Regrettably, moms and kids do. 

So while I support your attempts to make memories through Christmas activities and new family traditions, I’d also like to equip you for the winter days that are shorter than they look. 

In this blog post on Christmas activities for kids, you’ll find realistic holiday experiences. 

I’m not grinching out on you. These fun Christmas activities for toddlers, kids, and teens are indeed memory manufacturers—but they’re festive without the fuss. Try out these new holiday traditions that take less effort and less money than their idealistic counterparts and sleep in heavenly peace this holiday season.

Here’s your perfect Sunday afternoon Christmas activity for kids: Transform your living room into Santa's workshop. Grab the glitter—unless you have an “allergy” like I do—and glue. Pull out the construction paper, pom poms, safety scissors, and stickers. Your kids are Santa’s elves, and they need to have five kids’ Christmas gifts completed by dinnertime. Ten if they’re swift workers. Let their creativity flow from the Christmas craft supplies you have on-hand, or jumpstart the holiday activity with this wooden gingerbread house kit. 

 Wooden Embroidery Gingerbread House Kit // Christmas Honeycomb Garland

If you read our last blog post on holiday home decor, then you got a sneak peek at 2023’s cutest Advent calendars for kids. These aren’t your grandma’s Advent calendars. 

There’s a soft plush penguin Advent calendar for 3-year-olds and older to move a stuffed fish from day to day as they await Christmas morning. For older kids, you’ll find this Advent calendar that doubles as bohemian holiday decor and ticks all of the boxes for millennial motherhood. (Each tear-off pouch has a handmade wool ornament inside and is decorated with a question, encouragement, or intentional thought for your kids!) More Advent calendars are available in dinosaur theme, charm bracelets, and circus aesthetic. My recommendation: Order your Advent calendar now. If it comes with fillable pouches, plan to drop stickers, treats, or encouraging notes in each day’s pocket. That’s minimal effort for holiday magic every. single. morning.

Advent Calendar // Polly Penguin Advent Calendar // Winter Ballerina Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar Suitcase

If the wooden embroidery gingerbread house kit was a hit, then you can’t go wrong with an edible, sugary building experience. A great Christmas tradition for kids who love to build and parents who don’t yell bad words when their cookie roof slides off of the gingerbread walls for the fourth time in a row (I’m no longer allowed to participate in the Harrison family gingerbread house competition), gingerbread houses are more about the experience than the finished product. We found this homemade gingerbread house recipe if you catch the holiday baking bug. There are prepared gingerbread house kits in the holiday shop of most grocery stores for the rest of us. 

Suit up in your holiday pajamas for the next fun family Christmas activity. Unlike most Christmas traditions, this winter activity brings peace and rest to both parents and kids. Turn on a Christmas classic like “Home Alone,” a vibey flick like “Harry Potter,” or a Christmas comedy like “Elf,” to keep the holiday magic flowing at home. It is the recommendation of this author that you do not tell your kids there’s a “Cocomelon” holiday special unless you’d prefer to spend eleven bonus months singing carols with JJ and friends. 

By the way, movie snacks are an absolute must for your family movie night, but don’t feel like you have to make them at home. This year, you can do less while enjoying more special moments with the family. It’s 100% okay to buy pretzels and popcorn and NOT dip them in white chocolate for movie night. 

Organic Waffle Basic Zip Footie | Gingerbread Man // Christmas Trees Pink | Organic 2-Piece Set // Organic Waffle 2-Piece Set | Gingerbread Man
 

Host a family snowball fight as a new tradition, but first build your snow field! Inspire creativity in your kids by letting them be the gamemakers. They can craft intricate paper snowflakes or keep it basic with blanket forts and boxy obstacles to hide behind. For added mom magic, gather all of the packing peanuts you have and drop them from your second story as a light snowfall during the building phase. Next, you’ll work together to form a ton of snowballs from printer paper or recycled paper, and then you’ll split the teams. Once you’re ready, the indoor snowball fight begins! Winner gets extra marshmallows in their post-game hot cocoa.

Homemade Christmas ornaments are a rite of passage for bored kids on holiday break. Cultivate kids' creativity as they design their own unique ornaments and prepare them for market. Show them the designs for some of the ornaments you made as a kid—like sequins on popsicle stick stars, foam picture frames, and pipe cleaner candy canes. Then let them pretend they’re selling their Christmas tree ornaments at a holiday market. They’ll have a blast trading homemade ornaments for cold, hard, (pretend) cash. 

What are the 2023 moments your kids will always remember? Find out which moments are solidifying into core memories and then decorate a tree in their bedrooms with that theme. For instance, if your child had a huge soccer year, track down soccer ornaments for their personalized tree. Did they read a ton of books? Discover a new hobby? Connect with the animals at the zoo? Eat a ton of snacks? Shop for Christmas ornaments that fit their theme and let them express themselves by displaying it in their bedroom or play room. Here are some snack and animal themed ornaments to get you started. 

