Mommy

Self Care Gift Ideas for Her

Filed Under: Gifts, Mommy December 10, 2020

6 Self Care Gift Ideas for Her

Self-Care isn’t about over indulging or being selfish, it’s about deliberately taking care of yourself so that you can be your best to take care of others. Sometimes it’s the little things that just make you feel better and give you the extra ‘oomph’ you need to get through.

Here are a few of my favorite self-care gift ideas for her that can be a stand alone present, part of a gift basket, or stocking suffer!

Lauren Conrad Liquid Eyeliner

Feeling good about how you look makes a difference to your day. Have some fun, be bold and let your eyes stand out with this incredible (and affordable @ $20!) eyeliner from Lauren Conrad Beauty. See more of my favorite Lauren Conrad Beauty items.

Dermatonics Hard Skin Removing Balm

This stuff is like pure magic. It takes cracked heals and callused feet and makes them feel incredibly smooth and sets you up to be ready to walk your road more comfortably. It literally shows a difference in the first 24 hours. I have tried so many products that didn’t work, but this one is worth every penny! Plus it’s not too greasy and has a light sweet scent.

Kopari Coconut Body Milk

I love the Kopari brand, and this body milk does an amazing job of moisturizing even the driest of skin while not leaving you feeling greasy. It has a light scent so it isn’t overwhelming. Soothes dry, itchy skin and leaves it feeling soft and smooth!

Stella & Grace Rose Gold Face Roller

This Rose Gold face roller says it helps with lymphatic drainage, firms the look of the skin and reduces puffiness while helping you relax and destress. I am not a skin expert and can’t speak to the lymphatic drainage but I can tell you it’s incredibly relaxing and does help with puffiness.

Heir Atelier Lip Primer

This primer from Heir Atelier gives you silky smooth lips and prevents lipstick from feeling dry and cracked. It can be used alone or with lipstick/lip gloss. Check out my full review in this Favorite Beauty Products post!

Heir Atelier Face Primer

Face primers help create a smooth base for makeup, can help foundation last longer, and can give an extra boost of hydration to skin. Not all face primers are made equally though. This primer from Heir Atelier is an absolute favorite for myself and as a gift to others- my mom absolutely loves it too and says she sees a notable difference with and without it.

More Beauty Product Suggestions

Self Care Gift Ideas- Scrubs in a Jar

Filed Under: Creative, Mommy December 10, 2020

Self Care Gift Ideas – DIY Scrubs for Lips, Body & Feet

Self care is something we often neglect because we’re busy and it feels like an extra step that we can do without. The fact is though, in order to take care of others we have to take care of ourselves. You don’t expect a car to run without gas (or an electric charge in some cases). Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for Christmas, birthday, or a way to say ‘thank you’ a DIY sugar scrub are a great answer. They are also a great idea if you are just looking for a way to save some money but still take care of you also. Check out Self Care Gift Ideas for Her for more gift suggestions!

Lip Scrubs

Lip scrubs exfoliate and make lips feel so soft and smooth! These are especially nice during winter months when the air is dryer! Exfoliating and cleansing your lips on a weekly basis will keep them soft and help them to retain moisture allowing those painful cracks to be avoided.

DIY Honey Vanilla Lip Scrub from Fit as a Mama Bear

DIY Lip Scrub from The Honest Co.

Lip Scrub from Blessed Beyond Crazy

Body Scrubs

Body scrubs are pretty and oh so useful when it comes to making your skin feel soft and beautiful. The scrubs help promote skin cell turnover, remove dead cells from the skins surface, soften rough skin and draw out impurities. They are also a great way to relax after a long day! These DIY scrubs are a perfect idea for kids or adult gifts that are not only pretty and useful but affordable for you as well.

Mermaid Body Scrub

For the Disney Fans in your life you could make this “Ariel’s Scrub”!

Mint Body Scrub

Edible Sugar Scrub

Disney’s Jasmin Sugar Scrub Cube

Dole Whip Body Scrub

Elsa inspired Frozen Body Scrub

Mickey Mouse Inspired Body Scrub

You can also check out these Gifts for Disney Fans!

