Wardrobe MUST HAVES for Spring-Summer

This blog post is sponsored by Wantable

The season changing between Spring and Summer is when it’s the best weather in Arizona. It brings such a fresh mood and makes me want to do something to refresh myself after such a long chaotic time of unwanted events. Purchasing new clothes comes first into my mind whenever I want to kick a new start for something. If you’re following my blog and Instagram, you surely know about Wantable which I previously mentioned. This is an online-based retailer which provides you a box of clothes hand-picked by professional stylists based on your personal taste and style. They just sent me a box of items which completely blows my mind because these are the wardrobe must haves for Spring-Summer. So, I’m sharing them below. 

A flowy comfy jumpsuit

To be honest, I’m totally not a fan of jumpsuits but this time is different. This jumpsuit fits me well and I love it. The material is really nice and comfy; and you know what, the color is stunning, it lifts up my skin tone and makes me feel a bit skinnier.

Black Dress

Black dresses are always the must-haves in every girl’s wardrobe. This dress is so damn suitable for outdoor parties or daily activities during the summer. I would love to mix this dress with a checked shirt to have a sporty look. 

A simple midi skirt

To be honest, I love wearing midi skirts since they cover my imperfection, which is my short and big thighs. A simple solid color skirt could pair with different tops. I like to wear a mini skirt with a loose-fit tee, a flowy button down shirt, or a basic cropped cami. There are so many outfits I can mix and match with midi skirts. It is one of the wardrobe must haves for Spring-Summer that every girl should have.

Black blazer

To be honest, this one is the first blazer I’ve ever owned. You can mix this blazer with any kind of dress to have a more formal look for some special occasions. Yup, blazers are loved for their flexible mix and match ability, especially black ones. Black blazer normally goes well with skirts, dresses, T-shirts or even jumpsuits. 

Orange dress

This kind of dress is so nice for a summer date, right? If you’re so tired of your black and white and basic items in your closet, an orange dress is definitely the best choice.

You know what I love most about Wantable? It’s their returnable policy. You only have to pay for the items you keep and return those unwanted ones. And one more interesting point is that you do not know what you’re gonna receive, what inside the box surprises you somehow. And yes, I love surprises! 

Summer is nearby and the weather is changing, maybe it’s a nice time to give yourself a change, too. Hope this random blog can help you find out a new way to ‘touch’ the fashion fashionably. 

5 Simple New Year New Me ideas

This blog post is sponsored by Wantable

Looks like 2020 was not a wonderful year for everyone. Finally, 2020 is over. Now it’s time to come up with some new year’s resolutions for 2021. For the promising new year to come, I’m all about refreshing and trying new things. In this post, I’m sharing a list of 5 new-year-new-me ideas that you may need to borrow. Let’s check it out. 

Make self-care a priority

It’s been a year of hard work. You absolutely need to take care of yourself and pay more attention to listen to your soul. Make time for a good spa day, or gift yourself a do-nothing day to refresh your well-being as well as your inner feelings. Another idea of self-care is to get yourself a Wantable box each month. You can also do one box every 2 or 3 months. The box will be filled with 7 items based on your style.

Set new goals for 2021

As the crazily negative effect of covid-19, I am sure 2020 has postponed many of your plans. Yes, let’s write down everything you’ve missed this year. Then, create a new set of goals which will need to be done in 2021. 

Add new items to your wardrobe

Fashion changes all the time and the joy of dressing is somehow an art. Buying new clothes for the New Year is also one of the simple ideas for you to create a “new me”. If you have no idea about what to buy or how to alter your style, let Wantable help you. What is Wantable? It’s a new way to shop for clothes. Which they offer you clothes picked by their professional stylists but totally based on your style and your favorite. You may need to check out for more info here. 

Add flowers to your home

A new year is coming as fresh as it can be so why don’t you decorate your house with lots of fresh flowers to welcome the Spring of 2021. Yes, lots of, I mean fill your house with a lot of flowers. Buying new kinds of flowers you have never bought before is even better. I love to add bouquets of roses, daisies, pink tulips to every corner of the living room so as to feel like Spring every time coming home. 

Switch your perfumes

Hmmm, I love to use different kinds of perfumes in different seasons and of course new year is not the exception. I want to smell nice and fresh and mysterious for the upcoming New Year’s Eve. And of course, I’ve chosen a new brand of perfume and I’m quite satisfied. As fragrance is the invisible bodysuit of a woman, I sincerely recommend that everyone should have their own interesting “bodysuit” that suits them well in all occasions

Yeah that’s it. Those above are 5 simple ideas that you can do in New Year to feel like a “new me”. New Year is not something that is so special but it’s a time everyone celebrates. So, be prepared and be unique to make your coming year incredibly promising. 

Special thanks to Wantable for partnering with me in this blog post. I have been loving the items in my Wantable boxes. The stylist did a very good job in picking outfits that fit my style very well. See the styles I received here, and here. I hope you all keep Wantable in mind when thinking of getting new clothes. I am sure you will have a great experience.

