Kid Easter Basket Ideas

March 25, 2023 Hillary

Maybe it’s because we live in BC and it’s been rainy and grey for the last six months, or maybe it’s because the daffodils are blooming and they are the harbingers of happier days to come, but Easter feels like the sign that it’s safe to start thinking about summer. We’ve lived through fool’s spring and second winter and our bodies are beginning to adjust to the blasted daylight saving time change. It doesn’t matter that we woke up to snow this morning (my bad, y’all, I packed the snow pants away last night for next winter so I brought this stupid weather upon us). It doesn’t matter that it will be months before we find ourselves wearing bathing suits at the beach. Easter baskets are my chance to embrace the possibility of summer fun. In our house, Easter baskets are spring stockings and I make no apologies for it. My kids are at the age where they grow out of their bathing suits and flip flops every year so I take the opportunity to build their Easter baskets around stuff they need this time of year.

Internet disclaimer: maybe you celebrate Easter differently or maybe you don’t celebrate Easter at all or maybe this post just isn’t for you for some other reason. That’s cool! This post is going to be a “fun stuff you can put in an Easter basket if you have school-aged kids, that’s easily accessible on Amazon” post. I’m using affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through one of my links I will earn a few cents and it doesn’t cost you anything. This isn’t an exhaustive list of stuff my kids are receiving in their Easter baskets, it’s more of a brainstorm / gift guide. We’re entering birthday season in my family where seven kids between the ages of six and eleven have their birthdays between the first week of May and the last week of July. I need to have a lot of kid gift ideas at this time of year is what I’m saying.

1.Bathing suits. After seeing this article about water safety and the colour of kids’ bathing suits, I’m replacing my kids’ too-small suits with safer options. These swim trunks have a high rating and I wish this banana swimsuit came in my size.

2. My kids love the concept of goggles but hate putting them on and taking them off because they both have a lot of hair to get tangled in the strap. These goggles have a clip at the back so maybe they won’t get tangled, or maybe they will be extra tangly, only time will tell.

3. The Hape Master Bricklayer Sand Toy is something I bought on a whim years ago but remains one of our most-used summer toys, even as the kids grow older.

4. This Bubble Bath Whisk is fun in the tub but would also be fun outside at the water table.

5. Stacking toys are great for little ones but in my experience they’re also great for older kids to use when they need to find some calm. There’s something meditative about stacking things on top of other things.

6. Learning Resources makes great products that hold up even with a lot of use. These discovery eggs can pull double duty if you fill them with candy for an egg hunt and then use later for memory games or in a play kitchen.

7. Last summer we spent an amazing day at the beach with all of the cousins and I threw a pack of paint markers in my bag at the last minute. They were a huge hit whenever the kiddos needed a bit of down time in the shade; we collected a giant pile of rocks and got creative. I don’t think I want paint markers at my house but I definitely want to take them camping.

8. You know how sometimes you have a bad customer service experience and then a product is ruined for you forever because your petty heart refuses to spend another dollar at a business that doesn’t value its customers? This is the opposite of that. I never expected to care deeply about kids’ headphones but the customer service at LilGadgets is so spectacular that I will never buy another brand of children’s headphones again. LilGadgets for life.

9. Grady is fully committed to that cozy life. I love this Minecraft pillow because it kind of bridges the gap between kid and tween. Buying stuff for eleven-year-olds is so hard!

10. My parents bought Grady juggling sticks for his birthday last year and he loves them. I don’t know if it’s because he’s in martial arts or because he plays video games but he picked it up really quickly and has already taught himself some tricks. It might just be his youth that’s giving him an edge in the hand-eye-coordination department but he was better at it on his first try than I am after trying it a bunch of times.

11. Biscuit is a star in our house these days as Poppy learns to read. Biscuit’s Pet & Play Easter: A Touch & Feel Book is a cute Easter basket addition for early readers.

12. I haven’t decided yet if How to Survive a Freakin’ Bear Attack would be cool to Grady or cause him to have anxiety. It might be a situation where I need to read it first to make that call but I’m not sure if it would be cool to me or cause me to have (more) anxiety.

13. I’ve heard great things about Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza but haven’t had a chance to play it yet.

14. I’m a huge fan of Kitsch scrunchies and Poppy is a huge fan of stealing my scrunchies. It’s time she started her own collection is what I’m saying.

