8 Ways to Save Money on Christmas

With Black Friday only days away and Christmas less than a month away, gifts are high on everyone’s radar. Having grown up in a big family and waiting until the last minute to get presents more than once, I have changed how I handle the Christmas expenses. I’m giving you my top tips and tricks on how to keep your budget intact and not give your bank account a huge hit during the month of December. I put these exact things into action personally.

1. Use an Artificial Tree

Growing up, we always got a real tree, and I loved it! There is something so magical about picking out your own Christmas tree and the smell of a real pine tree. I kept the real tree tradition alive for my early years on my own. However, I decided to forgo the real tree for an artificial tree a few years ago. With a husband in the military, never knowing if he’d be home or gone during the holidays, it was more practical for me to just put up a fake tree. It was something easier that I could do on my own for Christmas.

We also usually traveled during the holidays, so I liked the idea of a fake tree that wouldn’t rot, get bugs, or fall apart if we weren’t home one year. So one year I just bought an artificial tree after Christmas when they were 75% off and have used one ever since. Now I can’t imagine doing it any other way! Not only is it a simpler setup, but the tree also doesn’t go bad if we are traveling, the kids and dogs don’t splash in the tree water, and we save that much more money every year for not having to buy a real tree every year. Artificial trees aren’t that cheap, but buying one once beats having to buy an expensive real tree every single year.

2. Buy Presents Throughout the Year

This is the biggest thing I have put into practice for years! A lot of people wait until the end of the year when the holidays are on everyone’s mind to buy gifts. I buy some last-minute too – don’t get me wrong – but there is a big difference between buying a few last-minute gifts and buying everything last minute. Coming from a big family and years of living paycheck to paycheck, I couldn’t afford to buy a bunch of gifts all at once.

I have been buying gifts throughout the year for years now. Whenever I find a good deal on something for someone, I get it. Doesn’t matter if it is in January, July, or December. If you can spread your gift purchases throughout the year instead of just all at once, it can help you save. Your bank account won’t take as drastic a hit either. So whenever you find a good deal on something, get it and save it for Christmas; that way you’re not spending a bunch only in December.

3. Stay Home

Holidays are all about family, and I love spending this special time of year with mine! But after years of traveling for both Thanksgiving and Christmas every year, it wore me out. Now that I have kids of my own, I want to take some holidays to be just my little family and create our own traditions. Instead of traveling to others for Christmas, invite them to come to you or just have a simple Christmas at home with your immediate family.

I’m not saying you have to cut out all holiday travel or family visits, but if you can spend some time staying home, you can save. Think of the plane flights, gas for road trips, boarding for pets while you’re away, and any other travel expenses you spend when traveling for the holidays. And now think of not having to spend that even just for one year.

4. Send Out Christmas Ecards

This is a new concept I only just thought of this year after seeing someone post about it online. I, for one, have always loved getting Christmas cards in the mail. But on the flip side, I do not like having to address, print, and mail my own cards. With everything being more electronic these days, this is a natural idea to consider.

I know that doing snail mail Christmas cards is classic and magical, but think of all the money you’ll save on postage and copies of photos if you don’t do them. You’ll also save all the time addressing and writing a physical card. Just create one electronic card and message and send it to everyone. If you don’t want to ditch snail mail cards forever, you can do electronic one year, every other year, or once in a while just to save some extra money whenever you wish to.

5. Draw Names for Gift Exchange

Having grown up in a big family (I am one of eight kids), I am no stranger to the expense of Christmas gifts for every single family member. As a kid, we’d buy all gifts at the Dollar Store because we couldn’t afford a big, expensive gift for every person when our only income was an allowance.

Now that we’re all grown and some of us have multiple kids of our own, we draw names for a gift exchange every year. It’s great because we can all buy one thoughtful gift without worrying about the expense of having to buy for every single person. If you’re from a big family or just would like to save a little, give this a try.

6. Give a Homemade Gift

It’s no secret DIY gifts are so in right now. There are so many great options, from canned beauty products, clothes, blankets, paintings, etc. I’m sure you can find something you can make on your own depending on your skill set and hobbies. Homemade gifts are the most thoughtful and special to me. They can also help you save. DIY gifts are often cheaper than if you bought them already put together.

