We always make at least one trip out around the neighborhoods to check out all the displays. And the ones set to music, WHOA! It’s so fun to see all the talent and planning these neighbors have put into a spectacular display. And, with so much testosterone, a good competition isn’t hard to come by around here.

Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt

HOW TO USE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SCAVENGER HUNT PRINTABLE

So, now when you load up in the car with the cocoa clasped in little (or not so little) hands, you can put your kids’ -or sweetie’s? – competitive nature to good use with a little game.

You can play as a team and try to cross the whole list off together, split up into teams and play (boys vs girls!), or play as individuals.  Whatever works best for the dynamics of your family.

GRAB YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SCAVENGER HUNT PRINTABLE

Get your FREE DOWNLOAD and have your own scavenger hunt. Or you can get two per page HERE and save some paper and ink. If you’re tech savvy, you can even send it to everyone’s devices.

You’ll need to download the file by clicking on the link above. Then, save it to your computer. You’ll be able to print as many copies as you need.

If you really want to go all out, get prizes or goodies to celebrate a fun game when you get home.

This post was originally published in December 2014. It has been updated December 2021 to fix broken links and make the content layout more reader friendly.

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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.

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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!

The post 5 Spring Word Games for When You Need to Entertain the Kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

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

The post 27 Spring Printables You NEED! appeared first on While He Was Napping.

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.)

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!

The post Calendar Journal appeared first on While He Was Napping.

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:

1. One of them has nothing but numbers and is simply just a countdown.
2. 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.
3. 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!

The post The Easy Christmas Countdown You Need This Year appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Sometimes, I get some of it done and a lot of the time, I don’t. I hope what they say about good intentions isn’t true. I hope, in this case, it really is the thought that counts.

There are some traditions that I really try to make sure don’t get overlooked in the chaos that leads up to the holidays. One of those is our Thankful Tree and I try to have a toy purge before we’re invaded by gifts from relatives and that jolly old Santa Claus.

But, most of all, I try to find ways to encourage gratitude and get my kids to think about others. While we try to do those things all year long, it seems to be a little easier and more natural when November comes around.

ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE IN YOUR KIDS BY MAKING IT A GAME

I want to help my kids focus on what we have, not what they want. With Christmas coming, the inevitable “I want, I want” is about to get stuck in high gear.

I want to encourage them to do things for others; but, when you’re little, it can be hard to think about others before yourself. I want to offer my kids the opportunity to learn to put others ahead of themselves. But, it always works out better when they think it’s their idea or that it’s a game. So, a few years ago, I introduced them to The Gratitude Jar.

A big part of gratitude, to me, is being willing to help others. And to say thank you when others help you. That’s what The Gratitude Jar is all about.

HOW TO ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE WITH THE GRATITUDE JAR

The best part about The Gratitude Jar is that you can use it however it best fits into your home.

We have used it as a boredom jar in the past. This year, though, we are making it into a game.

When my kids have a free minute, they choose a slip from the jar and do the activity. What has made this successful so far is that The Gratitude Jar is constructive, it’s a privilege. And it’s individual. Sometimes, they do the same activities at the same time. But, if one of them doesn’t want to do the activity that was drawn, or has already done it, they can choose their a different one.

We’re keeping track of how many good deeds each of them do. At the end of the month, they can choose a reward based on how many activities they complete. There’s 10 activities included that will encourage gratitude and serving others. My kids helped come up with rewards.

• When they complete 1-3 activities, they get to choose a special treat or candy.
• When 4-6 activities get completed, they can stay up an extra 30 minutes.
• If they do 7-9 activities, they can get out of one chore.
• If all 10 activities get done, we’ll have a family movie night and they get to choose the movie and the snacks.

The competition is against themselves, not each other. They are trying to do their best, not better than their brothers.

READY TO ENCOURAGE GRATITUDE IN YOUR OWN FAMILY?

If you’re ready to encourage gratitude in your family this holiday season, download your own high-resolution copy so you can create your own Gratitude Jar.

All you need is

• a printer
• a pair of scissors or a paper cutter
• and a clean container to store the slips in

A dozen snips to more grateful children…?  Can’t hurt to try, right?

DOWNLOAD YOURS HERE!

Get your gratitude growing!

Like this chalkboard print? You’re in luck, it’s a free printable! Click here to get this print!