15. Piggy Paint is my favourite because Poppy loves it and it’s super easy to manage (as in, it wears off within a week of applying it, no nail polish remover necessary).

16. I love this Flower & Herb Growing Kit by National Geographic. The kids and I putter around in the garden every year but I like the idea of them having their own little project.

17. Bunny socks!

18. Jellycat plushies are my favourite and their Blossom Posy Bunny is perfect for Easter.

19. But I’m also delighted by their plush ice cream cone.

20. If you’re transitioning from being your child’s primary tooth brusher but they’re not quite ready to take full responsibility for their dental health yet, this timer is a great tool to help them learn how long to brush their teeth (we have one extremely speedy brusher in our house). Our Easter bunny always puts new toothbrushes in the Easter baskets and this ties in nicely.

Holiday Gift Guide 2022

November 20, 2022 Hillary

Gift guides can feel a bit pressurey, like you have to spend the big bucks to find the perfect present for every single person you know. This is not that. This is a mix of small shops and Amazon finds because as much as we all want to commit to shopping small, it’s not always possible or reasonable or accessible. And that’s okay. The holidays are messy and this holiday gift guide is messy and we’re all just going to try our best to get through it all, okay?

If you’re like me, you’ve been asked multiple times by multiple people to provide wish lists for the kids / teacher / grown ass man / gerbil in your life. And it can feel challenging, even though it’s motivated by love and generosity and a genuine desire to provide something useful and /or wanted. The problem is, we have to come up with our own ideas for those kids / teachers (cash! give teachers cash!) / grown ass men etc. so the bandwidth for coming up with even more gift ideas is low. Enter the gift guide. The gift guide is full of quick wins and easy ideas on a spectrum of price points. Some links are affiliate links, which means I earn a few cents if you purchase through my link (at no extra cost to you). Some items are things we already own and love, or loved at certain kid stages (I’ll point these out). Lastly, I hope this goes without saying but I’m going to say it anyway: you do not have to spend the big bucks to find the perfect present. There are a lot of different ways to celebrate the holidays; maybe that looks like going to a special event instead of purchasing presents, maybe it means sharing a meal with your loved ones, maybe it means crafting a coupon book of a year’s worth of foot rubs, or maybe it means ignoring the calendar entirely. There are no wrong answers here and if someone makes you feel inadequate for how you choose to spend the holidays, they’re not worth spending an ounce of energy fretting over.

I’ve dabbled in gift guides in the past but the real MVP is Caitlin. Her library of gift guides is a goldmine of wit and charm and fabulous ideas. If the perfect gift exists, it exists in one of Caitlin’s many gift guides.

1.It’s dark and dreary, the days are short and cold, and we can all use a little dose of happy. The Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter delivers big time. The recommended age is 3+ but this is not just a toddler toy. It remains one of Poppy’s most loved toys and she’s six (and a half! Can’t forget the half.)

2. In Twenty Years My Daughter Invites me to Dinner by Kathleen Donahoe print.

3. Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World by Yuval Noah Harari. Don’t tell Grady but he’s getting this for Christmas (and I’m hoping to have time to read it first!)

4. One of my sisters is a Glerups super-fan and she’s raved about them enough that I’ve put them on my own Christmas wishlist. According to her, the boot style with the rubber bottom is a totally acceptable (and supremely comfortable) shoe option, even for work, and I’m interested in seeing if I can get away with them in the office.

5. A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig. I am extremely excited to read this to the kids every night in December. We’re skipping advent calendars this year because we don’t need to add more sugar and/or tiny plastic to our days but I like the idea of making a nightly cuddle with this book our own modified advent activity.

6. Balzac’s A Dark Affair coffee beans. A few years ago I bought a can of Balzac’s coffee for Shawn as a joke (because at heart I am a 12-year-old and it is hilarious to ask someone if they want a mouthful of Balzac’s.) The joke was on me though because Balzac’s is delicious and quickly became my preferred bean. I regret nothing.

7. My friend gave me an S&K Collective sweatshirt and it is the softest, coziest sweatshirt I’ve ever worn. Their store is full of cute stuff like The World Has Bigger Problems tee.

8 & 9. Maybe you want to keep your skincare chilled, maybe you need to travel with refrigerated meds, maybe you’re an 11-year-old whose mom is struggling to think of cool Christmas gifts for you that aren’t just an envelope of cash so she buys you a tiny fridge and a box of your favourite sparkling water for your bedroom.

