I don’t know about you but I can feel the energy around me is starting to change and this happens every time the new season arrives. This spring I’m feeling the growth, freshness, more love and passion are in the air. It might be because the flowers are starting to bloom or that the other day I saw these cute bird couples were helping each other find some leaves to make their new nests in the trees. One couple were in my front yard and the other one were in my backyard. How adorable is that, right?
It’s Spring!
My dormant grass is now starting to come back to live once again after a long winter sleep. Now everything around me is filled with greater excitement and joy including my family that we were just welcoming our new bundle of joy, our second daughter, Aveena, (watch our family moments here). I have to say that I really love all the good vibes spring is bringing to all of us.
Since I’m now about 90% recovered from my repeat C-section, it will be a six week mark tomorrow and I’m so ready to rock and roll with anything that comes my way. I have some fears that I was trying to avoid for so long. I’m now going to stop and face those fears. I know you might have some too but hear me out, life is too short to be afraid and to stop yourself from fulfilling happiness in to your life. You should stop wasting your time escaping and avoiding whatever you are afraid of. Let this season be a starting point of the end of your fears. Start one fear at a time and start small. I promise I’m going to do this with you.
Eliminate Fears
What I suggest you to do is to list all your fears, figure out what’s causing them and what you are missing out when having those fears. Then write down ways to help you face your fears and how you would feel if those fears are gone. Next step is implementing those steps. Try recording your achievements every day. If one way doesn’t work, don’t worry! Sit back, relax and try a different way to face your fears. You will live without them soon because you are taking action to make them go away.
My Blogging Fear
One of the fears I had as I started to blog was no one would like my style. So I tried to dress like other girls who were cool and popular on social media. I got clothes that I would only wear to take pictures, I wore once for like 30 minutes and never worn them again. I couldn’t imagine myself wearing those outfits and walking around the street or to go to a movie theatre. What a waste of money and time spent to try to be someone else who I’m not.
Being Unique
As my blog has grown, I have come to realize that there is no point of having a blog unless I use it as a tool to connect with others through my own style and thoughts. But in opposite, I used it to become someone else who I’m not. All this nonsense had to stop. What happened next was me becoming happier at blogging more than ever. I have so many styles I love. I’m made of different personalities. I’m sure you can resonate with this too. One day I can dress whimsy. The next day I can be a classy girl. Or I can dress like an edgy 90s cool kid. Those are totally me. I admit I can’t stick to only one style like a lot of people. I’m full of everything!
I often get comments saying “I love your unique style.”. Sometimes I’m like, is that a compliment?. Haha! Whatever! If they love it that’s good enough for me.
Style and Fears
Let’s get back to spring a little bit. As I talk about style and fear earlier, why don’t you take advantage of the beginning of this spring season to deal with your fashion and style fears first. Think about one item in your closet that you were afraid to wear. Ask yourself why and try to find a way to fix your fears, get that piece of clothing on you! It shouldn’t be that hard. If you can do it, I have a surprise gift box filled with goodies for one of you who can fix and face your fears. Keep on reading to find out how you can win them. Is that encouraging enough?
Enter My Giveaway
If that’s not enough, at the end of this blog post I‘m teaming together with a group of bloggers to give our readers a chance to win a $750 Nordstrom Gift Card. The contest starts today and will end on Tuesday, April 9th at 12am PST. If you want to be a part of this giveaway, you can enter at the bottom of this post. Good luck! 🙂
Let’s get back on track here. Fears and style. I’m always afraid of wearing spaghetti straps. I’m so insecure of my arms and armpits. Oh wow, I’m already proud of myself of saying it and being so real on my space. Here I am wearing one in this blog post.
I’m also afraid of wearing a non fitted dress with only an inch above the knee length. It always makes me look shorter. But here I am wearing that type of dress too.
I guarantee you, you will be able to get rid of your fears if you feel good about the process and you start believing in yourself. And believing that you can do it too!
I don’t want this post to be longer than this, because it’s already too long. But I want to give you some quick spring tips on how to pick your spring dresses.
These two simple tips are not new and I’m sure you have heard of them before. In case you forgot, I’m bringing them up to remind you to start wearing them now.
Wear Bright
Either red, pink, green, yellow or orange. Pick one color that you like most and start your bright spring journey from there. Bright colors often bring uplifting energy and make your day more fun. Notice it next time you wear something bright.
