Hey, cheery Mamas,

While the holiday busy-ness is heating up, it’s easy to over do it and get worn out. A few friendly reminders:

• Sleep as much as you can. Move your body. Breathe deeply. Spend time in the sun.

• Schedule some alone time.

• It doesn’t have to be perfect. And it won’t be perfect. So stop trying to be perfect.

• Easy on the sweets and alcohol and things your body doesn’t like. Savor the deliciousness of it all but chase everything with water.

• Many adults that I talk to cannot remember any specific gifts they received as children at Christmas, outside of maybe one or two “big” memorable ones like a puppy or the one year they got the big Playstation. Children are much more likely to remember how they (and thier parents) felt during the holidays more than what they got.

• Bone broth made low and very slow at home (it should become gelatinous when you refrigerate it) can remedy a broad range of ailments. If you are feeling dehydrated, frazzled, sad, weird or loopy, drink a warm cup of salty bone broth and thank me later.

A Featured Mama

This is a new section where I introduce something cool that a mother in our community is building. If you would like to be featured, please email me at [email protected].

I spend a lot of time on Facebook, especially in the mom groups, to stay-up-to-date on what is happening with us mamas. I notice there are often requests for recommendations: for speech therapists or things to do in this area or who has the best jiu-jitsu program locally. But all that valuable information can get lost in the feed and when you need it, you can’t find it.

Enter, the Lost Pines Learning Collective Quarterly Guide. This guide is compiled and maintained by a new friend of mine and member of the Bastrop Mama Network, Heather Young-Lira.

The LPLC Quarterly Guide features an extensive and ever-growing list of local therapists, women’s wellness, schooling options, Mama-owned businesses and more. The guide is free and includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, and Lee Counties.

Sign up and get the guide every quarter. It is absolutely worth the few extra moments to sign up and get this amazing reference in your inbox. Plus, I think you will really want to keep up with the Lost Pines Learning Collective. I see very awesome things on the horizon.

Events in Bastrop County

Tonight

The Children’s Advocacy Center has Holiday Happy Hour & Open House. Open to the public. 4-7pm. Free.

Thursday

Smithville Public Library Open House hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus, live music and refreshments. 4-6:30pm.

Saturday

Predators of the Pines Hike at Buescher State Park led by a Texas Master Naturalist. 10 am. $5 per person, 12 and under free.

Christmas Bazaar at First UMC Smithville. BBQ meal tickets for sale, vendors, Santa, and more! 10am - 4pm. Free.

Merry on Main in downtown Bastrop: write your letters to Santa, huge inflatable snow globe picture booth, special vendors and pop-up snack booths plus see the Hyatt's alpacas (🦙💕) that will be located at Harmony Ridge (in the Neighbors’ courtyard). 10am-3pm.

During Merry on Main, 🎅🏼 Santa will be at Sage & Co. for pictures. 12-3pm.

Tour five historic homes in downtown Bastrop at the Holiday Homes Tour. 130 docents available throughout the tour. $20 per ticket, available at the Museum and Visitor Center of Bastrop County Historical Society. 12-5 pm.

Bastrop Lighted Christmas Parade features fanciful floats, fire trucks, unicycles, vintage cars, dancing Honey Bears to dignitaries, and Santa himself. Parade route goes south down main. 6pm. Free.

After the parade, Calvary Episcopal Church hosts

. Let traffic die down and keep the holiday vibes going in Parish Hall at 1028 Main St. Enjoy free hot cocoa & sing popular Christmas carols. 7:30pm. Free.

Tuesday

Lego Club at the Bastrop Public Library. The library supplies the legos, you supply the creativity, Building challenges, group interaction, and more. Creations are displayed in library. Projects may NOT be taken home. Geared toward elementary age to tween age, but everyone is welcome. Children under 8 years of age must be supervised by an adult. 3pm. Free.

Thanks for reading and supporting the Bastrop County Mama Network. Will you please pass this along to someone who might like it?