Healthy Chicks

It’s Prime Day, and I wanted to share some of my favorite Amazon finds perfect for the mindful mama. From our go-to fair-trade coffee to a clean lip balm I can’t live without, here are five Amazon products under $20 I’m loving right now.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

For Your Morning Pick-Me-Up: Kicking Horse Dark Roast Coffee

Hubby and I are big coffee drinkers — and when you’ve got two little toddlers running around it’s a morning must. Our latest favorite is Kicking Horse Coffee, which we originally discovered in our Thrive Market box.

Their coffee is organic, fair trade and comes in several delicious blends. Their Grizzy Claw Dark Roast is dark & decadent with notes of dark chocolate, and is sure to get the job done for your wake-me-up fix!

Buy on Amazon here (20% off for Prime Day)

For Daily Positive Affirmations: Spark Your Bliss Deck

Need a mindset shift or some more positive vibes in your life? I’ve got the perfect self-care tool for you! While it’s not an official Prime Day deal, my very own Spark Your Bliss affirmation card deck is 10% off … Read More!

The other night, I cried over pizza. Let me explain…

I had this fun idea to order takeout pizza and then take the kiddos to a local farm that serves ice cream to eat it outside (and look at the farm animals). 
It was my picture “perfect” plan, until a wrench got thrown in it. 

As we head out the door to cram it all in before the race to kid’s bedtime (IYKYK), we hit a road block when a traffic jam turned our six-minute ride into a 20-minute detour through back roads.

When we finally arrived to pick up the pizza 30 minutes late, mine wasn’t even started yet. It would be another 15 minute wait. 

So we drove to the farm to kill time…without our pizza. As I looked at the empty picnic tables where we could have been enjoying our family dinner, I could feel my energy start to shift. I was was fuming.

Now it was getting past little guys bedtime, we still hadn’t eaten and my perfect plan was “ruined.” Frustrated, I ran inside to order a quart of ice cream to go instead, and back to the pizza place we went.

On our drive … Read More!

The other week, my little girl and I dressed up in matching fairy “butterfly wings.” She insisted on wearing the pink ones, and me the purple (which I gladly accepted — it’s my fave color).

We giggled and laughed and flapped our wings… it was pure bliss.

Fast forward to later that day: she had one of her classic toddler tantrums. I think it was because I wouldn’t give her another Larabar or because her block castle fell down — it’s all a blur. But it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day.

What matters is how you choose to respond. Lately, I’ve really been working on the language I use when speaking with my daughter. While it’s tempting to say, “Stop crying” or “It’s OK,” I’ve been trying to shift my language to let her feel all her feelings.

Here are some responses I’ve been using in those tantrum moments: “What’s going on, love bug?” “I see you’re mad. Grr..Are you feeling angry?” “We’re going to have lunch first and then we can have another yummy snack later.” “Do you want a hug?”

And guess what? It works. It’s not magic, it’s just a shift in language.… Read More!

#TRUTHBOMB This working mom life isn’t always a walk in the park.

Some days I feel like I’m totally crushing it — my writing flows, money comes in all while I’m loving on my baby girl. Other days it feels hard — scrambling to meet a deadline, whip up a mediocre lunch, make a solo run to the grocery store all in that tiny window I get before little love wakes up from her nap.

I sometimes struggle with the balance of being a “good mom” and prioritizing me and my work. I’m human. Both are important to me. On the days I get a little stressed out, I know that energy carries on to her, so I’m working on being more aware of that.

The other day, a dear friend gifted me a note that said, “Create a nice moment for yourself at least once a day.” She said she knows it’s what I preach, but sometimes it’s hard to remember to actually DO IT for yourself.

The other day, when I could feel the overwhelm of working/momming/doing it all bubbling up, I asked for help from my husband, told him that I needed a moment. He … Read More!

Mama, you are doing a better job than you think you’re doing.

The other night I spent 2+ hours in the kitchen preparing “Christmas Chicken,” rice, and homemade hummus (yes, I squeezed my own lemons and everything). Yes, it was epic.

And while one instagram picture may look like I’m “Suzy Homemaker” and have it all together, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, the day before I felt like a hot mess, and it was a mishmash of leftovers and frozen pizza. And you know what? That’s OK; you are still nourishing your family.

Some days you may feel like you’re totally rocking the working mom life, and other days you question what the heck you’re even doing. That’s OK too; you are doing your best.

There are times that #momlife looks like giggles, sweet kisses and picture-perfect baby + me days, and other times you’re lucky if you can squeeze in a shower, enjoy a hot cup of coffee or make it through the day without crying. Either way, you’re still a great mom.

You fit into your pre-pregnancy jeans one month postpartum? High five. You’re still carrying on the “baby weight” … Read More!

When I became a mama 13 months ago, my greatest wish was fulfilled — I had my baby girl. But at the same time, I really struggled with my identity.

WHO AM I? IS “MOM” A JOB TITLE?

Taking on the new mom role (the hardest and most fulfilling job I’ve ever had), I naturally cut back on other things — taking on less freelance writing, dropping a few clients and skipping networking events in favor of baby snuggles. Yes I felt a little guilty, but that’s where my heart wanted to be: with my baby girl.

And I loved every minute of it. Sometimes I’d feel embarrassed or lazy for not “doing enough” for my business, and on the days I prioritized my work I’d feel tired or guilty for not being a “present” enough mom.

Now that we’re over a year in, I’m starting to get that itch again to get back in the groove with my business — I’m opening myself up to new freelance writing opportunities, going out of my comfort zone, teaching myself sales (in my own authentic way) and signing up for holiday vendor fairs while also being a mom.

Sometimes this means … Read More!

It takes a village. 

This phrase has never rang more true to me since becoming a mom.

For those who don’t know, two months ago my husband and I packed up our two-bedroom apartment, left Massachusetts (where we met, lived for the past 10 years, got pregnant and gave birth to Isabella) and moved back to Connecticut to live with my parents for the time being while we house-hunt.

The main reason we moved back home was to be closer to family — and once Isabella was born we knew we wanted to do it sooner than later. As a hybrid between a stay-at-home and work-from-home mom, I’ve been busy this past year taking care of our baby and taking care of business. It’s not perfect, and I’ve started to realize I can’t do everything 100%, 100% of the time. And that’s OK.

That said, it’s been difficult not having close family and friends nearby to lend a hand, cook a meal, or even just be there to remind you that you’ve got this or for some good ol’ fashioned adult conversation. For the most part it’s been me, myself and baby.

Since moving, the past month or so has … Read More!

Now that I’m approaching the one-year mark into this journey of motherhood (seriously, how?), I’ve been spending some time reflecting on the past year. Along with the joyous memories of baby coos, snuggles and those first giggles — which are seriously heart-melting — I can’t forget those challenging early days.

Being a mom is the most rewarding thing in the world, but taking care of a newborn is no joke!

While I was so overjoyed by my little bundle of joy finally being here in my arms, I was also overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness, confusion, doubt, and yes — sleep deprivation. This post from a week-and-a-half in sums up my feelings perfectly:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Today was tough. Hubs went back to work this week, and little one has been cluster feeding during the day a.k.a. glued to the boob and nursing on the hour. 🤱 She screamed at the top of her lungs from 1-5pm unless I was holding her, and peed all over the changing table and her new outfit. I attempted to toast and reheat a waffle 3 times, which ended in one super burnt mess that I never got to eat

… Read More!