Archives for October 2023

If you’re struggling with organization issues, the first steps to decluttering can be the hardest. Knowing where to start and staying motivated are crucial to having an orderly home. Easy to talk about but hard to do! Some areas of organization are easy for me. Others are not.

In this blog I turn to my sister, Nettie Winsor, owner of Practically Perfect in Every Room, to give us some tips on those first steps to decluttering.

OVERWHELMED

Do you ever get overwhelmed by all the STUFF you have? I know I do. I might be great at organizing events and my schedule, but when it comes to that clutter, I’m not so great. My sister, Nettie, on the other hand is a professional organizer. She can take any space and magically transform it into something beautiful and useful — much like Mary Poppins.

I asked her if she ever gets overwhelmed by a job. She said yes and added, “Remember that feeling overwhelmed is normal. It happens every time. But it always, always — 100% of the time — comes together.”

When I struggled organizing my newly remodeled kitchen, she gave me great advice. I browse her Facebook page (and text her) and always come away with little tidbits. For my blog I wanted to share some of her advice, so I asked her to give me tips on “getting organized at home”. She basically laughed and said that’s too broad of a subject.

Instead, she sent me a little snippet that fits perfectly with her suggestions for my kitchen.

Remember that feeling overwhelmed is normal. It happens every time. But it always, always — 100% of the time — comes together.

Nettie Winsor – Practically Perfect in Every Room

FIRST STEPS FOR DECLUTTERING

“Clutter can be more than just visually unpleasing. It can negatively affect your time, patience, productivity, relationships, and definitely your peace of mind. Most people who are considering organizing are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.”

Completed in a Few Hours

“It is important to start with something that can be started and completed in a few hours.” That makes perfect sense, right? The smaller the job, or the easier the success, the more likely we are to NOT feel overwhelmed. She continues:

“Preferably, start with a space that holds nothing of real sentimental value.” BAM! There’s my problem in a nutshell. I am way too sentimental. (She’ll attest to this.) I get started and can’t decide what to let go of. Pretty soon I’m reminiscing about this and that, and the hours have flown by and the project is still unfinished. GREAT advice.

Cabinets

“I always suggest starting under a bathroom or kitchen sink.” These really are great places to start. How many sentimental items are going to be there? Plus, they’re really small. When I was doing my kitchen, everything was cabinets, so tackling one at a time really was easy.

What’s the Purpose?

As I struggled with organizing — specifically those dreaded, deep, corner cabinets — Nettie asked the all-important question, “What’s this cabinet’s purpose? Do you have specific items you can group together?” I ended up with a hot drink shelf and a popcorn shelf — both with a Lazy Susan to access all the ingredients

Now, it seems pretty obvious with under the kitchen or bathroom sink, doesn’t it? But maybe your bathroom sink is starting to look like mine and you have everything from medicine, to cleaning supplies, to jewelry, to personal hygiene items. Is the purpose really to hold the jewelry? Is there a better place for the medicine? Hmmmm . . . Good question.

Containers

“My favorite bins for under sink organization are magazine or book bins. They are deep and narrow, allowing you to easily reach items in the back of the cabinet, while preventing them from falling over.”

Practically Perfect in Every Room also suggests that you purchase containers that are the same — and NOT round. Round containers leave you with empty spaces. You want to fill every corner. Nettie despises wasted space. She even cut notches in a container to accommodate a shelving support.

If you’re decluttering your food cabinets, Nettie has some great advice for that, as well. “You might not be in the market for bins just yet. You might not want to bother with them at all. Still, those boxes and bags can be so messy. They tear vertically and leave flour or cereal (or whatever else) all over the box and counters, and they’re so hard to pour.

“Here’s a very inexpensive and easy solution, especially for items you don’t run out of very quickly. Empty the contents into a ziplock bag and place back in the box. It also keeps pesky bugs at bay. This is something your kids can do. Give them a canning funnel, have them work in pairs, and high-five them for a messy job well done!”

SUCCESS FEELS GOOD

Once one area is decluttered, you’ll be surprised how motivated you are to move on to the next. It’s addicting. Nettie is completely addicted to container stores. I haven’t quite hit that level yet. She says, “You’ll be surprised at how many times you go back to admire your work! And the feeling of accomplishment will motivate you for the next task.”

I absolutely love my deep cabinets now, where before I despised them. With the first steps to decluttering out of the way, and a few organizational tools, I love using those cupboards now. I hope you’ll find the same inspiration. If you want some more tips from Practically Perfect in Every Room, visit her Facebook.

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Remember how I said “Good question” earlier? Great questions are vital in reaching goals, like reaching those first steps in decluttering. Check this article out on 7 Steps for Goal Setting.

Speaking of kitchen sinks, when was the last time you washed your dishes by hand? Maybe you’ll find these 13 tips handy.

