Christmas round up – advent, tips, crafts, cooking and more

As we near the holiday season I thought I would round up all my post related to Christmas and teaching kids about gratitude / managing their wants in one place to share again and add in some new things for you all to enjoy. I am overseas enjoying my first holiday season back in the United States in almost twenty years – I am having the big family Thanksgiving in New York, Chanukah with Grandma in Florida and Christmas with the cousins in New Jersey.

This is amazing after years spent celebrating in every way possible – alone, as add- ons to friends’ celebrations, with my own little family and rarely with some of our relatives. I want to thank you all for being here and wish you a happy holiday season (whatever you celebrate) filled with family, friends, laughter and love – remember why you are there and let everything else go (find your simple!).

Christmas and holiday related posts on Home Life Simplified

Tips for christmas cooking with kids includes my favourite Christmas cookbook and two easy and awesome recipes to get your started.

A round up of christmas baking ideas that I found last year on Pinterest – creative, fun and yummy

My rituals and traditions including a printable list of advent calendar ideas -ideas of what to give or do each day

advent calendar ideas - create your own advent calendar

Set your intentions - how do you want this holiday season to go?

Get organised and get planning if you have not started yet

Holiday traditions - setting them, adding or giving them up

Gift giving simplified

Teaching kids at this time of year

How to manage all the “wants”

30 Ways to teach kindness and gratitude – some great ideas to bring these things into focus at this time of year

More resources and ideas from around the web

At Natural New Age Mum Sonia has a round up of ideas for a stress free Christmas that includes one of my posts plus a lot of other great ones worth reading

If you are looking for Elf on the shelf ideas check out the series Larissa has at My Pigeon Pair

Fabulous paper snowflake templates at Ellinee.

Awesome free printable (see featured image) from Mufn Inc that your child can colour in, write notes, doodle as a card, a poster or part of a gift

Do you fancy making up a Nativity set (below) - this amazing one is free, but donations very welcome. Amazing!

Great for your own family or as part of gifts for kids – make up a batch of Gingerbread playdough

Allsorts is a fab site full of colour and creativity. Currently working on a seasonal app there is a freebie to tide us over – a printable paper doll with holiday themed scenes

I love these Christmas jokes for kids that you can use in advent calendars or Christmas cards

I love these stars made from paper straws, bottle caps and buttons

Wishing you a happy holiday and peace.

Find your simple,

Deb