• Photo Booth – every good party needs a photo booth! Check out this tutorial on how to make a quick, sparkly backdrop and start snapping memories you’ll treasure for years to come.
• DIY Confetti Poppers – Have fun making these together and launch confetti high up into the air with a satisfying “POP!”
• Dance Party – Find a clean kids dance party playlist on YouTube or Spotify, and get everyone moving! Play freeze dance for a fun challenge.
• Balloon Pop Countdown – Balloons are a fun way to make any event feel a little bit more festive and they are cool to pop too!
• Stream a Countdown – Sure, you can stay up to watch the ball drop…. or you can stream a past year’s celebration, or a kid-friendly live stream such as on Netflix.
• Pajama Movie Night – Have everyone get into their coziest PJs, pop some popcorn, and put on a family movie (or two!).
• Board Games – Games are always a good way to spend intentional family time. My girls received the game Cootie for Christmas – one I had owned as a kid and had completely forgotten about! It’s a very simple spinner game-of-luck but perfect for their ages. Raid your game cabinet and have fun challenging each other!
• Family Time Capsule – Create a meaningful time capsule including photos, letters, drawings, notes, and anything else that commemorates this year of your family’s life, close it up, label it, and open it in a year, or ten or twenty!
• DIY Paper Sparklers – Create safe and sparkly paper New Year’s Eve sparklers that kids can wave around without any risk. It’s a fun and simple craft that brings the sparkle of New Year’s Eve indoors.

Which activities will you implement this year that just might become a new family tradition?

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• Dried oranges – These are classic, easy and inexpensive to make, smell amazing, and are super versatile. You can string them up as a garland, use them as ornaments, add them to gifts, or simply sprinkle them around.
• Cranberry garland – This is another very inexpensive way to create festive garlands that can be hung on the tree, the mantle, or anywhere else. I found that they can be difficult to push a sewing needle through, but using a larger needle or a thimble is helpful!
• Popcorn garland – Similar to cranberry garlands, a popcorn garland is extremely inexpensive and is much easier for pushing needles through. Popcorn garlands create a homey, old-fashioned Christmas vibe – plus you can snack as you string them!
• Paper chains – I can’t be the only one who made a paper chain countdown every year as a kid – ripping off one chain each day in anticipation for Christmas morning. Paper chains are another simple way to create a festive atmosphere with little expense and effort. This year I ordered double-sided scrapbook paper, but you can use leftover wrapping paper or even ribbons! All you need otherwise is a pair of scissors or paper cutter and a stapler or hot glue gun.
• Paper bag snowflakes – I made these a few years ago and just loved how they turned out! They can be hung from the ceiling or in front of windows and left up all winter.
• Cinnamon applesauce ornaments – I remember making these as a kid and still love how they smell. These are a fun use for holiday cookie cutters and last well so you don’t have to make them every year. They are cute on gifts, as well!
• Salt dough ornaments – These are similar to the cinnamon applesauce ornaments but allow for more creativity. Last year we made a cute Christmas tree shape and each of our family members made a fingerprint which I then painted as lights on the tree. The sky really is the limit with these, you can make any shape you like and paint them after they dry. I sealed ours with clear modge podge after the paint dried, too.
• Fresh greenery – This is one I’ve never done, but if you have access to any evergreen plants, you can forage your own natural decor! Fresh greenery adds an authentic, earthy festivity to your home.
• Velvet ribbons – This is one of the simplest ways to turn anything into Christmas decor. Take a roll of velvet – or any type of ribbon you like! – and simply tie lengths of it onto candlestick holders, lamps, cabinet knobs, etc. This year I purchased a package of red velvet bows on twist ties which made it even easier, but I also have lengths of ribbon which I tie onto our dining room farmhouse chandelier, candles, and our tree.
• Orange pomander or clove orange – This one is just what it sounds like – an orange with cloves stuck all in it. You can make designs, or just stick them in all over, and place them in a bowl or just leave them out. They smell great and evoke a sense of old-fashioned Christmas.

What Christmas DIY decor have you tried, or plan to try?

