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21 Romantic Gestures For Her – 21 Day Love Challenge

21 Romantic Gestures To make Melt – 21 Day Love Challenge

romantic-gestures-for-her-21-day-love-challenge-romantic-gestures-to-make-her-melt

This 21 day love challenge will make your wife or girlfriend feel special and loved. These romantic gestures for your wife or girlfriend will show her how much you love her.

Do these romantic gestures for the next 21 days to reignite the spark in your relationship.

The best part of this 21 day love challenge is that you will form a new habit for your relationship. Consistently showing the love you have for your partner is crucial to the health of your relationship.

At the end of the 21 days, you may even choose to continue doing one thing, in particular, every day!

For instance, doing something in your partner’s love language everyday life, sending a thoughtful message or words of affirmation, taking something off of your partner’s daily to-do list, or exercising together.

After 21 days, you will be in the habit of doing something extra special for your partner every day.

21 Romantic Gestures For Her

  • Day 1 – Send a thoughtful direct message
  • Day 2 – Go for a walk together
  • Day 3 – Cup her face when you kiss her
  • Day 4 – Cook her favourite meal
  • Day 5 – Have something thoughtful delivered to her
  • Day 6 – Take her out on a date you planned
  • Day 7 – Romantic scavenger hunt
  • Day 8 – Write corny notes on her favorite fruit
  • Day 9 – Breakfast in bed
  • Day 10 – Leave a love note for her to find
  • Day 11 – Plan a movie night
  • Day 12 – Surprise her with a framed picture of the two of you
  • Day 13 – Give her a massage
  • Day 14 – Create a relationship bucket list
  • Day 15 – Make her a playlist of meaningful songs
  • Day 16 – Give her a list of 21 things you love about her
  • Day 17 – Go to bed at the same time
  • Day 18 – Bring her a favourite snack just because
  • Day 19 – Take a bath together
  • Day 20 – Paint her a picture
  • Day 21 – Make a vision board with her

Even though this post is written with a wife or girlfriend in mind, it’s a great list of romantic gestures for your husband or boyfriend too!

Use this list of romantic gestures and tailor it to suit your partner’s love language.

Day 1 – Send a thoughtful Direct message

Sending your significant other a direct message makes her know that you’re thinking of her.

A simple, thoughtful message could just be the thing she needs to brighten her day. Think of messages like these:

  • just because
  • thinking of you
  • a compliment about her smile or personality
  • appreciation for her
  • a memory you shared with her
  • funny messages
  • or you can spice things up and send a flirty, cute message

Day 2 – Go for a walk together

Getting out for some fresh air with your partner can help to breathe new air into your relationship. Hold hands and take a stroll in a beautiful part of your town or city that you haven’t been to and simply enjoy each other’s company. You can even take it up a notch and plan to stroll around sunrise or sunset.

Or take a run with her and get some fresh air and exercise in together.

No matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong with doing this with your wife or girlfriend.

Day 3 – Cup Her Face When You Kiss Her

Next time you kiss your wife or girlfriend, pull her close, look into her eyes and gently cup her face as you kiss her. This can show her that you’re intentional and passionate about her.

The emotion behind the kiss will make it feel extra special and remind her of how much you feel for and love her.

Day 4 – Cook her favourite meal

Taking the time and putting in the effort to cook a meal just for your wife or girlfriend can add such a sweet personal touch to a dinner date at home.

Of course, getting her favorite takeout can be acceptable if you don’t enjoy cooking or you’re not good at it.

Add romantic music and candles to set the mood for a memorable evening.

Day 5 – Have Something Thoughtful Delivered

If you know she has had her eye on something, get it for her and surprise her by having it delivered to her (even at home!).

Flowers are also a timeless suggestion for this one – if your wife or girlfriend has a favorite flower, get them delivered to her with a thoughtful note.

If she isn’t into flowers, you can get her a plant or even the seeds so that she can plant them when she gets home.

Day 6 – Take her out on a date you planned

If she is normally the one to plan dates or outings with you, switch it up and surprise her with a date that you’ve planned.

Try to think of everything involved in the date, so that she can just relax and totally enjoy the date.

Day 7 – Romantic Scavenger Hunt

Create a romantic scavenger hunt with clues based on important dates or events in your relationship.

You can also use memories or base the clues on the way you feel about her.

You can do the scavenger hunt at home or plan a series of clues that lead to various locations that you can get to in one evening, all leading to the big prize!

Day 8 – Write corny notes on Her Favorite Fruit

This one is so cute and is sure to make her smile.

Or, if she loves smoothies, make one for her and attach a cute, corny note.

Day 9 – Breakfast In Bed

Plan to get up before her and make her favorite breakfast in time for when she usually wakes up. Try to go for something she loves but doesn’t usually have.

You can also leave her a note next to her on the bed so that she would easily see it and not come down to spoil your surprise 🙂

Day 10 – Leave a love note for her to find

Hide a love note in her diary, handbag, or on the mirror of the bathroom. Somewhere that you’re sure she will see it at some point during the day.

If you have access, you can even put a love note as a reminder on her calendar without her realizing it.

Day 11 – Plan a movie night At Home

Plan a cozy night in with your wife or girlfriend. Choose the show, get food, snacks, drinks, and dessert.

Day 12 – Surprise her With a framed picture of the two of you

Find your favorite picture of you and your significant other, make or buy a beautiful picture frame and give it to her.

You can also use a service like Shutterfly, select a few pictures and choose a cute quote to make it extra special!

Day 13 – Give her a massage

Plan to do this when you have enough time to set aside. Make it extra relaxing by using her favorite scented oils, adding candles and soft music.

Day 14 – Create a relationship bucket list together

Make a list of all the things you would love to do with your partner. Think of places you would want to visit with her and experiences you would love to have with her.

Try to get one another to try something new and challenging.

Day 15 – Make her a playlist of Meaningful songs

Send her a thoughtful playlist of all the songs that remind her of how you feel about her.

Don’t forget to add in the songs that are memorable and meaningful to both of you.

Day 16 –  Give her a list of 21 things you love about her

Let her know all of the things that you love about her, even if you’ve told her before.

You can put it in a love letter or you can make the list digitally so that she can save it to her phone or computer.

Day 17 – Go To Bed At The Same Time

Everyone is so busy these days that sometimes you can fall into the habit of going to bed at different times. Make an extra effort to plan and structure your day well so that you go to bed with your partner at the same time.

This also has the added benefit of ensuring that you have a cut-off time for your to-do list so that you can ensure that you have a good night’s rest.

Day 18 – Bring her a favourite snack just because

When you come home from work or get back from the store, surprise her with her favorite snack to let her know you’re thinking of her.

Day 19 – Take a Bath together

Set the mood with some candles, low lights, music, and maybe even some wine. Enjoy a relaxing, bubble bath together just talking and reconnecting with each other.

Day 20 – Paint her a picture

Whether you’re artistic or not, try painting her a picture. If nothing else, surely the effort will count!

Day 21 – Make a Vision Board With Her

Take some time and talk with your girlfriend or wife about one another’s personal goals as well as your dreams and goals for your relationship. This can go a long way for you guys to align goals so that you grow together and support each other for individual goals.

Final Thoughts On Romantic Gestures For Her

The goal for the next 21 days is to try to find something romantic to do every day that you don’t usually do. So use this 21 day love challenge as a guide and tweak to suit you, your partner, and your relationship.

A cool benefit of following this 21 day love challenge is that when you do romantic gestures for her, every day, for at least 21 days and at the end of the challenge, these romantic gestures will become a habit and a part of your daily life.

Looking for more posts like this? Try these:

21 Romantic Gestures For Her – 21 Day Love Challenge Read More »

Best Flocked Christmas Trees 2021

9 Of The Best Affordable Flocked Christmas Trees 2022

9 Of The Best Affordable Flocked Christmas Trees 2022

budget flocked christmas trees - affordable - budget

Flocked Christmas trees can make Christmas extra special and magical.

Even better, I’ve found 9 of the most affordable flocked Christmas trees for you to check out for your family this year so that you can save money & get a beautiful flocked tree!

What Is A Flocked Christmas Tree?

But first off, what is a flocked Christmas tree?