I know of a lot people who don’t like wearing bright colors and only stick with white and black. If you are one of them, loosen yourself up a bit and enjoy the bright side of fashion. You will feel a lot better. Just don’t let those fear stop you.
Choose Floral Prints
This is a no brainer of a choice. It’s spring and it’s the season of flowers. Having a few pieces of floral print is a good way to add spring to your closet. If you want to add some femininity and sweetness to your style this season, choosing floral prints are always a good idea.
My Picks
Thank you for stopping by my blogtoday. I hope you like what I shared and gain some life benefits after reading this post. Remember to not let your fears stop you from enjoying your life. Life is too short to be scared. You deserve whatever your heart desires. Face your fears, no more avoiding because the more you try to escape, the more likely they are to follow you. I believe in you and I know you believe in yourself too. Let’s do this!
What’s one of your style fears, how are you going to fix it and will you be able to get rid of your fear?
Leave your comment below for a chance to win my surprise gift box. I will pick the winner and announce it here on this post at the end of this month. Waiting to read your stories!
And the winner is Gabrielle! Congratulations! Please contact me to claim your gift by April 5th, 2019. Email: hello@allaboutgoodvibes.com.
“Everything you want is on the other side of your fear.” – Jack Canfield
It’s officially Spring and time to treat yourself to some shopping! I’ve teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you a chance to win a $750 Nordstrom Gift Card!
To enter:complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete, the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning! This giveaway runs until Tuesday, April 9th at 12am PST
Winner will be announced here. Good Luck! *this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.
This post is in collaboration with THIQUE Hair Care. As always, all opinions are my own.
I love that this year has been a self-care focused year for many people, including myself. I’ve never realized how important self-care was until a few years after having a family and a baby of my own. Normally, instead of taking care of myself I gave all of the care to my family, which is a good thing but not a great thing in a self-care perspective.
I used to feel that taking care of yourself before others was a behavior of selfishness. But when looking more closely at what exactly self-care can do to help you, it made me change my mind. I started practicing self-care because it helped me to achieve and become a better person inside and out.
Just to give you a quick example of why you need to incorporate self-care to your daily routine. If you don’t take care of your health, either physically or emotionally, you might end up in poorer health condition. How can you be capable of taking care of others? No one will be able to take care of you and know exactly what you want, like or dislike as good as you do. There’s no reason to not take care of yourself.
For me, because I love my family so much, I should pay more attention and take better care of myself before it’s too late. Even though I started to adopt self-care in my routine after I had a family, you don’t need to have a family to start taking care of yourself. You can start at the stage you are at and it doesn’t matter how old you are and what life situation you are in. All you need to do is to start with small steps at a time and know that you’re important, you need love and care just like other people who you want to give your love and care to.
If you say, you don’t have time to take care of yourself, well, I don’t blame you. But don’t get discouraged because in today’s post I put together the easiest way to start incorporating your self-care practice to your daily routine. They’re super simple and easy to follow. As I said in our topic today, self-care can start with your hair! Yes, you can start by taking good care of your hair. Here’s how.
Tip #1 Comb Your Hair Everyday
Combing your hair is a healthy habit to have and you should do it every night before going to bed. The reason why it’s a good habit is because combing can help increase blood circulation in the scalp, promote healthy hair and help to transport oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. While combing your hair, the natural oils (sebum) that’s produced by sebaceous glands will be released which will help your hair look and feel shinier, and stronger. Combing also helps to get rid of dead skin cells, left over chemicals and old hair.
Be aware of excessive combing or brushing which may promote the excess sebum and make your scalp greasy.
Tip #2 Trim Your Hair
Trimming your hair can help remove split ends, damaged and broken hair. You can do it yourself once a month or every other month.
As you know that the end of your hair is the oldest part of your hair. To keep your hair looking healthy, you have to trim the damaged parts out. This will make your hair look and feel fuller and healthier afterwards.
Tip #3 Use Natural Ingredient Haircare Products
I’ve been hooked with natural haircare products for at least a few years now. I have noticed a significant change in the health of my hair after switching to the natural haircare lines.
I used to have hair loss and dry scalp problems but not anymore since I started paying attention to how I care for my hair.
During my pregnancy and now during my postpartum stage, my hair is still stronger and healthier than ever. Even my husband noticed that the other day that I don’t have any problems with my hair anymore.
