Tag: motherhood

May Is For Mom Goals

May Is For Mom Goals

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

We are almost a full week into the month of May and since we are already celebrated this month for mothers day why not use this month to also set some personal mom goals for ourselves. This is a great time to check in with ourselves and see if there are any things we have been wanting to accomplish or check to see if there are things we can do to help with our overall mental health and day to day. Here is a list of things you can add to your mommy goals this May!

  • Read one book that is your favorite genre just for fun
  • Try a new hobby or pick back up on an old one that you haven’t been finding the time for
  • Start journaling and try to journal 5-10 minutes a day to unwind
  • Plan one special outing with your family for the month
  • Plan a special themed family dinner night
  • Write a special note to your family and read it to them
  • Start going for walks and at least try to walk 10 minutes a day
  • Drink 8 full glasses of water to stay hydrated
  • Make sure you don’t have any health appointments that you have been putting off and if you do schedule it
  • Take a full guilt free day to rest and lay in bed binging your favorite shows
  • Find a new podcast to listen to that you really resonate with
  • Listen to meditation music once in the morning and once at night
  • Practice saying “No” to things that are draining
  • Make a list of your favorite affirmations to say to yourself and stick them on your mirror or around your house
  • Buy yourself something for mothers day that is just for you
  • Make a meal that is just for you with all your favorite foods
  • Everyday this month tell yourself one thing you are proud of yourself for
  • Take a moment to admire the little things like the sun or the moon and be present
  • Spring clean your house and get rid of clutter
  • Take out time to track all of your expenses
  • Plan to meet up with a mommy friend for brunch or a play date
  • Start a savings jar for anything that you would like
  • Try meal prepping to not have to focus so much on meals this month
  • Schedule a face time call with a distant friend or family member that you miss
  • Set a reminder on your phone that tells you your amazing each day this month
  • Print out some photos of your family you have in your phone and get some nice frames for them

This month of May is all about you mama, make the most of it. take some of these ideas and focus on you for a bit. Once the month of may is over don’t stop there though if anything on this list feels like a goal you want to set for yourself every month or from time to time do it! Its so important for us moms to find ways to prioritize ourselves and our needs. We often forget about our hobbies, or simply just don’t make the time for them or we forget how some of the things listed above can change our entire day and mood. Sometimes all your needing is a quick few minutes to yourself to feel back on track. Finding unique ways to set goals for ourselves like “Mom goals May” is a great way to motivate yourself and focus on your needs and wants! Have a beautiful may and hopefully this encourages you to do stuff like this all year long!

The Top Ways Moms Really Love Spending Their Mothers day

The Top Ways Moms Really Love Spending Their Mothers day

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 2 Comments

Mothers day is on the way and though we should celebrate and love on our moms as much as we can all the time, this one special day is a day we get to show our love it a little extra. Its a day to show your mom you appreciate all her love, support and efforts. As beautiful as it all is its also a time where every commercial, every ad, every billboard is trying to convince you the best way to show up for your mom or telling dads how to show up for their wives each year and a lot of the gestures are nice and most moms appreciate pretty much anything you do for them but it can start to feel a little overwhelming with deciding what to do. I wanted to share some ideas that don’t break the bank, and are just really thoughtful and more from the heart. A lot of us forget sometimes how how little it actually takes to make a mom smile.

A quiet morning: Peace and quiet, yep that’s it, a morning with no alarm clock, no tasks to do immediately out of the bed, no one asking her to look for anything, just peace and quiet. People don’t realize how noisy a moms morning can be sometimes and a lot of us moms don’t even realize it until we finally have silence. Treating a mom to a cozy quiet morning to herself is definitely a great way to have her start her mothers day.

Breakfast in bed: The food can be store bought or made with love but its a nice way to let mom know its okay to relax this day. When moms wake up their first thought is what should i make the family to eat so returning the favor to her will be a treat. It can be a simple and traditional breakfast like pancakes, eggs, fruit and coffee or whatever her favorite breakfast is.

A card from the heart: Taking the time to find a card that says exactly what your heart feels or going the extra mile and writing a handwritten letter yourself. Choosing to express your love and gratitude this way is sure to put a smile on any moms face.

