The Self-Care Mom

Get your home ready for the holidays by implementing simple, everyday tasks for you and the kids. Organizing your space for upcoming events can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.

Planning ahead for the holidays is always a bonus!

The holidays are upon us and I wanted to showcase some tips leading up to one of my favorite days: Christmas!

Since purchasing a home, I’ve made it a point to decorate for the holidays and make the place feel welcoming. 

As you prepare for the festive season, there are a number of things to keep in mind. For starters, holiday break activities should be planned in advance. 

This helps you and the family know what to expect during those two weeks at home. 

During this time, families opt to travel. You can choose to simplify your holiday plans by booking yourself a trip away from home. 

Get Your Home Ready For The Holidays 

Living in South Florida has been quite an adjustment during the holiday season. Without snow or cold weather throughout the winter months, it’s like getting 

One of the ways I try to create that holiday spirit is through weekly schedules. I do it during our summer vacation as well.

Not only do weekly schedules get the kids excited, but it helps me remember the days of the week. This is important when you already have certain things to do on a daily basis.

You can also have your family help you clean with this cleaning list of ideas for kids.

Add Self Care During The Holidays

Setting up for the holidays means you organize your plans for when your family and friends arrive. You always want to focus on your morning routine, even when you have family over.

It’s a reminder that you can set time apart for yourself and your daily rituals as well.

When guests stay at your home during the holidays, it’s easy to forget about your To-Do list. Tackling your list helps you feel in control.

Never leave your list undone for too long. You’ll begin to feel overwhelmed, and that’s the last thing you need when you have people staying with you during the holidays.

How Do You Tidy Up For Christmas?

Going away during the holiday season can get expensive. Celebrating at home can also put a dent in your pockets, but only if you let it. 

One of my favorite things to do when hosting family and friends is to plan a holiday menu. Planning ahead on the essentials is key. 

As a Costco executive member, I receive 2% back of my yearly purchases around December. This helps me budget holiday expenses and plan for gifts as well. 

With the rewards check, I’m able to plan on the items for the house and budget myself on other expenses. Below are 3 simple ways you can start preparing your home for the holidays.

1. Stock up on snacks and a variety of drinks.

Having a stocked pantry can help the kids grab a snack during the holiday break. It also minimizes the number of items you’ll need later on. 

You can follow these organized pantry ideas and start planning your list today.

It’s a good idea to have their favorite things to eat and drink. This shows your guests how much you pay attention and care about their needs. 

Don’t be afraid to ask your guests or someone who knows them well for a couple of items that your guests like to use daily. 

Be sure to place these things in an area that is accessible to your guests upon their arrival. This way you’ll remember where it is and they can reach for it themselves. 

2. Organize the room they’ll stay in.

Another way to get your home ready for the holidays before family and friends coming over is by organizing the area they will stay. 

Make sure you have plenty of towels to use throughout the week.

Not everyone likes using the same towel the next day, or you can ask them beforehand. Having an extra set of clean towels helps your guests feel more independent.

BONUS TIP: It also helps you feel less stressed out during the holiday season. Make it available at eye level so they can see everything, and it’s ready for their use.

3. Think of everyday essentials.

Having necessary items available to your guests in the bathroom is another way to minimize stress during the holidays. It’s always fun to see everyone together, but the mix of personalities can be exhausting.

Cross one more thing off the list by adding their favorite items to the medicine cabinet.

BONUS TIP: Let your guests know where things are when they arrive in their room. Most people like to bathe when they get to their destination or relax.

Letting your guests know where things are can be helpful for the next day when you’re still catching some Z’s.

How Do You Prepare For Festive Season?

By keeping a budget during the holidays, you’re not only saving money. You’re also showing self-control.

We’ve been planning our Christmas Eve menu for weeks and we just finalized the details of how we’d like the day to go.

Planning ahead also helps us budget for our events.

As you get your home ready for the holidays, it’s important to think of ways to create a memorable experience for everyone. This year, we’re adding more activities for the kids.

Below are some budget-friendly ways you can start getting ready for the holidays now:

1. Make your own holiday cards.
2. Bake three-ingredient cookies like this one.
3. Curate easy dinner ideas for the family on Pinterest.
4. Think of family fun activities to do during winter break.
5. Look into some good ideas for stocking stuffers

How Do You Celebrate Holidays Without Your Extended Family?

When you’re raising kids away from family and friends, the holiday season is the toughest part of the year. While living in South Florida means more sunny days, you’re practically left on your own to figure out how to make each one a special day for your kids.

There are a variety of things to do to help fill the void of not having family and friends nearby. For starters, it’s important to keep yourself busy. 

The less you think about what you’re missing out on, the more you appreciate the moments you could be having with those around you.

Holidays remind me of the simple things my mom would do for my brothers and I as a child. On special holidays, we’d wake up to small baskets filled with candy. 

Whether you’re having people over your home or not, it’s important to make the most out of the time you have off. 

Creating a holiday tradition that makes you smile is one of the best ways to deal with celebrating the holidays alone. 

Below is a list of three things that have helped me deal with holidays away from family and friends:

1. Going out

You know what they say, “home is where the WiFi connects.” Being home can trigger emotions when you look through social media and you see people spending time with their loved ones. 

Getting outside with the kids can help you forget to look at your phone. 

2. Planning a day everyone can enjoy 

You don’t necessarily need to head outside to enjoy a fun-filled day with family. There’s plenty that can be done indoors to help prepare for the holiday season. 

You can decorate your living space and begin planning holiday traditions for everyone to do together. 

3. Running an errand

Getting time alone can be quite productive. Putting your mind to something else can help you forget your thoughts. 

Running errands is busywork, but it also helps you tackle the necessary things before the crowds begin to form.

Oftentimes when running errands with the kids, I like to include an errand to a place they enjoy as well. This helps them understand what it means to do the things you have to do to get to the fun stuff later on.