It’s simply a tree that looks like it has snow on its branches (perfect for those of us who love a white Christmas!)

You get this look by applying artificial snow, or flocking, to the tree branches and you can do this to both real and artificial trees.

The best flocked Christmas trees are super hard to tell from the real thing!

Flocking is definitely a pretty messy process though, so unless you have a decent-sized outdoor space or you are a committed DIYer it’s going to be easier to buy a pre-flocked tree.

Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

the-best-flocked-christmas-trees-this-year-2021

How Much Do Flocked Christmas Trees Cost?

Flocked Christmas trees can cost anywhere from $50 (really!) to upwards of $2000, depending on the size, brand, number of tips, and whether they are pre-lit or unlit.

In general, they are a bit more expensive than the same tree without flocking, as you might expect.

The Best Places To Buy The Most Affordable Flocked Christmas Trees

Amazon is my go-to for all kinds of online shopping, and it’s no different for flocked Christmas trees!

They have a great selection of trees including several under $100.

Wayfair also has quite a wide selection of flocked Christmas trees.

All shapes and sizes and some awesome deals plus free shipping, hard to beat!

King of Christmas has more than 50 great hand-made trees for you to choose from.

They may be more high-end than some of the other options, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for! If you love quality craftsmanship this is the site for you.

They also have pre-Christmas sales where you can get super discounts and offer free shipping (in the USA).

Walmart has several great affordable flocked Christmas trees.

They also have a great selection of trees under $100, my personal favorite is this one: Best Choice Products 6ft Premium Holiday Christmas Pine Tree

budget flocked christmas trees - affordable - budget

The 9 Best Flocked Christmas Trees On Amazon

I’ve only gone for trees 6 feet and over for this list so you can have an affordable flocked Christmas tree as your main tree for the holidays!

Check out these affordable flocked Christmas trees on Amazon:

  1. Super Holiday Snow Flocked Hinged Artificial Pine Christmas Tree
  2. Nearly Natural 6.5ft Flocked Livingston Fir Artificial Christmas Tree
  3. Winregh Artificial Christmas Tree Snow Flocked
  4. Nearly Natural Flocked White River Mountain Pine Artificial Christmas Tree
  5. Puleo International 7.5ft Pre-Lit Slim Flocked Aspen Fir
  6. Perfect Holiday Christmas Tree, 8-Feet, Flocked Snow
  7. Prextex 6ft Premium Artificial Spruce Hinged Christmas Tree
  8. LOKASS Artificial Christmas Tree 6ft Christmas Pine Tree
  9. Perfect Holiday 6.5ft Snow Flocked Alpine Fir
Best affordable flocked Christmas Trees 2021

Super Holiday Snow Flocked Hinged Artificial Pine Christmas Tree

This amazing tree comes in 6ft and 7.5 ft options and can only be described as well-flocked.

Perfect for the White Christmas look.

Buy Now on Amazon

Nearly Natural 6.5ft Flocked Livingston Fir Artificial Christmas Tree

This tree comes complete with clear lights and flocked pinecones so all you need to do is hang your own decorations and you’re ready for Christmas!

Buy Now on Amazon

Winregh Artificial Christmas Tree Snow Flocked

Only the tips of this tree are flocked which gives it a really cool lightly snow-dusted look.

Although it’s unlit, it comes with flocked pinecones and is the widest of the trees on this list at each height.

This tree can really fill a space!

Buy Now on Amazon

Nearly Natural Flocked White River Mountain Pine Artificial Christmas Tree

Although this 6ft tree is a bit narrower than the others on this list it comes pre-lit with flocked pinecones for easy decoration.

Buy Now on Amazon

Puleo International 7.5ft Pre-Lit Slim Flocked Aspen Fir

Priced amazingly for a pre-lit tree and 44 inches wide, this uniquely shaped tree can also be a great conversation piece.

Buy Now on Amazon

Perfect Holiday Christmas Tree, 8-Feet, Flocked Snow

I couldn’t believe the price of this giant tree! It’s unlit but looks absolutely beautiful and can surely fill any room. Buy Now on Amazon

Prextex 6ft Premium Artificial Spruce Hinged Christmas Tree

Another incredible tree at an unbelievable price. Only the tips are flocked though, so if you really want more than a dusting of snow you may want to invest in your own flocking kit. Buy Now on Amazon

LOKASS Artificial Christmas Tree 6ft Christmas Pine Tree

At only 8 pounds, this slim tree is ultra lightweight and really well-priced. It has a very traditional look. Buy Now on Amazon

Perfect Holiday 6.5ft Snow Flocked Alpine Fir

The second Perfect Holiday tree on this list is very unique and is sure to look gorgeous when fully decorated. Buy Now on Amazon

budget flocked christmas trees - affordable - budget

Where to Buy Extra Flocking

If you need to refresh your flocked Christmas tree, you can find extra flocking on Amazon.

Here are 2 of the most popular products:

SnoFlock The Original Premium Self-Adhesive Snow Flock Powder with ShimmerSpec – One of the better known, safe and very highly rated.

Amazing Super Snow Powder By Be Amazing! Toys – Great for getting the little ones involved in decorating the tree, just add water! It isn’t self-adhesive though, so something to consider if your tree is in a high-traffic area.

I hope this list of affordable flocked Christmas trees has inspired you to get one this year.

I’d love to hear which one you’ve settled on – let me know in the comments below.

budget flocked christmas trees - affordable - budget

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Free Printable Daily Routine Checklists For Kids - morning checlist for kids - evening checklist for kids

Make The Best Daily Routine Checklist For Kids To Have A Productive Day

Easy Daily Routine Checklists For Kids

daily routine checklist for kids - morning checklist for kids - evening checklist for kids

A daily checklist for kids is amazing to teach kids responsibility and for them to learn to become more independent.

Following daily morning and evening routine checklists for kids are an easy way to make mornings and evenings run smoother.

Of course, it also follows that when you get your morning off to a great start, your day is more likely to be a great and productive one.

Ending your day with structure and preparing for the next morning with an even routine is also very beneficial to have a great night so you can wake up energized and fresh.

Depending on the age of your child, it can be fun to let them fill out their own routine and decorate it.

You can also print and laminate this so you can easily change things depending on the time of year or changing circumstances in your life.

Grab the free morning routine and evening routine checklists printable

    Easy Morning Checklist For Kids To Have A Productive Day

    What Are Some Morning And Evening Routines For Kids

    Your kids’ morning routine checklist will be different depending on your child’s age and whether it’s vacation or school (in person, virtual or homeschool).

    Here are some easy ideas for you to include in your kids’ morning routine:

    • Say morning prayer
    • Brush teeth
    • Make the bed
    • Get Dressed
    • Breakfast
    • Clear table
    • Brush teeth
    • Shower
    • Off load dishwasher
    • Feed pet
    • Help pack lunch box
    • Get books ready for school
    • Put on shoes

    How Do I Make A Morning Routine Checklist?

    To make the best morning checklist and evening checklist for your kids, get your child involved in creating it.

    Kids are more likely to follow the routine if they had an input in the process and helped make it.

    To create your personalized daily routine for kids:

    • start by jotting down all the activities in the order that you need your kids to complete
    • Then, assign times to each activity
    • Download the free kids’ checklist template from my freebie library and follow the easy instructions below.

    Free Printable Daily Routine Checklist For Kids

    Free Printable Daily Routine Checklists For Kids - morning checlist for kids - evening checklist for kids

    Download the free Daily Routine Checklist for Kids, Now

      To create your own daily morning and evening routine checklist for your kids, simply:

      • Ensure that your kids help during the process
      • Download the free routine checklist in the freebie library
      • Print the free morning routine checklist
      • Laminate or use a self laminating sheet
      • Use a dry erase marker to write in the routine checklist for your child’s morning and evening routines
      • Hang your kids’ morning routine checklist where it’s visible and easy for your child to check off what they’ve done

      You can also use pictures instead of words or in addition to words if your child has not begun reading yet. It can also help them to learn new words.

      And, that’s it! Now you have a daily routine checklist for your kid to follow.

      Empowering your child to follow a morning routine and check off the completed activities will make it super fun and help to teach them how to be responsible.

