WAHM Mondays: Mercedes Donis, author of “Twin Manibreasto: A Success Story of Milk & Multiples”

2014/02 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

I’m delighted to have Mercedes Donis, author, blogger and SAHM, stop by to share her ebook: Twin Manibreasto. Mercedes has written an anecdotal guide, full of experience, tips and encouragement, illustrating how very possible it is to breastfeed twins. For more twin advice, and other great [natural] parenting tips, you can visit Mercedes’ blog, Project Procrastinot.

Hello, Median Mommy readers! My name is Mercedes and I’ve got a story to share.

Back when I was pregnant in 2012, I got the news of a lifetime: I was carrying twins! It was a major shock, and the revelation changed the course of my and my husband’s lives.

One of my earliest concerns and biggest priorities was (and still is!) breastfeeding. Would I be able to breastfeed twins? Would I need to supplement with formula? How long would I be able to nurse two babies?

These questions, along with many others, swirled furiously in my brain until I gave birth, and continued to lurk there in those difficult first three months. But the good news is that, despite all the challenges, my twins and I have had a successful breastfeeding relationship that continues to this day! They are seventeen months old and still breastfeeding.

I recently wrote an ebook, “Twin Manibreasto: A Success Story of Milk & Multiples,” because I want other twin-mama-to-bes to have hope. You don’t have to resign from breastfeeding simply because you’re having more than one baby!

This ebook is part memoir, part manual, as I reminisce on the painful early days of our journey and beyond. I give my recommendations for gear to buy, tips and recipes for increasing milk supply, and even a printable feeding log to keep track of your babies’ feeds.

I never imagined just how much breastfeeding would mean for our family, or to me. It has become an important part of my life and I’m so happy to be able to share our experience with you! To buy the book, just come visit my blog.

Are you (or is someone you know) expecting twins? I’d love to hear from you! Let’s connect on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook! You can also stop by my blog, Project Procrastinot , for more stories on life and parenting twins.

WAHM Mondays: Gift of Sleep Consulting

2014/02 By Lauren B. Stevens 2 Comments

I’ve referred to this woman as our Sleep Guru & Sleep Goddess, but really she is a lifesaver. As a result of her work, I regained my sanity [and Declan began sleeping through the night]. It is my pleasure to introduce this week’s featured work-at-home-mom, Jennifer Schindele, from Gift of Sleep Consulting.

Fostering healthy sleep habits for your baby or child is extremely important for their overall health and well being. The path to developing healthy soothing skills can start very shortly after birth and the best way to begin reinforcing these very important skills is the environment in which your baby learns how to sleep independently (with the help of some Rock Star self soothing skills). Promoting healthy sleep for infants and small children has become my passion and goal for every family I come in contact with, including The Median Mommy! Here are some great tips and insights about creating the perfect sleeping environment for your baby.

Encouraging healthy sleep habits: The temperature of the room does matter! Did you know that most little ones prefer to sleep in a room that is on the cool side rather than warm? Studies have shown that a too warm sleep environment can actually be very detrimental to infant sleep. Just like for most of us grownups, a too warm sleeping environment can make it very difficult for your child to go to sleep. It is also suggested that it may be one of the contributors to SIDS. I recommend to all of my clients whether their child is a newborn or well into their preschool years to make sure their little one’s room temperature falls somewhere between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the clothing your little one is dressed in for bed should be right along the same lines of what you would wear to bed. And a great addition to a baby or toddler’s bed is a baby sleep sack instead of a blanket (see last week’s post regarding my love for this wonderful invention). Remember cool and comfy and not warm and stuffy.

Mistakes to Avoid When Feeding Your Newborn at Night

Encouraging healthy sleep habits: Although a bedding set is super cute, it can also be super dangerous. I encourage all of my clients of infants to remove all items from their child’s crib that are non essential for safe and healthy sleep. This includes, crib quits, blankets, bumpers that are not breathable and see through as well as pillows and stuffed animals. Although a “Lovey” can be introduced around 7 months of age. All your baby needs in their crib for safe sleep is a mattress, sheet, secure swaddle (up until 3 months) or a sleep sack. That’s it!

