More Than a Mom of Three

How To Become A Less Stressed Out Mom And Enjoy Motherhood

04/19/2018 By Jenn 15 Comments

Moms are often multi-taskers who love their role in the family, but can quickly find themselves worn out or stretched thin.

This often leads to mom burnout and depression, something that nobody wants.

Don’t allow stress to rob you or your family of the joys associated with living a healthy and abundant life.

You can avoid, manage and remedy the negative and become a less stressed mom with these tips and tricks.

7 Tips To Help You Become a Less Stressed Out Mom

Get enough sleep

When your first baby is born, or perhaps even while you are pregnant, you may receive the advice to sleep when the baby sleeps. Basically, take the chance to sleep when the opportunity presents itself.

An exhausted mother quickly feels irritable and all family members will suffer. While getting adequate sleep with a newborn is challenging, sleep when you can.

As baby gets older, remember to make your own sleep schedule a priority as well. You will feel healthier, happier, and more focused when you are better rested.

Use Being A Mom To Enhance Dreams, Not To Drop Them

Some mothers see themselves as martyrs who must abandon their dreams as a sacrifice for their family.

No one said that dreams must be dropped when you become a parent.

It is true that dreams and expectations may need to adapt or be put on hold for a season, but allow your children to increase your sense of wonder and include them in your dreams and aspirations.

Ditching dreams leads to resentment, but opening your eyes to the wonder and possibilities of life leads to inspiration and fulfillment.

Keep Journals

Sometimes it is hard to articulate thoughts, and journals provide a wonderful outlet for inner feelings.

Keep a thankful journal, and you will most likely find that your entire slant on life lifts.

Also keep journals for each of your children, recording funny anecdotes and favorite memories.

As a visual person, this could help you become a less stressed out mom just in minutes a day.

Clear Out The Clutter

My favorite tip to become a less stressed out mom is clearing out the clutter!

Clutter can cause stress for everyone, perhaps most of all for mothers. It is true that increasing the family usually means increasing the number of belongings in the home, sometimes even more than can be anticipated.

Don’t allow clutter to steal your joy. Use the adage of only keeping what you love or is practical, and donate what you no longer need or want.

Use a storage unit to house any remaining items that are dear or useful to you, but not practical during this time in life, says the professionals at The Self Storage Place.

Exercise

Physical activity is not only good for your body, but also for your soul and mind. Do what you need to do to make exercise happen.

Becoming a mom is no reason to stop exercising.

Be sure to join me over on my new site Healthy Living Mom Of Three for more healthy mom tips!

Include the kids to make it easier for your schedule.

Use a hiking backpack so that baby can enjoy hikes with you. Purchase a jogging stroller so that baby can enjoy a good run.

If you are seeking a form of exercise that baby cannot participate in, find a gym that offers free childcare while parents work out or take classes.

Have A Plan For The Day

It can be easy to succumb to stress when you feel overwhelmed or discouraged that time is slipping through your fingertips.

Take some time to think about your priorities and make at least a loose plan for each day.

Y’all know I am a sucker for routines, which has helped me become a less stressed mom. I learned this very early on when I became a mom.

Plus babies and children thrive on routine, and developing healthy habits based on your priorities will make life run more smoothly for everyone.

Make Time For Yourself, And For Your Marriage

Do what you need to recharge your own self and your marriage.

Find time to soak in the bathtub with a DIY bath bomb, enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend, or read a good book.

Get away with your husband and remember the feeling of being a wife, in addition to a mother.

If you can’t literally get away, make evenings special by opening a bottle of wine and talking after the baby goes to sleep. Watch a movie together that you both enjoy, and discuss it.

There are many ways to become a Less Stressed Out Mom . Give your family and yourself the gift of a balanced mother who takes care of herself and others.

The guest post was written by Anita. Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She mostly writes about home and family, finance, and business. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading a good book.

