Family Travel (old)

How to Come Up with Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas

Inside: Want to find out the 3 easy steps to coming up with perfect Christmas gift ideas?? Read on!

I went out shopping with my mom and she picked up this beautiful gold Pandora ring. She put it on, smiled and then put it back.

A light bulb went off in my head. It was only July but I knew I needed to make a note to buy this for her.

It would be a perfect Christmas gift!

Christmas isn’t just a holiday– it’s a state of mind! And I don’t know about you, but I always have my radar on and thinking of what I can gifts I can get for my family.

But finding the perfect Christmas gift can be hard. Luckily, I found a great system and method to help you plan and brainstorm Christmas gift ideas for family and friends!

Thinking of Christmas gift ideas can drive you crazy. But if you give yourself enough time to find that perfect gift, it can be so much more than just an item– it turns into a heartfelt, meaningful treasure.

The key to coming up with great Christmas gift ideas is to think of the person, their interests, wants, and needs and then try to add a personal touch to something you know they would like!

That’s it- super simple right??

Today I’m going to help you think of perfect Christmas gift ideas for all of your loved ones by using this super easy method! This Christmas gift ideas brainstorm will also work for your friends, coworkers, and anyone else you need to buy a gift for.

Trust me, after you use this method you’ll be giving gifts that are personal, heartfelt and that everyone will love and cherish!

Let’s get down to it!

How to Come Up with the Perfect Christmas Gift Ideas

To come up with perfect Christmas gift ideas, you want to follow these simple steps!

First, you want to think of each person on your Christmas list individually and then brainstorm their interests, wants, and needs. Then all you have to do is try to find something that falls into those categories!

Next, add a personal touch to the gift as well to add a bit of personalism.

Let’s dive into each of these steps!

The BEST part about this method is that it works on your whole Christmas list, from thinking about what to buy your mom to what to buy your coworker!

Step 1: Make a Christmas List

The absolute easiest way to keep track of everyone you want to buy a gift for is by making a Christmas list. That way, you can pinpoint each person individually and then brainstorm a perfect gift(s) for them.

Interests

The next step after actually creating your Christmas List and write down everyone you want to buy gifts for is to zero in on one person at a time and think of their interests. Here are some things to help you brainstorm someone’s interests:

Things they love to do,
love to wear,
love to eat,
love to drink,
places they love to go,
things they love to watch,
things they use on a daily basis
favorite colors

Use the “Christmas Gift Ideas and List” in my Free Christmas List & Budget Planner to write down all of these ideas!

If you are stuck and can’t think of any particular interests then feel free to ask someone who knows that person well. Ask a parent or a sibling or a best friend.

Even keep an eye on that person and try to watch what they like to do. Try to pay close attention to when they talk because usually, people mention what their interest in everyday conversation! So be sure to pay attention!

Wants

After you brainstorm someone’s interests, you want to think of things you think they want. Maybe it’s something they mentioned earlier in the year. Or maybe it’s something you know they would want because they expressed interest in it already.

Sometimes when we brainstorm perfect Christmas gift ideas we want to be able to give someone something that you know they would love because it’s something you know they are interested in. But also you know they’ll love it because it’s something they want!

Needs

A secret key to thinking of amazing Christmas gift ideas is to also keep in mind something that a person needs. Which is very different than something they want!

When you give someone something they need it becomes useful to them and makes it extra special.

There are some gifts that are something someone loves, wants, and needs all in one gift! Score! Sometimes we don’t always know what someone needs so you can feel free to ask a relative or friend to double-check if there’s something you can give them.

BONUS: Be sure to download the Christmas Gift Tracker so you can start your Christmas list and get organized! The tracker includes a section to write out each person’s interest, wants, and needs so you can easily brainstorm and have all of your gift ideas organized in one place. To download, CLICK HERE!

CHRISTMAS PRO TIP:

To help you come up with amazing Christmas gift ideas, have a place you can secretly keep all of the little hints people drop throughout the year. Try making a note on your phone about things they love, want or need.

That way, when Christmas comes around you have a whole list of things that you know would make great gifts!

I usually write little snippets on my notes tab on my phone all year long and then come November when I start my Christmas List my gift ideas are already done!

Step 2: Add a personal touch to the gift

No matter what gift you choose to buy or make for someone, always try to add a personal touch to the gift.

Maybe you want to write the year under it or personalize it with initials or something you know they would love. I always find that gifts with personal touches are so appreciated and everyone really loves them!

Even a handmade card to go along with the gift is so heartfelt and personal!

Some gift ideas with personal touches:

An ornament with their name
An ornament signifying a significant life event that year
A blanket or pillow with their name or initials embroidered
A book bag or cosmetic case with their name or initial
A robe with their initials
A handmade card or gift tag
A mug or cup with photos
A piece of jewelry with an initial

Step 3: The 4-gift rule

I know of some families that have the 4-gift rule. To keep all of their family gifts the same amount they give 4 gifts:

Something they want
Something they need
Something they wear
Something they need

4 gifts may seem like a lot to give to one person but each of these items can be small and heartfelt. Or maybe you want to make sure they each person in your family is getting an equal number of gifts.

(This comes in handy when the kids are counting each other’s gifts to make sure everyone is even, haha!).

Budget Pro Tip: To help you set a budget for each person on your list, write down each person’s interests, wants, and need. Then decide how much you would like to spend on the person based on what you would like to get them and what you think they would like. I find the inexpensive gifts are the ones that my friends and family love the most because I either make them or give them thrifty finds that they’ve never seen before. Don’t think that expensive gifts are the better ones!

Free Gift Tracker Printable!

If you want to really think of the perfect Christmas gift ideas for your family and friends then you are going to LOVE my free Christmas Gift Tracker!

It includes a place to track each person’s likes, wants, needs and helps you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

Download it now!

Well, there you have it!

Sometimes thinking of the perfect gift can be tasking but try not to overthink it. Just use your heart to guide you because the best gifts are the ones that are given in love!

