How Your Kids Can Benefit from Probiotics

This year we have made new goals for our family- health & wellness is the number one in our list. Focusing on what our children eat has always been a big factor to me (I am not a fan of fast food unless its CFA of course) But over the years after we started a family my husband and I became big on buying mostly all organic food, a lot of things today are contaminated with pesticides and other chemicals so we try staying away from processed food, and have started taking probiotics daily. 

Probiotics are good bacteria and yeast that live in the intestines. You can ingest probiotics through food or supplement. I know as parents we ask ourselves, "Do our children need probiotics?"

And the answer is YES.
It’s important to keep a proper balance of healthy bacteria in the gut to ensure a happy, healthy immune system (and a happy, healthy kid). Because we are constantly faced with bacteria killers in our day-to-day lives it is important to make sure our kids are getting a constant supply of healthy bacteria too. There are more friendly bacteria in your kid's digestive tract than there are human cells in their whole entire body.   (source)

If you are looking for a great probiotic supplement my best recommendation is OLLY's Quick Melt Probiotic Sticks, you cannot go wrong with picking this one out. Since trying OLLY my kids fight about who's next in line to take one. They absolutely love the taste of this probiotic. In fact they think its fun! Ever remember those fun sugar sticks we once had back in our childhood? Well they sorta look like that once you open the little package. It just feels like you are eating candy. They melt instantly in your mouth. No need for water or any other liquid. Your kids don't have to swallow or chew a pill. It is that simple.
No need to fight with your kids ever again - I know- You're Welcome! As it wasn't easy enough, it is also very convenient for the ON-THE-GO MOM. Just throw it on the purse or the diaper bag as you are traveling or dropping them off as you head to work or out for errands on a busy scheduled day. 

OLLY Kids Quick Melt Probiotic Sticks contain 3 of the most beneficial probiotic strains around- • THE HERO (aka Bifidobacterium Lactis BL04) – This mighty guy helps boost the body’s natural defenses. • THE BEST BUDDY (aka Lactobacillus Acidophilus NCFM) – A time tested good bacteria, this guy is a belly's BFF • The A+ (aka Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG) – This wise guy is one of the most studied probiotics in the world.

RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GET A FREE SAMPLE OF OLLY QUICK MELT PROBIOTIC STICKS.  WHILE SUPPLIES LAST- CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS

DISCLOSURE: Not intended for the treatment or prevention of disease, nor a substitute for medical treatment, nor as an alternative to medical advice. 

5 Ways To Become a Productive Mom

They say it is always good to start the New Year with personal resolutions, however I cannot think of the last time I started a list let alone finish one. So with bigger reason my main focus for this year is becoming a more productive Mom. 
Most days I feel stressed out at home with the kids, like I cannot get my life together. Being (or better yet trying to stay) organized is what keeps me sane..like I have control over my own schedule even though it is mostly run by the little tiny humans I created.  Being a SAHM during the week made it hard for me at times and looking back I remember some days I completely hated it. And those were days when home was chaos and before I knew it the day went by and I didn't get much accomplished. It was becoming a constant bad habit were night time came and there dishes piled up on the kitchen sink, laundry constantly up to the wall roof (my friends can testify to this, no lie) and my husband would arrive home and I had not showered yet. Moments like these can make you feel like a total failure at being a mom. But it shouldn't because this is NOT AN EASY JOB.  I can't be the only one who's been in this situation, right?   It has been recently and over some trial and errors that I noticed a few things that have helped me become a more productive mom at home and with my kids. Here are some ways you can become PRODUCTIVE

• BECOME A MORNING PERSON-  how we start and approach our morning the moment we wake up has a lot to do with how productive our day goes. And okay i'll be honest & say I'm the kind of mom who chooses to hit the snooze button  20x's before deciding it's time to wake up. But I noticed that on the days I am up early before the kids are awake my day goes a lot more smoother. More chores are done, my list gets accomplished, and my mood is overall happy. I have set the tone for the day. It is easier to focus and find mental clarity through the day. Becoming a morning person is not easy if you (like myself) love to sleep in but it also does not mean you have to be up at 5am. You can plan to be up an hour before your kids wake up, using your mornings wisely can be beneficial in setting how your day will go.

