Ultimate Holiday Family Movie Night

by #MomLifeNovember 24, 2020

Amanda Simkin

A former teacher turned writer, Amanda's passion is sharing relevant & helpful info for Chicagoland parents like herself so they can stress less and enjoy life more.

Between stay-at-home orders and chilly weather, there is no better time to get the family together to cuddle up on the couch with some popcorn to enjoy a movie. Read on for how to put a festive spin on an ordinary family activity and upgrade it to the Ultimate Holiday Family Movie Night at Home. With just a few essentials, you can create the perfect, cozy Christmas-themed night at home that will undoubtedly become a favorite holiday tradition.

Matching Family Pajamas
Twinning and Winning this Holiday Season

Every year Target’s Wondershop offers a wide range of holiday pajamas for EVERYONE (including fur babies) in your family. Thanks to these Holiday Buffalo Check Fleece Matching Family Pajamas your can be twinning and winning this holiday season.

Soft Blankets
It’s Snuggle Season

Move over, sweater weather—it’s SNUGGLE season. The key to a great family cuddle session is a cuddly blanket that is big enough for everyone in your family to enjoy. This Ulsta Fair Isle Throw is a favorite because of its stylish and soft sweater pattern.

Movie Inspired Slippers
Wear Your Heart on Your Feet

Love to giggle along with Buddy? Secretly cheer on the Grinch’s crazy antics? Prefer classic characters like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer instead? No matter your preference, wear your heart on your feet through these cute and cozy holiday movie-inspired slippers. My personal favorite? Elf, of course!

Christmas Platter
Because Calories Don’t Count at Christmas

Charcuterie boards are ALL THE RAGE right now so why not make a Christmas-themed candy charcuterie platter? This festive Holiday Parade Melamine Platter is a great serving board as it is sturdy enough to withstand candy-fueled kiddos and is large enough to hold a variety of holiday treats.

Popcorn Maker
Popped with Love
Fact: You can’t watch a movie without popcorn. Popping your own popcorn with a Table Top Popcorn Maker is a fun family activity by itself and don’t forget to add some toppings from your candy charcuterie platter!

Christmas Mugs
Enjoy a Cup of Comfort

Holiday-themed mugs are the prefect vessels for your popcorn and other holiday treats because of their handles and small sizes so you don’t totally overindulge before bedtime. You can’t go wrong with any holiday-themed character mug like a Santa, Gingerbread, or Christmas Tree!

1

Holiday Buffalo Check Flannel Matching Pajamas Set

Twinning and Winning this Holiday Season

$15

BUY NOW

2

Ulsta Fair Isle Throw

It’s Snuggle Season

$99.95

BUY NOW

3

Elf Holiday Pull-On Slipper Socks

Wear Your Heart on Your Feet

$12

BUY NOW

4

Holiday Parade Melamine Platter

Because Calories Don’t Count at Christmas

$14.95

BUY NOW

5

Nostalgia 2.5-Ounce Tabletop Kettle Popcorn Maker

Popped with Love

$51.99

Fact: You can’t watch a movie without popcorn. Popping your own popcorn with a Table Top Popcorn Maker is a fun family activity by itself and don’t forget to add some toppings from your candy charcuterie platter!

BUY NOW

6

15oz Stoneware Santa Christmas Mug

Enjoy a Cup of Comfort

BUY NOW

Our Favorite Sets for Outdoor Dining This Summer

by Karly WoodJune 16, 2020

Summer has arrived and that means lots of time spent outdoors. Whether you rock summer nights on the patio or deck, or prefer to adventure in the great outdoors, you need the perfect dining dinnerware to go with it. From melamine plates and bamboo bowls, we’ve rounded up the most festive options for outfitting your outdoor dining space this summer.

Kate Spade New York Kitchen Rainbow Citrus Collection

This adorable tidbit set is perfect for kids or appetizers. Each set comes with two designs, is BPA-free and dishwasher safe. The six-inch plates are break, chip and scratch resistant––so basically uber kid-friendly!