Don’t get caught up in buying the most expensive gift or spending a lot of money either. The best gifts are the ones that come from the heart and are given in love, no matter the cost!

Happy Christmas List Making!

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Tips For a Happy Marriage After Baby

Marriage Life

There’s nothing better than being a wife. I remember when I first got married how happy I was to be someone’s wife and officially be a “Mrs.”. Then I had my daughter and I am a million times prouder to be a mother. Just the smile on my baby’s face is enough to make me want to get out of bed every morning. But sometimes it’s easy to let your role as “mom” bury your wife role.

But the great thing is, you don’t have to settle for being a wife OR a mom. You can actually be a great wife AND an amazing mom without letting one or the other role suffer! Your marriage after baby can be just as healthy and thriving as it was before your little one came around!

The secret to having a healthy, thriving, lasting, amazing marriage is to create habits in your life that allow you to be able to give your all to both of your roles as mom and wife. It’s important to understand that you are a wife/mother- one in the same- and to know that your ability to be a great wife will give you the ability to be a great mom. You have to think of your mom life as an extension of your wife life.

Don’t know exactly how to do this?? That’s okay!

Because I’m going to give you all of the tips you need to be able to have a happy, healthy marriage and still be an amazing mom and have the best relationship with your children. Your marriage after baby is fragile and needs just as much support as anything else in your life!

Tips for a Healthy, Thriving Marriage after Baby

Show each other respect

One of the number one things you have to do to have a happy marriage after baby is to show each other respect. Mutual respect is a key ingredient to a blissful marriage. You need to respect your spouse enough to trust that they know what they are doing and listen to what they have to say.

Parenting is all about making decisions and doing what is best for your child. In order to be on the same page as parents, you want to make sure your marriage is on the same page. And a really good way to do that is to be really open about how much you respect each other.

Know your limits and boundaries

A lot of the time we get so caught up in being a parent and the demanding responsibilities that come along with being a parent that we can push ourselves way past our emotional and physical limits. And when we’re tired, overwhelmed, and exhausted it rolls over into our marriage.

It’s so important to know your limit and try to stay within that limit. If you feel yourself really pushing that limit, then take a step back and focus on your self-care. It’s also the same in your marriage. You have to be able to talk with your spouse about your limits and how you’re feeling on a daily basis.

For example, if your husband really likes for you to give him undivided attention when he is talking to you or telling you a story about his day but you are so exhausted from your day that you’re just laying down blanking out, then he’s going to get upset because he’s expecting you to listen to him.

But because you’re pushed to your exhaustion limit, it affected the time that you and your husband have together. But if you know your limits, you can turn to your husband and say “you know what, I’m feeling tired and would love to hear your story when I can give you my full attention”. This will tell your husband that you’re tired but that you still want to listen to him when you’re feeling up to it.

Express your expectations from each other

In line with the last tip, a healthy marriage after baby is all about knowing each other’s expectations.

In the example above, your husband expected you to listen to his story because that’s what he expressed to you that he would like you to do. Now, if your husband never expressed to you that he would like your full attention when he’s telling you about his day to sharing something with you then when you’re not paying attention to him he gets angry and you have no idea why. SO many arguments can be avoided just by having a simple conversation of expectations.

If you want to read more about how to effectively share your expectations with each other, check out my post “The Number One Conversation to Have After Having a Baby”.

Allot time to spend together

Another really important tip to having a happy marriage after baby is to plan time to spend together. The business of parenthood is so crazy that it can be hard to actually spend time with your spouse. By the time that your baby is fed, cleaned, changed, and sleeping you’re just as exhausted as they are!

But the remedy to this little problem is to physically plan time to be together. You want to be as intentional as possible about spending time with each other. Whether that means you plan a consistent date day or every night before you go to bed for 15 minutes you unplug from your phone or work or cleaning and just sit and talk or do something together.

The thing about separation is that it happens slowly and often goes unnoticed. If you don’t make intentional choices to spend time with each other then a year from now you’re gonna look over at your spouse and feel like you don’t even know him.

Keep each other in the loop

This tip is super practical- it’s simply to keep your spouse in the loop of what’s going on. Make sure your spouse knows what your day looks like and your plans. There’s nothing worse than your husband calling you at the house and him thinking that he can get in contact with you and you’re actually in the car driving to a doctor’s appointment that he had no idea existed. Or if you go to call your spouse’s office and you find out he is at a super important 3-hour long meeting and you were thinking that he was gonna be home for dinner.

It sounds crazy but it’s reality! It’s so easy to forget to fill each other in on the details of the week. That’s why I’m a strong believer in a weekly family planner/calendar! It has all of your plans and appointments all in one place.

I have a ton of FREE planners in my resource library! There are weekly calendars, monthly calendars, meal planning calendars and so much more! Feel free to download all of them! To access my resource library, sign up to become a Mastering Mom Life Insider for free below!

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Words of affirmation go a long way

Another super simple tip to have a happy, healthy marriage after baby is to use your words to affirm each other. Saying “thank you” and “I appreciate you” is so powerful. Get in the habit of thanking each other and really showing each other appreciation. When you feel appreciated you are able to accomplish your role as a parent so much better!

Argue healthily

The fact of the matter is- all couples argue. The question is, do you argue healthily? A lot of people think that couples in healthy marriages don’t argue. That’s simply not true. The key to a healthy marriage is to argue in a healthy way. Everyone has disagreements, but it’s how you choose to handle that disagreement that matters.

Your arguments should be with a purpose and have an end goal. Either a decision that has to be made or something that someone has to apologize for. The key to arguing in a healthy way is to make sure that you are not arguing to hurt your spouse or using words that sting, but communicating in a way that your spouse will understand. Sometimes words can get loud and opinions can hurt your spouse’s feelings. Especially when you say something that triggers them.

But it’s so important to talk in LOVE. Argue in LOVE. It sounds like an oxymoron but when love is the center and the root of your conversation then you’ll start to see that those arguments don’t blow up as much as they could.

