The Luckiest Mom

It's a dream of mine to start my own podcast someday.  I'm a firm believer that everyone has a story to share and someone, somewhere, might hear something from your story and it will help, encourage or inspire them in their journey of life. My sweet friend Reagan, a mother to three beautiful children and voice behind the inspiring The Luckiest Mom podcast, helped make that dream of mine come true for a day when she invited me to be a guest on her show.

The Luckiest Mom is a podcast with a daily message of inspiration, support and encouragement created to cultivate confidence and remind moms that they are the luckiest. 
Be sure to head over to The Luckiest Mom and follow Reagan's Instagram and Podcast for some daily inspirational messages.  Today, I thought I'd share a few details from my interview on The Luckiest Mom. You can also listen to my interview here. Episode 183. 

Reagan asked me a few questions about motherhood and it was my honor to share an insight to what my journey of motherhood has been like. 
Question #1. What makes you The Luckiest Mom?  "I am The Luckiest Mom because being a mom has taught me to live my most truthful life."  What do I mean by living a truthful life?  We are living in a time where lies, keeping up with the Jones' and living outside your means is becoming the norm.  Not being truthful to yourself, your situation, your finances, your beliefs, will do more damage than good to relationships, accomplishments and goals.  It's important to be truthful as mother because it's our responsibility to teach our children to live truthfully, to be honest and to give something to society.
Question #2. How did your life lead you to be a mom?  I've always wanted to be a mom. I am the oldest of 5 children and 24 grandchildren so my maternal instincts have been second nature since I was very young.  My husband and I (mostly me) knew that we wanted to have children right away.  We got pregnant with our first son 6 months after we were married and he was born on June 22nd, 2012. Hunters arrival was an extra special occasion as he came (3 and half weeks early) the day before the second anniversary of my brothers death.  My brother Hunter unexpectedly passed away at 18 in 2010. I had prepared my whole life to be a mom and I welcomed this sweet baby on such a tender anniversary with greater appreciation for eternal families and a mindful Father in Heaven. 
Question #3. Was there any point after you became a first time mom that you were so overwhelmed that you felt you couldn't continue?  I'm sure there were a lot of those moments.  After my mom went home to California and my husband went back to work, those first few days were a little overwhelming.  Not because I didn't think I couldn't do it, but because this perfect picture I had envisioned in my mind about what motherhood was going to be like wasn't applicable for us. Hunter had an oxygen tank and heart monitor so getting him all dressed up to tote and show off around town was something we couldn't do.  I was so excited to show the world I was a mom and I made this adorable baby and we were stuck.  I knew that I was going to have incredible moments as a mother but my fantasy that it would be rainbows and picture perfect days all the time, quickly faded.  It absolutely changed my perspective of what motherhood was going to be like.
Question #4. How is it being a mom of 3 kids? It was the hardest adjustment to go from two kids to three. My first two kids were such good babies; great sleepers, eaters and social butterflies.  Little Henry has been a huge adjustment with many sleepless nights, stomach issues and a strong attachment to mama.  Thankfully my two older children are in school and are pretty self reliant to get themselves dressed, get a snack and play together, so I am able to give Henry the extra attention he has needed.  It's been a ride of a year! 
Question #5. Who has been a strong example of motherhood to you?  My mother.  I feel so blessed to have my mom. My mom is one of my best friends and I feel so grateful to have her.  My mom has this unique ability to make life special and the little things magical.  She's taught us to see how wonderful the world is.   Watching her continue to live and love after my brother passed away was such an inspiration to me. The strength she had to carry on, to continue to love everyone around her and her husband and herself, was the greatest example of faith, hope and love I've ever witnessed.  She's always been the example of what a mother should be. 
Question #6. Are there things that you have done, that your mom did for you, for your own children? My mom was our biggest cheerleader.  I remember her being the most encouraging and positive person when we were growing up.  She did everything she could to let us know we were special and great!  So, with my own children, I have tried to focus on the positive, and teaching and encouragement. I try everyday to make my children feel special and feel that they are loved.  We do a lot of daily affirmations with our children.  Throughout each day, we try to point out the good choices they are making.  We are letting them know we are proud of them, that they are beautiful, they are special, they are kind and important. We use their names when we are speaking to them so they feel the directness of sincerity in our words. 

