5 Favorite Gifts That Bring Joy

December 13, 2017December 12, 2017 / wpengine / 1 Comment

The joy of gift-giving has endless possibilities. If I am being totally honest here, I recycle gifts all the time! No, it doesn’t mean I take unwanted gifts or used gifts and “gift” them to some unsuspecting friend or family member. It means, I have realized that I have My 5 Favorite Gifts that I always seem to buy for multiple people throughout the year! No matter the age, budget or occasion, these gifts always seem to be hit for those on the receiving end. The brand or choice of item might change slightly depending on whom it is for, but for the most part the concept of my 5 favorite gifts remain the same.

My 5 Favorite Gifts That Bring Joy To All
Books/journals
Tea/Coffee with a cute mug
Beauty & wellness products
Slippers or cozy socks
Food gift sets

Using these 5 gift ideas as a base for my holiday shopping, I found some wicked cute items and great products. Not only did I buy them for myself, but I can not wait to gift them to those I love. No matter the age or budget, you can find these items for just about anyone on your list! I love to shop for my family. However, when I am happy with the product personally I am even more excited to buy it for someone else! Spread the love, right? Below are the products I am gifting this year!

Forks, Knives and Spoons By Leah DeCesare
This book is insanely funny and I was so lucky to receive a copy from the author herself and fellow Rhody Blogger. First, where was this book when I was in college? It could have saved me from myself and from many player forks. If I am being honest, it is almost 400 pages, about 200 pages longer than most books I like to read, but it was such a good one that I really didn’t mind the extra pages. It is light, yet emotional. Funny, yet serious. And the analogy of branding utensils to certain types of men is really ingenious that I often say, why didn’t I think of that? This book is on my list for all my college graduates and those friends who are just starting out in the dating world or newly married! If you want to check out this book or more from Leah DeCesare you can do so on her Amazon author page and follow her on Facebook.Pukka Tea & Yoga Expression Mugs
I am no stranger to tea and cute mugs. I have way too many of both, but they always seem to get into my cart even when I am not in the market for either of them. I recently was introduced to Pukka tea at The Well Summit that I attended last month. I instantly fell in love with their mission and their quality of ingredients. Organic, fair trade and ethically harvested herbs are just some of the reasons this brand is my new favorite! Their blends of teas are unique and taste even better, this I promise. I am pairing two fun mugs that I recently scored at Home Goods with a box of Pukka Love Tea for a great hostess gift for an upcoming party!Calm-A-Mama Flower Remedies
Wellness is so important to me. Caring for my body in the most natural way possible is always something that I hold in high regard. With so many products on the market, I was so grateful to discover Calm-A-Mama about 18 months ago. The power of the flower is as natural as you can get. These drops are a blend of flower essences and an herbal water extract, or hydrosol. The herbs work on your physical body, while the flower essences support you emotionally. They use all USDA organic, non-GMO and pesticide-free herbs and all their blends are alcohol free! The sleep & immune drops are my favorite and I can not wait to gift this to all my friends! If you want to learn more about these drops and other blends, you can visit the website here.
Trader Joes Rainbow of Honey
I love to give food sets to foodies, especially out of the box items like the Rainbow of Honey from Trader Joes. Sure, you see spices and sauces and even baked goods in a jar, but nothing is sweeter (IMO) than a literal pot of gold in a rainbow of colors! The flavors vary based on where they come from and I’ve tasted all of them and each one stands out for different reasons. Some are sweet, some are floral and some a bit more nutty. Regardless, you can use these jars of honey for so many reasons! My favorite way to indulge is some mimosa honey over brie with a side of grapes! Have a Trader Joes near you, get there and snag one of these sets for you and a friend!Victoria’s Secret Pom Pom Slippers
Chances are if you are like me, the idea of spending my own money on socks & slippers doesn’t make me thrilled. I mean, the stuff goes on your feet and no-one sees it anyway? However, when I get my feet all cozy into some fluffy socks or slippers I instantly feel better. There is nothing better than relaxing on the couch on a cold winter day with a pair of cute slippers, a good book, some tea and a yummy snack. See what I did there? These pom pom slippers from Victoria’s Secret are so cute and trendy that anyone would love to open a pair of these this holiday. I might have grabbed a few extra pairs for myself as well!As you can see, I can take My 5 Favorite Gifts and can spin them in many ways that bring joy to all the people in my life! Do you find yourself recycling some of the same things to other people because you love them so? When you find something good, why not stick with it and spread the joy to others in the process.

Happy Gifting & Happy Holidays~
Joy

DIY December Bucket List

December 6, 2017December 5, 2017 / wpengine / Leave a comment

December. The holidays. The events. The parties. The traditions. There is so much to be mindful of this month because before you know it, the month is over and we are left wanting to do some things we inevitably missed during this magical season! I have just the thing to get you in the spirit, spend some quality time as a family and help you plan what matters most to you this month! For under $15, you can create your own December Bucket List, DIY style! This will help you prioritize the special events & traditions you don’t want to miss as well as make a nice decoration you can use year after year!

