• The Mommy
  • Posts
  • 25 New Holiday Traditions & Fun DIY Wreath Ideas

25 New Holiday Traditions & Fun DIY Wreath Ideas

Author

Danielle Sexton
December 20, 2024

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.

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.

Mom’s Field Guide

Say ohai to an AI assistant...and bye to parental overwhelm

  • Manage your family calendar and to-do list with AI.

  • Scan emails for key dates and to-dos.

  • Make meal plans and Instacart grocery lists.

Mom's Mic: This Week’s Poll 🎤 

What time do your kids usually go to bed?

-> Vote to reveal what other moms think

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Poll Results From 12/18

How has motherhood affected your career aspirations?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I'm more driven than ever (7%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ I've switched to a more flexible job (22%)

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ I've put my career on hold (26%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I'm rethinking my career path (30%)

🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ No significant change (15%)

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 ☺️”

- Community Mom

Love that perspective! You're rocking the most important management role out there—CEO of Raising Amazing Humans! -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 👩‍🍳

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch pan and line with parchment paper.

  2. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.

  3. In a mixer, beat butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until creamy (3-5 minutes).

  4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined.

  5. Fold in 1 1/4 cup chocolate candies and 1/2 cup chocolate chips.

  6. Transfer to the baking dish, topping with remaining candies, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.

  7. Bake for 30 minutes until golden.

  8. 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.

Budget Diapers & College Dreams

Veterinary costs are up 60% over the past decade

Unexpected vet bills can be a financial burden, with some procedures costing $10,000+. Without coverage, you’d have to cover these expenses out of pocket.

Pet insurance could provide up to 90% reimbursement.

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.

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

  • 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 🤣

🎁 Share The Mommy

Share The Mommy with friends & family, get free stuff, and feel the joy of growing a community where every mom helps another.

It’s like swapping secrets over playdates, but better. 😊 

Your referral count: 0

Only 1 away from the Kids' Activity Bucket List

Or copy & paste your referral link to others: https://newsletter.themommy.news/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

*Please do not use fake email addresses — they will not qualify as referrals. Thank you!

Answer

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

Reply

or to participate.