My sweet Laurel is a maker and around the holidays, she's always asking me about projects ideas. The Minimalist Parenting community loved this post on 14 kid-crafted gifts, so I figured -- what with the weekend coming up -- it would be fun to share 10 more ideas. And given my deep passion for clutter-free gifts, I've rounded up a collection of ideas that are CLUTTER-FREE. YAY! These items would be adorable for family, friend, and teacher gifts.
Few things exemplify the wrestling with abundance concept Asha and I discuss in Minimalist Parenting like the holidays. Too many things to do, too many things to buy, too many crazy people to deal with...the list goes on. And I'm by no means immune. Thanksgiving break offered a very clear reminder of what fills me with happiness and also what causes immense stress. So I decided that I wanted to create a minimalist holiday manifesto, and invite you to do the same. Intention setting is powerful stuff!
So remember last week when I shared about how to create a gorgeous gallery wall, including my favorite picks from Minted's art marketplace? Well, my friends at Minted have followed up with a generous giveaway for you awesome readers: $350 of Minted credit towards your holiday cards! Crazy amazing, right? Check out 10 of my favorite picks from the Minted holiday collection and then enter to win via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of the post.
I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Easton recommendations come from my delightful friend Christina, who writes at The Fairly Odd Mother and Cool Mom Picks. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Easton, Christina! (And if you want to submit a Local Gems feature, see details here!)
When it comes to holidays, I'm all about pretty and simple. I do admire the aesthetics of fancy egg decorating projects, but they're just not practical when you're trying to execute (and also have fun with!) craft projects with kids. As I was prowling for ideas to work on with the girls this coming weekend, I decided to share 10 easy Easter egg ideas where the steps are few and the results are beautiful. The hard part will be narrowing down which options to try!
Holidays (national or somewhat arbitrary) offer fun inspiration for projects and lessons for kids. Yesterday was Penguin Awareness Day (though I'm happy to celebrate penguins any day of the year!) and I wanted to take this opportunity to shine a light on this fine bird with project, book, and design inspiration. If you have other ideas to share, feel free to do so in the comments below!
Though I certainly like my share of stuff (hello, shiny objects) I believe in acquisition as a mindful curator rather than simply a consumer. I also loathe holiday related excess and clutter. Subsequently, I routinely do two things this time of year: 1) collect and donate clothing and other goods to people in need (big load done last week and I want to do another round this weekend) and 2) keep my eye focused on clutter-free gifts. I wanted to share my 12 favorite clutter-free gift ideas with you today:
Today, Paige shares 15 easy holiday decorating ideas (perfect for those who, like me, are a little last minute in this department!):
Holiday decorating can seem overwhelming, but you don't need to stock up on Christmas figurines and giant elves or spend hours and hours of precious time in order to make your house feel festive. Get holiday-ready by picking a few of the tips below!
Today, contributing writer Rene shares a roundup of 10 clever advent calendars:
It's the most wonderful time of year, once again. A great way to jump-start the holiday spirit is with an advent calendar. Here are some clever options you can DIY, or a couple you can buy (because let's face it, sometimes crafty aspirations have to fly out the window). Count down the days with tiny treats or activity ideas (see #5).
I had such fun pulling together the 12 chocolate cupcake recipes post last week (research, right?) that I decided to round up another dozen incredible looking cookie recipes in these fleeting days of October (which, apparently, is Cookie Month). Whoever is making up these holidays, I love you! I'm super excited to try all of these recipes -- perfect for fall/winter baking inspiration! Which recipe will you try first?
I know party favor bags are well-intentioned but I will be plain and share that they make me crazy. The little plastic knick-knacks usually inspire fighting between the girls and then the items are quickly forgotten and become clutter. Which I throw away. And then feel guilty about throwing away (hello, landfill). Subsequently, I'm all about tchotchke-free party favors (if you want to do favors at all) to simplify birthday parties. Here are my five favorites:
These days, I've been using the word epic with some regularity, there's just been so much good stuff going on! And today, I have something to share that is truly epic in the fun department. I'm teaming up with some wonderful bloggers to offer you an epic May giveaway including a Canon T4i DSLR + a gorgeous Epiphanie Charlotte chevron bag (I have been coveting this puppy), collectively worth ~$1055! Woo hoo!
Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) shares four lovely sources for book plates:
I love gifting personalized book plates. Book plates may seem, I realize, old-fashioned, but I adore them. They celebrate reading and speak to a child's deep desire to mark things as their own. My children loved choosing which of their books deserved book plates, and to this day, when I happen upon their book plated copies of Goodnight Moon or Make Way for Ducklings, tears spring to my eyes when I remember their chubby toddler hands smoothing the stickers into the books. The crooked angle at which some of these plates are adhered reminds me of their fierce determination to "do it my own self!"
Today, Judy (also of Talking Thirty) shares 12 great gift ideas for new moms:
These days it seems that baby announcements from friends roll in about one per week and I spend my weekends cuddling squishy newborn after squishy newborn (no complaints here!). I've realized that often we focus on gifts for the new baby and sometimes forget the person who has been through the most -- the new mama! Here are my favorite gift ideas for new moms.