Exploring my Options with HelloFresh (and having fun in the process!)

The top shelf of my fridge is where condiments go to die. 

That's not an exaggeration. The top shelf of my fridge is completely unusable. It's a bottle and jar graveyard, filled to the brim with discarded mustards and rejected jams. It's shameful. I hold onto things I don't like and won't use because I feel some sort of obligation. We spent money on those things so we're going to keep them, in our fridge, forever. It makes no sense. 

This is one of the (many) reasons I'm enjoying HelloFresh so much. It gives us the opportunity to try different tastes and explore new sauces and condiments without committing to an entire bottle. Last week we had Sesame Soy Steak Bibimbap which included Gochujang, a Korean red chili paste that I don't normally have in my flavour arsenal. Shawn and I both really enjoyed the spicy tang and I can see myself buying it in the future because I already know we both like it. It's a no-risk grocery purchase, destined to be consumed instead of abandoned on the top shelf of disappointment. 

I don't consider myself a picky eater but I definitely fall into a rut of my tried and true meals. HelloFresh forces me to eat a little outside my comfort zone while at the same time giving me the flexibility to choose "safer" meals when I'm feeling less adventurous. It's inspiring me to explore different spices and be open to unfamiliar flavour profiles. HelloFresh adds an element of excitement to mundane weekday cooking and I'm thrilled to have been given the opportunity to give it a try.

If you're interested in trying HelloFresh for yourself, click here for $40 0ff your first box (affiliate link: I will receive $25 off my next box if you sign up using my link).

Read more about my adventures with HelloFresh here:

GET DINNER ON THE TABLE WITH HELLOFRESH CANADA

MAKE WEEKDAY MEALS CONVENIENT AND STRESS-FREE WITH HELLOFRESH

HACK YOUR HELLOFRESH MEALS FOR YUMMY LEFTOVERS

RECLAIMING DATE NIGHT WITH HELLOFRESH

{Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this review; all opinions stated are my own. Since trying this service on a review basis, I have signed up as a paid customer. I truly enjoy and fully endorse HelloFresh Canada.}

Tiny Happy Tuesday: 21

Yesterday I had a terrible day. The kind of day where everything goes so pear-shaped that it's actually kind of comical. Today was shaping up to be similarly frustrating until my parents swooped in to save the day. I want to dedicate this Tiny Happy Tuesday to them.

What is Tiny Happy Tuesday?

Tiny Happy Tuesday is a prompt to stop, drop, and think of all the good stuff (no matter how minuscule) that adds up to one wonderful life. 

• Poppy came down with a high fever while at daycare. I got the call just a few short hours after I arrived at work. Shawn's out of town and I really couldn't miss work today. My parents dropped everything to take my poor Pops home and take care of her all day.
• While taking care of my sick baby, they also cleaned my kitchen and made me homemade lasagne for dinner. 
• Throughout the day they texted me pictures of Poppy and Grady playing, reading, and having a great time. I was able to focus on work without worrying about my babies or my parents. 
• They're coming back to help tomorrow! You guys. My parents are amazing. Sometimes life feels chaotic and unmanageable but it's never completely overwhelming because I know I can always call in the big guns. 

What's making you happy this week? Want to join me? I'd love for you to grab my graphic and join the Facebook group, and share in the fun (don't forget to use the hashtag: #TinyHappyTuesday so I can follow along!).

Tiny Happy Tuesday: 20

What is Tiny Happy Tuesday?

Tiny Happy Tuesday is a prompt to stop, drop, and think of all the good stuff (no matter how minuscule) that adds up to one wonderful life. 

• I got to hold a baby on the weekend. A new baby. A freshie. Younger than a week old. He was delicious.
• Today I was having a high-anxiety, low-patience day and I was given opportunity after opportunity to acknowledge that I'm surrounded by excellent people, and that anxiety doesn't equal weakness. 
• My siblings are all sorts of wonderful and don't make me feel dumb when I ask them to explain stuff to me. 
• Grady's utter lack of a filter is both hilarious and soul-crushing. ("I'm sorry I don't want to hang out with you, Mommy. It's just that Daddy's fun and you're kind of boring.")
• Poppy is smitten with Grady's Lego Darth Vader clock and it's hilarious. She carries him around and gives him hugs and cuddles.
• Shawn's oldest friends from back home were in town this weekend and they came over with their amazing kids. I've met them two times in real life but I love them and I want them to be my friends and they don't make me feel awkward or lame for saying stuff like that. 

Want to join me? I'd love for you to grab my graphic and join the Facebook group, and share in the fun (don't forget to use the hashtag: #TinyHappyTuesday so I can follow along!).