The supply list is simple to find items and can be customized depending on budget and desires:

Photo Frame
White computer paper
Sharpies (or markers in any color you want)
Paint/brushes (any color you want)
Sticker or embellishments (holiday/winter themed)
Glitter glue or loose glitter
Ribbon
Hot glue gun or tape

You probably read the list of supplies and thought to yourself that you have most of them already at home! Chances are if you have kids or are a habitual crafter like me, you have at least 50% of them stashed somewhere! The next step is really up to you. Paint the frame any which color you want and in any style you wish. Add as much or little embellishments and stickers to the frame as you crave. Skip the glitter or go crazy! This is you time to be as creative as you want! My son really was very symmetrical with his design, but there is no right or wrong way to use your imagination. A December Bucket List your way is the best way!

The last step was in my opinion the most fun! We thought of 12 things (sticking with the 12 days of Christmas theme we all know & love) to add to our DECEMBER BUCKET LIST. We cut a piece of computer paper to fit inside the frame before we started. We started reminiscing about all the things we like to do, things we wished we did, things we never wanted to do etc.. We started jotting them down on the scrap paper we just cut from. This helped us narrow it down to the items we knew needed to included and those that did not.

We were so excited to start our list that after we made it, we went out and completed 2 and started a few more! The holiday movie one is an activity that we have been working on since Thanksgiving so thankfully we have a nice head start! Each year I will scrapbook the list with some photographs of the activities listed. Then we will rewrite one every year on Thanksgiving when we decorate the tree. A new tradition is born! What are some of your not-to-miss bucket list items for the month of December? Let me know what activities you are going to put on your December Bucket List by commenting below!

Merry Holidays~
Joy

Egg Nog Truffles: A Taste Of The Holidays

December 20, 2016 / mysenkid / 1 Comment

Egg nog. You either love it or hate it. I ADORE egg nog. There is something magical about the notion that a drink can invoke all the wonderful “feels” of the holidays! For me, egg nog is synonymous with the holidays. I love finding other ways to enjoy it! I’ve tried egg nog cheesecake, egg nog ice cream, egg nog coffee… As much as I love it, sometimes I am not in the mood to drink it! But honestly, most times I don’t want all the calories and full belly feeling I get after I enjoy a glass! I saw a recipe online for egg nog truffles and decided to give it a try with a few tweaks! Although the recipe doesn’t contain actual egg nog, the flavor you have come to love is all there, I promise!

The recipe is quite simple and you don’t even need to turn your oven on to enjoy these little mounds of joy! I chose to add actual rum into my recipe, but if you wanted to make these alcohol free just sub the alcohol out for rum extract! I highly recommend keeping your truffles refrigerated until you are ready to serve them. You can also freeze them in batches and take out certain portions when needed! This is a perfect make-a-head recipe as well! Let’s get to what you need to make these delicious treats.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
1 Tbsp of dark run ( I used Sailor Jerry’s)
24 oz. white chocolate
2 cups gingersnap cookies crumbs (gingerbread cookies would be great as well)
Nutmeg and cinnamon for topping *optional

Step 1: Cook the cream, cream cheese & rum in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir often, until the cream cheese melts and the mixture is warm to the touch. *Do not boil this mixture. Crush the cookie crumbs and set aside.

Step 2: Stir in 12 ounces of white chocolate to the cream cheese mixture once you removed pan from heat. Once the chocolate is melted, add in the crushed gingersnap cookie crumbs. Place into a mixing bowl. cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Step 3: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the truffle mixture and form into small balls using your hands and place on the baking sheet. Once you have made all the truffles, pop them into the freezer for about 1 hour.

Step 4: Melt the remaining 12 ounces of white chocolate in the microwave or on the stove. Dip the frozen truffles into the melted chocolate and tap off the excess. Place back onto the making sheet and sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon. You can even add holiday sprinkles if you wish!

Remember, store these in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer (covered) for 6 months and take out when needed. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I enjoyed eating them! What is another way you enjoy the egg nog flavor without drinking it? I would love to learn more recipes for enjoying this flavor all year round!

Happy Holidays!

Top 5 Toys For Sensory Kids

December 11, 2015 / mysenkid / Leave a comment

I have put together a list of my Top 5 toys for sensory kids. Why? Because it’s that time of year! If you have a sensational kid you might have noticed they sometimes don’t play with certain toys. Whether it’s the sound it makes, they way it feels or even how it looks, they are turned off. I remember getting so frustrated around Landon’s birthday and holidays when he was little because he rarely would play with anything we bought. Once we learned what his preferences were, toy shopping wasn’t so bad. While every toy doesn’t have to have an educational component to it, I do tend to choose ones that encourage creativity, problem solving and that require him to use his tactile sense.

