For the last several years my less is more mantra has never rang truer than during the holidays, and this mantra has proven particularly practical since becoming a parent. My Simplifying the Holidays guest bloggers have shared so many fantastic ideas; now here's what my family and I do during the holiday season to keep “random stuff creep” to a minimum and encourage creativity and mindfulness in giving within our family and community. Also excellent, many of these ideas can involve your kids -- this is great for bonding and saves you from spending precious alone time on errands and holiday preparation.

Make a plan. I loved Melissa Massello’s piece on prioritizing and planning holiday spending. Follow Melissa’s plan (we’re now in the final holiday stretch but the general concept remains relevant) or devise a plan that fits your family. For example, I have a large immediate family (six siblings) and a few years ago we decided to stop exchanging gifts, instead focusing on time together and optional small tokens. My holiday plan typically involves crafting some cool handmade tokens for my siblings and doing a bit of gifting for my mom and my husband’s family following the parameters below.

Shop local. While I love the convenience of online shopping, I am very committed to supporting local businesses and artisans. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful array of independent stores and galleries within reach (and don’t forget Etsy as a resource) and I love shopping with Laurel. We always marvel about handmade things and the artists who make them, and she loves helping to think about what gifts certain people would love. Taking Laurel shopping also helps her learn about money; it’s been very touching to have her offer to chip in for gifts from her piggy bank.

Gift usable items. I have a strong aversion to tchotchke so I gift people with things they can use. You can’t go wrong with food gifts such as magic salt, spice rubs, cookie or soup jars, or baked goods, and these projects are great to assemble with kids. In the past I’ve also made candles and soaps. Our go-to gift this holiday is painted pottery because it’s a fun activity for Laurel, creates usable items (e.g., plates, mugs), and supports a local art studio. And for my sibling token, I’ve already crafted these fabulous photo bookmarks.

Use what you already have. Laurel generates a lot of artwork. So one year we made holiday cards entirely using her paintings as background (I simply cut the pieces to fit our envelopes and attached a printed message and photo). Other years we have gifted her paintings in inexpensive matted frames. And for a super minimal approach, simply assemble a series of artwork in a stack (if you have a lot of variably sized items, mount on construction paper), punch 2-3 holes along one side, and fasten with ribbon. Voila! A beautiful, heartfelt art book. (Side bonus: tidies up your house.)

Encourage teaching moments. We parents are responsible for helping our children become thoughtful community members. And the holidays offer plenty of opportunities to encourage teaching moments. You can teach older kids about everyday philanthropy; for example, engaging their help to knit or crochet goods for those in need. Or your family can volunteer a few hours at a local shelter. We talk to Laurel about families in need and contributing to food, clothing, and toy drives. I take her shopping for these drives and she helps pick items to give to other families.

Give the gift of the arts. A great way to avoid playroom clutter? Give the gift of the arts. Not only is it fabulous to support local arts organizations, but these experiences are so multisensory for kids that they really stick. Laurel has incredibly strong memories of the live performances she has seen, and they need not be expensive, particularly with little ones with a limited attention span. Look into inexpensive performances by your local high school, college, church, or community arts group. And when your child gets older and can make it through a longer show, splurge on something like The Nutcracker (this was my sister Stephanie’s gift to Laurel this year and Laurel was blown away). It will be an experience your child will never forget.

Give gifts with longevity & purpose. Instead of the latest fad toy, consider giving gifts with longevity and purpose. Books are a great gift because when they can be passed on to a younger friend or donated to the local library when your child outgrows them. Art and craft supplies offer fun for play time as well as inspiration for gifts. Another great idea is a donation to Heifer International, where your child could pick the animal to gift to a community. And Jon and my gift to ourselves is that we’re in the process of signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; it’s an investment in our community farmers and a gift to our health.

The gift of time. Finally, I wanted to remind people of a non-material gift that often is overlooked: the gift of time, even if it’s as simple as offering to spend an hour or two together. More than any one thing, Laurel often just wants to be with the people she loves. A couple of weeks ago when she decided to make a Christmas list, the first (and actually, the only) thing she wrote was, “Have Grandma Nancy move closer to us.” For a mother bent on minimalist living and who values family connection, this simple wish was the best Christmas gift Laurel could ever give me.