10. Our weather upheaval in recent years has me wanting to expand our emergency kit (which is woefully inadequate considering we live in the most earthquake-prone region of Canada). These mini flashlights have a bunch of great reviews, are compact, and can be stashed in our go-bags, car, backpacks, etc. Also they look kind of Star Wars-y and would make a great stocking stuffer.

11. Speaking of emergency kits and stocking stuffers, one of my sisters gave me a four-pack of LifeStraws for my birthday and it made me feel so cared for and relieved. She knows that emergency prep makes me feel tense so she did the research and gave me the product and now I don’t have to feel like a bad mom because the flat of bottled water in our emergency kit is older than both of my kids.

12. I’ve taken a real utilitarian turn here so I’m going to overcorrect into full-on frivolous. These magnets give your houseplants faces and I love them.

13. Grady got this book safe for his birthday a few years ago and he’s gotten a lot of use out of it (and Poppy is getting one for Christmas this year). It comes with either keys or a combination lock. We opted for the keyed safe and I kept one of the keys just in case the other gets lost.

14. This ice lantern mold is such a fun way to make a DIY holiday centrepiece and I feel like you could make it work for any season depending on what you freeze in the ice.

15. The Weed Gummies Cookbook. Look, it’s been a long year.

16. I’ve heard so many good things about the Yoto. I like that it’s a screen-free, safe way for kids to choose what they want to listen to / learn about and I love the idea of the “record your own” cards.

17. I got the Mini Kind Words Matte Lip Duo by Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez for my birthday and it is fabulous. When I wear lipstick I usually go for a classic red lip but this is a beautiful, soft rosy neutral colour. It’s not as drying as I’ve found other matte lip products to be and the packaging is gorgeous.

18. Everyone needs a pretzel stuffie. I will not be taking further questions at this time.

19. Unless the question is “but does it come in vegetable?” The answer is yes.

20. But my personal fave is the tulip stuffie for year-round spring joy.

21. We’re still very much in a band-aid heavy stage of life and these corgi butt bandages I found for Grady’s stocking are adorable.

22. They can take away our freedom but they can’t take away our soft pants. The Tna Cozy Fleece Mega Sweatpant is the coziest soft pant and they come in a bunch of great colours.

23. Commit fully to cozy season with this wearable heating pad.

24. Buying art for someone can be difficult but if you know their style or favourite artist, a print is a relatively inexpensive way to gift something meaningful. This Great Horned Owl by Raven LeBlanc is absolutely stunning.

25. Quinn Rockliff’s work is so beautiful.

26. Art by Di’s shop is full of too many gorgeous BC scenes to pick a favourite.

27. The Christmas stocking is a great opportunity to stock up on infant essentials like the best baby teether that exists.

28. This Minecraft torch is rechargeable, wall-mountable, looks like a toy but is extremely functional, especially for kids who sleep in bunk beds and don’t like to turn their bedroom light off and have to climb into the top bunk in the dark.

29. The equation for happiness.

30. Sometimes math is hard and you just need the answer. The answer is poutine.

31. Add a little royalty to your tree with this Prince peg ornament.

32. If you live somewhere chilly, this Knit Bear Beanie by Jan & Jul is adorable and super functional with the ear flaps for extra coziness and neck string so your baby can’t rip it off and ditch it without you noticing.

33. The Lee Valley MIY Project Kits contain all of the supplies, tools, and instructions to guide adults and older teens through creating their own items like a live-edge charcuterie board, leather journal cover, and more. It can be a gentle foray into a new hobby without investing in a lot of supplies.

34. A puzzle you complete by solving a murder mystery instead of using visual cues sounds exactly right for snowy days spent in front of the fireplace.

35. LED tree candles provide the charm without the risk of burning your house down.

36. Air Fryer crispy mini potatoes are my love language. The Ninja Air Fryer XL has an extra-large basket and thousands of five-star ratings. Unwrap this bad boy on Christmas morning and serve delicious nuggets of crispy potato joy for Christmas brunch.

37. Chocolate is a predictable host gift but I reckon it’s a classic for a reason. This set is nice because the bars can be divided up amongst stockings or gifted as one in the gift box.

