This post is all about the 17 best habits to reset for the new year!

1. Take a look at the past, present, and future

Take some time to reflect on the past year, the present year and the future. By future, I mean the latter half of the year. Often when we’re resetting for the new year, we start habits that we don’t carry throughout the year. In order to have a successful reset and truly get your s*it together, we’re going for longevity here!

Ask yourself:

• Past: What is one thing from the past year I want to bring into this year?
• Past: What is one thing from the past year I don’t want to bring into this year?
• Present: What actions can I take to be more mindful in the present?
• Present: What matters in my life right now? Why?
• Future: What challenges have I overcome so far this year?
• Future: Look back at your list of goals for the year. Which goal can I strive to achieve by the end of this year?

2. Bask in silence

A study in the journal Heart in 2006 found that silence can relieve tension in just two minutes (source). If you’re trying to reset for the new year, consider making space for silence. Although many of us are intimidated by silence and often avoid it at all costs, silence is incredibly beneficial.

One of the biggest benefits of silence is that it encourages mindfulness and increases focus. The clarity provided by silence can help you to think more clearly about your goals and actionable steps to achieve them.

Additionally, silence has medical benefits for your body such as decreased stress, stimulated brain growth, lessened insomnia, increased awareness, ability to hear your inner voice, and decrease feeling overwhelmed.

This year, challenge yourself to bask in silence. Silence is truly golden.

3. Declutter your email inbox

Let’s declutter that inbox this year! Let’s be honest, how many unread emails do you have? Declutter is such an easy way to help reduce stress and get your s*it together. While most people think of a part of their home to declutter such as minimizing their closet, don’t forget to tackle that email inbox.

Not only can decluttering your email inbox help you become more organized, they also help decrease your carbon footprint! Sending emails and storing them requires energy which creates CO2 (carbon dioxide), a greenhouse gas. Although this is a very small percentage of overall CO2 emissions, think about what a difference this can make if everyone unsubscribes from unwanted email lists.

Don’t forget to unsubscribe from unwanted e-mail lists as well. This will prevent your inbox from cluttering back up!

4. First Fifteen

When you are considering how you want to reset for the new year, consider your morning routine in the process! What you do when you first wake up in the morning is instrumental. In fact, the first fifteen minutes of your day can determine the outcome of the rest of your day.

How your first fifteen looks may be different for everyone because we may each have different goals we want to get out of the day. Regardless of the way the first fifteen look, being intentional about those first few minutes will make a difference.

Here are some things to consider for your first fifteen:

• Praying/Meditating
• Reading
• Not checking updates on your phone (texts, emails, etc.)/ not going on social media
• Make your bed
• Enjoy a cup of coffee in silence
• Listen to a podcast or audiobook
• Go outside
• Journal

Take control of your day as soon as it gets started!

5. Wake up before the kids

I’ll be honest, this one tip has completely reset and reshaped my year.

If you’re a mom, this is a habit you absolutely have to incorporate in your reset for the new year! This tip goes hand in hand with the tips above, the first fifteen. Even if you’re only waking up 15 minutes before your kids – it makes a difference!

Waking up before my kids allows me time to be ME before I am MOM. I can set my intention for the day on my own terms instead of reacting to the terms of others. In addition, it helps you bring more clarity and patience to the start of your day! You’ve already taken care of yourself, now you have more mental space to take care of others. When I wake up before the kids I’m more gentle, peaceful, and understanding. This habit makes mornings much smoother which helps for a less chaotic start to the day.

6. Move your body

I cannot talk enough about the benefits of moving your body. Being physically active is not only great for you mentally, but also physically.

The release of endorphins to your body helps reduce stress and it is beneficial for your health. Moving your body actually helps you better do other things in your life! It helps your memory and your thinking.

Now I know that we’re all incredibly busy and we often don’t have time to fit in moving our body, but don’t overcomplicate it. Moving your body does not have to mean spending 30 minutes to an hour in the gym 5 days a week.

Sometimes we’re not able to truly get feel like we’ve gotten our s*it together because our goals for ourselves are unrealistic.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate moving your body in your reset for the new year:

• Take a walk around your neighborhood in the morning before work or evening after work. If you work from home, take a short walk during your lunch break.
• Practice yoga! I’ve recently been loving Yoga by Adriene on YouTube. Some of her videos are 10 minutes long (like this one!). I even do bedtime Yoga videos if I’m pressed for time! Those are usually very short, can be done in bed, and help reduce stress and promote sleep.
• Walk your dog. Having a dog is great motivation to get your body moving. Both you and your fur baby will appreciate it!
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator
• Park far away when you drive to the store. This will help you get a few extra steps in!
• Use a tracker to track your steps: a Fit Bit, an Apple Watch, etc.
• If you work at a desk, stand up during part of your workday.

7. Top three goals of the day

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re trying to reset for the new year. Start the habit of writing out 3 goals for the day. This is helpful because it allows your mind to focus on a smaller about of items to tackle. It is also helpful because it is realistic and manageable. This inspires you to actually get things done instead of experiencing paralysis from overwhelm.

For more on how to make an effective to-do list, check out my blog post here on How To Create a To-Do List That Actually Motivates You

BONUS: Set up monthly reminders to check in on progress

As we get further from the new year, we have a habit of forgetting about the goals and resolutions we made at the beginning of the year. In fact, research has shown that about 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail by February (source).

To hold yourself accountable, set up monthly reminders to check in on your progress. Are you meeting the goals you’ve set for yourself? Are you maintaining the habits you’ve wanted to put into place? Checking in with yourself will help you make corrections and continue your reset throughout the year.

I hope you enjoyed this post all about how habits to reset for the new year!

Related Posts:

• How To Create a To-Do List That Actually Motivates You
• 5 Greatest Habits to Bring More Peace In Your Busy Life
• 13 No BS Organization and Time Management Strategies Every Mom Needs

For example, I’m blogging because I love it, but I’m absolutely terrified of putting myself (and my blog) “out there”. Now, this isn’t something I’d readily admit. However, I’m writing this because I know I can’t be the only one who is struggling with self confidence.

Besides, the first step to improving yourself is identifying what needs to be improved, right?!

For this blog, I did a lot of research. I want this post to be littered with resources and motivation to help jump start your 30-day self-confidence challenge. I also wanted to make it as helpful and resourceful as possible. Throughout my research, there are two consistent messages to help overcome struggling with self confidence.

In this blog post, you will learn about two ways to improve self confidence and get the details of a 30-day self confidence challenge!

This blog post is all about how to overcome struggling with self confidence.

30 DAY SELF-CONFIDENCE CHALLENGE!

Are you ready to take the challenge? Download the FREE self confidence calendar. Each day is filled with a challenge to build your confidence in 30 Days!

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1. Avoid Imposter Syndrome

One of the first best ways to overcome struggling with self confidence is to avoid imposter syndrome

What is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.

Who knew there was a whole term to describe a struggle with self-confidence and a feeling of failure?!

Personally, I define imposter syndrome as the feeling of being fraudulent or inadequate as it relates to your goals and success. It’s the lack of confidence in your achievements no matter how big or small.

To define Imposter Syndrome in another way, as it relates to struggling with self confidence, here is a great Ted Ed explaining Imposter Syndrome.

According to Time Magazine, people who offer suffer from imposter syndrome are

• Perfectionists
• Experts
• Natural Geniuses
• Soloists
• “Super(wo)men”

Reflection: Do you fit in one of these categories? Have you ever felt imposter syndrome?

To be honest, it wasn’t until Michelle Obama admitted that she still struggles with imposter syndrome that I even knew what Imposter Syndrome meant!

When talking about releasing her book Becoming, Michelle Obama admits

“I still remember waking up in a bit of a panic the night before my first tour event in the United Center in Chicago, this huge basketball arena,” she recounted. “Were people really going to come? Was it going to be any good? Here I’d been first lady of the United States for eight years, giving speeches in front of huge crowds, but this felt so different. I recognize now that the memoir and the tour were really different than what I’d done before — I wasn’t promoting a policy or rallying votes; I was out there, alone, talking about my feelings and vulnerabilities. That’s enough for anybody to lose a little sleep.”

So, what does this mean?