The post 10 Activities that will encourage gratitude in your kids appeared first on While He Was Napping.

The Dating Divas have done it again! They have collaborated with some of your favorite digital designers and bloggers to bring you this amazing bundle of holiday printables.

AND, as with all the Dating Divas Bundles, they have put together a KILLER deal for you so you can get in on all that awesomeness for a fraction of what it would cost to piece all this awesomeness together yourself. {Trust me when we say you DO NOT want to miss out on this one!!}

But, you see that lovely little timer below? Well it’s ticking down FAST! And when it hits zero, this deal DISAPPEARS!!

32 extremely talented bloggers and designers teamed up with The Dating Divas to create this ULTIMATE Holiday bundle!

And we are hooking you up with EVERYTHING you need for…

Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND New Years!

There’s even a little Dia de los Muertos in there too!

This bundle is so full of festive fun, you won’t know what to do with it all.

What you’re looking at is OVER 480 PAGES of printables WORTH OVER $300
all in one handy dandy holiday bundle!

And, we slashed the price for you! So much that you’ll think it’s a typo. It’s not. The deal is THAT FREAKIN’ AWESOME.

You can get over $300 worth of FABULOUS items for only $15-$20!

Holiday decor, countdowns, activities for the kids and for the whole family, planners, gift ideas, gift tags, relationship ideas and MORE – all from your favorite bloggers!

BUT WAIT… no, seriously. It’s about to get real good.

If you buy your bundle through one of my links, you’ll get BONUS printables from me!

Something for the kids and a little something (something) for you, too. Wink.

These bonuses alone sell in my Etsy shop for $15. So, this deal is seriously FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!

Your bonuses will be delivered next Monday, October 16th, 2017 – after the bundle sale is over – to the email address where you choose to receive your All Things Holiday Bundle. So, don’t freak if you don’t see them right away. You WILL get them. Pinky promise.

Are you convinced? Want this bundle RIGHT NOW? Click that yellow button and GET YOURS!

Hmmm, does this sound too good to be true? Are you waiting for the catch? Well, there is a teeny, tiny one…

You’ll have to ACT FAST—this deal only lasts for THREE DAYS!

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

This is a 3-Day sale, but the price goes up a little each day. Here’s the breakdown…

• Buy on the 11th for only $15
• Buy on the 12th for only $18
• Buy on the 13th for only $20
• After that, this deal is GONE FOREVER!

Buy early and SAVE BIG. But wait too long {like after the 13th at midnight MDT} and this deal will be gone FOREVER!

Okay, okay. So what’s actually in this bundle, right? Here’s what you’ve been waiting for: THE BIG REVEAL.

This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you could ever WANT or NEED for the holidays {AND MORE!} Including…

• Thanksgiving Countdown and Gratitude Prompts
• Thanksgiving Planner
• Thanksgiving Table Decor
• Christmas Countdowns
• 12 Days of Christmas
• Christmas Memory Pages
• Christ-Centered Christmas Service
• Cookie Exchange Party Printables
• Holiday Gift Bags and Gift Tags
• Letters from Santa
• New Year’s Goal Planner
• AND SO MUCH MORE! {See everything in detail below!}

Yes, you get ALL THAT JAZZ for the same price as many of these sell for all by themselves? This is a no-brainer! Click that yellow button to get yours now!

So, that sounds good and all, buuut
EXACTLY WHAT IS IN THIS BUNDLE?!?

I hear ya! I want to know what exactly I can expect from these things. So, below is every single item that is included in the purchase of an All Things Holiday Bundle!

HALLOWEEN PRINTABLES

1. Dia De Los Muertos Party Pack by Mod Podge Rocks – Get everything you need to host a colorful and FUN party for Dia de Los Muertos! Do this as an alternative/in addition to your Halloween festivities. Included is a printable banner, favor bag toppers, candy bar wrappers, cupcake toppers, water/soda bottle labels, photo booth props, and a decorative sign. This all in one party kit allows you to focus on the food since you’ll already have the decorations!

