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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Holidays!

Count Your Many Blessings

11.04.2015

Thanksgiving Banner - Countdown to Thanksgiving

I was all on board with welcoming in Thanksgiving season with open arms. And then Daylight Savings happened and my holiday happiness came to a sudden halt. Can you tell me what is worse than sitting in traffic for an hour and a half (each way) every day? I can. Sitting in traffic for an hour and a half in pitch black darkness. I didn’t think my commute could have gotten any worse. It’s a good thing my car has hidden snacks in every small compartment, because my boredom overtakes my diet every night.

Count Your Many Blessings Thanksgiving Banner - Countdown to Thanksgiving

Not only is my commute a lot less bearable, but since it’s a blackout by the time I get home at night, I can’t photograph any of my projects. This becomes an issue because I am a huge procrastinator, and don’t typically have 3 projects ready to photograph over the weekend. Hopefully I can get into the swing of things soon, otherwise you won’t be hearing much from me for the next few months. I know how devastating that may be for you, so I’ll try my hardest to keep it up.

Thanksgiving Banner - Countdown to Thanksgiving - Count Your Many Blessings

I might not have a handle on my projects, but The Dating Divas sure do. They created this Count Your Many Blessings banner, and it couldn’t be more perfect for our household. I love to get into holiday spirit (for every holiday), and this banner is perfect for that. Each day has it’s own little act of kindness on it, so you can really appreciate Thanksgiving by the time it rolls around at the end of the month.

Thanksgiving Banner - Count Your Many Blessings Countdown to Thanksgiving

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Comments

  1. Britta says

    11.04.2015 at 3:07 pm

    I almost cried yesterday I felt so lonely in the car ride home haha. It takes me an hour and a half too. So much darkness.

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.19.2015 at 11:25 am

      Ughhhh it’s the worst isn’t it?! I wish we could have summers all the time. I know you’re a fall girl, but I just don’t handle it with grace. 🙂

  2. B says

    11.04.2015 at 5:25 pm

    I count my blessings that I met you every day!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.19.2015 at 11:26 am

      Ohhhh aren’t you just so sweet. You must want something!

  3. chelsea jacobs says

    11.05.2015 at 8:23 am

    I love this! So cute!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.19.2015 at 11:26 am

      Right?! I love finding these free printables! 🙂

  4. Julia says

    11.05.2015 at 6:30 pm

    I feel exactly the same way, it’s the worst!

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.19.2015 at 11:30 am

      Ugh it really is. At least you have lots of baked goods to wash away your sorrows! 🙂

  5. Kathy and Kevin Bligh says

    11.06.2015 at 12:29 pm

    We are thankful for our family every day and that you have become part of it. We are counting the days until we can celebrate together

    Kathy and Kevin

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.09.2015 at 4:58 pm

      Awww thank you!!! Can’t wait to see you guys soon!

  6. Jamie says

    11.14.2015 at 5:28 pm

    Get cracking on the new projects! It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to read a new post from you haha

    • shauna841505@yahoo.com says

      11.19.2015 at 11:29 am

      Ahhhh Jamie I know!!! I’m so sorry, I just have been feeling kind of blah lately. I just posted though, so hopefully I’ll get back on track real quick!

About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard t I saw this viral template and as soon as I heard the first part I immediately thought, “that’s the worst part too.” Then I heard the rest of the audio and just felt that. It’s so true. It’s the most bittersweet thing a human being goes through. Raising children.
We always see these crazy parties on social media, We always see these crazy parties on social media, but how much do they ACTUALLY cost? If you know me, then you know I’m the most frugal person on the planet, so my parties are destined to be inexpensive. I’m going to give you the real life breakdown, with all my money saving tips. Let’s go!

(Let me know if you have any questions that I didn’t cover)

This is one of my biggest tips, which is pretty obvious I suppose. Hand make EVERYTHING. Decorations, treats, food, etc. The only time I wouldn’t suggest making your own food is if you have a huge guest list, in which case ordering Costco pizza is your best bet.

