July 3, 2019July 3, 2019 - Ashley

Our journey with physical therapy to address toe-walking

Our journey into Physical Therapy to address toe-walking.

Has your little one, or a child you know ever had to go to physical therapy? I would love to share some of our journey into physical therapy to address Taylor’s toe-walking with you to encourage you to 1) ask your Ped questions if you have concerns, 2) get rid of mom guilt, and 3) live your best life by sharing what watching Taylor go through this process is teaching me about how to do so!!

Background

Despite asking her Pediatricians (we’ve moved/changed insurance so she has seen several) over the years about her toe-walking, which started as soon as she could stand with assistance….. no one ever did the assessment she had last month at her physical. Her new Pediatrician discovered that T’s Achilles tendon is incredibly shortened. Even with assistance she couldn’t flex her foot to 90 degrees…Whether she was born that way, lack of adequate tummy time, sensory seeking tendencies, or a result of any combination of things, this is an issue that now needs to be addressed.

THAT is why she has told me it “hurts” to walk flat-footed.
THAT is why she can’t jump, squat, run or move as fluidly as expected for a 3-year-old.

Mom Guilt….

Initially, I started kicking myself, and #momguilt kicked in, for not being more pro-active. I mean, I‘ve gotten comments about it DAILY for 2+ years, so why wasn’t I asking more questions and pressing the issue??

Then I thought, 1) how blessed we are that this is the only health issue we’ve ever really faced with Taylor, when so many families have far bigger issues they’re bravely dealing with with their little ones, and 2) screw mom guilt! I asked the only questions I knew to and moved forward based on the answers I was given (“it’s sensory” “she’ll grow out of it”).

We are all just doing the best we can as moms. We do it all out of love and best intentions and, once we know better we do better.

We’ve moved forward one day at a time, thankful that we now have a course of action to help her to move freely + comfortably from here on out. For now we are doing ankle/calf stretches twice daily, “duck walks” down the hall, yoga (downward dog), spending time standing on a sit disc to get input into her heels as she colors at the kitchen table, etc. while we wait for her to get fitted for carbon fiber footplates that will make it difficult for her to get into toe-walking position.

Changing a 2+ year gait pattern doesn’t happen overnight.

One day at a time. One flat-footed step at a time.

What watching a 3-year-old in Physical Therapy teaches me about dealing with failure + perseverance.

I was blown away watching Taylor during her most recent check-in appointment. I hope my takeaways will encourage you to feel good about taking risks and reframe the way you look at failure. I shared some about this Live on Facebook as well, if you’d like to watch/listen:

T was presented with no less than 5 tasks that she physically could not do well within a 30 minute period. I watched her literally fail forward in some cases, but without worry or looking around at what any of us in the room were thinking until she was able to do it to the best of her current ability.

The point wasn’t for her to practice until perfect during that time. It was to practice long enough to make a slight improvement. How often do I approach things I know I won’t be perfect at with reluctance and apprehension, or just avoid them altogether?

She was resilient, unafraid of what others think, open to coaching/encouragement, and she persevered to accomplish what she was capable of for that day.

She wasn’t worried, as I/we so often can be about being perfect or “as good at this as” this person or that person at a given task.

She just did her personal best and made a little more progress.

We have to start thinking of or trials & failures as opportunities to stretch, grow and become better. We have to stop comparing ourselves to others at a different stage/with different backgrounds/different limitations. We have to give ourselves grace as we re-train old, engrained patterns. Nothing changes or grows overnight, and we won’t grow unless we are willing to fail forward and keep trying.

The literal definition of Tip Toe is, “to walk with your heels raised off the ground,” but it can also mean, “carefully avoid discussing, dealing with or doing something.”

Do you ever find yourself tip-toeing through your life avoiding that growth because you are scared to fail? I know I have in the past. Can we survive tip-toeing through life? Could Taylor survive tip-toeing for the rest of hers?

Sure. Of course. But we’ll never do all that we’re capable of that way. T would never run like the wind as she’ll someday be able to if she (and we as her parents) continue to persevere with physical therapy.

Keep going. Keep growing. One day at a time.

If you have had experience with physical therapy for toe-walking (or know a mama who has!), I would love to connect. Just comment on this post, send me an email at ashley@taylor-mademama.com or message me on Facebook.

PS. If you aren’t already a part, and would like to be a part of my private Facebook community centered around living our overall best lives as women – physically, mentally and financially click through THIS LINK and join us!!

May 3, 2019June 4, 2019 - Ashley

The 10 Questions You Should Ask Before Joining A Network Marketing Company!

The 10 Questions you should ask before joining a network marketing company

Is it just me, or does it seem like every day someone else you know is joining a network marketing (MLM, direct sales, social selling) company? It can certainly be a savvy financial move as it allows anyone the opportunity, with relatively little investment and/or qualifications, to build their own residual income.

But not all companies are created equal. How do you choose who to jump on board with?!

If you’re open to making some additional money (and having fun in the process), or even replacing the income from your current job + working from home like I have, then partnering with a company/team in alignment with your values & lifestyle is definitely an option to consider – especially with the way commerce is moving quickly toward the internet, Influencer marketing, and social selling!

When you’re looking at opportunities, it’s important that you don’t get distracted by hype (we’re the “best”, “ground floor!”, “founder’s shares!!”, everyone is doing it – see #6 below for why that can be a no-go!), do your research, and know the 10 questions you should ask before joining a network marketing company!

Everyone always says their company is the “best”…

So, how the heck do you know which to join and which to run from?

The answer to, “which network marketing company should I join?” isn’t one I can give a definitive answer to because a large part of that is going to be what works for and appeals to YOU, your lifestyle and values as far as products, business model, and leadership (your chosen upline or sponsor!).