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Thank you again Reagan for having me on your channel.  It was so great to be apart of what you're doing and I think your daily messages are helping moms everywhere. Don't forget readers to head over to Reagan's podcast and remember that  You are The Luckiest Mom. 

Wink Naturals and a Giveaway!

This week, I am excited to FINALLY be able to share with you a mommy must have product from a brand that we have been using daily for a few weeks now and have been loving. 

If you follow my social media accounts (which I hope you all do) then you know that my little Henry Hugglemonster has been quiet the teether, 8 teeth by 10 months, and it has led to countless sleepless and painful nights for the poor guy... and mommy.  After two rounds of ear infections we were finally able to put these two products that Wink Naturals had sent us to the test. 

We had been on the search for a good natural and drug free teething gel after months of painful teething with our little guy and I was so impressed by what  Wink Naturals Cool Gum Teething gel offered.  The Cool Gum Teething gel gently cools and soothes tender gums without the risk of exposure to any added preservatives. Winks natural formula, with no added drugs or medicine, made it the safest option for our little one.  I had never thought to put a teething gel in the fridge, DUH, and when Wink Naturals suggested I store their teething gel in the fridge I was blown away by the results.  Henry loved the added instant cooling relief and it seemed to work for hours before we had to reapply. 

Along with making little Henry's mouth comfortable, we started to get into a more strict bedtime routine in hopes to calm and soothe him for a good nights rest despite his pain. As part of our new bedtime routine we started using Wink Naturals Pure Sleep and Breathe chest rub.  Pure Sleep and Breathe is also made of natural oils like lavender and eucalyptus radiata, as well as premium quality coconut oil and Shea butter so it's safe for baby's skin.  I love how the calming smell and soothing rub promoted peaceful sleep for little Henry and also acted as a natural decongestant for any runny nose congestion he had while teething. Henry and I both looked forward to a soothing aromatic rub before bedtime and naps.  I have also even been using it on my older two kiddos. Both Hunter and Hayden seem to catch any little throat irritant that's floating in the universe and between preschool, kindergarten, daycare, church and play times, it feels like we have had weekly congestion.  The kids have loved the Pure Sleep and Breathe as a part of their nighttime routine as well and agree it smells so much better than the other decongestant rubs we've used in the past.

Wink Naturals is a company based right here out of Utah and the founder was also a co-founder in one of our absolute favorite natural medicines, Zarbee's.  (Wink Naturals isn't affiliated with Zarbee's) Wink Naturals was created to combat the sleep epidemic that is prevalent in every home. Wink Naturals not only offers sleep and teething solutions, but also natural solutions like Bum Balm, Llama Lotion and even sleep help for adults. 
Wink Naturals even has their own blog where they give TONS of awesome advice on sleep, healthy living, motherhood and share recipes!  It has absolutely become a favorite read of mine. Head over and check out the blog here.
We love Wink Naturals so much that FordOlogy is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a Wink Naturals product of their choice.  Giveaway Rules. 1. Be sure you're following Wink Naturals Instagram. 2. Be sure to be following FordOlogy Blog on Instagram.  3. Then head to Wink Naturals website HERE and comment which product you would choose if you won! 
Giveaway Ends November 17th.  Winner will be announced November 18th. ___________
Thank you so much to Wink Naturals for sending us these incredible products. We have absolutely loved using them. Now only if you had a natural solution to baby Henry's gas problem ;)

*Wink Naturals sent us these products for review. All options are our own.* 

PMD's Personal Microderm and Kiss

Today I'm super excited to be bringing you a collaborating with PMD.  A few weeks ago I was able to attend the Launch Party of PMD's new product KISS. With my new found LOVE of the beauty industry, I was ecstatic to finally bring these beauties home and give them a try. 
First up is the brand new KISS. PMD has launched this incredible Lip Plumping System that visibly plumps your lips in minutes and leaves you with luscious lips for hours!  I first tested the KISS at PMD's launch party and fell in love.  It was great to have some PMD experts around for my first try to teach me the ropes, however, the KISS is such a user friendly product anyone can easily handle it. 

