Simply Sweet Days

Simple discoveries that make every day count.

Life Simplified

Tips for an Epic Beach Trip

Nothing says “summer time” like a trip to the beach. I’ve spent my whole life making beach trips (only during warm weather, because I’m not crazy). When we head out on a beach trip, we try and keep it simple. This is my strategy that helps make every coastal outing into an epic beach trip.  

Tips for an Epic Beach Trip

Now that my kids are 5 and 7, they don’t need as much help – or as much stuff!- for a trip to the beach. My tips for a fantastic beach trip with small children are a little different, but the goal is the same: Don’t make it a huge chore for yourself!

Keep it Simple

Don’t overpack. Maybe every now and then, for a bonfire or something, take the plastic folding table and the portable mini grill. But if you’re just going on a family day trip, you don’t need much. It’s the beach. The fun is built-in. You don’t need a whole lot else.

What We Bring for an Epic Beach trip

Sunscreen. Because a beach trip is not epic if your sunburn is too. We bring the spray-on kind and repeat frequently, since it’s not the most reliable stuff.

Drinking Water. We pop some water bottles in the freezer in the morning before we leave and they stay chilly as long as we keep them in our bag in the shade.

Beach Bags. This is the only thing I bring that could be a little extra. We bring 2 totes to the beach: One is a mesh bag that I’ve had for years (still on Amazon, which tells you how great it is!) and I love that I can just shake the sand out of it. This is where I put sand toys/bowls 😉 , maybe a bag of chips, some fruit snacks or granola bars, sunscreen, keys, and towels. I can fit 5 folded towels in this bag! The other bag I bring is an insulated tote for waters, sandwiches, cut fruit, and anything else that I want kept cool and away from sand.

Umbrella. Just one. To cover me and the snacks. #sorrynotsorry I’m the one keeping you all safe and sunscreen up and I don’t like sitting in the sun all day. If you have to bring a second umbrella to share the shade, at least they’re not big and bulky. At least not the ones I bring. 🙂

Snacks. We usually bring a bag of chips, fruit, whatever else is in the cupboard. Smuckers Uncrustables are good for beach trips too because you just toss them in your tote bag, no prep required!  

Towels. Just one per person. No big picnic blanket, no plastic tarp. Just a couple towels. 

Cash, quarters & a debit card. Some of our beach parking lots still use meters that only take quarters. So old school, right? And not all the time, but every once in a while, we grab an ice cream by the pier. You never know if the beachside vendors will be able to take debit cards, so we bring cash as a backup. Lastly, here’s your friendly warning to avoid the tourist shops, my friend. You will be lured in by their cute beachy tees, but they’re always way overpriced!

Our Boogie Boards. Which we will only bring if the kids agree to carry their own because I am not a pack mule. My 7yo girls like to boogie board but the 5yo is still learning. If he brings his board, I will stand in the water with him and give him a push when a wave comes.

3 small plastic bowls. Hear me out. Gone are the days when we used to bring a garden shovel and dig a hole for the little tykes to splash around in. I also don’t want to lug a sack of sand toys on our beach trip (because you know mom will end up carrying them!), but I will admit that it’s much easier to play when you have some tools. We bring a couple of small cereal bowls that the kids can use to carry water and scoop sand, and they’re pretty happy with that. Remember-having an epic beach trip is all about keeping things simple!

Even if you’re a long-time beach person, it’s still a pretty big job to get everyone ready and out the door. If you give yourself permission to not take everything but the kitchen sink, you’ll be more likely to have an epic beach trip with your family!

Raising Adventurous Children

Peeking in on my babies while they sleep, I wonder at what adventures they’re having in their dreams. Some parents want to give their kids everything that money can buy, and that’s great. For me, I want to give my kids a joyful childhood filled with the experiences that dance in their memories while they sleep. We’re raising adventurous children one exciting day at a time. 

7 Things You Do When Raising Adventurous Children

Take Note of the Little Things

The ladybug without any spots. The leaf that’s shaped like an ice cream cone. The hole in the ground that may or may not contain a playful gopher. Kids see them, these little details all around us. Open your eyes to nature’s nuances, and share the excitement of wildlife with your kids.

Encourage Imagination

That’s not just a discarded piece of brown paper sack. It could be an invisible treasure map! Give their little imaginations space and freedom to think beyond what they see and create unexplored worlds.