7. Recycle Unused Items

If you have holiday decor or other holiday items just lying around that you don’t use, try selling them. Facebook Marketplace is huge for selling items these days. Have a yard/garage sale. Or simply see if you can upcycle the item to repurpose it instead of buying something brand new. Leading up to the holidays is the perfect time to try to sell those specific seasonal items. When decorating for Christmas, people will be looking and shopping for Christmas items.

8. If Traveling, Plan Ahead

If you are traveling for the holidays, there are ways to save to minimize your travel expenses. Get accommodations and flights booked well in advance instead of at the last minute to save. Getting things booked ahead can help you save. Shop around for the best deals and research the best days/times to book things. Look for any discounts (military, etc). When you find that good deal, book it.

These are all things that I put into use almost every year to help save. If you can save splurging as much during the holidays, your bank account will thank you. And you’ll bounce back sooner afterward too. Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any of these tricks for yourself. Happy Holidays!

Turkey Crafts for Kids

I always loved making turkey crafts as a kid, and I continued the fun this year with my own kids for the first time. If you’re looking for some festive Thanksgiving-themed craft ideas to do with your kids this year, then look no further!

I have compiled this list of some of my favorite turkey crafts that are simple and require minimal supplies. So break out those crafting supplies and get ready for some fun!

Handprint Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pen
• Crayons/Markers

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Simply paint your child’s hand. I did the palm and thumb brown and each finger a different color (red, orange, yellow, green).
2. Place the child’s hand on paper and press for a few seconds.
3. Let it dry, then use a pen to draw the eye and a crayon/marker for the legs, beak, and snood.

Hand & Footprint Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Construction paper
• Pen
• Glue
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint your child’s hand all yellow.
2. Place the hand on paper to leave an imprint.
3. Repeat again using orange, red, and brown handprints, fanning them out and doing it all on top of the previous ones.
4. Paint the child’s foot brown and toes orange, and place it on paper to leave an imprint.
5. Let all dry.
6. Once dry, cut both the handprint and footprints out of paper.
7. Glue the footprint upside down on the handprint.
8. Draw an eye with the pen.
9. Glue on a construction paper beak and snood on the turkey's head.

Clothespin Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Clothespin
• Paint
• Construction paper
• Pen
• Glue
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint one side of the clothespin brown and let it dry.
2. Cut five colorful feathers out of construction paper. I did two red, two orange, and one yellow.
3. Draw a line down the middle of each leaf with little veins along to make it look like a leaf.
4. Fan the paper feathers out and pin them at the top of the clothespin.
5. Draw eyes on the clothespin with a pen.
6. Glue a beak and snood onto the pin.

Paper Fan Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Construction paper
• Pen
• Tape
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Fold three different colored pieces of construction paper like a paper fan. I used yellow, orange, and black.
2. Layer the fans and cut them at the bottom to be the same length.
3. Gather them all together at the bottom using tape to hold them in place.
4. Cut out a turkey shape for the body out of construction paper. I recommend using brown paper, but if you don’t have that color, use white paper and color it brown (that is what I did).
5. Draw eyes on the body with a pen.
6. Glue a turkey beak and snood to the body.
7. Glue or tape the turkey body to the bottom of the paper fan.

Construction Paper Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Construction paper
• Pen
• Glue
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cut five different-sized strips of construction paper using different colors. I used red, orange, and yellow and alternated the colors. Do this five times.
2. Glue the bottom of the strips together one at a time, starting with the shortest piece and going up until you have done all five.
3. Repeat this for each set. You should have five sets with five strips each.
4. Glue or tape them all together at the bottom.
5. Cut out a turkey shape for the body out of construction paper. I recommend using brown paper, but if you don’t have that color, use white paper and color it brown (that is what I did).
6. Draw eyes on the body with a pen.
7. Glue a turkey beak and snood to the body.
8. Glue or tape the turkey body to the bottom of the paper feathers.