Check out my awesome post on the 5 rules to learn how to fight fair in marriage! Read it here!

Be quick to forgive

When we mess up, which we often do, the one thing we want is to be forgiven easily. Just as much as want to be forgiven is as much as we should be quick to forgive. I know it’s hard to let things go that hurt you, but when you know that your spouse’s intentions are towards you are good and that you love each other, you need to let that fuel you and not the hurt or pain that you feel.

Being quick to forgive and slow to anger is a secret ingredient for a happy marriage after baby!

Trust each other

Along with respecting each other, trusting each other is another super important tip for having a happy marriage after baby. Trusting that your spouse knows what to do, or how to handle a situation, or how to take care of your baby is something that you need to have. Some mothers don’t trust that their husband knows how to feed or care for their baby. If that’s the case, then teach him!

Trust can take a while to be built but it’s important to do just that- build it!

Be open and honest

The last and most important tip, in my opinion, is to be open and honest 100% of the time. You want to be able to tell our spouse when you’re tired, when you reached your limit, what you expect of them, when you’re in pain, when they hurt your feelings, and when you feel like they need to change. And when your spouse is open and honest with you, you need to listen and respond in a way that shows that you hear them and you care.

Don’t underestimate the power of honesty! It may be hard, but it’s SO worth it!

Take a marriage challenge!

One of the best things you can do to have a healthy, happy, blissful marriage after baby is to take a Marriage Challenge! A marriage challenge can put some much-needed focus on your relationship after becoming a parent and it allows you to do something together that you would normally be too busy to do!

I created a FREE 5 day Marriage Revival Challenge to help husbands and wives reconnect after having a baby! I created this challenge after I had my daughter so my husband and I could focus on our marriage. It’s easy to let your “mom and dad” roles bury your “husband and wife” role and my marriage was suffering because of it.

Don’t let your marriage suffer after having a baby. Having a strong marriage will help you be better parents and create a strong family!

Take the FREE Marriage Revival Challenge Now to Have a Healthy, Happy Marriage after kids!

Well, there you have it! Here are 11 realistic and practical everyday tips to help you have an amazing marriage after baby. These tips will help you have a healthy, thriving, lasting, amazing marriage by creating habits in your life that allow you to be able to give your all to both of your roles as mom and wife.

There are a million and one things that can tear a marriage apart, but don’t let the fact that you now have a baby be one of them. Use your marriage as a tool to build a strong family filled with love, trust, and respect. Take time to work and focus on your marriage and don’t neglect your role as a spouse just because you are a parent now!

It’s not easy, but man is it worth it!

Don’t forget to take the Marriage Revival Challenge to help you build a strong marriage after baby!

Did You Chose To Formula Feed? That’s Ok!

Mom Life

Feel guilty about formula feeding? Don’t! Feeding your baby what is best for him is all that matters, even if that means you have to formula feed. Looking for some encouragement?? Keep reading!

I was pushing my baby’s stroller through the mall, joyfully window shopping. It was the first time I ventured out into the public as a new mom with my infant. But then my daughter started to squirm and softly cry, letting me know that it was time for her to eat.

I started to panic. Where do I feed my baby??

I sat on a bench in the mall and started shaking her bottle, mixing the formula powder and water.

And that’s when I saw it…. a disapproving lady staring me down, angrily shaking her head at me.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach and I felt sick. I was torn between wanting to ball my eyes out or throw a bottle at her.

That lady didn’t know it, but she planted a seed of guilt in me that I had to work so hard to remove.

“Breast is best”- I’ve heard it a million times…

The shaming that goes on between breastfeeding and formula feeding is actually just that– a shame. If you’re reading this then for whatever reason that you needed to, you chose to formula feed your baby. And that is 100% OKAY!

As women, we go through so many different changes. We are constantly given different advice, options, and choices to make. But one of the really important decisions that you are going to make is how and what you are going to feed your baby.

I strongly believe that this decision is up to the parents of the child and should be dealt with delicately and sympathetically.

The truth is: not ALL women can breastfeed. Not ALL babies can be breastfed. And not ALL women are going to choose to breastfeed. But feeding your baby what is best for them is all that matters, even if that means you have to formula feed.

Yes, I Do…

Yes, I formula feed my baby. There are countless situations where a mother cannot breastfeed her baby and most of the reasons a woman can’t breastfeed are usually medical or out of her control.

Some reasons include:

latching issues,
bonding issues,
if you weren’t able to breastfeed your baby right away then your milk may have not come in,
if your baby was formula fed by nurses first they may not want to breastfeed,
if you had certain medications labor and your milk cannot be fed to your baby,
if your baby is allergic to something that you are eating and is showing symptoms of a food sensitivity,
and so many more reasons!

And if for whatever reason that you chose to formula feed your baby, you are not alone and you are not wrong.

I am not an advocate for formula feeding, nor am I an advocate for breastfeeding. I am purely an advocate for feeding your baby the best way and the best milk that is best for your baby and your family.

Mom Shaming is Not Cool

That lady at the mall who scolded me with her eyes was mom shaming me. She kept circling my seat and staring and shaking her head at.

It made me feel TERRIBLE and I wanted to cry. I was already battling with shame and guilt that I couldn’t fully breastfeed and this lady took it upon herself to make me feel worse about myself!

Little did that lady know that I was struggling with breastfeeding. She didn’t know that my daughter was extremely gassy and fussy every time she ate from me and when I started supplementing with formula is when my daughter was happier, slept better, and her tummy was pain-free.

I made the choice to formula feed my daughter for her and my overall health. But I was always told that “breast is best” so I felt like I want to give my daughter the “best” even though I knew as her mother that she was healthier with supplemented formula.

You know what is best for your baby

This lady did not know my story. This lady did not know my shame.

I needed to believe that I decided what was best for my daughter, and not let society and other people tell me what was best for her.