Encouraging healthy sleep habit: The darker the better. A very dark room during all sleep periods (daytime naps included) actually helps your little one want to sleep. If the nursery or bedroom is too bright via natural sunlight streaming through an uncovered window or blinds, your little one will find it much harder to settle to sleep. As sunlight hits our skin and is absorbed, our body naturally releases chemicals to cue our bodies to be awake. The more we can do as parents to block light from getting in the room the better to stop this from happening. Also, darkness is a fantastic clue or indicator that one should be sleeping and with help and consistency, your baby can begin to pick up on this clue. A dark room = sweet dreams for little ones if you want to get your baby to sleep through the night.

Encouraging healthy sleep habit: White noise, the soothing static lulling your little one to sleep. Using some sort of white noise in your baby or toddler’s room can help them sleep longer and more soundly by blocking out environmental noise. You would be surprised at how the slightest outside noise can arouse a baby in a light sleep state. A favorite among many of my clients is a box fan or portable white noise machine. I’ve seen some pretty expensive models sold in baby stores but have to admit that if you can find one that is under $30.00 and can easily be taken with you on family vacations or overnight trips you’ll be all set. Oh and if it can also be battery operated…BONUS. You never know when you will lose power during a pretty noisy thunder storm.

In closing, if your little one is having trouble falling or staying asleep, please be sure you have evaluated their sleep space for the tips above and make adjustments where necessary. As always, I welcome your questions or comments concerning this week’s topic.

Jennifer Schindele is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant and President and Founder of Gift of Sleep Consulting –http://giftofsleepconsulting.com/; –located in Philadelphia, PA. Jennifer’s mission is to help parents give the gift of sleep to both their children and in turn, themselves. Her mission is executed by personalizing a step-by-step program to gently help teach the child to independently fall asleep, and stay asleep, the whole night through (and nap peacefully during the day).

WAHM Mondays: Cottage in the Woods Co.

2014/02 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

Hey there natural product lovers! Alicia from Getting Green with Baby here to share with you a little about our Etsy store Cottage in the Woods Co.

Ever since our daughter was born in October of 2012, my husband, John, and I have been looking for more and more ways to live a greener lifestyle. Our biggest goals were (and still are) to make everyday products when we are able to save money (who doesn’t enjoy that?) and use products that don’t have a bunch of fillers and other nasty, unnecessary chemicals in them. We have enjoyed making these items so much and love spreading the word about natural and organic products that we decided to start offering some of them to the public!

Currently we are still a very small business (I feel kind of silly even calling it a business), but what we do offer are staples of everyday life. Plus, all of our bath and body products and all purpose cleaners are all natural! We currently offer bath fizzies, bar soap, liquid hand soap, body wash, shampoo bars, and, as I mentioned, all purpose household cleaners. We are constantly working on new recipes and products to offer, so be sure to check back often! We are always open for suggestions as well. 🙂

I have to say that our natural bath fizzies have been quite the popular item. You don’t have to take my word for it, of course, but I’m not usually one to toot my own horn. However, our bath bombs are the best ones I’ve ever used in my life! We use essential oils to scent everything naturally (except for our Vanilla-Orange scent, unfortunately. It does contain both fragrance and essential oils.) so not only do the fizzies make your bath and skin smell wonderful, it leaves your skin feeling silky smooth as well! Just in time for cold season, we released some Cold & Flu Natural Fizzy Bath Bombs last month as well! Let me tell you, these things are potent!

Natural Fizzy Bath Bombs

As you read above, we sell shampoo bars, which I’m really excited about! I first heard about shampoo bars some time around spring of last year. I was able to try one from a different company in August and fell in love with them instantly! I will admit it’s a little different using them at first, but I love that our shampoo bars offer a natural alternative to commercial shampoos. They don’t contain SLS, parabens, or any of that other nasty junk! They strip all of the bad oil from your hair caused by shampoo and conditioner build up, but still leave the good oil in your hair.

