June 3, 2020 by Krista

Active Jenga for Kids

Oh, the boundless energy of the young. Running with the wind in your face. Leaping through the air. Jumping off the couch. Err, wait. Maybe that’s just at my house? No? Well, if you’ve ever needed a way to channel all that pent up energy, here is the game you’ve been looking for. You can play this Active Jenga for Kids Game over and over, anytime you need an energetic indoor activity for kids!

ENERGETIC INDOOR ACTIVITY: ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS

ACTIVE JENGA FOR KIDS – AN INDOOR GAME THAT HELPS KIDS BURN ENERGY WITHOUT DESTROYING THE HOUSE

Kids are crazy. A good, active, energetic kind of crazy. I love my kids, but sometimes they are just… A LOT. My zombie mom, sleep deprived self just can’t keep up with all that boundless bouncing energy.

But, if I can’t help them channel that energy, more often than not, the above jumping off the furniture scenario is just a matter of time. Or maybe it will be wrestling match this time. Or possibly a game that includes throwing a ball at my glass picture frame riddled walls.

But this Active Jenga for kids game is the perfect way to harness that energy and use it up – safely. Without destroying the house.

THIS ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS IS THE PERFECT KIDS GAME FOR ALL OCCASIONS

I love a good kids activity, but a lot of them are ‘one and done’. We do ‘one and done’ activities all the time, but there is a certain appeal to knowing that after spending 30-60 minutes on making this game, it will be ready to play over and over again. This game is perfect when:

it’s too cold outside.
it is too hot outside.
it’s raining or snowing or hailing
you have lots of kids
you only have one kid
the kids need to play alone for a few minutes

It’s easy to take with you. It easy to play and still fun for a variety of ages. Set up is easy. Clean up is easy. And it’s still fun when you go back to play again. This game is definitely not ‘one and done’.

3 SUPER EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS

Truth bomb. Ready? The hardest part of this project is coming up with ideas of what to write on each block. But, there is a silver lining.

Silver lining: I made a set of 60 questions and activities that are ready to print. If you want an easy peasy project, you can find those in my Etsy Shop. There’s even an editable PDF file to help you customize your game as simply as possible.

Extra Shiny Silver Lining: If you have a cutting machine, you get the SVG files included in the game files! Use your print and cut feature to literally open it in your cutting software, print the page with registration marks and then cut it with your machine. Then, it’ll be as easy as slapping stickers on blocks.Kids Active Jenga Game Template Page

One last insider tip –> Print on sticker paper and it will cut your prep time in half or more! As quick as you can say peel and stick, your stickers will be adhered to your Jenga game blocks and you’ll be ready to play with zero drying time needed.

Okay, let’s do this!

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS MATERIALS:

Jenga Block Template – Download this from the button below. This is simply the blank colored labels you’ll put on the wooden blocks. If you want to quickly and easily customize your game with a professional look, get the Editable PDF template or the Ready-to-Print labels in my Etsy shop.
Jenga Game – Get it on Amazon. You can find knock off versions and they will work (I used a knock off version), but the quality isn’t as good, some of the blocks were misshapen and the blocks were not all the same size. Knock offs work, actual Jenga blocks look better.
Paper and Printer – I recommend sticker paper to make this project even easier! But standard printing paper is sufficient too. If possible, I also recommend a laser printer to help with longevity, but ink jet will work too.
Paper Cutter or Scissors – love my Swingline SmartCut. I used both it and a pair of scissors. (Only need if you aren’t using a cutting machine)
Glue – wood, white glue or tacky glue will work best. I used white glue. (Only need if you aren’t using sticker paper)
Pen or Marker or image editing software – If you’re going to write the questions and activities by hand, I recommend Sharpie Art Pens. The ink is smooth, doesn’t bleed and won’t smear if it gets wet. You can also open the Jenga Block Templates in an image editor and type out your questions and activities before you print.

STEP #1: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT YOUR JENGA BLOCK TEMPLATES

Download the free printable templates with the green button below. Save the file to your computer and print with the “actual size” setting. This file is designed to fit a name brand Jenga block, but will work on other blocks too. You will need 2 copies of the template to cover an entire set of Jenga blocks.

