Every year as an advent activity, Eben and I made a gingerbread house. While those store-bought gingerbread kits seem very simple, making your own gingerbread house can be too! You can use ingredients that you already have on-hand, use your creativity, and there is no packaging waste either.
This year, we decided to make a healthier version of the gingerbread house using ingredients that we already had in our kitchen cupboards. And while there are still a handful of chocolate candies used in the decorating, most of the ingredients are better for him. The best part, it took less than an hour to make and we laughed and chatted while we made it, and our house smelled fantastic when we were done! Read on to learn how to make a healthier gingerbread house with your children for the holidays and add it to your weekend activity list.
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
graham crackers
carob chips
shredded coconut
miniature chocolate pieces
yogurt covered almonds
square cereal pieces
ice cream cones
cinnamon sticks
peanut butter
baker’s twine
Step 2: Choose your Design
Eben and I decided on a simple cottage design inspired by the ingredients that we had on hand in our kitchen. We wanted a sweet look and choose our colors to match the orange yogurt covered almonds that we had.
Step 3: Construct the House
You will need 4 graham crackers squares and 4 graham cracker triangles. Use a serrated knife to cut the graham crackers into a triangular shape.
We melted carob chips and used them to “glue” the house together. We then placed it in the freezer for a few minutes to speed up the hardening process.
Step 4: Add the Roof
Choose your favorite square cereal to construct the roof. We used peanut butter to secure the “shingles” on the roof starting from the bottom and then layering each level until we reached the roofline. We added the shingles to all four sides of the roof.
Step 5: Add Doors and Windows
We used more cereal and miniature chocolate pieces to make the front door and windows – attaching those to the house with peanut butter as well.
Step 6: Add a Little Color
We used orange yogurt covered almonds to the peak of the house!
Step 7: Make the Trees
We used sugar ice cream cones turned upside down and adorned with miniature chocolate pieces (also attached with peanut butter) for our miniature forest of trees.
Step 8: Make a Wood Pile
We tied a small stack of cinnamon sticks together with baker’s twine to make a stack of firewood to place next to the house.
Step 9: Add the Snow
We sprinkled shredded coconut all around the gingerbread house and then added the trees and woodpile to the finished display!
Step 10: Eat and Enjoy!
After all of our work, Eben didn’t want to eat the house immediately – he said we should at least wait a day and enjoy looking at it before we devour it.
Do you make gingerbread houses with your children? Have you ever made a healthier version? How did it turn out?
Let’s be real, keeping snacks and meals ready for little ones (or yourself!) can be a juggling act. Between daycare drop-offs, playdates, errands, and family adventures, I’ve been on the hunt for a storage solution that’s simple, safe, and stylish. Enter KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars, and yes, they’re about to make your life so much easier.
🌿 Why I Love Them
From my kitchen to your countertop, here’s why these prep jars have become a staple:
Perfect Portions Every Time – Measure out yogurt, fruit, applesauce, or homemade purees in the exact amounts you need.
Snack-Friendly – Ideal for little crackers, sliced fruit, or other finger foods.
Airtight & Leak-Proof – No more worrying about spills in the diaper bag, stroller, or lunch box.
Durable & Safe – BPA-free, freezer-safe, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe, these jars are built to survive real life.
Stylish Options – Available in an array of gorgeous colors that make food prep feel a little more fun.
Honestly, it’s hard to overstate how nice it is to have containers that actually work for on-the-go life. No more bag explosions, no more guessing if the fruit will still be fresh when you get to daycare or the park, just simple, reliable, clean storage.
🥄 How I Use Them
Here are a few ways I plan to use my KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars this season:
Morning Yogurt + Fruit Cups – Perfect for a quick breakfast grab on busy weekday mornings.
Homemade Purees – Freeze individual portions of sweet potato, apples, or pumpkin for easy lunches.
Snack Packs for the Road – Crackers, cheese cubes, or small fruit pieces that won’t get crushed in the bag.
Meal Prep for Me – Yes, I’ve been known to use these for overnight oats, chia pudding, and small salads too!
