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Ashling Drew

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I need you to pause just a little bit as this is quite important.  If you look at the reality of it, we may only get one chance to experience pregnancy in our lifetime.  Maybe two, maybe three?  Whatever your situation, the miracle of getting pregnant and then creating your own unique way to have a gender reveal to share the sex of your baby is something only momma can do. Yes, your whole family and close friends want know about your baby and help you spread the good news, but this is your choice. Don’t be shy to be selfish, but also do not be afraid to ask for help either.  Again, this is your song you get to write. When do you find out the sex of your baby? The doctor will do an ultrasound photo between 16 to 20 weeks.  It is highly likely the sex of…

Let’s get one thing straight…. Your young kids absolutely do not care about how cool your car is, how much money you make, what you do for a living, that big sale you made, planning the kitchen remodel, or making the grocery list……these adult topics mean nothing to your kids whether they are little or older.  They have one thing in common, they just want to spend time with YOU! Your time is now, and it is already beginning to dwindle. Think about it.  Between all the millions of things you have to do as a mother, wife, cleaner, friend, organizer, chef, volunteer, advisor, teacher….  spending time with your family members ranks extremely high on your list and even higher on your children’s list. A great thing and easy activity to schedule is a family fun activity or a family night activity. “But…..  I am sooo busy and just trying…

Whether your idea of adventure takes you to grandma’s for a visit or camping at the beach, Guava Family has travel solutions for you! Their products are designed to help you travel with baby. Life might look a little different these days with a baby in tow but that doesn’t mean your adventurous spirit has to be put on hold. A portable crib that you can wear as a backpack through the airport and a stroller meant to take you and baby wherever you want to go are part of their travel solutions to help you navigate that big wide world. We lived in Australia when I had my first baby and we used products very similar to take our son on 36 flights in his first two years of life! We decided that we wanted to take advantage of seeing that beautiful part of the world and our son…

Working out as a parent can be tough! Trying to fit it in between feedings and naps or shuffling kids around to various activities. Whether you are a stay at home mom or a working outside the home mom, we all have different challenges on our time and energy. In order to stay healthy and be able to show up well for our families we need to take care of ourselves physically too. Check out this tour of my home gym! Home Gym Set Up and Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wnj7YTxH1yk I’ve been through several stages of trying to find time to work out and reach my fitness goals, whether that was on business trips, at home, at the gym, having a personal trainer, etc. When the world shut down due to COVID I shifted to working out at home pretty well. I was doing personal training via FaceTime, signed up for the Peloton App on my phone and…

Gut health seems to be a buzz word these days, But there is something to it for sure. So much research is discovering just how much of our body’s functions are connected to the health of our gut. I have tried out a few different probiotics on the market for myself and my kids, and also immune support like elderberry gummies etc. There are so many products out there and it is hard to determine what is best. Now, we had a rough fall and early winter with illness and compromised immune system in each one of us in the house. Everything ranging from colds and coughs to strep throat and constipation. It was hard to figure out what was going on and how to reverse the cycle. Culturelle reached out to me to try out their probiotic with immune support. They have one for kids and one for adults. We tried both products. I was…

One of the things I held on to for a long time was making my kids birthday cakes myself. I try to make whatever we have at home for their actual birthday and in the past I used to make some of their party cakes too. Caveat – I am not a professional baker, not even by a long shot. But, I was determined and a few of these actually came out pretty awesome so I thought I would share them here. The good news is you can make something special that doesn’t take a lot of skills, you can use boxed cake mix and store bought frosting if you want, no shame from me! (I know some of you are cringing right now, and that’s okay, make homemade if you are up for it, but I’m just pointing out you don’t HAVE to!) Just remember the secret ingredients in these easy…

As a parent, you’re probably familiar with your child’s playtime. It’s a natural thing for little ones, and it can be inspiring to watch their imaginations at work — so much so, you can even join in and enjoy the same activities. It will not only benefit you, but it’ll benefit everyone involved. Specifically, the simplicity of playing and the joy of fun activities with your kids can improve your mental well-being, and you’ll enjoy every second of it. You’re never too old, no matter what your aching back might try to tell you! Let’s take a closer look at some of the cognitive and mental health benefits of playing and having fun with your kids. We’ll also touch on a few activities you and your children can enjoy together, so you’ll both get as much as possible out of your daily play. Strengthening Your Child Parents will do anything for their children. So, when…

Mother’s Day is around the corner but this list of faves is great for a holiday gift, birthday, or any special occasion. I wanted to share with you a list of some of my favorite things that can help you feel a little pampered as a mom. These are great ideas for stay-at-home moms or busy moms working outside the home too, they can give a hard-working mom a little time and space just for them! These are not big expensive things, they are relatively inexpensive and simple but give mother figures just a little pampering. We pour so much into our families and deserve a practical gift for when we can’t get out of the house for a spa day. Especially as a new mom, these thoughtful gifts can provide a mini reprive, which is a great way to reset and be able to show up for your baby…

St. Patrick’s Day Treat for the Whole Family Yup, that is me, as a wee one in my handmade ‘Erin Go Bragh’ jumper.  My mom and her whole side of the family is from Ireland. As you can imagine St. Patrick’s Day is kind of a big deal.  From decorating the house, to the full Irish meal we celebrate in style.  I’ve made green pancakes and green beer etc., but the thing that is a must is Irish Soda Bread. As a little treat I’m sharing our family recipe for Irish Soda Bread that we make multiple loaves of every year. Ingredients: 6 cups flour ¾ cup sugar 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons salt 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda ½ cup margarine or butter 3 cups dark seedless raisins, soaked in water for 30 minutes then drained) 2 ¼ cup Buttermilk 1 beaten egg Instructions: Blend together…

Motherhood is tough and breastfeeding can be stressful.  I put together some tips to help you out.  I hope you find it helpful.  I wanted to give you some nutrition advice and recipes for yourself to help keep you and baby healthy and your milk flowing. Enjoy! Related posts: The Best Lactation Cookie List for Breastfeeding and Milk Supply The Best Breastfeeding Foods for Lactation Smoothies and Shakes to Increase Milk Supply