Top 3 Drinks To Keep Your Mom Energy Up!

Congratulations! You have a beautiful new baby in your life. They make you feel all gooey and warm when they're napping (which is pretty much always at this point), yawning, or cuddling into you. But with multiple wake up calls through the night, some uncomfortable or painful feeding times, and fluctuating hormones, you're probably not feeling like your best self. When you have a few easy ways to practice self-care as a new mom, you'll have tools to feel a little refreshed - even if you haven't slept in two days. Try these 5 ways to practice self-care as a new mom: 1. Find a group. Hanging out with your regular friends is great, but if they don't have their own kids, they may not understand the struggles that you are going through. Join a fitness class for new moms, reach out to someone you connected with at your prenatal classes, or join local new mom groups. Surrounding yourself with people who are in a similar life-phase can help you to talk through issues you may be dealing with. 2. Let people help you. Whether that means leaving baby with your mom or sister for an hour one afternoon so you can go for a walk, or accepting food that people will bring you. It's okay to let people help you, and it's even better when you feel comfortable ASKING for the help. Traditional cultures know that it takes a village to raise a child, not just the two parents. Know who you can lean on, and ask for the help when you need. 3. Book a massage or hair appointment. Not in the first few weeks - we're more realistic than that. But once you have a (somewhat) regular feeding schedule, try to book an appointment with a massage therapist or hair dresser that is close to your home. Leave baby with your partner, family member, confidant, etc. Pamper yourself a little and feel fresh. 4. Get ready for the day. There will be days that you don't see another human, or anticipate seeing any that you know. If you've ever worked as a solo-preneur, you know that putting on makeup and looking good can make you more productive. The same can be said for when you're a new mom. You might not feel like you want to put on makeup or brush your hair, but just try it out! Grab whatever outfit you feel you look cute in and also can still fit into (because #postpartumbod is real!). You don't have to do this everyday if you feel too overwhelmed by it. Try one day per week to start, and if you love it, add on a few more days. 5. Treat yourself once a day or once each week The treat does not need to be big. Maybe it's walking to your local coffee shop and getting a special drink, or even making your own matcha latte at home, or taking time to make a nourishing and healthy green smoothie. By adding something special for you on a regular basis, you get back a little bit of "me time" each week. Tell us how you practice(d) self-care as a new mom! Join our Facebook Group.

Most of the country (and the world) is in the midst of an unexpected staycation. While this is a crucial step to combat the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve, some of us are running out of things to do with ourselves, not to mention the kids. We are all at home, now what? We’ve come up with a list of things to do that are safe, fun and healthy! 1. Set a Routine Kids thrive when there’s a schedule to follow. Grab a big poster board and set some parameters for the day. Having a plan that includes quiet time, chores, schoolwork, mealtimes and some rewards (earned screen time, dessert) will make the days a little more structured and help everyone feel a bit more centered. And sure, staying in pj's all day seems like fun, but maybe keep that for the weekends. 2. Keep Learning Many schools are out for an “indefinite” amount of time, so keeping up with the lessons is crucial for so many reasons. Some schools have online learning set up, but there are also tons of great educational resources posted for free. Scholastic has created a free learn-from-home site with 20+ days of learning and activities for kids. 3. Go Low-tech for a Sec 20 years ago, we didn’t have phones and tablets to keep us busy, but we found ways to keep boredom at bay. Remember card games? A game of Monopoly or a puzzle can fill up an entire day. Building forts, art projects and putting on impromptu plays and puppet shows can also spark the imagination and creativity to keep the little minds sharp and active. 4. FaceTime Playdates Kids have grown up with this technology and can sit and chat with anyone from great Aunt Marge to their BFF for hours. Set up an age-appropriate game - both at their Lego sets and let them build “with” a friend. While you’re at it, lots of calls with grandparents will keep everyone’s spirits up. How about hosting a Skype dinner party? It will feel like you’re together, without all the dishes to do! 5. Storytime with a Star Celebrities are making the most of this time (they’re self isolating too!) by doing what they do best – entertaining. Have Josh Gad (better known as Olaf to the kids) read them a bedtime story on Twitter or gather around the laptop and John Legend will serenade your household! 6. (Virtually) Travel the World: It will be a while before we can all jump on a plane to see the different parts of the world, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see some of the amazing museums that we’ve been curious about. Travel and Leisure has virtual tours of 12 famous museums and galleries. Aim for one a day. 7. Get Exercise We all need to move our bodies, and kids tend to have excess energy to burn. Learn a dance routine, make a TikTok video, do a family yoga or stretching session. If you’re lucky enough to have a yard, go play outside! The benefits (from mood to a better night’s sleep) are amazing! 8. Learn/Teach Life Skills Sure, teenagers are a bit more self-sufficient, but they need some variety too. Why not pick a life skill to pass along to them? Teaching them to change a tire, fold a fitted sheet or balance a budget will be invaluable later in life and give you both a sense of accomplishment. 9. Cook Together While we’re talking about life skills, great grandma’s cinnamon rolls aren’t just going to make themselves… Get the kids involved in age-appropriate tasks. Just remember that washing hands and wiping down counters is even more important than usual. More tips here! 10. Talk about the Good & Limit the Fear We’re all feeling some angst about what’s going on and remember, so are your kids. Having the news on in the background may seem important but kids of all ages absorbs some of what they hear and that can add to their (and your) overall stress. Keep the news to a minimum and show them examples of how this pandemic is bringing people closer together. The Facebook posts thanking doctors, the nightly balcony sing-a-longs in Italy and all the helpers out there. The feeling that we’re all in this together and that there are heroes among us can be calming and inspiring to all age groups!

