Mommy Know How

Busy Mom’s 3 Minute Make-Up Routine

Aug152013

Mornings can be rough. Actually getting out the door with your hair brushed, lunch boxes packed, and a fully equipped diaper bag, can be borderline impossible at times. The idea of putting on make-up is nearly laughable. But I’m a firm believer that feeling put together and presentable makes us better moms and women in general. It gives you that extra little boost of confidence to attack the day. And it’s pretty nice not to have to fret going to the grocery store for fear of running into someone you know.

My philosophy is that daytime make-up should be all about looking fresh and natural. Save the dramatics for night time. I prefer to look special at “special” times, rather than the same day in and day out. So my daytime beauty routine is shockingly quick and easy, and will have you feeling ready to start your day in no time. In fact, it will only take you 3 minutes. One major key to making this routine so speedy is in keeping everything you need in a separate make-up bag. That way you aren’t rummaging through all your make-up, and since there are only a few items, it really won’t take up that much space.

Here’s how to do it:

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· Filed Under: Looking Good, Mommy, Mommy Know How · Tagged With: beauty, make-up, quick, routine

Let’s Get Organized: Babysitter Printout

Aug82013

It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these Let’s Get Organized posts. Honestly, I’ve been on a sort of mental summer break myself and have felt anything but organized. I sat down the other day and made a list of all the closets I want to reorganize and various things that needed to be done around the apartment. This list ended up being over 30 items long. I then proceeded to open my kindle and get lost in new book, because really, it was just too much for my checked out brain to handle at the moment.

As much as I would like to just snap my fingers and everything be done, sometimes the only way is to just chip at it bit by bit. So I started with one of the easiest points – redoing the list I leave for our babysitters that is always on the side of the refrigerator. Do you use an information sheet like this? I think it’s so helpful to a sitter, and also makes life more convenient for you since you won’t have to scramble to remember and write out all this every time you need to leave the kids. This one includes important numbers (I always include the pediatrician, vet, and poison control, as well as any necessary family members), home address, major schedule points, and also some extra information that might be helpful to the sitter. I started writing favorite toys, foods, etc. at the suggestion of one of our sitters who says this is the one thing she wished parents would share more often.

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· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How, Organization · Tagged With: babysitter, contact list, emergency numbers, printout

10 Things To Do When Your Kids Are Driving You Crazy!

Aug12013

We’ve all been there. Your child, despite disciplinary repercussions, has been incessantly whining, emptied all of their dresser drawers (and yours), spilled the dog’s water everywhere, and capped it all off by scattering garbage throughout the house. Oh, and did I mention that your newborn appropriately picked this minute to have a major blowout that has left both you and him…decorated? Yep, even the most patient of moms meet their breaking points at times. Before you get ready to ship your little angels off to Grandmas, let’s talk about some strategies to use when you need to reset this chaotic, manic vibe.

As a bit of a warning, I don’t suggest using these on a regular basis, just when you truly are at your whits end. You don’t want to constantly be teaching your child that by behaving badly they will actually be rewarded, but let’s face it, there are times when small indulgences are well worth a little peace. So here’s my go-to, “Save Mommy’s Sanity” moves:

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· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How · Tagged With: crisis management, going crazy, kids, mom, tantrum, what to do

Hot Mama Maternity Workout Wear

Jul182013

I am SO excited about today’s post! My beautiful friend Raven is visiting from her incredible blog, Cheers to New Beginnings!, to talk to us about what she is loving in the world of maternity workout clothes. I love living vicariously through this girl and the amazing adventures her and her husband have been on while living abroad. I can’t wait to hear all about her newest adventure – motherhood! Thanks so much, Raven, for visiting and giving all those pregnant mamas out there some amazing options! — Ashley

Let me begin by thanking the lovely and talented author of The Mommy Games for asking me to write this guest post. I’m honored and delighted. I write a blog myself, though quite different from The Mommy Games. My husband, Jon, and I are currently American expats living in Brussels, Belgium, and I started my blog in 2010 to document our lives and experiences as expats. Though mostly travel related, of late, the blog has been dotted with a few momma-to-be posts as Jon and I eagerly anticipate the arrival of our first bundle of joy in a few short weeks (August 2nd). Pregnancy definitely has its challenges, and one that tends to present itself most every day is clothing. Looking presentable, and shall I even say cute – while avoiding looking frumpy and whale-like – on a “reasonable” budget can be mentally daunting.