* PRO TIP: If you’re going to fill in your block template digitally (on the computer), do it BEFORE you print your template.

* PRO TIP: Check your game for a count of how many blocks you’ll need to cover. Name brand Jenga has 54 blocks. My knock-off set had fewer. Each template page has 30 rectangle labels. You’ll need 2 pages (give or take a few) to cover an entire game set.

STEP #2: FILL OUT AND CUT OUT THE BLOCK TEMPLATES

If you are writing your game prompts out by hand, write one question or activity on each rectangle. You can make these a mix of questions and activities – or do all questions for a get-to-know-you style game OR do all active challenges for a real energy buster. I did a combination and even through in some math practice!
Cut out enough labels to cover every block. I used my Silhouette Cameo and printed on sticker paper – it made this a million times easier. If you want the cut files already to go, they are included in the files in my Etsy shop.

STEP #3: ADHERE THE ACTIVE JENGA GAME PROMPTS ON THE BLOCKS

If you used sticker paper, just peel and stick one label on each block. Easy Peasy.

If you used standard paper, glue one game prompt label on each block. A thin strip of glue on all 4 edges of the blank side of each label will give the best results. Smooth out the label with your fingers and let the glue dry completely. This part isn’t hard, but it does take a little time.

* PRO TIP: You just need a thin strip of glue. Don’t use a lot or your labels will wrinkle.

* PRO TIP: Clean up any glue that seeps from under the edges of the labels with a damp cloth or paper towel before it dries.

* PRO TIP: If any of your corners come unglued, secure them back down with a little bit of glue stick or white glue.

ACTIVE JENGA GAME FOR KIDS: A GAME FOR ALL AGES!

In just 3 steps and an afternoon, you’ll be ready to whip out an awesome activity the whole family will love. Use it when you need a minute, when the kids are getting a bit too crazy, or for family game night! Active Jenga for Kids is the PERFECT simple, inexpensive, fun and easy way to help the kids channel all that energy into some fun memories. So, what are you waiting for? Put this together in a snap and get those kids who are jumping on the beds to come play this fun game!

MAKE THIS PROJECT EASIER WITH MY READY-TO-PRINT ACTIVE JENGA GAME BLOCK LABELS IN MY ETSY SHOP!

Like this idea? Want to spice things up for your next date night? Check out my Couple’s Jenga bedroom game for a more adult version of this game.

March 22, 2019 by Krista

5 Spring Word Games for When You Need to Entertain the Kids

Welcome, friend! Thanks for stopping by today! Spring is finally here – according to the calendar anyway. Mother Nature seems to have missed the memo. But we’re not letting that stop us from having some spring fun! These 5 Spring Word Games are the perfect thing if you need a quiet activity to keep the kids entertained for a few minutes.

Mom hack: print extra copies – even scale them down if you want – and keep them in your purse for waiting rooms, restaurants, church meetings or other places you need the kids to sit for a few minutes!

JUST PRINT AND PLAY THESE SPRING WORD GAMES!

Life is busy and crazy and fast and loud! At least, it is at my house. With 4 kids, and 3 of them boys, silence is a rarity. So rare, in fact, it’s usually cause for concern.

Finding activities my older boys can – and will! – do quietly is a tall order. But nap time is still a daily occurrence at our house and it isn’t going anywhere for a few more years. Finding quick and easy activities is even more difficult.

But these 5 Spring Word Games will be ready in 5 minutes. Seriously. #momwin

3 TYPES OF SPRING WORD GAMES IN VARYING SKILL LEVELS

Included in this word games packet are 3 types of games. There are 2 versions of the games: in color and in monochrome. All the games are different, it’s not a color version and a monochrome version. The puzzles are all different. This means you should be able to find an activity suitable for your elementary-aged child(ren), no matter their age or skill level. I do recommend these word games for 1st grade and up because they will need a basic knowledge of letters and words.

Activities include:

Word searches
Crossword puzzles
Mad libs

WILL THESE WORD GAMES CHALLENGE, ENTERTAIN AND EDUCATE YOUR CHILD?