Christmas Pretzels // Christmas Sugar Canes // Metal Ornament Set - Winter Wonderland

Every winter, I crave seasonal treats like pumpkin bread, firecrackers, and peanut butter blossoms. These recipes were holiday traditions for my family while I was growing up, and I love baking (and eating) them as continued family traditions with my own kids. Another takeaway from my nostalgic Christmases in the country is the holiday treat exchange that was an unspoken tradition among our neighbors. Friends would wind down our white rock driveway with holiday treats that were a part of their cultural traditions, and we would give them a tin of peanut butter blossoms or white chocolate popcorn in return. My husband’s family frosted Christmas themed sugar cookies with cookie cutters like these Santa & Reindeer cookie cutters. My daughters are cupcake lovers, so they’re excited to try out the festive house cupcake kit or nutcracker cupcake kit this year. While I’m less likely to knock on my neighbors’ doors today, I still like the idea of showing Christmas kindness through a homemade treat (free of common allergens) in their mailbox or on their front step.

Christmas Motif Cookie Cutters // Festive House Cupcake Kit // Santa & Reindeer Christmas Cookie Cutters

Send your kids to their happy place with a doll house or gingerbread that could use a festive touch. The holiday collection from Maileg invites little mice to shoop, shoop, shoop down the miniature slopes, toast one another at a tiny tea party, and rock around the LED light-up Christmas tree. Your kids will spend hours setting up their little house with cosy couches and decor, and then they’ll play with it for hours more. This is the lazy mom (lol, as if there was such a thing) Christmas activity because it requires very little interaction by you, and is the perfect diversion for when you need to hide the Christmas gifts from your kids.

Winter Mice Twins - Little Brother & Sister // Cozy Christmas Set // Gingerbread House - Mouse

As a mom, you’re used to facilitating the fun, but your kids and partner would enjoy spending more quality time with you instead of losing you to activity prepping and perfecting. Take a page out of the lazy mom’s playbook (again: there’s no such thing as a lazy mom), and choose realistic, intentional Christmas activities this year. Less is more for holiday togetherness magic.

Whether you’re enjoying a slow lead-up to the holidays or rushing around already, these boho holiday home decor and Christmas ornaments are sure to put the happy in happy holidays for you and yours.

Read on to see the boho holiday home decor of the year!

Boho Holiday Home Decor // Merry & Bright

Holiday home decor in 2023 is playful! You can lean into a merry and bright look or stick to a muted color scheme, but it should bring a sense of winter whimsy either way. Topping the charts of our favorite holiday home decor is the Honeycomb Chandelier by Meri Meri. It’s the statement of the season with its classic Christmas icons made of paper and sparkly eco glitter. Plus, simple self-assembly is required, which is a fun way to get your big kids involved in the decorating for Christmas.

Another Christmas home decor piece we’re loving is this festive holiday tray which, coincidentally, looks beautiful alongside the chandelier mentioned above AND has a matching holiday doormat. For a holiday party, we’re adding more honeycomb decorations (That reindeer—OMG), peppermint candy surprise balls, and surprise Christmas trees to our carts. It’s giving merry. It’s giving bright. This is how you decorate for the holidays.

Celebration Festive Holiday Tray // Festive Holiday Doormat // Honeycomb Chandelier // Peppermint Candy Surprise Balls // Large Hanging Honeycomb Decorations // Surprise Christmas Tree

Boho Holiday Home Decor // Winter Beige

If you’re a neutral girly, then the Christmas color pops listed above may not be your cup of tea. For a more subtle holiday style, add these candy cane and peppermint swirl pillow covers to your armchairs. Give kids a scare—or adults a giggle—by keeping the Naughty / Nice lumbar pillow nearby and summon mistletoe vibes with a sign from the oldbazaaristanbul Home collection. No one gets you winter beige girls better than oldbazaaristanbul.

Speaking of winter beige, there’s a cozy sweater, sweater dress, shoulder bag, and pair of boots that you have to see. Quick, add them to your wish list (with links & sizes) or buy them now and let your partner know that Christmas is covered.

Candy Cane Pillow Cover // Santa Stops Here Hang Sign // Do The Holiday Thing Lumbar Pillow // Metal Ornament Set // Mistletoe Vibes Decorative Wooden Block // Heart Struck Sweater Dress 

Boho Holiday Home Decor // Christmas Ornaments

As moms of humans and/or cats, our generation is getting smarter about Christmas ornaments. Knit Christmas ornaments, like these Christmas pretzels that I can’t get over, felt ornaments, and metal ornaments don’t pose the same breakage risk that the glass balls of our childhood did. Many families have moved to decorating two Christmas trees. One is set up in their office at work or in a closed-off space from the pets & kiddos. This Christmas tree can house your vintage Christmas ornament balls and keepsake Christmas tree ornaments (anyone else have a full suite of Noah’s Ark ornaments from the 90s?).

For your common space Christmas tree, consider spritzing it with this Awaken Mist as a cat deterrent (and a mood-lifter for you). You can also try placing orange peels or foil around the base of your tree to keep kitty from tree-hopping like Buddy the Elf. Then load it up with all of these kid-friendly ornaments and homemade garlands. Take a maximalist approach as you dress your bay window with fun Christmas tree ornaments or keep it streamlined with our winter beige collection.

