Karissa Tunis

Unique and Educational Games for Kids

Tired of playing Candy Land, Mouse Trap, and Uno? Here are 6 unique, educational games for kids that you can get on Amazon. What I love most about these games is that kids can play many of them on their own! They are also great logic puzzles that will grow with your child.

For more on this topic, check out the full Gift Giving and Party Planning collection

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Unique and Educational games for kids

Hide & Seek Pirates

Kids get to work on logical reasoning skills as they hide & find ships, treasure, & pirates.

Quadrillion

To start, you click the game board together in any order you’d like. From there you try to fit the 12 colored puzzle pieces into the game board that you created. There are thousands of solutions to any configuration but finding even one can prove difficult.

IQ Steps

This game is similar to Quadrillion, but this version has multiple layers that have to overlap each other to get everything to fit. This one makes a perfect travel game.

Gravity Maze

The goal of this game is to get the marble to its target destination. You build towers & internal mazes to make it happen!

Blink

Win by being the first player to play all of your cards. You can match your cards by shape, number, or color.

How to Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange

Want to host a holiday cookie exchange this year? If you enjoy planning parties, or rounding up friends and family for a get-together, a cookie exchange is a fun and low-key way to celebrate the Christmas season! Plus, going to a cookie exchange will allow you to serve a platter of assorted homemade cookies at your Christmas dinner—even though you only baked one type of cookie!

If you’re interested in planning a holiday cookie exchange this year, read on for the simple steps to make it a success! I’ll outline everything you need to know— from inviting guests, through the details after the party. (Don’t worry—we’ll keep it simple!) Enjoy!

This article is written by Lindsey Cover
For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

What is a Cookie Exchange?

Before I provide the details of how to plan an exchange, let’s talk about what it is!

A cookie exchange is a party! More specifically, a party where friends or family members gather to swap their favorite holiday cookies (or cookie bars, bark, truffles, etc.) and the coordinating recipe. Each guest only needs to bring one type of cookie, and they will leave the swap with a variety of other homemade cookies from the other guests! It is a great way to simplify the time you spend baking for the holidays, benefit from others’ creativity, and try new treats!

How to Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange

Decide on the “rules”

To plan a cookie exchange, you’ll need to make a few decisions about the party you want to have. Ask yourself these questions:

How many guests do I want to invite? 10 or less often works best.

How many cookies should each guest bring? Depending on the size of your group, guests should bring either a dozen cookies, or a half-dozen, per guest attending the exchange.

Do I want each person to bring cookies “wrapped” (such as in a festive treat bag), or unwrapped (single cookies displayed on a decorative platter, or in a large container)?

Should I try to prevent duplicate cookies? If so, plan to ask guests to communicate the type of treat they plan to bring before the party!

Feel free to tweak these “rules” to work best for you and your guests.

Invite Guests

Send invitations out 1-2 weeks before the party. You can use paper invitations, or online invitations such as Evite.com. Or you can even create a Facebook event. Aim for 5-10 guests; the larger the group, the more likely each person may feel overwhelmed by bringing enough cookies to share.

Details to include on the invitation:

How many cookies to bring: If you invite 5 guests, instruct them each to bring 5 dozen of their favorite cookie. If your group is larger, you may want to lower the amount to half a dozen cookies per guest. Also, mention that after swapping, they will leave with the same amount of assorted cookies!

Other items to bring: Each guest should bring copies of their recipe to share. This could be a hand-written recipe card, or a piece of computer paper with the printed recipe. (Alternatively, each guest could pack their cookies in individual treat bags and attach the recipe for more of a cookie “gift” exchange.)

RSVP cookie type (optional): If you prefer to avoid having duplicate recipes at the party, ask guests to RSVP ahead of time with the type of treat they plan to bring. Communicate this information to all guests as soon as possible before the party.

Prepare for the party

Decide on a few simple party drinks and appetizers to serve during the exchange. Hot cider or coffee, and sangria or wine work well. Think savory foods, since guests will most likely be sampling the sweet treats while they swap them!

Several days before the exchange, gather supplies, such as gallon-sized zip-top bags for taking cookies home, cling wrap or aluminum foil, blank cards and a marker to create tent labels to identify each guest’s cookies (such as “sugar cookies by Kate”).

Decide which tabletops or countertops you’ll use to place guests’ cookies (and matching recipes). During the exchange, have each guest walk around and gather the appropriate number of cookies to take home, along with each recipe.

After the Cookie Exchange

Thank everyone for coming! Evaluate what worked well and what you might want to do differently, if you plan to host another exchange next year. You may also want to combine all the recipes into a document to email to each guest.

Now that you understand what a cookie exchange is, and how to host your own swap!

While the holiday season is often a stressful and busy time of year, a cookie exchange is one way we can simplify the tradition of holiday baking, while also enjoying a fun gathering with loved ones at the same time! Happy Holidays!

{Here are Party Planning Tips & Reminders that Every Hostess Should Know – wow your guests at your next party!}

For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

Featured Contributor: Lindsey Cover

Lindsey Cover is a work-at-home wife and mom of two young boys, Jadon and Owen. She blogs about affordable healthy living, money-saving methods, simple recipes, and more at SimpleSaverWife.com

Facebook: @SimpleSaverWife
Instagram: @SimpleSaverWife
Pinterest: @SimpleSaverWife

holiday cookie exchange

Mashed Potatoes Recipe

I always try to get as organized as possible before the holidays. I try to prepare a few dishes ahead of time, and I always am sure to stock my pantry with several of the key ingredients I often use. During this season, I like to have on hand – evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, flour, sugar, pie crust, and the spices of the season such as cloves whole or ground, ginger and cinnamon. One of our family’s favorite side dishes is mashed potatoes! Most recipes call for butter. But in my house, we make our mashed potatoes with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and we love it!!

