5 Ways to Enjoy Kona Ice All Year Round | 614 Mom

Earlier this year I shared all about the Kona Ice House Calls and you guys LOVED it. I had so many messages asking for more information and thanking me for sharing the info, I was tagged in your photos, and Kona Ice had their phone ringing off the hook. Now that we are all bundled up in coats and scarves it’s not as appealing to sit outside in a line to order a large Kona Ice cup with cotton candy flavor but I know you all love Kona just like my family so I wanted to share with you some ways you can still enjoy the treat without freezing.  :-)

Indoor Events

Last year I planned the carnival at my daughter’s school as a fundraiser for the PTO and one of the biggest hits was the Kona Ice cart.  The kids loved getting an unexpected frozen treat after running around playing games.

Birthday/Corporate Parties

My son has requested to have Kona Ice at his birthday party this winter and I mean can you blame him? Nothing says Kona Ice quite like an indoor pool party.

School Lunches

School Lunches would be the perfect place for the Kona Ice mini cart - it’s a fun and inexpensive way to have some fun during the cold winter months. Looking for a great PTO activity - I’ve got you. Call Austin.

School Dances

I don’t know about you but I would have loved my school to get Kona when I was going to school dances. The cotton candy flavor is the B E S T.

Sport Tournaments

We just sat through hours at a local sports tournament for a friend and as a mom I know that I would have paid good money for a small treat for my (impatient) kids.  

Is there an event you are thinking would be the perfect fit for Kona Ice?  Give Austin a call at 614-586-6999 and tell him Eryn sent ya :-)

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

Thank you Pazazz for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own. Thank you to my readers for supporting the brands who support 614 Mom.

This time of year my home is filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies, muffins, and pinterest fails (I’m looking at you peppermint ornaments) but nothing makes a cold day a little warmer than my favorite apple crisp in the slow cooker.  It’s my favorite thing to throw together before a potluck, holiday event with our families, or a random Tuesday evening when we just need some comfort food.

We LOVE apples in this house, it’s actually one of the only fruits that every single member of my family likes so we always have a bunch on hand which makes it easier to throw this together in minutes. I’m really picky about the quality of my produce so I’ve recently been trying out some new brands and Pazazz is my new favorite orrrrr obsession is actually the better word!  Pazazz apples are descended from the Honeycrisp with a beautiful red color and delicious mix of sweet and tart.  They are available in the fall and winter so it’s such a treat when they come in season. You can find Pazazz Apples in Meijer and Kroger and just to save you some time you can get them delivered from Shipt through Meijer. Just a little FYI! :) I’m all about helping make your lives easier - just search Pazazz and they pop right up.

This recipe is so easy to make with my kids because I use the slow cooker so we can put together the entire recipe before turning up the heat and while I love cooking with my kids - the dangers of cooking with children can stress me out! Anyone else feel me.

I highly encourage gathering up all of your ingredients beforehand and even peeling the apples before passing them along to your kids to chop.  

Ingredients

Base

10 Pazazz Apples

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

⅓ cup brown sugar

3 teaspoons of cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Crumble

1 cup of uncooked oats (old fashioned)

⅔ cup chopped walnuts (you could also use almonds instead)

½ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

4 tablespoon coconut oil (I’ve also used butter but I like the coconut oil better)

Directions

1. Peel, core and chop the apples into thin slices.  I allow my kids to use their safety knife to cut the apples so for us the apples are all different sizes.  

2. Add lemon juice to apples and mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until the apples are covered completely

3. Using a separate bowl make the crumble topping - by gently mixing the oats, flour, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together.

4. Add the base to the slow cooker and then top with oat crumble.

5. Drizzle coconut oil on top and add lid and set to high heat for 3-4 hours.

This pairs perfectly with a bowl of vanilla ice cream or by itself.  If you give it a try be sure to tell me how it turns out for you. You can head to my Facebook page to watch my son and I make this recipe LIVE!