Society was not there when my daughter would breastfeed and would crying for an hour afterward. That lady was not there when I would try to breastfeed in the middle of the night and be crying because I didn’t know if my daughter would react to it.

But as her mother, I was there. And because I knew my daughter best, only I could make the decision as to what is best.

So, my encouragement is this- no matter what your story is, you deserve to feel a peace about the choice that you made regarding your baby’s milk.

Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay!

Even though I planned to breastfeed and was excited to be able to breastfeed, it turns out that I just couldn’t. I took all the classes, bought all the supplies, prepared my mind and body for it but when it came to down to it, it just didn’t work out for me and my baby.

And it took me a LONG time to get over my shame but when I realized that I know what’s best for my baby then the shame and guilt naturally fell off of me.

You are your baby’s mother

Don’t let others dictate how you feel about feeding your baby. You are your baby’s mother. You carried that baby in you and birthed your baby out. You battled morning sickness, weary days, sleepless nights and a labor and delivery.

Only you and your spouse can decide what is right or wrong for your baby.

Surround yourself

I can’t explain how important a healthy support system is. Some support systems are toxic, while others are healthy and encouraging. Surround yourself with people who understand you, understand your story, and understand your baby.

Find a doctor that supports you and that you feel comfortable with. Find a support system that understands what you went through and that can encourage you.

Because the fact of the matter is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Don’t let guilt or shame overtake you

Do not let fear, guilt or shame be the deciding factor for how or what you feed your baby. As long as you keep your baby’s health as the number one priority, then you are already doing what is best for your baby. If you formula feed your baby it does not mean that you are not doing what is best for your little one.

Your identity as a mother does not rest on whether you can breastfeed, if your baby is breastfed, or if you formula feed your baby. Your identity as a mother rests on the fact that you are your baby’s mother and you want the absolute best for your baby. Even if the best doesn’t line up with what others are saying is the “best”.

There will be a million other decisions you have to make as a parent that will make others shame you and turn their heads. But doing what is best for your baby is what makes you a great mother.

It’s okay to be sensitive

I desperately wanted to breastfeed. It was something that I longed for. But the act of giving up the need to feed my baby the way that I thought was best is in order to feed her in the way that was best for HER was the most selfless act I could do. And no matter how much time goes by, I still feel sensitive about the topic because it was my intention to breastfeed but it just didn’t work out.

Putting your baby first is what is “best”.

And even though society will tell you that you are not doing what is best for your baby by formula feeding, that simply is not true. While I understand and agree with the benefits of breastfeeding, the simple truth is that if someone cannot do it then they just cannot do it.

And if you know that you are doing the BEST for your baby by formula feeding then you are not alone!

You are not alone

To the mother who feels ashamed for buying formula in the store,

To the mother who hates the disapproving glances from strangers as she shakes her baby’s formula bottle,

To the mother who feels inadequate for not being able to breastfeed,

To the mother who feels guilty for not wanting to breastfeed,

To the mother who is overwhelmed with breastfeeding,

To the mother whose milk is not coming in fast enough,

To the mother who did not have immediate contact with her baby after labor and delivery and therefore cannot breastfeed,

To the mother who breastfeeding is too painful,

To the mother whose baby is allergic or has reactions to her breastmilk….

You are not alone.

You are not wrong.

You are not a quitter.

Do what is best for YOUR baby because after all, FED is what’s best!

Free Mommy & Me All-In-One Planner!

Do you want an easy, stress-free way to plan your daily tasks and be able to track your baby’s schedule, feedings, and naps??

The Ultimate Mommy & Me Planner is a 12-page, all-in-one resource to help you easily plan your days, weeks, and months all while tracking your baby’s schedule, feedings, naps, and activities!

If you want to learn more about the awesome benefits of having a schedule for your baby and how feedings directly affect your baby’s sleeping and activity patterns, check out these posts!

>> What is a Full Feeding and How It Affects Your Baby’s Schedule

>> The Important of a Schedule for Your Baby

Remember, you know what is best for your baby! If you chose to formula feed and stop breastfeeding then you have a reason for it and you deserve to be acknowledged and not shamed. Be encouraged that you are doing what is best! Please feel free to contact me if you need support or simply to share your story.

As always, I am here to encourage and uplift in any way I can!

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Fast & Easy Postpartum Recovery: Best 19 Essentials for the First Time Mom

Mom Life, Pregnancy Life

Inside: To help you heal as fast as possible, here is the ultimate list of essentials for a quick and pain free postpartum recovery! Plus a FREE essentials checklist!

The miracle of life is amazing! But… it’s also extremely painful.

Right after delivery, I remember thinking to myself “Why in the world did no one explain this pain to me like the worst pain I will ever experience??” 😅

Between pain from possible switches, pain when you potty, inability to remotely touch “down there”, and even pain to walk..let’s just say it’s faarrrr from a feeling like you’re at a party.

Hello, postpartum recovery!

No time to read this now? That’s okay! Save it to your favorite Pinterest Board for later

How to heal after birth: 19 postpartum essentials you desperately need

The good news is, there are things you can do to help you heal faster and feel as pain-free as possible, which is an amazing silver lining after what you just went through!

Today, I’m going to share with you the ultimate list of postpartum recovery essentials to make you feel better and feel more like yourself in no time!

But instead of jumping right to gory details of how your body will feel, I wanted to give you the solution to the pain instead of just talking about the pain. Sounds good right?!

To help you heal as fast as possible, I wanted to share with you the ultimate list of essentials for fast and pain-free postpartum recovery!

Save a trip to the store!

An awesome thing about this post is that every single item that I mention as an essential is available on Amazon and can be shipped to you within 24-48 hours (depending on where you live).

(Not an Amazon Prime member? Sign up now for a 30 Day Free Trial– Plus get Amazon Family discounts on everyday baby essentials such as diapers and wipes.)

I didn’t have an amazing list of essentials prior to my postpartum recovery so I had to purchase the essentials quickly.

