Then the other day, I went to the store and noticed that the lady in from of me was wearing fluffy yellow slippers, sweats and a shirt.  Then it hit me, I was just a pair of fluffy slippers away from officially giving up on what I wear. UGH…….

Since most of us don’t have the money for a full head to toe makeover, you can start with this list of five ways to get out of the mom rut. It’s okay, it happens to the best of us, but the good thing is, you can totally take control and get your pre-motherhood groove back.

Start with Your Hair

Most of my mom friends agree, get a low maintenance easy to manage hair style.  If you love long hair then get a style that will still allow you to put it up in a pony tail for those time when you are managing sick kids or finger painting but still can style it so you to look put together for date night or those occasional nights out with the girls.  Invest in three everyday hair care products:

• A great conditioner that is for your hair style
• A great shampoo that is made for your hair type and if you color it
• A great leave in conditioner

Invest in Some Nice Jewelry

This one thing can make a bland pair of jeans and a t-shirt look put together and fabulous.  Invest in a few nice pieces that can be staples.  I love to shop online at sites that have amazing jewelry like Fragments Fine Jewelry.  They not only will ship it right to your door but have amazing pieces that you will keep forever.

A couple of pairs of gorgeous drop style earrings will go with just about everything.  You can pair them with a beautiful dress or a pair of jeans and a sold t-shirt.  If you don’t like earrings then an eye catching necklace will be a great piece for your collection.  You can get piece in a neutral color that will go with most of your wardrobe or a couple of bold pieces that show a little more flair.

Take Care of Your Hands

Nothing makes your hands look older than nails that are not taken care of.  You don’t need fancy acrylic nails to have nice looking hands.  Use a file and keep those nails neat and a little fortifying clear polish to help keep them healthy.  If you want to spice it up you can add a color.  Remember to always apply lotion after housework and dishes to keep them nourished and soft.  I keep lotion every place!  Ify ou have the time, treat yourself to a mani/pedi!

Shoes Count

Don’t wear shoes that look ratty and worn.  Keep your tennis shoes clean buy using baby wipes to keep them scuff free and keep sandals clean and free of little strings and loose embellishments.  It makes a difference because this can show just how out of the fashion loop you are.

Make Yourself a Clothing Promise

Make yourself a clothing promise that unless you are exercising or on your way to exercise, you will never wear sweats, yoga pants or other “for the gym only” pants and tops when you are outside the walls of your house.  Just tell yourself you need to put on real clothes because you are a real person that counts.  This helped me so much when I got caught in the mom style rut.  I’m not saying you need to pull out your little black dress for couponing at the local Target but you should wear clothing and not workout attire.

I have tops that are strictly for when I am going to be out of the house.  I don’t wear these tops for changing diapers, doing yard work or house work or even for lounging around the house.  That way they are always spit up and sticky fingers free, at least till I get the kids out of the car!

Do you have any tips for getting out of the Mommy Fashion Rut?  Let us know!  We would love to see your mommy style tips on our Facebook page!

In today’s society, we often find ourselves completely submerged into everything technology.  Have you ever sat back and watched your day unfold and realize how much technology you are plugged into throughout your day?

While waiting for a doctor’s appointment one day, I read an article about a family who changed their ways as a family, and unplugged from everything technology. This particular article went on to say how much it has drastically improved the family unit, how much they actually talk to each other at the dinner table, and how much they truly enjoy getting back to the grass roots of being a true family.

I went home with this concept heavily on my mind. In my family, we have had a few days here and there where we would turn off our cell phones, or not turn on the computer, but to unplug from EVERYTHING? That was a scary thought. However, after a conversation with my husband we were both game on. Let’s do this!

We broke the news to our 2 oldest kids. I’m pretty sure they thought they were going to die without the Sprout Channel. My oldest, 5, thought she was going to fail school because I wasn’t going to turn on the computer, (we home school so her coursework is online, but little does she know we can do without the computer for a little while). My other daughter nearly cried her eyes out because she thought I was punishing her from not being able to watch her most favorite show, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. So we explained to them the reason for what we were going to attempt to do. We talked to them about how when Mommy & Papa were kids we didn’t have all these fancy shows, or computers, ipads, video games. We actually had to play outside, get creative and play make believe, those sort of things. After a heavy conversation they saw the light and were on board with us.

We turned off the TV, computers, phones, video games, anything technology was turned off. It was fabulous! All of a sudden we had long days of being together as a family.  We are a very close family anyways, but this seemed to bring us closer. More cuddle time. More reading took place between the kids. They actually learned how to play together nicely. My husband and I could actually carry a conversation. For once, in a very long time, I felt balanced. My world didn’t end. My friends were still there after we were done for the week. It was amazing.

At the end of the week, we talked with the kids, asked them what they thought of how things went. They proceeded to tell us they hardly realized that we had TV or computers. They didn’t miss them at all. That they had so much fun playing outside together, getting messy with sidewalk chalk. They enjoyed all the added snuggle time together. It made my heart extremely happy. Everyone was happy and alive!

Today, we watch limited TV. The kids aren’t nearly as plugged in as they were before the experiment. Since I work from home via the internet I have to be plugged in to some degree to keep food on the table.  However, I strongly urge every family to give this a try. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much you can get done in one day when you aren’t constantly checking facebook, email, or getting sucked into a new TV reality show.

I wish you good luck. It’s a rejuvenating experience. Try it, I know you can do it. You will be glad you did.

Being a stepmom is no piece of cake. It is hard work. It is probably the most challenging thing I have ever experienced.  I don’t think any woman ever dreams up a fairy tale of being a stepmom. The same goes for marriage. Nobody gets married with the intention of it ending in divorce. It has been almost 7 years since we met and here are some key points I have learned during my time so far as being a stepmom to 3 kids.

