Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Dearest Muffin Top:
Thanks so much for visiting. Please do not ever return.
Lots of love,
J
xo

Wikipedia never lets me down:
Muffin Top:
"a generally pejorative slang term used to describe the phenomenon of overhanging flesh (fat) when it spills over the waistline of pants or skirts in a manner that resembles the top of a muffin spilling over its paper casing."


There is something so confronting and unnerving about the words "overhanging flesh (fat)". Nothing good can ever come of those three words strung together.

Sadly, after giving birth to my dashingly handsome son, I too fell victim to the dreaded MT. It's funny, I never noticed it while I was pregnant. It's like it was hiding (baking?) and waiting to make it's grand entrance when I was most vulnerable...post partum.

If you google 'muffin top' you'll find a million and one different ways to rid yourself of the muffin top. There are diets, exercises, creams, surgeries, clothes, all designed to eliminate those unsightly bulges of 'overhanging flesh'.

Despite the numerous links I was offered through my google searches, I believe that it was Wikipedia's fine definition that became my ultimate motivator to bid farewell to the dreaded muffin top.

I like to wear low-rise jeans. And I enjoy a curve hugging dress. But I like to enjoy these things sans muffin top.

Things are still not fully resolved, but i'm getting closer (and refusing to give up on) bidding farewell to dear MT.

Here are some tips i've come across:
  1. Eat clean: Cut out the junk and reduce the amount of starchy and sugary carbs. Eat lots of protein.
  2. Drink water: Keep yourself hydrated and drink about 8 glasses a day. 
  3. Get moving: Include a cardio session with your workouts. 
  4. Weight train: Muscle burns more calories than fat, so the more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn all day long. You'll also strengthen your bones and feel stronger. 
  5. Give up on spot training: Unfortunately, we don't get to decide which part of the body we can gain and lose weight from. 
  6. Buy clothes that fit ;) Your goal may be to fit into those pre-pregger jeans, but in the meantime, you can buy yourself a pair of 'transition jeans' that will get you through until the MT vanishes. 
Anyone have any other pearls they'd like to share? How did you shed yourself of the dreaded muffin top? 
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Embrace Your Inner MILF





We've all seen them....

The tired, washed out, I've-lost-my-mojo-type-moms. The kind of moms who dress and look about 10 years older than they are. These once stylish ladies find themselves in high rise, pleated jeans, a faded cotton t-shirt or hoodie, visible roots, no make-up, and a tired old ponytail.

Sigh...

LADIES...IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!!

Sure you're sleep deprived and covered in spit up and baby poop. Of course you've got a bit of a mommy tummy and your hips might be a bit wider than they were a few years back. Naturally you spend 99% of your time making sure that your little angel is dressed to the nines which leaves little to no time left for you.

All that being said. I'm telling you that there is still time for you. In fact, I would argue that you must make time for you!

I'm a firm believer in working with whatcha got! Maybe we don't all look like Heidi Klum after 4 kids (did she seriously walk the runway 6 weeks post partum?). But we can still strive to look our personal best. I think that if you look deep enough...there is a MILF inside of all of us ;)

So if you're a new or seasoned mom who is searching for her mojo, here's where you can start.

Must Haves:
  • A pair of the best jeans you can afford. I'm partial to Rock & Republic, Seven for All Mankind, and True Religion. But really, any jean that fits you great is a winner! If you're not sure where to start, hit a boutique and ask one of the fashion forward looking sales people to help.
  • If you must wear sweats, invest in some good ones. Put away the flannel pajamas you got for $10 on sale and get yourself some Lululemons or even better, a Juicy Couture suit. Even when you're comfy...you'll still look like you've got a bit of sexiness in ya!
  • Get a great bra. If you're still breastfeeding buy a sexy nursing bra. If you're not BFing, go and get properly fitted as your size has likely changed. A well-fitting bra makes all the difference in the world.
  • If your post partum bod needs some help, invest in a Bella Band and/or some Spanx.
  • If you're pale, pick up some sunless tanning cream. A little colour hides a lot ;)
  • Buy some hot shoes. I'm a sucker for stilettos but if that's not your thing, find some sexy flats or over the knee boots.
Must Dos:
  • Visit your hairdresser. A new haircut, colour and style will do wonders for your self esteem!
  • Go to the gym. Regularly! Working out is the greatest form of therapy.
  • Clean up your diet. You'll look and feel better when you start to eliminate some of the junk.
  • Shower and put on mascara every single day. Spritz a little perfume on too!
  • Connect with your girlfriends. Nothing makes you feel more like a woman than a bottle of wine and some girl chatter with your closest friends.
  • Get out of your sweat pants as often as you can.
  • Work on your swagger. Get your shoulders back, chin up and walk like you mean it!
  • Put away your maternity clothes. Yeah, they're comfortable and yeah they fit...but they don't help you shed your 'mom image'.
Remember ladies...You were a hot, vivacious woman before you were a mom. Having children does not mean that you must lose yourself.
Summer is right around the corner...it's time to embrace your inner MILF!!