YOUR TURN

Do you have some great tips getting organized? What first step for decluttering would you include? Do you have a cabinet you’re aching to get started on now? I know I do.

Winter is a time when many people seek the comfort of drinks to warm you up. These soothing beverages not only keep us warm but also provide a sense of cheer and tranquility during the cold winter days.

This blog will explore a variety of non-alcoholic drinks to warm you up that are perfect for warding off the chill. Whether you’re heading out the door or grabbing a cozy blanket by the fire, these beverages will keep you toasty from the inside out.

NUMEROUS WARM DRINK OPTIONS

Thankfully, there are many options these days for warm drinks. If you need a boost of energy, a drink to improve your health, or something to aide your sleep, we’ve got you covered. Try these with family and friends or cuddle up by yourself for some stress relief.

Hot Chocolate

Nothing screams winter comfort quite like a mug of hot chocolate. This classic drink, made from milk, cocoa powder, and sugar, is a favorite among people of all ages. Some variations include adding marshmallows or whipped cream on top for an extra touch of indulgence. Click here for some great add-in ideas. I love sitting by the fireplace or outside under the stars with a mug of hot chocolate. It’s a family favorite!

Tea

Teas are a fantastic choice for those looking for a warm, comforting drink with health benefits.

Chamomile tea, for instance, is known for its calming properties, making it a perfect evening drink. Peppermint tea can aid digestion, while Ginger tea can help fight off colds — a common occurrence in January and February. There are many herbal teas for about any ailment you’re looking for. Not to mention, you can make your own!

Matcha tea is full of antioxidants that aid your heart, weight, and other aspects of health. Another favorite is Chai tea with its many variations. Irene‘s favorite is Sweet & Spicy, by Good Earth. The originator of this blog loves the orange and cinnamon combined with spicy ingredients like ginger and anise.

Warm Apple Cider

Warm apple cider is a delightful drink that brings the taste of fall into winter. Made by heating apple juice with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, this drink is both warming and comforting. It’s like a cozy blanket in a cup. My son absolutely loves apple cider. When he lived at home, he wanted it every winter!

Wassail

This traditional communal Yuletide drink, can be enjoyed all winter long. Wassailing was the precursor to caroling. It has turned into a Christmas drink but is basically a toast to a healthy and prosperous harvest the following year. (Anyone from England who knows the great backstory and current tradition, feel free to comment. We would love that!)

Although it appears as a glorified version of apple cider, the taste combinations are varied and complex — orange, apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and cranberries. It can contain wine, ale, or other liquor, but it doesn’t have to. Although I’ve never had it, Irene’s Mom fixed it during the holidays to have after they came home from caroling. Her mom taught them this song:

Hot Lemon Water

Hot lemon water is not only warming but also incredibly beneficial for your health. The Vitamin C in the lemon boosts your immune system, and combined with honey, helps fend off winter colds, while the warm water aids digestion. Singers should use this drink to break down mucus and aid in reducing inflammation. This drink is an absolute must anytime of the year! It is so good for you, hot or cold.

Coffee

For many, a hot cup of coffee is a morning staple. There’s so many options where coffee is concerned. Ground or whole beans, caffeinated or decaf, dark, medium or blonde roast, latte and espresso. The options are endless. You can get a wide variety of flavors now, too. Personally, I am not a coffee drinker. You’ll have to share your favorites in the comments.

Coffee Alternatives

If you’re sensitive to caffeine or trying to cut back, there are plenty of coffee alternatives.

Chicory coffee

This caffeine-free substitute tastes remarkably similar to coffee and is made from chicory root. Studies suggest it can help bowels, blood sugar, and inflammation, but can also cause allergic reactions in some people.

Budget Friendly

I don’t know if any of you have heard of Postum, but my mom loved to drink it on a chilly day. Irene’s mom made Pero. Both these can be found at grocery stores or on Amazon.

Mushroom Coffee

There are a variety of new alternatives out there like Mushroom Coffee, known for its many vitamins and nutrients that promote heart, brain, gut, and immune health without the affects of caffeine.

Cacao

This chocolaty version of coffee has a slower energy boost without the slump afterward. It has a track record of boosting cognitive function and enhancing mood. It’s rich in fiber, magnesium, and antioxidants.

Warm Milk and Honey

This is one of my Grandpa’s favorites! I think every turn of the century book I’ve read mentions having warm milk before bed. Experts can’t explain exactly why warm milk helps sleep, but milk contains a large amount of tryptophan which your body needs to make melatonin and serotonin, two chemicals that aid in sleep. So does it have to be warm? Perhaps it’s the ritual of “bedtime”. Anything warm and comforting helps me sleep better. Give it a try and see if your sleep improves.

