The Best Gender Neutral Toys for Kids 5-9 years old

I’m so excited to share an updated list of toys for boys and girls ages 5-9 years old!

I strongly believe that toys should grow with your children and not just be five minutes of play then tossed. Toy companies (and toy marketing departments) are in the business of selling toys. They want you to buy more of their toys, so buying “open ended” and non-gender specific, good quality can provide years of play with children. Instead of having closets full of toys or a toy room full of half broken toys, wouldn’t it be better to have toys that last a long time? Toys that “play for your child” your child observes and watches, instead of toys that open your child’s imagine, will quickly loose their appeal. Let’s look at some fun gift ideas to include on your wish lists.

STEM

Children who are age 5 and older are most likely in elementary school. Even preschool children are introduced to STEM toys, but elementary school children have an amazing opportunity to really start to dive into STEM because of amazing brain and fine motor development. Children are often able to recognize all the letters in the alphabet, many can write their full name and some are even able to read simple sentences!

These newly acquired skills open up the doors to cognitive skills, like logical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving which means they are able to build with legos, solve more complex puzzles and start building bigger and more amazing structures! “Play Is The Work of the Child” Maria Montessori

Snap Circuits Classic

We love this toy at our house. We got this for Christmas last year, our then 5 year old, built it with her dad. A year later she can easily follow the directions and build every project within the guide book by herself.

Magnet Building Tiles

There are many different brands of magnet building tiles. And they are not all created equal. Although they can be a significant investment into a toy set, so depending on your budget shop what fits your family budget best. The set I’ve linked are highly rated, ours were a gift and we love them.

BRIO Builder

This hidden gem builder construction set is going on our wish list. The kit has easy-to-use construction tools such as hammers, screwdrivers and wrenches, wooden and plastic parts as well as wheels, pivots and bolts – everything a young inquisitive mind needs.

Real Hand Tools

Is your child ready for their own real tools? Then these are perfect for small hands that are ready to build! Most schools are no longer teaching building in school, but with appropriate super vision at home this is the perfect way to DIY together! (Tools are not toys and should always be used with adult supervision.)

Wooden Marble Run Construction

Award Winning Hape Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run Construction – The Cyclone is another item going on our wish list this year. I have friends with this toy and their children spend so much time playing with this and building such elaborate runs for their marbles.

Kids Beginner Microscope

This beginner compound microscope is a fun way to children to explore the tiniest things around them as they start to ask questions about the natural world around them.

Pocket Microscope

A microscope on the go! Compact, Lightweight and Portable. Young explorers can use this simple hand held pocket microscope. High optical clarity make it a great field microscope for professionals and hobbyists as well. Look at plants, look at microscopic wildlife from a nearby pond or everyday objects become amazing discoveries!

LEGO Classic

By age five many children are ready for classic legos. Award winning and loved by children and adults alike enjoy building with this building toy. While there are countless kits, this basic lego box has many of the pieces that are a great set to start with. There is a book with ideas to build, but I love watching our daughter build using her own imagination. Insider tip: this kit includes a block separator!

Brain Teasers Game

Think tetris, but your kids touch and move real pieces! Our 6 year old uses this game during quiet time or between activities when we need a little downtime. I love that it is not a screen, play changes each time and it comes with a really nice carrying case.

Stomp Rocket Original Dueling Rocket Launcher

Several of the kids in our neighborhood have stomp rockets, so we don’t actually own one. But they come our nearly every time the children get together to play. It’s so much fun and the kids can play independently for almost an hour taking turns.

Games

Stomp Rocket Original Dueling Rocket Launcher

Several of the kids in our neighborhood have stomp rockets, so we do not have a set. But every time the children get together to play these come out! I love that the kids can play independently for nearly an hour! They do a great job taking turns and have so much fun.