I obviously wasn’t able to stroll to the store, and I didn’t want to burden my husband with picking up a bunch of feminine products, so Amazon became my friend.

Not only was I able to purchase everything on my phone, and it gets delivered straight to my house,e preventing a trip to the store but I also saved a bunch of money because the items were cheaper on Amazon compared to my local drugstore!

I included all of the links to the products below so if you want to purchase something, just click on the link- super easy!

So, let’s dive in postpartum recovery essentials!

Postpartum Recovery Essentials | Ultimate Essentials List | Labor and Delivery | New Mom Advice | Fourth Trimester |Free Checklist | #postpartumrecovery #postpartum

Best Essentials for Postpartum Recovery

This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases you make through these links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please view Mastering Mom Life’s Terms, Disclosure & Disclaimer Policy and Privacy Policy. I wholeheartedly believe in all of the products I recommend and use them all!

Postpartum Recovery: Bathroom Essentials

Mega pads

After you give birth, your nurses will supply you with a bucket of mesh underwear and super long, thick, mega pads.

It’s no surprise that you will be bleeding pretty heavily after delivery but it may surprise you HOW much you may be bleeding.

Each woman is different so no 2 experiences are the same but when you get released from the hospital you want to make sure that you have enough pads handy. Bleeding can last anywhere from 2-6 weeks so make sure to have enough!

I tried 3 different brands but these are the ones that worked the best for me! They are not only come in different lengths & sizes but they also have wings so the pad can stay in place and it prevents overflowing and accidents.

The best pad that I tried that is not super thick and uncomfortable but is super absorbent is here: Stayfree Ultra Thin Overnight Pads with Wings

Dermoplast

Another postpartum recovery essential is Dermoplast.

Dermaoplast is a miracle spray that you spray “down there” and it brings instant relief and numbing to your pain.

If you have stitched because you tore or if it hurts to sit then this spray reaallyyy comes in handy. The hospital gave it to me in my postpartum recovery basket that they put by my bedside and when I used life-changing. I used it every time I used the bathroom and it brought me SO much relief.

You can find Dermoplast here!

Peri bottle

Staying on the topic of bathroom postpartum essentials, a peri bottle definitely goes on that list! Since you are sore and swollen down there it can be painful to use the bathroom, let alone wipe.

The nurses discouraged me from actually wiping, instead they advised me to just use a peri bottle to spray warm water to clean myself.

This peri bottle was amazing! The warm water is so soothing and it does a great job at replacing the need to wipe agitate your sore region.

You can purchase a peri bottle by clicking here: Perineal Lavette Irrigation Bottle (3 Pack)

Pain Reliever

Now, I know some people do not take medication or pain but for me, pain medication was a postpartum recovery essential.

It necessarily doesn’t help you recover quickly, but it makes your recovery period more tolerable.

Before I was discharged from the hospital my doctor actually prescribed me a mild painkiller so if pain medication is something you feel you will need then maybe sure to ask your doctor.

But buying a regular over-the-counter pain medication is totally fine as well.

And please DO NOT feel guilty or ashamed because you feel you need some sort of pain relief. Stitches in your tender area are exactly how it sounds: a little painful and uncomfortable. My doctor recommended I alternatie between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) every 6-8 hours for the first week home.

Remember to please and always ask your doctor before taking any medication!

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Mama bottom balm

Because your region “down there” feels like you got into an epic fight and lost, you’re going to want to apply some relief balm to help heal your perineal.

This balm really helped me and gave me the must-need relief I needed.

I couldn’t apply it right away because it still hurt to touch down there but after a week or so the balm was smooth and light enough for me to begin to apply it. It’s also organic and made from natural herbs and essential oils so you don’t feel like you are putting any chemicals down there!

This is the balm I purchased: Earth Mama Organic Perineal Balm

Hemorrhoid Cream

This postpartum recovery essential is for one of the worst things that I have experienced: hemorrhoids.

Oh, how I hate that H word!

I experienced hemorrhoids from the middle of my pregnancy all the way through my postpartum recovery. And let me tell you, it was not fun! If hemorrhoids are something that you didn’t go through during pregnancy or after having your baby then you are without a doubt beyond blessed and I am extremely jealous!

One of the things that gave me great relief from hemorrhoids is the actual cream made for hemorrhoids. You apply it straight on the area that is inflamed or that is in pain or uncomfortable and you’ll feel immediate relief.

You can also use the Earth Mama Perineal Balm that I mentioned above. You can apply this balm as many times as you like and it is super easy to use. It’s also 100% organic and not harmful to you at all!

The cream I purchased: Preparation H Maximum Strength Cream

Tucks Pads

Like I mentioned, having the dreaded H word is absolutely the worst (yes, I’m still talking about hemorrhoids)!

In fact, they are so uncomfortable that I even added 2 MORE things to this postpartum recovery essentials list to make your situation less horrifying and help you feel relief.

Tucks pads are absolutely amazing because they are specially designed to bring cool relief to your tender bottom.

Stool Softener

Another postpartum recovery essential to help you combat and even prevent hemorrhoids is a stool softener.

There is nothing worse than feeling splitting pain down there and then realizing that you have to “go to the bathroom”. I’ve heard of some women even stopping themselves from going to the bathroom because they did not want to aggravate or worsen their hemorrhoids.

The good news is that to prevent hemorrhoids from returning or happening, the KEY is soft stools. Yes, I know this is totally gross to talk about but it’s also very real and useful information.

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Start taking stool softener BEFORE labor and chances are when you have to use the bathroom after delivery is won’t be as bad because your stool will be soft and your boy does not have to push when you go to the bathroom.

You’ve already done enough strenuous pushing and you don’t want to have to push more out of your body!

Continue to take a stool softener until you feel comfortable, your body is regulated and your hemorrhoids have subsided. I still take it sometimes because it’s always better to be safer than sorry!

Colace is the best stool softener I found and I have tried A LOT of different ones, trust me. I have experimented more than enough so you don’t have to!