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Image credit: Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker

It's my fault. The carpet is so light-colored and only three years old. I caress it sometimes. Last year, we asked for a new vacuum cleaner for Christmas. So we could keep it cleaner, stare proudly at its stain-resistant fibers. After living with the disgusting Berber at This Old House for six years, new carpet has felt like living in a wall-to-wall dreamland.

So maybe I won't let anyone use the door to the back deck that's located randomly in the living room. BECAUSE THEY MIGHT TRACK ON THE CARPET.

And maybe I make every child remove their shoes within five nanoseconds of entering my house. BECAUSE THEY MIGHT TRACK ON THE CARPET.

And maybe I have been making my five-year-old daughter use travel coffee cups, water bottles and maybe, maybe even two leftover sippy cups when she dines in the living room. BECAUSE SHE  MIGHT SPILL ON THE CARPET.

And then, then! Just as I was chastising myself for being ridiculous, I let her eat french toast sticks and syrup in the living room.

Wait for it.

She pushed back her TV tray. It tipped over in slow motion. My feet were stuck as though rooted in sand. A tiny, ceramic bowl containing Mrs. Butterworth somersaulted gracefully through the air, spraying thick and sticky brown syrup in a four-foot swath across my sweet plush. All the sippy cups were for naught.

She stained the goddamn carpet.

There was a lot of holiday cookie talk on Twitter yesterday, which reminded me that I wanted to share a fantastic recipe for gingerbread people (we're equal opportunity bakers around here). Derived from my trustworthy Baking Illustrated, what I love about these cookies is that they aren’t rock hard crunchy -- testing your dental strength and spraying crumbs all over your shirt with each bite. These cookies are a touch crispy around the edges but chewy throughout, and the sweetness level (not overly sweet) is just right. Laurel and I made these cookies for a holiday party last weekend and people went crazy over them.
I used the cookie recipe from Baking Illustrated, and in the absence of an accompanying icing recipe (odd!), dug up an icing recipe in Nick Malgieri’s How to Bake (I’ll also need to test Nick’s gingerbread cookies some time). I was a little weirded out by the idea of using raw egg white in the icing but apparently that’s how it’s done. The icing hardened up beautifully, just like bakery cookies.

Laurel had a grand time decorating the cookies; I simply cut the corner off a plastic bag and filled it with frosting. She has a remarkably steady hand and decorated the entire batch herself.

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Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies*

*I'm listing the title as it appears in the book so it's easy to find if you purchase Baking Illustrated, but I modified the process and directions from the original since I wanted thinner cookies (the original recipe calls for rolling out dough to ¼” and no additional flour is used in rolling out).

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tablespoons (1 ½ stick) unsalted butter, softened but still cool, cut into 12 pieces

3/4 cup molasses

2 tablespoons milk

1. Process dry ingredients (flour through salt) in a food processor until combined, about 10 seconds. Scatter butter pieces over flour mixture and process until mixture is sandy and resembles fine meal, about 15 seconds. With machine running, gradually add molasses and milk; process until dough is evenly moistened and forms a soft mass, about 10 seconds. (You can also follow this process with a hand mixer.)

2. Divide dough into four pieces. If dough feels sticky, sprinkle with flour until it firms up a bit (and isn’t spiky sticky). Then roll out dough between two sheets of parchment until about 1/8” thick. Leave dough between parchment layers and place in freezer until firm (about 10 minutes). You can also make the dough the day before and refrigerate sheets overnight. Note: this refrigeration/freezing process is important! The dough will cut and release easier from the cookie cutters when very firm.

3. Adjust oven racks to upper and lower positions and heat to 350 degrees. Spray baking sheets with nonstick spray, or use a Silpat mat (I adore these mats; they make cookie edges come out perfect every time). Remove one dough sheet and peel off top parchment sheet and gently lay back in place. Flip over and peel off other sheet. Cut gingerbread shapes (we used 3 inch cookie cutters). Transfer shapes to sheet, spacing about ¾ inch apart. Collect scraps and roll out between parchment and freeze as above. Repeat process until all dough is used up.

4. Bake cookies until set in the center and dough barely retains an imprint when touched very gently with a fingertip, about 8 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool cookies on sheets 2 minutes then transfer to a wire rack. Allow to cool completely.