Goodminton

Goodmiton is fun outdoor paddle game (or maybe in a garage or large open indoor space). It comes with 2 wood paddles, the real tip here is that it comes with 4 birdies, 2 slow speed and 2 fast speed. I love this step approach of learning the game with slow birdies first. It’s great for developing hand, eye coordination and an introduction to paddle sports.

Archery Set

Get away from screen time and let your kid be their ow hero! Archery helps develop fine motor skills, accuracy skills and hand eye-coordination. This kid friendly set is really cool!

Kids Walkie Talkies

We got walkie talkies before the girls were ready to use them, we just knew they were going to be a big hit! And last summer we took them out and our two girls have had so much fun playing with them together and with friends and family who come to visit.

Simon

A classic game that works on memory and family competition! We have a small travel size Simon we like to take on trips that fits into a side backpack pocket.

Classic Vintage Pinball Game

A classic game pinball style game that is great size for any table and still easy enough to pack and bring along on family trips or a game night at a friend’s house!

Labyrinth

Another classic game to get kids away from screens is this maze. Labyrinth is perfect for developing motor skills, concentration, perception, reasoning and most of all, patience!

Fluxx

A road trip must have! Played with two, or as a group game, this entertaining card game is perfect for family games for game night, camping games, beach games or road trips. It has tons of 5 star reviews, and is super easy to teach to a group of people. It’s defiantly going on our wish list this year!

I Saw It First! Egypt

It’s like “where’s waldo” or “I spy” but in a game with pieces. If your kids like i spy books, then they’ll have so much fun with this game! This game is a hidden gem and gaining in popularity. Great for after school or in between activities or when you need a little downtime.

Light Up Tracing Pad Teal

Our six year old received a Crayola light up tracing pad for her birthday this year, it continues to be such a well loved “toy.” Often seen sitting on her desk or even by her bed, she loves to create (trace) pictures from the templates we got with the pad. Super tip: There are even more templates that you can download from the Crayola website. We have animals, horses and fashion dolls.

Gem Blocks

I’ll admit this isn’t a “forever toy” it is a lot of fun activity. Our girls got this as a gift and although it says age 8 and up, younger kids are able to do it with supervision.

Kids Pod Swing Seat

Ok, so I want this for myself, it looks so cozy, great for snuggling during quiet time or enjoy gently swinging indoor or outdoor! Pro tip: order an extra cushion.

That’s the end, if you made it this far, give yourself a pat on the back! Tomorrow Amazon’s Black Friday starts, but most importantly its Thanksgiving! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving day and enjoy spending time with the people you love. Don’t let the shopping get in the way of making memories.

I’ll leave a link to my Amazon Black Friday shopping list here: https://a.co/cT5LglN

I’ll be updating it throughout the day as I see deals pop up! Thank you for your support of my blog and for sticking around to the end!

xo,

Christine

Our Family Favorite: Dutch Apple Pie

We’ve been spending a lot of time in the kitchen lately, have you? I’ve tried several new recipes, and lots of family favorites. This apple pie is a huge hit at our house. I hope you’ll enjoy it and make it a family favorite at your house!

A mix of pie and apple crips topping, this is the ultimate apple pie.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 65 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Fuji or Gala apples peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 mandarin orange- juiced
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar; separated
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed, separated
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
• 1/2 pound cold unsalted butter , diced
• 1 refrigerated pie crust

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and pre-bake pie crust according to directions.

2. Remove pie crust from oven once slightly brown.
3. Reset the oven to 350 degrees.

4. In a large bowl add the apple slices, orange juice, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

   Crisp Topping

5. To make the crisp topping, mash together the 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, salt, oats and butter.

6. Add the apples to the pie dish and add the crisp topping on top before baking for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.

Get the Printable Recipe here: Easy Dutch Apple Pie

Shelf Cooking: Family Friendly Shrimp and Sausage Paella (not spicy)

Things are a little different here these days. May of us are staying home, almost all of us find ourselves cooking at home more often. If you’re like me, after 30 days you’ve made all the “family favorites,” and are looking for new ideas. I’m sharing a new recipe I tried, and look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks!