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• Rigatoni with Sausage & Fennel – This comfort meal is full of fall flavors!
• Pumpkin Bread with Salted Brown Butter Glaze – Earthy, spiced pumpkin bread paired with a rich and nutty salted brown butter glaze is the perfect fall dessert.
• Vegan Curried Pumpkin Lentil Soup – This easy pumpkin lentil curry soup is packed with nourishing ingredients and plenty of protein for a wonderful lunch or dinner.
• Gooey Pecan Pie Brownies – The perfect holiday brownie to bake, eat, share, gift, and love this holiday season.
• Stuffed Butternut Squash – This vegetarian main is as delicious as it is beautiful.
• Crock-Pot Chicken and Dumplings – This recipe brings hearty, home-cooked flavor to your table with minimal effort, perfect for busy weeknights.
• Sausage, Corn, and Poblano Chowder – Soup season just got *that much* better.
• The Best Caramel Apples – Sprinkle with nuts, crushed cookies, or whatever you desire while the caramel is still warm, but work quickly as the caramel sets very fast.
• Healthy Apple Muffins – Amazing, healthy apple muffins made with maple syrup and whole wheat flour! No one will guess that this simple cinnamon apple muffin recipe is healthy, too.
• Rhubarb and Apple Crumble – Use up a glut of rhubarb and apples for this simple crumble. Ground ginger adds a nice spice to the topping, but leave it out if you’d prefer.

Will you be trying any of these cozy fall recipes this season?

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• Paper Plate Apple Lacing Craft – This apple craft gives your kids a fantastic opportunity to be creative and develop their fine motor skills too! Kids will adore playing with the cute worm and weaving it in and out of the holes.
• Toddler Apple Craft – This is a cute apple craft that is simple enough to do with your toddler.
• Bubble Wrap Painting Apples Craft – These cute bubble wrap painted apples only need a few supplies and are so much fun to make with the kids!
• Apple Stamping Craft for Kids – Kids love apple stamping! Seriously, anytime children get their hands messy and play with their food, you have a winning combination.
• Caramel Apple Craft – Use puffy paint and sprinkles to create a cute caramel apple craft.
• Sticky Apple Tree Craft – This open-ended, interactive activity is great for toddlers and preschoolers!
• Stained Glass Apple Craft – These decorations are very quick to create and they are mess-free since no glue is involved in the project. 
• Egg Carton Apple Craft – Looking for a fun fall project? This egg carton apple craft is the perfect way to get kids excited about creating with simple, recycled materials.

This is also a great opportunity to try other apple themed activities as well, such as making apple pie or apple sauce together, or going apple picking!

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• Cottage Cheese Scrambled Eggs – These cottage cheese eggs are a great way to switch up your morning breakfast! They’re super easy to make and result in fluffy, creamy eggs that are high in protein.
• Breakfast Quesadilla – This High-Protein Breakfast Quesadilla, with fluffy scrambled eggs, lean breakfast sausage, and cheese, has over 30 grams of protein per serving!
• Savory Breakfast Bowl – This savory breakfast bowl is loaded with eggs, turkey sausage, leafy greens, roasted sweet potatoes and avocado for a protein-packed breakfast. It’s the perfect way to start the day!
• Easy Protein Pancakes – Up your protein with these pancakes made with eggs, oats, milk and protein powder.
• Raspberry Peach Mango Smoothie Bowl – This healthy smoothie recipe is a gateway to the smoothie-bowl craze. Use whatever fruits, nuts and seeds you like best to make it your own. 
• Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats – These High-Protein Lemon Blueberry Overnight Oats are such an easy and delicious breakfast recipe idea to make. They’re gluten-free, vegan and nut-free and such a great meal prep idea for breakfast.
• Cottage Cheese Bowls – Easy cottage cheese bowls 2 ways – one sweet and one savory. They make a delicious, protein-packed, gluten-free, and healthy breakfast, lunch, or snack. Easily customizable by changing out toppings!
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Vegan Protein Shake – This Vegan + High-Protein shake recipe requires just 5 ingredients & 5 minutes to make! Creamy peanut butter & chocolate YUM. 16 grams of plant-based protein!
• Raspberry Yogurt Cereal Bowl – For breakfast, snack or a healthy dessert, try using yogurt instead of milk for your cereal. If making this as a to-go snack, keep the cereal separate and top just before eating.
• Spinach Avocado Smoothie – This healthy green smoothie gets super creamy from the frozen banana and avocado. Make ahead (up to 1 day) and store it in the fridge until you need a veggie boost.