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Decorating Icing

Malgieri's recipe calls for 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, 3 large egg whites, 1 drop of lemon juice or vinegar (and food coloring if you wish). Simply mix together until smooth. I cut the recipe in half and it was plenty. If you’re just doing simple line and dot decorations (i.e., not covering the whole cookie) as Laurel did, you could go with 1/3 of the recipe so you only need to crack one egg. That is what I will do next time.

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My little worker bee...

During the bitter winter months, even summer-related crafts are welcome (let's all chant the think warm thoughts mantra, shall we?). Today, Sarah reviews Wallaroo’s art hat kit. Read on for Sarah’s review, as well as to learn how to win a Wallaroo Art Hat for your little one:
From Sarah:

Once the fall weather turns on toward winter, it gets harder and harder to convince the kids that playing outside is fun. Even with layers (“this hat is itchy!”) and planned activities (“but I don’t see any nature!”), the day’s fun usually occurs mostly indoors. And a good supply of crafty projects is priceless in passing the endless time between lunch and “Daddy’s home!”

So when offered the opportunity to test a new kid-friendly craft kit, I leapt at the chance. The Wallaroo Hat Company’s Art Hat comes in two size options (2-5 years and 5-7 years) to fit most toddlers and preschoolers. My five-year-old son was excited to make himself a hat, and could hardly wait to get home from walking the dog to get started. Although momentarily disappointed that the hat is a sunhat (“for wearing at the beach,” I told him) and not a warm one (preferably non-itchy) to wear all winter, he hoovered his snack and pulled up his sleeves.

The hat itself is a basic flat-crowned bucket hat with a four-inch brim all around, in a microfiber that promises UPF 50+ sun protection. The kit also comes with six non-toxic fabric paints and two brushes. While the range of colors is bright and zingy (not your run-of-the-mill primary snoozers, these), the brushes are the standard cheap-o black-plastic-bristled blunt-tipped kind that usually accompany Crayola knock-off watercolor kits. The bristles are so stiff and unyielding that it might have been easier to paint with the end of a stick. Also, the teensy paint pots are all attached in a line, with flip-top lids that definitely need an adult’s assistance.

Discounting the equipment quirks (and having dug up a couple of natural-bristle brushes in our craft supplies), Avery was ready to have at it. I helped him flatten the hat so he could paint his design on the front side, but to continue around the back (and not have to wait the three prescribed hours for the paint to dry) I held the hat up for him to decorate all around, including the top. (Another option might be to set the hat on something that can hold the shape and be rotated, e.g., oatmeal canister.)

While the paints definitely lend themselves to more dexterous artists on the higher end of the age range, if your crafters are comfortable with abstract composition, the Art Hat is good for at least thirty minutes of indoor entertainment. Add some of your own fabric markers, glue-on crystals, and a parent-operated hot-glue gun and you could keep going until snack time.

The resulting oeuvre (grass, tree, flower, boy, “m” birds, erupting volcano) made Avery (and, let’s face it, his adoring parents) very happy, and might even encourage him to keep a hat on next summer. And on that note, Wallaroo is committed to the elimination of skin cancer, and donates 1% of their profits to skin cancer research, education, and prevention in the U.S. I’m sure my son will be thrilled to do his part.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Faye!
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Now, want to win a Wallaroo Art Hat? Here’s how:

Visit the Wallaroo store locator page, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Wallaroo’ in the subject), and name a store that sells Wallaroo products.

One entry permitted per person; US residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Sunday, December 20, 2009.

*One lucky winner (drawn using Random.org) will receive the Wallaroo Art Hat in their choice of color/size (subject to stock availability) ($20 value).

This post is inspired by Maria Niles' post on BlogHer.

1) I meant to be more present. I try, really I do, to always be listening when someone is talking to me. Sometimes, though, something I read or see or want to write about squirrels its way into my head, and no matter how I bat it down it pops up again like a rubber duck. It particularly bothers me when I find myself doing this with friends or family. They've pointed it out, this bad habit of mine, and I'm ashamed of it. So even though I meant to do it in 2009, I'm going to try harder in 2010.

2) I meant to find an agent for my children's book, Bella Eats the Monsters. I wrote it, then Bella died, and after hearing back from a few agents that it wasn't quite there, that monsters were overdone, that it was "cute," I just gave up on it and started my novel. I'm happy with that decision. There is only so much time to write, and I feel more connected to the novel than I did to the children's book. So I'm stowing it for future reference, and perhaps I'll get it published by the time I'm pressuring the little angel to make me a grandmother.

