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Is Melaleuca right for you?

Is Melaleuca right for you?

Before You Try Melaleuca, There’s Something You Should Know

Well, this is it: The last company review in my five-part series on product-focused, home-based business opportunities. Have I saved the best for last with Melaleuca review? I’ll let you be the judge of that.

The first four companies I looked at—Younique, Scentsy, LuLaRoe, and doTERRA—all rely on distributors who purchase and resell their products. That’s the hallmark of multi-level marketing.

Melaleuca, however, has no distributors. It’s just an online store. I was kind of surprised when I found that out. It turns out that the only way customers can purchase Melaleuca products is directly from the company.

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Health

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Naptime

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Naptime

Once I had my second child, a boy, I learned about a miracle I had never known before. Some babies actually sleep in their cribs for hours at a time! I wish I could divulge the miraculous mom hack that produced this anomaly, but I don’t know what I did besides have a boy. Or a second child. Either way, he was just built differently, I guess. My daughter eventually caught on to this idea, but she was well into toddler years before she figured out that she could sleep regularly outside of mom’s exhausted grip. Regardless, I quickly realized that naptime meant freedom, and I wanted to make sure I got the most out of it.

So turn up your sound machines and clip the baby monitor to your yoga pants’ waistband because we are going for a ride, and it may not be what you expect. Here are 5 things you can do while baby naps from a seasoned mom, who is now officially out of the baby-napping stages.

Sleep

“Sleep when the baby sleeps!” You’ve heard it. I’ve heard it. It’s ludicrous. Of course you can’t always sleep when the baby sleeps. Babies need to clock over 15 hours of sleep a day, and you feel like that would be heaven, I’m sure, but you don’t need that much sleep, and you have some serious adulting to do. All of that being said, naps are important. So if you find yourself dozing off during imaginary tea parties, using Mr. Snuggles as a pillow, not only is that terrible tea party etiquette, it’s also a sign you need to prioritize rest.

Sleep affects your nervous system in a big way. When you are running on empty, you’re more inclined to get your feathers ruffled by minor annoyances, which usually means you’re taking out your lack of rest on your partner and possibly your older children. Even if it’s just for 30 minutes, take some time to clear the fog and find that sweet spot between being totally loopy and completely frazzled.

Something from your to-do list

Afternoon nap time is usually when I would get a text from my big sister saying, “She just went down for a nap. Do I sleep? Or do I clean the bathroom?” Now, I’m a good sister, so I would always respond by telling her to sleep. But occasionally, she would push back and moan about her dirty bathroom (or unanswered e-mails or chaotic house project). If you’ve experienced this dichotomy–being caught between exhaustion and productivity–I have a solution for you.

Take 5 minutes to list out the things that would significantly alter your level of stress if they were completed. This is not a guilt list, so don’t put down meal prepping unless accomplishing it will truly lift a load from your shoulders and leave you just a little bit euphoric in your badassery. Then choose an item from the list that can be done in less than 15 minutes.

Once you complete that item, you’ll have the motivation to check off some of the heavier items, or you’ll have the sense of accomplishment that will allow you to–you guessed it–go take a nap.

Guilty pleasure

Now I know some of you out there are asking me why I put “sleep” on this list twice. So if you saw “guilty pleasure” and interpreted it to mean “nap,” stop reading this and go to bed. For the rest of you, I’m here to tell you that sleep isn’t the only thing you should be doing while your little one snoozes. You should also be taking the time to enjoy yourself.

This is where it gets tricky, though. Reclining in a bubble bath with candles and a podcast should be a part of this, but for me, that didn’t work. Not only were baths a nighttime thing in my mind, but they also required a lot of managing if baby woke up early. So instead of going big, try aiming for something small and manageable.

Maybe you can just sit in your backyard and stare up at the clouds for a few minutes. Or maybe you want to grab yourself a bite of chocolate (or three) and settle down with your favorite book. Whatever activity brings you joy, dive on in.

Audio-inspired work

Next to sleep, this one is probably my favorite. I try my darndest to stay on top of my house throughout the day, but the reality is that chores are just simpler when baby isn’t underfoot. And chores are more fun when I have something interesting to listen to, so long as my chores don’t require mental work.

