TAGS:
birthday bits & pieces counting salad recipe pound cake advent calendar burtu skola easter free printables skeleton main dish animation worldmap continents chocolate Valentine Day carrot cake origami take away human body DIY toddler games fine motor skills autumn brugge mood board carnival kids human māksla maastricht father's day free download playtime yoga gives back ziemassvētki raw paper animals xmas cookie lunch montessori rope creations ocean haloween party toddler kids style kēkss lieldienas craft food matters monday dessert yoga street style bundt cake exploring cake vegeterian pie christmas rokdarbi decoration letter school kids party burtu mācība birthday party breakfast geography secret box of letter vegan numbersINSTAGRAMS
Posts with tag xmas
24 x Christmas
Ho ho ho hoooo…
it’s time for Christmas and here comes our annual advent calendar of winter activities:
1.Its time to let winter in our home – first xmas decorations. It wasn’t easy to stop my girls to do it straight away after Lo’s birthday on 17th November. Lights, snowflakes, Christmas box stories, flavour of summer herb tea wrapped into the winter orange coat reminds me about 1 December.
2.Winter science – fizzy xmas stars
http://www.science-sparks.com/2012/12/30/ice-play-ideas/
http://www.science-sparks.com/2013/07/22/baking-soda-ice-cubes/
http://inspirationlaboratories.com/frozen-vinegar-cool-summer-science-activity/
3. One of our advent craft is wrapping paper, this year our theme is fir and star. For this we will use triangle shaped stamps made out of potato:
http://www.handmadecharlotte.com/diy-roller-printing-tutorial
http://theperfectpearpair.blogspot.nl/2011/11/diy-potato-stamp-wrapping-paper.html
4.December – It’s a Sinterklaas dinner time. In the Netherlands Xmas comes earlier, so we gonna celebrate it with creating winter wreath. We are kind of traditional in this. We mostly using wicker and dried fruits, this year we will also use eucalyptus leaves. Here are more original idea of making wreath with using wool:
http://cottageintheoaks.com/2013/11/tufted-wool-wreath-diy/
5. Card crafting afternoon.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelwmiller/christmas-cards-you-can-diy-in-under-an-hour?sub=3525232_4377193#.pqYoRMjeAw
6. Diy your own xmas angel. I just love this idea. Simply beautiful.
http://funezcrafts.com/Easy-Angel-Crafts-Wire-Angel.html
7. Let’s craft some fun…
http://kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-paper-plate-christmas-characters-santa-rudolph-snowman/
8. Planing some friends on the weekend, new table décor would be just great. What about candle holders?
http://thebridenextdoor.fr/2013/01/02/photophore-diy/
9. Kindness elfs will make some gingerbread cookies for special people.
10. I like an idea of ice skating and ice skating in the Winter Station sounds even more attractive. What about you, do you like ice skating?
In 1954, the Spoorwegmuseum (Railway Museum) found a permanent home at the Maliebaan Station, one of the stations just outside the historic city center of Utrecht. In recent years, the station and museum have undergone extensive renovations to restore it to its 19th-century appearance. The grand station hall and the waiting rooms, including the Royal Waiting Room, remind one of an elegant era of steam, wood and shining brass. Every winter the museum adds to its charm with the addition of the Winter Station. Ice skating is a popular Dutch winter pastime, but the weather doesn’t always cooperate. Fortunately, the Winter Station transforms part of the museum into an indoor ice skating rink, surrounded by old trains, a carousel and a festive winter atmosphere. Visitors can even roast marshmallows over open fires outdoors.
11. Invite a friend for a dinner ☺ Candles, comfort food, hoodie and oma’s knitted socks… Sounds like a big winter hug,isn’t it? That’s the one reason I like winter.
12. It’s Saturday… xmas market could be an idea :)
http://www.brunnvalla.ch/christmasmarkets/netherlands.html
13. Light up second candle and visit neighbourhood city… More lights…
14. Kindness elfs – Music for soul. Search for xmas music, there must be some in your or neighbour town.
We are having Christmas Charity concert in the Church in the city of Hague. And if you are near by, please come and join us:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1527869134199879/
15. What about your made present for friends and grandparents… We gonna make lavender body butter to treat winter cold. Here are some ideas:
http://littlegreendot.com/homemade-body-butter-recipe/
http://wellnessmama.com/6544/whipped-body-butter/
http://livesimply.me/2014/04/16/homemade-moisturizing-lotion-recipe-no-coconut-oil/
16. Home made winter treat … when it comes to the winter holidays, the true Dutch passion lies with oliebollen (fried dough balls) and poffertjes (mini pancakes). Stalls, converted trucks, and pop-up buildings begin appearing in Dutch cities across the country in this season ☺
We call them happy balls, we know they are not so healthy but they make you smile… and it counts, right… Family movie and oliebollen (in Latvia we have something simmilar called „ Žagariņi“) is just perfect happy couple.