For the paper chains, I’ll be honest, they’re not cheap. Finding paper that’s inexpensive is hard. So pro tip: you don’t NEED cardstock, regular paper will be cheaper (and easier to hang). I found these packs of red at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 each. The pictured chains was three packs of 50 pages. Also pro tip: use a generic stapler to staple them into the ceiling, tape doesn’t work.

Also, because I throw parties a few times a year, I have a general stash of party supplies. I try to use similar colors so that I don’t have to store every color. I happen to have a lot of pink (because, duh, two girls). So table runners and vases and such were things I already had. If you don’t, I suggest Temu. And if you’d like to start collecting a supply for future parties, get some nice ones in white because you can always use white! 

I made this box out of 9 pieces of foam board from the Dollar Tree, one roll of wrapping paper (back wall) from the Dollar Tree, and two cans of spray paint from Walmart. If you had more time, acrylic paint would be cheaper, as my spray paint cost $13 alone. My cost for the project could have been cut in half if I used acrylic from the Dollar Tree (they have extra large bottles for $1.25). I just didn’t have time to do a few coats of acrylic.

The backdrop was made from four sheets of poster board from the Dollar Tree ($2), and one roll of Dollar Tree wrapping paper ($1.25). 

My splurge. The larger scalloped plate is from American Girl and when we were at the store I couldn’t resist. That alone brought up my total by almost $10. Ha
She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And hones She turned NINE and wanted a doll party. And honestly? I loved every second of it.

Because I know that at this age, some girls are already asking for Sephora trips and makeup tutorials, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But there is something so special about a little girl who still wants to play with dolls, have a themed birthday party, and lean into the magic of being a kid. 

I know I can’t keep her little forever, but I can stop rushing her into growing up. There’s no prize for growing up the fastest. The world will ask her to be older, cooler, and more mature soon enough. So if she still wants the dolls, the dress-up, the silly games, and the magic of childhood, I’m going to let her.

Because one day, I know I’ll miss these days more than I can imagine. And if I can give her a few more years of being little, I’m going to cherish every single one. 

Let them be little. There’s plenty of time to grow up. 

#americangirl #americangirldoll #diyparty #americangirlparty
Save for later. PS: This is my husbands rendition Save for later.

PS: This is my husbands rendition of a “Sexy Willy Wonka.” You know, because being Aladdin, Flynn Ryder, Prince Charming…he couldn’t just be a regular guy for one year. 🤣🤣
Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five things every night that you’re thankful for, and BE thankful for them. So much of our lives are spent waiting for the next best thing when in reality, it’s sitting right in front of us.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s to SLOW DOWN.

So much of life is spent going, going, going. Waiting for the next stage. Telling ourselves, “Once we get through this, things will be easier.” Once the kids are older. Once life settles down. Once we have more time. But what if we’re missing the whole point? Because the moments we’re so eager to get through ARE the moments.

Today is the important stuff. The ordinary days. The messy days. The little conversations, the giggles, the routines, the chaos, the moments that don’t feel significant while we’re living them. We spend so much time wishing for the next chapter that we forget we’re already living one we’ll someday wish we could go back to.

So slow down.

Be here.
Pay attention.
Let the moment take as long as it needs to.

Because someday, these will be the days we miss.

**And if you know us personally, you know why I had to jump on this social media trend**
This is your permission slip to let the crafts be This is your permission slip to let the crafts be messy. 

They don’t need to match your house. They don’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. They don’t need to be made with a neutral color palette and a Cricut. They just need to be theirs.

Because someday I’m probably going to miss the paper scraps, the glue everywhere, the questionable color combinations, and the little masterpieces I had no idea what to do with. Let them make the ugly craft. Let them make a mess. Let them create something that looks nothing like what you had in mind.

Childhood doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful.
When you stop to think about the fact that one day When you stop to think about the fact that one day all of her toys will be someone else’s toys, she’ll be heading off to college, and all I’ll be left with are these videos…
This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy the This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy their kids are going back to school. My neighbors and I commiserate all summer long about how long the days are, how frustrating the kids can be, how much they’re fighting, etc. 

But my days are always like that, and even though it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even if I only have ONE moment like this a day, it’s one moment a day I could miss out on if they were in a traditional school. 

So here’s to whatever choice you are making in regards to your kids education. What’s best for YOU is most important. And what’s best for us is this.
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