Less is More Between Now and New Year

Less is More Between Now and New Year

Posted on by Mama

1607369829_a6bfadb75aI always think of October as the gateway to the new year, probably because as soon as I start decorating for Halloween it seems like January before I’ve had much time to register even another thought.

I spruce up the homestead for Halloween, take it all down in a day, add a few fallish touches just in time for Thanksgiving, travel, eat, shop, deck the halls (and the living room, bathrooms, front porch and basement) for Christmas, celebrate multiple times, travel some more, eat some more, return items I shopped for during the last month and a half (or week and a half, depending on how far behind I happen to be), welcome in the new year, make resolutions I never intend to keep, and take down all the decking while promising myself to keep it simple the next year. Yikes, it makes me tired just thinking about it!

So where does it all go awry? Since I’m looking for a scapegoat, I’m going to go with this — Pinterest and HGTV. How dare they fill my brain with so many incredibly wonderful projects to make, dishes to bake and 1001 uses for toilet paper rolls. “If I was Super Mom, I could do this. If I was Wife of the Year I could do that. If I was The Hostess with the Mostess, I could do it all. . .” but in the end, I’m usually just left feeling a bit deflated and completely exhausted by all the half-executed “thises” and “thats” that I impossibly tried to cram into an already full, and fulfilling, life.

So here’s a challenge to myself and all you awesome moms, wives and friends who subscribe to the over doing, over making, and over decorating way of life: step back, simplify and enjoy your family between now and the new year. Pare down a bit on the projects, enjoy some beautiful Fall walks, make some simple homemade decorations with the kids, and invite some friends over for quiet conversation and a few good laughs instead of planning an all-out party; all the while knowing that you could have done more, oh so much more, but you chose not to and it’s all good.

photo credit: Autumn is indeed… via photopin (license)

Eating Crow in My Mama Mobile

Eating Crow in My Mama Mobile

Posted on by Mama

 

The salesman made me put up my thumb. There's my sweet little Jeep Patriot in the background that carted my son home as a baby and kept us safe for five fun years. Yes, I'm a bit sentimental about my automobiles.
Disclaimer: The salesman made me put up my thumb. There’s my sweet little Jeep Patriot I traded in the background that carted my son home as a baby and kept us safe for five fun years. Yes, I’m a bit sentimental about my automobiles.

I have finally reached a new high in my life, or sunk to a new low — in either case, I’m now the official owner of a sparkling new mini van mama mobile. Criminy, I know I’m going to catch so much flak from those who know me, and believe me I’m already eating crow for this one.

You see, I have always said I would never drive a mini van (That’s why I’m calling it the Town & Country. I was going to shorten it to the T & C, but my husband informed me that probably wasn’t a quality choice. Apparently those poor little letters have been warped into some other meaning by pubescent school-aged boys.)  Anyway, no matter what I call it, I realize it’s still a third-row, heavy-storage laden vehicle that screams, “Mama on a mission. Get outta the way.”

Forget that it drives smoother than my last three Jeeps, can house an entire basketball team and has so many bells and whistles that my son thinks Christmas came three months early. What matters is that I have said on more than one occasion, “The day I drive a mini van, is the day I give up on living.” Bring on the crow!

Let me tell you, I peered into, polled owners and picked over literally every option out there and test-drove many a vehicle from SUVs to crossovers to vans and back again, and for the money and space this just seemed the best way to go. But if you really must know, one of the best features of my new ride was the stow-and-go seating that allows me to put an entire full-sheet of plywood in the back. Awesome!! Just think of how many new projects I can start (and maybe complete).

In the end, it’s still a mini van, I know; but I have to confess that so far this crow doesn’t taste half bad.

Thanks a Latte Kind of Day

Thanks a Latte Kind of Day

Posted on by Mama

Latte

I recently wanted to say a word of thanks to some ladies with whom I volunteer because they helped see me through a rather rough couple of months. Without their support, I might have just thrown in the towel and walked away from an awesome organization. So as a small token, I bought each of them a coffee gift certificate (just can’t go wrong with that one — if they don’t like coffee, they can order tea or just eat a muffin already). These just happened to be from Caribou Coffee, my favorite around these parts, and luckily they came with super cute kraft colored gift holders.

ThanksLatteI simply jazzed up the holders with belly bands around the middle and cute little “Thanks a Latte” medallions. To create the medallions, I used a 3″ scalloped circle punch and a 2.5″ round punch. I created the graphic on my computer, printed and punched. So super easy, but if you like what you see here, you can download the graphic and print it for your own use. I inked all my edges before assembling, added foam tape to the circles for dimension, and that was all it took.

I think the ladies loved them, and sometimes the smallest gestures really do mean a lot.

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