Memo to myself: Things to remember for Christmas 2015

It’s Christmas night and the boys have all settled down to watch Star Wars. So it is a perfect time for me to write a memo to my future self. Ideally, I will read this around October of 2015 so I can be more on top of things next Christmas.

We had a lovely Christmas this year. Reading stories about the birth of Christ, family time, baking, wrapping gifts, decorating the tree. We got all the important stuff in. We really try to make sure that the kids know and understand the true meaning of this holiday. So overall, I don’t want it to sound like it was not great. It was. But it did finally dawn on me that I am not the most efficient person when it comes to Christmas preparations. And perhaps I should try to improve for next year.

So my idea is to write myself this memo so that before we head into the Christmas season next year, I can read this, and save myself the disappointment of not being on top of these simple things that I seem to fail to do. Every. Single. Year.

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This little guy’s face captures the look that I pretty much carry around for the week or two leading up to Christmas.

 

MEMORANDUM: Preparing for Christmas 2015 – Please read!

Every year, a few days before Christmas, you find yourself with a list of completely small and random things you forgot to do or purchase. In an effort to avoid this conundrum for Christmas 2015, please do me the favor of reading this memo by next October.

1. Buy missing holiday essential EARLY in the season. Why oh why when you see the Christmas decorations come out, you look at them, admire everything, but never buy anything? It’s like you keep thinking there will be more things coming. Better things. You must look at all of it before committing. Then, when the time comes to get that perfect tree skirt for our barren skirted tree, it is nowhere to be found. And what’s left, you don’t like and refuse to buy.

2. Send whatever photos you will be gifting off to be printed at a quality printer. You will want to give some framed photos to the grandparents and close family. Since this is a relative small part of their gifts, you will not stress much about this. Then, you will realize three days before Christmas that there is not one place in this town that can print out a quality photo. So please do yourself a favor, and send off for a bunch of different photos to be printed via an online site. You know, the ones that offer ridiculously good prices and probably free shipping? Don’t make things harder than they need to be!

3. Purchase frames for said photos. Very similar concept to the holiday decorations. You see cute stuff all the time. But it is not top priority, so you wait. Then comes the time to pick out a frame for a measly 5X7 and it is the hardest task on the planet. You will end up circling the stores in a zombie like state staring at all the hideous frames and will walk out empty handed. Just stock up throughout the year.

4. Do not wait to buy Christmas PJ’s. Every year, about 1-2 days before Christmas you realize that your boys’ pajamas are too small. And definitely not festive. In your head, popping into Old Navy on December 24 is the solution. Let me remind you that the week before Christmas, every PJ set in the country has been swiped up. There are no more. So please do me a favor. Buy them early!

5. Buy the poinsettias when they are being sold after mass. Every year, after mass on the first or second week in December, some group from our church sells beautiful poinsettias for $5 each. Let me repeat: Beautiful. And only $5! What do you do? You’re caught off guard. Not ready to purchase (although tomorrow you will be) and because you hesitated, you will go through the torture of stopping everywhere looking for decent poinsettias for weeks. Until finally, you pick up one dinky poinsettia two days before Christmas. Please just buy the ones at church.

Remember, we are not looking for perfection. Just to stop the routines and habits that land us in the same spot every year.

You can do it! I believe in you 🙂

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Becca’s Home Refresh – Kitchen Inspiration Board

Today I am finally rounding out the final part of home refresh series I am doing for my talented friend Becca.  She has an open floor plan that combines the living room, kitchen and breakfast nook, which are the spaces we are planning for. We’ve already discussed the living room and the breakfast nook, which brings us to the kitchen today.

If you remember, we are trying to make her home brighter, fresher, crisp and clean. Right now there is too much brown in the kitchen in the form of cabinets, counters, walls and flooring. So painting the cabinets and walls, that will make all the difference.

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The two photos below were sources of inspiration for Becca’s kitchen space. The first one is great because the counters and floors are similar in color to what Becca’s look like now. And it is proof that we can make the impact without the expense of new counters or floors. The other thing we love here is the pop of color on the door. Becca’s kitchen has a door that leads out to the garage which would be a great candidate for a pop of color like this.

The photo below is awesome because it is actually the same exact wall color we are looking to paint all of the open floorplan space – Gray Owl. I mean, just look at how incredibly light and bright that kitchen looks.

The photo below is awesome because it is actually the same exact wall color we are looking to paint all of the open floorplan space – Gray Owl. I mean, just look at how incredibly light and bright that kitchen looks.

 

So here is the inspiration board for Becca’s kitchen:

The kitchen would painted the same color as the rest of the living space – Gray Owl, lightened by 50%. The cabinets would be painted the same as the rest of the trim – Simply White. Those two things will make the biggest difference.

There are a few other little goodies she could add to make the kitchen refresh extra special. The hardware would be a simple, classic oil rubbed bronze knobs and handles. I really like those and actually want to put them in my kitchen, like, right now. The peninsula is also calling for some pendant lights, and the ones I included are quite a reasonable price. I think they will go a long way in distinguishing the kitchen space as its own area.

