‘Tis the Season! Keeping it Cool in the Heat of the Holidays. 

‘Tis the Season! Keeping it Cool in the Heat of the Holidays. 

by Rebecca Grace || Earnest Mom ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Christmas is hands down my favorite time of year. Snuggling, firelight, hot cocoa and glorious displays of blinking, twinkly lights. One of my least favorite parts though is the stress, the mad rush of shopping, and traffic; I avoid the mall at all costs from Thanksgving until after the New Year. It stresses me out!!

As much as Christmas is a time to celebrate and gather with loved ones, many people feel the stress too. From worrying about finances to get the perfect prezzies, to finding the last on the shelf (fill in this season’s hot new thing) and getting it all wrapped before the big day.  Then add in coordinating family outfits for pics and choosing the perfect turkey for Christmas dinner.  Too much to worry about!

Well, I would like to request that we destress this holiday season. Let’s take a step back and remember what it is all about, it is definitely not about being “first, biggest or most”but finding time to enjoy one another, and maybe even giving back. 

Having recently relocated and finances being super tight, we set price limits on what the earnest kiddos were getting this year. Matter of fact, earnest boy being all of five years is excited for anything from a sucker to a used bike and so we took advantage of that innocence – we cut his budget in half and spent it on another child who would have gone with out presents this year. Earnest boy loved picking out the toys for him, and we feel great learning to give back as a family. In turn, I garage sale shopped online and got some great steals for both kiddos (mainly using my local Varage Sale sites). The rest of my shopping was all done local at small local shops to help support our town’s little commerce. 

Here I sit, a week before Christmas Eve with all presents bought and trying to focus on family for the next week. It feels pretty nice to have it all done. 

We have a HUGE family and will be in and out of town over the next few weeks and since we will not be in our home Christmas Eve and Day, we have decided to lay low before we leave and have an earnestly intimate Christmas as a family on a different day from December 25th.  We did not want for our earnest little household and traditions we do to get lost in the travel and busyness getting to see all of our family across the country.  I am so excited to get in our jammies on our “Christmas Eve” together with hot chocolate and popcorn to watch our annual movie, Elf and all snuggle as a family. 

By getting all my shopping done and knowing that we will be focussing on family the next few days has really helped me to stay stress free this season – maybe it may even help some of you find some peace this season too! 

How do you stay stress free and focussed during the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season? Please share with all of us because I would love to hear more ideas!

x. 

earnest mom.  

Bookroo Shares Their Holidays Favorites!

Bookroo Shares Their Holidays Favorites!

by Rebecca Grace || Earnest Mom ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hello my earnest followers! I am SO excited to bring you this wonderful guest blog written by one of the co-founders of Bookroo. If you aren’t familiar with Bookroo, it is a parent based company who’s passion is to bring literacy to all children through their monthly (and very cost effective) subscription box. Enjoy and have an earnestly wonderful holiday weekend.  Be sure to check out my exclusive discount code for all your holiday book shopping needs!

x.

earnest mom.

Don’t you love this time of year? The weather is turning cooler, though we haven’t yet had to slog through three months of ice and sleet. Instead, we eagerly await the first snowfall that will blanket the world in white. Then it’s time to bundle up, grab the snowman accessories, and head outside for an afternoon playing in the snow. Once our snowman is crowned with his black top hat, we head back inside to warm up with a warm cup of hot chocolate, cozied up on the couch sharing some of our favorite holiday children’s books.
  
Which books are those, you ask? Well, we’re glad you did.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
While we love the illustrated movie with its wonderful, memorable songs, we also love the original storybook. With creative illustrations and rhymes that only Dr. Seuss can craft, we love seeing the grumpy old Grinch discover the true spirit of Christmas.

The Polar Express
Beautifully illustrated, this magical story by Chris Van Allsburg captures the nostalgia and warmth of the holiday season like few others. Train rides, falling snow, warm lights, and jolly people combine to make this a Christmas classic. (Following up our reading of the book with listening to Josh Groban’s “Believe” especially puts us in the holiday mood.)

The Wild Christmas Reindeer
A favorite from my own childhood, Jan Brett’s The Wild Christmas Reindeer provides us a lighthearted holiday favorite that teaches a lesson I’ve always appreciated: it’s better to be kind than bossy. Along with enjoying Brett’s distinctive illustrations, we like the Advent calendar provided on each page showing how the elves are busily preparing for Christmas.

Next to reading our favorite Christmas stories, holiday shopping is another favorite activity of ours. Not, as the Grinch so eloquently learns, so that we “get.” Instead, we look forward to the holidays as a time to share thoughtful, meaningful gifts with others.
  
We hope Bookroo has a place on your list of meaningful gifts this year. Few gifts, if any, are more impactful and long lasting than the gift of reading. At Bookroo, we celebrate the gift of reading all year round, but we especially like to share and celebrate it during the holidays.
And a Bookroo box makes a delightful addition to any pile of presents under the tree. Lovingly wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend will be thrilled to unwrap our hand-selected books this Christmas morning. And when you choose a three- or six-month subscription, your gift will continue to bring excitement and develop a love of reading in your little “roo” well into the new year.

  
We hope this holiday season brings you wonderful opportunities for giving meaningful gifts, playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and enjoying good books! If you’d like to gift a Bookroo box, follow this link to save $4 on your purchase. http://bit.ly/1VtadEe  

Happy holidays from all of us at Bookroo!

Earnestly Thankful.

Earnestly Thankful.

by Rebecca Grace || Earnest Mom ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

As the earnest family and I go through what feels to be an impossible transition in our lives, I am left feeling thankful. I am thankful for the family and friends that surround me, the ones that are so far yet long to be alongside us, and those that have passed from this life. I am earnestly grateful for you all.

Even though some days are overwhelming, never ending and full of unwanted surprises, I continue to feel so blessed. I am trying to slow down and even in the crazy stressful times take in each moment, and be present with my family.

We hope to look back on all this craziness and see how far we have come; then laugh at the things that currently seem to be only stumbling blocks.

So in turn, thank you family, friends and followers. Thank you for your interest, thank you for your patience and most of all thank you for being apart of our earnest little lives!

x.

earnest mom.