Well for starters, if the First Lady of the United States still gets imposter syndrome, I think we can all cut ourselves a break!

What’s important to take away from that message is that putting yourself out there is hard! So many of us struggle with feeling inadequate or not good enough, but it is important to remain true to yourself and do it anyway.

DO IT EVEN IF YOU’RE SCARED. Taking action is how you gain confidence!

2. Do It Anyway

The second best way to overcome struggling with self confidence is to “do it anyway”.

What do I mean by “do it anyway”?

Often times when we think about self-confidence we think “I wish I had the confidence to do that” or “when I get confident enough I’ll do that” or “Wow! She’s so confident, I could never do what she does.”

The truth is. YOU CAN.

When I started this blog I didn’t want to share it with anyone. NO ONE. I didn’t even want to read my posts to my husband. Part of this is because my posts were a fun outlet to help me cope and heal during my postpartum, but a large part was because I wasn’t confident in my writing or the blogging process.

The reality is, the only way I was going to get better and learn about the process is if I just put myself out there.

Even though I still get nervous, it is imperative to “do it anyway”.

Do the thing that scares you, that you’re afraid of, and the thing that sets your soul on fire.

Why is it important to overcome struggles with self-confidence?

Confidence is sexy.

via GIPHY

On the days I feel confident, I present my best self. I am a better wife, mother, employee, and friend.

When I am mentally, physically, and spiritually grounded I release an orra, an extra umph…I have a little pep in my step. I have more energy and I feel radiant.

That kind of self-worth and radiating love for yourself is not only noticeable, but it’s also attractive.

Science proves self-confidence is good for you.

Psychological studies tell us self-esteem is good for you. Possessing an adequate amount of self-esteem prevents depression, helps achieve maximum potential, and leads to healthy relationships with others.

In addition, self-esteem is necessary for your personal and professional growth. Improving your self-esteem takes diligence and practice.

It comes much more easily for some than for others, but that doesn’t mean anyone is more deserving or better at something than you.

Our children are watching

As a Black girl, I grew up always searching for people who looked like me I could relate to.

For me, my celebrity heroes were Maya Angelou, Beyonce, Michelle Obama, and famous black women from 90’s TV shows like The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince of Bellair.

In my own reality, my hero was my mom. Any time I struggled with self-confidence my mom was there to provide guidance and coach me on the importance of believing in myself.

Now that I’m a mom, I’m always conscious about how the decisions I make will influence my son and his future. Our kids are always watching us.

If we want our kids to feel like they can do anything, they need to see how important it is to push through any self-doubt telling us “we can’t or “we’re not good enough”.

The Self Confidence Challenge!

This post marks my commitment to increasing confidence in myself and having faith in what God has in store for me.

I ask you, my tribe, to join me in this challenge of self-confidence and self-worth.

Remember, everyone struggles with self-confidence at some point. Literally everyone! This challenge is meant to be fun and serves as a reminder that confidence is beautiful.

Take the 30-day self confidence challenge!

30 DAY SELF-CONFIDENCE CHALLENGE!

Are you ready to take the challenge? Download the FREE self confidence calendar. Each day is filled with a challenge to build your confidence in 30 Days!

YES! Send my 30-day self confidence challenge!

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

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Write out as many of these as possible to increase accountability! I suggest using the notes section on your phone, using a journal or planner, or using social media. Be sure to tag me each day to share the challenge on Instagram! 

Are you in? Take the challenge!  Join me in the 30 day self confidence challenge.

Day One: Write out three things you love about yourself

Day Two: Write out three goals you have for your future

Day Three: Take a selfie

Day Four: Get dressed up to go nowhere

Day Five: Complete this sentence: I feel happy when…

Day Six: Do one thing that makes you scared

Day Seven: Treat yourself to your favorite meal

Day Eight: Ask three close friends or family members what their favorite thing about you is.

Day Nine: Write out one quality about yourself that makes you unique

Day Ten: Write out one thing you’ve done for your family

Day Eleven: Write out one thing you’ve done to help someone else

Day Twelve: Identify a change you want to make in your life and the specific steps to implement that change

Day Thirteen: Music has a direct effect on self-esteem. Create a “feel good” playlist

Day Fourteen: Create a schedule for the weekend and follow it!

Day Fifteen: Write out three fears and how you can overcome each of them

Day Sixteen: List your favorite part of your body

Day Seventeen: Go on a walk outdoors without your phone

Day Eighteen: Do something that makes you feel special

Day Nineteen: What is one activity that excites you? Do it.

Day Twenty: Pray or meditate for 15 minutes first thing in the morning.

Day Twenty One: Look in the mirror and say a self-affirmation

Day Twenty-Two: Buy yourself something new (it can be a small, inexpensive item)

Day Twenty Three: Do one minute of deep breathing exercises first thing in the morning and right before bed

Day Twenty Four: Eat mindfully all-day

Day Twenty-Five: Write down three mistakes you’ve made and what you learned from them

Day Twenty-Six: Workout (it can be an at-home workout or even a short jog)

Day Twenty Seven: Create a personal mantra

Day Twenty-Eight: Text a friend and let them know why they matter to you

Day Twenty Nine: Write a love letter to yourself. In your letter, remind yourself why you are beautiful, unique, and worthy of being your absolute best

Day Thirty: Create a time capsule. Here’s what you should put inside of it:

• Name
• Date
• Selfie
• Family Picture
• List a goal you’d like to achieve
• List your favorite thing about your body
• List (or take a picture) your favorite outfit
• List your favorite thing to do
• Include the letter to yourself (written on day twenty-nine)
• Open the time capsule one year from this date and reflect

I hope you enjoyed this post all about struggling with self confidence and you choose to take the self confidence challenge!

Sign up below to receive the 30 Day Self-Confidence Challenge in your inbox!

Related Posts:

• The No BS Organization and Time Management Strategies Every Mom Needs
• How To Create a To-Do List That Actually Motivates You
• 5 Greatest Habits to Bring More Peace In Your Busy Life

Well, first, I’m happy you found me! Second, I hope these date night ideas are extremely helpful for you! 

I met my now-husband when we were 13! Although we didn’t get married until we were 24, it’s safe to say we’ve been on A LOT of dates. Now that we have two kids, finding time to date has been even more challenging. While there’s nothing wrong with Netflix and Chill, it’s still nice to have some fun activities to look forward to and spend quality time with your partner. Continuing to “date” your partner is the number one piece of advice we received before we got married. 

This blog post is about 20 date night ideas for you and your partner.

1. Wine Tasting at Home

Wine tasting is so much fun! My favorite part about wine tasting with others is how different everyone’s reaction is to the different types of wine. Some like sweet, some like dry, some like bubbles, some taste chocolate or tobacco, others taste fruit or flowers. Plus, an evening filled with a bunch of different wines and cheese is always a good night, right?

Related Posts: Wine Tasting At Home

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2. Dinner and a movie

Classic date night. And it’s classic for a reason! When my husband and I first started dating, dinner and a movie sounded so simple it was almost boring. Now, as a married couple with a toddler, finding uninterrupted time to sit down and have a nice meal and watch a movie is glorious! I know this idea isn’t the most creative, but I still wanted to include it because it is a simple favorite of mine.

Here are some ideas to make your dinner and a movie a more unique date night ideas:

• Make your movie area super cozy and phone-free.
• Create themed drinks or cocktails to go with the movie!
• Have a dress code, are you wearing loungewear and casual clothes or going comfy pj style? You can even wear movie-themed costumes/outfits!
• Appetizers and snacks are a must. Make popcorn, grab candy, nachos, finger foods, or order takeout.

If you’re going with the traditional popcorn movie snack, spice it up with this seasoning variety pack! It’s an awesome mix of sweet and savory and the containers are even magnetic!

Delicious Popcorn Seasoning – Movie Snack:

3. Dessert Bar

Make a dessert bar! Gather up any and all toppings you can think of and a variety of different ice cream flavors and get creative! If you’re looking for dessert bar inspiration, check out some of these awesome images below. If you really want to spice things up, pair up your desserts with alcohol!

Dessert and alcohol pairings can create an amazing harmony of flavors.