The airtight lids mean that everything stays fresh, and the leak-proof design makes tossing a few in a backpack completely stress-free.
🎁 Why They Make a Perfect Gift
The holidays are just around the corner, and honestly, these jars make such a practical, thoughtful gift:
For new parents or caregivers: simplify meal prep while keeping baby’s food fresh and safe.
For toddlers and preschoolers: portioned snacks that are easy to grab and go.
For anyone who loves clean, stylish, reusable storage: these jars are as functional as they are beautiful.
With their dishwasher-safe design and fun color options, they’re also a gift that keeps giving — and one that helps reduce single-use plastic in the kitchen.
💚 Where to Find Them
You can shop KeaBabies Glass Prep Jars here: keababies.com or on Amazon. Prices start at $19.96, a small investment for stress-free, fresh meals every day.
🥄 Bottom Line
Whether you’re prepping snacks for your little one, organizing your own breakfast, or looking for a thoughtful holiday gift for a parent in your life, these Glass Prep Jars from KeaBabies are a total win. Stylish, functional, and safe, they make the everyday moments of feeding a little easier, fresher, and way more fun.
Because life is busy, snacks are messy, and little hands need big solutions, these jars have you covered. 🧡
The holidays are all about celebrating acts of giving, making it the perfect opportunity to make your gift giving smarter this season. There are so many amazing businesses out there that give back when you purchase one of their products. These companies are tied to doing good somewhere in the world every time a purchase is made. Read on for my 4 favorite gifts that give back – and if you hurry you can still get these goodies by Christmas.
1. Warby Parker Glasses Eben and I both wear glasses and love the stylish, affordable frames from Warby Parker. For every pair of glasses that you buy, a pair is donated to a person in need. If you don’t wear glasses, that is alright – Warby Parker also offers fantastic sunglasses.
2. Feed Bags I have been familiar with FEED Bags for a very long time – I remember first seeing them in Whole Foods back when we lived in Georgia! FEED Bags come in a huge selection of styles and sizes and with each purchase a portion of the proceeds go towards feeding the children of the world.
3. TOMS Shoes Most likely you are already familiar with TOMS shoes – for every pair you purchase a pair is donated to a child in need. With a great selection of shoes for everyone on your list, TOMS is the perfect holiday gift!
I am having a lot of fun planning how the dinner table will look this Thanksgiving. Especially since it will be super small which means less pressure and more relaxing!
First on my list of things to do to prepare is to decide on place cards for our tiny family. I really love, love, love these pear place cards from Sunset. I think a beautiful, delicious organic pear with a lovely recycled name tag would be perfect. I am also considering giant pomegranates with recycled name tags attached. (You know how I feel about pomegranates!)
What type of place cards will you be using on Thanksgiving?
Ever walk into a house and wonder if anyone actually tried living in it first? Odd hallways, awkward kitchens, and bathtubs squeezed next to laundry closets were once normal. But after years of remote work, shifting family needs, and rising costs, those design choices don’t hold up.
Today, homeowners want more than style. They want homes that adapt, support real-life routines, and stay useful through change. With multi-generational living on the rise and financial decisions becoming more complex, design now has to think long-term.
In this blog, we will share what it really means to design with longevity in mind and how to spot features that offer long-term value.
Rooms That Flex With You, Not Against You The living room that used to just house a couch and a TV now doubles as a conference zone. The guest room is suddenly an office, a classroom, and sometimes even a workout space. People learned quickly that a space without flexibility is just square footage you pay
for but can’t use. And when every square foot matters, financially and functionally, you need layout decisions that evolve.
Think about how many homes were built with the idea of a “formal dining room” that’s used three times a year. Meanwhile, there’s no place to take a work call that isn’t next to a barking dog or a running dishwasher. Good design makes space work smarter. Pocket doors, soundproof nooks, multi-use zones, these things are no longer luxuries. They’re essentials. This shift also makes financial planning more layered. When people commit to large expenses, they want their homes to serve multiple purposes for years to come. That’s why conversations around home mortgage loans aren’t just about what you can afford today, but what your home needs to support over time. A smart layout can reduce the need for future renovations, saving time, money, and disruption later.