That’s why I absolutely love cleaning–a satisfying manual task–while listening to an audiobook, podcast, or reruns of television shows–fun mental task. Make this one doubly-productive by adding in 20-30 minutes of a good-for-you podcast or audiobook like a religious text or popular self-help book and then follow it up with Friends reruns.

Social media

I’m a realist, so I had to put this one on here. But I really should have called it doom scrolling. Let’s face it, phones are easy, fast, and stimulating. Of course we reach for them. But when we reach for them because our minds are exhausted, our tempers are short, and we’re overwhelmed, it’s not unlike skipping breakfast and lunch and then eating three bags of cotton candy. You’ll be left with a headache, sick to your stomach, and dehydrated.

So grab a drink of water before you go for your phone. And without opening your phone, decide how you want to spend your freedom. If you consciously decide you want to spend it on Instagram, go for it. Set a timer and scroll to your heart’s content. But you may find that consciously choosing a nap, productivity, or a guilty pleasure will leave you feeling more energized and content.

At the end of the day, baby naps are pockets of freedom that can be used to take care of ourselves in lots of ways. So find what works for you and make sure you get the most out of it! And sleep. Don’t forget to sleep.

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HealthMom Hacks

New Year, New You: Setting and Achieving Your Goals as a Mom

New Year, New You: Setting and Achieving Your Goals as a Mom

Happy New Year, moms! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Now that the new year is upon us, it’s time to start thinking about our resolutions. This can be a difficult task for many of us, especially if we’re trying to balance parenting with everything else on our plates. But don’t worry, I’m here to help! In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my tips for setting and achieving your goals as a mom. Let’s get started!

1. Be realistic

The first step to setting and achieving your goals is to make sure they are realistic. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself by trying to do everything all at once. Instead, focus on something that is meaningful to you that you can reasonably accomplish within this calendar year.

2. Stay broad

Think about who you want to be one year from now. And use that version of you to decide what intention you want to step into. If you narrow things too quickly, they likely won’t fit into the scope of your entire year. Life changes quickly, especially with young kids. Don’t feel like you need to force something that was working in January but is too rigid for July.

3. Break it down

Once you’ve settled on your broad goal, it’s important to break it down into smaller, achievable steps. For example, if your broad goal is to lose 20 pounds, you might set a micro-goal of going for a 30-minute walk three times per week or consuming a certain number of calories. If these micro-goals are not providing you with results, consider altering them.

4. 80/20 Principle

Your micro-goals should be achievable very easily 80% of the time. If you are not easily reaching your micro-goals 80% of the time, this goal is not supporting you; it is hurting you. It is damaging your relationship with yourself, and teaching you that you don’t have what it takes. Moms do not need this kind of subliminal messaging. Allow your goal to support your desire by setting the right micro-goals.

5. Set reminders

It can be easy to forget about our goals when we’re busy taking care of our families. To help keep track of your goals, set reminders in your phone or on a calendar so that you can stay on track and make progress towards achieving them.

6. Celebrate successes

As you work towards your goals, it’s important to celebrate each success along the way. Reward yourself with alone time or a dance party with the kids–whatever makes you feel like a rock star, smashing your way to a life you desire.

Setting and achieving your goals as a mom doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By breaking down your goals into achievable steps and celebrating successes along the way, you’ll be able to make progress towards becoming the best version of yourself.

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BeautyFashionMom Hacks

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Busy Moms Who Deserve a Break

30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Busy Moms Who Deserve a Break

Every other day of the year, we’re writing for the women. We see you: busy moms juggling the weight of trying to have it all. You are incredible and worth celebrating.

Today, our post is for the loved ones in your life. So pass over the phone and let them do the reading. You deserve to be pampered.

Folks, It’s the holiday season, and that means it’s time to show your appreciation for the busy moms in your life. Every day they juggle work, family obligations, and household tasks at warp speed with little time to take a break. This Christmas, give them something special to help them relax and recharge. Whether they are a stay-at-home mom or a working mother, here are 30 gift ideas that will make any busy mom smile.

*As a side bonus, ideas that can be purchased Christmas Eve and still make a meaningful appearance under the tree are marked with an asterisk.

1. Spa vouchers*

Treating a busy mom to a day at the spa is one of the best Christmas gift ideas for her. From massages and facials to manicures and pedicures, she will appreciate the chance to relax and unwind.