In order to successfully solve these word puzzles, your child needs a basic understanding of letters and words. These word games are perfect if your child:

Knows letter shapes and sounds
Can sound out and read basic words
Has enough vocabulary to figure out spring-related words
Understands different parts of speech (noun, verb, past tense, etc)

Second semester 1st graders (who work at grade level) should be able to do these games, but may need some help. Some of the games may be more difficult for younger kids. Take a look at them first and see if you think your child can complete them.

BUSY MOMS AND BORED KIDS WILL LOVE THESE SPRING WORD GAMES

Seriously. 5 minutes. That’s all you need to have these ready to go.

Just download and print.

With 6 activities, some in color and some in monochrome options, you can choose what works best for you and what equipment you have access to for printing.

Because busy moms with bored kids, this is for you!

These Spring Word Games are perfect for:

quiet time activities
waiting rooms, restaurants and other meetings
lazy afternoons during spring break
a quick distraction while mom makes dinner
a fun car game for your next road trip

SPRING WORD GAME PRINTABLES

STEP #1: Download and save your Spring Word Games

Choose which you’d like to print – color or monochrome – and click the corresponding links below to access those files.

The color and monochrome puzzles are NOT the same. You can download both file sets and have 6 different games.

And, yes, you can print the color files in monochrome and they will still be usable.

COLOR GAMES | MONOCHROME GAMES

STEP #2: Print your Spring Word Games

Print the games. Each game is formatted to fit on a single 8.5″x11″ US letter page.

If you use Adobe Reader to print, you can format the pages as a booklet and it will print two activities on each 8.5″x11″ page. These are perfect for putting in your purse!

MAKE YOUR SPRING WORD GAMES REUSABLE!

If you’d like to make your activity pages reusable, you can laminate the pages or put them inside a clear page protector. Use dry erase markers or crayons on the pages. Then just erase and play again! Or switch games with a friend!

I started with – and still use and LOVE – the older version of THIS LAMINATOR STARTER KIT for making reusable pages. And I love that the thermal pouches aren’t super expensive to replenish. Because I laminate all. the. things.

THESE PAGE PROTECTORS work well too. I prefer the thicker page protectors to help with durability. And with 50 of them, you’ll have plenty to make lots of reusable pages!

We like THESE DRY ERASE MARKERS the best. There’s lots of colors and everyone can pick their favorite. My kids like that they are skinny and fit in their hands well.

And THESE DRY ERASE CRAYONS are nice for littler kids who don’t have as much hand coordination and have a hard time staying on the paper when they draw. Just don’t leave them in the hot car!

AND YOU’RE READY TO PLAY SOME FUN SPRING WORD GAMES!

Because when you’re busy and the kids are bored, you need something quick and entertaining to save the day. And it doesn’t get quicker than downloading and pressing print.

Keep these fun games on hand for those times when you need a quick distraction!

FOLLOW MY SPRING LEARNING ACTIVITIES BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR EVEN MORE PRINTABLE SPRING ACTIVITIES AND GAMES!

January 24, 2018 by Krista

27 Spring Printables You NEED!

Hey there friend! If you’re trying to be more organized, make more memories with your family and just be a better you this year then you are in the right place! Once again, I’ve teamed up with some fabulous digital designers to bring you some amazing digital products – all for one incredible price. Yes, the All Things Spring Printables Bundle really IS that fabulous, amazing and incredible!

We’ve put the very best Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Spring printables all in one place!

If you’re new to these bundles, trust me when I say- you DO NOT want to miss out on this!

But, that lovely little timer below? It’s counting down FAST! When it hits zero, this deal DISAPPEARS FOREVER!!

I’ve teamed up with 25+ extremely talented bloggers and designers to create this ULTIMATE Spring Printables bundle!

This bundle is so full of fun, I don’t even know where to begin. You’ll find things from some of your favorite bloggers and online shops and maybe even discover some new favorites too!

What you’re looking at is OVER 540 PAGES of Spring printables for you, all in one handy dandy place.

Not only have we all come together to offer these great products to you in one convenient place, you can SCORE THEM ALL for 90% OFF! No, that’s not a typo. TONS of crazy, cute printables—ONE crazy, low price!

