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cute holiday advent calendars and what to fill them with
i never had an advent calendar (being a jewish kid), but since we got one for arlo a few years ago i’m so into it now! they are really fun and i just love doing something festive every single day leading up to christmas. i made printable cards so that our calendar was filled with more activities than stuff, but i also have to include STUFF.
i have this beautiful advent calendar from gathre. the one we used before had such tiny pockets, i wasn’t really able to fit much besides paper in there — having the pocket space is crucial!
without further ado here are a bunch of beautiful advent calendars and some easy ideas for things to throw in them too!
cute advent calendars
gathre
advent calendar
i have this one in the ivory color but i also really love this newer fern color!!
lumens
star narrow advent calendar
this ferm living advent calendar is such a perfect size for a small space or hallway where you might not want to dedicate a big piece of wall to the calendar — plus it’s pretty. again i love the green but it comes in a white color too!
anthropologie
nutcracker advent calendar
so cute and it has a little nutcracker doll you count down with
maisonette
felt advent calendar
this is another adorable small-space option and also comes with holiday activity cards!
target
meri meri fairy mushroom advent calendar
this one is so fun — it’s a mini suitcase that comes with pieces to create a little forest scene as you count down to christmas
west elm
wood light-up advent calendar
the little houses are so cute and how fun that this one lights up
crate & barrel
wooden forest holiday advent calendar
this one is so special and doubles as really pretty holiday decor
cute things to put in your advent calendar
1. printable advent calendar activities
the activities i designed are always really fun for us, it’s a nice way to check all those bucket list items off your list too!
2. candy
i’m gonna put a couple little festive candies inside but keep it limited! there are so many fun christmas themed candies arlo would go nuts for (i linked to reeses shaped like nutcrackers above!! WHAT. lol)
3. snacks
i also got a bag of cashews because he loves nuts haha. any little bags of their favorite snacks would be perfect!
4. inexpensive toys
if you’re trying to not fill your whole house with cheap crap, this isn’t that easy. i was able to find some random cute little things he’d like at our local hardware store (i got a whoopie cushion, two little dinosaur toys, a rubber snake and a little wind up chicken). here is a really helpful product (it’s sold out now but i found on ebay) if you want to keep it simple! last year i found some cute squishy snowmen and a santa that arlo still plays with to this day.
5. ornaments
i got a few ornaments that i knew arlo would love, so i decided to include them in the advent calendar versus presenting them when we first decorated our tree! this way it’ll hopefully make each one more special.
6. stickers
i filled a lot of days last year with a couple of stickers on the days i didn’t have anything else. arlo wasn’t the most excited because it was the same ones over and over haha — but it was something to do!
7. art supplies
a little watercolor palette, new markers, new crayons, all perfect things to include!
8. temporary tattoos
easy and cute.
9. holiday crafts
i always love to grab a few craft kits for the holidays so now that i have large pockets i can stick them in here!
10. figurine sets
i will never forget the hanukkah that my mom got me all of the 90210 barbie dolls and gave me one each night. it was a great thrill of my life hahah– that would be such a fun idea. arlo already has 8000 “guys” but if your kid loves a show or movie and doesn’t have the figurines, would be fun to purchase them and spread them out so they collect them over the month!!!
11. cars or dinosaurs or mini stuffed animals
anything they’re into but we have always had a soft spot for the metal toy cars at cvs so if i can make it there i will prob have to grab one for his calendar!
12. band-aids
fun AND useful. i included some cute welly ones but you could also just get a pack of mickey or elmo or paw patrol or whoever they love.
13. dollhouse accessories
i wanted to get arlo a christmas tree for the dollhouse but i haven’t gotten to it yet — was thinking it would also be fun to get him some new food items or a laptop. if you have a dollhouse this is the perfect excuse to add some new accessories!
ok i hope these ideas helped!!! and ps. i am always adding more advent calendars and fillers to my amazon storefront here
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very cute holiday pajamas for baby and kids
some adorably festive pajamas for your little ones to wear this holiday season! i can’t stand the cuteness.
click on the images in the collage directly to shop!
plus a few more because there were just too many cute ones …
carter’s
christmas print thermal pajamas
carter’s
snowman pajamas
pehr
ribbed bow pajamas
gap factory
holiday lights pajamas
amazon
milk and cookies pajamas
amazon
ribbed pajamas
rylee + cru
hanukkah pajamas
gap factory
hanukkah pajamas
j.crew factory
holiday ballet pajamas
hope you found some you love!!
