Family

Self-Care for Busy Moms

- Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AGummyYouCanTrust #NatureMade #NatureMadeAdultGummies #USP #CollectiveBias

Taking care of a family is impossible if you haven't taken time to care for yourself, too. It isn't selfish to make sure you're in top form for those you love. Here are my favorite self-care tips for busy moms who may not feel like they have a ton of time for themselves. One tip is to be sure to take your vitamins daily, like Nature Made® Energy†† B12 Adult Gummies and Nature Made® Vitamin C Adult Gummies. † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure prevent any diseases. [AD] #AGummyYouCanTrust #NatureMade #NatureMadeAdultGummies #USP

Sometimes, as a mom, you find yourself feeling a little bit drained. It’s so important to make sure everyone gets everywhere they need to be and that everyone actually gets there wearing pants and shoes and all of the essentials. It’s hard to ensure that all of the laundry gets folded, that all of the meals get made, and oh yeah, maybe taking some time for yourself, too. All too often, as moms, we push ourselves to back burner– we make sure that everyone in our family is taken care of, but when we run out of hours in the day, we tend to neglect ourselves. I have quickly started to realize that filling up other’s cups when yours is empty can be quite the challenge, so I’ve been making intentional time for self-care, and I can’t wait to share my tips for easy self-care ideas (when you’re pressed for time), starting with taking your vitamins!

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Period Survival Essentials

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PeriodConfidence #TryTheDivaCup #CollectiveBias

Periods sometimes suck, but they don't have to. A few period survival essentials can help, and I've got some you'll want to tell all of your friends about. | vaginal health | periods and menstruation | the care and keeping of your body | #PeriodConfidence #TryTheDivaCup [ad]

I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend of mine, telling her how excited I was for my upcoming beach vacation. She asked if I planned to spend a lot of time in the water, and I remember leaning over to her and saying “I do, but I’m… I mean… I’m” I affected a very quiet whisper and leaned in closer “going to be on my period.” For me, that was the kiss of death for my vacation, and it meant I’d be sidelined for pool and beach activities, instead sitting and reading. It was then that my friend did something out of character… she pulled a small pouch from her bag and said, much louder than my initial whisper, “How about a menstrual cup?” and opened the pouch to show me her DivaCup.

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How to Create (and USE!) a DIY Positivity Journal

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This tutorial on how to make a DIY Positivity Journal has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NatureMadeGummies #CollectiveBias

Starting your day with positivity is important to a healthy lifestyle. We often talk about the importance of positive physical health -- good diet, exercise, making sure to take your Nature Made vitamins -- but mental health is important, too! Here's how to make (and keep!) a positivity journal that can help you focus on the good stuff (plus tips on sleep journaling to start your day off right). #NatureMadeGummies [ad]

Sometimes it’s hard to think the best about yourself and give yourself the benefit of the doubt. For me, it’s especially hard in the morning, and I have a habit of kicking myself for things I didn’t do quite as well as I wanted to do them. But sometimes thinking positively just requires a good reminder of why you deserve better from yourself. (Plus, it’s really easy to give yourself a space to share these positive thoughts!)

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How to Plan Fun Family Movie Nights During the Busy School Year

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This guide on how to have fun family movie nights during the busy school year is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Snyder’s-Lance, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Pop4Captain http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

The school year can be a super trying time, between homework, extracurricular activities, sports, and more. That doesn't mean you have to compromise family time, though! Here are my tips for squeezing the most out of family movie nights during the busy school season with @popsecret @lancesnacks and @walmart. #Pop4Captain #Pmedia #ad

With school back in session, it can be really hard to make time for family time. Honestly, between sports, music, and other extracurriculars, plus homework, it can feel impossible to get the whole family in one place at one time. But making time for that family connection is very important, so I’ve got a few tips to make sure you can reconnect with a fun family movie night and make sure it goes really smoothly! We’ve already got a fun family movie night planned in our household around the release of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

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How to Talk about Self-Harm with Your Teen

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Please note that the following piece contains mentions, conversations, and at times mild descriptions of self-harm. This content may be triggering for some. If you are in a situation where you feel like you may self-harm and need to talk to someone, please reach out to selfinjury.com or call 1-800-273-TALK

How do you approach the topic of self-harm with your teen? Here are some tips for starting the conversation and helping your teen out of crisis. Please note content may be triggering for some.

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Easy DIY Cloud Dough (Only 2 Ingredients!)

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This recipe for easy DIY cloud dough may contain affiliate links.

