The season of gifting is here, and we've asked some of our favorite mamas to share their holiday must-haves, cherished traditions, and honest takes on celebrating with little ones.
Up first is TT's very own head mama, Andrea Faulkner Williams!
ENTER TO WIN Andrea's full Gift Guide.
Q: Which Tubby Todd product would you be most excited to gift?
A: I am actually obsessed with the Winter Gift Set this year. The designs, fragrances and names of the products have become my entire personality this season. I painted my nails to match and have found myself only dressing in coordinating color schemes. Not to mention.... THE BATH BOMBS! Needless to say, that's my go-to gift this season.
Q: Which Tubby Todd product would you be most excited to get? ;)
A: The Dream Cream has been a fan favorite for our TT OGs and I agree. The thickness of the product is perfection for hydration for the whole family for the winter months. I layer it with the AOO after the shower and it keeps me smooooth.
Q: Tell us about your fave holiday ritual with baby! Have they changed with each kid or have they become tradition?
A: As my kids have gotten older we have a few holiday rituals that have stuck. The first being...BATH TIME. I know it was obvious but it has been so special to update fragrances and packaging in our bathrooms as a seasonal spin on an everyday ritual. We have also always spent Christmas Day in Utah with my husband's family. It has been tough to travel at the holidays while having babies but we are always so grateful to be with family when Christmas morning comes.
Q: What’s your fave Christmas sweet treat?
A: I love peppermint bark. Dark chocolate please.
Q: Which winter scent is your fave? (Cranberry Mandarin, Apricot + Vanilla, Merry Berry, Figgy Pudding)
A: For nine years now our home has been FILLED with Cran Mandarin at the holidays. It is sweet and tart and fills our home with nostalgia. It is definitely my fav holiday scent.
Q: Which holiday movie could you watch every single year?
A: The Holiday. But with my kids we watch Elf every single year. And it is always really funny.
Q: What’s a mama win (big or small!) that you’ve had recently?
A: Thank you for asking! I am working on enjoying being a mom. There have been days, weeks and even months when I go through the mama motions and don't actually enjoy the things I'm doing with my kids. This Halloween I tried really hard to enjoy my time trick or treating. Less houses, less friends, more time just walking slow with my kids and listening to them talk endlessly about the candy they got. I'm headed into the holiday season with that slow, focused on the moment I'm in energy. We'll see if it lasts
Q: Team hot cocoa or hot cider?
A: BOTH
Q: How do you make the holiday season magical for your little ones?
A: We always give them the opportunity to gift one another. We also bring gifts to our neighbors and have been able to donate to a families in need. It is the most meaningful part of the holidays.
Q: How do you create festive moments for your family during the holiday season?
A: I don't! I'm not kidding. Everyone else is throwing parties and giving my kids toys, treats and gifts, I keep the "festiveness" pretty minimal and just try to enjoy it with them. We do gifts for Christmas morning, but less is MORE, when it comes to the season.
Q: What advice do you have for other moms looking to make the holidays extra special for their little ones?
A: Invest in things you won't have to throw away the next day. I love our collection of Christmas books. I love seasonal soaps, seasonal decor in the home and even seasonal music. I stay away from too many advent calendars that cause daily stress, over doing gifts and homemade treats that overwhelm me. That has been so, so helpful for me but you have to find what works for YOU. You've got this, mama. Sneak in a nap as often as possible."
xx, Andrea
ENTER TO WIN Andrea's full Gift Guide.
In addition to gifting friends and fam during the holidays I'm also supporting The Humble Village Project, one of our charitable giving partners this year. If you're interested in making a contribution there's a spot to donate directly on our site at checkout. Even a small donation can make a huge impact for these families and the work that HVP is doing to support them.
Here are some ways your contribution can make a difference:
Provide two supplement drinks a day for a malnourished, nursing mother - $6
Provide a tank of motorcycle gas for our nurses to visit families in need living in the most remote areas - $10
Feed a malnourished infant whose mother is not able to produce milk formula for a month - $50
Provide emergency transportation to hospital for an individual - $70
Stock a clinic with basic medicine cabinet for village families for one month - $235