{photo credit---hipstamatic on my iPhone}

Let’s be honest! Weekends are not made for relaxing if you are a new mom or dad. They are also not made for going out, enjoying long slow dinners with a glass of wine or anything close and most of the time, I’m more than ok with that. But somehow we all need to find a way to refresh before another busy week. Here are five pretty basic ways my husband and I have found for refreshing before another long work week.

1. Cat naps (or any naps)
Our son is not a great sleeper, so we don’t get to nap when he does. Recently we’ve started taking turns having short naps if needed. Even a 20 minute nap can make a huge difference. Last night, we both had a lovely 25 minute nap when we got home from visiting friends and Bodhi was still asleep. We have learned that moving our son to the house NEVER works. Never. So we both decided to roll with it. We tried to take naps in the car (with the car running and Bodhi’s “sleep music” on) and that nap made a huge difference. Two tired, sluggish people turned into fairly energetic parents for our normal dinner/bedtime routine.

2. A shot of alone time
I’ve found that even 15 minutes of alone time at home can be so perfect! This weekend, I spent that time browsing pinterest for inspiration and we all know there is no shortage of inspiration there. I emerged from our office as a woman ready to tackle the rest of our Saturday tasks and ready to play and snuggle with our 8 month old all day long.

{beautiful and delicious dessert table at the Found Event. Dessert table by Cocoa and Fig}

3. A night out
Early in my time as a new mom, I felt guilty leaving for any period of time even though my sweet husband was always very encouraging. Even now, I prefer to spend my time with Bodhi and my husband. But, I know that it’s important to get out sometimes. I’ve learned that even an hour or two with girl friends can make a big difference in my outlook and in helping me get reinspired. And the same rule applies to my husband. Friday night, I attended a super fun event with a dear friend followed by a light dinner and a glass of wine. I left dinner feeling excited about life and really excited to see my hubby. Oddly, I was even kind of excited for Bodhi to wake up for the first time that night (lately it’s been extra rough due to ear infections and teething). Apparently the old saying is true! Absence makes the heart grow fonder—even when it comes to missing sleep? It appears so.

 4. A nice cup of tea and a heat pack
A hot cup of delicious herbal tea and a heat pack before bed have been pretty fabulous for us lately. After lugging a 20 pound little man around all weekend, we both have aching backs, so a heat pack not only relaxes us, but also takes care of the muscle aches. And my favorite teas, Good Earth original and Aveda, give me a reason to relax and when enjoyed with my favorite mug, it feels a bit luxurious!

How do you refresh on the weekends? Share your tips with other mamas! We all need a little R&R!

The study showed that blogging decreased feelings of isolation and increased feelings of connectedness and being supported.

Facebook, on the other hand, makes matters worse and often disguises parenting struggles making parents who are having struggles feel inadequate according to a study last year. From the Motherlode blog:

Remember the research early last year that suggested that university students consistently believed that other people were leading lives filled with far more joy and fun than their own? As Libby Copeland put it at Slate, “By showcasing the most witty, joyful, bullet-pointed versions of people’s lives, and inviting constant comparisons in which we tend to see ourselves as the losers, Facebook appears to exploit an Achilles’ heel of human nature.” And what greater Achilles’ heel would a new mother or father have than the fear that she’s just not doing this thing as well as everyone else, with their smiling, happy baby status updates and clever tweets?

As I struggled with a pretty severe case of the baby blues the first month after Bodhi was born (I might talk about this more in the future), I remember feeling like everyone else had it all together thanks to Facebook, Twitter and whatever else I was reading. I reached out to several moms who I thought had it together and it turns out, they don’t. It’s ok. So, remember that no single parent has it figured out. I truly believe everyone has similar struggles and if they don’t, they probably have several nanny’s, night nurses and aren’t actually raising their own children.

{Bodhi at 7 months (now nearly 9 months)---life becomes much easier and more balanced after 6 months}

Those of us who are currently parents, and probably those of you who will soon be parents, know the joys of parenting. It is really indescribable, the love and joy you have with your little one. With that love and joy, there are huge challenges. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture, after all.

