Best Keepsakes for Baby’s 1st Christmas

Baby’s first Christmas is so special! There is nothing like experiencing Christmas through a child’s eyes. And the year they experience it for the first time is just so magical.

I always try to do all the Christmas things, make the memories, and create fun keepsakes. I have certain keepsakes I try to do for each child’s first Christmas. These are some of the special keepsakes I like to have to look back on as the kids grow.

Baby’s Handprint Mold Ornament 

I started this tradition when my 2nd child was born (and my oldest was celebrating her 2nd Christmas). You make a handprint mold ornament. I buy mine at the store (Walmart, Target, etc.), but you can also make your own salt dough for the ornament.

Stocking

Everyone needs a Christmas stocking, and baby is no different! Make sure to grab one. I not only get myself a stocking to add to our mantle, but I also get a special “Baby’s 1st Christmas” themed stocking for their memory box.

Baby’s First Christmas Doll

There are so many cute Christmas-themed toys and dolls you can get at any store. They usually have “Baby’s 1st Christmas” specific ones too. I always grab one for my babies. A couple of years it was a reindeer, and one year it was Baby’s first Elf (on a shelf).

Christmas Outfit

Check out your local baby clothes section at Walmart, etc. I always make sure to get a special outfit, dress, or onesie for Baby’s first Christmas.

Christmas Photoshoot 

There are so many cute photo ideas for babies at Christmas. I always do a couple of mini photoshoots for my kids' first Christmas to capture these special moments. 

Christmas Hand/Foot Print Crafts

Another of my favorites for babies is making Christmas crafts using their hand and/or foot prints. I’ve done a mistletoe foot one and a handprint Christmas wreath before. I’ve also done some different Christmas characters (Grinch, penguin, snowman, etc.). Check out Pinterest for some creative ideas!

I hope these ideas help inspire you to create special keepsakes for your little one(s). Are there any other special Baby’s First Christmas keepsakes you’ve done that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for more ideas.

DIY Bluey Birthday Party

For my daughter’s 6th birthday, she decided to go with a theme for one of her favorite TV shows, “Bluey”. As a family favorite show, I was excited to bring this theme to life! And since it is pretty popular, I was able to find quite a bit of stuff for it at local stores. It was also my daughter's golden birthday, so it was fun coming up with ways to incorporate gold pops of color throughout the theme. This is ultimately what I did to make the theme come to life.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Balloon arch kit
• Tape/rope
• Air pump (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. I got a balloon arch kit that came with everything at Target. It had blue and gold colors, so it was a perfect fit for our theme.
2. I blew up the balloons and attached them throughout the balloon arch. Having an air pump was a lifesaver because there were so many balloons!
3. Tape and/or use rope to secure the finished arch to the wall. I used both.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White t-shirt
• Blue, yellow, orange, black, red, white & gold Fabric paint
• Paintbrush

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Using a photo I found on Pinterest, I painted a black outline of both Bluey & Bingo.
2. Mix blue with white paint to create the different blue shades for Bluey and paint. Let dry.
3. Mix orange with white paint to create the different shades for Bingo and paint. Let dry.
4. Paint the yellow spots on Bluey. Let dry.
5. Paint the black spots on both characters. Let dry.
6. Paint the balloon red. Let dry.
7. Paint the number 6 in gold on top of the balloon.
8. Let the entire shirt dry overnight. Then wash or wear right away.

Cake

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• Candle
• Cake topper (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Mix and make the cake. We did an Oreo cake for ours.
2. Add a candle and any cake toppers you want.

Table Set

We used a Bluey tablecloth for eating and presents. We also used Bluey plates and napkins for our food.

Champagne Glasses

We used plastic champagne flutes with gold specks for our drinks to try in the gold colors.

Games

We had fun playing some of the very games they do in the show, like “pass the parcel” and “keepy uppy”. To help tie in the theme even more.

Bluey Ears

One of our favorites was these adorable Bluey ear headbands we got at Target. Both of my kids loved them! I only wish I could have also found a Bingo pair.

I hope these ideas help inspire you to create your own Bluey-themed party and have a great time with it. Happy creating!

New Year's Bucket List Activities

New Year's hasn’t ever been a big There are so many fun things you can do to make New Year's fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Are you in need of some New Year's activity ideas? I have compiled this list of fun activities to add to your New Year's Bucket List!

Decorate for New Years

Break out the winter and New Year's décor. Think lights, mirror balls, confetti, and hats. Change out your garden flag and door wreath. Switch your mantle décor to New Year's items, grab the New Year hats and glasses, get your whistles ready, and put out the festive hand towels.

Make a New Year's Craft

Craft time is always a great activity to do something new. Search Pinterest and find some fun New Year's DIY crafts to make.

Make a New Year's Treat

Think holiday cookies with a New Year's twist! Use sprinkles and decorate with the New Year number, etc. Get creative and have fun with your festive baking!

