Creating Joyful Family Holiday Traditions and Meaningful Celebrations

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The holiday season is a time of joy, family togetherness, and creating lasting memories. Planning meaningful family traditions is one of the best ways to ensure that joy is at the heart of your celebrations. Whether you’re looking to start new traditions or refresh beloved ones, these ideas will help you create joyful holiday moments that everyone in the family will cherish. I have included our family traditions and those shared by my social media friends.

 

Holiday light scavenger hunts

Thank you to my daughter for our newest annual event – the holiday light scavenger hunt! Our family loves to look at holiday lights. The scavenger hunt (either paper or digital) brings a lot of joy to our evenings together.

 

Gingerbread House decorating party

Each year, we host a gingerbread house decorating party with pre-made houses and tea party treats. There are oodles of decorations, from candy to frosting. Treats include homemade and store-bought holiday-themed snacks. My grandkids especially appreciate this time together.

 

Ladies Gathering

A friend gathers the ladies in her family together every Christmas Eve. When they started the tradition, everyone lived in the same city and they took turns hosting. Now that they are spread out, they have our brunch on Zoom

 

Special Family Outing

Every year a friend’s family goes to dinner in Houston, then goes see the Christmas show at Second Baptist Woodway campus. On the trip, they hit up Starbucks and Sprinkles Cupcakes in Highland Village, open the sunroof, and turn up the Christmas music while they drive through River Oaks looking at the Christmas lights and beautifully decorated homes.

 

Family Movie Binging

Every family has their favorite holiday movies to watch throughout the season. Families gather to watch a favorite Christmas movie like Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express, or A Christmas Carol. Families watch Hallmark holiday movies throughout the season.

 

Christmas Eve Traditions

  • On Christmas Eve everyone gets one gift, which is family matching pajamas. The family fixes gumbo and crawfish etouffee for dinner and watches movies together.
  • Families gather together to read the Bible and share the story of the birth of Jesus.
  • Our family attends the Christmas Eve service. We gather early for a big feast of everything Italian, ending with cream puffs made each year by Gigi.

 

Chanukah Traditions

  • Families light the menorah and sing the Hebrew prayers each evening of Chanukah.
  • Preparing a dinner of fried foods, including latkes. Fried in oil, latkes symbolize the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. These are typically served with applesauce or sour cream.
  • Our family had the tradition of one gift each night of Chanukah, brought to us by the Chanukah Fairy.

 

Family stay-cation ideas

Maybe this holiday season you will be staying in town and want some fun family activities. I especially love seeing Zoo Lights and spending time at the zoo. There are lots of activities for all your family in the local Houston area.

 

I would love to hear your family traditions create the magic of the season and bring joy and connection to your home.

Holiday Planning Notebook

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holiday planning notebook.

 

Have you had scraps and notes everywhere for your holiday planning? Have you wanted to keep your holiday plans organized from year to year? Is being more organized this year one of your goals for the holiday season? Make your holidays more organized with a holiday notebook. It is a simple, easy-to-create notebook for you to use throughout the holiday season.

 

My gift to you this season is this free workbook for you to customize for your holiday planning. There are pages for your calendar, baking, meal planning, gift purchasing, and addressing cards. You can print this (click here holiday planning notebook printable letter size 2023) and place it in a 3-ring binder or save it digitally, turn the PDF into a Word document, and use it in Google Drive or word docs. 

 

 

 

Another option is for you to create your own with a 3 ring binder, paper, and slash pockets. 

·                     Collate your holiday notebook by deciding what categories are most important to you.  

·                     Choose a notebook with holiday theme colors

·                     Add tabbed slash pockets or dividers with labels for

holiday calendar with dates for activities

holiday recipes

holiday card lists with completed addresses

gift lists (including online purchases)

decorating ideas (with pictures of each room fully decorated.)

annual family traditions (websites for holiday entertainment)

·                     Include a pocket folder to hold the receipts

·                     Add a password list for access to all your favorite online stores.

·                     Keep in an easy-to-access spot for your use throughout the season!

 

Enjoy the holiday season even more with your organized holiday notebook. A holiday notebook is a way to consolidate all your ideas, lists and more for the holidays! 

 

 

It’s Mary Poppins!

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Whether you “celebrate” Halloween or not, take time, notice the moment and find the joy in the everyday moments, occasional happenings, and times to gather with friends!