You’ll get $242 of ADORABLE items for only $18!

Here’s the catch—this deal only lasts for THREE DAYS!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

This is a 3-Day sale!

Buy on January 24th, 25th or 26th for ONLY $18
You’ll get 540+ pages of high quality Spring printables you can reuse and refer back to again and again
These products are worth over $240 on their own from 25+ online shops
After Jan 26, 2018, this deal is GONE FOREVER!

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you could ever want or need for Spring including…

Classroom Valentines
Valentine’s Day Activity Book
Romantic Valentine’s Day Gift
Easter Basket Gifts
Christ-Centered Easter Countdown
Easter Egg Hunt
Spring Wall Art
Spring Cleaning Kit
Printable To-Do Lists
Favorite Freezer-Friendly Meals
AND SO MUCH MORE! {See all the goods below!}

My contribution to this bundle sells in my Etsy shop for $10, that’s more than half the cost for this insane bundle! And you get 25+ MORE products for just $8 more?! This is a no-brainer!

WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Thought so! Just wait until you see all of the printable goodness…

VALENTINE’S DAY

1. Kids Printable Valentine Bundle by Paper & Taigh – Love is in the air! Your kiddos will be the hit of their class with these darling printable Valentines! There are even two options to choose from: superhero suckers or mini Valentine s’mores kits. Both equally darling and fun.
2. Valentine’s Jumpstart Pack by Love Hope Adventure– Need a done for you Valentine’s gift for your sweetie? Print of this romantic Valentine’s card, Week of Love gift tags with ideas for each day, and a sexy game to play as the grand finale’ to the holiday.
3. Valentine’s Day Printable Cards by Whispers In Design – This Valentine’s Day Printable Card set includes 6 beautiful hand lettered designs. These original cards will be perfect to gift on Valentine’s Day, but can also be used for many other occasions like Anniversaries, Birthdays, or just to tell someone how special they are! The cards measure 5”x7” and can easily be framed and used to brighten any room as well.
4. Heart Attack Printable Kit by Our Kerrazy Adventure – These printables will make it so easy to spread sunshine and love. Simply print and trim and heart attack your neighbor, friends, and loved ones.
5. Valentine’s Day Kids Activity Book by Kids Activities – Kids are most likely to learn when they are being creative and having FUN! So we grabbed our crayons and gave our inner child some chocolate in order to create this 15-page, Valentine’s Day Activity Pack for your kids. Grab it now for Valentines’s Bingo, Color-by-Number, Word Searches and more!
6. Emoji Valentine’s Breakfast Pack by Paging Supermom – Show your emotions this Valentine’s Day with this super-cute Emoji Breakfast Pack. It’s 25 pages of ideas and printable templates including decorative banners, placecards, party flags, toppers, tray liners and table confetti. There’s even a printable template for making those adorable Emoji Pancakes! The pack has everything you need to create your Valentine’s breakfast, including Paging Supermom’s best-selling Emoji templates, which aren’t just for Valentines — use them for birthday parties, baby shower and really anytime.
7. Printable Classroom Valentines by Skip to my Lou – Your kids will have the cutest Valentines this year! 50- YES, we said 50- printable Valentines! Just print and attach a small gift! There are so many cute ideas to choose from- you can use these printables for years and years to come.

