Managing Summer

 I feel like Summer just SNUCK up on me & I can't quite wrap my head around all my hopes, dreams, plans & goals.

Last night I just had to sit down, write it out, and get it on paper.

My personal reality is I have an etsy store that I want & need to succeed. I'm also a mom of a 2.5 year old & 6 year old with night & day personalities {one extrovert who wants all day attention & one introvert who wants quiet time}. Of course then there's also my short resume that includes home accountant, maid, entertainment manager, personal shopper & saver, behavior & character development manager, wife, friend, short order chef, & self.

To wrap my head around all of this succeeding, I had to lay it out not for a strict sense of following a timeline, but to have some structure and order to our every day routine.

At the heart of our family mantra is COLLECT MOMENTS & MAKE MEMORIES so my husband and I really love to live actively with our kids. It includes taking pictures and things as simple as a picnic at the park or last minute pizza dinner at a playground. We love adventure, newness & exploring. I figured with limited brain space for the months ahead, I should do some advance thinking & made a short list for us on those, "I can't think of what to do" moments

So, I'm starting my 1st official Summer Morning following the schedule.

The kids are playing with the legos with PBS Kids on & I'm managing my 2 hour morning work allotment with some instagram marketing, some blogging, & some order processing. 

It's really easy for me to get overwhelmed.

My brain is often a firing ground for chaotic thoughts of lists ranging from the dreams to the do's.

I am HOPING some of this can start to feel natural as I have the grateful gift of being with my boys every day this summer!

Conquering THANK YOU Anxiety

I grew up writing THANK YOU's

It's just what we did...and what we should do!

NO ONE wants to send a gift & question, "did they get it?"

And everyone loves mail!

So, here are a few tips to take the anxiety (& WORK) out of your THANK YOU writing!

GET ORGANIZED

Update your address book...without doing any work!

• Sign up for Postable.com & you will get your own private link to your address book
• Post the link on FaceBook or in a mass Email then your friends and family will input their own information 
• Your address book remains private to only you! The link just allows them to get their information in your address book!

GET STOCKED

Pick an assortment of Cards YOU love!

• Start with a small assortment that includes 1-THANK YOU set, 1-BLANK/EVERY DAY set, 1-HAPPY BIRTHDAY set
• DON'T get scared of the pack price! Remember, when you buy one card at a time, you're spending $3-5 for 1 card! 

GET SUPPLIES

Take the "work" out of your thank you writing!

• Invest in a Return Address Stamp {Self Inking makes it even easier!!} 
• Pick out Stamps from the Post Office that you actually like! {my FAVORITE is the "Vintage Seed Packet" Collection}

GET WRITING

• Start with The Thanks: "I cannot thank you enough for my beautiful candle"
• Make it genuine: "Once again I find myself in awe of your ability to give just the right thing...."
• How will you use it: "I cannot wait to burn my candle this summer when I'm relaxing with my books."
• Talk about them: "Whenever I burn my candle, I will think of you & how we laugh together."

In Short, YOU CAN DO THIS!

True appreciation doesn't have to be long or labored, it just has to be genuine!

Reference your gift & their importance to you and that's what matters!