Mad Hatter Sugar Scrub

Raspberry Sugar Scrub

Foot Scrub

Foot Scrubs can help with cracked heels and smooths skin. It also is good for boosting blood circulation and is a stress reliever. All the more reason these are great gift ideas or self care ideas to use at home for you!
Citrus Foot Soak

Homemade Foot Scrub

Need More Gift Ideas?

Recipes for Jar Gifts {Soup, Spices}

Lauren Conrad Beauty Makeup Review

Review of Lauren Conrad Beauty Makeup

Filed Under: Mommy December 7, 2020

Lauren Conrad Beauty’s Makeup Line

Lauren Conrad is a Reality Tv Star, DIY Queen, Fashion Designer, Blogger, Author, etc. and now she is taking on beauty.
Your favorite celebrity comes out with a new makeup line and you want to try it, but wonder is it truly worth it? After all, everybody is stamping their name on something these days and trying to sell it. Lucky for you, in this instance, I’ve tried some of the product offerings and have an honest review of the Lauren Conrad makeup products.
Many know Conrad from one (or all) of the following- her Laguna Beach or Hills days, her LC Lauren Conrad clothing line, her Lauren Conrad Blog that offers DIY tips and tricks as well as advice, her books (both fiction and non-fiction), her DIY style, or maybe The Little Market which is a fair-trade market she co-founded.
The Insider interviewed Lauren and asked how Lauren Conrad Beauty would stand apart from other brands. “I wanted to create a line for someone like me. I don’t have time to do a 45-minute makeup routine. I have two small kids, a pretty hands-on job, and so I can’t be too precious with my makeup” Conrad answered adding that she wanted products that were made with clean formulas and were easy to apply.

What Is Lauren Conrad Makeup?

The new line of makeup brought to us via Lauren Conrad Beauty states on its website that it is “Clean, Uncomplicated Beauty.” The makeup is eco-friendly, vegan and cruelty-free and is as gentle on your skin as it is the planet according to the site. Clean, uncomplicated, gentle on skin- all things that women (especially moms) can find very helpful. An added bonus to all of this- it’s not outrageously priced! It’s completely affordable, which is another big win. Who doesn’t want make up that is clean, uncomplicated, vegan, cruelty free & affordable?

What exactly is Vegan Makeup?

A vegan product does not contain any animal or animal-derived ingredients. This includes (but not limited to) honey, beeswax, collagen, gelatin, etc. It’s important to note that just because a product is marked vegan it doesn’t mean it’s not tested on animals, this is where the phrase “cruelty-free” comes in.

What is Cruelty-free Makeup?

This means that there has been no form of animal testing at any point in the creation of the product. It’s common for companies to not test the final product on animals but often it will be tested along the way or use ingredients that have been tested on animals by a third party. There are still big well-known brands that test on animals even today so it’s a good idea to be on the lookout for this.

What is Clean Beauty?

Clean Beauty is used to signal that the products don’t contain certain ingredients (both natural or synthetic) that are considered controversial or unsafe, for example parabens or talc. As a side note, there is no formal regulation of clean beauty so it’s not as simple as just looking for labels if you are on the search for this type of makeup. In the instance of Lauren Conrad Beauty, I 100% believe that their statement of clean beauty is accurate based on the Lauren Conrad brand.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

The packaging is made using recyclable, compostable materials and choosing partners that are committed to using less energy and water. The brand is so committed to being eco-friendly and promoting recycling that they even have instructions on how to recycle the products on the website.

Lauren Conrad Beauty Products

Now to the products themselves. They checked the boxes of being Clean, Eco Friendly, Vegan, Cruelty-free, but does it work?

The Liquid Highlighter

The Liquid Highlighter says you can get “a youthful glow with this buildable formula’s light to medium coverage and lightweight, luminous finish.”(LaurenConradBeauty.com)

While the Liquid Highlighter may be considered to be one of the pricier items, $26 for .37fl oz, it does give you a nice subtle glow that you can build on. I love that it doesn’t make it look like you’ve been smacked with a shimmer stick and instead gives you a subtle highlight especially in natural light. While the size is small, it doesn’t require a lot and so the product does still last.

