July 11, 2018 Leave a Comment

Oh, I love the smell of summer and FREE full-size products from my FAVORITE cleaning brand!

By now, summer is in full swing. I’ve fallen into a slow, easy routine since our calendar is a little emptier and we don’t have to rush out the door in the morning.

But as much as I’m enjoying these slower days, I sometimes feel like my routine needs a little shake-up.

It’s amazing how one small tweak, like changing up your usual household scents, can energize your entire day.

Mix & Match Mrs. Meyer’s Scents with Grove Collaborative

Now is a great opportunity to try a different scent (or three!) because my friends at Grove Collaborative are giving away this FREE set with your first order of $20:

Free Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap
Free Mrs. Meyer’s hand lotion
Free Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap
Grove Collaborative cleaning caddy
Free shipping & 60 day VIP trial

I started using Mrs. Meyer’s products a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. They’re made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils, in scents inspired by a backyard garden.

The three Mrs. Meyer’s products all come in lavender, honeysuckle, lemon verbena, geranium and basil. When you grab your free set from Grove, you can mix and match to create your own custom combination!

Why stick to just one when there are so many fun ones to try?

I’ve tried them all, and I can confidently say that they all smell fantastic and clean beautifully.

If you came to my house right now, you’d see that I have Mrs. Meyers soap and lotion next to every sink in my house. Right now, I have the basil scent in the kitchen, lemon verbena in the guest bath, and lavender in the mudroom. Whenever I use up a bottle, I switch to a new scent. It instantly changes the atmosphere of the room and makes it feel like a fresh space! Honeysuckle is up next and might be my current favorite!

I like to keep a few extra soaps and lotions on hand so I never run out. This gorgeous, multi-functional enamel caddy is perfect for corralling extra products until you’re ready to use them. (It’s also a stylish way to round up cleaning products, gardening tools, or the kids’ summer art supplies!)

Another way I make sure I never run out of my favorite products is by using Grove Collaborative. Grove delivers the best natural products right to my doorstep, on my schedule. They make creating a healthy, beautiful home effortless and affordable. I’ve also discovered some of my favorite cleaning products through Grove.

Here are some products I think you should try:

Mrs. Meyer’s multi-surface cleaner $3.89
Grove Collaborative cleaning gloves $6.95
Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponges $3.95
Method antibac bathroom cleaner $2.99
Full Circle grunge buster grout and tile brush 6.99
Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap FREE
Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap FREE
Mrs. Meyer’s hand lotion FREE
Grove Collaborative cleaning caddy FREE

You’ll get all these products for $24.77 plus free shipping when you place your first order from Grove Collaborative! And when you sign up for Grove right now, you’ll also get a free 60 day VIP trial. For 60 days, you’ll save even more with free shipping, free gifts, price matching, exclusive sales, and personal service.

Here’s how to take advantage of the free offer:

Sign up for Grove Collaborative HERE. You will receive a FULL SIZE Mrs. Meyers Dish soap, hand soap and lotion (you choose the scent!) plus the cute cleaning caddy for free when you sign up! If you’re already a Grove customer, you can qualify for a FREE walnut scrubber brush with your next order by ordering through my link HERE!
To receive this offer, your order needs to be a minimum of $20. Choose the combination of products and scents you love and receive your first box within a few days.
You made it! Click Finish & Pay and place your order.

July 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

5 Smart Ways To Lose Baby Weight and Get Back in Shape

Pregnancy is a physical and emotional roller coaster ride with one heck of a spectacular ending. Throughout each of my three pregnancies, I’ve marveled at my body’s ability to grow another human being. It really is miraculous. And for how much I enjoy the end product—a perfect pink-skinned newborn—it’s always intimidating to think of losing the 35+ pounds of baby weight gained.

Here are five areas I focus on after each pregnancy to help lose the baby weight safely and smartly. Being consistent with this game plan has helped me shed the pounds and get back into shape, and I’m relying on the same strategies again after baby #3.

5 Smart Ways To Lose Baby Weight and Get Back in Shape

1. Counting macros

The term “macros” became a buzzword a few years ago and everyone from celebrities to fitness gurus started counting them. You can learn more about macros here, but basically, counting macros is just a fancy way to count calories. For example, the 200 calories you get from a bowl of ice cream are completely different from the 200 calories you get from a salad. It’s just a way of keeping track of how many fats, carbohydrates, and protein you are consuming.

To lose the baby weight and get back into shape, I like to keep track of my calories but I also try to make those calories count. It’s all about making healthier options every day. When at home, I’ll opt for a 60-calorie veggie and yogurt dip over a bag of chips. Counting macros helps me stay on track and make healthier choices.

