4000 Stickers: Things that Go

We love this book! After pulling it out a year ago the boys have yet to finish it! We have it in our church bag right now but they would carry it everywhere before that ( Added to our church bag in April).  I had a few people ask me where my mom got it and I really don't know but here is a link on amazon for it. (Click Here)

Inside you will find stickers for the different themed pages. There are several coloring pages mixed within the book and then several sheets of smaller stickers for the kids to use where ever. Ours usually end up in note books and loose paper. 

Great for kids 3+ but our 2 year old loves to use this book too

Baby Nursing Station

After 4 kids I have created my own system for when I am nursing. The Main reason is so everything is in one place... Ok let be honest here everything isn't in one place and it's not one set. I have a main set in one place (the living room on the right side of the couch) and then others throughout the house where I typically have the baby when nursing. Like the Bedrooms or Office. If baby spends a good amount of time there I usually have what is needed in arms reach. 

 Here is what I try to keep handy and in arms reach when nursing and how I put it all together. 

Cute Basket, tote or bag for storage. I try to find something easy to move around to where I am sitting. I usually keep this one by the couch. It matches my home decorating but can still be lifted and moved one handed. Bonus is it can be emptied and the liner tossed in the wash. 

Diapers and Wipes for baby. I keep at least one of my toddlers diapers in here too for those quick changes before feeding baby. Go with the bigger pack of wipes, so you don't have to replace them as often and several baby diapers. Update: I have also added in a folding changing pad, an extra outfit (onsie and sleeper) for baby and blanket just in case when things get messy.

Nursing gear, I have hot/cold gel packs stored here till I need to heat or cool them. I like to have a Nursing shield clean and in a case for when I need it and extra nursing pads. My nursing cream is with all this along with chap stick and hand sanitize. 

Several binkies because they tend to walk off with baby. I like to keep a few different brands on hand with a new baby because you never know what style they will like to start out with. Our living room Basket is our central binky location so as we find them they get dumped into that basket. 

Nail file, clippers and nose bulb. I like to trim my kids nails when they are asleep.When they are this little it's the easiest time for me to do it. Even better is after a warm bath, lotion them up, nurse them and trim away while they sleep. PS this is a good spot to keep a small thing of lotion if your little has dry skin.  

Nursing cover for when guests or others are around, baby hand mittens, socks, and several burp cloths. .If you don't have a cover you can also use a light blanket.

Several mommy snacks are a must!  While I nurse I try to use it as a reminder to eat and drink, for this it is nice to have several easy snacks and water bottles at arms reach. Sometimes I will throw a few snacks in for the kids because they always seem to ask for something when I just get started. I promise it's not always junk food. Granola or protein bars, fruit leathers and trail mix are a few other things I like. BIGGEST tip think on handed. 

Making everything in the basket neat and ready to go is the final step. I use a small cloth bag to hold the small stuff so it doesn't get lost in the bottom of basket. 

Toddler Bag

My 2 year old has taken to wanting to carry his own bag around when we go out so we packed it up with his favorites and a few extras. Think of it as a mini diaper bag just for him. He loves it too! He will open it up and grab what he wants from it. 

My parents bought the boys bags for Christmas and was able to find this one (click here) in toddler size. I was surprised by how much we could fit into it and how sturdy it is. The front shell is a harder material and the back and straps are padded for comfort. There are two mesh pockets on the sides for his sippy or water bottle. 

 Inside we have enough diapers for the day, a change of clothes, full pack of wipes, snacks, hungry hippo like game, sun glasses and his pencil bag filled with toys. He likes finger puppets, a couple cars and the frogs.

Walmart Baby Box

We received a Walmart baby box in the mail and it was filled with some nice samples like the other boxes/bags we have gotten but this one also had a few new items that we are excited to try and use. Like the other packages you have to make a registry and then you request the box online. It takes a couple weeks according to their website but ours came within a week. 

 Outside box has a cute owl and confetti printing on it. It came wrapped in plastic but the plastic didn't protect it fully from our Michigan rain. We had a few wet spots where it had torn or the edges had been sealed 

opening and looking inside the box

Some of the same samples from before. We don't usually use bottles so this will get added to the bottle stash we have and I will use it in Diaper Cakes and Baby shower gifts. I do plan to breastfeed again so I'm excited to have more storage bags and nursing pads. 