Experiences Over Things | 2019 Holiday Gift Guide | 614 Mom

My husband and I are big believers in experiences over things when it comes to gifts for our kids.  Don't get me wrong - we are not against toys, we just try to make smart choices when it comes to toys and then use the rest of the budget for fun experiences.  We will happily spend more to make this a reality.  Instead of that $14, cheaply made, random toy from Target we will spend more on tickets to a play or a membership to a local museum.  This isn't because we think toys are evil or that our kids shouldn't have them, but because we want our kids to understand the value in making memories with their loved ones over material items.  We of course still buy them toys and with the exception of that bunny rabbit our daughter asked for one time, have made all of their big wishes come true.  However you won't catch me buying a cheap plastic toy - ever.  Instead I want to create those memories. I've done a lot of research on different fun experiences happening in Columbus over the next few months, that would be perfect for our kids, and I'm sharing it all below.  I hope it helps inspire you to find something fun to experience with your family.  

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We are so lucky in Columbus, to have some amazing museums in our backyard.  My husband and I definitely take advantage of those because it opens the door for so many fun memories at a pretty low cost.  Franklin Park Conservatory is a huge family favorite, we also really love The Columbus Zoo & The Wilds, The Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Historical Society, and my kids have been obsessed with COSI since they were infants.  Depending on the place and level of membership you're looking at, the price may seem a bit high, but remember they come with a lot of perks - like unlimited admission, free or discounted parking, special member only events, and discounts.  Memberships are always at the top of our lists for holiday gift ideas. New to Columbus this year is LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Easton and don’t tell my kids but they are getting this membership and a few others for Christmas this year.

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Now my personal favorite memories to give my kids (or anyone, really) are the ones that are once in a lifetime or once a year memories.  Tickets to The Nutcracker, or taking my son to see an OSU basketball game, those aren't things we do on a weekly basis so when the kids open those, they get really excited.  The excitement builds up from the time they open the gift until the day of the event.  Their happiness is so contagious and I just love getting to experience these memories with them.  Below are some events coming to Columbus at the end of 2018 and throughout 2019 that are perfect for family memories.  

1. Pete The Cat will be at the Children's Theatre January 17 - February 3, 2019 and Marry Poppins will be there May 17-19, 2019. These are perfect because they are short plays, a great introduction to theater and so much fun! The tickets are also very affordable, They have more shows in 2019 like Tuck Everlasting.

2. Tickets to see a show from CATCO is Kids. This is another great option for the young kiddos. Shows like BABE, The Sheep Pig, Seussical Kids, Madagascar a Musical Adventure Jr, and more.. Generally tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

3. Tickets to an OSU game - basketball, hockey, football, depending on the level of interest of your kiddos. My son loves all things Buckeye so we are planning on getting him OSU basketball tickets for Christmas.

4. Bundle up and head to Nationwide Arena for a Blue Jackets Game. Make a night of it by heading down a little early and grabbing dinner at Nada, Boston's, or Buca. (Note: Amazon sells youth Blue Jackets replica jerseys that would make attending the game even more fun for your kiddo)

5. Harlem Globetrotters will be in Columbus on December 30th and make a perfect stocking stuffer. You can even get tickets to go out on the court with the stars themselves. Seriously considering this one for our kids. Has anyone been? I'd love your thoughts. I haven't been since I was a kid.

6. Disney On Ice presents Frozen will be in Columbus April 18-April 21, 2019. We are huge fans of the Disney on Ice shows and will definitely be there for Frozen. Will we see you there?

7. Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic is coming to the Schottenstein Center on April 3, 2019 and tickets go on sale on December 18, 2018 at 10am EST. My two year old loves Elmo and this show looks so fun!

8. Cirque du Soleil Crystal is coming to Nationwide Arena on January 23 - January 27, 2019. We took our kids to a different Cirque du Soleil a few years ago and they really enjoyed it.

9. DANIEL TIGER is coming to Columbus!! Seriously, this is my favorite cartoon for my kids. It’s really a good one. You can catch Daniel and the gang live on April 28, 2019 at Palace Theatre at 4pm.