To help you avoid getting into something you later realize isn’t all it was pitched/made out to be, I want to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along my journey in the industry in the form of the questions I now strongly recommend any of my friends/followers ask before joining any network marketing company (or making the decision to partner with a new one, like I did!).

I hope you find these 10 questions a super helpful framework in your decision making if and when you get serious about adding that additional income stream!!

10 questions to ask before joining a network marketing company!

Is the company product focussed? This should be a “yes” answer. Sketchy companies are selling an opportunity to sell an opportunity, and that’s a BAD sign! That’s where network marketing companies get the “pyramid scheme” reputation (those are actually illegal, and those are the companies that can and do get shut down!!). Another red flag is a super pricey and required Starter Kit. Personally, I would ask what percent of the company revenue comes from customer SALES versus the purchases/sign up kits of distributors or customers who are considered “distributors”.
Do you have to build a team if you don’t want to? This should be a “no” answer. Remember, you want to look for a product-focused company unless you want to recruit the masses and assume that everyone else wants to + is skilled at that, which I can tell you that 98% of people are NOT.
Do you have to build a team to make good money? You really want to find out if the only people making money, receiving recognition, and rank advancing are those who recruit and build teams. If you were to build a team with the company, would the majority of your team’s volume (AKA your paycheck!!) be coming through customer sales (that’s good!!) or through new distributors sign ups? Remember, most people are NOT going to be recruiters. If you’re looking at a company where everyone is flocking to sign up or has in the recent past, and people at the top have made their money that way, you want to make sure that there will be actual customer sales to replace those starter kits padding your paycheck after the momentum burst is over.
Can you “outrank” your sponsor? This should be a “yes” answer. You do NOT want to partner with a “top heavy” compensation plan where all of your efforts would benefit your upline, and you wouldn’t see equitable compensation for the work YOU do.
How old is the company? You will want to join a company that has been around and thriving for a while so they’re 1) not constantly working out “kinks”, 2) have a tried & true product and process, and 3) you’ll actually be able to collect residual income down the road versus looking elsewhere if and when the company folds (95% of network marketing companies do NOT make it long term). “Ground floor” can sound sexy, but “Stability” sounds even sexier, IMO ; ) The IDEAL time to join a company is pre-momentum (the period in a network marketing company when the most millionaires are made, lasting anywhere from 2-7 years!).
How saturated is the market? You do not want to get in with a company everyone has already heard about. If you know a bunch of people who partner with that company, then likely so does everyone else that you’ll be speaking with – making the competition a lot more stiff; The likelihood that your potential customers and business partners have already bought from or joined in with someone else a lot higher. It IS possible to build a successful business in a saturated, but it will be an uphill battle and you’d better have an existing large network. Trust me on this one : )
Is the product or product line unique? Can someone just go and get the product/s (or something super similar) just anywhere? How well do the products sell? You’ll want to find this out for obvious reasons – you want to be with a company that has a product that’s in high demand ALWAYS – not a fad. This is essential for customer retention and referrals (see #10!).
Is the product consumable? Meaning, will people want/need to buy the product fairly often? For example with Tupperware, that’s not a consumable product so you have to think, how many plastic bowls can 1 person actually buy?? Does the company have “anyways” items, in addition to “hero”/unique products that can’t be purchased anywhere or through anyone else, that customers could repurpose their spending from Amazon/Target/Walmart/etc to YOU, for life? THAT is where the real residual income comes into play from the sales side of your business…
Consider the way the company & team teach marketing. What marketing strategies do they teach, use and expect? Are they teaching you to build a brand around yourself (opening doors!), or are you expected to become a billboard for a product/product line? Will you be compromising your personal brand or limiting future endeavors by partnering with this company based on the way they teach/expect you to market for them? Are you comfortable marketing the way you see people in the company doing so for the long term (e.g. if home parties aren’t your jam, don’t join a company that encourages building that way)? Who is your sponsor/upline, and are they a leader and/or mentored by a true leader In the industry (AKA do they know what they are doing, and can they teach others to do the same?)?
How is the culture of the team & company? This is really about 10 questions rolled into one because it’s THAT important. Are these people you’d like to sit down and have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with? Is it something you’d want to be a part of long term? These are people you’d be around at events, chatting with regularly, etc. Are they having FUN or is it ALL about business?? What does the company believe in? Does it align with your own purpose and passion?
Ok, I have to make it 11… What systems are in place to incentivize referrals and make them easier to acquire? Referrals are true residual income. A referral is business/sales that YOU do not have to actively work to acquire. One of the biggest draws to the company I partner with was their referral system (half of my customer volume is from people I’ve never met, and I only post 1-2 times per month about product – without using the company/product name – and have $4-7 in personal sales each month).
BONUS questions to consider regarding time: How much time approximately would you need to spend working your business each day for the financial goals you have with this company? Will you need to be spending tons of time on the phone for 3-way calls, explaining products, etc.? Will you need to do trade shows, vendor events, or home parties to grow your business? These things can add up to a TON of your time. And if you have very little time to devote to building a side business/income, or you value TIME FREEDOM like I do, you are going to want to look for highly efficient, duplicatable systems to get the job done in the pockets of your time! No amount of $$ is worth having NO time!

In conclusion, don’t get caught up in the hype around the next “best” company. Do your homework and due diligence by asking these questions in light of your goals and what you want your lifestyle to look like in 5/10/15 years, and you too will find a company that you’ll be stoked to be a part of and an additional stream of income that can be a turnkey to so many of your other goals!

As with anything in life, your success in a good company is going to depend on the work ethic you have and the actions YOU take to build a business, but it’s super important to consider the products, business/revenue model, compensation plan, marketing systems and whether or not you can work with all of that, before joining a network marketing company!

