Mommy Has to Work

How to Shift the Post-Pregnancy Weight

May 5, 2017 By Anne

With pregnancy comes weight gain, and after having a baby, your routine may become cluttered with a limited amount of free time. We’re busy, looking after a newborn; trying to become accustomed to a new lifestyle which keeps your hands full and mind busy. However, we continue to wish for our pre-baby bodies and to be able to fit in our favorite pair of jeans.

Having a baby is a glorious time, and although a child can be a handful, there is no reason for you to limit your hobbies, career goals or exercise routines. Every parent needs a break, and the gym can be a perfect way to better your mood, keep healthy and have some ‘me’ time. Therefore, the best tips on shifting your pregnancy weight can be found listed below.

PiYo Workout

What is a PiYo workout, I hear you ask? PiYo is exactly how it sounds – a workout combining both Pilates and Yoga. Unlike a singular Yoga or Pilates class, PiYo incorporates a professionally catered workout which is fun but challenging. However, with no weights or high-intensity cardio, the workout is low impact and perfect for toning muscles, burning calories while helping you with your balance. Also, a PiYo workout can be performed in your own home or back garden, meaning you do not have to leave your baby unattended. If you are on the fence, make sure to read this PiYo workout review.

Hire a Personal Trainer

Personal trainers have a lot of knowledge when it comes to the correct diet, and the ability to tailor a workout routine to your current level of fitness. Therefore, if you are unsure of which piece of gym apparatus will prove effective, a personal trainer can teach you how to use them correctly and how many minutes or reps should be spent on the equipment. Also, if your cardio has taken a hit, or you do not have the drive to exercise to the fullest, they can provide support and spur you on.

Enlist in an Exercise Buddy

Exercise can seem tiresome, and sometimes it is the thought of starting your workout which proves to be the most challenging, not the exercise itself. Therefore, enlist the help of a friend who is known for sticking to routines, and who can get you running or cycling. Better yet, find another mother who has the same goals as you, as an exercise buddy who has the same achievements as you prove fruitful. You could even go out running or walking with your pushchairs. Remember, there is usually strength in numbers.

Change Your Diet

During pregnancy, we’re all accustomed to a few unusual, unsavoury cravings which may not have a lot of nutritional value. However, once the baby is born, it is time adapt your diet to the weight loss you wish to achieve. Therefore, clean out your cupboards which may be filled with those well-craved treats and restock them with fresh produce and healthy fats such as nuts. However, remember everything in moderation is key.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Ionutrition: Healthy Meals Delivered To Your Door (Review)

April 30, 2017 By Heather Little

So many of us want to start eating healthier, but we just don’t know where to start. There are countless books and articles out there about the latest diet trends and research, it’s sometime hard to know what is the best. Even when we try to prepare better, healthier food, the task becomes too much and we go back to our old ways of fast food and unhealthy grab-n-go meals. But now, Ionutrition is taking the guesswork and struggle out of giving your body the best fuel it can get. Made fresh from 100% natural and organic ingredients, meals are delivered fresh right to your door. The delicious meals have NO preservatives, additives, dairy, gluten, GMOs, hormones, added sugar or soy and are very easy to prepare at home or eat on the go. Choosing to eat healthy has never been easier!

My meals came in an insulated box delivered right to my door. I just unpacked the items and placed them in the refrigerator until we were ready to eat them. I was surprised by the wide variety of meals and even snacks – from fiery squash frittata to blueberry white peach oatmeal to complete chicken, steak, and even salmon meals with sides. My kids really enjoyed the breakfast oatmeal, hearty granola, and coconut almond butter cups. The Moroccan salmon with veggies was delicious and my husband really liked the pepper beef and broccoli. Preparing the meals could not be any easier – just poke a few holes in the plastic wrapper and heat in the microwave for a few minutes and they are ready to eat!

Ordering is easy – just pick a meal plan or order a la carte. There are original, Paleo, protein, and even vegetarian meals to choose from – all are fresh, healthy, and delicious and delivered right to your door. The Ionutrition website is very easy to navigate, complete with pictures of all the meals and snacks so you know exactly what you’re getting. You can even order bulk meals and sides large enough to feed a family.

