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My Mom Essentials: Time for Me with 3

Dear 3 Boys, 

 You've given my life purpose and have motivated me to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.  A lot about me has changed since I became a mom of 3: some of it has been easy and some of it I am still trying to figure out how to manage.  The thing I know for certain is that when mommy takes care of herself and feels less stressed and more positive, then you boys receive and respond to a happier mom that you deserve.  I may not be doing everything right, or even coming close to it, but I do hope my boys remember and realize that mom was happy (and she tried).  This blog post is not about how to make time for yourself as a mother, but rather the essentials that help me feel like a happier, less frazzled mom.  When I look back on this past year of becoming a mom of 3 boys, I think about all the times I forgot to take my contacts out, or the showers I skipped because I opted for sleep, or the ridiculous clothes I wore outside with the spit up and stains, and I realize that I've got lots of time to continue to learn self care and make it work for myself.  This post is a personal reflection of the things that come to my mind as my "mom essentials" for myself that I truly enjoy and use to help make my own life as a mother a bit easier for me.  I hope someone else may find something here useful or just take a moment after reading to reflect for themselves and think about what you do to take care of yourself each day.  

 xo,
Vicky
  • DIY Diaper Caddy
    • No matter how large or small your space is, I think having a diaper caddy around in my most commonly used spaces saved me a lot of time and running around.  With 3 small kids, chances are someone will need mom for something every few minutes - and diaper changes will be at the top of the list.  I made myself my own diaper caddy baskets for the bedroom and living room using a wire basket from Marshalls, and always kept a set of diapers, wipes, lotion, and cream handy there so I didn't have to keep running back and forth from room to room to take care of my kid's needs.  Many stores make diaper caddies for organizing your diapering needs, but I preferred making my own because I could buy baskets that were the size I needed.  
      This self-made diaper caddy is always nearby me
  • NUME WAND
    • Everyone who knows me knows how much I love styling my hair.  It's something I always find a few minutes of time to do, because I feel like I can attempt a salon look in minutes...so why not?  I have the NuMe Classic Curling Wand (1 1/4 inch wide) in turquoise.  It heats up in a few seconds, and I get a wavy style in a few minutes because of how fast it works.  I always use a little Pure Clean Finishing Paste by Garnier Fructis when I curl my hair - discovered this by accident because I was searching for something other than hair spray, which I don't like to use around the kids anymore.  Back to the NuMe wand though - when I purchased mine I found a coupon code through their instagram page - you can check out this wand (or others) here on their site.

  • AMAZON PRIME MEMBERSHIP
    • Being a mom of 3 comes with its challenges, and getting out to shop can be nearly impossible sometimes depending on the weather, our mood, our nap time, etc.  Amazon Prime has saved me so many times, and I should have done this even before I became a mom!  2 day shipping on practically anything is amazing and totally worth the $99 annual membership fee.  I use my account to watch movies sometimes, I set up my baby registry on there for the twins while I was pregnant, and I even had a diaper subscription going on for a while.  
David's always excited for and immediately recognizes an Amazon Prime delivery!

  • MINNETONKA MOCASSINS  
    • I would wear flip flops every day of the year if I could, but since it gets too cold here in NYC, I have to say my best mom find for myself this past year was mocassins by Minnetonka.  They are quick to put on when you have 2 babies all bundled up and fussing to leave, and I think they really work for my "on the go" mom style.  They match any outfit and come in different colors, not to mention how comfy and cozy they are!

  • SHARK STEAM MOP
    • I have to mop every day, most days way more than once - thanks to all the spills, or spit up or just the fact that I have 2 young crawlers around here (so clean floors become even more necessary).  The shark mop is quick to use, and I don't need to use any chemical products with it.  It steams regular water to disinfect and actually sanitizes the floors, and I just throw the mop pad to wash in the machine.  My boys also all love the sound of the mop steaming - So worth having one!  Here's a link to the Shark Mop Genius at Bed Bath & Beyond, where you can nearly always find a 20% Off coupon in their store flyers or online.

  • HYPOALLERGENIC FAMILY PRODUCTS
    • My kids and I all have fairly sensitive skin, so I have always tried using hypoallergenic (and fragrance free) products for anything I could find - diapers, dish and bottle soap, laundry detergent, hand soap.  Hypoallergenic products are less likely to cause allergies in people because they contain fewer allergens.  Using these products just puts my mind at ease.  

  • NETFLIX SUBSCRIPTION
    • Can't even begin to tell you how much Netflix came in handy in this past year - found quite a few series that I loved and could watch alone or with my husband during any time convenient for me.  Totally worth it!  And sometimes Netflix makes my mom time possible because I've been able to download certain titles from there to preoccupy my oldest son with, like long car rides, traveling, etc.

  • DUNKIN DONUTS PERKS APP
    • I dream of owning my own franchise one day, just so I can make myself Iced Coffees all day long!  There's one across the street from my place, and I def indulge in my iced coffees with hazelnut swirl often - so the perks mobile app rewards is well worth it.  It's a rewards program - you earn points while you spend money and receive exclusive coupons on the app.  I probably spent thousands of dollars before finally joining the rewards program and downloading the app!

  • ST. IVES APRICOT SCRUB
    • I try to use this scrub 3 times throughout the week to exfoliate my skin.  It's natural, leaves my skin feeling light, and is quick and easy for me as a busy mom to use - just rub it into my skin and wash it off with water.  You can find it practically at any drug store, but am linking it here too.

  • CLEAR MAKEUP TRAYS
    • These trays keep all my cosmetics organized, so I can see what I actually have when I'm putting on makeup.  And I can easily move these from one room to another (because the twins are in my bedroom), so if they're napping or mom needs to hide out in the bathroom to actually get ready in peace, then the trays are super convenient and easy to move.  I always find these at my local TJMAXX for under $10 a piece.
When you share a room with your husband and twin boys, you're lucky to get a corner for yourself
  • BOXY CHARM SUBSCRIPTION
    • And on the makeup note, this is something recent and super fun that I've treated myself to, the monthly Boxy Charm subscription.  I receive 5 full size beauty products each month for $21 per month (no shipping charges).  It's fun and feels like a gift to myself.  There are so many cosmetic subscriptions available now, and I think everyone deserves one!  You can learn more about how Boxy Charm works here on their website.

  • LOOPY PHONE CASE 
    • Spending more than $10 on a phone case would have sounded absurd to me before becoming a mom.  But after losing my phone twice after having my son drop it into the toilet (seriously, 2 times) I realized hashing out the money for a quality phone case is necessary.  I really love the recent Loopy phone case because the finger loop makes it so comfortable, and there's no way I'm dropping my phone on my face in bed any more.  I can hold a bunch of things in my hand, along with the phone, knowing I won't drop it all - I'm always rushing out the door grabbing a million things in hand.  
Loopy Phone Case in 'Rose Gold Marble'

  • GOOGLE CALENDAR
    • I know I've mentioned this before, but seriously...even my husband knows he has to add events to the Google calendar, which is now our virtual family calendar.  I've got it color coded, so one color is for each family member - and the calendar is shared with my husband on his Gmail.  I set e-mail reminders for certain items, and it just keeps life a bit more manageable.
A sample of a color coded Google calendar month view

Leave a comment and let me know what some of your "mom essentials" are!


I'm linking up to Dare to Share Saturday @PamsPartyandPraticalTips.com and @KandyKreations.net

Also Linking up to Saturday ShareFest with #TheSwayLife





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