 This is a new one. Carter's Onsie Size 3M. It is a star print and in grey so it can be used for boys or girls. We LOVE carters clothing and this is a definite worth it! 

Another New sample to us is the NanoBebe pack. Inside was their milk storage bags, nursing pads and a binky. The binky is in a gumdrop binky type of shape and we have heard good reviews on them. The storage bags are in the same shape as the bottles and I am interested to see how they are in use. I am also curious to try the bottles once we get to that point. 

Repeat samples. Again I love having the laundry soap samples for when we travel. usually we don't do laundry on the road but you never know when that one time you need it happens. These are perfect for the duffel bag or back pack. One time use and toss. 

Diapering samples. This box had size 2 samples! Pampers pure diapers and wipes in the bag and then a sample pack of wipes. We use these in our diaper bag if it's a quick run I can even toss them in my purse with a single diaper for in the store. 

We also had travel sample for Aveeno Baby, perfect for the diaper bag. New Sample: a travel size Desitin. We have had to use our fair share on the boys after having allergic reactions to several diaper brands. We have also used it on diaper heat rash to help sooth the discomfort. 

  

Sample and coupon flyers

Another Fun find in the box was this cute envelope. In the envelope was cards for monthly milestones and a few development milestones. Cute idea for pictures of baby as they grow.

Gifts for Those Who Have It ALL

OK So I am trying to help my mom with a birthday gift shopping. The challenge is: The pre-teen birthday girl comes from a well off family and she tends to get really nice and lots of gifts from family. 

What is your solution for shopping trips like this? I have the same problem for a few people who tend to buy what they want or need when they want or need it.... can you say PAIN IN THE BUTT to shop for?

Anyway this was a couple ideas I found for my mom and her pre-teen gift:

* Nail Polish

* Toe Separator

* Polish Remover

* Nail Gems/ Stickers

* Lotion 

* Journal

* Gel Pens/ Color Pens

* Cute Socks/ Flip Flops

* Round Beach Towel

* Hair Ties/ Head Bands

I told her to skip the makeup because you never know what another mom wants her child to wear or if she is ready for her daughter to be seen out and about with it on. Leave that one to mom, After all that's how she was with my 2 sisters and I. 

Another hard person I have to shop for several times a year are my in-laws. What ever we get we have to ship or have delivered to them. I am a crafter and love to make things personalized so having to buy it off Amazon and then ship it is hard for me, Although Nate Loves it because it costs WAY LESS. So how do we shop to fit them? 

We try to shop their interests, for my father in law he loves Harry Potter so we have bought HP Swag. The kids call him PAPA so we have done the PAPA Bear Shirts. My Mother in Law loves the Beach and anything relating to it so we have made a beach themed wreath. She also loves photos of the grand kids around so she now has several photo holders she can change the prints out of. 

My parents have a lot of remodel work at their home so we try to find something they need for a project they are working on or something to go with the project. We've gotten tools, supplies, kitchen items (several got lost in a move). 

So to recap Shop the persons:

* Age (check with Mom and Dad for littles)

* Interests/ Hobbies

* Nick Names

* Photos

*Projects 

* Things They Lost

When all the above fail and you can't think of anything unique buy a visa gift card or a card to their favorite store, gaming system or movie theater and put it into some kind of fun packaging.  

What are your tips and tricks for shopping for your difficult people?

Summer Fun List

How do you make the best our of your Summer? How do you make it so you don't fall into the bland and then realize that summer is half gone? For us we make a list. We have done this since we got married and each year is a little different. Let me walk you though this years process. 

We gathered our kids up in one place. We live in the country so this was easy to do on a car ride, it takes us about 20-30 minutes to get anywhere. Entertainment for the kids and a to do list made for summer. Our kids are 6, 4 and 2 all boys and a baby girl on the way so their ideas were all over the place. 