And finally, the rug. Since there are no blank walls in the kitchen, the main place to go for some color or pattern is the rug. Becca and I both love the look of an antique rug in the kitchen. However, the practicality and cost is hard to swallow when you have a high traffic area like a kitchen, plus a baby and a dog. So the rug I chose for her was an indoor/outdoor rug from Dash & Albert that looks a bit like a turkish antique rug, but…it is indestructible. They have lots of great options on their site, but I felt like this one just fit with the colors from living room so well.

My hope is that these ideas will give Becca the inspiration to love her home again. I am so excited for her to see the changes. I have offered my help to paint in January. Hope she takes me up on it. I will definitely take pictures to show you the transformation!

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Princess and the Pea Big Girl Room

My goddaughter Alessandra, 5, is in the process of getting a big girl room. She is super excited about it, and I am excited for her. Most of the furniture has already been purchased, so I thought I would put together an inspiration board for the decorative elements in the room.

Alessandra has quite the colorful personality. She is smart as can be, has strong opinions and has a huge loving heart. She has a vivid imagination (think rainbows and unicorns) and is constantly twirling and talking. My goal with the decorative elements was to make the room really celebrate who she is.

Her parents started by purchasing the Lilac Bed from PB Teen. Their thought was to buy something that could grow up with her.

Next came the bedding. Alessandra chose the Princess and Pea Bedding from Land of Nod. Such a good choice! I especially like that there a bunch of other colors in there to play with. Oftentimes, little girls want pink and/or purple, which can quickly become be a little too sweet, if you know what I mean.  However, if you bring out some of the other colors, you can help balance that. Her parents also used the bedding to choose the wall color, which they had lightened by 50%.

 

One key element in the room that I think will make the room extra special is applying gold stars on the ceiling. I love these star decals from Urban Walls. I have them on the back of my bookcase in my office. It’s a very inexpensive way to make an impact.

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Photo: mine

 

Here is  an example of a room with them on the ceiling – love!

 

Below is the board I put together for Alessandra. I tried to really reflect Alessandra’s imagination, creativity and boldness. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!

 

I am looking forward to seeing this room come together for this special little girl in my life! If you have any questions or would like me to create an inspiration board for a room in your house, get in touch with me.

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Our Favorite: Picture Books to Encourage Creativity

It’s been a few weeks since I last posted on our favorite picture books. Last time it was our favorites that make us laugh. This time, I am featuring stories that nurture creative spirits. Notice I didn’t finish the sentence with “in children”?

Have you ever heard this quote by Pablo Picasso? It’s one of those thoughts that has really stuck with me since I heard it.

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The fact is, I am not sold on the idea that just some people are creative. I truly believe every one is creative. But I do think that as we grow, creativity needs to be nurtured and protected. Self-doubt and lack of confidence in what we make seems to start creeping in pretty early. Once you peg yourself as “not creative” or “not good enough”, it’s really tough to come back from that.

So with kids, I think it is super important for them to see using their creativity and imagination as a natural extension of who they are, and to not seek perfection through their creations. Perfectionism is the great paralyzer (believe me, I know this very well). Several of these books address that. And by looking at the issue face on, children can start to recognize it and be less afraid of not seeking perfection in their creative work.

Ha! You never knew a list of kid’s book was going to turn into a deep philosophical diatribe, did you?

 

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1. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers – There’s a slim chance that you have not heard about, already read or own this book. It has become a big hit with good reason. When we first saw this new Oliver Jeffers book at the bookstore a few years ago, we practically sprinted to get our hands on it, and it didn’t disappoint. Notice I said Oliver Jeffers? That is because even though he didn’t write the story, the illustrations are attention getters. This book is a series of complaint letters from each of the crayons in a little boy’s box. They each air their grievances about why he only uses them for coloring this or that. The letters are quite funny, and in the end, the boy breaks them out of their mold to create a masterpiece.

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2.  The Dot by Peter Reynolds – This is a wonderful story about a boy who feels like he is not “good” at drawing, and a teacher who encourages him to just put what he can out there. Once he starts, each step and inspiration gets a little easier and better. Definitely a good choice for those of us with perfectionist tendencies. This author actually has other great stories for creative souls, “Ish” and “Watercolor the Sky”. They actually sell all three as a trilogy set which would be a good gift for the little artist in your life.

The-Dot

 

3. Harold and the Purple Crayon – Oldie but a goodie about a little guy who uses his crayon to create imaginary places and to to take him on adventures. It’s hard to believe it has been around for more than 50 years. Just goes to show that good stories and good illustrations are timeless.

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4. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen – We picked this up on one of our public library runs a couple summers ago and were enchanted by the story. The cover illustration by Jon Klassen, who we love and wrote one of our funny favorites, “I Want My Hat Back”, is what attracted us to the book. But the story definitely reeled us in. It is about a simple girl who finds a box of magical yarn and creates knitted masterpieces for herself and shares her talents with the whole town. A greedy duke plots to steal her magical yarn for himself and when he opens the box, finds it empty. The box finds its way back to the girl who continues knitting with no problem. Such a wonderful way to expose children to the idea that their gift is their gift and cannot be taken away.