Golden Milk

Another option is golden milk, a warm drink made with turmeric, milk, and a touch of sweetener. Turmeric is a wonderful anti-inflammatory, so people with chronic inflammation will benefit greatly from this great drink.

Warm Drink Must-Have: Honey

If you want your warm drink a little sweeter, add some honey! Mmmm, delicious!! AND Studies have shown that honey produces anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimetastatic, and antiproliferative effects.

DRINKS TO WARM YOU UP

This blog has covered a wide variety of drinks to warm you up. Hopefully they will brighten your day and help you get through the chill and blues that accompany the dark days of winter. Whether you’re a fan of the classic hot chocolate, the health-boosting herbal teas, or the comforting warm apple cider, there’s a drink for everyone. They are wonderful memory makers to have with the ones you love. So, the next time the winter chill hits, why not try one of these beverages? They’re sure to keep you cozy all winter long.

YOUR TURN

I am sure you have family drink favorites. What is yours? Have you noticed any health benefits? If there’s a drink others must try, tell us what it is and why.

If you’re looking for some new ornaments this year, these diy gnome Christmas ornaments are clever and fun to do with your kids. Gnomes are all the rage lately, and will look cute tucked among the branches of your tree.

In this blog, we’ll show you how we painted, assembled, and decorated these darling little diy gnome Christmas ornaments. My 2 and 4-year-old grandsons even made their own.

LONG-LASTING CHRISTMAS TRADITION

When I was in college and engaged to be married, one of the morning shows had a segment on Christmas traditions. One of the ideas they highlighted was having a new ornament for your children each year, starting when they are born. When they turn 18 (or 20 whatever. . .) and leave home, they will already have ornaments for their first tree. I loved this idea and implemented it.

Every year my kids and foster kids get a new ornament. Sometimes it reflects something that happened during the year, like if they got a cat. Other ornaments reflect their nickname or hobby. There are a lot of really great customizable ornaments available on Amazon. Some years we make homemade ornaments, like this year.

I saw a craft during the summer, where they took different shaped wooden pieces to make a gnome. At Dollar tree, I found a witches hat, a ghost, and an apple ornament. PERFECT! I also found some wooden gnomes that were ready to paint, but I liked this idea better because I got more ornaments for the money (8 instead of 3). The wooden bead I found last year at Walmart for a different craft. They’re actually doll heads.

Directions

Design

The first thing I do is look for some inspiration pieces. I scour Pinterest and other social media looking for gnomes designs I like. My 4-year-old grandson wanted to do blue — his favorite color — but his mom ix-nayed that because her tree is only reds and greens. I argued that blue is winter, but alas, mom won out.

The body can be a different color than the hat. The beard can be white or gray or brown or tan. You can paint any design you want, and decorate with any number of items. We dug through my craft drawers, pulled out paint and brushed, filled the water container, and got the paint pallets ready.

Paint

Throw down some paper towels, newspaper, an old sheet, or anything you have to protect your table. To save your kids’ clothes, grab an apron, an old t-shirt that’s slightly too big, or have them wear clothes they can get messy. We put one of my old shirts on them and then secured it like a ponytail in the back to take up the slack, tucking the tail inside the shirt.

Now paint! The body and the beard don’t need to be painted all the way, since some of it will be covered over. Put one piece at a time in front of the kids. While that one dries do another, and so on. The Momma helped a lot with the 2-year-old, but let the older son do his own thing. I went with an ombre look for my seaside gnome.

Crisis Averted

Here’s a fun thing that happened. The younger boy was painting green and the older, red. YB reached over with his green paintbrush and made a big smear across the red body of OB. Oh NO!! Not to worry. Do you know why? Because to make red darker, you don’t add black. You add green — its opposite! So I taught a little color theory and showed OB how to mix red paint into the green smear and ta-da!! We now had a darker red body. (Thank you, Child #4 for the art lesson this summer.)

Details

When one layer is dry, add more detail. We showed OB how to make dots by dipping the handle of the paintbrush in the paint and touching it to the surface. You can leave them solid or create stripes, plaids, polk-a-dots, etc. My daughter made a plaid hat for her YB by making stripes in both directions with a couple different colors of paint.

The nose can stay natural wood or add some flesh tone and touch of pink. I love this step because it personalizes it. Brown tones and a black beard for my Native American kids.

You can use a blow dryer to get everything ready for the the next step, or go have some snacks while you wait for everything to dry. Apples and peanut butter. Yum!!

Assemble DIY Gnome Christmas Ornament

When everything is dry, glue the ghost (beard) to the apple (body) and then the hat to the ghost. Lastly, you will glue on the nose. Attach the string to hang it and be done, or you can add some decorations.

Decorations

The grandsons chose buttons and some cute holiday doo dads for theirs. I decided to go with a warm weather Christmas ornament from my earlier post, so I added shells and pearls along with snowflakes. I know. There aren’t snowflakes on the beach, but I liked it.

