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?!

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??

May 7, 2018May 8, 2018 - Ashley

A Very Peppa Pig Birthday Par-TAY!

We officially have a (Peppa Pig OBSESSED) 2-year-old in the house! Admittedly, I may have gone jussssst a little overboard with the Peppa Pig Birthday Party decor, but to see her delighted, little face when she came down the stairs… #worthit

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since her “What A One-derful World” 1st Birthday Party (I’m still pretty much in denial!). There have been A LOT of changes for our family this year, but I couldn’t be more thankful to be living a life we’ve intentionally designed to allow me to be present for ALL of Taylor’s growth and changes for the years to come!

In her birthday party recap post from last year, I shared our 1st Birthday Party Planning Checklist. To plan T’s 2nd Peppa Pig Birthday Par-TAY, I followed the exact same list to keep me organized, minus things like the Smash Cake and gathering pics from 0-12 months! If you’d like a copy of that list, you can access it through this link!

Before I share a few pictures of the par-TAY, I want to chat with you about something that’s been on my heart, especially as someone with a little, itty bitty corner of influence on the internet…

Don’t Stress Over Making Everything Perfect!

It’s so easy for us moms to put pressure on ourselves based on the perfect images we see on Pinterest, Instagram and social media in general. To the moms who are able to pull off picture-perfect party-scapes, I am impressed by/applaud you! You are so talented, and you inspire us! To those of you who, like me this year, choose to keep it simple – that’s totally OKAY too! If planning and decorating an elaborate party brings you JOY and feeds your creative spirit – do it; If it stresses you out mentally or financially, don’t feel like you need to impress anyone, because you truly don’t. B A L A N C E in life and motherhood is not about being able to do “it all,” all at once; it’s about choosing what you need to put down for a few hours, or days, or years to focus on the essentials for YOU and YOUR family- and asking for/accepting help when you need it!

When it comes to birthday party planning/execution (and life in general!), focus on what matters! What matters is time with loved ones (whether that be just your immediate family or a group of 50!), celebrating another sweet year of life with your little one, and another parenting anniversary for you!

Aside from the gobs of Peppa themed EVERYTHING, we kept it simple and focussed on surrounding Taylor with her closest family and friends to love on her (and spoil her with WAY TOO MANY gifts!). I honestly think, based on the fact that she STILL asks for her “birthday party” every day, it was the best day of her life!

Here are a few imperfectly perfect pictures from Taylor’s Peppa Pig Birthday Par-TAY!

Wooden Kids Table // Blow Up Peppa // Cupcake/Cake Toppers // Peppa Party Favor Packs // Peppa Dessert Plates // Napkins + Lunch Plates // Latex Peppa Balloon // Peppa Happy Birthday Banner // Floral Sundress – Old Navy // Pink Sandals

In the morning, Taylor opened up one of her Party Favor Bags for herself, but we didn’t let her get into her actual gifts (this Peppa Pig dollhouse, and this Princess Bubble Blowing Wand which ended up being her FAVORITE gift of the day!)

Then, it was time for her “party dress” ($11.97 on sale right now!!) and shoes, and to check out the various mylar Peppa Pig balloons (including the infamous “Walking Peppa” who Taylor has chosen as her partner in battle/wrestling for weeks following this part!). and decor around the house before her guests arrived!

Once her guests arrived, our extroverted sweetie was in her ELEMENT. Bubbles, coloring, mini pizzas, chocolate cake, presents, several new vehicles to ride around on, and almost all of her favorite people in the world – she was in absolute heaven!

Peppa Pig Birthday Party Theme. Toddler Birthday Party — It was like she had been rehearsing this moment for months!

We’re so thankful to have so many wonderful friends and family members who love and support Taylor and our family – our readers included!

Happy 2nd Peppa Birthday Par-TAY, Taylor!

XO,

Ashley

Instagram || Facebook || Pinterest || LipSense

February 25, 2018February 2, 2019 - Ashley 8 Comments

From Working Mom, To Stay At Home Mom, To Work At Home Mom!