We made this dish and it was such a huge hit! Paella is usually made with the wonderful (but expensive) spice called saffron. Have you ever tried it? Since we’re practicing shelf cooking (meaning cooking at home with what we have, instead of running to the store with a list of ingredients) I had to improvise a little. Here’s my version of this delectable dish!

 

Ingredients

1 lb kielbasa sausage, sliced into ¼inch pieces

2 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (or green bell pepper) 

1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with herbs, un-drained

3 cups chicken broth (or hot water and 3 tsp better than bullion seasoning)

2 cups uncooked long-grain rice (or Mexican rice)

1 lb peeled deveined medium shrimp, thawed if frozen, tail shells removed

1 cup frozen sweet peas

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

 

Directions

1. Fill electric kettle (or 2-quart saucepan) with water (or chicken broth in saucepan) and bring to a boil.
2. In a large paella pan or 3-inch-deep 12-inch skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring occasionally until browned. Remove sausage and add chopped onions lightly salted until softened, add bell peppers stirring occasionally until crisp-tender. Reduce heat to low add garlic and tomatoes and combine.
3. Sprinkle in rice and pour over heated broth or hot water and add 3 tsp better than bullion chicken concentrate; heat to a boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer. Simmer for about 15 minutes.
4. Add shrimp and peas. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes or until rice is tender. Sprinkle with parsley.

 

Click here for a Printer Friendly Version. 

Let me know if you make this recipe! And if you modify it, I’m always looking for new meal ideas at dinner time. Stay safe, stay healthy friends!

xo,

Christine

Spring Patio Refresh

Welcome rain storms, and lots of beautiful outdoor time. Target is having a great patio sale. And if you have a red card, this should all ship free to your house! We have this table and chair and bench from last year and we love them! They’ve held up so well.

This is also a great time of year to plant flowers for the early summer! I’ve linked some of my favorite I’ve added to our garden over the last few years. Here in North Carolina we have the perfect conditions for growing beautiful peonies.

 

 

Dinning patio table | Dinning chairs | Bench

Umbrella | Wicker Patio Love Seat | Side Table | Basket

Navy Chair Cushions | Stripped Accent Pillow | Woven Rug

Hydrangea | Peony | Peony | Shirley Temple Peony

Hanging Planter

 

Please comment below your plans for your garden this spring. Are you a container gardener? Do you have flower beds? Or maybe you have a balcony with some succulents? Tell us your favorite way to spend more time outdoors!

 

xo,

Christine

Colorful Autumn Soup 🍂

Here’s a soup the whole family will love. Tested by several of my close friends and family members, this soup has been a hit for all members of the family! Moms, Dads, even picky eaters will love this! And as a bonus, its filled with lots of hearty ingredients and may even help boost milk production for nursing moms!

I first discovered this recipe when I was pregnant with my third baby. I knew I wanted to have some soups on hand when the baby arrived. When my mom came to visit we first made this together. It was such a hit! We made a double batch and froze the ingredients in the freezer to make into a crock pot meal later! (Yes it froze well, and it was so easy to dump everything into the crockpot when I needed a quick meal.) Remember to give yourself grace when you’re in the middle of a huge life change. A home cooked meal out of the crockpot will feed your family too just the same as if you made everything from scratch. Below is my version of this fabulous soup that I hope your family will love too!