2. Jumping back into a regular fitness routine

For me, jumping right back into a regular and consistent exercise routine is vital, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agrees. Exercising postpartum boosts energy, tones abdominal muscles, is useful in preventing postpartum depression, and helps you sleep better.

Apart from staying active with my kiddos all day, I do love to exercise. When I can’t get to the gym, I make sure to workout at home. Either way, it’s important to make exercise a priority every day.

3. Drinking plenty of water

A lot of the initial weight you lose after giving birth is retained water, so it may seem counterintuitive to be putting more water back in your body, but it’s actually very beneficial. If you are nursing, you’ll need to increase your fluid intake anyway and water is the best beverage. Drinking plenty of water will help your body stay hydrated and satiated. I find that it helps curb my appetite for aimless snacking. If you find yourself craving something particularly sugary or salty, first drink a full eight ounces of water and chances are, you’ll be satisfied.

4. Stocking up on healthy snacks

Whatever I keep in the fridge and pantry, I’ll eat, so I try to really stock up on healthy options like fresh asparagus and mini peppers (my favorite!), grilled chicken, and whole grain crackers. Keeping the good stuff in sight at all times reminds me to make better choices when it comes to food. Eating healthy also helps me feel energized and overall mind and body wellness.

5. Core strengthening

That motivational phrase No pain, no gain is completely true. You’ve gotta put in work to shed that baby weight and get back into swimsuit shape. I focus on core strengthening exercises like the plank and variations of the plank. It strengthens those abdominal muscles that have been stretched out by pregnancy. Plank exercises also help focus on the linea alba—that fibrous strip that runs vertically down the center of your tummy. For many women, pregnancy stretches the linea alba and after you give birth, it leaves a noticeable gap. You can tone that area up more effectively with plank exercises than you can with sit ups and crunches.

Finally, the most important thing I cut myself is some slack. It took 40 weeks to grow this baby and it’s going to take some time getting back into pre-baby shape. And I’ve learned to be okay with the fact that pregnancy has changed some aspects of my body for good. When trying to lose your baby weight, don’t get frustrated when the pounds don’t come off immediately. I’ve found that as long as I’m consistently exercising and eating right, it will happen.

If you want to check out the app that I’m using to help me apply these tips (plus gives me grocery lists, meal plans and workouts for the gym and at home) and reach my post baby #3 weight-loss goals, you can read all about it and how you can try it for free HERE. It’s been an amazing tool for me and I hope it will help some of you as well!

July 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

13 Fun Korean Beauty Products That Are All the Rage

There’s a fun trend storming the world right now and you can find Korean beauty products all over Instagram and in the handbags of your favorite celebs. The cool kids are all loving Korean skincare and it’s no surprise. These quirky lip balms, lotions, and face masks come in uniquely adorable packaging that you can’t help but love. Check out these 13 fun Korean beauty products that would make great gifts or conversation pieces in your own purse.

13 Fun Korean Beauty Products

1. Keep oily face at bay with these oil blotting sheets.

How smart and cute are these? Keep them handy to help you control shine during your busy day. Dab a forehead here, a chin here, and look super chic doing it.

2. Oh-so-lovely towel headband.

Keep your hair out of the way while you apply makeup in the morning or wash your face at night. It’s so cute, I wouldn’t even mind if an unexpected guest stopped by.

3. Exfoliating jellyfish

This little guy isn’t just for looks; he’s really great for your skin too. Little exfoliating jellyfish has soft bristles on top and bottom that are ideal for daily cleansing and sloughing off dead skin cells for a fresh face.

4. Bright eyes with cooling eye sticks

Never mind that it’s an adorable bamboo-munching panda. Never mind that the stick itself is so dang cute that I want to pull it out of my pocket every few minutes—this TonyMoly Panda’s Dream So cool Eye Stick de-puffs your eyes while delivering a soothing, cooling sensation.

5. Hilarious carbonated clay mask

This is too funny, and pretty amazing at the same time. Only Korean beauty products can deliver a face mask so bubbly and carbonated that it expands on your face into a fizzy, airy cloud. Totally a fun thing to try at your next girls night!

6. Lazy and Joy Egg Bun Puff

The creators of this cosmetics puff certainly have a sense of humor…and a love for eggs. Or maybe that’s a Korean thing (there are a lot of egg-themed beauty products). So blend and buff in eggcelent style.

7. Dear Darling…

This yummy little popsicle-shaped lip tint is just as darling as its name. What a cute gift for a friend and it’s under $7.

8. Korean facial masks

The impressive thing about these “I’m Real” facial masks is that they are made of 100% natural pulp and each one is designed to perform a specific function (i.e pore care, elasticity, brightening, etc.).

9. It’s a zoo out there.

This Korean Saranghae Zoo Foundation acts as a foundation and concealer for blemish and freckle coverage, as well as SPF 36.

