Beauty tips for busy moms~priddymomma

Hey guys!  Welcome back!  The topic this week will be beauty tips for busy moms.  My disclaimer:  I am not an expert.  I don’t even have a beauty channel on youtube.  That being said, here are my top ten tips:

1. Pick what you want to have shine.  There are mouths to feed and a house to clean!  You don’t have the time (or reason) to get dolled up to the nines.  Pick a piece of you that you want to look awesome (skin, lips, eyes, hair, nails).  Make it awesome.  Three products or less, people!  We’re on a time crunch here.
2. Lips:  if you have gross peely lips (you can tell I’m all over this beauty terms thing), use a toothbrush (preferably not one you brush with or regularly use for cleaning) or washcloth and a bit of Vaseline to have smooth lips again. 
3. Eyes:  Use liquid eyeliner or I guarantee you will have to reapply/do corrections more than you want to.  Avoid neutral colors or anything brassy if you are a new/sleep deprived mom.  They make your eyes look heavier, so you will just look more exhausted.  White eyeliner on your lower lid makes you look fresher and draws attention away from any unsightly bags. 
4. Skin:  exfoliate, cleanse, and hydrate.  Use a skin brush or washcloth to exfoliate skin.  Use a face mask (they sell them at the store in single use packets) if desired.  Then hydrate your face with lotion or whatever other face hydrators they have on the market. 
5. Hair:  wash.  I suggest investing in some really good shampoo and conditioner.  It truly makes a difference.  Air dry to prevent damage if there’s time.  If not, either ignore the fact your hair is still wet, or blow dry.  Good luck having time to style.  If you’ve showered the night before, chances are you have a nest of evil in the morning.  Wet it down as if you are going to wash it and go from there.  New moms, I highly suggest purchasing dry shampoo for days your in-laws announce they will be there in five minutes when you a.) just got the baby to go to sleep b.) have spit up on several items of clothing you are currently wearing   and c.) haven’t touched the house in several days, so also no clean laundry .  At least your hair won’t be terrible for all those pictures you know you’ll end up in.  I also suggest a shorter cut.  It’s tough to make time for yourself, and brushing your hair when it’s long is such a chore while being exhausted.
6. Prevention.  No matter how tired you are, before bed you should always brush your teeth and wash your face.  Cavities, bad breath, and breakouts are bad news bears.  Removing that makeup (assuming you had any on by whatever time you got to bed) at the very least saves you a step in the morning.
7. Don’t be lazy about hair removal.  Tweeze, wax, or otherwise get your brows done regularly.  Shave your legs, even in the winter.  Do it regularly, even if you have to jump out of the shower after only one leg to get the baby.  Do the other leg the next day.  (Totally not kidding.  It happens).
8. Eat well.  What you eat can affect your body size and shape, as well as your complexion.  It will also affect your energy level, and no one looks their best while exhausted.
9. Exercise.  It might be tough to fit it in, but even if you have to squeeze in squats, lunges, sit ups, etc. in five minutes segments throughout the day, you’ll feel better for it.  It will make a difference in your posture if you are strong and in your confidence if you’ve worked out (which is about the sexiest thing a woman can have on, btw).
10. Get enough sleep.  Stop laughing.  New moms, don’t shoot me.  I understand your issues.  Moms of older children, if you have the choice, choose to get to bed instead of watching another episode of your favorite show.  There is such a thing as beauty rest.

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Mom Alienation, losing non-mom friends...

Becoming a mom is life changing. Nothing is the same. You change your whole view of the world, priorities, thoughts, relationships, etc. Nothing is left unaffected.

Having a baby is a beautiful thing, but the very MOMENT you find out you are going to be a mother you aren't the same.
The only bad thing is that your friends become different towards you too. Mainly we are talking about your non-mom friends. Not all of them will do this, but there will be some.
Now this is not to say that the non-mom friends are bad people. Not at all. I guess you have to see it from both perspectives and add the fact that everyone is different.