With my first pregnancy I lost a lot of my hair like crazy both during and after the pregnancy. But this time around I figured out the ways to keeping my hair healthy which includes using natural ingredient haircare products. The brand I’m using right now is THIQUE Hair Care.
THIQUE Hair Care reached out to me last year and they wanted to get my honest opinions on their products. I said yes after doing some research and learned more about them in the process.
I love that their products are non-toxic, naturally based which features natural plant extracts and the purest essential oils. Their products are free of sulfates, parabens and gluten. Their products are hypoallergenic, vegan, safe for color-treated hair and not tested on animals.
I’m now using THIQUE Hair Care products (SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER, SCALP SERUM and VOLUMIZING MIST) for over a month now and I wanted to share with you what I thought about them.
Gently removes buildup and gets thicker and fuller looking hair. Formulated with 90% natural and naturally-derived plant extracts and the purest essential oils including:
AMAZONIAN COPAIBA OIL. Natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties nourish the scalp
NATURAL CAFFEINE EXTRACTS. Stimulates hair shaft and promotes hair growth
CANADIAN WILLOW HERB. Soothes the scalp as it gently removes impurities
First impression: This shampoo has a lovely and light floral scent combined with a cool peppermint scent. It isn’t overpowering. The packaging is sleek and simple. Nothing is too complicated when it comes to using the product. The shampoo is in a clear gel form. It gives a good amount of foam once you apply onto wet hair. It’s very easy to rinse off the product. It also gives my hair a refreshing and very clean feeling.
Moisturize the hair without weighing it down. Get thicker, fuller looking hair while you stimulate and nourish the scalp to prepare hair for maximum volume.
Formulated with 97% natural and naturally-derived plant extracts and the purest essential oils including:
AMAZONIAN COPAIBA OIL. Natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties nourish the scalp
NATURAL CAFFEINE EXTRACTS. Stimulates hair shaft and promotes hair growth
SUGAR CANE EXTRACTS. Helps increase scalp cell turnover and rehydrates scalp for hair growth. High moisture content nourishes strands and detangles
First impression: This conditioner has a light natural scent combined with a cool peppermint scent to it. The conditioner is lightweight in a white gel-like form. I tend to use a lot more condition than the shampoo. I think it’s because of its lightweight that makes me feel that I don’t put enough of the conditioner on my hair. It’s very easy to rinse off and gives my hair a very clean and soft to the touch feeling. I can feel and notice that my hair gets fuller and thicker after only one use, which is amazing.
Stimulate the scalp while you exfoliate dead scalp skin cells to create ideal surface for maximum volume. It is a lightweight gel that works directly on the scalp, ideally applied before bedtime and allowed to work overnight.
Formulated with 98% natural and naturally-derived plant extracts and the purest essential oils including:
AMAZONIAN COPAIBA OIL. Natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties nourish the scalp
NATURAL CAFFEINE EXTRACTS. Stimulates hair shaft and promotes hair growth
PEA PROTEINS. Anti-aging, nourishing peptide that strengthens follicle stem cells. Stimulates hair growth at the root and prevents further hair loss
First impression: I really like this product as it makes me feel like I give my hair extra attention and I’m providing it the nutrients it deserves. This serum smells pleasant. It comes in a clear gel form and in an easy to pump bottle. There’s no stickiness feeling when applying. The serum absorbs into my scalp very quickly. They recommend using it before bed, but I use it after every hair wash.
First impression: This hair mist smells very refreshing. It’s making me feel like I’m in a garden with fresh flowers. My hair looks fuller. I like the lightweight and non-stickiness of this mist. I feel like this product helps to lift up my roots all day.
Result after one month of using all of the products
I’m very satisfied with how THIQUE Hair Care shampoo, conditioner, serum and hair mist turned my hair and scalp to a healthier one. My hair loss problem is gone even though I’m now in a postpartum period. My hair is very shiny, feels fuller and looks thicker. I’m happy every time I use the products because I know that I’m treating my hair with plant based and natural ingredients.
If you’re interested in learning more about THIQUE Hair Care and their products, make sure you stop by their website (https://thiquehair.com/) to learn more. They just launched this new Hair, Skin and Nails Multivitamin Supplement for Women, feel free to check it out.
I hope you find those above tips helpful and simple enough to get you started with your self-care routine.
Like I said earlier, there’s no reason not to take care of yourself. The easiest way to start is to start small. And don’t forget that your self-care journey can start with a love for your hair.