So if you and your family are on a mission to eat healthier or you’re already there and just looking for easy, convenient, delicious and nutritious meals, I would definitely recommend checking out www.ionutrition.com. You’ll find a wide variety of healthy meals, snacks, and sides, delivered right to your door, ready to eat in just a few short minutes.

Connect with Ionutrition: Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest

*I received meals in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.

Heather Little

My name is Heather Little and my husband and I have two sweet girls and one crazy dog. We moved to Florida 6 years ago and have loved every minute of it! I enjoy crafting, good food, shopping, and of course travel!

Making Friends with Other Moms

April 29, 2017 By Anne

If you are a new mom or a mom who has moved to a new neighborhood, it might seem like a hard thing to make new mommy friends. But do not worry because we are here to help! Just follow the tips below and you will be sure to find yourself some great new friends really fast:

1. Get yourself out the door: take your little one for walks in a stroller in the nearby park. You can also just choose to explore the neighborhood and look around. Inevitably, a lot of people will stop by and tell you how beautiful your baby is. If you don’t feel like walking, go to your favorite coffee shop once in a while and sit there for some time. But if you can’t get put of the house at a reasonable time, it might be a good idea to go to a bingo site online. It is known for its socialization and you can make a lot of people you click with in the chat rooms.

2. Break the ice: Do not wait for someone to come and talk to you, just walk over and break the ice. The easiest way to do is by giving a sincere compliment to your fellow mum.

3. Exchange contact information: Once you have talked to your potential friend, ask for their contact information and share yours. Keep it simple at first, having your contact information will make it easier for them to call you (or for you to call them) for a new meet up.

4. Have the best play-date you can: play–dates can be tricky. If your little one is having a good time playing with your friend’s child, it can seem like a piece of cake. But if he is not in the best of his moods, it might get difficult to be able to talk to your new-found friend. Choose a time for a play–date when your child usually feels at his best.

With these tips you are ready to make new friends who know exactly what you go through at almost every stage of motherhood.

Anne

10 Great Reasons to Go into Nursing

April 29, 2017 By Anne

There are many reasons people consider becoming a nurse. While nursing can be difficult, stressful, emotional, and exhausting, it can also be wonderfully rewarding and uplifting. If you are interested in becoming a nurse and enjoying all of these benefits, start by applying for an online nursing degree from Arizona State University.
Here are just 10 of the fantastic reasons you should pursue a career in nursing.

1. To Help Others

Being a nurse gives you a brilliant opportunity to help those in need. While this work can be tough, you’ll get to go home every day knowing you made a huge difference not just to patients but also to their family and friends.

2. Fulfilment

There will be bad days and you will have to face difficult situations. But, you’ll also get to see the difference you make to people. You’ll get to watch as patients become more comfortable and get better. You’ll get to see the families learn and grow. Being around such hope and joy can be very fulfilling.

3. Future Prospects

Once you are a qualified nurse there are many future career prospects open to you. You could become a nurse practitioner, nurse manager, research nurse, practice manager, or even a teacher.

4. Range of Specialities

As a nurse, there are many specialist fields open to you. You could work with children, the elderly, in mental health care, midwifery, or oncology. If you don’t want to be around patients every day you could work as a lab technician or research nurse, and if you don’t want to work in a hospital setting you could find work in schools, old people’s homes, or health care practices. There are an extensive amount of possibilities out there, and this list showing types of nursing specialties will give you a better idea of the educational requirements and the salary range for twenty of the fastest growing specializations.

5. Earnings

Senior nurses or those with specialist knowledge are very well paid for their time and can have great pensions, as well as the option to retire early.

6. It’s a Growth Industry

There is a huge nursing shortage across the country so your skills would be valued and you’d never need to worry about finding work. As the population continues to age and immigration levels rise, the need for nursing staff will continue to grow.

