Hey, Super-Stellar-Sometimes-Frazzled-Mama who thinks she needs to do it all for the ultimate holiday experience for the family. Here’s a little secret- your kids are happiest spending basic, quality time with you. It’s what the holidays are all about. Not how many events you can get to, burning everyone out and creating more tears than necessary. At least that’s been my experience. Maybe you too? (*slow blink and nods with me)
With 2 year old twins and two older kids, I’ve learned that saying “no” to things is part of my self-care. I have begun simplifying many different parts of my life. This Christmas is even more simplified and I’m ok with that. The decorations will be minimal. We’ll do a basic, decorated tree and some outdoor lights but I’ve decided I will not lug the 8 boxes of decorations out to Christmasify the house. Especially when the 2-year-old twins will only destroy any festive item I attempt to adorn a shelf/table/countertop with. I’m honestly just hoping the tree survives these two boys!
I love the tradition of giving and receiving cards but needed a simplified option here as well. When Basic Invite reached out and showed me how easily I could create and customize our xmas cards I was all for it! I hopped onto their website and enjoyed the ease of creating a card that suited our family.
Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options so you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail. I loved this element, as I’m a details person. You know I’ve loosened my grip on most details in mom-life, but it was fun to be able to customize our card and envelopes exactly how I wanted to. (Unlike life with twins.)
More reasons I’m loving Basic Invite:
- All envelopes are peel-and-seal, no licking required!
- Printed samples so you can see exactly how it will print as well as feeling the paper quality before placing your final order.
- Address capturing service! Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request their friend’s and family’s addresses. They are then stored in the customer’s account and can be selected during the design process. Say what?! Love this free option!
- Recipient address printing at no cost on all Christmas card orders. Boom. Big time saver.
Basic Invite is even offering a sweet holiday discount with coupon code: holi30
Now that our inexpensive holiday cards are ordered, the kids and I will look forward to hanging the ones we receive from friends and family across the country!
As I continue to simplify this mom-of-4 life, I’ve decided which holiday traditions I will continue this year (cookie decorating) and which ones I’ll set aside for now (waiting in line for a picture with Santa). Although a screaming kid on Santa’s lap is always a funny baby book memento.
Holiday traditions and stressors are different for each of us. Take a moment to recognize when and where you might be able to simplify, receive help or simply say “no thanks”. My wish for you is to enjoy more magical moments of presence and let go of the expectation to do it all.
I hope you have a beautifully-basic holiday season.
With the warmest of wishes,
Amy