Book a massage or spa treatment: A day at the spa gives moms a chance to unwind, relax and rejuvenate and it makes them feel special. Its a moment where they don’t have to do the pampering and they just get to sit back and be pampered. They can get back massages, manicures, pedicures, Jacuzzi time, and peace and quiet. Its very easy for moms to forget about some of the simpler forms of self care and this gives them a chance to be reminded of that and how much they need and deserve it.

Time outdoors: Going for a walk, having a picnic, spending they day at an outdoor festival or their favorite beach or park gives moms a chance to soak in some sunlight and get some fresh air. Picnics don’t take much to plan just a few favorite foods for everyone and a cozy blanket is all you really need.

A photo session with family: One thing moms of today love to do is take pictures. Moms are now taking pictures of every moment and every milestone so surprising her with a paid photo session with a local photographer to get some planned family photos may be something she loves. You can even get family and loved ones to all meet up to join in on the moment to make memories that will last forever.

A day with no electronics: A lot of families spend a decent amount of time on their phones, watching TV or on some type of device and sometimes that can take everyone out of the present moment a little. Choosing a special day where the family cant use any devices for a few hours to truly connect, bond and do fun stuff together would help to remind everyone how special those moments are.

Showing appreciation: The main goal of mothers day is to show mothers that they are appreciated and loved. Take time to really pay attention to the mothers in your life to really see what makes them feel valued and just simply do those things. A grand gesture, a ton of money, or this over thought out plan is not always necessary, sometimes its the smallest things that can give mothers the biggest smiles. You can simply just ask a mom how she wants to spend her mothers day and listen.

Let this mothers day be filled with love, laughter, peace and joy for all the moms around the world. Anything you do will be enough so don’t worry to much about what you choose and just enjoy your time with the moms in your life that your so thankful for!

For any moms reading today, I hope you have a beautiful mothers day, your value to your family is so much more than you could ever know and you are so appreciated!

Top New Year’s Resolutions for Moms

Top New Year’s Resolutions for Moms

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Okay so here you are one week into the new year and maybe you have started some of your new years resolutions, maybe your not sure what they are or maybe you haven’t even thought about it. I wanted to share some of my new years resolutions as a mommy of two to help you incase your not sure where to start with your list. New years resolutions are basically a tradition people like to have where they look over their past year and decide a few things they can work on better for the new year, it can be things’ to do with their behavior, personal goals and just overall wanting to do a bit better for the new year. This is a mommy blog so lets set some resolutions for us mamas!

