10 Tips for Staying Sane in December

I know I am not the only mom who feels like the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are insane.

On top of the general busyness of the season, my girls have so many extra activities (school plays, parades, parties, etc.).

It’s enough to make a mom feel a little (or a lot) crazy.

While I haven’t perfected it yet, I have a few tips for staying sane in December based on what I have learned from my own holiday insanity experiences.

1. Look at Your Calendar

These last few weeks of 2021 are incredibly busy – especially for students.

Take out your calendar and make note of everything coming up over the next few weeks – class parties, dance recitals, and gift exchanges.

Then, set up calendar reminders on your phone so you aren’t rushing last minute for outfits or gifts.

2. Make a List and Check It Twice

I am a list maker, and the holiday season requires all the lists.

I write down everything I am responsible for – because if I don’t, I will forget it.

My list has everything from grocery store shopping to calling long-distance relatives.

Tip – I keep a notepad by my bed to jot down those “to-do’s” I suddenly remember as I am trying to go to sleep.

3. Take Care of Yourself

If mama isn’t happy, nobody’s happy.

That’s why it is so important for moms to take care of themselves during the holidays.

Don’t run on empty!

Make sure you are getting enough sleep and exercise.

Avoid overindulging in holiday food and drinks.

4. Say No

One of the hardest but most rewarding lessons I have learned is to say no.

Before I commit to something, I check my already full calendar.

Then, decide if I have time or desire to squeeze one more thing in.

If not, I say no.

5. Choose What Matters

It’s easy during the holidays to get caught up and take on more than you need to.

To avoid this issue, I try to choose what matters.

Are homemade baked goods wonderful? Yes. Will my kids survive if I buy something pre-made? Also, yes.

Does my family have to try out the latest cool thing or am I just trying to keep up with the Joneses?

Prioritize what matters the most to your family.

6. Practice Gratitude

The holiday blues are a real thing, affecting millions of women.

If you feel a little blue this Christmas, try practicing gratitude or doing something for others.

I always feel better when I make someone else smile, so I put extra effort into bringing smiles this time of year.

7. Outsource Holiday Tasks

If your holiday to-do list looks anything like mine, you need help.

There is no shame in outsourcing some of your holiday tasks.

If you would rather cuddle with your kids and watch a Christmas movie, then take advantage of grocery store delivery rather than shopping yourself.

Hire someone to wrap your presents or hang your outside lights.

8. Combine Activities

Again, your calendar likely doesn’t leave much space to do everything you want to do.

Look for opportunities to combine activities.

For example, if you and your spouse need some alone time, see if you combine date night with Christmas shopping for the family.

If you want to spend time together as a family, try to combine family time with time making gifts for others or volunteering.

9. Avoid Comparisons

Your kids won’t remember what their neighbor’s Christmases were like, but they will remember their own.

Stop comparing your holiday to someone else’s and celebrate your way.

Christmas isn’t a competition.

10. Embrace the Magic in the Ordinary

Lastly, try to remember that Christmas doesn’t have to be over-the-top to be wonderful.

Simple traditions, such as baking cookies for Santa and looking at Christmas lights, are the most memorable.

Do you have any tips to share? Comment below!

Yes, You Do Need to Start 2021 Christmas Shopping Now

I’ve always been a proponent of getting your Christmas shopping done by Black Friday at the latest, but 2021 Christmas shopping is proving to be even more challenging.

You’ve likely heard reports from the news about toys possibly running out. As much as you want to believe news organizations are just exaggerating, that is not the case. There is a very real possibility that popular items, even clothing, will run out.

This is all because producers and retailers are still dealing with lingering supply chain issues. Those issues aren’t going to be solved by Christmas.

This is what you need to do to get your 2021 Christmas shopping done early.

Major Shipping Delays

There will be major shipping delays across the country. In fact, there are huge shipping delays even getting stock into the country.