Make Time

The hard truth is that in order to live out great memories, we as parents have to make time for them in our complicated, important lives. Vacations are the ideal place to experience free-spirited fun, but you don’t have to have a lot of time to foster new experiences. You just need enough time to stop and think about what adventures could be had right where you are.  

Set an Example

Get out there and try new things yourself. On our walls we have photos of Mommy and Daddy riding river rapids, and posing at the top of a mountain.We are no strangers to adventure, and our kids know that. It’s easy for children to be courageous if they know their parents are right there with them.

Praise, Praise, Praise!

Every little step of adventure is something to celebrate. When I’m on a hike with my kids, I know they’re going to love our end destination. But the trek there loses its novelty pretty quickly. The kids can only get excited about forests and moss for so long. So I shift their focus to things that keep them moving and having fun while they’re doing it. 


“See that fallen log over there? Can you walk across it and keep your balance? Hooray! You did it!”

Take Lots of Pictures and Tell Lots of Stories

We relive our adventures in the pictures we take along the way. In fact, my most solid childhood memories are the ones that have stood the test of time in photographs. Kids love when you retell the stories of their experiences because they get to have the leading role in the familiar tales of their past. Telling them stories of the things they have done and they places they’ve been to is also a great way to soothe them at bed time. 

My hope for you and your family is that you seize whatever day you have in front of you. Find the joy in the little things and be the first to try something new. 

Want your kids to have a joyful childhood filled with memorable experiences? Here's how to raise adventurous children, one exciting day at a time.

How the Echo Show Brings our Family Together

This post was sponsored by Amazon as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This winter we discovered how our Echo Dot Kids Edition can bring Christmas magic to our little ones. Today I want to tell you about our other Amazon device, the Echo Show. Every since we added this device to our home, I can’t help but be surprised at how the Echo Show brings our family together. 

What is an Echo Show?

The Echo Show is one of Amazon’s smart home devices, part of the Alexa family. We use Amazon FreeTime on Alexa, which, first and foremost, has parental controls that help us keep our kids safe while using the device. We decided to turn off voice purchasing, and block explicit song lyrics with Amazon Music. Most of the time our kids ask Alexa to play the kid-friendly songs they’re already familiar with. Being able to set restrictions using the Parent Dashboard gives me peace of mind that they are enjoying a kid-centric Alexa experience on the Echo Dot Kids Edition and Echo Show. Amazon FreeTime also includes educational skills like Name that Animal. The Alexa app offers hundreds of more awesome skills focused specifically on children’s education! With Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, we can listen to over 1,000 kids books on Audible. We simply have to ask, “Alexa, read me Peter Pan.”  

How We’re Coming Together with Our Echo Show

I can’t emphasize enough how every day we discover new and fun ways to interact with our Echo Show. And you know what the kids are NOT doing during that time? Zoning out in front of the TV! They’ve figured out some things that I didn’t even know Alexa could do, like take a selfie. Now our Echo Show displays a rotation of silly faces compliments of my little cuties! With our Echo Show we are also:

Baking chocolate chip cookies. “Alexa, show me a recipe for chocolate cookies.” 

Having a dance party. “Alexa, play our family playlist.”

Learning about the world around us. “Alexa, show me the pyramids of Egypt.”

Finding out more about the recent Super Blood Wolf Moon. “Alexa, what’s happening with the moon tonight?”

Other Ways We Enjoy Alexa

One great things about Alexa is that she keeps us organized. We tell Alexa to set a 30 minute timer for the washer so we can keep our clothes moving through the laundromat quickly. Our kids love watching the last 10 seconds count down on the Echo Show! Now they set timers for everything they can think of, like teeth brushing, bath time, and homework time. Alexa also helps us by creating a list, setting reminders, and adding events to our calendar! Yes, all these things could be taken care of by myself or John, but we like that the kids are getting involved in the household. Plus, Alexa us just plain fun! She has a constant supply of jokes, and we have ours set up so that Jimmy Fallon delivers them to us.  Family laughing to Jimmy Fallon jokes on the Echo Show

Smart devices like the Echo Dot Kids Edition and the Echo Show can bring our family together. They also simplify our lives and help us stay organized. Check out Amazon Kids and Family on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see how families are incorporating these awesome devices into their home.

Sanity-Saving Tips for Busy Moms

When I first started blogging, I had newborn twins, a full-time job, and a 9-year-old with a packed extracurricular schedule. To say I was busy is an understatement! Since then, we added another bundle of joy to our family. I’ve learned a lot over the years about managing a growing family while working full time. With a little planning and these sanity-saving tips for busy moms, you’ll be more cool, calm, and collected when you’re out with your little ones.  