 Advent Calendars for Kids 2023

Listen, I want an Advent calendar this year. They are so fun for both kids and adults. Each morning of December, there’s a little treat. And we all deserve a little treat. When shopping for your girls’ Advent calendars, let us highly recommend the winter ballerina charm bracelet Advent calendar suitcase or enamel charm necklace Advent calendar from Meri Meri. My daughter received one from her aunt last year, and it was the biggest hit. We can’t remember what she opened on Christmas day, but we’ll never forget that adorable charm bracelet Advent calendar (and she’s already asking for another). If you’re on the hunt for an Advent calendar for boys, then look no further than the railway train Advent calendar or dinosaur Advent calendar. The dinosaur Advent calendar, especially, delivers hours of playtime for the month of December and can become a heartfelt Christmas tradition for your family to enjoy each year.

Dinosaur Advent Calendar // Polly Penguin Advent Calendar // Enamel Charm Necklace Advent Calendar // Winter Ballerina Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar Suitcase

Make it a Boho Holiday Moment

Decorating for the holidays shouldn’t feel like a chore, but sometimes it does (especially if it all falls on mom). This year, intentionally set out to decorate as a family. Turn on Mariah Carey or Ben Rector, slip into some Christmas PJs, and create a winter whimsy—bright or beige—in your boho home.

*Maybe you politely suggest your kids won’t get their Advent calendars unless they help out with the holiday decorating? Just a thought.

Christmas Trees Pink Organic Frill Zip Footie  // Littles Happy & Bright Organic PJ Set // Christmas Trees Organic Set // Thick + Sprucey Christmas Tree Shirt // Elf Baby Bonnet // Littles Waffle Organic PJ Set

It’s time for kids’ Halloween costumes, Halloween house decor, and Halloween clothes for women. Individually wrapped candies don’t count as calories for the next couple of months, and apples are inedible unless dipped in caramel. 

The inside of the house should carry a cinnamon scent at all times. Outdoors must maintain a brisk, around-the-fire-pit sensation and the Sanderson sisters are an acceptable icebreaker for every social engagement. Also acceptable: Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

You can now begin daydreaming about DIY Halloween costumes for kids. Then, I ask you to recall last year’s rush to buy a last-minute Paw Patrol costume for toddlers or a witch costume for girls and feel free to disregard that train of thought immediately. 

This Hallow’s Eve, you can either be prepared, realistic, or both by shopping the Great Pretenders costumes for kids and Meri Meri Halloween decorations for parties and home in advance. In this post, you’ll find responsibly sourced costumes for kids like Harry Potter wizard capes, ballerina tutus, princess costumes, unicorn costumes, and more. 

And great news: these costumes for girls and boys check all the boxes for aesthetically-inspired instagram moms (all of us?) and kids who are drawn to licensed characters like Snow White, Batman, Spiderman, and Cinderella. How do they do that? 

These kids’ Halloween costumes are:

• - Over-the-top gorgeous
• - Made from quality fabrics
• - Uniquely suited for longterm play
• - Creatively positioned to encourage pretend play and imagination
• - Different from the Amazon and Target costumes other kids on the block are wearing

You’ll be able to keep an easy eye on your girls and boys as they flutter around in their butterfly wings, dragon capes, or blue bird feathers. And you’ll pack your smartphone full of trick-or-treat memories that will last a lifetime.

Join the fun with your own Halloween costume or grab a few spooky graphic tees for women. 

Decorate the house with unique Halloween decor such as felt pumpkins and silly signs starting in early September to enjoy the magic for as long as you and your enchanting littles want to keep things creepy-crawly. 

This season can be as playful or as spooky as you want it to be. Just make sure to lean into the magic before it vanishes—we won’t be in October orbit for another full year. 

Best Kids’ Costumes for Halloween 2023

The most magical part of Halloween is seeing your children transported into a fairytale land by their Halloween costumes. Will they slay a dragon? Cast a spell to save the city? Join the circus? Attend a royal ball? To make kids’ costume shopping a bit easier—and more fun—we’ve split the costumes into categories below. Bear in mind each of our costumes is made from quality fabric, so you don’t have to worry about them ripping before you get to the trunk-or-treat situation. These costumes for kids including princess costumes, witch costumes, wizard costumes, dragon costumes, and more will remain their favorite dress-up clothes well after empty candy wrappers have littered the town square.

Princess Costumes for Kids

Boutique Belle Gown // Cinderella Costume for Kids // Boutique Sleeping Cutie Gown // Snow White Princess Dress for Kids

Magical Costumes for Kids

 Sparkly Rainbow Fairy Costume // Dragon Costume for Girls // Dragon Costume for Boys // Unicorn Costume for Kids

Animal Costumes for Kids 

Lion Costume // Blue Bird Costume // Flamingo Costume // Owl Costume

Witch & Wizard Costumes for Kids

Wizard Costume for Kids // Wizard Cloak & Glasses Costume for Kids // Velvet Witch Cape & Wand Costume // Wizard Costume for Kids, Pink

Career Costumes for Kids

Scientist Costume for Kids // Firefighter Costume for Kids // Pilot Costume for Kids // Doctor Costume for Kids

Pirate Costumes for Kids & Mermaid Costumes for Kids

 Meri Meri Pirate Costume for Kids // Pink Mermaid Skirt for Girls // Mermaid Costume // Pirate Costume Vest for Kids

Super Hero Costumes for Kids

Spider Bat Reversible Cape & Mask Costume // Superhero Costume for Kids // Super-Duper Tutu Costume for Kids // Bat Cape Costume