According to Andy Harig of the Food Marketing Institute, “The wait to get into the port at Long Beach [in California] is almost eight days, and we have 56 ships backed up at any given time. There are reports of container ships turning around and not even waiting to get refilled.”

Within the U.S., shipping companies are facing major setups, as well. For instance, the Portland Oregon FedEx facility is currently 65% staffed. They are having to reroute 25% of the volume from its hub by using third-party transportation, which raises costs all the way around.

You also should not expect Amazon's two-day delivery services to work like normal.

Shop online early to guarantee your gifts will make it on time.

Price Hikes

The cost of shipping is forcing retailers to also raise their prices.

ABC 7 NY reports, “Toymaker Mattel whose brands include Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and American Girl, said in an earnings conference call on Tuesday that it is raising prices in the second half of the year in the run-up to the holiday shopping season.”

What that means for moms and dads is that we shouldn’t wait for a big sale to shop for Christmas presents. Prices won’t be slashed like normal.

It’s a better idea to purchase that hot item when you see it rather than waiting for the price to drop.

Things to Consider When 2021 Christmas Shopping in October

For most of us, it seems early to start 2021 Christmas shopping. But, as you see, this year it is a must. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start shopping for Christmas before Halloween.

• Check Out 2021 Christmas Shopping Guides – Many of the Christmas wish list guides have already been published. These guides highlight what will likely be the items your kids want that may run out. Start with Amazon’s Toys We Love List.

• Consider Out-of-the-Box Options: Since the shelves may be empty, consider out-of-the-box options, such as season passes to the zoo, enrollment in an Outschool course, or gift cards to your child’s favorite shop.

• Think About Storage: One of the issues with shopping this early is having to keep the gifts hidden until you are ready to put them under the tree. Go ahead and have a plan for where you can safely store the gifts until the time comes to pull them out.

• How to Handle Late Santa Requests: Kids don’t care about supply chain issues. They want that special toy. This year, they may not be able to get it. Start thinking about how you will handle late Santa requests, such as telling your kids the elves had to quarantine and can’t make that gift in time.

7 Easy Ways to Make Christmas Eve Extra Special

Christmas 2020 is going to look and feel a little different – but that doesn’t mean it has to be “bad” different. We can still give our kids a magical Christmas even if we have to stay home, Clorox more often, and see Santa with a mask. If we have the right attitude and enough Christmas spirit, this may just be the Christmas our kids remember the most. Here are 7 easy ways to make Christmas Eve extra special for kids this year.

Mix Up Reindeer Food

On Christmas Eve, guide Santa’s reindeer to your home with reindeer food. The idea is to mix food reindeers will eat, such as oatmeal, with shiny glitter to attract them to your yard. Here’s an easy (cheap) recipe from The Girl Who Ate Everything:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup white sugar

1/4 to 1/2 cup red and green colored decorating sugar crystals

INSTRUCTIONS

Mix all the ingredients together and sprinkle it on your lawn.

Bake Cookies

One of the benefits of a quarantine Christmas is that we have more time at home than usual. Typically, we have to find time in the hustle and bustle of the season. Since we aren’t as busy, it means we finally have time to go all-out when baking cookies for Santa. This is the year to make a mess and have some fun with the kids in the kitchen.

Hot Cocoa Bar

Before you get ready to leave out milk and cookies for Santa, set up a hot cocoa bar for the whole family. Choose some special toppings and stirrers to make the cocoa extra special. Kids top their mugs like they would at an ice cream sundae bar. Don’t forget to put out some peppermint vodka for Mr. and Mrs. Claus to add to their mugs.

Play Christmas-Themed Games

During the Easter quarantine, we played competition-style Easter-themed games (such as an egg spoon relay). We plan to do the same on Christmas Eve, such as pin the red nose on Rudolph. Check out Parents' list of 10 Fun Christmas Party Games for Kids of All Ages.

Have a Special Dinner Without Cooking

Unless you love cooking, 2020 is the year to let someone else do it for you. Not only does this guarantee it will be delicious, but it will also help your favorite restaurants stay in business. With so many restaurants suffering from lost revenue, you can support them by ordering a pre-cooked Christmas dinner.