Try some of these classic desert and alcohol pairings:

• Chocolate Desserts with Red Wine, Port Wine, Brandy, or Stout Beer.
• Fruit Desserts with Champagne, Prosecco, Moscato, Riesling, or Sweet White Wine
• Cheesecake with Dessert Wines, Bourbon, or Cognac
• Tiramisu with Coffee Liqueur, Espresso Martini, or Amaretto
• Apple Pie with Crown Apple, Burbon, Sparkling Cider, or Chardonnay
• Vanilla Ice Cream with Sherry, Bourbon, Irish Cream Liqueur
• Key Lime Pie with Margarita, Mojito, Gin and Tonic, Tequila
• Pecan Pie with Bourbon, Scotch Whisky, Amaretto, Dark Beer

4. Indoor Concert

My husband and I LOVE blasting music (maybe I should say “blasting”. We do have a toddler which serves as an effective form of volume control). Here is what we do:

• Clear the living room of toys, end tables, and anything else that could get in our way while dancing.
• Get dressed up. It’s a concert, people!
• Pick the artist or genre of the night and use our Amazon Echo Dot.
• Turn off the lights. Sometimes we even hang white Christmas lights to bring the concert vibe!
• We dance and dance and sing and dance …it’s a blast! 

Amazon Echo Dot for your indoor concert:

5. Create Vision Boards

This idea is for the hands-on couple looking to do an activity on their date. Vision boards are so inspiring and so much fun! They’re a great way for you to express your goals for the future and spark excellent conversation. 

Here’s what you’ll need for your vision board for this date night ideas:

• Posterboard – grab it at Target. You can even check your local thrift store!
• Magazines – again, thrift store! They sell old magazines for pennies!
• Scissors
• Glue/Tape
• Markers, Pens, and Pencils

Before you start, take some time to reflect on your goals and intentions. What do you want to achieve in various areas of your life, such as career, relationships, health, and personal growth? Clarify your vision.

Look through magazines, newspapers, and online sources for images, words, and phrases that resonate with your goals. Choose visuals that spark inspiration and align with your aspirations. For this step, Pinterest is my go-to!

Finally, create! Share your creation with your partner. Talk about what you chose and why.

6. Wine and Paint

I am a terrible painter, but this is still one of my favorite date night ideas! There’s something about freehand drawing with a paintbrush and a canvas that is so relaxing and freeing. Again, this is a hands-on activity and allows for plenty of time to chat with your partner while getting your Picasso on. If free-hand painting isn’t your thing, here are some great templates you can purchase! Don’t forget the wine  

Wine and Paint Canvas:

7. Plant Party – DIY Terrarium

For this date night idea create your own terrariums!

Terrariums are low-maintenance indoor plants, and it’s so much fun to make. Terraniums can be small and compact so they’re suitable for small spaces and offices. You can your partner can express your creativity with this date night ideas which is low-cost, budget-friendly, and will be kept on display for months (hopefully years!) to come.

Here is a terrarium kit to get you started:

8. S’mores 

I listed s’ more separately from the dessert bar, but making s’ more can hold down a date night idea completely on its own! You know the classic: graham cracker, marshmallow, chocolate. For this date night, switch it up! Add other fun chocolate candy like Reese’s, Twix, white chocolate. I’ve recently tried s’ mores with Oreo cookies instead of graham crackers. GAME CHANGER! Of course, s’ mores are traditionally done over the fire, but if you don’t have a fire pit you can use your stove, microwave, or a culinary torch. 

Indoor Smores Kit:

9. Puzzle Competition

This is such an easy and fun idea. In my family, puzzles are a big deal. Puzzles bring out the best competition in us. Why? Whoever finishes putting together the puzzle the fastest wins a prize! We typically purchase a few $1 puzzles from the Dollar Tree and use that for the competition. It’s so much fun. The puzzles are usually 100 pieces or less so they’re easy to put together even if puzzles “aren’t your thing”. Choose your puzzle design, set the timer, and go!

10. Backyard camping

I’ll admit, I’m more of a glamper than a camper, however, this date night is still one worth sharing. Don’t want to leave the house and travel to a campsite? Bring camping home with you! You may be missing the unique views and the road trip to your campsite, but it’s such a fun way to get outdoors and enjoy nature, even in your backyard.

11. Spa Night

Did someone say his and hers massages? Maybe facials are more your style? Whatever the case, a spa night is a perfect date idea for you and your partner. What’s even better? You’re killing two birds with one stone. You’re not only committing time to self-care, but you’re also spending devoted time with your partner. Here are some tips to plan the perfect, romantic spa night.

• Give each other a massage
• Give each other a Mani/Pedi
• Soak your feet
• Take a bath together
• Give yourselves facials

Related Post: Super Simple and Relaxing At-Home Spa Date Night Idea

12. Build a tent inside

This is a fun one! Building tents as a kid was so much fun. Why not be a big kid with this date idea? Build a tent and enjoy some cozy snuggles with your partner. Add some white string lights for some mood lighting!

13. Charades

Charades always bring out the laughs. If you’re looking for a hilarious date night idea, this one’s for you! 

14. Scattergories

I had to list this idea because Scattergories is selfishly one of my favorites. Here are the rules and categories to make your own scattergories at home. If DIY isn’t your thing, you can 

15. Giant Games

If you’re tired of traditional board game nights, this is an awesome date night idea. The bigger, the better, right?

• Giant Checkers
• Giant Connect Four
• Giant Jenga
• Tic Tac Toe Drinking Game

16. Cooking Competition

Does anyone else love watching Food Network Competitions? Here is an awesome idea for a Chopped Competition at home. Make it a date night activity by competing against each other with basket ingredients. Delicious dinner and creative date night – it’s a win-win.

17. Hide and Seek in the Dark

I’ve been playing this game all my life and it never gets old! Decide who is “it” (a classic rock paper scissors usually works), set the boundaries (is there anywhere you can’t go to hide?), decide where home base is, turn off the lights, and GO! 

18. Scavenger Hunt

I did this for my now husband and it was so much fun! I created a clue for different locations around the house and each location had a birthday gift. This is not only a creative way to give birthday gifts, but it’s also an awesome date idea. There are so many ways you can perform the scavenger hunt. Here are a few below.

• Each partner creates a list of clues and leads the other partner to find a specific item
• Each partner creates a list of items the other partner must find (or create!) in the house

If you’re not in the mood to create your own, check out this date night adult scavenger hunt!

19. Create a Pinterest Craft

Head over to Pinterest and find a craft you and your partner can have fun doing! Here are a few:

• 40 Crafts For Grown-Ups
• 90 Recycled Homemade Crafts

20. Karaoke

Karaoke can be a great time! Personally, I’m an awful singer so Karaoke is slightly embarrassing for me and for that reason, highly entertaining for my husband. No need for a fancy karaoke game/machine turn on YouTube and make sure the subtitles are on! Use whatever you have handy for a mic (remote, spoon, etc.).

21. DIY Sushi Night

Turn your kitchen into a sushi bar! Use a bamboo rolling mat, reusable chopsticks, and sustainable seafood options. This kit has everything you need to get started.

22. Read Together

I love having a cozy reading night as a date night idea! You’ll want to go to the bookstore together and either each pick out a new book or pick out the same book. My husband and I love reading the same book together. It’s like having our own book club together. We get to talk about what happens in the book and have discussions about what we think will happen!

23. Canvas Paint Switch

Get creative and have some fun with a playful “paint switch” date night!

Start by setting up your house with canvases, paints, and brushes. Start painting your own canvas and then every 5-10 minutes, you switch canvases with your partners and continue painting on each other’s work!

By the end, you’ll have two unique, collaborative paintings and you’ll have so much fun!

24. Play Hot Seat

This is one of my favorite ideas for a date night at home because it is so much fun and can be fun and romantic. Take turns being in the “hot seat” by asking each other questions! These questions can be funny, sexy, truth or dare questions. You can buy them from somewhere like Target or you can pull up questions easily from Pinterest.

25. Workout Together

Turn fitness into a fun bonding activity! Set up a mini workout session at home with a mix of partner exercises, yoga flows, or even a dance workout video.

Finish up the workout date by making a smoothie or a healthy snack together.