3) I meant to call my parents more often. I have done a better job in the past few weeks, but there were weeks that I went by without talking to my parents. Normally we talk quite a bit, but somehow when things got really bad and busy at work and life just felt so overwhelming, calling home was forgotten. It didn't help that for a year we took long-distance off our home phone, so I had to find and unlock my cell to call home. I'm much more likely to talk for any length of time on a larger phone. Now we have long-distance back, and lo! I dial.

4) I meant to take more photos. We have a digital camera, and there's really no excuse. I wish I'd taken more video, too. I have all the tools. I just forget. Then a whole year has gone by and my daughter looks so different and I worry I'll forget what she looked like making cookies in her little apron. And then I want to cry.

5) I meant to read more. I read quite a few books in 2009, but they were almost all review books. I'm severely curtailing the books I will review in the future. Some of those review books were awesome, but some took away from great fiction. I won't let that happen again. It's easy to let that happen.

Lest I depress myself with this post, here are some things I'm proud that I did in 2009.

• I got a new job with a fabulous media company doing something I love.
• I weathered the death of Bella and brought Petunia Cookie Dough into our lives.
• I had a lot of dates with my hot husband, and we talked about all sorts of things that don't involve housework, children or scheduling.
• I wrote the rough draft of a novel.
• I threw a shower for my very pregnant best friend.
• I went to Disney World on my birthday with my family.
• I attended my first ASJA conference.
• I spoke at BlogHer and Chicks Who Click.
• I published articles at Super Eco and Babble and in Scholastic Parent and Child.
• I started getting together regularly with some writer types to talk shop and drink wine.
• I listened to War and Peace. I liked it.
• I helped Beloved's parents move to a more accommodating location.
• I helped Beloved remodel two closets and a garage in the Transformation of Chateau Travolta (which seems to drag on and on).
• I enjoyed myself quite a bit.

My respect, admiration, and affection for Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks is multidimensional. I met them for the first time in real life at BlogHer Chicago in July, but I have “e-known” them since the early CMP days, followed their hilarious personal blogs (Mom-101 and Motherhood Uncensored, respectively), and interfaced with Kristen through Parent Bloggers Network and also via Kristen motivating me to become one of the original wave of Shredheads. Liz and Kristen are such talented, generous, and funny women, and for the thirteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to share their savvy shopping tips to help you survive the last minute holiday shopping crunch.

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From Liz & Kristen:

So it’s officially the holiday rush. And by that, we mean even if you think you’ve crossed every person off your gift list, there’s still someone you’ve forgotten -- a hostess, a caregiver, your daughter’s ballet teacher, the kid who walks your dogs.

We’ve spent a lot of time this year trying to find more frugal options for our readers, from great holiday gifts under $20 in our holiday gift guide, to free (but fabulous) e-cards, to décor that you can reuse year after year.

But the truth is, for parents -- especially those of us who work outside the home too -- at times it can be worth it to pay a little extra to help get some of the many things off your overflowing plate and simplify your life. Here are three tips for surviving the last minute holiday crunch:

1. Shop online!

This is, by far, the number one hassle-avoider now or any old time of the year. You can comparison shop and search out discount codes on the spot (we often post them on our site), and best of all, you never have to wrangle the kids in and out of the car seat. Even if you pay for shipping, it often ends up being less than what you might spend in gas, parking, and cheese fries at the food court so keep it in perspective.

Little indulgence: Have the gifts wrapped and sent right to the recipient.

2. Get the return address labels

It is sooooo worth the few dollars extra to get preprinted address labels with your holiday cards. We particularly like the ones from Minted and Paper Culture. Even Shutterfly will print them right on the envelopes for you and their prices are great.

Little indulgence: Red Stamp has an address and send service, so if you’re Just That Busy, you don’t even have to sign your cards yourself.

3. Buy local

Skip the malls and keep your blood pressure at a reasonable level by hitting a local craft marketplace instead and supporting a small business. Or if you head over to Etsy, you can search by location and find a fantastic local crafter who might be able to get it to you quickly, or maybe even drop the holiday gift of your dreams right to your door. You can find everything from décor to hostess gifts to handmade toys for the kids.