I hope you find these questions helpful in your search for your own “home” company/team, and set you up for massive success and FUN!!

In asking these questions, I was able confidently commit to a company that I consider the #jackpot when it comes to partnerships for myself + those I’ve brought on board!! If you would like to chat with me to see if my leadership, company, & systems are a fit for you, email me at ashley@taylor-mademama.com, or enter your email below and I’ll be in touch:

February 21, 2019July 13, 2022 - Ashley

5 Little Known Anti-Aging Secrets!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of my links I may receive a small commission. I only share + promote products I use, love and stand behind.

Would you like to slow down the aging process and look + feel younger than you actually are?

In addition to getting adequate sleep, exercising, wearing sunscreen, not smoking, drinking lots of water, not drinking too much alcohol, and using good skin care consistently, there are some lesser known things you can do to prevent the signs of aging!

When it comes to preventing and fading the fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots that tack years onto your appearance, making smart LIFESTYLE changes and sticking to them over time is what will really erase years from your face. My 5th tips literally took 5 years off my face in 5 months, and gave me my confidence back.

Without further ado, here are 5 lesser-known tips for preventing and erasing the signs of aging!!

1. Skip She Straw:

Using a straw seems like an innocent enough habit, but over time, you may notice wrinkles around your mouth. Sipping through a straw accentuates those facial muscles where fine lines can occur, as they would if you were a smokey

2. Wash Your Face EVERY Night:

You know you’re supposed to do it, but sometimes you just don’t. I get it, I really do.

However, experts stress that failing to wash your face at the end of the day is a major missed opportunity for skin to regenerate while you sleep (not to mention, it ups your chances of waking up with clogged pores – yuck!). Did you know that people who don’t wash their faces at night look 7 years older on average!

Girl, wash your face : )

3. Watch The Way You Text:

I know, I know, this one is a little OCD but, like sipping through a straw, the repetitive motion of looking down at your smartphone can eventually cause rings/lines to show up on your neck.

While there’s no fast fix for this one, maintaining good posture and holding your smartphone at eye level can help!! For those of us mamas with online gigs, this one is super important!!

4. Sleep On A Silk Pillowcase:

Cotton and polyester pillowcases tug at the delicate skin on your face, but silk pillowcases are much gentler, and your skin kind of slides on the pillow; with less friction on your skin the formation of fine lines over time slows way down, and you wake up without creases on your face – yeay!

Bonus: sleeping on silk also helps prevent frizzy hair!! The one I use can be purchased for from Amazon.com HERE!

5. Drink A Liquid Collagen Supplement:

I don’t usually share about skincare and beauty stuff on the blog, but this one fits with this post perfectly, and honestly I can’t NOT tell you all about the Liquid Collagen Supplement that took 5 years off my face in 5 months (the natural way!!), as well as the the health + beauty benefits it provides from the inside-out.

I turned 35 this year, and my skin was REALLY starting to show it. I’ve slept on my side every night for three decades (with not very much sleep the last few years bc #momlife), and the collagen breakdown was quite apparent (there’s only so much prevention topical skincare and silk pillowcases can give a gal!).

As much as I truly believe beauty is skin deep, if I’m honest with you, I felt self-conscious. I felt self-conscious of the sagging and creasing around my jawline reflected in the mirror… but then I found a solution that literally has me aging in reverse!! #hellofirmskin

I was skeptical because the powdered collagen I had been using hadn’t done a thing for me but FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and curiosity killed the cat… 5 months later (although I FELT results right away!!) I could hardly believe my own aesthetic results:

best liquid collagen supplement, biocell — **Yes, I do have foundation on on the far right, and had a mole removed in Nov, but in black & white, you can’t deny the line decrease and firmness increase on my cheek!**

What Happens To Your Skin After 30:

There are certain things that start to happen to us ladies after the age of 30.

You become more self-aware, self-confident, and loads of other amazing things..but one not so amazing thing that happens to our bodies after 30 is the loss of Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid that leads to sagging, dry skin, fine lines, and wrinkles – the telltale signs of aging.

Collagen is what provides the structural framework for your the tissue of your body (think skin, joint cartilage, etc.) and is responsible for the skin’s firmness and resilience.

Hyaluronic Acid is what gives our cells the ability to retain moisture and to lubricate movable parts of the body, such as joints and muscles; It’s known as “nature’s moisturizer”.

When you’re a little baby your cherub-like cheeks are FULL of Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid. Think of your skin cells as plump grapes a la:

In your mid to late 20’s your body slows WAY down on the production of Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, and continues to slow down after 30; after 30 your skin structures start to break down at the rate of 1-2%+ per year, and we start moving toward raisin status…

But, GOOD NEWS!!

I discovered that this doesn’t have to happen if you’re consistently replenishing those nutrients, and therefore keeping your skin supple + firm, and fine lines and wrinkles at bay. I’ve been taking the best Liquid Collagen supplement (the ONLY one with Hyaluronic Acid!) since August 2018 and am officially obsessed. Next, I want to share 4 reasons you’ll want to consider adding the liquid collagen supplement I use to your daily routine!

Top 4 Reasons You Need A Liquid Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid Supplement

What makes this one the best liquid collagen supplement? This was the first question I looked into because a simple Amazon or Google search will yield a hundred or more different results for liquid collagen…When it comes to anti-aging, I don’t play and I want the BEST!!

