Take The Road Trip….It’s Worth It

I use to love road trips growing up. As an adult, it became easier to just fly because road trips take a lot of time – and who has any time these days? After becoming a parent I wanted my kids to experience the open road and the thrill of seeing all of the in-between of our destinations. There’s something relaxing and methodical about watching acres of cornfields and lush green hills for hours. If only my husband thought the same way. Because he is a go-with-the-flow kind of guy he agreed to make the 14 hour trip to Colorado last summer to see family – and we had a blast! So much so, that we decided to do it again this summer!

One thing I’ve learned since becoming a parent is to take advantage of time. My kids will grow up in a blink of an eye and I want them to have stories to tell and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Even though the 14 hours seemed extremely daunting, I knew it would be easier than flying with a toddler. We also would save a ton of money on flights and renting a car. I’d much rather spend that money on experiences there.

We decided to break the trip up in two days and stop in Omaha, Nebraska – the half way point between Chicago and Denver. Because Omaha is a smaller city we had just enough points for a hotel stay at my alma mater company, Starwood. Win! Nothing better than free!

After the car was packed to the brim – we were off!

Travel mom tips:

  • To save time and prevent upset tummies – pack your own food. We took a cooler lined bag and I made the kids favorite sandwiches and packed healthy snacks for the whole family. This helped my family and I stay on our clean eating path also. Stopping to eat wastes a lot of time and the only places to eat along the way are usually fast food joints.
  • We filled their iPads with movies and fun games to pass the time and also stopped at rest areas to let them run around in the grass for 10 minutes.
  • We took their favorite blankets and a pillow which provided the perfect nap environment in the car while still secured in their seat belts.

We barely heard any whining or “are we there yet” comments the entire trip. I know, miracles do happen I tell ya!

The second leg of the trip is always better because you’re closer to your destination. We planned to head to the mountains for several days so I made sure to drink a lot of water and take aspirin to curb my altitude sickness.

If you haven’t visited Colorado, I highly recommend it! For us, being Chicagoans, the endless outdoor activities in Colorado are a nice change – and the kids love all the nature.

Some must do’s – perfect for kids or adults:

  • Visit Red Rocks Amphitheater – even if there isn’t a concert going on, it’s a beautiful site to see. Bring LOTS of water.

  • Casa Bonita – Yes, I said it. The food is no bueno – but the experience is worth it.
  • Estes Park – Such a beautiful site to see. Lots of cute shops and restaurants, but the views are what you go for. 
  • Downtown Denver – has a great splash pad near the train station, a zoo close by and a phenomenal aquarium. You can even go on a tour of Coors Field if you’re a baseball fan!
  • Colorado Springs – A short drive but features the majestic Pike’s Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Both are a must see.
  • If you head west into the mountains for some hiking:  Booth Falls Trail is a great family friendly trail that features a waterfall. The trail does have a parking lot but there’s only about 15 spots, so my advice is to get there early. The trail is right off of the highway before you get to Vail so very easy to find.
  • Georgetown – an old mining town featuring the Georgetown Loop Railroad. We took the boys on a train ride through the mountains and learned about the mining days. A total hit with the boys!
  • Keystone, Breckenridge and Vail: All equally fun and quaint. Vail reminds me of an old European town stuck in time. The scenic views are breathtaking. All have great restaurants lots of outdoor activities to offer. My boys preferred to stand by the Snake River and skip rocks for hours – I think I loved it, too.

 

By the time the trip was over – we felt accomplished and were ready to come home. That’s how you know it was a good trip and we made memories.

 

The Ultimate Mom Hack For Summer Shopping

Recently the fabulous team at Swap.com reached out about their mission to be the largest online consignment and thrift store in the world, and helping customers be environmentally sustainable consumers while saving money on their favorite brands.

I thought, BRILLIANT! So, I took a look and found a ton of items I knew my boys would love! I can’t tell you how many clothing items they’ve destroyed in less than a week with all their wrestling and dirt digging, or items they grew out of in just a few months! As a mom, I’d rather find quality brands at a discounted price while helping the environment.