Bring Snacks 

Kids burn through a lot of energy. If you’ve seen mine, you know that they hardly ever sit still! If we’re planning on being gone for more than an hour or so, I always bring a little something for the kids to snack on. It doesn’t have to be a big gourmet meal. Most of the time a baggie of sliced fruit or some string cheese is enough to keep our energy up until we get home. For longer trips to the park, beach, or hanging on the sidelines of big brother’s soccer game, we strap a cooler to our wagon to keep our snacks chilly.

sanity savint tip for busy moms: bring snacks, like these fruit slices!

Busy Moms Pack Lightly

Even though it is a good idea to bring snacks and toys with you to keep the kids happy, you don’t want to bring so much stuff that it takes 2 trips to the car to unload it all. For us, gone are the days of stuffing everything under the stroller seat, although that was a great way to lug all our extra stuff around. Now we keep a wagon in the trunk of the car for trips when we’re bringing lots of stuff. This 3-in-1 Tailgater Wagon from Radio Flyer folds flat for easy storage in the back of the car. 

Don’t Wear Yourself Out

When I get home, I do not want to be more exhausted than the kids are from a day of errands! As the mom, my job isn’t over once we’re home. That’s when the real work starts: making dinner, tidying up, putting away everything we brought with us in the car… So I don’t want to use up all my energy on the outing. We usually bring a backpack with water bottles and snacks on our short errands. When we need more storage we take our awesome wagon. Our 3-in-1 Tailgater Wagon™ has a cooler caddy to carry all our snacks and drinks. There are also 2 cup holders on the front to tote the kids’ water bottles, and a canopy to give them a shady place to sit. It’s so easy to pull, I had no trouble taking them to a lakeside picnic. And since everything was strapped to the wagon, I didn’t have my hands full juggling toys and drinks!

Ok, I know some of you are probably wondering, where did you get that awesome wagon and how can I get my hands on one? My suggestion is to find it at Walmart. We got ours for a very reasonable price, and it has the most bells and whistles available! I love how the side wall can zip transform to bench mode so it can fit all three little guys. They love riding to and from places in it!  

Ever since the girls were born we’ve had several on-the-go days each week. With lacrosse meets and soccer games and church events, there is always somewhere we have to be, especially on the weekends! Busy moms, have you been there? Where your life is crazy busy and you are just amazed at how you handle it all? Hopefully these sanity-saving tips can encourage you, because I bet you’re probably doing them already. Hang in there, mama. You’re doing a great job!

Making Time for Family on Busy School Days

Now that the girls are back in school, our evenings can sometimes be hectic. Now in addition to the regular dinner/bath/bedtime routine, we have to fit in homework too. Some weeks it feels like, by the time Friday rolls around, we’ve hardly spent any time together. I’m finding simple ways to make time for family a priority on those busy after-school days. 

Give Kids Your Attention When You’re Together

Making time for family can be hard for me as a full-time working mom. But I know that when I set my phone and laptop aside and just be present with my kids, we are all more joyful and relaxed. Our time together is even more enjoyable when we’re doing something we all love. The younger ones are always ready to go in the pool, color, or play with salt dough. My oldest is into playing card games. Whatever the activity, we always have fun because we’re doing it as a family. 

Give Yourself a Break from Cooking

Cooking at home is great, but it is also incredibly time-consuming. Trust me, I’ve been working long days for the whole 15 years I’ve been a parent and I’ve tried every quick-cooking dinner idea there is. But you know what’s even faster? Not cooking! We don’t do it all the time, but every now and then we splurge on a dinner that Mom and Dad didn’t have to cook.

I’m currently loving Applebee’s Carside To Go. Last night, John had to work and I was just not in the mood to make dinner with cranky kids after a long day of school. I pulled up the Applebee’s app on my phone and quickly placed an order for pickup. We jumped in the car and it was ready by the time we got to the restaurant! There is an option for Carside, where you provide the make and model of your car when placing your order either online, over the phone, or on the app. When you park in the designated space an Applebee’s employee brings it right to you! 

Remember, Family Comes First

Some of our best evenings have been the ones when we spontaneously threw aside the routines and spent quality time together. Our kids are little, so sometimes this means we forego the bath (gasp!) for a late afternoon dip in the pool or a walk around the lake. If we can manage to bring takeout along with us, we have even more time for adventure! 

