Gifts For Baby & Toddler

Well hey there! I am hoping to finish up my shopping this week/weekend so I thought I'd get these up for all of you beating shipping delays.

Thoughtful gifts for baby and toddler on one post. Scroll through and let me know what you are shopping for! Next up I will post, kids and tweens! And I am also planning on a small business gift guide featuring Black, Brown and Woman owned businesses by the end of the week.

I found myself getting overwhelmed with shipping times, and some trouble shipping to our address which has been paralyzing me a bit. When this happens I create a list of gifts for each of the girls, using what they have talked about throughout the year, what they have asked Santa for and what they need/actually use. I even write out stocking stuffers since I tend to over buy, and it really really helps me.

Baby

These dolls are just so cute, I am sending to my niece and nephew.

These stacking cups are a great toy that they will play with for many years, in the bath, in a water table or even as a teether.

Wooden rings, they will use now and later!

These chewbeads, silicone teethers.

These Sarah Silk scarves are just magical and can be used for years of pretend, peekaboo and even just a sensory tool.

Musical instrument Set is still a hit in my house I'd grab a soft basket set like this to present different toys out for babies to choose from.

This soft farm set.

The sleekest ball pit!

This play gym is what I wish I would have gotten for the girls, so cute and sleek.

We had one of these fun Wooden Activity Cube and they played with for years.

Push toy, wooden and just so cute, I love this rattan one too.

Indestructible books are so fun for babies, and easy to carry around.

I love these essentials that babies will need as gifts, sleep sacks,

cute leather moccasins,

Bubbles machine.

This adorable rattle or we have this beaded one and it was a favorite for both girsl, it can be a great stocking stuffer or small practical gift for baby.

These suction cups are also great, for the floor or high chair and even for the fridge when mama needs baby to stay busy. Later they are great for the bath or water table.

Stacking toys but made out of silicone can be a great gift.

This Rody toy has brought endless play time, and some sensory movement for both girls.

For toddler gifts, I like to think of the way my girls play. Lot's of make pretend, lots of building and anything small and cute or baby doll related is huge. So think about the way your kiddo plays and start there. For us it is also important for toys to grow with them, and for them to expand imaginations and play independently so I am going with that theme in this gift guide, plus a few things I know the girls have and LOVE.

Toddler

For big gifts, I love a play kitchen (This Hape one is so cute, we have this one and I love this way expensive one but it's so pretty and my girls do play with theirs EVERY DAY), with kitchen toys like this blender, or mixer, and I am getting Ami this little toast set.

a wooden tea set, and plate set.

I love wooden blocks, (I am adding these to the set Birdie has!) wooden nesting rainbow, and these these wooden dolls that can extend play with the blocks.

I also think these could be so fun for a toddler and beyond.

A table with chairs (I love this mid century one, this modern one and I think we'll get this grow with me set in our next house.)

These little mop and broom set is something the girls play with every day! And of course a little vacuum or cleaning set.

These little veggie set is really cute, soft and the girls love playing with them. They also have this cutting set, it all can be used to teach fractions, play kitchen or sorting (Which Ami is very into right now.

Wooden triangle ladder is a fun toy, especially during the winter months, we were thinking of getting something similar.

This little play sink is endless amount of fun, I may get one for the girls to share.

The girls asked for magic wands so I am giving them these in their stocking!

A balance bike or scooter is also a great idea for kiddos, and perfect way to get the wiggles out!

We have a balance board the girls love using it.

This slide is sleek and so cute for an indoor playroom!

Birdie wants a skateboard, or roller skates!

We are thinking about getting the girls a bigger doll house that they can both use at the same time.

I have stocking stuffers here. Her here. Him and more kiddo ones coming up next!

Have a great one!

xoxo

Natalie

Stocking Stuffers & Small Gifts for Children

Well hey thereI always wait until wayyy last minute for stocking stuffers but since everything is delayed this year, I want to be completely done all of my shopping and decorating by Thanksgiving! This way it's more stuff they will love and use and less crap. I am linking all Amazon items, I like to choose that they get all shipped at once and plan on storing all of my stocking stuffers together so I am not scrambling.

Book Mark Timer (getting Zoe this for timing her independent daily reading)

Paint Sticks (we love these!)

Mini Eraser Craft Set (so cute and fun craft for kiddos)

Mini flashlights (the girls love theirs)

Felt To go Kit ( Ami loves this little set, I keep in my bag for when she needs to keep busy)

Washi Tape (awesome for crafting, the girls LOVE tape)

Wooden people ( I am getting for the girls, awesome for open ended play!)

Rainbow blocks (the girls have one of these in storage but with animals that balance, thinking these would be a great open ended play.

Tegu block set, magnetic blocks, (high quality and something we want to add to our collection. This is a greta take along set!)

Sarah's Silk Scarves are so versatile and can be used for any kind of play!

PJ's are always a great stocking stuffer or small gift.

Letter Mug -

Bath Colour Tablets - we love these for bath time!

Bath Crayons - another way to get the wiggles out and entertain kiddos during these long winter months during a pandemic.