Thanks to Swap.com for giving me a credit, I was able to get the boys a whole new summer wardrobe for under $100. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. Graphic tees are their favorite and who wouldn’t want a shirt that says, “The Freshest Kid on the Block”? My older son loves baseball and I found this great Under Armor “Fast Pitch” shirt for him. All the items were great quality, brands we would buy for retail anyway, and in perfect condition.

Also, those items they do grow out of and are still in excellent condition – you can sell them to Swap.com! Who needs extra money for summer vacations?!

But, it gets better. They also sell toys, men’s clothing, women’s clothing and maternity! Don’t get me started on the outrageous prices of maternity clothes. Why not get them at discount and sell them back when you’re done? I wish I knew about Swap.com when I was pregnant.

They are currently running a promotion through July 31, 2017. Get those back to school outfits early! Just enter code: 25MOM and you get 25% off your first purchase. They offer free shipping over $10, too!

Happy Shopping!

 

Chicago Pizza Just Got A Facelift

I’m a foodie and a Chicagoan – luckily those compliment each other well. Chicago is known for their food innovation, the hottest trends, the incredible chefs and of course, our pizza. At any given day our “must-have” pizza joints have a line around the block, yet locals and tourists alike will wait hours to get their mouths around a slice of yummy Chicago pie. And, who can blame them?

Pizza, one of my favorite dishes, was recently removed from my diet due to some unknown food allergies. To my good fortune the amazing team over at Rossopomodoro, the official pizza partner for Eataly Chicago, invited me and my son to try out their four new doughs – one of which is gluten and egg free! Eataly, a newer Chicago staple, is an Italian marketplace featuring a plethora of amazing italian delicacies, cafes, counters, restaurants, and a cooking school. At Eataly you can eat, shop and learn.

Prior to my Eataly visit, I was honored to connect with Simone Falco of Naples, Executive Chef & Owner of Rossopomodoro West Village and President and CEO of Rossopomodoro at Eataly USA, and ask him a few questions.

Simone Falco was born in into into a family of sportsman and entrepreneurs. When Simone grew older he became a rugby player and obtained a PhD from the University of Naples Federico II, one of the oldest Universities in Europe. Since he was very young, Simone has worked in the family company to learn the proper skills needed to run a successful restaurant business, leading into the launch and development of several new restaurant locations in Italy and abroad. Rossopomodoro in New York City’s West Village – an outpost location of the Rossopomodoro’s U.S. operations at Eataly New York (Flatiron & Financial District), Chicago, Boston, and San Paolo – has been carrying on the tradition ever since its opening in 2014.

He designed the restaurant’s menu to embody the brands manifesto and presents dishes that are simple, seasonal, straightforward, healthy and flavorful – and he goes way beyond just pizza & pasta. Simone would describe his personal style as classic Neapolitan.

I started out the interview asking Chef Falco what passions of his led him to pizza.

“Growing up in Naples, pizza was our breakfast every weekend. How could I not be attracted to pizza?”

As someone with food allergies and a passion for health, it’s refreshing to see more and more offerings that cater to a healthful lifestyle without giving up the things we love – like pizza. What’s the secret to maintaining great taste yet being healthy also?

“The secret is high quality ingredients (wild, organic, no chemicals) and good sourcing.”

As you know, Chicago is certainly a pizza town. What excites you most about these four new kinds of dough and how are they different from the others we can find in the city?

“We decided to launch the four doughs in Chicago because it is THE pizza city. We wanted to bring something truly Neapolitan to Chicago and something different than everyone is used to.”

Last question, and it’s the obligatory one. You may know that New York and Chicago have an ongoing pizza war. So, which would you say is your favorite between the two signature styles? Chicago or New York?

“My favorite is Neapolitan of course but I have an appreciation for all types. Different pizza has different uses. Sometimes I crave a New York slice and sometimes I crave deep dish. Chicago pizza is more of treat because I live in New York.”

Hearing his story and passion for pizza, I was thrilled met his team and head Chef Simone Lavarone at the Chicago Eataly location. While there he prepared several pizzas showcasing their new doughs.