Unique Halloween Costumes for Kids

 Wild West Halloween Costume for Kids // Baby Dino Triceratops Kids’ Costume // Veterinarian Scrubs Costume for Kids // Frida the Artist Costume for Kids

Shop All Halloween Costumes for Kids

Halloween Graphic Tees, Party Decorations & Pumpkin PJs

Halloween T-Shirts for Women

Halloween graphic tees are the easiest way to up the ante on fall fun. You can pair them with jeans, shorts, maxi skirts, or even toss them over a form-fitting dress to make any occasion festive. My favorite Halloween t-shirts are the ones that reveal a little bit about your personality so that the other space cowgirls or bad witches can see and appreciate your specific brand of spice. Here are a few of the best Halloween t-shirts for moms and friends. 

 Spooky Season Halloween T-Shirt //  Bad Witch Halloween Sweatshirt // Get In Loser Halloween T-Shirt // No Diggity Halloween Raglan

Unique Halloween Decor for Home

There’s nothing cuter than seeing your little monster fast asleep on a festive Halloween pillow with a smiley vampire as Halloween decor. I’m confident our Halloween decor options get better and better every year, including spooky signs, felt pumpkins, sherpa pumpkins—in leopard print!—Halloween banners, and ghost pillow covers. When I was a kid, my mom used a spider web fabric tablecloth year after year, and the thought of it gets me nostalgic for hot dog roasts and sticky caramel candies. Imagine the memories your kids will enjoy as they see you hang an Imani Collective banner up every year or place a Harvest Moon sign on the mantle each September (spooky season opening, as we like to call it).

Pumpkin Pajamas for Babies & Toddlers

You are not ready for this trip to the organic pumpkin patch. With 2-way zip rompers for infants to 24-month-olds and organic matching sets for 12 months to 5 years, your little ghoul gang will master the runway (also known as your front porch) this fall. Take a moment now to envision holding your PUMPKIN clad little PUMPKIN on your hip while sipping a PUMPKIN spice latte. That, my friends, is self-actualization. Take a peek at a few of the pumpkin pajamas and jack-o-lantern matching sets below and then shop the full line.

 Halloween Cluster Pajamas for Babies // Pink Pumpkin Patch Pajamas // Pumpkin Patch Pajamas in Blue // Jack-O-Lantern Pajama Set for Kids

Cute Halloween Party Decorations

Whether your Halloween party is skeleton chic or spooky-scary, you’ll find the best Halloween party decorations here. Meri Meri knocks it out of the park every single time, and these vintage giant skeletons and honeycomb witch hat decorations are no exception. Crown yourself the queen of Halloween decor by selecting cute bat garlands, giant spider balloons, and Halloween balloon garlands (Seriously, who gave them the right to make creepy so avant-garde?) for your next big Halloween party. Go ahead and celebrate all the spooky things! Also: let’s take a moment to appreciate the wizarding world of your living room with these adorable Honeycomb owl Halloween decorations!

Bat Garland Halloween Decoration // Black & Orange Stripe Honeycomb Garland // Vintage Giant Skeleton Halloween Decor // Eyeball Balloon Garland

Halloween Tips & Tricks for Moms

The more we mom, the more we realize we want to make the most of every opportunity for special memories with our kids and loved ones. This year, prompt delightful squeals with the kids’ costumes, Halloween tees, and Halloween decorations that turn the holiday up to level 100. It’s the little, spooky things that make it magical.

It’s that rare time of year in which your kid’s backpack looks pristine and their lunch box can easily be found. The days are coming in which said backpack will have a questionable ink stain on the bottom and twisted straps. Your kid’s lunch box will go missing each morning around 7am—possibly because they hope you’ll rescue them with a mid-day Chickfila delivery.

While new cute backpacks and lunch bags are essential for the start of a new school year, so are back to school outfits, back to school reusable snack bags, and back to school confidence. 

When we were younger, we learned the value of a great first impression. 

By choosing cute backpacks and cool back to school clothes for your kids, you’re setting them up for success that spans the entire school year. It’s the bounce in their step, the sparkle in their eye, the outgoing “hi” in first period—all easier to access when they feel like they look amazing.

Your kids will put their best foot forward with a little help from the back to school shoes (Milo Boots & Mary Janes recommended) they love and a backpack that fields too many compliments to pack into it. Empowering them to pick out the sustainably-sourced outfits and back to school gear that jumps out at them is a fantastic way to send them into their best school year yet. 

Milo Boot // Scalloped Mary Jane // Miriam T-Strap // Willie High Top 

We’ve compiled the back to school essentials that we consider A+ confidence boosts. Grab your kids and look through these fun options or surprise them with the picks you know they’ll love. 

*Already started back to school? It’s not too late to give your kids a pep talk through eco-conscious school backpacks and lunch bags! What a fun pick-me-up to receive after a tiring first week or two. Snag their new favorite school outfit today to support your little learner. 

Backpacks for School

Did you know it’s cool to be kind to the earth for our kiddos? Several of us discovered this truth well into adulthood, but the next generation is starting from an eco-conscious mindset. BTW, it’s also cool to customize. 