If you’re looking for a sustainable workout clothes for your datenight, check out Girlfriend Collective!

26. Zero-Waste Picnic

Here are tips and tricks for the best way to plan a zero-waste picnic at home in a romantic and sustainable way to spend quality time with your partner!

• Setup a cozy blanket or picnic-style table cloth in your living room, backyard, or balcony. Be sure to use cloth napkins and candles to add a romantic ambiance.

• Choose finger foods and avoid single-use packaging for a waste-free food experience.

• Serve food on real plates and bring the reusable utensils

• Compost leftover food scraps or use reusable containers to store leftovers.

27. DIY Cocktail Night

Experiment with homemade syrups and organic spirits for a mixology session.

28. DIY Candle Making

Create soy candles scented with essential oils and poured into recycled jars.

29. Escape Room Game

Add even more fun to your date night at home with this fun escape room game! Download the files with everything you need to have a very fun and somewhat challenging time with your partner. This game takes about 30 minutes to an hour and is designed to play in the comfort of your home

Do you plan on trying any of these date night ideas? Do you have any cheap, creative, or fun date night ideas you’d like to add to the list?

Here is a list of 29 best date night ideas:

1. Wine Tasting at Home
2. Dinner and a movie
3. Ice Cream Sundae
4. Indoor Concert
5. Create Vision Boards
6. Wine and Paint
7. Plant party
8. S’ mores 
9. Puzzle
10. Backyard camping
11. Spa Night
12. Build a tent inside
13. Charades
14. Scattergories
15. Giant Games
16. Cooking competition
17. Hide and Go Seek in the Dark
18. Scavenger Hunt
19. Create a Pinterest craft
20. Karaoke
21. DIY Sushi Night
22. Read Together
23. Pottery at Home
24. Play “Hot Seat”
25. Workout Together
26. Zero-Waste Picnic
27. DIY Coktail Night
28. DIY Candle Making
29. Escape Room

I hope you enjoyed all these date night ideas for you and your partner!

Don’t forget about the importance of dates, even if you have kids! I love the idea of always dating your partner. Dating is the key to a long, happy, passionate marriage. If you’re not married, dating is imperative to finding your ideal life-long partner.

Related Posts:

• Super Simple and Relaxing At-Home Spa Date Night Idea
• Wine Tasting At Home: How to Make The Best Unique Date Idea
• 13 Easy and Inexpensive Mother’s Day Experience Gifts Mom Really Needs

I’m excited to share this list of breastfeeding essentials with you. I’ve been successfully breastfeeding my son for 7 months now. Now, I’ll be honest, it took A LOT of trial and error for me to confidently feel like I knew everything I needed to successfully breastfeed and pump.

In the first few weeks, I found myself relying heavily on my husband to grab items I inevitably forgot when trying to get Baby Boy to latch. I FINALLY got the hang of breastfeeding about four weeks into the process!

I shared some of my breastfeeding tips in a previous post that was crucial to my successful breastfeeding journey. Below are breastfeeding essentials to make your breastfeeding journey at home and at work a breeze.

This post is all about Breastfeeding Essentials First Time Moms Need

Breastfeeding Essentials At Home

Comfy Rocking Chair

You will find yourself in this chair a lot! You might as well make sure it’s comfortable.

If you’re wondering which items to splurge on and which you can go generic, I’d say the comfy chair is a splurge item because of the amount of use it will get.

Your baby will be waking up every two hours to nurse and you will be exhausted during those night feedings. Having a supportive and comfortable chair will make a huge difference.

My kids are now two and four and we still use these rocking chairs! They’re petite in size and fit well in the nursery. What I love about this chair most is that it is comfortable while also being sturdy and supportive. The chair is classic and simple, making it go with any nursery decor.

Nursing Cover

I love these nursing covers! I would use them in person when nursing, but I’d also use them when people came over and I was nursing. During those first few weeks, Baby Boy was eating ALL the time.

Instead of leaving the room each time, I’d just use these nursing covers to feed him privately while still getting some much-needed adult interaction with visitors. They also work great as car seat covers!

Haaka

Bless the friend who gifted this item to me! I had no idea what this was before a dear friend of mine bought me one as a gift. Talk about a lifesaver! This is one of the best breastfeeding items I owned.

Leaking is inevitable and breastmilk is VALUABLE the haaka helps you collect breastmilk from one breast while nursing on the other. There’s a super helpful video on how it works. Or you can check out my blog post on the top 11 baby items you need before you bring your baby home.

Boppy

The boppy is an incredibly comfortable pillow that was definitely important to my breastfeeding essentials. This pillow is so good I had my mom go to my house and bring it to the hospital for me!

This will elevate your breastfeeding routine! The bobby makes it so much more comfortable to breastfeed, especially when you are just starting out. It also and helps you maintain good posture which your back will thank you for later.

Nipple Shields

Nipple shields are soft silicone pieces that are made to help moms with flat or inverted nipples as they adjust to their breastfeeding journey. If you’re having trouble getting a proper latch consistently, these are so helpful!

To be honest, I had no idea nipple shields existed before I started my breastfeeding journey, but they were so imperative to helping me get accustomed to breastfeeding and making sure my son was getting what he needed. One of the nurses gave them to me at the hospital and it was the first time I actually got a comfortable latch!

Overall, these nipple shields helped a lot with getting a pain-free latch and helping me understand what a proper latch looked like. I love that these are clear so it is easy to still see your nipple through them. You won’t need them forever! As your breasts adjust and you learn your baby you’ll no longer need them, but they’re perfect for first-time moms.

Nipple Cream

I won’t lie and say there is no pain with breastfeeding. It can be painful at first. I’m honest when I say it gets easier and less painful. Until then, use nipple cream! Check out this breastfeeding cream that helped me as I adjusted to becoming a first-time breastfeeding mom.

Burp Cloths

Protect your clothes from the inevitable spit-up. Make sure to have burp cloths and lots of them! There are so many cute variations of burp cloths you can get. I love these organic cotton burp cloths because they’re so incredibly soft aganist your baby’s skin.

Nursing Pads

Do not leave home with these! I kept them everywhere. In my purse, my night stand, my diaper caddy, at work, in my car. You won’t need them for your entire breastfeeding journey, but in the beginning you will definately need them. It is amazing that your body responds so well to you baby’s needs, but it also means you will have milk leaking through your shirt without nursing pads!

These resusable ones are comfortable and so easy to wash and use again. It’s less expensive than having to continously buy the disposable nursing pads. In addition, they don’t leave that weird sticky reside like the dipsoable nursing pads.

Storage Caddy

You’ll want several of these! I would highly suggest setting up stations around your home for the baby. We had a caddy downstairs in the living room, one upstairs in our bedroom, and one in his room.

These caddies had all the essentials in them so everything was in one place. The most important component of these caddies is keeping them stocked! They will be completely useless and empty so make it a priority to help your future self by keeping these caddies close by and full of your breastfeeding essentials.

Items in our caddy included

• a change of clothes
• extra diapers
• burp cloths
• wipes
• nipple cream
• nipple shields
• a receiving blanket
• nursing pads

Snack and Water

According to research, a breastfeeding momma should keep water nearby to drink after each breastfeeding session. Breastfeeding momma’s should also consume about 300 to 400 additional calories a day! Try to always keep snacks and water next to you to keep your breastmilk flowing and keep your energy up!

Check out one of my most popular posts on 10 superfoods guarenteed to increase milk supply (with meal ideas!)

I hope you enjoyed this post all about breastfeeding essential for the first time mom!

Did I miss any breastfeeding essentials? Let me know with a comment!

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Like many of you out there, Christmas is my favorite season. Can you name another holiday that has a slew of traditional songs dedicated to its celebration? I think not!

My radio is tuned into everything Christmas starting the third week of November, regardless of when Thanksgiving decides to arrive.

Christmas creates a feeling of hope, excitement, warmth, generosity, and happiness.  Part of the magic of Christmas is the anticipation of all of the things to come. For me, that means family holiday traditions. 

The family holiday traditions suggested in this blog are from my blended family – my inlaws, my parents, and of course, my family. The purpose of these family holiday traditions is to build on the excitement of Christmas and create memorable family moments to look forward to year after year.