My favorite was this little slice of heaven with a zucchini cream instead of tomato base. Perfection.

There new doughs now available are:

CLASSICA

  • The Original Pizza Napoletana
  • This classic-style pizza from Napoli made with “Type 00” flour is the most elegant and complex of all. The long leavening time (24-plus hours) paired with the brief cooking time produces a pizza with a thin, elastic center and a charred, airy crust.

RUSTICA

  • Old World Innovation
  • This dough is the precursor to the pizza we know today, originally made from leftover bread dough from bakeries in the suburbs of Napoli. The “Type 1” whole grain flour and slow-rising process yield a slightly sweet and hearty dough.

MODERNA

  • Classic yet Crispy
  • This contemporary take on pizza is typical of the coastal towns near Napoli (think: Amalfi Coast). Made with the same “Type 00” flour as the Classica, this dough proofs longer and cooks longer resulting in a lighter, crispier crust that is soft in the middle and never disappoints.

LEGGERA

  • Light and Gluten-Free
  • This airy, slightly caramelized crust is made from an innovative blend of corn, rice, and gluten-free buckwheat flours, offering all the flavors of the real pizza napoletana with a lighter base! While the dough is gluten-free, our environment is not, meaning trace amounts of gluten may be present — it is not certified for those with celiac disease.

Needless to say, the pizzas looked beautiful and tasted even better than one can imagine. This is truly pizza reinvented!

My six-year-old, the notorious picky eater, enjoyed the pizzas so much that he asked if we could take them all home to save for later. Bonus – Sunday’s kids get $9 pizzas where they can pick their own toppings and the pizza comes in fun shapes like a heart, bunny, fish or butterfly. How’s that for family friendly?

Eataly Chicago has many spectacular summer promotions and events happening, so mark your calendars and make your way over to see Chef Simone and the Eataly team for some delicious game-changing pizza. Tell them I sent you!

What You Can Do This Earth Day & Everyday To Protect Mother Earth

Earth Day is around the corner and each year my family tries to incorporate a new practice to do our part in protecting Mother Earth.

In recent years, we have made a lot of easy changes around the house and with new technology and findings there are plenty more we can do! If you’re just starting out or have a goal to lessen your carbon footprint – here’s some ideas to help you out along the way.

Curb the addiction

So many of us have becoming addicted to stuff. Do we really need all those shoes, clothes, collectables, toys – the list could go on for ever…..

As a female who loves fashion, I love to buy clothes. But, I also love trends which means once the trend is over all those clothes I spent a fortune on end up in bags for donation. Did you know that the average American throws away 85% of their clothes each year? That is 65 lbs of textiles/person heading to landfills and a total of 14.3 million tons of textile waste in landfills each and every year. YIKES! We can do better than this.

I know how important and great it feels to stay trendy and fashionable, but we also know the huge impact we can make as consumers by supporting companies that offer a green alternative. A few trendy pieces are fine, but try to buy classic pieces you can pair with many other items to keep them feeling new.

When you do shop, you can also take advantage of websites like, Swap.com, the largest online thrift and consignment shop, which has all your favorite brands (such as ZARA, American Apparel, J.Crew, NIKE, DKNY, BCBG and many more) that are available at up to 95% off retail prices on Swap.com. Sounds like a win-win to me! They also carry toys and games. Parents, what a dream is this?! Kids play with toys for like a mili-second and are over them.

Because I am participating in their Earth Day campaign, they’ve graciously given me some swap credit AND have offered a discount code to all of you! I bought my toddler and my 6 year old an entire summer wardrobe for under $100! Use discount code 25SPRING  at Swap.com for up to 25%, some exclusions apply. Discount applied to purchases at check-out. Expires 5/31/2017.

Shopping secondhand not only saves you money, but helps sustain our earth and keep clothes of landfills. So, let’s swap instead of shop!

 

Go Meat Free 

I know, I know, people love their meat.

