Our simple Christmas Eve traditions are stress-free and fun for everyone. We focused our Christmas Eve traditions around spending time with the family. It is just us and the kids most years and everyone looks forward to this night more than any other night of the year. As busy parents, trucking kids around most nights and weekends too, we chose to make Christmas Eve very low key and simple. The last thing I wanted to do was hope in the car to go somewhere fancy. Both my husband and I were generally working that day so cooking a huge dinner (unless it was the Coca-Cola Roast Beef), a big fancy meal…

It’s the holiday busy season and I used to love and hate it at the same time. I hated the busy expectations of Christmas but loved the moments we could slow life down and enjoy life. One of our favorite simple Christmas traditions is decorating the tree with memories. For me, decorating the tree helps kick start my “holiday spirit”. My brain seems to use the tree as a way to organize my internal Christmas checklist of “all the things” that need to get done. When I have the tree up I can then start to prepare mentally for the extra busy season ahead. I’m feeling a bit weird to…

I used to stress about Christmas and spend more time planning and preparing for it rather than enjoying the holiday. Learning how to simplify Christmas and spend time creating memories instead was the best decision I could have made. Years ago my Christmas preparations used to include a long list of things to do. After all, the perfect Mom does the holiday decor, baking, annual Christmas letters, cards to make and send out, the family Christmas photo, shopping for everyone, and planning the meal. Oh and don’t forget to plan a get-together for family and friends. It was endless stress. Add this to work obligations, Christmas concerts, and kid activities…

Not long ago, our life was pretty chaotic. I worked in a different city from my family and commuted home on weekends. It wasn’t easy but I was closer to my parents so that made it easier during the week. Often a date with mom eased my mind when life was too hard. It all started when I moved in with my parents while working in another city from my own family. It was an adjustment moving back in with mom and dad as an adult but we made it work. I’d come ‘home’ after work and mom would ask me about my day and we’d talk about hers as well.…

When searching for the ultimate stress-busting hacks to help busy moms simplify their lives, I discovered that science confirmed why my own routines have worked for years. Now we just need to figure out what works for you. As a busy mom of three that also worked outside the home, I understand what it’s like to live with stress. For years I thought I worked more efficiently under stress (that was my young 20-something self). Then as life got busier and we added more kids to the family, I discovered that I needed a way to help reduce my stress. The ultimate wake-up call for me was my first anxiety…

There are lots of things you can do to take care of yourself, but when do you find time for self-care? Whether you’re a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or a work-at-home mom like me, we’re all busy. Life seems busier than ever. I often wonder how my grandmother managed, without an electric washing machine and cloth diapers. She seemed to manage just fine, but I can’t seem to find the time to shower without staying up past midnight. So how do you find time for yourself when you don’t have time to breathe? As a single, work-at-home mom of 6, here’s what I’ve learned. How To Find Time For…