Hi Mama, how are you doing? I hope most of you are answering, "Amazing, not stressed at all!" If you're not, I feel you. Juggling the responsibility of creating holiday magic while keeping up with your everyday tasks can be overwhelming. Just don't forget to take care of yourself and, perhaps, consider saying no sometimes. And remember, YOU ARE DOING GREAT! 👏

• You Lost Your Cool, Now What?: Ways to repair and grow in hot-tempered parenting moments.

• Holiday Baking: Discover foolproof tips to guarantee success in the kitchen this holiday season.

• Teacher Gifts: ‘Tis the season to show how grateful you are for your child’s educators.

PARENTING

Being a parent is hard work.

If I’ve learned anything about myself over the last 6.5 years since becoming a parent, I’m not perfect (neither is my partner) and I will make mistakes… and it is more than OKAY. No matter how many books you read or podcasts you listen to about parenting strategies, you’ll stumble, and it’s part of the journey.

“Repair isn’t about fixing mistakes that never should have happened, instead it is the space in which we grow.” Psychologist, Aliza Pressman.

Unfortunately, my fuse is extremely short. I’ve had many moments of yelling at my kids or blowing up and then comes the shame and regret.

😡Tips from therapists after losing your cool…

1. Take a moment. You can’t move forward genuinely if you are in a better headspace. Make sure to calm yourself after losing your temper by emphasizing positive self-talk to counter negative thoughts, and view the situation from their child's perspective to foster understanding and compassion.

2. Apologize. This may seem obvious but saying sorry to a toddler is harder (at least for me) than you’d think it would be. By apologizing, you are setting an example for your child. Understand you are apologizing for the behavior and not the emotions behind it.

3. Support is important. Finding another friend, family member, or a good listener to gripe and vent about, might be the medicine the doctor ordered.

If you want to take full control of your reactions and change, Holly Homer from Kid Activities offers some great advice.

👀 Parent like someone is watching you. Yes, park mom and home mom may vary a bit.

🧒 Take the personal out of it and ask yourself if you were their teacher or another mom, how would you react?

❌Take an adult time out and walk into another room to calm down.

FOOD

Baking is a science… unfortunately, that was my worst subject in school.

I pride myself on being a pretty good cook; my kids might disagree unless it's spaghetti night. Baking, however, is not my strong suit, especially during the holidays when it is in abundance. I can't help but feel a twinge of envy for those who make it look easy and effortless (Hi, Mom!), and my kids and I love to watch baking shows.

👩🏻‍🍳🍰I'm going to leave this one in the expert's hands and share some tips that I should probably incorporate into my baking attempts as well.

🍓 Coat things like fruit and chocolate chips in flour before adding them to your mix.

🧈 If you need to use chilled butter, grate it and freeze it for about an hour beforehand.

🍪 Keep cookies fresh by putting a slice of bread in the airtight container with them.

🥧 Freeze your sugar cookies and pie crust pieces for 15 minutes before putting them in the oven.

Now that you’re a pro, test out your skills with a few of these delicious recipes. I’d love to be the taste tester!

• M&M Magic Bars: Recipe Link

• Smashed Sugar Cookies: Recipe Link

• White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies: Recipe Link

• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies: Recipe Link

• Grinch Cookies: Recipe Link

• Lace Cookies: Recipe Link

🥣Make sure you have the right equipment: Best baking sheets of 2023.

AND ALSO THIS. . .

"It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom."

Ain’t that the truth! I’ve been blessed to have many amazing teachers in my kid’s lives, and I wish I could give them a million dollars as a thank you. 

💸 Cash is king! Especially during the holidays, money helps with any extra expenses they might have, or they can finally take that trip they’ve been wanting to go on during spring break. I’ve done a collection for my kids' teachers for the last 3 years, and it is always met with much appreciation.

What to avoid…

❌Coffee mugs 
❌Candles
❌Anything with “teacher” on it

If you want to go a different route than cash, I’ve rounded up some other ideas that will bring holiday cheer to the teacher in your child’s life.

Group Gift Ideas 

🎁Remarkable 2 Tablet: Teachers can use this tablet to take notes, make lesson plans, or jot down ideas for their next pop quiz. ($449)

🎁Monogrammed YETI Large Cooler: This is perfect for class field trips. Make sure it has wheels for easy traveling. ($450)

🎁Leather Briefcase or tote: A nice bag to carry all the essentials to have a great day with your child! ($251- $298)

Individual Ideas:

🎁Crockpot Electric Lunch Box: This miniature lunch box and portable food warmer is perfect for teachers who want to bring some piping hot sustenance with them to enjoy during their lunch hour. ($33)

🎁Scotch Thermal Laminator: I see this on many teacher’s Amazon wishlists. Laminators can make everyday pieces of paper tear-proof, marker-proof, and spill-proof.

🎁Stanley Tumbler: Teachers need to stay hydrated and you can never have enough Stanley colors! Add the teacher’s monogram for a personal touch and stuff with their favorite candy or a gift card. ($45)

For more ideas, check out Good Housekeeping’s List.

Get your glow on even in winter.

I'm a makeup minimalist – all I crave is a sun-kissed glow without the actual sun and hair that stays voluminous. I've discovered two products that I consistently repurchase, and I often receive numerous inquiries about my secret to that effortless look.

SNIPPETS

🧸Gift ideas for kids. Hello Adams Family (a favorite blogger of mine) has launched her gift guide for kids.

👗Skip the dress. Choose comfort for your holiday look with this outfit.

🔥S’mores but better. Moms this is the simplest s’mores recipe without the potential fire hazard.

A TikTok trend that is doing good.
Influencers have been going all out with Angel Tree requests, sharing videos of their trips to Walmart to fulfill kids' Christmas wishes. This prompted TikTok user @maybashleymarie, a former Angel Tree recipient, to share her heartfelt experience living in a homeless shelter at 16 and the impact of the gifts she received. She expressed gratitude for the influencers participating in this trend, emphasizing the lasting positive effect it has on children who have experienced hardship.

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