As a former college athlete and regular at the local gym, I have done my best to maintain some level of fitness throughout my pregnancy through a variety of activities. The hardest question at times, though, was what to wear! As the running tights and spinning shorts became uncomfortably tight and the tank tops a bit too short, I turned to the following items, which have been a mainstay in my wardrobe of late:

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· Filed Under: Looking Good, Mommy Know How, Mommy Must Haves, Running · Tagged With: clothes, guest post, maternity, what to wear, workout wear

Breaking the Boredom of Motherhood

Jun202013

There’s a lot of things people don’t tell you about motherhood. For instance, I remember being shocked that the first few months of breastfeeding a newborn meant you never get to sleep more than a couple of hours at a time. What? Why didn’t someone tell me this?? Not that I think being warned would have made it any easier, but a little heads up would have been nice. Or how time consuming solid feedings can be. Pretty sure I would have held off on those if I would have known they were going to take an hour plus! This list could go on and on, but I’m pretty sure all you moms out there know what I’m talking about.

One thing that I think isn’t talked about often is how being a mom, especially a stay-at-home one, can be, well…boring. I’m all too familiar with the “I wish I could stay at home and play legos and do art projects all day!” comment. Enter fake smile and obligatory nod. Yes, those things can certainly be fun, but I think every woman has a limit to how much of that she can take. When the most exciting thing your 5-month old does is clap their hands or shake a rattle, those days at home can seem awfully long. Many mothers, myself included, had demanding jobs and full days before they had children. Even though a mom’s day is most certainly full, it’s not necessarily full of the most exciting variety.

So let’s talk about some ways to battle the boredom:

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· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How · Tagged With: boredom, mommy, motherhood, things to do with kids, what to do

How to Start Stroller Running

Jun132013

“How in the heck do you run with that thing?!” is a question I get all too often. People see me toting the kids to and from in our ginormous (at least by NYC standards) running stroller and can’t believe I push it around the grocery store, let alone run with it. But with school out for summer, many moms, myself included, find getting in their workouts difficult. Stroller running is an awesome way to get in your cardio while the kids get fresh air. You are also showing them first hand what leading a healthy lifestyle looks like. I like to track the miles I run with my kids and can’t wait to tell them that they’ve “run” 1,000 miles or something similar when they are old enough to understand.

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· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How, Running, Stroller Running · Tagged With: kids, mommy, running, running stroller, working out

Best First Birthday Toys

May312013

Like most kids these days, my little ones are pretty spoiled. They are the first grandchildren for 2 sets of grandparents, and Brad and I generally have more fun picking out toys than the kids do playing with them. This isn’t something I’m necessarily proud of, but no matter how much we try and keep things in check, I’m all too aware of the fact that our place is chock full of toys of every shape and sort. When Rylan turned one a few months ago, I decided to be really conscious of what we were buying him and to aim for quality over quantity (it didn’t hurt that we already had a pile of age appropriate toys passed down from Brandon). I wanted to share with you the toys that had sticking power – the ones that he liked right from the beginning, still get played with daily and can grow further with him, and those that I don’t find so annoying that I want to chuck them out the window onto the Broadway traffic.

Here’s my list for Top 5 Best First Birthday Toys:

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· Filed Under: Mommy, Mommy Know How, Mommy Must Haves · Tagged With: first birthday, gift, one year old, toys, what to buy

Let’s Get Organized: Getting out the Door

May72013

I think most moms find the process of actually getting themselves and their children out the door a difficult one. It’s no easy feat getting little ones dressed and slathered in sunscreen, making sure you have everything you need, and getting out the door on time. We recently moved, and in our new place I developed a sort of “going-out” station. Right by our door we literally have everything we need to make our daily trips to school, the playground, or work. It’s made our mornings so much easier.

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· Filed Under: Mommy Know How, Organization · Tagged With: getting out the door, going out, organization, storage, streamlining