BUT, the meteoric rise of meat consumption globally over the last 50 years is no coincidence. As the socioeconomic status of communities has risen and the transportation of meat has become easier, more and more people have started eating large quantities of meat. In fact, over the last 10 years alone, total global meat consumption has grown by 20%.

All this extra meat comes at an extreme cost to our planet. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide – more than the entire transportation sector.

To make matters worse, producing meat also requires a huge amount of water. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. By comparison, soy tofu produced in California requires only 220 gallons of water per pound.

Imagine how much carbon and resources we could save if we ate less meat. Even just eating meat one less day a year would make a difference.

For instance, if over the course of a year you:

  • Ate one less burger a week, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 320 miles.
  • Skip meat and cheese one day a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for five weeks – or reducing everyone’s daily showers by 3 minutes.
  • Skip steak once a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months.
  • And if the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.

As you can see, the impact of not eating meat can really add up. Join us in pledging to not eat meat once a week. If you already don’t eat meat once a week, why not try two days a week or three! You could even begin a full vegetarian diet if you’re up for it. Every little bit helps.

Source: Earthday.org

At Home Action

There are small changes at home you can make that make a big impact.

First, make sure you’re turning out the lights when not needed. We only use the light of the room we are in and whenever we leave the house we make sure all are turned off. You can also switch out your light bulbs for more energy efficient ones.

Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and take quicker showers. If I can take a 5 minute shower where I have to shave and wash my long hair – anyone can do it!

Make sure you’re recycling. In today’s world, it’s easy to do with all the services and special bins. Once you get in the habit it’s not trouble at all.

Eliminate plastics. Use a refillable water pitcher for filtered water or attach one to your sink. Use glass or stainless steel containers for food storage – they arehealthier for you anyway!

 

Be The Example

Teach your children the importance of taking care of our planet and being mindful of waste. Share your best practices with friends and family. Donate to environmental groups, they need our help!If we all take even a little bit of action – it makes a huge impact!

What will you do to participate in #EarthDay 2017?

 

The Dos and Don’ts of Spending Your Tax Refund – Guest Post

Thank you to our friends over at Earnest for sharing these tips. We all need a little advice on how to spend the extra cash responsibly.

We all know what April means….Tax Day. While filing your taxes can be a hassle, especially if you end up having to pay additional taxes, some people look forward to receiving a tax refund. If you’re one of those people, you may be planning to spend your refund on that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing or that designer handbag you’ve been drooling over for months. Before you go out and buy all of the items on your wish list, you should consider using your refund to help you get ahead financially.

We all know how easy it can be to spend our tax refund in ways that are less than optimal. The most important thing to do to utilize your refund in the best way is to develop a plan for how to spend your refund. This will prevent you from spending money on things that you don’t really need. The next thing you should do is look at your savings. Do you have an emergency fund? If not, consider putting a portion of your refund into an emergency fund savings account.

Your tax refund can be used in several other ways to help you out financially in the long run. One of these ways is to pay off some of your high interest debts, such as credit cards or student loans. You can lower these high interest debts even more by refinancing them. Companies like Earnest can help you save even more money by lowering your interest rates and monthly payments by refinancing your student loans.

Now that you have a smart plan for your tax refund check, set aside a small amount to treat yourself with. Let’s face it, you work hard and you deserve it! Keep in mind that you should not treat your refund check like a bonus or spend your entire refund frivolously.

Check out the guide below to learn about more tips on how to better utilize your tax refund.

Free Birth Control Delivered To Your Door? Yes, it exists.

One of the many things I love about being an entrepreneur is all the people I have the chance to meet. My circle consists of a lot of dreamers  – and boy do we dream big. One of my friends has been involved with a new game-changing service and they recently went live. Their company – brilliant!

Wouldn’t it be nice if getting birth control was hassle free and easily accessible? Well, my friends over at Nurx are making that happen. Nurx, a health technology startup based in San Francisco, recently released a web-based birth control delivery app, allowing women to get a prescription for their birth control and have it delivered right to their door within 48 hours at no cost to the end-user – and it’s amazing!