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Have Baby...Will Travel?


My hubby and I just got back from a glorious 8 days in Aruba. We were married in Aruba in 2008 and have been a few times before. Aruba always feels like home away from home for us. What an amazing feeling it was to be able to show our little one where his parents were hitched ;)
The thought of travelling with a 6 month old was a bit daunting. I approached it like I do most things...lots of research, lots of reading, and a ton of check lists.

I found this blog particularly helpful:


Here are some pearls that I thought i'd pass along:
Travel
1. If your flight isn't full, request that they block out the third seat for you. It made all the difference in the world to have the three seats all to ourselves. It's really uncomfortable to keep a bouncing baby amused when you are wedged between two people.

2. Use your umbrella stroller in the airport. We loved our Maclaren Quest. I picked up an inexpensive umbrella storage bag to keep it safe. What's super convenient is that you can gate check the stroller. Keeps you virtually hands free until you board the plan.




3. Carseats: We didn't bring a car seat. Anywhere we travelled with the babe (bus, cab, etc.) we carried him on our lap.

4. Carry-on: This was my most important piece of luggage! I packed wipes and diapers in ziploc bags so that I didn't have to bring the diaper bag. I also packed some new toys for my little guy and a couple changes of outfits. I brought a blanket for him too. I had no trouble at all bringing bottled water and formula through security in my carry-on.

5. Baby get-up: I dressed my little guy in a long-sleeved onesie and Baby Legs. Made for easy diaper changes!!
Hotel
1. Baby Bjorn Travel Crib: I can't say enough great things about this crib. It is ridiculously light-weight (11 pounds) and takes seconds to set up and take down. My little guy certainly isn't an easy going sleeper and he's quite comfortable in this stylish crib.







2. Fridge and microwave are super handy if you are dealing with purees or if your little one likes his bottle warmed. My son takes his at room temperature so that wasn't a big deal.
3. Dish soap & laundry detergent: I brought both and was so thankful that I did! I used the dish soap daily to clean his bottles, nipples, sippy cup and his dishes. The laundry detergent is great for cleaning swimsuits and anything that gets covered in spit up or blowouts ;)

4. Clothespins: Most bathrooms come with the hangy string in the shower to hang wet clothes. I find that things dry better when you use clothespins. You can also bring a string and rig up a clothesline on the balcony.

5. Don't forget to bring all of your sleeping gear from home: swaddles, sleep sacks, white noise machines, loveys, blankies, etc. You want to replicate the home sleeping environment as much as possible so your little one will sleep well!
Sun & Sand
1. Baby Banz. A UV swimsuit is a must for travel! Baby Banz makes great one piece suits that zip at the crotch for easy diaper changes. They also make fantastic sun hats and baby sunglasses to protect your little one's eyes. My babe didn't tolerate the sunglasses for too long but i've heard of a lot of other babies who don't mind them at all.




2) Bring a float. We found a great blow-up float with a sunshade for our little one to float around in. It was very similar to this. We got it at the Pool Shoppe in Hamilton. They usually sell similar items on the resort but never exactly what you are looking for and often extremely overpriced.

3) Swimming diapers: We used reusable Kushie's swim diapers. The disposable ones work well too but if you are a bit crunchy like me you'll appreciate the reusable ones. It's also less to pack and much more economical. I made sure that I put them on him at the beach and took him out of them right away after swimming. Not great for him to be sitting in a wet diaper and also not great for Mom if she has to clean a poopy reusable diaper by hand...ICK! Remember that the swim diapers don't contain pee (you don't want a wet stroller!)

