The Intersection of Design & Motherhood
Feel like you’re giving your kids too much this year? Too little? You can read about the 3-Gift-Guideline I use in a post I wrote for Real Simple.
photo from Real Simple Photo Galleries
Previous post: Tulle Tutorial
Next post: Nativity
New to Design Mom? Here are 10 posts to get you started:
What to Wear To Middle School
Napoleon Dynamite
Our Birth Announcements
Potato Print Clothing
Having Another Child
Young Einstein Birthday Party
Little Red LightHouse Outing
Porch Makeover
Waving Goodbye To The Atlantic Ocean
Build Two Toddler Beds for $75
Pimp My Ride: Family Edition
We love coming up with fun valentines to make and give. Here are some of our favorites (many are candy free!):
3-D Lollipop Valentines - Easy! And a big hit. Try it with crazy straws or pencils too.
Fortune Teller Valentines - with free printable!
You Blow Me Away, Valentine! - Everyone loves party blowers. : )
Wild Animal Valentines - Family Fun Magazine requested my idea for their latest issue.
Mad Lib Valentines - Family Fun requested this idea too!
Friendship Bracelet Valentines
And here are a few more ideas I've featured over the years that I bet you'll love:
- Fresh Fruit Valentines
- Color Theory Valentines
- DIY Scratch Off Valentines
- Shaving Cream Valentines
- Mini Valentine Boxes
Here's something fun. Our family was featured in an episode of House Hunters International! Spoiler: we choose the gorgeous French Farmhouse. It's called La Cressonnière and we take pictures of it all the time. If you're curious, try these links:
The Kitchen
Summer at La Cressonnière
The Halfbath
The Stairwell
The Neighbors
Ralph's Bedroom
The Studio
Springtime at La Cressonnière
The Living Room
Maude's Bedroom
The Artists
Oscar & Betty's Bedroom
The Exterior
The Floors
Olive's Bedroom
The Treehouse
The House: La Cressonnière
I hope you enjoy the house tour! Oh. And if you'd like to see the episode, you can find it on Youtube here (it's in four parts).
I write a weekly column called Inspiration Scout on Cafémom. Find new posts on Thursdays.
I write a daily post (Monday through Friday) for Babble's Family Style blog.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Terrific idea! I love to see sanity in gift giving–moderation makes everyone appreciate what they do get so much more, I think. This sounds very much like a rhyme my mom used to use:
Something to wear
Something to read
Something to play with
Something you need.
I think that is a really good rule! but any ideas for adapting it to hannukah? I have to figure out 8 presents. (I have something to wear, something to play with, something to make, something to give to others – a donation….)
This is some of the best gift-giving advice I think I’ve ever read. Not just for Christmas, but for birthdays and other celebrations. And I’m going to apply it to my husband, not just the kidlings.
For the first time this year I am totally go with the something they want, something they need, something to wear, something they need philosophy. Thanks – good to know not everyone goes overboard…
Lori,
How about this:
to wear
to play with
to make
to give (love this!)
to read
to eat
a want
a need
Love this post! As my neighbor always says, “Three was enough for Jesus!”
Nice post.
I like the Hannukah suggestions. Also, for one of the days, they could get a small bag/box with the misc. items that come in a stocking. I also love the “something to give” item.
we do something similar: a need, want, and a surprise. have a merry christmas!
good hannukah suggestions, thanks. 8 gifts are pretty overwhelming, frankly! as for the to give idea, because my kids are young (3 and 5) we gave chickens and ducks through Heifer International…I felt it was more tanglible for them that way
I really like this theory & I will definitely be doing this from here on out. It seems like it would make finding the perfect gifts even easier when you select categories.
I also kept thinking this year (my Lucy is only 9 months) I am not going to buy her clothes or toys because I know her grandparents will. So she gets a homemade tutu, homemade quiet book & some Dr. Seuss books.
Gabby you are the coolest.
This is awesome, thanks so much for sharing. I shared your article with my husband and I think we will be doing this from now on.
I love Real Simple, that is what I got my mother in law for her bday last year, a subscription to RS. I think this is a fantastic idea, I forwarded it to the hubby so we can do this next year. I don’t feel good when I have overdone it with gifts for the kids, and I think this year I have. :(
That is EXACTLY what we have always done!! Such a good idea–I can’t imagine trying to top previous years with more and more every year!
we have been doing something very similar for years. 1 gift from Santa, one gift to play with from Mommy and Daddy and one educational gift from Mommy and Daddy. It seems to me that we think children need more than they really do, sometimes less is more and they can appreciate the gifts they do receive. I find with my kids, if they get too much then they are overwhelmed and don’t know where to focus their attention. Happy Holidays to all!
good idea! my favorite part is the last line from real simple—olives in the stocking! i thought my family was the only one!
my little brother LOVES pickles. years ago, he asked for them for christmas, and got a jar in his stocking.
my little sister, not wanting to be left out, began asking for olives.
it’s become our silly little tradition!