life with a toddler

Freshful Tips for Mom Life!

February 13, 2020 by Rachel 26 Comments

This post is sponsored by Gerber. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found out I was pregnant with my first child nearly 8 years ago to this day. In that moment, I had a crystal clear version of the type of parent I would be.

My husband and I knew how we would parent. I was sure of how I would ‘make’ my children behave and I certainly knew what kind of disciplinary style I would use. I was dead set on breastfeeding and then making my own baby food with my top-of-the-market blender.

But then real-life happened. Parenting wasn’t as easy as it appeared to be. By some sort of miracle, I quickly understood that we are all just doing our best.

Making your life easier as a busy mom is crucial.

Accepting that certain concessions need to be made, as a mother, for the sake of you and your children, is crucial.

Real-Life Tips to Help You With Your Baby

I’m sharing some of my go-to tips and tricks for both new and seasoned moms.

Fed is Best

You’ve heard it over and over again — “Breast is best.” Heck, I heard it nonstop from doctors, nurses, and strangers, throughout each of my three pregnancies.

But the truth is, so much more than breastfeeding goes into breastfeeding. And it may just be that breastfeeding is testing your sanity. So don’t stress about something so trivial. Whether your child is breastfed, bottle-fed, or formula-fed, says nothing about you as a parent.

Babies Need Very Little

Based on ads and marketing, you would think you’re going to need to double the size of your house when welcoming in a new baby. That narrative is completely false.

Babies need so little. Know what they need? They need food (see above), love, diapers, and a safe space. Everything else is unnecessary.

Sure, other items can be helpful, but they really just take up space. I can count on two hands the amount of ‘bonus items’ that I used over and over again (even my first didn’t make it into his own crib or room for nearly a year).

Don’t stress if you don’t ‘have it all.’ Your baby will get everything they truly need.

Give yourself a break

This is something a new mom hears time and time again. And it’s easier said than done. But there are things that you can control and give yourself a little break.

First and foremost, you’re doing a good job. Sleep is minimal and the crying just won’t stop, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing a good job. Just survive this stage and know you’re a great parent.

Second, recognize now that everyone has been in this exact same position. Every one of us has felt like they are struggling to get by. Remember that every day for the rest of your parenting ‘career.’

Third, remove all expectations of what you expected to be like as a parent. Things are different now.

Perfect Moms Are Fake

Louder for the people in the back — Perfect moms are not real!

Sure, it would be awesome to have all of this time to make Pinterest-worthy pretty bento box lunches for our school-aged children and to puree our own baby food, but that’s just not realistic.

The reality is that our lives are much more chaotic. Stop focusing on the things you can do ‘from scratch,’ be it cookies for the preschool party, Valentine’s Day cards, and even baby food. These entrees are SO from Gerber are so convenient.

Look for trusted products like Gerber® Freshful Start™ to reduce the stress of mealtime

Mealtime equals chaos in my life. The school-aged kids are picky and the baby demands food now. Instead of making my own baby food, I looked to Gerber® Freshful Start™.

Gerber® Freshful Start™ offers high-quality, fresh tasting, cooked with love foods that are free of preservatives and GMOs! These always-organic baby and toddler foods are so fresh tasting they need to remain refrigerated.

This product line ranges from Homestyle Purees for the Sitter Stage to Veggie Entrees for toddlers. Both are prepared in minutes and make it easy for me when I’m dealing with the chaos of feeding a family of 5.

You can pick up the Gerber® Freshful Start™ line at your local Meijer store in the refrigerated section of the baby food aisle!

Because being the perfect mom is totally overrated. Be the mom that has happy, healthy, and well-fed children. Most of all remember this: We’re all just doing our best.

Tips to Tackle Sick Days with Johnson & Johnson

December 29, 2019 by Rachel 20 Comments

This post has been sponsored by Johnson & Johnson®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The holiday season can be stressful. Between school, work, holiday parties, and the normal winter “sickies,” the whole family is bound to come down with something. To keep the aches and pains away, our family uses Johnson & Johnson products like Children’s Motrin®, Benadryl®, and TYLENOL® when we aren’t feeling our best.