2. Wine subscription*

Give your favorite mom an indulgent treat with a wine subscription. From classic reds to sparkling whites, she will have something to suit her taste.

3. Amazon Echo Dot

Let your busy mom stay on top of things while keeping her hands free with an Amazon Echo Dot. She can access music, podcasts, and much more with just the sound of her voice.

4. Gift basket

Put together a gift basket of her favorite things. This could include chocolates, bath salts, lotions, and candles to help her relax after a long day.

5. A night out with the girls*

Let your special mom catch up with her friends while you watch the kids. Give her a voucher for dinner, call the friends, and make the reservation.

6. Yoga classes*

Gift your busy mom a set of yoga classes at her local studio. She can take some time to focus on her health and wellbeing while enjoying the relaxation benefits of yoga.

7. Personalized necklace

A personalized necklace with an engraving of her children’s names or initials will be a special reminder of how much she is loved. I had one of these for two years before my chain broke. I loved that simple and stylish piece of jewelry.

8. Self-care subscription box*

A self-care subscription box is a great way to show your appreciation for her hard work and dedication. With boxes full of beauty products, health snacks, and inspirational books, she will have everything needed for some pampering time.

9. Home cleaning service*

Give your favorite mom the gift of a home cleaning service. She can take some time off and let someone else take care of the housework for her.

10. Subscription to a streaming service*

A subscription to a streaming service such as Netflix or Hulu is an ideal Christmas gift idea for busy moms who need some entertainment to wind down after a hectic season.

11. Meal delivery service*

Gift her a meal delivery service for those nights when she needs to cook but doesn’t have the energy.

12. Personalized mug

Get your busy mom a personalized mug with an uplifting message or a funny quote – it will be sure to make her smile!

13. Skin care

Cold weather combined with lots of household chores and cooking takes a heavy toll on your busy mom’s hands. Take care of her with a lotion that holds up against her hard work.

14. Journal

With a blank journal, your busy mom can take some time to reflect and write down her thoughts.

15. Yoga mat

Gift her a yoga mat to help make the most of her yoga practice. Check out a yoga app to go with the mat so she can meditate and stretch from the comfort of her own home.

16. Handbag

Treat your special mom to an elegant handbag that she can use on days out.

17. Aromatherapy diffuser

With an aromatherapy diffuser, your busy mom can enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils while keeping her home smelling great.

18. Coffee maker

Help her make a cup of coffee with ease each morning with a high-quality coffee maker.

19. Subscription to a magazine*

Choose a magazine that covers her interests, such as cooking, fashion, or travel. She can catch up with the latest trends and news while relaxing at home.

20. Fitness tracker

Get your busy mom a fitness tracker so she can monitor her activity levels and reach her health goals easily.

21. Personalized cutting board

Surprise her with a personalized cutting board that she can use for years to come.

22. Spa day*

Give the gift of relaxation and pampering with a spa day. She can enjoy a massage, facial, manicure, or pedicure – the choices are endless!

23. Coffee subscription*

Gift her a coffee subscription so she can enjoy fresh, delicious coffee each day.

24. Clothing

Get her an outfit that’s both stylish and comfortable for days spent on the go. But include the gift receipts so if the outfit doesn’t suit her, she can pick out something else.

25. Luxury candles

Give your busy mom some much-needed relaxation with luxury candles with calming scents such as lavender or rose.

26. Home décor

Get her a piece of home décor to add a touch of style and personality to her living space.

27. Kitchen appliances

Make cooking easier with kitchen appliances such as slow cookers, pressure cookers, or air fryers.

28. Silk pillowcase

Give your mom the gift healthier skin and hair by adding a few silk pillowcases she can cycle through on a regular basis.

29. Hair care*

Personalized hair care through subscription services matches up your mom’s unique hair type to the products she needs. An easy-to-follow hair care regime that comes in the mail is sure to help her feel pampered and keep her hair healthy.

And the best choice for last . . . [drumroll] . . .

30. A night alone at a hotel*

Hear me out. Every mom wants this. One day alone, relaxing, eating amazing food, watching her favorite show or reading a book. Bonus points if the house is sparkly clean when she comes home. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

This Christmas, show your busy mom how much you care by picking out a thoughtful gift from this list. Whether it’s a subscription service or an item that will make her life easier, these gifts are sure to put a smile on her face and give her the break she deserves. After all, she’s worked hard all year and deserves something special. Happy gift-shopping!