These durable poly canvas backpacks with adjustable padded shoulder straps offer the best of both worlds! Pick out six patches to customize your school bag. It’s fun and functional—no more wondering which unicorn backpack belongs to your daughter. With a range of color pops and patches, you’ll create a personality-infused school backpack. 

 Pop Colorblock Customizable Backpack // Groovy Check Customizable Backpack // Blue Camo Customizable Backpack

For a more classic look, go with Fluf’s organic durable B Pack, made with 100% certified organic cotton canvas. It features a 15’” laptop pocket so your high schoolers (or your kindergarteners—it is 2023) can keep their computer close-by. Fluf checks all the boxes when it comes to backpacks for teens with their socially responsible, minimal aesthetic bag. 

Yellow B Pack // Mid Blue B Pack // Smoke Grey B Pack

Finally, these attention-grabbing school bags by State Bags are what my daughter’s dreams are made of. State Bags offers, purples, pinks, sparkles, hearts, animal print, metallics… If Mattel and Lisa Frank had a baby, it would be delivered in one of these bags. If you’re looking to become mom of the year, buy your girly girl one of these beauties. *Certain prints are available in various sizes—select the one that best fits your child! 

Hot Pink Kane Kids // Painterly Animal Kane Kids // Silver Kane Kids

Back to School Lunch Bags

Lunch bags for school are a very important element—made more important when you just can’t get over how adorable they are. That’s how I feel about these NEW zipper lunch bags from Fluf. There’s something about this kids’ lunch bag that says she’s off to a meeting with the C-suite at lunch and a blowout after gym. It’s absurd to carry something this cute and iconic for a lunch bag. I work from home, and I want to start carrying my lunch in one of these lunch bags.

Love Zipper Lunch Bag // Oranges Zipper Lunch Bag // Apples Zipper Lunch Bag

Reusable Snack Bags

Your most sustainable purchase for the entire back to school season is this reusable snack bag. These Flip Snack Bags by Fluf can be used HUNDREDS of times! That’s hundreds of plastic baggies per snack bag you’re keeping from the ocean or a landfill. They’re safe and non-toxic and fully machine washable. By choosing reusable snack bags, you can send your kid with a litterless lunch. You’ll want to grab a sandwich size reusable snack bag as well as a couple of snack size ones. If your child takes their lunch every day, it’s a good idea to get duplicates so that you can toss all of the snack bags in the wash along with their school uniforms or extracurricular outfits as needed. 

Blue Bread Zip Snack Sack // Flip Snack Sack // Tomatoes Flip Snack Bag

Back to School Sales on Kids’ Clothing

My mom was a bargain back to school shopper. She almost never purchased an item at full price. I’m not her carbon copy—I like to do a lot of new arrival shopping and sprinkle in some back to school sales when they’re worth it. These, my friend, are worth it. You’ll find Rylee & Cru on sale for your little athletes, graphic tees to pair with patterned bottoms, and smart skirts and pants for the top of the class. Enough talk about the back to school sale: go add your organic fabrics to cart before another parent gets there first.

Magic Is In You Tee // Ventura Short // Jenny Skirt

Big Feelings about Back to School 

Before your little one embarks on a new adventure such as a new classroom, different teacher, or very first time at school, they may have a case of the butterflies. It’s a common feeling to be nervous about trying new things, and the experts at Slumberkins encourage kids to embrace their emotions while practicing new routines. The Harvest Sloth Kin Back to School Bundle | Routines includes a book called “Sloth’s First Day of School,” sloth stuffie, and affirmation card. Help ease your little one’s anxiety while building up their confidence with this back to school bundle, and keep the momentum rolling with the lunchbox love notes. The love notes are a tangible way for mamas and daddies to connect with their child midway through the school day even if they can’t be there in-person. Remind them who they are, and that you’ve got their back with a lunchbox love note.

Harvest Sloth Kin Back to School Bundle | Routines // Lunchbox Love Notes

We at oldbazaaristanbul wish you a wonderful back to school experience. Whether you’re a working mom, stay-at-home mom, homeschooling mom, or any-other-adjective mom, we congratulate you on a full summer of parenting and the fresh start of this school year. 

Celebrate yourself for the job you’ve done taking care of your children with a self-care gesture: Book a massage, go for a walk, take a nap, eat some chips & salsa… Just take a moment to show gratitude to yourself. 

Warmly,

The oldbazaaristanbul Team

It feels good to get that off my chest. 

Some of my friends were repeat summer campers. They would come back from two weeks of camp with braided friendship bracelets, swimsuit tan lines, and cafeteria chants. They were annoyingly upbeat.

Personally, I learned about summer camp the old fashioned way: By watching The Parent Trap. 

Maybe the lake is always bluer on the other side because I still daydream about a classic camp experience. Also, 11-year-old Hallie Parker influences my adult purchasing behavior (see: mustard duffel acquired in 2022).

But my childhood didn’t include a wooded adventure in the Northeast.

No, I created my own damn fun. 

My siblings and I sorted through a sporting goods graveyard to invent games like “Backwards Baseball” and “Scooter Tennis Dodge Ball.” We set water sprinklers under the trampoline, caught tadpoles in giant puddles, and fell out of treehouses—the latter an unintentional occurrence. 

