Mindful Moms

Road Trippin’: A Weekend Family Getaway at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa in Hyannis

1 Comment / Lifestyle, Mindful Moms /

One of the best pieces of advice we were given when becoming new parents was to keep living your life, and just bring the baby with you. It’s been so much fun taking our sweet baby girl with us to do some of our favorite things — whether it’s hitting up a new brewery (hubs idea), apple picking or going for an early bird dinner at one of our favorite restaurants.

Last weekend we finally bit the bullet, tossed the Pack ‘n Play in the car and took her on an overnight trip to Cape Cod! Our little family was lucky enough to spend a night at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa in Hyannis, the perfect weekend getaway destination for us new parents.

Today on the blog I’m sharing all about our experience staying at a hotel with an eight-month-old including wining, dining and splish-splashing around in the waterpark. Spoiler alert: I’m not sure who had more fun, us or baby!

Getting to Cape Cod & Exploring Hyannis

Road trips under two hours are my jam, and getting to Cape Cod couldn’t have been easier for us! From the Providence/Foxboro area (where we were coming from) it’s just a … Read More!

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7 Mother’s Day Gifts Under $25 for New Moms

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Mother’s Day is a little over a week away, but there’s still time to send some love to your favorite mamas in your life!

Here are 7 gifts that are perfect for new mamas and will make her feel super special on her first official Mother’s Day. Bonus: They’re all under $25!

1. #MomLife Mug

image via Pearhead

This one is for the mamas who love their morning coffee — even if half the time it goes cold before they have a chance to drink it! #MomLife isn’t always pretty, but it sure is sweet.

$7.95, Pearhead

2. Earth Mama Organic Milkmaid Tea (2-Pack)

image via Earth Mama Organics

Tea lovers, rejoice! This organic Earth Mama blend is specially crafted with soothing herbs to help support breast milk production and healthy lactation. Plus it’s the perfect way to wind down after one of those days. Win, win.

$11.88, Amazon

3. Spark Your Bliss Affirmation Card Deck

I gotta toot my own horn for a minute! My Spark Your bliss deck — including 36 positive affirmation cards to set your soul on fire — is a great gift for a mama to take some time for self care. Practical action … Read More!

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Hungry, Hungry Mama: 8 Healthy Snacks to Stash in the Diaper Bag for Moms On-the-Go

Leave a Comment / Food & Recipes, Mindful Moms /
image courtesy of LesserEvil

There’s nothing worst than being a hungry, hungry mama — especially when you’re trapped nursing, trying to cram in some work (before the coffee gets cold) or out and about running errands with babe.

Here are some of my go-to healthy snacks for mom fuel! Let’s face it: the diaper bag is pretty much just one giant purse to stash mom snacks when you need something stat!

1. Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Sticks

Where have these been all my life? I discovered these gems right after I gave birth — and they’ve been a must ever since! I’m usually not a fan of beef jerky (it kind of creeps me out), but these grass-fed beef sticks are legit!

I’ve tried a couple of the flavors but the original is by far my favorite; I love that they’re made with simple clean ingredients like grass-fed beef, without any gluten, nitrates or nitrites. Get ’em at Trader Joe’s or snag your own pack online here with free shipping!

2. Larabars

Larabars were my go-to in my twenties, then I kind of forgot about ’em for a while. I always grab a few every time I’m at Trader Joe’s, and … Read More!

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Beauty is an Inside Job: Embracing my Postpartum Body One Day at a Time

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle, Mindful Moms /

TRUTH: The most beautiful I ever felt was when I was pregnant.

Despite gaining nearly 40 pounds, not fitting into my favorite clothes, and treating myself to any foods I wanted, I felt like a freakin’ Goddess.

I loved watching my bump grow month after month, nourishing my body (and baby), and of course my glowing skin was a nice perk. More so, I loved how I felt in my body — especially when the baby kicked, I was in the zone doing laps in the pool, or meditating with my hands gently rested on my belly and heart.

I felt beautiful and connected in a way I had never felt before, in a way that’s hard to describe. I was simply so amazed and grateful for my body growing a tiny human — especially after struggling to get pregnant — and that to me felt beautiful.

Here’s the thing: beauty is an inside job. It’s 99% how we feel and speak to ourselves. 

In my teens and early 20s, I struggled a lot with my body — my thighs were “too fat,” my boobs were too small, and I wasn’t as skinny as the rest of my friends. … Read More!

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A Love Note to Moms: You Rock & are a #MomBoss

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Dear mama,

Yup, I’m taking to you. In case you’ve been doubting yourself lately, here’s a simple reminder that you are totally, 100% rocking it. 