MAKING MEMORIES

Better than making ornaments is making memories together. Don’t forget to put the year on the back of each ornament so you can look back and remember which year they were made or given. You can also put the age of the child that made it. Our kids always love decorating the tree each year. They talk about the memories. “Remember when Tuffy chewed this ornament?” “I remember Dad making this reindeer. Poor thing.” (Dad or the deer?)

Some years I put up my own tree with matching ornaments, but the kids have always had free reign of their tree. They hang their own ornaments and some years we have cookies and hot chocolate. Other years we just a can’t wait for it to get done. Mom hands out the ornaments and Dad hands out the hooks. And then I try really hard to resist the urge to move the ornaments to better spots. They actually do a really good job (because we talk about artistic balance as we decorate). Teaching teaching teaching.

It is a tradition that will be over next year, as we’ll finally be empty nesters. If I’m lucky, the grandkids will come make ornaments with me again.

YOUR TURN

What ornament tradition do you have? Are you a fan of the gnome fad? Do you put your tree up before or after Thanksgiving?

New beginnings call for new goals. Whether it’s a new year, new month, or new stage in life. These 7 steps for goal setting will put you on the right course for achievement.

In this blog we’ll talk about the 7 steps for goal setting as outlined in the book “Soaring Mind Power” written by Larry D. Judd and Irene W. Hunt.

SOARING MIND POWER

In 2013, my dear friend commissioned me to help her father refine the goal pamphlet he’d created for his family and make it into a book. After three years of hard work, “Soaring Mind Power” released in June of 2016. It was an amazing experience. Larry created the bulk of the concepts in this book, and I brought them to life with words. Adopting Larry’s fun voice style and story-telling ability made this project enjoyable, and I learned a lot. He and my Momma have a lot in common.

I love the SMART approach to setting goals and have used it in my health educator days. We cover this in the 7 steps for setting goals. SMART is an acronym for:

• S – Specific: your goal must concisely answer the question of what it is you want to accomplish.
• M – Measurable: you must be able to measure progress by breaking the goal into specific actions.
• A – Attainable: the action you want to happen must actually be reachable in a realistic time frame.
• R – Relevant: your desired goal should relate to your overall values and long-term objectives.
• T – Timed: setting a time to reach your goal helps you attain it.

In “Soaring Mind Power”, we break these steps down even further. The following blog is a compilation of Chapter 4, Planning for Successful Goals. We call it The Seven Stepping Stones to Goal Achievement. This approach helps you set SMART goals.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESSFUL GOALS

Do you have a dream list of everything you have ever wanted to do or become? Is it a list of impossible dreams? No! Dreams can come true . . . IF you know how to make them happen. Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true — if we have the courage to pursue them.” The goal systems listed here will assist you in the pursuit of your dreams.

The first step is to ask yourself a question. What do you want to do or become? Compose a dream list, and let your mind soar. See yourself as you can become. Write the ideas as they come. Then choose the one that you want to focus on. I suggest starting with the simplest, to gain momentum from success.

There are several tools to help you accomplish your goals. The first move will be to look at your goal and dissect it into smaller, manageable objectives. Organize a weekly plan to accomplish these objectives. Before you know it, you’ll be soaring high and seeing your dreams become reality!

7 STEPPING STONES TO GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

Let’s explore ways we accomplish these goals that never seem to get finished. Sometimes the task at hand overwhelms us. Other times we simply don’t know where to begin. Apathy might plague us occasionally. We must first have the desire.

Your desire might come from fear of consequences, a desire for obedience, or a longing for more peace, prosperity, and joy. Whatever the reason, let it be the catalyst for action. How? It’s so hard! My Momma received a humorous card from a friend that said, “It’s hard to soar like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys.” Your attitude about your goal, and the people you surround yourself with play a large part in your success.

Picture yourself on one side of a wide, swift-moving stream. Your goal is on the other side, and you do not have a bridge to get there. Have you ever played, We’re Going On a Lion Hunt? “Can’t go under it; can’t go over it; can’t go around it. We’ve got to go through it!” Going through that river is a lot easier if you have stepping stones taking you inch-by-inch and foot-by-foot to your destination.

We’ve created a worksheet to assist you in this endeavor, but as I work on getting it available as a free download, you can use a blank piece of paper.

Stepping Stone #1: Guidance

The first step is to have desire. If desire is low, look for inspiration — through motivational material, prayer, meditation, and guidance from whatever Higher Source that wants you to succeed. Study what you desire and ask for help from your Divine Source of Power. That power is commonly known as God, but you may refer to it with whatever term rings true for you.