Our summers weren’t polished, but they did build camaraderie between my sisters, brother, and me. 

All that to say, I have a proposal for summer activities for kids in the remainder of 2023. 

Let’s draw on our own classic summer experiences and introduce our kids to the best of them. 

What summer activities for kids did you love to do when you were growing up?

Did you go to the library? Hit the snow cone hut? Make frozen bananas? 

Play croquet? Draw on the sidewalk? Ride your bike?

This could be the year your kids form core memories in the sand box of summer (read: figuratively or literally)—and they could directly relate to your own core memories. 

If you’ve been around the blog a time or two, then you know I’m not sending you out into the sunny wilderness without a guide. I’ve got you covered with the top summer activities for kids with nostalgic nudges for parents. 

Here’s a list of fun summer activities for kids that you probably enjoyed when you were their age.

Summer Activities for Kids - Water Toys

Summer fun for kids begins with sprinklers. I remember running through the lawn sprinkler at a very early age, dodging stickers in the yard and launching over the rising water. Sprinklers are summer simplicity at its finest, and these inflatable giant unicorn and shark sprinklers elevate a classic summer favorite into an absolute dream. Add the creme de la creme of summer icons by tossing a beach ball into the mix and seeing kids’ delight as they use it as a shield from the spray. Another classic water toy gets an upgrade with these inflatable noodles in fairy or sea creature motif, and we’ll round out the water recommendations with this water play set. It’s giving 1990s Vacation Bible School. Do you see it, too?

Summer Crafts for Kids

To be (Lisa) Frank, crafts are cool. Summer crafts for kids in the air conditioning are even cooler. So while I’m very supportive of scavenging for wildflowers with your kiddos, I present to you the modern daisy chain. Made out of tissue paper, this giant flower garland requires some hands-on assembly that your littles will love to tackle in the craft corner. More summer crafts for kids that remind me of millennial childhood include this heart embroidery kit, Land Before Time 26’ roll of paper, and handmade sidewalk chalk.

Giant Flower Garland // Heart Embroidery Kit // Land Before Time 26’ Roll of Paper // Handmade Sidewalk Chalk

Summer Games for Kids

How much fun would it be to introduce your kids to croquet? According to my research, croquet goes back to the Bridgerton era (the official term, I’m sure), making it an essential family activity for summer. Bocce is another absolute classic, and I’m dying over these foam beach bats in casa vintage black. Not the sporting type? Share the rules of pinball with your kids and play until you’ve mastered it.

Croquet // Bocce // Foam Beach Bats // Pinball

Summer Activities for Kids - Outdoors

If you have a safe place to ride, bikes and scooters offer joy, exercise, and increased coordination for your kids. I should know—I was the co-creator of Scooter Tennis Dodge Ball. For kids who need a more stationary activity, I love this outdoor summer sand box (with canopy!) and the Little Helper Backyard BBQ Play Stand. They’re going to eat up these fun summer activities for kids. 

Bikes // Scooters // Outdoor Summer Sand Box // Little Helper Backyard BBQ Play Stand

Retro Summer Vibes for Parents 

Take a trip to your teenage years outside of your therapist’s office with this inflatable flashback chair. In this mobile-friendly recliner, reminiscing about your sister’s Jonathan Taylor Thomas poster or your first family game of Spinner (Double 9 Dominoes) is suggested, but not required. Oh, and it doubles as a pool float! Grab a SunnyD from this retro Cooler Radio as you watch your kids interact with the summer outdoor activities for kids that make memories last a lifetime. Then, casually mention that your tie dye tank and trendy bucket hat aren’t on their first lap around the sun. The good ol’ days are back, baby. 

Inflatable Flashback Chair // Retro Cooler Radio // Coco One Piece Classic // Trendy Bucket Hat

oldbazaaristanbul recently opened their first West Coast brick-and-mortar shop at The CAMP in Costa Mesa. The elevated, in-person experience is open to the public 7 days a week from 11am to 7pm. oldbazaaristanbul enjoys connecting with all women—not just parents—and intentionally empowers them to shop consciously for themselves and their homes. The address of the new shop is 2981 Bristol Street, Suite B3, Costa Mesa, California 92626.

oldbazaaristanbul was launched in 2015 as an online platform for sustainable and ethical buying decisions with an emphasis on aesthetics. The new shop offered women’s and kids’ products from brands that were making waves in sustainability, empowering parents to find everything they’re looking for—for themselves and their littles—in one chic location.

According to the founder, Gina Ozhuthual, “I saw an opening in the marketplace for women like myself, new moms who want to shop more responsibly, not only for their children but for themselves.”

The lifestyle brand and retailer, which has been featured in publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Architectural Digest, opened its flagship store in New Jersey in 2017.

Both the e-commerce site and East Coast shop have experienced increasing success as the brand intentionally pivots their product offerings to the needs of their loyal oldbazaaristanbul customer base.

On the opening of the new SoCal storefront, Gina shares, “I’ve been looking for years for the perfect location to serve our loyal SoCal customer base. The CAMP had everything we were looking for: Community, sustainability, accessibility from all over LA and Orange County, and a wonderful management team. We are very excited to join The CAMP and to bring BoMa to SoCal!”

