Planning Ahead

Every single year I write a post about how I want to reign back on Christmas. Every single year, I try really hard, but I still over do it just a little. Christmas was a huge deal in my home growing up. Our tree was always overflowing with gifts! I loved it, but as I got older, it was really hard not to be disappointed at Christmas when I didn't have a pile of gifts sitting next to me when it was all over (ouch, eh? I hate to admit that!). I don't want to set my kids up for disappoint when they are older, but I also want them to experience the magic of Christmas. A couple of things happened this past year to really get me motivated to cut back on gifts and focus on quality time instead. The first thing happened last Christmas. We bought our oldest, then 11, a Zune for her birthday, but gave it to her days before Christmas (because she doesn't live with us full time we don't see her on her actual birthday). It was all she wanted and it was the only gift she paid any … [Read more...]

Preparing for Thanksgiving: Three Steps To Make Your Holiday Easier

Is it just me or is half the population born in November? Seriously. Our family has FIVE birthdays between November 14th and December 4th! So not only do I have Thanksgiving to prepare for but I also have two children's birthdays to celebrate. It can get stressful. I'm a planner by nature. I do not procrastinate and I do not do well under pressure. I was the gal who had her paper written a week before it was due. So planning ahead for Thanksgiving week is absolutely essential to my sanity! A few weeks ago I sat down with my mom and sister to plan Thanksgiving. I'm VERY lucky to have them nearby to share cooking duties. We have a gigantic feast simply because it's easy to do when you divide and conquer. But it gets even easier when you plan and prepare ahead. 1. Make A Menu: The first step is to make a menu NOW. If you are cooking it all yourself, keep it simple! Pick out a main dish and few favorite sides and save the rest for Christmas and New Years. My menu this year … [Read more...]