The Mascara

“A rich color mascara that creates fuller looking lashes. Gives your lashes definition and length with a natural volume effect. Smudge-proof, flake-free lashes that are soft to the touch” (LaurenConradBeauty.com)

The mascara ($20) is good, but I would say it’s general mascara. I haven’t had any issue with it flaking or smudging which is a plus but I can’t say that it gives fuller-looking lashes or length so if that’s what you are looking for I wouldn’t recommend it. However if you are looking for a general good mascara, it’s a good buy.

The Eyebrow Pencil

“A soft, lightweight pencil for buildable, medium coverage with a semi-matte finish that’s smear-resistant.” from Laurenconradbeauty.com

The eyebrow pencil ($22) comes in Dark Brown, Light Brown, Blonde and Light Blonde. I haven’t used an eyebrow pencil in the past, as most of the time when I see people who have it’s very obvious that they’ve used a product on their brows. I wasn’t sure about the color to use, my natural hair color is dark brown, but my hair is colored lighter. Based on the pictures on the website, I went with the light brown which worked perfectly. It is dark enough to fill in and see but not so dark that it looks fake. I’m super happy with the results of it and totally recommend checking it out.

The Eyeliner Pencil

“Glides on easily with it’s smooth, creamy texture and leaves you with a matte finish that is rich in color, lightweight, and stays true through wear.” from Laurenconradbeauty.com
I use the pencil ($18) for the liner at the bottom of my eye. It has a rich color, glides on easily, and does have a matte finish that lasts through the day. Previously I’ve used Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eye Pencil ($28) and Benefit Eyeliner Pencil ($20), this is equally as good as both and it’s cheaper!

The Liquid Eyeliner

“Line your lashes with rich color that stays true through wear with its lightweight non-smearing formula” from Laurenconradbeauty.com
If there is one product in this line that I expected perfection from it was this one. After all, Lauren Conrad is known for her eyeliner. The liquid eyeliner ($20) doesn’t disappoint. It glides on smooth, is easily buildable, dries unbelievably fast and doesn’t smear. I’ve always found it difficult to find a good liquid eyeliner that had a rich color to it and that dried quickly but the search over. This is probably my favorite so far of all the products.

I look forward to trying the other products such as the Lip & Cheek Tint ($20). There’s also an Eyeshadow Palette ($29), Powder Blush ($25), Lipstick ($20), and Lip Gloss ($18) available. Recently added as well as a skincare line- which I cannot wait to try!

The Verdict

The Lauren Conrad Beauty products are all that they claim to be as well as affordable. You won’t find too much in the way of a bold look, as the makeup is made to give you a clean, natural look which works great for everyday wear. It’s a great solution especially for busy moms who want a quick makeup routine that doesn’t take them all morning.

Have you tried the Lauren Conrad Beauty Makeup? What did you think?

Buying Gently Used Baby & Kid Items with Markid

Filed Under: Mommy November 30, 2020

Buying & Selling Baby Items Online

As parents, we’ve all come to that crossroads where our baby/child has outgrown an item and we wonder what to do with it. There are times when we have a family member or friend that can use it and we can give it away which is awesome, but what about when we don’t know anyone who could use it and don’t want to throw it out?

Baby gear is expensive and often you don’t get your money out of the use, however, it is still needed at the moment. As your child grows there are other things that you have to buy for new moments, so why not try and sell some of those gently used items to help you save on the new? You are not only helping someone else out by helping them find it for a lower price than new but also helping yourself out by using that money to put towards other items you need.

Say Hello to Markid

Markid is an app that can be downloaded giving you access to a community of parents that are looking for gently used baby and children items. The app is specifically geared towards parents looking to buy/sell children’s items which means that you don’t have to worry about getting lost in a general marketplace.

For a buyer, it means that you have a place to go that specifically sells kid’s items. The US Department of Agriculture says that every child estimates an average yearly clothing expense of $737. That just takes into account regular clothes, not things for special occasions, sports, or activities such as dance.