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Around the House Postpartum Essentials

Hemorrhoid & Postpartum Pillow

Okay, this is my last postpartum recovery essential regarding hemorrhoids, but trust me- you’re going to want to get ALL of the tips you can!

An absolute lifesaver for me was a donut pillow. Hemorrhoids are seriously not fun to sit on and if you are still recovering from your labor and delivery odds are most of your regular positions are going to be sitting or lying down.

You don’t want to aggravate or irritate your bottom so sitting on a donut pillow will allow you to sit in a comfortable position while having your bottom remain untouched. It’s a brilliant invention!

I purchased this pillow and it truly was a purchase I would make over and over again!

Comfortable Underwear

Another important postpartum recovery essential is comfortable underwear. When you’re in the hospital they will give you these mesh underwear that is sort of “boy short” style. I thought that I would absolutely hate them but the mesh underwear was actually comfortable and was really useful.

When you leave the hospital, you can ask for a couple of more so you can take them home with you if you like.

But you want to make sure that you have comfortable underwear. You don’t want to automatically start wearing your pretty, lacy undergarments because the truth is you might dirty them and they might be really uncomfortable at first.

Because you’re going to be bleeding and still achy down there, you want to make sure to have comfortable, cotton underwear that even is a size larger than you normally wear.

These are the underwear that I purchased and they lasted me through my postpartum time: Essentials 100% Cotton Bikini Panty (6 pack)

Heating Pad Postpartum Recovery Essential

Heating pads (icy hot)

It’s no secret that you’re going to be sore! Your back, your abdomen, your bottom- everything. So, it’s really great to have a heating pad on hand. When your uterus is shrinking back to its normal size it also contracts and can feel like intense period cramps. A heating pad can help with these pains as your body is adjusting.

I also purchased Icy Hot patches that stick to your body and give you a tingly and cooling sensation. These really helped me when my lower back would hurt because I would put a patch on and just forget that it was there and it would really help my muscles!

You can find those icy hot patches here: Icy Hot Lidocaine Patch

You can purchase a really good, inexpensive heating pad here: Sunbeam Electric Heating Pad with 3 heat settings

Nipple cream

If you are breastfeeding, then you are going to definitely need some nipple relief cream. Your nipples can start to get red and cracked and even start to really hurt so to prevent this from happening to you it’s best to start using a nipple cream right away.

You don’t want your baby’s feeding time to be miserable for you because your nipples are in agony!

I used this organic nipple butter. It’s made with 100% organic beeswax and does not need to be wiped off before nursing! It’s called: Mama Earth Organic Nipple Butter

Nipple pads

Another important postpartum receiver essential regarding breastfeeding is nipple pads. If you are breastfeeding then you will begin to notice that you can start to “leak” breastmilk at any time, even when you are sleeping.

Even if you are NOT breastfeeding, your breastmilk will still come in and you will feel your breasts start to get firm and “full”.

You will also start to experience your breasts leaking because your milk is still there. It’s best to wear nipple pads or nursing pads so your milk doesn’t get all over your shirts.

At first, I didn’t know I even needed nipple pads until one morning I woke up and my pajama shirt was soaked with 2 huge wet circles. After that, I started wearing nursing pads all day and even at night.

You can purchase nursing pads here: Lansinoh Stay Dry Nursing Pads

Postpartum Recovery is One Day at A Time

Probiotics

Probiotics is another great postpartum recovery essential because it will help you stay regular and keep your body’s digestive system healthy and support your daily immune system health.

Probiotics will also combat any antibiotics that you were taking if you needed antibiotics while you were in labor and delivery. Sometimes you can have a fever in labor and delivery and they will give you antibiotics to prevent the baby from getting an infection.

If you had antibiotics during labor it can affect your body for weeks afterward so I always like to have probiotics handy, especially when I was recovering.

The best probiotics I’ve ever taken was Garden of Life RAW Probiotics Ultimate Care. These probiotics are 100% GMO-Free and made with real foods that are clean, organic, and traceable.

Belly Lotion

I absolutely love to feel moisturized and I was so worried about the stretch marks on my body. So, a part of my postpartum recovery essentials was a special mama belly lotion to help hydrate the skin and ease stretch marks.

The more hydrated and moisturized you keep your skin, the better it will heal and prevent permanent stretch marks.

I started using this lotion when I was 6 months pregnant and it significantly reduced my skin from stretching! Then I used it 3 times a day for about 2 months after my delivery and I started seeing my stretch marks fade!

Even though it’s a “belly lotion” you should use it on your arms, breasts, thighs, and legs- basically anywhere that you want your skin to look better!

As with everything else that I’ve been recommending to you, this Mama Lotion is 100% organic and has organic herbs and essential oils in it to calm your stretch skin and encourage your skin’s natural elasticity.

You can find the belly lotion here: Earth Mama Belly Butter

Sitz Bath

A sitz bath is a mini bath for your bottom and region “down there”. It’s absolutely amazing and one of the best inventions, in my opinion!

Sometimes when you need immediate relief down there and you don’t want to apply creams or sprays, the best option is a sitz bath. Sitz baths are great for vaginal soreness, tears, episiotomy, perineal bruising, and hemorrhoids. If you suffering it prenatal hemorrhoids you can use this too!

You simply purchase a sitz bath bowl that goes over your toilet. You fill it with warm water and add comforting elements to it like essential oils and herbs for pain relief and to soothe you.

I used to purchase herbal sitz bath’s, which came in little pouches and looked like a tea bag that you steep in the warm water and fills the water with soothing essential oils and herbs. It worked WONDERS!

I purchased this: Earth Mama Organic Herbal Sitz Bath (6 count)

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is really good for your muscles when you are feeling sore. It also really helps with the swelling reduction! When my doctor cleared me to be able to take baths I used to take an Epsom salt bath once a day for about 2 weeks.

It would reduce my swelling (from water retention) and make my achy body feel rejuvenated. You can even add some drops of essential oil to your bath for ultimate soothing and stress relief. You can even buy Epsom salt with lavender to help you sleep better!