Tips on How To Avoid Stay at Home Mom Burnout

04/17/2018 By Jenn 10 Comments

Being a stay at home mom is definitely one of the toughest jobs out there and it is very easy to get burnt out very quickly.

Most momma’s, myself included took on being a stay at home to it’s fullest.

I was a working woman beforehand. I have always held a job and moving fast up the corporate ladder in banking at the time.

There was a part of me as a little girl that just wanted to stay at home with my children when I had them. I was fortunate to do so when my daughter was born.

I jumped in head first. The woman that was able to have lunch on a Tuesday afternoon or get a fresh mani-pedi with some girlfriends after work, those days were long gone.

I forgot about me.

I was no longer Jenn, I was so and so’s mom.

Your identity takes a hit and before you know it, stay at home burnout becomes a serious thing and could lead to depression.

Being a stay at home has its perks and I am so grateful to have those. However, it is not a glamorous job by any means.

It means being a chef, tutor, maid, personal driver, monster hunter and so much more. All of this 24/7.

My husband has worked long hours during the week so I was able to stay at home and he could spend weekends with us.

It can be overwhelming at times and your not alone. You can avoid the stay at home mom burnout with some helpful tips.

How To Avoid Stay at Home Mom Burnout Tips

Take a mommy time out.

I love when my kids say to me mom go to your room for 32 mins., you need a timeout.

We discipline our children with time ours for their age and sometimes a mom needs that too!

I have been doing quiet time for 30 mins each afternoon with my kids. I set a timer they all go to a bedroom to play, read or color alone.

That is time for me to hang out with a show, read a portion of a book or make a phone call.

It has worked wonders for my day.

Take a day off .

If you work at a “regular paying job” you get 2 days off a week right?

So why can’t you take a day off as a mom?

I felt mommy guilt if I took a day to myself.

I thought I was a horrible mom for needing a break, NO!

Momma’s, do not think this way. We give our all to our kids, husbands, and homes. It is okay to take a day to pamper yourself.

Once a week on Sunday’s I get a day, okay so it may not be an entire day but it is at least a decent chunk.

My husband says I come back more focused and refreshed.

Break the routine.

Every day can feel like the same when you are a stay at home mom.

Take a day and break free from your routine a little.

Whether it is just you and the kids or as a family it’s good to just have an unscheduled day.

Fun activities, lunch at your favorite restaurant, exploring a new park can be fun for everyone.

Get moving.

Working out or some form of exercise is good for all of us.

It’s a great stress reliever and it makes you feel better overall.

Even if you can’t get to the gym you can take a walk or bike ride with your kids.

Just get moving and get outside. The sun is good for you too!

If you are looking for more healthy tips for moms check out my new site Healthy Living Mom Of Three! There you will find plenty of weight loss tips and health-related posts just for us mommas.

Get plenty of rest.

If you are an infant mom and feeding your little one all hours of the night, have a toddler that does not sleep through the night yet.

Or like me, I have an 11-year old that has always been a light sleeper and wakes up still once a night for an extra tuck in.

Moms need their rest!

I’m not saying it this can be possible for everyone especially if you are getting up with little ones at night but a good solid 6 to 8 hours is best.

I usually try to get at least 7 hours every night since that is what I feel I can run on. Everyone is different you may need more or less depending on your situation.

Most importantly remember the way to avoid stay at home mom burnout is to take care of mom first, however that may be.

If we are on running on empty we have no more to give our families.

I have found the more positive I am, the kids are too.

Beleive me, there are days that I want to run away screaming but by taking time for me is just as important as taking care of my family.

4 Ways To Protect Yourself from Rising Energy Costs

04/12/2018 By Jenn Leave a Comment

Even though there are occasional dips in the market, energy costs have steadily been on the rise for the last few decades.

For many people, those unpredictable price jumps make it nearly impossible to create a strict monthly budget.

Here is a look at a few steps that you can take to protect yourself against rising energy costs.

Sign up for an Equal Payment Plan

Some of the biggest energy providers in the country are now offering equal payment plans to long-term customers.

