Whether you’re dreaming of a tidy gift wrapping station or need smart wrapping paper storage solutions, we’ve got you covered. From a DIY wrapping paper station to clever tips for organizing wrapping paper and gift bags, these storage for wrapping paper and gift bags ideas will transform your space. Say goodbye to clutter with these practical tips for organizing wrapping paper and gift bags organization ideas that fit your style and budget!

While we’re here, can we first start be decluttering that wrapping mess you have? We all know those bows from 2013 are ready to go to the trash, you’re never going to use them. Get started with my 5-word organization challenge right here:

Wrapping Paper Organization DIY

Let’s start with what most of us have (including me). For me — I have an old trash can that has our wrapping in it (so we can easily pull it out when it’s time to create a wrap station at Christmas). Our gift bags are in a plastic tote and our ribbons are in a cardboard box.

Honestly, this is probably fine for the rest of the year. However, I’ve gotten some good ideas as I’ve looked for some better solutions.

We do, however, have a row of curly ribbon set-up in our office. It’s an empty wall and it really makes it SO easy.

We just took some of these command hooks, a dowel cut to the size that fit, and we just string the ribbons on there. It’s really awesome, doesn’t take a lot of space and didn’t cost much to make (I know those say they only hold 2 pounds, but that’s exactly what we have).

However, our gift wrap and bags do stay in their garbage bin and a tote — we just don’t wrap enough year round to make a full station in our busy home, and it works!

Pro Tip: We actually have a gift wrap storage bag that holds our “everyday” papers that we can easily pull out at birthday time, and then our Christmas stuff resides in the bin that holds both the storage bag and the other stuff (a storage bin without a lid at the side of a closet).

Want more DIY organization tips?

• 5 Tips for Easy Kitchen Cabinet Organization
• 3 Kitchen Sink Hacks You Need
• The 4 Best Ways to Store Pots and Pans
• Playroom Organization Ideas: Toy storage hacks in small spaces

Ok, but let’s talk about some alternatives that you might be able to add to your current set-up to make it more manageable.

First off, because I know most people don’t have a whole room to dedicate to wrapping…. but you might have some space in….

Wrapping paper organization in a closet

Wrapping organization storage doesn’t have to take up your whole house. We definitely have it stuffed in a hard to reach closet because it’s not something we access frequently (and frankly, large rolls are easy to grab in a situation like that).

This is the one a lot of people think of…. but it’s not my favorite. The size can be an issue. Seems like those long rolls of gift wrap come in a variety of sizes and often that one’s lid won’t accommodate it, so be sure to measure your often used items to make sure they fit.

Also, if you only have a few rolls, that’s far too large. We actually have one like this. I think that it can collapse down to the size you’re using (and then you can shove gift bags next to it in your bin). It can have the same height issue though — so be sure this fits the sizes you most frequently buy.

I am a HUGE fan of vertical organization. I think it both saves space and also makes things easier to grab — so whenver possible I try to prop things upright like library books. This is pretty easy with wrapping paper.

BTW, I always feel like organizers always show people who have a TON of room (and seem to put pretty over organized). I needed organization for a TINY house that had to hold a lot. The Organized Home gave me ideas for every size, and budget-type out there. It’s so helpful!

Wrapping Paper Organization Behind Door

One of the spaces people don’t use much is behind their doors, and there’s actually a lot of great storage options like that. Like this one.

I love that it has spots for paper, ribbon and gift bags — it really is an all-in-one storage solution. You can obviously also use it in your closet. I think if it was me I might put it in my closet most of the year and then just pull it out and hang it on a door when I was wrapping a few presents.

I have also seen people just cut the pockets from regular behind the door shoe storage pockets (leaving it with long tubes they can use) — that might be a nice budget option. I’ve seen those shoe holders at big box stores for pretty cheap.

This just made me think of a few doors that we don’t have anything behind that might be a good fit for something like that — even if it’s not wrapping paper.

Wrapping Paper Under-bed Storage

This is a great option if you have some room under your beds. These boxes look sturdy and nice. They’d keep your wrapping paper dust-free in this dusty location.

The key is often using areas that aren’t used well — and using them for things you don’t access a ton — like wrapping paper! This gives lots of ideas like that.

Wrapping Paper Organization Station

Ok, this one’s for the people who have a spot they’d like to use for gift wrapping. I was surprised how reasonable the price was for HOW MUCH storage you get!

It has a spot for:

• Spools of Ribbon
• Good-sized drawers for pre-tied bows & gift bags
• Shelves for easy to grab items
• Spots for vertical paper storage

Honestly, I’m eyeing a few spots in my house this might work for…. it just looks super handy (and could be used for other crafty things too, not just gift wrap.

Portable Organization Station

Ok, if you’d like a spot you can just wheel out what you have and make a station when necessary I really liked this suitcase organizer. It’s like a wrapping paper organization cart.

Lots of room for papers, spots for gift bags (although not super large ones) — the only thing missing would be spots for large spools of ribbon — we like those multi-color curly ribbon spools. I think you could shove them up by the paper though.

Ribbon Organizers

Like I said above — there are a lot of great way to store thinner items, but large spools of ribbon are tricky. If you liked my system above but would like something less janky this one can hold wrapping paper and ribbon.

There’s also lots of options if you don’t want to put holes in your walls.

Wrapping Helpers

While we’re here, there are a few things that can make wrapping a lot easier.

This gift Wrap cutter has a lot of love lately. It can keep your wrapping paper “shut” but also cut it when you’re ready.

If you think that looks nice, but is kind of spendy — you can always use a nice sharp letter opener like this for the same thing!

Tired of wrapping unfurling and getting crinkled or ripped? These holders look so smart. Silicone slap bracelets basically — but they seem to stay put and work!

I think it’s so smart to find an option for your tape. I use a heavy duty dispenser (I have it at my desk normally) but this looks very handy too!

AND if you’re looking for something to cushion an item in a box I think this stuff is ingenious!

I’d love to know what’s worked at YOUR house — tell us in the comments if you have a great tip.

And, if you’re interested in organizing more of Christmas (or your makeup, or back stock of hand soap) come check out The Organized Home. It’s really there to help busy families let their house support THEM rather than the other way around!

The post Wrapping Paper Organization appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Celebrating a holiday together as a family (especially one as meaningful as Easter) can be so fun.  But, finding places for all the crap things you buy/bring home is less fun.

Lately I’ve really tried to focus on things I don’t have to find room for.