      This free daily routine checklist for kids can be used for:

      • Morning Checklist For Kids School
      • Morning Routine Checklist For Toddlers And Kids
      • Evening routine checklist for kids
      • Homeschool routine checklist
      • Summer daily routine checklist

      Why Use A Kid’s Daily Routine Checklist

      Routines can teach kids responsibility and help them to develop healthy habits.

      By doing the same activities at the same time on mornings, they will eventually do things automatically.

      This will make mornings go much smoother and easier on everyone. To ensure you get the most out of your kids morning routine it’s important to get a good night’s rest.

      Chat with your kids about the benefits of having a routine as well as why each activity is important.

      Be sure to explain how each activity should be done properly before they get to check it off their list.

      Help them for as long as they need until they can get through the morning routine checklist on their own.

      Repetition is key for their daily checklist activities to become routine and easy for them to complete.

      The accomplished feeling that comes along with being in charge of their morning routine activities will motivate them to become independent sooner than you think.

      I’d love to hear how well this has worked for you! Be sure to come back to update me in the comments below.

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      5 Surprising Ways To Cut Household Costs & Save Money

      5 Surprising Ways To Cut Household Costs & Save More Money

      Surprising Ways To Cut Household Costs & Save More Money

      Looking to save more money on a tight budget? Try these 5 surprising ways to cut household costs so that you can save more and still live comfortably.

      Saving on a tight budget requires creativity and sacrifice. But, it’s probably easier than you imagined.

      So whether you want to save more money for an emergency fund, vacation, a big purchase, or retirement, these are easy ways to cut household costs to save more!

      5 Surprising Ways To Cut Household Costs On A Tight Budget

      Finding money in an already tight budget can be daunting, to say the least, but depending on your priorities, it is definitely doable with these 5 ways to cut household costs.

      Our budget now is even tighter than before as our family has grown and of course, the cost of living is ever increasing. We have however applied the following techniques which have helped us to increase savings.

      Ok, so let’s talk about these 5 surprising ways to cut household costs so you can jumpstart your savings.

      1. Pay Yourself First

      Paying yourself first is the best way to save for your goal. The idea here is to pay yourself before any of your other expenses. That way, you’re guaranteed to save and you will have an idea of how much money you have left to spend on household costs.

      Start off with a savings goal in mind – a clear idea of how much money you want to save within your timeframe. This will allow you to work out how much you need to save each month and how much money would be available for your living expenses.

      An easy way to do this is to develop a savings mindset. Your mind is awesomely powerful. Even though this is not a way to cut your household costs on its own, it’s an incredibly important first step.

      Having the right frame of mind can do wonders for just about anything that you’re trying to accomplish. It allows you to be more open to saving, making it easier to make the necessary changes and sacrifices. It allows cutting certain expenses to be easier. It helps to set goals more clearly and realistically. 

      2. Be very clear about your needs vs wants

      It’s so natural to want to buy things to make yourself and your kids comfortable and happy. However, when you’re actively trying to save, it’s a good idea to weed out the needs from the wants and stick to only those purchases that you need.

      3. Track & review Your Existing Budget

      It’s very important to track all of your expenses and spending habits over some time to get a clear idea of where you’re at. This will allow you to easily see what you are spending most of your money on and where you are possibly overspending. This will help you gain clarity about where you could cut costs.

      After paying yourself first, work on cutting from each category so that you cover your living expenses with the money you have left.

      Cut every category a bit 

      I recommend starting to cut from the big expenditure categories. These usually include housing and food (especially eating out). You may not be able to cut your housing costs, like rent or mortgage but you probably can cut your food category. After cutting spending on food, cut a little from all your other expenses.

      Even with loans – can you refinance, consolidate, or even pay it off? 

      Another way to cut current expenses is to reduce usage. For instance, we stopped using our air condition as much and that alone cut our electricity bill in half. Finding out which appliances pull the most current and adjusting your usage is a fantastic way to reduce your bill and reveal some savings. 

      Other ideas are to give up cable TV and only keep the Internet and to exercise at home to save on gym fees. 

      Refrain from hanging out at expensive places

      Instead of going to expensive places, opt for cheaper or even free activities. For example, have a picnic or take a romantic stroll with your significant other for date night.

      Stay away from online Or Instore shopping

      Shopping online is soooooo easy and convenient. It is very addictive and marketing is so good that you may feel that you need to take advantage of every sale.

      Similarly, even in stores, sale racks and deal items can draw us in but resist the temptation. Keep your goal in mind and walk by. 

      For some, like me, online shopping can actually be better to help you stay on track. I find that when I’m able to see how much my total is before I checkout, it’s easier for me to keep my spending in check. In-store shopping is harder for me when I’m trying to save more money.

      Stop buying food Out

      This is where we spent most of our money and so it made perfect sense to start our cutting with food. We didn’t completely give up on restaurant food though. Instead, we planned a treat for the family once a month. This also helped us to appreciate and enjoy the food more. 

      Instead, we cooked more at home and it saved us a lot of money.

      Remove unnecessary expenses 

      Some expenses such as monthly subscriptions that you don’t use often should be canceled. For instance, we had a membership to a club that we didn’t go to often enough for it to be worth it so we cut that out of our budget and saved more money.

      Stick to your budget 

      Lastly, try your best to stick to the budget you have set for yourself. I cannot stress how essential this step is. Creating a budget is the easy part. Sticking to it is where the hard work is but once you stick to it and get accustomed to your new way of spending, it will become easier.

      These practices have become our way of life and really don’t compromise our lifestyle or happiness. Sometimes, we do have off months (for instance, after our daughter was born) but try not to stress, just adjust and move forward with the next month. 

      4. Avoid Unnecessary debt

      This includes any unnecessary debt, like credit cards or even a car loan. If it’s possible to purchase a used car or keep your existing car, skip getting a brand new car.

      Another big source of debt is credit cards. Managing credit cards can be tough, especially if you find yourself in a particularly difficult situation. However, if you’re running up your credit card on wants and not needs, this is definitely an area that you can control and manage better. The best thing you can do is make your credit card work for you!

      For instance, if I don’t have the cash to purchase a want, I just won’t buy it. My rule is that I can only purchase something if I have the money to put on my card. I also ensure that my card is paid in full by the due date to avoid additional charges, like interest or late fees. Finally, I utilize the rewards to maximize the benefits of having this type of debt.

      For some, this may not be possible as you may be in a position where, for example, food simply costs more than you have at the moment. The best thing to do in this situation is to pay the minimum balance or as much as you can, before the due date.

      5. Finding Other Ways To Make Money

      There are so many ways to make money outside of your 9-5. There are part time jobs and jobs that can be conveniently done from home. For instance, there are survey sites, online consulting businesses, blogging, vlogging etc. Check out these ways you can make money from home.

      Sticking To Your Budget To Cut Household Costs & Save More Money

      To be able to save or “find money” in your current budget requires sacrifice. It may or may not be very long term but this is where prioritizing is crucial. Being committed to your goal and the hard work it would take makes it easier to stay the course. If you stick to these 5 simple ways to cut household costs

      The savings we were able to find were unbelievable and it eventually led to us being able to buy our first home, a small but comfortable condo. 

      I hope this will help you on your journey to saving more money each month. I’d love to hear from you so please leave your best tips and tricks to cut household costs and save more money in the comments below. 

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      How To Save Money And Spend Less In December

      Ways To Save Money And Spend Less In December

      save money in December - Christmas savings budget

      Today, this post will help you learn how to save money in December and still have a happy Christmas and a great start to your new year.

      Christmas is a time when most people find that it’s easy to overdo and spend way too much money, especially if you absolutely love everything about Christmas.

      The bad part is that in December, most are drunk off the Christmas spirit and then live in regret or debt in January.

      If this sounds like you, this post is for you 🙂

      Money Saving Tips To Save This Christmas

      Christmas doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think it should be – there are many things that you can probably do without in December and still have a very merry Christmas.

      To save money in December, try these tips:

      1. Budget
      2. Stick to your budget
      3. Don’t impulse buy
      4. Save money on Christmas gifts
      5. Don’t over do on the Christmas menu

      Budget To Save Money In December

      The first step to saving more money in December is to create a Christmas budget.

      The next and much harder step for most of us is to stick to that budget.

      Download and use the free Christmas budget template in the freebie library to create your own budget for December.

