Life Love Mom

Tag: christmas

  • The Best Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

    The Best Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

    We’ve all been there. The last-minute gift struggle. No judgment – trust me. Sometimes the days just get away from us, and before we know it we are days away from the family holiday party, or something of the like. So I’m here to save you from a gift-less entry.

    The rise of the subscription box over the last few years works perfectly for those hard-to-shop-for people in your life, or a last-minute gift save! I love subscription boxes because they are curated, and just personal enough to fit everyone in your life. They are the gift that keeps on giving, depending on the subscription amount. You also don’t need to arrive with a gift in hand – simply print out a picture of the box, insert it into a card, and tell the recipient to watch the mail! And let’s be honest, in this digital age, who doesn’t love some good, old-fashioned mail?? I know that finding ones that ship to Canada can sometimes be a tall order, so here are my faves. I have included affiliate links here, many of which give you a discount on the boxes. I have to say, though, that I wrote this post first and found the affiliate links after. I would recommend these items all day, every day,

    1. For the kiddos:

    I am obsessed with Kiwi Crates. Our kids received this as a gift years ago from their aunt and have quickly become my go-to gift. Kids receive a box monthly, which includes hands-on activities and reading based on a theme. There are different boxes depending on the age of the recipient. N has received Koala crates, which are great because he can complete tasks on his own. Pictured below are two activities he completed while learning about butterflies and dinosaurs. J recently began receiving Atlas crates, which include a different country every month. Prices range from $25-$30 per box depending on the frequency. They can be found at https://www.kiwico.com/Refer?i=LeoraK

    2. For the foodies:

    Carnivore Club is one of our amazing finds. Each month, you receive a box of curated meats. There are two sizes, and we have been loving the snack-box size. The full-size box includes party-worthy items, great for sharing. The snack box includes single-serving items, which are great for when you are on the go. I love that it highlights local vendors, and there has been more than one occasion where we have gone back and re-purchased from newly-discovered vendors. As a foodie, Hubby loves discovering new foods and trying different products. Prices range from $40-$60 per box depending on the frequency. They can be found at https://carnivoreclub.co/

    3. For the furry friends:

    Not to be forgotten in the season are our four-legged friends. Both my sisters have dogs (as do I) so it is important for us to pamper each other’s pups, too. Woof Pack is a Canadian company that ships a variety of toys and treats each month. I love that they have a box category specially designed for “chewers”. Our dog, Bella, is notorious for obliterating toys. As a Boxer mix, she loves toys so much she destroys them in mere minutes. Prices range from $37-$47 per box depending on the frequency. They can be found at http://woofpack.refr.cc/leorakim

    4. For yourself:

    Let’s be honest – sometimes the best gifts are those that we give ourselves. The Fab Fit Fun box is one you have probably seen all over social media. It is one I coveted for a few years before asking Hubby for it as a birthday gift. I have to say, it does NOT disappoint. I love the mix of full-size items and those that I would never buy for myself. I am not one for a lot of make-up or beauty products, but I like being able to choose things I can indulge on. In this past box, I received a Michael Kors hat and Herschel bag. In the past, I have received lotions, makeup and hair care products. I even got my new favourite floss!! Pictured below is a summer box which included a ring light, beach blanket and guac/salsa bowls. This box is a bit of a splurge but in my opinion, it’s well worth it. Prices range from $45-$50 USD + shipping per box depending on the frequency. I do have free boxes on occasion, so be sure to comment if you are interested in one. They can be found at https://fabfitfun.com/get-the-box/ 

    Getting boxes shipped to Canada isn’t always ideal. Some companies don’t come to Canada, and if they do, the shipping costs are exorbitant. I hope you enjoyed my four favourites. Anything YOU would add to this list? Sharing is caring!!

    On that note, wishing everyone a very happy, heathy holidays. I am going to sign off for 2021 and return in January with some brand new content!

    This is life. Love, Mom.

  • The {Dreaded} Elf On The Shelf

    The {Dreaded} Elf On The Shelf

    There are very few holiday traditions that are as polarizing as the “Elf on the Shelf”. Whether or not you participate in having an elf in your home may actually be more controversial than apple pie vs. pecan pie. If you are not familiar with the elf, here is a bit of a backstory. It began as a storybook in the early 2000s. About ten years later, the book was turned into a short animated film, and the elf dolls were born. The premise behind the book and subsequent film is that an elf arrives before Christmas and watches to ensure children are behaving. Then, at night, the elf flies back to the North Pole to report to Santa. When it returns home, it lands in a different place and in the morning children have to find it. Many households love the elf tradition. I originally learned about it from my sister-in-law when she began having the elf “visit” annually. In fact, even as my niece and nephew grew older and knew the elf was merely a toy, she still had it move around and do silly things, and they enjoyed finding it just as much. There are some families, however, who either participate begrudgingly or refuse to at all.

    According to a 2012 article written when the elf was just released “It’s a marketing juggernaut dressed up as a “tradition.” Yes, all traditions are ultimately man-made and therefore artificial, but there’s something uniquely fake about the Elf.” (https://www.theatlantic.com/) The article goes on to ask “Why inject a note of fear and suspicion into a season and a holiday that are meant to be about love, togetherness, and forgiveness? Perhaps, Christmas aside, raising morally aware children requires we go several steps beyond the concept of a naughty/nice dichotomy.”

    I agree with some of the sentiments of what is written here. But I think that this is a very myopic view. The concept of naughty/nice did not originate from the elf, it rather capitalizes on it. There are scores of songs and stories about being nice so Santa comes and gives you a gift, instead of a lump of coal. While there may be truth to what is written in the article, I think that you should try and participate in whatever brings you joy. There are ways to play into the Elf on the Shelf that aren’t all-or-nothing. For example, if children are being naughty, or have made poor choices, it doesn’t mean that Santa isn’t coming at all. It’s a reminder to be mindful and a chance to ask for forgiveness for negative behaviour. How many of us have threatened to call Santa at one point or another? This is no different. If there is anything this pandemic has taught us, it is that life is short – live it with love. Ironically, some parents have taken the pandemic and used it to their advantage – putting the elf into quarantine for the first 14 days so they don’t have to move it as often. I’ll admit, that is a fun idea, but I also enjoy how much J and N laugh when they wake up in the morning.

    Our elf, Chingu, (which is the Korean word for “friend”), came to us about 5 years ago. Since then it has been no small task coming up with ideas for how she can get into mischief. Like many, our elf is very silly and gets into a lot of things. Yes, sometimes she is in a different spot every day (my fall-back when I forget to move her around), but she also does funny things. Our elf comes on December 1, and always brings an advent calendar for each of the kids. I have to say, I enjoy trying to be creative and come up with new ideas. I am at the point where I will surely need to recycle past ideas, but that’s okay! As I mentioned before, it is all in good fun.

    Arriving with calendars

    Like anything else, I think that it has to work with your family. There is a general, almost audible sigh that comes from parents who don’t enjoy the task, and feel that they have to one-up their children’s friends. There are scores of Facebook mom-group posts lamenting about the dreaded elf, and ideas for how to place it. There are Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts dedicated to this tiny doll. There are also Etsy kits where people have planned out the entire month of “placements” for the elf. I also know of people who have had the elf “break a leg” so they cannot move for extended periods.

    If you are an “elf home” – the countdown begins! If not, that’s okay, too. And, if you are in need of some ideas, here are some past favourites of mine:

    This is life. Love, Mom.