This post on Simplifying Christmas with the 4 Gift Rule is sponsored by Babbleboxx.
Christmas can be super stressful for families when it comes to buying gifts. Figuring out who should be on the list so you stay within a reasonable budget, deciding how many gifts to give your kids (and making sure it’s the same amount so no one gets upset), and where to buy everything so you can get a great deal can add to holiday stress. Several years ago, I implemented the 4 gift rule and it’s been amazing ever since. We do it for everyone in our immediate household and it’s so helpful when purchasing gifts.
What's the 4 Gift Rule?
The 4 gift rule is incredibly simple: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read! Of course, Santa still gives a big gift in our home alongside those, but other than that, that’s the extent of the gifts! It makes things way less stressful and I find that it’s easier to shop for everyone knowing I have something to go off of.
Something you want: In our home, “something you want” is whatever gift the person asks for. It can be a game, toy…anything. I don’t just do this for my kids, this applies to my husband and me, too! As of right now, we don’t give a price limit on this gift, but I’m sure as the kids are older we will be! I usually knock something off Santa wish lists for this one and of course, Santa gives another gift from the list.Something you need: In our home, “something you need” is definitely on a spectrum. For Addie that usually means toys that can assist her with OT, PT, ST, or visual goals. We found some fun toys from Green Toys, Inc. that not only are easy for Addie to play with, but are eco-friendly. They have a Best for Baby Bundle that includes of their 4 best-selling products: a Tugboat for scoop-and-pour bath fun, a Race Car sized just right for Addie’s little hands, a Twist Teether that’s lightweight and easy-to-grasp, and Brave Little Tugboat, a fully illustrated board book following Little Tug’s adventures in the big harbor. They all provide different ways for Addie to learn (and made from 100% recycled plastic), and that’s always good! Use code BABBLE for 20% off all orders from 11/26/21 through 12/17/21.
Something to wear: Many years, “something to wear” has been a new set of pajamas, a cute shirt, or whatever else is needed. This year, Lawson needed some nice, black shoes to wear for school because most of his shoes are blue. I got Lawson the Surprize by Stride Rite Razor Sneakers. With a fun side-eye design and spiky spines in the back, they’re just his style. They are matched with cushy memory foam insoles and an anti-odor lining to keep shoes less stinky. The best part? They’re completely machine washable and they have velcro so he can put them on himself! They’re available exclusively from Target.com.Something to read: For this category, I love finding a holiday-themed book for the kids to enjoy. Each of them gets a different one and it goes into a special box after the holidays so we can enjoy it for many more years. Addie loves big books with lots of colors, so A Child’s Introduction to the Nutcracker from Running Press was a great choice for her holiday book this year. This book not only has colorful illustrations, but fun facts, history, music, and even some dance choreography! A Child’s Introduction to the Nutcracker also includes a removable coloring poster so Addie and Lawson can have quality time together being creative!
I love how the 4 gift rule has made Christmas shopping so much easier on me. It definitely helps to have a guideline, and we don’t go crazy with our budget. It’s been amazing! Have you ever tried the 4 gift rule? Which of the categories is your favorite?
Looking for more gift ideas? Don’t miss the gift archive!
This post on Stocking Stuffers for Dogs is sponsored by Babbleboxx on behalf of Doggie Dailies.
Looking for stocking stuffers for dogs that they’ll actually love? We don’t usually give our dogs big gifts for Christmas, but we love giving them a stocking with goodies to share so they can get in on celebrating with us. It’s a nice way of acknowledging our love for them, and that we care. We recently got 3 goodies in the mail from Doggie Dailies and can’t wait to gift them to the dogs for Christmas! They’re going to be so excited!
Doggie Dailies provides doggie parents with uncompromising, high-quality products they can trust to help their dog stay healthy and improve their quality of life. They want owners to enjoy many happy years with their beloved furry companions. Their product line includes soft chew supplements in the form of a treat, functional bone broths, wild Alaskan salmon oil, and essential grooming products. Each product is designed to optimize effectiveness, taste, and ease of use. We’ve loved all three of our dogs since the moment they came into our lives, and it’s really important for us to give them the best products for their health.
