Staycation for Mom!

How to have relaxing day amidst the craziness of spring!

Here at Bows & Babes we understand that the spring is busy busy busy! However, everyone needs to take a little “me time” every once in awhile, it keeps us sane. Whether you have time for a whole day or just a few hours,I have some suggestions that can help you kick back and relax.

First things first, try to get a head start on future tasks, whether this is finishing up some emails or signing all those field trip forms. This will help ease your mind of all the things you have to accomplish when you come back to reality. Once you have checked off your todo list you can really get started on having your perfect pampering day!

1. Nice Bath- I suggest grabbing that book you can’t stop obsessing over or some drama filled magazines and starting a bath. Make sure to add your newest bath bomb or some bath salts to help create a soothing atmosphere.

2. Nails- Whether this entails an at-home mani pedi or going to the nearest salon, nothing makes you feel refreshed and energized like a bright new color on your nails! What better way to welcome the warm weather we’ve been getting?

3. Get Outside- Another thing I like to do is take some time to enjoy this lovely spring weather. I suggest making a nice cup of tea and grabbing a blanket for those chillier days and picking a spot out on my porch. This way you can get the fresh air while still staying cozy with your hot tea and your fuzzy blanket.

4. Treat Yourself- For me, this means getting to try some sweets I’ve been trying to avoid, but this can mean going out and buying some new accessories or having lunch at your favorite restaurant!

I hope that these tips and tricks help you have a relaxing staycation! As moms we naturally have a lot going on and we can forget that we deserve a free day and the chance to give a little attention to ourselves, it’s necessary!

Morning Time Crunch Tips

How to help avoid hectic mornings

Mornings are a busy time for all families. Kids getting ready for school, parents getting ready for work, breakfast, last minute clean-ups, ect. Sometimes it feels as though we need an entire day to get done what we must in the mornings. With these tips I hope to help relieve you of some of your morning stress.

1. Wake up 10 minutes earlier

Yes, this sounds terrible, those 10 minutes are precious in the morning. However if you wake up 10 minutes earlier, you will have time to organize your thoughts before jumping into the morning and have a few extra minutes for whatever you need. This can be having another cup of coffee to wake you up or getting your makeup done to avoid the awkward lipstick mishaps in the car!

2. Have your bags packed the night before

Nothing is worse than rushing to pack your bag, running out the door, and not realizing you forgot your laptop until you’re halfway to work. To help prevent this try packing your bag the night before, this way you have all the time you need to check and double check that you have your laptop. Try even making a checklist to help the process go by faster. You can even have your kids to do this with their backpacks!

3. Create an individual task for each person

Think of this as a chores list but for the mornings. Each day every person will have a specific task they have to do to make the morning run smoothly. This allows the process of getting ready to run efficiently. Some of these tasks could be: making the coffee, taking out the plates and silverware for breakfast, making breakfast, ect.

Birthday Parties

Throw a fabulous, yet low stress bday party for your little one!

Birthday parties are a fun experience for everyone! It allows friends and family to come together. However, there are many factors that go into planning a party that can cause some stress. My goal is to help share some tips that can help lower the chance of problems occurring and take away some of your worry.

1. Invitations- My best advice for this is using an evite. This is hassle free and quite easy to use. All you need are the guests’ emails!

2. Dessert- The dessert really depends on what you like better. If you like the more traditional route, then go for the cake. However, I suggest something like cupcakes or cake pops. The reason for this is that these desserts are individual and eliminate the whole messy processes of cutting a cake.

3. Presents- I always find myself stressing over what to do about presents. Do I wait for everyone to leave or do people want to see my kid open their kid’s present? The decision I’ve come to is to wait till everyone leaves. This allows for the kids to have more fun with each other and play instead of us trying to settle them down when they have so much energy. It also prevents a kid from being singled out if they didn’t bring a gift or an awkward encounter in case the child doesn’t like a gift.

4. Activities- My advice for activities is always have more than you think is enough. You never know whether kids will go through crafts in 3 minutes or 20 minutes. This is why more is better than less in this situation. Also, if the kids do end up taking their time, extra crafts make for perfect additions to goody bags!

Spring Cleaning!

Its that time of year again.. Spring Cleaning.. The time we set aside to clean up the house, organize, or even redecorate the kids rooms. I know at times it is hard to really get in the spirit of "spring cleaning," because lets face it, it is not the most fun thing to do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. However, with some of these cleaning and organization tips you may find yourself getting into it!  And hey, with cleaning.. you always find that one item you thought was lost forever! ha!

42 Ways To Make Your Entire Home Cleaner Than It's Ever Been This link is awesome! So many great ideas. Check them out!

Also.. check out the 25 Day Organization Challenge.. do it with your friends and other family members! This challenge is great because if you have a busy schedule and can't get multiple things done, it allows you to at least get something done at least once a day.

 

Organize The Bathroom Click on this link for awesome organization ideas for the bathroom! A place that things can never be too clean :)

Comment with what you enjoyed about doing the challenge or if you have organization tips! Happy Cleaning!

March is National Craft Month

March is National Craft Month!

As if we needed another excuse to craft, March is National Craft Month! It is the perfect time to get your creative juices flowing and start to make something that makes you feel accomplished and proud. On the other hand, if you have  never tried crafting.. this would be the perfect month to try something out! To help you out a little bit, here are a couple of crafts that you can try. Click on the links and ENJOY! Leave comments on what you liked or crafts you want others to see that you have already tried. 

Creative House Number Ideas - Want to add a decorative sign outside of your house with your address? This craft is for you. 
Fabric Bows - Adorable and so simple!
Headband and Bow Holder- Do you know someone who has tons of bows and headbands? This is the perfect craft for you to make! Keeps the bows and headbands organized in a cute way! 
5 Minute Dry Erase Board - Such a great idea to make if you want to have a dry erase board that shows your own personal style. 
45 Creative Crafts to Make and Sell on Etsy- If you love a wide variety of crafts and just can't decide on what to do? Click on this link! 
DIY Scrabble Tile Coasters- A great craft to try if you are sick of your coasters and want to make adorable new ones! 

HAPPY CRAFTING! and Remember, if it doesn't work out the first time.. Try Try Again! 

New Trends of 2017

At the start of the New Year, many customers want to know what the anticipated trends are going to be. These new trends range from helping a mom-to-be or an already amazing mom who wants to make sure their son or daughter has the best. Here is a list of some cute, practical, and fun items that will be a huge hit in 2017!

Lulujo Baby’s First Year Blanket
The newest trend has been parents taking monthly pictures of their son or daughter during the first year. An update to the belly stickers on a onesie or blocks that display months, is this blanket made by Lulujo. It all started on Instagram! It is a large muslin blanket that has 14 different cards. This blanket makes it easier for parents because it is a photo-ready set.

Cheeky Chompers NeckerChew or ComfortChew
This item has been a real hit and makes for a great gift! The Neckerchew has a chewy end that helps any teething baby. It is stylish, reversible, absorbent, and hygienic. The Comfortchew is made of soft material, has ribbon tags to play with and can be attached easily to just about anything. one if the best features of both of these products is that they are machine washable!

Itzy Ritzy Nursing Scarf with Leather Cuff
Nursing scarves are not a new product; however, this leather cuff that Itzy Ritzy has added to their scarves is practical and useful. It can be placed on the left side or right side to serve as a breastfeeding reminder on which side to nurse next. The cuff can also secure your shirt up during feeding sessions.