Toilet Paper Roll Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Empty toilet paper roll
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cut five or six different colored feathers out of construction paper. I did six: two red, two orange, and two yellow.
2. Fan out the feathers and glue them together.
3. Glue the feathers onto the back of the empty toilet paper roll.
4. Draw eyes onto the toilet paper roll using a pen.
5. Glue a turkey beak and snood onto the toilet paper roll.

Paper Plate Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Paper plate
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pen
• Construction paper
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Cut out the majority of the flat middle part of the paper plate, keeping a turkey body shape and the whole rippled edge.
2. Paint the turkey portion brown.
3. Paint the ridged edge multi-colored. I alternated between orange, yellow, and red.
4. Draw eyes on the turkey with a pen.
5. Glue a construction paper beak and snood to the turkey.

Paper Plate Sponge Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Paper plate
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pen
• Scissors
• Construction paper

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint the paper plate using fingerprints or a sponge paintbrush. I painted orange, yellow, and red colors with a sponge.
2. Paint a brown turkey body onto the paper plate.
3. Let all the paint dry.
4. Draw eyes on the turkey with a pen.
5. Glue a construction paper beak and snood to the turkey.

Pinecone Turkey

Supplies you’ll need:

• Pinecone
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pen
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint the pinecone. I used yellow, orange, and red colors and kept some of the seed scales the normal brown color.
2. Cut out a turkey head from construction paper.
3. Draw eyes on the turkey with a pen.
4. Glue a construction paper beak and snood to the turkey.
5. Glue the turkey head onto the bottom of the pinecone.

I hope you have just as much fun as I did making any of these little turkeys. Happy Thanksgiving and happy creating! 

Natural Ways to Dry Up Breast Milk

My son is officially weaned! After three years of being pregnant and/or breastfeeding, it feels so nice to have my body to myself again. But the weaning process wasn’t free of bumps in the road. My son took to weaning fairly well, but my body took longer to adjust.

With my daughter, I never had any engorgement issues or milk not drying up while weaning, but with my son I did. Having never experienced weaning issues before, I didn’t know what to do, so I began to look into ways to help dry up my milk supply naturally. In hopes of helping other women in the same situation as I was in just a couple of days ago, here is my list of natural ways to help dry up breast milk.

Wean Slowly

Take your time and wean slowly. Your body produces milk based on supply and demand. If you cut all nursing off at once, cold turkey, your body is going to keep producing the amount it is used to producing, and you will be in pain. For both of my kids, I did it slowly, cutting one feeding out at a time. My kids would nurse about 3-4 times a day when I started weaning. They would nurse first thing in the morning when waking up, before nap(s), and right before bed at night time.

I would cut out the feeding they relied on the least, first. For us, that was nap time feedings. I wouldn’t nurse before naps and instead, offer a bottle of whole milk. I would do that for at least 1 week, and once they got used to it, then I would cut out another nursing session. And so on until they didn’t nurse at all anymore. By gradually cutting out one feeding at a time, it gave my baby time to adjust to the new routine and my body time to adjust and produce less milk.

Don’t Stimulate

When working on weaning, try not to stimulate the breasts. Stimulating will keep engaging the body to produce milk. This means avoid pumping, touching, and long hot showers. On the flip side, you may still want to pump to relieve pain from engorgement while weaning. If you choose to pump for pain, try to only do a little until you feel relief and not overstimulate. Another alternative to pumping is to hand express. I have heard that can help when weaning as opposed to pumping.

Cabbage Leaves

What helped me the most for relief during weaning was cabbage leaves! Buy a head of cabbage, tear off the leaves, use a rolling pin to crush the veins in the leaves, and then put them inside your bra against your breast. The enzymes in the cabbage can help to dry up breast milk. The cool temperature of the cabbage really helps with the engorgement pain or any discomfort from weaning. I know it sounds strange, but it really works. Don’t believe me? Try it. I promise you will thank me later!

Peppermint Oil

Another huge help for me with engorgement while weaning my son was using peppermint oil. I love my essential oils, and when I read that peppermint can help dry breast milk, I had to give it a try. You apply it in between and around the breast. The first couple of times I tried it, I just applied straight oil. I was afraid it might be too strong using it multiple times, so after a couple of times I mixed it with coconut oil, and it helped not be as strong. The menthol from the peppermint gives you that cooling effect, which helps to relieve pain, and it smells amazing! Win/win.