Make Memories on a School Night

There is so much value in giving kids your undivided attention and carving out special time together. The nest time you need a quick dinner option, use Applebee’s To Go. Type in the code 5off25 and get $5 off your online order of $25 or more. Then get outside or circle up around your favorite board game and make some memories. We don’t want our kids thinking we’re too busy for them, do we?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Applebee’s. The opinions and text are all mine.

Counting Every Blessing

Waking up. Good health. Happy kids.

These are the simple things in life that I so often take for granted.

Clothes We Needed But Hadn’t Thought to Ask For

This week the girls start kindergarten. Due to our current circumstances, we weren’t able to buy them new outfits for school. They got the basics – backpacks, lunch boxes, a pair of shoes and a picture day outfit. They have a dresser full of clothes that still have a few more months of wear before needing to be replaced. Since my stepping back from working full-time, there are just some expenses we have to say no to. A new wardrobe to compliment the start of school is one of them.We keep to our well-planned budget, but this was the best we could do under the circumstances.I was a little sad that I couldn’t give my girls a slew of new clothes this fall. But they were totally oblivious, and in fact were thrilled with their new things. 

By God’s goodness and the generosity of friends and neighbors, this weekend I unpacked not one, not two, but THREE bags of adorable hand-me-down clothes in great condition and just in time for the start of school. It was exactly what we needed. I had been worried about how we would manage to replace a whole wardrobe of clothes with our current income (and been dreading the hours of thrift store and garage sale sifting that would entail). Yet somehow it never crossed my mind to ask for clothes.

As I was hanging up the many dresses and putting away the girls’ old ones that are now way too small, I realized what a tremendous blessing this was and how incredibly thankful we all are for those hand-me-downs. And it’s not the only blessing we’ve had lately.

Surgery

I haven’t said a word about this on any of my public spaces, so you’re the lucky first to know that I recently had surgery. Don’t worry, it’s all very routine and nothing to make a big deal about.

The process began back in May when I went to my doctor about a weird lump on my belly. I was literally prepared for the worst. I had upped my life insurance, Googled symptoms of stomach cancer (I have them all! Or is it polio?), and talked to my family about who would take our kids in the event that John and I both passed.

But I didn’t have cancer. I had a hernia.

The doc said they’d probably be able to repair it in 3-4 months, and in the meanwhile not to lift anything or do any ab exercises. This is all very well and good, except my employer was fighting to keep the doors open and I didn’t even know if I’d even have a job in 3-4 months!

Once again, everything worked out so that I had no reason to stress. There was a cancellation for my surgeon and they were able to get me in within several weeks of my doctor’s visit. And in spite of the fact that there was no guarantee we would have any students to teach in the fall, my wonderful employer refused to terminate the staff members. The leadership was holding down the fort and fighting back dissenters like they were defending the Alamo, which meant I had health insurance to cover my surgery.

There’s a song by Rend Collective, “Counting Every Blessing”:

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me

Sometimes I don’t see right away that the gifts I’m being handed are from God. People try to say it’s just luck, good fortune, or things just working out the way I want them to. But I know that every good thing is from heaven above. I’m so humbled and thankful that God sees me in the tiny part of earth that I occupy. That He knows what I need and He’s providing it before I had the sense to ask.

I can think of so many more examples of how the important thing we needed was made available just when we needed it, but I don’t want this to be all about me. Good things come to those who seek them. If you’re not on the lookout for blessings to come your way, they probably won’t.

Be thankful.

Be positive.

Share your joy with others.

Friends, people need to hear your story of unexpected blessings. In this world where tragedies and injustice are rampant, we crave good news. You can share yours in the comments below, or with someone you encounter today. But please don’t let your blessings go unappreciated. I told you my story. Now go tell yours.  Being thankful is the first step in finding more joy in your life. Understand that you have gifts you didn't even realize were there by counting every blessing.

Getting Your Home Ready for Back to School

The new school year is just around the corner! I like to plan and have things organized ahead of time, do you? These are just a few tips I came up with to help you get your home ready for back to school.   Get a fresh haircut as you get ready for back to school

Getting the kids ready for back to school:

Get everyone new hair cuts. Fresh new ‘do for a fresh new school year!

Go through their dressers and closets. Toss or donate clothes that are too small. Check that coats still fit. Clear out old tattered shoes that don’t fit.

Make a list of clothing items you need to shop for.

Start waking them up earlier to get into the routine before the big first day back at school.