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5. What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Mae Beson – This is a new book, and I admit my kids have not read it yet. But I have and can’t wait to check it out at the library for them and see what they get out of it. I saw it at the bookstore and it immediately drew me in to read the story. Its the story of a little child who has an idea. As the idea is put down by others, he tries to turn his back on it, but somehow he can’t stop thinking about it. Once he starts to nurture his idea, they become so close. And finally, together they change the world around them. I love the idea of planting this seed in kids’ minds. Pay attention to your thoughts and ideas. They are there for a reason. And don’t let others’ thoughts about your ideas affect your thoughts about it. Good lesson for kids and adults alike.

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6. Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts – Another all-time favorite at our house. Our copy is a little rough around the edges we have read it so much! This is the story of a talented boy who has the gift of creating all kinds of structures since he was a baby. It is part of who he is and what brings him alive. Until, one day, his spark is dimmed by a teacher that refuses to allow him to use his gift at school. All of sudden, Iggy’s enthusiasm and energy for going to school is lost. But when a school field trip allows him to use his talents to save the class, his teacher recognizes the importance of allowing creativity back in her classroom. Everything from the cadence of this words, the whimsical illustrations, and the compelling story is SO good. And I would be remiss to not mention the other masterpiece by this duo, Rosie Revere Engineer. I will be including that book on another list, but it could easily have gone on this one too.

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If you are on Pinterest, feel free to follow along on my Children’s Books Board for more book ideas for kids.

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Top recommendations for places to check out in St Augustine

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Walking down the dreaded St George. We love the rest of the streets, but St George, not so much.

In my last post I described the reasons why we enjoy getting away to St Augustine a couple of times per year. Today, I am just going to recap our top recommended things to do and  places to eat.

Before I get started, I should address St George Street. It is basically the main pedestrian drag down the historic part of St Augustine. This little road is where all the tourists pour into. And because of this, it is probably our least favorite part of the historic district. If what you know of St Augustine is walking down this street to look at souvenir shops and eat at these restaurants and you didn’t like it, I can understand. I wouldn’t either. We avoid it as much as possible. Sometimes we have to go through sections of it to get a popsicle at the Hyppo or visit the Colonial Quarter, but just walking down the street for the sake of pleasure? Never.

These would be the places that we would recommend if someone I knew was going to St Augustine for the first time with kids in tow. Because, let’s get real. Sometimes it’s just not the same.If you go often, these are probably not new to you, but if you have never been or it has been a long time, then you might be in for a treat.

1. Old Town Trolley Tour – If you have ever been to St Augustine, you know the ubiquitous green trolley. In fact, it seems they are taking over tourism in the city as they have recently acquired and renovated the wax museum and you see their little stands everywhere. But I have to say, starting a visit with a trolley tour is a great idea. While the trolley is taking you around, they are filling you in on the history of St Augustine and the distinct neighborhoods. Did you know St Augustine was very much a part of the Civil Rights movement and that Dr Martin Luther King Jr marched in the streets here? Well, if you took the trolley tour you would 🙂 And, your kids would not bother you while you are listening and learning because they will be loving the cool breeze and all the scenery. Win win.

2. Castillo de San Marco – There is something for everyone. For the adults, it is the history and the gorgeous view of the water, with the sailboats and ships going by. The staff dresses in period costumes and give lively tours. For the kids, it’s the fact that they are going into a fort. What’s great about it is how huge it is, which lets the kids move around and run around imagining that they are defending their castle from pirates. It’s good to time your visit for when they shoot the cannons. Plug your ears though…it is LOUD! You know what else is great? Sitting down for a picnic or a snack on the big lawn outside the fort.

3. The Lighthouse – The lighthouse is also a wonderful family stop. St Augustine being the oldest city in America, there is a lot to learn about our country’s oldest port. But really, the best part is climbing the 200+ steps to the tippy top to see the view. It’s definitely worth going on a clear and sunny day to make the most of it. When you are done, there is a little park across the street where the kids can run and climb trees as well as a fishing dock on the water.

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4. SWING Park – We integrate a visit to SWING park on most of our visits. Why? Because it is an awesome playground with tons of space to run and use your imagination. And most of all, expend your child’s bundled up energy stores. Take them here before heading to dinner so they will work up an appetite and get the wiggles out. On our most recent visit, Brian took the boys here while I was exploring the Uptown San Marco shopping district. Everyone was happy. The boys played, Brian relaxed and I popped into interesting shops and boutiques nearby.

5. Camping at Anastasia State Park – Anastasia State Park is a great camping destination. Even though it feels secluded, its location is excellent if you want to leave the park at any time to enjoy the rest of the city. I would recommend sticking to November – March, when the weather is cool/mild. I don’t think I would feel the same about it in the summertime. Bring your bikes and ride around and go explore the beach. Do not miss the farmer’s market that is held every Saturday at the amphitheater that is connected to the park. Oh yeah, and make sure your campsite is raccoon-proof.

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Like I mentioned in the last post, we love to keep going back to the favorites but keep adding new places to check out next time we are in town. Just a few of the places on our list to visit next time are: Lightner Museum, tour of Flagler College and Fort Mose State Park.  Guess we’ll just have to come back again soon.

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