3 Winks Design

Something to Wear

12/11/2018

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Hello! Today we share with you Something to Wear as part of our children's gift guides. Something to Read and Something they Need have already been done. Stay tuned for Something they Want.

I'm so excited for this post because I love kids clothes! They're so cute and less expensive than my own clothes (usually). Kids look cute in everything so it makes shopping so much easier.

Today I have found a bunch of cute clothes at Target for the kids. I personally buy my own kids clothes at Target. I love the price and sales they have. The quality is also great. My son has pants from there that still look nice after a year of frequent use from playing outside. I also like their Cat & Jack brand because they get kids in on the designing process! So there's more unique clothing choices. And my daughter has many cute clothes from Target, dresses, pants, shirts, pjs...she's a Target girl like her momma! So I feel confident in recommending these clothes to you today. My kids and I both love them and they get complemented on their outfits frequently.

Right now Target is having a sale on kids clothes so it's the perfect time to buy. Buy One Get One 50% off! And if you order $35 of clothes shipping is free! Or you can have it shipped to your local store for pick-up.

Something to Wear for Babies

First I have found this adorable button up sweater that would be cute on any baby. You'll keep your baby warm and amp up their adorableness at the same time!
For a more dapper look, this suspender outfit would be perfect.
This red dress with a faux fur shrug would be so adorable on a baby to wear for a Christmas party.
Last I present this baby bear bunting! My daughter had a pink one similar to this and it was the cutest thing ever!

Something to Wear for Toddlers

This cute outfit would be perfect for a toddler girl to wear to a family get together where she'll probably be running and playing a lot, but you still want her to look nice.
A "Very Merry Very Bright" shirt and leggings! A great outfit for Christmas Day.
My son has these skinny jeans. I love that they're pull on because with potty training every moment counts.
I love how cozy and warm this sweater looks. And the big buttons would be great for helping your child to practice their buttoning skills.

Something to Wear for School-Aged Kids

This sweater is an easy way to have your son look dressed up without him having to wear a shirt and tie. He'll appreciate it. I have a similar sweater for my son and he loves it.
Joggers are the greatest pants of all time. They have the comfort of sweat pants but look nicer. I also love that they can't drag on the ground. My son has several pairs of these from Target and they are so comfy!
This lace top is so beautiful, I would wear it now myself!
I'm a sucker for sequins and tulle so this shirt and skirt are right up my alley. I love it so much!

This is just a handful of all the cute clothes I saw on their site and in stores. Have a look for yourself and do your shopping from the comfort of your own home. Merry Christmas!

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Renny's Recipes: Something to Read

12/10/2018

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Today my friends, my post is about feeding your brain! As part of the gift giving formula my mom talked about here, I am sharing with you some great books to give as gifts for the "Something to Read" category.

Getting your kids books is sooo important! The sooner you start reading to a child the better. It will impact their verbal skills and help ignite their imagination. If you help instill a love of reading in your child when they are young, then as they grow they can get lost in the world of a book and learn about new people and cultures. Books expand horizons!

So, lets break these ideas down by age group!

Something to Read: Ages 0-3

For newborns you can really read them anything, but once your kid becomes a little wiggle worm, board books are so great to save books from torn pages. It can't always be avoided however, because not all great books come in board book form. Just be aware and be careful of where those tiny hands flail! (Also, my daughter got a paper cut on her toe one time while we were reading, so watch out for those wiggly little toes as well! I never even thought it could be possible, but she slid her foot across the book at the perfect angle!)

We have some Baby Einstein books in our house and our little girl loves them! They're so interactive and fun, and can grow with her as she gets older! Amazon has a whole page dedicated to this brand, so you can find all kinds of great board books for your little ones!

I have to give a shout out to this book because my daughter absolutely loves it! Lift the flap books are a big hit around our house because she can lift it herself. She looks forward to it on every page. Underneath each flap is a new farm animal and its a great way to teach her animals sounds associated with each animal! This book is how she learned how to say "dog" and "hello!"