Fun DIY Gift Sets for Kids

I love putting in the time and effort to find the perfect gift for the people I love. My gift guide has a few items on it for kids (you'll find a little something for everyone on it, so check it out if you need help with your holiday shopping) but I wanted to put together some suggestions for cool, DIY gift sets the little ones in your life are sure to love. Most kids love receiving toys vs educational tools but if you can sneakily combine the two, both the recipients and their parents will be thrilled.

For the Budding Engineer

Encourage their interest in STEM with Learning Resources Playground Engineering & Design.

Or GoldieBlox Girl Inventor Zipline Action Figure.

Paired with the sweet and sassy Rosie Revere, Engineer book and Rosie Revere's Big Project Book for Bold Engineers.

Finish your gift for the young engineer in your life with a Top Secret notebook where they can keep track of their projects.

For the Aspiring Artist

Craft supplies are always a huge hit in our house (except glitter, don't even get me started on the glitter).

The GoldieBlox Craft-Struction Box encourages tinkering with STEM-based crafts. It's definitely not for the younger crowd but if you've got an elementary school-aged kiddo on your list, this set is golden.

Or build your own kit with fun, colourful craft items like Smart Paper Edger Scissors in different cutting patterns, 

and 500 sheets of colourful construction paper to cut with those fun scissors (why do kids love cutting stuff so much? I don't get it),

and the only acceptable kind of glitter: glitter glue (allll the glitter glue. Seriously, I kind of want this set for myself).

Find a container that has multiple small compartments and fill them with bits and bobs: buttons, sequins, pompoms, googly eyes, whatever you can find that someone could potentially glue onto paper. 

For Your Tiny Scientist

Grady loves "doing science" and I am not science-y. At all. I have as much fun with his science stuff as he does is what I'm saying. It's pure magic for both of us.

Get in the mood to experiment with a great book. Ada Twist, Scientist is written by the same author as Rosie Revere, Engineer and is a great story to encourage curiosity. Pair it with Ada's Twist's Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists for maximum fun.

It's never too early to start promoting safety. Every scientist needs to protect their eyes with safety googles. These kid-sized safety goggles look like the type grownup scientists wear. 

Liquid droppers in kid-friendly sizes are an essential part of science experiments. Set a kid up with the droppers, some plastic beakers, and water coloured with simple food colouring

Jumbo tweezers are excellent for examining items under a giant magnifying glass, or go high-tech with the Zoomy Handheld Digital Microscope.

For Wee Beauticians

My girl Tairalyn put together a DIY Hair Salon for her daughter's birthday because she's a creative genius. 

{image source: littlemissmama.com}

Throw a spray bottle, detangling brush, wide-tooth comb, handheld mirror, and assorted hair flair in a bucket and you're good to go. Just leave the round brushes to the professionals or someone might lose their bangs (shout out to nine-year-old Hillary who had to cut one out of her hair and walked around with a half-inch long fuzz fringe for months). 

{image source: miasmoccs.com

For Little Handymen and Handywomen

Safety first! Safety goggles, a kid-sized hard hat, and high visibility gear (that doubles as a warm fleece or raincoat) send the message to your little worker that safety is paramount. 

{image source: lilworkersafety.ca

{image source: lilworkersafety.ca}

A few fun items that encourage learning like a toy tape measure, mini traffic cones, and toolbench will set your little one up for hours of imaginative play.

For the Future Doctor

Who's got a little one fascinated with how bodies work? Learning Resources has a great Pretend and Play Doctor Set that is actually beneficial for parents too if you want to explain doctor's procedures before you take your little one to an appointment.  

Or build your own Boo Boo Clinic like Jen at Mama Papa Bubba did for her daughter.

The First Human Body Encyclopedia makes anatomy accessible for the elementary school crowd. Pair it with the Human Body Model for a visual learning aid.

And if you've recently found yourself in the "where do babies come from?" conversation, What Makes a Baby is a great book for explaining the birds and the bees to little people. Bonus points for being inclusive and mindful that there are different ways to make a baby.

For Mini Animal Lovers

My friend Andrea had a pet adoption-themed birthday party for her daughter and I love the idea of putting together a similar gift. 

This Pretend & Play Animal Hospital is great for little ones to familiarize themselves with the workings of a veterinarian's office. 

When they're ready to actually be the animal doctor, this costume and a stuffed animal to love are the perfect gift for future vets. 

Do you have a go-to DIY gift for kids? Share it in the comments! 

Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links, which means I make a small percentage of the sale if you buy through my link. Affiliate links are a bonus for me but don't influence my opinions. I've not been compensated or paid to include any items in this gift guide.