My kids don’t play with toys the way I envision it.  Sometimes I buy things just to have things — which, essentially is just a huge waste of money (and time).

Before we get started, have you thought of giving YOURSELF the gift of easier-to-run household? It’s just waiting for you.

Ok, onto the gifts!

Clutter-free kids gifts:

Buy a Class

I have a friend who runs amazing after school classes.  They are so much, and it would be easy to give a summer or after school class as an awesome gift.  Maybe ask around for summer classes in your area.  It’s kind of a gift that keeps giving in that you get a few hours of freedom in the summer.

Stickers.

Ok, you might have to find a place for them — but they are kind of amazing.  We L-uuuuv Piptsticks.  What a fun thing to get in the mail every month!  Their stickers are all different and very fun (and not commercial).  Did I mention Princess P goes crazy for them (because she does).  We’ve made a spot for sticker sheets in her homework focus bin.

KiwiCo

Yes, you might have to find a SPOT for it, but they stay nicely self-contained in the boxes they come in.  I got a full year for both princess P and Mr Middle and they both REALLY like them.  KiwiCo Labs extends the project into even more science, learning, inventing learning which I absolutely love! They also have some other options for older kids for what they’re interested in.

Do not miss my whole post ALL About subscriptions for kids.

Plan an experience together.  

Some of my favorites are

• Dinner and a movie
• We have a really cool ceramics painting class that P loves to go to.
• Skating/bowling/laser tag
• Hiking
• Bike ride to a favorite park — even pack a lunch!
• Plan a vacation (you can find some of my best travel/vacation tips/spots here)

A treasure hunt.  

I have heard of a lot of families who do a basket at the end of a super long yarn trail.  I think that’s SUPER fun.  That way you don’t need all the candy in the eggs, but still have the fun of a hunt!  PLUS, just put one of these things at the end.

Get Tickets

There are SO many cool performances anymore.  There’s something like Disney on Ice or tickets, the circus or to a local play.  I am sure you could find something cool in your area that your family could enjoy!  So often I just GET tickets to something like this, but using it as a gift ups the excitement and gives them/you something to really look forward to!

Plan a Trip!

It’s a budget-busting gift, but planning a trip could be fun. I have some fun ways to announce a Disney trip — but you can apply them to lots of different places!

Passes

Maybe consider membership to a local museum, etc.  We have passes to a local observatory.  It has been REALLY fun and has allowed us to visit other museums for free when we go on vacation!  You can often find a groupon for them!  Be sure to check out my post about museum memberships!

Anyway, giving gifts doesn’t have to be a time of stress to find where to put all the junk.  It can be a really fun experience for both you and your kids and build great bonds.

Think of a clutter-free gift next time you’re giving!  What clutter-free gifts have you given your family?

The post Clutter-Free Kids Gifts appeared first on Pulling Curls.

However, fondue had gone very bad in the past for me. We don’t do wine so a lot of recipes are out… so I was really wanting to find one that would be EASY — and I have found the answer for you! This is seriously the EASIEST fondue (both cheese and chocolate) you’re going to find. You can also easily tailor it to your tastes (different cheese, different chocolate).

BTW, if you’re looking for chocolate — the recipe is here!

This fondue is great for any occasion (I see a LOT of people using this cheese condue recipe at New Years too). Don’t let the fact that we use it at Valentines throw you off. This post will start with cheese, but I also have a great recipe for chocolate fondue too — so keep reading!

And then there’s the issue of hitting a restaurant on that special night.  So crowded, pressured to SHOW OUR LOVE to each other.  Not to mention expensive.  I’d rather save my budget, and just head to a favorite restaurant on the weekend.

Which is how I came up with fondue for our family.  We’ve done it every year for the past 15 or so years. Our kids REALLY look forward to it, and it’s nice to concentrate on our FAMILY love rather than just the romance between my husband and myself.  But, don’t feel tied to Valentines with this.  It’s great for a fun family meal whenever you think you could use a little pick me up!

However, fondue can be nerve-wracking!  I’m sure we’ve all tried to make a cheese sauce that “broke” (in turn breaking us) or was lumpy.  Frankly, a lot can go wrong with fondue.  But not with this recipe.  It’s practically fail-proof (as long as you don’t burn it, you’re on your own if you ignore it) and is easy to tailor to your family’s tastes.

Lets do this!

First there’s cheese.  You can pick whatever kind your family likes.  I often do a sharp cheddar (the family’s favorite) or swiss (my own favorite).  The recipe actually calls for a Monterrey Jack.  If that’s a family favorite, then by all means go with that.  It’s a nice mild flavor that won’t turn off any little mouths.  For ease of writing, I’m going to talk about it as swiss cheese.

Cheese Fondue

I use a recipe I found in Family Fun a LONG time ago. It can be tricky though — so, this is truly a recipe you need the tips for:

It goes a little something like this (this recipe makes a good amount of fondue, plenty for the 5 of us)

When you’re ready to make the fondue you need to be committed to it. You can’t be making this and chopping up stuff or helping a child. You need to focus on it. There are a few minutes as the milk is heating, but once you reach a simmer your focus HAS to be on this (don’t worry it’s not going to take long).

1 cup milk (the recipe calls for 1 cup, but I usually do about 1.25 cups, because it sits in the frying pan and gets too gloopy if the milk is too little).

Bring the milk to a simmer — about 2-3 minutes (that means it’s not boiling, but it’s starting to get small bubbles around the edges).  You could also add a smashed garlic clove (or if you’re garlic lovers like us you can just do a tsp of minced garlic).

Toss 1 pound of swiss cheese (or cheese of choice) with 2 T of flour.  I put all my cheese in a basic plastic bag and shake it all around til the flour is all around it.  This prevents the flour from making it lumpy.  This is really the magic to this recipe!

So, back to the milk, it’s simmering….

Then take handfuls of the cheese/flour mixture and use your wisk to wisk it in until it’s all melted.   Wisk fast.  This isn’t a gentle wisk, with the heat you’re trying to wisk it in so it’s smooth.  Then, another handful.  You want to make sure to do just handfuls, you don’t want the milk getting overwhelmed by the cheese or it’s hard to mix in.  You’re going to need to wisk hard and fast.  Make sure you do some arm workouts prior to this.   Haha.

Then, heat is off after cheese is melted.

There may come a point where you’re like — crap, it’s ruined. I think this every year. Keep wisking, even whisk harder if you can. I reach that point almost every year and then I somehow make it through it. I think the cheese often “seizes” up and then relaxes with some heat and whisking.