  1. Eat your own food : Yes, if you are like me there is a chance you have littles reaching for your plate all day long. You go to sit down to enjoy a nice meal or a fun snack and here comes one of your kids digging their fast hand right into your plate! While it is of course okay to share with your littles, please make sure you are actually eating and getting all the nutrition you need as well. Its very easy to focus on what the rest of the house is eating because we are moms but you have to remember yourself too and make sure you are eating what you enjoy and not giving all your food to everyone else. I didn’t notice how little i was eating until someone else noticed it and also when i stepped on the scale and saw all the weight i was losing. Enjoy your food mama you deserve it!
  2. Drink your water/ Stay Hydrated : Now that your ready to enjoy your meals make sure you are drinking your fluids too! We can burn out so easily with all the cooking, prepping, cleaning, organizing, the list goes on so we must hydrate hydrate hydrate! Drinking your water is going to help increase your energy, get rid of toxins, helps with your focus and just helps you stay healthy. If you are a coffee lover like me, unfortunately coffee is not enough you must drink your water too, to be a better you!
  3. Take more walks/ get some fresh air : Taking just 15 to 30 minute walks outside can help your stress levels, help you and your kids sleep better, increase your energy, gives you and your kids a chance to bond and discover new things in your neighborhood and is good for your families health. If your a stay at home mom or a work from home mom you can sometimes spend way to much time inside and you have to remind yourself to get out and breathe in some fresh air. You will be surprised how much you need it.
  4. Try to worry less : I know this sounds like a big ask because we are moms its just in us to worry about pretty much everything! It is important though to realize when we are worrying just to much. Sometimes we have to just take a step back, understand not every single thing is in our control and allow things to just be. Worrying to much is not good for our mental health and our families will notice when we are just way to consumed with our thoughts. Try to find ways to ease your mind when things feel overwhelming and try to remember you cant be the best version of yourself when your overly worried. In no way am I saying don’t worry, because that just isn’t possible but make sure to monitor your stress levels and even ask for help when things become to much for you to process on your own.
  5. Be patient : I honestly don’t think anything else on the planet tests your patience more than motherhood. You learn so much about your ability to be patient when you become a mom. You are not going to be patient all the time and it may take some serious inner work to master your patience but always try to keep that small whisper in your mind that says “be patient, its okay”. Try to slow down more, take some deep breaths, write about your frustrations and talk positively to yourself when you have reached your limits. It doesn’t happen over night but let this be the year you get better with patience.
  6. Get more organized : When you have a whole family and home and other things to keep up with losing track of your organization can happen pretty quickly. One day you feel super organized and the next day you feel like your right back at step one. Try to reduce as much clutter as you can when you can, make some lists that help you track your tasks, get some fun calendars and planners, practice time management and do whatever you feel works best for you so you don’t feel buried in your day to day tasks.
  7. Be Present : We do have a lot on our plates day to day but it is also important to remember that with each passing day our babies are growing and changing every single day. Make sure to remember to stay present and enjoy the little things and the moments you will never get back. Its okay to put some tasks aside just to simply enjoy your littles and enjoy being a mom. Leave the dishes and play a game with your littles, fold the laundry later and teach your toddler how to draw squiggly lines, whatever it is make sure you are setting time aside to just be present those moments are just to precious to miss.
  8. Do things that you love : Most of the time it doesn’t feel like we should come first or we want to make sure everyone else in the home is happy and entertained but we have to do things we enjoy too. Take some time for your hobbies and favorite things too, or you will start to feel like your losing yourself completely over time. Don’t let go of your hobbies and interest’s because your a mom now those things make you who you are, you may not have all the time in the world to focus on that stuff now but you have to fit it in and fill your cup too. Some things you can even introduce to your kids and teach them stuff that you love, they will love seeing you so passionate about something and it will feel nice to feel like your passing something on.
  9. Plan some play dates, and family adventures : Mom friends are so important, they just get you most of the time and its important to have a few moms in your corner that support you and let you unwind a bit while also giving your kids a chance to make friends and be social. Moms being able to share their journey with each other is almost magical, its needed way more than people realize. Mom dates will be good for you and the kids and so will planning some fun family adventures like trips or local events to attend. Getting out and making memories will be good for the whole family. Remember that every outing doesn’t have to be a big deal or extravagant, simple things like a trip to the zoo or a local festival are fun as well. Your kids love getting out with you and though it may get messy, fussy and tiring at times its always worth it.
  10. Don’t make your expectations for the new year to high : When the ball drops sadly a magical cape doesn’t just drop out of the sky that makes you super mom so don’t be to hard on yourself if you don’t reach all the goals you set for yourself. You are super mom just simply for trying and wanting to be better. New years resolutions are a great way to organize all the thoughts you have about doing things better this year but don’t over do it and have grace with yourself. Push yourself a little each day if you can but know your limits and take as much breaks as you need to regroup and refresh. You are going to have an amazing year mama, I just know you will!

Poem about Grief and loss

Poem about Grief and loss

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I love you grandma and auntie

Grief…. A pain

With no wounds on the outside

A hurt we can only see in sad eyes

Tears flowed till they ran dry

Now I’m left with an eternal cry

With tears now gone, I have no signal to the outside

That I am drowning on the inside

Breathing normal but my beats are skipping

No one can see that my heart is ripping

Feeling alone but I’m surrounded

My mind keeps drifting, I can’t stay grounded

Guess I’ll stay here for a while

Imagining your smile

I can feel your hugs and your warmth around me

Millions of people down here yet you’ve found me

I’ll stay in my thoughts as long as I need

Pretending I’m present since no one can see

Looks like I’m here but I’m with grief…

If you have lost someone you love while pregnant or during your journey of motherhood, please know that are not alone. You are allowed to feel sadness, loneliness, pain, anger, and any emotion that comes with your grief and still be a great mother to your babies. Allow yourself to be human even when it feels like you must be a superhero. Grief can feel very lonely so try to make sure you have a good support system or at least one person you can talk to when your to overwhelmed. You’re doing a great job, take one day at a time and everything is going to be okay. You got this mama!

