The Sensible Mom

Food, DIY, Chicago Mom Blogger

Holiday Gift Ideas PLUS My Top 3 Chicago Toy and Game Fair Picks

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This blog post includes Amazon referral links.

We’ve been visitingΒ the Chicago Toy and Game Fair for a few years, and every new year is better than the year before.

This year was by far our best experience yet because in addition to getting to try out fun new toys, we also had the opportunity to enjoy a buffet Star Wars themed lunch! πŸ™‚

In the past, we were always provided a nice breakfast of pastries which you can see in a previous year’s vlog here. I’m glad they switched things up and provided lunch this year. It made the day better and the ChiTAG fair more memorable.

Top 3 ChiTAG Toy Picks

There’s always a lot to take in at the ChiTAG Fair, but we manage to visit all of the booths we want to check out, and this year, I decided that I’m going to share my top 3 ChiTAG toy picks with you and, hopefully, in the process, give you a few gift ideas for the kids in your life.

But first, here’s a peek at our lunch table. And, yes, we got to bring all of the toys on the table home with us. Talk about happy kids! πŸ™‚

Now for the picks!

First up is Playfoam.

I chose Playfoam because my kids loved playing with it both at the fair and at home, and it never dries out! So kids are free to create with it over and over again.

Creating with Play Foam at #ChiTAG2017 πŸ˜ƒ @chitagweek

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My next top pick is Light Stax Illuminated Blocks.

I chose Light Stax because they’re so cool and Elisabeth couldn’t get in enough time with these blocks. We had to tell her it was time to move on or she would have stayed and played even longer. Kids can use their imaginations with Light Stax blocks for hours and they’re one of those toys you know your kids won’t get bored playing with again and again.

So many ways to use your imagination at #ChiTAG2017 πŸ˜€ @chitagweek #toys #fun

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My final top pick is the Soggy Doggy Board Game.


Kids were able play a life size version of this game at the fair, and it looked like a lot of fun! No wonder it was a 2017 Toy of the Year Award Finalist.

That’s one huge #SoggyDoggy at #ChiTAG2017 πŸ˜„ @spinmaster @chitagweek #toys #games #fun

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So those are my top 3 ChiTAG toy picks and a few holiday gift ideas. I hope they’re helpful. πŸ™‚

Do you have any kids gift ideas to share? I’d love to hear them!


10 Goals for the Week

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10 Goals to Tackle This Week

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving holiday. We had a lovely day spent with family. πŸ™‚

I know I haven’t updated my goals since earlier this month, so I thought I’d share my progress and share new goals I have planned to tackle this week.

Here’s what I accomplished:

Family/Mothering Goals:

1. Work on memorizing a verse of scripture as a family

2. Go on a fun family outing — We’re planning on visiting Santa HQ this week for an event, and I can’t wait to create some great family memories. It already feels like the holidays are right upon us with the weather change and daylight savings and all.

Personal Goals:

3. Read through the book of Mark in the New Testament and the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament — I’m still working on the book of Nehemiah, but along with Mark, I also read through Luke in the NT. I love God’s Word, and I’m thankful for the renewed passion He lit in me for His Word while we were RVing.

4. Pick up a couple of dumbbells from our storage unit — Side note: I CAN’T WAIT until we’re no longer paying for storage. I’m so over it! LOL

5. Update my resume — I’m so glad to have this done because it’s been a loooong time since I’ve worked on my resume.

6.Β Journal 2x

Home Management Goals:

7. Fill a bag with items to donate

8. List items on ebay

Business Goals:

9. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ my YouTube channel

10. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ our family YouTube channel

Here are my goals for this week:

Family/Mothering Goals:

1. Work on memorizing a verse of scripture as a family

2. Pick up Christmas themed books from the library and start Advent calendars with the kids

Personal Goals:

3. Finish reading through the book of John in the New Testament and the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament

4. Exercise with dumbbells 3x

5. Meet with a friend

6.Β Journal 2x

Home Management Goals:

7. Go through and delete computer files/pictures that I no longer need

8. Work on December budget

Business Goals:

9. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ my YouTube channel

10. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ our family YouTube channel

What are your goals for this week?


10 Goals for the Week

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10 Goals to Tackle This Week

I crossed off 9 out of 10 of my goals for last week. I’m hoping to cross off all 10 this week. We’ll see. I haven’t been able to cross off all 10 goals in one week in a long time, but I know it’s possible! I just need to use my time wisely and stay motivated. πŸ™‚

Here’s what I accomplished:

Family/Mothering Goals:

1. Work on memorizing a verse of scripture as a family

2. Go on a fun family outing

Personal Goals:

3. Read through the book of Matthew in the New Testament and finish reading through Ezra in the Old Testament

4. Schedule a meeting with a friend

5. Install a plugin to clean up some of the unnecessary stuff hanging around my blog and then delete that plugin

6.Β Journal 2x

Home Management Goals:

7. Wipe down Elisabeth’s art project area

8. Work on November budget

Business Goals:

9. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ my YouTube channel

10. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ our family YouTube channel

Here are my goals for this week:

Family/Mothering Goals:

1. Work on memorizing a verse of scripture as a family

2. Go on a fun family outing — We’re planning on visiting Santa HQ this week for an event, and I can’t wait to create some great family memories. It already feels like the holidays are right upon us with the weather change and daylight savings and all.

Personal Goals:

3. Read through the book of Mark in the New Testament and the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament

4. Pick up a couple of dumbbells from our storage unit — Side note: I CAN’T WAIT until we’re no longer paying for storage. I’m so over it! LOL πŸ˜‰

5. Update my resume

6.Β Journal 2x

Home Management Goals:

7. Fill a bag with items to donate

8. List items on ebay

Business Goals:

9. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ my YouTube channel

10. Edit & upload at least one new video toΒ our family YouTube channel

What are your goals for this week?


VLOG: Fantastic Disney Birthday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Hi, guys! In today’s vlog, I bring you along as we celebrate a fantastic Disney birthday at the Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World for two of my boys. We also bring you along as we go on some Disney rides and enjoy a fabulous meal at the Tusker House restaurant in Animal Kingdom!

This Disney vlog was a lot of fun to film and I hope you enjoy watching it! πŸ™‚