Six Phone Apps Every Parent Needs

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of TempTraq for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Keeping an eye on your baby is important, I think all parents know that. Whether we are in the room lounging with our little darlings or across the hall while baby naps in their crib, it's nice to know baby is doing okay without having to constantly be peeking into the crib. Today I want to share a few different ways you can use your phone to keep an eye on your baby, not just literally but with data and information as well.

We'll start with TempTraq. It's the only wearable, Bluetooth temperature monitor that continuously monitors temperature. Now when baby isn't feeling in tip-top shape, you can just apply the soft, comfortable patch underarm and it senses, records, and transmits temperature data for up to 24 hours to your phone through the TempTraq app.

Not only is TempTraq a Temperature Monitor, you can use it to keep an eye on when your babe drinks, eats, or take medicine - making caring for an ill child just a little less stressful. Get your hands on one of these handy thermometers at Target, CVS, or Walgreens, as well as TempTraq.com and monitor fevers! Put your mind at ease and worry less, even when baby is sick... Buy TempTraq now

Another app I love use so I can keep an eye on Delainey's development is the Wonder Weeks app. It's been educational to learn about her "leaps" and it gives a little insight as to what milestones she should be achieving as she goes through these growth periods! We're actually in our 2nd leap currently and the app has taught me so much about what she's experiencing, it's definitely a great tool for first time moms!

Glow Baby is a great app to keep track of diaper changes, nursing sessions, sleeping patterns, and more. While TempTraq can help you keep an eye on some of your baby's activities, I highly suggest checking out Glow Baby for the other items you want to keep track of. I personally like to use the app to track her diapies and her sleeping, it's nice to make sure she's leading a regular, healthy lifestyle and with the little graphs this app provides, I love it.

My baby monitor actually has an app to watch my darling from my mobile phone, using Smart Sync I'm able to see into her room - no matter where I am! I love being able to keep an eye on her from the baby monitor screen too, but being able to pull her up on my phone is just the bee's knees!

If you're feeling fancy, Philips Hue is the coolest way to make sure the lighting in your baby's room is perfect. You can adjust the color, intensity, and more... this can not only be comforting, but a learning tool for baby as well. Discussing colors, patterns, and beyond, I'm sure our Hue lighting system and the app that goes along with it will be used for years to come.

Owlet is my last recommendations for apps, it's the easiest way to keep an eye on your baby's pulse ox level and their heart rate! Just attach a little sock to baby's foot and you can keep track of your baby's vital signs all night long!

So tell me, what apps do you use for baby on your phone? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!

Light Up Your Life & Set The Vibe with Philips Hue

Thanks to Philips Hue for sponsoring today's discussion, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.

Whether it's white light inviting you to study a little longer, purple light lulling you into a sense of relaxation, or yellow light reminding you of the sunset, light plays a pretty big role in the vibe a room gives. I never really thought much about lighting until I learned about the Philips Hue. This awesome little lighting system allows me to set the mood for every occasion right from my phone, it's the coolest new addition to our house and Delainey's pretty lucky to have it all in her room... and I'll be honest and share we may have to use parts of the beautiful Hue lighting system throughout our house now that I know how gorgeous it is.

We decided to spice up her room for Halloween, giving her gallery wall some needed pizz-azz, her overhead light also got a makeover, and we even have it all set to a motion sensor to make diaper changes in the middle of the night a breeze. We just walk in and the lights turn themselves on to a dimmer setting, based on my choices.

Whether you want the room to brighten at an exact time of day or you want to adjust the tones of the color of the lights, using the Philips Hue app with the Ambiance Starter kit, the Go, and the LightStrip is an entertaining way to give each day a colorful new view and each room in your home its own inviting vibe!

The Philips Hue Ambiance Starter Kit includes the bridge that connects everything, as well as 3 White & Color Ambiance bulbs - just install these bulbs in any regular light fixture and it's time to start getting fancy with your lights.

The motion sensor is a real life saver with a newborn in the house... and it'll make a nice little prank on Halloween. For now it's set up in Delainey's room for diaper changes but in a few days this little sensor will give us a warning that trick or treaters are about to ring. It'll be so convenient to know when little ones will be knocking for treats, especially if we light them up with a colorful fun setting.

The Philips Hue Go is the light I plan on having out front with the motion sensor, it's so handy and the perfect little travel light. You can use the app to adjust the colors or just push the button on the device to make it match the color you prefer!

The last item in my Philips list is the LightStrip Plus, the perfect way to illuminate anything you're proud of. We LOVE her gallery wall but it felt like it was missing something until the light strip was added. It's fun to make the room glow different colors and the gallery wall being lit up in all its glory was stunning.

With over 16 million colors and infinite possibilities, the ambiance you desire is readily available with Philips Hue. So we can add some orange and a pumpkin or two to Delainey's room to help her embrace the holiday and in a few weeks from now, we can add some green and red to give things a Christmas vibe. I'm loving how versatile the lights are and how simple they are to work. Speaking of simplicity, you can even set your whole light setup to adjust based on the colors of a photo you upload. I'm excited to play with this feature, as well as many other cool little tricks the Philips Hue line offers.

Are you ready to invest in a Philips Hue light system like this? You can find these cool new additions for your home at Amazon, the Apple Store, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Home Depot, and MeetHue.com, among other retailers. If you choose to purchase via MeetHue.com, use the code "HueHalloween" through October 30th and receive 15% off all products all orders $100 and under!

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!