You got invited to a holiday party where you don’t know a soul. You:
a) politely decline the invitation
b) accept, but then fake a stomach flu the day of the party, or
c) accept and go.
(Pssst… choose C, choose C)
Confidence
Everything you need to improve your confidence. Whether it's eating healthier, getting more exercise or simply improving your mental state.
DoThis To Snap Out Of Your Tired Mom Funk Today!
It’s easy to get lost in motherhood.
There are endless books to read, gadgets to buy, places to go and activities to do. So much that you forget what you read, bought, visited and did before that tiny, beautiful creature entered your life. You go from being Kate or Lindsay to being “Piper’s mommy” or “Brady’s mom.”
And, even though parenthood changes you in some of the most amazing ways, the you that existed before is still there. You still have desires, needs, dreams and preferences. You still need certain things to be the best version of yourself and yes, those things have absolutely nothing to do with your children.
If you don’t make your own health, happiness, and wellbeing a priority, then it’s pretty hard to be the mom I know you want to be.
So, let’s all agree that the absolute best thing we can do for our children and families is to fill our own tank!
Ways to Eat Lighter Without Sacrifice
Eating better can be one of the hardest tasks EVER! Here are five ideas that will help you eat lighter but you feel no sacrifice!
9 Rules to Achieve Your Fitness Goals
I use 9 rules every day to help me meet my fitness goals. When I follow them, I’m energetic and able to conquer the world. When I ignore them, well, that was these last few months….
10 Things to Expect in Your First Barre Class
Barre class? What is barre? Is it ballet? What in the world do you do? These are all questions I had whenever I saw a barre class advertised and yet.. I was intrigued. When Karve Studio in Gilbert invited me to try out a class, I went for it! Now, I’m hooked on barre. Here are 10 things to expect in your first barre class.
5 Items You Can Toss Out of Your Closet Today
Best Way to be Productive
If your To Do list stresses you out, this is a must read! How to structure your day so that you are the most productive and get everything done!
10 Activities for a Girls’ Weekend in Portland
Need to get away? Portland is a mecca of beautiful scenery, droolworthy food and tons to do!
Surviving Going to a Party Alone
Go to an event by myself?!? Where I don’t know anyone? I admit, I would have backed out in the past. When I won a trip at MOM 2.0 to the Laughing Cow event in Chicago, I was really nervous. In fact, I almost considered not going because I would be traveling halfway across the country ALONE, staying in a new city ALONE and going to a party where I didn’t know a soul ALONE. All ideas that make shy girls everywhere shake and hide under the covers. But, I did it! Here’s how you can make it through a solo event too! Walking down LaSalle avenue to River Roast, the gorgeous venue for the Laughing Cow event, I could feel my nerves building up within me. I saw on the invite that other invitees were allowed to bring a guest. In my head, I pictured people milling around in their cozy little pairs, drinking wine and looking sideways at the odd girl (me) who was all alone. A few things can get your through a night like this. Start a Conversation Immediately One way to feel comfortable at a party is to immediately connect with someone. The entrance is a perfect place! Sponsored events and large parties usually have a check in at the door which means a there will always be a line. As soon as you sense someone behind you, turn around and introduce yourself. This doesn’t need to be jilted or awkward. I usually turn around and say something like, “This is such a beautiful restaurant.” They usually respond with an “Oh my gosh, yes” and then hopefully give me something to work with. If that doesn’t happen, I continue and hold out my hand, “Hi my name is JoAnn” and go from there. At a blogger event we usually talk about our blogs or even if we both have kids. This conversation is usually short Do something slightly out of your comfort zone If you do something slightly scary right at the beginning, the mingling part of the event doesn’t seem so jaunting. Usually events have some sort of photo opportunity set up. My first inclination is to shy away because I see no one else is getting their photo taken. But, a photo booth is a great way to open up. Think about it this way. Whoever takes your photo is: (a) Going to ask you to smile and be smiling at you. Positivity and friendliness make you a little more confident. (b) You immediately get a personal interaction with someone whether it is the photographer or the person you take the picture with. For me, it was The Laughing Cow bull. Notice his earrings. Get a Drink No explanation needed, yes? Glass of wine in my hand and ready to party with @theLaughingcowusa ! #reinventsnacking A photo posted by JoAnn (@awhimsiclelife) on Sep 9, 2015 at 4:44pm PDT Even if you don’t drink, just having something in your hand will give you a […]
Solution to a Beauty Rut | FabFitFun Summer 2015
Ever open a fashion magazine, look at all the beauty products and just dream? I always find amazing items and I think, “Yes! That would be great!” or “Oh, how fun!” but along the way, I rationalize, “Well… yes, but how can I be sure it’s good? What if I spend money on it and then I don’t like it?” While this line of thinking is great for my budget, it also leaves me in a little bit of rut. Truthfully, the multitude of choices out there overwhelms me and leaves me indecisive – which is why I was always curious about FabFitFun. If you’ve never heard of it, FabFitFun is a seasonal subscription gift box with full-size fashion, beauty, fitness and lifestyle products. I’ve always wondered two things: What’s in the box? Is it worth it? I am overjoyed that FabFitFun and Blogging Mamas gave me the opportunity to receive a box and share all about it with you! Opening the FabFitFun box was like opening a present. All of the products were beautifully arranged inside and wrapped in pink tissue paper. A card on top listed each item as well as the item’s value. This box held over $200 worth of product + one sponsored item. Some of my favorites in this Summer 2015 box are: 3-month subscription to Headspace I am always thrilled to try new products that promise to bring me inner peace. I am always looking for more ways to unwind, de-stress and relax. Headspace is a web based application that leads you in guided meditation. I immediately signed up for my trial and started the 10-lesson “Take 10” which is like a beginner’s guide to meditating. I am very new to meditation. When the lesson instructed me to breathe deep, I started coughing. I have no problem breathing normally so obviously I need to practice this focused relaxation a bit. After the 10 minute session, I felt a lighter and more focused. We’ll see how this goes… Gorge “I’ll Make You Look Amazing” Daily Spray I saw this and immediately sprayed it on my daughter’s hairp. Not only did it help us comb through the tangles but it smelled wonderful. My daughter said it smelled like me because it has a vaguely coconut scent. I use this spray all the time now on my hair as well. My hair looks sleek, brushes easily and it smells like Hawaii. Wren Gold and Black Sapphire Necklace This delicate Wren necklace is a rose gold plated heart with a small black sapphire. I don’t usually purchase small pendants like this, however when I tried it on, I loved it. It brings a little bit of shimmer to an outfit. Tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss Not only does this lip gloss smell amazing but it looks great on. Although it appears to be a bright hot pink in the tube, it appears quite subtle on. I’m wearing the gloss in the above picture. Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturizer This was the sponsored item and I loved it!! Think spray sunscreen but […]