HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Photo by Amanda Haddow Photography

Just like that...another year comes to a close. WINTER DAISY will be closed through the end of this year and will be back January 15th, 2018.

If you're looking for some inspiration for your kids spaces over the holiday, please sit back and read some of my favourite posts from this year!!!

Rooms:

1. Rafa + Leo’s Shared Baby and Toddler Room
2. Ella’s Big Girl Room
3. A Neutral Nursery (staged to sell)
4. Christmas Playhouse

Décor for Kids Rooms:

1. 10 of the cutest night lights
2. Super cute hooks for kids
3. Pillows!
4. Baby Cribs
5. 6 wooden playhouses

Books:

1. My Color is Rainbow
2. Mindful 1, 2, 3
3. Over and Under the Snow
4. Tap the Magic Tree
5. Bee
6. It Starts with a Seed
7. Holiday Books for Kids

2017 has been such a great year juggling the blog, designing client spaces and being a hands on Mama to my three little ones. I can't wait to show you some of the spaces that are in their final stages that I will be revealing next year. As always, thank you so much for being here! Happy holidays from our family to yours; I hope you enjoy celebrating in whatever way makes you happy. 

EASY WAYS TO ENCOURAGE ENERGY SAVING WITH KIDS

Teaching our kids about the environment is part of our every day lives. We limit packaging in the kitchen, recycle where we can, walk to local stores, compost our food scraps so it makes sense to teach them about saving energy too!

When BC Hydro contacted me to share about their newest challenge, Team Power Smart, where you can sign up to see if you can reduce your home’s electricity use by 10% (they’ll reward you with $50 off your bill!), I thought it would be a fun way to get the kids involved in thinking about saving energy in their daily lives.

Kids love to feel useful (and we are lucky ours love to help) so if you teach them how their actions can help our beautiful planet, it encourages a caring attitude and starts the conversation about how small changes they make can help shape their future.

Here are some easy ways to encourage your kids to save energy:

1.    Use a nightlight instead of leaving the hallway light on:

Little ones can be scared of the dark and a nightlight is a great way to help them feel more comfortable going to sleep.

2.    Use blackout curtains (helps babies sleep better too!):

It’s surprising how much warmer / cooler your home will seem with quality blackout curtains. You can start using these from Day 1 in a baby’s room and teach little ones that their curtains are helping to keep their room the right temperature so you don’t have to change the thermostat.  A dark room is perfect for encouraging a good night sleep too!

3.    Close the fridge door:

“Shut the fridge!” can be heard multiple times a day in our house. Anyone else’s kids open the fridge door and leave it open?!! It’s a simple step to help in keeping the energy in.

4.    Turn the lights off when you leave the room

We are all guilty of this but it’s so simple to quickly flick the switch when you leave the room you are in and teach kids to do the same. Quick reminders seem to do the trick for us.

5.    If they use electronic devices, teach them to turn them off when they are finished

Whether it’s the TV, an ipad, laptop or other device, teaching kids to turn off what they aren’t using helps to save the need to power up so often.

Interested in learning more about the BC Hydro Power Smart Challenge? Sign up here!

*This post was sponsored by BC Hydro, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting our partners!

PRETTIEST PERSONALIZED DIY STAR ORNAMENT

Looking for a quick, personalized DIY gift you can achieve by Christmas (yes really!)? This easy clay star ornament or gift topper is sure to make anyone on your list feel special!!! I love how these turned out!

Items needed:

• Oven bake clay (US, Canada) or local craft store

• Embossing Kit (US, Canada)

• Rolling Pin (US, Canada)

• Star cookie cutter (I used 3" one) (US, Canada)

How to make:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
Step 2: Warm clay in your hands
Step 3: Roll clay to 1/4" thick
Step 4: Use cookie cutter to cut out star shape
Step 5: Emboss name on star (be sure you have the letters inserted correctly) and poke hole for string
Step 6: Bake according to time on box (I did for a few minutes less)
Step 7: Remove ornaments from oven, allow to cool
Step 8: Tie on string and voila!

GIFT GUIDE FOR KIDS UNDER 7

A little gift guide for kids with items that kids will love and look great in your home too! Last month, I shared my favourites from Etsy and then last week shared our favourite holiday books. These picks are toys we love or are on our list. As we all know, what our children truly want is our time, energy and love. That and more food than I ever imagined, HA! If you are like me and feel your kids have all that they need, please use this guide simply as suggestions of fun ideas you can give to friends or family who insist on buying something for your kiddos. There are prices ranging from $15 - $275 so hopefully everyone can find something that suits what they are looking for. Please note all items below can reach you before Christmas if you order today (some even later)!

01. // Soft Doll; 02. // Cloud Rug; 03. // Pull Bunny; 04. // Translucent Magnatiles; 05. // Wood Tetris; 06. // Lamb Pillow; 07. // Castle Blocks; 08. // Hazel Bunny; 09. // Robot Clock; 10. // Cool Speedster; 11. // Art Subscription; 12. // Mini Guitar; 13. // Puppet Theatre.

OH MONDAY!

1. The magical month of December is in full swing and since having kids, I've loved what this month brings...excitement, extra catch ups with friends, magical holiday lights and the comfort of home and family. 

2. I am wrapping up design clients for the holidays soon and can't wait to show you all the new rooms next year, including our very own creative art space, a baby nursery, a playroom and the first retail space I've ever designed! It's been a busy year!

3. We are heading to Melbourne, Australia (where my husband grew up) after Christmas and I am really looking forward to some sunshine, family time and relaxation, but not so much the 16 hour flight with 3 kids to get there!!! If you have any tips on traveling with young kids or any must have products that have saved you on a long flight, please leave any advice in the comments.

Melbourne, Australia

4. One thing I find our kids need renewed every so often is placemats. I'm going to be tucking one of these cute ones in their stockings this year. I love the educational aspect of the world map but the forest placemat rolls up and you can draw on it!!

5. If you are still thinking of getting a canopy like the one in little client Ella's room, now is the time to order!!! They create such a cozy space for reading, imaginary play and best of all, snuggle time. I've linked a few of my favourite options for canopies below.

Have an amazing week!!!