10. Sweet dreams lemon sleep mask

The secret to that pristine Korean skin might just be in this whitening sleeping mask. It’s got Vitamin C and Arbutin to accelerate skin whitening while you sleep.

11. Inky velvet lips

Get that velvety matte lip look with Peri’s Ink Velvet. It’s all the rage in Korea and has good customer reviews, along with a very affordable price point.

12. Love Blossom soft hand cream

Again, packaging takes the cake and I love the graphics on this soothing daily hand cream.

13. Petit bunny lip gloss

Forget the traditional tube of lip moisturizer, this Petit Bunny Gloss comes in a long, thin bar and it is so dang cute! Those bunny ears.

Whimsical and fun, it’s no wonder Korean beauty products have taken the world by surprise. You can find more of my beauty favorites and tips here!

July 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

7 Social Skills To Teach Your Kids by Example

Raising little humans is difficult business. I never realized how much responsibility goes into every aspect of parenting a child. They soak up everything you do and say. Now that I have three small children, it’s more important than ever to lead by example. Here are seven valuable social skills that all kids should know and the best way to teach them is by example.

7 Social Skills You Should Teach Your Kids by Example

1. How to initiate a conversation

From the moment they utter their first words, children begin learning the importance of conversation. They learn how to wave and say hello, but the most valuable lessons in conversation they’ll learn from you.

Kids watch how we interact with others. The way you greet the store clerk and strike up a conversation teaches your child a lot about how to interact with all kinds of people. They note the way you treat people and if you want your child to be a kind, courteous person, pay close attention to how you initiate conversations with those around you.

2. How to ask for help.

It’s not always easy asking for help, but doing so is a skill that kids are going to need often in life. Whether it’s asking for directions from a stranger or for assistance from a friend, make sure you are open about asking for help when help is needed. Kids need to be ready to ask for help if they are lost, don’t understand a concept in school, or are in over their heads.

3. How to be courteous.

Courtesy is one of the most commonly expected values…perhaps that’s why it’s called common courtesy. Please and thank you should be words children first learn when they are young, but it’s a parent’s consistent example that cements the value of courtesy in them. Open the door for a stranger, allow someone else to go ahead of you in line, keep your cool in traffic. These are all things kids notice us doing. It’s a good reminder to brush up on our common courtesy.

4. To appropriately share their opinions.

Thankfully gone are the days where children were expected to be seen and not heard. Today’s kids are bright and creative and have interesting opinions of their own. Sometimes it’s appropriate to speak out and other times it’s better to keep our thoughts to ourselves. Having conversations with our kids is a good way to teach the difference between the two, but perhaps an even better way is through example.

It’s good for adults to remember the Bambi principal: if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.

5. Stand up for what’s right.

There is a lot of garbage out there that today’s kids will encounter. Drugs, pornography, bullying…our children have a lot to contend with and that means it will be vital for them to stand up for what they believe is right.

For parents, teaching this by example means turning off the TV when there’s something morally offensive on. It means speaking up when you see a child being bullied on a playground. Some of the most powerful lessons I learned from my parents were when they openly stood up for what they believed.

6. Show gratitude.

A simple thank-you can go a long way. Gratitude is a value that is going, going, gone these days. Entitlement is taking over, leaving kids who are bratty, spoiled, and selfish. Nip entitlement in the bud in your family by showing gratitude multiple times daily. At home, thank your spouse for a job they’ve done, tell your kids how grateful you are they are in your family. Verbally express gratitude for the things you have and the people around you.

7. How and when to apologize.

It’s crazy, but two of the hardest words for my kids to say to each other are I’m sorry. They scrunch up their faces and clutch their stomachs like those two words are physically excruciating to them. I hope I’m not the only parent who goes through this. I decided that this needed to change and since they are young, the easiest way for me to teach them to apologize is to show them. Now I really try to make a conscious effort to say I’m sorry whenever the situation warrants it. I apologize to them, to my husband, and to total strangers, making sure to explain why I am apologizing.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I accidentally stepped on your foot. Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry, I thought I understood what you said but I must not have. Will you explain it again?”

Kids who know and show these seven important social skills will become adults who do the same, and that’s always a good thing.

June 21, 2018 Leave a Comment

The ABC’s of Fashion: 26 Items Every Gal Should Own

We learned our ABCs when we were first learning out to dress ourselves, often in bright yellow rain boots, Bermuda shorts, and the most glittery top we could find. Now our style has changed, but the ABCs of fashion have remained iconic. Here are 26 items, A through Z that pretty much every gal should have in her closet.

The ABC’s of Fashion: 26 Items Every Gal Should Own

1. All-Star Chuck Taylors

Comfortable and classic, those Chuck Taylor All-Star shoes are all-star for a reason. They’re comfortable and cool for the chill girl on the go.