VALENTINE’S DAY & EASTER COLLECTIONS

8. 3 Printable Collections by Piggy Bank Parties – No, not just one- you’re getting THREE different collections: 1. Sugar Cookie Valentines Collection, 2. Springin’ Gingham Easter Collection, and 3.Noah’s Ark Collection! Throw a sweet Valentine’s Day party with our Sugar Cookie Valentines Collection! These sugar cookie inspired print at home party decorations and valentines are perfect for school parties, bridal showers, Valentine’s Day events or an anniversary party. Celebrate Easter with our Springin’ Gingham Easter Collection! These sweet print at home pastel gingham party decorations are perfect for an Easter egg hunt or your family’s Easter celebration. Celebrate the mother of twins, a twin birthday or your favorite two-year-old with the Noah’s Ark Collection! These two-of-a-kind print at home party decorations are perfect for your next baby shower and birthday party.
9. Valentine’s & Easter Set by Papers&Plenty – This printable set includes Valentine’s Day Cards, Easter Basket Gift Tags, AND an Easter Basket Checklist. These sweet treats Valentine’s Day cards are so fun, everyone is sure to love them! Set includes 7 cards, each with a doughnut or cupcake and matching saying. Just fill-in the names and add them to your treat, perfect for kids and adults! You’ll also receive adorable Valentine’s Day vehicle cards! Set includes 8 cards, each with a different mode of transportation and matching saying. Just fill-in the names, great for kids, teachers & more! The perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day party! Finally, we’re also including cute Easter tags to attach to all your Easter goodies! Two sets of tags, “From the Easter Bunny” or blank cards to write your own message! PLUS a bonus checklist full of ideas to fill those Easter baskets for all ages!
10. Spring Planner Sticker Printable Set by Mod Podge Rocks – You’ll love these THREE sheets of printable planner stickers for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter!! These stickers are perfect for spring and fits a variety of planner types like Happy Planner, Erin Condren, Day Designer, bullet journal and more.

EASTER

11. Christ Centered Easter Countdown by The Dating Divas – Behind all of the giant chocolate bunnies and treat-filled baskets lie the real reason for this incredible season – Christ. With our Christ-Centered Easter Countdown, you will be able to celebrate, for 14 truly amazing days, all that He is and what He teaches us!
12. Kids’ Easter Basket Activity Coupons by While He Was Napping – Looking for something to put in your kids’ Easter baskets besides candy? Stop looking, because you’ve found the perfect alternative to fill those eggs with! Give your kids memories this Easter rather than a basket of cavities! Kids can trade in their coupons for fun activities and rewards with these 45 printable coupons that will keep on giving long after that bunny has come and gone!
13. Mini Easter Kiddie Table Printables by The CreativiDee Workshop – Create a cheerful Easter table for the kids with this mini printable collection! You’ll find place mats to color, napkin wraps, cupcake toppers, treat bag toppers, mini place cards or food tents, favor hanging tags and a centerpiece for the final touch. Just add jelly beans and have a Happy Easter!
14. A Walk With Jesus–Journaling Through Holy Week by 4The Love ofMy Heart – Have a closer walk with Jesus during Holy Week by taking a step further into what was happening at that time. For eight days, you’ll study the events from a different view. Then follow the journal prompts as you study this most precious time of year.
15. Easter Planner & Easter Egg Bingo Bundle by Sunny Day Family – Everything you need to plan your Easter celebration! From activities & crafts to egg hunts to the Easter meal, you’ll find planning tools, invitations, and thank you cards for the perfect family holiday. Plus a super fun Easter Egg Bingo game to bring your egg hunt to the next level!
16. Easter Party Printable Set by Everyday Party Magazine – This Easter Printable Party Package comes with everything you need for a sweet party! Including: Food Tents, Party Circles, and Mini Easter Basket Bunting!
17. Printable Easter Coupon Book & Egg Hunt by Edventures with Kids – In this fun printable pack you’ll receive 24 printable coupons, including a few blank ones you can customize, along with your choice of 2 Easter Coupon Book covers! We’ve included activities for kids ages 3 – 16 years old too. Choose the activities that fit your child and personalize EACH coupon book for EACH of your kids! You’ll also receive a set of pre-printed Egg Hunt Clues and a detailed list of where to hide them for an Easter Egg Hunt that works in any home!
18. Easter Planner by Peoples Life on Paper – Spring into action and get organized for your family’s Easter celebration with this 28-page printable planner! With everything you need to prepare your holiday dinner, fill the Easter Baskets, plan the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and squeeze in a craft or two, this Easter Planner is your must-have guide to stay organized and enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.

