50 Family Christmas Activities

Wanting to focus on time with the family this holiday season but not sure what to do? Here is a list of 50 fun, family activities for the holidays. Obviously you don't want to do all of them in one year or you would just be trading one kind of chaos for another. Go through the list as a family and pick out a couple that you would like to do together. Save the rest for next year.

Create a New Space by De-Cluttering and Rearranging

We have been busy doing more de-cluttering and recently freed up a bunch of space in the living room. Inspired by this extra square footage, I decided to flip the furniture placement. I had measured it out a few times and knew that everything would fit but I wasn't sure how it would feel or how my husband, Shelby, would like it.

Family Room Pallet Art

The wall in our living room above the couch has been blank ever since we moved in a year-and-a-half ago. Which is probably why when someone stopped by to pick something up that I was selling, they asked if we were moving in or moving out! I was just waiting on the right piece of artwork and hadn't found it yet. 

Pixie Dust Pendant

This cute pendant would make a great gift for any pixie, young or old, to easily keep their pixie dust at hand for when they need a little magic.

Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins

One of my favorite things about fall is pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING! I'm like Bubba from Forrest Gump only instead of talking about shrimp its pumpkin. :) Pumpkin Coffee, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin Puppy Chow, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Butter, and now Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins!

Pumpkin Spice Recipe

If you ask me, nothing says "fall" like pumpkin spice. You don't need to buy a special bottle though when you can easily put together your own blend using spices you most likely already have in your spice cabinet. This little bowl of pumpkin spice smells heavenly and makes everything I use it in taste even better.

Printable Planner Updates

A few months ago I made a FREE 2014 - 2015 Printable Planner that followed the school year and ran from August 2014 - July 2015. After several requests, I now have some extra downloads for you that will take you through the rest of the 2015 calendar year. Click the links below for August 2015 - December 2015 calendar pages!

EDIT: You can now find pages for 2016 HERE.

DIY Totoro Hoodie

Over the weekend my best friend came to visit and I helped her out with her Halloween costume: a Totoro hoodie. I had never heard of My Neighbor Totoro before but it looked cute from the pictures that I had seen and I was happy to help out. 

Hanging Zero the Ghost Dog Tutorial

Since my Etsy shop is closing down and I will no longer be selling my Hanging Zero the Ghost Dog I thought that I would update my tutorial to make it easier for you to make your own. It now has pictures of each step and a pattern to print out!

Mini Vampire Killing Kit

If you couldn't afford a full-size vampire killing kit or if you need something that you can take with you everywhere: then make one of these miniature versions!

Mad Scientist Poison Bottles

These poison bottles are easy to put together and will add a great touch to a mad scientist display! 

Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Make these easy breakfast burritos twenty at a time and freeze them for a quick and hearty breakfast on the go for just 50 cents each!

Chicken Fried Rice

I've never been a huge fan of chicken fried rice - that is until I made some at home. Oh. My. Goodness. It is amazing! This is one of my new favorite recipes and it is super easy! Typically this is served as a side dish but really it makes a great main dish too because it has meat, veggies, and rice. So it's like an Asian casserole. Or "hot dish" if you are from Minnesota. ;)

Pac-Man Coasters

Alright, so in the past I have used perler beads to make Super Mario Coasters and Minecraft Coasters. Now it is time for some Pac-Man! I kept it simple with just Pac-Man and some ghosts but you could also make the fruit if you need a larger set.

Freezable Banana Mini Muffins

I made up a few batches of these to put in the freezer and they have been great for a quick breakfast on busy school mornings or as a snack when I am in the mood for something a little sweet. Just pop however many you want in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and you have a nice banana muffin that tastes like it just came out of the oven. You could make these in a regular size muffin tin as well but I like the mini muffins because they heat evenly and I can use my cookie scoop to easily fill the tin evenly. 