We haven’t had a lot of luck using a fondue pot (our last one rusted, since we don’t use it very frequently). We use an electric frying pan on low at our table.  It’s also larger so we can all get a seat around it!  Be sure to find some fondue forks though.  They’re long enough that everyone can dip without getting burned (I see them at Goodwill pretty frequently).

You could use a crock put, but with smaller kids it’s hard for them to reach up and over the sides, so we picked that cheap frying pan set to it’s lowest temp. Be sure to stir it with a dipper now and then so the cheese doesn’t get stuck in one spot — it can burn.

Now, it’s time for the REAL fun!  The dippers (I LOVE picking out dippers):

• Bread — this isn’t time for the basic french bread, I recommend a crusty, hearty bread that will hold up well on your fondue fork.  I often buy a nicer multi-grain and also a crusty sourdough.  Yum.
• Chicken, I often sautee up a few cut-up chicken breasts and serve those
• Pickles (don’t knock it til’ you try it), you could also use pork or steak!
• Roasted garlic (same as above)
• Grapes (love me some sweet and savory)
• Roasted potatoes (make sure they’re still firm’ish, don’t roast them til’ they are smushable)
• Roasted veggies (we love cauliflower, carrots, asparagus and broccoli) — another option is blanching the veggies (especially the broccoli) just to soften them a bit before you dip (DO NOT OVER-ROAST, mushy broccoli dropping in your delicious fondue is a BIG Fon-DON’T).
• Mushrooms (I love baby bellas)
• Red pepper (best raw, I think)

Oh man, writing this post is making me hungry.  You too?

We have a couple of fun traditions during the fondue.  

If you drop something, instead of kissing you have to say something nice about the person to your left (or across from you — we change it several times during the meal so you end-up saying nice things about many people).

We also usually have fonde a couple of nights.  When you’ve gone to all the effort of buying all the dippers and prepping it all, you might as well get two meals out of it!  I do make the cheese part fresh each time, it’s not great as a re-run.

Because I’m not a recipe site — I just typed it out into a cute PDF file for you that you can just grab here (click on it and it will take you to Canva – just right click on it to print it).

Chocolate Fondue

And, of course we follow it with chocolate. I got the initial recipe on Family fun but I’ve made some tweak and have the recipe on my site. The key there is the dippers. Clearly, you can do whatever you want — but some things that our family LOVES:

• Chocolate chip cookie dough (be sure to use a kind that is OK to eat raw — no eggs and toast the flour if you’re making it on your own) — that recipe I linked to is SO easy and yummy!
• Cheesecake bites
• Bits of candy bar
• Cut-up rice krispy treat

We also use apple (green), strawberries, and bananas to round it out.

I have to say that even as my kids are adults they will 100% come home for the fondue tradition and whole heartedly agree it’s our best family tradition to date. I’m really glad we started this and it’s been really fun to do together.

And yes, if you’re making this at New Years NOW is also a great time to make a resolution to get into routines more.

This post was originally published in 2016, but has been updated.

The post Cheese Fondue Recipe — For a Night of Family Fun! appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Of course the BEST gift for anyone going to Disney is EASY trip planning. As a Disneyland planning pro I recommend Get Away Today. They have amazing customer service, and a best price guarantee that really makes Disneyland trip planning the easiest. I’ve used them since 1998. Use code CURLS10 to get $10 off your trip!

Gift Ideas for Someone Going to Disneyland Under $15

There are a lot of great, inexpensive gifts that can really help take a Disney vacation to the next level!

A fan. Honestly guys I never feel like global warming is more real than when I’m at the Disney parks. There are a few great options:

• This one is Disney themed, and it is nice and flat for your Disney bag.
• I actually prefer this one. I also like the flashlight function “just in case” — since it’s NOT Disney themed you can use it lots of places….
• There is also this misting option (it’s above $15 — but I wanted to include it). I actually liked the misting less than I thought I would….
• Hand fans can be great as well (and take up less room / don’t need charging).

A shirt. I love either having matching shirts or some shirts of our favorite characters before we get to the parks. Not only does this add to the magic of getting ready that first Disney day, it can also save money/time as you don’t shop for things in the parks. There are a lot of cute ones on Amazon (many over the $15 range) or check your local Target or Walmart for some good options too!

Cooling Towel – I am always surprised by how helpful these are, and they are REALLY easy to slip into a Disney bag. I recommend these for anyone going to Disneyland park from about May through September, and almost any time of the year in Orlando.

Cross-Body Bag – these are handy because they don’t get in the way of a seatbelt, and for most rides you can just keep it on throughout the ride. It’s a great thing to get for everyone in your party!

Disney Gift Card – Even a small Disney gift card can allow someone to get a treat while they’re at the parks. They’re super easy to use — don’t feel like you have to get an expensive one to make it “worth it”

Ponchos – If you’re going Disney WORLD this is a no-brainer (random rain all the time). But at Disneyland rain can creep up OR you can wear them on water rides to not hate the rest of your day! I tend to prefer the ones I can just throw away (I try to get them under $1) but there are some nice-reusable ones (just be aware you’ll have to dry them).

Grab my Disneyland Day Planner to make the most of your upcoming trip:

Kid Gift Ideas for Someone Going to Disneyland

Kids are so fun at Disneyland, and there are some really great things you can get them for their trip (and bonus because many don’t cost much).

A Height Chart – Got a little one who’s slowly moving up the ranks for their Disney experiences? A height chart can be a fun way to get excited for your trip and what they CAN ride. I have a whole post on height restrictions you might find helpful!

Autograph album — many Disney characters will sign their album. I always loved to get a photo too and then I could create a keepsake for them. My kids have enjoyed looking back at their photos with favorite characters. Getting this EARLY will save you a bunch, they’re pricey in the parks! Be sure to grab a fan pen (I recommend a sharpie) to go with it (sometimes characters have a harder time gripping “regular”-sized pens). I like that with these you don’t have to worry about losing the cap.

Daily Shirts – I always tried to get a shirt for each day in the parks at Walmart or Target to allow us to bypass the gift shop. I tried to pick out favorite characters and shirts that would be fun to wear after the trip as well. I can’t stress how much this can save you in both time, money and energy!

Their own bag – If kid are going to want things like sunglasses, or an autograph book having their own bag can be handy.