THANKSGIVING PRINTABLES

2. Thanksgiving Countdown by A Lively Hope– A 12 page kit with everything you need to make a darling and memorable countdown to Thanksgiving! Includes an activity idea for each day (plus extra blank cards so you can include your own family traditions). This is the perfect way to help your family express gratitude for your blessings and make the most of the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

3. 2 Thanksgiving Countdowns PLUS 30 Gratitude Prompt Cards by Timesavors – Countdown to Thanksgiving with this darling turkey or fall tree advent calendar! Simply print, cut, and you’re ready to go! Each day, say something you are grateful for as you by using the included prompt cards to stimulate ideas and dinner conversations. Happy Thanksgiving!

4. Thanksgiving Table Printable Bundle by Paper & Taigh – Impress your guest with these swoon-worthy Thanksgiving Table Printables! It’s everything your table needs for an inviting Thanksgiving dinning experience!

5. Printable Thanksgiving Planner by Peoples Life On Paper – This 23-page kit includes everything you need to plan and host a successful Thanksgiving dinner. From planning checklists and recipe organizers to menu planners and cooking schedules, you’ll stay organized and stress less!

6. Apple and Cherry Pie Favor Box Set by Piggy Bank Parties – Send your guests home with a slice of pie without having to turn on the oven! These yummy full-color digital favor box templates are great for holiday gatherings, backyard picnics and afternoon playdates. We love filling these mouth-watering slices with wrapped caramels and sour cherries!

7. Kids Table Manners Kit and Thanksgiving Bonus by The Little Inkspot Co. – This Table Manners Kit is perfect for teaching basic table manners to kids and toddlers (ages 3 – 10). Kit includes 2 printables, 1) 11 x 14 poster to hang by the dining table and 2) 8.5 x 11 table manners reward chart to help kids and parents keep track – a great way to help make family mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family and teach basic beginner table manners that will last a lifetime! Add these adorable Thanksgiving Tags to fresh baking, jams, or your garden’s harvest and give as a thoughtful token of thanks to neighbors, friends, and family!

CHRISTMAS PRINTABLES

8. Christmas Town Advent Calendar by Little Paper Racoon – This beautiful paper Advent calendar is also a great Christmas decoration and a great construction game ! Once the boxes are filled with chocolates or trinkets you can create your very own Christmas town. Each box has its own design, and represents a piece of building (window, door, roof) or a Christmas tree. These building boxes let you choose between two colors, red or light brown to create different houses or buildings, so the combinations are endless!

9. Christmas Advent Countdown Activity Jar by While He Was Napping – Ever wish you could simplify Christmas, focus on family and make memories instead of your stress taking over during the holidays? Then you need this Christmas Countdown Jar because that’s exactly what it will do. Make lasting memories with your whole family during the cold countdown to Christmas with easy and fun activities that focus on the important things – each other! Use the activities as an advent calendar by choosing one per day or use them as boredom busters over the winter break.

10. 12 Days of Christmas Service Idea by The Dating Divas– ‘Tis the season for giving! Get your family in the holiday spirit with our 12 Days of Christmas. Each night for the 12 nights leading up to Christmas, you can use this festive printable pack to leave little surprises for a lucky recipient. We have created not one, but TWO options for your holiday service spree. We have an entire pack of tags, poems, and more for gifting a neighbor, as well as an entire set of poems designed specifically with your spouse in mind! This Festive Pack Includes: Shopping List and Organizer- Gather ideas for gifts in advance and keep track of them all with ease! Bag Covers- Give your Gifts in Style! Your service recipient will look forward to these colorful bags night after night! Gift Tags- Each tag coordinates with a day and includes a poem. There are two versions available in this pack, one for your neighbor and one for your spouse-be sure not to mix them up!

11. Camp Christmas by 4 The Love of My Heart – Celebrate Christmas with the family in a new fun, creative way with Camp Christmas! This bundle has everything you need to plan your “camp” with crafts, activities, care packages, and more for the entire month of December. Who doesn’t love Christmas, and who doesn’t love camp? When you combine the two together, just think of all the fun your family will have this Christmas!

12. Christmas Memories Printable Pack by A Girl and a Glue Gun – Keep track of all those fun Christmas memories with these great printables! There are printables to help you remember the food you ate, movies you watched, songs you sang, how your Christmas tree was decorated, people who visited, and presents you gave and received! Print it year after year and your kids will have a blast reading about all the fun things they have done over the years! (I wish I had this growing up! Don’t you wish you could remember what you got for Christmas when you were 10!!)