Here are 9 family holiday traditions you need to start right now!

1. Advent Calendar

The word Advent means coming in Latin. This symbolizes Jesus coming into the world.

Advent calendars are a great reminder of the reason for the season, but also an awesome way to gear up the excitement for Christmas day.

Each year we have at least two advent calendars. One for fun and one to eat!

This one is fun because you get a different book each night. The kids get excited to find the number that correlates with the date and anticipate which book they’ll choose! Believe it or not, it actually helps with bedtime because they’re excited to see which book they will choose.

These go fast! Don’t wait to order. It is perfect for kids and is such a fun tradition every day leading up to Christmas. I love reading our advent calendar storybook to our son before bed each night.

This advent calendar is the one we eat! I’ll be honest, I let the kids get one every morning once they wake up. Having them wait all day for the one piece of chocolate did not work well in our house. Instead every morning they wake up and look for their elf and choose their piece of chocolate.

And if you’re looking for yet another advent calendar variation for your family holiday tradition, check out these printable advent calendar coloring pages on my Etsy shop. These are incredibly inexpensive and DIY! My daughter is still too young for school so while my son is in school, I do these coloring pages with my daughter every day in December!

2. Elf on the Shelf

You’re either an Elf on the Shelf lover or the elves are not welcomed in your household. I’ve found that most parents have a very strong opinion, one way or the other, about Elf on the Shelf. Personally, I love it! Don’t get me wrong, it is difficult to remember to move that thing on top of everything else you have going on, but they’re so much fun.

To make it easier, plan out how you want to move your elf BEFORE the month of December. That way you can make sure you have any extra supplies you need and have a game plan ahead of time. This should remove some of the stress and make it easier to remember to move your elf. Even if I forget, I have my little sheet to know exactly what to do on each day. I use this FREE Elf on the Shelf Checklist. Download it here.

We purchased this brown-boy Elf on the Shelf! We were so excited to find an elf on the shelf that my son can identify with. You can purchase one here.

Elf On The Shelf Boy

Elf On The Shelf Girl

3. Christmas Eve Dinner

Enjoy a nice meal on Christmas Eve before Santa comes!

Whether you invite your extended family or you decide to have dinner with your immediate family, sit down together for a good meal.

Why? Because Christmas is much more than the hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, and receiving gifts. Christmas is also about family. After dinner, everyone can go to bed full, in good spirits, and even more excited for the next day. I know what you’re thinking…cooking another meal for the holidays!? Don’t feel like you have to cook a big meal! You can order takeout, have a potluck, or have a fun-themed dinner (surf and turf, make your own pizza, breakfast for dinner, etc.).

If you’re unable to gather with your family because of social distancing or family being out of town, take the family gathering to Zoom! Pick a time to have the entire family sit down and eat dinner together.

4. Christmas Eve PJs + “one more thing”

Christmas PJs are a must. The family holiday tradition I have created over the years is Christmas PJs + “one more thing”.

Here are the PJs I’m so excited about for on Christmas Eve!

One more thing is something small that can engage the whole family or at least keep everyone entertained as they await Christmas day.

Here are some ideas for “one more thing”:

“One more thing” ideas for my husband:

• a nice bottle of wine or liquor
• board/card game
• book/audiobook
• cookbook

“One more thing” ideas for kids:

• a coloring book
• an activity book
• a puzzle
• legos
• play dough
• board games
• crafts
• a tonie character
• ink books

Related Posts: Simplified Christmas: Ideas For A Minimal Christmas Gift Exchange

5. Holiday Lights

Nothing gets me in the spirit more than viewing the holiday lights during Christmas time. Young or old, infant or elder – going to see the lights is appropriate for everyone. We usually visit our local botanical gardens lights, but we’ve also been known to walk (or drive) around the neighborhood to view lights for free!

6. Secret Santa

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While sometimes difficult to coordinate, Secret Santa is a must!

We have so much fun with Secret Santa. We play the traditional way. On Thanksgiving, we set a price limit, pull names, and our Secret Santa is revealed on Christmas Day.

I have been known to group text my wish list just to spark ideas, but that is totally optional!

7. Clean for Claus

My mom started this family holiday tradition when my brother and I were younger. “Santa won’t bring you new toys if your old toys are all over your room,” she would say.

That was enough to motivate my brother and me to make sure our room was always cleaned before Christmas Day.

Even now, as an adult, I make sure the house is cleaned before Christmas. After all, you can’t bring in new things if you’re not taking care of what you have!

Pro Tip: This can be extended to include a deep clean with decluttering and a donation of old items to a local church or consignment store.

8. Christmas Day Games

Our annual gingerbread house competition is a family holiday tradition for us!

There are teams, a timer, judges, and a presentation. It’s a serious competition and so much fun!

Gingerbread houses aren’t your thing? There are a ton of other holiday games you can try or go traditional. The idea is to gather the family together for some quality time. Have some fun competition with these Christmas activities below! There are over 17 pages of interactive games for the whole family!

9. Quality Time

For some families, the holidays is all about hustle and bustle.

Incorporate the family holiday tradition of being intentional about quality time with your family on Christmas Day.

It is easy to get caught up in the day or to watch each of the kids go into their own separate spaces to enjoy their gifts from Santa, but remember Christmas is not just about giving and receiving, it is also about love.

Your children will forget the new toys they got and definitely be asking for something new in the next few weeks, but the quality time is unforgettable.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post all about family holiday traditions!

Let me know if you will try any of these suggestions! Do you have any family holiday traditions of your own? I’d love to hear about them!

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Currently, the United States is projected to hold about $21 trillion in debt. And, although no one could have predicted something as catastrophic as the Coronavirus impacting the world, the problem is only getting worse as it continues. This debt number is projected to increase to at least $32 trillion by 2030.

This blog post is all about how to plan a family budget.

Understanding Spending Habits

So, not only is our government in debt but we, as Americans, are in debt ourselves. This is only being passed on from generation to generation! Initially, I believed I was alone in my struggles with debt, but as a working mom, it is important to understand debt is a serious obstacle facing 87% of American families who are attempting to attain financial success.

Most U.S. households have the same major spending categories. Depending on your circumstances and stage in life, however, you may be spending a ton more on childcare, college tuition, or healthcare. Something that may not come as a surprise is that life often throws unexpected expenses at us, which makes saving for them difficult.

A Federal Reserve survey of household finances indicates that over 40 percent of Americans could not cover an unexpected expense of $400 in case of an emergency, with cash, savings or a credit card charge that they could quickly pay off. Most of these unexpected expenses end up being charged to a credit card.

Understanding Credit Card Debt

The average American family carries a balance of between $7,000 and $10,000 on all their credit cards. Over $1,000 per family goes only to paying the interest each year. And that’s just the average–some people owe much more!

There are approximately 530,000 families turning to bankruptcy each year as the solution to their credit woes. Over 90 percent of Americans’ disposable incomes are being spent paying back debt. Currently, Americans collectively charge over $1 trillion every year on their credit cards and owe more than $500 billion in interest alone.

When you add credit card debt to the regular bills we all have to pay each month—which can tax anyone’s budget—this results in some bills going unpaid and others being paid late.

Even Celebrities Have Issues With Debt…

Did you know that in 2003, Mike Tyson was forced to file bankruptcy? With the media reporting that he was worth over $23 million.

Michael Jackson, the king of pop music, died in 2009 with over $400 million owed to creditors. The “Thriller” singer is said to have been a millionaire who lived the lifestyle of a billionaire.

What is common in both these real-life anecdotes? It tells us that you can still have financial problems even if you are earning millions of dollars.

If we adopted a mindset that forced us to prepare for the unexpected, things would be better for us. Anyone in any financial situation can do this, especially working moms.

How to Build A Family Budget:

How can you prepare yourself and your family? By implementing a family budget. Anyone in any financial situation can do this, especially working moms.

50/30/20 rule:

One oft-used rule of thumb in budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule. Under this rule:

• Half of your income goes to necessities
• 30 percent of your income goes to splurges and fun
• 20 percent of your income goes to savings and investments

When creating your family budget, it’s easy to look at your expenses, like utilities, food, transportation, clothing, and entertainment, and start slashing. Although this budget may look good in theory and build savings quickly, you have to ask yourself the following: Will I be able to stick to it? What will it do to my quality of life? After all, splurges and fun are factored into this rule of budgeting at a higher percentage than savings and investments for a reason.