Little indulgence: Accessory shopping! Instead of buying a whole new holiday outfit, grab a hot new red scarf or a funky headband to spruce up that little black dress. Suddenly everything old is new again.

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Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase are the publishers of Cool Mom Picks, the influential shopping and design blog called "the online arbiter of cool for the swingset crowd" by Parents, and named one of Real Simple's favorite three blogs for parents. You can find them on Twitter at @coolmompicks where they'll be tweeting tons of last minute deals and gift ideas. Liz is also the author of Mom-101 and Kristen is the voice behind the always provocative Motherhood Uncensored. They tweet at @Mom101 and @mublogger, respectively.

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Image credit: Vegan handmade soaps by Boston-based DeShawn Marie Handmade Soaps (via Etsy).

Given Laurel’s insatiable appetite for art projects, it’s always fun to discover a new craft that captivates her. And currently, it’s weaving -- an activity inspired by a transfixing spin on a full sized loom at a downtown art festival this past summer. We recently bought Laurel the Alex Fashion Weaving Loom (you also can opt up a notch in size with the Alex Giant Weaving Loom), and though the packaging is marked for 7+ Laurel has no problem weaving once I set up the main (warp) threads. The kit comes with fantastically soft rainbow yarn plus some fun fringed yarn and this activity has engaged Laurel for impressively long stretches of time; she's super proud of the scarf she just finished. I just wish Alex sold more of the rainbow yarn separately, because Laurel’s itching to make a coordinating purse.

I knew something was fishy the moment she approached me. She NEVER sits on the couch in the morning. She's always running this way and that, muttering "LATE! LATE!" even when she works from home in that stupid leather chair I can't fit into behind her. (I have tried. Nonadjustable arms.)

But she patted the seat beside her, all nice and cooing, and I, like an idiot, walked right into it. She grabbed me and he held open some sort of gauche gym-bag-looking-wannabe-designer-cat-bag thing. He stuffed me in headfirst. I was so totally pissed. HISS.

I will wait until they sleep. Then I will sit on their chests and breathe menacing breaths until they wake up.

Then I will wait for them to fall asleep and DO IT AGAIN.

She drove me to the vet and left me there for five hours. WITH OTHER ANIMALS. I hate other animals.  And she should never leave me like that.

Because maybe. Just maybe? I was a little bit scared.

HISS.

Then the stupid vet said something about "fecal test" and also told me I have a cavity and have to have a tooth extracted AT A LATER DATE. Which means I HAVE TO COME BACK.

But next time ... next time, I will see her coming.

Fuck you.

Looking to take dress up play to a fun, new, and eco-friendly level? Today, Kate shares a review of the organic, hypoallergenic kid's face paint and makeup kits from New Hampshire based Luna Organics. Read on for Kate's review, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive Luna Organics kits:

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From Kate:

My daughter has long been a fan of face painting, and will generally make a beeline for the face painting table at any fair or carnival (cat whiskers are her go-to look, but rainbows, suns, and large hearts also are favorites). Although hardly a skilled artist myself, I would like to be able to have fun with face painting at home (especially on days when weather or mood keep us inside), but I cringe when I look at the ingredients in most store-bought face painting kits, so we have yet to try it out on our own.

I subsequently was particularly happy to discover the play face paint and makeup sets made by Luna Organics, a small New Hampshire-based outfit producing small kits of powder, lip balm, and color for children. All of the ingredients are gentle for delicate young skin, and all are easy to remove and fun to play with. My daughter and I experimented with the All-Natural Fancy Fairy Kit; the colors are bright and kid-friendly, and the glitter gives it all an extra shine. Also cool, these kits come in an adorable zippered pouch and with little jars that all interconnect in an ingenious way.

For those cold and rainy days when you just can't get yourself to the playground or the museum, check out the offerings of Luna Organics to put some sparkle in your playtime.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Amy & Betsy!
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Now, want to be one of two winners to receive makeup kits from Luna Organics? Here's how:

Visit the Luna Organics shop, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with 'Luna Organics' in the subject), and name a face paint or makeup kit you'd love to try with your child.

One entry permitted per person; US & Canada residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Thursday, December 17, 2009.

*Two lucky winners (drawn using Random.org) will receive their choice of either the Fancy Fairy, Ballerina Princess, or Rock Star kit.