Your second pregnancy is different from your first pregnancy

Your second pregnancy is different from your first pregnancy

by justbloommomsblog ♥ 2 Comments

Now that I am halfway through my first pregnancy, I wanted to share a little about how your second pregnancy can feel a lot different from your first and share some of the differences I have been experiencing so far.  I found out very early that I was pregnant and this time around the symptoms started immediately for me, I would have to run to the bathroom every few minutes and that’s how I knew something was up.

People would tell me all the time prior that every pregnancy is different and that you can try to compare them but there is usually something that will stand out that is different. With my first pregnancy I didn’t start to show where it was visible to others until I was about 4 months. I could see it and know it was there, but I was able to cover it with loose fitted blouses and sweaters until I was ready to announce. With my second pregnancy I was showing at 5 months pregnant, I believe it was just bloat at the time, but it was poking out to where others could see it and not just me. I could not believe it. There was no hiding this second pregnancy at all. I was told this is due to your abdominal and uterine muscles being more laxed since they have already stretched before. My first pregnancy I was extremely nauseous and sick the entire first trimester, throwing up every single day to the point where I lost 15 pounds. It wasn’t just in the morning either it was any time of day, and it was awful. This time around I still got nauseous and did a good amount of puking the first trimester, but the puking was not as bad as the first time at all.

I felt more tired the second time around in the beginning. I also can blame that on chasing around an almost two-year-old, there were times and still are times where I just want to sit down in one spot and do nothing for a little while but often with a little one running around there is always something you need to get up for. Whether it be them asking for milk, snacks, ripping off their pamper or trying to get into something they shouldn’t. If you have any help at all make sure to utilize it and enjoy some resting moments to yourself. Try your best to sleep when they are sleeping or if you can’t sleep at least do something small for yourself like take a warm shower or binge some shows, anything to help you relax.

Once the second trimester began, I started to feel right back to my normal self and was still amazed at how much bigger I looked compared to the first time. One thing I noticed right away is that my belly is also much lower this time around which causes me to feel a lot of pressure on my pelvic, pressure that I didn’t feel until the third trimester with my first. This has been uncomfortable and so I am thinking about finding a belly band to hopefully give me some relief. The pressure also makes you run to the bathroom a lot and makes some of your normal daily movements or activities a little bit tougher and slows you down. Something I’m hearing a lot though is that all this discomfort is going to pay off because my second labor experience may be a lot quicker due to my body already being prepared and loosened up more than it was the first time. Remind yourself daily that all this discomfort is going to be so worth it when you see your baby looking up at you and when you see your first child bonding with their new sibling.

Telling everyone I was pregnant was such a joy and having all the love and support is helpful in helping ease your mind into the huge transition. I do feel like the first time your pregnant everyone around you that cares may be overly protective of you checking on you every day and the second time they will still check but maybe not as often. Its not because they don’t care they just know your more seasoned and experienced now. As far as your own emotions you’re probably going to feel a lot less anxious the second time around. My first pregnancy I was anxious about everything, and everything had to be perfect before my little one got here, this time around I am much more laxed and taking my sweet time with a lot of things. I would be scared to eat a bunch of different things and just stressing myself out the first time and this time I’m just happy to finish my first child’s leftovers. I do spend a bit of time daydreaming about how my two kids are going to get along, wondering how my first child will handle the change since we have such a close bond and I try to imagine how I’m going to be with them as a mother of two. I think about how I’m going to split my time between two children, set routines, find time for myself, and just have a system that makes sense for all of us. The thoughts can get overwhelming and there are highs and lows in all of it, but I know we will get through it and do what works best for our family.

I look forward to feeling more experienced this time around, I have been breast feeding for almost two years and I know my journey won’t be the same with baby number two, but I at least feel more confident this time. I feel more at ease thinking about the caring part of things and I just want to encourage other moms to get to this space too. I am of course nervous about delivery and hopeful everything will go well but at least we are more prepared for what to expect and know how to handle things better. You have done it; your first baby is doing amazing and you’re going to do just as good with your new arrival too.

You’re going to be a mommy of two and this time when a lot of things come your way, you’re going to know exactly what to do and will probably shock yourself with how much you already know. You got this mama enjoy your growing family.