7. Flexibility

While working as a nurse practitioner in a hospital can mean long or unsociable hours there are other options. For those seeking more flexible work and especially those with young children, working as a practice nurse could be a great option. Healthcare practices are often open 9-5 and there could even be the option to work part-time or job share. Nurses looking for a flexible career should consider in-home senior care as an excellent path. Nurses can create customized schedules, helping to balance both their work lives and personal lives more easily. As nurses provide care in the comfort of a senior’s own home, they can develop meaningful relationships. Platforms like Care.com also provide invaluable opportunities for connecting with clients and families, with Care.com reviews revealing the positive experience professionals and families had using it. Not only can this career path provide flexible work hours, but it can also make an invaluable difference in seniors’ lives.

8. Patient Time

Being a nurse often allows you to spend more time with patients than doctors can. You have the chance to get to know your patients and their families, offering them emotional support when they need it most.

9. Learning

As a nurse, there is always the chance to learn. You could take an online RN to BSN degree or go on a course to learn new skills in your chosen specialty. Nursing is great for those who are always keen to learn and get bored without a challenge.

10. It’s a Great Second Career

Many people go into nursing in later life, bringing invaluable life experience and knowledge to the role. The profession is willing to accept people of any age from all walks of life.
Nursing is a great career. Are you a nurse? Let us know in the comments.

Anne

Sugar Sisters Body Scrubs – Review

April 26, 2017 By Anne

Body Butter ~ Lip Scrubs ~ Body Butter ~ Body Mists and More

Let me introduce you to the Sugar Sisters. The Women behind these products – Michel, Rachel, Leah and Lauren have over 30 years of experience in the cosmetic and beauty products industry. The Sugar sisters offer all natural scrubs, body butters, body mists, lip scrub balms, organic body washes and room deodorizers. The scrubs are paraben, phthalate, formaldehyde and nitrate musk free. They never use petroleum or fillers of any sort in their handcrafted products. The products are not tested on animals, are safe on sensitive skin, environmentally safe and maintain a shelf life of 1-2 years.

I tried Sugar Sisters scrub in Bare Truth. Their website describes this scent as honeydew, strawberries, with a hint of coconut. It’s bright and fresh and tropical to my nose. This scrub gave off the most heavenly scent in the shower. I did have to mix it around a little with my finger to distribute the oils, but the scrub exfoliated my tough shins with just the right amount of scrub and left my skin truly feeling soft and not sticky at all. Unlike other scrubs I’ve used in the past, this kept my skin feeling soft all day. The scrub is 6.7 oz. and retails for $26.00.

Sugar Sisters Sugar Scrub Contains:

Grape Seed Oil – boosts skin’s regenerative properties
Coconut Oil – allows skin to maintain moisture naturally
Sweet Almond Oil – rich in omegas, Vitamin E and nutrient rich lipids
Meadowfoam Seed Oil – repairs and hydrates the skin naturally

I chose to review the Body Butter in Pink Teddy, a soft feminine sweet raspberry inspired scent. The body butter smelled good enough to eat! Oh my goodness I loved this! It was a pleasure to use, making my skin felt, soft, smooth and moisturized and glowing. The scent lasted a good long while, so you may want to keep that in mind if you were planning to wear perfume on the same day. Sugar Sisters Body Butter is 6.7 oz. and retails for $24.

Body Butter contains:

Jojoba Oil – non-greasy, quick absorbing oil that hydrates the skin naturally
Hemp Oil – allows skin to retain moisture, glow and naturally shine.
Borage Seed Oil – restores moisture and smoothness to dry and damaged skin

I also tried Sugar Sisters Organic Body Wash in Daydreaming, a warm vanilla and pure lavender scent enriched with aloe. The website claims this is a low sudsing body wash, and I would agree with that. I wasn’t as wowed with this product and I was with the scrub and body butter. My personal preference is a body wash with more sudsing action. Yes, it did get me clean, but I didn’t find it to be very moisturizing on my skin. The bottle I received also had a packaging flaw that made using the body wash a frustrating experience. The cap was mis-aligned making it difficult to dispense the product. I’ve included a picture below. Overall, this wasn’t my favorite Sugar Sisters product. The body wash is 8 oz. and retails for $16.

I enjoyed trying Sugar Sister’s products! Find them at https://www.sugarsisters.me

After all, life’s a little sweeter with sugar in it!” – The Sugar Sisters

Always full disclosure here! Although some items are sent for review, compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own and not edited by any companies mentioned.