Have a picnic to “practice” using their lunch box and opening their own snacks. Most school lunch supervisors will help kids open their packaged snacks, but it is just better if your child can do ti on his own.

Work with your child to practice tying his own shoes (usually kindergarten or 1st grade). Of course, your child’s teacher will tie his shoelaces as needed. But it is a great step of independence and a source of pride for a child to be able to tie his own shoes.  

Connect with the school:

Make sure paperwork and registration is complete.

Find out if the school has an online parent portal and how to access it.

Add money to school lunch accounts.

Talk with the school nurse about storing and giving medications (if any).

Print out district’s academic calendar for 2018-2019 school year.

Mark your family’s calendar with back to school night, school half-days and holiday breaks. Make a note of dates when you will need to find childcare or request time off work.  

Getting the House Ready for Back to School:

Designate a spot for backpacks, such as a laundry basket or hooks by the door. We use these 3M hooks and they hold the backpacks just fins as long as there aren’t any heavy books inside. 

Set up a homework station with supplies and a quiet place to do work.

Clear out a shelf for textbooks/library books.

Stock up on non perishable snacks.  Back to School readiness for the whole family

Be sure and pin this post on getting your home ready for back to school, or print it out for later! 

The first thumbnail below is suitable for printing on regular 8.5″ x 11″ paper. Just right-click and save! Or store the second one (a pdf) on your device and take advantage of digital checkboxes! Please let me know in the comments if there’s anything you would add to the list that might help other families.   

This is the jpeg version!

Overcoming Challenges to Self-Care

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewYearNewWater #CollectiveBias

I’ll be honest. Rest is not in my vocabulary. As a mom of 4, I’ve always just figured that people with this many kids just don’t get rest. That the busy, on-the-go lifestyle is embedded in you once you leave the hospital with baby #2 (or 3 or 4…). But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The key to finding balance in your life is to overcome your challenges to getting rest and practicing self-care. Here are some thoughts on how to do that.

Overcoming Challenges to Self-Care

Don’t let your excuses stop you

I have a goal this year to go to the gym once a week. Shortly into the new year I started missing gym day because it was too hard to find time to work out. To me, time spent at the gym was taking away from the time I had to spend with my kids. A friend recommended I try exercising in the living room with my kiddos instead. It’s not my ideal workout, but I do get my heart rate going and burn some calories. Plus, my kids love doing workout DVDs with me. And I love anything that helps them burn off some of their energy!  

Take baby steps by making healthy choices

Good nutrition is beneficial for your mind, body, and spirit. It’s so simple, but eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day can do a lot to improve your physical and mental health. While I was stocking up on groceries, I saw that our local Vons had a special on wanu water. It’s this fruit-flavored water drink that’s packed with essential vitamins like vitamin E, vitamin K, and vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, and B12. The B vitamins are a natural source of energy, and I could always use more energy! wanu also comes loaded with Folic Acid, Biotin and Fiber. You can get 24% of your daily recommended intake of fiber from one serving of wanu. Because fiber supports a healthy weight by making you feel fuller longer, it’s one of the main reasons I drink wanu. It’s at Vons, Safeway, Albertsons, and Pavillions. Use this coupon and get $1.00 off the purchase of any two (2) 16 oz. bottles of wanu.   3 wanu water flavors

Schedule some “me” time

Self-care doesn’t have to be a day spent at the spa. You can simply set aside some time to read a book, go for a walk, or get a manicure. Put it on the calendar and make yourself a promise that you’re going to do it. And, just as you would keep a doctor’s appointment, make sure to keep your appointments for self-care.

Celebrate small wins

When you DO make and keep an appointment with yourself, give yourself a pat on the back. You had to be intentional and put in effort to make that self-care activity happen. Reflect on how it feels to have done something nice for yourself. Remember that good feeling the next time you don’t think you have time to spend on yourself. Last week I took a walk on the beach by myself. It was only for about 30 minutes but I savored every moment of it, just enjoying the sound of the waves and the fresh ocean air.  

Find your passion

What is it that you love doing? If you’re not sure, try out new things and you will find something that you can’t get enough of. It’s funny, I always thought I was a terrible artist. Then one day a friend invited me to a painting and vino class, and it turns out I’m not too bad at painting! So don’t be afraid of trying something outside of your comfort zone. 

