as a 16 x 20 (we send ours to Walgreens) and hang it in your home for everyone to check off together. We even roll ours up and take it with us on our summer travels.

We have two weeks left of school but are so excited for the long weekend this week to officially kick off our summer fun.  I’ll be sharing lots of road trip ideas, summer journals, and travel fun in the upcoming weeks.

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