10. A gift card for bowling and laser tag at Ten Pin Alley! We are OBSESSED with Ten Pin and my kids are always asking to go play there so getting a gift card for the holidays is perfect.

11. Skating passes to The Chiller Ice Rink - we love doing this while my husband has some time off around the holidays and then again all year round.

12. Tickets to go Tubing at Mad River Mountain. A few quick things to know about snow tubing - there are no minimum/maximum age requirements at Avalanche Tubing Park, only one person can ride in a tube but you can be linked together with other tubes by each holding on to the other tube. Wear layers for this fun, seasonal, activity.

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We want to create memories in our home as well, so we've thought a lot about the best toys to purchase that will allow us to create memories together as a family. 

• Legos

• Magna-Tiles

• Art Supplies

• Board Games - Monopoly Jr., Jenga, Connect 4, and Uno are some of our favorites

Do you have anything you'd add to this list?  I'd love to hear! Leave your suggestions in the comments below.  :-) 

Our Favorite Holiday Gift Giving Tradition | Holidays | 614 Mom

When I was child my Pa, created this super special gift exchange for our family. It didn't involve a lot of money or a few moments in the store, but it did require a lot of thought, and a great deal of planning.  On Christmas Day, the members of our family who participated had a blast exchanging their gifts, and when I became a mom I knew that this gift exchange was one I wanted to recreate for my family as a special tradition. 

The rules were pretty simple - you had to make your gift, you absolutely could not buy it, and you had to be over 18.  I think they had that last rule so that it didn't turn into a ton of extra work by the parents. What they didn't expect was the way all of the children would look up to them and beg to be included.  One year, we even did a secret make a gift, gift exchange as kids without telling the adults. We were trying to show them we could do it without there help, so they would include us in the big one.  It didn't work! Haha, but they were impressed.  ;-)

I decided I wanted to recreate this tradition with my family but this time, include my kids.  So every year my family of five draw names and then as parents we help the kids think of an idea and make their gift.  As they get older, I'm sure we won't be as hands on because that's part of the fun, but for now I am the keeper of the list (so the kids don't forget who they have) and we help as much as we can without taking over or learning about the gift we will end up receiving. 

My Pa was my hero and I miss him everyday, being able to carry on a tradition he started in our family means so much to me.  It also feels so good knowing I am teaching my children that it's not about how much money you spend or how flashy the gift, it truly is the thought that counts, and with this gift exchange they have to really think about the gift they are giving.  

How It Works 

It works like most gift exchanges where you draw names, keep the name you draw a secret, and present your gift at the Holidays.  The way it is different is that you can't purchase a gift, you can buy the materials if you need to but the point is to use what you already have and not spend any money. The goal is to use your talents as opposed to your wallets.  

What Makes It Special 

This gift exchange requires you to think carefully about who is receiving the gift. You can't simply go buy a book that they will read and forget about. This is something that they can have forever, to cherish and always think about the way you put so much love into their gift. Some very simple questions we ask ourselves when thinking of what to make - 

What does this person need?
Do they have a hobby?
Is there something sentimental they would appreciate?
What is something age appropriate that I can do? (this ones for the kids)

What Are Some Gift Ideas?

When I was growing up watching the gift exchange I saw many different, thoughtful, creative gifts and they all had a lot meaning which was so special.  Now that I'm doing it with my young family, it's amazing to see how my young kids also create such thoughtful gifts that mean so much.  

My mom collected Ruby Slippers (like from the Wizard Of Oz) and one year my uncle made her a beautiful display for her collection.  
Last year Owen made his sister a photo collage of them together that is still hanging in her room
Emmalyn once made Owen a Build A Bear with her voice recording in it. (This one was a little on the grey side of the rules but since she was young I let it slide.) 
My husband made me a 614 Mom sign to hang above my desk last year, which was so sweet.  
This year Owen is illustrating this book for my husband.  (Riley, don't click on the link) 
There are so many amazing ways to do this gift exchange.  This is the time to get really creative.  