38. The Lomi Smart Waste Kitchen Composter feels a bit like witchcraft but the good kind.

39. The Kit and Ace Water Resistance Fleece Shirt Jacket is a lot of words to say: cozy.

40. Breville’s Temp Control Milk Jug has an integrated thermometer indicator strip so you can foam milk in the optimal temperature range.

41. Pair it with a coffee subscription for the gift that keeps on giving.

42. We got a Peloton bike a little over a year ago and it’s been life-changing. That sounds dramatic because it is. I knew I’d use the bike and it would be fine but I wasn’t prepared for how engaged I would become in the app. I’m still riding the bike but now I’m also planning workouts and lifting weights and feeling stronger than I have in decades. It’s spendy but it’s worth it in my opinion.

43. If you’re trying to find the perfect gift for someone who already has a Peloton, this rechargeable stroller fan is it. It twists right onto your handlebars, has three different speeds, and charges quickly.

44. I’d never suggest you gift someone sportsy items unless they request them specifically but Padded shorts are a very thoughtful gift for the Peloton beginner. I held out for a couple of months because it felt extravagant to spend money on specialized clothing after spending so much on the bike but my life improved once I introduced extra padding between my butt and the seat.

45. Sugarfina’s 8 Nights of Delight Tasting Collection looks beautiful and is filled with 8 different types of Kosher candies.

46. I’m so intrigued by these RoToTo luxury slipper socks. We’re firmly a “no shoes in the house” family and some of us wear slippers while some choose to wear socks and these look like the perfect balance between the two.

47. This Solar System Bubble Bib Necklace is the perfect blend of gorgeous and nerdy.

48. Maria Ida Designs’ Mini Glass Vase in rainbow adds a pop of colour and whimsy. If you make me pick a favourite shape it would be bud but they’re all adorable.

49. Who doesn’t love a fun sock? These CBC Retro socks are cute and so Canadian.

50. This wooden toy tea set is so sweet I can’t even stand it.

51. And this Ice Lolly Shop has killed me dead with the cuteness (though my kids for sure would not be able to resist sucking / chewing / mouthing them in their younger years and they might end up getting pretty manky).

52. The Wild Robot is such a sweet, hopeful story. My kids are almost five years apart in age and they both loved the book, which is rare these days. They both still talk about Brightbill whenever we see a solitary goose flying overhead.

53. Crayola Scribble Scrubbies (or Scribbie Scrubbies as they’re known in our house) are a huge hit. There’s something very appealing about getting to draw on your toys. We’ve got a few sets and in our house, the shower / tub combo gets the most use.

54. Smitten Kitchen cookbooks are beautifully written, gorgeously photographed, and full of delicious recipes. Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files looks like it will follow the same trend.

55. The Mini Mushroom Lamp screams hygge. Maybe it’s because as I’m writing the snow is falling outside and I’m drinking a mug of herbal tea, but this little lamp makes me feel so cozy and content.

56. Affirmation cards are wonderful but sweary affirmation cards are wonderful and hilarious.

57. The Retro Hockey Night in Canada Hoodie is cute, nostalgic, and looks comfy.

58. The Do Good Paper Co Lists Spiral Notepad is adorable but also functional and if you’ve made a pledge to not buy any more notebooks, this isn’t a notebook. It’s a notepad. You’re welcome for the loophole.

59. I put a Multi-Function LED Headlamp in Shawn’s stocking last year and yeah, it’s great for when he’s working underneath his car but it’s also great for making his family happy when he forgets he’s wearing it and walks around the house looking like an explorer.

60. Grady got Kids Against Maturity for his birthday this year and it was an instant hit. It’s played like Cards Against Humanity except without the inappropriate cards (though “inappropriate” is subjective and you should definitely do a read-through of the cards first to remove the ones you don’t like before your kids latch onto a phrase that burns you to your core). (There is a lot of potty humour in Kids Against Maturity.)

61. I feel like an Ooni outdoor pizza oven would solve all of my problems. That’s a lot of pressure to put on an appliance but I reckon it’s up for the task.

62. These Ripple Champagne Saucers are stunning and make a great gift paired with a nice bottle of bubbles.

63. If you need a gift for someone who has found themselves really into birds lately (it’s a thing!) the Pidät Bird Silo is a great choice.

64. Your bird friend might also enjoy Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder…

65. … or an absolutely amazing tote bag.

