Monday, October 26, 2015

Monday

HI Friends!

It was feeling very much like Halloween week in our house today- Isla dressed herself and it was very Halloween appropriate :)


She also raided a fun Halloween package we got from B's Aunt and Uncle and found my chocolate stash-- this kid is.her.DAD! Choco-holic. (Did I mention I gave her half of a mini Hershey's and she barfed it in her bed the moment she laid down- awesome. Lesson.Learned.)

Tomorrow we have our first official Halloween celebration (with two others to follow!) and Isla's Halloween costume still hasn't arrived from Etsy (boo!) so she'll be digging through her dress-up bin for a costume... that should be interesting, stay tuned for that :) While we wait-- I'll be running to the Disney store for a back-up in cases Etsy truly fails me.

Hope everyone's having a wonderful Holiday Week!

xoxo. 
S

Friday, October 23, 2015

Mom Holiday-Moneysavers!

Hi Friends!

I put this list together last year after the holidays so I'd remember to do these items this year. I thought it was a great EARLY reminder of ways to save your budget and sanity this holiday season.

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I'm all for a bargain and since I try to keep us on a budget I have tried to save pennies on the holidays since Isla was born. Here are a couple of my most favorite tricks and tips!

1. Start early-- it sounds so easy, I know! Seriously though- buy for your kiddos, hubby and whoever will get you a Christmas list in September/October (it's a little like pulling teeth that early but whoever gives you ideas, buy for them!) Parcel out the rest of your list from November-Dec.

2. Take family photos in late Summer/early Fall and order cards right away. If you're waiting for a deal at least design your card so the stress of assembling it is out of the way. Last year I got a smokin' deal on Zulily for Tiny Prints and ordered my cards in October- YAY! (It's a first but hopefully I'm setting a trend!) This year, I snagged a similar deal on Groupon and saw a couple in magazines too!

3. Consider limiting kiddo gifts to several themed gifts or the fun theme "Something you want, Something you need, Something to wear, Something to read"-- I'll be following this for Isla's Birthday since it's so close to the holidays--that's just a lot of gifts all at once!

4. Buy Holiday stamps when they come out on several trips to the post office. I have bought one book the last two times I went to the post office and I almost have enough for my cards. It makes the sting of sending cards a little less immediate.

5. Pay attention to deals--- hit up Black Friday, Cyber Monday, follow your favorite shops on IG so you know when sales are coming (many do big Black Friday sales).

6. Stop shopping when you're done with your list---this seems like a no-brainer but I can't tell you how many times I've shopped early for someone and then been out during the season and seen something I 'just had' to put with their gift. "Unnecessary" blows the budget!

7. Shop the Dollar Store & craft stores for Holiday decor or better yet take advantage of Pinterest- There are a million ideas out there and we're loving the ones Isla and I can do together. Thankfully Michael's and Joann's tries to liquidate their holiday goodies weeks before the holiday so the sales are great before Thanksgiving and Christmas even arrive!

Also- get decorating ideas from holiday catalogs--I copy lots of Pottery Barn and Sur La Table tricks from trinkets I pick up at craft stores and make it look like the catalog. No one has to know it was from the $1 aisle!

8. Buy one roll of nice brown or white heavy wrapping paper and use it for all presents--glitz it up with ribbon/bows/etc. It's all about the accessories right?! If you have to have wrapping paper (which can be more fun for kiddos!) buy it after Christmas for the following year- it's a super bargain. Also consider only wrapping the "Santa gifts" in wrapping paper- Santa's fancy right?! I bought Disney wrapping paper that's pink and only slightly holiday since it has snowflakes on it and used it for all of the little girl Winter Birthdays Isla went to- a serious money saver! The only downside is that you have to store it!

9. Create photo books early. They run some mega sales during November/December for photo books and gifts. These can be pricey if you're printing multiples. I am definitely the one staying up until all hours to create the 'perfect photo book' for our parents in November but this year I'm willing myself to do ours early. You can save them in the book making software (I like to use Blurb) and wait until the sales arrive and then upload them and order.

And since you know I can't end my lists on an odd number (Hello, Perfectionist :) my final item is one that is simple but hard for us 'do it all Moms' to accomplish.

10. Be Present in your family's holidays. I'm 100% not talking about doing it all and stressing yourself to the max- I'm talking about doing what's necessary and makes you feel good about celebrating with those you love and letting the other things go. That is the best thing for your budget and more important, your sanity. This is the year to pick your holiday battles right?! I promise the name cards you're slaving over at midnight the night before Thanksgiving will not change the way you feel when you look around the table at your family. The number of gifts won't change the joy on your children's faces on Christmas morning and sometimes letting go of those things is the best thing for us as Moms and our families. I saw this on Facebook last week and loved it--a good reminder to stay present, have perspective and be filled with gratitude this holiday.