Organizing for the -ber Months

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Organizing for the BER months

 

The months of September, October, November, and December have recently been referred to as the “-ber” months!  These months celebrate time together, fresh starts for the season, seasonal treats, and celebrations. This is also the time we nest for winter, no matter the real temperatures. Here are some ways to celebrate the season with organizing.

 

Freshen up your planner

Grab a mug of your favorite fall beverage and your planner and get started! Your planner is your first step in organizing. Write in all the upcoming events and activities. Set time for holiday travel planning and dates for travel.  Add in home maintenance tasks like appointments for AC/Heater, gutters and critical system checks. Write a list of upcoming appointments to make such as a family photo for your holiday card. By adding dates to your planner for home organization and maintenance at the start of Fall you have a plan in place which lowers your stress.

Start preparing early for Fall holidays and celebrations. Work backward from your family celebrations to write in dates to chunk steps for each holiday. Write in when to take your family photo for your holiday cards, dates to grocery and gift shop, and all other small tasks that will make your holidays easier.

 

Freshen up your space

With new activities and cooler weather, you want areas of your home ready for fall fun.

  • Reset your landing strip where you come and go from your home. Move Summer items into their proper homes, Set up a system for the academics  and activities. Have a hook for each bag and hoodie. Make room for incoming and outgoing boxes.
  • Declutter your command center. Whether this is in your kitchen or your home office, now is the best time to get ready for all the paperwork, fall schedules and incoming information. Review what to keep and spend an hour filing your papers in your file area. Set a weekly time for an administrative time, depending on your new fall schedule.
  • Update your junk drawer. Clear out this space periodically to prevent it from getting out of control. It is easy to know what to toss and what to keep.
  • Refresh your pantry. Fall is about food including back-to-school lunches, fall treats, and Thanksgiving.
  • Say hello to your favorite fall sweater. Now is the time to pull out the fall clothing and tuck away summer clothing until next year. For your kiddos, check sizes and use bins to save clothes for your next younger kiddos. Keep only what can fit today in your kiddos’ drawers.
  • Check your medicine and first aid areas.  Declutter any expired medications and purchase what you need for the coming months. There is already a lot of sickness so be prepared with over-the-counter items and supplements. Check your prescriptions too. Pharmacies will take expired medication for proper disposal.
  • Declutter your bathroom counters and vanities. Take a few minutes and go through your cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Some products have not solved your challenges, so let those go to friends. Evaluate what you use each day and create an easy, functional, and attractive system for daily use.
  • Complete your organizing by adding touches of seasonal decor. Pumpkins, fall colors, and fall scents bring the season into our homes.

Find fun and energy this fall

Decluttering, organizing, and setting up systems in the -ber months all help you find more fun and energy for the fall. The goal of your fall organizing is to release what you do not need or love, reset your home, and prepare for fall fun. The best way to do this is to set time for fall self-care. Getting a good night’s rest, having more time outside, hydrating, and eating well are all the ways to energize and reset your frame of mind. If you have not done so, the first step is to set an adult bedtime for you to get ready for bed early in order to get rested.

 

Make the last quarter of the year the most organized and productive part of your year.

How to Master the Two Most Challenging Chores at Home: Laundry and Meal Prep

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how to master the two most challenging routines at home laundry and meal prep

 

No one likes to do chores and there are countless chores to do. Two of the most demanding responsibilities at home are laundry and meal prep. This is likely because these are both ongoing responsibilities with multiple steps. By understanding the challenges of these chores and implementing practical solutions, you can move from being overwhelmed to being in charge.

Obstacles of the never-ending laundry pile

Laundry is often described as never-ending. Overflowing hampers, piles of clothes on the floor show, and the constant need for clean clothes can be overwhelming and discouraging. In addition, there are many steps in the process including sorting, washing, drying, folding, and putting away. Drying ranges from hanging to folding. Folding can require precision. Putting away is a consistent challenge in most homes. Many people think more clothes means less laundry which is truly the opposite case. When you procrastinate the challenges get bigger. You can see where this system can be easily be broken.