Cheap Disney ears — I would recommend some cheaper Disney ears because there is a good chance these may get lost during your day. BUT they are fun for photos and good while they last. Most kids don’t want them on for a long time though.

Shoes — I can’t stress how important it is for everyone to have proper footwear for their Disney experience. If your child may not have the right shoes for the park, getting some in advance are ones that they can wear after the trip but make your upcoming trip extra special!

Going with kids? Grab my guide for parents so you don’t scare your kids:

Adult Gift Ideas for Someone Going to Disneyland

I think adults will enjoy those cheaper gifts I had up above too — but here are a few more things that have made my park stay more enjoyable:

Compression Stockings – Yes, I sound like I’m 80 years old when I talk about this, but they really do help! If you tend to get an ache in your leg as you stand in line, these help you keep your blood from pooling in that area and give it back to the rest of your body! There are lots of fun designs and even a lighter compression stocking can be helpful!

Pro tip: I’ve also used compression sleeves with some more cushioned socks (the compression stockings tend to have very “basic” socks and I like a little more cushion in mine.

Kinesiology tape: I first read studies about this tape that honestly made no sense, but I tried it out myself with some plantar fasciitis one time and it really made a difference in my feet/calves. If you have parts of your body that hurt more than others at Disneyland, I’d recommend it.

The Right Bag. I have a whole post on the best Disneyland backpacks that I will let you peruse. As a mom I prefer the backpack, although sometimes I’ve had someone else in my family haul the backpack around and I just took a cross body bag.

I think it’s really important to be thoughtful about what you really want to haul through the parks. My backpack is small and it allows me to take it on any ride (but also limits what I can take).

External Battery – you’re going to use your phone a LOT at Disneyland — for things like checking ride wait times, getting a Lightening Lane (if you use them) or mobile ordering. You do NOT want that thing to die. There’s a couple of good options:

• Fuel rods are in the parks and allow you to exchange them for free if you’ve brought one from home (cheaper). Most people find these don’t fill your phone up and they have to make several exchanges during the day, which can waste time.
• I LOVE this one. It does quick charging (as long as you have a fast-charge cable) and holds a LOT of power for everyone in my party!
• I use this one around home — it’s SUPER fast and really convenient. It only does one charge though.

Disney costs can stack-up — grab my cost calculator:

Female Gift Ideas for Someone Going to Disneyland

Cute Mickey Ears — now, adults aren’t as prone to leave their ears somewhere — and I love these types of ears as they don’t pinch my head. They’re also cheaper than the ones at the parks. I have a whole post on Mickey Ears that don’t hurt if you want some other ideas. I REALLY like to get ones based on a favorite character or ride to make it more special.

Pro Tip: I’m a HUGE fan of having an ear holder on my bag so when I take my ears off I don’t lose them. I have always used this kind — but I think these would be really cute on my bag when not holding ears.

Disney Necklace – I have an older Splash Mountain one that I really love (maybe I love it even more now that it’s closed). It’s a fun addition to any outfit, and an extra-fun way to announce a Disney trip! This is a fun more generic one if you’re not sure what to choose.

A great travel backpack. I have this one and I love it. It’s not too big, but can hold a water bottle (it’s tight, but it works). It also folds really small in my carryon so it’s not annoying to take on a plane. There are a lot of Disney-specific backpacks out there, but a great travel backpack would be worth it.

Quick dry pants: Your chance of getting wet at a Disney park isn’t slim, and I LOVE wearing quick-dry pants. I’m a huge fan of them in the parks.

And of course, spending less, making it easier AND having a great bed to sleep the nights off is key to a great Disney trip. Check out the options from Get Away Today!

Don’t miss my list of Best Affordable Disneyland hotels — a list of 30+ of my favorite hotels (plus my own current top 10 hotel list).

The post Gift Ideas for Someone Going to Disney appeared first on Pulling Curls.

But first, how do I know so much about pregnancy at Christmas? Hi, I’m Hilary — most people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse® (but I’m also the curly head here at Pulling Curls). I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience (including working quite a few Christmases). I’m a great resource for you on this one!

Before we get started, my best tip is to make sure that baby is still moving well no matter what your busy holiday schedule is like. Make time for kick counts and it can pay off. Grab my cheat sheet here:

Watch the Ice

I have to say this one. As you’re headed to parties, if you live in a land of snow, BE CAREFUL (if you live in Pheonix with me — you can ignore this part).

A few tips you might not think of:

Wear low heel shoes: I know you want to bring out the good stuff for holiday parties, but re-think your footwear choice. If you’ve got ice, plus high heels it really can be a recipe for disaster.

Honestly, think more about your footwear in general. If you’re going to be on your feet a lot for the party consider compressions stockings too. Many people’s feet swell towards the end, so just wear what works for you. Remember, hardly any photos include your footwear.

Take the drop-off: Maybe have your partner drop you off close to the door so you’re not having to trudge in the cold. It may seem like the “wimpy” way to do it, but I don’t care. Less chance of a fall if things are icey. They’ll be happy to keep you and baby safe!

Watch road conditions: If things are too icy, opt to just stay home. Being in an accident when pregnant makes things much more scary. So safety first!

If you DO slip and fall on your belly call your provider ASAP, or head it the hospital. That type of jarring motion can be bad for the baby. If you’re pre-belly (first 18 weeks or so) call your provider and see what they think. It’s not quite as worrisome but they should have some tips for you to watch for.

If you get in an accident — same thing. Call your provider if you’re under 20 weeks or so, but if you’re further on head into labor and delivery.

There is a chance of the placenta detaching in the next few hours due to the sheering force of an accident or fall — so we take it really seriously.

I don’t say this to scare you (because it is SUPER rare) — but that is why we want you to come in. They may also do some blood work and an ultrasound while you’re there.

Labor can seem scary too, but it doesn’t have to be! — Come join me in here.

Don’t Over-Commit

Every family wants to see that expecting multiple times over the holidays season, but maybe you want to just wear your leggings and watch Hallmark movies (can I get an amen)?

I’m not saying to say no to every event, but if you’re not feeling it, it’s OK to stay home. Blame the baby, blame the pregnancy. Blame the fact that you’re just ridiculously tired.

I see a lot of people saying “screw it” to relationships during pregnancy. But I can’t disagree more. If you want people to help you be that “village” when baby is born you need to keep those relationships strong. It may look like encouraging texts though, instead of late night dinners with friends.

Another option (if this seems better for you) is to host something super low-key at your house. Maybe it’s holiday games and a potluck. People will love to help out and see how you’re doing. You may also really enjoy the attachments with those you love.