Energy prices tend to spike at various points throughout the year, and that makes budgeting for the future quite difficult.

With an equal payment plan, all of your energy bills from the previous year will be added up and divided by 12. You are then going to pay that amount every month in the coming year.

Consider Upgrading Your Vehicle

Many people are constantly reminded of rising energy costs every time that they fill up their car or truck.

If your vehicle is more than a few years old, then you might want to consider upgrading to a hybrid or electric model.

As the manufacturing costs continue to plummet. Some dealers are offering incredible incentives to those who switch over to energy-efficient vehicles.

In addition to signing bonuses and low monthly premiums, you might also save thousands a year on gas.

Schedule a Professional Home Energy Audit

The average homeowner doesn’t have the tools or expertise to carry out a thorough energy audit.

An experienced home inspector will carefully look over every inch of your home in an attempt to find any efficiency issues.

Once the inspection is over, you are going to be given an exhaustive report that includes suggestions on how to make your home more eco-friendly.

Explore Alternative Sources of Energy

When gas and electricity prices shoot up, alternative energy companies, such as Kitsap Propane, become much more appealing.

Powering your home with an alternative energy source will give you an extra layer of protection against unmanageable energy prices during the hottest and coldest months of the year.

Many such companies even offer propane pre-buy plans so that you can fill up your tanks when the prices are at their lowest.

Change Your Habits

Take a good look at how you utilize your energy resources at home. Is there anywhere that you are wasting? Perhaps you leave the light on in a room when you’re not in it.

Doing this over and over can really put a dent in your energy costs. Some people may leave the TV on all day—even when they’re not watching it—and that could have the same effect.

Although it may be hard for you to change minor habits like these. Doing so will have a major impact in the long-run.

By turning off the lights and other things that use up energy. You could possibly save hundreds of dollars throughout the year.

If you truly want to protect yourself from rising energy costs, then you need to plan ahead and make a few lifestyle changes.

No one can predict future, but it is always a good idea to err on the side of caution and prepare your finances for any sudden market fluctuations.

This is a guest post written by Hannah Whittenly. Hannah is a freelance writer from Sacramento, California. A mother of two, Hannah enjoys writing on blogs of all niches.

Freshen Up With These Workout Hair Product Essentials

04/10/2018 By Jenn Leave a Comment

You know that saying, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”?

I use it a lot. Basically, it means you can’t enjoy the benefits of two desirable alternatives (kudos to Google for the translation).

The same concept can be applied to the debate over a good gym sesh versus a good hair day.

In the ultimate battle where the victor is usually your hair, you might ask yourself if it’s possible to actually have a good workout while also having good hair for later.

Fortunately, by treating your hair with the right products, it IS possible to have your (low-cal) cake and eat it too!

Freshen Up With These Workout Hair Product Essentials

A busy lifestyle with little time for washing your hair is going to require some alternative solutions. In fact, even on your free days, you might want to consider skipping your hair wash, anyway.

Repeated washes can be detrimental to hair health, as the water works to rid your hair of its needed natural oils.

Thankfully, you can save water and time by electing to use dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo

If you didn’t already know, dry shampoo can be your hair’s best solution when you’re in a hurry.

Giving your strands a few quick sprays pre-workout will preserve your fresh hair, as dry shampoo is, in essence, an oil-absorbing powder that will prevent the build-up of sweat and grease.

Because it is a powder, it should only be applied to dry hair; doing otherwise can leave behind a clumpy, cakey mess!

For best results, first, shake your bottle well. Next, spray the product directly onto your roots, focusing on the areas of your scalp where you sweat the most.

Then, take a comb and brush for 1-2 minutes to evenly distribute the product throughout your hair.

As you brush from your roots to your ends, the product will remove existing dirt and oil along with it.

After your workout, use a blow-dryer to dry your hair of any perspiration that may have accumulated during your workout.

Then apply the product again before styling it with a brush and blow-dryer.

