🍋 Mom's Holiday Self-Care Guide

Happy Black Friday, Mamas! You survived Thanksgiving. Now it’s time to brave the masses in the spirit of Christmas. If you’re standing in the back of a checkout line right now, heavily debating whether or not buying your baby the newest Barbie is worth it, we hope this newsletter helps pass the time!

In This Festive Lemon Mommy:

• A Busy Mom’s Guide to Holiday Self-Care

• These Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes Are Almost as Good as the Original Meal 🦃

• 5 Ways to Enjoy Shopping with Your Little Ones 🛒

• Your Guide to All the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals Happening This Year 🛍️

Schedule It 📅

If you’re a to-do list maker and love a schedule, work with that! Schedule self-care into your daily routine. Self-care doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task. Most self-care practices only take 15 minutes a day. Plan a walk, take a bath, read a book, or do whatever else you need to come home to yourself. 

Get Moving 🏃🏻‍♀️

One of the best forms of self-care is exercise. Although it might not seem as glamorous as a spa day, add movement to your daily self-care routine. You don’t need to run a marathon or become a bodybuilder, but taking a short walk or yoga class improves your life. 

Say No to Obligations 🚫

You’re allowed to say no. You don’t have to go to every holiday event, bring a dish to every potluck, and buy everyone a gift. This holiday season is a magical time for everyone, including you. Set boundaries and stick to them. 

Say Yes to Traditions ☑️

Did your Grandmother always bake a certain kind of cookies during the holiday season? Did you always make a gingerbread house with your siblings? Traditions like these often get lost in the holiday shuffle, but not this year. Make your traditions a priority and encourage the rest of your family to slow down with you.

Have Snacks at the Ready 🍫

Experienced mamas already know this hack, but it’s worth reiterating. If you’re shopping with your littles, have all the snacks ready. Snacks will distract them from grabbing things and keep their hangry attitude at bay. 

Give Your Little a Job 🤹‍♂️

Take photos of the things on your list and ask your kiddo to help you find them. You can also give them a pile of coupons and create a scavenger hunt for them as you go through the store. This is a great way to keep them entertained and on task. 

Know Your Limits ⏱

It’s okay to leave a half-full grocery cart in the middle of an aisle now and then. If you’re shopping too close to naptime or your child decides they’re no longer interested in your shopping excursion, it might be best to quit while you’re ahead. 

Avoid the Danger Zones 🙅🏻‍♀️

If your kiddo is frightened by some cereal mascots or you’ve never gotten through the candy aisle without a breakdown, maybe avoid it. There’s a time and a place for lessons and growth, but there’s also a time and place for getting out of the store with some of your sanity intact.