The US Department of Agriculture also states that the average middle-income family spends $12,000 to $13,000 on their baby’s first year of life.

Why Buy Gently Used?

There are so many things that you buy for an infant, and as many parents know; there are some things you will buy that they won’t even like. For example, with my daughter, we had gotten a baby swing (because every baby loves a swing) and she HATED it. I tried easing her into it, putting it on the lowest setting- I really tried but to no avail. We couldn’t take it back because it had been un-boxed so it sat in the corner of a room unused.

Another commonly underused item for babies is clothes. Some babies grow fast and they never get the chance to wear clothes or just wear them a couple of times. Then there are the instances where the size is off-season- for example winter wear in summer (in Florida no less). Even with toddlers and kids, sometimes you buy clothes and suddenly there’s a growth spurt and it’s never worn.

It’s reasons such as these that buying gently used baby and kid items works especially with babies and kids’ items. There’s a great post, The Green Impact of Going Used that discusses the multiple benefits of going used such as saving money and reducing waste.

Examples of Savings on Markid

Here are a few examples of the deals that can be found on Markid!

Graco Duel Sooth & Swing Rocker

New: $118.99 Markid: $30

Loveevery Play Gym

New: $140.00. Markid: $90

Baby Bjorn Bouncer

New: 199.99 Markid: $145

Baby Bjorn Cradle Bassinet

New: 350.00. Markid: $245 (NEW)

Somethings are Markid are local meetup and some are shipping (or both). It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for baby & kid items!

There are so many benefits to buying and selling gently used baby items. Whether it helps you declutter, make some extra cash to put towards the things your child needs as they grow, save some cash and still get quality baby items, it is a win-win situation for all.

Download the Markid App!

Apple App Store Google Play

Money Saving Opportunities on Breakfast, Lunch & More

Filed Under: Savings November 3, 2020

Money Saving Opportunites

Whether it’s savings on items for kids breakfast & lunches, Motrin, or Advil for your election time headache (or is that just me?) here are some coupons to help save you some money on your next grocery bill! After all, with the year that we’ve had money saving opportunities are always welcome!

Coupons for Kids Breakfast and Lunches

Looking for some savings on kids’ breakfast and lunch products? Here are some great coupons to help you save on your grocery bill! They include Yoplait Yogurt, Welche’s Fruit Snacks, Nature Valley Granola Bars, and General Mills Cereals.

Save $1.50 when you buy TWO PACKS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt Multipack (Includes 8-Pack Fridge Pack, Beverage, Go-GURT®, …

Save $1.00 On any TWO (2) Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, Fruit ‘n Yogurt™ Snacks or Fruit Rolls (8oz or larger bag or 6ct or larger box)

Save $1.00 when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety 4 COUNT OR LARGER Nature Valley™ Granola Bars, Biscuits, ...

Save $1.00 when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor General Mills cereal listed: Cheerios™ • Cinnamon Toast Crunch™ • Lucky Charms™ ...

Well-being and Healthcare Coupons

From cold and flu season to allergies and aches & pains, these coupons will save you some money on your well-being and health care needs!

Save $1.50 any ONE (1) Mucinex or Delsym Product

Save $2.00 when you buy ONE (1) Children's ZYRTEC® product, any variety. Excludes trial & travel sizes

Save $2.00 on any ONE (1) ZICAM® Product (excludes 5ct)

Save $1.00 any ONE (1) Adult MOTRIN® Product

Save $1.00 on ONE (1) Advil or Advil PM 18ct or larger

For The Home Coupons

I love Air Wick scents! Here’s a coupon to either get you started with your first Air Wick or to save on some Air Wick refills!

Save $1.50 any ONE (1) Air Wick® Scented Oil Starter Kit

Save $1.50 any ONE (1) Air Wick® Scented Oil Twin Refill

More Coupon Savings

Lego Advent Calendars Available at Target

Filed Under: Kids October 26, 2020

Legos, Creativity and Gender Equality

Lego toys are fantastic because kids love them and they are educational as well. They inspire and encourage creativity and critical thinking. The company is known for promoting creativity and promoting gender-equal creativity, as seen in their 1974 letter (Snopes Fact Check) explaining that both girls and boys benefit and enjoy building with Legos.