Aside from the fact that it tastes super yummy, here are the top four reasons you’ll want to consider:

Powdered Collagen is a waste of money. I had been using powdered collagen in my smoothies and/or coffee daily for nearly a year, but did NOT see or feel any noticeable results. Did you know you’re only getting 30% of the nutrients from the powdered form? To me, that’s just throwing money down the drain. With the best liquid collagen supplement I use, you’re going to be able to get 98% of the nutrients!!
Hyaluronic Acid. The liquid collagen I use is the only one that has 7 patents and 37 clinical trials to back it up, but also contains Hyaluronic Acid in! Hyaluronic acid is what HOLDS MOISTURE and it’s in every cell of our bodies!!! Imagine the skin cell plumping , raisin to grape action happening there!!! Speaking of clinical trials, one showed that this liquid collagen supplement led to a 6,000% increase in hyaluronic acid after 28 days!! No wonder people were asking if I’d gotten fillers after a month!
Your body will recognize this liquid collagen supplement as your own (aka it’s Bioavailable). There are a ton of liquid collagens out there, but they are not necessarily the right structure for the body to recognize, take up and USE to restore your skin from the inside out!! This one (the BEST liquid collagen supplement) mirrors the connective tissue in your body and makes it possible for our bodies to take it up and use it like our own!! If your collagen doesn’t mirror that of your body’s, it will just throw it away. Again, what a waste!
Adding a liquid collagen supplement to your routine is not just about vanity and combating the signs of aging externally! There are many internal, health benefits this liquid collagen supplement provides as well. To name a few:
- Improved joint mobility and lubrication
- Decreased skin dryness
- Reduced joint discomfort
- Increased healthy cartilage & connective tissue
- Longer, healthier hair and nails

Sounds good, right?!

If you want to receive the exact details on the liquid collagen supplements I use, where you can get them, and a $10 off promo code click below!!

Let’s age gracefully and healthily, shall we?!

February 2, 2019February 2, 2019 - Ashley

How To Get Out The Door On Time With A Toddler!

Do you wonder how on earth to get out the door on time with a toddler? Do you find that with kids you’re running late more often than you used to? Do your mornings sometimes feel chaotic or like it’s impossible to get out of the house in a coordinated manner?

Same here, mama. That was SO me/us!

Pre-Taylor I took a little pride in being on time. Even when I went back to work for a year initially after maternity leave (I work from home now!) I was doing okay. Then Taylor became mobile and having opinions of her own she isn’t afraid to voice. At the onset of toddler-dom, and getting adjusted to the stay at home mom lifestyle, all of a sudden it felt like getting out the door was a three+ hour process every day and that no matter where we went, we were NEVER on time!

In this post I’m going to share some of the best hacks & tips I’ve learned along the way and picked up from other mamas with more than one kiddo for getting out of the house in the morning with little ones. And, make sure to snag a printable PDF of the Morning & Evening Toddler Routine Chart! A morning routine for a toddler is essential for timeliness around our house!!

11 Hacks For Getting Out The Door ON TIME With A Toddler!!

Set the time you need to or would like to be out the door. Next, make a list of all the things that would need to accomplish before then and how long they take (i.e. your own morning routine, getting yourself ready for the day, getting or helping your kiddo/s get ready, fixing and eating breakfast, brushing teeth, readying your bag, getting everyone into socks/shoes, and out the door and into the car, etc.). Now, backward map how much time you’ll need for each segment. You’ll then be able to determine what time you need to be up yourself when you’ll want to wake your kiddo/s if they aren’t already up, etc. in order to be on time!
Wake up and get ready yourself before your little one wakes up if at all possible. If you have a super early bird and can’t make this happen, have a quick 5-minute makeup grab bag + mirror that you can spruce yourself up with while your toddler is eating breakfast or doing another morning routine task.
All Our Bags Are Packed And I’m Ready To GO! Have your diaper bag, toddler backpack, or purse stocked up and ready to go and either in your car or next to the door the night before. This simple hack has made a big difference; Not having to think about what I’m forgetting when I’m trying to get us out the door is a mama mental-load game changer!
Meal prep lunches in bulk (things like PB&J sandwiches, bags of carrot sticks/pretzels, etc..) and have a grab & go station in your pantry for the rest on the snacks that your toddler can help load their lunch box with. Taylor LOVES this concept – often trying to {unsuccessfully} pack three of her fav fruit roll-ups!!
Wake up your little one so that they have plenty of getting ready and play time before you need to leave for the day, especially if they love to play in the morning and have difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next.
Have your toddler get dressed or assist them with getting dressed for the day before ever leaving their room in the morning. For some reason, maybe because I’m lazy and don’t want to go up and down the stairs a bunch of times, this one really helps! It gets us out of lazy, lay around mode (if we have somewhere to be) and into “let’s get this day going!” mode!
Have grab and go breakfast options ready – breakfast bars are perfect for this!! These are clutch when/if you’re running later than you want to be (if you allow eating in the car as we do!)
Allow your child a special toy or item to take with them out of the house (our favs are Paw Patrol figurines right now!).
Offer rewards for task completion (audio of a YouTube story in the car, a game on an education App, a second snack/breakfast, a sticker or stamp, etc.) so that you don’t have to continue following up and nagging.
Break it down step-by-step: instead of just saying, “let’s go to the park” or “we’re going to Target,” Start with, “let’s put on your shoes and socks,” “let’s pack up your snacks together” and take it task by task. This GREATLY helps with transitions, as does a morning routine chart:
Have a Morning Toddler Routine Chart – picture chart for pre-readers, or one with words included for readers so that they can self-direct their morning routine like the one I created below for Taylor (and YOU if you’d like to save the time of making one!!).

We printed this routine chart and used our little laminating machine to laminate it, and now check off each of the tasks with a dry erase marker as we progress. Taylor really enjoys this toddler routine chart and I’ve found it makes for much more smooth evenings and mornings – she’s a routine girl, who has a hard time with transitions at times!

morning routine chart for a toddler — SNAG YOUR PDF TO PRINT + LAMINATE BELOW!