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5 DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas for Kids!

Looking for unique ways to involve your kids with gift giving this holiday season? Have them help wrap presents! Here are five DIY gift wrapping ideas your kids will have fun creating and your recipients are sure to love!

First remember that with any project involving kids, the end result will be messy! The memories you make when you create and give are what’s important. That being said, with my guidance, my children made all five wrapping ideas below!

This article is written by Pamela Rineer
For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

CANDY RIBBONS

Who doesn’t love a sweet treat with their gift? Kids are sure to love making and receiving this special present. Simply choose a favorite candy, gummy or candies with a hole work best, and thread with jewelry string. This works great for a candy ribbon that can be eaten when received! For a non edible bow use hot glue to hold the candy in place.

Name tags with Alphabet Pasta

Spell out your holiday greeting with painted alphabet pasta! Hot glue the letters onto the gift when you’re done. This is so simple and the possibilities are endless, it’s educational and fun!

Bookmark Tag

My kids made these years ago and it’s so cute that I brought them back this year! I especially love to use these when gifting a book. I like to have them wear holiday attire, Christmas jammies would be adorable, then take a photo. They can be jumping for joy, something that stretches their body in all directions makes it more fun.

Print the photo on preferred paper and have your child write who it’s to and their name along with the date on the back. Use laminate sheets to cover the front and back, then cut out just the body, no background. I like when my kids have their hands clasped above their head, I can use a hole punch to place a ribbon through and it looks like they are holding the ribbon. Wrap the gift and use the bookmark as a name tag and the ribbon as a bow!

Photo Name Tag Ornament

Another cute gift wrapping idea is to print a photo of your child with the recipient. It can be on photo paper, card stock, or printer paper. Have your child write who it’s to, their name, and date on the back. Laminate using the same self adhesive sheets as above. Cut out in a circle or decorative shape, hole punch and string ribbon. The photo can become an ornament and decorate next years Christmas tree!

Homemade Paper

Having your kids make wrapping paper is so easy and fun. Start with white or brown craft paper cut large enough to wrap your package. Decide on a design or let your kids create their own. Use markers, crayons, or paint! For this gift we made a wreath out of hand prints, buttons for ornaments, and a ribbon for the bow!

I hope this inspires you to wrap & give creatively this season! If you need some additional inspiration on the actual gift buying, check out the Gift Giving collection here for all kinds of great gift ideas!

For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

Featured Contributor: Pamela Rineer

Pamela Rineer lives in Lititz, PA with her husband, two boys, and very large goldendoodle. With a love of real estate, design, and money management she began renovating their homes on a budget. Now, settling into their fifth house, she shares simple DIY’s for all things home.

Instagram: @pamelarineerinteriors
Facebook: @pamelarineerinteriors
Pinterest: @pamelarineerinteriors
Website: pamelarineerinteriors.weebly.com

Holiday Tic Tac Toe Printable

Family dinners, church services, car trips… the holidays are full of occasions where you need a quiet, calm activity to keep your children happy and entertained; and this free tic tac toe printable is an easy go-to!

You can print out this holiday version of tic tac toe to take with you wherever you go. It is easy for kids to reuse this game over and over again (especially if you print it out on some card stock or heavier paper)!

And if you would like another fun free quiet activity, check out these 30 printable Free Christmas Coloring Pages, enjoy!

For more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

And for more on this topic, check out the full Happy Holidays collection

Free Printable Holiday Cards for Kids

Every Valentine’s day, my kids love getting to hand out cards to all of their classmates at school. This gave me the idea of handing out small, simple holiday cards to their classmates as well for the holidays! So I put together these free printable holiday cards as a simple way for your kids to spread some fun holiday cheer!

Grab some card stock, print out a few sheets, cut out the individual cards, and have your child hand them out to all of their classmates. If they want to go the extra mile, they can also write a nice note on the back of their holiday cards 🙂

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DIY Snow Globe – A Kid-Friendly Holiday Decor Project

Each year, my son’s school puts out an email asking if anyone wants to decorate the classroom doors for the holidays. Families get to come in for the evening, use some school-provided background paper, and get to work! My son and I did it this year for the first time and had so much fun creating our own DIY Snow Globe together :)…

Teacher Appreciation and Gift Giving Ideas for the Holidays

“Oh no! What are we going to give your teacher?” – I think every mom has found herself struggling with this phrase as the holidays approach. Whether it’s a daycare worker, babysitter/nanny/au pair, preschool teacher, or elementary school teacher; these caregivers/educators work hard to help your children grow and learn. We want to appreciate all that they do, and it’s fun for the child to give them something to show their gratitude and love. Below is a Teacher Gift Giving Guide for those special people in our lives…

This article is written by Katie Strohecker
For more on this topic, check out the full Gift Giving collection

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5 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Want to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal without worrying about all the food preparations on turkey day? Get ahead of your holiday meal with these delicious and easy make-ahead Thanksgiving side dishes. …

What Do I Need? (A Self Care Printable)

We have all had those days where we feel like we’re in a slump. We’re extra tired, a little cranky, and definitely unmotivated to check off anything on our To Do list. Those days are normal and a part of being human, but… there are ways to help yourself feel better the next time you catch yourself in a funk!

There are plenty of articles out there filled with wonderful self care ideas, but often times they skip over the most important point, which is:

Figuring out what you need in this particular moment.

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