4) Sunhats: Find one that's light and dries quickly. The one I had was thick and my son hated wearing it because it made him so hot.

5) Sunscreen: Bring extra. Resorts always sell sunscreen but it's usually double the price.

6) Pool v.s. Beach: I found the beach fun for photo opps but super messy. Obviously my monkey wanted to put the sand in his mouth...we spent most of our time pool side. Much easier to keep the little guy clean.




7) UV cover: My little guy doesn't nap on the go too well. But if he did, this Jolly Jumper UV cover would have been a godsend.

Food
1) Breast is best! If you are nursing, it will make travel much easier! You can probably skip this entire portion. At this stage i'm nursing, bottle feeding and doing solids so it was a bit more challenging. Nursing came in handy when I wanted/needed to pacify my little one quickly (e.g. on the plane and on the beach). I brought my nursing cover but didn't end up using it. I was discreet and a towel usually did the trick.

2) Bottle feeding: I used Playtex Drop-ins for the entire trip. GREAT for travel! No sterilizing bottles. Just keep the nipples cleaned and your good to go. I used bottled water for his formula. No sterilizing here at 6 months...
3) Solids: Aruba is fully stocked with everything you'd need for your little one but I brought cereal with me. We hit the grocery store the first day we were there and picked up some bananas and avocados. I make all of my little guy's food but we bought the jarred stuff for the trip.

4) Highchair: We brought and LOVED our Phil & Ted's Me Too. They usually had highchairs at the restaurants and the resort had them too but they were old, wooden and looked really uncomfortable and dirty ;) The Phil & Ted's chair doesn't fit every style of table but when it fits, it works amazingly.



5) Bibs: Invest in a Mally Bib. Fantastic for travel. Just wipe it clean!!
6) Ziploc bags & plastic grocery bags: I brought a ton of baggies in different sizes. They came in handy for many things. I used them to carry the drop-ins, diapers, wipes, spoons, bowls, fruit, etc. You can even fill them with ice and stock up on fruits from the buffet for your little one. 
Diapering
1. I'm a cloth diapering Mom but I decided to use disposables for our week away. In retrospect, I probably could have done it successfully (great chance to sun dry the diapers too!) but for my first trip away I didn't want the extra stress. The nice things about CDing while you are away is you never have to worry about running out of diapers. Aruba is great for picking up things like that (they sell every brand of diaper you can imagine) but if you were somewhere more remote it might be tough...
2. Bring lots of wipes. I use cloth wipes for my son but I decided to use disposable wipes for our trip. I brought two refill packages and went through one in 8 days. I didn't bring the hard case...just the refill packages. They also came in handy for wiping down surfaces that looked icky.

3. Diaper rash: Our little guy didn't have any troubles with this but bring some ointment just in case.
All in all it was an amazing trip! My son slept better than he ever has before and I was asleep most nights at 9 pm (with some night wake-ups of course!). It was lovely to not have any house work or distractions to keep me up late at night.

Happy travels!!!

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Breast Feeding 101
I've said it before and I'll say it again...BFing is H.A.R.D!! If you're one of those people who luck out with a great BFing relationship from the very start...congrats! But if you're anything like me then BFing was anything BUT natural.