Find it on Amazon, $29.95

Seaweed Melamine Salad Plates

Perfect for dinner-sized serving, these eight-inch plates come with beautiful watercolor designs. The individually sold plates are made from durable melamine and are the essence of summer dinnerware.

Find it at West Elm, $5.10 each

Melamine Dot Dining Plate

You can't beat this bright and cheery Target find! The sunshine-y pattern is dishwasher safe and coordinates beautifully with other bullseye styles.

Find it it Target, $1.99 each

Sara Miller Flamingo Melamine Dinnerware Collection

If you need an entire set of outdoor dinnerware, look no further than this adorable flamingo collection. You can shop bowls, plates, coasters, platters, and placemats! Plates and bowls come in sets of four and everything is made from chip resistant and microwave safe melamine.

Shop the collection at Macys, pieces start at $11.90

Melamine Strawberry Rectangular Platter

Strawberries are the very essence of summer and that's why we love this fruit-filled platter. Great for apps, the melamine and BPA-free dish is the perfect way to infuse sweetness into your table setting.

Find it on Rice, $12.99

Ollie Collection

This versatile geometric collection is just as useful for that bold cocktail party as it is for your summer BBQ. The line includes plates, platters, bowls and coordinated napkins, all in vibrant colors.

Find it at Crate & Barrel, pieces start at $5.56

Crossville 4-Piece Serving Bowl Set

This four-piece set is just what your campout/tailgate/picnic needs! Each bowl comes with a matching lid, is made from sturdy melamine and boasts a super cute outdoorsy pattern.

Find it on Wayfair, $33.99

Market Bamboo Dinner Plate

Classy and festive, these plates are made from bamboo with a melamine resin. The 10-inch size makes it great for a full meal, and it's even dishwasher safe!

Find it at Anthropologie, $7.50 each

Bodil Bamboo Plate

Surprise is on your side when you order these Bodil plates––you'll be shipped a random design in the collection that's made from bamboo! You can also shop the rest of the line's bowls and cups for the complete look.

Find it at Small Table, $9 each

Rustic Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware Collection

This rustic design takes even more worry out of outdoor dining. The vintage pattern recreates an enameled look, comes in more than six color choices and in sets that make outfitting your patio table a breeze.

Find it at Williams Sonoma, prices start at $8.76

Recycled Bamboo Picnic Set

Packing for your picnic just got easier! This bamboo set comes with four cups, four plates (that can double as bowls!), a salad bowl, and an anti-slip tray-top. A silicone band helps it to close and stay closed for easy travel.

Find it on Food52, $70

Timber Plate - Melted Popsicle

This handmade plate is made from Oak timber and is the perfect for summer! The popsicle-shaped piece is food safe and thrives best when hand-washed.

Available on Etsy, $21.18

Beachcomber 5-pc. Melamine Beverage Set

Whip up some sangria (or other kid-friendly cocktails) in this adorable summer-inspired beverage set. It comes with an 80 oz. pitcher, four 18 oz. cups and is made from shatter resistant melamine.

Find it at Kohl's, $69.99

CreativeWare Circus Tumblers

Don't spent time worrying about your glasses breaking in the great outdoors––get this tumbler set instead! The colorful collection comes with eight brightly-hued cups that embody the feel of summer.

Find it at Bed, Bath & Beyond, $31.99

––Karly Wood

Editors note: all products listed are available and at noted price at time of publication.

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Pottery Barn Kids Launches New Disney “Frozen” Collection

by Karly WoodNovember 9, 2019

The excitement is building just like a winter storm when it comes to the Nov. 22 release of the highly-anticipated Frozen 2. In honor of the sequel film, Pottery Barn Kids is celebrating with a brand new Frozen collection that is all about Arendelle and your fave characters.

We’ve viewed the entire lineup and these are our favorites.

Bedding Collection

Keep warm from the chilly Arendelle nights with the entire collection of Frozen bedding from Pottery Barn. Choose from sheets ($18.50-$129), a duvet ($287.50-$119), quilt ($39.50-$229) and a sweet "Let It Go" pillow ($39.50 in whimsical patterns that also offer personalization.