 

Solutions to laundry challenges

  • The core of laundry completion lies in routines. Set a specific day for laundry or do laundry every day. A specific day means you will have sufficient clothes during that time period. Having that day set aside for laundry means you are at home and can do a few other chores between loads. You can assign a day to your kiddos to do their laundry to teach them these skills. Another option is to do laundry every day. Daily laundry means you can do smaller loads. Working with smaller loads it is easier to finish the task because it is less overwhelming. Routines are a key part of the system you create.
  • Simplicity makes laundry easier. Instead of a laundry hamper, throw the clothes directly into the washer. When the washer is full, do a complete load. Separate your loads by person or by items. You can wash only towels and sheets one day and only underwear and exercise one day. With categories, you are folding and putting away like items which is less tedious.
  • Make laundry fun – or as fun as possible. Listen to a podcast or playlist while folding. Host a laundry party with your family. Partner up with a friend or family member to do laundry together.
  • Remember it is not about perfection but about completion. If you and your kiddos are not good at folding, use bins. Declare sock bankruptcy and let go of all your solo socks when you have too many to match.

 

Conquer the kitchen chaos

Meal prep feels like all too much with the demands of work, school, and extracurricular activities. Each step of planning, preparing, and clean up takes ample time. Deciding what to cook can be exhausting and stressful. Many families have multiple dietary needs which complicates meal planning. There is a lot of pressure to provide carefully planned nutritious means. Keeping meals varied, nutritious, and served at a time everyone can eat makes this effort more than you can manage.

 

Making meals happen

To the rescue is streamlining your meal prep process and enjoying stress-free mealtimes!

  • A little structure helps the meal planning system. Assign days to each step of the meal planning and prepping process. Each step should have an assigned day or be completed in one long day.
  • Try batch cooking and preparing double recipes.  Store these in portion-sized containers for use another week.
  • Using semi-homemade and pre-cooked ingredients makes assembling meals a breeze. A rotisserie chicken can be made into a chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup, and chicken and dumplings. Frozen veggies are a nutritious easy-to-prepare side to go along with a protein.
  • Remember the goal of dinner is time together. Sandwiches, soups, cereal, and charcuterie boards count for dinner. The less prep, the less clean up, and the less mess the better.
  • Kitchen appliances have come a long way. An Instapot or crockpot saves you time preparing dinner. Using these once a week these become life-savers.
  • Just like laundry, meal prep is a great family activity. It also helps your kiddos learn math and reading. Assign partners for meal prep and clean up to help make dinner easier to do.

Balancing the Load

While laundry and meal prep are definitely a challenge, they don’t have to be overwhelming. These practical tips can help you conquer these chores. Remember, the key is to establish routines, plan ahead, keep it simple and do what works for you and your family.

Get Organized for Your Vacation Rental

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get organized for your vacation rental

 

More and more families are using vacation rentals rather than other accommodations this summer.  Many of us have found that vacation rentals are the best accommodations with multiple bedrooms and lots of space for you and your family. Most homes are thoughtfully equipped. What do you need to bring to be organized for your vacation? I surveyed families to see what they bring and I added a list of the items that I bring. Check out how to be more organized for your vacation rental.

Get organized first

Like all travel, be sure you have all the details for travel.

  • Print or save your booking confirmation details.
  • Save the contact information of the property owner/manager.
  • Note the check-in and check-out times to plan your arrival and departure accordingly.

Connect with the host

Your host wants you to enjoy your vacation and leave a wonderful review.

  • Read the reviews. People mention what they loved and what was missing.
  • Carefully read the description of the property. Amenities and local stores are typically listed for your convenience.
  • Ask the host what they provide, even before you book your trip. Most places I’ve stayed have provided all the basics like that & I’ve packed like I would for a hotel, but it really depends on the Airbnb or VRBO host.

Bring the basics

The basics are typically included. However, there are always special items that you use that you especially like.

  • I bring ziplocs, extra paper towel, paper plates, and our own kitchen towels and washcloths. If it is a more rustic rental, I also bring my own frying pan and coffee maker…they always have them, but they can be scratched up or not well-cleaned.
  • With an easy-access washer, I always bring laundry pods. And I always take extra containers of hand soap.
  • Eating in saves you money. You will usually need something for leftovers like plastic containers, ziploc bags and aluminum foil to wrap up.
  • There are never enough outlets for charging the multiple electronic devices that we bring so bring extra extension cords and plugs.

 

Add those specialty and unique items you love.

  • It’s good to take your own seasonings and a small bottle of mayo, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, cooking spray and cooking oil.
  • Always take your favorite throw blanket last time because you are likely to be cold. Your personal pillow makes your rest extra comfy.
  • If you love a certain brand of coffee and your Keurig, be sure you pack it.