Stepping Stone #2: Define

After attaining desire, the second step is to define your goal. Be specific. “Be a good parent” is a great goal, but what exactly is it that you want to accomplish, because chances are, you’re already a good parent. Why do you want what you want? “Spend more one-on-one time with my children” is more specific. “Grow my business” is worthwhile and important. It’s not specific, though. “Increase my sales by 25%” spells out specifically what you want to reach.

I suggest you start with questions, as defined in Chapter Two of “Soaring Mind Power”. What can I do to become a better parent? When do I consider my business to be growing? See how these questions can lead you to your goal?

Stepping Stone #3: Minor Goals

The third step is to break your main goal into smaller tasks — objectives — or minor goals. This may take some research and studying on your part. What exactly do you have to do to accomplish your goal? WRITE down your minor goals. For example, your minor goals for spending more one-on-one time with your children might be:

• Schedule a date night in my planner with each child once a week.
• Put down my phone when my child is talking to me and look them in the eyes.
• Take the kids to school instead of them riding the bus so I have more time with them at home and in the car.
• Have a different child help me make dinner each night.
• Eat dinner at the table together and ask open-ended questions about their day.

Whatever your main goal is, create minor goals that are also specific — giving time and frequency to measure their success.

Stepping Stone #4: Determine Value

Utilizing questions again will cement in our brain why it is important for us to accomplish our goal. Giving meaning to our actions leads to success. Through our research of the minor goals it will take to reach our major goal, we come across advice and experience of others. We are inspired as we think about why each step is important. By defining value, you might actually eliminate some objectives you originally thought were important but that might not be useful.

For example, having the children help with dinner not only gives you one-on-one time, but it give you a chance to teach an important life skill. On the other hand, scheduling a date night for each child once a week might not be practical. The value is outweighed by the reality of time. Rework that minor goal, or choose something completely different: perhaps scheduling a date night once a month or reading them a story before bed.

Stepping Stone #5: Identify Obstacles

Every goal is going to have obstacles that stand in our way. Be realistic. This is easy for the cynics, slightly harder for the optimists. Return to the task of asking questions. “Soaring Mind Power” gives suggestions for using provocative questions in chapter five.

• What skill/knowledge do I lack in order to achieve the goal?
• Does this goal require a financial obligation?
• Is it going to be hard for me to stay on task?
• Are there time constraints that are going to make this complicated?
• Can I do this alone, or will it require help from outside sources?

Brain surf every obstacle you can think of. There might be many or few. When you’ve identified obstacles, move on to the sixth step.

Stepping Stone #6: Create an Action Plan

Creating an plan of action is an important step. How are you going to go about implementing your plan? Write down your timeline. Use a planner. Identify who will help or give you support. Be sure to include a timeline for each objective. Divide these goals into manageable chunks of time. You’ll find useful tips called “The Fabulous Four” in chapter seven if you choose to use the book in creating an action plan. They include Brain Surfing, Ten Helping Hand Keywords, Idea Doodles, and 9 Minutes – 9 Questions.

Stepping Stone #7: Implement, Analyze, and Adjust

Implementing the plan, of course, is the most important step. But we often forget to step back and analyze how it’s going. Step back and evaluate. The saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees,” might apply here. If your nature is to be positive and excited (like me) this might be a difficult task. Once a plan is established, just go for it, right? Others, like Larry, are more practical and logical. The holes in the plan may be slightly more evident once underway.

Examine your progress and adjust for things that might not be working. Taking the kids to school instead of them riding the bus might be taking more time and gas money than you anticipated. Maybe cutting the number of days is a wiser choice — driving them Tuesdays and Thursdays, instead.

SUCCESS!

As you implement your plan, you’ll begin to accomplish your objectives — each of which is a stepping stone towards your destination. Each success will rejuvenate you. Envision yourself flying higher and higher. Acknowledge your accomplishments and soar!

I’ve seen personal success in these 7 steps for goal setting and hope that you will as well. For more from Soaring Mind Power, click here.

YOUR TURN

Please share your strategies for reaching goals. Have you used any of these steps before? What is your greatest hurdle in setting goals? How often do you reach your New Year’s resolution? Do you think any of these suggestions will help you be more successful in setting SMART goals?

Winter indoor birthday party ideas come in handy when cold weather keeps you from celebrating outdoors. Every kid wants to play in the snow and build a snowman, am I right?

This blog will give you plenty of winter indoor birthday party ideas that will make you the best mom on the block, whether you have too much snow or live where you wish you did. Games, food, decorations, and much more!

WINTER BIRTHDAYS

I did not have any kids with winter birthdays until I started doing foster care. Then all the sudden, it seemed like every birthday fell in cold weather. We don’t live where there’s a lot of snow — just cold — so there was no way to predict what we’d be able to do outside. Just as well, because I don’t really like the cold that much. I grew up in the Valley of the Sun. You almost always do parties outside.