*after completing payment click on “Return To Merchant” to access your printable PDF!!

Last tip, and the most important, PLEASE give yourself grace because it’s seriously not an easy task to coordinate #allthethings and be timely (and I only have ONE!!)!

I hope you found these tips and hacks for getting out the door and being on time with your toddler helpful!!

As always, best to you sweet mama!! Thank you for reading today!!

Here is the replay of a Live video I shared over on Facebook on Taylor-made Mama on this topic:

Hacks to get yourself + your kids out the door on time! ?‍?‍???Bonus: a really fun free resource!#14daychallenge day 3️⃣

Posted by Ashley Samadani on Thursday, January 10, 2019

February 1, 2019June 3, 2019 - Ashley

MORE INFO FOR YOU!

Hey there!! I’m so excited to share more about Social Marketing with you!!!

It’s how I’m blessed to make a full-time income in the pockets of my busy #momlife, get to stay at home with my daughter and not miss a thing (my DREAM!), yet still have time to pursue other endeavors – like this blog!! All without needing to spam my social media with product/company stuff (go see for yourself on my Facebook!) like you probably see everyone you know in network marketing doing ; )

I only post a few times per month about clean living products I use each and every day. No becoming the “face of the brand”, no spammy posts, no asking people to “join my team”,no creepy weird salesy-ness that turns off my whole Friends list.

I love this partnership because I’m able to make a solid stream of additional income, show other mamas how to do exactly what I do, and I can actually fit building this business into what I already have going on!!

In fact, you may already be doing what I do on your social media, but just not getting paid for it ; )

In a nutshell, Social Marketing is what companies like Uber, Guilt, Stitch Fix, Hello Fresh, One Kings Lane, Ebates, etc. do — which benefits their new and existing customers. You may have even benefited from a program like this before? It’s a program that allows existing customers who love the products/service to give a new customer $ off and in turn get $ for themselves simply for sharing!

I was SO DONE with and skeptical of network marketing until I finally found something that can work for anyone will to put in the work (and you DO NOT have to recruit!) – NOT just the 20% with all the time, timing, experience, and resources. To date I’ve been able to help six women make between $500 to $1000 monthly within their first 3 months, (including Emily, Kat, Tracy, and, Lindsay!) some with no previous experience in the industry whatsoever!

If you’ve had previous experience in network marketing, and/or you’re skeptical like I was…..before you go running for the hills, I challenge you to give this a good look. I know you may be thinking, “Could it really be different? How?!” Watch this video (Social Retail vs. MLM) if you’ve had any network marketing industry experience – the night I watched it I couldn’t sleep I was so excited to have come across what I didn’t know existed!!

I have a quick video to share with you!!

Below is a video that I show to people to see if what I do is a fit for them or not, and they either move forward or they don’t. will give you an idea of the company I partner with, the clean-living products they carry, their systems + business model, and the way they’ve completely flipped the industry on its head.

If it’s not for you, no big deal! But if it is, YEAY, and let’s chat! By the way, if you were to decide to move forward, you’d be using this same video!

1. Watch this 18-minute video first:

2. Fill out the application below if your interest is piqued and you’re open to connecting directly with me and learning more:

3. Once you submit your application, I’ll contact you via Facebook Messenger and invite you into a private Facebook group where you can get more information on the company, our team, and how it all works!!!

Looking forward to connecting with you and answering any questions you may have!!!

P.S. Are you on Facebook?!

If you are, let’s connect there and you can see what I do (and don’t do) in action –> https://www.facebook.com/arlatimer

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January 28, 2019February 6, 2020 - Ashley

Thank you!!

Thank you for subscribing!! Congratulations!! Your downloadable resource is on it’s way to your inbox now! If you don’t receive an email within the next few minutes, double check your SPAM folder. If you have any issues downloading your resource please email me at ashley@taylor-mademama.com.

I can’t wait for you to get this information, and use it to enhance your life and business!

December 1, 2018November 20, 2019 - Ashley

The Ultimate Toddler Gift Guide For The Amazon Prime Lovin’ Mama!

Let me start by saying I had WAY too much fun creating this Amazon Prime Toddler Gift Guide for for you, my fellow last minute shopping mama! The best kind of posts are the ones I hope will make another mama’s life easier or less stressful, AND take care of some of my own personal business (AKA getting all of T’s Christmas gifts ordered!). If you’ve waited until the very last minute to get your toddler gift shopping done…I got you! All of these gifts will get to you by Christmas (as I post this on 12/1!).

Our 2016 Baby’s First Christmas Gift Guide, and 2017’s Toddler Gift Guide (18 months-3 years) focussed on toys for girls, but most of the gifts in this year’s guide would be totally awesome for toddler girls OR boys! I believe girls and boys should be exposed to and allowed to play with whatever interests them (Taylor is into Dinosaurs, Paw Patrol and Eric Bana these days….don’t ask). By the way, our 2017 toddler gift guide has some KILLER stocking stuffer ideas for toddlers, most of them being Amazon Prime eligible too!