      Join the subscriber only resource library below!

        Be sure to include everything that you traditionally spend money on for Christmas.

        Here are some ideas of things to include in your Christmas Budget:

        • Donations
        • Heating
        • Gifts
        • Stocking stuffers
        • Christmas decorations
        • Wrapping materials
        • Groceries
        • Clothes
        • Holiday parties
        • Traveling
        • New Year’s Eve
        • Buffer for unforseen expenses

        two ways To Create A Christmas budget:

        1. Budget for Christmas with December’s income
        2. Create a Christmas savings fund

        Budget With December’s Income

        Budgeting with December’s income is especially great if you receive an end-of-year bonus.

        You can budget to use part of the bonus for Christmas expenses.

        If you’re creating your December budget on your regular monthly income, then perhaps cutting a bit in all areas of your budget can create some Christmas spending money.

        Christmas Savings Fund

        If you’ve been struggling to fund you Christmas spending with your income in December, a great idea is to start saving a little money each month so that in December, you have a Christmas savings fund.

        This is a great way to save over time and not feel stressed out by December expenses.

        To start your Christmas savings fund, it’s important to note all of your December expenses related to Christmas so that you know how much you need to save.

        Simply divide that number by 12 and you will get your monthly savings goal for your savings fund.

        This is my preferred method.

        It eases the stress of Christmas spending and allows me to maintain a standard annual budget.

        Stick to your December budget

        The one rule I give to myself is that I’m not allowed to go over the Christmas savings fund.

        If I’m under, I can either leave it for next year, donate the rest or put it towards savings for our future.

        Track your Christmas spending on a simple spreadsheet in Excel or download this free Christmas expenses tracker by joining the subscriber only resource library below.

          You can print this tracker and keep it on your fridge for easy family tracking.

          Get everyone to write out money they’ve spent on Christmas items.

          How To Stick To Your Christmas Budget

          1. Don’t impulse buy In December

          To ensure that you don’t impulse buy, make two lists before you shop:

          1. Things that you don’t need
          2. Shopping list and budget

          Before you head out to shop or before you shop online, make a list of all the things you already have and don’t need to purchase, and stay away from the section of the store or category online.

          Of course, shops change up the layout of their stores to encourage new purchases and there are ads to contend with for online shopping.

          However, once you have the list of all the things you don’t need – it should be much easier to resist the temptation of new decorations or over-buying food.

          Next is your shopping list. Be sure to note the budget for each item and try your best not to overspend.

          2. Save money on Christmas gifts

          There are a few simple ways that you spend less on Christmas gifts without being “cheap”.

          Here are some ideas of how to save money on Christmas gifts:

          • DIY gifts
          • Buying early
          • Coupons, Thanksgiving & Christmas sales
          • Shop online
          • Secret Santa

          3. DIY Gifts

          Diy gifts tend to be incredibly thoughtful and heartwarming.

          It can also be a great way to start a new Christmas family tradition.

          You can help the kids make cards and crafts for one another and grandparents or you can make Christmas decorations together.

          4. Buying Early

          Sometimes during the year, I might see something on sale or have a coupon for one of my kids or a loved one and I’ll get it and keep it for Christmas.

          I’ll take it out of my Christmas fund and note it for my Christmas budget.

          I don’t have many people on my Christmas list, so this really isn’t difficult to do.

          5. Coupons, Thanksgiving & Christmas Sales

          Thanksgiving, Christmas & after Christmas sales are a great way to buy gifts & supplies for birthdays or Christmas next year.

          For example, if you’re in need of a Christmas tree, after Christmas sales will be the best time to buy one for next year.

          6. Shop Online

          I prefer to shop online because before I check out, I can see how much money I’m spending.

          I find that it’s harder for me to keep track of this when I shop in store, especially as it’s easier to see items you don’t need but catches your eye.

          Online, I can search for the specific item, add to cart, check out and I’m done.

          If something is difficult for me to decide on online, I may go in store to check out the item and window shop early.

          I’ve found that this way of shopping is beneficial for me throughout the year.

          Of course, instore you may be able to snag some great deals so sometimes it’s worth it to shop at the store.

          Just be cautious when you go in and stick to your budget.

          7. Secret Santa

          Another way to save money on gifts if you have a big family and lots of friends is to suggest Christmas secret Santa.

          This way everyone receives a gift and gets to save money and stress.

          8. Don’t over do on the Christmas menu

          Food at Christmas time can easily become your biggest expense in December.

          It’s nice to have a large Christmas spread but it may not be necessary. Come up with a simple Christmas menu and shop for only the items that are needed and stay on budget.

          How To Save Money In December

          To end, saving money in December is possible once you plan, budget and perhaps most importantly, stick to your budget.

          I promise you can still have an amazing, happy, and memorable Christmas without going into debt.

          Before you go be sure to sign up for the freebie library below and download the free Christmas budget printables:

            Ways to save money in December - Christmas Budget Tracker Free PDF
            • Christmas budget tracker template pdf
            • December Christmas Expenses Tracker
            • Christmas Gift List tracker pdf

            I’d love to hear from you – what are some of your tips to save money in December?

            Before you go, check out these other Christmas posts:

            How To Save Money And Spend Less In December Read More »

            create a realistic cleaning schedule routine for mom and your family. Get your house clean, keep it clean with cleaning tips. spring cleaning. Christmas cleaning. Easter cleaning

            The Best Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule For Messy House

            The Best Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule For Messy House

            cleaning schedule moms

            Struggling to create an easy realistic mom cleaning schedule for a messy house?

            Are you a stay at home mom or working mom who needs to develop an easy cleaning routine?

            Does your messy apartment or house overwhelm you and get you down?

            If you answered yes to all the questions above, don’t worry, I’m here to help you with some tips for you to create an easy realistic mom cleaning schedule whether you’re a stay at home mom or working mom.

            Use these tips to create easy cleaning schedules and routines for any time of the year:

            • Christmas cleaning
            • Spring Cleaning
            • Summer Cleaning

            Download the Daily & Weekly Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule Routine Checklist PDF Free Printable.

              Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

              To make things easier for you, please feel free to jump to any part of this article by clicking on the following table of contents.

              Why Is It Hard To Keep Your House Clean

              The number one reason it’s so hard to keep your house clean is life!

              Sometimes even with the best intentions, cleaning schedule, and habits, you’re just too tired.

              Sometimes, unforeseen events occur and planned cleaning doesn’t happen.

              Cleaning isn’t fun for most of us – it consumes time and energy.

              But, it must be done. Of course, if you have the resources available to outsource housework, that would be ideal.

              But for many, like myself, that just isn’t possible at the moment.

              Don’t despair though, the good news is that for the most part, creating and following the best cleaning schedule for you and your family will help in a big way!

              What Is The Purpose Of A Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule

              Creating a cleaning schedule helps reduce and even eliminate uncertainty, overwhelm, and anxiety when it comes to cleaning your home.

              With a schedule, you know ahead of time what needs to be cleaned and who is in charge of the cleaning task.

              This eliminates wasting time and makes better use of the time you set aside to clean.

              Following a cleaning schedule also helps to reduce the number of times you have to do a big, overwhelming cleaning job because, over time, you’re cleaning and maintaining your home.

              How To Create An Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule

              Developing an easy and realistic cleaning schedule for you and your family is a game changer!

              It might take a few tries to get things running smoothly but eventually, your family will be a well-oiled cleaning machine.

              Through trial and error, you may realize that you prefer one big cleaning and then daily maintenance or maybe bigger weekly cleanings that are better for you and your family.

              There’s no one size fits all cleaning schedule because every family is so unique. If you try to follow someone else’s schedule with no flexibility, you’re likely to get very discouraged and give up.

              So, take all the tips and resources, and create your own easy, realistic cleaning schedule.

              It’s also very important to keep in mind that because you’re so busy, not everything that seems logical and simple on paper actually happens in real life.

              Instead, I recommend tweaking your cleaning routine as required. This works well with our family.

              We already know what needs to be done and in what basic order so each time we need to change something, it really isn’t too difficult.