The party I threw for my 6-year-old foster son was a winter indoor birthday party, complete with snow, snowflakes, hot chocolate, and building snowmen. These ideas go well for ages 5 to 10. Here’s the categories for throwing an indoor winter birthday party.

• Invitations
• Decorations
• Games
• Food
• Send-home prizes
• Other Possibilities

PREPARATION

I suppose the first step to having a party is knowing how many people you are going to invite. For me, 6 to 8 kids is plenty. I usually invite my max (let’s say 10), knowing that not all the kids are going to come.

You are going to need adult reinforcements. Ask one of the parents, a friend, or an older child to join you for crowd control and to help you transition from one activity to another.

Planning and spreading my to-do list out is vital. I suggest you decide ahead of time what you can do way ahead, a day or so in advance, and the day of. If you have older kids that can help, that’s even better. Delegation is my best friend.

Examples of way ahead would be: invitations, buying supplies, and asking a another adult to assist. A day or so in advance might be: making food (cake/cupcakes/cookies, soup, snacks), getting supplies out and organized in another room if available, preparing send-home gifts, letting your helper know what they need to do, and cleaning (only the rooms people will see — haha). The day of includes decorating, setting food out and preparing food that needs to be ready fresh, setting up games, and having everything ready.

INVITATIONS

You can make this as elaborate or simple as you desire. I honestly can’t remember what I did — probably bought a fill-in-the-blank at the store or designed a quick quarter sheet invite with Publisher that I printed and sent to school with him. Canva is a great resource to make invitations, too. Include the date, beginning and ending time, and location. If you want them to RSVP, give them the name and phone number and a deadline. If there’s any special instructions, include that. For example — wear clothes you can get messy in; enter through the side door; or maybe you want everyone to dress up in winter clothes like mittens and scarves or as their favorite Frozen character.

DECORATIONS

I’m not a huge decorator for birthday parties, simply because I don’t usually have the energy. (Weddings are another deal.) I keep it simple with balloons and maybe some streamers. In this case, I used balloons in the shape of his age on a door to another room. For winter, cool colors are great — blue, white, silver, purple, gray, etc. The movie Frozen makes it possible to get a lot of winter-themed decorations. Go all out if that’s your thing. If I had the energy, I might have decirated tge stations with all kinds of snowflakes, snowmen, balloons, banners, and confetti.

Stations make it easy to rotate — for instance front room for games, kitchen for hot chocolate, dining area for food, etc. Part of the decorations can include party hats, necklaces, and noisemakers.

GAMES

There are a lot of fun winter games you can choose from. Here are some ideas:

• Pin the Carrot on the Snowman: have a large snowman on the wall and each child has to attach a carrot to the face while blindfolded.
• Snowball Races: Children must carry a cotton ball on a spoon to one side of the room and back without dropping it. This can be done in teams as a relay or individually.
• Winter wear Relay Race: Kids have to grab the winter clothes out of a box and get all the way dressed and then undressed, putting the clothes back in the box before tagging the next person. The clothes can include a snow suit or coat, hat, gloves, and scarf.
• Snowball Fight: Divide into two teams and stand on opposite sides of the room. Each team has a container full of snowballs. When the music is playing, they can throw the snowballs at each other. When the music stops, they stop and gather snowballs closest to them to replenish their supply. The easiest way to make snowballs is with wadded up paper, but you can also buy soft snowballs by clicking here. Visit Sweet Staci’s and this set comes with a cute bucket to store them in.
• Do You Want to Build a Snowman?: In teams of two, one child wraps the other in a roll of toilet paper from head to foot. They have to put a hat on their head, a scarf around their neck, and large carrot in their mouth. Whoever finishes first, wins.
• Smash the Snowman: Using a ping pong, kids try to knock down a tower of foam cups that are decorated like snowmen.

We chose to do the last two. The kids were darling and had a blast, and we couldn’t stop laughing. You can choose to do prizes for the winners if you like. (I did not.)

FOOD

You can choose to do your party at a meal time and include a warm winter food like soup or chili. I wanted to keep it simple and did ours between mealtimes. We had a mini hot chocolate bar where they custom created their own cups of cocoa.This included marshmallows, crushed peppermint, and butterscotch bits. You could add mini chocolate chips and whip cream, too.

I made the hot chocolate ahead of time in the big white pot, but you can simplify your work for older kids by having the cocoa packets. For older kids, candy canes are fun to stir with. (Younger kids, not so much.)

Instead of a birthday cake, we decorated snowflake sugar cookies and then each child got to put a candle in their cookie and everyone made a wish for the birthday boy. You can also do this with cupcakes. I bought blue and white snowflake sprinkles and crystals to put on the frosting.