With three kids and two adults in the house, it’s hard to say that there’s ever a time when everyone feels “great.” It just doesn’t happen. But, I have a mission for the upcoming year—and that is to stay ahead of the sickness by keeping my family as healthy as possible.

cold medicine — Use products as directed.

Tips + Tricks to combat the ‘icky’ days.

Wash your hands

This should go without saying, I’m sure, but I’m obsessive about making sure my children wash their hands. Even if someone in your house feels ill, the best way to stop it from spreading is by frequent hand-washing.

Get adequate sleep

Another thing I’m obsessive about is sticking to my children’s regular bedtime. It’s easy to get swept away by a cozy late-night movie, but it does us zero favors when our children wake up cranky and more prone to illness.

Set a bedtime and stick to it. And if you can’t stick to a “hard” time, set a general “within this 90-minute window” timeframe.

USE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PRODUCTS TO HELP KEEP THE ACHES AWAY

My children and I all get “aches” when we are feeling even the slightest bit under the weather. In those moments, it’s important that we slow down and listen to our bodies. I trust Johnson & Johnson products to help make my family more comfortable in these tough moments. A little rest and a little Children’s Motrin® will help their little bodies feel better in no time.

I, on the other hand, prefer Extra Strength TYLENOL®Rapid Release Gels. I don’t have a lot of time to be “down,” especially while taking care of three icky-feeling kids. I also keep Benadryl® on hand to help with congestion and allergy symptoms.

Watch your food and drink

Coming out of the holiday season can be rough for all of us. It’s not unlikely that we all get sucked into patterns of eating that are abnormal for us. Take this time to make you’re on a regular meal schedule and you’re drinking plenty of fluids.

Our family drinks a lot of water, but maintaining a meal schedule has always been more difficult. I keep soup and crackers on hand just in case one of them is feeling under the weather. If I can’t get them to drink water, at least I know they can sip some bone broth or noodle soup to maintain hydration.

Don’t get in a bind

Keeping the “ickys” away can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Instead of running out to grab more Children’s Motrin® or Benadryl® in the middle of a crisis, stock up ahead of time on all of your go-to Johnson & Johnson products AND save money in the process.

From now until February 1st, 2020, get a $10 Reward with your next $30 purchase of participating Johnson & Johnson products. Keep your receipt and upload it online here to qualify.

Johnson & Johnson cold medicines — Use products as directed.

Tell me, which Johnson & Johnson products will you stock up on to receive that $10 reward?

Tips To Stay Healthy This Winter with Johnson and Johnson

Explore Ohio // Family-Friendly Summer Fun at Pinecrest

June 9, 2019 by Rachel 14 Comments

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY PINECREST BUT THE CONTENT AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY OWN.

Summer may not ‘officially’ start for another couple of weeks, but our local schools have been out for a couple of weeks now and we are in full-swing Summer mode!

I purposefully adjusted my Summer work schedule to maximize the time that the kids and I can spend time doing things we enjoy the most — like visiting museums, hitting up the library, and exploring local events.

And we are VERY excited to check out all of the family-friendly events taking place at Pinecrest in Orange Village!

If you haven’t yet been to Pinecrest, you’re truly missing out. Between the shops and restaurants, it’s also an amazing community of vendors and Cleveland supporters. And the family-friendly Summer event schedule is jam-packed with incredible opportunities to visit, explore, and open doors to adventure!

If you visit today, there is a Give Gifted Summer Marketplace taking place in Pinecrest’s Central Park and it features small-shop vendors like Little Red Bird Custom Cookies and Art of Sucre (whose kid doesn’t love cut-out cookies and fancy cotton candy?!). And every Sunday through the Summer they will feature a free concert series called “Simple Summer Sundays,” which sounds like a great way to wrap-up the weekend.

Weekday events like this Tuesday’s Pinecrest Play Days with NEO Parent are just as easy to come by. My crew and I will be there to kick off the season with their inaugural event, which is conveniently themed Summer Camp Out. The event will feature crafts, games, prizes, snacks, balloon art, temporary glitter tattoos, and more. It’s sure to be a fantastic way to keep the kids busy and entertained!