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BeautyHealth

Unwanted Peach Fuzz and What to Do About It

No one prepared me for the facial hair. I mean, sure, as a teen I overplucked my eyebrows like the rest of us, but there comes a point in every woman’s life that a pair of tweezers and a lighted mirror just doesn’t keep up on the neck, cheek, and jawline. That’s when I started scheduling monthly appointments with an esthetician, but for me, they just weren’t right. It was another monthly cost and another monthly appointment. Plus, as incredible as my esthetician was, let’s face it: waxing is downright painful. The reality is laser treatments, dermaplaning appointments, or regular waxing treatments are costly and time consuming.

But I was sick of the peach fuzz. I really enjoy a full make-up face look on dressier days, but foundation clings to peach fuzz making it look cakey and over-done. And then one day while I was mindless scrolling on Instagram (yes, I do that too), I saw a review for the Tinkle razor, one brand of many eyebrow/dermaplaning razors for women.

Ladies, I was paying $60 a month for my monthly waxing treatments. A pack of 12 of these disposable razors are available on Amazon for under $8. I figured I had nothing to lose; after all, this beauty blogger on IG certainly looked flawless, and that’s always a guarantee right? Maybe not. But still, I was desperate.

So I put the Tinkle Razor to the test. I am no beauty blogger, and I am certainly not an esthetician, but I used this Tinkle Razor fresh out of the box first try, and it was incredibly easy. The razor isn’t sharp like a shaving razor, so there’s little danger of getting nicked. Instead, it gently exfoliates the very top layer of skin, buffing away unwanted peach fuzz and dry skin. I had to be mindful of a few blemishes I have and take care not to snag anything or take half my eyebrow off accidentally, but that’s pretty self-explanatory. It was easy to control and easy to use.

Afterwards, I cleansed my face with a gentle face wash and used a non-clogging gentle moisturizer, which stung slightly. And that makes sense because I had just removed the top layer of skin from my face, leaving my face slightly pink. But when I went in the next morning with my foundation, it applied flawlessly, all signs of dry skin and peach fuzz taken to the cleaners. Turns out the Tinkle Razor (and I’ve now used other brands with equal efficacy) was affordable, easy, and efficient. I loved it. Hope you do too!

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Uncategorized

Grocery Pickup and Delivery: 10 Reasons You Should be Shopping Online

Grocery Pickup and Delivery: 10 Reasons You Should be Shopping Online

If you’re a mom, you know how hectic life can be managing a home. Between taking care of the kids, running errands, and trying to squeeze in a little time for yourself (ya know, real luxuries like a shower) it feels like there’s never enough time in the day. So let’s talk about one huge timesaver (read, sanity-saver) for moms who are always on the go: Walmart pick-up (or any pickup or delivery service). In this blog post, we’ll talk about why you should be doing your shopping online, plus the dirty tips for getting the best experience.

If you haven’t jumped on this trend yet, you do not know what you’re missing. I honestly can’t believe I used to cart all three of my kids into a shopping cart for an hour, dodging the candy and toy aisles, reminding them we don’t impulse shop, managing tantrums, and then checking out only to take those groceries out to the car, holding the baby and herding the toddlers through a parking lot desert. Add bad weather to the equation, and I’m getting hives thinking about it.

So here we go: 10 reasons you should be shopping online

1. You can shop from the comfort of your own home

No more getting the kids ready to go out, loading everyone into the car, and schlepping through a store. You can do it all from your phone or laptop while you’re relaxing on the couch in your jammies. Or, like me, while you’re binge-watching your favorite sitcom when you should be sleeping, which I believe we’ve covered before, is my favorite way to shop.

2. No need to cart around kids and groceries in bad weather

If you’ve ever had to deal with a toddler meltdown in the middle of a rainstorm, or carry two grocery bags and a baby in one arm through a snowdrift, you know what I’m talking about.

Online shopping means no more weather-related stressors. You can shop when it’s convenient for you, even if that means in the middle of a blizzard, and not have to worry about getting everyone out in bad weather.

With an option like Walmart pick-up, you still might be driving in the weather, but sitting in your car while the Walmart angels fill up your trunk and you listen to your favorite podcast just never gets old.

