Christmas books and instilling family traditions

Christmas brings with it a myriad of traditions and nostalgia.  Perhaps my favorite traditions are reading Christmas-themed stories with my brothers and fully divulging into the Christmas spirit through festive stories.

I’ve tried to instill this fabulous tradition with my boys by reading stories with them throughout the season.  I recently received two new books that are worthy of adding to our library and Christmas tradition. The Magic Christmas Key and My Snowman and Me, both from Pine Tree Publishing embody the beauty of the season and all that I hope to share with my kids.

 

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The Magic Christmas Key by Leeann Smith is about Andy’s adventures with a magic key, which his grandfather gave to him for safekeeping.  With this key, Andy learns about Christmas and Santa and the magic of believe firsthand.  In the story, the key finds its way into the wrong hands, but with his bravery and courage, Andy’s adventures lead him to the big guy in red himself.  

This is a beautiful and well-written book that keeps kids engaged in the Christmas spirit.  For younger kids, it’s a special book that can be read over a course of a few days. And for older kids and families, it’s well worth sitting and reading together.  The beautiful metal key that comes in the book set is a fun tactile extension of the book that kept my kids intrigued.  There’s so much beauty and mystery with a beautiful Christmas key, and one worth sharing.

 

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My Snowman and Me by Leeann Smith also comes in a fun gift set, complete with a stuffed and detachable snowman.  This story is an easy read, and totally appropriate for that first snowfall, or if you’re lucky, a white Christmas.  This is such a cute, fun read that teaches kids the magic of building a snowman, and that despite him going away because of warmer weather, the snowman will always be back when it snows.  The end of the book has a great way to engage kids even further and to capture memories for days to come.

Free Shipping Day is Today

Haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet? Yeah, me neither.  If you need to round out that shopping list and were hoping to avoid the crowds and madness at the malls by shopping online, there’s still time.  And lucky us, today, December 17th, is the third annual Free Shipping Day.

Free Shipping Day is a one-day event when consumers can shop online from their favorite brands and receive free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve.

Free Shipping Day features hundreds of retailers and popular brands, making it a perfect reason to wrap up your Christmas shopping without leaving the house.  If you’re like me, and just have those last few people on your list to cross off AND already know what to get, Free Shipping Day was created for busy people (and procrastinators) alike.

Big retailers like Macy*s, Toys ‘R’ Us, JC Penney and Barnes and Noble are participating in Free Shipping Day, and smaller specialty stores are included in the list, too.  In many cases, today, December 17, is the last day that retailers can ship to get products out in time for Christmas, but be sure to pay attention to the fine print, as some stores require a minimum purchase.

To finish my shopping list and take advantage of free shipping, I have my eye on the Discovery Store, Tilly’s and The Big Toy Book.

Happy Free Shipping Day!

Toys ‘R’ Us Great Big Christmas Book: There’s an App for That

Halloween’s over and you know what that means?  That’s right, the Holiday shopping season cranks up a notch.  While the shelves might have been touting dancing Santas and singing reindeers for a few weeks now, marketers and retailers have been working overtime for months in preparation for the upcoming Holiday season.

As mentioned before, many of us bloggers were attending holiday previews way back in May, so, be prepared to see an influx of holiday coverage on blogs this year, NKT included.

We can’t cover holiday shopping without highlighting the thrill of the hunt—for kids, that is!  While many of us plan to scour the malls, websites and shops for the best deals, in many cases, it all starts with that carefully-crafted Christmas list.  And guess what?

Of course, there’s an app for that.

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Lionel Electric Trains Comes to 30 Rock

IMG_2822Christmas is in the air, guys. Just this week, I attended 3 holiday-related events including this fun one that train lovers would enjoy!

Well loved among train enthusiasts and little kids alike, Lionel Electric Trains, recently opened its first pop up retail shop in Rockefeller Center. In its 100+ year history, this is the first time Lionel Trains has set up shop in New York, 30 Rock on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues to be exact.

Because of its high traffic location, this pop up shop in the heart of midtown attracted a flock of tourists and shoppers.  The Lionel store featured various train sets, including an impressive set that was activated with the push of a button.

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