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• Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake – The perfect springtime coffee cake recipe for any Easter get together.
• Baked Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast – Just the name of this makes my mouth water! This would be perfect for brunch.
• Iced Lemon Loaf – Sweet and swirled Iced Lemon Loaf. Better than any coffee shop, this bread melts in your mouth. 
• Classic Deviled Eggs – You can never go wrong with a platter of these classic deviled eggs. Plus, you can always make them ahead of time!
• The Best Hummus Recipe – A hummus crudité platter always hits the spot! But don’t get the packaged version because my homemade version is so easy and delicious.
• Lemon Thumbprint Cookies – You could make these look like fried eggs for Easter simply by dusting icing sugar around the edges.
• Hot Cross Buns – Achieve the perfect hot cross buns with master baker, Paul Hollywood’s ultimate guide to baking and decorating these delicately spiced, fruity Easter treats.
• One-pan herby roast lamb with lemon, potatoes & feta – Enjoy a roast lamb dinner with a twist. There’s no need to labour over gravy – instead, the lemon and garlic pair well with a quick yogurt and harissa sauce.
• Easter Ham – This Easter ham recipe is a spiral cut ham coated in a homemade sweet and savory glaze, then baked to perfection. An easy dish that produces perfect results each and every time!

Do you have any traditional or tried and true go-to recipes for Easter? Share them with us!

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1. Coffee Filter Butterflies – These Dollar Store Craft Coffee Filter Butterflies are so easy to make and they also make for fun party decorations too!
2. Cardboard Tube Flying Bee Craft – This is such a fun insect craft for kids. You hold a flower in each hand and watch the bee fly along the string from flower to flower. 
3. Garden Suncatcher Wind Chime – Use flower blooms to make a DIY Garden Suncatcher Wind Chime. An easy summer kids craft on contact paper framed in Mason jar lid rings!
4. Cress Heads – Growing cress heads is an easy way to plant seeds with kids and enjoy seeing the plants grow quickly. And they look really cute as well!
5. Beaded Pipe Cleaner Dragonflies – A fun and colorful craft for kids made out of fuzzy pipe cleaners, pony beads, and small googly eyes!
6. Fork Stamped Tulips Craft – This Fork Stamped Tulips Craft is a fun and unique Spring craft perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!
7. Nest and Baby Bird Craft – Children of all ages will enjoy one of our favorite spring crafts for kids- a sweet little nest and baby bird craft! 
8. Popsicle Stick Mushroom Fairy House – This easy kids craft is perfect for pretend play, spring decor or even to be placed in your very own fairy garden!
9. Paper Bag Kites – The kids will have so much fun decorating and making their very own paper bag kites – just in time for spring!
10. Paper Plate and Paint Splat Snails – Simply follow the full step-by-step snail art project tutorial!

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• Brown Sugar Pecan Scones – These Brown Sugar Pecan Scones are fluffy, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious! The cinnamon brown sugar icing adds the finishing touch to these addictive scones. 
• Cinnamon Scones – This is a fabulous sweet cinnamon scone that bakes to a golden brown, has a soft interior and has a delectable sugar glaze drizzle that should not be overlooked.
• Almond Cream Scones – This recipe is perfect to use for a snack, breakfast, brunch or neighbor treat.
• Blueberry Scones – These better-than-the-bakery blueberry scones are bursting with juicy blueberries. They’re buttery and moist with crisp, crumbly edges and soft, flaky centers. Crunchy coarse sugar and creamy vanilla icing are the perfect finishing touches!
• Pumpkin Scones – This pumpkin scone recipe is quick and easy to make, drizzled with a light vanilla glaze, and full of the best cozy pumpkin flavors.
• Lemon Poppy Seed Scones – Easy Lemon Poppy Seed Scones are soft, moist scones filled with poppy seeds and freshly grated lemon zest, drizzled with a delicious lemon glaze. This classic scone recipe with bright lemon flavors pairs perfectly with your morning coffee, afternoon tea, and is a wonderful addition to a brunch menu or Sunday breakfast.
• Gingerbread Scones with Maple Glaze – Put yourself in the holiday spirit first thing in the morning with these tender gingerbread scones. They are spiced with ginger and sweetened with molasses. The maple glaze on top makes each bite extra delicious.
• Chocolate Chip Scones – These chocolate chip scones are truly the perfect brunch addition! Made with an easy homemade dough and piled with delicious chocolate chips, these scones are golden brown on the outside and tender flaky on the inside.
• Maple Walnut Cranberry Scones – Golden brown and loaded with cozy fall flavors, these maple walnut cranberry scones will steal the show at your next holiday breakfast or brunch! Flavored with warm spices, brown sugar, and maple extract, these festive scones are ready fast. 
• Savory Ham and Cheese Scones – These ham & cheese scones are flaky and soft with crisp-crumbly edges. But instead of sugary extras, we’re loading them with savory and satisfying flavors including cheddar cheese, ham, garlic powder, black pepper, and fresh chives.

Which scones will you be trying this winter?