SPRING

19. Hello Spring Bundle by A Lively Hope – This Hello Spring Bundle features a beautifully hand-painted watercolor flower wreath in happy pinks and greens. It includes: one 8.5×11″ Hello Spring art print, one 4.5×6.25″ (folded) greeting card and seven journal cards in various sizes. I love to add journal cards like this to my journal and memory keeping pages! And sending this beautiful card to a friend will make their day, guaranteed.
20. Spring Cleaning Organized Package by Homemaking Organized – Maximize your Spring Cleaning Efforts with our Organized Spring Cleaning Package! Informative ebook, blank Spring Cleaning Planner, and Gorgeous Room Cleaning templates make cleaning your home a breeze!
21. Speed Clean the Deep Clean: A Collection of Time-Saving Cleaning Tutorials and Tips for Busy Moms by What’s up Fagans? – Speed Clean the Deep Clean is the perfect cleaning handbook for moms who want a clean house but aren’t really sure how to clean the various stains and messes in their homes. With more than 50 proven cleaning tutorials and tips, complete with step-by-step instructions, written by a former cleaning professional, you will finally know how to clean the various home and kid-related stains with ease.
22. Printable To Do Lists by Jessica Marie Design – Keep track of your spring holiday to do items with this printable To Do Lists set! The To Do Lists set includes four different page layouts to fit your needs. Simply download the PDF file, open it with Adobe Reader, add text to the fillable sections, and print. Use the files over and over every year!
23. 100 Printable Encouragement Cards by Life is Sweeter by Design – Encouragement cards are the perfect way to stay on track with positive thinking and goal setting. This set of 100 Printable Encouragement Cards make a great gift for a friend or coworker. Pull out a new card each day for and uplifting thought!
24. Garden Shop Printable Pretend Play Kit by The Littles & Me – Get ready for Spring and Summer with some fresh flowers from your very own garden shop. Your kiddo will love setting up shop with this bright and colorful kit that’s sure to provide hours & hours of creative play. It’s no secret that children learn best by learning and doing, which is why pretend play is so important. This kit will help your child learn about themselves and the world around them in a creative, fun, and imaginative way. It’s the perfect addition to your playroom!
25. 30 Favorite Freezer-Friendly Meals e-book by Fun Cheap Or Free – Save not only time, but also save money with the 30 Favorite Freezer- Friendly Meals e-book. 30 tried and tested freezer recipes that can be eaten right away, or frozen for later. Recipes include how to best freeze, then prepare you meals for quick and delicious home-cooked dinner when time gets in the way.
26. Carrie Elle Spend Well Budgeting System Digital Files by Carrie Elle – Are you tired of struggling with your finances each month? The Spend Well Budgeting System digital files give you all the tools you need to succeed at budgeting. You’ll receive an editable spreadsheet, several financial worksheets, labels to create your own cash envelope system, and access to the 60 Day Budgeting Challenge.
27. Turn Chaos Into Peace, 5 Trainings To Change Your Home From Surviving To Thriving by The Mom Conference – 5 interviews with different experts to give you tools that are practical and actually work for those part of motherhood that are hard. We cover how to budget effectively-even if you hate budgeting, dealing with screens in a way that won’t make your kids hate you, raising kids to be successful teens, how to create a life that you love, and my favorite an interview on sibling rivalry you won’t want to miss!

BUT WAIT…

I’ve got a BONUS just for you!

If you purchase the bundle through any of the links on this page, I’ll send you this set of 12 Kids’ Valentine Coupons just because you are awesome – with no watermarks, of course.

You can click the photo to see the listing and everything you’ll be getting in your bonus, plus it includes a blank template, in case you want to make your own coupons. This would be super fun to pair with the Kid’s Valentine Activity Book (see #5 on the list above).

This coupon set also sells in my Etsy shop for $10 – which means between my Easter egg stuffer activity coupons and the Kid’s Valentine’s Day coupons, you’re already saving a couple bucks when you buy this bundle! And you’ll be making some awesome memories with your kiddos! Win-win!

WHEW! So there you have it. Pretty much everything you could ever want for the Spring holidays. I am dying from all that goodness and I just CAN’T WAIT to use all those goodies.

And for only 18 buckaroos {for OVER $240 worth of goodies?!} SHEESH!

Sign. Me. Up.