Advanced Calming– Ever since Ahsoka was a puppy, she’s had motion sickness during car rides and even gets nervous if she is outside in the backyard without the other dogs. Doggie Dailies Advanced Calming Chews are a daily supplement that help maintain contentment during separation, travel, motion sickness and tension caused by changes in a dog’s daily routine. Their advanced formula contains 7 active ingredients to help keep dogs calm and relaxed. The calming chews come in two tasty flavors, Peanut Butter and Turkey, both flavors that Ahsoka loves! We tried CBD drops and they were kind of hard to get her to take, so I really like that these Calming Chews can be given as a treat or crumbled over dry or wet food.Skin & Coat Supplement + Antioxidants– Winky has the softest fur in the house. She’s so cozy and cuddly and I want her to stay that way! Doggie Dailies Skin & Coat Soft Chews provide three sources of collagen plus omega fatty acids and fish oil to help promote a glossy coat and help support healthy skin. Their chews come in two tasty flavors: salmon and duck, which will make Winky one happy girl. This supplement can also be given as a treat or crumbled over dry or wet food. I’m sure Winky will take it any way she can!Digestive Support Broth Boost– Pearl is our oldest dog and has lost many of her teeth due to her age. She also has a heart condition that she’s been taking medicine for the past couple months. Usually we add water to her food, but I want to give her an extra special gift this Christmas. Doggie Dailies Digestive Support Bone Broth Boost is an easy and delicious way to support your dog’s digestive health. Their digestive bone broth nourishes natural gut bacteria which helps support proper digestion and bowel health. The recipe contains prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics and is formulated for dogs of all breeds and sizes. It actually comes with an easy-to-use pump so I can add it to Pearl’s food without messy measuring.
I’m so excited to gift these stocking stuffers for dogs from Doggie Dailies to Ahsoka, Winky, and Pearl. Our dogs are such an integral part of our family and we want them to have happy and healthy lives as long as they can. These stocking stuffers are going to be tasty and will make the dogs filled with joy this Christmas. We hope your dogs enjoy them as much as our dogs will!
Use code 20SANTAPAWS at Doggie Dailies for 20% off all products now through 12/20/21 11:59 PM PST
Looking for more gift ideas? Don’t miss the gift archives! Want more dog goodness? Don’t skip the dog archives!
This post on Elf on the Shelf Arrival Night Fun is sponsored by Walmart+. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Mathew and I were newlyweds, Elf on the Shelf debuted and I had so much fun doing silly things with our elf around the house. Once the kids came into our lives, I will say, I’ve been a slacker. Our elf stayed stationary and it was fine because the kids didn’t know any better. As we get closer to the ages where the kids will know about other house elves thanks to their friends, I thought I’d come up with an Elf on the Shelf arrival night to bring in our elf in a fun and festive way. Like every other mom I know, I’m busy. Especially right now. It’s Q4 and my business is busy, my kids have all kinds of stuff, we have holiday traveling to think about, and more. I wanted to do something fun for our Elf on the Shelf arrival, but I didn’t have too much time to get stuff together. Thankfully, we have Walmart+.
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Sweater | Elf on the Shelf | Elf Pet Reindeer | Snow Play Set | Insta-Moment Pop-Ups | Elf Inflatable | Santa Inflatable | Gingerbread House | Confetti Poppers | Holiday Plates | Holiday Napkins | Hot Chocolate
We’ve had a Walmart+ membership for about a year and a half now. I absolutely love it. Right now it’s especially helpful so I can help make the most out of everyday moments, or go all out with anything else I need. I really wanted to do something extra special for the kids this year with the Elf on the Shelf. The fact that I could use my Walmart+ membership, take a few moments to find what I needed on the website, and have it delivered at my door for free ($35 order min. Restrictions apply.) was SO helpful. It’s literally my go-to membership to save time and money AND make our lives easier.
Our elf, Timmy, and his reindeer brought so many fun things for the kids to enjoy for Elf on the Shelf arrival night thanks to Walmart+: fun yard inflatables (can you guess the theme for them?), a gingerbread house kit, Mexican hot chocolate, fun plates and napkins, Santa cups, confetti poppers, fun Elves of Play sets, and of course, candy canes!
