Together with
"Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had."
- Linda Wooten
Rise and Shine, Jingle Queen! Friday’s here, and if you’re not elbow-deep in wrapping paper, you’re probably hiding in the bathroom with cookies. Same, same.
Today’s Mommy scoop:
🎄25 Holiday Traditions
🍪 Festive Chocolate Sprinkle Bars
🌟 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.
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.
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Mom's Mic: This Week’s Poll 🎤
What is your go-to method for dealing with tantrums?
Poll Results From 12/17
How do you manage screen time for your kids?
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Strict schedule (13%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Limited hours per day (57%)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ No restrictions (9%)
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Based on behavior and homework completion (21%)
Featured Response 💬
“My child is my career now. Thankfully we have the opportunity financially for me to stay home, so I try to think of this as my fulfilling career. I get to be part of the management team that shapes a kind, loving, smart human. It’s all about how you look at it ☺️”
Oh my gosh yes, this is us too. We aim for under an hour on most days but the second sickness hits it’s full-on survival mode over here (my two little ones were sick last week and let’s just say the TV earned its keep 😂). -Danielle 😊
Mom’s Menu
🎄 Holiday Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Bars
weelicious
The ultimate holiday delight with these Holiday Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Bars!
Soft, chocolatey, and adorned with colorful sprinkles, these bars are sure to be the star of any festive gathering.
❤ Why You'll Love It
🍫 Rich, chocolatey flavor that's irresistibly delicious.
🎉 Fun holiday sprinkles add a cheerful touch to every bite.
📝 Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup chocolate covered candies
3/4 cup chocolate chips, chunks, or discs
1/4 cup holiday sprinkles
👩🍳 Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan and line with parchment paper.
Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
In a mixer, beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until creamy (3-5 minutes).
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
Fold in 1 1/4 cup chocolate candies and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
Transfer to the baking dish, topping with remaining candies, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
Bake for 30 minutes until golden.
Cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares.
weelicious
Note 📌
These bars are perfect for holiday parties or a cozy family treat.
The combination of chocolate chips and festive sprinkles makes them a hit with kids and adults alike.
Enjoy the holiday cheer with every bite of these delightful bars!
Full recipe here.
Daily DIY (Kids Edition)
Bucket List Wreath
designimprovised
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.
Promptly Journals, A Complete Childhood History
Time-Saver: Capture your child's milestones quickly each year - because we know your time is gold.
Keepsake Quality: Durable, stylish, and made to last, so you can cherish it forever.
Easy Guidance: Tailored prompts make recording memories a breeze, even on your busiest days.
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 🤣
Answer
B) False. Moderate pacifier use typically does not delay speech development.