Here are some of the pearls that helped me along the way:
  1. See a lactation consultant. Even if you feel as though your LO's latch is great (for some reason, I was told in the hospital that DS was latching well) things change day to day with infants. They can offer you tips and strategies that are invaluable. See them early on in your BFing relationship and keep going back until things improve. If you can't get out of the house to see them, there are LC who will visit you at home.
  2. Invest in some nipple cream. Many ladies use Lansinoh (an over-the-counter cream) but if the pain becomes unbearable or if you are experiencing cracked and bleeding nipples then see your MD. They may be able to prescribe you with something stronger. It will be like gold to you when you are sore during those early weeks (months?)
  3. Invest in a nursing pillow to help you with your posture and positioning.
  4. Set up a nursing station. Keep healthy snacks and lots of water nearby. A laptop doesn't hurt either ;)
  5. Spend a lot of time skin to skin with your LO. It will be great for your milk supply!
  6. Buy a good breast pump! I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. I used it probably about 10 or 12 times a day during the first few months.
  7. Surround yourself with supportive people. Stay away from those who share their BFing horror stories and those who brag about how 'easy' it is to bottle feed with formula.
  8. Don't feel like a failure if you have to supplement with formula. The first and most important goal is to feed the baby!! Many women are able to both bottle and breast feed successfully.
  9. If you are having trouble with your supply, consider taking natural supplements such as Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. For me what worked was taking Domperidone. Talk to your MD about getting a prescription.
  10. Watch someone BF. If you don't have access to a BFing mama, then watch as many videos as you can.
  11. Set small goals for yourself. E.g. the first 40 days, then three months, then six months, etc.
  12. During the first couple of months my LO took about 45 minutes to feed and wanted to eat every hour. Exhausting...but normal.
  13. Be cautious about introducing a nipple shield. I struggled with one for 3 months before I was able to wean DS. It caused a lot of issues with supply and DS was a slow gainer. Use it as a last resort and with LC guidance.
  14. Nipple confusion does exist. Be cautious introducing bottles and pacifiers before the 6 week mark. Many babies do fine if they are introduced sooner but others have a tougher time switching back and forth and will refuse the breast (like my son!)
  15. Buy a nursing cover so that you can nurse comfortably in public.
  16. Surrender to the experience! Camp out on the couch or in bed with your LO during those early weeks and give yourselves a chance to learn this new skill.
  17. Learn how to nurse laying down. My son didn't master this until he was around 4 months old but when he did figure it out I was able to get so much more sleep!
  18. Let yourself 'air dry' as much as possible. Express some BM and let it dry on your nipples if you are sore.
  19. Be prepared for engorgement. I wasn't. Ouch :( Some women swear by putting frozen peas on their tatas...others use cabbage leaves. Like I said, I wasn't prepared...so I did nothing :( Ouch again!
  20. Remind yourself...constantly...that it DOES get easier. That if you can make it through the first 40 days, that you have endured the worst of it. Think about how trying it would be to be cleaning, warming and preparing bottles at all hours of the day and night. BM is always clean, always the right temperature and already prepared : )
Resources:



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Surviving the First 40 Days

After my son was born a wise woman told me that the first 40 days were the toughest. I was about 2 weeks into motherhood at the time and feeling as though my world had been turned upside down. So the prospects of a light at the end of the tunnel was intoxicating. I promptly programmed "40 DAYS" into my Blackberry and began the countdown.

While you're waiting for your world to start to look normal again (pssst...it never goes back to normal...your 'normal' just changes), here is a list of some of the things that helped me to survive the early weeks of motherhood.

Breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding is hard. Not hard like learning how to drive standard hard...but the toe curling kind of pain hard. Here are some things that will help you along the way:
1. Lactation consultants: Even if you think things are going well with BFing, go and see a LC as early as possible. They know their stuff.
2. Nipple cream: Invest in some of this. You WILL need it. You can use some of the over-the-counter Lansinoh cream or you can ask your MD to prescribe you with some of the good stuff. It will be like gold to you when you are in pain.
3. Nursing tank tops: I lived in these for the first three months. Bravado and Glamourmom make fantastic tanks.
4. Nursing bras: Get a functional and comfortable one for sleeping and lounging around the house (Bravado Silk & Seamless is a good one) and invest in a sexy-ish one that will help you to feel good in your clothes (Hotmilk makes some great ones).
5. Nursing pillow: I didn't rely too heavily on one of these but many, many women use them religiously.
6. Breast pump: Invest in a good one. I relied heavily on my Medela Pump in Style Advanced. Don't be afraid to pump when you are engorged. I was so paranoid about throwing off my supply if I pumped too early that I just suffered through the engorgement. Not fun! Next time around i'd definitely pump earlier on.
7. Receiving blankets: Lots of them! BFing (and bottle feeding) can be messy ;)
8. Mommy Guilt: Do not let it consume you! I was not prepared with how intense this guilt would be. If you need to supplement with formula to make it through the early weeks then you are not a failure! There are many women who supplement early on but are able to wean their LO off of formula once the latch has been perfected.
9. Live Help: Watch someone BF. If you don't have access to a BFing mom, watch as many videos as you can! Pictures and written instructions are no substitute for the real thing!


