We spend so much time and energy (and money!) on the big things in our lives- taking care of our homes, keeping up with the car maintenance, getting appliances repaired- and layer on top of that all of the big things we do for our families like the grocery shopping and laundry and running them to classes and sports. And while all of these things are very important- they don't always give us that boost of pleasure when we do them (seriously- when was the last time you felt joy after get the oil changed for your car?). Quite often it's the little things in life that give us those moments of delight when we see them or use them.
Those polka dot notepads on your desk, the lavender scented eye mask you wear to bed, those drawer organizers you bought for the cutlery drawer that had been making you crazy- there's no denying that these small things make us happy!
So from time to time I'll be surveying MomOf6 readers here on the blog, on my Facebook page, and in my newsletters (you can subscribe right there at the top of the page!) to see what little things are making YOU happy. And I'll be sharing my little things here with you too!
*Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through these links. It’s a great way to support a blogger!
The Little Things That Help Me Sleep!
I know that I can't be the only who has trouble staying asleep at night. Most of the time I fall asleep fairly easily (I am usually pretty worn out at the end of my day!) but when I wake up a few hours later (quite often to make a trip to the bathroom) I often have a hard time falling back asleep. My mind “clicks on” and without even realizing it I start thinking about things I want to do, re-playing conversations I had during the day, or imagining conversations I wish I had had…. and then I am wide awake. Facing down another busy day ahead without enough sleep. Ugh.
Over the last year I have asked tons of girlfriends what do they do to get a good night's sleep- and the best advice I got was to try using a sleep mask at night so that when you are trying to fall back asleep you can block out all of the light. And for me- that's been a huge game changer- it really helps me to get back to sleep. Another thing recommended to me that I now make part of my routine is to use an essential oil diffuser and lavender essential oil. Now that I use this every night, I feel like it signals to my body that it is time for sleeping. And finally- I try to take some time to write in my journal before bed each night- which helps me to get everything out of my brain that I wanted to mull over from the day- and get my thoughts in order to face the new day.
Shop These Little Things to Help You Sleep:
The Little Things for a Long Family Road Trip!
We're a “road-trippin'” family for sure…. because eight plane tickets to anywhere eats up our entire summer vacation budget! So we like to drive- even if that means traveling 1500+ miles each way!
When packing our family van for a long road trip- I like to tack a US road map poster to the top of the inside of our van and draw out our route for the trip so the kids can get a sense of where we are going. And even though we use our GPS navigation system (we need a special RV GPS for our tall van) as well as Waze to keep updated on traffic situations- I still like to have a Road Atlas on hand (there are areas of Wyoming where we've had no cell service and no GPS either!) just in case I need a map- and I absolutely can't travel without our Next Exit book where we can look at the route ahead and decide where to stop for food!
And finally- a family that travels has got to have power! For DVD players, to recharge phones and iPads- and who knows what else! We installed a power inverter in the back of our van and use extension cords snaked under the seats to make outlets available to all of our passengers!
Shop These Little Things for a Road Trip:
The Little Things on My Desk!
I love to start the day with a hot cup of tea- and my new Yeti mug keeps it hot for hours and looks so pretty too! A friend of mine gave me this “5 Days a Week” notepad as a gift and it is my new favorite way to keep track of my to-do list. I need a place at my desk at charge all of my devices but I hate cord clutter- so this bamboo charging station keeps everything nice and neat. And for dry hands- I am loving this Naked Bee Orange Blossom and Honey lotion– not only is is super moisturizing but it smells so yummy!