A Mom's Year

January 9, 2019

A Very Hygge New Year

I think it’s safe to say that the Danish word hygge has firmly made its way into our collective consciousness. While the term is associated with coziness and evokes images of candles and woollen socks, I also think of it as another way to pay attention. To yourself, to your family and friends, and to the world around you. How’s everyone doing? Do you have enough to eat? Are you warm enough? Is there anything I can do to help? It’s the exact opposite of self-absorbed hedonism because to be truly content, you can’t just focus on yourself.

And so I was thrilled when I received not one, but two hygge-related presents for Christmas this year! Tim gave me The Hygge Game: Cozy Conversation in Pleasant Company. We read from the cards during Christmas brunch, dinner, New Year’s Eve, and at random times throughout the break. (The secret is to leave the game out on the table so people can pick up a card and toss a question out to whoever happens to be in the room.)

December 5, 2018

Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week Four

Day 22: Harry Potter Bookmarks (And a book!)

Since moving to the island two years ago, we needed to come up with new traditions of our own. One of the traditions we adopted is the Icelandic ritual of giving books and chocolate on Christmas Eve. But you could give out books a couple days early. Especially if you have younger kids who need to be kept busy during Christmas break! I think these bookmarks are so cute and you can personalize them for each Hogwarts House.

Day 23: Crepe Balls with Trinkets Inside

It was probably in Victoria magazine that I first came across Christmas Surprise Balls. It’s fun to unwind the balls and find little surprises as you go. And you have to love the riot of crepe paper everywhere when everyone’s done! To make these, you just need some small trinkets (for these, I used Harry Potter stamps and stickers) and some candy if you’d like. And then you just roll it all up into balls and secure each with a piece of tape. The best way to make these is while watching your favorite Christmas movie.

December 3, 2018

Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week Three

We’ve just finished the Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week Two, so now it’s on to Week Three.

Day 15: Levitating Lemon Drops

I bought a good-sized bag of lemon drops on Amazon and made simple “Levitating Lemon Drops” print-outs. And then I just filled four of the incredibly useful clear cellophane bags that I keep on hand, tied them all with a bit of baker’s twine, and done. (What is it about baker’s twine that makes me so happy?)

November 30, 2018

Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week Two

We’re picking up right from where we left off in the Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week One.

Day 8: Apparating Game

Ask your kids: “If you could apparate to anywhere in the world, where would it be?” You can use a map, books, or go online to find ideas or do some exploring. Or, if you have older kids, you can text each other photos of where you’d go. My pick is Amsterdam because we have friends living there and I’m itching to visit them.

November 30, 2018

Harry Potter Christmas Countdown: Week One

Our Advent Box has been at the heart of our Christmas celebrations since the kids were small. They’d take turns opening the doors to reveal Hershey’s Kisses and a little slip of paper with anything from a joke to directions for a Christmas project or the announcement of a fun outing or party taking place that day. They also took turns unwrapping a book from our collection of Christmas picture books.

But of course as they got older, life started to interfere with this tradition. I kept it going but with their busy schedules and then one off at college, I wanted to come up with something fun and new. Enter Harry Potter. The books lend themselves well to creative activities and Christmas was always a big celebration at Hogwarts.

So here’s Week One. Some days just need a little imagination or items you have around the house. For some activities, I’ve included links to websites that provide free print-outs. A big thank you to those people for sharing their creative talents!