"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had."

- Linda Wooten

Rise and Shine, Mommy! Christmas is so close, you can almost hear the reindeer. Let's dive into some festive fun, because what's one more holiday task?

Today’s Mommy scoop:

• 25 Holiday Traditions to spark joy and memories

• No more wrapping mess 🎁

• Golden Delight: Cheesy Popovers 🧀

• DIY Bucket List Wreath! 🎄

Holiday Hoopla

25 Holiday Traditions to Start This Year

The holiday season is all about creating lasting memories with your family.

And what better way to do this than by starting new traditions?

Cozy Bookish Adventures

• Library Trip: Visit the library to borrow holiday-themed books like "Angelina's Christmas" and surprise your librarian with an eggnog latte.

• Audiobook Magic: Download Christmas classics like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" narrated by Walter Matthau, perfect for holiday road trips.

Creative Holiday Fun

• Icelandic Book Night: Embrace Iceland's tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve and spending the night reading.

• Tree Ornament "I Spy": Play a game of "I Spy" with your tree ornaments, turning off all lights except for those on the tree.

Personal Touches

• Yearly Ornament Gift: Give your child an ornament each year that reflects a significant moment or interest.

• Safe Ornament Display: Creatively display fragile ornaments out of reach of toddlers and pets, like on a chandelier or in a vase.

Unique Family Rituals

• Santa-Beard Contest: Have a laugh with a family Santa-beard contest using shaving cream.

• Gifts for Teddy: Let your child pick a gift for their beloved stuffed animal or doll, adding to the Christmas morning excitement.

Local Exploration

• Neighborhood Lights Tour: Take a pajama-clad drive with hot cocoa to score neighborhood holiday lights.

Seasonal Sensory Delights

• Stovetop Simmer: Create a holiday ambiance with a simple stovetop simmer using cranberries, orange peels, and spices.

• Colorful Snowflakes: Craft paper snowflakes from colored tissue paper for a vibrant twist on window decorations.

Meaningful Giving

• Adopt a Family: Involve your kids in adopting a family through a charity, shopping, and wrapping gifts together.

• LEGO for a Cause: Build a holiday ornament with LEGO and participate in their #BuildToGive campaign, supporting children in need.

Wrapping up, these holiday traditions offer a delightful mix of reading, crafting, giving, and simply enjoying each other's company.

So, go ahead, pick a few (or all!) and start weaving magic into your family's holiday tapestry.

It's these small moments that make the season truly unforgettable! 🎄✨

Keep reading here.

Together with Date Night Dancing

Date Night: Living Room Dancing for Couples

Is it time to fall in love again?

There’s nothing like holding your partner close as you glide across the dance floor - gazing into each other’s eyes as you twirl, spin, and dip to the music.

Date Night Dancing lets you use your own music to learn, so you feel comfortable dancing to songs you actually like.

Sounds like a dream?

Date Night Dancing was made for you.

• Fun, flirty dance lessons you can practice right at home

• Made for beginners

• Laugh, dance, and reconnect right in your living room :)

• Perfect for anyone with two left feet

I guarantee you’ll feel closer together, or we’ll pay you back in full.

Mom's Mic: This Week’s Poll 🎤 

Poll Results From 12/11

How do you introduce your kids to the concept of chores and responsibility?

 🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Assign age-appropriate chores (31%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Lead by example, they help me with my chores (42%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Make it a game or challenge (3%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ We have not introduced chores yet (24%)

Featured Response😄 

Oh my goodness, that is just the cutest thing ever! It's amazing how our little ones surprise us by jumping in to help. It really warms the heart, doesn't it? You're doing an awesome job, mama! 💖👩‍🌾🐴 - Danielle

Mom Hack

Festive Wrapping Paper Bin

Mom Hack

Repurpose a large cardboard box as a chic, festive bin for discarded wrapping paper.

Just wrap the box in any spare or mismatched wrapping paper.

It's perfect for Christmas morning, making clean-up a breeze as you toss used paper into it.

Later, you can easily recycle everything together.

Mom’s Menu

🧀 Cheesy Popovers: A Golden Delight for Any Meal!

Get ready to dazzle your family with these Cheesy Popovers!

Light, airy, and with a delightful golden crust, they're a perfect side for any meal. Imagine the smiles as everyone enjoys these irresistible treats!

Why You'll Love It

• 🌬️ Light and airy texture that melts in your mouth.

• 🧀 Irresistible cheesy goodness in every bite.

Ingredients 📝

• 3 large eggs, at room temperature

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 cups lukewarm milk

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Instructions 👩‍🍳

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F.

2. Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl. Let the mixture reach room temperature while the oven preheats, aiding in fluffiness.

3. Grease popover tins with cooking spray or butter, filling them ¾ full with batter.

4. Bake for 35 minutes without opening the oven door.

5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Note 📌

Cheesy Popovers are best enjoyed fresh from the oven. The golden, crispy exterior paired with the soft, cheesy interior makes them a hit at any table.

Whether it's a casual family dinner or a special gathering, these popovers will surely be a crowd-pleaser!

Full recipe here.

Daily DIY (Kids Edition)

Bucket List Wreath

Craft a bucket list wreath using clothespins. The original idea is for summer, but I think this is a great idea year-round! Especially coming up on winter break.

• Write different activities on each clothespin, such as making popsicles or having a family game night.

• As each activity is completed, flip the clothespin to reveal a yellow ray of sun.

• Hang the wreath with a suction cup in a visible spot like above a play table to track progress

The tutorial is here.

Mom’s Choice

Promptly Journals - your new best friend for holding onto those precious moments. 📘 

From pregnancy flutters to teenage wonders, this journal is like a time capsule for your child's journey.

It’s the perfect mix of simplicity and sentimentality, designed for busy parents who want to preserve memories without the stress of a time-consuming project.

Promptly Journals, A Complete Childhood History

Game

Mama Knows Best: True or False?

Using a pacifier can significantly delay speech in babies.
(Answer below)

A) True

B) False

Mom’s Meme 🤣

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Answer

B) False. Moderate pacifier use typically does not delay speech development.