In December, the app was released (right now just a web-based app, but will soon be a mobile app) which streamlines the process for women to get contraception. Soon, through the app, people will also be able to access the HIV-prevention medication, PrEP.

Since December, they have appeared in about 100 media outlets, including CNN, MTV, Elle Magazine, Huffington Post and CNBC. According to MTV News, Nurx is “The gift we’ve all been waiting for”, and Bustle says, “This will be your favorite app in 2016.” TeenVogue says, “Nurx is essentially like Seamless or 1-800-CONTACTS for your reproductive organs.” The Chicago Tribune  featured Nurx in February. And according to Elle Magazine, Nurx is a “game-changer.”

Check out a little more here:

In more than 100 countries in the world, women are able to access birth control without a prescription. However, in the United States, the process is a much more complicated and burdensome process. Each year in the United States, there are about three million unintended pregnancies. This motivated founders Hans Gangeskar and Dr. Edvard Engesaeth to launch Nurx, making the process easier for women today.

“Research shows that the easier and more affordable birth control is, the more women will use it. Women should not have to jump through these unnecessary hoops, just to access birth control. With Nurx, we are changing this, and allowing women to access their birth control on their own terms,” says Engesaeth a medical doctor and cofounder of Nurx.

The Nurx app works for both new and existing birth control users and the service and shipping are free to anyone with health care. For uninsured patients, Nurx waives the consultation fee, the delivery is still free, and Nurx can connect the user with generic birth control brands for about $15.

“Each user is shipped a three month-supply of their order, making the process more convenient for the user. In many markets, users are also able to receive their order on the same day. Unlike with similar apps, with Nurx, patients can use their insurance to cover their contraceptives, rather than being forced to pay cash,” explains Gangeskar.

In addition to making birth control more accessible, soon, Nurx will also allow users to request PrEP through the app. PrEP (short for Pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a new HIV prevention method in which people who do not have HIV take a daily pill (Truvada) to reduce their chances of infection. Studies have shown Truvada for PrEP to be up to 99% effective in preventing transmission of the virus.

Each year, about 50,000 Americans are infected with HIV. “Unfortunately, awareness about, and access to this revolutionary drug is still a problem. By making Truvada more accessible through our app, we hope to change the game in the fight to end the HIV epidemic.” says Nurx co-founder and CEO, Hans Gangeskar.

SO, want to try it for free?!

You can with this free birth control promotion:
Beginning April 1, Nurx is offering free birth control to new users who use the promo code ‘FAKENEWS.’ This offer is good for $30 of FREE birth control (oral contraception, NuvaRing, the patch) through Nurx. This equates to up to two months of free birth control. To get the deal, users must visit Nurx.com, create a Nurx account, pick their brand of choice, and enter promo code “FAKENEWS” at checkout. The promotion ends April 30, 2017 and does not include emergency contraception (Plan B, Ella).
How the App Works for Birth Control: 
1.) User Chooses Brand – The user selects their brand, answers a few questions, enters their insurance and shipping info.
2.) Doctor Reviews Submission – a Nurx partner physician reviews the request and writes a prescription if appropriate.
3.) Delivered to Customer – The prescribed medication is delivered right to the user’s door.
To learn more about Nurx, visit Nurx.com or contact info@nurx.co.

Winner Winner Chicken Noodle Dinner

Tis the season for soups! And while April is brings lots of showers, I’ll be inside cozied up with my warm cup of deliciousness. As a busy mom, I’m always looking for quick healthy options for dinner. I’m also always looking for options that will please my picky eaters. This easy soup recipe is sure to be a kid favorite at the dinner table.

You can make a big batch for the whole family or just for one. I don’t know about you, but we had every bug known to man run through our house this winter – stomach flu, influenza, strep, sinus infections, etc., so this soup was a life saver.

To get started you’ll need:

  • Chicken stock
  • Noodles
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Parsley
  • Boneless chicken breast
  • Salt / Pepper

 

*Get a large stock pot and put on medium to high heat on the stove.

*Add water. I usually do 1 – 1 1/2 cups per person.