Cotton Tight Fit Pajamas

Cozy up for a rewatch of the OG film before heading to the theaters in some comfy Frozen Cotton Tight Fit Pajamas ($39.50). Sizes range from 2T to 10 and show sweet images of Anna and Elsa. If your little prefers a lighter garb for bedtime, you can also check out PB's Frozen Nightgown ($49.50).

Elsa Sleeping Bag

Even Elsa's powers won't penetrate this cozy Sleeping Bag $18.50-$90. The adorable bag comes with an embroidered Elsa, 3D braid and a sequin dress.

Backpacks & Luggage

Choose from mini sizes to rolling backpacks in Pottery Barn's Aqua Disney Frozen Kids Backpacks ($26.50-$79.50) collection. The gorgeous pattern includes all your fave characters for the films and can be personalized.

If you're headed on an overnight adventure, be sure to check out luggage options (119.50-$159.50) which include small and medium soft and hard-shell designs.

Tabletop Gift Set

The exclusive to Pottery Barn Frozen Tabletop Gift set ($29) makes for a great everyday dining set or a gift. Made from durable melamine (plus the tumbler is made from shatter-resistant plastic), dining on this set will transport your kiddos straight to Arendelle.

"Frozen" Personalized Storybook

Create an heirloom gift when you order a copy of the Frozen personalized storybook ($39.99). Your child's name will be incorporated throughout the story as well in a special dedication in the front of the book.

Elsa Snowglobe

Elsa will be creating all sorts of winter storms in her own snowglobe ($49). The handmade gift can be personalized and comes with a music chip that plays "Let it Go," because of course it does.

––Karly Wood

All photos courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids.

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Chrissy Teigen’s Kitchen Line for Target Just Got a Refresh of Items Perfect for Summer

by Erica LoopMay 7, 2019

It’s only been six months since Chrissy Teigen’s new Target kitchen collection debuted with some craveable new items to fill our shopping carts and now there’s even more to add to your must-have list.

The Cravings By Chrissy Teigen Collection has just just expanded with a refresh of items perfect for serving up your favorite dishes from her cookbook while you enjoy a summer dinner al fresco. The new additions include rustic wooden serving wear and plenty of gold accents all at the same budget-friendly prices.

The New Additions

You’ll find new melamine bowls, plates and serving platters in an ocean blue hue perfect for pool parties and dining outside on warm summer nights.

Dish up that Farmer’s Market salad in a handcrafted Mango wood bowl.

Save your coffee table from those sippy cup rings in plenty of style with these gold coasters.

And no kitchen counter would be complete without this adorable French Bulldog cookie jar.

The Originals

The original lineup includes some of Teigen’s faves, featuring cutlery, glassware, serve-wear and more—much more. Oh, and a pretty rad cast iron Dutch oven!

In total, the Cravings by Chrissy Teigen collection includes more than 60 different items.

If you’re wondering what the “must-haves” are from the Cravings collection, Teigen told Target, “The ‘Go To’ knife really is my everything! It was the first thing we created.”

Teigen continued, “I also love the organic plates and bowls. I wanted to make sure everything in the line felt unique and special, and each piece has little marks of character—like raw edges and flecks of glaze that differ from piece to piece.”

You can shop the full collection at Target online and in stores. Prices range from $4 to $140, meaning there’s something for everyone—or everything for everyone, depending on how you look at it!

—Erica Loop & Shahrzad Warkentin

Photos: Courtesy of Target

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Creative Seder Plates for Your Passover Meal

by Christal Y.March 18, 2015

The tots might not entirely understand the meaning behind Passover Seder yet, but they can still get involved on the special night. For wriggly ones sans prolonged attention spans, a kid-centric Seder plate might be exactly the colorful and creative supplement they need. Check out these imaginative Seder plates, filled with delightful drawings and special details to help engage and educate kids. We’ll leave the storytelling to you.