Minimalism and Craft Blogging

Minimalism is about getting down to just the necessities while craft blogging tends to be about creating excess items. How can these two lifestyles co-exist? As I mentioned in my update about our journey towards simple living, my blogging has been pretty sporadic lately and that was mostly because I was confused by how our new semi-minimalist lifestyle could coincide with craft blogging. The two are kind of on opposite sides of the spectrum. 

Fried Green Tomatoes

The other day I fried up some green tomatoes for the first time. Why? Because this is the South and apparently we fry everything down here.

Super Mario Coin Bank

Just a few months ago I shared a tutorial for a Super Mario Savings Bank using a cardboard box and colored paper. That one worked well and was really cheap to make but I decided that I wanted something smaller and I really like the look of perler beads for 8-bit projects so I made another bank. 

FREE 2014-2015 Printable Planner

EDIT: Originally this was a school year planner that ran from August 2014 - July 2015. After several requests for one for the entire 2015 calendar year, I created an update. You can now get monthly and weekly calendar pages for August 2015 - December 2015 HERE. The pages for 2016 can be found HERE.

While getting the house organized I decided that it was time to consolidate all of my calendars, lists, and paper work. I searched all over the internet and every planner that I found was either too expensive or didn't have all of the features that I wanted. So I decided to make my own and I am sharing all of my files with you in case you want to make one too!

Simple Living

It has been awhile since I updated you on our home life..or much of anything really. My blogging has been pretty sporadic for awhile now but I will get to that another day. Our journey towards simplicity has brought us so much peace and happiness. This last year and a half has taught us a lot about what is really important to us and what direction we want our lives to take. 

Walking Tacos

I think for these to technically be "walking tacos" they are supposed to be served in a mini bag of Fritos but those are way more expensive than a full size bag so I usually just serve it in a bowl. So I guess this would be more of a taco salad. What ever you call it, it is yummy and a great meal for a busy summer night. Most of you probably already know how to make these, especially if you ever went to summer camp, but sometimes I need a reminder of the old classics that I love but forget about if I haven't made them in awhile.

I Like BIG BOOKS Tote Bag

Oh, my, gosh. Becky, look at her bag!

It is so big. She looks like,

one of those nerd guys' girlfriends.

I like BIG BOOKS and I cannot lie...

Mini Cereal Box Notebooks

Two years after adding some mini cereal boxes to my craft stash, I have finally used all of them! I started out with a Mini Cereal Box Desk Organizer which my son still uses every day. I love the fun pop of color that it adds to our living room. Now I am going to show you how to turn the rest into fun little notebooks.

Mustache Outlet Stickers

I never really understood the trend of putting mustaches on everything even if it doesn't make sense at all. I do, however, like putting them on faces like a finger tattoo or coffee mugs with a mustache painted underneath and now - electrical outlet faces!

Taco Pizza

I have a thing for the taco pizza from Casey's but I am too cheap to buy it very often. So I learned to make it myself! It tastes just as good and it is pretty easy to make too. I actually like it even better because when you order a taco pizza they put all of the toppings on at once so the leftovers have soggy chips and slimy lettuce. When I make it myself I can just put toppings on the pieces I am going to eat right then.

Super Mario Savings Bank

As part of our Super Mario master bedroom decor I decided to make a savings bank that looks like one of the mystery blocks. I think it would look better if it were a wooden box with the design painted on but I decided to work with what I already had so I made this one using a cardboard box and colored cardstock.

"Public" Restroom Sign

There are five doors in our hallway that can be a little confusing so I thought it would be fun to add a public restroom sign to help people find the bathroom door. 

Cheesy Beef Taco Dip

This cheesy beef taco dip is great for parties and it is hearty enough that it even makes a tasty meal....not that I would know anything about that. No responsible adult would eat nothing but taco dip for dinner. ;)

How To: Cut A Pineapple

Pineapple is in season now and if the only pineapple you have tried came pre-cut, you have no idea what you are missing out on. A freshly cut pineapple is full of flavor and makes a great snack. It took me years to buy one though because I had no idea how to cut it. If the same thing has been holding you back, scroll down for instructions on preparing your fresh pineapple.

