Hello, Natural- Minded Moms! If you’ve ever found yourself in a cradle cap conundrum with your little one, fret not – we’re here to dive into a common issue for our babies. In this blog, I’m sharing how to bid farewell to cradle cap using the magic of our favorite healthy fat – coconut oil. Because let’s face it, when it comes to our precious bundles, we want to nurture their delicate scalps with the gentlest, nature-inspired care. So, grab a cup of herbal tea, cozy up, and let’s embark on a journey to heal cradle cap the natural way! read more
Hi, my name is Angela and I am addicted to shopping on Amazon.
I am a prime member so I get free 2 day shipping. Plus, I use subscribe and save any chance I get to save 20% on items I buy on a recurring basis. I buy toilet paper, diapers, wipes, flour, vitamins, coconut oil, batteries, dish soap, shampoo, tooth paste… If I can buy it on amazon… and save 20% – I will do it! Given that, we may have 5 tubes of toothpaste in our bathroom drawer at this moment… but I did save 20% on them!
This app allows you to search for discount codes and coupons. You can use these coupons online usually and save easy money. What I will do is search for a store in their database and see if there is a current coupon code. This works great for popular stores like shutterfly and oldnavy.
Both of these apps will show you the deals of the week and store your coupons for you. You wouldn’t want to miss Hobby Lobby’s 40% coupon just because you didn’t have a paper coupon printed off.
Cartwheel is Target’s app for coupons and sales. You can search the app for what’s on sale and easily use the coupons directly from your phone at check out. Adam and I did this a few weeks ago and got 20% off shoes for Aidalyn and myself.
Ebay is an online garage sale. I use ebay’s app for searching for hard to find toys and used items like clothes. We all love ebay! I bought Aidalyn some cheap DVD’s and also some princess crowns.
Etsy is an artisan’s shopping mall. I use Etsy’s app for handmade items and personalized items. I also like searching on there for ideas that I can copy and make myself.
We all love a good deal. Groupon is a way to get huge discounts on restaurants and spas. Using the app allows you to have the Groupon handy and keep track of what Groupons you have available when you are trying to figure out what you want for dinner. We currently have a pizza deal in our Groupon account we need to use.
Both these online stores are discount flash sale type of shopping. They have items up for sale for a limited time and have a limited supply. When you purchase something you only have to pay shipping once then you get free shipping the rest of the day on the rest of your orders. Sometimes shipping seems kind of slow, but I have gotten some great deals on clothes and books from these stores.
9) ShopStyle
The ShopStyle App is the mobile version of ShopStyle.com. ShopStyle searches the web for you, compiling basically anything you could ever buy online. You can customize a search for a specific product by color, price, if it’s on sale… It’s Amazing! Looking for a red sweater for a Christmas Party? You can narrow it down to only looking at Red Sweaters from all over the internet in one place! This is a must for a mobile shopper!
With all this online shopping I do, I use Paypal to keep everything organized and safe. Having the app on your phone allows you to manage your transactions easily.
Online shopping is a great way to save time and money. What are your favorite online shopping apps?read more
What you need to have for your home birth kit in 20 items! Prepare for your home birth by collection this home birth kit.
How to Build a Home Birth Kit in 20 Items
I have been blessed to be able to have 2 home births now. You can read my two birth stories by clicking here: Annaleigh’s Birth and Aidalyn’s Birth.
Both experiences were amazing and there is very little I would change about either. I was fortunate to have 2 amazing midwives attend my births and felt very prepared for when the time came.
My first home birth was in 2010 (Aidalyn’s). I was able to have her in my master bathroom’s garden corner tub. It was easy clean up and a really a great experience. For Annaleigh’s birth we were in a rent house, so my midwife brought a large tub for me to use to birth in. It was even better because the water was able to be deeper. I wasn’t in the tub for more than 10 minutes though because she came so fast.read more
We are creatures of habit. We like to be able to predict what is coming next. Babies are no different. When they are learning about the world around them, it gives them security when they can predict and know that an action follows another action.
Routines are great for babies and kids alike. You will have less tantrums from your toddler and preschooler if you stick to a routine. The minute you change things up on them, expect some protest in the form of a tantrum.
Kids in general don’t like to be surprised. That’s why they like the same book or movie over and over. They are learning language and they are learning to be able to predict what is coming next. They find security in being able to know and predict.
Routines are very important at bedtime. This is a time that you are going to leave them alone and they need to know they are safe and secure. How would you feel if you were dropped off and had no idea when your ride was going to pick you up?
Letting your child fall asleep knowing that this is normal and that you will come and get them will help them fall asleep in a safe state.
Establishing a bedtime routine
When should you establish a bedtime routine? As soon as you are able to! Babies are learning from the moment they are born.
If you plan to do a bath time before bed, start it early on. Think about what steps you want to include in your routine. Is it able to be followed away from home? How long does it take to complete the routine?
Aidalyn had a solid bedtime routine in place by 6-8 weeks. We would swaddle her, give her a pacifier, her lovey (Charlie) and turn on her sound machine. She was sleeping through the night in her crib by 8 weeks. This child loves routine though. She never would adapt well when we weren’t at home.
Everyone always is asking what to buy for their baby’s birthday or special occasions. Sometimes it is hard to know what are the best toys out there for different developmental ages. Right now Annaleigh is 8 months old and so much fun. At 6 months, she just starting to really have fun and play. It was a whole new world for her to explore! We have tested out these toys. I wanted to share her favorite ones.