Design That Thinks About Aging, Yes, Even Yours Nobody wants to think about getting older while house shopping. But designing for future comfort doesn’t mean giving up style. It just means thinking ahead. Wide doorways, no-step entries, and first-floor bedrooms aren’t just useful for accessibility. They’re useful when you sprain an ankle, have guests with mobility issues, or want to avoid the stairs with a newborn in one arm and groceries in the other.
Aging in place has become a top consideration for many homeowners, especially as housing costs rise and adult children return home. Planning for versatility now can prevent stressful adjustments later. Swapping traditional tubs for walk-in showers, adding lever-style door handles, and installing lighting with smart controls are all low-profile upgrades that offer big benefits in the long run.
These features also add value to your home, making it attractive to a broader pool of buyers should you choose to sell. A space that works across generations has more staying power than one designed for a narrow phase of life.
Outdoor Space That Works All Year Long Outdoor Space That Works All Year Long Gone are the days when the backyard was just for the grill and a few plastic chairs. Today, outdoor spaces are expected to be livable, durable, and ready for almost anything. From enclosed patios to edible gardens to tool sheds that double as quiet escape pods, the best yards do more than look green. They function.
Designing with the future in mind means creating outdoor zones that shift with the seasons and the needs of your household. Covered patios can serve as outdoor dining rooms in the spring and become a rainy-day play area for kids in the fall. Raised garden beds aren’t just trendy, they give you control over part of your food supply, which has become more relevant with every grocery price hike.
Expanding the usability of these areas often involves more than just physical structures. Many homeowners now look for ways to integrate technology that makes the yard as functional as the living room. Adding high-quality outdoor lighting and entertainment in Austin is a common way to make sure the space is usable after the sun goes down. These systems allow for music and movies to be part of the backyard experience without the need for extra equipment. When these elements are part of the initial design, they feel like a natural part of the home. This approach helps the property stay relevant as lifestyle needs change over the years.
The Storage Problem No One Talks About You don’t realize how little storage your house has until it’s too late. Seasonal gear, extra bedding, school supplies, emergency kits, where does it all go? Clutter isn’t just a visual issue. It affects stress levels, daily routines, and how effectively you use your space.
Built-in storage can change everything. Under-stair drawers, attic platforms, wall-mounted shelving systems, and mudroom lockers keep chaos in check and increase resale value. Future-focused design means thinking beyond the closet count. It means building in function without sacrificing flow.
This also applies to the garage, which for many people, is a place to store everything except the car. Strategic design turns the garage into a workspace, a mini gym, or a prep zone for garden projects. It doesn’t have to be a full conversion. It just needs to have a plan.
Technology That Serves, Not Complicates
Smart homes sound great until you need a password just to turn on the lights. Tech is only helpful when it fits into your routine. For instance, smart climate controls can keep your home at a comfortable temperature without constant adjustments. And, if a system suddenly fails, quick help during a heating and air conditioning emergency can prevent discomfort and stress. Thoughtful integration means choosing systems that support your lifestyle, not control it.
Security cameras, smart thermostats, leak detectors, and lighting automation all offer peace of mind. But they should be installed with flexibility and privacy in mind. Systems that update easily, work across devices, and don’t require weekly troubleshooting are the ones worth investing in.
Design That Buys You Time and Sanity At its core, designing with the future in mind is about reducing future stress. You’re not just creating a home for now. You’re creating a space that’s ready for whatever your life decides to throw at you next.
That might mean building in an extra room before you need it. It might mean choosing materials that clean easily or last longer. It might mean placing the laundry room near the bedrooms instead of the garage. These aren’t flashy upgrades, but they solve real-life problems.
The best part? Most future-ready design choices are invisible once installed. They don’t announce themselves, but they save time, effort, and money year after year. And when you’re already juggling the demands of family, work, health, and finances, those wins count for a lot.
So before you start your next home project, ask yourself what your space might need not just next month, but next decade. Build for real life. Build for change. And above all, build something that still makes sense when life doesn’t.