This is another favorite with our little one. It is a great book that teaches that we all have different talents, and also, it's never okay to make fun of or judge someone. It's a fun read, and is in rhyme form, which is a great thing to learn at a young age!

Something to read: Ages 3-6

This is a fun age where kids really start getting interactive with their books and try to read them on their own!

My daughter just got one of these e readers from my aunt as a Christmas gift. As a 1 year old she just likes to push the buttons and pretend the reader is a phone and I just read the books to her. It would be a fun gift for a slightly older child to have to learn to follow along as someone reads aloud!

I love the Little Critter books! I think the way they are written is so funny, they're enjoyable for parent and adult!

I have heard mixed reviews about the Pinkalicious television show. I love the books however! Emily has three of them and they are cute. Not only do they teach stories about being true to who you are, its a great way to learn your colors! I highly recommend the books! You can decide how you feel about the show.

I am also a huge fan of the Berenstain Bears books! I grew up with these books and love them. They teach great lessons. They're especially valuable for children with siblings!

Max's journey to where the Wild Things are obviously had to make an appearance for me! This is my absolute favorite children's book of all time! I love reading it to my daughter! Her nursery is Where the Wild Things Are themed. She has a little Max doll (complete with crown) and her newborn photos includes a Where the Wild Things Are theme!

Something to Read: Ages 6-12

I know this is a pretty large age range in terms of level of reading skill, but I wanted to give a broad range of options for you to consider when getting your children a book because maybe you feel like they could read something a bit more difficult but are unsure where to start.

I first heard about Harry Potter in the 7th grade. Alicia had gotten the first two or three books through the scholastic book fair, she was in second grade. She read them and loved them at 7, and I read them and loved them at 13. Harry Potter is a book for all ages. The earlier ones especially are quick reads and a great start to chapter books.

Okay I love Junie B Jones. She is such a funny girl and the stories are always so fun! When I worked in a 4th grade class we went to see a play based on these stories and the kids absolutely loved it! So did I! I highly recommend these books!

When I turned 8 years old, I got a copy of Ramona Quimby Age 8 for my birthday. I loved it, and soon wanted to read all of the Ramona Quimby books! She is like the original Junie B Jones to me! I even made my mom check out some television episodes from the library for us to watch as kids. Everything that happens is from Ramona's perspective, and that is really the best thing about these books. Children can understand exactly how Ramona feels!

Something to read: Teens and Young Adult
For the teens and young adults in your life there are so many wonderful books out there to get them into amazing stories! Harry Potter is still an excellent option at this age, as well as these ideas:

The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings. I first read it in junior high and it is such a sweeping epic story that teaches so many valuable lessons about choosing good, being a loyal friend, and everyone can do hard things. But it isn't so basic. It is a deep read and a fascinating world! Someone people pass the Hobbit off as boring, but I really like the Hobbit, and if you read it first, it helps set the scene for the story to follow in the next three books. These books are classics and should definitely be read by everyone.

Full disclosure, I haven't read this book yet. My mom has though and told me it is so good! I intend to steal it and read it. You however, can buy it through this link and gift it to your teenage child! (Or yourself, I don't judge!)

Any book that focuses on a true story from the Holocaust is a must for me (Hello Diary of Anne Frank and The Hiding Place). This is a true story of a young girl named Dita Karus who was in charge of a set of books that some Jews snuck past the guards at Auschwitz. Be prepared to cry guys.

Well those are my something to read suggestions for you. I hope I've given you a good place to start. I'd say go buy a gift for the reader in your life, but maybe buy one to help someone become a reader as well!

Also, don't forget, we've been talking about the#LightTheWorld campaign. Have you seen any of these giving machines near you? There is one here in Gilbert, Arizona, and little lady and I are going to go on Friday to see what we can give!