3. Groceries are delivered right to your car or door

Can someone say, “Heaven?” Depending on the pick-up option, you may not even have to go inside (our Sam’s Club, as an example, you do have to go inside to collect your items). Bust most often, just pop the trunk and you’re all set. If you’re using a grocery delivery service, they’ll bring it right to your door. Now that’s what I call service!

And if you’re really ahead of the game, teach your kids responsibility by having them help unload when you get home. Now you’ve got all the work done at a serious fraction of the friction. Well done, mama.

4. You can compare prices online easily

Gone are the days of driving to three different stores to compare prices on items. With a few clicks, you can check out what each store has to offer and make sure you’re getting the best deal. Not to mention, many times online retailers have better sales than brick-and-mortar locations.

5. No impulse shopping

I can just about cut my grocery bill in half just by sticking to pick-up for the month and vowing not to go in-store. It’s crazy to me. Just think about all the times you’ve gone into a store for one item and walked out with $100 worth of “stuff” you didn’t even know you needed. It happens to the best of us. But when you’re shopping online, there’s no way to be distracted by items you don’t need because they’re not right in front of you in fancy end-cap displays.

Plus, no arguing with your kids at checkout and they’re begging for gum and candy. Bonus.

6. No germs

Contact-less shopping option is one of my favorite by-products of the Covid-era. I remember looking down in at my toddler just to find him SUCKING on the shopping cart handle. Oh my heavens. No more dirty carts, no more coughing shoppers, no more public restrooms. When you’re shopping online, there’s no risk of exposure to those icky germs.

7. You get discounted substitute items when something is out of stock

This is one thing I love specifically about Walmart pickup: when they substitute an item for you, you get the better price. On most things, I shop Walmart brand to save a few bucks here and there, but if they run out, they upgrade me to a name brand or, even better, to a larger size for the same cost as the item I originally put in my virtual shopping cart. It feels like free stuff.

8. You save valuable time and energy

Your time is precious; in fact, it’s the only resource you can’t create more of. So why would you want to spend it doing something that’s not only a time-suck, but also energy draining? Shopping online is so much quicker and easier than trekking around the store.

You can shop when the kids are in bed, or while you’re watching your favorite show, or even on your lunch break at work. No need to hunt down mystery items in a store.

Plus, you have easy access to your pantry at home, so you can check on the items you already have rather than calling your partner to check on the number of eggs you have in the fridge. That’s a time-saver, a marriage-saver, and a money-saver.

9. Avoid decision fatigue

The more decisions you have to make in a day, the harder they become. By the end of a long day of work and mom-ing, the last thing you want to do is try to figure out what’s for dinner and then stand in line at the store. Why not make life easier on yourself by doing as much as you can ahead of time?

You can plan your meals for the week, make a grocery list, and shop all in one sitting. Then, when it comes to dinner time, all you have to do is heat it up. No standing in line at the store or trying to decide what’s for dinner while you’re already hangry.

10. Great customer service

Now I think I may have an advantage here because I read somewhere that my particular Walmart is winning a corporate award for their highly rated customer service, but my experience with Walmart pickup has been stellar. Often, they even have fruit snacks to give my kiddos. I’ve been pleased with the groceries, how they’re packaged, and how they communicate with me. 10/10 would recommend.

Dirty Tips

Here’s my one caveat on grocery pickup, which I am clearly wild about: if you have the time, pick your own produce. I often delegate this responsibility to the amazing pick-up shoppers, and I’d give them 6/10 for picking the quality produce I would get if I were picking it out myself.

My preference is to do my Walmart pickup order and then stop by a local grocer on the drive home and get fresher produce from the front of the store that I pick out myself. It’s an easy-in, easy-out experience, and I get pretty fruits and veggies I’m excited to consume. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also a place I feel a little better about impulse buying, so it allows me to see what’s in-season or on-sale and choose accordingly. Otherwise I might buy strawberries for $5.00 when I could have gotten peaches for $2.50.

Should I shop for groceries online?

Conclusion: You should be shopping for groceries online!

If you’re not already using a grocery pickup or delivery service, I hope this has inspired you to at least give it a try. It’s saved me so much time, money, and energy as a busy mom. There are definitely some drawbacks like deciding what’s for dinner and then sticking to that decision, but the pros far outweigh the cons. Online grocery shopping is a total game-changer, and I think you’ll be hooked once you try it.

Happy shopping!

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