              Simple steps to create your own easy, realistic cleaning schedule:

              1. Determine your cleaning needs
              2. Prioritize your cleaning needs
              3. Assess your current daily, weekly and monthly schedules to find the best times to schedule cleaning chores
              4. Assign cleaning tasks to everyone in your family
              5. Figure out your accountability method
              6. Start creating your schedule

              Determine Your Cleaning Needs

              This should be fairly straightforward as I’m sure you have problem areas in your home that drive you nuts.

              Download the cleaning chore list printable and write down every area in your house that needs to be cleaned.

              You can even categorize them to make it easier to create your cleaning schedule.

              For instance, you can create easy and difficult or adults and kids categories. This is essentially your brain dump for necessary cleaning activities.

              Prioritize Your Cleaning Needs

              Next, you want to take some time to prioritize your cleaning activities. Pay close attention to the time needed to complete certain cleaning tasks.

              The tasks that are shorter can be done daily, for example. By doing this step, you will be better equipped to schedule the best tasks daily, weekly, and monthly.

              If you’re stumped for some cleaning tasks, be sure to read the next section.

              Assess Your Current Schedules

              Even though cleaning is an important part of life, you don’t want to ignore your current schedule to tackle cleaning. This will only cause chaos as you may be adding tasks to full days.

              Instead, sit with your current schedule and see where you have more time to dedicate to cleaning your home.

              Assign Cleaning Tasks

              As the kids grow, cleaning is less daunting. The days of cleaning up everything after them will soon be over – but only if you share responsibilities when they’re young.

              Empower them to clean up after themselves throughout their daily activities. This will also go a long way in creating healthy habits for them into adulthood.

              Here are some ideas of cleaning tasks that you can assign to your kids:

              • tidying their toys
              • packing away their school books
              • putting anything they use back in its place
              • cleaning their wares after meals
              • off loading the dishwasher
              • wipe up messes they make

              Accountability Methods

              In my experience, this step is as important as creating the tasks on your cleaning schedule.

              When there’s no accountability, things just don’t feel as important or urgent as it is.

              Try any of these acountability methods or use for inspiration:

              • dry erase cleaning schedule chart
              • velcro cleaning chart
              • Magnetic cleaning chart
              • Popsicle stick cleaning jars
              • Mobile phone app

              Start Creating Your Own Easy, Realistic Cleaning Schedule

              After completing the steps above, creating your own easy cleaning schedule should be easy.

              Keep in mind that it may take some tweaking to figure out the best schedule to keep your house clean.

              How Often Should You Clean Your House

              I thrive with schedules and systems.

              They make my life easy as I don’t have to wonder what needs to be done, and more importantly, everyone in my family knows what needs to be done and when.

              It’s a good idea to break up cleaning into times – so, we use daily, weekly, monthly. This makes cleaning much easier to handle.

              Here are some cleaning routines that can help you to create your own easy cleaning schedule.

              Download the Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule Routine Checklist PDF Free Printable

              Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule Routine Checklist PDF Free Printable

                Clean Up Immediately

                These are some cleaning tasks that require immediate and sometimes urgent attention.

                To clean immediately In Your House:

                • Spills and messes
                • Mail
                • Groceries
                • Clear and clean the table after eating
                • Clothes in the laundry before showering
                • Put away clothes after folding
                • Put back toys and books before moving on to another activity
                • Make the bed when you get up

                Daily Cleaning Tasks Ideas

                In our house, these are what we do and clean daily. As much as possible, we try to pick up after ourselves throughout the day so that cleaning doesn’t get too overwhelming.

                Over the years, this has been the best solution for our family as it makes the big clean days so much more manageable.

                These tasks are small and won’t take a lot of your time, so whether you are a working mom or stay at home mom, you and your family can try to tackle these cleaning activities daily.

                Daily Household Cleaning Tasks:

                • Neaten beds
                • Load dishwasher and clean the sink after each meal
                • Kitchen sink
                • Clear & wipe Kitchen counters
                • Clean stovetop & microwave
                • Clear & wipe Bathroom counters
                • Clean toilets
                • Sweep or vacuum
                • Keep problem areas clear of clutter
                • Take out the garbage

                Weekly Cleaning Tasks Ideas

                Cleaning activities that can be done weekly would be the ones that require more time and effort on your part. So, it’s wise to schedule these on days where you have some extra time.

                Some weekly cleaning Tasks for your schedule:

                • launder clothes, sheets & towels
                • tidy closets
                • clean showers
                • mop
                • clean stove tops
                • Wipe kitchen appliances
                • clear the fridge

                Weekly Cleaning Schedule Ideas

                • Monday – Vacuum all rooms
                • Tuesday – Clean bathrooms
                • Wednesday – Clean Kitchen
                • Thursday – Clean High Traffic Areas
                • Friday – Cleaning Living Room
                • Saturday – Declutter
                • Sunday – Wash sheets & towels,

                Fortnightly Cleaning Tasks Ideas

                Some cleaning tasks can be pushed to completing them every 2 weeks. Some ideas for fortnightly cleaning:

                • clean washing machine
                • dust and clean dryer
                • mop
                • vaccum

                Monthly Cleaning Tasks Ideas

                Monthly cleaning tasks are the ones that typically require more time and energy. However, this is where you will see the benefits of scheduling daily, weekly, and fortnightly tasks. By managing your cleaning tasks more often, the overwhelming cleaning jobs, won’t end up as bad as before.

                Some cleaning tasks that need attention every month:

                • decluttering problem areas
                • baseboards
                • blinds
                • walls
                • ceiling fans
                • light fixtures
                • tidy pantry

                Top Things Used To Keep A Clean House

                Cleaning supplies are important for your realistic cleaning schedule to saving time and energy.

                Using the right cleaning tools will also ensure that you end up with satisfying results.

                A great tip is to keeping cleaning supplies close in every space in your home. This is key to getting the job done quickly and effortlessly.

                Before I started doing this, I would put off wiping down the sink, for instance, because I would have to go to another room to get cleaning supplies.

                By keeping supplies close to each sink in my home, it’s so much easier to just grab my spray bottle and clean it daily.

                Here are some ideas for cleaning tools you can keep in the laundry room, kitchen, and all bathrooms:

                • Spray bottle with all purpose cleaner – I love to use a simple mixture of vinegar and water
                • Baking Soda – this works wonders for tough surface stains
                • Microfiber towel – this cleans with little to no streaks
                • Disposable Paper Towel – to clean up super messes easily. We love Bounty Paper Towels
                • Bissell Featherweight Stick Vaccum – I HATE sweeping and when we moved, my friend recommended this vacuum. It quickly became my best cleaning tool. It is so lightweight and powerful enough to clean up everyday dust. I can easily vaccum my entire house in a fraction of the time I used to spend sweeping
                • Swiffer Wet Mop – I hate mopping even more than I hate sweeping. I usually grab a swiffer wet pad to get the job done but I still hate it.
                • Robot Vaccum – I have not invested in this but it’s a really nice to have, if you can afford it.
                • Robot mop – I haven’t purchased one yet but this will be a game changer for me.

                Top Secrets To Keeping A Clean House

                These 5 secrets are the best ways to keep your house clean, especially with young kids.

                1. Get the entire family involved
                2. Make cleaning fun!
                3. Create easy, realistic cleaning schedules, routines & habits
                4. Chore and reward chart
                5. Frequent decluttering

                Get the Entire Family Involved

                Of course, sharing the cleaning responsibilities definitely eases the burden of cleaning from one person.

                Getting every family member involved in cleaning also frees up time for you and for others.

                Another benefit is that it helps to improve your mood because now you’re not as stressed AND you have more time for yourself.

                Finally, getting everyone involved allows cleaning to eventually be more efficient.

                Sometimes even the kids come up with smarter ways of tackling a task.

                Together, you will eventually find faster and more efficient ways of doing the cleaning jobs you hate the most.

                How To Make Cleaning Fun

                If you know me, I’m sure you guessed that my suggestion here is to crank up some music.

                Music just gets people in a better mood and motivated to do stuff – even clean.

                For the monthly cleaning activities, if the kids can’t do a cleaning task on their own, involve them and clean together.

                That eases you up and you’re also teaching them how to do the task so that they can take over in the future.

                You could also make a family game out of the cleaning task. Earlier this week, I enlisted my two boys to help me clean out the garage.

                They were hesitant at first, but I made a game out of it and they were almost sad when we were finished!

