🦃 kicking off Holiday Helper 2023
gratitude. conversations. letters - 5 things to help with that invisible load this week.
The 6 weeks of the Holiday Season kicks off this week. While I’m sure your inbox is overfull of deals and things to do, we’re hoping to be the haven of Less but Better.
Returning to our roots of sharing simple, curated thoughts, here are 5 things to consider this week, whether you and your loved ones are celebrating Thanksgiving or it’s just another week.
🖐🏽 5 things:
🫶🏼 Share: Conversation starters
Have the kids write questions onto slips of paper and put them into a bowl, or in your Thanksgiving table centerpiece. Take turns reading your questions out loud and sharing your answers. Feel free to use some of these or make up your own!What's something you appreciate about our family's daily life, even on ordinary days?
What's your favorite thing about our family that makes you happy?
What's something you love about our family's traditions?
If you could start a new family tradition for us, what would it be?
If you had to describe our family in three words, what would they be, and why?
If you were in charge of making a "Thanksgiving dance," what would it look like, and can you show us a move?
If you could give a Thanksgiving award to the funniest family member, who would win, and why?
If you were a chef, what would be the craziest dish you'd make for Thanksgiving dinner?
📺 Watch: Macy’s Day Parade
Here is an interactive guide where you can take turns reading fun facts about all of your favorite Macy’s Day Parade floats, balloons, and bands as they pass by.
🧀 Eat: A Cheese Turkey
Here’s an easy appetizer you can have the kids put together with some cheese, crackers and cold cuts
💕 Give: Do a 30 day giving challenge for your local food pantry or shelter
Use this guide to collect food or supplies while making it a family learning and sharing experience
This is can be a good addition to that chocolate advent calendar or Elf on the Shelf shenanigans
🤓 Learn: How to Write Letters
Teaching kids to write letters - whether it’s a quick thank you note for a gift or a letter to an out-of-state cousin - is an important life skill to practice. And sending and getting mail is just plain fun.
Here is a guide and a range of ideas to try with the kids - no matter the age
🖍️ What you need:
Notecards, stationery and postcards
Their own address book or notebook
Stamps (you can let them pick their own designs at the US Postal Service website)
Writing utensils (markers, pencils, crayons…)
Stickers and washi tape
📡 Get on your radar
A smattering of ideas, happenings, to dos from around the community, for a communal head’s up:
order Advent calendars, from Lego to Playmobile to Hot Wheels
splurge for Christmas Morning Cereal - on sale Friday at 12pm ET
knock out holiday cards this weekend - can still hit “ideal” timing of sending out first week of Dec while getting Black Friday discounts
schedule Santa photos and any other popular must-dos or tickets to a holiday show
Grateful for all of you.
xo,
avni