everyday magic
Occasions Bin®
What Exactly IS an Occasions Bin®?
Simply put, it’s a bin that I keep on my kitchen counter full of seasonal items, to make daily meals or snacks a bit more magical.
I intentionally place it all out so that we use those items to make things like movie night or snack time a special occasion. Everything is handy right in the heart of our home, and I love the little reminder to soak in the fun leading up to the holiday.
How Do You Create One?
snag a bin
Snag a bin, a basket, or any type of container. I have five of my favorites linked in this blog post or consider repurposing a storage or pantry bin you already have.
fill with favorites
When it comes to filling the bin, there are zero rules. Put in whatever fun, festive items bring you joy, and feel free to swap them out seasonally or as often as you like.
create magic moments
The bin lives on the counter and is always easily accessible to grab an item or two throughout the week. Enjoy making little magical moments with your family!
HOW IT WORKS
find big joy in small moments
Staples you’ll find in my bins:
- Plates
- Napkins
- Straws
- Sprinkles
- Coffee STirrers
- Cookie Cutters (perfect for jazzing up sandwiches and fruit slices)
- Cups
- Festive picks (think cupcake toppers)
- Seasonal Waffle Makers
- Snack Boards
Need a little help?
Occasions Bin® Collections
Carefully curated products for you to effortlessly bring some magic to your countertop and memory making.
Occasions Bins have grown into such a wildly popular tradition, and I believe they’re popping up on kitchen counters all over the world because we’re all trying our best to find big joy in small moments.
I LOVE seeing you all get creative with your Occasions Bins, be sure to tag me and use hashtag #OccasionsBin so I can share with our community.
What Other Occasions Bin Creators Have To Say:
“We have loved including Occasions Bins into our holiday celebrations! It…reminds me to enjoy the little moments with my family. My husband, who isn’t big on holiday themes, even grabs stuff from the bin to make meals and snacks more fun.”
Beth Curtis
“Easy accessibility not only for myself but for the kiddos. I don’t really like too many things on my counters however the Occasions Bin is a must! It gives just the right amount of decor for every holiday or occasion.We’ve been doing “official” occasions bins since September of 2020 based off some of your inspiration and it has definitely become a tradition in our household. I hope it’s a tradition that my own children continue to do with their kiddos in the future.”
LaRissa Erickson
“For someone who is not a mom, but a nanny and future teacher, I have taken such pride in creating my #occasionsbin every season and holiday. I wanted to share my perspective of what #occasionsbins mean to me because I am not a mom and I am on a different path than many of Shakira’s followers and I say this because, this joy that come from the holidays is for everyone! You don’t have to be a mama with five kids to do any of these things! I can’t wait to share these traditions with a family of MY OWN. Yet for now, I’ll put on my Saint Patrick’s jammies, make cinnamon rolls with green frosting on a Saturday morning and just enjoy the joyfulness that holidays can bring — even just for me.”
Whitney Lockman
“…I honestly can see myself doing this throughout the toddler years and into elementary school! Just like with the holiday plates and napkins, life is too short to wait for the moment, it’s important to bring a bit of magic to the everyday! Thank you for helping me to see that and to bring some magic to my little girl’s everyday.”
Lauren Scottaline
“…when I found your page I knew I wanted to adopt occasions bins into our home! We started occasions bins in the fall. I already do a little holiday/seasonal space for her in our kitchen with her table for her activities so this is just another way to be intentional and add on to that! She loves eating off of fun plates and cups for meal/snack time!”
Brandy Pollard
explore #occasionsbin on instagram
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you get your festive items?
I store holiday/seasonal items in bins in our garage. My first step, when setting up a new bin is to go see what I already have–because I save EVERYTHING! Then I’ll add in some new things as I see fit.
I tend to curate items from a ton of different places. Big box stores like Target and Walmart…HomeGoods is always a favorite (when I can get there alone), and small shops like Ellie and Piper and Bonjour Fete. If you follow along with me on Instagram, I try to share my shopping hauls, so that you all can snag items before they sell out. Also, when you all tag me in your bins (use #occasionsbin) I try to share, so that everyone can get new inspo.
How soon before a holiday do you get your new items?
Honestly, as early as possible. I have always tried to lookout for new seasonal items early, so that I can share in this space. I’ve kinda made it my job, but it also seems like more and more online options have been flying off the shelves. If you wait too long you won’t find many options. Shop early if you can.
Not usually. I always stock it pretty full, and if we run out, I may add in whatever else I have on hand. I do try to make sure we don’t use the bin for every single meal of the day. Usually just for snacks or 1 fun lunch or breakfast. Remember—there are NO rules. Make this your own. If you want to restock in-between new bins, go for it!
What holidays do you curate bins for?
New Years
Valentine’s Day
St. Patricks Day
Easter
Spring
Cinco de Mayo
July 4th
Back to School
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas
This list changes with life’s changes. Use them to celebrate how you see fit. I did my very first birthday-themed bin for Xander’s One Wild Adventure birthday, which ended up being featured in the Winter 2022 issue of Mingle Magazine.
I also did an Occasions Bin with a Spooky Disney Themed bin ahead of our Halloweentime trip to Disneyland. I thought it would be a fun way to get excited leading up to the trip. This is also my very first fully reusable bin. Everything in it can be washed, stored, and used over again. You can truly make this tradition your own, time and time again.
We have so many fun things in the works when it comes to Occasions Bins!
Trust me, you’ll want to be the first to know. For inspo, free printables, giveaways and all of the Occasions Bin insider fun, join our newsletter.