Whether you work full time or you’re a SAHM, you are enough. Maybe you put your kiddos in daycare, hire part-time help or stay home with your little one every day, but at the end of the day that choice is yours.

You may have one kid or five kids, a newborn or pre-schoolers, and you’re a total rockstar regardless. Being a mom is a lot of work. Maybe you breastfeed or formula feed, co-sleep or sleep in separate rooms, but only you know what’s best for you and your littles.

You lost all the “baby weight” in two weeks? High five! You still have a ways to go? You go girl! Your body is a freakin’ miracle. Whether you birthed at home or had a C-section or opted for an epidural or went med-free or adopted, it doesn’t matter. You matter.

If you managed to get to yoga class, cook a homemade meal and work your 9-5 job, you are superwoman. If the only thing you got done today is … Read More!

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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up My Mind, Decluttering & Doing a Mini Digital Detox

Leave a Comment / Lifestyle, Mindful Moms /

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I’ve been craving less doing and more self-care. In fact, my word for 2019 is flow. Like water, my intention is for my life to flow freely — welcoming in abundance, new friendships and this life as a new mama with ease.  Life doesn’t have to be a constant hustle.

One area that’s been creating a blockage in the day-to-day flow is social media, specifically the amount of time I spend perusing instagram. While I think there are many wonderful things about the world of the web, I also think it can be distracting (look at all these shiny things!), draining and a rabbit hole for the comparison trap.

While I’ve been feeling this way for quite some time and have every intention to step away a bit from social media, in all honesty when it comes down to actually doing it I struggle (especially since I do it on the side for a living). I can say I’ll do it and intend to do it with every ounce of my being, but at the end of the day technology can be addicting.

In fact, tech companies know this and have even … Read More!

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Baby’s First Christmas {The Holiday Season Through the Eyes of 4 Month Old Isabella Rose}

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Last year mommy was wishing for me — she even received an ornament that said just “Believe.” Little did you know, I was already on the way, a magical journey just like Santa’s sleigh.

“It’s a Christmas miracle,” mommy shouted when she took the test. I was just a tiny poppyseed then, so I don’t really remember the rest. This Christmas, you get to actually hold me in your arms nice and tight, as the stars twinkle all through the night.

You took me to this place with a warm fire & lots of different shaped trees. “That’s the one!” daddy pointed and shouted with glee! I may have been sleeping for most of the trip, but I still had fun sucking my thumb and minding my own business.

Daddy likes the colored lights just like me, decorated with pretty ornaments on our Christmas Tree. This year I get special ones made with my name — Isabella Rose — and they twinkle in the night just like Rudolph’s red nose. When you feed me in the morning we listen to Christmas songs like Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but I’d have to say my very favorite is the album … Read More!

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A Doula, What? The Ins & Outs of Hiring a Doula for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

15 Comments / Mindful Moms, Pregnancy /

I can’t believe it’s almost been 3 months since we welcomed our beautiful little girl into this world. Suddenly the 48+ hours of painful contractions and early all-nighter feeding frenzies are a daze, and I now understand how people have more than one kid!

While much of my experience is hazy, one thing I know is certain: my experience wouldn’t have been nearly as sweet without my angel of a doula, Emma O’Brien of Lavandoula.

Not only did she answer all of my crazy pregnancy questions (Um, is that normal?! How will I know when it’s really go-time?), but she stayed with us throughout my lengthy labor. She even spent the night on our couch to console me during my painful back labor and helped me advocate for myself when the doctor wanted to induce me early due to a high blood pressure false alarm.

Seriously, she’s a superhero in my eyes! Not to mention, we bonded over our love affair with bone broth and essential oils.

When I told people I hired a doula, I received a mix of excitement and skepticism. A do-what? So I decided to interview my doula Emma to chat about the day … Read More!

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Dear Mama, You Are Enough{Lessons From Baby Pt. 1}

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Dear mama, you are enough.

You are doing better than you think you are doing! I know you are new at this mom thing, but I am new at this too. Let’s learn together! You feed me yummy milk around the clock, and I’m putting on lots of weight! In fact, I even have some rolls which you and daddy think are “cute.”

The other day when I coughed and gagged a little while you were feeding me, I could tell you were scared. But I wasn’t choking, I was just clearing my throat because the milk was coming out a little fast. As I get a little older, I’m learning how to slow down and swallow better.

Yesterday when I had my 2 month shots I think it was harder on you than it was on me. That thing the lady jabbed into my thigh really pinched, but your big warm hug made me feel a lot better and I feel like a brand new baby after that long nap. I promise I’m OK, and the bandaids look kind of cool, don’t you think?

I know taking care of me isn’t easy and sometimes you feel sad and wonder … Read More!

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