• Leave the discipline to their dad. This is tough to learn and respect. I will never be their ‘mom’ and I shouldn’t try to be. When we first met, I would try to discipline the kids and the outcome was laughable. Who are you to discipline me? We just met you! Believe me when I say this, Leave it to their dad! If something comes up where the kids need discipline, tell the dad and let him handle it. (At least in the beginning.) Once your relationship grows, the kids will learn to respect you and your rules.                          

• I CHOSE the package deal. This is what I wanted. There were times when I resented being a ‘mom’ during the Summer…We should be traveling and laying on a beach somewhere I told him. After sitting on our deck one night, thinking how did this happen…I remembered that I chose this. This is what I wanted. When I married this perfect man, I married his kids too! This makes me get out my pouty mood and gets rid of my “What about me” attitude quick! Nobody forced me into this relationship. As soon as I realized this, it was smooth sailing.

• Don’t take it personally. This is probably the most important thing I learned. There have been numerous amounts of times that I have suggested something (where to go, what to do) and the kids just flat out say “No.” No big deal…right? WRONG! This was tough because I was trying SO hard for them to like me and they just did not care. It took years before the kids ever wanted to go anywhere with just me. By learning how to not take it personally, it allowed my relationship with the kids. We go everywhere together now.

• Give yourself a break! I mean this in 2 ways. 1. You are not perfect. If you say something wrong or do something wrong, it is okay! Nobody is perfect. 2. Get out of the house by yourself every now and then. Clear your mind and refresh yourself. Go to Starbucks and sit there by yourself until the very last drop of the Venti Mocha Frappuccino No whip is gone.

As far as places to stay go, I can’t stress enough how much more convenient it is to find a hotel that either offers suites with a kitchenette, which is ideal, or a room that has a refrigerator. Your toddler is going to need somewhere for their milk and other perishable snacks and food. This is beyond difficult to deal with when you are limited to ice machines and coolers. Having experienced both options, I would gladly pay a few extra dollars for the luxury of the refrigerator amenity.

When it comes to flying, there are some things to consider. We have successfully maneuvered our baby boy through long flights and flights with layovers. There are benefits to both depending on what kind of kid you have. A flight with layover gives you the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a break from the plane atmosphere. A direct flight makes for a much shorter day of travel. While a layover can be a nice break, it can also make for a super long day because switching planes takes an hour at least.

No matter what kind of flight you choose, you will have to deal with cabin pressure during take off and landing. We use a couple tricks that have helped along the way. We give our baby a dose of infant pain reliever before we board the plane. We have a beverage ready to go during our taxi because drinking can help relieve the build up of pressure. Obviously, breastfeeding moms would do that instead. By doing these things we have been able to avoid being those parents holding the screaming child.

Flying may not be an option for you, but the good news is, it isn’t impossible to take your toddler on long drives either. Our baby has logged thousands of miles in his car seat and except for the occasional vomit or diaper explosion, he has done really well. Entertainment is a huge factor in this planning aspect. Interactive toys have served our needs where distance has been a concern. We load up our backseat with several cause and effect toys, the kind that make music and light up seem to keep his interest the longest. We also come prepared with snacks and drinks so that any hunger-induced fussing can easily be curbed. As your baby gets older, high tech gadgets can take the place of toys, but they aren’t necessary.

No matter what sort of traveling you have ahead of you, it is important to be ready for any situation that arises. Always have a spare set of clothes that are easily accessible. Double check that you have enough food and drink to last you to your destination, you may not be able to predict how available food will be when your little one gets hungry. Always error on the side of too much when it comes to preparation. For example, if you think you will need five diapers, pack eight to ten.

These are only a few suggestions that have aided my husband and I in having happy family vacations and fun travel. If you have things you have found helpful, feel free to share them with us!

Every child is different, of course, but it is widely excepted that young children should be put to bed around seven and eight PM. This was a natural time for my baby boy to go to bed, in fact, putting him to bed any later usually gets me wrestling with a grumpy bear throughout our entire routine. Your routine can be anything that works for your family, but I would like to share what works for us.

We usually start to wind down around one hour before our boy needs to go to sleep. We cut out anything that is super stimulating like his noisy toys in an effort to get him somewhat calmed as we transition into his bedtime routine. Even though, by now, our son knows what to expect, we also talk him through the separate events in the routine. For example, we might tell him, “Now we will have dinner and then we will take a bath.” That way once we are done with dinner, there is no surprise about having to get in the bath.

If both of us are home during bedtime, one of us will prepare his bath and bed while our baby finishes his dinner, otherwise, we carry him along with us and as said before, we tell him what we are doing while we do it. After bath, we take baby to his changing table for a fresh diaper. We often time give him a little lotion massage before putting on his pajamas. We also use a noise machine to create a background sound that cancels out any noises that may be happening in our house or neighborhood, not everyone is in on our bedtime routine, so we have to make due.

Our son has favorite stories that we read nearly every night. As he has grown, we make reading more interactive by asking him to point out characters in the book or show us colors as we read. It is fun and an easy way to work on his vocabulary during these precious moments. Our boy also enjoys a small sippy cup of milk while we read and relax into bedtime.

Once the story is over, we turn down the lights and get into our cuddle positions. Our family has adopted a co-sleeping method. Our son shares a family bed with us. It might not be for everyone, but we enjoy this closeness. From here we hand deliver our little one to dreamland by laying with him until he drifts off. We sometimes sing or hum to him as he fights his last attempts to stay awake.

This routine takes about an hour start to finish and with any luck, he goes to sleep without any cranky fussing. On a good day, this is still my favorite time with him. I love to catch a look at his angelic face as he slips into sleep, it is just about the best feeling in the world.