• NEVER skip BREAKFAST- stop skipping this meal.( I know I am guilty of this too) But this needs to stop! Never am I missing breakfast again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast fuels the body. Everyone has different schedules, task, and activities that they want to do in the morning but they should all start with a big healthy breakfast. Studies show that a simple healthy breakfast improves our energy levels in the morning and help avoid that mid-day slump (which is what we want to avoid) So start the morning with a big meal that you and your kids will both enjoy. 

organic egg with turkey bacon and ADD your avocado

wheat flatbread - add all your fav choices

acai smoothie bowl 

• CREATE A ROUTINE- that can help your day go more smoothly. Write it down. Do a list. If it helps break your day into different parts. Get the most important work done between the morning till lunch time, add time for the kids to have fun whether if its indoors or outdoors, take advantage of your toddlers nap-time (if you have any that still nap) During this time I like to start on my laundry. Must I say I hate doing laundry but I am pretty good at folding clothes and putting them away by the time the baby is up again. Anyway, the point is get a routine going and stay consistent. Have dinner ready by a certain hour, kids bathe and ready for bed at a constant time everyday. Lately I been trying to have them all go to bed at the same time which is around 9-9:30 so when my husband gets home we can enjoy some alone quality time.

• DEDICATE TIME FOR YOURSELF- take an hour or even 45 min of the day to focus on you! Get your workout done. Don't hesitate, I promise you'll be feeling a thousand times better about yourself in the end. This turns into a positive attitude and the best part- you are full of energy to continue with your day. When I was constantly working out at home with the 21 Day Fix I felt so much better about myself physically and mentally. And I figured this is one part I was lacking on and missing the most! Even if all the laundry didn't get done while my baby napped- hey I got my workout done. Even if you feel you are not mentally there or ready yet to jump on the exercise wagon that is okay. Grab a book, find some inspiration that makes you happy, something that is for YOU. Or take advantage and enjoy a bath- get pretty and put away those yoga pants!

• STAY ORGANIZED- what better way to stay organized than with a Planner. This START Planner has changed my life! I'm serious this Hustle Daily Planner has it all, I mean everything you could possibly need to keep your life on track. It gives you a daily, monthly, and yearly overview. All of it! It features a side for Goal setting and tracking your work outs and meals, plans for tracking your projects, future vacations, and personal financial planning (grocery shopping, bills, etc), everything for budgeting, and so much more. If you are the kind of mom who has a pregnant brain (even after pregnancy) then you'll love that it also provides a page to write down all your personal passwords to your major websites that you use daily. No better way to stay organized and prioritize your time and your planned activities for the day. No more forgetting major deadlines both on your personal life and your job!

WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR FAMILY IS COMPLETE

Happy New Year 2017!
With the new year here I wanted to share some of our family photos we took a few weeks ago before ending the 2016 year. Sometimes life gets busy and we get overwhelmed with things going on that we forget the most important things in life - like FAMILY.  All I have to do is stop and look at these photos and I remember how blessed we are with our family of five. Crazy, chaotic, but caring. Bringing in a new year many couples start thinking of the possibility of expanding their family or are looking forward to their new addition coming soon within the next couple of months. Many friends and distant relatives have asked us if we will expand our family this year. Seems like every two years I end up pregnant ( all my kids are 2 ½ years apart and the oldest and youngest are exactly 5 years apart) so it is a topic we haven't fully discuss openly with others, other than our parents but here we are feeling without  a doubt complete with what we already have. In other words we are "done" having children.
Countless mothers have been in this position and have asked themselves the same question and expressed this concern. But I am sure every mother can attest to the fact that you can love one or two or five children equally the same, there is no limit to a mother's heart. You will love every single one of your children as you have loved your first. So I can easily say this was not the issue.
But although that has never been a doubt for me, in my heart deep down I know I have to do what is right for my family, for my children, and also for my husband. It is no secret that children are expensive and quite frankly I feel very lucky to be able to be a part time worker but I sacrifice my weekends working and that means being away from my kids, also I feel my husband and I are at the point were we wish to start a family vacation with all the kids who are older now and we feel they could be ready to enjoy experiencing new adventures together. I also feel the need to finish what I have left undone these past years and that is my education. I do want to finish school and complete my degree. At this time in my life I feel is the only thing missing to fully feel accomplished. And as I searched for an answer I knew I had to listen to my gut instinct and follow my heart. 
Looking forward to this 2017 year I want to dedicate more time to my oldest two, bringing in our last child has taken a lot of my time as a mother. We tend to focus more on the baby of the family, because to be honest hellooo they need us the most! Now that Luke is 1 ½ years old he has become more independent and I am hoping my time can equally be invested with all 3 the way I have always invasion or at least I've tried it to be.  I have some beautiful healthy children that God entrusted me with. Which is why I am totally and completely content with our decision and know this is the best for our family. 

Photo Credit: D Trinh Photography