If you decide to try this gift exchange in your family, I would love to hear about how it goes.  Share your photos with me on social media, email your stories, I want to hear it all.  Happy Holidays! 

Celebrating The Holidays In Dublin | 12 Elves of Dublin | 614 Mom

If you’ve been a reader for awhile you know that this is my favorite time of the year! I LOVE the holidays! We have a few very special traditions that make this time of year extra special and one of those traditions including spending time in Downtown Dublin.  We love walking through Downtown Dublin and checking out the local shops, grabbing ice cream at Jeni’s, and warming up with a hot chocolate from Starbucks! On a side note: The White Hot Chocolate is life changing!! I’m obsessed!

12 Elves of Dublin

We have always loved the Dublin Fairy Trail so when we saw that they were hosting a 12 Elves of Dublin we knew we had to add it to our calendar.  It’s similar to the Fairy Trail because you hop from business to business looking for the elf and once you find the hidden elf you get a stamp. Turn in your completed card for a chance to win a grand prize! We went on Saturday and did a few of the stops but it was raining pretty heavy so we decided to go back another day to finish.  We did stop by Starbucks though and the barista told us that the kids that find the elf in their store get a free hot chocolate! Such a fun little surprise for my son, who loves Starbucks like his mama. :-)

You start by picking up the card at any of the 12 participating businesses and then make sure to go to each business on the card. The Scavenger Hunt runs daily from December 1-December 29 from 1pm - 4pm and is completely FREE to participate in.

Participating Businesses

• La Chatelaine

• Boho 72 Boutique

• Dublin Toy Emporium

• Dean Insurance Group

• The Close Connection

• Terra Gallery

• Cutler Real Estate

• Winans

• Our CupCakery

• Johnson's Real Ice Cream

• Dr. Jennifer J. Miller, DDS Dentistry of Dublin

• Starbucks

My kids loved the 12 Elves of Dublin because it was fun and exciting. My son’s excitement when he entered each business on the hunt for a new elf was something I hope to remember for the rest of my life. It was the CUTEST thing ever! I mentioned earlier that we had to leave early due to the weather but that’s okay because my son has talked about how cool it was so much that my husband (who didn’t get to go due to work) is excited to go back and experience it with us which is so fun!

You can celebrate the holidays in Dublin by visiting the Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo, grabbing dinner at Bridge Park, or shopping and strolling in Historic Dublin.  How will you be enjoying Dublin this Holiday season? Tell me in the comments and be sure to share your photos with me using #614mom on social media

Everything You Need To Know About Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights | 614 Mom | Columbus, OH

Thank you Butch Bando’s for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

December is one of my favorite months of the year because it’s all about time with family, making gingerbread houses, parties, and pretty lights.  One of my favorite traditions is packing the car with my family in their pajamas, complete with hot chocolate and yummy snacks and as we drive around to look for neighborhoods with beautiful lights. The only problem with that is that it’s hard to know where the best lights are and it changes year after year - except for the amazing Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights in Alum Creek.  

We recently discovered Fantasy of Lights and I am so glad we did - our Decembers will never be the same.  :-) Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is a drive thru light show located at the Alum Creek State Park Campgrounds. The show runs seven days a week from November 16-January 1, 2019.  Pricing is based on the day of the week and the type of vehicle you are in. Scroll down to learn more about the pricing structure.

Photo Source: Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights Facebook Page

Everything You Need To Know About Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights

1. The best way to enjoy the lights is in your PJ’s while slowly driving through the show.  There are so many special light displays that you don’t want to miss - so get comfy and enjoy the show is your coziest PJ’s but don’t forget your shoes because you’ll want them at the end.

2. Buy your ticket online or bring cash to help with the line.  This will help you and the people in line behind you.

3. The show is open through rain, shine, sleet, and on the major holidays. Looking for something fun to do on Christmas Eve? The Fantasy of Lights is my recommendation.