Track Santa

The pandemic is not going to prevent Santa from delivering toys to all the girls and boys around the world. Dr. Fauci told USA Today, “Santa is exempt from [this pandemic] because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity. Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody.” Since Santa is declared safe to spread joy, track his journey with NORAD.

Sibling Sleepover

A Christmas Eve tradition we have that we plan to keep until forever is encouraging our daughters to treat Christmas Eve as an extra special sleepover. If your kids don’t share a room, this is a great way for them to bond and to keep them secure in one room while Santa prepares the presents.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

When Presents Go Wrong – Prepare Early to Prevent Gift Faux Pas

I’ve already started talking about holiday shopping because we have got to get a jump on it this year. Between supply chain disruptions and second shutdowns, there is a real possibility shopping for gifts will be harder than ever before. And that’s on top of the usual challenge of buying the perfect gift for family and friends.

I love giving gifts, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t ever given a bad gift (I’ve certainly received a few). Unless you have the type of relationship where you can ask directly, “What do you want for Christmas,” it’s up to you to find the perfect present. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves when it comes to gift giving because we believe the gift will say something about our relationship with the individual. And there is some truth to that idea.

According to the BBC, “Although giving gifts can make you happy, communicate your feelings toward the receiver and even strengthen relationships, a less-than-stellar gift can have the opposite effect. […] Research has also showed that undesirable gifts can sometimes negatively impact the receiver’s perception of a relationship’s future potential.”

Hence the perfect present pressure. Here are some of the common gift giving faux pas.

Thoughtful or Thoughtless

Your gift will be seen as either thoughtful or thoughtless. A friend shared this Christmas gift story with me:

On the first Christmas with my new sister-in-law, I was excited to finally share the holidays with a new sister. I searched for the perfect feminine gift. I chose a gift set of Lush bath bombs because I absolutely adore my quiet bath time and think Lush products are the best of the best. As we prepared to exchange gifts, my new sister-in-law presented my gift first. She got me a nice neutral colored handbag. It was nice, but it didn’t match my normal bold colors and patterns. She commented that her husband (my brother-in-law) shared that he always gave me bath stuff, and she told him she couldn’t give someone in the family something as mundane as bath products… And then she opened her gift of bath products. We didn’t know one another well enough yet and were trying to be thoughtful, but both of our gifts looked thoughtless.

Have you ever chosen a gift that later seemed thoughtless? Have you ever been given something that showed the gift giver didn’t really know you?

Big Spender or Cheap

There is also the worry of whether the gift(s) you choose will make you look like a big spender or a cheapskate. If you spend significantly more, the other person may feel uncomfortable. On the other side, if you spend significantly less, you worry they will think you don’t care enough to spend more money on their gift.

Prevent Gift Giving Anxiety with the Help of a Gift Advisor

If these types of worries cause you to suffer from gift-giving anxiety, you’re not alone. Many women feel stressed about buying perfect presents for everyone in their life. The problem is that we just don’t have time to work, take care of kids, and buy a worry-free gift for everyone on our list.

That’s where a gift advisor comes in. I am honored to work as a gift advisor for Neiman Marcus. Gift advisors take the guesswork out of holiday gift giving and will curate a list of the perfect presents for everyone on your list. Simply take a quiz to identify your gift giving needs to be paired with a gift advising expert.

Teaching Kids How to Graciously Accept Gifts of All Kinds

We’ve all been there. Our child has been given a gift and had a super embarrassing response, such as “I don’t want this,” “I already have this one,” or they toss it aside like it is nothing. And, as their mom, you want to crawl under a rock. First, please know that this is a rite of passage for all parents during the holiday season. It does not mean you are a bad mom, or you are raising naughty children. The truth is kids have to be taught how to graciously accept gifts – even gifts they may not want.