Other family-friendly events include:

Outdoor Movie Nights (Weekly, Wednesday’s at 8:00 PM — to include Ralph Breaks The Internet, Frozen, and more!)
North Union Farmer’s Market (Weekly, Saturday’s from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Free Outdoor Yoga Classes (Weekly, Wednesday’s at 6:30 PM)

See below for a full schedule of Summer events!

Bonus Pro-Tip: While you’re there, treat yo’self (and your kids) to an extra special treat from Duck Donuts, Condado Tacos, or Pinstripes for Brunch! You won’t regret it.

What event

are you most excited

to attend?

Favorite Fall Activities

October 8, 2018 by Rachel 15 Comments

Fall is my most favorite time of the year — it always has been. Not only is it the season of my birthday, but it’s the season of my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving! The weather gets cooler, the leaves change, and pumpkin spice is readily available! Ha! 🙂

Our Fall has already been off to a great start! Here’s what we’ve been up to and loving lately!

Hayrides!

We went to a local Fall festival and the kids were super excited about the hayride through the apple orchard! Remy had never experienced a hayride and the last time Ari was on one was several years ago, so it was excitement across the board.

Remy laughed and smiled the whole time. Everything — the apple trees, the birds, even the far-off sound of a ‘choo choo’ — is more fun when you’re on a hayride.

Ahh, to be a kid again! ♥ ♥

Going to the pumpkin patch!

This is one of the things I love doing the most in the Fall and I’m happy to share my passion with my kids. Thus far, they seem all about it. I mean, who doesn’t love pumpkins!?

Ari has already mastered the fine art of picking his own pumpkin. The biggest pumpkin is the best, of course. Ha!

Swim Lessons at Goldfish Swim School.

Outdoor swimming may be over for this year, but a change in season is no reason to stop learning to swim! Remy is in the middle of her Mini 3 lessons at Goldfish Swim School in Hudson and we’ve seen huge progress with her abilities already.

The small class sizes of just 3-4 kids per instructor along with a fun curriculum has helped her love of swimming grow by leaps and bounds! Even during the one lesson where she cried and cried (for zero reasons), the teachers were so gentle and loving — they even had her smiling and laughing by the end of class!

Goldfish Swim School offers a state-of-the-art facility featuring hairy drying stations, swimsuit dryers, private bungalow-style changing rooms, a glass-walled viewing area, and 90-degree water for the kiddos. Teachers offer weekly feedback and help closely monitor the development of each child to maximize their swimming success.

Remy is so proud of what she’s learning — flutter kicks, wall holds, and even holding her breath underwater. But most of all she’s having fun and keeping her Summer skills active year-round!

Fall Food + Beer.

One of the best parts of this season, at least for me, is all of the delicious food and drinks. Apple pie, pumpkin spice lattés, apple butter, pumpkin ales… the list goes on and on.

Basically, if it has apples or pumpkins in it, I’m here for it!

I mean, have you ever had an apple cider donut!? They’re delicious.

And we’re nowhere even close to Thanksgiving yet. So basically the best is yet to come!

And, of course, Halloween Parties!

I know it’s still a bit early in the ‘season’, but we’ve already been to one big Halloween party and look forward to at least two more!

My little Ninja, Skye from Paw Patrol, and little unicorn (held by Tigger) loved dressing up and playing games. Ari was especially into it. Like, extra. Ha.

He can be seen here eating all of the sugary goodies off the candy apple bar and then followed it up with an enthusiasm for apple-bobbing that I’ve never seen in another human before in my life!!

This kid, man. Freaking hilarious! I think he’s found his passion. And his passion is 1000% Halloween.

What are some

of your favorite

Fall activities !?

Summer Activities to Keep Toddlers + Preschoolers Busy!

April 24, 2018 by Rachel 13 Comments

I can’t believe I’m saying this… but Summer will be here before we know it. I know we just had snow, like, last week; but we are weeks away from Summer weather! Crazy, right?!