Be thankful

Even if I can only squeeze in 30 minutes a week for myself, at least I got some time to take care of my personal needs. Taking better care of my body is becoming more important to me. I’m thankful for low-calorie drinks like wanu water. It’s refreshingly sweetened with monk fruit, so it has 0 grams of sugar. It may seem silly to be thankful for something as simple as a drink, but you’d be surprised how much better it feels to always be in a gratitude state of mind.  I’m thankful for anything that tastes good and only has 10 calories, like wanu water does. I’m also thankful for each glorious sunrise, getting to work on time, the opportunity to help a friend… Everything! Living out thankfulness truly gives me a sense of peace. 

Don’t let daily struggles keep you from enjoying life. Find time to practice self-care, and take good care of your body. How could wanu help you enjoy better nutrition?  Overcome Obstacles to Practicing Self-Care

A Family Binder Cover Page | Printable

One of my favorite things to do is sit down with a hot coffee and write out plans. I like to set a timeline for what I’m going to teach or map out the family’s meals for the week. It makes me feel at peace to know what will be ahead in the coming days. Over the years I’ve learned that it helps to keep all my notes in one place. I don’t know how many times I’ve put something in a “special spot” only to, later on, totally forget where it is. I’m putting together a binder, starting with this family binder cover page, where we can keep all of our calendars, plans, schedules, and other important information all in one place.   

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I had a lot of fun making the cover for our family binder cover page. I went with a chevron pattern in blue and green, but you can print it in black and white if you’re not into the colors. It was pretty simple to whip up, and it gives a nice touch to the front of the binder. I slid the cover page inside a 1-inch binder with a cover sleeve and, voila! A brand new family binder ready to be filled with all sorts of lists and schedules. To get your copy, just right-click and save the image below or click here for the pdf version.

organization family binder cover page

I’m still thinking about what else needs to go in the binder. At school I need to keep track of student data, test scores, lesson plans, birthdays and other student information. But at home? I’m a lot less organized.

A nice cover on my family binder should put me in the right frame of mind to get a system of organization in place. We already plan out a week’s worth of dinner recipes. Now that Logan is in sports it’s helpful to have his game and practice schedule handy as well.

It’s possible that I see a cute shopping list printable somewhere in the near future since, for now, I just use a simple sheet of lined paper as a shopping list.

Maybe you can help me out?

What other sections does a family binder need? Emergency contact information? Medication schedules? If you can think of any planning or informational record keeping pages, I’d really appreciate your input.

I hope you enjoy the free printable. Happy planning!  

Rewriting My To-Do List into a Ta-Dah List

Some days it feels like there is so much on your plate. Between all the things you have to do and all the things you want to do, there don’t seem to be enough minutes in the day to do it all. During stressful seasons of life, I’ve been known to write a  to-do list that runs the length of an entire sheet of paper. And how much of it did I actually get done? Not much of it!

IMG_6168
What if there was a way to make to-do lists more uplifting? There is definitely a time and a place for a traditional to-do list. But every now and then, What if you give yourself a break and skip the to-do list? Instead, look back on what you accomplished that the day and make out a ta-dah list.

How I’m rewriting my to-do list into a ta-dah list

When you think about it, you really do get a lot done in the course of the day. Sometimes what gets done doesn’t seem important because it doesn’t have monetary value or maybe you don’t see immediate results. But spending time with loved ones and taking steps toward your future dreams and goals is just as important as running errands or following up on emails.
Here’s my ta-dah list from last week. Writing it out made me feel much better about my accomplishments.      IMG_6163

So why do we let our to-do lists put so much pressure on us?

A to-do list can be overwhelming when you don’t have a lot of available time. Not to mention that there can be a number of things that will interrupt you and derail you from your plan. Urgent emails, phone calls, or sick kids needing to be picked up from school can put a halt on your hopes of a productive day. When it feels like your time is not your own, you can brighten your outlook by thinking about how much you got done, instead of focusing on how much is left to do.     How to have a positive attitude: My tip for keeping a happy mindset. When you have children, words of gratitude can change everything!

As this Labor Day weekend comes to a close, I am thankful that I spent time connecting with my husband and 4 children. We laughed, played, and (thanks to that extra day off) got a jump on the upcoming week. I’m not saying I’m not a planner. If you’ve seen my printable calendar template or read about my meal planning, you know that I’ve got a bit of Type-A in me. But I still know when it is time to step back and enjoy your surrounding, celebrating your accomplishments no matter how small they may seem.

Do you have a Ta-Dah moment from the last week? Tell me what you are celebrating!