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holiday gift guide : for the big kids
gift guide for the older kids! i even made an effort to include some tween gifts, but obv i’m not an expert so i did my best! enjoyyyyy 🙂
amazon
the cosmic book of space, aliens and beyond
arlo has LOVED and spent so many hours with these books. lots of fun drawing prompts and really will get their creative juices flowing
amazon
the monster book of zombies, spooks and ghouls
he loved the alien one so much we got the zombie one too
amazon
the great food truck adventure sticker activity book
we’ve gotten two of these (halloween and xmas) and arlo just loves them. they are the perfect activity for quiet time or when he wakes up early and i want to get him this one next!
amazon
things to do
and a good thing to make them read whenever they’re complaining about being bored lol
amazon
monikers
ok so i’ve never actually played this, but i love the box design lol and they have a bunch of extensions or spin offs so it must be fun! (for 8+)
amazon
paint by number kit set
the cutest little paint by number sets — lots of different designs to choose from!
kiwico
kiwico crates
these are the perfect gifts — a subscription box with STEM based activities for whatever age your child is. you can also just buy the crates a la carte. arlo has always loved every box we’ve ever done and we requested a subscription from his grandparents this year!
amazon
electronic money bank
arlo’s money bank! this thing is so fun. maybe put some cash in it to get them started too haha
magnolia
mini basketball hoop
good-looking basketball hoops can be hard to find, but this one definitely is! and it looks like it’ll actually last
amazon
yoto audiobook player
we have the regular sized yoto, but honestly if i was buying one now i’d prefer the mini. way easier for travel and it still has the same controls (i can’t speak to the sound quality but i assume it’s fine!) and you can get cute jackets in super pretty colors like the green one that comes in this bundle!
ps. if you buy from the yoto store directly, they have way more story cards.
baggu
puffy laptop sleeve
if they’re old enough for a laptop, this case is so cute and fun. they have a couple other cute design options too!
target
nintendo switch lite
the smaller, lighter version of the switch — perfect size for kids, comes in different colors and the games are cute
amazon
magnetic building tiles
magnet tiles are the best, and these ones are so pretty and super versatile
target
toy doll cottage
my best friend has this dollhouse for her kids and im obsessed, its SO CUTE!
amazon
body art markers
temporary tattoo markers! these colors are really pretty and it comes with stencils you can use too
wayfair
5-in-1 game table
this is awesome — a table with billiards, slide hockey, soccer, table tennis, and basketball all in one!
let me know what your kids end up loving. happy shopping!!
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holiday gift guide : for the babies
another gift guide! this one is for the babies, they don’t need much — but a little special something is always fun because who doesn’t like cute baby things!!?!
amazon
muslin baby swaddle
the mushie swaddles are so cute and soft, i love this cherry pattern but they come in soooo many options, you could even get a few as a gift!
etsy
hand embroidered baby swaddle
the hand stitching on this custom swaddle is gorge. they also come in so many pretty patterns
lovevery
lovevery subscription box
we love these for izzy — a subscription box with toys and activities based on their exact age.
amazon
personalized muslin lovey
or if you need something potentially faster, here’s another customized lovey option
amazon
muslin goose lovey
last lovey option, i swear! these are so cute and come in such pretty colors!!
almost makes perfect
baby on board magnet
not to toot my own horn (pun intended) but i think this car magnet would make a great gift!!
west elm
memory box
i love having a box for throwing memories and little treasures into. this is so nice and comes with so much — an envelope for their first haircut, a bag for their first pair of shoes, a matchbox for their first teeth, lots more cute things 🥹
etsy
hand-stitched personalized ornament
these special ornaments would be such a thoughtful gift, we have them (as you might see in the photo!!) and they’re just so meaningful
lalo
the play tunnel
the lalo play tunnel would be so fun and as a bonus, it’s pretty enough to hang out in your living room!
