Six Tips to Help You Survive Motherhood [& an EPIC giveaway!]

I have been compensated by Sundown Naturals® and Pollinate Media Group for this post as part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sundown Naturals® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #GoodnessGiveaway #sharethegoodness http://my-disclosur.es/OBstV

Having a newborn in the house is truly a task in itself. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to wake up with her all hours of the evening and I'm actually overjoyed to cater to her cries, but as other mamas know - it's hard to take time for yourself when your entire life revolves around caring for this new, tiny human.

Now that it's been a little over 7 weeks since her arrival, I'm finally trying to get back into the swing of things and take care of myself, not just her. I'm not going overboard and indulging myself, but allowing myself to do things every mama should. If you're also a new mama or you just need a reminder on how you can take better care of yourself, this list is for you. So grab a glass of water (or wine, whichever you prefer), and let's talk!

1. Use your free time wisely - This is easier said than done, but instead of just sitting around watching Netflix while your little one snoozes, get up, take advantage of this “free time” and get things accomplished. Whether you're delaying a DIY project you swear you'll work on one day or you just need to fold some laundry, take a moment while your baby is sleeping during the day to get things accomplished!

2. Start taking a probiotic – Personally, I love the Sundown Naturals® Probiotic gummies. They're a delicious way to  keep my body healthy! Available in pineapple, raspberry, and orange flavors, these tasty little gummies provide friendly bacteria for your digestive system with over 2 billion cultures per serving at time of manufacture. Your body will thank you for adding this gummy to your daily routine and so will your taste buds, especially because Sundown Naturals® are free of gluten, dairy, and artificial flavors◊!

3. Get fishy - Speaking of gummies and health support, if you are breastfeeding I highly recommend adding Fish Oil to your daily routine! While Sundown Naturals® Fish Oil gummies provide you with Omega-3s and Vitamin D3 and give you the support you need for your heart, bones, immune system, and so much more, they also pass on these great benefits to your babe! The best part is that you can find these and other Sundown Naturals® vitamins for your whole family on your next trip to Walmart!

4. Get your blood pumping - After you've gotten the all clear from your doctor, start getting your body back by adding a little work out to your daily routine. Take a moment and do some mommy & me yoga with your darling or find a gym with a sitter and allow yourself some time to really concentrate on your workout, either way it'll be good to get back into shape!

5. Focus on you - Speaking of yoga and getting back into shape, while you're working on your physical self, it's a good idea to start meditating some and learning to follow your instincts. While I'm still a new parent I've found it seems to be instinctual, so far, and meditating allows you to listen a little closer to your instincts.

6. Treat yourself - Buy yourself something new or get a little treat for yourself, at least once a month. I like to get pedicures or buy new clothes, each month... sometimes both. Doing a little retail therapy & a bit of spoiling yourself at the spa won't hurt anyone and it’ll definitely help you feel more like you. Call ahead and schedule a massage, go shopping at your favorite place, or even just grab yourself your favorite treat - allow yourself to feel spoiled and your guaranteed to have happier days with your baby!

So tell me, what are your tips for handling life with a newborn? I'd love to hear all about your experience in the comments below! Also, don't forget to take a short quiz to find out which Sundown Naturals® vitamin gummies are for you!

Interested in winning an epic prize? Enter the Goodness Giveaway Sweepstakes today! Head into Walmart and purchase at least 1 Sundown Naturals® vitamin product for a chance to win weekly prize packages and a grand prize! Every week, one winner will be selected to choose from 1 of 4 prize packs – Yogi Pack, Fitness Pack, Foodie Pack, or a $100 Walmart Gift Card. Simply upload a picture of your receipt here and you are entered for a chance to win some incredible prizes now through 11/1!

 These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
◊Applies to all products manufactured after 5/1/15. Please check back of label as manufacture dates may vary.

Lactation Cookies for Nursing Mamas: Help Increase Your Milk Supply While Breastfeeding with this COOKIE recipe!

If I'm going to be honest, I never thought I'd be so devoted to something like this... but I'm pretty passionate about nursing Delainey. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally on board with the "fed is best" movement - but for our family I believe breast is best (at least for now)! If you're a nursing mama, you know some days your baby cluster feeds enough that you feel you've run dry... while it's impossible to run out of milk if you're allowing your little one to nurse on demand, it is possible for you to do things to "up" your supply and hopefully help your milk become more established.

You can try all kinds of products, teas, tinctures, old wives tales, and more, but here's a little secret - you can eat cookies to help your supply! I've been experimenting with all kinds of items that are supposed to help and I stand behind this cookie recipe, I've noticed my supply seems to increase when I eat these... especially when I have a few a day!

That's right, I'm giving you a reason to eat a few cookies - every single day. That means you have the right to add cookies to your diet (in the plural form) whenever you want and the best part is that they will help you produce milk for your baby! What more could a new mama ask for? It's a bit like heaven, really - especially once you taste these little bits of gluten-free goodness.

Side Note: You can eat these "lactation" cookies whether you are breastfeeding a child or not, they are full of delicious and healthy ingredients for everyone... but these are especially beneficial if you're trying to up your milk supply!

