Hi Hello!
Links + Loves
Hi! Good monday morning to you.
The newscasters always say that and I think it sounds kind of funny.
This weekend didn’t quite go as planned, but it ended up being a good one altogether.
I’ve had virtually no work hours last week, hence my being behind on content for the ‘ol blog, so I decided to get up a little early on Saturday, get myself thrown together, and head straight to Barnes and Noble to work for a few hours.
Although sleep is always preferred, I was looking forward to some early quiet time to catch the heck up on everything.
Well, I got up, got myself together, and was greeted with a sallow faced husband who said he barely slept last night and was not feeling well at all.
While I felt immediate pity for him because I know how awful it is to be ill, I also had to swiftly wrap up my little notion of free, quiet time to work, and pack it away for another time. That’s hard to do sometimes. I know, I know, it probably sounds bad to admit it, but I truly had to fight some selfish inner-whining that I didn’t get the time I was planning on. #wifeoftheyear
So it was David and I all day, while Justin slept or sat on the couch, and it ended up being a fun day with David! He was an absolute peach, AND took awesome naps so that just magnified the happy mood. Justin wasn’t super sick like he can get, it was just body aches, exhaustion, and a headache. And as a matter of fact, while I just knew in the deepest part of my soul that it was the flu coming on, he woke up Sunday feeling significantly better.
So, who knows what the heck it was, but I’m just glad he’s feeling better.
What I did manage to accomplish this weekend was putting out our Christmas decorations, and even making a pot roast. On Friday night, Justin, David and I went to Walmart to get a live Christmas tree.
That’s right folks, wally world for the win. We paid about $40 for the tree and stand, and I couldn’t be more pleased. My life motto is #KISS (keep it simple stupid; better explanation here) so I was all about just grabbing a suitable tree and throwing it in our car.
I’m not going to put ornaments on it because I have an almost 1 year old and I don’t want all my ornaments broken, and I even considered not even lighting the dang thing. I was going for a minimal christmas this year aka I’m pregnant, tired, and hungry.
Anyway, the tree sat in the corner, all naked and such, and Justin looked at me and said, “So we really aren’t going to put anything on the tree? Just a star?” I said, “Yep!”
And then the following day I looked over toward that poor tree and told Justin,”I think we should light it. It does look pretty sad and dark over there.”
“Yes. I agree”, he replied and managed to light the tree less than 12 hours later. He knows “pregnant kate” pretty well these days. Almost everything initially sounds very overwhelming to me, but after I have a few hours to wrap my brain around it I can rally.
“WAIT I have to make vet appointments for the cats? HOW does one DO THAT?”
“HOLD ON, we are out of Honey Nut Cheerios? WHERE DID THEY ALL GO? WHAT WILL I POSSIBLY EAT?” (picture Justin giving me the side eye right at my belly)
Anyway, now* I’m sitting at Starbucks, listening to the frappachinos get blended, sipping my hot chocolate, and catching up on my lengthy to-do list.
So, the good news? I should be back to regular posting this week.
::cue single, distant slow clap from the back of the room::
I have actual work time to get my handmade holiday gift ready for you (it’s a quickie and I’m excited to show it to you!), and I even have some giveaways for you too!
I hope YOU have a lovely monday!
*I wrote this yesterday
comments
Bless your heart, Kate! Hang in there!! 🙂
LOL we’ve done the Walmart tree thing. Also Home Depot! Glad you got some lights on your tree. 😉
you and my husband both! 🙂
Home Depot trees are amazing! Two years in a row — inexpensive, gorgeous trees!
Oh my, this post left me howling. I too have the same pregnant lady problem. My husband calls in the Pregnant Rally. It takes me 3x as long to motivate to do anything these days.
Thinking of you and your growing family this holiday season. Such wonderful blessings you have been given.
And a blessed Monday to you!
Keep on keeping on, lady! No worries. The holidays are stressful enough to begin with; let alone with a sick hubby, toddler and another baby on the way! Just do what you can and don’t beat yourself up about the rest 🙂
Oh, I just love you and your blog! Thank you for always keeping it so real with us, you’re truly a breath of fresh air. 🙂
You’re a hoot. That is all.
Pregnant Kate sounds kinda of like how my not pregnant mind works most of the time. My boyfriend says it’s cute*
*Crazy and scary. But whatever he still loves me 😉
Good morning to you too! I like it.
I completely understand the frustration of all the little things that can get in the way of work. I feel like there are always 10 things that I don’t want to do getting in my way, before I get to do the one thing I want. Wouldn’t it be nice to selfishly only do everything we wanted? I think I could take over the world if that were the case. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
http://absolutelytara.com
Haha! We did a real tree from Wal-Mart as well. We had gone and looked at some beautiful trees from a tree lot, but they wanted around $73 for the smallest trees (5ft). So we found ourselves at Wal-Mart. Much to our surprise, we found an awesome tree. So I would recommend anyone to do some homework before shelling out all your money on a tree. It was so worth it.