According to The CAMP’s website, “The CAMP balances culture, sophistication, and functionality, blurring the boundaries between nature and the everyday bustle of life in Orange County, California.” The clean lines, natural elements, and neutral color scheme of the new oldbazaaristanbul space further extends this experience to the community, offering them an opportunity to shop brands such as Rylee & Cru, Free People, Lack of Color, Maileg, Poppie Toys, and many more. 

By offering a highly curated collection of ethically made, sustainably sourced clothing and home goods, oldbazaaristanbul takes the guesswork out of shopping consciously and fashionably for women and children.

Join the community of women who are shopping consciously for themselves and their littles by following oldbazaaristanbul on Instagram @shopbohemianmama, and discover eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing products for women, children, and home at www.oldbazaaristanbul.com or by visiting the new location at The CAMP in Costa Mesa.

1. 1. Motherhood
2. 2. Mother’s Day

Truthfully, I have a plethora of silly grievances about motherhood and few gut-wrenching complaints. But when it comes to Mother’s Day, I have real frustrations. 

First, why am I always stuck with a carnation from my church on Mother’s Day? Could they not just give me cash? Second, are runny eggs and fingerprinted avocado toast really the best way to start out a special day? And finally, why do I feel so much pressure to prove that I’m enjoying the day my family put together for me—keeping my true emotions tucked away—when they genuinely want me to feel celebrated? 

Wouldn’t it just be easier if I let them know—in advance—what would really make my day this Mother’s Day?

In order to do that, I would have to carve out time to:

1. 1. Figure out what I want
2. 2. Ask for it

I’m not usually very good at these two things, and I get the feeling this is universally true about moms. 

But clearly we can do hard things. We do them all the time for our kids. 

So, this Mother’s Day, let’s take the counterintuitive path and put ourselves first (Reminder: That’s what the day is about! We’re not being selfish.) 

We’ll do it as a collective: Moms for Mother’s Day (Embracing the Holiday Meant for Us).

And we’ll have fun while we’re at it. 

In the spirit of maternal candor, I’m also sharing some of my inner thoughts and confessions below. Maybe you’ll connect with them, too. 

And in continued candor, here’s my Mother’s Day Wish List for Mother’s Day 2023:

90s Baby Tennis NecklaceLe Signe Loop Hoops // Virgo Black Fade Sunglasses

I’m passing this list along to my partner immediately. He can empower our kids to pick out Mother’s Day gifts that I will absolutely love. It’s a win-win, and I’m so excited to celebrate motherhood on a very special day in May.

If you’re looking to build your wish list, here are a few quick links to Dresses, Swimwear, Jewelry, Hats, and TiiPii beds.

Baby clothes—seemingly inanimate objects—start leaping into your cart at Target. 

Affecting most moms-to-be at a moderate level, grandmothers report the anomaly occurring frequently and in large quantities.

The only way to stop the barrage of baby socks, baby dresses, and baby onesies is to get organized with a baby registry list.

There’s no wrong way to build a baby registry. Some parents take a minimal approach, and others are more maximal. 

Today, we’re sharing our take on baby registry essentials.  

These are the items you’ll want checked off your list first. They won’t inspire buyer’s remorse (like those Target baby clothes that wink and whistle as they stroll past the self-checkout scanner). 

No, these online baby registry items have been selected by real moms so that you can be certain they’re worthy purchases for you or your gift-givers.

By creating your online baby registry at myregistry.com or babylist.com, you can add products from any retailer. This is a great way to register for the exact brand and product you want instead of searching for substitutes available from big box stores. 

Now that you’re up-to-date on online baby registry etiquette, let’s get into what you really need to take care of your baby—and yourself—as you move into an amazing new phase as a family.

Baby Registry Must Haves: Wearables

In our experience, zipper pajamas are the only way to go for 0–3-month-olds. 

You’ll be changing 10+ diapers per day early on, and convenience is key. Footed, two-way zipper onesies are the easiest way to keep your little one comfortable and diaper-change ready.  

Trust us that you do not want to wade through overskirts and leggings and vests while dealing with a wiggly baby’s full diaper.

For baby’s gentle skin, we recommend going with an ethically made bamboo or organic cotton pair of zipper pjs. 

You’ll also want to keep a bonnet or hat on their head nonstop in the early days to keep them warm and snuggly. 

*Did you know pediatricians recommend keeping your newborn’s room between 68 and 72 degrees? That’s much warmer than my 38 weeks pregnant body desired (64 degrees), but I adapted for my baby girl. 

Another good tip is to choose onesies that include fold over hand mitts. 

Early on, you’ll want to keep your cub from accidentally scratching his or her face, so it’s best to keep those claws covered. While big box stores will suggest baby mittens, the mitt separates almost never stay on your newborn’s hands and will absolutely get lost behind the couch or in the dryer. Skip the individual mitts and go for fold-over onesies. 

If you end up needing a mitt in a pinch, we recommend using baby socks instead. You’ll already have these on-hand (see what we did there), and they’re less likely to fall off. 

Here are a few of our most recommended options for the best baby registry outfits they’ll actually wear.