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Friday Faves-A Gift Giving Formula

12/7/2018

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When you have a large family, like we do, Christmas gift giving is a lot of fun, but it can also be costly and a lot of work! It is so easy to break the budget if you aren't careful. When my children were young, I definitely took advantage of Black Friday deals (which were much better back then I think) and tried to be a savvy shopper, getting them things that they needed and also wanted. If you have seen the movie, "A Christmas Story", you will remember the scene when the boys are opening their gifts and each open a package containing socks. They give each other a look, then throw the socks over their shoulders, ready to move on to a more exciting gift. Back when my kids were little, I feel like I waited to give even the most basic needs, like socks and underwear to wrap as gifts under the tree so that there would be a lot to open. But, of course there were the special items as well, like bikes, books and games. "Wait until Christmas" was a well used phrase.

Now that my kids are grown, I see smart parents thinking about not only budget, but not wanting to over-indulge kids with too many gifts, and not wanting to fill their house with a bunch of stuff that will quickly be tossed aside. I have heard a new adage used over the last few years for when it comes to Christmas gift buying for kids:

Something they want, Something they need, Something to wear and Something to read!

I can see the sense in that train of thought and with additional gifts that children receive from grandparents and often other extended family members, I think they would have a very nice Christmas without it being overdone. I would probably add a few little stocking stuffers to the mix and maybe one big special gift for the entire family, like a trampoline or a trip. Or, maybe one more special gift per child from Santa. IDK, it is all customizable to each family, but it is a good guideline.

So, with that saying in mind, the girls and I discussed what those categories could mean and how to give those things in a memorable way. The categories that generated the most discussion among us was the wants and needs categories! It is so interesting to realize that often those categories can overlap. People often want what they need and need what they want. So, for Friday Faves today I am going to give a list of needs and how to make them more exciting to receive. Next week I'll give you a heads up about what the popular wants are for 2018. Lindsey and Alicia are going to talk about Something to Read and Something to Wear. So, if you shopping isn't done or begun, we're here to help!

Needs:

Underwear! Lets get to that right away! I think that the keyword to giving underwear to girls is "pretty" and for boys it is "cool!" So here a are a few choices.

Boxer Briefs for boys are cool. I got some for my 3 year old grandson last time he visited because his mom forgot to pack him enough underwear. He looked so cute in them! Here are some awesome Avenger ones!
Favorite Cartoon Briefs! Boys always want to be Batman!
Girls need variety! Here is a pack that would fit that bill! And, the price is right!
I love the cute prints on these. I know no one sees them but the person wearing them, but they make a girl feel good!

Socks! Kids always need socks! The washer eats them, kids lose them or they wear holes in them. If you are going to give them as gifts, first make sure you know the type your child prefers or they will never wear them! There are no show, ankle, crew, knee high...just find out!
How do you make sock giving interesting? Look at these ideas!

Click here and go to Super Mommy to learn how to make Sock cupcakes!

Fill them with things!
Fold them into Reindeer!

Sorry, this wasn't linked to a website. I think that is nail polish as the red nose.

Roll them up like candy and add a tag that says, "Footsie Rolls!"

Pajamas! These can be as cozy as homemade pajama pants or a little fancier! I think this is one of those needs/wants type gifts.

Which Avenger is your kid's favorite? Choose one from this set!
Little girls always want to go to bed feeling like a princess!

Bedding! A nice and cozy bed is also a want as well as a need. Having nice bedding may also get your kids to make their beds for a day or so!

This magical princess set is adorable and under $30 for twin!
Can you tell I really like the Avengers? This set comes with a comforter and fitted sheet!

Other needs- A lot of the time by mid-school year kids need things such as...

Shoes! A gift card so they can pick out their own would be nice.
Sports team items like cleats, shirts, sports equipment
Backpacks. I really like this one that would so nice for a teen and even take her into college with its pocket for a laptop.

Kids need to eat. Maybe a favorite cereal that you don't usually buy.
Instruments or music for lessons!

Have you given something that was needed that may have seemed less than exciting but found a way to make it seem special? Drop us an idea in the comments!

Be sure to check out our past Christmas Help posts: