Friday Favorite: Christmas Gifts

Who's still on a Christmas high? *raises hand*

We have our last family Christmas dinner and gift exchange tonight. I love that our holiday lasts a little longer :)

I got some great goodies this year- I must have been good this year ;)

I wanted to share with you all my 2 favorite gifts that I received as a way of making everyone's holiday cheer last a bit longer!

First up, this nifty little gadget:

It's a Topper Chopper! How great is that? Now, I know that there are other ways to chop toppings for hot chocolate, ice cream, brownies, whatever, but this thing makes it a breeze! Seriously, you can put together a hot chocolate bar in 5 minutes. And it's fun.

It can even transform to be a dispenser. So cute.

I whipped up some candy cane sprinkles and some mint M&M bits for our Christmas hot chocolate!

Secondly, I'm super excited about getting PW's holiday cookbook!! Jess got one, too!

I'm already planning to make her New Year's Eve party recipes.  Whether or not I have a party... we'll see.

What was your favorite gift?

Happy Friday!!

Merry Christmas!

We hope your Christmas is full of family, love, laughter, and blessings! 

We're taking a few days off from blogging to enjoy the holiday- see you next week!

Jess & Lynns

Tip for Tuesday: Wrap Up Your Table!

Earlier this month I hosted a Cookies & Cocoa party, and we had lots of kids getting messy creative with their cookie decorating.

Let me tell you my secret to this clean-up being a cinch-

I wrapped the table with leftover wrapping paper from a year (or two, or three) ago. It was pretty and all I had to do was rip the paper off and throw it in the trash.

So simple, right?

What do you do during holiday gatherings to make clean-up or prep easier? 

Always Ready Hot Chocolate Bar

'Tis the season for... lot of things! I love this time of year because of the friends, family, traditions, and all of the love the holidays bring with them.

One of my favorite things is having friends and family over. Whether it's a fun party or just a quick visit, it's so great to be able to talk and enjoy each other's company. Another one of my favorite things are holiday movies. White Christmas was on ALL DAY on Saturday and I was lovin' it!!

Whether it's snuggling on the couch watching a movie or sitting around the kitchen table chatting with family, hot chocolate is the perfect compliment!

Here's my mommy machine secret to always having hot chocolate ready to go:

I keep hot chocolate essentials in mason jars on my bar top. These are my current faves:

• hot coco mix
• peppermint marshmallows
• candy canes
• Andes Mint chips
• white chocolate chips
• colored sugar

It blends right in with my Christmas decorations and I'm always ready to make hot chocolate- one cup or ten, I'm ready! Whipped cream is always in the fridge so the only thing I have to do to prep is warm some milk. It doesn't get easier than that.

This would make a super fun Christmas gift too! Wrap some ribbon around the mason jars and pack it all in a cute basket and you've got yourself a very thoughtful and yummy gift to give!

Kids Cookie Decorating Party

On Sunday I hosted a "Cookies & Cocoa" party for some of our friends and their families; it was so much fun and really got us into the holiday spirit!

Hosting a holiday party can get kind of stressful- so much prep work, cleaning, and last-minute details to complete. Not to mention, after the fun is over, you get to clean your house again. :)

Here are a few ways I prepped ahead and made clean-up a little easier:

I baked cookies earlier in the week and stuck them in the freezer. This was a game-changer because I wasn't spending my entire Saturday before the party baking cookies! Just stick your completely cooled cookies in a freezer bag- so simple, right? All I had to do on Sunday morning was pull them out and let them thaw a few hours before our guests arrived.

 Sprinkle Bakes has the most amazing chocolate cut-out cookie recipe. You must try it! 

Semi-Sweet Designs roll-out sugar cookie recipe is my favorite! 

I prepped our cocoa bar toppings in advance. I had a few different toppings for our hot cocoa bar that I kept in mason jars. Super easy to pull out and serve, although I did opt to put them in holiday containers for this party.

I set a treat box at each kiddo's spot at the table. These served as "to-go" boxes for all the cookies they decorated, and it worked out great! I didn't have to run around looking for containers for everyone's cookies at the end of the party.

I wrapped the cookie decorating table with wrapping paper. Super easy clean-up!

Gift it Tuesday: My Special Needs Kiddo

Buying presents for my special needs kiddo has always been a challenge. He doesn't play with a lot of toys and can easily become fixated on certain parts of toys- especially toys with flashing lights or spinning parts.

I never thought I would have to think so hard about toys and presents for my kids- I guess it just comes with the territory of being a special needs family. :) I happily accept the challenge though, because when I do choose the perfect gift for Little Dude, it makes my heart smile!

Many of the toys I find for Little Dude are online or aren't even in the toy section at all! Here is what I've come up with for him this year:

1. Body Pillow- this kid loves pillows! This would be great for a kiddo who loves hugs or having objects wrapped around his or her body. LD likes to put pillows on his lap while playing his iPad, or he likes to put one on top of his body when he's sleeping.

2. Ikea Swivel Chair - I think I really nailed it on the head with this gift. LD loves to be in small spaces and he likes to spin. This chair meets both of those needs. He can also pull down the hood and "hide", which he also loves to do! The price tag is $89.99, so this was his "big " gift. He is going to love it and I think it will trump any other kind of toy I could've come up with!

3. Go Go Smart Wheels Train Station - Many times, kids with Autism have a difficult time using their imagination. It doesn't make sense to them, so as they get older and the toys become more imagination-based, it can be really tough to find toys they will understand how to play with and enjoy. This train station set is awesome because it is a cause-and-effect type toy and the train moves on it's own by pushing down on the front of the vehicle. There is a clear purpose and my kiddo won't be left wondering what the heck he's supposed to do! 

Do you have a special needs kiddo you are buying for this year? If so, what are some of your gift ideas? I'd love to hear all about it! 

Stocking Stuffer List

It can be hard to think of stocking stuffers- here are some of our ideas!

For the Little Ones
rattles
little taggies
teether
teether biscuits
fruit and veggie pouches
fabric/soft sided books
bibs
pacifier
baby mittens
sippy cup


For the Toddlers and Preschoolers
kaleidoscope
play-doh
bubbles
craft kits (Target dollar section!)

finger puppets

window markers/crayons

coloring book

toothbrush

bath toy squirters
bracelets/dress-up jewelry
freeze-dried fruit
crayons
flash cards
bubble bath
stickers
paint brushes
little people
cars



For the Older Kids
ornament
mad-libs
nail polish
lip smackers
notebooks
books
gift cards
iPod case
elastics to make rainbow loom bracelets
batteries
gum
watch
jewelry
sunglasses
hats
gloves
scarf


For the Teens
ornament
iTunes gift card
ear buds
smart touch gloves
earrings
chapstick
nail polish
nail files
wallet
key chain
$5 gift cards for coffee or fast food
phone case
cash
watch
sunglasses
scarf
socks