                So, do whatever you need to do to turn a funk into a productive, fun cleaning time.

                Create Easy Realistic Family Cleaning Routines

                This hack is, of course, the purpose of this post. By creating an easy, realistic cleaning schedule, cleaning becomes a part of your routine, and habits are formed.

                This makes it so much easier to get cleaning tasks done.

                With young kids, routines and developing habits are gold to keep a clean house.

                Often, just by seeing you do things routinely, kids follow your lead. Even my one year old knows to wipe up her messes and clear her table.

                She knows when things are out of place and when it’s time to tidy up, she happily sings the “tidy up song” while packing away her toys.

                Kids also love to feel like they’re in charge of something – they love to feel responsible.

                I put each kid in charge of various cleaning tasks every day and they love ensuring that it’s done by everyone.

                There are incredible benefits of teaching and encouraging your family to develop routines and habits.

                Also, check out this easy daily routine checklist for your kids.

                Teaching your kids to set and clear the table before and after meals, tidy up after playing, and putting back books when academic time is over are simple tasks that kids can do to help out.

                To get them into the routine at first, it may take a lot out of you – there will be lots of reminding!

                But, as time goes by, once you stay consistent, they will get into the hang of it and create habits.

                When you and your kids get into routines, habits are developed. Basically, things are done on auto pilot which makes keeping your house clean so much easier!

                Chore and Reward Chart

                I also mentioned this above but one of the best ways I’ve found to get everyone involved in cleaning and chores is of course, with a chore and reward chart.

                It has worked so well for my family and so many others that I thought it was worth highlighting again.

                Especially when you have kids, creating a fun way to chart chores, track accountability, and of course, provide rewards and incentives will help kids really get into cleaning.

                And hey, rewards aren’t a bad idea for the adults either 🙂

                Frequent Decluttering

                Clutter has a sneaky way of accumulating and then becoming an overwhelming and very daunting task.

                I try to declutter often and still, sometimes, I wonder where stuff comes from and more importantly, what were we thinking to hold on to it (for example, some mail).

                If you need some help decluttering, you might find this article very helpful.

                Frequent decluttering helps to get rid of things you no longer use and need. Having a clutter free home means that cleaning is a lot less stressful.

                Additionally, when everything is organized and has a home and everyone in your family knows where things go, tidying up takes much less time.

                Another great tip is to keep counter tops and surfaces clutter free. This helps reduces the time needed to dust and clean surfaces.

                If you have kids, this cleaning hack is extremely important to ensure that you keep a clean house.

                Kids find treasure in everything! It’s very cool to see how awesome their minds are and I’m not saying to stunt their creativity at all, and throw away things that they just “must-have”.

                Just ensure that when they’re finished playing with their 34910750058th “favorite” box, that they help you throw it in the trash.

                A great way to keep clutter at a minimum is an end of day tidy up. This has worked wonders for our family and once you do it often, it doesn’t take a lot of time. We love music and it seems that the kids are a little competitive right now.

                So, we make a game out of it – sometimes they race against the timer and sometimes we let the kids race against one another.

                Even though they’re racing, we still ensure that they’re completing their chores right.

                daily & weekly cleaning schedule routine checklist for moms, working moms, stay at home moms, busy moms

                Final Tips For An Easy Realistic Cleaning Schedule For Mom

                The number one thing to remember when creating your easy cleaning schedule is to make it realistic for your lifestyle.

                You can use ideas from this post or any other resource and tweak them to make it your own and more importantly, to make it work for you.

                Before you go, don’t forget to download the free cleaning schedule and routine printable to help you to create your realistic cleaning schedule.

                Remember to try the tips from this post, like doing a little each day, to make cleaning less daunting. Also, try to get everyone involved and make it as fun as possible.

                I feel confident that you will come up with the best cleaning routine to keep your house clean.

                I’d love to hear from you! What cleaning tips & hacks can you share with us? Let us know in the comments below.

                Before you go, you may love these posts

                The Best Easy Realistic Mom Cleaning Schedule For Messy House Read More »

                8 Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Goals As A Mom

                8 Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Goals As A Mom

                mistakes to avoid when setting goals as a mom

                As a mom, it’s critical to avoid mistakes when setting goals to ensure that we position ourselves to succeed. We know that setting good goals lays the foundation for success.

                As moms, we juggle so much all the time that it’s easy to have an idea or lots of them and try to follow through based on just the thoughts.

                Often times these goals are very vague or general and provide no focused plan on how to accomplish it. 

                Goal setting requires more thought and planning than that. We all know the saying “if we fail to prepare, prepare to fail” and it’s definitely true with goal setting.  If you lay a good foundation, you’re more likely to follow through and succeed. 

                Why Do Moms Fail To Accomplish Goals

                Moms fail to accomplish their goals because they didn’t set them right to begin with. This leads to becoming despondent and discouraged. It also leads to stress and frustrations.

                I’m especially guilty of making these mistakes with health and fitness-oriented goals. It’s not my passion and I tend to set very vague, unrealistic, and large goals. As soon as I gave birth, I wanted to just have a flat stomach and be back to my normal fitness level and physique.

                I’ll set a goal like “I want to have a flat stomach in 21 days”. I’ll get motivated, I’ll plan my diet and then when it comes to the exercises, I realize that I can’t keep up – not even with the modifier.

                When I feel no changes with my strength or don’t see enough changes in my physical appearance, I get demotivated. 

                I realized that even though it was only 21 days, I needed to pace myself and set smaller goals.

                Focusing on the flat stomach and my diastasis recti were larger goals for me that would require a longer period of time. So, I had to break up my larger goals into smaller ones to be able to accomplish them and to keep me motivated and inspired.

                Sure enough, as I continued to set my small goals, I eventually reached my larger fitness level goal. I still set small goals as fitness is an ongoing journey and if I’m honest, struggle for me. 

                We can make these mistakes when setting goals with household chores, career advancement, furthering your education, your relationships, savings plans and so on.

                8 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Goals As A Mom

                1. Having the wrong mindset 
                2. Not being realistic 
                3. Not breaking up larger goals into more manageable goals
                4. Being too general – being specific is key
                5. Setting too many goals simultaneously 
                6. Enjoyment 
                7. Setting goals that are dependent on others
                8. Setting negative goals

                I’ve made these mistakes in the past and had trouble reaching my goals, especially when I became a stay at home mom.

                Now, I try to avoid these 8 mistakes when setting my goals as a mom and it helps me to become a better goal setter and increases my ability to crush my goals more often!

                Let’s dig a littler deeper into each one.

                1. Having the wrong mindset when setting your goals

                Having the wrong mindset isn’t limited to negativity. It includes not being focused, inspired, patient and confident.

                Having a positive and goal-oriented mindset sets the tone for your goal setting and motivation. It arms you with the right way of thinking to set the best goals for yourself and the steps you need to get there. Once you have the right mindset, you have a solid foundation to set your goals and set yourself up for success. 

                2. Not being realistic when setting goals

                You’re more likely to set yourself up for disappointment if you start by setting an unrealistic goal. While you certainly want to challenge yourself and dream big, being aware of your limitations and expectations are crucial. 

                When setting your goals, think of it holistically, in terms of the actual goal, the time frame, the possible obstacles, the available resources and so on. 

                3. Not breaking up larger goals into more manageable goals

                By shooting for a large goal from the start, you’re putting yourself in a position for possible burnout, de-motivation, self-doubt, and failure. It’s not that you cannot achieve the large goal, it’s the fact that the road to get there may be long and full of obstacles. This means that you aren’t celebrating your smaller victories on the way to the large goal. Instead, you’re focusing on the fact that you haven’t reached the goal yet. 

                Having smaller goals also work to increase your self-confidence, keep you motivated and keeps you going. 

                So if you want to accomplish something in 3 months, break that goal up into smaller, more manageable goals e.g. Monthly or even weekly goals which are all aligned with the big 3-month goal. 

                4. Being too general with your goals

                Being specific is so critical to successful goal setting. When you know exactly what you want to achieve it helps shape and guide your path. It’s much easier to plan your actions to ensure success.

                Forbes provides a great list of 13 questions to ask yourself to identify the right goal. 