Share with us on “your haircare tips” in the comments below! Excited to hear and try!
Thank you for stopping by All About Good Vibes today. I hope to see you again soon on my next post.
Big hug and thank you THIQUE Hair Care for sponsoring and being a part of our self-love posts.
“Invest in your hair it’s the crown you never take off.” – Unknown
My oh my it’s been over a month since I gave birth to my second daughter, Aveena. It wasn’t long ago, just only three years, that we became a family of three by welcoming our oldest daughter, Alida. Even though we had experience with a newborn before, we kind of forgot how tiny, helpless and delicate infants are. We know time will go by so quickly with babies, that’s why we are doing our best to continue to keep having our joyful moments around.
I know you might be feeling the same with your kids. Some of you might have sent your kids to college by now or are just starting to send them to school for the first time. Isn’t that crazy how lighting fast all those baby moments went by?
I have heard a lot of people say that it’s tough to have two kids. You know what, I don’t feel that way at all. I feel like things are getting even better and better. This time around my husband and I aren’t freaking out over our baby crying or being over protective of her. Our lives are just getting better with the new addition of joy to our family.
Today I finally had some time to sit down and start writing this blog post about “Newborn Essentials” which I planned to publish a while back. Today is a perfect day and actually perfect timing because I know exactly what I’m using in my everyday life with my brand spanking new baby girl.
If you are looking to put some products in your baby registry list or buying for your mom-to-be friends, definitely check out the below list. I have used all of these during my first month after giving birth and I know I will continue to still use most of them.
#1 Bassinet + Covers
This is by far one of the newborn essentials I use the most, day and night, 24/7. I love this Monte Design Rockwell bassinet a lot. The sleek and modern design is beautiful and goes well with our bedroom theme. I love the soft and protective sides that are covered by a removable and machine-washable fabric. The bassinet has a rocker base that makes it easy to sooth my new baby in. Make sure you get extra covers because you might go through a lot each day. So when you do laundry, you will be sure to have some clean ones to use.
One of the major requirements when having a baby at the hospital, is needing to have a car seat. You cannot leave the hospital without having a proper car seat installed. With our first daughter, we had a traditional one where you would have to carry your newborn around in and was very tiring. When we discovered Doona, the only car seat with integrated wheels; our lives became a whole lot easier. It has swivel wheels, one touch brakes and machine-washable seat covers. I especially love the rocking feature when I need to set the car seat down and can sooth my baby when she is crying.
#3 Nursing pillow
I had used a nursing pillow with my first daughter and loved it. You can actually use a normal pillow when feeding but the nursing pillows wrap around you and are easier to use whether you are in bed, on a rocking chair or sitting at the dining room table. My husband uses this pillow too when he feeds our newborn her bottle as it’s easier than just holding her with one arm and feeding with the other.
#4 Nightlight
Since we have our babies in our bedroom, we use a nightlight. It’s very convenient to just grab the remote and click on the nightlight while we are barely awake. Even though the light is very small, it does a great job filling the room with enough light to see where we are going and not waking everyone up if we were to turn on the very bright bedroom light.
#5 Swaddle Blanket
We used this in the hospital and during our first week at home but have since stopped using it. The reasons why I recommend this product as one of your newborn essentials are because it helps soothe babies while experiencing the startle reflex and also makes the new world more similar to the womb when they were in during those 40 weeks of their lives.
The second night in the hospital, Aveena was having a hard time falling asleep, I tried to feed her for several hours, but she kept crying and looked very uncomfortable. I was still waiting for my milk to come in, so my husband and I decided to call the nurse in to help swaddle the baby. The second she was in her swaddled blanket, she passed out. So, this swaddle blanket really helps comfort the baby and recreate the womb environment she was used to before she was born.
#6 Diapers, Wipes and Diaper Pail
You are going to need a lot of diapers and wipes. It’s a good idea to have these two items in your baby registry list to help save some money. We did it with our first daughter, but we didn’t have a baby shower for Aveena, so we had to get them ourselves this time. But when someone asked about what we need, when went right to diapers as our first choice.
You don’t need to get a lot of the newborn size, maybe only a pack or two. This is because babies grow really quickly and when our daughter, Aveena, was only two weeks old, she couldn’t wear her newborn size diapers anymore.
A Diaper Pail is also a great idea too because it can keep unwanted smells out of your space. We use it for both of our babies.