This cloud dough is so easy to make-- only 2 ingredients and less than 5 minutes of effort for a great sensory toy your kids will love. Plus, since it's safe to eat, it's okay if little fingers take a little nibble, too! DIY cloud dough | moon dough | sensory bin filler |

One of my favorite things to do is play with cloud dough or other sensory play toys with my son. Play dough, cloud dough, moon sand, kinetic sand, there are so many great options. But this cloud dough is easy to make, really affordable, and only requires 2 ingredients. One of my favorite things about it, though, is that it is 100% edible, so if your child accidentally eats some, it’s okay. (It won’t taste great, but it is safe-to-eat). Here’s how to make it!

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Essential Ways to Use Your Smartphone This Summer

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This post about smartphone ideas for summer has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerIsForSavings #CollectiveBias #WFM1

During the summer, it pays to stay connected. Here are some of my favorite ways to make it the BEST SUMMER EVER by using my smartphone. #WalmartFamilyMobile #WFM1 #SummerIsForSavings [ad]

No matter how much you might wish summer was for slowing down, in my experience, summer is just one insanely busy season for families. From soccer tryouts to summer vacations, it can be hard to unwind and to stay connected. But the thing is, I’ve learned a few ways to avoid summer stress by staying connected with my smartphone. Syncing schedules, sharing summer memories, and treating your ears to your favorite summer tunes are all great ways to use your smartphone for the best summer ever, and with Walmart Family Mobile, the data you need doesn’t have to break the bank, either.

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Gulf Coast-Inspired Easy Shrimp Tacos

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This easy shrimp taco recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoftsoapTouch #OurCaringHands #CollectiveBias

Be ready for summer with these easy Gulf Coast style Shrimp Tacos! They're so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Feel the Gulf Island flavor-- shrimp, taco shells, and plenty of flavor. #OurCaringHands [ad]

The clock is ticking, y’all. I am just weeks away from the event that I look forward to all year long. I’d say I’m practically packed, but we all know I’ll end up doing that the night before I leave. I’m talking about summer vacation, and for me, oh, it’s so much more than just a little break. See, for almost two decades now, summer vacation has meant something a little bit different for my family. It hasn’t just meant beach, and sand, and the sun, but it’s meant a whole lot of family time.

Every summer, we make the trek down to the Gulf Coast, to a tiny island called Dauphin Island, Alabama. If you’re a long-time reader, you’ve probably even seen me talk about it every summer for the past several years. This year we will be driving about 16 hours like we do every summer. Why? To enjoy the beach with our family, who live in another state.

To save money, we split condo costs. We also make sure to cook and eat meals family-style in the condo, rather than going out to eat a lot. That doesn’t mean we never visit local restaurants…. We totally do! There are so many great options for Gulf Coast flavor. Restaurants there serve up fried fish platters, po’boys, and of course, delicious shrimp tacos.

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5 Tips for having the BEST Family Movie Night

- Mama 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. We hope you enjoy this content about how to have a great family movie night. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

Family movie nights are a great way to bring the whole family together, but you can make them way more fun than just popping in a DVD, without a ton of extra money or time spent on your movie night. This is how we make family movie night AWESOME! (Our favorite tip? Letting everyone pick their own personal snack mix before the movie starts!) Plus, we share how YOU can get a free VUDU credit every month with your Walmart Family Mobile account. #YourTaxCash [ad]

Y’all know that I absolutely love Walmart Family Mobile. Just a couple of weeks ago, I shared all about how I invested in a smartphone for my business with Walmart Family Mobile, so I could keep rocking my business on the go, but that phone plan came with some extra perks that we are loving, like a VUDU credit every month! We decided that the movie credit makes for the perfect work break, which is why we’ve been staying intentional about family movie nights! I’ve figured out 5 foolproof tips for having the best movie night ever.

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Why Kids with Autism Need Companion Dogs (Plus a Super Easy Dog Toy Tutorial for YOUR Favorite Furry Friend!)

- Mama 3 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FeedDogsPurina #CollectiveBias

Dogs may be man's best friend, but for many kids with autism, dogs can provide so much more than friendship. Should your child with autism have an autism companion dog? Here are a few things that they can help with. #FeedDogsPurina [ad]

It takes a village to raise a child, clearly. In many ways, it seems it takes even more of a village to raise a child with autism. For children with autism, you aren’t just talking about family and friends in your village. Your village includes therapists, speech therapists, and other doctors, too. But sometimes the best possible village has 4 legs instead of 2, and that’s where autism companion dogs come in.

Not to be confused with trained service dogs, companion dogs are those special pets that fill a need in the life of a child with autism without training. It’s why I am a big advocate for children with autism having a companion dog in their lives. Autism companion dogs are amazing creatures; they’re loving, calming, and passionate about helping their human companion in their struggles. Here are my 5 reasons that kids with autism need an autism companion dog. (Keep reading, too, because I have a fun DIY dog toy for the beloved pet in your life!)

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