Slow Love How I Lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas, and Found Happiness - Book Review

I've always loved the quote by Woody Allen that says, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans" because it just fits my life.  Time and time again I have made plans for my life only to find that my life takes a totally different direction - and usually that direction is so much better than what I originally intended.  Slow Love - How I Lost My Job, Put on My Pajamas, and Found Happiness is a story of just that type of life.   Dominique Browning's memoir tells the story of what happened when she was layed off from her job as editor-in-chief of Conde Nast's House & Garden, when the magazine folded.  Her career was her whole focus in life, and suddenly it wasn't.  Her story is not just one of despair due to the loss of a job, but is instead a celebration of her rebirth as a woman. 

One of the things she said that really struck a chord with me was "Slow love is about knowing what you've got before it's gone."  How many times in our life do we forget to focus on the things that really matter, the people in our lives who really matter?  I know in my own life sometimes I spend more time worrying about things that in the long run will mean nothing, but forgetting to stop and take time to really enjoy my family.

I am reading this book as part of BlogHer book club, and will be discussing it throughout the month - be sure to join in!

My Special Blog Tag for BlogHer from Invitation Consultants

I haven't really talked about it much on this blog, but if you look to the right border, you will see that I am going to BlogHer this year!  I am really excited about it less than 2 weeks now!  A few days ago I received a package in the mail  from Invitation Consultants that just added to that excitement!  It was my very own blog tag complete with my name and address info in case my luggage gets lost (praying that doesn't happen!) - and it also includes my blog name and my Twitter handle, which may be an even better way to get in touch with a blogger!

Anyway, I knew that they would be sending the tag, but I didn't expect that it would look as good as it did, or that the packaging would be just so adorable, so I had to check out their website here.  I was really pleasantly surprised, although their name is Invitation Consultants, they really offer a whole lot more.  They not only offer invitations, they also offer party favors and deco to match! They also have backpack tags that would be perfect for labeling all of your kids things - We have tags on all of our boys sports equipment bags which really helps us to know what belongs to who.  You will definitely have to visit their site to see all they have to offer.

Christmas In July Lesson Plan

So last night when I asked Luke to pick a bedtime story, this is the book he picked out.  I guess with the temperatures hitting the 100 degree mark lately, he was craving a little bit of snow.  So, that got me to thinking about the phrase "Christmas in July"  I had of course heard it before, but was it actually a real thing?  Thanks to the magic of the internet, I found out that yes it was a real holiday, and there are people who actually celebrate it!  So in honor of my boy's craving for snow, I decided to plan some Christmas in July activities.  Here are a few of the things we will be doing just in case you are having a case of the summer blues:

Handwriting

Handwriting is always a little more fun when it involves Christmas, don't you think?  Have them practice writing Christmas words with this printable.

Creative Writing

You know that box of old Christmas cards you've been saving for??? Come on, fess up, I have one too.  Well, put them to use as story starters or writing prompts.  Have your child cut the cover off and write a story about it. I know one little boy who is going to be writing about snowmen in his journal!

Reading/Language Arts

Read about The Wild Christmas Reindeer with this fun reader's theater.

Practice alphabetical order using Christmas lights.

Math

Make use of those old Christmas bows that are collecting dust in your garage for some math fun!

Younger kiddos can sort them into piles to practice their sorting skills. If your kiddo is a little older, have them graph the results!  Older kiddos can practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and even division with the bows.  See if they can write their own story problems to go along with them.

Practice some Santa Subtraction

The Cost of Christmas - Have your kiddo figure out how much the 12 Days of Christmas would cost with this fun worksheet.

Now that you are in the Christmas spirit - you might want to think about tackling a chore usually reserved for later in the year. You know the one that you forget about until the last minute so now you are known for your New Year's cards that were supposed to be Christmas cards but somehow didn't get mailed out until after Christmas. - Yeah Guilty as charged.

Well, this year I think I am going to surprise all of my family and friends by taking care of the chore of ordering and getting the Christmas cards ready early - like now, when I don't have the holiday hectic.

I usually send out photo cards, so I have already booked a photo session with my fave camera friend for right after BlogHer, and I have been checking out these snowman (of course!) photo cards from Storkie.com

Just use your imagination and replace those girls with my 6 boys and wouldn't it be fab?  I think so :)
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Storkie.com. This is a sponsored post, meaning that I have received compensation. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own.