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  • Exercise and Workout, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Motherhood, New Mom, Product Reviews, Sponsored

    Making Wellness a Priority as a Mom of Three

    Thank you Nokia for sponsoring this post. Visit the Nokia Body+ site for more info and start the new year off right!

    I mentioned a few weeks ago about my husband’s hospitalization last month. It was a scary time and I felt physically, emotionally and mentally depleted as a wife and especially as a mother of three with a newborn baby. If you’ve ever been a caregiver for someone who is ill you know how challenging that is and while I celebrate the fact that I was strong enough to keep us all from falling apart during that time, I have to share the types of thoughts I was having. See this was my second time that someone close to me was hospitalized and both times I found myself confronting my own self-care and wellness approach. Nothing forces you to confront your own shortcomings more than seeing someone you care for suffering. I’m lucky enough to have three amazing kids and I want to not just be around for them but to be healthy and enjoy life with them as they grow into adults and that would require me making self-care and wellness a priority.

    Listen, it’s much easier said than done. Years ago, I had a great routine and ate super clean and remained very active. Once I fell off that routine, I’ve struggled to get back on it consistently but I’ve never stopped trying. I’m now a mom of three and it’s important now more than ever to set a good example for my children of a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, although I haven’t been as good as I once was I’m healthy based on a physical I did a few weeks ago at my doctor’s office and I want to maintain a clean bill of health. Dieting isn’t an option for me at this time as I’m still breastfeeding but I think that gives me the opportunity to make small changes that can become part of my lifestyle. Here are a few ways I plan to make wellness a priority:

    Monitor my Weight to Learn about my Body. 

    In my late 20s, I monitored my weight checking it several times a week and recording the numbers in a notebook. Then after I had my first child I discovered the MyFitnessPal app and started using it to track weight, calories consumed and exercise. That’s been cool but Nokia Body+ scale is a complete game changer for me. It’s a combination of all of the above thanks to the accompanying app called Health Mate that’s available on Google and iOS. What I love about this app is that it tells you everything from my weight, muscle mass, BMI because it automatically syncs with the Body+ scale. I’ve been able to get all of my overall data including physical activity, sleep, weight,  trends, track progress so I can improve over time. The best part it syncs with other apps including my beloved MyFitnessPal. So far I’ve been tracking my post-pregnancy weight-loss and my BMI is slightly 26.6 which is slightly high so my goal is to get it below 25 in a healthy range.

    I do wish I had gotten this scale during my pregnancy because there is Pregnancy Mode that includes tips for health prenatal weight gain. Our entire family is taking advantage of this app though and since I’m able to create profiles for each of the kids and the baby in Baby Mode it’s going to make pediatrician visits a lot simpler.

    Try new Classes.

    I don’t think wellness needs to be boring or redundant it’s important for me to have fun and mix things up.  I’ve tried indoor cycling and rock climbing and I plan to try trap yoga, West Indian dancing, and Barre class this year.

    More Video Journaling.

    I was doing some digital decluttering this weekend and I came across some of my video journal clips from a few years ago. It was incredible because I was able to learn so much more about myself than I do when I read it on paper. I’ve consistently journal most of my life but I stopped video journaling a few years ago and I think it’s a really great way for me to get out thoughts and feelings. There is something about saying it out loud that’s therapeutic.

    Kicking my Clean Eating, Dirty Snacking Habit.

    The hardest of all will be kicking what my husband teases me about most my “clean eating, dirty snacking” habit.  My main meals are usually healthy but I could go HAM on a bag of chips or sleeve of cookies when snacking. I’m not proud of that but it’s true and it’s a huge struggle for me because my self-control is really sad and I do not live alone but I’m hoping that once I start making all of these small changes my family will be influenced and avoid junk too. My daughter already stopped drinking juice at school on the days I would give her and she brings only water these days.

    How are you making wellness a priority?

    Get 10% off at the Nokia Health store through December 1, 2018 here with this code: NEWYOU-XKY-F9P

    I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

  • Beauty, Motherhood, New Mom, Skincare, Sponsored

    Postpartum Body: Treating My Stretch Marks After Pregnancy

    This post is sponsored by Palmer’s. As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

    I first discovered some stretch marks on my stomach after I gave birth to my first child. They were small and sat so low down my stomach that they were barely noticeable. I took that as a win, I was happy and I even embraced these little lines on my stomach as proof that I brought life to the earth. Pregnancy changes so much of our body and to be honest, postpartum I just moved forward not knowing that I could treat those stretch marks and over time fade their appearance until last month. I attended the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula launch event for their enhanced Stretch Marks line that is free of parabens, mineral oil and phthalates and I got inspired, to take better care of my skin and maybe fade my stretch marks on my postpartum body.