If you’ve been following my journey over the last two years you’ve seen me: have and fall in love with my baby girl, tearfully head back to work to a career I thought I’d be in until retirement, try my best to balance it all, a year later make the decision to leave that career of 12 years to be at home with Taylor, struggle with some of the reactions I was met with following that decision, move to a new city and a new home, find my confidence in my new role as a stay at home mom, start a journey in an industry I never knew existed, change lanes to a new company partnership after a year that would allow me the time freedom to continue pursuing my other online endeavors AND help others find success, and then really hit my stride as a Mompreneur (top 1% of that company within 2 months!!).

Did you track with that story arch?

I know, it’s a lot of change, but to design a life we love – making decisions and change toward that life are essential. I’ve found my MOMpreneur sweet spot and I’m excited to share it with you.

When I left my career as a Special Education teacher turned School District Administrator, the plan was for me to return to work in a couple of years when Taylor was school-aged. Maybe even work part-time before then consulting or advocating within the Special Education field/community.

MY REALIZATION

However, about 3 months into my time as a stay at home mom and ALL the moment-filled days I got to spend with my little girl, I realized without a doubt in my mind, that I did not want to go back to work outside the home.

I thought even more about all the moments I had missed being away from her that year I went back to work outside the home, and I didn’t want to miss any more of them – not a drop-off or a pickup from school, not a smile, not a tear, not a single thing if I don’t have to.

I truly loved my work in Special Education but, if I’m 100% honest with you, it was emotionally exhausting for me. When I commit to something I am passionate about, I give it everything I have. I would come home after 10 hour days, drained, and I couldn’t ever stop thinking or worrying about the cases I was involved in. Those cases, those children, those families deserved that energy, but…

My emotional energy needs to go to my husband and Taylor, not my work. I feel called to be at home for them. It was worth the huge financial and lifestyle changes we made as a family.

That said, I WANT to work. I WANT to make money for our family and to have to spend on fun things for myself when I want to. I love to pour myself into things that I’m passionate about, as I did with Special Education. I want to have a career that allows me to continue to help people and utilize the gifts I’ve been given and the skills I developed through time, education and practice. But I want to do all of that at home.

I prayed about it and didn’t know where it would all end up, but committed to trusting and figuring out what I would need to do to make it happen. I started my journey in the Social Marketing industry in September of 2017, originally intending for it to be a side hustle to my part-time work with my Motherhood + Lifestyle blog and to my full-time job of Mom.

That side hustle has now become a business that provides a full-time income, yet provides the TIME freedom needed to be present with my family.

My original goal was to replace the 6 figure income I was when I left my previous career by the time Taylor started Kindergarten. After one year in the industry, I’m halfway there with 3 years to spare!

WHAT I DO NOW

Every day I have the blessing and responsibility of helping other women to start and run their own businesses as well; making sure they are connected with the training, high duplicatable system, tools & resources available to them to experience whatever level of financial success they desire.

“When you find your calling and you design your life in such a way that you can share your gifts with the world on a consistent basis, you feel like a rock star. When we share what we were brought here to give, we are in alignment with our highest, most powerful selves.”

– Jen Sincero

Beyond the positive, unexpected financial impact of this branch of my online business, this “job” also pushed me to be more myself than I EVER have been in my life, and to share that with the women all across the country that I have the pleasure of meeting. Each day I wake up excited to share, to create, to plan, to learn, to grow, and to become more of who I’ve been created to be – on my own terms and from my own home – AND to inspire and help others to do the same. It’s a blessing I’m so grateful for and that I’m passionate about sharing with other who have the same desire for purpose, time freedom and financial freedom that I did..

I’m home with my daughter and my husband. I’m working on my own schedule and loving that work. I’m making an income and an impact. I have time to take care of myself so that I can pour back into my family and others around me.

from stay at home mom to work at home mom. how to become a lipsense distributor and work from home

I have the best of all worlds. This lifestyle IS possible, but it took making some difficult decisions, big changes, hard/smart work, and closing doors so that others could open. If you’re in a place where your heart, that little voice inside that you can’t ignore, is prompting you to make a change or try something new that just might change your life, I encourage you to make a plan, roll up your sleeves and GO FOR IT; Live your life by design, not by default.