Two super, duper important things to remember:

#1- It’s only available for THREE DAYS!
#2- Midnight MST on the 26th, this deal is gone FOREVER!

What are you waiting for?!

HAPPY SPRING!

PLEASE NOTE: The Dating Divas are hosting this fun bundle. If you purchase, you will receive a receipt and delivery email from The Dating Divas. If you have any troubles or questions at all you can always contact me and I will reach out to them for you or go straight to our fabulous hosts and shoot an email to divas@thedatingdivas.com

January 3, 2018 by Krista

Calendar Journal

This post was originally posted in 2014. It was last updated Jan 2018 to maintain accuracy and pertinence. Full 2018 calendar journal templates are available in my Etsy shop.

Do you keep a journal? I am the worst journal-keeper ever.

I used to be pretty good at it when I was younger – okay, I used to do it when I was younger. Being good at it might be a little too generous. But, then… Life. Marriage. Motherhood.

I was so busy living (sometimes surviving) day-to-day that I was sure I wouldn’t forget the important stuff and the daily stuff was monotonous. Did I really need another journal entry about dishes and laundry and baby snot on my clothes?

WHY WE NEED TO JOURNAL THE LITTLE THINGS

But, I realized that I WAS forgetting the important stuff. Wait, what day was it when my beautiful little niece was born again?! And how much did the doctor say my youngest weighed at his well-baby check up last week? If only I’d written it down!

And, you know what, the dishes, laundry and baby snot DOES matter. It might seem like small, inconsequential chores and a boring daily grind – but it’s my life! It’s not always glamorous and fancy, but it’s mine.

When I’m feeling unaccomplished and like I spent my day just spinning my wheels, some times I need to account for the little things like laundry and dishes. Because keeping my family fed and clothed IS important. Having a physical list of my accomplishments helps me have the motivation to do it all again the next day.

EVEN YOU HAVE TIME TO JOURNAL WITH A CALENDAR JOURNAL

Part of my struggle was time. I felt like I didn’t have time to sit down and write for 20 minutes! And filling only three lines in my journal was kind of depressing.

However, I seemed to have stumbled on something that works! A Calendar Journal. I first saw a similar idea on a Flickr feed. The one I originally saw, I can’t seem to locate, but the link is quite similar. I totally fell in love with the idea. THIS I can do! AND I DID!

Eleven months down and I only missed a week plus a couple days. It looks so neat and only takes a couple minutes a day (usually right before I go to bed). The good news: I think I’m hooked!

WHY THE CALENDAR JOURNAL WORKS SO WELL

The limited space is just what I need. It’s small enough that I don’t feel like I need to spend large chunks of time on writing. I just jot down a few quick notes and I’m done. Some times, I write in it while I brush my teeth at night. Super quick, super easy.

It’s also a creative outlet for me and that’s just what I need to wind down and relax at the end of my day.

And, if I do miss a couple days, I can go back pretty easily and fill it in. (Confession: I may or may not have spent some time filling in about a month and a half in November and December… whoops. But I was able to get it all filled in before I forgot everything and my calendar still looks awesome.)

February 2013 Calendar

A couple of close-ups of my Calendar Journal. Nothing super detailed or incredibly personal… unless you want it to be. Sometimes, my entries were just a check list of things I’d done that day – dishes, laundry, wiping up baby snot – and sometimes they were more personal – like we’re having another baby!

As you can see, I am no artist and the little sketches are just simple little drawings.

Click the image to view a larger version of my Calendar Journal.

WANT TO CREATE YOUR OWN CALENDAR JOURNAL?

I have the 2018 calendars available for purchase in my Etsy shop. It is a one-time, single instant download with all 12 months. The PDF file has all 24 calendar pages and is ready for printing right at home. Another nice thing about the PDF packet is that you will be able to print the pages back-to-back all at one time. Each month also has extra space to write down additional notes. I used it for things my kids said, anything exciting that didn’t fit in the box for that day and little extras (like when my husband surprised me with a new cell phone upgrade).

I never got around to binding my pages, they are all still just loose papers, as you can see in the photos above. Some binding ideas are: You could put them in a three-ring binder, bind them with tape and glue or sew them together.