13. Disneyland Holiday Bundle by Beauty, Baby, and a Budget – Thinking about taking your little elves to Disneyland for Christmas this year? Or maybe even giving them a Disneyland trip for Christmas (because who wouldn’t love that?). Then this is the perfect bundle for you! It comes with a 2017 Disneyland Holiday Checklist which includes 25 things you MUST do at Disneyland during the holiday season. It also comes with a Disneyland countdown and a “We’re going to Disneyland sign” perfect for a photo op with your cute family!

14. Christ-like Christmas Service by Chicken Scratch n Sniff – Light your Christmas with acts of service this year with over 40 pages of adorable and festive printables to help you fill your season with acts of love. Sprout candy canes in your friend’s yard, leave random acts of love behind, say Thank You to those with the most festive houses. From bag toppers and advents to gift tags and candy wrappers; you’ll discover what you need to make this the best Christmas yet.

15. Cookie Exchange Party Printables by Everyday Party Magazine – The Printable Rustic Cookie Exchange Party Collection Includes the following: Cookie Box Labels, Recipe Cards , Voting Card, Favor Hang Tag, Folding Label, Party Circles, and Editable Invitations. Instructions and printing recommendations are also included.

16. Holiday Cookie Exchange Bundle by How Does She – Have you ever done a holiday cookie exchange? It’s one of our favorite traditions and a great reason to throw a party with your BFF’s. This bundle includes everything you need to throw a mean cookie exchange…well, everything except the cookies!

17. Printable Holiday Gift Bags by Homemaking Organized – Three printable Holiday Sparkle gift bags give you a PERFECT way to present your tokens of appreciation this season.

18. Letter from Santa Printable by Hoot Invitations – Create some magic and surprise your child with a personalized letter from Santa this holiday season! Let them know Santa is watching and on his way with this 8″ x 10″ PDF editable letter from Santa. All text in main body can be edited. Just print at home on a color printer – fits on 8.5″ x 11″ paper or A4 paper.

19. Vintage Santa Letter Kit by The CreativiDee Workshop – This stylish Vintage Santa Letter Kit has everything you need to create fun holiday memories for everyone! From Wish Lists and Letters to Treat Labels for Christmas Eve, your family is sure to have a great time with this festive collection.

20. Holiday Jam Labels & Matching Cards by Our Kerrazy Adventure – These cute jam labels make it so easy to give gifts to neighbors and teachers. Print and place them on your canning jar. You can even print out a coordinating card to write sweet note. Our printables make gift giving a breeze this holiday season!

21. Christmas Gift Name Tags, Wish Lists, & Treat Gift Tags by Papers & Plenty – These adorable, buffalo plaid Christmas gift name tags are fun and easy to use! Set includes 8 tags, personalize them with a name(s) or special message on the back, the perfect addition to any Christmas gift! Then, make Christmas shopping a little easier on Santa this year with these adorable, kid-friendly, buffalo plaid Christmas wish lists! These fill-in-the-blank lists are fun and easy to use for kids and adults! Finally, dd these adorable, buffalo plaid Christmas treat gift tags to any special holiday treat! Set includes 6 tags, write in a name(s) or special message at the bottom, fun for kids, neighbors, teachers and more!

22. Fun Holiday Gift Tags by Pretty Paper Violet – Give your family and friends a smile this holiday season with this collection of printable gift tags. Perfect for your DIY gifts and anything else that lands under your tree. Print as many as you need for this year and next!

23. Holiday Fun Coloring Pages by Printable Crush – Enjoy Coloring these Holiday Coloring Pages for adults or kids! Includes 10 pages for the major US Holidays. Print these pages over and over again and try new coloring styles for gorgeous holiday art.

24. All Inclusive Holiday Binder by Thirty Handmade Days – Get ready for the holidays with this awesome All Inclusive Holiday Binder. Not only is it fun and colorful but it will help you stay organized during the chaos. You can download party prep, calendars, checklists, budgeting sheets and more!

