Be Unstoppable This Holiday Season

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children's MOTRIN® and received compensation to thanks me for taking the time to participate, However, all opinions expressed are my own.

It's true . . .all across America, Christmas Trees are going up. As I sit here looking at my calendar, I cross off Halloween, and see Thanksgiving coming up in just 4 weeks. But I can't get the "Oh My Goodness Christmas is Coming" mantra from my head. What about all those Americans that don't even celebrate Christmas - to have 2 months of decorations, music and endless advertisements? It can make even the most sane person start to twitch.

How do you get through it? The shopping, the decorating, the guests, the gifts . . .the list is ENDLESS!! Not to mention the pressure to make it all perfect. Here are the things I am planning to do this holiday season to stay #unstoppable:

Eat, Drink, Rest
Our bodies cannot survive on stress (and cookies) alone. We need to continue to plan and enjoy well-balanced meals. We also need to stay hydrated, so that means drinking plenty of water each day. And that ever elusive rest. Getting a good night's sleep can make or break us the next day, so be sure to go to bed at a reasonable time each evening that you can.

Let it Go
I know that term is a little over used right now, but Elsa may be onto something. For the first time in 20 years, I did NOT send Christmas Cards last year. Truth be told, I only missed it a tiny bit. Not one person asked me where my card was, or complained about not getting one. So take a few minutes and think about your list (see my next tip). What things on your list can you truly let go without diminishing your holiday experience?

Make a List and Check it Twice
Even if Christmas is not your holiday, take a tip from Santa and make a list of all the things you'd like to accomplish this holiday season. Now go back through that list and mark all your MUSTS with an "A" or a star or a number "1". Can you fit that all in? See if there's anything you can move to your B-list, or better yet, let it go (see above tip). Keep this list with you - on your phone, in a little notepad, somewhere handy so when you find yourself with an unexpected block of time, you can get something accomplished.

Update the Calendar
In partnership with your list from above, mark ALL important events and to-dos on your calendar. School plays, concerts, neighborhood caroling, tree lighting ceremonies, all of it. Keep it updated as things change. Take the opportunity of a clear afternoon to check off some to-do's. Organization can be your best friend during the hectic holidays.

Live in the Moment
This is my best tip for staying unstoppable this holiday season. I vow to remember to live in the moment. That may mean not taking a picture and posting it to Facebook - it's ok, because I will get to see and enjoy the look on my child's face when they light the tree. It's important to acknowledge and appreciate your own needs and feelings throughout the holiday season. Taking care of ourselves is the best step to taking care of all the rest.

This is my Holiday Survival Plan. I hope you'll join me on the journey and keep me posted on what's working for you.

What makes you unstoppable as a mom?

The makers of Children's MOTRIN® are asking moms to post their tips and tricks to the MOTRIN® Facebook page under each week's Kelly Ripa question video. For every post, Children's MOTRIN® will donate $1 to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit that provides moms with the tips they need to help keep their children safe. You could even win weekly giveaways of $100 gift cards, just for posting! *

What are you waiting for? Good Luck and stay #unstoppable!

catch you soon -

 *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C., 18 AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 11:59pm ET on 12/28/14. Sponsor will donate $1 for each approved Submission made as part of the promotion, with a minimum donation of $30,000 and a maximum donation of $50,000. For Official Rules, and complete details, visit www.unstoppablemoms.com. Sponsor: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. To learn more about Safe Kids Worldwide, visit safekids.org.