When I found out I was pregnant all the people close to me were very excited right along with me. However, that quickly changed as I started changing. After all I now was growing a life inside me, I wanted to get ready for the baby. I couldn't go out and party with friends anymore. I still hung out with some of them and we would see movies, go swimming, just hang out, etc. But it wasn't the same.
I was tired often, I no longer wanted to stay out late, I didn't want to drive around, etc. I wanted to go home and crochet baby blankets, I wanted to shop for baby clothes instead of other stuff, etc. It may sound boring but that's just who I became. I didn't think badly of my friends who got to go out and have a good time. I even still enjoyed hearing their stories, but some of them had no interest in hearing mine. Friendship goes both ways, and that's the main thing to remember.

Once I had my first son things some friends separated even more from me. I noticed it but didn't fret too much. We were both different people now. Or as some of them seen it they stayed the same while I changed. I was fine with this, however. No sense in crying over spilled milk. It's sad to lose friends, but if your losing them then they weren't your REAL friends to begin with.
I was told by one friend that our lives were too different and I didn't have the time needed to hang out. I was now boring and just because I changed didn't mean they were going to. But she didn't look at the fact I was a new mom with a newborn to take care of. I didn't want to leave my baby and go party. I had diapers and wipes to buy, doctor appointments to attend. Sleep was now a precious commodity, no longer a right but a luxury.
But one thing I quickly learned is this golden rule:

You win some, you lose some.

This can easily be applied to mommy hood. While you will inevitably lose some of your non-mom friends as you are changing you will gain some new mom friends. And don't forget your TRUE friends will be around for you no matter what the situation. They will learn to adapt to your lifestyle and you still need to remember to make time for them. Involve them in stuff and when you can do some stuff they want to do. Let your partner have some daddy/child time and go out with your friends for a little bit. Call your friends and keep in touch via text/email/etc. And make sure they make time for you too. Have them over for movie night, let them accompany you to the park when you take your kiddos, invite them to birthday's, etc. Your friendships don't have to stop just because your a mom. Your true friends will stick around, they will respect the fact that your life has changed and they will still be there. They will listen to all your parenting stories from dirty diapers to lack of sleep. They won't care you have spit up on your shirt (which does happen more often than you think). Fact of the matter is when it comes to true friends you may even go months without talking but when you finally get back to it, it won't be awkward or different. You'll be able to pick right back up where you left off and both parties will be understanding.

One thing that's important is to keep your friendships many. I have friends that have older children, friends that have no children, friends that have younger children. As a mother they have all contributed to me in so many ways from helpful hints and tips to inspiration. I have been able to pass down handy tips and tricks and I have had tips and tricks passed down to me.

Even if your losing some friends you will gain more, and the true ones will stay.

Children's Sleep ~ Tori

credit: WebMD.com

Children's sleep habits are so important. It affects a child's mental and physical health.
Lack of sleep can also lead to what I'm sure all us mom's have experienced: tantrums. I don't know about all of you, but if my children don't get the right amount of sleep they act out, fight, throw tantrums, and are just really grumpy kiddos.

You want to think that sleep is going to be easy. How hard can it be? You put your kids to bed, read them a story, and to sleep land they go. Wrong. Most of the time bedtime isn't easy. As kids get more and more independent they fight sleep, they don't want to miss anything. They don't realize how much they need sleep, so it's our job as parents to make sure they are getting what they need.
Don't beat yourself up if your children aren't in the exact guidelines needed. Above is a chart that compares recommended hours to reality hours of sleep.
One thing to remember is keeping your children on a sleep schedule. This is one aspect of parenthood you don't want to be as tolerant with. There are things that come up every now and again that can affect sleep schedules, but for the most part keep a routine.
Here are a few tips that can help with sleep:

• Encourage security objects if your child is afraid of bedtime such as a nightlight, stuffed animal, cozy blanket, etc.
• Make sure your child's bedroom is comfortable and safe.
• Have no TV on in your child's bedroom. 
• Ease into bed, read your child a bedtime story to help them relax.
• Keep schedules as consistent as possible.
• Avoid caffeine or sugary drinks at least four hours before bedtime.
• Talk with your children (given they are at an age of understanding) about important sleeping habits.

Routine and consistency is key. Once you find the right schedule for your family keep with it. Obviously as your baby/child gets older schedules will change, but as long as you keep a schedule you can ensure your doing your best at keeping your child's sleep habits consistent and healthy.