NEW YEAR’S PRINTABLES

25. New Year’s Photo Booth Props by Simply Everyday Me – You’ll enjoy ringing in the New Year with these whimsical & kooky photo booth props by SimplyEverydayMe. This kit consists of 45 DIY printable props including: Top Hat, Happy New Year’s Hat, Bowler Hat, Party Hat, Party Crown, Champagne Bottle with Cork, Champagne Glasses, Martini Glasses, Father Time Beard & Mustache, Sickle, Pocket Watch, Hour Glass, Big Clock Face, Baby New Year Hat/Hair, Baby New Year Sash, Baby New Year Mouth, Binkie, Glasses, Star Glasses, Bow Tie, Pearl Necklace, Party Blower, Party Blower Fringe, Camera, Snap Burst, Fizz Burst, Pop Burst, Mustaches, Lips, and Instructions. Plus information for materials needed & paper suggestions.

26. Make Over Your Year Course by Money Saving Mom – Make Over Your Year is a simple, effective 4-week, hands-on course to help you take your big dreams and ideas and turn them into realistic goals and a doable action plan. When you download this course, you’ll get immediate access to 4 group coaching session videos, a 47-page printable PDF workbook, weekly projects to break down the goal-setting process & set yourself up for success, and printable worksheets to take you step-by-step through each of the projects in the course.

27. New Year- New Marriage Pack by Enduring All Things – Commit to making this year the best yet for your marriage! We make all kinds of resolutions in the new year, why not add your most important relationship to that list? The New Year – New Marriage Pack includes a cheat sheet to use for weekly couple check-ins, a list of fun holidays to celebrate together this year, a template for a date night bucket list and more. Use these to bring your marriage back to the top of your priorities this year!

28. Couple’s Journal by The Happy Life Balance Co. – Bring positivity and kindness into your relationship with this Couple’s Journal. In this journal, you will complete a series of daily and weekly exercises which are designed to help you gain a deeper appreciation for each other and learn to enjoy the time you spend together more.

29. Printable Goal Planner by Jessica Marie Design – Stay organized and keep up with your goals with this printable Goal Planner. The printable planner can be instantly downloaded and printed at home or a local print shop. The Goal Planner is perfect for organizing and keeping track of your goals. The Goal Planner includes 10 unique pages including yearly overview pages, goal overview pages, a goal breakdown page, and goal tracking pages. Simply download the PDF files, open them in Adobe Reader, add text to the fillable sections, print on Letter size paper, and insert into a binder. Use the files over and over every year!

30. Clean & Colorful Cooking by Ashley’s Fresh Fix– 32 deliciously colorful recipes made exclusively with whole, real food. All are dairy free, sugar free, and grain free! Including a variety of breakfasts, entrées, light fare items, dips, and desserts! Perfect for helping you stay on track during the holidays and into those New Year’s resolutions.

31. Printable Meal Planner by Carrie Elle– This printable meal planner has everything you need to take control of dinner once and for all! Plan your weekly meals and also holiday gatherings and parties with this pretty and functional planner.

32. 11×17 Themed Table Setting Placemats by Linda Winegar – Themed Table Setting Placemats meant for families, teens & kids! Perfect for at home practice, at a restaurant as a reminder, while teaching an Etiquette Class or for table setting relay races! Patterned after the official standards of etiquette which The Emily Post Institute continues to teach for proper Table Settings. Each theme adds a special flare to your table!

And remember, if you order your All Things Holiday Bundle from me, you’ll get those awesome bonuses listed above!

WHEW! So there you have it. Pretty much everything you could ever want for the holidays. We are dying from all that goodness and we just CAN’T WAIT to get our hands on it.

Only 15-20 buckaroos {for OVER $300 worth of goodies?!}
SHEESH! Sign. Me. Up.

Three super, duper important things to remember:

The price JUMPS tomorrow!
It’s only available for THREE DAYS!
Midnight MDT on the 13th, this deal is gone FOREVER!

What are you waiting for?!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The post All Things Holiday Printable Bundle! appeared first on While He Was Napping.

Are you looking for some new October traditions? Does the witching hour seem to hit even harder once the weather starts to chill? Do you want to celebrate this month but don’t know how to squeeze it in? Then this Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar will be a great addition to your October!

WHO IS THE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR FOR?

In less than 30 minutes and with just a handful of materials, you’ll have a whole bunch of fun activities to celebrate this month that you can grab when you need it most. Are you:

• looking for some fun new traditions?
• just trying to keep the kids from demolishing the house?
• fighting to keep cool and sane until bedtime?
• making family time a priority this month?

