Ashling Drew, Author at Joyful Messes

How To Get Your Pet To Calm Down While Traveling

#ad this post is in partnership with VetriScience®and all opinions and thoughts are my own. Summer is the time for traveling, and we don’t like to travel without our puppy, Theodore. He is a Cavalier/Poodle mix, so because of his medium size, we can travel most places with him if they are pet friendly. This summer, we are spending months with family in the Seattle area, so our little Theodore had to fly in the cargo area of the airplane. Basically Theodore was a wreck at the airport, and stressed when he arrived after two flights across country. With me having 3 boys to manage, a new place to adjust too, and helping Theodore, there was really no extra energy for me to work with him, or try to train him out of this stress. We just had to go through it. But, since that expereience, I’ve dont research and…

Creating a Kid-Friendly Hot Dog Bar This Summer

This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All comments and opinions are my own. Summer grilling is just around the corner and my kids LOVE hot dogs. We grill outside frequently living in South Florida, and I often set up little bars or tables of snacks and hot dogs that the kids can reach, grab and assemble on their own! I prefer to have a kids table set up because it allows me to keep the kids entertained and fed without a lot of effort on my end. If I don’t have to get plates and drinks for all of the kids and monitor their eating, then I can socialize and enjoy the evening much more! One of my biggest mom tips is shopping at Sam’s Club! It’s a great place to stock up for your family. Since we entertain a lot in the summer, I like going at…

How To Lose The Baby Weight Naturally, Without Working Out

After you have a baby, you may think that breastfeeding will cause the baby weight to just fall off naturally. You can eat what you need, and before you know it, you are back to your pre-baby weight with no major effort. Actually, losing the baby weight while breastfeeding can happen naturally, with no workout plans or fitness regimens. I know exactly how to lose weight while breastfeeding, without working out because that is exactly how I lost the baby weight fast after my first two pregnancies. Here’s a quick run down of my experience, what I’ve learned, what didn’t work, and how you can do it too! Eat as CLEAN as possible for every snack and meal (more on what this looks like below) Use protein shakes for fast nutrition Walk as much as possible Don’t eat unless you are hungry (intermittent fasting can work really well!) Use milk…

Simple Summer Entertaining With A Pizza Board

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreschettaFresh #CollectiveBias Cheeseboards are all the rage for entertaining throughout the year, but they don’t work well for the warm summer months. Cheese go soft and lose their texture in the warm weather, so I have another simple entertaining idea for you – A Pizza Board! These are so simple and fun, yet they offer an awesome way to entertain for the summer. I’m going to go over my essentials for a good pizza board, which includes a frozen pizza because that is so simple! From there, I doctor up the board with snacks, dips, veggies and fruit to allow for lots of different sampling and munching. As a mom of three boys, entertaining has to be simple, easy and yummy. Freschetta is an awesome problem solver when it comes to fresh, yummy…

8 Reasons This Protein Powder Is The Best For Breastfeeding Moms

Protein needs increase while breastfeeding, which is why a top-rated protein powder is beneficial to your breastfeeding nutrition, and I have the best protein powder for all you nursing mamas needing a good protein shake to boost your milk supply, nourish your body and help you lose weight! This specific protein powder is formulate to help breastfeeding mamas increase their milk supply, or help maintain their milk supply while losing weight. I created Milk Dust as an answer to the sugar cravings, lactation struggles and weight loss barriers that so many nursing mamas face. As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, I help new mommies get back in shape and lose weight after baby. After hearing so many of the same difficulties from breastfeeding mamas, I set out to create a nutrient-dense product that satisfies postpartum and breastfeeding nutrient-needs, while also boosting lactation through carefully chosen galactagogues. Why is a protein…

5 Simple Tricks For Fast Meals To Keep You Fit, Full + On Track For Weight Loss

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FindItInFrozen #PickUpFoodThatFits #CollectiveBias #ad Fast entrées are essential for mamas who are working hard to lose weight, feed themselves and feed their families. I am a big fan of fast entrées because my boys still give me little time for lots of cooking. When I do cook, I actually do more of the batch-cooking style, where I cook and prep a lot at once, which really helps me have things ready to go and warm up. I also do this for myself, because otherwise I end up eating hand fulls of cheese crackers, crusts of peanut butter and jellies, a few gummy bears and cheese sticks. Then I wonder why I am so tired later that afternoon. So, I have a few tips and tricks that can really help you have some healthy…

5 Signs Mama and Kids Need Probiotics: A Top Guide

5 Signs Mama and Kids Need Probiotics: A Top Guide Your gut plays an important role in your health and your kid’s health, yet it can often be overlooked. Breastfeeding mothers, breastfed babies, and kids benefit greatly from a healthy digestive tract and gut microbiome. The good news is that the gut and brain have a symbiotic relationship, and I have learned from personal experience with gastrointestinal issues (irritable bowel syndrome) the impact your gut can have on your emotional and mental state. For me it seemed that stress affected my gut, and my gut issues affected my stress levels. Because of this I did a lot of research on the gut and digestive health, and I found this article and this book to be one of the best resources for fully understanding how your gut is directly connected to your brain. In this day and age, with stress, added sugar, processed…

How To Get Your Kindergartner + Preschooler To Pack Their Own Lunch

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of ‘Build a Better Sandwich’ at Publix. The opinions and text are all mine. Packing lunches for kindergarten and preschool isn’t super complicated, until you come face to face with the fact that many kindergartners and preschoolers would rather play than eat lunch. I recently spent the day in my middle child’s preschool, and I found out that they have a very fun game of snack trades that happens. Little did I know the price for gummy bears or strawberries. Those are high-ticket items right now. I decided that my kindergartner and preschooler would take much more pride in their lunches and relieve me of scrambling for snacks and goodies at the last minute if I switched it up. So, I have a fun little sandwich and snack bar, where they get to make their own sandwiches, pack their own…

The Safest Prenatal Protein Powders for A Healthy Pregnancy

These protein powders are some of the best for pregnant mamas and growing babies. Protein powder during pregnancy is an awesome way to consume more nutrients for both mama and baby, but choosing a safe prenatal protein powder can be a bit tricky. I also talk about protein powders that are safe for breastfeeding, and the guidelines and products for pregnancy are very similar. I am going to walk you through what makes a safe protein powder, the benefits of prenatal protein powder for pregnancy health and which ones fit the bill on all these terms! I’ve been fortunate to try many of these protein powders, so I can describe to you the taste as well. What Are The Benefits of Prenatal Protein Powders For Pregnant Mamas? Protein is an essential nutrient that pregnant mamas and growing babies need Prenatal protein powders often have added essential nutrients Protein helps pregnant…

How To Stop Gaining Too Much Weight During Pregnancy

Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can happen faster than we realize. If you’ve gained too much weight during pregnancy, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean the whole pregnancy can’t be healthy, or that you can’t turn things around quickly. Believe it or not, you can lose weight while pregnant with the correct diet and fitness program, and completely turn your pregnancy weight gain around. Let’s go over how you can stop gaining too much weight during pregnancy, as well as turn things around going forward. As a mama of three boys, I KNOW what it feels like to gain weight during pregnancy, feel totally sluggish, have no energy and LOVE eating nachos. My first trimester is always the most out of control. I can’t function, I have no energy, I fall asleep in the afternoons, and all I can eat is carbs and cheese. I start gaining extra weight FAST.…

Ashling Drew