You can buy some of the best Epsom salt here. It’s called Dr. Teals Epsom Salt Soaking Solution in Eucalyptus and Lavender

Gigantic water bottle

Water is SO important during the postpartum recovery period. If you’re breastfeeding, you’re going to need to be drinking a tooonnn of water and even if you aren’t breastfeeding, your body needs a lot of water to stay hydrated and healthy.

It’s a good idea to buy a pretty water bottle that you are going to use daily that would make you want to drink water. It can also be your gauge as to how much you are drinking.

I purchased this water bottle and I knew that I needed to drink 3 of these every day to meet my water quota. It has an infusion part so you can add fruit to add some flavor to the water too!

Recovery Journal

This recovery essential is optional but it really helped me in my recovery journal. Having a recovery journal can help you keep track of how you are feeling daily and see the progress of your health.

It doesn’t have to be a full-length diary, but even simple notes that you’ve jotted down about how you felt that day.

And if you ever are experiencing something out of the ordinary, be sure to write it down so when you visit your doctor you can have a clear track of information about how you have been feeling. I find that most of the time my doctor will ask me a specific question about my health and I would draw a complete blank!

But having a journal helps me not feel so much pressure to have to remember everything.

This is a really great postpartum wellness journal!

Rest

You cannot BUY this postpartum recovery essential.

It’s simply to rest, rest, rest.

Do NOT try to overdo it and overwork yourself. Make sure you are following your doctor’s orders and instructions. When you are feeling tired, lay down. When you are feeling light-headed, sit down. When you are aching and swollen, take a bath.

When your region “down there” is in pain, take a sitz bath. I know there are a million little things to do when you have a newborn but you have to remember to take care of yourself!

Ask for help when you need it and remember that you are your baby’s caregiver and need to be healthy in order to keep your baby healthy!

And that’s all for my postpartum recovery essentials list! All of these items are impossible to remember, especially when you are pregnant and about to give birth or home after delivery and are taking care of a newborn.

I wanted to make it super easy for you to remember these items so I created an Ultimate Postpartum Recovery Essentials Checklist for you to download or print!

Ultimate Postpartum Essentials Checklist

The checklist includes everything in this post PLUS some extra items to add further comfort for you!

Don’t feel like you need to remember all of these items, instead, download the list so you know for a fact that you are getting all of the items you need for a quick and easy recovery!

Well, there you have it! To help you heal as fast as possible, I wanted to share with you the ultimate list of essentials for fast and pain-free postpartum recovery! I hope I was able to bring you comfort and relief knowing that you don’t have to suffer through postpartum without any help!

Ultimate List of Postpartum Recovery Essentials | Postpartum Recovery Essentials You Need to Heal Faster | Postpartum Recovery Healing After Birth | Mom Advice | Postpartum Recovery Essentials | Ultimate Essentials List | Labor and Delivery | New Mom Advice | Fourth Trimester |Free Checklist | Postpartum Recovery | Postpartum Kit | Labor and Delivery | #newmom #postpartumrecovery #postpartum

Please know that I am not a doctor or physician and I am not medically trained. All tips and advice given is based on my own experience and given to me by my own doctor. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your doctor. This post is solely to offer encouragement from my experience and not designed to offer medical advice or treatment.

5 Steps for Easy Meal Planning

Homemaking

I envy those moms who cook like master chefs. The moms who love to cook up a feast and spend hours doing it. I wish I was them!

But I’m more of the “what’s the fastest and easiest meal I can get on the table after a long day a battling 10 piles of laundry” kind of mom.

And because of this, I usually shy away from my meal planning and meal prep.

If you find meal planning realllyyy tasking, overwhelming, difficult and never seem to find the time to actually do it– you are not alone. I’m right there with ya!

BUT I was tired of constantly dreading dinners and being pressed for time every day when my husband asked me what was for dinner.

So instead, I pressed on and tried to create a system that worked *for me*. Not one that made me feel guilty for being the “perfect” kind of mom.

And if you felt anything like I did, I would love to share my easy meal planning tips with you!

I created an easy meal planning system that not only is stress-free but is also friendly for the “not so chef”, busy mom.

And now it only takes me 15 minutes a week for my meal planning and prepping!

This easy meal planning system is super flexible and allows you to set it up in a way that works best for you (and that’s affordable!).

This easy meal planning system will give you the flexibility to plan your meals at the pace you’re comfortable with and plan meals you’re comfortable with making.

Maybe you want to just plan for 5 days or even 3 days. It’s totally up to you!

This system is an outline for easy meal planning that you can fill in with your own details! I’m super excited to share it with you today!

Busy Mom’s Meal Planning Toolkit

To help you easily meal plan, I created a Meal Planning Toolkit specifically to help busy moms!

The toolkit includes 5 pages of printable templates and planner sheets that will help you accomplish each other these 5 steps to easy meal planning.

I personally use this toolkit every week when I meal plan and it takes me less than 15 minutes to meal plan for the week from start to finish. It’s my all-in-one meal planning resource!

Download the toolkit now!

So, let’s dive into the easy meal planning system!

5 Steps to Easy Meal Planning

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I always avoided meal planning because I thought it was only for the moms who had a really large recipe box and was able to pump out 7 dinners a week from all of the recipes they knew how to make.

And I definitely did not fall into this category.

But once I actually created a meal planning system and started to use it, it has been a complete lifesaver!

1. Go Hunting

Step 1: Write out the recipes you know how to make or want to make

Honestly, the first and second steps will probably take the most time but after you set this up you never have to work on it again (unless you want to update it).

The first step to easy meal planning is to actually find the recipes that you would want to make.

You’ll hunt down simple recipes that work for you.

Since I’m not a “chef mom”, this usually involved me combing Pinterest for easy family meals. When I found meals I thought I could make, I save it to a board I created.

Then I used that board as my recipe archive.

Be sure to find recipes for all of the meals you are planning to make.