Even as a working mom, you can have a workable budget to help you guide your spending and build your savings while still enjoying your life. Unless you are in dire financial trouble, there’s no reason setting a budget should be painful.

So the question is, how do you prepare and stick to a family budget?

Steps to Preparing a Family Budget:

Step 1: Calculate your total family income.

You cannot prepare a family budget without knowing what your total monthly income is after taxes.

Step 2: Calculate your total family expenses and allocate them to ‘expense buckets’.

Next, analyze your purchases for the last month and consider which of them made no sense. By doing this, you can identify money you can save to allocate elsewhere.

Once you have a picture of where your money is going, it’s usually clear to see where you can make changes.

Step 3: Calculate the net difference.

Subtract all the typical monthly expenses from the family after-tax monthly income. If you have savings left at the end of the month, that means you are a net saver. You can skip to step 4 in this case.

If the family expenditure is more than the family income, figure out which of the expenses you can cut back on from step 2. Small sacrifices can add up to significant savings.

Step 4: Determine what to do with your savings.

You can use your monthly savings to pay off your debt, credit card bills or even establish an emergency fund to cover those unexpected expenses you now expect to happen.

Once you are in a place where you feel more comfortable then it is safe to invest some of your savings to generate dividends and capital gains which will increase your family’s wealth in the long run.

Realistic Budgeting Tips:

Many families successfully create a monthly budget for themselves to follow. But the majority of them fail at implementing it.

Some helpful techniques to stick to your family budget:

    1. Automate your savings. Every month, transfer a certain portion of your paycheck automatically from your checking to your savings account. The rule of thumb for withdrawing from your savings account should be only during emergencies.

    2. Use budgeting tools like mobile applications to keep track of your daily expenditures. Use your Saturdays and Sundays to call “family budget meetings” and discuss the weekly progress with your family.

    3. Start a savings competition with a family in a similar financial situation as you are in. Update each other about the progress you have made each week. The best results come out when you are competing with someone.

    4. Like in the case of a food diet, you can have a “cheat day” every month in which you and your family can enjoy. Fix the budget for that cheat day. Something like $200 in a day. It will depend on your income as well obviously. Remind your kids about the “cheat day” from time to time to make them look forward to something every month.

Conclusion

You should be aware of where your money is coming from and where it is going, at all times, because when you aren’t aware of that information, you are basically giving up control of your financial situation.

Even after creating a family budget, you’ll want to do routine check-ups to see if and where you can cut some unnecessary costs. Some may say that creating a budget is easier said than done. In truth, having an idea in mind of where you and your family currently stand will hopefully be the ultimate driving force in just how successful you all can be at implementing and sticking to a budget.

Sticking to your family budget is not as hard as it sounds. All you need is a little discipline, willpower, and some positive reinforcement that the family decides on to push you all, even on those hard days.

This blog was contributed by Asha Gilliam of Mommy Talks Podcast.

A short time ago, I was like the other 63% of U.S. parents, raising my kids without either of their dads in the home, living paycheck to paycheck to support my family. After a near-death experience, I realized if my sons became motherless they would be destined to endure the same financial struggles I had because of my conditioning. A series of events flipped my world upside down, it was during this time in my life that things became crystal clear to me. I realized that in order to learn how to have my money make money for me by investing in assets instead of liabilities, I had to figure out where my money was going.

Connect with Asha on Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter | Youtube

I hope you enjoyed this blog post all about how to plan a family budget!

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I’ll be honest, I was always skeptical of black bean burgers. I didn’t think it would be possible to achieve a burger-like experience with anything other than meat.

BEHOLD!

This recipe is a combination of basic ingredients that pack a big flavor punch and will even have your carnivore friends asking for seconds.

It’s a big promise, but try this recipe and let me know if you agree!

This post is all about the best spicy black bean burgers!

Add beans, corn, rice, egg, onion, garlic, and jalapeno to your mixing bowl. Add seasoning as desired! My suggested seasonings are paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper, but you can use anything you would normally use to season a burger. For extra spicy burgers, feel free to add crushed red peppers or cayenne pepper!

Time to mash!

Use a potato masher to mash all the ingredients together. The corn doesn’t mash very well, but the beans, rice, and other ingredients should combine nicely. You’ll know you’ve mashed enough when your burger looks like a paste – check out the picture above.

Now, its time to add the breadcrumbs! Feel free to add more breadcrumbs than the amount suggested in the recipe. The more breadcrumbs, the more dense your burger will be.

Form your mixture into patties!

Pan fry in olive oil until both sides are nice and crispy. Don’t worry about cooking it through. Your objective is to get a nice crunchy crust on the top and bottom of the burger. Finish the burgers in the oven to make sure everything is warm throughout and the ingredients have combined nicely.

Add cheese and your favorite toppings and serve!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post all about spicy black bean burgers!

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This post is all about breastfeeding foods guaranteed to increase your breastmilk supply!

Can certain breastfeeding foods really increase your breastmilk supply? 

In short, yes. There are certain foods that can lead to increasing your breastmilk supply. According to research, however, this link is more closely tied to having an overall balanced diet than it is tied to the exact food you consume.

This means the nutrition provided by the food is more important than the particular food itself. 

That being said, as a breastfeeding mom, you’re hungry and thirsty ALL THE TIME. It is extremely easy to not eat nutritious meals because you’re tired, exhausted, and need something quick. And, let’s be honest, as moms we often don’t even have full use of both our hands to cook meals because we’re busy with the baby and balancing a million other things. 

Regardless, we still need to maintain a healthy diet and eat foods that keep our breastmilk supply up.

Here are some food groups and meal ideas to help you get the nutrients you need to increase your breastmilk supply.

Here are the top 10 breastfeeding foods to help increase your breastmilk supply (source):

1. Whole Grains
2. Salmon and Sardines
3. Beef
4. Eggs
5. Leafy Green Vegetables
6. Sweet Potatoes
7. Legumes and Beans
8. Nuts and Seeds
9. Apricots and Dates
10. Yogurt

Keep in mind that each of these breastfeeding foods provides essential nutrients your body needs to maintain a good breastmilk supply. You may obtain the nutrients you need from other sources, not exclusive to this list.

For example, I am a flexitarian. Most of my meals do not include meat, however, I maintain my protein intake through other sources. Regardless of your type of diet, this is a great place to start if you are looking to increase breastmilk naturally or promote milk production. 

Please note I am not a doctor. I’m an eco-conscious, working mom sharing my personal breastfeeding experience and foods that have helped me!

1. Whole Grains

Benefits of whole grains: high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, plant compounds (source). 

Examples of whole grains: quinoa, barley, buckwheat, brown rice, oats, millet, popcorn

Notes: Please note whole grains may not be for you if you are gluten sensitive. Please check out my blog post for 50 gluten-free snacks the entire family will enjoy.

Whole Grains Breakfast Ideas

• Oatmeal with almond milk, chia seeds, and pecans
• Homemade granola cereal 

Whole Grain Lunch Ideas

• Whole wheat toast with avocado
• Quinoa salad

Whole Grain Dinner Ideas

• Brown rice health bowl
• Cilantro lime black bean brown rice – recipe here

2. Salmon and Sardines

Benefits of salmon and sardines: rich in calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B12, and selenium (source).

Salmon and Sardine Breakfast Ideas

• Smoked salmon on avocado toast – recipe here
• Smoked salmon frittata – recipe here

Salmon and Sardine Lunch Ideas

• Fish cakes – recipe here
• Sardine spread on toasted bread – recipe here

Salmon and Sardine Dinner Ideas

• Sheet pan chili-lemon salmon dinner – recipe here
• Avocado salmon rice bowl – recipe here

3. Beef (alternatives)

Benefits of beef: packed with vitamins such as vitamin B12, Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Vitamin B6. I personally don’ eat beef, but here are some awesome alternatives I incorporate in my diet to get the nutrients beef provides to help maintain my breastmilk supply.

