Top: Chicwish similar here | Denim: Blanknyc
Hudson's Jammies: Old Navy
Room Details:
Crib: Target | Rug: Rugs Usa | Glider: JcPenny simliar here | Giraffe: Pottery Barn Kids | Jumbo Plush Elephant: Pottery Barn Kids | Elephant Rocker: Pottery Barn Kids | Jumbo Animals: Learning Resources: here and here and here and here | Train: Hobby Lobby | Plane: Hobby Lobby similar here | Wire Basket: Target |
Today I thought I would share with you a few things I do to make motherhood a little bit easier. Motherhood is by no means easy, it is hard work! Especially with full time jobs, a house, a husband, etc.... I love learning from others moms and hearing what works for them so I don't have to complicate things or re-event the wheel. Again, this is just what works for me in my household and understand it may not work for you and your family. I would love to hear about some things you do too, so feel free to comment below.
1. Amazon Prime. I understand it is a $100 a year membership, but if you don't already have it, it is life changing! It is worth the investment and you totally get your moneys worth and more. You get exclusive products to non members and the best of all... TWO FREE DAY SHIPPING!!!! I can not tell you have many times I have forgotten about something and didn't have the time to run out to the store, so I just ordered it on Amazon. Especially when I was just at Target and forgot to get toilet paper.... happens all the time. I also have many things on a subscription and I just have it shipped out to me every month so I don't forget or worry about running out at the last minute. Some of the items I have on subscription are toilet paper, paper towels, and my face wash. I am so spoiled now with Amazon Prime that if I have to wait a long time or even have to pay for shipping...FORGET IT!
If you don't want to pay the hundred dollars for a prime membership, Target also offers subscription for specific items without any fees and offer discounts when you subscribe.
If you don't want to pay the hundred dollars for a prime membership, Target also offers subscription for specific items without any fees and offer discounts when you subscribe.
This is also why I love the The Honest Company. I have always been a bit of a germ and clean freak, but since becoming a mom it has been amplified. I love the comfort of knowing that what I am putting on Hudson and using to clean his toys and the house are safe for him. This is where I get all my cleaning supplies, Hudson's diapers, wipes, bath stuff, and even my feminine hygiene products. Again these are all things that I need and can't be without. They also offer subscriptions so I don't have to worry about ordering it and the overnight it! LIFE CHANGING!
My sister also recently told me about an app you can download for Sam's Club (we don't have a Costco) and you can scan all your items and pay straight from your phone and don't have to wait in all the lines! I am defiantly doing this.
2. Organization and Prioritizing. I have talk about this a bit in some previous post, but this has been so good for my physical and mental health. I am also a bit OCD so when I feel like I am all over the place I get stressed out and on edge, which then affects my relationships and the way I parent. With having two kids 5 days a week, preschool drop off, blogging, mom's club events, errands, laundry, and keeping up the house I have really need to crack down on what I'm doing and be smart about it.
I recently discovered this planner by Cori Clark from a fellow blogger friend (@themoderntulip) and my life will NEVER BE THE SAME. Again its a bit pricey, but totally worth the investment. For me I am investing into my life to be a better mother and you can't put a price tag on that. But this planner even helps you track how much water you drink! I mean come on! So good!
To not overwhelm myself I write all my events and appointments on my calendar looking at the whole month. Then I organize and detail it by the week, then by the day. The Cori Clark planner helps you do this too! It is important to me for Hudson to have a healthy balance of home time and outside of the home time. Whether that is mom clubs events, going to the library, or even to the park. When I look at my week ahead and it feels like there is too much going on, I will try to postpone something or even cancel it.
I even try and schedule some "me" time, which is usually spent getting my nails done. Super exciting, I know!
I even try and schedule some "me" time, which is usually spent getting my nails done. Super exciting, I know!
One area I need a lot of work in is meal planning. I have never been much of a cook, nor am I good at it. However, it is important for me to have a healthy diet and keep myself healthy. I mean there are days when I feel like I have a million things going on and I just won't eat. Or even worse, go for the bag of chips! The planner has helped me plan my meals for myself and the kids (Abrielle tells me we have the same thing for lunch all the time..opps) This has also helped me with not over spending at the grocery store and having food go to waste. Which happens often, which then helps me with my financies. There is even a monthly budget section too in this planner! YOU NEED IT!
I even plan the kids actives in my planner to make sure I have all the materials and ready the night before. I don't have the time to be digging around for things and looking on Pinterest while the kids are running around.
On a side note one thing that has really helped me with Abrielle since she is older, is every morning I give her a run down of the day. Even when it comes to brushing their teeth. This way, she knows what to expect and can avoid any possible tantrums. This has kept Abrielle excited about the day and has been loving it. She will always ask me what projects and meals I have planned for that day.
3. Clean as I go. Now let me just state that my house isn't perfect or 100% clean all the time. With two dogs, one that sheds ALL THE TIME, and two little humans, it is bound to get a bit messy. I am a bit OCD, which I try to manage in a healthy way and not let it control my life. However, with that comes other things. For example, I do not thrive well when things are messy and cluttered. This doesn't mean I never have dishes in the sink, trucks all over the floor, laundry hanging out of the basket, or floors that need to be mopped. For me, I perform better as a person and as a mother when things aren't in the way for me, so I have learned to clean as I go. For example: I usually wash the kid's stuff by hand and put the bigger stuff in the dishwasher. Right after Abrielle and Hudson eat, they love to run and play especially after breakfast. So while they are pre occupied, I will wash the dishes and wipe down the counters and table, and re heat my coffee for about the sixth time that morning. And even with the kids toys, I make them pick up all the toys and put them back before we leave for school. This has been so helpful for me, so things aren't just piling up and up and then I'm up till midnight cleaning. However, this doesn't mean I don't leave toys and dishes out and floors un-mopped. There are times when I am so wiped out by the end of the day, I just want to cuddle my little guy and read him a book, shower, and go to bed!!! It's a healthy balance. One I am still trying to navigate.
