One Secret to a Working Mom Success: Make Family Events More Enjoyable With Friends

Better Together: Why Inviting Another Family Makes Activities More Fun #FamilyFun Sometimes family activities can feel like another item on the to-do list. However, doing those activities with another family makes them more fun! Whether it’s a trip to an amusement park , a visit to the local pool , or trip to a pumpkin patch , including another family can multiply the fun in amazing ways. One of my favorite moms to collaborate with is my friend, Ayana Ledford who's pictured above with her daughter Sahar. We have done all of the things listed as seemingly random examples above and here is how including her and her daughter (and sometimes her son too) has made the events more fun. On the date above, Ayana almost left the venue because parking was a nightmare. That said, she hung in there and we would up having a great time!

Comments from a Working Mom: Happiness in the Holiday Season


It’s the holiday season, which means that there is shopping, baking and cleaning to do. At the end of it is a pile of gifts, lots of cookies and a clean home. In the meantime, there is a lot of work to be done. Sometimes, in the midst of it the frustration can distract us from the fun.

As I mentioned in a prior post, this season I am committed to finding the in the standard and stressful parts of the holiday preparation.

Tree trimming is one of the most pleasurable parts of the holiday season. This photo captures the toddler putting a star at the top of the tree. She made it somewhere. It's paper, but somehow it still shines brilliantly.


Tree trimming

 

Holiday parties make the season worthwhile. You get to get dressed up, party around pretty lights and dance. I only tend to visit the Fox Chapel Country Club during the holiday season, but I always enjoy it. They do a great job with the food and the decorations.   Even with Andre's big hands you can see the baby bump peeking out.



Andre and I attending a holiday party at Fox Chapel Country Club

Every year with the help of Hallmark I send out Christmas cards to about 150 of our closest friends. In years when I am really organized, I also send out separate blog cards. This is not one of those years! For those who struggle with sending out cards, Hallmark makes it super easy. You load your addresses in once, select your card, upload your photo (if that floats your boat) and Hallmark mails the cards for you. It is super easy and it gives the illusion that you're really organized. It's a working mom's dream! (If only wrapping gifts were that easy...) 
 
Christmas Card 2013
 

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