Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

Mom Gear

Practical Gifts for Moms Self-Care

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…

Food & Recipes

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: A Family Recipe for Irish Soda Bread

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…

Breastfeeding

Free ebook: Breastfeeding Moms Tips to Staying Healthy and Stress Free (Including Recipes)

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

Postpartum

What Are Kegels and How To Do Them – From a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

By now, everyone has heard of Kegels. It’s a buzzword and everyone is getting in on the trend. But do you really know what they are?? I mean really?? I didn’t think so. I am a pelvic health Physical Therapist and let me tell you, you are not alone. It’s estimated that roughly 80% of women don’t know what the correct muscles are, where to find them, how to use them and if they are even using them correctly when they do find them. I see this day in and out in my practice. So let’s start at the beginning shall we?? Your Pelvic Floor Kegels are a fancy term for pelvic floor exercises. They are named after the American Gynecologist Arnold Kegel who discovered how working this group of muscles was so beneficial. The pelvic muscles basically form your undercarriage at the bottom of your pelvis. There are 15…

Pregnancy

The Embrace: An Amazing Belly Band for Back Pain Relief

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman’s life, but it can also be a challenging one, especially when it comes to physical discomfort. As your body changes and your baby grows, you may experience lower back and/or pelvic pain, which can make it difficult to go about your day-to-day activities. Thankfully, there is a simple solution to this problem – The Embrace, which is the newest maternity support belt on the market. The Embrace is specially designed to provide support to the lower back and pelvis during pregnancy. The Embrace is adjustable, so you can customize the level of support to suit your needs, and it is made from soft, breathable fabric that won’t irritate your skin. Why do you need The Embrace? As your baby grows and your body changes, your center of gravity shifts forward, putting pressure on your lower back and pelvis. This can lead to lower back pain, pelvic pain, and even…

Food & Recipes

The Benefits of Cooking Together as a Family

Food is more than just a source of nourishment; it brings people together and strengthens relationships. Families cooking together can profoundly impact the family’s health, relationship, and overall well-being. This article will explore the benefits of cooking together and how it can positively impact your life. What are the Benefits of Cooking Together as a Family Preparing food together is an excellent way to spend quality time with loved ones. It is a fun and interactive activity that encourages communication, cooperation, and creativity. Cooking together allows family members to bond over a shared interest and create positive memories that last a lifetime. Moreover, cooking together has many health benefits, such as better control over ingredients, improved nutrition, and increased consumption of vegetables. Health Benefits of Family Cooking One of the biggest benefits of cooking together is that it allows for better control over ingredients. Families can choose healthier ingredients and control portion sizes when they…

Breastfeeding

Why You Should Meet with Your Lactation Consultant BEFORE Giving Birth

In all the excitement of pregnancy tests, gender reveals, childbirth classes, nursery decorations, and baby showers, it is easy to forget that after your birth you will immediately have a completely helpless tiny newborn to care for. And immediate does not mean a day or a week later, it means within minutes of enduring possibly one of the most physically challenging experiences of your life, you will have another person to care for. It is extremely important to be prepared for these first few moments, especially if you plan to breastfeed your baby. A good idea is to meet with a Lactation Consultant for a prenatal breastfeeding visit so that they can provide answers to questions, prep you for what you will need to know/do and be your support person for this journey especially if this is your first baby. Knowledge is power so here are some things that…

Mompreneur

11 Reasons Why an Etsy Printables Side Hustle is the Best for Busy Moms

It can feel overwhelming to think about starting an online business when you have young kids. I started an Etsy shop selling printables just before my first daughter was born as a means to make extra money. In the last two years, I’ve averaged $10,000 each year in my shop while spending little time on this set it and forget it side hustle. I make the printable one time and hundreds of customers can buy it from me without any extra work on my part. I do answer customer questions from time to time and add new digital downloads to my shop occasionally. Compared to other ways to make money online that I’ve tried though, this one is the most hands off. Here are 10 reasons why selling digital products on Etsy has been the best side hustle for a busy mom like me. 1 – You can work from…

Motherhood

Pooping After Birth: How Childbirth Can Change Your Bowel Movements

Before childbirth, you’ll have many people telling you about the complicated challenges women undergo, both before and after pregnancy. From sheer hormonal changes to baby blues, many things are happening inside during and after pregnancy that pregnant women are prepped for. Though, out of all these things, hardly anyone talks about the hit that the digestive system takes after childbirth and how hard that first postpartum poop can be. And pair that with all the hormonal changes that deal with breast milk production, and there’s a lot of stress and anxiety, which can, in turn, lead to a whole other side of digestive disorders, like IBS. Regardless of whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or c-section, most women go through a series of different bowel movement problems that lead up to that first postpartum poop, which include constipation, poop leakage, and reduced bowel function. However, it’s quite normal to experience all…

Healthy Kids

How to Set Screen Time Boundaries

The question of how much screen time is too much, is becoming a growing concern for parents! As we depend more on technology and our own devices than previous generations, technology is also more accessible to young children every day. As mamas, we want to do all that we can to ensure that screens aren’t raising our kids, but we also want to give them a little freedom. And, to be honest, we have all had those moments as parents when we needed that parental break from reality, right? What if there was a happy medium? With a few carefully placed time management strategies, you can help your child become less screen craving and rekindle your child’s ability to engage in screenless play. While technology can be a good thing. the American academy of pediatrics recommend that your child not be in front of a screen for more than 2…

Ashling Drew