My TOP 5 TOYS for Sensory Kids

Legos– Great for any age! You can start with the Duplo set and move along to the standard size Lego as they age. While each set builds a specific design, you can custom create just about anything you want with Legos. Landon and I have built castles, upside down houses, double-decker boats and more all using our own imagination! Blocks of any material can work as well, but we are a Lego family! Great for kids who need to work on their fine motor skills among other things! My favorite gift to give any child!

Playdoh: Landon is 8 years old and stills plays with playdoh occasionally. Now that he is older he prefers modeling clay (same type of concept)- but this is great for working with their hands. It helps develop fine motor skills and creativity. You don’t even have to buy a special set. Grab a few tubs of playdoh, and look in your own cupboard for cool tools to use. Cookies cutters, frosting spreader, rolling-pin and other everyday items around the house. Create!

Books: While books in any form are amazing for kids, I find that touch and feel, pop up books and books with sound are our favorite. I love Usborne look inside books. They have all sorts of topics for different ages. Starting with a simple book on barnyard animals to space facts or Egyptian mythology. At 8 years old, he still loves a good lift up book.

Puzzles: I love Melissa and Doug for this category. They have so many puzzles to choose from. Chunky block puzzles for the toddler all the way up to 100+ piece for the older child and everything in between. They have even have puzzles where you open doors and puzzles that make noise. This is great for kiddos needing to work on their fine motor skills and those who like toys with sound!

Magnatiles: I love these translucent color tiles that kids use to create endless 3D and 2D designs. They hold together by the power of magnification. They even come with pre-designed templates for kids to follow to build a specific design. Following the templates helps with the skill of following step by step directions!

There are a ton of great gifts for our sensational kids but these are just some of our favorites. Landon goes back to these year after year. And these gifts are great for any kiddo in your life! All these toys I found on Amazon- and offer free shipping, what’s better than that! Happy Shopping!

Namaste~

Embrace the holiday spirit at Edaville’s Festival of Lights- Giveaway

November 16, 2015 / mysenkid / Leave a comment

Nothing gets me in the mood more than seeing the twinkling lights that illuminate neighborhoods and stores this time of year. The lights seem to bring my “inner child” out and help me embrace the true meaning of the holidays. After all, the holidays seem to be the busiest time of the year and sometimes we forget to slow down and just enjoy everything that it brings. Family, love, joy, hope and togetherness are just some things we should hold on to during this magical time. Edaville hopes you will enjoy this time with your family while visiting their park and taking in the splendor that is over 10 million lights on display!

Edaville USA’s Festival of lights has been a tradition for over 70 years. Generation after generation returns to the park to recreate priceless family memories. Young and old alike enjoy the park from the train ride to the Ferris Wheel and don’t forget the newest addition troublesome trucks! There is something for everyone!

Passengers relax comfortably in warm and dry coaches while riding through a spectacular holiday setting featuring an explosion of lights pulled by Thomas the Tank Engine! Kids of all ages will enjoy an array of vintage amusement rides, Thomas Land rides, and a visit with Santa in one of our indoor play areas. Stay for a delicious full meal or enjoy seasonal treats while roaming our sprawling and beautifully decorated grounds featuring thousands of Christmas displays.

The tickets are available any day except Saturdays and do not include the Polar Express or VIP Santa visit

November 20 – January 1, 2016 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)

4:00PM – 9:00PM Weekdays

3:00PM – 9:30PM Weekends

General Admission $29.00, Children under 2 are Free

I am honored, thanks to Edaville, to offer two FREE admission tickets to the Festival of Lights to my readers as a giveaway! And in honor of my son’s 8th birthday- I will choose a winner this Saturday Nov 21st and announce it that very same day! I hope this will become a new family tradition that you can enjoy for years to come!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN 2 TICKETS TO EDAVILLE’S FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Top 10 Best of 2013

January 1, 2014 / mysenkid / 5 Comments

Top 10 Best of 2013 – joy style

I have compiled a list of my favorite things that I have come in contact with during 2013. From places, to cleaning products and DIY crafts. Here is what I found interesting and wonderful about 2013.

10. Best song of the year- I will get shit for this- but Katy Perry’s ROAR is awesome. Just listen to the lyrics for a minute. It can help you get through a tough workout, a bad mood or just keep your spirits up!

9. Best “guilty pleasure” new show. Arrow on CW. It’s a hot man in tights, saving his city to right the wrongs of his father. It’s addicting……..