#7 Baby Bath Essentials
Baby wash, baby oil, baby lotion and baby bathtub are the four items we use. We don’t give our newborn baby a bath everyday, but we wipe her down instead. So, we use baby oil and lotion every day to keep her skin nourished and healthy.
#8 Newborn Nail Clipper Set
The newborn grooming set is definitely an essential item to have. We use the brush to keep her hair clean, the nail clipper and nail filler to prevent our baby from scratching herself and the thermometer to make sure her temperature is normal. It has other handy little items too if you might need them.
#9 Baby Blanket
Make sure you have plenty of blankets as they can get dirty very easily and you will probably go through a lot of them. The blankets we have are supper soft and thick enough to keep our newborn warm and snuggled in her bassinet when she is sleeping.
#10 Bodysuits/Mittens
It goes without saying that you will be going through lots of baby clothes when dressing and undressing your newborn. Bodysuits are much easier to put on and take off when cleaning your baby. My husband and I love the zip up body suites as they are very easy to change into in the middle of the night when it’s pretty dark to see. We also use mittens to keep our baby girl from scratching herself and to keep warm at night too.
#11 Changing Table + Pad + Covers
I used to be against the idea of having a changing table. I felt like it was unnecessary to have to change the baby on the changing table as you can pretty much change her anywhere. But I was wrong. Since the birth of my daughter, I found that using a changing table has been very helpful. It has the right height and made our changing routine a lot easier when it comes to changing all day and night long.
With that being said you will need a changing pad and lots of covers to go with your table.
#12 Burb Cloths
The burb cloth is a life saver for those moments when you need to make a quick clean up on both baby and you. It’s important to have a lot of these handy as we sometimes go through a lot in one day.
#13 Breast Pump/Milk Storage Bags
Breastfeeding has many health benefits for both mom and baby. You might want to take a look at this article I found on HealthLine. I breastfed my first daughter for 3 years and had a great experience with it. So, having a breast pump will help you with breastfeeding journey.
The reason why I recommend having a breast pump and storage bags are that it’s good to have a backup of milk and to use if your baby is sleeping and you need some relief from breast pain.
With Alida, I used the breast pump a lot for the first 6 months and would freeze the storage bags for later use. Now with my second daughter I used it on a roll for the first few weeks and now I only use it when I really have a lot of milk, my breasts start to hurt and when we need to take the milk with us when we’re going out and about.
Having a breast pump also helps you with your milk production levels. If you have a hard time producing milk, try making a pumping schedule and stick with it for several weeks. It works for a lot of new moms this way.
#14 Formula/Baby Bottles
As you might already know from reading my blog, I am not a big fan of dairy products. So, when I use formula, I use a non-dairy brand. It’s very convenient to have some on hand if I didn’t pump any breast milk. I will make a bottle and bring it with me when I go out. I mainly breast feed my daughter but it’s good to have some when you need it.
#15 Diaper Bag
The diaper bag is one of those items I can’t go without when taking my newborn out of the house. You can just use any large sized bag and bring all your essentials in, but a diaper bag really keeps everything organized and easy to find when you’re racing to grab your burb cloth our getting out the ready-made bottle. Most diaper bags come with a changing pad, which is convenient when changing your baby in a public restroom and knowing you have a clean area to rest your baby on.
Those are all of my recommended items. I hope this list helps you find the right essentials for your newborn. All of the items I listed I really use and find them very helpful with my baby. I want to make ever parent-to-be to have a smooth journey and wonderful memories with their newborns. That’s why I wanted to share this 15 Must-Have Newborn Essentials with you. Not everyone will need the same things or the exact same items I do, these are just from my experiences and I think will be helpful for you to know.
We are feeling like new parents again, but this time with more skills. We are grateful to have Aveena in our lives and are cherishing every moment.
Thank you for stopping by All About Good Vibes today. I will be sharing the New Mom/ Postpartum Essentials blog post soon, hope to see you there.
What are your newborn essentials?
“A baby fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.”- Anonymous
xoxo,
Mollie Larsen is the creator of All About Good Vibes—a feel-good destination that inspires women to love, care and be themselves. Growing up she loved dressing up, taking care of her skin and helped supporting others. She believes in positivity and seeing good in all situations. Her biggest achievement of the day is putting her babies to sleep early, relaxing and watching her favorite shows with her husband.