Birth Control

Getting back on normal birth control can help regulate your hormones and help your milk dry up. While breastfeeding, I was on the mini pill, which only has one hormone that helps keep it from affecting your milk supply. Once I started weaning and my prescription ran out, I wasn’t on anything. I had to wait until my son was completely weaned to get back on the normal pill. Depending on the type of birth control you use, you may need to wait until the baby is completely weaned to start it. But getting on birth control can help naturally dry up any remaining milk supply you have once the weaning process is done. Always check with your doctor first before starting new birth control.

Sage Tea

Drinking sage tea regularly is another natural remedy for drying up breast milk. Simply put one teaspoon of sage into a cup of hot water. Let it steep for 15 minutes. Add in a teaspoon of honey for a sweeter taste and enjoy.

Give these tips a shot and let me know what works best for you in the comments below! Just know this won’t last forever. Your supply will go down, and you will get your body back. Be patient with yourself and your body. You will get there!

30 Days of Thanks

With Thanksgiving later this month, I have been thinking about all the things I am thankful for. It has also got me reminiscing about a tougher time earlier this year. Back in March, I had really just been down about quite a bit, and I didn’t know why. I had given birth to my 2nd child in September 2018, two days before Hurricane Florence hit and destroyed our home. We got a temporary apartment and settled into it in October.

Months later, in March, after making it through the hardest time adjusting to two kids under the age of 2, I was just not happy, and I didn’t know why. I had two healthy, beautiful babies who I adored. I should have been happy. I had no reason not to be, but I just wasn’t.

I am normally such a positive and happy-go-lucky person. So feeling down and not happy was hard for me. I didn’t know why I felt like I did, and I didn’t like it. I found myself always finding the negative in every situation instead of the positives (which was my usual). One day I just decided enough was enough, and I was going to make myself find the positives again.

I decided to make a change. I started by telling myself I would find one thing every day to be thankful for and that I would journal it down. I set it as my goal for 30 days to find something to be thankful for so that I would start counting my blessings again and finding the positives in every situation.

Little did I know that this simple 30 Day challenge would transform my mindset. Some days were hard, and I really had to reach to find something to be grateful for — but I made myself do it. By the end of the 30 days, I began to feel like myself again.

In the spirit of transparency, I have decided to share my original 30 Days of Thanks challenge I did with you. It is my hope that you feel inspired and empowered to count your blessings and find something to be thankful for every day.

Day 1 – Thankful to be a Stay-at-Home Mom

I am thankful to be able to be a stay-at-home mom. In this world and time, careers and female empowerment are so celebrated, and there are some women (like my sister) who desperately want to stay home but can’t. I know I am blessed to have a husband who was willing to let me stay home (an agreement we had before having kids) and also for jobs for my hubby that have been able to let me stay home financially.

Day 2 – Thankful for Two Healthy Kids

I am thankful for two healthy kids. I’ve seen so many friends have miscarriages, and I myself have as well. I’ve also watched as friends had babies with health issues and some that didn’t live long. We had our own health scares with my first baby with holes in her heart, but have been extremely blessed to have two healthy babies. And despite days when their tantrums run wild, and I want to just put them in bed all day to have a break, I am very thankful to have them. They light up my days and are the little loves of my life.

Day 3 – Thankful for a Roof Over Our Heads

I am thankful for a roof over our heads. That we have a home, no matter how temporary. We can take homes for granted, and after Hurricane Florence, I realized I used to do just that. Living in a 3rd-floor apartment with two dogs and two kids under two years old is quite an adjustment from a home with a fenced-in backyard. But despite the differences in living due to the conditions and knowing that this isn’t permanent — I’m just so very blessed to have a home where I am safe and warm and, most importantly, where my whole family is all together again.

Day 4 – Thankful for Music

I am thankful for music. Specifically, country music. Music tells stories, uplifts spirits, and soothes the soul. It can take you away from your worries and out of your thoughts, even if just for a minute or two. It can distract and put you in a better mood. I’m so glad to have music to carry me away on these stressful days and to just unwind and relax by singing it out and/or having a dance party anywhere you are.