Recipe of happy Dutch balls:
http://dutchfood.about.com/od/breadspastriescookies/r/Oliebollen.htm
17. Winter theater or ballet with classic Christmas story? Last year girls first time went to real classic ballet, they loved it so much, that we made it as our family tradition – at least once a year to join the Ballet or Opera. This year we are lucky to have Nut Cracker in the neigbour town, Amsterdam. mmm… brings me back to the memory lane.
http://www.operaballet.nl/en/ballet/2015-2016/show/nutcracker-and-mouse-king
Im sure they gonna love it… as they love to watch it on youtube and ask to repeat it not just once.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtLoaMfinbU
18.Kindness elfs will make Xmas for birds :) Let’s make it together! Here are some nice ideas how to make bird feeders:
www.homemadehomeideas.com/19-beautiful-diy-bird-feeders
19. Dream comes true – This day is about little wishes, little ideas, which girls would love to alive and I will be the fairy:)
20. Lighting up the third candle and exploring Lights in the city…
I found this one as an interesting project:
TheTrajectum Lumen is a series of light art installations throughout the city, ranging from quickly changing patterns illuminating a small opening off the Drift canal to the illusory spill of light onto the ground from the Janskerk (St. John’s Church). The lights go on at dusk and stay on until midnight, and anyone can follow the map or app to see them on their own.
The Dom Tower also lights up each evening as part of the Trajectum Lumendisplay, but this winter, it will also be part of the Night of Light at the Dom, taking place November 15th and December 20th. This spectacular event is a large party with DJs and musicians performing at the base of the tower, while light, art, video and graphics are beamed onto the walls of the tower.
21. Twinkle, twinkle little star…DIY Fairy shoes for festive nights.
http://www.lovemaegan.com/2011/07/diy-dolce-gabbana-gold-jewel-embellished-shoes.html
22.Make your own Xmas story
Some ideas and templates for window decorations:
Make your own Xmas story Templates for window decorations:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/560979697306976613/
https://faltmanufaktur.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/faltmanufaktur_reindeer_template.pdf
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramosnobre/5238127798/in/photostream/
http://www.shabbyartboutique.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Shabby-Art-Boutique-Township-Candle-Holder-template-1.png
http://www.shabbyartboutique.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Shabby-Art-Boutique-Township-Candle-Holder-template-2.png
http://lespassionscreativesdemarie.centerblog.net/rub-silhouette–7.html
http://www.fichier-pdf.fr/2014/12/07/villagelumineux/
23. Sweet treat for xmas eve…
http://howveryus.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/caramel-cider-cinnamon-apple-pie.html
http://doriannn.blogspot.fr/2013/09/le-nouveau-750g-le-mag-est-arrive.html#
24. Let it snow on xmas eve:) Merry, merry Christmas!!!
24 times xmas
hello, december!
this year, in addition to our traditional xmas calendar we added a beautiful idea of Kindness Elves, inspired by Ana from Imagination tree :) thank you for this lovely idea… we couldn’t even wait until xmas, so we began earlier. our first wrapped presents are already on the way to children’s homes in Latvia :) this is a great way to show love, kindness and gratitude to kids. we spent a wonderful evening preparing presents and talking about sharing, giving and spreading love to people around us. hug your family, send a letter to your friend and give a smile to a stranger on the street…just GIVE!!!
here comes our 24 magical sacks with letters from kindness elves and ides for our xmas time:) enjoy!
1. create a new tradition for Christmas with the Kindness Elves.
http://theimaginationtree.com/2014/11/25-ideas-the-kindness-elves.html
As next of #kindnesselves activity will be DIY present for children in India. In this idea we will support Yoga Gives Back organization and will send xmas presents to my yoga teacher from Yogaplace, who is already months in India and share love with children there.