*Add in Chicken Stock/Base. Dissolve 1 teaspoon per 8 oz of water. I use Better Than Bouillon organic reduced sodium chicken base. You can find it at Costco or many local grocers. I also add in a little bone broth to add additional nutrients. Bring to boil.

*Put (2) boneless chicken breast (I usually lightly season with an all-purpose seasoning or some cumin) in oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. If you’re feeling lazy or need to save time – grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocer and use this. It gives the soup additional flavor and it saves time.

*In a separate pan – add a teaspoon of olive oil (or butter) and sauté 1 cup of carrots, celery, garlic and onions. I like to cook these down until soft so it gives the vegetables a nice grilled taste to add to the soup.

*Once water is boiling – add in noodles. Follow instructions on package as to how long you need to boil. You can use traditional egg noodles or any you choose. My family has a gluten allergy so we use Earthly Choice Quinoa Pasta. A lot of gluten-free pastas fall apart while boiling and the noodles mold into one big glob. So, after a lot of trial and error with different brands – I’ve found this one cooks and tastes best. You can find in many local grocers.

*After about 5 minutes of the pasta cooking, add in sautéed vegetables and chicken and reduce heat to med/low. Let soup simmer for 10 minutes to let all the flavors combine.

*Before serving I add a little parsley to garnish and top off the flavor.

*Add salt / pepper to individual taste.

Easy, peasy!

Enjoy!

 

Spring Is Awakening – Thanks To The Honest Company

Spring is in the air folks and The Honest Company has us prepared with their newly launched diaper line- and let me tell you, they couldn’t be cuter! Check out these adorable exclusive images below, courtesy of them!

What I love about Honest diapers is that they are simply pure! They are made without chlorine processing, chemical bleaches, latex, lotions, fragrances, phthalates, optical brighteners, organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT), or most common allergens. The diapers are ultra-soft plant-based (PLA) on both the inner and outer layers — gentle on your baby’s bottom! Not to mention, they contain naturally derived odor blockers with a super-absorbent core- keeping your baby feeling fresh!

Aside from the diapers having the Honestly Free Guarantee, their spring prints are absolutely delightful! Take a look of these precious babes, below:

Can’t live without these diapers anymore? I don’t blame you! Go ahead and shop the Spring 2017 diaper line by visiting The Honest Company! To add even more excitement, Honest also offers a diaper and wipe bundle! With the bundle option, you can mix and match the adorable designs, save over 20% and have reoccurring monthly shipments – pretty cool, am I right?!

Leave it to The Honest Company to mix comfort and style – getting us excited for Spring! Which ones your favorite?!

Bean Bag Fun – A New Game You’re Sure To Love

When I moved to the midwest over a decade ago, I was introduced to a game people take very seriously up here – Cornhole. At first, I didn’t understand how throwing a bean bag through a hole could provide hours of fun – but soon came to love the game and the memories that accompanied it. Maybe this game was popular in the south where I grew up and I never noticed, but up here you couldn’t attend a party or tailgate without it present.

Now, I’ve introduced the game to my kids and they love it too. It’s the summer go-to with friends and pairs nicely with a micro brew (I might add)!

Recently while attending the Chicago Toy & Game Fair convention with my two boys, I met two gentlemen who reinvented the “bags” game with the Bean Bag Bucketz game. My kids couldn’t get enough of this new concept and we had to drag them away from the B3 booth. I was sad to learn the launch of Bean Bags Bucketz wasn’t until after the holidays because I knew this new game would be a parenting win under the tree.

I kept in touch with the product and business development director so we could get our hands on one once they launched and he graciously sent me a prototype of this clever new game. Since then, it’s been a life saver this winter. It’s small enough to play inside and folds down to fit in its own little carrying bag for easy storage. This will also be perfect for our summer picnics, beach outings, and neighborhood block parties, too! We can’t wait!

As an entrepreneur and marketing gal myself, I love to support fellow entrepreneurs chasing their own dreams – especially when I, too, believe in their product/or idea.

