To say I have been excited to share this with you would be a major understatement. As a homemaker, mother, and magic maker who has several years under her belt of not being her best self during the holiday season, I knew I wanted (and desperately needed) to flip the script. Maybe you are already nodding your head because you know exactly what I am talking about. Before I share more about The Holiday Planner with you, let me paint a little more of the picture for you.

The Holiday Overwhelm

I am someone who loves the extra details. Whether it is a Sunday supper around the table or celebrating someone’s birthday. It doesn’t have to be extravagant by any means – I have a heart for simplicity anyway. However, it’s those little touches and details that just exude thoughtfulness. It’s my love language. So you can imagine how amped I get about the holiday season.

However, year after year I would run myself ragged trying to do ALL THE THINGS. My heart ached for those intentional AND beautiful memories for my family – the traditions,  the magic of the holiday season, and yes, all of those thoughtful details. And I would push myself to the breaking point every year trying to achieve my epic holiday dreams and lofty seasonal goals. But throughout all of it, I probably resembled Mr.Scrooge more than anything. I mean, stress can make even the most seasoned magic maker rob herself, her family, and her home of peace.

So there I was. Like a rabid hamster on a wheel of death just swirling about trying to create holiday magic while drowning in all of the chaos and demands the holiday months can bring. Parties, classroom activities, winter concerts, neighbor gifts, and can we talk about the drama that comes with extended family? I’ll stop there. By the time New Year’s Eve would roll around every year, I would let out an exhausted sigh and think, I didn’t even get to enjoy any of it! I would feel like I didn’t get to do all the things and infuse those thoughtful details like I wanted to because I was just trying to keep up through those several months. Or, and this one makes me cringe when I think about it, the entire way through the season I would constantly be spewing negativity simply from stress and exhaustion. 

Instead of enjoying the holiday season with my family, I found myself bitter and hating them because of how miserable I would feel. All by my own doing. And worst of all, I lost sight of the reason for it all.

Sidenote: I actually sat my kids down this summer when I had it on my mind to create The Holiday Planner and asked them what they remember me saying the most when the holidays would come to an end outside of the last few years (because, ahem, several years ago I flipped the script and changed my holiday season life which is exactly what I am going to be sharing with you). And just as I thought, they told me that I either complained that I didn’t feel like I had time to enjoy anything, that we weren’t able to do everything I had planned for, or that they didn’t feel joyful or magical enough.

*Ouch*

Flipping That Holiday Season Script

I finally said ENOUGH. I didn’t want that to be the mom that my kids remembered when recalling their holiday memories. I knew I had to make a change. A few years back I sat down to figure out what I needed to adjust for a more joyful and peaceful holiday season. I refused to repeat my bad habits from past years. And when I went through what was most important to me during the holiday season I had an epiphany.

The problem didn’t lie in wanting to “do it all” and create those holiday traditions, beautiful details, and magical experiences for my family while also making sure that the reason for the season was front and center in all that we did. The problem was in not approaching it all with more intention. I wasn’t properly preparing for the hustle and bustle that September through December bring. Instead of driving the Polar Express, I let it run away with me hanging onto the caboose for dear life, muttering things under my breath that would make even The Grinch blush. #HowManyHolidayReferencesCanIStuffIntoASentence

I wanted to soak everything in. I didn’t want to simply survive the holidays but THRIVE throughout the season – from fall all the way to New Year’s Eve. And I didn’t want it to come at the cost of my having to give up those thoughtful details that I love so much and making experiences beautiful in my home.

So I sat down staring at the very start of September all the way through December 31st to devise a plan. A blueprint. An intentional approach I could take to get ahead of the holiday season chaos and overwhelm.

Enter: The Holiday Planner

I can honestly say that laying out everything I want our holiday season to be and planning for it with intention has been so life-giving. It has helped me to flip the script as a mother during the holidays. In the past few years, I have been able to go from Mr.Scrooge to Mrs.Claus.

And here’s the thing – it has nothing to do with “doing it all”. It has nothing to do with how extravagant you prefer your holidays or how simple. It is simply about doing what you want to do, but doing it WELL. You decide how you want your holiday season to look in your home. This planner is simply going to help you approach the holiday season and all it entails with more intention and proper planning. Because in doing so we are able to truly be more present for our children and for our family. Magic making and all.

I truly hope that in sharing my approach and this holiday planner, that you feel inspired to ditch the stress this holiday season. And I hope it helps you create the space to soak in all of the special moments with your loved ones. Because that is what it is all about. Wishing you all the magic, wonder, and blessings this season!

P.S. If you have already grabbed The Holiday Planner, I would love to hear from you and how it’s helping you cultivate a more intentional holiday season!