     

    I don’t know about anyone else but my post-baby belly skin 12 weeks after having my precious daughter (my third child) is soft, a little wrinkly and can be dry if I’m not on top of it. I carried a baby who was born over 8 pounds and as my body continues to recover I’m excited to try these products especially because of the amazing ingredients like shea butter, collagen, elastin, and argan oil. The products are designed to target the collagen and elasticity breakdown that pregnancy hormones cause.

    So far, I’ve tried the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cream Concentrate Massage Creme for Stretch Marks and I’m really proud of how consistent I’ve been applying it twice a day. That’s the thing that was stressed the most, the importance of consistency. According to the brand, it takes two months of consistent usage to start noticing some improvements. I can’t wait!

    Chatting with my friends and girlfriends and posting Instagram stories so many of you shared success stories using the Palmer’s Stretch Mark line that I was truly impressed. It helps to believe in a product when so many people swear it’s a holy grail and that helped my confidence and my determination to remain consistent on this journey to fade my stretch marks.

    Besides the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cream Concentrate Massage Creme,  line also includes the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cream Concentrate Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks and the  Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Cream Tummy Butter for Stretch Marks that are now and available at all food, drug and mass retailers nationwide and priced between $6 – $8.

     

    Have you had any success treating stretch marks after pregnancy?

  • Lifestyle, Motherhood, New Mom, Product Reviews, Sponsored

    Plan a Romantic Valentine’s Date-Night-In

    Thank you, Babbleboxx for sponsoring this post! 

    This weekend was all the way LIT! On Saturday night, I an epic girls night out and then last night was date-night-in. I’m so glad my husband and I enjoyed each other for 3 years before having any kids because since we became parents we’ve probably made it out to celebrate Valentine’s Day, once. The chances of getting out got slimmer back in November when we had our third baby because getting someone you trust to watch THREE kids isn’t easy. Good thing we’re basically professionals at having date-night-in at this point. Listen, staying in doesn’t equate boredom for us so I figure I share some of our secrets to help you plan a romantic Valentine’s date-night-in:

    Have a showstopper!

         

    Here’s the big secret when it comes to date night in, you need to a showstopper —something that makes the night feel like a big ole’ deal like this Edible Arrangements Valentine’s Day Gift Set. As I mentioned on Instagram, I went crazy over the semi-sweet chocolate dipped strawberries when they were delivered.  I didn’t know that they’re made locally and they make the perfect last-minute gift as they’re hand delivered with same day delivery.

    It’s a timing thing.

    Date-night-in needs to be at the right time! Consider your lighter days when you’re not completely worn out preferably when all your littles ones are asleep, at school or an activity.

    Chesapeake Bay Candle

    Set the mood with lighting!

    Setting the mood with lighting isn’t a new concept to most of us mamas, we know that lighting makes the world of difference already but it’s important to keep in mind that you want your space to not feel like the same space you were just helping your kids with their homework. I personally love scented candles to set a romantic mood especially since I do not use candles when the kids are up. Candles mean grown-up time in our house and any old candles wouldn’t do.  My preference is soy blend wax candles because they deliver a clean burn. I tried the Chesapeake Bay Candle: Mind & Body – Love & Passion Candle that came in my Babbleboxx and loved the scent of the candle, it’s a citrusy mango grapefruit scent that’s invigorating.

    When I kiki with other moms and the topic of lingerie comes up, it’s not uncommon to get a confession of them not feeling comfortable in lingerie after having babies. I know the changes that happen to our bodies, post-baby body can attack our confidence but one thing that’s always worked for me is to wear something that I really love on top of it, like a dress that always makes me feel gorgeous. The lingerie becomes the fun flirty details and I don’t worry too much about my flaws.  I’ve been a fan of Maidenform products since my teen years because of the good quality, style and, comfort. This matching Raspberry Icing  set that came in my Babbleboxx lives up to those standards. The lace bra’s sexy plunging neckline works well for my style as I love v-neck clothing and I love that it’s lightly-lined. It’s very soft and I love how the color looks against my dark skin. The thong is risqué yet comfortable which sometimes a hard combination to find with lingerie and when wearing it with tight clothes it’s seamless.

    Date-Night-In

     

    Drink to the occasion! 

    It’s rare that I have a drink but I make exceptions for holidays and date-night whether we step out or stay in. This was my first time trying The Traveler Beer Company: Lucky Traveler Blackberry Shandy which is made with real blackberry. We both enjoyed the shandy and I’m looking forward to trying in a cocktail as I found a few recipes on the Lucky Traveler Shandy website.

    Date-Night-In

    Don’t skip snacks!  

    Date-Night-In

    Regardless of the type of date night in you’re planning, no snacks mean no fun. It’s nice to try out a new snack together or introduce each other to a recent find. Popcorn, Indiana: Kettlecorn is a good option if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s an old favorite that I was happy to see in the Babbleboxx because it’s non-GMO and gluten-free.

    Date-Night-In

     

    Those are my secrets for a great date-night-in. Share yours in the comments!