Revel in the Current

It is easy to think so much about how life will be with baby and how magical life will be with a little one at Christmas (and I promise you that it is).

But you will look back at what you have right now and think that time was pretty magical too.

The Christmases I had just my husband alone were pretty amazing too. I cherish those memories so make sure you enjoy what you have right NOW. It’s good stuff.

Grab my partner tips right here:

A great way to strengthen that relationship is to get prepared together. Not every birth class is meant to do that, but this one is!

Ask for Something for YOU

I hear a lot of people saying they just want stuff for baby. And I get that. Money is tight, baby stuff seems endlessly expensive — but YOU deserve something too.

Even if it’s small. A bottle of lotion you love, or a new scarf.

It’s REALLY easy to wrap up your identity as a new mom — but I can’t encourage you ANY MORE to have your own identity securely around you. Think of something you’d like that will fit the budget.

Even if it’s just a coupon book foot rubs from your husband. I would’ve taken that one in a heartbeat.

Also, if you really are only asking for a tiny things for yourself, make sure you’re OK with that. I don’t want you disappointed and teary when you realize your christmas is about diapers and onsies and you’d just like something nice for you. That’s OK to — be honest with your partner and your family so you aren’t disappointed.

Are you feeling anxious about this coming baby? Feeling prepared helps you feel less anxious and studies have shown it helps for better births (and less c-sections.

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is the EASY way to get prepared for birth. Participants feel over 50% less anxious about birth, and over 60% more prepared. That’s a gift that keeps on giving (especially since the bundle includes lifetime access). Join me right here.

Or, if you’re not quite ready for the full class, check out my free prenatal class — It’s your first step towards being your own birth boss.

The post 4 Tips for Being Pregnant at Christmas appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Gift Ideas for Women who have Everything

This is part of my Gift Ideas for Family Series — if you’re looking for more unique gift ideas, be sure to check that out!

Luxury Gifts for the woman who has everything

Sure, your mom/wife/friend might think they have everything they want — but check out a list of my favorites (these are certainly splurges, but good ones that she’ll love !)

BedJet — great for a woman who isn’t sleeping well because she’s too hot (think, hot flashes, or pregnancy) or too cold.  Plus, she and her partner can pick their own temperatures.  I tell a lot more about it in my BedJet review.

Robot Vacuum — just flip the button and this little maid will clean your whole house.  There’s a cheaper version, and then the gold standard to choose between.

Bosch mixer — if she likes to bake, this one is a total step up from the usual Kitchenaid.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE mine — I have a Bosch vs Kitchenaid post.  I even have a special offer I can give you:

Travel Gifts for the woman who has everything

Now, this one may be a bit “out there” but I am a big believer in giving experiences vs things.

I just booked a cruise with Get Away Today and, like a fool, I checked out about 3 or 4 other cruise options as I looked.  They were SO nice with Get Away Today and knew so many in’s and out’s about the ship.  Plus, they had the best room selection!

A cruise is true luxury and she might be intimidated to book it on her own.

Inexpensive gifts for the woman who has everything

We all know it doesn’t have to cost much in order to mean a lot.

Some thoughtful gifts to consider:

• A cute photo done in a new, fun way from Photo Barn — I got my dad a Hexie for Father’s Day, and it doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it was from a special event he enjoyed.
• I love the memories she can put down with My Life in a Book
• A Chatbook from either her Instagram account, or yours.

OR if she’s into making things herself, have you thought about KiwiCo crates? — I know, you think they’re just for kids, but I think the Eureka or Maker crate might be a GREAT option! Might even get them thinking about some new hobbies (without investing a lot).

If you have kids, hand-making a gift can be a big win.  My kids have made my mom necklaces from ImpressArt a few times.  You can see our last one here. Easy to do necklaces, bracelets or even earrings!

Etsy & Amazon both have some other cool, affordable gift options that I talk about in my Mom Gifts for Christmas post.

I love getting jewlery that has something meaningful.  I extra love Centime’s Mom necklaces!

I got the infinity necklace with 3 names on it — look how great it is!  Pulling Curls readers can save 20% with Centime coupon code 20Hilary.

Great gift ideas for the woman who wants nothing

First off, I think you need to assess why she wants nothing.

• Is her house too cluttered to bring more in — perhaps the gift of time to help her sort through would be a great option. This goes a long way for a more practical woman.
• Is she so happy for the blessings in her life she just can’t think of anything that would make it better?  If so, use photos to help her remember those blessings.  Bonus point for a more personal gift like this.
• She buys what she wants when she wants it — then maybe give her an experience that she’d love!  You could even give her a gift card towards something she loves to do. I love my friend Katelyn’s ideas in her adventure gifts post.

Experience Gifts for the Woman Who Has Everything

• Concert Tickets
• A Disney Trip or other travel
• Lunch at a favorite restaurant
• “coupons” to help her around the house can be great, practical gifts — and make sure she cashes them in!

If you’re still looking — check out some of my other gift guides:

• Gifts for Knitters
• Best Christmas Gifts for Wife
• Gifts for Car Lovers
• Gifts for the Overwhelmed Mom
• Homemaker’s Gift Guide

Remember to think of the person you are purchasing for to help come up with some great ideas. Are they a new mom? Maybe a couple of stainless steel water bottles to help keep up their hydration with easy sips. How about a book lover? You could gift them a gift card to their favorite book store or amazon. Is she your best friend? Maybe a gift pack with her favorite lip balm, a silk pillowcase and some hand cream. A wine lover would probably appreciate a new wine rack. Plant lovers would planting pots of different designs. Do they love to be cozy?  Maybe give a tote bag of slippers and Lululemon comfy pants.  Take a little bit of time to find the perfect type of gifts and make a list so next time you have a good idea of what to get them.

These best gifts for women in 2023 are just a starting spot for you to find gifts for people who have everything.  I hope you find gifts for people that you love!

The post Gift ideas for Women who Have Everything appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Big thanks for KiwiCo for sponsoring this article.  I love that they want to help grandparents pick out the best gift for that grandbaby with just a few keystrokes! 

What NOT to get a New Baby:

I swear, my parents broke ALL these rules because a lot of the things that LOOK like a good time for babies aren’t actually a good time for your little one.  It can be hard to find a gift for that cherished grandbaby from new grandparents.  Anyway, let me give you some tips:

Noises

Yes, the thing with all the buttons that make animal sounds looks amazing, plus little Ben will be saying “moooo” before you know it!  However, those types of toys can actually scare baby. They might like the feeling of mom or dad helping them push the button but then when it loudly says COCK-A-DOODLE-DO baby is startled and doesn’t know what just happened.  So, looking for toys without electronic noises is going to be best.

