Thank you to Organic Skin USA for providing me product in exchange for review purposes. All opinions belong to me. 

I, as some of you may know, am a mommy of two under the age of 5 years old. Being a mommy is the most rewarding but draining job I have ever taken on. There are highs and there are lows beyond what you’d ever expect in mommy-hood. Did I ever think I would need to utter the sentence “Well he wanted to flush his own poop, it look like you really hurt his feelings.” I can assure you I did not anticipate these types of disagreements. On the other hand did I ever know that I could love someone as deeply, and unselfishly as I do my own children? Not in a million years did I understand the power of a mothers love before having kids. That beautiful unselfish love can sometimes get us mommies into trouble. Often times we find ourselves forgetting about ourselves, the problem with that is you cannot pour from an empty cup. You must fill yourself up before being able to truly offer to anyone else. When I’m strung out and too irritated with the kids, is when I often realize that I’m empty, I’m fighting with them because I need my cup to be filled before I can happily offer them everything. Below I’ll Share with you my 5 ways that I recharge my mommy hood (or fill my cup so that this beautiful life of mommy hood indeed feels like the gift that it is!)

Tip 1: Clean out the grogginess 

Get up, brush your teeth, do your hair, well lets not get too crazy, but run a brush through your hair. This is the first opportunity you have to start your day off right, fresh, energized, and ready! A nice tingly mint sensation in your mouth, fresh breath to greet others with (whether you will see anyone besides your kids or not that day) and the feeling that your in control of your day! Sure, could I  wake up slug around to the couch to sit on my phone while the kids watch cartoons? Of course I can, and some days I do, but I never feel good about it. I look back and think man I wish I wouldn’t have let that opportunity slip, my day could have been better, if I would have decided to have a good day!

Tip 2: Prepare yourself for your best day 

Get dressed! Now this doesn’t mean change from your sleeping pajamas to your day pajamas. This used to be my routine, wake and put on frumpy clothes and pay no attention to myself or my appearance, barely even look in the mirror for a whole day. I cleaned out my closet and only allowed myself to keep clothes that made me feel good about myself, my body, and my personality. I did keep two pairs of pajamas but don’t allow myself to wear them during the day. Now let me detail this statement with being a person who is very comfortable in their skin, no need for makeup and my husband has never once complained about the frump that used to be. The mindset that getting dressed for the day gives me, is a gift in itself, I’m ready, I feel good and I look good. The mindset that I alone decided and took action for this day to be great feels good.

Tip 3: Challenge yourself

I know what you’re thinking “Challenge myself? Why, my kids have that covered.” You are right, your environment, your kids, your spouse all challenge you but those are hard to remember and feel victorious about nor are any of those challenges in your control. What I mean is you challenge you, pick out something anything you’d like to get done and do it! Challenge yourself with anything from a sketch a day, a 5 minute workout, something you want to get better at, anything that pushes you out of your comfort zone. For me the challenge I chose is working out, I didn’t like or want to be physical at all and I had every excuse as to why I shouldn’t. Once I started working out and figured out what worked for me and what motivated me I felt great. Before recharging my mommy hood I knew I wanted to be more fit and more muscular and while I never set the goal to workout religiously I still felt like I was failing myself by not taking action. Working out is still a daily struggle but when I do it, I feel amazing! After all If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

Tip 4: Nourish yourself

Healthy whole foods is such an important key to life. The better you eat the better you feel. Now if you have the cash to be able to afford pre-made whole food meals without yucky ingredients this can be an option for health. The idea I’d like to introduce you to is you nourishing you. There is a certain pride and sense of accomplishment when you cook yourself a healthy tasty meal. My favorite right now is a hot cabbage, chicken and carrot salad! Get familiar with foods and ingredients, throw together your own healthy satisfying recipe. This idea of you nourishing you again is to help get you into the mindset that you have taken care of you and can now offer more of yourself to your kids without feeling drained. I know that not everyone is a stay at home mom and not everyone has a ton of time in their very busy schedules but cooking just only one healthy meal for yourself a day will add up in the long run!

Tip 5: Treat yourself 

This is easily the most important tip I can give you. You’ve worked hard to fill that beautiful cup all day long, you’ve challenged yourself and fought for you. Why not top that overflowing cup with some whip cream?! Now more realistically I mean do something that makes you feel special and taken care of. For me I take a nice long shower after working out, I exfoliate and shave my legs (an action mostly unheard of in mommy hood). I might even deep condition my hair while in the shower! After I get out if I’m feeling like I need a really big pick me up I will use a fake tanner to give me some color for that extra perk! I really like EcoTan’s Invisible Tan, this is an Australian branded all natural organic fake tanner. Not only can I treat myself with a sun kissed glow in the frigid winter but I can do so safely without fearing the horrible ingredients I’m putting on my skin! Now, considering I’m so pale and actually, according to a test done about a week ago, very vitamin d deficient I experienced zero orangey-ness from this only a perfectly tinted brown. It was hard to pic up in pictures but my husband noticed the color change and commented each time I’ve applied! Invisible Tan is a special formula that won’t stain your clothes or bed sheets while you sleep! It is a very quick and easy way to get an extra pick me up as you apply it after the shower and let it develop while sleeping. You can get it and many other high quality organic skin products from Organicskinusa.com. Treating yourself can be one of the most fun and fulfilling parts of taking care of you!

So there you have it my 5 tips to revamp your mommy-hood. They say if you can change your perspective you can change the world, sometimes changing perspective takes actual action! You are doing the most important work of your life, in mommy-hood. Most of the tasks within mommy-hood go un-thanked, un-noticed, and under appreciated at least in the early years, so don’t forget to take time to cherish the work you do, why you do it and most importantly take care of you, because you work hard!

Lakota

I am a stay at home mother of two, who loves to create in every form, from cooking, to henna, to painting or sculpting, creating with my hands is my passion! I love to dance and let loose when the music flows right. Being outside is a special kind of therapy I think humans need more of as well as mindfulness! I love all things new and adventurous and am always looking to experience more of life 🙂