Each day during my morning routine, I pray to CONNECT with the right women. This includes business partners, as well as the people who will never impact my income but whose lives I can add value to in some way. I wonder if one of those people might just be you?

Are you?
-Determined
-Hard Working
-Teachable
-Positive
-Passionate about helping others

If so, then we should absolutely connect! Maybe you’ve been following my journey for years, or maybe this is the first post of mine you’ve read – either way I would love to find a time to chat with you one on one about your goals.

I would love to get you more information to see if something like what I do is a fit for you too!!

Best,

Ashley

January 15, 2018August 22, 2018 - Ashley 2 Comments

Why Daily Alone Time Is Critical For The Introverted Mom (and how to make it happen!)

Hello there friend! It’s been a while, but I have something to share today that I hope speaks to your heart if you’re a fellow introverted mom.

I’ve sat on this idea for a long time because I don’t want to be perceived as “selfish,” but I KNOW that some of my readers are introverts as well and I want you to feel A) validated, and B) understand that “me time” for you is NOT being selfish; it is also non-negotiable if you want to be your happiest self and keep burn out at bay.

This is a post that is near and dear to my heart because, for me and so many other introverted moms I know, daily self-care and “me time” is the difference between being happy + content, or unhappy + burnt out.

The heart of the matter is that you need to fill up your cup in order to continue to pour into others, most importantly your children. If you’re running on empty, you’re not able to give your best self. Taking time alone isn’t being selfish; In fact, when done with this intent, it’s quite the opposite.

An introverted mom can burn out quickly and sometimes not realize why or how she got there. I knew this about myself going into my new role as a stay at home mom (who’s extroverted hubby also works at home!), and have never felt happier, which I credit largely to the routine I’ve established for us that includes daily alone time for me.

I hope that by sharing some of the things that work to keep me from feeling drained as an introverted mom and wife, you will then find ways and give yourself the permission to have the alone time you truly need each day!

But Ashley, how can I find “me time” every day? There’s just no way – my kid stopped napping, gets up at 5:00 AM, I’m a mom of 4, I work full time outside the home!! No matter how busy even the most introverted super mom among us is, I promise you that you can find a way to make that “me time” DAILY. I would argue that it’s non-negotiable if you want to feel content and happy as an introverted mom. The ideas I’m going to share with you are not ALL going to be possible to do every day, or at all depending on your circumstances, but I KNOW that it’s possible to fit at least one of these in each day even if only for 5-10 minutes. And, those 5-10 minutes will make all the difference for you.

So, how do I know if I’m an Introverted Mom?

The core of introversion can be defined by this simple distinction: you predominantly derive your energy from being alone versus from being around other people.

Being an introvert does not necessarily mean you are shy, although many shy people are introverts. Being an introvert does not mean you are necessarily self-conscious either, or that you don’t enjoy being around other people. Being an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t like to talk. Being around others and talking is enjoyable to most introverts (at least they are to me!) but definitely, drain our energy resources. Just as an extrovert feels filled up through and seeks out being around people, introverts are filled up through time spent alone.

Being an introvert just means that, in order to feel balanced and filled up you need solitude (AKA quiet, “alone time”)…daily.

Why does it matter?

Why is this important to realize, particularly as an introverted mom?

As a mom/wife/friend/etc. constantly giving of yourself to others around you have to be creative and intentional about finding the alone time you need to feel centered and re-energized. ALL moms experience some degree of burnout from time to time, and we certainly all need to practice self-care and find space for “me time,” but for introverted mamas, this need is at a whole other level.

Before we became moms, it was easy to find ways to be alone each day, and mostly these things were naturally occurring. But as soon as our incredible bundles of joy arrive gone are the days of solo commutes, quiet time around the house, regular trips to the gym, or even trips to the bathroom or showers in some cases! We wouldn’t trade the hours upon hours of reading to, talking to, singing to and playing with our kids for ANY amount of alone time, but I don’t want you to feel guilty about missing that quiet, alone space; It’s my hope to help you think of ways to infuse it back into your daily routine in new ways that fit with your busy life as a mom!