For this recipe you will need:


Ingredients
1 cup butter (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons flax seed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups gluten-free flour blend
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons brewer’s yeast (found at the health food store or amazon)
3 cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3 tbsp chopped almonds


Directions

Start out by preheating the oven to 375. Now mix the flour, baking soda, brewer’s yeast and oats in a bowl and set aside while you cream together the butter and sugars. 

Now add the eggs, vanilla and flax to the butter and sugar mixture. Combining the ingredients thoroughly.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the chocolate chips and the dried cranberries.   

Now drop cookie dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F. for 10 minutes.

Let these yummy little pockets of goodness cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then move to a cooling rack. 

Enjoy & Nurse, nurse, nurse!

15 Animated Movies You Must Watch on an Epson Home Cinema Projector

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

Sometimes you just need a little extra when it comes to items in your life. I can recall a time, in the not so distant past, when the quality of picture from even the nicest TV couldn't compare to the quality of images displayed on our current HDTV models. Now we have so many options, like smart TVs, handheld devices, and even nifty, 1080p projectors.

While I'm not necessarily a techie, I do know a good projector when I see one and I've been eyeing the ultra-bright Epson Home Cinema Projector. It literally brings the movie theater to your living room, which means you can watch the game on your wall on Sunday night and be able to see every play in vivid detail. You can use the projector as a satellite box, a gaming console, or even pair it with a streaming device and watch your favorite TV show.

Not only can you watch whatever you want on this little gadget, this projector is super lightweight and portable, meaning you can easily share the fun with your friends and family - if you choose! Want to learn more about the projector and all of its features? Click here and be prepared to add this beauty to your holiday wish list!

Speaking of your holiday wish list, I think it's important you add a few amazing animated movies to your list - for your viewing pleasure! These 15 animated movies listed below you must see on a projector, they are just too awesome not to experience in their full glory!

15 animated movies you MUST watch on a home projector:


1. The Little Mermaid

2. Finding Nemo

3. Inside Out

4. Coraline

5. Up

6. Beauty & The Beast

7. The Little Prince

8. The Emperor's New Groove

9. The Princess & The Frog

10. Monsters Inc.

11. The Lion King

12. Fantasia

13. Zootopia

14. Nightmare Before Christmas

15. Toy Story

5 Fall Fashion Tips for You + a $$$ saving coupon!

I've always been one that's excited to find a bargain, whether I'm hunting down the coolest styles on the racks at a local thrift store or scouring the web for a new trendy piece of clothing. So when I heard about ThredUp and the awesome deals they offer on designer items, I was just a little excited... and by just a little, I mean like incredibly, super excited!

Instead of just adding a few items to my cart as I perused the app, I added nearly everything I saw. With featured picks and a variety of galleries, I spent hours adding oodles of items into my cart, if you've ever used the app - you know what I mean.

After I decided I only really need to buy a handful of items, it was time to check out. Instead of paying a jillion dollars for my new designer duds, I ended up paying nearly nothing! While the items in my cart totaled to $93.96, their actual worth was $370 if I had went in stores and made these purchases, and get this - with this coupon (LNB15) I saved enough to make my purchase for only $56! Enough about the money, let's get to the real important stuff - the fashion tips and my new additions to my wardrobe!

1. This fall, keep things deep and dark with pops of color. Blacks, browns, and deep shades of navy are what you'll find me in this fall... but only with pops of color or other deep colors added into the mix! Take this adorable black blouse from Ted Baker for example. Paired with a black pair of leggings and a super fun pair of shoes, this is the perfect look this fall! Add a flowy cardigan for a warmer addition to the look and you're set!

2. The next item is also part of the deep color scheme, but it's addressing a different tip - don't be intimidated by any style! While fitted styles after having a baby sound like they may not look amazing, I have to brag about this gorgeous navy lace skirt from Ambiance Apparel. It's the cutest new addition to my closet, paired with a comfy blazer or a chambray shirt and a pair of boots - this is a piece I'll be rocking all through out the chillier weather! For now, I love this look with heels...

3. Speaking of boots, my next tip is to not follow just one "style trend", take the time to find your own way in the fashion world - like this outfit for example: This casual dress from Express has an intricate detail and would typically be paired with a fancy pair of heels to compliment the elegance, I made it my own by adding a pair of riding boots and I love the way it looks! It's the perfect mixture of bohemian and classic, two of my favorites, with my own little twist.

 

4. While having your own style is great, the tip above leads me to this tip - stay true to the classics if nothing else works. Like this black blouse, it's a great classic piece that will remain timeless and is a great asset to any closet.

5. My final tip is never pay full price, for any item in your closet! We all love designer items, but you can find amazing deals on ThredUp for all the same items at prices that are unheard of! Get 15% off your order if you've used ThredUp before with the code "LNB15" OR if you've never shopped ThredUp before use the code YHJ75 for $30 off $75! Now click here and start shopping!

So tell me, what are your fashion tips? I'd love to hear all about your preferred styles in the comments belo!