Pro Tip:  This doesn’t mean NO sound — things with natural sounds like bells or beads in a rattle are a great option.  Plus, babies can often make that sound themselves if they’re a few months old!

Note: Also, parents want to lose their mind with those types of noisy toys — so your kids might thank you too for ignoring those types of gifts

Lights

Yup, that thing that says moooo may also have a lot of lights involved with it.  In your mind you’re thinking that encourages baby to touch it more and get involved!  In reality it may just over-stimulate baby and their naps may even be worse because of the lights.  It’s crazy, but believe you me — the best gift you can give both baby and their parents is a good nap! Right?

Safety

It may be tempting to get your grandchild the toy that their parent loved as a kid.  Maybe it’s action figures or some Playmobil guys — and believe me that IS fun — but baby can’t play with those for YEARS.  Most often anything that can fit in a toilet paper roll needs to be reserved until age 3 (or later if they’re still putting things in their mouth at that age).  And that goes for any piece that can come off.  So, be really mindful for the ages the toy is for — that means it’s been tested for safety in that particular age range.

The problem is that I have now eliminated a LOT of the toy isle in 2023 …. but I have good news!

The Perfect Gift for Grandchildren

I LOVE the KiwiCo Panda Crate.  It comes every 3 months with new toys that are JUST for that baby’s age range and will help them develop into the genius you know they are going to be (without overstimulating them).

The OTHER good part is you can keep sending the crate to your favorite baby.  Every 3 months they can get an age-appropriate crate that both mom or dad and baby will love — making it the perfect gift they’ll cherish.

One of my FAVORITE things about KiwiCo Panda Crate is that it also teaches parents (and grandparents) HOW to play with the items inside.  We all remember kicking around a ball or playing tag as a kid, but playing with a baby is so different.  Learning how to play with them will help them develop and grow as well as build a strong bond between parent and child that they are both enjoying!

Crates can include unique gifts like:

• A baby blanket that is great for tummy time on and find fun surprises on
• Rattles and teethers perfect for baby’s hands and needs (that won’t scare them)
• Toys with mirrors so babies can enjoy that beautiful baby they just met
• Soft building blocks that baby can try grabbing and slowly learn to build with

KiwiCo sent me some of the baby products and I absolutely love the quality and how perfect they are for just the stage they are meant for.  Right after I got them, I actually sent a message to a friend about what a great gift it would be for her new grandbaby.

Story Time:  My parents were never close by my kids as they grew-up and getting a subscription from them was SO nice because every month we could call grandma and grandpa and talk about the fun crate that they sent and all the things we are learning from it.  The good news is that KiwiCo crates go all the way up through age 18+, so it’s a gift that grandparents can keep giving and you guys can keep enjoying together for years.

They didn’t have Panda Crate when my kids were small (I WISH, I was not great at playing with babies, so learning what to do with a baby all day would have been very helpful) but my youngest has had KiwiCo crates since she was about age 3.  She loved them!

We would use the crate as a basis for learning that month.  We could then expand off of it by learning for videos on the subject (like weather, or bugs), going to the library and checking out books about it and seeing it in our everyday life.  I honestly think it’s one of the best gifts you can give your child.

One of the other bonuses is that there isn’t a whole bunch of “stuff” to take care of all at once, the gifts are spread out all year long, along with the joy!

So, if you’re a grandparent looking for a baby gift, look no further than KiwiCo Panda Crate — it’s for babies 0-36 months (you can start at whatever stage they’re at with your crate).  Then, Koala crate takes over when they’re 3-4, and then Kiwi Crate from 5-8…. and so on.  My daughter still LOVES the Doodle Crate and Maker Crate as a crafty 14 year old girl.   Many of the crates even create keepsakes you can all enjoy for a long time.

So, don’t be the grandparent that sends your grandkids the largest, loudest gift.  Send something they’ll love and will remind them of you all year long!  Plus, be a huge help to those new parents at the same time!  Makes a great baby shower gift idea too!

Plus, you can purchase and make any changes online, so you don’t even have to visit that toy isle and get a little overstimulated yourself!

Remember to use coupon code PULLINGCURLS to get 50% off your order at KiwiCo (valid on any type of crate).

The post The BEST Baby Gift from Grandparents that You Can Get Online appeared first on Pulling Curls.

Say it with me.  One. Last. Kid! {clap} One. Last. Kid! {clap} One. Last. Kid! {Jazz hands}  Yes, I’m typing this as child #2 exits our sanctuary post-Thanksgiving.  Bye dear, enjoy adulting elsewhere!!!!

Those of you with us for the last 25 years of Christmas letters (frankly, I’m pretty sure we didn’t have enough  money for stamps the first 2-3 years of our life, so maybe we’re only at 22 or so) you’ll know that this has been a long {stomp/clap} time {stomp/clap} coming {jazz hands}!!!!!

I know, it’s bringing out the cheerleader in me.  Ew.  Back to drum major.

Our oldest — is now a Software Development Engineer at a large tech company after graduating from ASU last May.  He has his own apartment, a brand new (to him) car and a shiny bi-monthly paycheck that is more than his entire salary last year at Chipotle.  Ok, not quite — but, also not too far. His job is here in town.  We’re all begging Alexa to help him skirt any layoffs (“Alexa, keep my son from moving back home”).  He’s in the retail department and works with sellers.  

I just have to say that as much as I have regretted about ½ of my steps at Disneyland this year (more to come on that, don’t worry) — we had a great day at the Happiest Place on earth earlier this year.  C got his official job offer (a dream workplace for a new grad Computer Engineering student) while we were in line for the Incredicoaster, AND we got on all of our favorite rides in both parks. That will always be a favorite memory of mine.  I couldn’t be more proud of how that kid is turning out.  Ok, turning my sarcasm back on…..  I’m well aware there’s always plenty of time to make a poor decision.  Like, going to Waffle House.

Mr Middle graduated from high school last May (it was a big month, what can I say?).  He is majoring in Computer Engineering at our local university and yes, those two brothers who fought like Trump and Pelosi for the 15 years they were in the same bedroom are now talking Java, latency and API’s together.  He’s living his best life in the dorms this year.  And we are loving that for him.   He was Emmet in Legally Blonde last April in his high school musical, and enjoyed being the MC for his high school choir concerts… back when he was a big fish in a small pond.  He continues to enjoy singing in a university acapella jazz group.