Talk to Kids Beforehand

The first thing you need to do is talk to your kids beforehand about your expectations. Don’t expect kids to know they shouldn’t tell grandma they don’t like something if you have been raising them to be truthful. That is hard for little ones to understand. Instead, explain that they may receive gifts they don’t like or that they already have. In these cases, they should say “thank you” rather than something that may hurt the gift giver’s feelings. Depending on your situation, you may also want to explain what they should expect, such as “Uncle Joe is giving you one small thing, so don’t look for more gifts.”

Gifts are Not Owed

An important thing to teach kids is that they are not owed gifts. This is difficult for them to grasp, so just stick to explaining the word gift means “something given” instead of something expected or demanded. You may want to explain that the gift-giver spent their time and money finding their gift, so it is rude to act ungrateful – no matter what the gift is.

Set Gift Receiving Rules

As a family, define your gift receiving rules. For example, your family may decide that you will open one present at a time instead of everyone opening everything at once. Another rule is to a say kind “thank you” after opening each gift.

Describe Unacceptable Responses

Along these same lines, you should also explain what responses to gifts are unacceptable. Some examples include:

• A sarcastic or rude “thank you”

• I don’t want this

• I don’t like this

• What else did you get me?

• Is this all?

• I already have this

A good way to make this stick is to have your kids consider how they would feel if someone responded in these ways to their gifts.

You’re Welcome

Along with teaching your kids to say “thank you,” you should also teach them how to handle being the gift giver. The holiday season is the perfect time to teach kids how to say, “You’re welcome” when they are thanked.

Model It for Your Kids

Finally, and most importantly, model how to graciously accept gifts to your children. They are watching you. If you say “thank you” and show genuine enthusiasm for the gifts you receive, they will be more likely to follow your example.

What tips do you have to help other parents handle holiday gift receiving?

Is Your Kid Frozen 2 Obsessed? Here are Some Unique Gift Ideas.

If your kids are anything like my girls, then they are Frozen 2 obsessed! I thought my years of hearing my girls sing “Let It Go” were long over, but with “Into the Unknown” my house is just as loud. From seeing the movie to acting it out at home, my daughters are living in Arendelle in their minds. And, honestly, there are A LOT worse things they could be into. Some kid’s television, movies, and music are rough on my ears, but I can handle the Frozen 2 soundtrack, and I appreciate the message of the story.

So, it did not surprise me at all when they visited Santa and requested tons of Frozen 2 merchandise. If you have been to ANY store in the past week, you know that Santa and his elves will not have any difficulty fulfilling this wish. Even so, you may be looking for something more unique for your Frozen princesses or prince this Christmas, and I have come up with some fantastic ideas.

A Karaoke Machine

Your kids are already singing the songs from the movie at full blast, so why not encourage this love of music by investing in a karaoke machine for the whole family. There is currently a Frozen 2 karaoke machine, but I say off for a regular machine, so you get use out of it even after the Frozen 2 fad ends.

A Frozen 2 Themed Lesson

How about getting your kids a Frozen 2-themed lesson? For example, sign your kids up for ice skating lessons or horseback riding lessons near New York City. These are gifts that will keep on giving and help them find themselves.

Tickets to the Broadway Show

Splurge on tickets to see Frozen on Broadway. This will be a magical experience for anyone who is a fan of the movie – but especially for kids who are fans of musicals. There is nothing that can compare to a live Broadway show.

A Frozen 2 Craft Box

If your kids are little artists and craft-makers, then put together a Frozen 2 craft box. You can purchase pre-made Frozen 2 craft kits at stores like Michael’s or use this list from Cool Mom Picks of DIY ideas.

A Bag of Insta-Snow

New York families get to experience snow each year, but it never seems to be at the right time. If this sounds relatable (or you live in a warmer climate), then purchase a bag of instant snow. Just add water to Insta-Snow and watch the magic happen.

Frozen Colour Pop Makeup

Instead of wasting money on the cheap Frozen makeup kits you will find everywhere, purchase one of the high-quality Frozen 2 ColourPop kits, which come in either the Elsa or Anna palette.

A Frozen 2 Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets are all the rage right now – and for a good reason. Weighted blankets help little ones feel more secure and relaxed. So, the combination of the weight and their favorite characters is a solid win. They are selling different types of Frozen 2 weighted blankets at most department stores and online.

Frozen 2 Build a Bear

Why not purchase a gift certificate so your child can build their own Frozen 2 Character Plush at Build-A-Bear? This gift works as both a gift (the stuffed toy) and an experience (building the character plush). Your child can add tons of unique pieces to their stuffed toy, such as Frozen costumes and songs.

Don’t worry – if you have to wait until Christmas Eve, there are still bound to be tons of options on the toy aisles at your local Walmart or Target.

A Lazy Mom’s Holiday Bucket List

The holiday season seems to make moms lose their minds. We feel so much pressure to do all the things. It makes the holiday season extremely stressful, and ultimately, not very fun. And, it is so easy to get caught up in it all and feel like your kids have to do what Little Sally next door did or else they won’t have wonderful holiday memories, and you have failed as a mother.

I’m here to release you from the burden of having to do it all. No more intense Christmas crafting or cooking! Let’s embrace doing the bare minimum. Plus, I’m betting our kids will be even happier when mom is more relaxed. Toss out the giant holiday list of things to do you’ve made in your mind and embrace the lazy mom’s holiday bucket list.

Decorate the Tree

Yes, you should decorate the tree. But let’s make it a little easier. Let the KIDS decorate the tree while you sit back and drink some wine or eggnog and try not to rearrange all the ornaments. Speaking of ornaments, go to the store and let the kids pick out a special ornament instead of trying to make salt dough ornaments.

Bake the Treats

Sure, you want to have some Christmas goodies in your house. If baking is relaxing for you, then go crazy. If not, don’t stress! Buy some pre-made goodies or buy some of the pre-made Christmas cookie dough. Your kids will not care. Cookies are cookies.

Hunt for the Best Lights

Do you know which holiday tradition requires very minimal effort from parents? Going to look at Christmas lights! All you have to do is pile the kids in the car after dark and drive to a lit-up neighborhood. Super easy and very enjoyable for everyone.

Watch the Holiday Movies

Nothing says Lazy Mom’s Holiday Bucket List like going all in for a PJ & movie day. Tell the family you are going to stay in your PJ’s all day and watch your favorite holiday movies. Pop some popcorn, order pizza, and you will have a new favorite holiday tradition.

Drink All the Hot Chocolate

If you want your kids to feel special, let them get a hot drink when you visit your local coffee shop. They will be thrilled drinking hot chocolate while you get all the caffeine you need to survive school break.

Go Caroling

While caroling is fun, you know what is also fun? Singing carols at home with your family. Play the piano or bust out the karaoke machine and enjoy the loud show your kids will put on. Tell them if they sing loud enough that the neighbors can hear just like caroling.

Hit the Ice

If you need to kill some time, take the kids to a nearby ice skating rink. You will all get some much-needed exercise after all the eating and movie watching you’ve been doing, and you’ll have fun doing it.

Wrap the Presents

Unless you love wrapping presents, find someone else to do it for you. Pay your teenage babysitter to wrap your gifts or visit a local gift wrap pop-up that benefits a local charity. This is especially helpful for those moms who just don’t have enough time.

Embrace Free Shipping

And by golly, if you want this holiday season to be jolly, then you must embrace free shipping! Turn on your favorite tv show and do all your Christmas shopping online. A few days later, all of those presents you ordered will magically appear on your doorstep without you having to leave the house. That’s a mom win.

Yes, Christmas Shopping Has Begun. Here are My 8 Best Tips.