5 Self-Care Ideas for the Introverted Mom

1. Asking directly for what you need to feel refreshed.

The first and most critical piece of self-care for an introverted mama is for your partner to understands and therefore support your biological need to be alone each day, in some capacity, in order to feel centered.

Since I left my career to stay and work at home, our family situation is somewhat unique and awesome in that my husband (AJ) works from home also, so our family spends A LOT of time together. Taylor and AJ are both extroverts, and I am most certainly an introvert.

Probably THE most beneficial thing my husband and I have ever done for our relationship is to take the Myers Briggs personality test as part of our premarital counseling. Until then, he perceived my desire for alone time as me not wanting to be around him, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. The two are not mutually exclusive; As an introvert, in order to be a good wife and now as a mom, I NEED alone time each day, and he understands that. If your partner, especially if they are an extrovert, doesn’t quite “get it” I would recommend taking one of those tests and reading through the results together as a first step in creating that understanding. It really helped us to understand one another, and I hope the same for you.

The reason this understanding is important is that you will need to ASK your partner, or even your mom, to give you alone time.

One day per week AJ takes Taylor on a special outing and I stay home. This is something I asked him for, and he quickly agreed to do because he realized 1) this is awesome for their relationship/bond, and 2) I would benefit from time alone in our home to recharge. Happy wife, happy life right?

Ask your partner for a block of time alone, either in your home or out of your home (some intro-mamas love going and sitting at a coffee shop for 30 minutes, or even cruising the aisles of Target solo!) and explain why you need this to be the best mom and wife you can be. I bet once he sees how much happier you are, he’ll be asking YOU if you need that time!

2. Get up before your kids wake up.

Even if it is only 10-15 minutes before your earliest riser, I cannot say how much of a difference this can make. Drink a glass of water to rehydrate, think of or write down the things you are thankful for, take a shower, do 100 air squats, drink a cup of HOT coffee, or just sit on your couch and watch the news. Whatever it is and in whatever time makes sense for you, enjoy those quiet moments before your day gets going! I started this ritual after reading Miracle Morning, and I’m never turning back. Now that Taylor is waking between 7:45 and 9:00 AM, I am able to have a couple of HOURS of alone time to think, write, pray, meditate, etc. and it’s glorious.

3. Take advantage of gym childcare.

Finding a gym with childcare we trusted has been an absolute game changer for me. Taylor loves going, and I am able to get the endorphins and solo time I need to feel re-centered!. We do this 4 days per week as part of our mommy and toddler routine! Even if you aren’t a big fitness buff, just go walk on the treadmill for an hour and listen to a podcast. I bet you’ll feel better on several levels once this is a routine! You can read more about how to fit fitness into your busy life in this post!

There are many gyms, at many different membership cost levels that have childcare. If a gym membership isn’t something in your budget right now, but this idea resonates with you, make it a priority to tweak things or save in other areas to see if you can make it happen. There are women I work with through my SeneGence/LipSense business who get started with the goal of making enough money monthly FOR that gym membership – and then far surpass that! What difference would an extra $200, $400, or $1000+ a month make for you? If you’re interested, I can show you how to make that happen (read this blog post, send me an email or comment on this post and we’ll chat!!

4. Take a walk.

If you have a supportive partner, have them watch your kiddo when they get home (or when you both get home if you work outside the home!) and get out for a quick walk. Listen to a podcast or your favorite playlist, or just have silent space to think and be as you also get in some exercise.

If you’re home alone during the day and have a little one who will sleep in their stroller, take a longer walk with them and (gasp!!) let them have one of their naps as you walk and enjoy some quiet, reflective time as well as the benefits of movement/calorie burn! I did this every day during my maternity leave (read about our routine at that time in this post!) when Taylor was a newborn and I swear it saved me in so many ways.