This should give your hair a fresh fragrance, as well as some extra texture and pliability to easily transition it into your favorite look for later.

Another favorite Workout Hair Product Essentials are:

Texture spray

Like dry shampoo, a texture (or texturizing) spray can be used to provide extra hold, grip, and body to your pre and post-workout hair.

In fact, texture sprays are often used as a substitute for dry shampoo, since both products share oil-absorbing properties that help give hair a matte finish.

However, the two shouldn’t necessarily be used interchangeably.

Dry shampoos are less efficient in maintaining hold throughout your workout compared to most texture sprays. This is because the powder in dry shampoo weighs your hair down less than the heavier oil in a texturizing spray.

Given its thicker composition, texturizing sprays are best used in quick spurts to gradually add texture in as needed. The spray should target any areas in need of extra volume, body, and thickness.

Dry shampoos and texture sprays are not ideal for every hair type, however.

Since dry shampoos require you to brush the product out thoroughly, and since texturizing sprays increase thickness, both products should be avoided by thick, curly or coarse hair types.

Instead, a styling cream or styling lotion would be better suited for these hair types.

My last Workout Hair Product Essentials are:

Styling Creams

Styling cream provides a light, soft hold that combats tangly and frizzy hair.

To use styling cream, first, start with a golf ball to baseball-sized blob (depending on your hair length) and warm it in your palms.

Then, work it into damp hair from roots to ends. This will help give you a hydrated, silky hairdo that’s ready for whatever workout you throw at it.

Sticking to your fitness goals is hard enough as it is with a busy schedule. Add on all the time spent washing and preppin’ and you’re lucky to even step foot in the gym.

But there are some great time and workout-saving solutions out there! Just choose the one that works best for you and get to it!

Keep these styling tips from eSalon, a custom hair color company, in mind the next time you hit the gym!

This is a guest post submitted from eSalon.

Meet the New Google Pixelbook! @BestBuy @Google

04/04/2018 By Jenn Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Introducing the new Google Pixelbook!

Google Pixelbook is the new high-performance Chromebook!

You can add a Pixelbook Pen1 a smart, responsive stylus which is designed to enhance the way you work and play.

This baby is smart! It’s the first laptop with the Google Assistant built in, so you can get your work done faster than ever before. Offering an ultra-thin design, a collection of apps, Google Pixelbook is so versatile.

Best part!

Because the Google Pixelbook is powered by Chrome OS, you’ll always have the latest security and software features. Highly important in my book when looking for electronic devices.

Pixelbook is Google’s thinnest laptop ever, which is great for traveling.

I don’t know about you but lugging around a heavy laptop when I have to travel is not for me!

Another thing I look for is speed and charging time. Both are an A+ with the Google Pixelbook!

It starts up in under ten seconds and has a fast-charging, all-day battery that gives you up to ten hours of go from a single charge. YES!! Because this busy momma does not have time for loading most days.

Google Pixelbook Is SO Versatile

You can get so much done in less time!

The 360° touchscreen and 4-in-1 design will seamlessly adjust to whatever you’re doing with ease!

You can sketch or edit photos, stay productive with GSuite apps that Drive automatically backs up to your device. You can even enjoy on-or-offline access to movies and TV shows with apps like Google Play Movies and YouTube Red.

This baby has it all.

Google Pixelbook Features at a glance:

Google Assistant built-in
7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB for storage.
Up to 10 hours of use with a single charge
4-in-1 design – laptop, tablet, tent and entertainment modes.
Measures 10.3 mm and weighs 2.45lbs.
Features a 12.3″ 360° touchscreen display
An ultra sleek aluminum body, Corning® Gorilla® Glass detail, an edge-to-edge trackpad, and backlit keyboard so it looks as good as it performs
Speed, simplicity and security built in with Chrome OS
Starts up in less than 10 seconds
A smart, responsive pen for your Google Pixelbook

Google Pixelbook great deal offer!

From now until April 7th be sure to head over to BestBuy.com and save yourself $100 off!

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