                5. Setting too many goals simultaneously 

                There’s little that’s more frustrating and demotivating than not being able to accomplish your goals and having many partially accomplished goals. Instead, pace yourself and don’t start all of your goals at the same time. Choose one or two and when you’ve accomplished those, move on.

                6. Setting Goals That We Don’t Enjoy

                Setting a goal that we do not enjoy is much harder to achieve. This is n’t the same as staying in our comfort zone and not challenging ourselves. We know that in order to grow and live our best lives we must challenge ourselves. Instead, we need to find joy in what we need to accomplish.

                While it may not always be possible to enjoy something that we have to do, we can find a way to make it fun or find an alternative that will increase the likelihood of us completing it.

                Using my fitness journey as an example, my goal was (and still is) to be healthy and fit. As a mom of three, there’s nothing I rather do in my spare time than just lay down and relax!

                When setting fitness goals, I had to choose a program I would enjoy. I love doing different moves throughout a workout and I like a short, effective to the point session.

                I choose programs from trainers I like and the types of exercises that the programs offer.  

                You should definitely challenge yourself but again, be realistic with it. Maybe even starting off smaller is key here.

                7. Setting goals that are dependent on other people

                This one is probably the easiest to understand and the hardest to do.

                As moms, we tend to rely and depend on others for help and support. But setting goals that are dependent on anyone else puts your success in the hands of another person, who of course you have no control over. 

                8. Setting negative goals 

                Instead of setting goals like “not wanting to be lazy” set positive goals like “becoming more productive”. This type of thinking and goal setting sets the tone for your plan of action and mindset. 

                Conclusion

                Achieving your goals starts with setting them right! So, avoid these mistakes when setting goals as a mom and give yourself the best shot at reaching all your goals.

                These tips have proven to help moms set themselves up for success from the beginning.

                Let me know in the comments below if you have been making these mistakes or if you have any other tips that are useful.

                Also, check out these posts to help you on your self-development journey:

                8 Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Goals As A Mom Read More »

                packing tips for moving with kids

                The Best Packing Tips for Moving with Kids

                10 Smart Packing Tips For Moving With Kids

                graphic, moving boxes, boxes

                Packing is a daunting but necessary task when you’re moving. Throw an infant, a toddler, and a baby into the mix and it feels impossible.

                It’s not even a favorite task when vacationing, much less on a larger scale when you’re moving to a new house. Packing your life is exhausting and quite honestly, has made me think of the minimalist route the couple times that I’ve had to do it. 

                I do have an advantage as I love to pack. I think it goes hand in hand with my love of lists and organization. That being said, even I get pretty extremely overwhelmed when packing with 3 kids. Their excitement is unparalleled which can make the process both enjoyable and borderline chaotic. 

                What To Do First? 

                The first thing I like to do is, you guessed it – make a master list. This makes the entire process easier and faster. 

                I go to each room and make a list of everything that has to be packed. Essentially this becomes the inventory for the home. It’s going to be used for packing, moving, and unpacking. It’s meant to make life much easier knowing exactly where items are when you move.

                It also helps to forecast what and how many supplies are needed.

                Top Packing Tips To Make Moving & Unpacking Easier 

                1. Don’t pack clutter 

                This tip is magical when you can start a couple of weeks or months before you start packing. Declutter your home by going through each space in your home and get rid of items you and your family no longer use or need.

                Decluttering of toys was done over months in our home – yes months! When you get kids to declutter, somehow every toy (that they haven’t played with for months) becomes their favorite. I didn’t battle much with them because I knew I had time. Ever so often, we revisited our toy storage and decluttered. After a few times, they got into it and I was able to leave them to sort it out – they did a great job!

                Even during packing, before putting items into a box we continued the decluttering process and got rid of even more unused or unnecessary items.

                2. Get all essential supplies

                Getting supplies ready before you start makes everything run more smoothly.

                Some essential supplies to include – boxes, bubble wrap, bags, tape, labels, stickers and so on. 

                3. Get the kids involved 

                When kids are around the best thing you can do is to empower them and get them involved. Channel their excitement to pack their bags or to help declutter their toys and books. Let them help by labeling boxes if they can write or stick colors on the boxes if you’re color-coding. 

                4. Use an inventory 

                Following from the point above, this is a step you don’t want to skip. Let this inventory be your best friend. It’s not enough to make the list, pack and then discard. Keep it close and use it.  

                Think of how much easier your first few days and nights will be when you don’t have to wonder what’s in the 3 boxes labelled “kitchen”. You can eliminate this headache by having an inventory.

                5. Label and color code everything

                Not only is it important to pack each room into the same box or set of boxes, but labeling and color-coding (stick colored stickers on boxes) also makes delivery and unpacking much easier. 

                6. Start packing items that you don’t use as often and won’t be using before your move 

                From the moment we knew we were going to be moving, I started organizing supplies and started packing. Yes, my husband thought I was insane because we weren’t due to move for another few months but I knew from the last experience that I didn’t want to be stressed out right before the move and then right after (unpacking). With 3 kids now, I wanted us to pace ourselves and pack more efficiently. In the end, even though it seemed ridiculous, he agreed that doing it this way meant stress levels were not only reduced but daily life wasn’t disturbed too much either. 

                Packing in stages reduces the stress that can sometimes be associated with packing. Packing can be very overwhelming and of course, time-consuming. If you have sufficient time, it’s a great idea to start early by packing things that are seasonal (example – seasonal clothing and decorations) and those that you aren’t using right now (example – family albums and sentimental items).

                7. Research and use moving hacks 

                There are many resources available only outlining various hacks and tips for actually packing your things (for example breakable items, packing boxes efficiently, etc) and how to move them.

                8. Accept all the help you can get 

                Helpful is critical for anyone moving but especially for those with kids. With our first move we had little to no help and it was incredibly stressful. Since then, we’ve been sure to ask and accept help from family and friends. 

                9. Pack a kit for the first few nights 

                I have seen recommendations for a first night’s kit but I took it up a notch this time and packed for a few nights instead. Moving with kids is incredibly tiring. It would be lovely to say that when we move we’re gonna hit the ground running, start unpacking and setting up but for our family, we need to plan for a few days of adjustments. Even if we don’t end up using the extra things (which we did btw), at the very least it would ease our minds that we have everything we need readily available to us.

                In this kit, we packed:

                • Favorite toys, activity packs, and snacks for the kids
                • Pampering kit – pack muscle relaxants, a scented candle or a favorite relaxing body wash to destress-whatever you need
                • Toiletries
                • Bedding and towels
                • Clothes for a couple of days

                In the last week, pack everything except essentials for work or school. 

                A good tip is to include these essentials in your first night bag or suitcase and aim to pack almost everything a week or two before moving day. 

                10. Keep a small box of toys and activities for the kids 

                Pack a moving day kit for the kids. Moving day is hectic – there’s no way around this fact. Packing a small box or bag for each kid ensures that they’re entertained and well-fed. This reduces the chance of crankiness and increases the chance of a smoother moving day for everyone. 

                packing tips for moving with kids

                What To Pack Last? 

                Pack essentials that you always use in your first night(s) bag or suitcase :

                • Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash 
                • Hair supplies 
                • Electronics and chargers 

                Take away 

                These tips have allowed our family to move a few times with way less stress than our first time and I’m sure it’s going to be helpful to you too. We’re used these tips while we pack to migrate to Canada and it has worked so well! We’re currently in quarantine and everything that we need for our two weeks is super accessible.

                I’m always on the look out for new packing and organizing tips. Let me know if you have any tips and tricks that you recommend for families who are moving!

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                1st year blog report

                First Year Blog Performance – Income & Traffic Review

                First Year Blog Report- Income & Traffic Review

                Welcome to my first year blog report. I can’t believe Curly Bun Mom is one year old already.

                Writing the content for this blog has improved my life so much and touched the lives of so many others. It has truly been an honor and pleasure creating content to help others.

                Before continuing, catch up with my first month, second month, third month, fourth month, fifth month and sixth month of blogging 🙂

                Looking for more ways to make money as a stay at home mom? Check out the best jobs for stay at home moms.

                Affiliate Disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

                How Much Did I Make In My First Year Of Blogging

                Let’s kick things off with the burning question of income. While I didn’t make a profit in my first year of blogging, my income totaled $75 USD from affiliate sales and I’m really pleasantly surprised and happy.