So what is the KISS?  The KISS uses Patent Pending Pulsating Vacuum Technology to safely plump the look of your lips.  With the Specifically Formulated Smart Lip Plumping Serum, the KISS boosts collagen production and reduces the look of lip wrinkles. The KISS also increases fullness and volume, reduces lines and restores and revitalizes natural lip color.  With 'How To' directions on the inside of the box, 1 tube of Smart Lip Plumping Serum and a KISS system ready to go, I had fuller, pinker lips in 60 seconds!  I used the low speed for a more intense plump and did 6 sections, instead of the directed 4, to target the fuller look I wanted to achieve. 

I noticed that over the last couple of weeks my lips are softer, have noticeablely more volume, which is huge for this thin lip mama, and that my natural pink lip color is more vibrant.  I have been so happy with my results of  this affordable alternative to Lip Injections, and I think it is just what any "do it yourself-er" beauty babe, mom, grandma, sister, daughter, friend needs!!  

Next up is the Personal Microderm.  I have wanted to test out the Personal Microderm for years, mostly, since Michelle Money collaborated with them and raved about how much she loves them, however, the term 'microderabrasion' always sounded scary to me.  I'm a red-headed, fair skinned girl and my skin shows any and all irritaions from most clinical products and procedures that have a more 'aggressive' formula or skincare routine, so I am generally hesitant on anything that sounds abrasive.  I was pleasantly surprised when the Personal Microderm came with a step by step 'how to guide', a video tutorial and do's and don'ts and before and afters.

So, what is the PMD Personal Microderm?  This award winning Beauty Choice product winner, reduces blemishes, clears pores, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles and evens out skin tone and texture giving you similar 'in-clinic' microdermabrasion results at home, at an affordable cost. I like to think of it as a glorified electronic exfoliation tool.  The patented spinning disc are embedded with aluminum oxide crystals that deeply exfoliates the skin and remove dead skill sells and triggers healthy skin growth. The discs, paired with the vacuum like suction, work together to exfoliate and draw out the dead skin cells.

I've been using the Personal Microderm for two weeks now, about twice a week, and I am loving my results. I am not one who suffers from uneven texture, but I do fight blocked pores and dry skin across my face. I was so impressed with the Personal Microderm and how moments after my first use, my skin felt smoother and brighter. After the 4th use, I noticed that my pores were smaller and clearer.  I have yet to find a product like the Personal Microderm that leaves my skin feeling as fresh and rejuvinated.  I have also noticed that my makeup is more easily applied and absorbs to my skin like silk.  It's safe to say the Personal Microderm is now apart of my strict weekly skin care routine and I can't wait to see more long-term results.

If you've been looking to up your beauty and skincare routine then the KISS and Personal Microderm are JUST what you need.  The Kiss sells for $139 and The Personal Microderm is $159. When I think about all the money I've spent over the years on skincare products and lip volumizers, I think the cost for these two PMD prodcuts are super affordable.  Definitely less expensive then even just ONE visit to the beauty salon and both will give you lasting clinical-quality fresh and radiant results. 

You can get your  KISS  HERE  and your  PMD Personal Microderm  HERE.
Right now, PMD is giving 30% off Personal Microderms for Mothers Day. Grab one for your mom, your sister, your aunt or treat yourself to beautiful skincare that every mom deserves!  Use code: mothersday30 (code excludes KISS) 
Be sure to follow PMD on  Facebook and  Instagram  for product updates and beauty inspiration. 

*These products were sent to me for testing and review.  All opinions are my own*

DIY Toddler Halloween Party on a Budget.

This month I have teamed up with the lovely Shani from Sunshine and Munchkins to bring you a fun DIY Toddler and Budget Friendly Halloween Party.  Shani and I met at a blogger event in August and became quick blogging friends. With both of us having toddlers ages 4 and 2 it was an fun fit. One afternoon at a bump in at Hobby Lobby we started talking about having a playdate which quickly during into ideas for a fun toddler Halloween party.  Shani and I both know the excitement and pressure that comes with putting together fun holiday activities for our kids.  In the blogger world there is even more pressure to get sponsors and "free stuff" to throw the picture perfect party or playdate. Today, Shani and I are excited to bring you a Halloween Party idea that is completely toddler and budget friendly for any mama! All of the ideas could even be used for a week of daily activities.  
Follow along below for step by step instructions to give your littles a holiday activity to remember! 
Step 1. Team up with another Mama. Shani and I thought it would be fun to work together because of the similar ages of our kids and the fun ideas we both had for Halloween activities. Teaming up with another mama allows for you to split the work so you're not feeling overwhelmed or stressed trying to plan an afternoon of activities alone. The More The Merrier!  While everything we do in this party is completely doable with just you and your littles, it's always fun to invite friends and watch your kids interact and play with others! 