Day 5 – Thankful for Me Time

I am thankful for me time. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in everyone but yourself when you have little ones. On the occasion that both kids nap at the same time, I usually try to nap too, but today I decided to have some me time and sew. I took so much for granted before having kids, like an uninterrupted shower and being able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Having hobbies and being able to actually do them makes me feel more like myself. They help me unwind, relax, have some alone time, feel accomplished, and make me feel like myself.

Day 6 – Thankful for My Hubby

I am thankful for my hubby. Despite our struggles and ups and downs of life, I am so thankful to have his help. Despite working until 8 pm or later most days and dealing with his own stress, he still helps out with what he can when he is home. Even when it feels like I do a majority of things, I know that I am not in it alone.

Day 7 – Thankful for Random Outings & Free Gifts

I am thankful for random outings and free gifts. Today we got free cones from Dairy Queen. I looked forward to it all day, and despite having a rough day with the kiddos, having to leave close to bedtime, and hubby getting home just in time to get the ice cream before they closed — we still got it! Despite the rain and cold weather, we all enjoyed a few moments as a family of four, got free ice cream, and it made Lacey Belle’s day, so it made mine too.

Reflections on 1 Week of Thanks

As I reflect back on one whole week of giving thanks and choosing to find the positive and good in each day, I have noticed myself feeling a little more like my normal happy-go-lucky self. I still have a way to go and things to deal with within myself and my relationship, but I am enjoying finding something to be happy about. God has truly blessed me, and I choose to keep focusing on the good times and happy moments instead of the negative. This too shall pass. There is a time and season for everything. God will not give you more than you can handle. There is good in every situation.

Day 8 – Thankful for Uninterrupted Sleep

I am thankful for uninterrupted sleep. Sleep is taken for granted by many people so often. I, for one, used to take it for granted until having kids. Now it’s very appreciated when it actually happens. In the midst of having a 6-month-old who’s teething and in the middle of many changes, he hasn’t been sleeping well for the last couple of months. And the lack of solid sleep has made me extra grouchy too. But last night baby slept for 9 hours straight (hallelujah), and it was much needed. I’m so thankful for a sleeping baby! And even though it wasn’t completely uninterrupted for me – I still woke twice to pee – it was so nice feeling rested when I woke for the morning.

Day 9 – Thankful for Smiles

I am thankful for smiles. This morning I had lots of sweet time with each of my kiddos. We shared lots of smiles, laughter, hugs, and kisses, and it melted my heart. Being a mom is not easy. But it is worth it. I’ve been having a tough go of this mom thing with one kid teething and not sleeping well, and the other approaching the terrible twos in full swing, testing every limit and pushing boundaries. Despite still experiencing yelling and crying as it drew close to lunch and nap times, the quiet happy moments of this morning reminded me why I do what I do. I love being a mommy, and I love my kiddos more than anything. I’m so very thankful for smiles and reminders from God of all the sweet moments. Being a mom is not easy. But it is worth it. And every smile makes it worth it.

Day 10 – Thankful for One-on-One Time with My Kiddos

I am thankful for one-on-one time with my kiddos. I got to spend some quality time with Lacey Belle, and it was so nice being able to focus on just her and not being pulled in multiple directions. Despite her crankiness and my lack of getting to nap, it was so nice to spend some time with just her. I’m thankful I got snack time, playtime, and workout time in with her. She lights up my world!

Day 11 – Thankful for Sunshine & Warm Weather

I am thankful for the sunshine and warm weather. It’s been so cold and cloudy/dreary lately that the warm (close to 70s) temperature and the sun shining bright today were such a blessing. I hate cold and am always ready for summer, so it was a nice change of pace being able to have playtime outside. And I loved taking the dogs out just to stand in the sun.

Day 12 – Thankful for Exercise

I am thankful for exercise. I used to hate working out but have grown to love it in the last three years. It’s not always fun or easy, but I do genuinely enjoy it. It helps with my energy, dedication, and health. I hope to set a good example with my kids to love exercise by watching me do it as they grow up. Today I was able to get in a workout while at the playground with the kiddos, and it felt so good to multitask. Lacey Belle loved helping me do it too. Despite being tired and wanting to just be lazy some days, I feel much better when I do get a little workout in.