6 SPECIAL GIFTS YOU CAN GIFT-YOURSELF

This article is sponsored by Wantable

Holiday season is a super busy time with all the decorations, activities, and gift shopping. I’m here to tell you that you deserve some gifts for yourself too. Make time for yourself and favor your life with some special gifts. I am sure a little selfcare would make you a lot happier in the middle of this overwhelming life. Here are 6 special gifts that you can gift-yourself even when there is no occasion at all.

Some new clothes to your wardrobe

I am sure I’m not the only one who usually thinks it’s okay to wear the same items again and again until they get too old. Especially moms with a busy lifestyle. However, I have to admit that habit is not healthy for your inner well-being. Adding a couple new pieces to your closet is never a bad idea, at least once in a while.

Another way to often get yourself some new clothes is to sign up for Wantable. They are a try-before-you-buy service which will send you a box of 7 items based on your answers to their style quiz. You’ll have 5 days to try the items, then keep what you love and return the rest. That is a very convenient way to try on new clothes especially for busy moms. I shared some styles I love from Wantable in another blog post, click here to check them out.

A do-nothing-day

This is what I love most as a busy mom of a 4 -year-old girl. As housework is overwhelming sometimes especially when you work at home at the same time. If possible, give yourself a complete do-nothing-day. It will recharge your energy after such a long time of hard work. A long sleep without any pressure of laundry or a deadline sounds impossible for many moms. A day to spend all for herself is even dreamier. But I’m telling you it’s doable. Have someone, husband for example, that can help? Go make your wish come true. You can totally ask your partner to  take care of the family for just one day so you can have your do-nothing-day once!

A fresh bouquet of your beloved flowers

This is actually one of the most effective one out of all 6 special gifts you can gift-yourself. I love to give myself a pretty bouquet of light orange roses (or sometimes simply a bouquet of fresh eucalyptus) during grocery shopping time. Flowers and greeneries have an amazing ability to lift up my mood and boost my energy. Moreover, adding new color to your house with a fresh little bouquet helps brighten your living area. By doing this, you are giving your room a new refreshing look which significantly does wonders for your inner well-being.

An interesting book

“Reading is dreaming with open eyes”. Yes, how long haven’t you made time for reading a good book? As this crazily connected life is totally filled with social media, reading is becoming un-favourable to some young generations. However, reading a real book gives a different feeling, you know, I love the way I have to turn the pages by my hands while reading, I love the way I have to stay focused on every word written by the author and keep asking myself what makes this story so good. Reading keeps you away from stress and this messy reality while giving a chance to dream, to love and to think at the same time. 

A stay-cation 

Hmmmm, if a long vacation is not convenient for you, stay-cation is a good substitute. You can totally plan a stay-cation for yourself by booking a pretty hotel at your living town and spend all day doing what you like or exploring the place you live inside out. What you can do with a stay-cation? Here are some recommendations that you can take: going to spa, getting your nails done, reading books at a nice coffeeshop, going to a hair salon, trying trendy-food in the town, hanging out with your best friends, etc. 

Clothes that you never tried before

This is different from the first idea above. What I mean is that you can give yourself a chance to try a new style of clothes too. Getting to try on items that you’ve never tried on before is fun. It’s such a fresh feeling to see how you differently look in the mirror. This is when try-before-you-buy retailers like Wantable become handy.

Wantable offers personal styling service so that you can receive handpicked items based on your style quiz. They currently have 3 options: Style Edit for women, Active Edit for women, and Men’s Active Edit. You will get a box of 7 items to try on, keep what you love and return the rest within 5 days. This is actually a great way for you to try on a totally new style that you have never tried before. If you love that style, great. If you don’t, just return the item(s) without being charged for those. Check out my new outfits from my previous Wantable Box.

Listen to yourself and strive for what you really love to do as well as what makes you happy. No one can make you happy better than yourself. Again, not only your loved ones, you deserve some special holiday gifts from yourself too. Choose one of the 6 special gifts above to gift-yourself and enjoy!

Good luck n have fun <3 

A NEW WAY TO SHOP CLOTHES

This blog post is sponsored by Wantable

I’m gonna start with the traditional way of shopping and how it started to change since becoming a mom. I spent hours and days walking around malls just to browse around. I used to try on clothes at stores without having to rush. Of course, this was before my daughter Misa was born. Being a mom honestly means less time for activities that require time like shopping. Eventually, my clothing choices narrow down as I have no time to walk around the malls or even scrolling the online stores. While I’m trying to find more time for myself, I would appreciate convenient services like Wantable – a new way to shop clothes.

What is Wantable?

Wantable is a new interesting brand that comes up with a whole new way of shopping. This way would save you hours to search for your styles either in-store or online. Wantable offers you a quick quiz to make which results in styles that match you best. You get to try on the items they handpick for you for free, then only pay for what you’d like to keep.

How does Wantable work?

After you complete the style quiz, they will send a box right to your front door. This box is filled with 7 items which are 100% handpicked by their professional stylists based on the report of your quiz. You don’t have to traditionally choose your clothes anymore, let the experts do it for you. 