Lemongrass Shampoo Bar

Thanks so much for taking the time to read about our little business. I hope you find something you like or at the very least get inspired to make your own products!

WAHM Mondays: Stargazer Soaps

2014/01 By Lauren B. Stevens 1 Comment

I’m excited to introduce this week’s featured work-at-home-mom: Nicole Farrell. Nicole is the artisan behind the beautifully handcrafted (and luxurious) Stargazer Soaps.

When I first thought about making my own soap, I never dreamed it would turn into a passion.

As a stay at home mom to 4, I am always looking for ways to save money. I thought making my own soap would be a large pocket saver. But when I started researching the process, I was quickly overwhelmed and gave up on the idea. A few weeks later, I read an article on some chemicals used in commercial soaps. It prompted me to research the products in my shower – the organic, natural, “safe” products I was using on my children. And I quickly had a purpose. Throw it all out and make my own soap!

I began reading as much as I could, and spent countless hours watching videos on YouTube. I ordered from several other soap makers, wanting to feel their product, (not to mention I wanted to toss our chemicals in the garbage as quickly as possible!) I will never forget the first batch of soap I made. I was scared to death! But one batch was all it took for me to get hooked. And I can say – I will never use commercial soap again!

And when I say commercial soap, I use that term lightly. Commercial soaps aren’t even soap, but detergent! If you look at the packaging, you will see terms like Beauty Bar, Body Wash, Facial Bar. Where is the word Soap? You won’t find it, because it isn’t soap. When soap is made, natural glycerin is produced. Commercial companies remove the glycerin and replace it with chemicals. And here is the scary part – it takes 6 seconds for our skin to absorb these chemicals. Ingredients that have many layers to them. One in particular is made up of formaldehyde – but you have to dig through several layers to discover that. I for one do not want to bathe my family in a product that uses chemicals intended to clean my shower. Read more about these chemicals on my blog at http://stargazersoaps.blogspot.com/.

So what will handmade soap do for you? It is different for everyone. I can tell you it can take up to six weeks for your skin & hair, (yes, you can wash your hair with handmade soap!), to re-balance. Your body is so used to having it’s natural oils stripped away it has to readjust. But stick with it. The benefits are very rewarding! I do not make medical claims, and cannot tell you how handmade soap will change your skin. I do know that it has changed my life, (who would have thought soap would change my life?), the lives of my family, and many others who have also made the change.

I am so blessed to be able to share my passion with others! Visit me on my website at http://stargazersoaps.com/. If you want to see me at work, follow me on YouTube. Stay informed of my discounts and upcoming soaps on my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter!

WAHM Mondays: Clueless Momma Designs

2014/01 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

I’m excited to introduce the first featured WAHM in this series! Meet Jamie, the bloggie mama behind the blog, Momma Without a Clue, and the creative force behind Clueless Momma Designs.

Blogger Design Tricks

I blog at Momma Without a Clue, and with three small kids it isn’t practical for me to spend money on designs for the blog. Because of this, I have taught myself various tips and shortcuts to make my site look exactly how I want to, without knowing how to read code. This led me to starting my own Blogger Design business, Clueless Momma Designs. Here are a few things that you can do on your Blogger blog as well to help achieve whatever looks you want!

How to Center your Header

Now this is one that is especially important for those of you who have made your own headers and want the to be centered at the top of your blog. There’s nothing worse than making the perfect header, only for it to be stuck over on the right side (which is the default in Blogger.) It seems to throw your whole design off. For a more professional look, follow these simple steps to center your header.

Step 1: Go into your dashboard and go to Template. Click Customize, then Advanced, and Add CSS.

Step 2: Add this code into your Add CSS box and press enter:

#header-inner img {margin: 0 auto !important;} #header-inner {text-align:center !important;}

Remember to press enter after adding the coding, or the changes wont be made. Click “Apply to Blog” and Ta-Da!