4. Pricing is per vehicle and includes everyone in the car.  If you’re driving a car or SUV the pricing is $20 Monday-Thursday and $30 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  If you’re in a bigger vehicle like a limo, large van, or RV you are looking at $40, Motor Coach is $60, and buses are $100.    

5. They have their own radio station! Be sure to ask when you buy your ticket so you can listen to the most festive music while looking at the beautiful lights.

6. Military Appreciation Show is December 26 & 27.  Active Duty & Spouses get in free on those nights and Veterans get in for $10. Thank you for your service.  

7. After you’ve spent the time driving through looking at the beautiful light show you can stop by Santa’s House at Cross Creek Camping Resort for hot chocolate, cookies, and of course Santa.  

If you’re looking for a way to get in the holiday spirit look no further! Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights is your one stop shop for all things holiday.  Have you been? Tell me what you’re favorite light display is in the comments. Oh & I can’t forget - they have two new light displays this year and I can’t spoil the surprise but you will L O V E them.  

614 Mom Speaking Engagements | Nationwide Insurance

A few weeks ago I was asked to speak, for a second time, to the moms group at Nationwide Insurance.  It’s always so fun to meet the people who read 614 Mom, invite new readers to check us out, and give everything I can to everyone there.

This year I reached out to my favorite businesses to give them a chance to share about their business with those in attendance.  I also bought some really fun 614 Mom bags and with the help of the 614 Moms Facebook group - put some fun text on the front. Take a look at the following businesses and give them a follow - they are GREAT and I support each and everyone.

Sitters Unlimited

Juggle

Coffee Connections

Leeds

New Albany Ballet

Balanced Family Academy

Code Ninjas

Ten Pin Alley

Spa at River Ridge

Creative Art Bar

Picassos

Destination Hilliard

Easterseals

Peace Love Bling

Hydrate Me

Girls On The Run

Garden Art Studios

Cute As A Button

Optimize Chiropractic

Goldfish

New Leaf Wellness Retreat

Gymboree

Little Gym

Ella Ann

Crazy Richard’s

Not Just Make Believe Princesses

Spending Intentional Time With My Daughter

Thank you Empowered Minds for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own and I would never recommend a product or service I don’t fully stand behind.

As my daughter has gotten older I’ve noticed that we are very similar and we share similar love languages. The biggest one we both hold is Quality Time.  I just want to spend uninterrupted time with the people in my life, and when people put what they are doing on hold to focus on me I feel more loved. My oldest is very similar in that way and I am always looking for fun ways that she and I can spend quality time together. Gosh, I love that kid.  It truly fills my heart that she loves quality time as much as I do. It isn’t always a big event or something pricey, sometimes it’s curling up with a good book and reading together, sometimes it’s taking only her to the grocery store with me, and more recently it’s filling out her J.O.Y. Journal together.

J.O.Y. Journal

The J.O.Y. Journal helps us connect daily and sparks conversations that then turn into bigger conversations. The Just Own You (J.O.Y.) Journal is designed for girls to embrace their unique self through guided activities.  The journal really encourages self acceptance and self love which are two things I want my children to feel every single day of their lives.

We started the J.O.Y. Journal by talking about E’s biography, her best day ever and what that looks like, quotes that guide her, detective work, and so much more. Once we wrapped up that part of the book we started a section called My Daily Review.  My Daily Review is a section where we reflect on things she’s excited about, lessons she’s learned that day, and other really fun things to reflect on. It also gives her so much space to write whatever is on her mind.

The J.O.Y. Journal was created by a mother/daughter duo who are passionate about helping others live of a life of self acceptance, confidence, and self love. Hearing their story brought me to tears as I’ve thought about the conversations I’ve had with my daughter.  About a year ago she drew a photo of us standing outside of a building with the word ‘SPA’ written on the building. Emmalyn told me that this photo is of our future mother/daughter spa that we will own when she is older.  Instant tears. Watching another mother/daughter team go after their dream and doing it together is so inspirational for me and I am happy to support their mission.