LEGO Super Mario Decor

After seeing lots of awesome ideas on Pinterest I really wanted to do a Super Mario bedroom. My son decided that he wanted a Batman room though so I couldn't do it in there. After thinking about it for a little while I decided to go with a Super Mario master bedroom! Just because we are in our thirties doesn't mean we have to act like adults. :p We wear our geekiness proudly. 

Cheese Manicotti

This delicious cheese manicotti is made super easy by using string cheese for the stuffing. Great to throw together on a busy night!

Chicken Alfredo Pizza

My husband came up with this pizza combination and people usually look at him like he is crazy when he is ordering but everyone who has tried it loves it! We can't afford to order out very often though so I learned to make it at home. It takes a little more effort than just picking up the phone but it is definitely worth it.

"On The Air" Radio Light

I created this light as a prop for our church's Christmas dinner theater but we loved it so much that once the show was over we decided to keep it on top of the bookcases in our living room! My woodworking skills aren't the greatest so it's not the most professional looking but I like how it turned out.

No-Fail Pizza Dough

I have tried a bunch of different pizza dough recipes and this is by far my favorite! It has a great flavor and has turned out perfect every time.

Minecraft Coasters

If you have been around here for any length of time, you have probably noticed that I am a big fan of colorful and nerdy decor. For example, my Perler Super Mario Coasters and Rubick's Cube Tissue Cover. So the fact that I made up a set of Minecraft coasters should come as no surprise. ;) I don't play very often but my husband and son are both big fans. 

Toffee Sandies

These cookies are sort of like a shortbread cookie with toffee bits and they are absolutely delicious! 

$2 Magnetic Picture Frame

I love displaying my son's artwork but I hate having a messy fridge. So I put together this magnetic picture frame and if you have $2 and 2 minutes, you can too! Not only will a frame keep things tidy but it will make your kiddos feel extra important to have their sketches displayed this way! You can easily switch it out when they draw something new. 

Ravioli Florentine

This recipe is a copycat of a dish that Applebee's used to offer. This meal is absolutely delicious and a great way to sneak in some greens without significantly altering the flavor.

Fruit Barrel Valentine Printable

As a mom I feel like it is way too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day. However, as a blogger it looks like I am weeks behind. So here I am posting about valentines in January. Don't hate. ;)

Homemade Alfredo Sauce

This homemade alfredo sauce is full of flavor and tastes great on plain pasta, ravioli or pizza!

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

This classic breakfast dish is easy and comforting. Perfect for a weekend brunch!

Buttermilk Biscuits

These biscuits are really easy to throw together and use ingredients you probably already have on hand. Including a substitution for buttermilk if you don't have any in the house.

Battery Organization

Since January is national organization month I thought I would share another tip for getting your household in order. This simple plastic divider box has been keeping my batteries in order for over a year now. It makes it so much easier to find our batteries and I will never go back to just tossing them in a drawer.

Grocery Bag Organization

A lot of people like to organize during spring cleaning but for me the urge usually comes right after Christmas. After a few weeks of extra decor around the house followed by trying to find places to put the gifts that we received - I start to feel like the clutter is closing in on me. The Christmas decorations usually go back into storage on December 26th and the purging and organizing begins! One of my projects this time around was finding a better storage solution for grocery bags.

I ended up folding them like paper footballs and I am really pleased with the result. In the photo above, both the before and after show 20 grocery bags! It is a great space saver and now I can easily toss a couple in my purse and the glove compartment in the car so I always have one on hand. The rest fit nicely in a small corner of one of the kitchen drawers so I have extras to line the bathroom trash can. The folding process is super simple:

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

This dish leaves you with a lot of dirty cookware but it is so good that it is worth the extra effort. As soon as we polished off all of the leftovers, my husband wanted me to make it again!