Perfection For The Sake Of Your Children

Sometimes I wondering if I put too much thought and effort into how I look. Here I am getting my hair done, and for what? So that my husband can love me more? So I don't embarrass my children at the playground? Or maybe it so that I can feel prettier standing next to the woman beside me?

As a mother I always feel like you have to look your best because you no longer have to look good for you, the way people see you also judges how they see your children. If your a slob they assume your children's are slob. They end up feeling sorry for the spawn of the woman who can't come her hair.

I don't want to be that woman, but I hate the thought of having to look perfect all the time to impress everyone.

There's got to be a middle ground.

First Attempt at Christmas Decorating

I'm no "holiday decorator", in fact I've never been in a holiday decorated home. My family loves the holidays, but when it comes to christmas, we had the nice tree, the wreath outside, and the tree full of presents on christmas day. I never really felt into the christmas spirit until it was actually christmas day.

Being a blogger, it's fun that I get to come across some blogs where they show off all their little DIY christmas decorations, as well as how they change the theme of their home to fit the bill. Since I've started my #BeforeSchool Challenge, it got me thinking about how much I want to have memories with my children, and one of those memores is creating a loving home that they want to be in.

So this Christmas, I'm decorating. Little knick knacks, tinsel all over the house, and decking the halls, literally.

I got started and headed over to my local Garden Ridge to see what they had and was floored at the selection. I had no idea there were so much stuff that you could decorate with and for. I mean, door knob decorations? Really?

Nonetheless, I was determined and blow the minds off my kids and guests.

Little did I know, 2 hours later, I was stressed and looking at a full cart full of, what looked to me, junk.

I was planning on buying the lights and everything to decorate the outside of our house too, but at this point I was beyond exhausted.

I dragged myself to the counter, paid my dues, and came home to take nap over my knick knacks.

The end product?

And we still need a tree, that will then need decorations.

.......Oh the outside lights as well.

Whew, let's get this started!!!

#BeforeSchool Challenge Sickness Interruption

Today (well for the past 2 days) all three of us seem to have caught a little stomach bug and have been confined to mama's bed, close to the toilet, ever since. So while we aren't off having fun adventures, we sure are loving taking naps and watching plenty of Yo Gabba Gabba!

How's your #BeforeSchool challenge going?

#BeforeSchool 3 days of fun!

I haven't had time to post what we've done the past 3 days during our #BeforeSchool challenge, so here's some pictures of eating at our favorite Chinese place, making crafts, and having fun at a cousins birthday party!

#BeforeSchool Challenge

I've loved being able to work from home and raise my children with the opportunity to spend all the time that they want with me.

Truly is 4 years old, and her favorite things to do with her sister and I, is go to a chinese buffet, catch a lunchtime movie, or take a spontaneous trip to the museum or zoo.

This will all soon end, when my little Trulybear goes off to kindergarden next year, leaving me and her little sister Addy to have all the fun without her. She'll soon be gone 5 days a week, 7 hours a day, for pretty much the rest of her life. Anyone else think school is waaay too long???

Of course, I have options to home school her and join home schooling groups in our town, and also am checking out some private schools who have shorter classroom hours, but either way, her going off to school is a sad, yet growing part of life.

Truly is super excited about leaving me and venturing off into the world with her Barbie back pack in tow. She can't wait to have friends, have a teacher, and *gasp* do homework.

I'm so glad that she is excited and take pride in my fearless child.

Me on the other hand, not so much.

So as a way to accept the unavoidable future, I've decided to create a #BeforeSchool challenge!

Everyday until she goes to school, we are going to spend doing something fun, of her choice. This involves riding the train at the zoo, going to the movies, having a picnic, and even simple things like making our own play dough, baking cookies, or checking out a book at the library.

Everyday, I'll write a blog post, or post a picture of our #BeforeSchool challenge activity!

Time Just Continues To Fly

Addy is 5 months away from turning 2.

Truly will be starting school next fall.

Time really does fly.

And I don't know whether to cry or smile.