UPDATE 2018: I now do my calendar journal in my planner. I used the Mom on the Go Planner from leafytreetops.com last year. I love the weekly spread where each day is split into three columns. I use the bottom box to do my calendar journal and the top boxes are my appointments and to-dos. Any blank calendar or planner would work though. I also really like the Erin Condren Life Planner – it has the three column layout as well.

Enjoy and happy journaling!

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.

November 28, 2017 by Krista

The Easy Christmas Countdown You Need This Year

Hi there! Happy holiday wishes coming at ya! I’m so glad you stopped by to check out this easy Christmas countdown.

I’m a sucker for a good, and easy, Christmas countdown; but, December is a busy month! Can you relate? So, when the calendar gets around December 8th, I find myself struggling to keep up with the fun we started just a week before.

I need simple. Do you need simple too?

A countdown where, if you miss a day or two (or five), it doesn’t ruin the whole thing. I totally get that! I also wanted a visual representation, because my kids ask “how many days until Christmas?” every single day. For 25 days. This year I plan to just point my kids to this countdown.

EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

WHY SHOULD YOU USE THE EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN?

Of course, we have some Christmas traditions that I look forward to every year. But, not having an activity assigned to every single day means I can relax more. I can enjoy the traditions without worrying about tomorrow’s activity. This countdown was designed with busy families in mind. This easy Christmas Countdown Chain will help you because:

It’s super simple. 20 minutes and it’ll be ready to go. Or just print it and give it to the kids to put together.
If you miss a day or two, just remove the extra links to catch up. No stress or drama when life gets crazy.
And the kids can see just how close Christmas really is. You won’t feel like you’re stuck on a month long car ride with the kids asking, “are we there yet?” on repeat.

KEEPING TRADITIONS PART OF YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

But, what about the traditions you DO want to keep? Don’t worry, I thought of that. There are THREE ways to put together the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain so that it works for your family:

One of them has nothing but numbers and is simply just a countdown.
The other one, though, has some fun Christmas activities to do. There’s even blank chain links so you can add your family’s special traditions.
A combination of the two, with activities interspersed through out the month on days you think you’ll be able to accommodate.

So, now you get to customize your chain in whatever way best fits YOUR family. Use whichever Easy Christmas Countdown fits into your schedule better – or – combine the two!

Want an example? My kids will be in school until 3 days before Christmas, so we will have to keep up our school routine during the week. We will also have a brand new baby (we’re talking less than a month old). We won’t have a lot of time this year to throw in extra activities. Weekends will be our best bet, so those days will get an activity link and we can make sure our favorite traditions make it into our schedule.

MAKING YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

When I said this is simple, I really meant it will take you about 20 minutes to put together. Maybe 30 if you let the kids “help”. Simple, yeah?

There’s one more thing you need to know before we get started. You already know there are two versions of the chain (the one with the daily countdown and the other one with the activities), but each version of the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain is also available in color and in monochrome.

This is meant to help you save ink by printing on colored paper instead of on white paper. Or in case you only have a monochrome printer (I dream of upgrading to a color laser printer someday). So, just be aware of that when we download your chosen files.

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN:

Easy Christmas Countdown Chain Printable Files (preview the different files below under step 1)
- Countdown Only: Color | Monochrome
- Countdown with Activities: Color | Monochrome
Printer and paper
Scissors or paper cutter
Tape, glue or stapler and staples

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

1. Print the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain links. If you’re using the countdown only monochrome file to print on colored paper, make sure the pages alternate colors. For two colors, page 1 and page 3 should be the same.

2. Cut the chain links apart with the scissors or paper cutter.

3. Take the first chain link and bend it until the ends overlap and the strip forms and circle.
Secure with glue, tape or a staple.

4. Slip the next chain link through the first link and bend until the ends overlap. Secure.

5. Repeat the process with each chain link, slipping the new link through the previous one and
creating a chain.

6. Hang your Easy Christmas Countdown Chain where you can remove a link each day.

That’s it, super easy, right?

I hope this makes counting down to Christmas with your family simpler. And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your family, making memories and having fun together.

Happy Holidays!