target
hide & find drop box toy
lovevery toys are always so pretty and good quality, and ball drops are great baby gifts!
pottery barn kids
plush duckling rocker
forever in love with this rocker — and you can add their name to it!!
amazon
wooden shopping cart
more ideas for those babies who are just learning to walk — this cart is so sweet
amazon
touch light board
this musical doodle board is so cool — they draw right on the gel pad! great for on the go and restaurants etc. and no mess for the parents, how considerate of you
amazon
baby doll
i got this for an older baby and izzy was OBSESSED with it! couldnt stop kissing her!
amazon
baby phone toy
babies loooove phones — this one has a mirror for “selfies” and cute filters and plays fun sounds
amazon
peacock color toy
such a sweet way to learn colors and again, easy to throw in a bag, purse, etc!
custom board book
this is definitely one of my fave products from artifact uprising, the quality is so good and they are so simple and well designed. here’s how i made mine!
and for even more book options — i also have a bunch of cute ones saved here.
i can’t stand the cuteness!! hope this helps!
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holiday gift guide : for her
i made sure for this gift guide for her that i would only choose things that i would want, so i hope you like it too!! lots of different price points for gifts for your sister, wife, mom, aunt, girlfriends — enjoy!!
amazon
the art of memory collecting
this is so cute! this book is full of ways to use your special photos and other personal treasures
etsy
decorative coffee table book boxes
these pretty books double as storage boxes for remotes, keys — whatever ugly stuff you want to hide inside!
quince
linen scallop edge napkins
i love these napkins so much!! they would look so pretty on a holiday table
mark & graham
canvas zip-top tote
this tote has lots of color and monogram options and bonus points that it’s zippered.
merit
the color set
i’ve been loving merit products so much, this set comes with a tinted face balm and a pretty lipstick
nordstrom
osea bestsellers body care set
this osea body care set would be suchhh a nice gift. use code “ALMOST10”
gldn
gemstone initial pendant
a beautiful take on the initial necklace — love the mix of stones on this
mark & graham
monogrammed travel jewelry case
these mini cases come in lots of colors, i love the printed monogram but you can also get it foil debossed.
terrain
golden bird ornaments
love this ornament set — you could give both to someone or give one to your bff and keep one for yourself, like home alone 2!
hope that helps with your shopping this year!! let me know what caught your eye!
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beautiful holiday cooking essentials from wayfair
this post is sponsored by Wayfair
the holidays are here, they’re here! they’re really here! so naturally that comes with lots of cooking and baking and hosting and gathering and all the cozy vibes! i thought it would be fun to gather up my cooking essentials for holiday meals from Wayfair — from super useful things you’ll use all season like beautiful cookware and wood utensils to what others might not consider technically essentials like a bouche de noel log pan (but who am i to judge how you holiday!)
Wayfair has fast and free shipping so it’s perfect for stocking up on all the things your kitchen needs before all the holidays!
enameled cast iron dutch oven
i can’t imagine making cozy dinners without a dutch oven, this one is especially stunning!
nitro cast Iron skillet
i love the design and the price of this cast iron. useful for dinners but also for dutch babies (one of my go-to quick breakfasts for entertaining now!)
stoneware bakeware set
and i love these mini dutch ovens. they would make for such cute individual desserts or turkey pot pies after thanksgiving!? i shouldn’t write this post hungry!