Lego Advent Calendars 2020 at Target

Here are some fun Lego Advent Calendars available at Target! These are great gift ideas for kids and serve as a great addition to any Lego collection!

Lego City Advent Calendar

Lego Friends

Lego Star Wars

Lego Harry Potter

More Lego fun-

How Do I Cook With My Kids?

Filed Under: Kids, Mommy October 23, 2020

How Do I Cook With My Kids and Not Go Crazy?

There are so many benefits to cooking with kids in the kitchen. It’s quality time that can be spent together but also teaches them many critical life skills during the process as well. Getting started can be a bit of a struggle sometimes. Knowing what is appropriate based on their age, finding a healthy recipe to cook with them, or figuring out ways to involve kids in the kitchen can get tricky (and let’s face it kind of intimidating) when you actually get into it.

Resources To Help You Start Cooking With Kids

I recently found some great resources to help answer all of these questions! These provide some answers and ideas bringing kids in the kitchen to not only learn but help you out.

Fit Mama Real Food
This site has a page dedicated specifically to cooking with kids and she has some super helpful resources on the topic!

Teaching Kids to Cook By Age
100+ Simple Ways to Involve Kids In The Kitchen

Heather offers some great tips and advice. She’s a mom of four so you know life has to be hectic and she can understand the challenges that come up with bringing kids into the kitchen to help.

Food Network Recipes with Kids

Another great resource is Food Network, with their Cooking with Kids section which offers recipes to make with kids, as well as ideas on kitchen task and easy baking projects.

Cooking Task Kids Can Help With at Every Age

Kids Health from Nemours

Nemours is a trusted health resource and offers some advice on Cooking with Kids as well. Here are some of their suggestions:

Pick the Right time

Create opportunities for cooking with your kids when you aren’t short on time. If someone is hangry, it’s probably not a good time to try it.

Find Your Strategy

Prep work- Depending on your child/s age it can be easier if you do some prep work that could be pre-measuring for little ones, or pre-cutting things.

Set expectations

Most things work better when you set up the expectations upfront and this is no exception. Explain the boundaries and rules of the kitchen. If there’s a task an adult must complete let them know upfront.

Start Small

Keep it simple at first and let them complete a task that is small and easy to do with minimal assistance. This allows kids to build their skills slowly and the more you do it the more challenging the task can become.

Don’t Forget Breaks

Kids don’t have the longest of attention spans sometimes so it’s good to keep this in mind. For younger kids, it’s a good idea to give them a little bit of a break understanding they may not be ready to follow through from start to finish.

Acknowledge Their Work

Don’t forget to provide encouragement and affirm their accomplishments. Be as specific/descriptive as possible with how they are doing a good job. For example, instead of just “great job!” you could say, “you did a great job mixing all the ingredients together and making sure they are all combined!” If something goes wrong, remind them it happens to everyone, and as long as they learn from it.

Kitchen Tools For Kids

Here are some tools from Amazon that are helpful and kid-friendly!

There are so many memories and lessons that are learned in the kitchen that kids will hold on to for years to come. It can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, so remember when those moments come, it’s not just you. There will be really fun and good moments too. The good moments will do your heart better than you can imagine!

Feeling overwhelmed with motherhood? Check out the post below!

Kids are Great Cooks

Filed Under: Kids October 14, 2020

Why Should Kids Learn How to Cook?

If there’s something 2020 has definitely taught us; it’s the importance of life skills. Due to the convenience of most things, we often take life skills for granted…that is until everything is closed, or supplies are limited. Cooking is a vital life skill that even if you are someone who doesn’t prefer to do it, you still need to be capable of it which is why kids should learn how to cook. Cooking involves critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

“If you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you, and you feed him for a lifetime. -Unknown”

What Skills Does Cooking Involve?

It is an activity that engages all the senses: smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, and seeing.
Temperature- converting temperatures for a recipe
Time- working on cooking times based on weight
Measurements- measuring correct quantities or changing measurements based on quantities that are being made.
Colors and Shapes
Fractions
Hand-eye coordination
Reading

Cooking Helps Teach Kids About:

There are many things that teaching children to cook helps teach them that goes beyond just nutrition for their bodies.

Family traditions with certain foods or meals
Other cultures
Combining flavors
Presentation
Science (what happens when certain ingredients are mixed together)
Promotes healthy eating
Promotes awareness about what you are eating
Math

Dr. Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, FAAP, a practicing pediatrician, joyful experiences involving food can help kids overcome the anxiety they may have around tasting the unfamiliar. Over time, cooking with kids can help build confidence and provide rich sensory experiences.

Research has shown that cooking at home often leads to healthier meals. According to research from John Hopkins, when cooking at home people consume less sugar and fat.

Empowering Children to Learn to Cook

Kids Are Great Cooks Subscription Box

So how do you help your kids learn to cook? What if you aren’t all that experienced yourself in the kitchen? I was recently able to try out a new subscription service called Kids Are Great Cooks. It is a monthly cooking club for kids that teaches them to cook with step by step instructions, build kitchen skills, grow self-confidence, and increase their independence in the kitchen. The box is aimed at kids from 7-14+.

The Difference in Kids Are Great Cooks

There are many subscription boxes out there, and there are websites that you can google recipes on, however, what makes Kids Are Great Cooks stand out is the video tutorials for each recipe. The videos are taught by kids and give more details about how to prepare a dish. The additional details include things such as what the consistency of something should look like, as well as kitchen tips which explain the different types of pots and pans as well as what types of tools you should use for them (wood, plastic, metal) depending on if it is a stainless-steel material or non-stick material. One thing that really sets this subscription box apart from others is the kid led videos.

Kids are Great Cooks Apron — The apron that comes in the first box

There are also bloopers and outtakes which are fun because they give a behind the scenes view to kids.

The Kids Are Great Cooks Blog has some fantastic information for kids (and adults!) where topics such as seasoning and flavorings, kitchen tools, herbs, kitchen how-to and more are covered. If you need an indication of the expertise that will be provided in the subscription I recommend checking out the blog. It’s detailed and there is a wealth of knowledge that is well laid out and authored by kids so that it isn’t overwhelming.

They offer three plans, a 3-month plan at $28/kit, a 6-month plan at $26/kit, or a 12-month Plan at $24/kit. You can check out what the subscription plans include on the subscription page.

Additional resources on the benefits of kids learning to cook:

https://mommyuniversitynj.com/2015/03/16/10-benefits-of-cooking-with-kids/

https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/developing-early-mathematical-skills-through-cooking/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/learning-to-cook-and-cook_b_1099863?

What is Dermaplaning? The At Home DIY Explanation

Filed Under: Mommy September 24, 2020

I’m not into the trendy beauty treatment thing because let’s face it, most of the trendy stuff that goes around is too good to be true and I don’t have the time for it. One of my favorite Instagrammers, Abby with The Chic Mamas, works in the dermatology field, and she’s straight forward about things which has made her a “go-to” especially when it comes to skincare. A few months back, during quarantine she shared a DIY option for dermaplaning at home to get smooth skin. I had never heard of it prior to Abby’s explanation and always thought that if you were to “shave” the hair on your face it would come back thicker and with a vengeance. I was happy to find out that wasn’t the case and about all of the healthy skin benefits that dermaplaning offers.

What is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is an exfoliating treatment that involves shaving your face with a single blade (resembles a scalpel) to help remove the dead skin cells and peach fuzz. By removing the top layer of skin (the dead skin cells) it allows skincare products to absorb better and helps to boost collagen production which decreases fine lines and wrinkles.

Dermaplaning is performed with (very sharp) surgical scalpels by professionals in a dermatologist office.

Why is Dermaplaning Important?

Over time, your skin builds up dead skin cells on your face which can lead to breakouts and dull skin. It takes care of the layers (and layers) of dead skin cells that are just hanging out on your face. For some, peach fuzz can add a slightly dingy look to skin especially around the hairline, ears and chin. When that is removed it can allow for skin to be more even toned.

