Unwrapping the Magic

Unwrapping the Magic

December 12, 20233 min read

moms unfiltered

we judge everything (honestly)


Unwrapping the Magic How Millennial Moms Turned December Chaos into a Stress-Free Wonderland

A Revolutionary Approach to Holiday Planning – From Post-Prime Day Shopping to Ziplock Stocking Stuffers and Group Getaways: The Art of Embracing the Magic Without the Stress.

Ah, December, the month where being a parent feels more like a chaotic circus than a magical journey. From playing detective with presents to juggling schedules that rival a NASA launch, it's a wonder we survive the holiday season with our sanity intact.

The real MVPs? Millennial moms, navigating the intricate dance of family events, school dress-up days, and the ever-elusive quest for the perfect gift.

I've spent the last few years in a bundle of stress for the entire month, feeling like I can't actually enjoy the December bucket list (you know the one...Christmas cookies, Santa visits, driving to look at lights, drinking a glass of wine in a room lit up by my only Christmas tree. Sound familiar?) because my mind was consumed with what needed to get done. I was constantly on my phone ordering gifts and watching sales, tending to my near endless to-do list making sure anyone and everyone was taken care of...except myself.

At the end of the day, something had to give and I needed a complete system overhaul.

But fear not, fellow magic-makers! I embarked on a revolutionary mission to transform December from a stress-fueled sprint to a leisurely stroll. 🚨 Spoiler alert: it is working like a charm, and I'm never going back.

Picture this: I decided to defy the laws of holiday physics and have 95% of my shopping done post-Prime Day and Cyber Monday. It sounds insane, I know. But I committed, and I did it.

Wrapping presents? No problemo! I wrapped them the night each package arrived, and this year each kid gets a designated roll of paper – no tags needed, because who needs extra steps? Any present wrapped in a snowflake is yours, and the ones wrapped in trucks with trees are yours. Ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom.

Santa’s gifts? They’re coming straight out of Santa’s sack of toys, unwrapped and ready to enjoy.

Stocking stuffers? As I bought little gifty-gifts they went into Ziplock bags, my friend. Open ‘em up, pop 'em in on Christmas Eve like a festive pro.

And family gifts? We decided to coordinate and forget the individual nieces and nephews – we pooled our resources for a group hotel night the day we are celebrating Christmas as a family. Experience gifts for the win – with a bonus of instant gratification and zero stress (lol, jk packing and traveling bring stress of their own).

I ensured all those Pinterest-worthy projects with the kids had ingredients in-house before December hit, which means stuff for making Santa's cookies or ornaments for family is halfway handled. No last-minute Target runs or grocery store trips.

However, in debatably the most surprising turn of events, I’m deciding that I’m not the only magic maker. I let my husband take the reins on some tasks – after all, holiday magic doesn't have to be a one-person show. And, admittedly, I need to stop being a control-freak that’s unwilling to let in more support and help.

Sure, November got a taste of the chaos normally reserved for December, but guess what? In comparison, it was a breeze. Less hustle, fewer obligations, and my resentment levels? Non-existent. I'm not trading magic-making for being part of the magic; I'm doing both and savoring memories that'll outlast my epic holiday planning skills. Cheers to stress-free Decembers and memories that sleigh! 🎄✨

xo, Moms Unfiltered

😎 Disclaimer: forget those fancy parenting books and baby whisperers. We're self-proclaimed experts in the "School of Hard Knocks" and proud graduates of "Mommy University." Our qualifications? Well, we've survived more tantrums than you can count, and we can fold a fitted sheet in under three minutes (sometimes). This blog shares our opinion, experiences and tips that have worked for us; not everyone's experiences will be the same (obvi).

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Moms Unfiltered

We’re Kelly and Linda, the unfiltered moms behind the scenes; figuring out parenthood one day at a time, and laughing every step of the way. We’ve got 6 kids between us, ranging from 10 years old, down to 6 months old - all with wildly different personalities, interests, needs, and learning styles, so we’ve got sh!t to share! Sooooo, basically, welcome to the Moms Unfiltered club, where we break free from the outdated parenting tactics we grew up with and embrace a new era of mindful and HONEST connection with our kids. All while laughing at ourselves along the way.

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