Princess P is a bright star at middle school.  She was just Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and being back at home with Drew and I in the afternoons is a bit of a “come-down” for our li’l diva.  She’s excelling at all things school and FINALLY we have escaped the parent teacher conferences where they say “he’s smart, but he sure talks a lot.”  Of course, at home she’s our own Ethyl Merman constantly belting out her beloved show tunes.  What a blessing.

Mr E. continues to teach at the community college, dabbling in some directing of some local community bands and bishopric’ing (yes, used as a verb) away his free time.  He also spends a good amount of time saying, “where are you going this week?” to Hilary.  He and P have a whole Korean market plan every time I’m gone.  Which isnt…. Infrequent….

Hilary has perhaps spent more time with Mickey than with Drew this year.  Yes, I went to Disneyland (I think) 5 times this year (plus a conference in LA).  But in September I let my Magic Key go and I heard all my shoes sigh with relief. I continue to Tiktok, blog, Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, Instagram and Podcast the heck out of life.  I also really ramped up my second site The Pregnancy Nurse® and I’m really proud of how it’s going.  Less proud of some of the articles (looking at you “Can You Eat Hot Cheetos During Pregnancy”) but you gotta answer the people’s questions, right?

I don’t want you to think that the rest of the family did nothing while Hilary got sick on Star Tours…

In July, D, H, S & P went on a cruise to Alaska via Seattle.  It. was. Amazing.  We enjoyed both Seattle (hello space needle and their homeless situation) and Alaska (hello LUSH green-ness and bald eagles). It’s hard to believe we are the same country… Arizona and Alaska. It’s like the fires of hell and the fjords of Heaven.  I pick heaven btw.

In October, D, H and P went to New York (can we just take a minute to say HOW MUCH cheaper things are with only one kid) where we did all things touristy, took in broadway shows, and realized the distinct difference between the smell of roasted nuts vs the smell of NYC (aka, Marijuana).  Educational and fun.

This truly was a pinch me year.  Just seems like all the good things are staring at me from this letter.  Don’t worry, those two really made me work for those graduations.  Not literally, but when there’s a lot of changes in our lives we all know our moms get our “best” side.  I needed some happiest place on earth after that. #lamazebreathing

So much good, so many blessings and yet my brain only sees what’s wrong on most days.  But, that ends with 2022.  I’m working on being content with things just as they are.  So long ago a baby was born in conditions that had a hundred things wrong with them, but he still made so many big changes both in the world and in our hearts.  I hope you feel the light of God’s love this holiday season also.  With our

warmest holiday wishes,

The Ericksons

P.S.  Yes, all of our photos were taken in the world’s brightest sun, often with strong winds.  But, when you’re having as good a year as we had you don’t stop to take fancy photos.  You just enjoy the sights as they come (and you tolerate a mom who says “selfie time” a few times/day.

The post Merry Christmas 2022 appeared first on Pulling Curls.

In this episode

The Gap vs the Gain Book

Producer: Drew Erickson

Transcript

[00:00:00.090] – Hilary Erickson

Hey, guys. Welcome back to the Pulling Curls Podcast.

[00:00:01.900] – Hilary Erickson

Today on episode 171, it’s the Holiday episode. Let’s untangle it.

[00:00:21.170] – Hilary Erickson

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson, the curly head behind the Pulling Curls Podcast: pregnancy and parenting untangled. There’s no right answer for every family, but on this show, we hope to give you some ideas to make life simpler at your house. Life’s tangled, just like my hair.

[00:00:42.830] – Hilary Erickson

This is the gift I’m giving myself this year. And it sounds crazy because it is not a new pair of shoes or washi tape. I love shoes and washi tape quite a lot, but I feel like this could be even better. And I tried it out over Thanksgiving. I had really good results, and that is to learn to be content. I need to lower my expectations and I need to see more of the good. Like, those are my two goals for next year and I’m starting them now. I’m not like, starting them later because I need to lower expectations, like across the board. I need to lower expectations with my kids. I need to expect less of them and I need to be wowed by whatever they do more. I need to lower expectations with my business. Like, December is always a hard time of year for me because people aren’t searching a whole lot about pregnancy and organization because they’re so busy doing Christmas, which I totally love and I totally agree with. Why can’t I lower my expectations in December and just be like, it’s a low time of the year. Just let it go.

[00:01:36.930] – Hilary Erickson

That I can’t and nor can I ever see the gains that I am making, the small gains that I make even when it is a low time of the year. And honestly, in every facet of my life, I need to be more content. This includes losing weight, the friends that I have, spirituality. I expect way too much of all of those things and I never, I repeat, never see the small gain. Now, I am on social media a fair amount. I pretend like it’s my job. I mean, it is my job. But the problem is you post your thing and then you’re on social media. And I have to tell you that a lot of the social media platforms literally make all of their money off of breeding ill content. I’m upset with what my airline did for me. I’m upset with my kids. I’m upset with my daughter in law. I’m upset with my mother in law. Probably 30% of the videos that I see is someone complaining about something. Now, that isn’t to say that we can’t complain. And that isn’t to say that it is valuable to hear other people’s experience. Because I think it’s super important, especially like postpartum in my world, right?

[00:02:36.480] – Hilary Erickson

For people to be really honest about what postpartum was like for them, and to also say this needs to be your expectation is that things are not going to go so great those first six to twelve weeks, right? Lower the expectations. Notice the gains, especially postpartum. You are having great gains. You’re bleeding less, your baby is eating better, all these things are getting better. There are gains. Can you be content with the gains that you’re having? Right? In fact, I’m just reading a book right now called The Gap versus the Gains. My friend Bonnie mentioned it to me and I am loving it. So if this is something that speaks to your heart, I would go ahead and check out that book. I think it was less than $10 for Kindle on Amazon. I will try and link it in the show notes. So what on earth does this have to do with Christmas? Honestly, I don’t need very much this year. I have made an Amazon wishlist for my family to purchase from, but there just really isn’t a whole lot of need. But this is something I desperately need because all I can see around me is things that are going wrong when in reality so many things are going right in my life.