2. Plan and Prepare. Shani and I emailed and texted back and forth for a few days the ideas we had for the Halloween Party. Next we decided what activities we wanted to do, listed out each idea (craft, game, treasure hunt, goodie bags, food, decorations/photo booth) and then divided up responsibility for each idea.

The craft we chose was to decorate pumpkins. I went to the grocery store and chose 4 little pumpkins. Each pumpkin cost $.29/lb and each weighed about 3 pounds.  I spent $4 for all 4 pumpkins.  We had stickers, eyeballs, pom-poms, confetti, paint, glitter and glue, most of which we already owned, for the kids to decorate the pumpkins with.

The game Shani put together was a fun and easy pumpkin toss. She picked up 3 buckets from The Dollar Store for $3 and made homemade bean bags for another $3. 

We sent the kids on a fun treasure hunt to find their goodie bags. Shani found festive clues from Imagination Soup and printed them right from her home computer. 

Goodie Bags are usually every toddlers favorite part of an event and we were able to put together 4 fun filled bags for $6!  Inside the goodie bags was 1 small bag of candy corn, 2 pencils, 4 spider rings, pumpkin bubbles, glow in the dark vampire teeth, a notebook, and 4 Halloween coloring page. Each treat came in a 4 (or more) pack so I was able split them up between the each kids bags. Each treat was from the Target dollar section.  Shani printed out the 4 cute Halloween coloring pages (half sheet sizes) and we stapled them together.  Easiest Goodie Bags Ever! 

For food we chose a few cute Halloween inspired snacks we could feed the kids at lunchtime.  Ghost and Pumpkin shaped PB&J sandwiches, Ghoul String Cheeses, Pumpkin Mandarins and Mummy Juice Boxes. The mandarins and string cheese were simply made using a sharpie and the adorable juice boxes were made using scrap fabric and google eyes.  Shani also made the most delicious festive jello popcorn for the kids to munch on during crafts and games.  Each of us had most of the food and snacks in our pantries so cost for food was $7 for the whole event. 

The decorations, photo booth and table setting was easily thrown together with signs, cobwebs, spiders, plates, napkins etc I already had in my 'halloween box'. The cute photo props I found at Target for $3 and the Happy Halloween sign was $1.  (One TIP I do love to pass on for any holiday is STOCK UP for next year. Products go on sale for 50%, 75% and sometimes 90% in the few weeks after a holiday, so stock up on decor, plates, toys etc... during this time) We were super fortunate to have Creative Juice Cafe donate tassel's and popcorn buckets for our party also. 
3. Set Up. Set up came together very painlessly. I set up the decor, table and photo booth the night prior to the party and Shani came over early the morning of to help with finishing touches.  We prepped the food, set up the game, prepared the craft and hid the treasure hunt clues/goodie bags, all within 30-40 minutes before we began. 

4. Party.   Once all the prepping and planning was complete it was time to PARTY.  We scheduled a two hour time frame to allow plenty of time for everything we planned, but with toddlers, sometimes it's over in what feels like a matter of minutes.  All four kids had a blast getting to dress up, craft, play games, eat yummy treats and get fun goodie bags.  We found that the activities and crafts were all awesome and age/attention appropriate for both the 4 year olds and 2 year olds, however the 2 year olds did make a little bit more of a mess with the craft and 2 year olds struggled a bit with aim during the pumpkin toss.  Everyone had tons of fun. 

We hope this post will inspire you to do some fun Halloween activities with your kids!  Our main goal was to put together some budget friendly ideas that anyone could easily do.  You don't have to be super crafty, have "connections" or have lots of money to have some festive fun right at home with your kids.  We hope we've given you some fun ideas! 
Thanks again to Shani and her sweet kids for partying it up with us.  It was so fun to watch our kids play and craft and have fun!  I bet Shani and I will work together again in the future so stay tuned for some more toddler and budget friendly posts from Sunshine & Munchkins and FordOlogy!  
Happy Halloween Partying Mamas!