Through working on this journey together my daughter and I have connected with each other in new ways, we have learned more about the other, we’ve laughed, we’ve been silly, we’ve been thoughtful, and most importantly we’ve spent uninterrupted quality time together and that is something I am so thankful for.  You can get your J.O.Y. Journal through their website and on Amazon.  The J.O.Y. Journal makes the perfect gift for the girl in your life whether that’s for the holidays, birthdays, or a just because I love you gift.  

Have you used the J.O.Y. Journal? Tell me about it in the comments. If you order let me know! I’d love to hear what you think.  

30 Unique Experiences To Gift The Adults In Your Life, Columbus Ohio

I’m a big believer in experiences over things which is why I’m so excited to share with you my suggestions on experiences to gift to the adults in your life. These can be used for anyone - your boss, parents, spouse, babysitter, etc. I’ve sorted them by category so if you have a foodie in your life check out the Food/Drink section - if you have someone who LOVES Columbus - be sure to check out that section, as well as all of the other fun categories. Have a suggestion for the list? Tell me by commenting on this post.

Food/ Drink Related

Tickets to a Columbus Food Adventures tour - This has been on my Columbus bucket list since forever...The one I really want to do is the brunch tour. I mean brunch is my favorite thing of all time. Okay, if I'm being honest I really want to do them all.

Tickets to a Columbus Brew Tours - This one would definitely be for Riley , as I'm more of a tequila girl myself. However it looks like so much fun.They Pitchers and Pizza one is right up my alley!

Handcraft Your Own Wine at Camelot Cellars - This would be a perfect gift for the wine lover in your life. Please tell me I'm not the only one who would love to create my own batch of white wine!?

Distillery Tour at Watershed Distillery - This is an inexpensive way to experience something new.

Any of The Cheesecake Girl events would be a perfect gift. She pairs cheesecake with coffee, wine, you name it. You can also find cheesecake trails around Columbus through her. It goes without saying that the cheesecake is delicious!! :)

Brew your own beer at North High Brewing. This is actually on my list so I can’t speak for the experience but it looks and sounds REALLY fun!

Tickets to a participatory dinner at The Kitchen ! (Hint Hint - if my husband is reading this. I want tickets to any of the ones on the current calendar)

For the Adventurer

5.Life - Rock climbing - indoors. Perfect and unpredictable date night.

Grand Prix - indoor go kart racing for adults? Yes please.

Zip line at the Wilds

An escape room experience with Amaze! We’ve been twice and every time it’s a blast.

Columbus Love

Pedal Wagon Tour - Even as someone who has lived in Columbus most of her life, this is something I've seen as I walk through the Short North and I've always wanted to participate in.

Membership OR tickets to an event at the Franklin Park Conservatory

Tickets to a sporting event - Blue Jackets, Buckeyes, Clippers, or Crew

The Columbus Zoo - Believe it or not the zoo has a lot of events for adults only! They had a murder mystery event and a scavenger hunt recently and you can always count on them for Brew at the Zoo and Zoofari.

Candle pouring with Eleventh Candle Co at Polaris Mall or at their location in Worthington.

COSI After Dark- Oh COSI, thank you! Riley and I love your over 21 events. We are total nerds at heart, and I mean that in the most endearing way possible. We love COSI and sometimes it's fun to explore everything without all the little ones. We get to go at our pace and spend time somewhere besides Kid Space. Tickets aren't that expensive either - this is a go to date night for us.

Membership to the Columbus Museum of Art - this is a perfect gift for anyone! Endless possibilities here.

Candle Lab - Riley's family hosted a baby shower here and it was incredible. I wasn't sure if my husband was going to enjoy it because he normally just trusts me to pick out things like candles for our house, but he got really into it.

Pampering Gifts

Nail appointment from The Onyx Spot! Jee Jee is the best and she recently launched her own line of scrubs and oils..