My friend Emily Ley, of Emily Ley Paper, has been keeping her blog updated and fresh for a while now and often talks about her mama challenges in a beautiful uplifting way. I never read her posts and think—I know…pity party. I always think—yes! I’m with you, Emily! I have that same challenge and yes, we can get through this smiling, laughing and enjoying! A recent post about working, staying home, balance and parenting really resonated with me. While I have found that working really is the best thing for me, personally, I still often miss my time with Bodhi and wish there was more of it! Here is an excerpt from the post which you can find at EmilyLey.com.

{image credit---EmilyLey.com---Emily uses this phrase often. It is great for parenting}

Emily writes…

I’m praying a lot about what to do with these two days. I realize it’s probably best for Brady to spend two days a week (the days he’s not with “Ms. Kara”) interacting with other children – perhaps at a Mommy’s Day Out program at a nearby church (which we’re still searching for). Why is it so hard for me to just do this for him. About 95% of the other Moms I know do this with their children while they work and it is wonderful.

I am so blessed that this crazy dream I had has turned into a successful business and I’m able to work very flexible hours from my home studio. So blessed. I’m here for him at the drop of a hat. I never work on Fridays. What a blessing this is. So why do I feel soooooo unendingly guilty about this.

But sometimes I see my stay-at-home-Mom friends and am envious that they are able to spend 100% of their time with their children. There’s no one greater who can care for Brady than me. At the same time, I see my working Mom friends whose children go to great daycare or Mommy’s Day Out programs a few times a week who are really benefiting from the social interaction and activities those programs provide.

I realize only I know what’s best for him, but why on earth is care for him two days a week such a hard decision to make. I STRUGGLED in the decision to hire a nanny. Finally I just did it. Having no idea what I was doing – and found Kara, who is WONDERFUL and really an extension of our family.

And I have to thank Emily! Her beautiful Simplified planner helps me keep my life straight. What challenges are you facing as a new or not-so-new parent? How do you balance work and life and baby and partner/husband and fun and me time? My friend Kelly of The Adventures of Shaw recently sent an email to me and many other bloggers and mama friends with some great questions around balance. When she writes more about it, I’ll be sure to share with you. We’re in this together!

Sleeping Bodhi (after a nap-less afternoon)---Not relevant to the post, but so sweet. He didn't wake up when we took him out of the car seat.

My resolution for 2012 besides be a good mama and wife, live in the moment and blog more often than once every three weeks is simple. I just want to give myself permission to relax once in a while. This, my friends, is the reason I have been absent for weeks. I’ve been taking time to enjoy long naps with Bodhi, cook dinner with my husband and relax a bit. Although I tend to be someone who sets many goals (and often accomplishes them), I am taking it easy in 2012. We’ve had a lot of change (new baby, new job, new home) this past year and I’m still adjusting to our new normal.

With that said, I’m excited to share my plans for Bodhi’s first birthday, how I’ll celebrate the big 3-0 in March and the progress on our new home as it happens.

What’s new with you? What new year’s resolutions or goals do you have for 2012? Mamas—are you also giving yourself a break or are you hoping to pick it up a bit this year?

{photo credit---Hostess with the Mostess---hostessblog.com}

These super fun peppermint twist printables from Hostess with the Mostess may make an appearance at our holiday open house this weekend. And if not, then we will definitely have these free merry and bright holiday printables. This is a perfect way to add pizzazz to your next party!

I recently read this post about an 8-yr old boy named Max who is battling leukemia who can’t make it home from the hospital for Christmas this year and had to spread the word. He has an awesome Christmas wish — to receive 1,000,000 Christmas cards in the mail. I don’t think there could be an easier way to help make a wish come true. We sent a card with a photo of Bodhi to Max on Friday afternoon. My thoughts are with this little man as he keeps fighting leukemia. If you have a moment, please consider sending a card. All of the details are in the link.