5. Hop in the bath at night.

AJ and I switch off every other night with who does the bedtime routine. Most nights I have “off” you can find me in the bathtub with a bath bomb, glass of wine and maybe a podcast or music playing. A bath, regardless of what time you take it and for how long, is one way you can care for yourself and get alone time. This is one that could actually be done daily after the kiddos are asleep. I can’t think of a reason why this wouldn’t be possible. Even if you don’t have a bathtub, you can relax in your shower for 10-15 minutes accomplishing the same thing!

I know these ideas aren’t rocket science, but that’s the beauty of them – they can all be done by almost every introverted mom on a regular basis.I sincerely hope that you start incorporating alone time in some capacity daily and reap the benefits for yourself and therefore your family!

What are your favorite ways to put “me time” into your days? Did any of mine resonate with you? I would love to hear if incorporating “me time” into your DAILY routine makes a difference in your energy and happiness levels – would you let me know?

XO,

Ashley

P.S. When I understood what it means to be introverted, I understood myself. I also read the book Quiet – and recommend anyone who is or loves an introvert – which made me feel validated and positive about this trait and the things I could accomplish because of it. I highly recommend this book to every introvert I know!

December 19, 2017December 20, 2017 - Ashley 6 Comments

5 Ways To Help Your Toddler Learn To Eat With Utensils: Featuring Trial Size Persil® Laundry Detergent From Target®

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PersilLaundry #CollectiveBias

Did you know that a typically developing child is expected to be able to feed themselves completely independently with a spoon by the age of 2? Well don’t worry if you didn’t, because I didn’t either until our Pediatrician told us at Taylor’s 18 month appointment! However, most toddlers are capable of learning to do this at a much younger age; Taylor is well on her way to independently eating with a spoon AND fork at 19 months old! Today I wanted to share 5 ways you can help your toddler learn to eat with utensils as well, and clean clothing stains from the inevitable mess they’ll make with trial size Persil® ProClean® laundry detergent. Persil® Original Pro10 was named “Best New Liquid Laundry Detergent” by Family Circle magazine in 2017, so I was curious to put it to the test! I have to say, I was quite impressed with the cleaning, brightening and whitening results, especially given the amount of time the marinara had to set into her bright white shirt (my bad because, #momlife)!

5 Ways To Help Your Toddler Learn To Eat With Utensils Independently:

Provide your toddler with utensils that are, well, toddler-sized. Silverware with thick, weighted, rubber/textured handles are best as they are easier to grasp and control. HERE are our favorites to use (the set comes in green, pink or aqua!).
Demonstrate how to use utensils with slow, exaggerated motions accompanied by a verbal explanation of exactly what you’re doing. (e.g. “Mommy is scooping some applesauce onto her spoon, now I’m going to raise my arm and put the spoon in my mouth like this… Yum!”). You’re basically their eating mechanics coach!
Start out with thick foods that will stick to a spoon, like yogurt or applesauce when scooped. When your toddler is practicing eating with a fork, I recommend easy to spear pasta shapes like penne!
Provide ample opportunities for practice eating with utensils. At first, your toddler may not have much control or accuracy, but it’s still important that they have the chance to learn to manipulate the fork or spoon.
Praise your little one for trying! Most toddlers prefer to use their fingers over a fork or spoon, so they deserve some applause for their efforts.

All of that said, one thing you can expect is A LOT of mess when your toddler is learning to eat with utensils, so you’ll want to have a laundry detergent you can trust to get the job done! I purchased the convenient trial size Persil® ProClean® laundry detergent last week at Target and challenged it with the marinara sauce stains featured in this post.

Persil® Original Pro10 was named “Best New Liquid Laundry Detergent” by Family Circle magazine in 2017, so I was curious to put it to the test! I have to say, I was quite impressed with the cleaning, brightening and whitening results, especially given the amount of time the marinara had to set into her bright white shirt (my bad because, #momlife)!

Persil Laundry Detergent To The Rescue!

