This post is sponsored by Shutterfly!
I know it feels a little early to start thinking about holiday shopping, but every year I tell myself the same thing: next year I’ll be more prepared. And then December rolls around, and I’m suddenly scrambling. And it seems to only get crazier with every passing year. Juggling school events, holiday parties, last-minute errands, and trying to track down gifts before shipping deadlines. This year, though, I’m getting ahead of it all with Shutterfly, and honestly, it feels like a weight lifted off my shoulders.
The first thing I tackled was ordering personalized thank you notes. It sounds so small, but it makes such a big difference. By the time the holidays hit, the last thing I want on my plate is designing stationery. With Shutterfly, I could choose a design I loved, add our family name, and now I have a stack ready to go. One less thing to think about when the season gets hectic! I even made some separate ones for myself because I loved the bow so much… and a notepad to keep everything organized.
I’ve also started getting my camera roll in order. Grandparent gifts are always top of my list, and they love anything with photos of the boys. Personalized mugs are such a sweet, practical gift (and always a hit on Christmas morning, and Shutterfly makes it easy to upload a favorite picture and turn it into something special. It’s become a bit of a tradition to update a mug with favorite photos from the year. I also eyed the framed canvas prints… I know it’s something timeless they can hang up and enjoy all year long. Even the little things, like personalized ornaments, feel meaningful when they’re tied to a favorite memory from the year.
I updated a desk calendar for Mike’s stocking with some fun pictures of the boys throughout the year. We LOVE these desk calendars. Right now everyone has one because they’re just so cute and we all get excited flipping through to a new month to see what fun pictures are included. Sparks joy for the whole family. I even had some family members request one for the next year because they were jealous!
For the boys, I created two things I think they’ll both love. For Rory, I made the cutest board book with funny pictures of him from the past year. He’s funny and always strikes a pose to make us laugh. I love that all the best ones are now documented in a book we can read together every night. Jack is getting a personalized spiral notebook. He has been very into drawing and writing and has been using my notebooks and stationery… I’m excited for him to have his own special notebook now.
What I really appreciate about Shutterfly is how easy they make the whole process. Once I have my photos picked, it’s just a few clicks and I know I’ll have thoughtful, personalized gifts that feel special… without adding stress. And by starting now, I don’t have to worry about rush shipping or cutting it too close in December.
If you’re also looking to make the holidays feel a little less overwhelming this year, I can’t recommend Shutterfly enough. Take an afternoon, go through your photos, and start creating a few gifts now. It’s such a simple step, but it makes a big difference when the season is in full swing. A little preparation now means more time later to enjoy what really matters.
Don’t forget to use code CARLY40 for 40% off orders $40+*. Code is stackable and works sitewide!
THANK YOU SHUTTERFLY FOR SPONSORING THIS POST!