Homemade Seder Plate
Your kids will be beaming to see their handiwork on the table, and they’ll definitely be eager to answer any questions about the Exodus story. Instructions on how to make this homemade Seder plate by Brenda Ponnay can be found over at TheShiksa.com.

Photo: Brenda Ponnay

Melamine Passover Seder Plate
For any little one that may be learning Hebrew on the side, this artistic Passover plate features subtitled indentations. The plate itself is also sturdy and easy to maintain, so moms and dads don’t have to worry about it breaking or nicking.

Cost: $19.99
Online: amazon.com

Photo: Amazon

Children’s Seder Plate
If you’re having a large family get together with lots of little ones, this inexpensive Seder plate is the perfect option. We love how it’s got all the children of the world, promoting a message of peace and unity.

Cost: $9.95
Online: moderntribe.com

Photo: ModernTribe

Hand Painted Original Ceramic Seder Plate
This gorgeous Seder plate is one that will suit any Passover attendee from meemaw to the littlest ones. We love the abstract tree design that wraps around the whole plate, along with the hand-written inscriptions that give it a personal touch.

Cost: $84
Online: Beth Goldstein Designs via Etsy

Photo: Beth Goldstein Designs

Houses Seder Plate
Hand painted so that no two are alike, this unique Seder plate is ringed with brightly colored houses of Jerusalem to bring joy to the Passover celebrations. It’s also inscribed with Hebrew lettering and subtitles to ensure proper placement of the foods.

Cost: $150
Online: tamarabaskin.com

Photo: Tamara Baskin

Children of Israel Seder Plate
This brightly painted Seder plate is a perfect addition to the youth table as the portrait of the kids will remind fidgety tots that Passover isn’t just for grownups.

Cost: $44.95
Online: traditionsjewishgifts.com

Photo: Traditions Jewish Gifts

Colorful Plastic Seder Plate
Kids will love reading the question and answers that wrap around the edges of this plate. It’s plastic (read: unbreakable!) and makes for a great first plate for tots.

Cost: $3.95
Online: traditionsjewishgifts.com

Photo: Traditions Jewish Gifts

Disposable Seder Plate
Keep the cleanup to a minimum (especially if you’re feeding a crowd) by buying a set of disposable Seder plates. This understated blue and white set with cute sketches will look perfect on your Passover table.

Cost: $18.05
Online: amazon.com

Photo: Amazon

Hand-Painted Seder Plate
This colorful plate is sure to become a special family heirloom in the years to come. It can be customized with your favorite colors (though we love the bright color scheme pictured) and you can add a special message to be written on the back as well.

Cost: $90
Online: Platterpus Designs via Etsy

Photo: Platterpus Designs

Which one would your kids love to use? Share your pick in the comments below!

— Christal Yuen and Susie Foresman

1

Holiday Buffalo Check Flannel Matching Pajamas Set

2

Ulsta Fair Isle Throw

3

Elf Holiday Pull-On Slipper Socks

4

Holiday Parade Melamine Platter

5

Nostalgia 2.5-Ounce Tabletop Kettle Popcorn Maker

6

15oz Stoneware Santa Christmas Mug

Kate Spade New York Kitchen Rainbow Citrus Collection

Seaweed Melamine Salad Plates

Melamine Dot Dining Plate

Sara Miller Flamingo Melamine Dinnerware Collection

Melamine Strawberry Rectangular Platter

Ollie Collection

Crossville 4-Piece Serving Bowl Set

Market Bamboo Dinner Plate

Bodil Bamboo Plate

Rustic Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware Collection

Recycled Bamboo Picnic Set

Timber Plate - Melted Popsicle

Beachcomber 5-pc. Melamine Beverage Set

CreativeWare Circus Tumblers

Related reads

Bedding Collection

Cotton Tight Fit Pajamas

Elsa Sleeping Bag

Backpacks & Luggage

Tabletop Gift Set

"Frozen" Personalized Storybook

Elsa Snowglobe

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The New Additions

The Originals

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