Sweet Potato Black Bean Tortilla Soup is a vegan version of classic tortilla soup that’s every bit as hearty! {GF, V}

 

SWEET POTATO BLACK BEAN TORTILLA SOUP

Quick Download of the recipe here.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 2 tbs cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1.5 lbs. sweet potato (about 2 medium), peeled, and cut into 1″ cubes
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup corn, fresh or frozen
• 5 cups water
• 4 tsp vegetable broth concentrate
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 14 ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with its juice
• Juice of 1 lime plus lime wedges for serving
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper, to taste

 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.  Add the onion, a pinch of salt and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and lightly sauté (be careful not to burn). 
2. Add in the chopped red bell pepper, can of diced tomatoes, and spices. Stir everything together and then add in the chopped sweet potatoes and cover with  water and stir in the vegetable concentrate (you could use 5 cups of veggie broth instead).
3. Bring to a boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
5. Add in the black beans and corn. Turn the heat back up to bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally. Beans should be cooked, but not mushy.
6. Check flavors and adjust with salt and pepper to taste (we skip the pepper for the little ones.)
7. Remove from heat.
8. We serve it with fresh chopped cilantro and lime wedges. You could add tortilla strips, goldfish, bread, jalapenos for spice, yogurt, sour cream or anything you have on hand for dipping to make it your own. Enjoy!

 

Please feel free to share this with a new mom, or better make it and bring it over for her! What’s your go to recipe for new moms, or a meal to take to a friend. Leave it below, I’d love to share what works well for others too!

(The original recipe has been adapted from flavor the moments blog.)

 

xo,

Christine

 

 

Cozy Autumn Home

This posts contains some affiliate links, however all content is my own and not sponsored in anyway.

 

I love when the seasons change, don’t you? The cool, crisp whisper of autumn in the evenings and all the cozy sweaters, football games, and campfires! Fall is a great time to update your home too. With a few easy changes you can create a cozy home that’s the perfect gathering space for your family!

Creating layers is the perfect way to think about having a cozy home. Think horizontal, vertical and depth. Adding a new piece of art to your wall can create a lot or just a pop of drama. I adore this print by COLLEEN KARIS! It’s the inspiration to the rest of the autumn pieces I’m sharing for updating your home for Fall!

COLLEEN KARIS Forest Wall Art

Home Sweet Home Doormat | Buffalo Check Doormat | Wheat Grass Wreath

 

 

Fall Mug | Boxwood Wreath | Buffalo Check Pillow Cases

 

 

Welcome Sign | Hello Pumpkin Mug | White Pumpkin with Gold Pumpkins

 

 

Ceramic Pumpkin Cocotte | Twinkle Lights | Wooden Coasters

The last two layers to consider are item which adds an extra layer of cozy. A fluffy throw blanket and pillow are an easy way to update a space for the season. They pull together all the colors in a space because there are so many options!

 

 

Thankful Pillow | Embroidered Pumpkins Pillow | Linen Wheat Grass Pillow

 

 

Chunky Knit Throw Blanket | Plaid Faux Mohair Throw Blanket | Hamilton Trail Check Bed Blanket

 

You don’t have to spend a fortune to update your home for cooler months. A few key pieces of layer can make it the perfect gathering space for your family!

 

You can find more home goods at our amazon store front! Please visit Shop the Blog on Amazon

And if we left out anything you’d add, please comment below. And be sure to check out our other autumn themed posts including Our Autumn Book Haul and Fall Bucket List 🍂🍁

xo,

Christine

 

 

Our Autumn Book Haul

We love reading stories at our house. Reading aloud to children is so important.

“Reading builds brains, fostering early learning and creating connections in the brain that promote language, cognitive, and social and emotional development.

By reading with your child, you also help cultivate a lasting love of reading. Reading for pleasure can help prevent conditions such as stress, depression and dementia.” (University of Liverpool)

Our library is a great place to pick up all our favorite autumn themed books! Check out what is in our current reading basket:

 

Goodbye Summer Hello Autumn | Ten Apples Up On Top! | The Apple Pie Tree

Apples and Pumpkins | Blueberries for Sal | Apple Countdown

Leaves |The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit | Curious George Apple Harvest

 

These are some of our very favorite stories to read when the weather starts to cool down. What are your favorites? Do you have a story you love to read every autumn?