8. Best DIY Holiday treat: Christmas Crack! I know it is not new to 2013, but it was to me. It was freaking amazing…….I will be making a version of it for every holiday I can! Check out the amazingly simple recipe and gorgeous pictures from Sweet Bella Roos

7. Best Family decision: to join Mastery Martial Arts. Karate and Kickboxing has become apart of our family 3-4 nights per week. You know the saying, “families who play together, stay together”!

6. Best Weekend Roadtrip: Mystic Seaport & Mystic Village. While we have been to the village many times, we have never been to the Seaport. It was amazing. Landon loved it and it was so educational yet so much fun. We can not wait to go back in the Spring! To learn more visit them @ Mystic Seaport

5. Best toy purchase: Legos! It was only a matter of time before Landon found the Lego aisle of the Toys R’ Us. He received his first real ” little” Legos this past summer and the rest is history. I know they probably cost next too nothing to make, but I truly don’t mind paying the price for them. They are a forever toy and he learns so much from building and being creative!

4. Best Pinterest find: Homemade doggie treats! My dogs love the summer! Love the sun- but they can get very hot and drink so much water! What a great way this is for them to play and stay hydrated and it doesn’t break the bank! Freeze water and chicken stock with toys, carrots, treats, etc to keep dogs from getting bored and overheated in the backyard. For all my dog friends!!!

3. Best kids movie: Disney has done it again! Frozen was amazing! Not just for the kids, but for the parents who thought they would be bored sitting through yet another kids movie! The music, the cast, the characters and the story were all entertaining and hands down the best kids movie of 2013!

2. Best household cleaner- my new staple! Vinegar, water, lemon rind and any scent I want (oil- from Whole Foods) . I spent so much money on all the new products and they were so full of chemicals. I wanted something that was cost effective, good for the environment and safe for my child! Again- thank you Pinterest!

1. Best mommy moment- When my son taught his kindergarten class about his allergies and asthma and explained what happens to him and why its important for them to not bring in nuts. Proud of my 5 year old!

Here’s to 2013 and onward to 2014! May it be everything 2013 was and more! What were some of your favorite (best) things of 2013?

Happy New Year Everyone!

Namaste -joy

A Mom’s Christmas List

December 20, 2013 / mysenkid / 6 Comments

A Mom’s Christmas List

My son was born in November. Obviously, for the Christmas that proceeded, he was the best gift I could’ve asked for. Being a mom IS the greatest gift ever, many would attest. So how come it is so hard for a mom to get what she wants most for Christmas? Not only what she wants, but what she needs too! Move aside diamonds and cool gadgets, My list goes something like this:

All this mom wants for Christmas is;

1. A long hot shower, alone. A non-scheduled one. No kid peeking through the curtain asking for more snacks kinda shower. I don’t need to leave the door open to hear him playing. I can shut the door or heaven forbid Lock it!

2. 1 week where nothing in the house is broken, on purpose or accidentally.

3. 1 meal per day where I am not multitasking at the same time. It’s a skill I know I have mastered- eating while cooking, helping with homework, watching the dogs, cleaning etc……if I can’t have that- then an extra set of hands Please!

4. A day to go by without my kid riding the big dog like a horse and for the little dog to stop riding the big dog. It’s too much riding……..I get motion sickness.

5. Speaking on the darn dogs- Bark-less dogs! It’s the mailman. He comes 6 days a week, same time everyday. So, for the love of my sanity, please stop barking at the mailman like he is here to steal your last bone on earth! You don’t want bark collars, do you? Didn’t think so….

6. For egg nog to have no calories, no carbs or fat. For egg nog to be as nutritionally sound as water- this one is a maybe in another lifetime it will come true kinda wish! Yumm….Must get eggnog right now……be right back…….

7. To sleep without interruptions. “Mommy, I need to go potty, Mommy, I am thirsty, Mommy, I am not tired, Mommy I can’t find my pillow”. ” Bark, Bark, Meow, Meeeooooow- dog/cat fight in the basement”. No wonder I have insomnia……..

8. A mute button………..ENOUGH SAID!

9. A self- cleaning house. Like the self cleaning kitty litter the cat has…that thing is awesome! Must contact inventor of that, and tell him my idea…ooh…would I be a co-inventor? I would make millions!

10. Most importantly- Love- for my family to enjoy a peaceful, joyful day and just love each other for all we are!

If you could have any one thing, no matter how silly or unpractical, what would it be?

merry holidays!

Joyful Noise, by Joy Adamonis

Joyfully Me raising a Sensational Kid

Holidays

5 Favorite Gifts That Bring Joy

DIY December Bucket List

Egg Nog Truffles: A Taste Of The Holidays

Top 5 Toys For Sensory Kids

Embrace the holiday spirit at Edaville’s Festival of Lights- Giveaway

Top 10 Best of 2013

A Mom’s Christmas List