Reading this post about mindful holidays was eye-opening for my husband and I. I’m not going to get deep into a conversation about religion. I value and appreciate many religions and spiritual practices. I am surrounded by people who practice many religions. One thing I’ve learned is that in every religion, forgiveness, compassion and peace are emphasized. I have found that focusing on mindfulness, regardless of your religion, can be so good for the soul while we all live in this busy, busy world! I enjoyed this post on mindful holidays written by the blog author, who is a stay-at-home-mom and a Buddhist on the blog Parenting as Path. I think she made many great points that may resonate with you as you scurry about trying to check everything off of your holiday to-do and shopping lists. 

I feel like I could write so many more posts about all of the great things I’ve seen in recent weeks, but time is a tickin’! Live the fancy life!

{photo credit --- Petunia Pickle Bottom}

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a super coupon mom like some, but a few dollars here and there add up. And for those moms who literally clip coupons and even make money at the store, this will not be that helpful. I think my guide is more for the moms who want to casually, without much effort, save a few dollars or for new moms who haven’t yet learned of a few shopping wonders! 

These tips may even help with your last minute holiday shopping. Santa shopped for Bodhi on Amazon.com recently!

{photo credit---live the fancy life}

Here are my practical, simple, anyone-can-do-it, money-saving tips and websites. 

Sign up for Amazon Mom—Unfortunately Amazon isn’t currently accepting new members… probably because the program is almost too good to be true. It includes free two-day shipping on almost everything and if you combine this with “Subscribe and Save” which I’ll talk about next, you can save up to 30 percent on necessities and you won’t have to think about it. I order Keurig K cups on here for the best price I’ve found yet. Deal alert—while you wait to get notified of Amazon Mom openings, use this free one-month trial to be an Amazon Prime member which will give you free 2-day shipping!

Amazon Subscribe and Save—we signed up for Subscribe and Save for necessities such as Seventh Generation diapers, Seventh Generation baby wipes, organic baby food and more. I’ve figured out how often we need each item, they arrive a little early and we never run out. Combined with Amazon Mom, we save at least 20 percent on cases of diapers and wipes and several dollars per case of Earth’s Best organic baby food. Plus we get free 2-day shipping. The best part is that you can literally cancel anytime or change the shipping dates as needed. 

Zulily—I think almost every mom knows about Zulily, but this time of year, it’s great to look at the deals daily. We’ve found several gifts for our son and others on this website. Everything from strollers and carseats to beautiful clothes, shoes and pajamas to wood toys and socks including brands like trumpette—up to 90 percent off. And it’s not just for stuff for our little ones! There are many great deals on items for the home, clothing, shoes, boots, accessories, maternity clothing and more.  Coupon code alert—apparently you get 10 percent off a purchase of $30 or more right now by using code SHOPMOM875. Enjoy!

{photo credit --- Rockabye on zulily --- half off now}

Mamabargains—Honestly, I haven’t actually purchased anything on mamabargains. I don’t buy things just to buy them, so I usually stick to items I’m looking for and purchase them on Amazon or Zulily if they become available, but this site can be great too. Mamabargains posts one deal at a time and you never know how long it will be there. I generally don’t find things I want, but I know some moms who LOVE it. And the random grab bags they put out every once in a while have been a lot of fun for a few of my mama-friends. 

Vista Print—Free stuff, cheap stuff and more! We recently ordered two personalized calendars as Christmas gifts, 10 holiday cards, 140 address labels and an address stamp for… FREE! All we had to pay was shipping. Vista Print is great for many things, so definitely worth checking out.

Groupon, Living Social and Plum District all survive on the same concept, but Plum District really seals the deal for me! I have purchased from all three and find Plum District to have the most relevant amazing deals! Thanks to Ann from Life with the Hagens for getting me hooked! Everything from discounts to museums or shows to gift cards for shops at discounted rates. Recently they even had $35 for $50 at Zulily and combined with a Facebook coupon for $5 off, you only had to pay $30 to do some serious shopping! These flew off the Plum District shelf… er web page and I missed the opportunity.  