Day 13 – Thankful for Quality Time

I am thankful for quality time. With long workdays and the busyness of life, I feel like I rarely see my hubby, and when I do, we have so much else going on that we lack spending good quality time together. I’ve really been missing and craving good quality time lately. We got to spend the day together going to a doctor's appointment, doing a little shopping, and going out to dinner as a family. It felt like a little mini-vacay and was definitely much needed! It reminded me how important this quality time is, and I am so thankful for whenever I get to have it! I’m ready for things to slow down and be able to have more days like today. I need to find ways to make more time like this.

Day 14 – Thankful for Puppies

I am thankful for puppies. Despite getting annoyed or stressed out sometimes, having two fur babies to take care of in addition to two kids — I love them. I know how short dogs’ lives can be after losing my first fur baby way too soon, so I am very thankful to have my two pups now. I love watching them be sweet with each other; I love watching them play with my kids; I love how my kids love them and consider them siblings; I love the snuggles and constant company, and I love when they follow me around and velcro to me.

Day 15 – Thankful for Checking Off Bucket List Items

I am thankful for checking off bucket list items. The weather was nice today, so we went to It's a Zoo Life. It’s a family-owned business located in Macclesfield, NC. I first heard of it while watching their TLC show “Our Wild Life”. I looked them up and found they were only a couple of hours from us in NC, so I added it to my bucket list. It did not disappoint! I got to hold a baby kangaroo, and Lacey Belle’s happiness with all the animals meant everything! We had such a great day, and despite lugging an empty stroller around, being behind the group and not hearing anything the guide said, it was the perfect day!

Day 16 – Thankful for Independence

I am thankful for independence. Something that is often taken for granted as a young adult is doing as you please when you please. You often miss this after kids. While I want and need help with the kiddos, it is a good reminder that I got this and can do it on my own when I need to. Despite having a hubby who sleeps in all hours and I feel like a single mom some days – I do like that I have my independence and don’t depend on someone else for everything.

Day 17 – Thankful for Cuddles

I am thankful for cuddles. Alone time with the hubby is a rare occurrence these days. Between long working hours, the kids’ needs, and my own exhaustion, it’s easy to get lost and feel like we aren’t connecting. I’m so thankful for little moments like simply cuddling on the couch for a few minutes while he watches a show and before I go to bed, to remind me how much I love him. I crave the physical touch love language, so little things I can do to get that are such a blessing. And although it was a rough night and didn’t go how I hoped, in those cuddle moments it was so comforting and made me feel loved and put me in such a good mood.

Day 18 – Thankful for Family Dinners

I am thankful for family dinners. With long working hours, our whole family rarely sits down to enjoy a meal all together. It’s hard enough for me and the hubby to eat at the same time, let alone both kids too. It’s always a nice change of pace when we can go out to eat or just enjoy a meal at home altogether. Even though our initial restaurant choice was closed early, we still found a great Mexican place to stop at. And even though it was 9 pm before we ate (I hate eating late and it was way past the kids’ bedtime) — it was still so nice to just be out together and enjoy some yummy food.

Day 19 – Thankful for Dance Parties

I am thankful for dance parties. Lacey Belle asks to play her favorite songs every morning and dances and sings along with them. She has become a huge Kacey Musgraves fan (which I love). Just watching her dance along and/or joining her myself, with a little brother in tow, is such fun. Sometimes you just gotta dance it out.

Day 20 – Thankful for Helping Hands

I am thankful for helping hands. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking you do everything, especially when you’re a stay-at-home mom, and your hubby works long hours. Little things like cleaning out a drain and helping bathe one kid while I fed the other are such a huge help. I am so thankful for the times when I know I’m not the only one doing everything, but I actually have a partner that helps.

Day 21 – Thankful for Serious Talks

I am thankful for serious talks. Even when it’s hard to find the courage to bring up a hard topic, it’s awkward to address, and you know you or your partner aren’t going to take it well, it is still good to get stuff out in the open instead of bottling it up. Despite the outcome still feeling unresolved, I’m thankful for times when I can bring up a hard topic and just get it off my chest.