Have a New Year's Movie Marathon

I am obsessed with holiday movies! There, I said it. And anyone who knows me knows this is 100% accurate. While I specifically love all the Christmas movies, I also love New Year's ones. Anything with a good holiday theme is so fun. There aren’t as many New Year's movies, but there are some. So look some up and press play.

Read New Year's Stories

We love reading holiday-themed books/stories during the holiday season. New Year's is no different. There aren’t nearly as many options out there, but you can still find some.

Do a New Year's Photoshoot

Maybe get a new outfit, get dressed up, and take some photos. You could easily do a cute photoshoot yourself or hire a professional photographer to take them.

Have a New Year's Eve Party

Attend or throw your own New Year’s party. Ring in the new year with friends and family and don’t forget to catch the ball drop at midnight!

Watch the Ball Drop

If you can stay up late, watching the ball drop on television is one of my favorite highlights from childhood. While I don’t always catch it now as an adult, I try whenever I can. You don’t want to miss it.

Watch a New Year's Parade

Get the family together and watch a New Year's parade in person or on television. It’s a fun activity for everyone of all ages.

Have a New Year's Kiss

Whether it’s with a spouse, partner, or child, share a New Year's kiss with someone you love. It doesn’t have to be a romantic kiss on the lips. A kiss on the cheek will do too.

Make New Year's Resolutions/Goals

List out your New Year's resolutions or goals. I personally set goals every year, things I hope to accomplish throughout the year. I love looking back at the end of the year to see how far I’ve come and all that I have accomplished.

Pick a Word for the New Year

I only just started doing this one a couple of years ago, but it is a tradition I now love. Picking one word for the whole new year can seem daunting, but I love finding one and listing out why I picked it and what it means to me.

If you’re looking for some more winter family activities, then check out my Winter Bucket List Activities and Snow Bucket List Activities. What are your favorite New Year's activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy New Year!

Snow Bucket List Activities

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? I’ve never been a huge fan of the snow or cold, but I do enjoy a good snow day for a bit and warming up by the fire with a big mug of hot cocoa. There are so many fun activities to do during a snow day.

Are you looking for some snow activity ideas to do this year with your family? Then look no further. I have compiled this list of fun, winter snow activities to add to your Snow Bucket List!

Go Sledding

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a snow day is sledding. Growing up, this was my favorite activity when it snowed. On our family farm, we had hills and lots of fun places to go sledding. I have so many fun memories sledding in the wintertime. And I can’t wait to be able to take my kids sledding one day too.

Make a Snow Angel

Snow angels are one of the best snow activities! It is fun for kids (and adults) of all ages, and you can easily make them even with little snow or snow that isn’t good enough to pack for a snowman. Whenever I am around snow, I always make a snow angel!

Have a Snowball Fight

There is nothing like a good snowball fight. As a kid, I used to love balling up snowballs and throwing them unexpectedly at my siblings. You can have a snowball fight with a couple of people or a big group, and it’s just as fun either way.

Build a Snowman

“Do you want to build a snowman?” If there is snow, a snowman is a must! As a kid, I used to love it whenever it would snow. As an adult, I’m not as big a fan of snow anymore, but I do still enjoy it in moderation. My daughter experienced her first snow last year when she was just a baby, and my son has yet to experience his first snow. We rarely get snow where we live in North Carolina, but there is still something magical about when it does happen. Building a snowman is just the thing to do when it does snow!

Build an Igloo

If you have enough snow, building an igloo is something you must try. It doesn’t have to be perfect; half the fun is just building it. You could try different designs and have fun with it.

Catch Snowflakes on Your Tongue

One of my favorite things to do as a kid when it snowed was trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue. I still try it to this day whenever I’m where it snows.

Eat Snow Cream

Collect some of that fresh snow and take it inside to make your own snow cream (aka ice cream with snow). The perfect treat for a snowy day! You can find some recipes online on Google or Pinterest if you’ve never made it before. Play around and see what you like best.

Eat a Snow Cone

Why not take advantage of snow by collecting some and using it to make your very own snow cone? Just add some flavored syrup and ta-da, your very own snow day treat with some free ingredients.

Make a Snow Craft

You can’t have a bucket list without crafts! There are so many fun options for snow-themed crafts. Paper snowflakes are a classic and so cute! You could also draw your own winter scene.

Most people associate winter with snow, and these are perfect activities for any snow day for everyone in the family! If you are looking for some more generic or holiday-specific bucket list activities, make sure to check out Winter Bucket List Activities and Christmas Bucket List Activities. Happy Winter, everyone!