 

Hacks that will help you along the way

  • Get organized over a two-week time frame. Place boxes to drop items in as you purchase or prep so that you have everything together before the last day.
  • Order groceries to be delivered to your vacation rental.
  • Look into beach gear or golf cart rental for the time you are at the rental.
  • Stop by the Dollar Store to prep with disposables. If you have a short stay, extra cleaning supplies and paper goods can keep you from those extra chores of washing and cleaning.
  • Vacation rentals can offer all kinds of benefits without paying extra such as bicycles, kayaks, surfboards, a trampoline, playsets, or strollers.

 

Start your checklist today for your vacation this summer!

 

Happy July 4th!

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Happy July 4th!

 

One of the best parts of a holiday is the time together with family and friends. It is a remarkable time to connect about our values and what we hold dear. Take a moment today to reflect on the importance of freedom, democracy, and unity. Spend time today sharing stories about family traditions or what Independence Day means. What events did you attend as a young person? What celebrations meant the most over the years to you? Connect to the time frame, what global situations occurred, and how that shaped the country at the time.

 

This holiday gives us an opportunity to reflect on gratitude. Express gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities enjoyed as a family and as Americans. What are you most grateful for today and always?

 

Wishing you a day together with friends and family celebrating the joys of being an American. Enjoy a hot dog, ice cream sundae, and fireworks!

 

Calm the Family Chaos with Effective Systems to Stay Organized During Busy Times

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calm the chaos

 

 

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy for families to feel overwhelmed by hectic schedules, piles of responsibilities, and the constant juggling of tasks and priorities. But staying organized during these busy times is crucial for maintaining harmony and well-being for everyone in the household.

The good news is that with a few simple and practical systems, you can help your family navigate the chaos, foster a sense of order and balance, and work together as a team.

 

Your Family’s Centralized Command Center

The foundation for staying organized is a centralized family calendar. This can be a physical wall calendar in the kitchen or a shared digital calendar. The key is to have a central hub that everyone in the family can access and easily update. Use different colors or codes for each family member’s commitments, making it easy to identify who is doing what and when.

Daily Check-Ins for a Connected Family

Research shows the importance of daily check-ins and one-on-one connections with everyone in your family. Establishing a routine for these touchpoints can make a big difference. Spend a few minutes each evening before bedtime with each person to discuss the next day and get organized. This provides an opportunity to prepare for the next day, ensure everyone is on the same page, and delegate tasks accordingly. It also fosters communication and strengthens the bonds within the family.

 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

During busy times, it’s essential to spread the load and share tasks and responsibilities among family members. Don’t let parents shoulder all the burden. View this as a learning opportunity for kids to develop essential life skills. Create and post a chore chart that clearly outlines who is responsible for which tasks and when. This not only lightens the load for one individual but also instills the concept of teamwork and accountability in everyone.

 

Mealtime Magic Without the Mayhem

Mealtime can be a major source of stress during busy periods. But there are many ways to simplify the process. Try incorporating some semi-homemade meals into your weekly menu and designate specific days for grocery shopping. Consider batch cooking and freezing meals in advance to make meal planning and cooking easier. You can even plan a “meal planning and grocery ordering day” where you take care of all the planning and ordering in one go, and then focus on prepping the next day. For those evenings when you’re pressed for time, many families are opting for pre-made meals where everyone can choose what they want for dinner. The key is to have a plan in place, so everyone knows what to expect and mealtimes are fun rather than stressful.

 

Self-Care: The Secret Ingredient for a Balanced Family

Amidst the hustle and bustle, it’s crucial to prioritize time for everyone to recharge and practice self-care. Schedule downtime, starting with Sunday as a day to be at home and unwind in the afternoon. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading a book, watching a movie, taking a nature walk, or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home. Balancing productivity with self-care is essential for maintaining overall well-being. And don’t forget the importance of setting a bedtime so that everyone gets a good night’s rest.

 

 

Remember, staying organized during busy times requires a bit of effort and the implementation of effective systems. By establishing clear communication channels, utilizing tools to streamline processes, and prioritizing self-care, families can navigate through hectic periods with greater ease and resilience. If you falter along the way, don’t worry – just fall back on your system or tweak it for improvement. The goal is not just to survive the chaos but to thrive as a cohesive and organized family unit.

7 Ideas for Non-Traditional Planners

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7 ideas for non-traditional planners

 

Many times a traditional planner or organizer does not meet your needs. It is too hard to add information, too cumbersome to carry with you, and too hard to pull up information. Thank you to my friends and colleagues on social media who have shared a multitude of non-traditional ways to keep on top of information, routines, and dates.