66. These pens are cheery and colourful, fine point, with minimal bleed through - perfect for bullet journals.

67. I am delighted by these Mistaken Lyrics Coasters. My dad used to listen to a bunch of CCR when I was a kid and I remain convinced the line in “Bad Moon Rising” is “the bathroom’s on the right” not “there’s a bad moon on the rise.”

68. She experiences one day of snow and starts planning beach days. I am who I am. High-vis child swimwear is genius and it’s something I didn’t even think about until this year (11 years into my parenting journey).

69. Blume elevates your coffee (or eliminates it!) with tasty superfoods. The Mint Cocoa Blend is a lovely festive host gift …

70. … packaged with a cute Cloud Mug.

71. I’m not a fancy candle person but if I was, a candle described as “smells like wearing a quilt next to an open window” would be the candle for me.

72. You thought I was done with birds but you thought wrong. I haven’t played Wingspan yet because I think my kids are still a little young for it but I’ve heard great things about it for the tweens who still deign to play boardgames with their parents.

73. Everything Whistle & Flute makes is adorable but their Havarti sweatshirt takes the cake. The cheesecake. I’ll show myself out.

74. Hemleva’s Butterfly Wing drop earrings are bold but delicate, colourful but understated.

75. Finally, when the holidays get to be a bit much and you need just a minute, retreat to the bathroom with Sisters Glow Mask.

Five

May 25, 2021 Hillary

Dear Poppy,

Today you are five years old.

You woke up this morning, declared you felt taller, and asked when you were going to kindergarten. Your enthusiasm and zest for life are exhausting sometimes, especially when I haven’t had my coffee yet, but I love how ready you are to experience new things. Spontaneity is your love language. You dream big and you’ve got adventure in your heart.

This week I’ve been filling out forms and reading emails with subject lines like “getting your child ready for kindergarten” and the thought that keeps rolling around in my head is: how do we get kindergarten ready for you? You are intense sometimes, Pops, and I love that about you. I want to make sure school is a place where your intensity and your power are nurtured and appreciated. We’re not sure if you’re going to lead a company or a revolution in the future but we want to prepare you the best we can either way.

You love babies. You come home from daycare full of stories about what the babies did that day. You would make an amazing big sister and I’m sorry that’s something you won’t get to experience.

You want to be a vet when you grow up but you also want to own an ice cream truck. You’d also like to be a mermaid but I’m not sure that’s a viable career choice.

Your favourite foods are: chicken wings, tomato soup (the way Papa makes it!), and fries with gravy. You detest baked goods and chocolate and it is a good reminder that I don’t have to understand you to love you.

And oh, how I love you. I love how you hug me with your whole body. I love how farts are the most hilarious thing to you. I love how you tell me exactly what you need, directly and confidently. I love how deeply you love your big brother. I love how much joy and exuberance you bring to our family.

Happy fifth birthday, Penelope Bloom. I’m so glad I get to know you.

Love, Mama

Birthday Season

May 4, 2021 Hillary

My sisters and I birthed seven babies in five years and all of their birthdays are in May, June, and July. In the before times, birthday season was glorious. If there’s one thing my family excels at, it’s birthdays. I come from a long line of birthday enthusiasts. We celebrate the crap out of birthdays. The nibling birthdays have always been chaotic, exuberant, messy days full of cake and togetherness and unbridled joy.

And then 2020 hit and birthday season was cancelled.

We did manage to have one one family day in late August. We gathered outside in a park and celebrated all of the birthdays and it was great. One of my favourite days of 2020 (which isn’t saying a lot, I know). But it wasn’t the same. Next year will be different, we said. I’m not sure we really believed it but it was nice to hope.

Yesterday was the first of the nibling birthdays. We did not have a birthday party. We ate cake and ice cream on a family Zoom meeting. We stared at our loved ones’ faces on a computer screen and sang Happy Birthday and then, after we logged off, we cried. Or, I cried. Poppy yelled - at everyone and everything - and Grady got very quiet and very stoic. We will do this six more times over the next twelve weeks. I hate it so much and I’m so grateful for the privilege.

Hi! I'm Hillary (with two Ls please).

Thirty-something, mama of two, lover of lists, somewhat crunchy, kitchen dance party phenom, introvert, navigating life after cancer. Read more!

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RT @JEVLloyd: BC parents: Adrian Dix was just on CBC radio w/ Stephen Quinn. Dix says that BC's been working with the feds & th… https://t.co/h9MCr6t6Ee
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