Holiday Gift Guide - Ehlers Danlos/Rare Disease Zebra Edition

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!

If you're looking for the perfect gift for the Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or rare disease zebra in your life (or maybe for yourself), look no further! I've put together a list of gift ideas with something for every budget. Enjoy!

Holographic Ehlers Danlos word cloud sticker from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Personalized mustard zebra mug from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Stuffed zebra with crocheted awareness ribbon in a color of your choice from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Zebra duct tape from Amazon

__________________________________________________

Collagen is For Wimps hoodie from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Zebra print hoodie from Amazon

__________________________________________________

Zebra print mask from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Zebra bracelet from Etsy

__________________________________________________

#ZebraStrong ornament from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Zebra pajamas from Amazon

__________________________________________________

EDS Warrior zebra pin from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Adjustable zebra ring from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Sherpa zebra blanket from Amazon

__________________________________________________

Zebra travel mug from Etsy

__________________________________________________

Zebra compression socks

__________________________________________________

Zebra electric blanket from Amazon

__________________________________________________

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome fabric from Spoonflower

__________________________________________________

Zebra print shoes from Amazon

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holiday Gift Guide - Ehlers Danlos/Rare Disease Zebra Edition : https://bit.ly/2JtX7IL

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Did you find anything you liked, either for a gift or for yourself? Drop a comment and let me know what your favorite item from the list is!

Subscribe to our mailing list & get 5 free printables!

12 Must See Christmas Movies

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

Peppermint hot chocolate, cozy sweaters, twinkling lights, candy canes, pine trees...

You're thinking of Christmas right now, aren't you?

You're welcome.

One of our Christmas traditions is to watch one of our must-see Christmas movies.  Want to know what made it onto my list?  Here you go!

Christmas Traditions: Ornaments for Every Occasion From Etsy

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!

Every year on Christmas morning, my kids know that they will find a new ornament in their stockings.  Each of their ornaments mark a milestone they experienced in the past year or note something that they're currently interested in.  This year, Katie will be receiving a basketball ornament as she just started playing basketball, Nano will get a tractor ornament because he's really getting into farming with Hubby, and Anna and Davy will each get a first year of preschool ornament as they both started school this year (Anna is in 4/5 preschool and Davy is in 3/4.)

I have a lot of fun carefully picking out a special ornament every year for each of my children.  Someday, when they move out to their own place, they will already have a collection of ornaments for their Christmas tree.  I hope this is a tradition that they will someday pass on to their own children. 

One of my favorite places to get ornaments is Etsy.  I love how unique every ornament is and how easy it is to find personalized ones.  A great bonus to shopping on Etsy is being able to help support fellow small business owners like me. 

Here are some of my favorite ornaments that I found on Etsy this year...

50+ Books for Special Needs Kids: The Ultimate List

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!

If your child has special needs of any kind, reading them a book about another child with similar issues can make them feel less alone.  

When I got my kids a copy of "Special Like Me" which is a book about a boy with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome just like they have, they were pretty excited.  I even took it to the school and read it to each of my two oldest kids' classes.

For children with special needs of any kind, reading them a book about another child with similar issues can make them feel less alone.  

Books that focus on special needs of any kind are not just a great idea for the kids who have them, but for their peers, family, and anyone else who could benefit from learning more about the condition (hint: that would be everyone).

With that in mind, I spent several days researching and compiling this list of children's books about various special needs and disabilities.  I hope you find a book that works for your family!   

Just Like Me: Toys for Kids with Special Needs

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!

Kids love it when their toys look like them.  From hair and eye color, to any special needs that they might have, it helps them feel accepted.  They can also help kids feel less afraid of their differences or medical conditions.

My son Davy was only two months old when he had surgery to get his G Tube.  The day before his surgery, a nurse came into his hospital room with a stuffed bunny that had a G Tube just like the one Davy would be getting.  I practiced hooking the extension tube up on the bunny before and after Davy got his feeding tube which was much less stressful than having to practice on my screaming baby.  He got his G Tube out when he was 18 months old, but the bunny still sits on top of his dresser.  I plan to add it to his memory box when he gets older.

Toys that are adapted or created to have special needs or disabilities shouldn't just be for the kids who have them though.  What greater way to teach your child that it's okay to be different, have a feeding tube, or wear leg braces than for them to play with a toy like that?

20+ Shops Run by Special Needs & Spoonie Moms

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  Don't worry, this won't cost you any extra!