I remember only decorating the top half of the tree one year when our youngest was about 1-2 years old. That way the tree was still decorated but little hands couldn’t grab anything and break it. 🙂
I am 20 weeks pregnant this week, and the thought of doing anything that requires energy doesn’t happen. I work 40+ hours a week, and the last thing I want to do is put up a Christmas tree… I give you props for blogging as regularly as you do! I would have zero motivation. Speaking of honey nut cheerios- I’d like some in my belly!
We do the same as Jessica; top half of the tree is decorated, bottom is lights only. Looks funny but it is a nice compromise.
This is my first time commenting, by the way. I am a long time reader, but with six kids, I do not have the time I would like to comment on the few blogs I do read.
Wow! Six kids? That’s amazing! Keep up the good work, i know you can do it! My mom has 5 altogether including me+homeschooling. 😉
I really want to put my tree out but keeping talking myself out of it, ha! I will have to settle with making myself glittery snowflake garland & wreaths. Much easier to put up later 🙂
Happy Monday 🙂 I have been pretty minimal with our Christmas decorations this year. I got all our bins out and was like … um, nope. I put out the essentials and stored the rest away again.
Hello Kate, I’m glad to hear you had time to do some work. I’m also sorry to hear about Justin being so sick. My family has been really sick with the flu. I myself had a major back surgery 3 months ago and I’m still down. I had a horrible sergeon and now I am much worse than I was before the surgery. I can’t even walk so I have plenty of time laying around but it’s horrible because I’m a very active outgoing mother. But I am glad to hear he feels better and that you and David are good. There is nothing worse than having the flu and being pregnant. But I look forward to seeing the gifts! And I hope to see more posts. Also I watched a hair tutorial that you did the mini part and on it you said if anyone wanted to see how you did the lightly curl you would do a tutorial on it. Could you please when you capture some time do that. Thank you very much!
Hey! Happy Monday to you, too!
Cute post! 🙂 when you said you had to work at Barnes and Noble, were you serious? Or were you just saying it because in reality David loves going there? 😉 ok, i doubt you work at b&n but.. ya know… didnt hurt to ask. 😛
You’re too funny. I didn’t even know Walmart sold real trees! I’m sticking with my Target fake tree for one more year, and then I think I might make the jump to getting a real tree next Christmas. Looking forward to a homemade gift post this week! Have a happy Monday XO
This post was just what Monday ordered!! Hysterical. Thanks, Kate!! 🙂
I’m not sure what it says about me if I have these same tendencies, only without the pregnancy part. Love this post!!!
http://www.kristajacobs.blogspot.com
You’re doing great, lady! Thanks for being honest about your initial feelings to having to ditch your plans – we’ve all been there. #sin. (Is it a sin to hashtag sin?) I love posts like these, so don’t feel bad 🙂 Hope this week’s a better one for ya!
Smart to not put ornaments on the tree! I have twin brothers (who are 19 now), and when they were about 18 months old they pulled our Christmas tree down -basically on top of themselves- and we lost quite a few ornaments! Thankfully the boys were fine but after that a baby gate stay wrapped around the tree to keep little hands away. That may be a good idea for next year when you have two little ones, especially if you want to put ornaments on your tree! 🙂
Just leave the bottom branches bare & decorate the top 2/3 or so. Or put a baby gate around the tree so David can’t get to it.
I feel like this has been my life lately for the past 3 months! Urg! I hate that I cannot keep up with stuff. Take care!
http://lilbuckshomestead.blogspot.com/
i loved this post! I had a c section last week so I let my nine and six year old completely decorate the tree. It’s awesomely bad, but it’s done and smells wonderful! I so relate to the exhaustion and inability to make little decisions…or remember where the honey nut Cheerios (Jif pb cereal in my case) went.
Also, my 2 year old has done nothing but pick decorations off the tree since yesterday-should be a fun 2 weeks 🙂
For a “toddler-proof tree”: You can decorate your tree from the middle up with lights and ornaments (non glass might work best) then for the bottom, lower tree, loosely hang one or two fabric ornaments that your son can touch. That should work out fine with a toddler, that’s how we decorated our tree during the toddler years.
Our little girl just turned one in November…I LOVE Christmas and the thought of no ornaments was quite possibly the worst thing that could have ever happened to me:) I researched a million ways to baby-proof your tree (without putting a huge ugly baby gate around it) since she is into EVERYTHING in our house. We put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving and she hasn’t looked at it since! Who knows, you might get lucky:)
I don’t blame you for wanting minimalist Christmas. Pregnancy is exhausting. However in case you want ideas for next time, I have a 3yo and a 1yo. We put a baby gate around the tree and use only fabric or non breakable ornaments. I got unbreakable balls from IKEA years ago plus I have fabric ones my grandma made. Child proof! 🙂
My husband and I came up with a great way to “barricade” the tree, while still keeping it festive. We took a few of our Costco sized empty diaper boxes, filled them with heavy books, and then wrapped the boxes to look like presents. It keeps our 1 and 2 year olds from taking ornaments off, but the tree still looks pretty and festive.