Don’t miss out on all the fun that October has to offer with this fun project the kids can help put together and then use when you need a little fun and family time or a few minutes with the kids occupied.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN PRINTABLE BOREDOM JAR:

Materials Needed:

• Clean jar or other container to store the activity slips
• FREE download of my KIDS’ HALLOWEEN ACTIVITY JAR
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Tape or glue to adhere the label to the jar

Directions:

• Print out the Halloween Jar Activities.
• Cut out each colored rectangle and the square jar label with the scissors or paper cutter.
• Fold each activity in half or in fourths, whichever you prefer, and put them in the jar.
• Apply the label to the outside of the jar and you’re all set for some Halloween fun!

WANT MORE HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN FUN?

This set includes 10 activities plus the jar label – perfect for a weekend activity or those after school evenings when there’s just a little too much free time, the weather is a little too chilly or you need something to entertain the kiddos for a little bit. If you’d like to download the entire set – which contains 36 activities+a blank template to write in your own traditions and activities. Full set also includes updated labels and full printable instructions – you can get it in my Etsy shop.

The post Halloween Countdown Printable Boredom Jar appeared first on While He Was Napping.

EVERY TOY CAR NEEDS A TOY CAR ROAD!

Now that we have all these super cool cars to play with, I was itching for some fun play road time. Giving kids the chance to free play is high on my list, but sometimes it’s fun to have a little guided play too. This DIY is the perfect way to combine the two. Make your car-loving kids this printable toy car road track set for their cars, because what’s a race car with nowhere to race?

The best part? It’s reusable and there is no right or wrong way to play. When my kids feel like they are in control of play time it tends to lead to longer and more engaged play, which means I can cook dinner without tripping over little boys in my kitchen. Between their imaginations and this DIY toy car road, they should be happy for quite a while.

MAKE YOUR TOY CAR ROAD IN 5 EASY STEPS

Life with kids is great, but play time can get rough and tough. A paper toy isn’t bound to last long in my house. Yours either? Well, I’ve got a few tips so you only have to print this toy car road once and to help it last as long as possible once you let the kids loose. Ready? Let’s do it!

Toy Car Road Materials:

• Printable Track Pieces in Color | Track Pieces in Monochrome
• Scissors
• Laminating pouches or self-laminating sheets | I recommend these pouches. I haven’t used the self-laminating sheets, but these ones have been recommended to me
• Laminator (if using thermal laminating pouches) | this is the new version of the one I use and love
• 5/8″ hook and loop fastener dots | get them here

Toy Car Road Assembly Instructions:

1. Print the track pieces. I suggest a card stock or other thick paper for durability. You may want to print more than one copy of the pieces, so there will be more to play with. This tutorial uses 2 sets of the color track set.
2. Cut the track pieces out with the scissors, getting as close to the edge of the road as you can unless you want a white border on the edges.

3. Laminate the pieces. I prefer a thermal laminator, but you can use self-laminating sheets too. Follow the directions on the packaging to get the best seal. A thicker sheet or pouch may help your track pieces last longer. I use these thicker 5mm ones and love them.

4. Cut around the track pieces with the scissors. Make sure to leave enough border so the seal stays intact.

5. Attach the hook and loop fastener dots to the ends of each piece. Put the hook pieces on the front side of the track pieces and the loop pieces on the underside. This makes it so you can rotate the track pieces. Repeat for each track piece, trying to get them as close to the center as you can so they will line up.

That’s it. You’re ready to play! Store pieces in a ziptop bag or other container with a couple of cars so you’re always ready for some race time play! Not much room to play? Only get out a few track pieces out for a compact track. Or go all out and try to use all the pieces!

NEED A TOY CAR ROAD THAT WILL LAST?

Let’s admit it, this version is pretty simple and not terribly expensive. A year later, ours is still in pretty good shape, all things considered. But, it definitely has some wear and tear on it. I’ve had to replace a couple of the hook and loop pieces and we’ve had things spilled on the pieces, like half a bottle of bubbles… So, if you’re looking for a toy car road set that will hold up just a bit better you should really check out this Felt Road Track. It takes slightly longer to create, but the pieces will hold up better – and just toss them in the washer if they need a quick cleaning.

RACE ON, MY FRIEND!

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