When I posted my cleaning challenge, it was very helpful—not just because it was a daily, detailed list, but also because it gave me public accountability to actually follow through. Since that worked so well, I’m trying it again, only this time it’s a much less ambitious list.

Here are my 3 goals for Friday:

1. Box Removal

Between Hanukkah and my birthday, we have so many boxes hanging around (they’re piled up into a huge mountain in a corner of the den. So bad, I know!). I need to remove all labels/tape, cut them flat, stack, and take them to the recycling center.

2. Write & Send Thank You Cards

Before too much time passes after Hanukkah, I want to make sure these go into the mail. I know not everyone has the time or interest to send paper cards, but I think a present deserves a tangible thanks. Also, it’s good practice for littles ones and seems to keep entitlement complexes at bay.

3. Make a Chinese Feast for Shabbos

I love to make a special dinner for the family on Friday nights. Between hectic schedules, medical problems, and a severe lack of energy, it doesn’t always happen, but when I can, it makes for a wonderful experience. Some dinners, I stick to traditional Jewish fare, other times I branch out. Tonight, I’m experimenting with a new recipe. I got a head start this morning and chopped the veggies.

Doesn’t it look colorful? It should make for a nice combination of carrots, celery, bok choy, peppers, sprouts, etc. Along with the veggies, I have some nice sirloin marinating in the fridge and will stir fry everything.

My plan is to drop off the boxes, stop by the post office, do some other random errands and then come home. Oh, and work in between and cook. Good thing I stopped my list at only 3 goals…                

I love buying gifts that benefit others and this offer from ALOHA is awesome!  For every gift set you give, ALOHA will donate a nutritious, whole-food meal to the Food Bank of New York City. This will spread joy, positive energy, and love to people far beyond the intended recipient.

There are five gift sets available: Classic Holiday, Premium Holiday, Tea Lover’s, Chocolate Lover’s, and a Chocolate Multipack. Every one is gluten-free, non-GMO, plant-based, and organic. 

Plus, you’ll get free shipping on all orders over $25.00. Happy Shopping!

I received free products in order to host the Bright Starts sponsored play date. The opinions expressed are my own.

Bright Starts™, a toy brand committed to smiles, giggles, and happy babies, is inviting all tiny tots to join the League of Little Laughers (LOLL). With their colorful characters and playful features, these toys meet baby’s playtime needs from 6-36 months with parent-approved products.

Since my little ones are always begging to have friends over and play with toys, I was super excited to host a play date. Here in New England, we’re enjoying unusually warm weather (58 degrees in December). Since it was so nice out, I decided to set up the toys in the backyard, with a special sign to mark the occasion.

Here’s what we played with:

Spin & Giggle Puppy

This is an adorable puppy with a light-up nose and paws. The bowl wobbles and spins balls around until they spill out. Big buttons help baby discover colors, shapes, and letters while it plays cheerful music.   

Learn & Giggle Fish

This little fish doubles the fun with 2 play modes. In music mode, baby can press the fish scales for sounds and music. An easy-to-grasp handle makes it possible to take this interactive friend on-the-go. Bright colors and reflective scales make it extra fun.

Learn & Giggle Activity Station

This offers a ton of activities to explore and learn with 65 sounds, melodies, lights and phrases. It can be used sitting or standing. Simply press buttons in the window panes to hear phrases, shapes, colors, letters, numbers, object identification and cause/effect. Each flip book page interacts with a different window pane telling stories of different times of day. The fun buttons include kitty’s paw, sun spinner, ladybug, and doggie treat.

Giggables

Amazing little animal balls that giggle, roll, and talk. They tell baby what kind of animal they are and make sweet sounds as they wobble and roll. Six different animal are available.

Bunch of Balls

An assortment of 16 multi colored balls to roll, toss, and play with. The kids loved these, too, even though they’re more basic.

While the kids were playing, some of the moms stayed with them to supervise and I went inside to make snacks. (I don’t know why, but food just makes everything more festive.) There were strawberry popsicles for all and popcorn for grown-ups and older kids. Yum!

After 4 hours, the party had to wind down, but a magical day was enjoyed by all. We will definitely be using these awesome, interactive toys often and adding more to our Bright Starts collection soon.

I know many of you are still shopping for holiday gifts, so please be aware of a toy called Bunchems and avoid at all costs.

Bunchems are brightly colored balls about the size of a quarter. They’re covered with soft, squishy spikes that interlock with each other. Instead of being used for building as intended, they’re getting stuck in kids hair and are almost impossible to remove.

Thankfully I didn’t buy any before I heard the warning, but my best friend did. She spent 4 hours trying to pull them from her daughter’s long, thick hair. After trying conditioner, peanut butter, and oil, they finally ended up having to be cut out at the hairdresser! 

Don’t think it’s an isolated incident, either. I’ve seen similar complaints on Twitter and Facebook, calling Bunchems “a million times worse than gum.”

Yikes…