Monday, December 31, 2012

Post-Holiday Not So Blues


Post-Holiday Not So Blues

I’ve always heard of the post holiday blues and never understood the reason for it. Quite frankly I love getting my house back in order and life back to “normal.” Sure the holidays are fun, full of events, family and delicious food, but I have always wondered why this needs to stop just because the so-called holidays are over? So I have created the Post-Holiday Not So Blues in my household. It coincides nicely with New Year resolutions (more about those in the next post).  Here are my 3 simple steps to the Post-Holiday Not So Blues:

1) A celebration and education every month

At the beginning of the New Year plan out a celebration for each month!  Make the celebration educational for the whole family and discuss at your monthly family dinner celebration. While some months are obvious, below are some ideas for the non-holiday months.

January – New Year’s – New Goals Month
February – Valentine’s Day – Love Month
March – St. Patrick’s Day – Irish Month
April – April Fools – Practical Joke Month
May – May Day – Spring Flowers Month
June – Summer Solstice Month
July – 4th of July - Patriotic Month
August – Friendship Month
September – ABC and 123 - Back to School Month
October – Halloween Month
November – Thanksgiving Month
December – Hanukah, Kwanza, and Christmas Month

2) Fancy Monthly Dinner


Chose a Sunday night for each month where you bring your family (immediate or extended) and friends together to cook a wonderful meal. Make sure to engage everyone in the preparation; food isn’t just about eating the preparation is where art, love and bonding come into play. Make sure to sit down at the dining room table (I like to even pull out the fancy china once a month) and turn off all distractions, such as phones, TVs, iPads, and computers. Here is an idea for August Friendship Month: http://pinterest.com/pin/375206212675133172

3) Decorations for each month

I am not suggesting you need to deck your halls with bells of holy every month, but changing the décor and touches of a theme here are a good reminder of your celebration month! Here is a fun idea for the June Summer Solstice Month by Real Simple: http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/entertaining/seasonal-events/how-to-have-a-summer-solstice-party-10000001738546/index.html





Friday, December 21, 2012

Welcome to Blossoming Buds' Preschool Blog


Welcome to the Blossoming Buds' blog. My name is Ms. Tristan; I am a mom, an entrepreneur, a teacher and a foodie. I opened my first preschool, Blossoming Buds Preschool, in November of 2003 and taught at that school until the birth of my daughter. As a busy mom and entrepreneur I realized there was a need for another type of preschool, one where parents could drop-off their children for a few hours and know their children are being exposed to education rather than just day-care, and so was the birth of Blossoming Buds Cottage in July of 2009. 


Blossoming Buds Cottage Art Room

I am passionate about children and early childhood education, as I know firsthand what a difference it can make. Some blog posts will share simple tips and activities you can do with your children at home to encourage early education, with a dose of honest perspective on being a parent. You can also LIKE Blossoming Buds Cottage on Facebook to see more craft ideas.

Reindeer Popsicle Stick Ornament

As I mentioned above, one of my personal passions is food. I will share recipes, both kid friendly and those designated for date night, tips and tricks on healthy eating, and of course share some of my favorite restaurants in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Follow me on Pinterest for more recipe ideas.


 Italian Chicken Recipe by http://aaronandjillw.blogspot.com/



For more information about one of Seattle's best preschools or Seattle drop-off childcare visit www.blossomingbudspreschool.com and www.blossomingbudscottage.com.