2. Boots

Every gal should own a pair of ankle boots and a pair of knee-high boots to cap off the perfect outfit.

3. Cardigan

A cardigan is practical, fashionable, and can be worn multiple ways with multiple outfits. Dress it up with a button-up shirt and slacks or dress it down with an old concert t-shirt and jeans.

4. Denim

Denim has been around since 1873 and though styles have changed, the material hasn’t—denim has serious staying power! Make sure you own a good denim jacket and a few killer jeans that fit you like a glove. It’s worth the extra money to splurge on jeans that flatter your body.

5. Eyelets

Eyelet fabric is a type of durable lace that has been around for centuries. It’s elegant, fun, and a great staple piece in your wardrobe. You can find eyelet blouses and eyelet dresses perfect for any season.

6. Flannel

Whether you live in the mountains or in a big city, every gal should own a flannel shirt. It says stylish, slightly rugged, and sporty. Tie one around your waist for a fun accent to a cool outfit.

7. Glasses

Eye candy is an essential part of the trendy wardrobe and sunglasses come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure you own a good pair, whether they are aviators, cat-eye sunglasses, or oversized sunnies.

8. Handbag

Every woman deserves at least one designer handbag in her life. A little Kate Spade or Coach on your arm is like taking a good friend along with you.

9. Investment piece

Most of the time I jump for a good deal, but every once in a while, it is completely necessary to splurge. An investment piece might be that designer handbag or expensive piece of luggage. It might be a quality coat or tailored suit. Your investment piece is built to last a lifetime and you’re not allowed to feel guilt about it.

10. Jumpsuit

Okay, I realize this one is verging on uncomfortable territory, but if you don’t own a jumpsuit, it’s time to try one!

11. Khakis

Khaki is another thing that will never go out of style. A pair of khaki slacks and shorts should be a staple in any closet.

12. Little black dress

So notable that it even has its own acronym, the LBD (or little black dress) is as iconic as Audrey Hepburn herself. This one isn’t optional; every woman should own a LBD.

13. Moto jacket

A moto jacket is ultra cool even if you don’t own a motorcycle. Moto jackets look amazing with skinny jeans or a dress.

14. Negligee

Although worn underneath the clothes, lingerie is an important part of any woman’s wardrobe. The negligee is traditionally a silky night dress and every lady should own lingerie that she feels sexy in.

15. One-piece swimsuit

One-piece swimsuits are classic and flattering on every body type. It may take a few tries to find your perfect match, but when you do, it’s a keeper.

16. Pencil skirt

Every woman’s closet should have at least one pencil skirt in it. They are super flattering, showing off curves while still maintaining professionalism.

17. Quarter-length raglan

A raglan is a shirt with three-quarter-length sleeves and are usually sporty in nature. (Think a baseball shirt.) They are casual, fun, and let you show your athletic side.

18. Running shoes

Every single human being should own a pair of running shoes. They’re great for the gym and for on-the-go. You can slip them on quickly and they’re always in style.

19. Stiletos

There is nothing more style-astounding than the stiletto. Just think, one delicate shoe balancing over a hundred pounds on a twig-thin heel. It’s super impressive. If you don’t own a great stiletto, get to it!

20. T-shirt

When it comes to comfort, a t-shirt is where it’s at. Every sista needs to have a handful in her closet. I recommend a plain white tee and a faded concert tee.

21. Underwire bra

Ladies, a good underwire bra is like a frosty can of Diet Coke: it lifts you up and keeps you going for hours.

22. Vintage

Vintage clothing items definitely have a place in any wardrobe. Ask grandma for that vintage leather belt in her closet or her vintage pea coat. Ever closet should have something vintage in it.

23. Wide-leg pants

Wide-leg pants will always fluctuate in popularity, but they’ll never go out of style. First exploding on the fashion scene in the 1970s, wide leg pants are still just as cool today.

24. eXotic animal print

It may be a tiny stretch (‘x’ is a tough letter), but X stands for exotic animal print and the boldest fashionista knows that her closet wouldn’t be complete without it. Leopard print, giraffe print, even zebra print can make a big statement when done right.

25. Yoga pants

Yoga pants have to make the list because they are basically the best invention known to man. A good yoga pant goes with you from the gym, to the store, and maybe even to bed with you that night. Basically, yoga pants can (and will) be worn all day long. Hey, blame their creators for making yoga pants so dang comfortable.

26. Zip hoodie

Finally, to end-cap my A-Z list, is the zip hoodie. Like it’s BFF the yoga pant, the zip hoodie is ultra comfortable, with a fuzzy lining and convenient zipper. In fact, the two are often seen together. The zip hoodie may not be suitable for a night on the town, but it’s the only thing you want to unwind to when you get home.