Quincy Mae Bamboo Zip Footie // Organic 2-Way Zip Romper // Floral Bonnet // Printed Socks, Set of 4

We do have one caveat to add on the useful baby gifts topic: You may want to register for an outfit they’ll wear for newborn photos or family pictures. In that case, we recommend the adorable Amalia Romper for blue-eyed baby girls and this plaid set for sweet baby boys.

So, take it or leave it: add a photo-ready outfit to the registry. 

Top Baby Gifts Worth Their Salt: Feeding

Everyone is different when it comes to feeding, and you won’t really know what your little one prefers until they’re out and about. That said, we absolutely swear by a few baby registry essentials in the feeding arena. 

First, you’ll want to use burp cloths that cover a large area. 

Murphy’s Law is applicable to spit-up: If it can get on your favorite outfit, it will. 

UNLESS you pick burp cloths that cover more area and are soft against baby’s skin.

A muslin burp cloth is going to be your best friend for keeping things fresh. We recommend stocking up on burp cloths so that there’s always one in reach, especially because you’ll want to wash them often. 

Other useful baby gifts in the feeding department are a breast pump, breast milk storage essentials, and baby bottles. Many insurance providers will cover at least part of the cost of a breast pump, so we suggest starting there when selecting your model. 

As for breast milk essentials, we love this all-in-one kit for keeping your milk supply organized and your bras leak-free. And when it comes to breastmilk baby bottles, this Nanobébé US bottle was named the Best Baby Bottle by the BUMP for breastfed babies. 

We may not have a crystal ball that can predict your baby’s preferred bottle nipple, but we’re confident this is the place to start. Add a single or 3-pack to your registry, but don’t stock up too heavily. You’ll want to test it out with your little one before getting one in every color. 

For Later:

Around 5 or 6 months, you may find yourself reaching for baby’s first solids. Our 100% BPA and chemical-free silicone feeding supplies by Mushie are the way to go. They’re cool baby gifts with their trendy color options, and they make fun baby gifts from the friend who is looking out for your future.

New Baby Gifts for Sound Sleep 

When we were pregnant with our first child, my husband and I were living a life of luxury (read: necessity) in a one-bedroom apartment. To make room for baby girl, we transformed our small dining room into a make-shift bedroom with a pack-and-play that included a napper, changing table, and storage for clothes. 

Assuming you aren’t quite as space-limited as we were, you’ll want to pick up a basinet and bedding that you love. This is where you’ll take an abundance of photos and videos, and you’ll never forget those sweet sleepy moments. 

It’s also important that your changing area protect what’s underneath while supplying adequate cushion for your child. This diaper changing pad is agile enough for home and travel, or you can set up a stationary changing pad with removable changing pad covers. 

In reminiscing about our time as a new family of three, my partner reminded me that a blackout curtain, noise machine, and bamboo swaddle were absolutely essential. Additionally, we leaned heavily on a humidifier in the dry mountain air. 

Bassinet Sheet Set // Diaper Changing Pad // Changing Pad Covers // Bamboo Swaddle

Best Baby Registry Gifts for Health & Hygiene

I’m five+ years into motherhood, and baths are the bane of my existence. If I can, I gift this parental privilege to my husband, who is much less bothered by the experience. 

However, I do take joy in selecting earth-friendly and human-kind products for my kids. These bath time goodies from Mushie and Gryph & IvyRose fit the bill, as do the adorable flower training toothbrushes for building healthy routines. 

Since we’re keeping the baby registry list to must haves only, it’s absolutely okay to skip a baby bath tub and opt for the kitchen sink instead. In terms of what to put on baby registry, we also suggest a baby thermometer, snot sucker, and fingernail clippers. 

Mushie Shampoo & Body Wash // G&IR Shampoo & Body Wash // Lotion // Training Toothbrush

Best Baby Registry Gifts for Getting Out of the House

Some of the most delightful moments occur when you step out of the house as a mom-and-baby pair. For me, pushing a stroller in the sunshine felt like self-actualization. I loved how it made me feel like a “real mom,” and the walks around the block were beneficial to my mental health. 

That said, in the hierarchy of the best baby gifts, I’d place strollers and car seats at the very top. You’ll want a stroller that is appropriate for newborns and up, such as this luxury stroller by Stokke. The infant car seat and carry cot for newborn are available separately, so make sure to add those to your baby registry, as well. 

A note on car seat bases: my mother-in-law insisted on gifting us an extra base so we could keep one installed in each car at all times, and that move was brilliant. If you have room on your registry, add a car seat base for each vehicle.

Complete your baby gear essentials with a diaper bag that fits your needs. With my first child, I chose a diaper bag that was fashionable, but it didn’t fit my laptop. As a work-from-coffee-shops mom, it was really important to pivot to a laptop-friendly option for when I was on-the-go with my second child and her big sister. 

This vegan leather bag satisfies laptop needs and stores all the bits and bobs in 11 organized pockets. Plus, it’s gorgeous and comes with stroller clips. 

Luxury Stroller // Infant Car Seat Option A // Infant Car Seat Option B // Vegan Leather Diaper Bag

Baby Registry Must Haves

While this post sticks to just the baby registry essentials, you can certainly add additional items such as developmental toys, natural rubber pacifiers, nursery furniture, decorative items, and more. Let your village provide the things you need as your family makes room for another person (or people) to love. 

Pacifier Clip // Dice Press Toy 2-Pack