Here are some of the best, well-rated, Amazon Prime gifts for 2-3-year-old toddlers I could find. They’re sure to delight your little one on Christmas morning (and will arrive to you with 2-Day Shipping as long as you have an Amazon Prime account set up!!):

Amazon Prime Toddler Gift Guide:

Amazon Fire Kids’ Edition (7″). On sale for $69.99 (from $99) for Amazon Prime members!!! Here are some of the reasons why we LOVE this and it makes a perfect toddler Christmas Gift (and gift to YOU!) #mamamusthave:

The kids kindle has a 2-year worry free accident warranty versus the regular Kindle’s 90 day limited warranty. Amazon specifically states: “if they break it, return it and we’ll replace it for free. No questions asked.”
The Fire comes with Kindle Free Time for 1 year, which is normally $1.99 for prime members per month or $3.99 regularly per month.
It already comes with a rubber protective case (yellow, pink or blue), which is absolutely necessary for a toddler. #amiright?
It’s already primed with a bunch of kid apps and books, not to mention parental controls.
It comes with a kid-safe browser already installed.
We cannot travel by plane without this and her LilGadget headphones!

Fisher-Price Grow-to-Pro 2-in-1 Tee Ball. Under $20!!

Height-adjustable tee grows with your little one as they get taller
Bat guide for beginning batters!
Sturdy, easy-to-clean plastic

Paw Patrol – I’m Ready To Read with Chase Sound Book – Play-a-Sound. Under $10 for your Paw Patrol loving 2-3 year old!

VTech Write and Learn Creative Center– this is one of the must-have items in our Toddler Flight Entertainment Kit! Under $20 for Prime members!

VTech Karaoke System 2 Mics with Mic Stand & AC Adapter (also comes in pink!).

Ok, so this toddler Christmas gift is pretty darn COOL:

Connects to MP3 players or mobile devices so you can play songs from your own collection
Includes 6 built-in games, a voice changer that has five different voice effects, fun sound effects and eight original songs
Use the built-in recorder to record yourself for up to 5 minutes.

A Play Dough Set. This Cookie Creations set is under $20!

Some other options on Prime:

Candy Jar Set
Flip N Frost Cookies
Ice Cream Cone Container

Little Tikes Indoor/Outdoor Slide. $34.

Appropriate for 18 months to 6 years old.

Crayola My First Magic Water Paint Set.

Mess-free toddler art supplies for $10.99? Yes, please!

Brush over the lines with water to reveal the color in the paper.
Build color association and language skills (green frog swimming in blue water)
Help your LO observe, match & articulate what colors they see builds compare/contrast, sorting, and language skills

Learning Tower Kids Kitchen Step Stool With Safety Rail – this particular model comes in 7 color options and is adjustable as they grow. This is a gift we got Taylor for her 2nd Birthday and it’s been an almost daily staple. She loves being able to be at counter height while I’m cooking. It’s a little more on the pricey side, but worth enjoying the time “cooking” with your little helper!

Teamson Kids Play kitchen + play food/accessories – We have the Teamson Kids Urban play kitchen in white in Taylor’s Modern Family Friendly Playroom, and I couldn’t be happier with it! I ended up converting the refrigerator control panel into a chalkboard with chalkboard paint! We love all of the Melissa and Doug wooden play food and accessories.

Dyson Ball Vacuum with real suction and sounds – Toy Vacuum

Ok, can we talk about this one for a minute? How can you NOT get this gift for your little helper?? It’s a #1 Best Seller on Amazon Prime for a reason (and under $40!).

Real working suction from the foot of the vacuum, that is designed to pick up small pieces of paper waste or small poly beads
See your progress and feel productive, by removing the removable dustbin at the back and emptying the debris
Simulated cyclone action with colorful balls in a clear cylinder, so you can see it working
Comes in red, purple, pink, and yellow!

“Magnatiles. These are also on the more pricey side, but definitely worth the investment to help your little one develop those spatial, tactile skills! This set comes with 32 translucent, colorful shapes including squares (2 large, 14 small) and triangles (8 equilateral, 4 right, 4 isosceles) for $49.99.

Master Workbench by Hape. Currently 33% off for Prime members!

This workbench contains 32 pieces including a hammer, saw, screwdriver, wrench, vice, angle, screws, nuts, bolts, gears, links and more creative parts for building
Recommended for children 3 years and older with a height adjustable workbench counter for growing builders
Shelves to store all your little one’s tools and supplies within reach
Gold Star Award by Toy Stores of Canada

100 Piece Wooden Train Set. At $39.99 (and with a storage tub for easy clean up!) this is a steal!

With the 94 train track pieces and 6 railroad cars, this set is a great way to expand your train track collection
This set is compatible with most major brands

Little Tikes 3′ Trampoline.

3K+ reviews and 4 Stars. Under $50. Toddler Energy Burn-off 101. Need I say more? #addtocart

*3 years and up!

I hope this Amazon Prime Toddler Gift Guide helps you get your last minute shopping done quickly, efficiently (and at the best prices!) so that you can enjoy the real magic of the holidays – quality time and memories with your family! We can’t wait for epic family matching pajama pictures, monkey bread minis, and the light in Taylor’s eyes when she opens her gifts on Christmas morning.

Wishing you and your family all the best this holiday season.

October 15, 2018November 11, 2018 - Ashley

Toddler Girl Fall Capsule Wardrobe – 2018

This post may contain affiliate links.

I don’t know about your toddler, but mine is growing like a weed!! Because she grows out of everything I buy in 2.5 seconds, I am not willing to spend much on her wardrobe (also, that’s what Grandparents are for, right?). This season I hit up Old Navy and GAP Kids for almost all of Taylor’s toddler fall capsule wardrobe. If you’re not familiar with a capsule wardrobe, it’s basically the simple yet ingenious concept of buying only a handful of versatile items that mix and match together for a season!

Here are the pieces that made the cut for our toddler fall capsule wardrobe, as we transition to the more chilly weather of fall, with an eye toward winter! This entire capsule is under $250 – jacket included!

TOPS + JACKET:

Yellow Plush Knit Top // Plaid Button-Front Top // Fuzzy Crew Neck Sweater (on sale for $20!) // White Scoop Neck Jersey (on sale for $5!!!)