Beef Alternative Breakfast Ideas

• Chickpea potato breakfast hash – recipe here
• Scrambled eggs with veggies

Beef Alternative Lunch Ideas

• 15-minute black bean chili – recipe here
• 15-minute veggie quesadilla – recipe here

Beef Alternative Dinner Ideas

• General Tso’s Tofu – recipe here
• Crispy cauliflower wings – recipe here

4. Eggs

Benefits of eggs: Eggs provide protein, potassium, Omega-3 fatty acids, cholesterol, and vitamins A, B, E, and K (source). 

Egg Breakfast Ideas

• Boiled Eggs
• Scrambled egg on whole-grain toast

Egg Lunch Ideas:

• Baked cheddar eggs and potatoes – recipe here
• Egg, cheese, and avocado burrito

Egg Dinner Ideas:

• Loaded omelet
• Egg fried rice- recipe here

5. Leafy Greens and Veggies

Benefits of leafy greens and veggies: vitamin K, Magnesium, B vitamins, Calcium, amongst many other essential nutrients (source).

Leafy Greens Breakfast Ideas:

• Spinach, strawberry, and kale smoothie with almond milk
• Spinach and mushroom egg muffins – recipe here

Leafy Green Lunch Ideas:

• Salad
• Kale and carrot quinoa bowl – recipe here

Leafy Green Dinner Ideas:

• Spinach lasagna roll-ups – recipe here
• Collard greens with cornbread – recipe here

6. Sweet Potatoes

Benefits of sweet potatoes: abundant in vitamin A, contain anti-inflammatory properties, fibrous, and good for digestion (source).

Sweet Potato Breakfast Ideas:

• Roasted sweet potatoes with fruit on the side
• Hash with eggs, fruit, or a smoothie on the side – recipe here

Sweet Potato Lunch Ideas:

• Sweet potato black bean quesadilla – recipe here
• Baked sweet potato

Sweet Potato Dinner Ideas:

• Mexican quinoa stuffed sweet potatoes – recipe here
• Garlic parmesan sweet potato side dish – recipe here

7. Legumes and Beans

Benefits of legumes and beans: contain protein, antioxidants, and promote helpful gut bacteria

Examples of legumes and beans: lima beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, soybeans, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, navy beans, pinto beans, red beans

Legume and Bean Breakfast Ideas:

• Black bean breakfast burrito – recipe here

Legume and Bean Lunch Ideas:

• Black bean nachos – recipe here
• Black bean veggie burgers – recipe here

Legume and Bean Dinner Ideas:

• Curried lentils – recipe here
• Lentil sloppy joe – recipe here

8. Nuts and Seeds

Benefits of nuts and seeds: contain mixtures of fats, including monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and omega-3 fatty acids (source).

Nuts and Seeds Breakfast Ideas:

• Homemade granola (with yogurt or with milk as cereal) – recipe here
• Power balls – recipe here

Nuts and Seeds Lunch Ideas:

• Arugula apple salad with pecans – recipe here
• Fruit, nut, and seed salad – recipe here

Nuts and Seeds Dessert Ideas:

• Dark chocolate trail mix – recipe here
• Nut and seed clusters – recipe here

9. Dates and Apricots

Benefits of dates and apricots: high in fiber, boost metabolism, anti-inflammatory, a good source of iron and copper (source).

Date and Apricot Dessert Ideas:

• Skinny Pecan Date Bars – recipe here
• Apricot Vanilla Jam – recipe here

10. Yogurt

Benefits of yogurt: packed with nutrients, high in protein, beneficial for the digestive system (source).

Yogurt Snack and Dessert Ideas:

• Yogurt Bites – recipe here
• Frozen yogurt with crushed peanuts, pecans, and almonds
• Strawberry Banana Granola Parfait

The breastfeeding foods and meal ideas in this post can help you promote milk production, but having a balanced, nutritious diet is most important when breastfeeding. Do you have other breastfeeding foods or meals that have helped your supply?

I truly hope these breastfeeding foods are helpful for you and your breastfeeding journey!

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How To Prepare For Your Return to Work After Maternity Leave

Everything You Need To Prepare For Breastfeeding at Work

If you’re anything like me you’re feeling elated, fearful, and severely anxious all at the same time.

After spending so much time on maternity leave with your little one, deciding to get back into the workforce is a big deal. I was ready to be an adult again. I craved the ability to have adult conversations, drink a cup of coffee in the hallway while catching up with coworkers, receive validation for the hard work I was putting in and the work I was producing, and do a job that I loved.

On the other hand, the thought of separating from my child for more than a few hours literally pained me. That being said, Baby Boy was not going to survive on breastmilk forever and I needed to help put food on the table for our family.

It was time to go back to work.

If you’re reading this, you’ve either already returned to work after having your baby or you’re anticipating (and probably dreading) your return to work.

Here’s the thing: for most of us, returning to work after maternity leave is not easy. Take comfort in the fact that so many of us do return to work, have a healthy transition, build new routines, and find ways to cope peacefully.

Maternity Leave Facts in the United States

• Out of 41 other countries, the United States is the only country without a national paid maternity, paternity, or parental leave. – The Guardian.
• California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia all have state-mandated paid leave plans in place. –PEW Research
• In March 2018, 17 percent of all civilian workers had access to paid family leave, and 89 percent had access to unpaid family leave. – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
• According to a 2018 study, paid family leave was available to 25 percent of state and local government workers, and 94 percent had access to unpaid leave. – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Seven-in-ten moms with kids younger than 18 were in the labor force in 2015. – PEW Research
• Mothers are the primary breadwinners in four-in-ten U.S. families. – PEW Research

I list these facts here, not to create a sense of guilt, or make you want to pack your bags and move to another country, but to reassure you, you are not alone in your feelings. There are many women who have been in the same position as you.

Here are some practical tips to prepare to return to work after maternity leave

1. Release Your Emotions

When you return to work after maternity leave, it is okay to cry.

I will venture to say there is a 99.9% chance you will cry at some point during your transition from full-time momma to working parent.

I want to be completely honest when I say this…when I returned back to work after my 12 weeks of maternity leave, I sobbed.

You know the kind of crying where you start hyperventilating a little and your eyes get all big and puffy?

Yeah, that was me.

I cried the night before I returned to work in anticipation of returning to work, on the way to drop him off that morning, on the way to work that morning, and I even shed a few tears on my lunch break while strolling through pictures of him.

I don’t want to sound totally sad and depressed or scare anyone into thinking returning to work after a baby is impossible, I only say this to be truthful and open.

What I’ve found is that it is okay to cry.

In fact, I think it is healthy to express your emotions.

According to research, crying helps to self-soothe, triggers the need for support from others, relieves stress, and aids sleep.

Admit to yourself that the transition may take some time to get comfortable and don’t be afraid to let those tears out. BIG GIRLS DO CRY!

Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed of your tears and emotions. Embrace them! Give yourself some time and know that what you are feeling with ease up.

2. Find Your Morning Motivation

For me, coffee is motivating. There is something about a delicious cup of coffee that makes me feel motivated, inspired, and ready to conqueor whatever the day has for me.

What is your morning motivation? A podcast? A fresh cup of tea? A morning jog? Reading a devotional?

In order to prepare to return to work after maternity leave, identify what brings you joy in the morning!

By the time we get back to work most of our sweet bundles of joy aren’t sleeping through the night. If you’re anything like me, you’re not getting more than three hours of consistent sleep a night.

Hearing that alarm go off in the morning to head into work when you’re used to determine your own schedule for the day can be difficult and put you in a funk.

On top of that, you have to show up at work with a smile on your face, energy to complete tasks, and enough social enthusiasm to interact with other adults who have gotten 6-8 hours of consistent sleep.

I began drinking a small cup of cold brew in the morning on the way to drop off the baby and when I got to work I would indulge in coffee in my reusable cup.

Whatever brings you joy in the morning – do that!

3. Purchase a Planner

New planner, who dis?! I bought myself a new planner and the stickers to go with it. Although I live by my Outlook calendar, I still have so much fun writing on a paper calendar.

Planning out my day allows me to stay organized and intentional about where I’m dedicating my time so I can maximize time with my son.