Pre-lit fake tree. KISS!
touche!
I hear ya on the tree. I have 3 yo twins so this year we didn’t unpack the nice stuff, I spent about $20 at the dollar store on ornaments. I could care less if they get broken and oddly enough it’s one of the prettiest tree’s I’ve ever had. Just lights sounds beautiful too!
Going to barnes and nobles in one of my favorite things and the place I get the most work done!
http://touchofcollege.blogspot.com/
Although I am not pregnant, I too have a 1 year old (born just a few days before David!) and this years ornaments are pictures of her that I stuck on our tree. It doubles as ornaments AND decorations for her birthday party (which we had Saturday). Win win.
Don’t feel bad about the Christmas tree. I’m in the same boat over here. We have 3 littles with one on the way. I at least did all the other decorations in the house, but the tree sits, lit up with only garland. The thought of taking all the ornaments out of their boxes, keeping our 18 month old from touching them (cue sarcastic laugh), and then putting them all away in in a month is just too much.
At this point, our littles should feel blessed that their Elf on the Shelf moves to a new location every night (or in the morning before they wake up).
Kate, go buy (or, even better, send Justin) a big tub or two of cheap shatterproof ornaments in a fun color combo. Next year you’ll have two kids, so same story, and in reality this will be your situation for a few years. You don’t want a barenaked tree for three or four years! Embrace the imperfection. You can do it.
That’s a good idea. Plus a little scolding when they get too near the tree would help, too….
Agreed. An ornament-less tree just because you have a kid? Ornaments are shatterless nowadays.And here’s a thought – teach the kid to stay away form the tree! I think our parents did this 30 years ago – discipline is a marvellous thing!
it could be worse, we could have skipped the tree altogether! 🙂
Kate –
I also have plenty of selfish moments when I have my own plans made and they get disturbed! And I have no kids, no pregnancy, (no cats), and no excuse! haha…sometimes we all deserve the “Wife of the Year” award!
Kate will you give us tips to help fight winter static hair? I feel like I’m in a crazy forcefield vortex (lol ?) wind tunnel. Oh and I’ve tried rubbing a dryer sheet and although i smelled like an April breeze it didn’t help! Please save me! 🙂 ♡
This time of year has a way of taking over our universe doesn’t it? The time flies far to quickly these days. Make sure you’re taking lots of time outs for yourself to just live and be in the moment with that darling Boy and the little one on the way (I’m feeling GIRL for you btw!! – however I’m always wrong!!) Lol
Don’t worry about us out in the stratosphere, we’ll live and will always be here loving our Kate when your life allows.
God bless darling Gal. xo
Obviously, there is so much more to the Christmas season than decorations, but it makes me sad that little David will be missing that excitement! The stimulation is great, as well! My nephew LOVES just staring at my sister’s tree. Maybe decorate the top half, or put a baby gate around the tree to keep little hands from grabbing? Or as someone else mentioned, just consistently tell him “no” if he start grabbing. What a wonderful opportunity to start teaching discipline 🙂 Hope you have a lovely week!
oh there is plenty of excitement around here 🙂 ! The lights on the tree are very fun to look at!
Me, too! I have a December baby, and when he was one he was mesmerized by the tree and lights, as well as the ornaments. (he left them alone, a combo of not walking yet and discipline). Some of my favorite memories are thinking back at that Christmas when he was so little but just starting to observe all of the colors and lights. A few ornaments would only take about 10 minutes to put up!
Kate, I love that you use the KISS method also. It really is the best way too I agree. Although a little extra is ok sometimes 😉
http://mymonochromaticlife.com/2014/11/25/getting-to-know-me/
When my daughter was young, I bought all kinds of ornaments that were made of up breakable materials.. i.e. felt, plastic, homemade etc. and put those on the bottom of the tree (I didn’t care if she rearranged the ornaments on the bottom of the tree, because it was her tree too.) and I still put my other ornaments at the top of the tree! Enjoy your one and only Xmas with just David, next year will be a whole other ball of issues! lol
*Unbreakable*
I haven’t put ornaments on in over 5 years! (and I don’t have a kid or cat to blame 😉 )
One year the stress just got to be too much (family, work, money, etc.) so I put up the pre-lit tree and decided that the lights have always been my favorite part anyway.
Never looked back 🙂
Disclaimer, I have put up the glass icicles that I received as a gift…they just add even more twinkle 😀
I feel ya! I had one of those mornings today. I woke up early to work on my blog and half way through I decided to hit save and it didn’t save! I had to start over, so no new post yet. Thinking my lunch break will be a blog break.
http://agirlandherpassport.com
I’m slow clapping for you, Kate! 🙂
Love your blog and videos! Enjoy the holidays!
Enjoy the holidays