#ootd

Lately it feels like school pick up for carpool is the only place I need to “dress up” for, am I right? Although there is ballet class and violin lessons too, so I guess it’s not always a pair of slippers, sometimes I need my coat too. One of my outfits on repeat seems to be a light colored top, blue jeans, boots and my coat. What can I say, it’s easy!

Anyone else feel like just the basics will do, although a new pair of boots is aways fun!
Top (sold out)| Pants | Boots (similar pair, the other sold out)

Here’s a really cute short sleeve option on Jen Reed (Image owned by Jen).

I’ve had these boots for four years and they are in such great condition still!

Boots | Jacket (similar, mine is sold out)

What do you think? Are you ready for the snow, or spring time weather?

My current outfit is on major repeat!! Raise your hand if you love a good workout outfit! These shorts are my very favorite pair! They’re great for everything from downward dog pose in yoga to running after cute kiddos! The waistband is wide and sit at a very comfortable mid-rise position. They also have full pockets! How awesome is that? The top is one of my new favs as well! It’s long enough to tuck and can easily be worn with shorts or leggings! Linking my favorite sneakers too! For reference, I’m wearing a medium in the top and bottoms. Hurry only a few sizes left and marked way down!!

Shorts | Top | Shoes

Today’s top was a nursing friendly find from my favorite online store! I love how cool it is in the summer with its waffle weave, and button front! It’s a little hard to tell, but I tied the bottom into the cutest knot! These shorts are also a favorite. High rise and you’ll definitely want to size up one since they run a bit small. My slides are super comfy, and super affordable! I love how they give just a little sparkle to my outfit! My ring sling is sold out, but I’ve linked other options for you as well!

Top | Shorts | Slides | Ring Sling

Special VIP SALE

I’m probably not suppose to share it, but here’s the secret code for 20% off your order and FREE USPS priority shipping!

Code: luvvipeeps

Hurry!

My favorites:

 

Booby (solid)

 

Covey (Chambray) 

 

Northern Mockingbird (Chambray)

 

Honeybird  (Chambray)

 

Kolea (Modal)

 

Lava Gull (Modal)

 

Roseate (Modal)

 

If you have any questions about the fabrics, feel free to send me a message! Happy Shopping!

 

xo,

Christine

Dresses for Spring!

The weather has finally warmed up here, and we’re heading to the beach soon to celebrate the end of busy season! So that means its time to start looking for dresses! Many of these would be great for weddings, bridal showers, Easter, Mother’s Day or just to take on vacation!

I’ve tried to select reasonably priced dresses, all of the dresses are under $100, most are under $50! I love all of these dresses and rompers, they remind me of winter melting away with their bold colors and fresh floral patterns.

 

 

 

Floral Dress | Nude Pumps | Bamboo Bag | Statement Earrings

 

 

 

Side Plunge Halter Dress | Pump Sandals | Statement Earrings |Neutral Clutch

 

 

 

Romper | Sandal | Earrings | Clutch | Earrings

 

 

 

Striped Maxi |Neutral Clutch | Earrings| Slip on Sandals | Earrings

 

 

 

Romper | Caramel Sandals | Hat | Bag | Earrings

More fun spring dresses…

 

Floral | Stripes |Purple

 

White Floral | Blue Stripes | Green

White mules and sandals are perfect for this time of year, here are a few fun styles.

Greece Sandal|Bay Cutout Slide Sandal | Mule | Clara Mule

 

I love these neutral handbags to pair with the bold stripes and lots of pops of color of the dresses and rompers this spring. I’d recommend a liner with the bamboo clutch.

 

Leather Clutch | Small Round Bag | Larger Round Bag | Bamboo Clutch

There are so many affordable statement earrings to choose from, its so hard to pick only one! Which is your favorite?

 

I hope you’ll enjoy being outdoors this spring! If you try any of these outfits, be sure to tag us and use the hashtag #delightfulsouthernmoments

 

xo,

Christine