Here are my top picks toys for 6 month olds:
1) Exersaucer
Annaleigh loves that she can sit up and play in her exersaucer. She enjoys being about to look around the room and watch Aidalyn run around. The exersaucer also gives her a chance to use her newly developed head control and work towards sitting up by strengthening her core muscles.
2) Easy to Grab Toys
Annaleigh is all about being about to hold toys in her hands. The perfect toys for this age are the ones with fun colors and lots of small things to catch her attention. The easier for them to hold onto, the less picking up you will have to do. Annaleigh loves toys that make gentle noises like rattles and crinkle sounds.
Here are some examples of grab-able toys:
3) Toys that Grow with your Child
It is no new idea that kids grow fast. Toys that can adapt to their growing body and abilities are the best because they will last as an engaging toy. Soon these babies will be sitting up then crawling and eventually running circles around you!
Here are some toys that grow that I personally love:
4) Toys to Chew
Teething is a common woe to 6 month olds. They want to chew on anything and everything they can get their teeth on! Even if it isn’t designed to be chewed on, babies will find a way to soothe their gums.
Sophie the Giraffe Teether (affiliate link) was a gift from a friend. I had seen Sophie before, but didn’t have one with Aidalyn. Annaleigh doesn’t take a paci, but she just seems to enjoy chewing on Sophie. I think she will be a great toy to have as we continue to teethe.
Here are some toys that are designed to be chewed on:
6 months is such a fun age. They start growing out of the itty bitty stage and are really to really develop in speech and motor.
I love watching Annaleigh learn and discover. She is so close to sitting up on her own. Even at 8 months, she will balance for a few seconds and then fall over. She wants to crawl so badly too. She is sort of scooting and rolling everywhere she wants to go.
The children’s lunch included: meat, potatoes, carrot, milk, and an orange. Under the school’s “balanced” guidelines, a parent is supposed to pack: 1 milk, 1 meat, 1 grain, and 2 fruits and vegetables. This mom actually packed an extra vegetable – a starch (the potato) – which is by far better than a Ritz cracker.
Adapted from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buzzymelibee/8696769797/
What is in a Ritz Cracker?
Ritz cracker ingredients: Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil, Sugar, Raising Agents (Ammonium and Sodium Bicarbonates, Disodium Diphosphate), Salt, Glucose Syrup, barley Malt Flour. The crackers have more sugar than a potato and include vegetable oil (which is not a health food, read about healthy fats here). This doesn’t sound very healthy or balanced to me. If the school plans to routinely supplement children’s meals with Ritz crackers for health and nutritional reasons… they may need to rethink their plan.
The school should widen it’s view of a “balanced” lunch. They possibly should eliminate the need to include grains entirely, because you can eat a balanced meal without eating grains. The school could offer one of the foods in the 4 food groups list to supplement a meal, if their goal is health. If the school continues to require grains to be included in the school lunch, parents could send my Almond flour Cheese Crackers (shhh they are grain free). These gluten free crackers are easy to make. They are grain-free, gluten-free and have good healthy saturated fats (one of the 4 food groups all kids need).
How to keep growing and to have life among the growing.
Life Among the Growing…. What does that actually mean to me?
This phrase really speaks to me deeply in several ways.
First, I think about how I want to be continually growing into a better person with each day and opportunity I get. If you aren’t moving forward, you are moving backwards. If you aren’t growing, you are dying.
This is in my personal life as a wife and mom. In my spiritual life, I want to continually study and grow in God’s words.
Secondly, I think about my little girls. I love life with them as I get to watch them grow. Time flies by so quickly and I’m blessed that I am able to stay home with them in this fleeting stage.
Thirdly, I like to think about life. What is happening in my life and around me. What am I learningthese days?
What are some ways that we can continue to grow and not become stagnant?
1) Try something new.
Visit a new town, a new restaurant, a new museum.
2) Read a book.
How many books have you read recently? I prefer nonfiction for sure, but last summer I got into some mystery novels that were fun to read as well.
3) Learn a new skill.
Always wanted to know how to fix something by yourself or understand how something works? Find out!
4) Be around others who are growing.
Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.read more
Here are 6 Ways to Save Money this Valentine’s Day without feeling like a cheapskate. Valentine’s Day is not one of my favorite holidays… but it is never a bad thing to recognize the ones you love and let them know in some special way. When you are trying to save money, sometimes you feel pressure to spend more than you really should. Remember that expensive gifts don’t equal more love. You will show love to your husband more by staying on budget than a fancy new watch.
6 Ways to Save Money on Valentine’s Day
1) Split baby sitting cost with other couples.
Hire 1-2 baby sitters to watch several kids at one house. Let them have a pizza and movie night while all the parents get to go out on date. Leave craft supplies for older kids to work on their own Valentine’s day cards to keep them busy.
2) Find free things to do in your town.
We have an art museum here in Richmond that is free every day to the public. It is romantic to walk around (and pretend like you are more cultured that you really are.) Most larger cites will have a website that list free ideas to do in town. One idea is to go to a local park and walk hand in hand depending on weather. Go to a nice shopping center and window shop.
The Winter Olympics are a fun event to watch as a whole family. The Olympics can be a great time to teach your kids about other countries and learn about competition events. Get your kids excited and active by making your own Olympians.
You can style them after their favorite Olympic Skiers or snowboarders:
(affiliate link) was a gift from a friend. I had seen Sophie before, but didn’t have one with Aidalyn. Annaleigh doesn’t take a paci, but she just seems to enjoy chewing on Sophie. I think she will be a great toy to have as we continue to teethe.
