Author: Lori Lou

It is almost the end of November, and by now, most of the country is unhappily well into winter (it seems to have come early for a lot of you!), but here in Florida, fall has finally arrived, and not a minute too soon for this midwestern transplant! This is the beginning of the busy season for most of us, kicked off with visits to family for Thanksgiving, and then a month of madness as we move through the Christmas season. I hear ya…it’s the best time of the year, but also the worst, with navigating crowds (Walmart…need I say more!), stretching budgets, and attending events…it’s exhausting!

I have 3 children, ranging in age from 8-15, so trust me, I know life is busy! But let’s step back this year…now is the time to sit down and look at your planner (if you don’t have one yet, honey, Get One!). Decide what is most important, and minimize those events. The best thing you can give your family this year is your time. Life passes by so fast, and gifts will fade and crumble to dust, but the time you invest into the lives of those you care about, that will last forever! Schedule in your down time, instead of leaving it for whatever is left (because there is never enough time!).

Take time this year to count your blessings; there are so many things to be thankful for! My top list-makers: my God, family, my health, my home, and the simple things, like a giggle from the kids whem mom is acting strange (every day)! One last thought…make a list now of each gift you intend to give, and track purchases in a spreadsheet as they occur. It will elp you realize how much you intend to spend (it adds up so quick), and help you avoid that post-Christmas shock of the the Grand Finale cost of Christmas! Keep within budget, and indulge your family with what matters most – YOU!

Wow! Time flies when you’re raising a family! Hard to believe so much time has passed since my last post…new goal = visit with y’all more often!

So I got creative this summer and began sewing bone neck pillows, and then blankets, and then quillows! I ended up just enjoying the craft-time so much, I made way more than I can distribute at Christmas, so I had a grand idea- I can sell them at a craft fair! I then proceeded to make even more, so I would have appropriate inventory. AND…the craft fair was two days ago. Let me tell you – folks love hearing about my life, purely for the entertainment value, so here goes! I came down with a head cold on Tuesday of last week, but was determined to push through and still do this craft fair for victory! Then, the weather predicted rain, which turned into a tropical storm (to our north; we had outer edge), but I was still determined! Then, all but one of my kids bailed on me (I was dreaming of this great family day at the fair), but luckily, the youngest stuck by mom’s side. Finally, we get to the fair, spend 2 hours setting up (in the rain), and when we finally got the tent up and everything out, we were ready – and so excited! The weather was starting to clear and things were looking up. But then, a quick gust of wind lifted my tent into the walking path (thank goodness no one was hurt!), and smashed it into several pieces. After 20 minutes of craft fair, and more than a little a financial investment, my bright idea was over.

After an afternoon of disappointment, I decided to make lemonade with the lemons of my morning, and listed my wares on Etsy (and this was not as easy as I thought either)! That was two days ago, and still no hits, but I am optimistic that this great idea will flourish! So, check back in soon, and I will post about my first sale, which surely must be right around the corner. If you’d like to see how I spent my summer crafting, check out my Etsy shop: GettingBack2BasicsCo and let me know what you think!

A new way to save money! For the first time ever, I ordered my groceries on Walmart’s online grocery app – a free app available in the play store or iTunes. You simply go through your list and put items in your cart, pick when you will pick up your groceries, pay (payment is not processed until you pick up your loot), and waa-laa – you have finished shopping! Yes, this saves lots of time in the grocery store, and we all love that, but how, do you ask, does it save money? The special nugget of truth is this: if you are just going through your list, adding items to your cart, you are far less likely to buy impulsively. The allure of the isle is strong; bypassing that temptation helps tremendously to avoid excess spending. In addition, it keeps you from wandering the rest of the store, looking at all of the things you just “have to have”! That part I kind of enjoy, but if you’re in a crunch, for time or money, this new option can be a lifesaver!

As a parent, I have found myself encouraging my children to be brave and try new things…try new foods or new sports, make new friends…the more they face their fears the less fear they will have! We all have a fear of failure, and it holds us back from trying new things and enjoying the blessings waiting for us! As I encourage them, I have realized that I need to do a better job of leading by example-let me tell you, it’s not an easy thing to do! I have taken a leap this year and tried many new and completely foreign things, including a complete dietary change for my whole family (we have cut WAY back on sugar and had amazing results), switching to using natural products in our home and eliminating as many chemicals as possible (and now the whole family wants to clean), and for me, branching out to begin a blog was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

A friend of mine told me if you haven’t experienced failure, you haven’t even begun to try. We must be willing to accept failure in our life as a way to learn what works and doesn’t work for us, and not shy away just because of what we fear others might think! Failure under our belts empowers us with the knowledge to make a smarter or stronger attempt next time. Give it some thought…what have you been thinking about trying, but too scared to try? Let me encourage you to take a deep breath, and take the plunge! Comment below and let’s be an encouragement to each other! Set the example for those around you, and stop letting fear rule over you. Embrace this challenge and give it a try – you might surprise yourself!