PANTS:

Black Skinny Jeans (on sale for $12!) // Skinny Jeans – Medium Wash // Destructed Light Wash Jeggings // Courduroy Snap Front Skirt

SHOES/ACCESSORIES:

Black booties // Tall Suede Boots // Sparkle Knit Pom Pom Beanie // Faux Fur Vest (on sale for $20!!!) // White Tights

Happy fall toddler wardrobe shopping, friend!!!

Where are your favorite places to shop for your little ones?

September 17, 2018November 11, 2018 - Ashley 2 Comments

Top 5 Dry Shampoo Review (AKA #momlife Holy Grail)

This post contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase of one of my favorite things through a link, I may receive a small commission. Thank you!!

I don’t know about you, but my Holy Grail beauty product is definitely dry shampoo! It’s a busy mama’s best friend! Last month, I embarked on a VERY important quest to find the Dry Shampoo of my dreams and wanted to share my opinions on the 5 that I put to the test.

I had been using the drugstore brand Pssst! for years (occasionally throwing in the more pricey, but amazing Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray) but wasn’t loving the amount of white residue it left behind, and it wasn’t giving life to my thick, yet very flat hair the way I knew other brands might!

I took a poll in our Facebook Community to see what everyone was using and loving, and trialed the top 5 recommended!

Along the way, I learned that I was actually “applying” my dry shampoo incorrectly, which makes a big difference!! For almost all of the brands, you want to spray smaller, lifted sections of hair at the roots, wait 60-120 seconds, and then brush through with your fingers or a comb.

Once you know better, you do better because #knowledgeispower.

Top 5 Dry Shampoos Put To The Test:

Here is my personal input + opinion on the 5 dry shampoos I trialed* based on the following criteria (yes, I know, #nerdalert):

Residue
Smell (anyone else a scent person?)
Hair Volume after use
Longevity (aka, how long until my hair appeared greaseball-ish again)
EWG or Think Dirty Rating (I don’t want to be spraying a ton of chemicals into the air my family breathes on the daily because, let’s be real, I only wash my hair 2x weekly…)

*I trialed each on “4th Day” hair, and used the same shampoo/conditioner/product, to maintain the integrity of the trial : )

Product Notes

Living Proof – Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo

Pluses: No residue after brush through, AMAZING volume!!, love the clean smell, the packaging is aesthetically pleasing (important to me!)

Minuses: A little more pricey but not bad ($18 for 4 oz), an overall “8” on the Think Dirty rating – mostly for the amount of Fragrance it contains (which is a bummer, because I do love the smell!)

2. Klorane – Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Pluses: My hair stayed looking clean the entire day – it really did a fantastic job of absorbing oil!

Minuses: On the more pricey side as compared to the others ($20 for 3.2 oz), I was not crazy about the smell, I didn’t get great volume from the product, and WHOAH…. an 8 on the Think Dirty app for fragrance and chemicals!!

3. Pureology – Refresh & Go Dry Shampoo

Pluses: Smells good (like sweet sugar cookies!), Vegan, beautiful can, provided volume, the effect of making my hair less dark and oily at the roots lasted the entire day!

Minuses: Higher price point ($28 for 3.4 ounces), did leave some residue after brush through, I couldn’t find it’s rating on Think Dirty or EWG but did notice that almost all other Pureology products (which I used for shampoo/conditioner until recently switching THIS non-toxic brand for color-treated hair!) are rated 8, so I assume it’s similar…. YIKES!!

4. Dove – Detox & Purify Dry Shampoo

Pluses: no white residue even before brush through, smells fresh, affordable price point ($9 for 4 oz), gave me decent volume.

Minuses: my hair looked dirty again within 4 hours, some concerning ingredients per EWG (but not nearly as “dirty” as the others!):

5. Batiste – Clean & Classic Original Dry Shampoo

Pluses: Cheap! ($14.53 for THREE cans!!), I liked the scent (a little on the lavender side which I know many have allergies to, so be aware!), it kept the greasy look at bay for the entire day. As compared to the other brands, it had a lower EWG rating, particularly in the area of “Cancer Concern” – which is obviously my number one fear about product ingredients, particularly ones I’m SPRAYING into the air, right?!:

Minuses: A LOT of residue to brush through, although I know there is a brunette version which may be a great option! I did not get much volume from this brand.

Results Of The Dry Shampoo Trial

My overall favorite Dry Shampoo of the 5 I trialed and the Pssst I’d used previously was…. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day!! The number one factor in this dry shampoo being my favorite is that fact that , not only did it make my hair look clean again, it gave me a ton of VOLUME!

That said, I’m still not satisfied with the number of chemicals in Living Proof and am on the hunt for one that is effective AND has CLEAN ingredients.

I am trying my best to be more conscious of what goes into, on and around my (and my family’s) body these days; Apps like EWG and Think Dirty have really opened my eyes to all of the harmful ingredients in many of the products we use in our home daily – even the ones I thought were “Clean”!! I was, admittedly, pretty ignorant to this until a couple months ago, and actually “saw the light” as a result of going through this dry shampoo trial!!

But, like I said earlier, once you know better you do better!!

I recently discovered the Amazon Prime of all things non-toxic + clean-living (3 Day Shipping, Subscribe & Save, $10 coupon code on your first purchase, etc.) and am OBSESSED/overhauling ALL of our household items. However, the one personal care item I need that they DON’T carry yet is dry shampoo. Alas.

I do have this, ZERO rated on the EWG scale, InnerSense dry shampoo heading my way so I’ll have to update this post with my thoughts on it in a week or so! I’m excited to try a CLEAN version of my holy grail and will make the switch after I use up what I have left of the 5 I trialed!