Summer Fun List

□   Go to the Zoo

□   Go to the Aquarium

□   Go Camping

□   Go to the Beach

□   Go Fishing

□   Go to the Splash Pad

□   Go to the Fair

□   Eat at Food Truck Rally

□   Find Shells/Rocks

□   Go on a Hike

□   Monster Truck show

□   Tye-Dye

□   Drive-In Movie

□   Water War

□   Fireworks

□   BBQ with Friends

□   Watch a Parade

□   S’mores

□   Go Bowling

□   Family Photos

□   Berry Picking

□   Make Ice Cream

□   Sell Lemonade

□   Road Trip

□   Decorate Flip Flops

□   Eat Root beer Floats

□   Ice Cream Parlor

□   Ride a Train

□   Picnic

□   Go to a Carnival

□   Send Postcards

□   Paint Rocks

□   Make Sidewalk Art

□   Go to a Petting Zoo

□   Read/ Listen to a Book

□   Squirt Gun Painting

□   Scavenger Hunt

□   Cook on Fire

□   Have a Family Game Night with Friends

□   Fly a Kite

□   Plant Flowers

□   Go to a Great Lake

□   Star Gazing

□   Build Something with Wood

□   Sew Something

□   Eat Smoothies

□   Glow Sticks

□   Visit a Historical Site

□   Car Wash

□   Eat Watermelon

□   Camp in the Yard

□   Day of Service

□   Take Pictures of the sun Setting

□   Make a Book

□   Play Mini Golf

□   Scrapbook it all

I typed up the list and printed it on sticker paper and then Stuck that to a fun scrapbook paper and pinned it to our pin board with all the other event flyers and invitations we have for the summer. I also printed a smaller copy and put it into my planner for when we are out and about. I also keep my planners from year to year as a family history log (I'm not the best at keeping a daily journal) 

 

Here are some other ideas for your summer plan making. 

https://www.unoriginalmom.com 

Designate each day of the week with a theme and then make a list of things that can fall under each one. Look for community events and things you can do at home within your budget. 

https://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com

Make up some punch cards and mark off as kids finish each and turn their cards in for outings, events or prizes. You can set each card up based on their age and interests 

Cards and Gifts Prep for the Month

GIVE THIS A TRY:

OK with the Summers being a crazy time for us I try to pre-prep as much as possible the rest of the year I will do this one month at a time. Now I am talking about birthday, anniversary, graduation, housewarming, baby/bridal showers ect. I then place everything in one place where we can grab and go. No last minute scramble to buy a gift or bag, no rush to find a card. Some of my tips are posted below. 

1.) Buy cards in bulk and at Dollar Tree

We buy our cards at Dollar Tree. I know cheap. But they have a lot of cute ones and I would rather take the extra $2-5 I would have spent on a card on the gift. When I buy cards I will take a list of who/what I need. This last trip was for May, June and July because of the baby coming so I had 15 Birthday cards (a mix of ages for kids and adults), 2 bridal showers, 1 wedding, fathers day, 10 graduations and 1 housewarming. 

I take the cards once they are sealed and write the persons name on it. On the back I will write the date, time and location of the event. This is such a nice hack to have so you are not digging looking for the invite for a party to find the address. 

I keep our invites taped in my planner on the week of the event  for family history but so having written if Nate drops the kids off or goes without me he doesn't have to take it out

2.) Find a gift that can fit in the envelope or slip both into a cute bag and tie it. 

For graduations I typically give a nice journal to the graduate to have to record their new adventure. Sometimes I will tuck in some cash or a gift card for them. For our Nieces and Nephews we have been just doing cards for birthdays so we add in some fun stickers or activity pages for them the play with. 

3.) Keep a Stash

 Keep a stash of kids gifts on hand for your kids to "shop from" without the stress of the store and having to argue over prices. This is a newer one we have been using. With B (our 7 year old) he loves to shop and has good taste on what his friends and family would want but he usually will go for things outside our budget. When we go to the store we will tell him you have x amount to buy a gift. He then takes FOREVER to shop. So we have the mommy store now that he can pick from. I will pick up things on sale, dollar store, yard sales ect that I can store in our tote. Our younger 2 love this too because they get to pick a gift and help wrap it. When you keep your eyes open you can finds some great deals on gifts. NOTE: Make sure you set a limit and are aware of what you already have tucked away. Also LIMIT the space you are allowed to use. We have 1 tote. That tote holds our birthday favors, gifts and a handful of knit hats (we give these away at the holidays) 

4.) Keep Gifts in One Place

 Finally any gifts we are giving to anyone or that come in for us go here till the day needed. That way those gifts are where we need them when we need them. We stack our kids gifts here for their birthdays as packages come in the mail. They love opening up the mail and boxes so this is one way we can let them know that they couldn't open it because it was for their birthday. Not to mention it creates a lot of anticipation for opening gifts time.