6-quart air fryer
i know you might not associate air fryers with holiday entertaining, but you are mistaken! there have been many a holiday when i’ve re-crisped latkes or made veggies when we’re out of oven space in mine !
linen tea towels
i just have these tea towels and i love them 🙂 your guests will absolutely judge you for having gross old kitchen towels when they’re strewn about in your kitchen! ok they prob won’t but its a good excuse.
mandoline slicer
i have this mandoline and it’s designed so beautifully, and also safely! it feels way less like i’m going to amputate myself than my old one.
maple and walnut checker cutting board
such a big beautiful cutting board, i can just picture a roast sitting here waiting to be carved 🙂 did i mention i’m hungry?!
wooden kitchen tool set
i truly love a flat edged wood utensil, i feel like nothing scrapes the bottom of your pan quite like it! i also love the rich tones of this wood set!
little wooden spoons
the cutest little wood spoons for tasting while you cook, or i like to use them for serving sauces and such.
stainless steel roasting pan
i don’t know why this oval shaped roasting pan seems so much more special to me, but i think it’s because it feels very french! lol.
olive wood carving knife and fork set
you simply (most likely) can’t host without carving your entree! love this set and really want to upgrade now
ruffled baking dish
another beautiful baking dish, i love the ruffles and i’m putting this on my xmas list!
speckled stoneware loaf pan
a cute speckled loaf pan for all your pumpkin loaves and can i have some?!
round brilliance bundt cake pan
i guess when you get to a certain age you’re drawn to fun bundt cake pans. is that a thing?! haha
round fluted cake pan
i own one just like this and it makes for such an amazing looking cake, here’s an example!
buche de noel yule log pan
again, i am not going to assume what’s an essential and what isn’t for you — but if you make buche de noel or even want to start, i love a tradition!!!
food heating mat
life changing for hosting big meals! you can plop all your dishes down on top to stay warm!
nylon potato masher
the most cumbersome thing to ever sit in a kitchen, but also so useful! i love love the design of this one!
kate spade striped oven mitts
cute striped oven mitts because i can’t be the only one whose oven mitts look like they were in an actual fire.
any holiday cooking staples that i missed?!
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holiday gift guide : for him
this is always the hardest gift guide for me! i try to find things that aren’t all cliche “guy stuff” but still be… guy stuff ?! i think i found lots of cool things that i know my husband and brother would for sure like!
aarke carbonator
the most handsome sparkling water maker ever!! love a gift that’s for him and for you lollll
amazon
nespresso lattissima espresso machine
we are both obsessed with our nespresso machine — and it’s by far the best looking model they have!! best gift ever.
williams sonoma
ooni koda 12 pizza oven
if you have the budget and he loves to make pizza — this pizza oven is amazing
uncommon goods
grilled personal pizza maker
and if you REALLY want to spend less, but he does in fact love making pizza — this little pizza maker makes brick-oven style pizza on the grill
amazon
smart meat thermometer
this thermometer will actually tell you how long to cook your meat and how long to let it rest!
uncommon goods
make your own hot sauce kit
speaking of cliche guy stereotypes, they love hot sauce right? (well mine hates spicy lol) the cutest hot sauce making kit, i feel like this would be so fun!!
amazon
portable crock-pot
this little handsome device is a portable meal warmer for the guys who like their lunches hot!!
amazon
RFID blocking slim leather wallet
an RFID blocking wallet that also pops up your credit cards!! i got gid this wallet for xmas one year and he’s soooo picky and GUESS WHAT HE LOVES IT.
amazon
portable neck fan
guys just loooove to complain about how hot it is right?! i got gid a portable neck fan and we use it often!! especially at disneyland lol.
amazon
bowflex 840 kettlebell
this kettlebell is so cool– you can adjust the weight of it to range from 8-40 pounds.
best buy
powerbeats wireless earbuds
i looked online and powerbeats seem to be better quality than airpods AND i have tiny ears and i hate putting things inside them but i think these are actually not that bad at all. plus they come in this nice beige color haha
Lo & sons
catalina deluxe weekender bag
this is the best weekender bag in my opinion! the bottom section unzips for shoes or toiletries and it’s so convenient when you’re packing/unpacking — also comes in a bunch of colorways
tuckernuck
olive wax hanging washbag
upgrade his travel bag with this nice hanging washbag, it’s waxed and such a nice color
mark & graham
essential tech folder
i love this tech folio that can be monogrammed — it comes in darker colors as well but of course this one is my favorite
BÉIS
the dopp kit
a dopp kit that opens wide is so clutch, this one also has a bottom compartment and is a really nice big size.