[00:03:34.520] – Hilary Erickson

And like I said, I practiced this over Thanksgiving and it was probably the best Thanksgiving I’ve had in years. I wasn’t thinking about being homesick, although I wouldn’t say that I’m homesick. I think I’m more nostalgic for how life used to be when I was little. Maybe because the family, like if I went back to Utah for Thanksgiving, it wouldn’t look the same as it did when I was little, right? And so I’m always thinking of the big family gatherings that we would have with my grandmas and everyone was laughing and all those kinds of fun things. It would just be different because that’s how life is, right? Instead, I was being really content with what I have. I was content with when the kids showed up. I was content with what game they wanted to play. I was content with what food we were able to manage to make right being content. And I had such a fun day. That being said, we played Settlers of Catan and I was not content. Like, I was out for blood. I came in second place only because my oldest had an amazing dice roll at the very end of the game.

[00:04:29.990] – Hilary Erickson

Otherwise I would have won anyway. When I think about, if you guys don’t know, I’m Christian, I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And when you think about Christ’s birth, there are so many things that you could think are wrong. Right? She had to ride on a donkey for days before having a baby. I would lose my mind. She was in the dirt. She didn’t have anyone around her that she knew. She probably barely knew Joseph, all things considered at this point in time. Didn’t have the things that she wanted to have around for her baby. But it still worked out fine. It was exactly how it was supposed to be. I would love to have a book of scripture from Mary’s point of view and I would love to know if she was like a little spicy about it. That would be very interesting. So I’m trying to not ruin the holidays with my expectations. That is my plan. I’m also going to try and not ruin 2023 with my expectations and I am going to notice the small games that I have because over time, those small games may add up, they may not, but everything’s pretty dandy, right?

[00:05:28.390] – Hilary Erickson

Anyway, if this speaks to you, come find me over on Instagram and tell me about it. I think this week on social media I’m going to try to do some because I think of myself as a well, I think of myself first as a prenatal educator, but sometimes I think of myself as a content marketer because I write stuff to market things, right. Or I’m on Instagram to market things. But I was thinking that content and content, are they spelled the same way? Also spelling something, I think, but they’re pretty close. So wouldn’t it be amazing if we were content marketers? Because no one wants to hear these. If we got on and were like, hey, my family all got along for Thanksgiving. It was amazing. How many views would that get on TikTok? Hey, I went on a flight and the people next to me talked to me just like just the appropriate amount. They weren’t super rude. We said, hello, pleasantries. Are you coming or going? Left it. Everyone was kind. Our flight was actually a little early, right? Can we just be more content? I would love it. I would love it. I would love it.

[00:06:22.240] – Hilary Erickson

Actually, I would love it if you would post a reel about something you were content about this week and tag me in it. That would be amazing. Anyway, happy holidays! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you have the most amazing time. I’m actually recording this right before my middle one comes home for Christmas from college. So really going to work on being content. It’s going to be the best holidays ever. I hope you guys have the best holidays ever and we will see you guys in 2023. Does anybody remember in elementary school when you’d be like, see you next year? See you next year!

[00:06:51.250] – Hilary Erickson

Thanks so much for joining us on today’s episode. The Pulling Curls Podcast grows when you share us on social media or leave a review. If you do, please tag us so that we can share and send you a virtual hug, which frankly is my favorite kind of hugging. Until next time, we hope you’ve have a tangle free day.

The post My Christmas Gift to Myself — Episode 171 appeared first on Pulling Curls.

This is part of my Gift Ideas for Families Series << that post has TONS of gift ideas for everyone on your list!

Best gifts for 4-year-old-girls

Pretend Play Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

Four years old It’s an exciting age because there are lots of fun activities and toys that will fit with your child’s attention span.

4-year-olds love to do what you’re doing (even if you don’t think it sounds like very much fun). A food/kitchen set will help them do lots of “big person” tasks like a grocery store, making dinner or setting up shop. It’s a fun way for young children play pretend.

Girls sometimes need a magical place to play, think or read. A tent with sparkles does just the trick! Throw in a cute sleeping bag and your little princess and her close friends will have hours of fun.

A doctor’s kit can be SO useful, and it can start off talks with younger children about our bodies and keeping yourself healthy too!

Motor Skills Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

Lego is always one of the most favorite things — but take it up a notch for your little girl and get one of the princess sets! Not only will her imagination run wild, she’ll love to do it with a favorite princess friend!

Pogo sticks seem fun — but can be scary if you’re not coordinated right. This one is a good option for little kids to enjoy the jumping, with less risk.

What 4-year-old doesn’t want to make their own jewelry? This fun, colorful set is on of the best toys– and bonus points because putting the beads together will help important eye-hand coordination skills they need.

Or, get a building set of another variety. I like how, with this one, you use a wrench to build!

One of my favorite ways for 4-year-old motor skills is stickers. Plus, it’s stickers. I love PipSticks — it’s good quality stickers (no commercial characters) that your child can be imaginative with!

If your little one is an artist, a great way to encourage their art is a finger painting set. Or you can get them paintbrush sets that are a little larger for their little hands to grab. This would also be a good idea if the birthday girl wanted an art-themed party.

Educational Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

I absolutely love KiwiCo Labs. We did it when my youngest was 4 (I wish it had been around with my other 2 though). It’s great to get, and spread out through the month to learn more about the things in the kit. They have changed to KiwiCo Labs that allows the learning to extend even more (which is amazing). I love that they have options for older children too.

Another one, fairly similar (I prefer Kiwi Crate, but it’s a close call) is Green Kids crafts.

I think Kiwi Crate is a litle more engineering-minded, and Green Kids is a bit more science-y.  Just my thoughts — if you’re trying to decide between the two.

Useful Gifts for 4-year-old girls

I think Kiwi Crate is a litle more engineering-minded, and Green Kids is a bit more science-y. Just my thoughts — if you’re trying to decide between the two.

Useful Gifts for 4-year-old girls

Socks are way more fun than they were when I was a kid. This set is perfect for an animal lover. They are fun little gifts.

Also, if you’re looking for shoes, Flip Critts sent me a pair. They’re like Crocs but more sturdy and give kids feet more support. Plus, they come in lots of fun patterns and colors!

Or, have you seen the Squishmallows? They’re a great one to cuddle up with in bed. Or put your head on when you’re looking at a good book.

They are so cute and SOFT — awesome for a friendly 4 year old!

The most important thing is that you keep your child’s interests in mind on their special day and they will have a good time with whatever birthday treats or small toys you get them.

Don’t forget my family gift guide that has tons of info for everyone on your list.

And, check out my other gift guides you might enjoy:

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