This activity ended up being much messier than I anticipated. I underestimated the ability of 6-year-olds to spread frosting. Actually, I guess what I did was forget that the moment one child started using their fingers, the rest would join in. Older kids would probably have been cleaner. But the point was that they had fun. TIP: be sure to have lots of wipes, paper towels, or washcloths handy. (I also thought it might have been a good idea to mention wearing messy clothes.)

SEND HOME PRIZES

One other activity I had was fake snow. After presents were opened and we waited for parents to arrive, I pulled out a large tub of snow I’d made, and they all got to play with the snow on the table. I pre-made little containers of snow for them to take home. If memory serves me correctly, I used conditioner and baking soda. Here are several recipes you can choose from. If your kids are older, they could even make the snow as part of the party.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

There are many more winter indoor birthday party ideas you can choose from. I’ve had movie parties for my older kids, and showing any of the Frozen movies is a good option if you do not have time or money to make the party items. Younger kids don’t sit that long very well, so it’s a super option for the 10 year olds. Grab some pizza, popcorn, candy, and it’s an easy way to eat up 2.5 to 3 hours. Remember to leave enough time for everyone who arrives late plus time to open presents.

If you live in warm-weather climates, you have more options. You can actually go outside and do these activities where there’s more room. They’re also able to make more of a mess without fear of ruining the house. If you have a large sheet or outdoor screen and a projector, that’s a fun place to watch a movie. A winter theme in locations where you don’t experience “winter weather” is a lot of fun. I’ve even heard of some friends of mine getting someone to bring a pickup load of snow to their party, since it’s only about 2 hours from the high country.

A pinata is also a fun activity. I’ve seen some very cute snowflake and snowman pinatas out there.

If your kids are into science, there are great, fun winter science activities you can do. Check out this video by Dad Lab. You can go to Little Bins for Little Hands for directions on doing winter science experiments for kids.

PARTY ON!

In this blog we talked about many winter indoor birthday party ideas. From planning, to prizes. I hope this stirs your imagination and gets you planning something fun for your winter babies — no matter how old they are.

YOUR TURN

I hope you’ll join in and share some of your fun experiences with winter birthday parties. Have you done something fun I haven’t mentioned? What outdoor winter activities do you enjoy in the snow? Or are you like me and hibernate all winter? If you live where there’s warm weather, do you wish you had snow?

The stereotypical Christmas is a wonderful winterland with sleigh bells and carolers bundled in scarves and mittens. But it isn’t always snow-covered trees and stocking by the fire. If you’re looking for warm weather Christmas ideas, look no further.

In this post Staci will share 21 ideas to make your warm weather Christmas fun for the entire family. Whether you live in a warm climate or are vacationing, these ideas will create memories to last a lifetime.

A Lifetime of Warm Christmases

Growing up in Arizona, I’ve had sunny Christmases most of my life. They were wonderful! The weather was beautiful, and we spent a lot of time outdoors. I now live in California and continue to have a warm weather Christmas every year.

Our family loves the sunny San Diego Christmas!  It’s wonderful to enjoy the sun. Plus, you get to be creative and do things a little differently than you would in the snow. Whether you’re inland or at the beach, you can have the Christmas spirit wherever you are!

WARM WEATHER CHRISTMAS IDEAS

Spending Christmas on a beach or in a sunny destination can be a refreshing and unique experience. It’s a great way to break away from traditional holiday norms and create new memories. Whether you’re looking for a tropical paradise, a coastal oasis, or a lush green getaway, there are plenty of destinations around the world that offer a warm weather Christmas. Imagine this holiday season relaxing on the sand, soaking up some rays, and enjoying the festive atmosphere in a new way. Even if you’ve lived in a warm climate for years, here’s list of fun activities that’ll enliven your celebrations.

1. Make sand angels.
2. Look at Christmas lights.
3. Outdoor ice skating.
4. Make tinfoil dinners in a bonfire.
5. Roast marshmallows over a bonfire.
6. Have a snow battle in the backyard.
7. Have an indoor snowball fight with fake snowballs. Plan a surprise attack!
8. Collect sea shells and make Christmas ornaments.
9. Collect sand dollars and make a snowman or ornaments.
10. Make a gingerbread house into Santa’s beach cottage.
11. Attend a local parade or light show.
12. Take a family bike ride with Santa hats on.
13. Build a Santa’s workshop sandcastle.
14. Bake Christmas cookies.
15. Go Christmas caroling.
16. Read your favorite Christmas story under the stars.
17. Trim your tree with tropical Christmas decorations.
18. Go on a Christmas themed scavenger hunt.
19. Have your Christmas Eve dinner outside.
20. Make sand snowman.
21. Go ice blocking.

Make Sand Angels

Just because there’s no snow, doesn’t mean you can’t make angels. Whether you’re at the beach or a park, lie down together and make a whole choir of sand angels. Which makes better sand angels: damp sand or dry sand?

