Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

Easy Ways to Keep Your Toddler Entertained

We all have those days where our to-do list seems a mile long yet we have an adorable toddler who wants all of our attention! While it is obvious that you cannot be in two places at once, that does not mean all hope is lost. Toddlers are naturally curious and active, ready to explore the world around them. This is great for development but not so great when you have a sink full of dishes or mountains of laundry to fold and put away! Here are some easy ways to keep your toddler entertained while you knock out that list. When you are trying to get chores done inside, it is easy to keep your toddler in the same room with you by simply blocking the doorway with a baby gate. Okay, this keeps them in the room but how to entertain them? Toddlers love to think they…

Top Affordable Fitness Products For 2024

Staying healthy and fit is a priority to most women today and the pressures of eliminating excess baby weight postpartum is a burden too many of us bear. Unfortunately, the cost of going to a gym, or purchasing home equipment for weight loss and strength-training activities can add up and put a pinch on your bank account. This can set us up for depressing mood swings, or feeling hopeless about losing weight. Thankfully, there is hope! Taking a few moments to browse the web, I’ve found some surefire ways to bring back a smile in the weight-loss realm. Wouldn’t you love an encouraging boost to get your daily fitness routine back on track and still stay within a healthy budget? Here is a selection of fabulous fitness finds that should be easier on the budget and inspire you to knock that postpartum weight off in a flash. Many of these…

50 Fabulous A Names For Baby

Congratulations! You’re expecting a baby! Now, the question is, what are you going to name this new addition to the family? Babies are super cute, cuddly (sometimes loud or smelly, lol) and make our hearts fill with joy, but you’ve got to have something just perfect to name this sweet bundle of love, right? So what are parents to do when they need to get help choosing a name that’s just right? Well, there are a lot of helpful resources out there from baby name books to taking a quick flip through magazines with celebrity names, author’s names, names of music artists in the list of Grammy Awards winners, or you can turn to thoughtful bloggers who love to spend their time collecting character-building names for you to thumb through and choose from. Aren’t we just the sweetest? Wink, wink. Ok, I know it isn’t necessarily going to be “hip”…

9 Helpful Tips That Bring Relief to Breastfeeding Moms

You don’t have to be a mom to know that breastfeeding can be challenging at times. Breastfeeding can save you money and time, but can also be difficult to do in public or when you are away from home.The hardest part of nursing a baby for me was figuring out how to make it work in the first few weeks. I’ve been there and done that and I want to help. Here are my 8 favorite breastfeeding tips for the new mom. Nursing Bra Having a good nursing bra can make all the difference when trying to nurse in public or in the middle of the night. Wearing a supportive and comfortable nursing bra keeps your breast tissue and ligaments supported under the extra weight of the milk they carry. Different types of nursing bras are sold in stores and online which can benefit the different situations you can…

7 Strategies to Help Your Kids Become More Responsible

Good parents have similar feelings and goals for children. We look at our children with care, concern, and hope. We want them to be the best versions of themselves they can be. Most of all, we want them to be self-sufficient long after we’re gone. One of the keys to helping our kids survive and thrive in this wacky, crazy world of ours is by teaching them responsibility. And it’s often a challenging concept to teach. This article will give you seven simple strategies that are highly effective at guiding your kids toward becoming responsible. Communication is Key If you want to teach kids to be more responsible, you’ll first need to communicate on a level your child can understand. First, realize that young children don’t grasp sarcasm. They don’t begin to understand it until their teen years, which is probably one reason many teens come off as so sarcastic…

How to Entertain Toddlers – A Comprehensive Guide for Parents

Having a toddler means you know all about a fussy child. Because this is the age when children get distracted very easily and tend to have tantrums the most. It’s important for the parents of a toddler to know how to keep him entertained so they don’t start throwing bad tantrums too often. Here we have got 20 ways to keep your little love entertained throughout the day. Try them and you are gonna get a happier version of your own child. 1. Play Taste Test with Your Kids Get your inner chef in action. Make different food items for your children and let your kids be the judge. They will love the taste testing game. Meanwhile, you can take care of your toddler’s health by making nutritious food. Try simple vegetables and fruits that are good for children. That way your kid’s required diet will be achieved without…

STEM Lessons Your Kid Will Learn in their 1st Year of Kindergarten

Science abilities can be acquired through simple hands-on activities and tests performed right under the safety of your home. Studies show that even before age two, children have a robust understanding of the principles of science. Scientists have shown time and time again that kids are curious, want to explore, and want to learn by doing. Around the time they’re in first grade, they know how to work out a theory, and if time remains to investigate it on their own. According to your state’s program, you may expect your kindergartner to learn the fundamentals of experimental experiments, though, you can also expect to discover the following concepts: Physical Science Life Science Earth Science We’ve compiled a few helpful tips on how you can improve your child’s newly developed science skills at home. Weather & Seasons Young learners discover the physical phenomena they see in their day-to-to-day lives. Children will…

How to Rev Up Your Metabolism After Pregnancy

Pregnancy and childbirth are often considered some of the most beautiful events in life. The BBC reports that in America, there were 3.6 million births from women aged 15-44 years old in 2020. This is a 4% decline from the previous year’s numbers and shows that the rate of childbirth has continued to decrease annually since 1979. Research shows that this dip is because many women prefer to become mothers much later in life as compared to the previous decades. They claim that this helps them be more prepared for the inevitable differences a baby will make in their lives. How pregnancy changes the body When someone goes through pregnancy, they will notice that their body changes in several ways. Women can experience sensory changes during pregnancy, for one. An example of this is when you start to feel an aversion to food or scents you used to like. You…

How To Choose The Right Life Coach For You

Life coaching can be extremely useful in helping you to overcome issues in various different facets of your life. The process involves a series of guided conversations between you and your coach, with the intention of helping you to overcome barriers or problems hindering your happiness and wellbeing. However, with this particular form of coaching, it’s never a case of ‘one size fits all’, since everyone will react differently to different methods and techniques. In this case, it’s essential to thoroughly research prospective coaches in advance of starting your session. This will ensure that you get the best value for money and see the best possible returns from your investment. But how do you set about finding the perfect match? Here are four ways you can help whittle down potential coaches. Decide upon an area of expertise Whilst all life coaches will be proficient in helping you…

How to Navigate the 3rd Trimester of Pregnancy Like a Pro

Considering the task of carrying and delivering a baby, the third trimester of pregnancy can be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of information, this checklist can serve as your personal guide through what to expect during the last 3 months of pregnancy. It covers everything from what you should expect during your doctor visits to what to pack in your hospital bag. You are winding down and getting close to that milestone finish line of pregnancy! The amazing feeling of getting to hold your precious little one in your arms is almost here! It will come before you know it! But before you get to cross that well-deserved finish line, there are still a few things that are probably a good idea to keep in mind that could pop up along the way during your last three months of pregnancy. You’re Ready For…

Ashling Drew