Whitney Thiessen

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'Tis the Season...

As the holiday season quickly approaches, so do mom's "to-do" lists. We can get caught up in the hustle and bustle and all the things we "should" be doing, or we can do what we can and enjoy the season. This is something I've been working on and I'm here to remind you that it's ok to take some time to enjoy the season. In fact, it's necessary. It's necessary to take some time to rest, have fun, and make lasting memories, and it's possible to do it without all the overwhelm.

But how does this actually happen in real life? It starts with you. Take some time to figure out what's important for you and your family this season and prioritize those things. Is that spending time with friends and family? Baking holiday treats? Binge watching Christmas movies? Whatever it is, know it, own it, and make it a priority.

How we make space for the things that are important to us is actually scheduling them in. That might seem like a bit of a kill joy, but when our priorities are scheduled, it takes some of the guess work out of the equation and ensures we do the activities that are important to us, without the overwhelm.

But how? Keep it simple. It doesn't have to be elaborate to be memorable, and the best gift you can give to your family is YOU. I've learned to scale back on the things on my list that take more energy than they are worth and lean into the rest (ex: baking a few simple recipes [there's always more than enough goodies around over the holidays], decorating the house in stages, and scheduling time off to just be.) Take a peek at two of my favourite holiday recipes for the whole family! ⬇️

Homemade Hot Chocolate: I promise you it's not as much work as it sounds and the kids will think you've just created the most amazing treat after spending some time exploring/playing outside! Better yet, whip some of this up and take some time to sit in front of the Christmas tree, look at the lights, and share what everyone loves most about the season! Check out the link here: https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/334744184811831457/

2. 3 Ingredient Holiday Treats: I honestly think these are the easiest treats but they are so fun — and the kids can even help! These store well in a air-tight container so can even be made ahead and taken to your holiday party (or left our for Santa and his reindeer)!

Ingredients:

  1. Pretzel Sticks

  2. White or Chocolate melting chocolate

  3. Sprinkles of choice

Directions:

  1. Melt chocolate on stovetop in a double boiler, or in the microwave, stirring frequently.

  2. Dip pretzel sticks in melted chocolate.

  3. Dip or sprinkle with sprinkles, and set aside to cool.


Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, friend! 🎄