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I can’t wait for the kids to wake up in the morning and see all the fun that Timmy the elf has left them. I think we’ll kick off the morning with Elf the movie, some pancakes with Buddy the Elf (and Timmy’s) favorite- syrup, and setting up our new inflatables! I couldn’t have done it without my Walmart+ membership, and it’s just another reason why I’m still so glad we have it!
Want to see all the other ways we’ve used our Walmart+ membership? Don’t miss the archives!
Every year during the holidays, I love sharing things I’ve enjoyed using throughout the past year. They’re things I use all the time, and make great gifts. If you’re looking for Christmas ideas for your mom, bestie, or yourself (especially if your spouse is like my husband and asks for a list) then this is the place to look! Enjoy my Favorite Things Christmas Gifts list- I hope it helps you cross some people off your list!
Beachwaver– After seeing the Beachwaver on many of my favorite Tiktok creators’ pages, I couldn’t resist getting one myself. It heats up in seconds and curls hair at the push of the button. Its like a curling wand and a curling iron had a baby. Honestly, it’s the best way I’ve found to curl hair, and quickly. What used to take me half an hour now takes 10 minutes. Use code SWOLFEWAVE for an additional 10% off!
Echo Show– Last year for Christmas, Mathew got an Echo Show. He had it by his nightstand and really didn’t use it other than an alarm clock. I suggested we move it to the kitchen and it was the best decision ever. I love using it to play music while cooking, we check it to see what the weather is like, play videos, and so much more.
Nyx Shine Loud Liquid Lipstick– This past year, I’ve really gotten into liquid lipsticks that LAST. I wear my mask often to help minimize illness around Addie, but I like having a lipstick that stays on with my mask and looks good when I take it off. I am obsessed with the shade Magic Maker and have asked Mathew to grab me more colors for my stocking. They’re a great price, last all day, and don’t dry your lips. I’m a huge fan.
Margritco Earrings– One of my absolute favorite brands actually comes from a local-to-me creator that’s now a close friend. My friend Maggie makes the most gorgeous earrings and I have several in different colors. Margritco earrings are made of recycled glass and wire, and are just stunning. I literally am obsessed and already know another pair is coming to me for Christmas. I need them all! This pair in the photo are the No More Teardrops style but there are so many other sizes and shapes available.
Comfy Pajamas– I’m a sucker for a good set of pajamas. I love pajamas that keep me warm but also don’t burn me up at night. I also love a stretchy set more than a silky set. These pajamas fit all my criteria. I have these pajamas in shorts, pants, and even in a nightgown. They were amazing as I nursed Lawson, and I have loved them since.
Swing Dresses– If you have seen me at an event this year, you probably have seen me in a swing dress from Amazon. They come in so many colors and patterns and are a great price. I love how flattering they are on my body and how comfortable they feel. This pattern in the photo is my absolute favorite but I also have the dress in a couple solid colors and polka dots.
Denim Jacket– I got this denim jacket earlier in the year and wear it often. It’s super trendy and classic all at the same time. I loved it so much that I bought one for my sister and added some pearls and her last name as a gift for my sister’s bridal shower. It was a hit! Know that this denim jacket is made “oversized” so size down if you are looking for a more traditional fit!
Oversized Sunglasses– Never underestimate the power of a good set of sunglasses. I have had these sunglasses for several years and they have stood the test of time. I’m pretty rough on sunglasses (it’s why I don’t buy expensive ones) and have a toddler, so I am really pleased that these have lasted me so long. They’re 30% off and make an awesome gift.
Cooking Set– I love cooking. It brings me so much joy to cook for my family, and I have searched for a long time for a set that doesn’t lose its nonstick surface after a few months. I’ve had this set since the spring and it still is perfectly nonstick as if they were brand new. I love the ceramic coating on them and how well they tolerate high heat cooking. If you love to cook or know someone who loves to as well, this cooking set is on sale from $179.99 to $76.49 when you use code ENJOY15 through Black Friday.
