FAMILY

Shifting My Family's Focus to Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is more than just saying 'thank you'; it's about acknowledgment and appreciation. I always tell my kids to say thank you, but honestly, I don't feel like I have done the best job teaching them why and giving it deeper meaning. It's something, as a mom, I’m working on myself and, in turn, fostering in my kids at a young age.

November also happens to mark National Gratitude Month.

Gratitude helps our children…

• Understand what others do for them.

• Become empathetic to the feelings of those around them.  

• Improves self-esteem. 

• Reduces aggression.

• Creates a higher level of emotional intelligence.

• Promotes more confidence and optimism.

Check out these books that can teach our sweet kids about gratitude.

Videos can also be a great tool for teaching kids of all ages about gratitude.

Parents! Take the time to practice gratitude in your life as well. Research has shown that consciously practicing gratitude can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

😌Start by implementing easy ways to practice gratitude in your daily life.

• Take time to reflect  - it can be on something you often take for granted in your life, from necessities to enjoyable pastimes, and imagine how different life would be without it. This practice helps foster gratitude, prioritizes emotional energy, and brings a sense of contentment.

• Cook with purpose - meals, especially in homes with chaotic kid schedules, can become monotonous and a chore. When you cook, think about who will be eating the meal and put your energy and intention into it.

• Gratitude text - Send a heartfelt message to someone who brightens your life, whether a family member, friend, or coworker, expressing your appreciation and specifying why they mean so much to you. Keep it concise, just one or two sentences, to make sure they understand their significance in your life.

📖 You can decide to start a journal as well - here are some great prompts to get you started.

All I want for Christmas is…Inflation to Stop

Every. Single. Year. My husband and I sit down before the holidays to attempt to agree on a budget for the family. I must admit, I pretend to agree with his terms, all the while knowing full well that nothing will stop me from spreading Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, spreading Christmas cheer can be expensive.

Nearly, ¼ of Americans wish the holidays were canceled this year all due to cost.

💲Offering up some good ideas (and super fun!) to lessen the burden when financial planning for holiday spending.

The four-gift rule.

• Something they want. This is a top gift on their list, within reason of course.

• Something they need. Possibly something for their favorite hobby or sport.

• Something to wear. Maybe a pair of sneakers is on their list.

• Something to read. A good book is never a bad gift.

Organize a Secret Santa. 🎅 We do this every year with my family and my husband's family members (excluding kids) to limit the number of gifts to buy, and it's more fun! Establish a budget, then use this handy app to execute a flawless game.

Put together a White Elephant or Ornament Exchange. This is another tradition we follow with my extended family on Christmas Eve (think cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc). The concepts are the same; the only difference is that the white elephant game has an established budget and individual gift purchases. Here is a list of budget-friendly gifts.

🎁 Check out this extensive list of money-saving ideas from Real Simple for all kinds of gift-giving.

Need more help creating a budget this holiday season? We have you covered with these tips.

SNIPPETS

HALLOWEEN

Too Much Halloween Candy, Too Little Time

It’s been a few days since your goblins took over the neighborhood streets to gather as much candy as possible. Now, what should you do with it? If you opted out of the newest switch witch tradition or your kids are on the older side, here are some great options.

Donate it. There are many options to give away all that unwanted candy, including Treats for Troops, Operation Shoebox, or Halloween Candy Buy Back.

Save it. You can freeze the candy or save it as a sweet addition to future holiday gifts.

Bake it. Try out a few recipes from What Moms Love. It's also something fun to do with the kids.

Thanksgiving Pajama Round-Up

Move over, Christmas jammies! There are so many brands offering adorable Thanksgiving-themed pjs, that you’ll want to gobble them up before it’s too late to order.

The Every Mom has an extensive list that is serving up great options 🥧🍎

Emerson and Friends – these $38 fall floral bamboo pajamas are too cozy to ever change out of. Sizes 0 to 24 months. 

Burt’s Bees Baby – a $17.95 apple pie matching set that makes us even more stuffed. Sizes newborn to kids 12. 

Little Sleepies – a $34 pumpkin spice two-piece set that’s perfect for all season long. Sizes 12m to kids 16. 

Smocking Bird – these $42 turkey print button-down jammies are the perfect post-dinner outfit. Sizes 12m to kids 10.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE

CALENDAR

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