Parents who have chronic illnesses and/or children with special needs often have a hard time working a traditional job.  Between therapies, doctor appointments, and low spoon days, a job with flexible hours can make the difference between being able to keep a job or not.  One of the best ways to do that is to be self-employed.

Many special needs/spoonie moms end up starting their own shops online which gives them the flexibility to take care of their kids and themselves.  Want to help support them?  Check out the list I compiled of shops run by special needs/spoonie moms below and do a little shopping.  Christmas will be here before you know it!  

Etsy Finds: 15+ Educational Toys that Kids Will Love

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

Most of my kids' toys are in the play area of our basement.  The kids aren't allowed in the basement because the last time they went down there, they dumped ALL of the toys out.  ALL OF THEM.  That happened just about a month after I spent countless hours painstakingly organizing all of the toys into labeled boxes.

I may have cried a little.  

Since Toypocalypse, the kids only get to play with the toys that were already in the main level of our house.  That's about 10% of their toys.  They have legos, playdough, the sensory bean box, tractors, Shopkins, and a few other assorted sets and random toys.  It's been about 6 months (because I just can't bring myself to go downstairs and face the insanity), and they have barely noticed.

What that tells me is that it's quality, not quantity that matters when it comes to kids' toys.

So guess what?  I'm going to be having a garage sale (or rummage sale or tag sale depending on where you're from) and selling a LOT of toys!  Also, I'm going to be a lot more selective about bringing toys into the house.  (Unless they're for me...I collect Vintage Fisher Price toys)  As far as toys that the kids play with, I have a few requirements.

Any toys in my house must be educational and non-annoying (to me, not them because we all know that kids don't care how annoying a toy is.)

With that in mind, I put together a list of awesome educational toys I found on Etsy that kids AND their parents will love.  Bonus: not a single one of these toys needs batteries!

Shopping for Gifts at Uncommon Goods

I was compensated for this post, but all opinions are mine.

The summer is half over already.

Seriously.  What happened?

We're deep in summer mode over here, but I've already started my Christmas shopping.  With four kidlets of my own, 14 nieces and nephews and countless other people on my list, I've found that it's much more cost effective and less stressful for me to start super early.

On a side note, Anna saw the Christmas tree stashed under the stairs in the basement this morning and asked if we could put it up yet.  I draw the line there.

It's not just Christmas shopping though.  I tend to buy things for birthdays and other events throughout the year, mainly because if I don't, I know I'll completely forget until the morning of and then have to panic and shove some random gift in a gift bag.

15 Coordinating Easter Outfits for Siblings

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up and have, like, eight sets of twins.  I mean, look at how much fun it would be to dress them alike or in coordinating outfits especially for holidays like Easter or Christmas!!

Katie and Nano, 2010

And then I grew up and starting having babies and realized just how much work they are, even when they come just one at a time.

Nano, Anna, and Katie-Easter 2013

So, I settled on dressing up my four singletons instead.

My favorite way to do that is with handmade outfits.  I've always made them myself because I enjoy sewing and it can be next to impossible to find coordinating outfits for kids ranging in sizes from 8 to 2T in a store.

Gift Guide - For the Spoonie

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

If you know what a spoonie is, then there's a good chance that you either are one or you know one.  To celebrate how strong spoonies are, here's a gift guide with something for everyone! 

Gift Guide - Baby's First Christmas

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

Four kids later, and the first Christmas was just as special for my fourth baby as it was for the first.  There's just something magical about that first Christmas.

To celebrate your little one's first Christmas (or Hanukkah!), I put together a gift guide with a collection of unique keepsakes.  Enjoy!

Gift Guide - Unique Toys Under $20

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

My kids are watching the mail like hawks right now.  Why?  Because they know that Mommy does most of her shopping online, including the Christmas shopping.

Which is also why I'm glad that the mail usually comes while the older kids are in school.

Anyways...if you're like me, you can sometimes have a hard time figuring out what to get your kids for Christmas.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on their gifts since they also get a lot from relatives.  Bigger ticket items are usually reserved for birthdays.

With that in mind, I put together a gift guide of toys under $20 each for kids of all ages.  I hope you find some good ideas for your Christmas list!

Gift Guide - Father's Day Edition

This post contains referral links which means that if you purchase from one of my links, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.  

I think guys are the hardest group to buy gifts for.  Hubby's wishlist consists of tractors, expensive power tools, and a new pickup truck.  Yeah, he's not getting any of those for Father's Day. #worstwifeever

I figured that I wasn't the only one who has a hard time finding a gift for my husband for Father's Day, so I did some research and put together a gift guide.  Click on the picture or caption to find the product.  Enjoy!