If you have any other clean dry shampoo recommendations or a DIY recipe, please do share with me in the comments!!

What’s YOUR favorite Dry Shampoo??

August 15, 2018September 12, 2018 - Ashley 4 Comments

Top Tips For Stress Free Potty Training

The title of this post is intentionally misleading because I don’t think that “Stress Free Potty Training” is actually possible. And that’s okay!Â If you’re aÂ magical unicorn mama who isn’t stressed with any element of potty training, well, we simply canâ€™t be friends. I mean, we can but you have some SERIOUS explaining and life coaching to do with me.

That said, I really do have some things to share about our recent (and successful) foray into potty training – including a Printable Checklist that WILL reduce stress surrounding P-Day…

But, first a few thoughts and some vulnerability.

“Let go of who you think you need to be, and be who you actually are.â€

This intention could apply to many areas of life but, at this season in mine, it speaks especially to motherhood and lifestyle.Â A few months ago, I noticed myself feeling like I just wasnâ€™t â€œenoughâ€ in the teeny, tiny corner of the internet/influence Iâ€™ve created,

Not adding enough value.
Not creating enough content.
Not having enough influence.
Not creating content IG worthy enough.
Not being an exemplary enough mama.

Well, you know what I say to that? Pardon my abbreviated French but, “ENOUGH with that B.S.!”!!!!

If there is oneÂ thing Iâ€™ve learned in the last year of being a stay and then work at home mama,Â itâ€™s that being your most authentic selfÂ makes you the MOST happy.

And, Iâ€™d rather ACTUALLY be happy than PERCEIVED as anything else.

This is a platform I built with the intention of expressing myself in the best way I know how (through writing), connecting with other mamas across the country/world, and inspiring them to find harmony + balance in #momlife and life in general.

I ran out of time and motivation for photo shoots and being â€œthat motherhood + lifestyle influencerâ€ I never intended to be, a while back (as evidenced by our simple party and post documenting Taylor’s 2nd B-day) but I still have a passion for organization especially as it can be applied to preparing for new phases of motherhood – and subsequently sharing that with you, dear reader.

Iâ€™m excited to finally feel okay with letting go of being 100% anything but myself. I hope youâ€™ll still be excited about hanging out and doing #momlife with just plain old me. And I hope my inspiration can be for YOU to feel okay with being 100% yourself too!

Back To Potty Training…

All that being said, many of my Instagram and other friends have been messaging me about what weâ€™ve been doing/using for potty training. If you follow me you read this update last week:

?Training {a strong-willed child} Update: After a week of struggle and not much success, in the last 2ï¸âƒ£4ï¸âƒ£ hours weâ€™ve had ZERO accidents and 99% independence? ??. #gotaylorgo Wanna know my super secret potty training sauce?…. SHOPKINS {and pumping the pressure brakes}. Yes, these silly, pint-sized, bribery miracles. Iâ€™m not kidding, and Iâ€™m not above it. Willl I be writing a E-book on my methodology? Will our way work for all? No and no, but I have to tell ya this was the best $14.99 I ever spent ?. #cantputapricetagonsuccess #oramamassanity The further I get into this parenting gig the more Iâ€™m convinced that you can do all the research in the world, and try all the things everyone else tells you to do…..but sometimes you just have to do things YOUR way, knowing YOUR kiddo?.

A post shared by ASHLEY | Taylor-made Mama (@taylormademama) on Aug 5, 2018 at 8:54am PDT

Essentially, the #1 thing I recommend is waiting until your child, AND YOU, are prepared and ready. Yes, thereâ€™s a â€œwindowâ€, but if you stress the heck out of yourself to train before that window closes, you may not find the success youâ€™re hoping for.

There are tons of great books, E books, manuals, family/friend advice, etc. and I encourage you to read them because I know always feel better when Iâ€™ve done my due diligence too. Here are some of the books I read myself or read to Taylor before and during potty training:

That said, at end of the day, you have to do what makes intuitive sense for YOU and your kiddo. Remember, you know your child best. If potty training is making YOU a stressed out mess (like it was me), then itâ€™s probably not the time, or itâ€™s time to switch things up.

Or buy Shopkins, or whatever…

Spend some time sorting that stress reaction out, ease off the pressure brakes, read a book (drink some wine?), get some supplies ready, THEN jump in when youâ€™re ready to be the strong one in the boot camp relationship – itâ€™s hard enough for the little one peeing and pooping themselves all day.

Free, Printable Potty Training Prep Checklist!

To access the printable Potty Trainig Essentials Checklist useÂ thisÂ link or just click on the image below. Â Print it, shop with it, then keep it in your kit to make sure youâ€™re always stocked up. As a subscriber, you can access and download this and any of the other printables from my website by going to theÂ Printables Library PageÂ and entering theÂ password I emailed to you when you subscribed.

I know this isnâ€™t the most helpful PottyÂ Training post in all of Pinterest-landia, but I do hope youâ€™ll find this free, printable checklist of the items that we used before and during potty training to ultimately find success helpful!! Make sure you also have your Toddler Car Kit put together because many of these things will already be in it!

There is nothing cuter than hearing that proud little voice say, â€œIâ€™m so proud of myself. I’m big girl/boy now!!!â€ (and not feeling like youâ€™re going to rip your hair out in the same moment).

Remember that, if youâ€™re loving hard, itâ€™s not that hard.

MOM your way, friend. You got this!

XO,

Ashley

P.S. Because many of you asked, we did NOT use a timer or specific intervals at all during potty training. I am considering doing another post of the good, bad and poopy of what we did do and what I would do differently. What do you think? Would you be interested?

Other Ta[y]lor-made Mama posts you may be interested in: