Hard to believe, isn’t it? Christmas is just 7 days away! How in the holy hell did THAT happen? Yesterday, baby girl was being born; it was summer; the pool was open; school was out; people were nicer! Now, it’s freaking Christmas-time.
The most I’ve done so far, is put up a handful of Christmas lights outside. Tyler got all the Christmas boxes out for me, and set them up in Nora’s room – and I have yet to take one single thing out of any of them. And now that we’re 7 days away; I’m not going to be taking things out just to put them away again in 10 days. How ridiculous is that?!
To be fair to myself, we have an awful lot of stuff going on – Miss Nora is having a procedure done to close her PDA in her heart on Wednesday morning (prayers our way, please!); and the boys are in school; there’s dance class to go to, family gatherings, birthday parties, etc, etc, etc. The list is never-ending. Not to mention everyone keeps getting sick! What is it with strep (see my previous post), flu and Covid this year?!
The one thing I have accomplished is getting some gifts for the boys.
Nothing too crazy, just a select few items that they’ve been requesting recently; and I keep denying them, stating Christmas is xxxx days away! Just chill! I mean, they don’t get toys everytime we go to a store anyways, but on special occasions, they get small things; I haven’t even let them get away with that, HAH!
One item I got for the boys are three new toothpaste tubes from SuperMouth. Yea, I know I sound crazy; but teeth brushing time can be a battle sometimes! So, as a pre-Christmas treat, I got them this toothpaste! It comes in several flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, mint, and vanilla! Toothpaste – in those FLAVORS! I mean, WINNING RIGHT HERE! If you’ve got a minute to check them out – this beats the underwear your momma used to buy you! (Don’t worry, my momma bought me underwear AND socks every Christmas!)
The first night the boys had the toothpaste from SuperMouth, they used the chocolate flavor – and Declan, go figure, was NOT a fan; but Tristan told him he was crazy. Then the fight started; and I was yelling; there was crying. It was not pretty. But I digress; the next night, we tried vanilla; now that one, Declan was a huge fan of – and we’ve used it every night since with him! Tristan switches back and forth! So far, I haven’t gotten them to try the last flavor, but it will definitely not go to waste!
The best part? See for yourself – this toothpaste is SUPER GOOD FOR YOU and YOURS! SuperMouth can be found on social media, too @mysupermouth on FB; and @supermouth on every other major platform (TikTok; IG; LinkedIN; YouTube; SnapChat and X). A big shout out to Tyler with Tyler Barnett PR for showing me this gem!!!
I found a new photo service just in time for Christmas, too!
Have you heard about Persnickety Box? I hadn’t either, but OMG, it’s so freaking cute! It’s a monthly app subscription where you can select 30 of your favorite pics; and have them shipped to your door in a cute little box that lets you label the who, what, where and when! Each pic is 4×4; they’re the perfect squares! I found out about this company from Madison @ ChicExecs; and I’m super excited to share the love with my family!
My mom used to have all of her pictures printed on film, usually by going to Walgreens and waiting the typical 5 – 10 days until they were all ready. But back then, she had to hope she got a good picture, because you weren’t instantly gratified when you were taking said picture! You had a roll of film, and you took the picture, and hoped, lol! I grew up that way too, and while I do love the instantaneousness of our technology, the old way was super fun! It was so exciting getting that pack of Kodak pictures and opening them up and sifting through them at the table, laughing and reminiscing about whatever fun thing you took a picture of!
Which is also another reason why I like this app! It reminds me of the “old days!” I placed the order on my app on my phone and then, completely forgot about it! All the running around we do – and hellllllo, Christmas! Anywho, my Persnickety Box just showed up yesterday afternoon and I remember thinking, “OK, wait, now what’s this?” Today I got to business and opened it and it was so fun! Nora even helped!
I’ll be ordering more in January; and doling out pictures to people! 🙂 Drop me your address if you want one! *We need to bring back writing letters to one another too – todays’ day of modern everything sucks in some regards!*
Christmas gifts for those babies (really, for the parents, lol!)
I know I’ve talked about KeaBabies before; but I honestly love them! They have some of the best baby products out there! We use their bibs ALL. THE. TIME. with Nora lately! I mean, are her teeth EVER going to come in so the drool stops, lol!? Babies are one of those funny “types” of people, where, if they’re under the age of two, they just want to create chaos, and chew on everything – even your socks; so, really, wrap up a gift for baby, but really for mom and dad, and let the baby open it! That’s what we’re doing – I mean, Nora will get a gift from Santa I’m sure, and a few small teethers or things like that; but not anything specifically FOR HER.
We recently got “Nora” a car-seat mirror from KeaBabies for Christmas! You know, so she can drive up to STL and back and just jabber away to HERSELF! Little Miss is finally starting to SEE herself in the mirror, and on my phone; which has been a bit of a hassle; but she’s finally starting to SMILE at herself – and it’s the cutest damn thing! So I’m super excited to get this put up in the car, so she can entertain herself a bit more! She’s way too young for feeding herself or snacking alone, so talking to herself is about the only thing she can do right now; aside from chew on things. And let’s face it, talking to yourself as a baby is considered 100% normal! (Can I go back?!)
We also got a swift diaper mat from KeaBabies – and it stays right in the van; in the pouch in front of Nora’s carseat – for those occasions when a quick change is all we need; not the ENTIRE diaper bag. This mat is great because it’s slim, folds right up, and is machine washable – my favorite, lol!! Sometimes, it’s the little things that make life easy!
Oooooh, I can’t forget the waterproof, BAMBOO sheets! I swear, Nora has slept better on those sheets than she has on the typical ones from most other places! Maybe it’s the bamboo? KeaBabies has so many fun designs for that little one (and his/her parents!) The underside is where the waterproof comes in; it’s basically super material! Then the side Nora sleeps on is super soft and durable! I pop it right in the washing maching, and it’s good to go for the next round! It’s great right now, especially, what with the teething and all that I mentioned earlier, lol! The drool is real over here, folks!
Mabel’s LABELS – ingenious!!!!
More than one kid? Check. Could be twins? Check, check. Fight about what’s theirs and who had what every day? Check, check, and check.
When T.K. from Fresh & Hype PR first reached out to me regarding Mabel’s Labels, it was before Halloween. They sent the CUTEST items for Declan and Tristan – and me, being, well, me; I lost them. They’re in this DANG house SOMEWHERE – probably my room under the pile of laundry that never ends; or maybe IN the dishwasher? I mean, one day, I found a dinosaur card (think Pokemon) in the freezer……so. Anywho, I was going to recommend them and share my love for them with everyone; but as I said, lost them.
I’m writing this up, shaking my head, because lo and behold, T.K. managed to snag me ANOTHER sample of the brand – and this just in time for Christmas!! Both boys got two separate Mabel’s Labels water bottle bands, and they’re freaking perfect! Also lost under a pile of something or other – T.K., I am SO SORRY – what a joke I am! But, like I said above, all is not lost, I will find them, and they will make the perfect gift on any day of the year – because they will help to LIMIT the arguing! Anyone with more than one kiddo will understand that!
I mean, I have two siblings; and my sister is almost ten years younger than me. I recall coming home one evening, forever ago, and she had a friend over; and she was WEARING MY T-SHIRT. In the grand scheme of things, that was not an issue at all; it’s not like I was naked! What the issue was, was that she DIDN’T ASK! I mean, rule # 1 – Just ask! So, I of course, being the horrid sister that I am, half beat, half DRAGGED her skinny butt into the bathroom, threw her OWN shirt at her, and had her take mine OFF, because it was MINE!
So, I am not a stranger to the sibling rivalry game, lol! Which is why Mabel’s Labels is so ingenious! A perfect Christmas gift; birthday gift; any holiday gift you want it to be for those kiddos (or appreciative parents) in your life! They’ve been featured on Daily Mom; USA Today; Tiny Beans; and People, just to name a few pretty impressive write-ups!
Personalize their clothes, their shoes, their water bottles, their pens, their backpacks; the list goes on! Honestly, great Christmas gifts for everyone!
For the pet lover in your life – Christmas WOOF, WOOF!
Brenna, our baby pittie, won’t SHUT UP. That dang dog barks at EVERYTHING! So, when Susan from Susan Gerson PR reached out touting the benefits of using the DeluPet dog training collar, I was intrigued! It’s rechargable, for one; and for two, it helps you, pet parent, and pup, family member, be better with communication! I would type out all the pros – but I have this handy-dandy little mini-article I’ll share with you instead! What do you think?!
Next up; a SpaDog luxury gift box for those amazing furry family members you love so much! These boxes ship once a month, and are FILLED to the brim with goodies galore! Treats, chew toys, specialty items, grooming items, and so much more! I was shocked when we got our box to try out! I just wish I could afford the same type of pampering for myself!
Each box has well over $150 worth of items in it for your pup! Or your friends pup! Though, if you’re buying your friends dogs luxury items, I want in on that too – send me an IM! I’m here all year, lol! (I have 3 kids, too!)
Our box even came with a welcome letter! It is just so cute – I felt pampered, even though it was for the pups, lol! SpaDog is all over FB & IG – @Spadogbox – give them a follow and buy your favorite furry friend a box for Christmas!!
Ta ta for now – heading off to Christmas dreams and STRESS lol!
Now that it’s 10 to midnight; I guess my post should state 6 days till Christmas! Either way, off to sleep I go; or I’ll try to go! I’ve still got a few more last minute items to bring up! With Nora’s impending procedure, I’m not sure I’ll fully get to it! Here’s to hoping! Meanwhile, flashback to my post last Christmas, with even more gift ideas!
Love ya,
Kelly Ann