Happy Holiday Preparations Everyone! 
xoxo. 
S

A Halloween Bath

Hi Friends!

I had a genius Mom moment tonight and threw 2 green glowsticks in Isla's bubble bath. It was spooky fun and she loved it. It went perfectly with Halloween on the horizon. Isla's also been wanting to bail on the bath time after being in the tub for 30 seconds so it kept her busy for a good 10-15 minutes-- #WINNING!

Try it out! The kiddos will love it!


(PS- that black 'bandeau' is my privacy measure for Miss I. I also added some extra bubbles :) We can't be too careful right?! ) 

xoxo. 
S

Monday, October 19, 2015

Holiday Crafting & Rainy-Day Activities

Hi Friends!

Isla and I have been all about the Halloween festivities and decor lately. Besides this holiday witch kit that I got at Michael's (which Isla had a ball assembling and carrying around) we did a fun sensory activity that I changed a bit from the pinterest idea I saw. This idea is similar to the 'pipe cleaners in a colander' idea. I wanted to weave yarn through a colander or storage bin but I didn't have one on hand that worked. Instead I used a disposable lasagna pan and it worked great because I didn't care if Isla colored on it or stuck stickers all over. She loved putting her spider stickers in 'the web' and I threw in a bunch of Halloween erasers and little Orange and Black pokey balls. She loved this and it'll be easy to dispose of after the holiday!

Happy holiday crafting- tis the Season!!




































Friday, October 16, 2015

Finding Fall

Hi Friends!

Fall is my favorite- it always has been. Since having a kiddo the change in seasons has started to feel even more nostalgic. This year the season signified a moment to stand still and realize just how quickly my baby is turning into a little girl.... who demands 'ONE Princess braid,' loves Barbies and Superheroes and is a lover of nature and adventure. She is growing so fast--it is the most bittersweet of things.

Yesterday we went to find Fall at one of my very favorite parks. We spotted turtles, a great blue heron, saved 2 caterpillars, stomped in bright orange leaves and Isla collected a red bucket full of foliage (and then left her collection on a park bench for another lucky visitor). It was sunny and crisp-and left me feeling more ready for this onset of Winter. I hope you all have a chance to slow down this month and enjoy the color and change in season. xoxo.












Tuesday, October 13, 2015

An update in 19.

Hi Friends!

Sorry for the long hiatus- my Hubby was out of town on business all of last week so it made for some VERY LONG DAYS around here. I love my little lady but I can pretty much say that wine was consumed every evening ;) ha!

I can't believe that Fall is flying by so quickly- it seemed like Summer went on forever and now if I don't pay attention long enough Fall will be gone and we'll be in the depths of Winter. I am trying to put our routines back in place- I've been totally lax with our house (which automatically turned into a major pigsty) and cooking at home more regularly. I am working on making time for all of the Fall things I love before I miss them-- watching Isla romp in leaves in her candy red rain boots, seeing my favorite tree in the park drop sweet little bright yellow leaves, find long shadows on these super sunny-crisp days, splurge on a new scarf&hat--take walks. While I fit all of that in--here are a couple things that are on my mind :)



1. Fall. In all it's glory.


2. Nostalgia. This sweet little gnome face. This seems like so long ago. 


3. Isla's newest infatuations: Superheroes (specifically The Hulk & Spiderman) and my 80's Barbies.


4. Chardonnay. This magic bottle saved.my.life last week.


5. CHEESE! These two cheeseballs (I'm so jealous that Isla's Auntie and Uncle are on a fab vaca in the Cook Islands at this moment!)


6.  Feeling Festive. These purple lights and orange pumpkins that remind Isla and I of the season during bath time.


7. Isla's new favorite Disney: Pocahontas (censored) and Mulan (a fave of mine too- girl power!)


8. Moments like this. These are getting me through.


 9. Crisp Leaves. And my little collector. 


10. This tutu. It's EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. 


11. Beau. This absolutely adorable one-year old cake smash I did for my L's, Beau last week. You can check it out here.


12. My Savior! Finally, we located a place that wore my kid out. Too bad it exists in Tumwater. This open gym with mats and foam pits is literally toddler perfection!


13. The Hulk. Isla is obsessed. (I had to taunt her with this over the weekend when she was at Grandma's :)


14. Ipic. Drinks&movie in a recliner with the Hubs. Perfect.


15. Chanterelles. Enough said. 

16. This cookie. Isla made this especially for B and I. I feel like I'm being watched. 


17. B's Desk. Literally my nightmare.


 18. Bats. (and that little leg cross)


19. The Architect. Her Great-Grandpa would be so proud :)


xo. 
S