Maybe you just want to start meal planning your dinners. Or maybe you want to save an assortment of meals just so you have them handy, like breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

Then I either print the recipe or write it out on a recipe card. Since this is “easy meal planning for the BUSY mom”, I usually go for the printing method, but sometimes when I have some downtime I’ll actually write out recipes on a recipe card to make it nice and pretty.

This usually involves some work, but trust me it will be worth it!

Then, with the meals that I know how to make from memory, I even take the time to write out the ingredients and the recipe. This may seem like a waste of time but you’ll see why this is a lifesaver in the next step!

Like I mentioned before, this step is usually one of the most time consuming, but once you get it out of the way, you really don’t have to do it again until you want to.

2. Organize

Step 2: Organize recipes in a system you like (recipe box or electronically)

Now that you have the recipes that you want to make, it’s time to organize them. I purchased this really cute recipe box where I can store all of my recipes. You can purchase it by clicking here.

I used to just have them all on my Pinterest “food” board, but it was really hard for me to view the recipe and make the meal all while trying to keep my phone open to the recipe.

So, what I did was print the recipe (step 1) and organized it in my recipe box according to what type of dish it was. For example, I have a section for appetizers, breakfast, lunches, dinners, side sides, and desserts.

Then I quickly alphabetized each section so I can easily find the recipe I am looking for. See? Wasn’t that easy??!

Remember, don’t forget to write out the recipes you know how to make from memory too. The goal of this step is to have ALL of the recipes you would make in the future all in one place so you don’t have to worry about thinking about what to make when it comes time to make a meal or meal planning. You’re thinking now so you don’t have to later- score!

3. Start planning!

Step 3: Use those recipes to plan your weekly meals!

Now that you have all the recipes that you would make accessible and organized, all you have to do is plan your meals from those recipes.

I found the key to easy meal planning is to plan a specific time a week that you want to dedicate 15 minutes to meal planning. I usually choose one day a week that you want to start your week and then use those 15 minutes to plan the meals you want to make that week.

For example, my husband works Tuesday-Saturday so technically our “week” starts on Tuesday and our weekend is “Sunday and Monday”.

Since Tuesday is our “first day of the week”, I’ll make a conscious effort to sit down Monday night for 15 minutes to do my meal planning for the week.

Only 15 minutes to plan my meals for the week?? That’s a busy mom’s dream come true!

Here is where the flexibility of this meal planning system comes into place.

Maybe you just want to plan lunches for the week. Or maybe you just want to plan 3 dinners because you want to eat out a couple of meals. Whatever works best for you and your family!

All you have to do is find and take out the recipe card or print out that you created in step 1 and organized in step 2. Then, write down the meals you want to make that week!

And a bonus thing that I do is take out those recipes that I am making for the week and put them in the front of my recipe box.

This way, all of the recipes are easily accessible when I go to make them. Then when I’m done making the meal, I store the recipe back in the organization system (such as my recipe box).

To help you easily plan all of your meals for the week, I created a Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet for you to write out all of the meals you want to make in one place.

The Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet is in the Free Meal Planning Toolkit for the Busy Mom! (don’t forget to download it!)

4. Easy Grocery Shopping

Step 4: Make a list of groceries you need for that week based on your recipes.

Now that you have all of the recipes you want to make that week, it’s time to actually plan out WHAT you need for those recipes.

I found that the best thing to do make a list of the ingredients I need from each recipe all on one sheet of paper.

I easily do this by using my Weekly Grocery List and Recipe Ingredient List, which are two templates I created that allow to me make a list of all of the ingredients I need so I’m only taking one master list to the grocery store when I do my shopping.

I created two different list templates because some weeks, depending on how organized I want to be, I use one over the other. It gives me the option to list things in a different format!

I included the Weekly Grocery List and the Recipe Ingredient Master List in the Free Planning Toolkit for the Busy mom!

5. Bonus step: Meal Board

Step 5: Write out the meal plan on a family meal board.

I didn’t always use a Family Meal Board, which basically just a dry erase board that I keep in my kitchen for my family to see.

But when I actually started meal planning, I decided to have my meal plan for that week visible for my husband to see so I don’t keep getting asked the question “what are we eating today?”.

So, what I did was, I printed out my Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet and inserted it into an 8.5 x 11 picture frame and used the glass as a dry erase board.

That way, the menu worksheet always stays in the frame and all I have to do is write over it on the glass and clean it off weekly when I create a new weekly menu!

If you don’t have to do this, I also see weekly menu dry erase board at Target and Walmart and even the local dollar store that you can use too. It’s totally up to you if you want to have a Family Meal Board!

RECAP: What my weekly meal planning looks like

Sit down for 15 minutes every one night a week to plan my meals
Figure out how many meals I want to make that week and which meals they are
Take out my recipe box and choose which meals to make for which day
Write out my meal plan or the week based on the choices I made
Accumulate all the recipes for the week that I want to make and write down the ingredients I need for each recipe for my grocery list
Finalize my grocery list
Make my meal on a particular day
After using that recipe, place it back in my recipe box

Busy Mom’s Meal Planning Toolkit

If you’re totally convinced that this easy meal planning system is right for you then I totally recommend you downloading my free Busy Mom’s Meal Planning Toolkit!

The toolkit has everything you need to easily meal plan and has all of the templates, worksheets, and lists that I discussed above. The Toolkit is a 5-page bundle that will help you accomplish your meal planning goals!

What’s included in the toolkit:

Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet
Weekly Grocery list
Master Recipe Ingredient List

Download the toolkit now!

Wasn’t that super simple!?!

I’m always running around completing errands so I didn’t think that meal planning was going to work for me and my family but once I started a system that worked for me, it’s been an absolute lifesaver!

I don’t always meal plan, because let’s face it, sometimes we can get really busy and even lazy- but when I do choose to meal plan it’s always really easy thanks to this super quick system!

I hope I was able to help you with your meal planning mission!

Happy meal planning!

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