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These toys aren’t just playthings; they’re crafted to be cherished for years, encouraging open-ended play and a bit of storytelling magic. Here’s why we’re smitten with this duo:

Nellie Oleson Doll: A Character with Charm and Personality
Inspired by the spirited Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie, this 18-inch doll brings her character to life in the most delightful way. With her golden locks, piercing blue eyes, and a signature pink floral dress trimmed in ruffles and lace, Nellie is every bit the period piece while still ready for modern-day adventures. The detail on this doll is impressive: from her soft, poseable body to her carefully crafted outfit, she embodies that classic charm many parents will remember from the original Little House stories.

One of the cutest touches? She comes with her own little bear friend, dressed to match in pink florals. It’s these small, thoughtful details that make this doll so special, transforming playtime into a whole experience rather than just a quick activity.

The Antique Wood School Desk: Old-Fashioned Fun Meets Modern Craftsmanship
This school desk is truly something to admire. Crafted from real wood with an antique finish, it’s designed to resemble the kind of desk you’d find in a one-room schoolhouse from Laura Ingalls Wilder’s era. Perfectly sized for two 18-inch dolls, this desk encourages imaginative play and historical storytelling that any Little House fan will appreciate.

Complete with mini inkwells and little dip pens, it’s as much a history lesson as it is a playset. The desk is sturdy and fully assembled, with a slanted writing surface that even adds an authentic touch to the whole setup. Kids can use it to “teach” their dolls or act out classic schoolhouse scenes, sparking conversations about what life used to be like before tablets and smartboards. Plus, it fits perfectly with other 18-inch dolls, so if your child has a collection, they’ll love incorporating this desk into their play.

Why We Think These Pieces are Worth It
There’s something so valuable about toys that encourage kids to slow down, use their imagination, and connect with timeless stories. These pieces don’t just sit in the background—they invite kids to participate, to create stories, and to explore a piece of history through hands-on play. And as a bonus, they’re made with high-quality materials designed to last.

Parents who value toys with a touch of nostalgia and educational value will love these. They’re sturdy, well-made, and visually charming—ideal for any family that wants to inspire imaginative play without relying on screens. These pieces also make great gifts that stand out from the crowd of flashy, fast toys; they’re items that kids will come back to again and again.

Adding the Little House Collection to Your Playroom
For families who already adore Little House on the Prairie, or for those just starting to introduce their children to these beloved stories, The Queen’s Treasures Nellie Oleson Doll and Antique School Desk are a perfect choice. They offer a balance of nostalgia and newness, inviting kids into a world of creativity while also giving parents a touch of that old-fashioned charm.

So if you’re looking for toys that don’t just entertain but actually enrich playtime, these are pieces you’ll want to add to your collection. Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just a special treat, these toys promise hours of fun and storytelling—and maybe even a few happy memories for mom and dad, too.

The post Step Back in Time with The Queen’s Treasures Nellie Oleson Doll and Antique School Desk for 18-Inch Dolls appeared first on Mamanista!.

• Paper Chain Countdown – I remember making these every year as a kid, and creating a different holiday icon for the topper each time. Ripping off another chain each morning and watching the days shrink away was such a fun way to anticipate Christmas Day!
• Classic Christmas Cookies – You can’t have Christmas without cookies. This soft, chewy, simple sugar cookie recipe is perfect for decorating and enjoying with family and friends.
• Handmade Stamped Wrapping Paper – You can use rubber stamps, carve your own, OR use Christmas cookie cutters dipped in paint to create unique, customized wrapping paper.
• Easy Chocolate Fudge – Whether you like it with or without nuts, fudge is a Christmas staple. My grandma always makes different kinds of Christmas candy and would mail us a box full of tins of cookies, fudge, and more each year, so fudge always brings back memories of that for me.
• Dried Orange Garland – These just scream vintage, old fashioned Christmas for me. They’re cheap, fun to make, and smell great!
• Popcorn and Cranberry Garland – Add some charm to your Christmas tree this year with this DIY garland.
• Homemade Hot Cocoa – A combination of cocoa powder and chocolate chips make this hot chocolate extra flavorful and delicious!
• Paper Sack Snowflakes – I made some of these several years ago and then at the end of the season I simply folded them back up and was able to reuse them. I love the look that these add to my decor!
• Cinnamon Ornaments – If you’ve never made cinnamon ornaments, they’re super easy, smell amazing, and last pretty much for forever.
• Handprint Reindeer Crafts – These Christmas handprint crafts are perfect for popping on a Christmas card, making gift tags with, or simply making a lovely piece of keepsake art.

What are some traditional Christmas activities or decor you like to use? Share with us how you’ll be incorporating some of these tips for a nostalgic Christmas for your family this year.

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