Even though fall is not right now in New Zealand, we do celebrate Thanksgiving from across the ocean (and we are even hosting this year)! And even though there isn't really much 'cozy factor' about the beginning of summer in New Zealand, there is something about seeing November on the calendar …
embroidered map Christmas ornaments
Ok, so these might be my favorite Christmas ornaments that I've made (maybe ever? That's a bold statement, but I REALLY love these New Zealand map ornaments). Maps. Plus Christmas ornaments. Plus embroidery. Plus a nod to our new home in New Zealand. It's pretty much a compilation of a bunch …
DIY kindness Christmas advent calendar (free printables)
I've shouted from the mountaintops about my love for advent calendars for YEARS. And then I moved to New Zealand and *needed* a new one! So we tried something new last year- a Kindness Advent (an act of kindness for each day of December). This advent calendar looked great, and was so much fun …
cookie exchange idea- orange drop cookies
(Orange drop cookies are the perfect not-chocolate-chip holiday treat and my go-to recipe for holiday cookie exchanges!) So Cookie Exchange Parties are not really a thing in New Zealand, but I'm thinking about hosting one this year. When we lived in Colorado, we went to my mother-in-laws …
guy gift idea- frozen cookie dough
I am going to let y'all in on a little secret- I give Adam homemade frozen cookie dough for *almost* every holiday (birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Father's Day- cookie dough for all!). Since it is the biggest hit ever with Adam, I tucked a 'tube' of frozen cookie dough into a birthday …
50+ tried-and-true ideas for the BEST favorite things gift basket
A couple weeks ago, it was a friend's birthday here in NZ. And I had SO much fun putting together a "Favorite Things" gift basket for her. (It's funny- I always make the mistake of assuming our kiwi friends have heard of/know about all our favorite things. But turns out, many of these items …
DIY moana Halloween costumes
When we moved to New Zealand, I thought our group Halloween costume days were over (we've done Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter group costumes for the last three years). But, happily, I was wrong! Instead of repeat Harry Potter costumes last year (which was my prediction), the kids …
easy halloween party food ideas
If you're putting together a Halloween party (or any sort of fall fete) and need a pile of EASY party food ideas, this is your post! Most of these were made by my kids (so EASY). I did include basic instructions for most of them, but almost all of them don't even need those. And they're …
fall snack mix- pumpkin munch recipe
This fall themed make-your-own snack mix was such a hit at our Halloween Party that I thought I'd put the recipe on here (ok, recipe seems a bit much... how to? DIY? Idea? Not sure what to call it?). We call this fall snack mix "Pumpkin Munch," but I know other people who call it "Scarecrow …
pastel halloween party
Even though Halloween and trick-or-treating aren't really a big thing in New Zealand, last year, we decided not to let that stop us from our usual fabulous, group costume-y, October 31st festivities. Enter the most fabulous pastel Halloween party ever! Since we don't really do scary or gory …