4. Wake up early. Trust me I don't like it either, but the good out weighs the bad on this one. I watch Abrielle, my niece. five days a week and she gets dropped off to me at 7 am. Monday thru Wednesday I have to have two kids fed, dressed and ready, dishes washed, bed made, toys picked up, and out the door by 8:40 AM. Getting ready with a toddler running around takes triple the time. So it just makes it easier for me to get a head start and be dressed and ready to go by the time she is dropped off. I get up between 5:30-5:45 AM and Hudson gets up between 6:30 -7:00 AM. I don't do full make-up everyday and I have learned to be really quick (haha). I only wash my hair two times a week so I don't have to curl my hair everyday. I may have to touch up the curls a little bit here and there, but I just don't have the time to curl it everyday. And any day we are just home and I don't have anything going on, I take full advantage of it and not get ready at all. But I do brush my teeth, wash my face, and put deodorant one. I may be completely exhausted, but it is so worth it. There is nothing like being a mommy and raising a little person.
5. Make the most out of nap times. Now I know this won't apply to all mommy's, because not all children nap. I remember when Hudson was a newborn I took full advantage of those newborn cuddles, because I knew they wouldn't last. When Hudson would nap I would hold him and either nap with him or just stare at him. Getting rest and bonding with a newborn is so important. Especially with those during the night feeding. All the housework and dishes can wait. However, I do know there is a reality and at some point stuff has to be done. At the beginning of my journey of motherhood I felt like I wasn't a good mother is I busy cleaning and getting stuff done while Hudson was awake. This led me to being up till 1 am cleaning, doing laundry, and working out. I was doing it all wrong, completely burnt out, and EXHAUSTED! Once I finally got into a schedule and a routine with Hudson, things got easier. I realized that I needed to take advantage of nap times, which also help Hudson get used to sleeping in his crib and not in my arms. When hudson naps, Abrielle will do a project or something (I will link below a super entertaining project to keep little ones busy and quit during a nap time) and try to get as much done around the house as possible. This is also where I find the time to blog. I used to work out during nap times, but once I started watching Abrielle, I work out after I put Hudson to bed. Not the most exciting or motivating, but hey, we got to do what we got to do.
There was a period of time when Hudson want't napping or only napping for 30 minutes and the Solly Wrap worked wonders for me to get stuff done around the house. He would also be asleep in like ten minutes! Best invention ever!
I hope this makes sense and if helpful for you.
Fun/Cheap Project: Okay, I cant take all the credit of this one. My sister-in-law, Abrielle's mommy, taught me this. She is like the ultimate mommy!!! Abrielle LOVES to do this and it keeps her busy for a good chunk of time and quiet while Hudson naps.
Materials:
This Learning Resources Science Kit from Amazon
One large bowl
Food Coloring
Baking Soda
Corn Starch
Vinegar
Water
I pull out the little kids table and fill up up some of the containers with the above materials. Fill large bowl up with some water and let them have a field day! Abrielle, just likes to mix things and see what she can come up with. The science kit always comes with some experiment ideas that you can also use too. Yes, it makes a mess.
5. Make the most out of nap times. Now I know this won't apply to all mommy's, because not all children nap. I remember when Hudson was a newborn I took full advantage of those newborn cuddles, because I knew they wouldn't last. When Hudson would nap I would hold him and either nap with him or just stare at him. Getting rest and bonding with a newborn is so important. Especially with those during the night feeding. All the housework and dishes can wait. However, I do know there is a reality and at some point stuff has to be done. At the beginning of my journey of motherhood I felt like I wasn't a good mother is I busy cleaning and getting stuff done while Hudson was awake. This led me to being up till 1 am cleaning, doing laundry, and working out. I was doing it all wrong, completely burnt out, and EXHAUSTED! Once I finally got into a schedule and a routine with Hudson, things got easier. I realized that I needed to take advantage of nap times, which also help Hudson get used to sleeping in his crib and not in my arms. When hudson naps, Abrielle will do a project or something (I will link below a super entertaining project to keep little ones busy and quit during a nap time) and try to get as much done around the house as possible. This is also where I find the time to blog. I used to work out during nap times, but once I started watching Abrielle, I work out after I put Hudson to bed. Not the most exciting or motivating, but hey, we got to do what we got to do.
There was a period of time when Hudson want't napping or only napping for 30 minutes and the Solly Wrap worked wonders for me to get stuff done around the house. He would also be asleep in like ten minutes! Best invention ever!
I hope this makes sense and if helpful for you.
Fun/Cheap Project: Okay, I cant take all the credit of this one. My sister-in-law, Abrielle's mommy, taught me this. She is like the ultimate mommy!!! Abrielle LOVES to do this and it keeps her busy for a good chunk of time and quiet while Hudson naps.
Materials:
This Learning Resources Science Kit from Amazon
One large bowl
Food Coloring
Baking Soda
Corn Starch
Vinegar
Water
I pull out the little kids table and fill up up some of the containers with the above materials. Fill large bowl up with some water and let them have a field day! Abrielle, just likes to mix things and see what she can come up with. The science kit always comes with some experiment ideas that you can also use too. Yes, it makes a mess.
ThIs was a great post!! Do you and your husband do date night or anything?
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