How to Remove Empty Space Above Header

After you get your header perfect, there’s this blank space above it. Some people like it, especially if your background blends with your header. But if you’re using an image that just doesn’t look right with the small band of background, or if you have your header in your sidebar, here is how to fix it.

Step 1: Again, go into your dashboard and go to Template. This time, click “Edit HTML”
Step 2: Press Ctrl+F to search for the </head> tag.
Step 3: Paste this code right above your </head> tag:

<style type=’text/css’>
.content-inner
{
margin-top: -40px !important;
}
</style>

Preview your template before saving.

How to Add a Signature to your Blog Posts

So now you’ve designed the perfect signature and you have been manually adding it into the bottom of each post. There is an easier way! To get your signature into the bottom of each post, follow these directions:

Step 1: Go into your dashboard > Template > Advanced > Add CSS
Step 2: Locate the URL of your image
Step 3: Paste this code into your Add CSS box, replacing the “IMAGE URL” with your own image url

.entry-content:after {
content: url(“IMAGE URL”);
margin-left: 300px;
}

For more Blogger tips and tricks, you can visit me at Momma Without a Clue and click on my Blog Design tab. I also offer affordable custom blogger designs, which you can get at a 50% discount by mentioning this guest post!

Congratulations to our winner, M. Jenkins! Thank you to all who entered!

** Interested in having your business featured, or know a WAHM that would like to be featured? Simply fill out the form HERE.

Calling all Work-at-Home-Moms! #WAHMs

2014/01 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

Are you a work-at-home mom? I would love to feature you and your business! Small business owners, designers, freelancers, bloggers, you name it. Becoming a featured WAHM on The Median Mommy is a wonderful (free) marketing opportunity for WAHMs to submit guest posts and promote their businesses and websites. I am open to submission ideas, but love posts possessing clever and creative tie-ins to your business (i.e. a quick tip related to your business that’s helpful for my readers). Interested? Sign up through this form HERE and I’ll be in touch.

Goosie Organics Natural Teething/Nursing Jewelry

2013/11 By Lauren B. Stevens Leave a Comment

I have a beautiful Tiffany necklace, a gift from my husband, that I wear every day. When Declan was around a year old, I had to have my favorite necklace repaired because D’s constant tugging and pulling had bent one of the rings holding the clasp. My broken necklace could easily have been avoided had I been wearing a nursing necklace. I now have a solution/necklace-saver: Goosie Organics natural teething/nursing jewelry.

Founded out of her desire for plastic and chemical-free teething solutions for her daughter, Lacey began designing and making her own all-natural teething jewelry. Goosie Organics was founded for Lacey to share natural products with like-minded mamas: natural products for the “baby-minded mama”.

I anxiously awaited the arrival of my Goosie Organics necklace, having seen how beautiful Lacey’s creations were, and was not disappointed when it finally arrived; a necklace from the Sage Collection:

Each Goosie Organic piece is handcrafted using locally-sourced all-natural and organic materials. I love how Lacey explains the process on her Etsy site:

All of our products are handmade with natural materials including our unique 100% organic yarn. It is handspun and nature dyed using organic elements such as logwood, madder and wood chips. It is then crocheted into a necklace chain as well as onto a natural wood bead. Each wood button, coconut ring and wood bead is handcrafted locally and polished with organic beeswax and olive oil.

What I love even more? What you see is what you get. No hidden chemicals or dyes, and no need to worry when your little one, inevitably, puts this in his/her mouth.

Declan loves playing with my Goosie Organics necklace while he’s nursing, which [thankfully] takes the strain from my favorite Tiffany necklace! One of D’s favorite things to do is to roll the small wooden balls between his fingers, as the polish renders them incredibly smooth. With 6 teeth coming in, my Goosie Organics necklace has already found it’s way into my 16 month-old’s mouth a handful of times!

If you’re looking to have a Goosie Organic creation of your own, you can visit the Etsy store HERE. Want to find out what’s new at Goosie Organics? Visit them on Facebook HERE.

Feeling lucky? Enter to win a Goosie Organic Teething necklace using the form below:

Entry -Form