Last, I never buy anything online without finding a free shipping code and often, I include a discount code unless I’m really in a crunch and need something in particular. Retail Me Not is a great option, but there are literally hundreds of options. With a baby, I just don’t have the time to hit the mall and shops as often or for as long and when I know what I want, I find that places like Amazon offer just what I need at a big savings!

There are many other sites including diapers.com, soap.com and allmodern.com that have some great discount opportunities, but I’ll address those another day as they aren’t quite as impressive. I am probably missing a ton of opportunities, but I am semi-actively recruiting a friend who is a serious money-saving mama to guest blog in the coming weeks and months, so there could be some great money-saving tips for you coming soon! If it exists, she knows it!

Mamas—do you have money-saving tips or favorite websites not mentioned here? Please share in the comments!

{Bodhi and I at the zoo on a weekend after I went back to work}

My wonderful maternity leave came to an end just about three months ago. I had the joy of spending nearly four months with my little guy before starting my journey as a working mom in late August. I was quickly reacquainted with my old working self and had several things that helped me survive those first several weeks. A few notes about me which directed my needs:

• My baby didn’t and still doesn’t sleep through the night yet (or even close).
• I have not lost all of my pre-pregnancy weight yet.
• I had a long commute to work (although it is significantly shorter now).
• I don’t have to deal with childcare outside of the home (that would be an entirely separate survival kit in my opinion). My mother and mother-in-law stay with Bodhi splitting the week and even covering for each other when needed! Hooray for that!
• I am a fairly sensitive person. I cry. I share my feelings. Things hurt my feeling pretty easily. I’m working on it.

{photo credit---live the fancy life}

Here was my approach to preparing:

• Tried on clothes and cleaned out my closet.
• Shopped for necessities (lunches, pumping supplies etc…) in advance.
• Shopped for 4 pairs of work pants in my current size and as many shirts as I could get to fit me at my current weight in my budget finding sales.
• Organized my handbag and planner—cleared out all of the clutter.
• Stocked our home—knowing I couldn’t just stroll to Target with Bodhi and our Baby Bjorn anytime to pick up paper towels, cleaning supplies, cat food or body wash, I literally bought double of anything and everything we use on a daily and weekly basis.
• Amazon Mom Subscribe and Save—I put diapers, wipes and other necessities on subscribe and save so I never have to think about remembering diapers at the store. It’s fantastic!
• Wrote up Bodhi’s schedule and emergency information for our wonderful care providers (my mom and my hubby’s mom).
• Practiced our morning routine.
• Kept working on sleep (Bodhi is not a great sleeper at all which means this mama is also not a great sleeper) and our bedtime routine.
• Enjoyed every moment with my baby.
• Printed off a few photos of Bodhi and found a couple of frames to take to work.
• Organized my support network—several close friends who have been through it were on call and ready to provide an ear and any support I needed.
• Told myself over and over to simply take it one day at a time, one hour at a time, one moment at a time.

And my survival guide:

Land of Nod

With many to choose from, we are leaning towards this one:

{photo credit---LandofNod.com}

Or maybe this one:

{photo credit---LandofNod.com}

Pottery Barn

The first two are from Pottery Barn Kids.

{photo credit---Pottery Barn Kids}

I’m also loving the idea of white—simple, beautiful white!

{photo credit---Pottery Barn}

Or perhaps the same one above in classic red. What do you think?

What holiday traditions do you have with your little ones? We’d love to know. We want to make sure the holidays are filled with warm happy memories. Live the fancy life!

I can’t wait to decorate and start playing Christmas music at our house after Thanksgiving! This year with an adorable baby on our hands, I can’t wait to order our holiday cards. We had professional family photos done by Melissa Oholendt in September and I am an aspiring photographer (really just practicing for now) so I have been taking way too many photos of Bodhi.

Tiny Prints, where I ordered Bodhi’s birth announcement, the card announcing our pregnancy and everyday cards such as birthday, congrats and thank you cards very regularly, have some of the best holiday cards. I’m having a hard time making decisions with so many beautiful choices.