Cocoa Stir Sticks - these are so cute and fun surprise. I keep a bunch in our tea pantry for special treats.

Water color paint set - one of our favorite activities, minimal mess and loads of fun.

Playdoh stamps - awesome for practicing letters, spelling and play in general.

Electric tooth brush - we replace the girls a replacement tooth brush every six months, and I have been considering a better electric toothbrush.

Mints - these are my substitution to the Altoids the girls somehow love.

Dots - these sets are so fun. We gave the girls these and Ami needed some help but she had a lot of fun.

Card game set - we love game night and these will be great for everyone.

Lego Set - we always get the girls a couple lego sets and these small ones are so fun!

Joke book, so many we have and love and also I SPY books are a big hit in our house and Paint by stickers, also something Zoe loves doing.

I plan on my next posts being baby, toddler & kids, him & her. Nice and simple and mostly gifts I am actually giving. I am also providing a gifting service to my clients, where they can reach out and have me shop, wrap and ship a gift for them this month.

xoxo

Natalie

Greek Yogurt Kid Approved Banana Bread

Well, hello there my friends. Sitting here on this Tuesday, feeling like I cannot sit still but also cannot do much. My mind has been scattered and my heart racing. So I am listening to what I think I need, meditating and watching my two girls play. And I felt the need to share this recipe I made last week ( and have made SOOOO many times before).

I love to make something special on Fridays, and always make extra for the weekend. Introducing, kid approved and adult loving, healthy-ish greek yogurt banana bread that will have even the pickiest mouths happy. With this bread, I suggest you double it and drop a loaf off at a neighbor or freeze for a special no hassle treat or if your home is anything like mine just keep one in the fridge since an entire loaf ill easily be polished off in a couple days.

As for changes, you can easily swap out the banana and make with pumpkin puree or even apple sauce! But a way to make it super special is to add a 1/2 cup of rainbow sprinkles to the banana bread to make it a sort of "funfetti" banana bread, I am going to do that for the girls this week and will try and show it on IG. :)

GREEK YOGURT BANANA BREAD RECIPE

2 cups whole wheat flour (all purpose flour also works here!)

1/2 cup brown sugar (agave or maple syrup also works here)

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs ( I have swapped 1/2 cup of applesauce for the eggs!)

1/2 cup plain, full fat greek yogurt (sour cream or buttermilk have world when I have on hand!)

1/2 cup of butter, softened

2-3 ripe bananas, mashed and fit in a cup

2 tsp vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon cloves

RECIPE

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Lightly grease ( we use a coconut spray an 9″ bread pan and set aside.

2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the butter until it is smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl. Add brown sugar and yogurt. This means beat it for about 2 minutes until it is fluffy, making sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.

3. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well until incorporated, scraping the sides.

4. In a small bowl, use a fork or potato masher to mash about 2 and 1/2 very ripe bananas. It should come out to about 1 cup.*  A little more or a little less banana, and you are still going to get banana bread. (More banana=more dense. Less banana does NOT make your banana bread not-moist.) Add to the mixer.

5. Add flour to the bowl, but do not stir yet. (You can mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl but I am too lazy.)

6. In a small spoon or in the measuring cup you used for the flour, stir in baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt into the flour. You don't want any clumps of salt or soda in your bread.

7. You can add cinnamon and teaspoon each cloves and nutmeg. This bread is still really good without the spices, they are optional.

8. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until incorporated, scraping the sides and bottom.

9. Fold in the bananas.

10. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.

11. Bake at 350 for 55-65 minutes. Every oven is different and you are probably going to have to check it a few times ( this is huge!!). (for muffins I baked at 350, for 23-25 minutes)

12. Let the bread or muffins cool completely (okay, well at least for 20 minutes or so) on a cooling rack before slicing into it. If you don't devour a warm slice immediately with copious amounts of butter, it's a crime against bananas everywhere.

There is nothing sadder than undercooked banana bread, so make sure with a toothpick inserted very deeply into the center of your bread (stick it right into the crack that has formed) should come out with no wet batter on it. Very moist crumbs are ok, as the bread will continue cooking just a bit once pulled out of the oven. The bread should look nice and brown on top and should be pulling away from the sides of the pan.

* I love saving ripe bananas for future use like in this bread or smoothies!

Here’s what I do: peel them, freeze in a ziplock and mark with the amount of bananas and date. Just remember that when you use frozen bananas for banana bread (or any baked dessert), you will have to microwave it long enough to be able to mash it. When you microwave it, a bunch of liquid will melt off of the banana. Don’t throw it away! Add it to your banana bread. It will make your bread extra moist!

** new edit! I have made this recipe swapping out the bananas with 1 cup of blueberries, diced apples and applesauce (all have come out really amazing!)

One of the best parts of this blog is that I continuously am reminded that these family recipes that I can make from memory are the ones I need to write down and share!!! So I hope that this sweet little recipe that I have been making for so long is one you use for years to come.

Sending love during an anxious ridden, but hopeful time and reminding you all that coming back to your breath is always a way to get grounded.

xoxox

Natalie