Christmas Lights

Drive around with your windows down and look at Christmas lights together. Do some research and find a neighborhood that has coordinated efforts and decorated their whole neighborhood. Here are five examples People listed, coast to coast (go #2 in Gilbert, AZ!).

Outdoor Ice Skating

What? Ice skating in Florida? Yep! There are many warm climate cities with outdoor skating rinks, like Sand Diego, CA and Tampa, FL. I love the temporary one on Coronado Island that they do especially for Christmas. How is that possible? Check out this article by Accuweather.com to find out.

Foil Dinners in a Bonfire

While everyone is slaving away at their dinner inside with it blizzarding outside, you can be in the balmy breeze letting a bonfire cook yours. If you’ve never made a tinfoil dinner, click here for some great recipes.

Roast Marshmallows Over a Bonfire

Sing with me! Marshmallows roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost . . . well . . . I suppose he’s headed to colder climates. There’s nothing like a crackling fire to feel like winter is really here. Instead of being cooped up in the house in front of a fireplace, you get to go outside and enjoy one al fresco. Try some great roasted marshmallow and other campfire recipes by clicking here.

Snow Battle in the Backyard

Missing the white stuff? Grab a can of shaving cream, or whip cream if you want to be sweet, and have an epic snow battle in the backyard. Give everyone their own can and go to town!

Indoor Snowball Fight

Who said you can’t have a snowball fight without snow? Grab some paper, wad it up, and presto! You have your own snowballs. For a softer version, visit my online store and grab a bucket of super soft snowballs.

Seashell Christmas Ornaments

Spend a day on the beach collecting seashells and then go home and make ornaments for your tree with jute twine and some hot glue.

Sand Dollar Snowman/Ornaments

Sand dollars are perfect for making snowman decorations. It’s like a scavenger hunt to find the right sizes. Maybe you want a bigger one for the bottom and a small for the top. If you need one as an example, or you don’t have a beach, grab these cute guys at my shop.

Santa’s Beach Cottage Gingerbread House

I love making gingerbread houses with my grandkids. Bake your own gingerbread house with these cutters from Amazon, or simply use graham crackers to make Santa his own beach cottage. He’ll be glad to visit after his long flight is over. Crush graham crackers for sand and blue jello for water.

Local Parades or Light Shows

It’s true there are many light shows and parades at Christmas, but how many people get to see them wearing shorts! Maybe the whole family could dress up in elf or Santa costumes wearing Bermuda shorts.

Family Bike Ride with Santa Hats

The weather is perfect for a bike ride. Everyone can don their Santa hats and decorate the bikes with battery-powered lights and festive tinsel.

Build Santa’s Workshop Sandcastle

If you’re visiting the beach, build Santa’s Workshop Sandcastle. Have a competition to see who can build the most elaborate castle or build a giant one together. Click here for a cool set of molds on Amazon.

Bake Christmas Cookies

Everyone loves warm cookies. You can use cactus or palm tree cookie cutters, or simply bake up a family favorite recipe.

Christmas Caroling

Perhaps your family loves to sing. Take the show on the road and go caroling to your neighbors or at the park. If you’re lucky, it’ll be chilly enough to wear a jacket so you’ll look the part.

Christmas Story Under the Stars

Grab a blanket and a flashlight and read THE Christmas story or your favorite Christmas story under the stars.

Tropical Christmas Decorations

Instead of the typical poinsettias and holly, how about using a tropical theme to decorate your home or hotel room? Get a small palm to hang ornaments on. String some paper lanterns or light tiki torches. Make a wreath out of tropical flowers.

Christmas Themed Scavenger Hunt

Since the roads aren’t icy, go on a Christmas scavenger hunt looking for items such as a Santa hat, elf ears, Rudolph’s nose, the largest tree-topper star (for extra points), mistletoe, holly berries, a snow globe, reindeer poop, wrapping paper, etc. Get creative.

Christmas Eve Beach Picnic

Take advantage of the glorious weather and have a Christmas Eve dinner at the beach, a park, or on your backyard patio.

Snowman / Sandman

Don’t feel bad that you can’t build a snowman. Look at the bright side. You can build a Sandman and your hands won’t freeze. Use items you find on the beach or park for his nose, hair, face, and arms.

Ice Blocking

Ice blocking is a great memory from my childhood. Our youth group would go nearly every year. It’s probably the only time our hands actually got cold and our fannies freezing.

TIME TOGETHER IS THE GIFT

These 21 ideas should brighten the dark days of winter and make your holiday one to remember for a long time. Consider starting new traditions using some of these suggestions. The most important thing is to spend quality time with your loved ones and create cherished memories. Enjoy your warm weather Christmas!!

YOUR TURN

Have you done any of these activities? Is there something new you’re going to try? Share a warm weather Christmas memory if you have one. We’d love to hear your suggestions!