I love the bright boldness of this one.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

And this one.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

And this one.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

And one more.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

This one is so simple, yet so beautiful! I can see a close-up shot of Bodhi on this one!

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

I love the glamorous look and feel of this.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prins}

This chic option stands out to me too.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

And then there is a card that is just plain whimsical… LOVE!

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

This one is fun and when you have kids, it’s all about the fun, right?!

{Photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

And then there are some more traditional or classic options like this one.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

Or this one.

{photo credit --- Tiny Prints}

So many options! Which card is your favorite? What’s your holiday card style?

I spent a few hours looking at the Tiny Prints website over the weekend trying to narrow it down and there were probably another 30 I would’ve liked to include here. Hooray for the holidays! It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Now that my little guy is just about 15 months, I am finding that I have a bit more time for myself, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to revisit my goals list I put together around the time I first found out I was pregnant with him. I must sadly and embarrassingly admit that nearly everything on the list went untouched…went unaccomplished. I recently revisited that list and committed to two goals – take a photography class ASAP (taking one next week!) and complete a half marathon (hopefully by the end of 2012 as I am currently seven months preggers with my second).

I am super excited to learn something new and have another creative outlet to endlessly explore! This could not come at a better time. I want to be able to capture those special everyday moments of my kids with style and take better quality pictures for my blog. As I was perusing Etsy last night, I found THE CUTEST little hats that could be used for newborn and toddler pictures. How picture perfect are these?!?!?

{photo credit --- freckletree}

HOOTHAT by freckletree ($25) – these unique adorable hats are created from patching together sweaters, knits, blankets and scarves. How cool is that?!

{photo credit --- Michelle Yeager Photography via freckletree}

This coral pink and brown HOOTHAT by freckletree ($20) is too adorable!

{photo credit --- Rayburn Photography via zjohnson}

For the urban baby – crocheted beanie by zjohnson ($15)

{photo credit --- chloecrochetcloset}

Totally googly-eyed for this oversized pom pom beanie hat by chloescrochetcloset ($35). I think I may just have to scoop this up for our little lady who is due in February.

{photo credit --- getyourcrafton}

Love how the grey and white stripes balance the very feminine pink flower in the STORY KATE earflap beanie by getyourcrafton ($26.95)

{photo credit --- getyourcrafton}

Never been a huge fan of “I love mommy” baby gear but am diggin’ this LINCOLN earflap beanie by getyourcrafton ($26.95)

{photo credit --- tutucutiebows & unknown photographer}

Not a hat, i know,  but this tutu by tutucutiebows ($15) is equally as picture perfect! I’m dying!!

{photo credit --- studded hearts}

And to end the post on a totally random but fashionable note – if you are looking to spice up your next manicure, go green! I am so into greens at the moment. One to try is two coats of this shimmery green OPI Cuckoo for this color over one coat of OPI Black Onyx. The black onyx darkens it to perfection.

Be inspired!

xx Lisa

{photo credit --- Anders Ruff and HostessBlog.com}

I enjoyed this examination of touch and affection with your partner after you have children on A Cup of Jo —this hit home for me. I think without effort, it is very possible to forget or not make time for each other. But we all need to! It’s good for our marriages, it’s good for ourselves and it’s good for our children.

This post by John and Sherry of Young House Love on BabyCenter was so touching! Their 10 reasons they are thankful for their daughter Clara was true for me with Bodhi and will likely resonate with all of the other parents out there.

Jen of Made by Girl recently reviewed a hotel in New York City called The Marcel. I LOVE LOVE LOVE New York City and this hotel review made me want to book a flight right away. So pretty!

And last but not least, two parties on Hostess with the Mostess make my list this week. I LOVE black and white events and I tend to lean towards modern party decor, home decor and everything else, so this modern elephant baby shower blows my mind!

And this kids Thanksgiving party by Anders Ruff on Hostess with the Mostess is so inspiring! Anders Ruff is the same fabulous group that provided a lot of the details for my friend Lisa’s super hero first birthday party! They do amazing work.

Have a wonderful weekend! Live the fancy life!