Planning ahead helps minimize anxiety and uncertainty. When preparing to return to work after maternity leave it is important to keep in mind that your previous schedule will most likely change dramatically.

Help ease some of the tension involved in your new transition by planning out your week.

4. Update your work wardrobe

Try to purchase (or thrift) a few new staple pieces for your work wardrobe!

Having a set work wardrobe helps to reduce decision fatigue and makes you feel your best. By week 12, I still wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be with my weight and body and couldn’t fit into some of my old work clothes.

Instead of sticking with the three pairs of pants I actually felt comfortable in or forcing myself to wear my too-big maternity clothes, I updated my wardrobe altogether.

I gathered all the items I knew I probably would never fit into again – these were the items I could barely fit into pre-pregnancy (am I alone here or do we all keep clothes that are too small hoping to fit into them someday?!) and donated them.

I then planned a shopping trip two weeks before I returned back to work to update my work wardrobe.

To make it special, we made a family day out of it! We drove up to Williamsburg, went to the outlets, went out to dinner, and made a stop at Williamsburg Winery on the way back. It was so much fun and I was actually excited about wearing my outfits back to work.

When I returned home, my closet was cleaned and organized from donating my old clothes.

Having an updated wardrobe really helped me find joy in my return to work after maternity leave. I completely avoided the frustration of trying on a bunch of clothes that didn’t fit properly when I was already sad, anxious, and in a hurry.

In addition, when you look good, you feel good. Physically being ready for work helps you mentally get on the same page.

Pro Tip: Pick out your wardrobe for the week on Sunday. Look at your professional planner to see what you have coming up for the week and plan your outfits accordingly.

You can even do this for the baby! It saves time in the morning and helps you mentally prepare for what is to come!

5. Rejuvenate your workspace.

Jazz up your workspace to feel happy and inspired!

Let’s be honest, most of us would rather be home cuddled with our little one than at work, but if we have to return to work after maternity leave, why not do it in a space that makes you want to be there?

Easy office update ideas:

1. Frame updated photos of your family, friends and of course, your little one.
2. Add plants or trinkets to give your office a chic flare.
3. Purchase a mouse pad with your favorite family pictures from Shutterfly.
4. Change the background on your computer to an inspiring quote, a picture of your baby, or even a goal you’re working towards like a trip to Disney or a visit to the mountains – literally whatever inspires you.

My favorite place to look for these items is the Dollar Spot at Target and thrift stores.

The smallest upgrades can totally elevated my desk space.

6. Do a Practice Run

As you’ve probably noticed throughout this post, preparation is key to help ease into your return to work after maternity leave.

Before you jump right into work, try doing a few practices runs!

Here are some suggestions:

• Take a drive to your job to remember how long it takes to get there (don’t forget to calculate traffic time)
• Drive to your child care provider and then to work to become familiar with the route
• Start waking up at the time you would be getting up for work. Get your baby into the habit of waking up at that time too.
• Do the whole routine, waking up early, packing the bags for work, driving to daycare, and then work – all of it.

Make yourself familiar with what is to come. This will help you mentally prepare and ease some of the tension you are bound to feel with your new routine. It will also prepare your baby for what is to come.

7. Incorporate Mommy and baby time before work.

To get more time with your baby before work, start your morning routine earlier!

For me, this meant that by the time Baby Boy was awake, I was fully dressed, packed up, and ready to walk out of the door. That way, the rest of the time I had in the morning was completely dedicated to him.

Those few extra minutes with him had a dramatic impact on my day!

How can you plan your day to make time for bonding before you go off to work?

One tip is to try to dedicate an extra 10 minutes or more to quality time with the baby instead of rushing through the motions to get out of the house. Rushing triggers anxiety which negatively contributes to our already overwhelmed mental state.

8. Try To Get Excited!

I know. This is a tough one. It is very possible you’re not only fearful to return to work after maternity leave, you may also be depressed.

Focus on the reasons you are returning to work and the positives of the return.

Getting through a tough time is all about perspective. Add some fun and excitement to the mix to lighten the situation and give yourself something to look forward to.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post all about how to prepare for your return to work after maternity leave.

Yes, you will probably cry. Yes, you will scroll through the thousands of pictures you’ve taken over the last three months. You may even feel some mom guilt. And all of that is OKAY! You are allowed to feel that way – just don’t dwell in it. Allow yourself to be excited about returning to work.

How are you preparing to return to work after maternity leave? If you’ve already returned back to work, do you have any tips to share?

Remember, you can do this! You’re not alone.  

9 Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For Her:

Disclaimer: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you choose to take action (and I hope you do!), I will earn a commission. I have chosen these products because they are awesome and helpful, not because of the small commission I will receive. Thank you!

1. Luxury Bath Tub Caddy

Grab the champagne, candles, matching robes, and bubble bath! With this gift, you and your partner can spend some relaxing time in the bath this Valentine’s Day. This Bath Tub Caddy is a practical and unique gift that she can use over and over again.

Why she’ll love it:

• Sturdy and fits most tubs perfectly.
• Encourages relaxation.
• Shows you value her need for self-care.

2. Wine Club Membership

A gift that keeps on giving! Wine has always been a timeless gift, especially for your special someone. This wine club membership perfect as a unique Valentine’s Day gift idea because it is affordable, customizable, and goes beyond 2/14.

Why she’ll love it:

• The wine selection is based on her preferred type of wine (red, white, sweet, etc.)
• The membership lasts for months! She’ll be reminded of the gift month after month.
• She’ll be able to try new, unique wines and share her experiences with others.

3. Personalized Hand-Crafted Candle

These hand-poured, non-toxic candles are the perfect unique Valentine’s Day gift idea because they’re customized!

Why she’ll love it:

• The custom messaging makes this gift extremely thoughtful
• The candles smell amazing and give a non-toxic burn
• Candles promote romantic moods and stimulate the senses

4. Kissing Mug Set

Cheers to unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas like this one! This adorable kissing mug set is a perfect gift for any coffee lover. Instead of a standard coffee mug, try this idea instead! Pair this with a bag of coffee beans from her favorite local coffee shop.

Why she’ll love it:

• It’s cute, thoughtful, and romantic
• The symbolism for love is evident
• She’ll think of you every time she drinks her morning coffee.

Did someone say breakfast in bed? This gift works especially well if your partner is the person who cooks in your family. This Valentine’s Day, make her breakfast with this awesome stuffed waffle iron. This would also pair great with the Kissing Mug Set!

5. Stuffed Waffle Maker

Why she’ll love it:

• She’ll feel Valentine’s Day love from the start of the day
• It’s thoughtful, unique, and food can be customized to her liking
• This is a long-lasting gift that can be used over and over again for breakfast and dessert

6. DIY Wine Tasting

Most of us won’t go out this year so bring the fun to her! Download this FREE wine tasting checklist and create a wine tasting experience at home! Find out everything you need for wine tasting at home here.

Why she’ll love it:

• You’re bringing the fun at home in a unique way
• Spending quality time together while trying new wines
• You’re gifting an experience to create lasting memories

7. Climate Change Puzzle

This puzzle is a must for a unique Valentine’s Day gift idea! Being environmentally conscious is extremely important and something that many of us take seriously. Combine her interest with fun with this gift!

Why she’ll love it:

• You can work on the puzzle together as a date -night activity
• She can use puzzle glue to transform the completed puzzle into framed decor
• It’s meaningful and thought-provoking

8. Instant Print Digital Camera and Scrapbook

Help her capture every moment, instantly. Instant cameras are so much fun because you receive gratification immediately.

• She won’t need to worry about her phone has enough storage space for pictures
• Scrapbooking lowers stress and is known as a form of meditation
• She’ll great lasting memories to tangibly cherish forever

9. Vintage Bluetooth Record Player

Girl put your records on (song reference here)! This unique Valentine’s Day gift idea is for the music-loving partner. To add to this gift, visit a local thrift store or a second-hand book store to find vintage records!

Why she’ll love it:

• Music elevates your mood and stimulates memories
• Vintage record players are symbolic antiques
• Vintage record players encourage sharing the love of music

Let Me Know With A Comment

Will you try any of these gift ideas? What are your favorite unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas? I’d love to know!