A cleanse from Pure Pressed Juicery

Spa Day at Woodhouse Day Spa in Dublin (Total bonus points if it's a couples day at the spa)

A month (or more) at Barre3

Getaways

Day trip or weekend trip to Hocking Hills - a romantic weekend away is a perfect gift.

Staycation at The Jospeh in the Short North - You will have the best time. The staff there truly cares about making your stay special - you can read about our Staycation in May here.

The Arts

Tickets to see a show at one of our many wonderful theatres in Columbus. The Nutcraker is a great one to go see around this time of year.

Tickets to a show at Shadow Box

Tickets to a class at Glass Axis - we love Glass Axis.

Tickets to see a favorite comedian at the Funny Bone

Gift Guide By Kids For Kids | 614 Mom | Quest To Clean Up

Thank you Quest to Clean Up for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own and I only share about businesses I LOVE!

My kids are in this new stage of wanting ALL of the things...so we are currently teaching them about the value of money and working for what they want. My husband and I want them to know from an early age that money isn’t unlimited and if you want something you have to be willing to work for it. There are things in our home that they must to just because they are a member of this family like keep their rooms picked up, put their dishes in the sink, and just basic motions that help keep our house from being a chaotic mess.  Outside of that I’m happy to reward them for going above and beyond.

I recently found a new app for my phone that helps me have those conversations while showing them the value in hard work. Quest To Clean Up is the only app in the app store showing kids that if you want something you have to work for it.  Parents set the tasks and assign a value for each task from their side of the app - the kids can then go in and check things off as they go and know on the spot how much they earned for that and see how much closer they are to items on their wishlists. As a visual learner I love this because as a kid I was always writing it down and trying to remind my mom how much she “owed” me. Haha! Seriously though - it’s super helpful that the kids can see exactly where they are in relation to their goal and how much work they have to do to get there.

The wishlists are limited to 8 items and completely built by the child which makes it really fun for the parents to go in and see what their kids are working for.  The app will also show the child how many chores they need to complete to be able to get an item on their wishlist, so they can decide if it’s really worth it.

Because of the wishlists Quest to Clean Up has access to exactly what kids are wanting.  Since we are hitting shopping season they have graciously decided to share this with us so we can be prepared for shopping this weekend (Black Friday, Small Biz Saturday, and Cyber Monday) as well as the rest of the holiday season. I’m breaking it down by age to make it as easy as possible.  

Don’t forget to download Quest to Clean Up so your kids can start earning all of those extra things on their Holiday Lists.  

Ages 4-6 Years Old

Boys

Lego Character Sets
Lego Marvel Heroes
Nerf
Strike,
Laser X Tag Set

Girls

Our Generation School Set
Our Generation Vet Set
American Girl doll
American Girl Pastry Set
Unicorns
Pikmi Pops
LOL Surprise
Squeezamals

Ages 7-8

Boys

Marvel/Star Wars Legos,
Electric Scooter
Harry Potter Wand (coding set)
Roblox
XBox/Playstation consoles/games
Nerf
Air Hogs Star Wars

Girls

Bath bombs
DIY craft kids
LOL Bigger Surprise
Reversible sequin pillows
Squeezamals
Squishmallows
Squishamals
Narwhals
Unicorn
Cute food

Ages 9-10

Boys

Xbox/Playstation online gaming cards,
Roblox,
Fortnite Nerf
Harry Potter Wand
Legos,
GameStop Gift Cards

Girls

DIY craft sets
Squishies
Reversible notebooks
Jewelry
Bath bombs (unicorn dust, unicorn poop),
Make up/nail sets,
Electric ride ons (hoverboards)

Ages 11-13

Boys

Xbox/Playstation online gaming cards
Fortnite
Madden
Segway Self Balancing Electronic Ride On
Gaming accessories (wireless gaming headset with microphone)

Girls

Make up – Benefit Cosmetics
iTunes
iPhone
Adidas gear
Wireless head set
Beats pill (speaker)

Thank you Quest To Clean Up for helping us all know exactly what our kids want even when they may not even know it. Be sure to download their app as an educational resource all year long.