ON WORK, NEW MOM LIFE, AND SELF-CARE

We're three months into this new motherhood season, and I'm learning so much. The biggest learning curve for me recently has been learning how to balance work life with mom life.

Since I work from home, the lines are so blurred. I heard someone describe entrepreneurship as a struggle between feeling like you're always working vs. never working. So relatable as a new mom. Am I doing too much/not enough/in what areas/what is my identity/who or what needs my attention right now/what ball am I currently dropping? I'm learning how to juggle it all in a new way, for sure.

One thing I'm learning is especially important for me right now is self-care. I think of the oxygen mask analogy on a plane, when the flight attendant says over the loudspeaker, "If you're traveling with someone who needs assistance, please secure your own mask first." I never really got that until now. But, duh.

I need to take care of myself first so that I can best take care of Trey.

One way that I am taking care of myself these days is remembering to EAT. It sounds insane, but some days I am racing around, trying to work and take care of him and DO IT ALL that I forget to feed myself.

This is a downward spiral.

If I'm running on empty, this ship will not sail, and by 4pm we will all be one crabby mess. A few easy snacks I'm loving lately: sliced turkey, veggies and hummus, chips and salsa, and peach Outshine Fruit Bars. I need sustenance, and I need it fast. Bonus points if I can eat it with one hand and Trey in my other.

With a newborn and a full time career, there isn't much margin or room for anything "extra" these days, unless I make it a priority. 

I'm choosing to make self-care a priority for me. It's just as important as my work and taking care of Trey. In fact, it's the building block that all the other hats I wear depend on.

How do you practice self-care? Would love to hear the ways that help you stay refueled so that you can pour out in your work and family life.

Shared in partnership with Outshine. Opinions are my own.

DRINK GOOD DO GOOD

Did you know that 30 million Americans are without access to fresh produce? I'm partnering with Naked Juice to bring awareness to this cause, who is pledging to donate 10 lbs of fresh produce to those in need for every fruit or veggie selfie posted to Instagram and tagged #drinkgooddogood. It's one small way to make a difference with your online presence.

(I would love to continue partnering with companies giving back. If you are a brand or know of one you care about, please let me know in the comments.)

Post sponsored by Naked Juice.

BABY'S FIRST COLD

Trey had his first cold last weekend, poor guy! I didn't even know babies could get colds at this age, and he wasn't even around anyone who was sick, but somehow he picked up a bug. He already seems better, but we chatted with our pediatrician just to be sure we were doing the right things. We heard there's really not much you can do for colds at this age besides helping them stay hydrated by breastfeeding often and watching for fevers, so we followed that, and he quickly improved. A few items that we used and were glad to have on hand:

1. Humidifier. The cool air, not hot air ones, are recommend to use while babies sleep to help with congestion. This one is quiet and sleek.

2. Thermometer. This ear design takes only one second to get a reading. Perfect for wiggly babies. Plus, there are no probe covers required and it syncs to your phone via bluetooth. The company also makes this Smart Stick, awesome for older kiddos age 4+ (and adults too) for a quick read orally or under the arm. Lots more info on their website here.

3. The Snot Sucker. The concept originally sounded so gross to me, but I'm a believer! It's totally sanitary and it works. It's awesome for clearing out stuffy tiny noses.

4. Essential Oils. I haven't really tapped into this yet, but I know people who swear by them as a natural remedy for a whole range of health issues for kids. Do you have experience with EOs? How do you use them on your babies?

Shared in partnership with Kinsa.