Well call it nesting, or call it just plain ol’ OCD, but I’ve been planning our Summer activities to keep my two older kiddos as busy as possible so they can still enjoy the Summer, despite having a newborn at home.

1. Learn through play with Snapology.

We had the honor of attending a birthday party put on by Snapology of Kent recently and, to my surprise, BOTH of my children loved it — not just my 5 year old!

Snapology is a STEM learning program that uses things like LEGOs and K’Nex to engage children in learning through play. Remy, at age two, was even included with the Duplos that were available! It was awesome to see them both so engaged with play.

So we’re adding playdates with Snapology (and perhaps a Summer camp for Ari?) to our Summer rotation, for sure!

2. Tot Time in the Park.

We live in a city that has an incredible Parks and Rec department. Throughout the parks they offer 6 different ‘tot time’ learn and play times — either a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday rotation! It’s awesome that our kids get to interact with other kids, but also do crafts, exercise, do singalongs, and listen to storytelling.

So it’s a no-brainer to spend a couple of hours a week letting the kids get their play-on while I sit back and just watch!

3. Storytime at the Library.

We tend to skip storytime during the school months, due to a very busy preschool schedule; but in the Summer, storytime is back on our weekly rotation!

Our local library has a newly renovated children’s library and they offer storytimes for all different ages. My 5 year old always loves going to the library to be around kids his age and he just tends to listen to the librarian read far better than he will sit and listen to me!

4. Crafts in the backyard.

I have some really easy, toddler + preschool-friendly, crafts lined up for those blistering hot days this Summer.

First, I can’t wait to do sensory play with freezing different objects in ice and letting the kids ‘dig’ it out. We recently did this at an event and it was a huge hit for both the 2 year old and the 5 year old!

Second, ALL OF THE BIRD SEED CRAFTS. I’ve learned over the last year that my kids freaking adore watching the birds outside the windows of our home (helloooo, park in the backyard!); so I’m planning as many bird seed crafts as possible to keep their interest peaked and to keep the birds coming back!

Third, painting rocks for Northeast Ohio Rocks. We did this once last Summer with a bunch of kids from the YMCA and they were all so excited to hide their rocks for others to find! And heck, there are rocks all over the place so why not make use of some ‘artistic’ time with just letting them go at it?! Right?

5. Easy picnics in the park.

I’m all about easy this Summer! Oh, and quiet in my house! So I’ll kick Chad and the kids out during lunchtime to eat in the park behind the house with ‘easy’ picnic foods. Think: cheese & crackers, juice boxes, yogurt, fruit snacks, etc.

As long as I have those on hand, I can send everyone packing (to the backyard/park) and they can eat in peace and I can tend to a newborn in peace(ish)!

Plus, kids just really like the idea of picnics (aka, eating somewhere they generally aren’t allowed). Am I right!?

With all of these activities lined up for the Summer months, I’m certain that rain or shine, newborn and all, my preschooler and toddler will have an absolute blast for the next several months!

What fun activities would you add to this list!?

Motherhood is hard — Find the joy.

April 12, 2018 by Rachel 14 Comments

I’d be lying if I said I’ve been my best self lately. So much of my time has been spent correcting my children and then losing it by screaming and then feeling incredibly guilty. I realize this is a season we’re in — I have a very defiant (strong willed?) two year old and a 5 year old with a serious listening problem.

Add in a 31 week pregnant (aka exhausted) mama, and there’s pure chaos and rage.

So yeah. I haven’t been my best self. But I’m trying. I acknowledge those moments, sometimes apologize to my kids, and we all move on. There’s a learning curve for sure.

But as I scroll through my photos on my phone, I also see something that I often overlook — JOY.

My kids are happy. And, most of the time, I am too.

Here’s what our life looks like in pictures as of late (in completely candid / unfiltered photos):

Looking at these moments brings me so much joy. Knowing that THESE are the moments in which my children will have memories — not the ugly times we’re all throwing fits. So snap those pictures and remember those happy moments, friends. xo