amazon
cordless beard trimmer
the most handsome cordless beard trimmer! i think i did this on previous gift guides because it looks so nice
meridian grooming
the up-here trimmer
one more grooming tool — this is definitely the fanciest nose hair trimmer i’ve seen!
amazon
beard conditioner
for the beardy men in your life — get them a nice conditioner, this one sounds like it smells so good
amazon
firsthand supply texturizing hair paste
i just love the packaging of this hair paste, and they make paste for all hair types!
amazon
bamboo face wipes
gid loves these bamboo face wipes! they’re 4-in-1 so they clean, exfoliate, soothe and hydrate
amazon
sleep aid device
if he has trouble sleeping, this device is a light system that teaches you how to fall asleep naturally, the reviews are mixed but it seems to work for a lot of people, maybe worth a shot!!
amazon
smart sleep mask
a bluetooth sleep mask that plays music — in case he likes to listen to podcasts or music to fall asleep this seems amazing
quince
organic comfort stretch chore jacket
such a good-looking chore jacket! love this olive color but comes in some others too
quince
flowknit performance pants
i love that these sweatpants have a straight leg, they come in a bunch of good colors too.
TOMMY JOHN
second skin mid-length boxer brief
gid loves these boxer briefs! you can buy them individually or they also sell them in packs if you want
quince
fleece lined gripper slippers
i love that these slippers are kinda more like socks — i know particular gid would prefer that haha
nike
blazer low ’77 vintage sneakers
i love these classic looking nikes, i got them for gid one year and he loves them too
target
men’s crew socks
idk about you but my husband is particular about socks and lots of other things haha — he has tried so many pairs of socks over the years but really likes these crew socks — they’re much simpler and less expensive than the popular ones. gid’s review: “the logo is hidden, they’re the perfect weight and they don’t have that dorky arch thing”
amazon
pill box
the most chic pill organizers ever?! a very useful little gift if you need one more thing for him
amazon
magnetic bottle hanger
sorry sorry so cliche that men like beer but what other gift guide would i put this on?! lol — these are magnetic strips that attach to the ceiling of the fridge and hold beer bottles!
crate & barrel
prospect decanter
this really handsome decanter that’s also maybe a gift for you haha
anthropologie
whiskey stones
okayyyyy again, maybe more on the cliche side but these are some pretty whiskey stones
amazon
usb flashlight
i dont know why guys love flashlights but they really do, this one is really sleek and rechargeable
amazon
tushy bidet toilet seat attachment
we all know how much time dudes like to spend in the bathroom so why not make it even more enjoyable
amazon
sonos ray soundbar
we got this soundbar and are so happy with it! i love that it’s compact and white, guys will love that it’s a soundbar.
amazon
arlo video doorbell
a sleek smart doorbell that’s also a security camera, plus it’s made by “arlo” so obviously had to include
amazon
portable magnetic phone charger
this is such a cool charger — you can stand it up on a surface or fold it up on the back off your phone for on the go
amazon
rechargeable hand warmer
probably something they don’t have! a cute little hand warmer for running, playing golf, commuting — anywhere! this could also be a great stocking stuffer
uncommon goods
create your own video game set
a cute little console that builds and runs retro arcade games! it says it’s for kids but my big kid husband wants it haha
amazon
insulated tumbler
a really handsome water bottle in such a great color — for hot and cold drinks!
amazon
double wall reusable coffee cup
gid is his obsessed with this coffee cup because it’s lightweight, microwavable, dishwasher safe and fits in cupholders. he is picky about coffee cups because he doesn’t want a thermos that he can’t keep reheating lol
amazon
portable espresso maker
i will forever think this is cool! perfect for the campers or travelers on your list who can’t live without their caffeine
amazon
the book of dads
this would be really sweet — a book of essays about fatherhood, great gift for the dads
amazon
smart moleskin notebook set
a smart moleskin notebook with pen! i know my guy would love this
that’s what i got this year! let me know what you’re gifting!