2. make your own gingerbread dough. this year we choose vegan receipe from minimalistbaker:
http://minimalistbaker.com/vegan-gluten-free-gingerbread-men/
3. craft your advent wreath. we usually use natural materials… some leftovers from summer and autumn (nuts, dry flowers, berries, etc.) and we also like to add some gingerbread cookies.
http://www.cozycottagecute.com/2010/09/diy-fall-wreath-picture-tutorial.html
4. make your own table decors for xmas dinner.
we will make napkin rings with recycled material: toilet paper rolls/ papaer towel rolls covered with ribbon lace http://www.pinterest.com/pin/513058582523804212/
http://tatertotsandjello.com/2010/02/burlap-napkin-rings-tutorial-dollar.html
5. make a meal and invite some friends.
as we are living in Netherlands, we are lucky to have two Santa Clauses. Ziemassvētku vecītis (in latvian Santa Claus) is coming on 24th of december from North Pole and another one is dutch Sinterklaas (also known as Saint Nicholas), who came this year on 15.november and stays until 5.december – Dag Sinterklaas. We are making dinner for our friend Ana from Portugal :)
more about who is this old man with white long beard coming from Spain with boat and a lot of helpers -Zwarte pieten – you can read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet
6.diy xmas tree decors with clay
http://tracksoffoxes.com/tag/clay-christmas-tree-decorations/
7.light up second candle and go for a family walk in the neighbourhood xmas market.
8. make or buy a bird feeder and start to feed birds in the garden each day until spring is coming.
There are a lot of great DIY bird feeders using pine cones and other ingredients on Pinterest, this yea we will make orange bird feder:
http://sherisilver.com/2012/11/27/dailybuzz-moms-9×9-kids-holiday-crafts/
9.it’s time to make some homemade cards.
10. snow bird crafts.
http://easyorigami.me/origami-crane-tutorial/1082/
11. DIY xmas wrapping paper – we go for polka dot: http://squirrellyminds.com/2012/12/07/diy-polka-dot-wrapping-paper/
12. snowflake crafts. we already made paper snowflakes for lorena’s “frozen birthday party”:
http://www.marthastewart.com/276331/how-to-make-paper-snowflakes/@center/1009041/christmas-crafts-projects#169464
now will try to make glue gun window snowlakes:
http://www.welivedhappilyeverafter.com/2012/12/use-hot-glue-gun-to-make-snowflakes-on.html
13. make an easy table cards for your special xmas dinner – cones with name tags
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/174092341817127541/
14. go for a xmas trip to another city, search for xmas lights, hot chocaaaalate and pancakes. we are going for family trip to Cape Verde, so next ideas we will fulfill there. xmas movie on the way….
15. xmas peanut crafts
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/53409945552108893/
16. xmas tree preparation… we wont be home in christmas time but i still think it would be great to have xmas tree in our holiday house, found couple great take away ideas:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Book-Xmas-tree/
http://lovetaza.com/2011/12/holiday-guest-post-holiday-mantle-craft-from-candice-stringham/
17. surprise night expedition… Here are kidsactivitiesblog idea: Have Daddy tuck the kids into bed while you (sneakily) prepare hot cocoa in travel mugs. Run the mugs and cozy blankets out to the car and then dash up the stairs to the kids’ rooms. Open their doors and shout Surprise!!!! Get them out of bed and go on a hunt around your neighborhood (in jammies!) for the best and brightest Christmas light displays. The kids will love the element of surprise and the hot cocoa!
As we will be in Cabo Verde, we will attend Turtle SOS organization for turtle saving activity. #kindnesselves
http://www.mydestination.com/capeverde/things-to-do/122139/turtle-sos-cabo-verde
18. give love and donate. we found organization in Sal (Capo Verde), where we will bring girls drawings, school items for children in Africa. Teach your kids the true spirit of giving. #kindnesselves
19. make a family handprint christmas tree and send it to grandparents http://www.mamasmiles.com/fun-christmas-craft-family-handprint-christmas-tree/
20. search for xmas lights in yours or neighbourhood city.
21. read xmas story
22. learn about xmas traditions in your country or if you already know them all, search for different countries traditions. we will learn about Caboverdian traditions, interesting… do they have any?
23. make a list of everything you’re grateful for and stick it onto a happy/ thankful xmas tree or put it into the gratetude jar, which you can fulfil during the next year. hmmm…great idea also for New years eve…
24. christmas morning breakfast – lazy morning in pj, give out free hugs to all friends and family today! Hugs release endorphins and make everyone feel happy. #kindnesselves
Have a joyful Christmas season planing!!!
anita
FOLLOW ME: