As the Christmas season approaches, I focus more than ever on my family and friends, the circle of people who bring joy to my life. I plan our vacation schedule, shop for gifts and find a way to balance the nights of cuddling with my husband and children in front of the tree with Christmas parties and opportunities to give something back to our community. All busy moms know this is a tough balance, but we’re going to wrap up as much as we can (including at least a little bit of time to relax) and make many fond memories this year.
One thing that my husband and I both enjoy is playing golf. It’s the perfect date outing that combines exercise, drinks, and lots of laughter. We’ll try to make a few trips to the golf course before the end of the year. He loves G / FORE golf equipment. I plan to get him some new golf shoes and polos for Christmas so we can spend a lot of time on the green next year.
(Courtesy photo by Jessica Hall)
I love spending time with my children playing without electronic devices, so I always look for toys that can be used for imaginative play or that can be incorporated into family time.
American Girl dolls are a great example that both my daughter and I love. I can still remember how excited I was as a kid when the new American Girl catalog arrived at my house and I sat down to look at each page. That’s the same excitement I have now when I see through it with my own daughter. The dolls are so special and we both love all the time we can play together. American Girl’s special play sets, like this adorable cafe, help kids bring imagination into everyday things while playing at home (like going to a cafe with friends). She also loves to play with barbies. The Barbie Dream House has gotten so much fancier than it was when I was growing up – with plenty of options to transform the various pieces of furniture and reconfigure the layout of the house. It’s another great foundation for imaginative play. If you want souvenir gifts that my daughter loved very much, these would be a good choice.
There is nothing better for my son than to combine his love for cars with his love for dinosaurs. This Hot Wheels Monster Trucks T-Rex Volcano Arena is so much fun. We drive racing cars and do loops in our house every day. And when we’re not playing with cars, he loves the action figures from Masters of the Universe, which also offer plenty of opportunities for imaginative play.
What we all agree on in my house are games. Uno is a classic that just keeps getting better and works well when children of different ages play together. We’re going to bring out some comfy, matching family pajamas for me and the kids, and snuggly Mommy and Me socks and slipper socks for my husband out of Pudus to add a touch of vacation fun to our family game nights this month. And Sophie and I are excited to complete our festive fireplace diamond art project.
(Courtesy photo by Jessica Hall)
When it comes to cozy and comfortable things, I can’t get enough of Splendid Luxury Loungewear. I basically need one of everything on their website and you know my friends and my mother’s sisters will find some wonderful luxuries of mine under the tree this year. My mom friends all need one of these awesome mommy hangover sweatshirts from LuluSimonStudio too – it’s too perfect.
For other great mom gifts, I love Women’s Best Workout Equipment. I know I’ll be setting myself fitness goals in the New Year, and all good fitness goals start with great workout clothes. And I love my Paradigm eyewear colors. They’re great for nice days in the sun, and I’m looking forward to many of them in the next year, too. After all, Diana Madison beauty products are always a good choice. The Glow Factor Face Sheet Mask is perfect for a spa night at home.
As you plan your vacation schedule and make your gift lists, I hope you can find some inspiration for some of my favorite things. And most of all, I hope that you can spend a lot of time with your family and favorite friends. Happy Holidays!
Find Jessica Hall on IG @jessicahall