Christmas is quickly approaching, yes like 7 weeks away! We are starting to get our gift  shopping done and preparing for the weeks ahead. When I think of gift giving my thoughts keep going back to those children at the orphanage in Haiti that were just in awe over their labels. I think back to times when I have received personalized gifts. When I was a little girl my Grandparents sent me a set of pencils with my name etched on them. My cousins and I spend time every summer at my Grandfather’s house and he has always had towels embroidered with our names on them, and as we got married and had children had towels made for them as well. Later on we spent Christmas there and all of our children’s stockings had their name embroidered on them. It was really something quite simple to do but that little extra effort just made us all feel so special.

The Mabel’s Labels Loot Bag Combo is a great gift at Christmas if you want to go for that personalized touch. The children’s faces just lit up in Haiti, “that’s me!” they would say. Something undeniably belonging to them. This year why don’t you share a personalized gift!

Instead of using a gift tag you can attach a Loot Bag Combo and write who it’s from on the back. If your kids are in sports or Scouts or anything like that it can be expensive getting individual gifts but these are the perfect size and price! Also, great for giving to teachers. Last but not least this little pack of labels is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer!

Can you think of any other creative ways to give labels?

Would you like to be on this board, help out with the PTO, sign up for this class, lead this lesson or help with the launch of this thingamajigger? Mom’s we got it coming at us in all directions! Can you relate?

We don’t just wear the mom hat but we feel like we can take on the world sometimes!

Oh but it feels good to be needed though doesn’t it? We pile up those responsibilities like no tomorrow until one day we catch ourselves leaving the house with our hair standing on end, yesterday’s gym clothes still on and on the table you just noticed the kid’s lunch boxes that should be at school with the kids! Not again!

Our families are busier than ever with sports and school activities but you don’t have to take it all on! Peel back those obligations and find out where your true priorities need to be. Work on those first before you take on extra activities.

Some of us are natural doers when it comes to extra activities and the rest just feel bad that they aren’t doing as much as Molly down the street. If it stresses you out it’s not for you! Find what you are great at and stick to it!

I’m sitting at the airport for my third trip in the past month. I love to travel and my load is certainly getting lighter each time. Today I carry only a backpack and purse with all the stuff I need for a three day trip! I truly live for keeping it simple! 

Last night my friend said she would need a backpack for her shoes alone! While I remember a time like that myself that is surely not the case now. It is so nice to get where you are going and not have to lug a bunch of baggage around!

Here are a few things I have learned over years for simple packing:

• Roll your outfits into bundles. It keeps the wrinkles out and you can grab a complete outfit in a flash! Much easier to stack in a backpack. For an overnight trip I use a large purse. 
• Choose colors that are similar and can go with the same pair of shoes.
• Don’t carry the whole makeup ensemble. Decide what you will absolutely need and stick to it. 
• Don’t bring the whole kitchen sink… empty out that purse! Don’t bring loose receipts, credit cards, or stuff that you won’t need on the trip. It simply wastes space!
• I have learned over time to enjoy the experience rather than fuss with the mess.

How do you travel light for quick trips? Feel free to share your tips!

So good to be back from Haiti but I miss it dearly already! The kids I visited were just adorable as you can see! As you know from last week I took Loot Bag Combo labels to the kids at an orphanage that we were involved with. Right now they have 14 children and I am glad to report they all have their names on their bed. And they had them on their shirts and foreheads and well, all over. Their sweet faces lit up when they saw their names in print.

Stephen, the orphanage “dad” said the labels were great, because they are trying to teach the children ownership and how to take care of their possessions. He wants to give them each a box for their stuff and the labels of course will come in handy. In larger orphanages you will see children clinging onto toys they are given for dear life. They barely play with them because if you drop it, one of the other 80 kids could swoop in and take it. Everything is communal and they don’t really “own” anything, It is too hard to keep track of.

These children were so thankful for their gifts and I brought them another surprise. I made tutus for the girls and capes for the boys. There were tons of smiles all around! A big thank you to Mabel’s Labels for your support all the years I have been blogging with you and we are certainly going places! To Haiti and beyond!

While you read this I am actually in Haiti for the second time this year. I am so excited to be traveling with Soles4Souls again to distribute shoes to the children there!

This time I brought a special treat for the kids at one of the orphanages we will be visiting. Their own personalized labels! The Loot Bag Combo was great for this! I can’t wait to see the kids faces when they get a gift personalized just for them!

I will share more about the trip next week when I return!