 

  • After serious reflection (I’m a traditional planner girl), the best non-traditional management system I have are my dogs. Milo and Wilson tell me what time to wake up, when to feed them when to go outside, when to vacuum, and when to go to bed.

 

  • We sit down and go over “what’s coming up” and then put it on a weekly dry-erase board for my son with ADHD. We write any activities, appts, quizzes/tests/project due dates, practices/games, etc on there every Sunday for the upcoming week. We have a bulletin board where we pin any notices, permission slips, etc that might need to be returned somewhere on a given date. He’s going into 8th grade and this has really helped him stay on track and be more independent during the week with his responsibilities. We also use the Cozi app as a family and that not only helps us with reminders but allows all of us to see what other family members have going on that may affect our own schedules or our combined family schedule. My daughter also has ADHD but she prefers a traditional paper planner for her personal use (as do I). She is also a huge Post-it note user! Lol, She even wrote about it in part of her college application essay.

 

  • Alexa. I can say “add whatever to whatever list” from anywhere in the house while thinking about it. If I had to stop and manually add it I would forget what I was doing when the idea popped in my head to add whatever to the list.

 

  • When my three kids were little, I made a big board that had “this week” and “next week” columns. It was wet erase and magnetic. Each child had a different color pen and it gave a two-week snapshot. (The normal agenda kept all dates to be written on board)

 

  • My husband and I use small index cards to remind us of various things plus one in the kitchen for grocery needs.

 

  • My husband and I use “Any List” app on our phone for our grocery shopping list. I can add something and it shows up on both of our phones, etc. We started this because sometimes we would each stop at the grocery to pick something up and end up with duplicates. I haven’t tried it yet, but evidently, you can “send your list” to Kroger, H‑E‑B, Walmart, etc. for online shopping. We even have a “Galveston” list for groceries, etc. we need there. It is a fabulous app!

 

  • My world is 90% digital when it comes to planning, lists, and notes……except when it comes to groceries and meals. It’s all here, on the refrigerator. This is where my kids can see it too. They know what dinner will be (and who is cooking it! They’re 15 and 18 and make dinner sometimes!). They can add their grocery and personal care needs to our lists anytime (one for everyday groceries, one for the big box store where we stock up). They know what to do, they know the system. They even know what we get at the regular grocery store and what we prefer to buy at Costco. They help me compare prices at our 2 stores to find the best (ever-changing) prices on our favorite items, I’ve taught them this practice since they were very young. We keep most of our recipes digital and I text specific recipes to whatever kid is making that specific meal so they have that information at their fingertips. We work as a team to meal plan weekly.

 

While these are not your traditional planner or organizer, you can definitely see how effective these are! There are so many ways to track your tasks and keep up with dates.

Back to School: ADHD Friendly Family Routines

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Back to school is back to routines. Every fall we are getting back to routines have a less structured summer. Family routines create cohesiveness and support responsibility. These routines are the foundation of life at home. As well, it is a way to make life simpler and easier. Check out these tips on communication, laundry, meal prep and more.

 

 

 

 

Family Calendar

Post a paper family calendar where everyone can see the upcoming activities and tasks for your family. This month-at-a-glance calendar can be posted on the refrigerator or in a pathway everyone passes daily. During your family meeting and all week long, populate the calendar with activities that are coming up. Color-code your calendar to know who is doing what and when.

 

Meal prep

The meal prep goal is the nutritious meals eaten during a time together. Keep it simple with a dinner rotation every 2-3 weeks of the same easily prepared meals. Or use theme days for meal planning, like Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday. Whatever your plan, rotate who is the chef and who is clean up.

 

Theme days

Assign a day of the week for specific tasks, especially grocery runs and laundry days.

 

Communication

Encourage responsibility and independence with a coaching conversation. Encourage some details, some deadlines, and some accountability.

 

 

 

Getting buy-in from your family is important.

  • Keep it simple! Less is more to keep routines going. When tasks are complex, look for ways to simplify to get these done.
  • Remember that as a family you are all in this together. Partner up to work as a team. Variety makes the tasks more interesting.
  • Write stuff down. With checklists, calendars, and notes, your family sees what to do and when to do it.
  • Self-care ensures you and your family have the energy needed to get stuff done. Self-care includes appropriate rest and bedtimes for everyone in the family. If you are feeling drained, your family will too!
  • Always have a deadline for family tasks. These deadlines keep you and your family accountable and happy.

What more ADHD-friendly family organizing ideas? Check out my youtube!