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holiday gift guide : for the cook
another gift guide! for all your loved ones who are always in the kitchen, i gathered a bunch of unique, stylish finds in all different price points that would make such good gifts if i do say so myself.
crate & barrel
mixing bowl set
terracotta mixing bowls that are pretty enough to serve from, non breakable and have lids
amazon
5-piece ceramic bakeware set
i love how the pieces in this set fit together, so tidy and satisfying
our place
always pan 2.0
the prettiest (and most coveted) pan — almost everyone in my family now has one because it’s the best gift!! if you don’t know about the our place pan, you can use it for everything (steaming, frying, boiling, etc) and it’s so well designed
etsy
herb stripper
i got an herb stripper a few years ago and it’s pretty life changing if you use fresh herbs often, not to mention it’s handsome and inexpensive
amazon
automatic pan stirrer
an automatic pan stirrer with a timer. you just put this in the pan when the recipe calls for continuous stirring
walmart
6-quart air fryer
our air fryer!! this thing looks so good and works so well, we got it in white but this green color is so nice too. if you know someone who has been sort of wanting one, just get it for them, they’ll be so happy. i gave our old one to a friend and he said it’s a magical chamber lol
amazon
silicone food huggers
silicone food huggers — they’re super versatile to go on fruits, veggies, cans etc. they’re also inexpensive and would make good stocking stuffers too
williams sonoma
ultimate garlic grinder
okay didn’t know i needed this but now i do — a garlic grinder! you just pop the garlic in and twist to chop. no more smelly garlic smell all over your hands or cutting boards, hooray!! and bonus, it’s pretty and will look good on the counter
amazon
reusable bowl covers
love bowl covers!! they are easy to use and wash and so convenient for storing foods or transporting them
material
the 8” knife
the best kitchen knives — we love these. the 8″ chef knife would make a perfect gift and if you really want to go for it, they have a trio of knives too. you can also personalize them!
messermeister magnetic knife block
a really handsome way to store all their knives
magnolia
green speckle pie dish
i feel like it can be hard to find pretty pie dishes but this one definitely is!! love the edges so much
williams sonoma
rolling pie crust cutter set
so they can make beautiful pie edges! you could pair this with the pie dish for an extra great gift
amazon
staub magnetic wood trivet
this is cool — a pretty wood trivet that sticks to your pots and pans
amazon
braided rope bundt cake pan
the gold bundt pan i use every year to make my apple snacking cake
amazon
striped oven mitts
one can never have enough oven mitts. i love how festive these ones feel but they also come in lots of other cute colors
amazon
adjustable measuring spoon
so much easier than a drawer full of mismatched unorganized spoons
flamingo estate
winter harvest persimmon vinegar
fancy vinegar (in pretty packaging) is always a hit in my opinion
olive oil cake mix
specialty cake mix they probably don’t already have! one of my fave cake flavors ever
amazon
that sounds so good
you can’t go wrong with a beautiful cookbook! i’ve been wanting carla lalli musics cookbook
and if those don’t seem like a match, i have a whollllle list of beautiful cookbooks on my amazon storefront
and that’s it! what are you getting for the cooks on your list this year?
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holiday frame tv art
i loveee being able to change out the art on my frame tv for holidays, this year i wanted to get new art and scoured etsy, so i figured i’d share them all with you! so many pretty ones, and they’re all super inexpensive as well!
i will warn you if you’re not into vintage snowy paintings, you may not like this post lol — that is definitely the majority of the ones i liked! AND i even included some pretty options for hanukkah.
and ps, if you need help changing the art on your tv, i shared how i do it super easily here.
vintage winter couple
i love this one
hanukkah frame tv art
feeling so festive now!! tag me if you choose something from this list — i always love to see 🙂
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printable holiday bucket list
i’ve made bucket lists in the past, but somehow not a holiday specific one! i love the month of december so much, i always have so much i want to do so i love a bucket list because i can put everything in one place!!
i designed two versions, the one with tons of lines for you overly ambitious people and one with only a few lines for those of you who don’t want to write a novel.
and i filled up our entire list in case you need some inspo!