DIY 101 Dalmatians Birthday Party

For my son’s third birthday, we stuck with a dog theme for the second year in a row by bringing one of his favorite movies to life. He loves dalmatians and all things “101 Dalmatians”! It was fun and easy to create this theme because it is mostly spots/polka dots. I was able to find a bunch of stuff at local stores. This is ultimately what I did to make the theme come to life.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White construction paper
• Red marker
• Scissors/hole punch
• Twine
• Red ribbon/fabric
• Pawprint ribbon/fabric
• Tape

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Using the red marker, write out letters that spell “103 Dalamation Pawty” (or 104 for a 4th birthday party, etc.) on the white construction paper.
2. Cut a circle around each letter.
3. Use a hole punch to punch a hole at the top of each circular letter (you can also use scissors or a pen to poke the hole too if you don’t have a hole punch).
4. Cut the red fabric and paw print fabric/ribbon into strips. I used red and paw print cotton fabric from a fabric square and also paw print ribbon. The fabric I cut was about 2 inches thick. The ribbon was already set at 1/2″-1 in.
5. Weave the letters through the twine in order.
6. Tie the ribbon/fabric every other one between the letters on the twine.
7. Tape the twine strings on the wall.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White t-shirt
• Red, black & pink fabric paint
• Paintbrush

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint a black outline of Patch the Dalmatian on the t-shirt. I painted mine by looking at a photo on Pinterest that I thought was cute. Let it dry.
2. Paint a red outline of the age number beside Patch. Let it dry.
3. Paint black spots on the inside of the age number. Let it dry.
4. Paint black spots on Patch and fill in his eye patch and ear in black. Let it dry.
5. Paint Patch’s tongue and inside of ears pink. Let it dry.

Cupcakes

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• White icing
• Oreo crumbles
• Candle

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Make cupcakes or use cake mix in cupcake shapes. I used an Oreo cake mix from the store, so the cake part was black.
2. Cover the cupcakes with white icing.
3. Sprinkle Oreo crumbles on top of the icing.
4. Put a birthday candle on top of the cupcake.

Balloons

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White balloons
• Black Sharpie marker

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Blow up white balloons.
2. Draw black spots all over the balloon with a Sharpie marker.

Dalmatian Plantation

I collected all of our Dalmatian stuffed animals, a Dalmatian blanket, a basket, and a sign to make our own little mini Dalmatian plantation. My son loved it, and it was adorable for pictures!

I hope these ideas help inspire you to create your own 101 Dalmatian-themed party and have a pawsome time with it. Happy creating!

Valentine’s Day Bucket List Activities

Valentine’s Day has never been a big holiday for me. In fact, I never celebrated it or had a special Valentine's Day until I met my husband. But I have started to enjoy it more since having kids. There are so many fun things you can do to make Valentine’s Day fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Are you in need of some Valentine’s activity ideas? I have compiled this list of fun activities to add to your Valentine’s Day Bucket List!

Decorate for Valentine’s Day

Break out the hearts and cupids. Think pink, red, and chocolates. Change out your garden flag and door wreath. Switch your mantle décor to Valentine’s items and put out the festive hand towels.

Make a Valentine’s Craft

Craft time is always a great activity to do something new. Search Pinterest and find some fun Valentine’s DIY crafts to make. I personally love doing hand and footprint crafts and homemade Valentines.

Make a Valentine’s Treat

Try your hand at some homemade chocolate-covered strawberries, decorative sugar cookies, or anything cut in the shape of a heart. Get creative and have fun with your festive baking!

Have a Valentine’s Movie Marathon

I love any good excuse for a movie marathon, and Valentine’s is the best because it’s all about love and rom-coms (which are my favorite year-round). So sit down and enjoy some Hallmark movies or classic rom-coms.

Have a Date Night

Valentine’s is the ultimate date night reminder for couples. But it doesn’t have to be the typical dinner and movie night. You could have a date night in or have a family date.

Read Valentine’s Stories

We love reading Valentine’s books/stories during the holiday season. Some of my kids’ favorites are the Biscuit dog series and Disney Valentine-themed stories. For the adults, you can break out a good romance book.

Do a Valentine’s Photoshoot

Maybe get a new outfit, get dressed up, and take some photos. You could easily do a cute photoshoot yourself or hire a professional photographer to take them.

Exchange Valentines

Everyone loves a good Valentine. Make DIY Valentines or store buy them and take turns exchanging them on Valentine’s Day.

Have a Valentine’s Day Party

Attend or host your own Valentine’s party with friends and family.

Have a Galentine’s Celebration

Galentine’s is a traditional female friends’ Valentine’s party. It’s not just for singles; you can still have a fun girls’ day/night to celebrate Valentine’s with your friends.

Share Reasons Why You Love Each Other

Much like when families go around the table and say what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving, try going around the table and sharing what you love about each person for Valentine’s Day.

If you’re looking for some more Valentine’s activities, then check out my 13 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day Ideas for Families. What are your favorite Valentine’s activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Valentine’s Day!