Starting the new school year can be tricky for many students and parents. This year, given the current circumstances, transition into the school year will undoubtedly look a bit different from the usual. Although change and challenges are inevitable, the staples of how to best handle them stay consistent. Routine, exercise, healthy food and proper sleep are all key to better handling stress, staying healthy, and best adapting to change. Getting Proper Sleep The importance of a good night’s sleep is huge! When parents and children obtain adequate sleep, it strengthens immunity, helps with academic performance, and is essential for stress management. School aged children need upwards of 9-12 hours of sleep per night.1 When it comes to sleep, routine and structure are important. Below are some ways to aid in ensuring a good routine and healthy sleep. Keep a consistent bedtime and wake up schedule, even on the weekends. Avoid screens at least one hour before bed. Have a warm cup of magnesium before bed. This will promote relaxation and aid in a restful sleep. Try taking a hot bath to wind down in the evening. Making Exercise a Priority When the weather allows it, get the kiddies and yourself outside and enjoy being active. Daily activity will help keep the mind sharp, promote sound sleep and help your body better adapt to stress. When you make exercise a priority, your body and mind will thank you in the end. Below are some helpful tips to stay active. If studying from home, get up and stretch between lectures or go for a brisk walk around the block. Find a fun 20-minute workout video online that everyone in the family can do together. Commit to doing it 3-5 times a week. Find ways to keep moving. If possible, walk to school or to the grocery store, or take a brisk walk on your lunch break. All of these steps will add up by the end of the day. Making Healthy Food Choices Eating a diet rich in whole, nutritious foods, will help keep your immune system in check for the new school year. Fall is the season to invest in rich broths and protein sources, such as collagen, to keep the immune system going strong! Adding rich greens whenever possible will ensure you are getting your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, which will help optimize academic performance. Having healthy food on hand and prepped in advance will help make eating healthy in the transition of the new school year easier. Some tips for success are found below. Meal prepping on the weekends will save you time during the week and will ensure healthy food is always available. Try making a large batch of bone broth soup or stew and refrigerate/freeze portions to eat at a later time. Prep morning smoothies the night before. Fill a smoothie cup with fruit, collagen powder, and greens such as spinach, spirulina or chlorella, and store it in the fridge overnight. Quickly add a liquid base before blending in the morning, and you have breakfast in a minute! Keep some healthy snacks and beverages in your school locker or book bag to avoid trips to the vending machine. Effervess from Organika is a fun and healthy way to add some ‘jazz’ to your water in place of sugar dense beverages. Take time to adapt to change. Little measures added weekly will make big changes fast! Best of luck with the new school year! Amy Wilson Reference How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need? (2020, September 03). Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/how-much-sleep-do-kids-need