By the time I got around to washing Taylor’s shirt after she finished her pasta, over an hour had passed, so I decided to pre-treat it with Persil® laundry detergent. I poured a very small amount of Persil laundry detergent into the cap, dipped a finger in and rubbed a very small amount directly onto the stain. After leaving the shirt to pre-treat for 5 minutes, I placed it in our washing machine with the rest of Taylor’s whites in the warmest water possible with a capful of Persil® laundry detergent, per the Laundry Tips on Persil’s webpage. Remember to check the results before drying. I really like that Persil® laundry detergent can be used in all machines, including an HE like ours.

The Results

WOW. I was honestly surprised at how well Persil laundry detergent was able to tackle the stain. I imagine that, had I pre-treated and washed right away, the results would have been even more impressive. Persil laundry detergent is certainly a great choice for everyday laundry as well as stain fighting!

If you haven’t tried Persil laundry detergent yet, I encourage you to do what I did and pick up their new trial size bottle at Target (AKA Mecca) for only $1.99. The trial size bottle (10.1-ounce package) washes 6 full loads of laundry! Plus, there is a $2 off coupon on the back of the bottle for a future purchase, excluding the trial/travel size.

Give it a try and see the results for yourself!

I would love to hear any other tips you have for teaching your little ones to eat with utensils independently. What successes have you had as a toddler/eating mechanics coach duo? Any epic messes you could have used Persil laundry detergent for?! Email me or leave a comment on this post.

Thanks for reading!

December 11, 2017December 20, 2017 - Ashley 14 Comments

Modern, Family-Friendly Playroom Reveal

This post includes some affiliate links. I may make a small commission if you purchase an item through my links. See the full disclaimer in my footer for details. As always, I only recommend products I actually use and enjoy.

After completing Taylor’s Modern Nursery 2.0, my next project in our new home was to create a modern, family-friendly playroom out of the loft at the top of our stairs. It’s the first and only thing you see when you walk upstairs (which is MANY times a day in my case), so I wanted to make it both functional + fun for Taylor and her friends, but also aesthetically appealing. The result is now my favorite room in our home, and I’m so excited to share it with you today.

I linked everything I thought you might be interested in at the very end of this post!

Creating A Space For Imaginative Play + Relaxation

What are your best memories from childhood, and do you intentionally try to recreate opportunities for similar memories for your own kids?

When I think back on my childhood, I am especially grateful for memories of imaginative play with friends. Sometimes I laugh at some of the activities we came up with! I credit my friends’ and my own mom for fostering such creativity in us by providing dress up clothes, helping to construct epic forts out of pillows and chairs, and generally providing us with tools, space and freedom to create our own worlds during play time. I want Taylor and her friends who come to our house to grow up with these special, formative play experiences as well. You can read about how playtime figures into our toddler + stay at home mom routine in this post!

Imaginative Play + Dress Up:

Now that I am working/staying at home with Taylor, it’s been such a blessing to have a dedicated area for her to play and be creative in on her own and with her buddies. I look forward to seeing her grow into this space, make memories with dear friends, and develop her play skills over the years to come!

The Kallax bookshelf and Knipsa seagrass baskets from IKEA were great purchases, if I do say so myself – ALL of T’s toy and book storage for less than $200. I rotate the toys, books, balls and puzzles that are in the reachable boxes about once a week, and keep a couple of them empty so that she doesn’t have too many options at once (less mess for mama to clean up!). In the upper boxes I store toys she has outgrown, and art and craft supplies I don’t want her to have immediate access to.

And, before I forget – how adorable is her Arabian Princess costume from Little Adventures Dress Ups? She has an entire trunk full of Little Adventures dress ups because I couldn’t choose just one! Her dress-up trunk is just an old ottoman I had with holes cut into it for the wooden hangers. I love it because it’s the perfect size for her to open and choose the costume and accessories she’d like to wear on her own now! When we’re all done, the trunk closes (hangers and all!) up leaving the room look clean and chic, and also allowing additional seating for when adults/guests are in the room. I pick up little accessories here and there, as well as stock it with my old costume jewelry, racing medals (“participation only” because I’m no track star), etc. I found this mirror at Target (I still need to actaully secure it to the wall!), which she and her friends use to admire themselves in costume!

The Family Friendly Factor:

Another reason this room is my favorite in our home is that when our friends (who also have little ones) come over, this Modern, family-friendly playroom makes the perfect spot for everyone to spend time together; the kids can play, sit at the table and chair set for arts and crafts or a puzzle, or chill out while watching a movie, and there is still plenty of room for the adults to sit + socialize. It’s pretty perfect, except for the fact that we have to bring up any snacks and beverages we want to enjoy while the kiddos play! We’ve joked that we should just put a wine fridge up there. Which is actually not a bad idea…but, I digress.

We do have a T.V. in the playroom because, although I’m all about the imaginative play, sometimes a marathon animated movie session is just what the doctor ordered. Also, my husband and I can also watch sports, the news, etc. while Taylor gets to play. We use one half of the media center below it as a bookshelf for Taylor, and the other side is child-locked to protect our cable box, etc.

One of the best things about having this space is that the mess/toy chaos in our house is pretty much all contained in this one room upstairs, leaving our entire downstairs living area clutter-free (for the most part)!! I try and give it a once over during her naptimes (an exercise in futility, perhaps), but often wait until the evening when she’s gone to sleep to pick everything up.

A Comfy Space To Chill:

The piece that brings the biggest comfort factor into our family-friendly playroom is this daybed I found on Wayfair.com (a close second is the “Let’s Play” piece on the wall above it!)! Taylor and I often snuggle up to read books or watch a movie, or I’ll sit there working on my computer while she plays independently. The daybed also doubles as an additional guest bed (or bed for me when AJ snores too loud and I can’t sleep at night!), so we wanted to make sure we had a high quality, comfy mattress. was contacted by Tomorrow Sleep at an opportune time to try out their Medium Soft and Medium Firm mattresses. Tomorrow sleep makes the best hybrid memory foam mattress I’ve tried! We will probably use the twin mattress (currently on the daybed) for Taylor’s first toddler bed when she is ready to make the transition, so I’m glad we have such a quality, comfy mattress for her already! Check out this post for my review of both Tomorrow Sleep mattresses! You can also use code MAMA150 to receive $150 off any $500 purchase from Tomorrow Sleep (expires 12/31/17)!

Play Kitchen + TeePee:

A few other areas of the playroom I wanted to show you are Taylor’s play kitchen and reading/chill-out teepee. What I really should have done was take a camera and do a 360-degree video around the room to show you everything, but hopefully, you can get the lay of the land. Taylor’s kitchen was this white one from Teamson Kids, but I wanted the hardware to match her teepee, so I used this spray paint on all the hardware before putting it together. I also used this chalkboard paint to paint over the decal on the refrigerator door. T’s favorite part of her kitchen is the working “ice cube” (wooden block” maker! Right now she does some pretend cooking, but also enjoys dumping all her cooking pots/pans, utensils and play food everywhere. An opportunity to teach her about being a helper for clean up time, right?

She likes to sit on the round, (faux) furry rug and read her books from the book box, which I rotate on a weekly basis. Sometimes she will invite me in, but other times she is content to enjoy “reading” on her own. You can’t see it, but I also store this 6 foot, pop-up tunnel behind the teepee – it’s SUPER fun but doesn’t exactly “go” with the rest of the room : )

Well, there you have it! I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of Taylor’s modern, family-friendly playroom!

Below are links to almost everything that I thought you might be interested in, but please email me or leave a comment if you’d like a direct link to anything I left off!

Kitchen: Teamson Kids play kitchen // play food // pots/pans //faux plant // utensils // small potted plant

Furniture: Wayfair daybed // Brooke Linen sheet/duvet set (LOVE the Luxe Hardcore Bundle!) // black striped pillows // entertainment center // Eames style modern table and chair set // rug (ours is a Persian rug, straight from Iran but check out the gorgeous Persian Style rugs from Anthropologie!)

