ideas – Whole Heartily

Wholesome Animated Shows for a Younger Audience!

I think we can all agree that there is an overwhelming amount of content out there to consume for all ages, and that a great deal of the content that is made for children can be incredibly stimulating. Now that’s not always a negative, yet I completely understand the necessity for wholesome and less stimulating shows for your little one(s).

I’ve created a list of wholesome and less stimulating shows for a younger audience. Please let me know if there are any of your family favorite shows I may have missed; I would love to add more as I find them!

Let’s take a look!

Family Game Night: 25 Tabletop Game Ideas (Ages 4 and Up)

Weekly family game nights, now doesn’t that sound wonderful? Imagine it, gathering around a table and playing tabletop games, familiar or new. Or getting into pajamas and snuggling up on the couch or pillow-strewn floor, playing video games. There are many ways to create happy memories, and this is one of them!

We’ve already had seven family game nights this year and they were fun and relaxed. We played a mixture of board or tabletop games and video games. Our only personal rule (more-so for my husband and I) is no cell phone usage.

I’ve created a list of some fun starter tabletop games for children ages 4 and up to inspire your family game nights!

What games do you like to play with your family? We would love recommendations!

Family Movie Night: 90 Non-Disney Family Friendly Movies (Rated PG and Under)

Weekly family movie nights, now doesn’t that sound wonderful? Imagine it, getting into pajamas and snuggling up on the couch or pillow-strewn floor, munching on a special snack. There are many ways to create happy memories, and this is one of them!

We’ve already had three family movie nights this year and they were fun and relaxed. Our only rule is no screens except for the one the movie is featured on.

I’ve created a list of 90 non-Disney family movie ideas rated PG and under. I did not include many sequels for the sake of length, but most of the sequels are worth watching too! If you have any family favorite I did not include, please let us know!

If you’re looking for animated Disney movies, I’ve created a list of that too! Check it out here and enjoy!

Family Friendly Autumnal Activity Ideas

Welcome back Autumn! Every year I look forward to the Autumn and the warmth it generates inside my home and soul. Where I live, September and October are still rather warm on some days, and turn wet and cold as the months progress toward Winter. I cannot get enough of the rain this time of year. The cold, wet weather begins to take over outside, driving us all inside to be together and warm. There’s nothing like cuddling up with people you love, reading a good book, watching a movie or playing a video game while the weather misbehaves outside.

I intend to spend a lot of time with my family this year and came up with some family friendly ideas I’d like to experience with Zoey! Follow along and try some of these activities for yourself, this is a time we should all enjoy!

We intend to:

Bake bread.
Bake cookies for family and/or friends.
Collect acorns and make art.
Collect leaves and make art.
Collect rocks and make art.
Make nature pressings or rubbings.
Donate to a food bank.
Go on a hayride.
Go puddling in the rain.
Have an indoor picnic on a stormy day.
Make a bird feeder.
Make Halloween decorations.
Go trick or treating!
Make fresh tortillas.
Make homemade play dough.
Make stovetop popcorn.
Pick apples.
Bake apple pie.
Drink apple cider.
Make caramel apples.
Pick out pumpkins at a pumpkin patch.
Give pumpkins a bath.
Carve, decorate and/or paint pumpkins.
Bake pumpkin bread.
Roast pumpkin seeds.
Roast s’mores.

Water Table Accessory and Activity Ideas

Part of the fun in raising Zoey is making things that delight her; I want to create fun, educational activities for her that are made with love and will be loved!

With how much young ones love water, water tables are perfection during the hot summer months! Set them up in a comfortable location with some shade, and watch them play to their hearts content! They can play with the table as is, or you can add accessories to make the play even more engaging and fun!

Here to inspire you, I’ve created a list of water table accessory/activity ideas to keep the kiddos entertained for hours!

**If you live in California or any other location where wasting water may be an issue, no worries! Bypass adding any food coloring to the play water and once you’re done, you can use it to water your plants!

2022 New Year Resolutions

Happy New Year Friends! I wish you all the best and sincerely hope all your hopes and dreams for 2022 will come to fruition. These last few years have been rocky, to say the least, but its a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, so let’s make the most of it!

I believe in making resolutions; they give you the focus to complete certain tasks. Resolutions can be made any time of the year, and should be in some cases, but it’s traditional to make them for the fresh start of a new year and it’s all in good fun!

I’ve set 22 resolutions for 2022, check them out!

Buy a sketchbook & fill it.
Celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.
Celebrate Zoey’s 3rd birthday.
Expand our kitchen garden.
Finish my tattoo half-sleeve.
Finish the Spanish lessons in Duolingo.
Meditate 5 times a week (or more).
Paint 3 Bob Ross paintings.
Pay off my Navient loan.
Plant 3 fruit bearing trees.
Play & complete 22 video games.
Practice yoga 5 times a week (or more).
Reach my earnings goal by December.
Reach my goal weight.
Read & complete 22 books.
Refurbish the play car & give it to Zoey.
Refurbish the playhouse & give it to Zoey.
Research & create a haircare regimen for myself.
Research & create a nail care regimen for myself.
Research & create a skin care regimen for myself.
Take Zoey to Disneyland.
Watch & complete 22 movies I’ve never seen.

I’m going to do my best to fulfill each and every one of them so if you’re looking for ideas, inspiration or just to follow along in some good fun follow me here and on my instagram for updates!

A Sweet and Simple Toddler Easter Basket

Dear Easter Bunny,

Thank you and your helpers for all that you do! Since I was a little girl, your operation has grown into something that could rival Christmas morning! It’s enthusiastic and impressive to say the least, but I don’t think our little girl needs all the bells and whistles this year.

My daughter is a 19th month old toddler this Easter and I would like to request up to six items for her Easter Basket that are simple, sweet and more useful than not!

A pair of Re-Play No-Spill Sippy Cups – Much needed to stay hydrated, and in bright spring colors!
Llama Llama Easter Egg – A book by Anna Dewdney.
12 pairs of CozyWay Non-Slip Toddler Socks – Much needed, and in light, happy colors!
Annie’s Homegrown Friends Bunny Grahams – Instead of candy I decided to get her something to munch on that’s a little more on the healthy side.
Annie’s Homegrown Organic Fruit Snacks – Instead of candy I decided to get her something to munch on that’s a little more on the healthy side.
Skip Hop Llama Snack Cup – to put all those yummy snacks inside

Thank you for taking a look!