Friday, October 19, 2012

planning ahead {tiny prints}

Whether it's laying out clothes the night before, or grocery shopping according to our menu-plan, everybody knows that planning ahead makes for less stress. I've been trying to do more of these types of things. (I did laundry on a weeknight, you guys!) I could use less stress.

In the next 2 months we have:
  • Halloween
  • My mom coming to visit for 2 whole weeks (!) (not really a stressor, just a little something that alters the routine.) (in a good way.) (love you, Mom!)
  • Oliver's birthday party
  • Thanksgiving
  • My cousin's wedding, where I am a bridesmaid, Nick is the minister, and Oliver is the ring bearer (yes, I'm serious)
  • The rehearsal for said wedding (admittedly, this is all Nick. I have an appointment in my calendar reminding me to attend the meeting with the bride & groom.)
  • and THEN maybe I can think about Christmas. Yeah, like, right before Christmas.

Sooo, if I want any chance at pulling it all together, I've gotta start now. Since there's really only so much you can do ahead of time... at the very least, I can streamline. Here's what I'm thinking:



Photo Christmas Cards

  1. Get Oliver's birthday/Christmas pictures ASAP (as soon as November 1st, they'll have the Christmas stuff available at the portrait studio). I already do this all in one session - just makes sense with his birthday in November.
  2. With a few exceptions/additions, anyone I would send Christmas cards to has also been invited to his birthday party, so this can kinda double as a birthday/thank you type thing.
  3. Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Tidings of Comfort and Joy and Bring Me Some Figgy Pudding!

What do you think? Is this totally against protocol and I'm crazy for thinking I can combine birthday and Christmas like this, or am I totally inspired (by Jess) and you're excited to see the result?

This is a sponsored post. I'm receiving a credit to Tiny Prints in exchange. You can check out their special offers here. Can I take a nap now?

(Please say excited!)


Thursday, October 18, 2012

what did we do today?

Last year when my mom came to town and stayed with us around Oliver's birthday, she unknowingly started a "thing". Turns out it was an awesome thing!

Every night after bath and teeth brushing and stuffed guy choosing, either Nick or I sit in the chair with him for a few minutes before putting him to bed. Thanks to my mom, our way of getting him to wind down and settle in for sleep is to talk through the day.

It started out, like I said, with my Ollie & my mom discussing all the fun things they had done that day. We went to the store! Grandma bought you a Car!

Now it's an every night tradition and I LOVE IT. Most days are the same... we went to school, ate lunch with friends, came home & had dinner and playtime... but it's the perfect way to remind yourself to look for something good and fun and positive in every day.

I highly recommend it.