Something wild happened over the weekend. Everything magically switched from orange and black to red and green at midnight on November 1st. Not only did the colors change, but the retail stores also started promoting Christmas sales and online stores dropping prices with Black Friday Early Deal Drops. And, people responded! The stores were packed this weekend – and it was only the first weekend of November. So, I am sharing my best Christmas shopping tips for those of you already getting busy tackling the list.

Get Your Kid’s Wish Lists Now.

If you haven’t realized it yet, the major retailers have already released their Christmas toys and sent out their Christmas wish books to households across America. In our home, we have already received a wish book from Target, Walmart, and Amazon. Go ahead and start talking to your kids about what they want for Christmas, so you aren’t running around at the last minute trying to find that sold-out toy.

Create a Budget.

Before you do any shopping, create a budget. I’m not telling you how much to spend – that is up to you! What I am telling you is that if you aren’t careful, you may wind up spending way too much on someone who won’t appreciate it or not having enough left over for that family member you forgot. It is just a good way to keep yourself in check.

Download Christmas List App.

Speaking of wish lists and budgets, download the free Christmas List app, and it will help you take care of both! It even allows you to keep track of which gifts need to be purchased, shipped, and wrapped. Plus, you can share your wish lists with family and friends who ask. It’s a huge Christmas-lifesaver!

Download Apps to Your Favorite Stores.

With mobile phones, you should never hit the checkout line before checking a store’s app for discounts and coupons. Stores like Target and Walmart have apps that offer special app-only discounts. And, apps like Amazon make it easy to do a little research in-store before you purchase (such as reading reviews and comparing prices).

Use ShopSavvy When You Shop.

Speaking of apps while shopping, you absolutely must take advantage of ShopSavvy if you aren’t already. There is no reason to spend more money on something than you have to in today’s competitive retail market. ShopSavvy is a price comparison app that allows you to scan a barcode and compare prices online and locally.

Watch for Price Drops with CamelCamelCamel.

Let’s say one of your kids has something on her wish list that is just a little over your budget. Sign up for camelcamelcamel to receive price drop notifications when that particular item drops to your requested price (or lower) on Amazon.

Avoid Shipping Costs.

Do your very best to avoid shipping. Many stores offer free shipping once you hit a certain amount, but you can also always get free shipping if you sign up to be an Amazon Prime Member (or just sign up for the trial when you are doing your Christmas shopping). Or, take advantage of Free Shipping Day on December 15, 2019, which is when thousands of online retailers offer free shipping just in time for Christmas.

Think Outside the (Present) Box.

Finally, don’t assume you have to give everyone a physical gift. I’ve found that gifts of experience are just as good – and often are better – than toys or gadgets. Order a magazine subscription for a loved one or get season passes to the aquarium for the whole family.

How to Make the Most of Your Christmas Morning

Christmas brings out the crazy in the best of us. That’s why this year I have a plan. I want Christmas morning to be magical and memorable – and I want those memories to be good ones! Since having my girls, I have come to realize that you can’t prevent chaos, but you can do little things to make these special days more enjoyable for everyone.

Here are my tips for making the most of your Christmas morning:

Enjoy the Alone Time with Your Spouse Christmas Eve

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the night before when mom and dad magically become Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. Yes, building toys can be super annoying, but I do enjoy the quiet time in the evening with my man drinking wine and anticipating the joy on our girl’s faces the next day.

Prepare Breakfast Ahead of Time

All the Christmas morning fun is always followed by breakfast. But who wants to cook an elaborate meal on Christmas morning? No one! Instead, plan breakfast ahead of time. Choose to go with something simple that only has to be reheated (or served cold) or cook a breakfast casserole overnight in a slow cooker.

Having Your Morning Beverage Supplies Ready to Go

Opening presents requires a grown-up beverage. If you are a serious coffee drinker, have your special Christmas coffee supplies ready to go. Better yet, program the coffee maker in advance. If you prefer hot chocolate, have supplies to make it extra Christmas-y. For a celebratory beverage, have supplies on hand for Christmas morning mimosas.

Wrap a Giant Box for Trash

Unwrapping presents in a hurry leads to a giant mass of wrapping paper and trash. You can avoid having to clean up afterward by simply designating one large box as your trash box. But you can also step it up by wrapping the outside of this box. This way instead of having trash or a garbage bag in all your pictures, you will have an elegantly wrapped festive box.

Don’t Forget Batteries and Scissors

When it comes to children, it is impossible to survive the present opening fun without having batteries and scissors. There is going to be a present your kid has to open immediately – hence the scissors. And there is always at least one present that requires batteries.

Wear Cozy Pajamas

Now, it’s time for bed. Put on your coziest (and cutest) pajamas. Get as much sleep as possible and be prepared to roll out of bed ready to go. Just don’t forget to wash your face and brush your hair quickly. You’ll thank me when your husband snaps a pic of you unwrapping a gift.

Don’t Expect Perfection

When it comes to Christmas morning, a lot of women have high expectations. We dream of Pinterest-perfect, insta-worthy Christmas mornings. But, here’s your reality check – it will not be perfect. Go ahead and accept this fact and embrace Christmas morning for all its perfect and imperfect moments.

Spend Time with the One's You Love

Everyone’s Christmas Day looks differently, but it is important to spend time with the ones you love. Even if you do not have plans to be with all your loved ones on Christmas Day, make a point to speak to them on the phone (or better yet, video chat).

If you know of any other tips to help Christmas morning be more magical and less frantic, let me know in the comments. Merry Christmas!

What to Do in NYC as a Family this Holiday Season

While there are always plenty of things for families to do in New York City, the holiday season ramps up the fun. The city comes alive even more and making it feel like NYC its truly the best place to be for the “most wonderful time of the year.” Each year, I try to plan out things to do with my family to celebrate Christmas in NYC. Here are my picks for 2018:

Shop at American Girl Place

My daughters have hit the age where American Girl dolls are all they want. Thankfully, there is an American Girl Place in NYC. If you have not visited the store before, it is a whole experience in and of itself. Visiting the store with my girls this time of year also helps me check something off Santa’s list.

Watch the Nutcracker Ballet

Photograph: Paul Kolnik

It is a tradition to take in a performance of The Nutcracker Ballet. All whole family loves watching The Nutcracker, and New York City Ballet has the best of the best.

Observe the Trains at the Botanical Garden

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is a city tradition that my family always enjoys. This train display is unique because it travels around over 175 New York landmarks.

Make a Wish List by Visiting FAO Schwarz

Photograph: Courtesy Shutterstock

FAO Schwarz has newly reopened, so we are so excited to go visit this famous toy store. Not only will our girls get to make their Christmas wish lists, we will get to see first-hand the toys they really gravitate to making our Christmas shopping easier.

Marvel at the Gingerbread House in Madison Square Park

Making gingerbread houses is fun, but seeing a life-size gingerbread house is even better! Head to Madison Square Park to see those giant gingerbread houses.

See the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Photograph: Ali Goldstein

Another New York City tradition is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes – and for good reason! It is such a fun show to see as a family! We look forward to it every year.

Go Ice Skating

Throughout New York, there are several ice skating rinks. The most popular is the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. In addition to being iconic, it is also one of the most Christmas-y spots in the city.

Have Holiday Tea at the Plaza

If your kids have read the children’s book Eloise, the holidays are the perfect time to visit the Plaza Hotel and experience Eloise’s life in the hotel. In addition to holiday tea, they also have a cute setup for kids to write letters to Santa.

Visit Santa at Macy’s

The most popular place to visit Santa is Macy’s. Everyone should visit the iconic (and giant) Macy’s Santaland with their children at least once.

Search for the Best Hot Chocolate

While you trek around NYC in the cold weather, search for the best hot chocolate. While Serendipity 3 is the most well-known frozen hot chocolate spot, you are bound to find some others that serve warm delicious chocolate-y goodness in a cup.

Which Christmas Festivities Does Your Family Most Enjoy in NYC?