                While it’s true that I could have made more if I pushed harder, it was more important for me to listen to my body and of course, prioritize my kids’ and family’s needs.

                2020 wasn’t a walk in the park for most of us and I’m really proud that I stuck it out and didn’t go down the easier road of giving up.

                As I write this review, I don’t have an income goal for Curly Bun Mom. My main focus will continue to be on family as our kids are still going to be homeschooled and we’re hopefully going to be settling in into our new home.

                First Year Blog Performance Review

                I’ve learned so much since my last blog report. I slowed down since my blog’s sixth-month mark and honestly, it did wonders for my traffic and for my Pinterest account. I work less and my traffic is hovering around 8k monthly views with no facebook traffic threads! This is honestly a dream for me because I really didn’t have the time to continue with the threads.

                Pageviews

                • Pageviews : 8,847
                • Sessions : 7,588

                Below is a screenshot of my Google Analytics for the last 30 days. Of the total pageviews, 90% is from Pinterest, 3% from other social media and 7% from organic google traffic.

                first year mom blog traffic report

                Pinterest seems to be a long term strategy for my account. Over the past few months, my older pins began ranking and now I have a few pins that bring in a consistent flow of traffic every month.

                If my current traffic trend continues, I should be able to hit the 10K pageviews mark once again. The main difference this time would be that the traffic is not dependent on Facebook share threads.

                Google Ranking

                In the past 6 months, I’ve learned so much more about organic traffic and ranking on Google. The main thing I’ve learned is that I have a lot to learn!

                So, this year my focus is on learning all that I can on how to rank on Google and hopefully rank on the first page for a higher traffic keyword. That’s my main goal this year.

                I have a handful of posts that are responsible for bringing in organic Google traffic:

                First Year Pinterest Performance Review

                Pinterest was a rollercoaster in 2020 and I was honestly giving up on it and that’s how my account grew. I was spending so much of my time trying to churn out 8-10 pins a day that I wasn’t getting much time to do anything else with my blog, especially as I’m homeschooling.

                At the sixth month mark, I decided to limit my posting to 1-2 pins per day and whatever happens, happens. One day I put up a video pin, just to see what it was all about, and the results were AMAZING! Video pins became key in my Pinterest growth. In 6 months, I went from 281K monthly viewers to now, 3.1M. Below you can see my stats from the 6 month blog review.

                As a reminder, this is a quick look at overall stats as at June 2020

                • Followers: 418 – 520
                • Unique monthly viewers: 116K – 281K (139% INCREASE)
                • Impressions: 147k – 343k
                • Engaged Audience: 2.89 – 5.91k (104% INCREASE)

                These are my monthly stats after 6 months, as at 17 January 2021

                • Followers: 520 – 2600
                • Unique monthly viewers: 281K – 3.1M
                • Impressions: 343k – 4.95M
                • Engaged Audience: 5.91k – 232.5K

                This screenshot from my Pinterest analytics shows the growth in the last 90 days from my pins only (no third party pins)

                first year mom blog pinterest report

                It’s true that the click through rate on the video pins isn’t always fantastic, but it really doesn’t bother me because I still get more traffic than I used to and I don’t spend as much time as I once did to create pins.

                This year, I don’t really intend to change too much with my Pinterest strategy this year as I would really love to focus on SEO and getting at least one article with a good keyword to rank.

                Overall Goals for 2021

                Overall, I’m really happy and proud of my blog’s first-year performance. When I started Curly Bun Mom, my intention was to grow at a slow pace and eventually earn a steady monthly income over time and I think I accomplished all that I set out to do in my first year of blogging.

                I hope this first year blog report has helped to get a good idea of what a year of blogging can look like. Lots of bloggers devote more time and effort to their blogs than I did and get stellar results. Consistency is definitely key. If you’re now starting out, I think learning SEO may be the best place to start.

                Happy blogging 🙂

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                things to do on Sunday for a productive week

                8 Simple Things To Do On Sunday For A Productive Week

                8 Smart Things To Do On Sunday For An Easier Week

                people, girl, woman

                If you’re looking for some ideas of things you can do on Sunday to have a better week, keep reading.

                Today, I’m sharing just 8 smart things you can do on Sunday to have a more productive week.

                In our home, Sundays are for self care, family, and preparing for the following week.

                This is the perfect mix to ensure we set up ourselves to have a productive and easier week.

                8 Things To Do Every Sunday

                The things you do on Sunday can set up your week to be easier and more productive.

                The objective here is not to make your Sundays less relaxing or fun but to just add a couple of key items to have a great week ahead.

                1. Self Care

                Daily self care is a necessity. These days, I think it might be even more important than ever.

                The world is so overwhelming right now. It’s really crucial to take the time to settle yourself and rejuvenate.

                Every Sunday, try to take your self care routine up a notch and really focus on yourself.

                Try some of these self care ideas to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

                If you’re feeling to do some writing, try these journal prompts and these self reflection questions.

                Daily positive affirmations are also a perfect way to give yourself the boost you need to keep going. On Sundays, I like to

                2. Family Time

                Even though many of us are with our families more, it’s a good idea to continue having some time set aside specifically for quality time with one another.

                It could be a game that you play together, some dancing fun, movie time or storytime.

                Whatever it is, try to use it to reconnect with each other and really be present and enjoy one another’s company.

                3. Tidy Up & Get Laundry Done

                Having a clear and tidy place does amazing things for your stress, anxiety, productivity and motivation.

                I’m more likely to have a better day when I wake up to a clear house than waking up to mess.

                Walking into untidy rooms can make you feel stressed and overwhlemed, even if you don’t immediately realize it.

                I love to start each day with a clear and clean house. So every evening, the kids tidy up their toys and we try to always clean up the kitchen before bed.

                On Sundays, we spend a little extra time to ensure there’s no clutter lurking.

                I also love to start each week with empty laundry baskets and clean sheets.

                4. Update Your To Do List & Set Your Priorities

                If you have a to do list already, update it with any new things that pop up and remove anything that is already completed.

                Prioritize using this ridiculously smart and easy method and you’re all set.

                5. Plan Your Daily & Weekly Goals

                Planning goals is a great way to motivate yourself to have a productive week. Check out this helpful post on the best ways to set goals.

                6. Plan And Prep Meals

                Meal planning is a huge time saver.

                So often, we spend a long time trying to decide what to make for lunch that everyone either gets cranky waiting for lunch or fills up on snacks.

                It’s so much easier to plan meals together on a Sunday so that we don’t have to wonder daily what we’re eating everyday.

                Of course, some days won’t go as planned but that may just be one day and shouldn’t derail your day and week.

                We love to get the kids involved in prepping meals as well.

                We also try to cook certain things in big batches and freeze them to make it easier during the week. It’s seriously such a huge time saver.

                7. Budget

                Every Sunday, I check in with our bank balances and plan for the week ahead.

                I budget for the following week’s expenses and any income. Staying up to date every week has become a good habit for our finances.

                8. Ensure You Get Quality Sleep

                Going to bed at a reasonable hour and getting enough quality sleep sets the tone for your week!

                Getting up refreshed on Monday means that you’re going to be well-rested, allowing you to tackle your commitments more productively.

                Once Monday starts off productive and positive, a domino effect for the rest of the week is more likely.

                If you have trouble falling asleep, try these healthy habits to fall asleep fast and get more quality sleep.

                things to do on a Sunday for a productive week

                The Best Things To Do On A Sunday

                Preparing for the week on Sundays doesn’t have to be daunting or feel like a chore. As I tell my kids all the time, try to make it fun!

                Put on your favorite music and really be present for your self-care and family time.

                Everything seems to be more manageable and easier once I prioritize these two things on Sunday and every day. Nurturing the relationship with yourself and your family is key to having a happier life.

                So, if you’re looking try to prepare for your week on Sunday, start by maximizing your Sunday to increase your productivity during the week, try some of the things above.

                As you go, tweak your Sunday habits until you get the right fit for you and your family.

                To find the best things for you to do on a Sunday experiment as you much as need.

                Also, check out these posts to help you on your self-development journey :

                8 Simple Things To Do On Sunday For A Productive Week Read More »

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