The story behind the Bean Bag Bucketz is what family memories are made of. The idea was born at the beach, the Jersey Shore to be exact. While on a sandy vacation, their kids got bored and decided they had enough of the beach.  So B3’s Creator, Anthony, came up with a fun way to entertain his boys. Anthony placed large shells on the end of a stick and had the kids toss small seashells to knock off the bigger shells. Hours later, both dad and the boys agreed – they’ve created a fun and entertaining game!

Addicted from the start, this became their go-to game the rest of the trip. Back at home Anthony couldn’t get their seaside fun out of his head. Working through countless iterations, the concept of Bean Bag Bucketz came to fruition. After connecting with Philipp, his new partner with serious experience in the toy & retail world, the duo came together to develop this great social nonstop on-the-go game. B3/ Bean Bag Bucketz was born.

Here are my own kids enjoying the Bean Bag Bucketz. It’s our Saturday night ritual.

 

 

Interested in learning more? Check out their website.

Or order yours today!

 

When Planning On The Birth Of Your New Baby – Don’t Forget This Important Detail Like I Did

Before having my first child, I read every book I could on parenting.  I studied how to care for newborns and how to get them on a sleep schedule. I obsessed over all the nursery must-haves for baby safety. I poured over article after article detailing out survival tips for making it through the first years. I even took several parenting classes at the hospital in preparation for the birth.  

stock-photos

Once the time arrived for my bundle of joy to make his presence in the world, the one thing I didn’t prepare for was how to nurse him. I naively thought this little being would show me how it all worked, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

After the birth and during my short hospital stay, I summoned every nurse I could to help me. I’d ask if I was nursing correctly, I’d seek advice on how to help my son latch well – but something just didn’t feel right. I could tell my baby was not getting the amount of milk he needed. He seemed frustrated after each attempt at feeding, but the nurses would reassure me that babies have small stomachs and do not need much the first few days. Once I was released from the hospital, the panic set in. My plan to nurse him was not working out the way I had envisioned.

It was very important to me to be able to nurse my son. I wanted the nutritional benefits for him, I wanted the benefits for my recovering body, and lastly I wanted the financial benefits. When the realization set in that this may not be an option, I became severely depressed. I felt like a failure. I had let my family down. When I asked friends and family for advice, everyone had a different answer. This made matters worse. Instead of getting much needed support, I was being told everything I was doing was wrong – and for a new mom that’s the worst thing you can hear.

At my son’s one-week checkup he had lost more than a pound of his birth weight and the doctor told me it was time to consider the alternative. I broke down. When I got home, I went straight for my pump. After expressing 4 ounces of breast milk, I put it in a bottle and tried giving it to my son. To my surprise he guzzled down every last drop and the fussiness subdued. I felt victorious. From that day on, I pumped every day, 5-6 times, for the next eleven months. Eleven months! I also had enough milk frozen to get him to the one-year mark formula free.

baby s

When my second son was born I prepared mentally to do the same thing with him. But, luckily, he took to nursing quite easily. Him and I’s nursing journey lasted just over two years. When our nursing relationship came to an end, I actually mourned. Mourned that he was my last baby and mourned that I didn’t get to experience the same journey with his older brother.

Looking back, I wish I would have known more with my first son. I could have been more prepared. I wish I would have known about all the resources out there. If I had, I wouldn’t have felt so alone. One great resource, The Honest Company, provides feeding resources for both formula and breastfeeding mommas. I also wish I wouldn’t have given up so easily. That would have saved hours of my life from being a slave to my pump. The day I retired my pump was a great day indeed!

So, my advice to new moms is to never give up. If nursing is your plan – don’t stop until you and your baby figure it out together. Yes, it will be hard and there will be days you’ll think it’s impossible. Your breasts will feel like rocks and like there’s electric currents running through them at times. But, it gets better! I promise. The bond you’ll feel with your baby is unmatched. Find support groups on Facebook, there are plenty to chose from. Find other new moms in your area to encourage and support you. And finally, always listen to your mommy instincts and go with what you know is best for you and your baby. That, in the end, is what matters most.