Hammock– One thing I’ve really enjoyed using this year is my hammock. In Texas, the weather is pretty nice year ’round. But even if you’re not in Texas, this hammock is perfect to get cozy in with a nice fire going nearby. It takes a few minutes to set up, holds up to 450 pounds, and can easily be washed. I LOVE my hammock and highly suggest one for every mom because moms need time to relax and a place they can go to have quiet time. You won’t regret this one!
I hope you all enjoy the holidays this year and find my favorite things Christmas gift guide helpful! Want more gift ideas? Don’t miss the gift archives!
This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx on behalf of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
One of my absolute favorite traditions on Thanksgiving isn’t what you’d think. Although I love all the yummy food, one thing I love the most is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my family before we have Thanksgiving lunch. It’s been a tradition as long as I can remember, and I’ve loved passing it along to the kids. It’s a dream of mine to one day be able to take Addie and Lawson to New York City to enjoy the parade, and I hope one day we can make that a reality.
Fun Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Facts
When the 95th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021 from 9:00 AM – Noon; in all time zones there will be so much to see and watch. The parade is scheduled to have 15 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 36 inflatables, more than 800 clowns, 10 marching bands, 9 performance groups, and many musical performers. The Rockettes will be there too, as well as the household favorite, Santa Claus. I love sitting in matching pajamas with my whole family, admiring all of the talent displayed throughout the parade. I get teary every time!
This year, we are especially excited to see the Colossal Wave of Wonder float from Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. Kalahari was kind enough to send us some goodies to get a sneak peak of the theme of the float, and we just can’t wait to see how incredible it turns out! The upcoming float will capture a family of elephants in the water at the moment that a wave crests. With a sky-high burst of glitter from her trunk, the majestic mama and bubble-blowing baby elephants will ride the Colossal Wave of Wonder alongside a surfing rhino and swimming octopus. How cute is that?!
If you aren’t familiar, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks. The resorts feature beautiful African-themed rooms, suites and villas, a full-service spa, a fun-filled family entertainment center, delicious on-site signature restaurants, unique retail shops, and a state-of-the-art convention center. It’s a great place to take your family on a vacation. Living in Waco, I love that Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is barely over an hour drive away in Round Rock, Texas. They are also located in Wisconsin, Ohio, and the Pocono Mountains.
Give the Gift of Kalahari this Holiday Season
Because Kahalari Resorts & Conventions is such a fun place for families to have a holiday vacation, consider gifting Kalahari gift cards as a present for Christmas now through Dec 10th, 2021 at 11:59 PM CST!
SPEND $250 – $999 ON KALAHARI GIFT CARDS, GET A 10% BONUS GIFT CARD
SPEND $1000+ ON KALAHARI GIFT CARDS, GET A 20% BONUS GIFT CARD
Terms & Conditions: Bonus amount is placed on a separate card(s), on the fewest number of cards possible and will be mailed to the billing address • Orders can not be altered after they have been placed, they can only be canceled, refunded and a new order placed. • Gift Cards are good for 5 years or from last date of fund load. • All orders will be shipped within 72 hours. • Bonus card offer valid only for online orders. Gift card purchases made on-site are not eligible for bonus offer.
A Kalahari Giveaway for Your Memories
As we look forward to Thanksgiving and seeing the Kalahari float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, I’m so excited to share a giveaway with you all. Family is the best part of the holidays, and I am thrilled to participate in a giveaway with Kalahari to gift a 2 night stay! It’s an amazing way to make memories and enjoy your family beyond the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Good luck! I can’t wait to see who wins!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Prize:One Kalahari Fun Box, 2 night stay in a Double Queen Sofa Room (tax and fee included up to 4 people total)Includes: Passes to Indoor Waterpark & Tom Foolerys Adventure Park Passes for Registered Guests (Tom Foolerys in WI & TX only)Terms:Valid at all Kalahari Resorts. Travel and incidentals not included. Not valid on Fridays and Saturdays OR December 24-31, 2021, January 1-3, 2022, February 20, 2022, March 18 – April 17, 2022, June 13-September 5, 2022, October 10, 2022 or November 24, 2022. Subject to availability. No cash value. Offer will expire 11/25/2022.
Looking for more great ideas for holiday fun? Don’t miss the holiday archives!