Stuff for Baby:
1. Swaddling: I abandoned swaddling way too early with my LO and it was something that I regretted later. Invest in the Miracle Blanket!
2. Sleepers: You'll need lots! Babies go through several in a day because of diaper malfunctions and various other baby fluids.
3. Pacifiers: I was one of those moms who swore up and down that her kid wasn't going to get a soother. Guess what? DS was sucking on one the first week! Never say never ;)

Gear
1.Swing: My son loathed the swing but I have spoken to many women who claim that the swing was the only thing that kept them sane during the early months.
2.A good wrap: Many experts speak about the '4th trimester' for babies. A good wrap like the Moby Wrap will keep your hands free on those days that your LO wants to be held 24-7
3. White noise machine: Obus Forme makes a fantastic one that plays continuously throughout the night.
4. A good stroller: A wise friend advised me to get the best stroller I could afford. Solid advice!
5. Bouncy or vibrating chair: DS napped in this quite often during the day and I put him in it every day so that I could get a hot shower.

Just for You:
1. Get to the gym: It will be the LAST thing you feel like doing. And it will be hard. REALLY hard to get back into the swing of things. And there won't be enough time in the day. And you'll be exhausted. And it's hard to get motivated to work up a sweat when you're lactating. Sister...i've been there!
BUT it will be the absolute best favour you can do for yourself. A wise man told me that the sooner you jump back into your workout regime (obviously after receiving the medical okay to do so) the better. Exercise is good for your mental and physical health.
2. Eat well: It's really tempting to indulge post partum. It's hard to find the time to cook healthy meals when you barely have time to bathe. But it's doable. Eat Lean Cuisine, join Jenny Craig where your meals are already prepared; eat protein bars...do whatever you need to do to eat clean.
3. Talk to your mom everyday. Your mom likely knows you better than anyone else. And she has also been through this! Some days my mom would watch the baby so that I could shower or so that I could clean up the house.
4. Nap when baby naps. . Ok. Totally cliche but good lord it's an important one! DS is 7 months old now and I have gotten 6 hours of consecutive sleep probably twice during this 7 month span. Napping when he naps has allowed me to function.
5. Clothes/hair/makeup: When you spend your day covered in BM and baby vomit, it's hard to get motivated to throw on some mascara. But when you pull yourself together reasonably in the fashion and beauty department it does wonders for your mood!

Good luck. And remember that it DOES get easier.
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Getting Through Your Pregnancy with Grace & Style
Swollen ankles, stretch marks, acne, limp hair, mood swings, morning sickness, weight gain, itchy stretching skin, aching back, sun spots... Sounds sexy, right?

Pregnancy is no joke. It's hard on the body and emotionally exhausting. We all know that the prize at the end of the journey is all worth it (once they start sleeping through the night) but that doesn't change the fact that carrying a baby for 40+ weeks is hard work. Doing it and looking good is even tougher.

Here are some tips to get you through your pregnancy with grace and style:
  1. Limit your time in Motherhood and Thyme. Seriously. Every time I stepped foot in those stores I left feeling enormous and frumpy. Buy some of your staples there (e.g. black pants, black skirt, some tanks and t-shirts) but save your pennies for some more stylish maternity clothes. Ebay...Ebay...Ebay is the way to go!! Keep your eyes peeled for some of the following brand names: Olian, Maternal America, Juicy Couture Maternity, Isabella Oliver, Ed Hardy, Nicole Richie, Belabumbum, Chiarakruza, Japanese Weekend, Juliet Dream, Michael Stars Maternity, Momzee Maternity.
  2. Invest in some designer maternity jeans. You will wear these throughout your pregnancy and for at least a couple of months after you have the baby too. Well worth the investment. Again...search Ebay for some significant deals. You'll want to search for the following brands: 7 For All Mankind, Citizen's of Humanity, Paige Premium, Rock and Republic, Joes, Chip & Pepper, Lucky, Hudson.
  3. Get pampered! Keep up on hair appointments, massage treatments, manicures and pedicures.
  4. Go for a make-up consult. Your skin changes when you're pregnant. Visit a Mac counter and see what they can recommend for you.
  5. Stay moisturized. We all know that stretch marks are genetic but it still feels nice to keep that itchy and stretching skin well hydrated.
  6. Drink lots of water and eat clean. Try your best to avoid binge eating :)
  7. Invest in a bella band.
  8. Get into the gym regularly. Continue modified weight training.
  9. Avoid the sweat pant and stretch pants trap. Nothing will make you feel frumpier than staying in your joggers 24-7.
  10. Work on your photo pose.
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