Dress-Up Area: dress up clothes // trunk (similar) // long mirror

Art: Let’s Play // Zebra

Tent: Land of Nod TeePee (comes in silver or gold finish) // round faux rug

Toy Storage: bookshelf ($109 at IKEA!) // baskets // chalkboard (secured to the side of the bookshelf with these Command Strips!)

Miscellaneous: most of Taylor’s other toys can be found in this post!

What would you include in YOUR ideal playroom?

XO,

Ashley

November 29, 2017July 16, 2020 - Ashley

Comfortable At-Home Mom Style Staples

As I was Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping this past weekend, I found myself again ~~ordering way too much~~ gravitating toward super comfy, cozy clothing – the kind you can lounge/work/play around the house in, yet still be considered socially acceptable when you need to go out to run an errand in. Comfortable at-home style is my jam.

Now that I’m no longer working outside of the home, I have tasked myself with rebuilding my wardrobe, and this type of apparel is definitely lacking. Over the last decade, my closet has consisted of 90% A) business wear or B) workout apparel, so I’m working on filling in the in-between now that I’m officially a stay/work at home mom!

Well, based on my online shopping tour de force this weekend, let me tell you that NOW is definitely the time to be stocking up on comfortable at-home mom style staples. There are SO many cute pieces out there – especially for these winter months when we want all the warmth and comfort (I’ll take a pair of joggers in each color of the rainbow, please and thank you!). Take this sweater for example which is essentially like wearing a chenille blanket around the house (but still totally cute, right?!):

So, if you’re a budding comfy clothing connoisseur like me, a stay at home mom who wants to up her mom-iform game, or a working mama who needs some comfy weekend wear, this is the round-up for you! I included items I purchased recently, ones I own, and also several that are on my wishlist – with a range of price points.

I hope you enjoy shopping this round-up, and being super comfy, cozy and cute all winter. Click on any of the images below to shop!

Comfortable At-Home Mom Style Staples:

Have you ever had to shift your wardrobe in a similar way? Let me know what your mom-iform consists of, and if there are pieces I must have in my newly minted stay at home mom wardrobe!

XO,

Ashley

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission if you purchase an item I like and recommend.

November 23, 2017November 24, 2017 - Ashley

The Best Black Friday Deals For Baby, Toddler AND Mom!

This post contains affiliate links but, as you already know, I only post about things I actually buy, use and love!

Hi there! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with friends and family yesterday.

Let me get right to the reason for this post: Black Friday is kind of THE day to get the bulk of your Christmas shopping done and/or score great deals on items you’ve had your eye on for a while! I know I will be scouring the web to see if any of the items on my Ultimate Toddler Gift Guide For Christmas are on sale, as well as checking out my favorite sites to up my #momstyle game (i.e. Nordstrom, ILY Couture, etc.)!

All day today (Black Friday 2017!!) on the Taylor-made Mama Facebook Page I’ll be sharing the best deals for babies, toddlers AND their moms from the places we LOVE to shop, including (but not limited to!):

3, 2, 1, GO head over to my Facebook Page for all the deals I’m finding in real time today, starting…..NOW! I’ll be posting in the comments every chance I get when I find a deal I think you’ll love:

Let me know if there is something in particular you are looking for and I’ll see what I can find:

Lastly, an admittedly shameless plug for my LipSense Black Friday sale going on in my Facebook Group – Taylor-made Beauty With Ashley.

Black Friday LiPsense Sale

Try the liquid lip color everyone is talking about! ???
Snag YOUR perfect color for *15% OFF + FREE Shipping through midnight on 11/24/17 plus tons of other fun deals and freebies! THIS LINK will take you straight there!

Happy Shopping!

P.S. If you don’t already have an Amazon Prime membership then today is a great day to become one. Many of the deals I’ll be sharing with you throughout the day on the Taylor-made Mama Facebook Page are Prime Eligible (free 2-day shipping and exclusive deals!). You can get a FREE 30 Day Trial to Amazon Prime HERE, just in time to take advantage of all the Black Friday Deals! You can also check out a full list of ALL the benefits of a Prime membership here.

SOME OF WHAT I’VE FOUND TODAY!