Prevent Stress This Holiday Season

There is always so much pressure and stress around the holidays. We always think we have all this time to buy gifts, make cookies, wrap everything, work, keep the house and kids in order but the reality is that no matter how prepared we are the pressure can add stress to something that should be enjoyable.

With the holidays just two days away I thought it would be good to share some useful tips I found to help me get through the pressures of the season.

• *Stick to a budget. Before you go gift and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend.  We all set a budget and then at the last minute spend so much money on last minute items!
• *Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list.  Plan Plan Plan and stick to the plan! It is ok to not go to every party and gathering. It is ok to pick up dessert instead of making it. You can not do everything all in one day so plan ahead!
•  *Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. We all need a time out. Even if it means just going for a ride or getting a coffee alone. Take the phone off the hook and relax!

*Read more at the Mayo Clinic

Life Quote

" Fact is everyone dies but not everyone truly lives." Unknown

Blocks...blocks

My daughter loves to play with blocks. She usually drags the bag they are in around the house until I open them for her. Once they are opened she dumps them ALL out and asks me to build her a tower- which she will eventually knock down.

So one morning I am trying to get ready and she starts with the "blocks...blocks" she comes into the bathroom and hands me the bag. I tell her I will open them only if she plays with them in the playroom so I can finish getting ready. She looks up with me and says "blocks...blocks."

Being the good mom that I am I open the blocks and go back into the bathroom to finish blow drying my hair. I then feel this little tug on my leg and  look down. She hands me a block, so I put it on the sink and continue getting ready. Before you know it she is handing me one block after another. I eventually run out of room on the sink and have no choice but to build her a tower while I blow dry my hair. My masterpiece is below:

Yep...Just another day in the life of being a mom!

Holiday Song: Dominick The Italian Christmas Donkey song