OC Mom Collective 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

A C C E S S O R I E S F O R A M A G I C A L H O L I D A Y

S E A S O N

by Mikaeya Kalantari

That Holly Jolly time of year is almost upon us! Eeeeekk!! As exciting as the holidays are for me, they no doubt can bring a little bit of added stress when you consider all of the extra tasks needed to bring about the aforementioned Holly Jolly

One such added task goes by the name of Rosie in our home, but most would recognize her as The Elf On The Shelf. It is ridiculous the amount of pressure that is now placed on parents, to not only have an elf in your house, but also to create elaborate setups with it day by day throughout the holidays!

Well, this year I decided to make it easier on myself and come up with a schedule and plan beforehand, with the helping hand of some of my favorite Etsy shops. So, if you are like me and need a little inspiration and help with your elf plans this year, check out these Elf on the Shelf accessories, apparel, and other fun stuff you can buy!

Elf On The Shelf Apparel Ideas:

Disney Sweaters , Skirts, NFL Cheerleader , Scrubs , Minnie Mouse Set , Harry Potter House Robes , Yoda Sweater , Sweater Collection , Plaid Dress , Mermaid Tail , Personalized Name Christmas Sweater , Buddie And Jovie Elf Costumes , Converse Like Sneakers , Adidas Sneakers , Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat, Jedi Costume

Elf On The Shelf Accessories:

Elf IPad , Flags , Elf Jenga , Small Signs, Letter Board Signs , Cookie Stand, Notes & Messages , Personalized Elf Message , Personalized Puzzle , Starbucks/Elfbucks , Elf Sleeping Bag , Basketball Kit , Movie Theater Kit , Foot Print Stencils , McDonalds Display , Elf Door , Elf Hand Connectors , Elf Popcorn , Elf Cornhole , Magic Elf Gloves , Elf Caution Tape , Sugar Cookie Set , Elf Hammock , Elf Donut Box , Cookie Cutters , Elf Arrival Balloon Paint Set Up

You can even purchase full kits where you will receive a box full of props and a numbered list telling you the activity of the day, which props to use from the box, and a message you just have to write out in your best elvish handwriting, or purchase a specially designed set in my separate listing That’s it No planning No brainstorming Simply do as you ’ re told with what’s included. Easy peesy.

Happy Elfing!

O N E T H I N G T O P R E V E N T H O L I D A Y

B U R N O U T T H I S S E A S O N

by Allison Melanio

I love the holidays, BUT I will be the first to admit that somewhere between attending Christmas parties, visiting Santa, and wrapping a lot of gifts, I find myself in holiday burnout (and it usually happens before Christmas) Here’s the best thing you can do this season to help prevent holiday burnout: Master. Your. Calendar.

That’s the trick Seems simple right? But it’s easier said than done So, this year, I’ve jotted down a few reminders to slow down, be strategic, and prevent running out of steam. I hope these ideas can help you too.

My top tips for mastering your calendar and avoiding holiday burnout:

#1

– Schedule Ahead

Look at your calendar and write it all down Look at the traditions and non negotiables like Christmas with grandparents, Christmas Eve with the in laws, Friendsmas, or whichever holiday traditions you celebrate in your life like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc , and put these in your calendar like anchors Everything will be scheduled around these must do items

#2 Check Off That Holiday Bucket List

Think about the things that you ’ ve kept in the back of your mind for the holiday season Is it spending winter break in the cabins? Is it finally getting ski lessons for your child? Maybe ice skating and hot cocoa?

For me, I’ve always wanted to go to American Girl Store and Cafe with my daughter and have her pick out a special doll and enjoy a tea party She’s 4 ½ and loves dolls, dressing up, and anything girly, so it’s the perfect time to do this bucket list item. Write down these bucket list items, do your research, and see how they fit in your calendar. One thing to also keep in mind is, “what bucket list item fits in our current season?” If you have young kids, a night at a fancy play might not make sense. Although it’s on your bucket list, there might be a better year to do it.

#3 – Plan for REST Days

This is a new one for me and it’s so important Rest days are your days to sleep in, to watch holiday movies, to catch up on laundry (although it’s not really resting), try a new recipe, etc The beauty of these rest days is they also leave room in your calendar for the unexpected and last minute surprises They provide flexibility which is hard if your calendar is booked solid

#4 Say NO

As hard as it sounds, sometimes you have to say NO Saying NO doesn’t have to be negative either, you can think of it as saying YES to something else Saying YES to enjoying your children, Saying YES to a better plan There is a saying by a man named David Allen that I’d like to leave you with: “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING BUT NOT EVERYTHING!”

This has always been something that I’ve kept top of mind, especially during the holidays. So if you’d like to avoid that feeling of holiday burnout before your holiday season is even close to being over, try mastering your calendar and planning ahead!

M A K I N G A Y U M M Y

H O L I D A Y P I E

By Melissa Fisher Goldman

‘Tis the season, and it’s easy as holiday pie! Ok who am I kidding, it’s always the season for pies! I do love me a summer peach pie or chocolate silk pie or raspberry pie mmmmm pie! I love pie, mainly because they are so easy to make So most people have pie at family gatherings during the holiday season I get that this year our gatherings may be smaller and we may be more exhausted

I’m going to talk about some of the most popular pie flavors for the season, how to make it easier on yourself, and also how to elevate the pie to an insta perfect creation that will get all the oohs and ahhs.

First tip wait for it you do not need to make your own holiday pie crust Yup I said it

Here’s the thing: unless something went horribly wrong, have you ever said, “that pie was delicious but I wish crust was (fill in the blank)?” Don’t get me wrong. An amazing flakey buttery crust does elevate any pie to the next level. But honestly, for most holiday pies, it’s just a vessel to hold the good stuff. Kind of like lettuce is just a way to transport the dressing and croutons into your mouth

If you are intimidated to make your own crust, I recommend buying a ready made frozen formed in the tin I find that the roll out kind tend to be small and can rip easily If I buy the roll out it is for decorating quickly (I’ll get back to that later.)

If you are going to make the crust, I think the hot water makes a big difference.

Take your time to get the right temp and introduce ingredients slowly Also, humidity helps I know someone who has an old family crust recipe she can make in her sleep It was always temperamental She moved to Hawaii and never had a crack in her crust again, just fluffy crusty yumminess The only change was the climate and the water I’m no scientist but there is something to it.

Ok, let’s talk Pumpkin Pie How to make Pumpkin Pie easy: Pumpkin is the easiest pie to make because you can’t go wrong with canned pumpkin Please note, I said canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling There is a difference You want to add your own cream and spices trust me Save your self the time and buy the puree

How to level up the pumpkin pie: If your family are pumpkin pie purists, then level up with decorations or add a little ginger and/or carrot to enrich the flavor. They won’t be able to put their finger on it, but they will notice the richness If you are feeling adventurous, add a featured ingredient such as chocolate or coffee You can also add a layer of cheesecake which is often a crowd pleaser Click over to read more tips for other holiday favorite pie flavors!

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