What’s the Difference Between Professional Treatment and DIY?

Rachel Roff, CEO and Founder of UrbanSkinRX, explains “In a professional office setting, such as a dermatologist office or medical spa, the treatment is performed by a licensed aesthetician using a surgical blade that you can only purchase with a license, with this professional-grade blade, clients receive deeper exfoliation that wouldn’t normally get when they perform it themselves. Plus, in-office treatments provide additional treatments clients can add to their treatment to achieve optimal results.”

What are the Side Effects of Dermaplaning?

I know what you’re probably wondering. Will it make the hair grow back thicker? The answer is no. As explained by Dara Levy, the founder of Dermaflash, “The hair on a woman’s face is called vellus hair (a.k.a peach fuzz) and is soft and fine, the hair on a man’s face is called terminal hair and each piece is like a strand of copper wire. [Dermaplaning] removes the fuzz just above the surface of the skin and does not (and cannot) impact the growth, color or texture of a woman’s facial hair.”

Tools Needed for At-Home Dermaplaning

These Schick Silk Touch-Up Multipurpose Exfoliating Dermaplaning Tool work great and they are only $4.99 on Amazon!

How to Dermaplaning at Home-

First, you will thoroughly cleanse and dry your skin.
Next, take your blade in one hand and place it at the jawline. Hold the skin tight/taut with your opposite hand. Then stroke the dermaplaning tool in short, feathery like strokes downward. Continue until you have covered the full cheek and jawline area on both sides.
Repeat on the lip, chin, nose, forehead, and neck. Do not repeat strokes on an area you have already covered.
Once you’re done, apply your treatment product or your moisturizer. You can repeat these steps every 3-4 days. Some people find that they are happy with doing it every 2-3 weeks so it depends on your preference.

# Tips and Reminders for Dermaplaning at Home

It’s also important to note if you have any breakouts you want to skip those areas or wait until your skin has cleared up before trying this at home.
If you have sensitive skin this at-home treatment may not be for you
Because you have just exfoliated your skin, you’ll want to be careful with your sun exposure.

I love this at-home option because it’s one less appointment that I have to try and get to (or make time for) and it’s an easy way to practice some self-care at home. It makes skin feel super soft as it removes pore-clogging dead skin cells and promotes cell turnover. Plus, there aren’t worries of the hair coming back thicker, is a huge relief!

The Truth About Motherhood and Being An Awesome Mom

Filed Under: Mommy September 11, 2020

The Truth About Motherhood

Motherhood is beautiful, chaotic, confusing, overwhelming, and amazing- sometimes all at once. It can bring you to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. To grow and birth a human from one’s own body is an amazing, monumental experience. At some point though, we started treating it like it should be an easy, leisurely walk in the park. This mindset sets us all up to feel like failures when things don’t go as smoothly as we anticipated. The problem really comes in because are so entangled in the weeds that it is hard for us to see no, it isn’t because we are weak or incapable- it’s because it really is hard.

A while back, I was listening to Lauren Conrad’s “Asking for a Friend” Podcast and her guest was Leslie Anne Bruce, a best-selling New York Times author who was coming out with a new book about transitioning into motherhood. The podcast quote started off with this quote from her-

“I always say when it comes to mom guilt, we try so hard to to avoid it but I say lean into it. Bathe in that guilt. Let it cover you. Because I think that feeling guilty is a really, really awesome reminder of how much we care about our kids.”

I had never heard anyone put it quite that way, it’s always been ‘ignore the mom guilt’ or ‘push past the guilt’ and her statement just clicked. You don’t have to ignore it or try and push past it, just accept it’s a reminder that you are aware that you want to do your best for your kid(s) and that you’re conscious of how you try and handle things.

The book is titled “You are a F*cking Awesome Mom: So, Embrace the Chaos, Get Over the Guilt, and Be True to You.” I’ll be totally upfront and honest… I grew up in the south, in the bible belt, so when I saw the title it wasn’t something I would have just picked up, which I why I felt it was important to create this review.

“You are a F*cking Awesome Mom” is one of the most brilliant, honest books that I have ever read. In listening to the first chapter, I literally started crying because it was like validation that I was not alone in my feelings of just how overwhelming it all is. The book also helps connect the dots of why motherhood and transitioning into it is harder for women now. Leslie points out that while many of us have been raised as “hear me roar” girl, which is incredible and great, we sort of lost some of that generational knowledge of motherhood being passed down.

While (as it points out in the book) it is fantastic that women are now recognized as being capable of more than just motherhood it also makes it way more difficult than it was for previous generations because women today are having children later than prior generations meaning they’ve experienced more and know themselves a little better than they did at eighteen. I love that at one point in the book Leslie asks the question, that many of us have wondered after having a baby, “how did those teen moms do it?” Once again, it comes back around to the older we get, the more experience and knowledge we have which makes us view things from a different perspective.

I was growing someone new and somewhere in my subconscious, I must’ve known I was becoming someone new. Which meant I had to say goodbye to the woman I’d spent 32 years being. I just didn’t realize this at the time. So instead of preparing for my own transformation on top of stockpiling diapers and burp clothes, I kept telling myself I’d get back to being myself soon.

Easily Managed Motherhood quote by Leslie Anne Bruce

In the book, Bruce talks about how we expect ourselves to “tackle motherhood with the same self-sufficient self-gusto that we exhibited in our pre-baby lives” which is like comparing apples to…a chair. It’s two completely different things. Growing a baby inside your body and birthing that baby is a big deal. It’s a monumental experience that we’ve tried to make just another Tuesday which leads us to feel like we’re not up to par because we are judging ourselves by this measuring stick that just doesn’t apply.

You are an F*cking Awesome Mom is the book that delves into the true pre-baby checklist that all of those other baby books and baby prep classes skip over. How you are changing during pregnancy and why we feel that post-partum identity struggle.

Quote from You are an effing awesome mom

About the Author

Leslie Anne Bruce is a New York Times Best Selling Author, Award-Winning

Entertainment Journalist, Online Community Builder, Wife, and Mother of two as well as one of my new heroes. You can check out her blog, Unpacified which was launched in 2016 with the goal of connecting with women and offering support as they fumble through motherhood. You can also find her on Instagram as leslieannebruce.

Major Points in the Book

Motherhood is gonna come at you like a thief in the night. You never had a chance because you never saw it coming.
No one tells you the full story
Pregnancy is not just about growing a baby, it’s about you preparing yourself to be a mom and transitioning into this new life.
The importance of self-care
The truth about the Insta Mom
Conflicting feelings are OK
Sleep is a REQUIREMENT not a luxury. There’s a reason sleep deprivation is a torture technique.
How you feed your baby is NOT up for public debate.

I could write a much longer list, but you’ll get more from it if you read the book.

Motherhood is like a Thief in the Night Quote

What I Loved

I related so much to this book it was just insane. My youngest is now six, and my oldest nine, but it helped me understand so much of my struggle and that it was ok. Motherhood is a big deal, which is why we struggle and sometimes fumble through. I wish this book had been around the first time that I got pregnant, I feel it would have made things easier.

The Verdict

I feel like OB’s should give a copy of this book to women at their first sonogram. It’s completely and totally legit. It’s the parenting book that talks about how pregnancy is the time that is preparing you for motherhood, it’s not just about growing a baby inside you and getting the world outside ready for that new life.

I understand the reluctance with the title; however, this book is full of so much that expectant moms/new moms/ moms in general, can find helpful that I think it’s worth checking out. There’s some colorful language but it’s not in an offensive manner at all (which is probably why it’s referred to as ‘colorful’).

If you have someone in your life that is expecting, or that has young kids this makes a great gift. If you are expecting or have kids, it’s something worth reading. Even though it is focused on expectant and new moms, there is a lot in there for experienced moms as well such as knowing that you weren’t alone with those feelings and understanding some of the reasons behind the struggles you face(d).

Make sure you check out Leslie on Instagram, she’s one of my favorite accounts because she is entertaining and thought-provoking.

Mommy

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The Truth About Motherhood

About the Author

Major Points in the Book

What I Loved

The Verdict

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