Day 22 – Thankful for Relaxing Days

I am thankful for relaxing days. We just stayed home and enjoyed the day hanging at the house cuz it was rainy and yucky out. It was just what the doctor ordered. As much as I love getting out of the house and going on adventures, sometimes having a chill day at home is just as nice to play with the kiddos, maybe nap, just unwind, and catch up on some shows.

Day 23 – Thankful for Spontaneity

I am thankful for spontaneity. We spent time as a family enjoying the park, checking out the ducks at the waterfront, walking downtown, and enjoying a nice dinner out. It was kind of a spontaneous outing after the kids woke from naps and before bedtime, and it was much needed. I love having spontaneous outings that remind me of my pre-kid days.

Day 24 – Thankful for Kids who Still Want to be Held & Loved On

I am thankful for two kids who still want to be held and loved on. It was a rough day with short naps and some fussy kids, but despite the clinginess, I’m thankful that both kids aren’t too cool for mom and still want me to hold them. Even when it’s both kids at once and hard to find a balance, it makes my heart full to know they love me and that I am some sort of comfort to them. The days are long but the years are short, so I’m choosing to enjoy this time while it lasts.

Day 25 – Thankful for Errands

I am thankful for errands. Running errands is one of my favorite excuses to get out of the house. It might be rough sometimes taking the kids solo, but I enjoy it. It gives us all a change of pace and gets us out of the house. And I get things marked off my to-do list at the same time. Win/win.

Day 26 – Thankful for Motivation

I am thankful for motivation. I’ve been falling behind with my yoga habits and just motivation, in general, to get certain things done. After telling myself I would do something on Monday and not for a while, I just sucked it up and did it on Wednesday. Who cares that it wasn’t the day I wanted. I did it and made myself be motivated! And it was so great just doing it.

Day 27 – Thankful for Changed Plans

I am thankful for changed plans. It can be hard to adjust to a change when you have a set idea on something, but it can also be a blessing in disguise. I was able to have some snuggle time with Weston and got him to bed at a decent hour. Then I got to spend some special snuggle time with Lacey Belle watching TV. Despite wanting her to get to bed so I could work on my blog and spend time with the hubby. I sat with her and soaked in our special time, and I do feel like I needed that. I really miss my solo time with her.

Day 28 – Thankful for My Sour Patch Kids

I am thankful for my Sour Patch Kids. My daughter is the definition of a sour patch kid. Today, while I tried to make dinner, she pulled apart an entire little bale of hay on the kitchen floor. But right after, she proceeded to say, “I clean it,” while sweeping it into a pile. First, she’s sour (doing something naughty), then she’s sweet (tries to help clean). She has been like this forever. It’s so hard to stay mad when she turns around and is so sweet and tries to be helpful. It absolutely melts my heart. I’m so thankful for this!

Day 29 – Thankful for Little Helpers

I am thankful for little helpers. My kids love to “help” and do whatever I do. It’s the cutest thing seeing them get excited to help cook or clean. I love having them by my side and teaching them how to do things. Despite times when I want my space or to just do it myself, it is so rewarding watching them take initiative and help on their own. They are growing so fast, and I just hope I can instill in them a good work ethic and being genuinely kind.

Day 30 – Thankful for Self Care

I am thankful for self-care. It’s so hard to find time to take care of yourself as a mom. There always seems to be something else to do or someone else who needs something. Tonight, before I went to bed, despite being exhausted, I put on a face mask while I unwound for bedtime. It only took 10 minutes but made such a difference. My skin feels much better, and it smells like cucumber now (one of my faves). It was so relaxing and needed. It’s amazing how something so simple can make you feel refreshed. Time for self-care, no matter how short, is such a blessing! I’m so thankful for even a couple of minutes to relax and do some self-care for myself.

This 30 Day challenge is so near and dear to my heart because it is so real during a tough time in my life. It doesn’t matter if it is Thanksgiving time or summertime; there is always something to be thankful for. Even in dark days, there is still light. Focusing on the positives can make such an impact on your mindset. I challenge you to find something to be thankful for each day for the next 30 days. And just see what happens.