When the items arrive, you have 5 days to try them on. Tips: mix and match them however you like. Mixing them with the items you have in your wardrobe is even better. Then, keep what you love and return the rest. If 5 or more items are kept, you’ll get a 10% discount.

Here are the reasons I love when shopping with Wantable:
  • This is a new way to shop clothes and I think it’s so cool.
  • Time-saving is what I love the most. My time is limited and I love to have Wantable as my personal stylist.
  • The style quiz makes me feel special since it’s very detailed and personalized to myself.
  • The purchasing process is quick, convenient and well-serviced. 
  • The items they send are in amazing quality and the styles are cute.

They embrace and respect your difference

By scrolling their website and instagram, I completely fall in love at my first glance. Wantable embraces the difference as they respect your own individuality. After giving birth to my baby, I gain a lot of weight. The changes in my body is not the problem with my family; they love me just the way I am. However, it’s my big problem when it comes to choosing outfits. I have to change the way I wear as most of my old clothes do not fit me anymore. The styles I love don’t even look good on me anymore to be honest.

Having a personal stylist like Wantable makes me feel less of a problem my body is when it comes to clothing. They send the items that suit me well. They lift up my confidence with all the quotes about ‘be unique, don’t be perfect’ on their social sites. This brand wins my heart completely with the value of their styling service, the items they sent, and their message. 

What are you waiting for?

I hope this post inspires you on a new way to shop clothes. What better for a busy parent to shop clothes than a try-before-you-buy service like Wantable? Moreover, with the current situation, this way of shopping would save you a trip to stores. You’ll get to shop without leaving the comfort of your home. Holidays are approaching, that’s another reason to spoil yourself. Speaking of Holidays, check out my list for 20 under $100 Amazon Gift Ideas. Now let Wantable surprise you with their holiday styled box.

This necklace is cute but not my fave, so I’m returning it.

Look your best while being a busy mom

This blog post is sponsored by Remington

Being a mom means having no time for yourself as it’s the most fulfilling role you’ve ever had. If you want to look your best while being a fully responsible/busy mom at the same time, this article is a must-read. 

Get yourself a good hair dryer

A good hair dryer will not only save you time after a shower, it should also save your hair from frizz. I’m currently in deep love with the REMINGTON® Pro Wet2Style™ collection which I started using a week ago. The Remington Pro Wes2Style Dryer has Ceramic + Ionic Technology to protect your hair from frizz and heat damage. It comes with a Detangler for straightening and smoothing; a Blowout Boost works with a round brush; a Diffuser helps define curls; and a Slipstream™ for pre-straightening. With those 4 included attachments, it will help you to prep your hair for faster styling afterward.

Make your wardrobe basic

With your limited time budget, clothes with basic colors like black, white and nude can be easily mixed together. They won’t cost you any minutes to consider back and forth. A white dress can go with any color of shoes and jackets. You can put on your nude heels everyday no matter what types of outfit you’re wearing. Don’t forget to own a couple of bottoms (skirts, pants, etc) that are made of jeans. Denim keeps you stylish and never out-of-date. 

Scent yourself with the right perfume

Fragrance tells a lot about a woman. Place your perfume at the most reachable position which can be taken every time you need to. You do not have to wear makeup everyday but putting on the right smell is definitely a must. 

Have a careful skincare habit

Take advantage of your babies’ sleeping time. Carefully do the skincare every day before going to bed. If your skin is in a good condition, you won’t have to waste time putting a lot of makeup on to gain confidence. Your bright smooth skin needs nothing rather than a thin layer of sunscreen. And it does not take you hours in front of the mirror. Moreover, choosing the right lipstick that perfectly matches your skin tone is crucial as well. Understand your facial look and choose wisely!

Get a time-saving hair styling tools

The key to look good while being a busy mom is save-time. Shout out to the REMINGTON® Pro Wet2Style™ 1 1/4 Hot Air Curling iron and the 1 3/4 Flat Iron. This set of products is a game changer. It took me only 15 minutes a day to get my hair ready for going out.

The tools allow you to style and dry your hair at the same time. That means you only need half of the time styling your hair without having to dry it first with a dryer. The Hot Air Curling Iron uses powerful airflow and optimized heat to dry and style at the same time. While the Flat Iron features a unique venting system that removes excess water as you style. 

Surprisingly, my hair looks smoother with a radiant after using the hair tools from Remington Wet2Style collection. They offer ceramic and titanium covering so you are totally worried-free about heating damage. This collection allows you to experience such a good time playing with your precious hair.

You know what, your hair worth investing as it’s the only crown you’ll never take off. Give this REMINGTON® Pro Wet2Style™ collection a try and see how it changes your life without costing you hours having your hair done. They are available at Walmart.

Keeping yourself to look good while being a busy fulltime mom may be challenging, but it’s time for you to make it possible. Your babies will surely be proud of their healthy, balanced and stylish mom. I also shared a blog post on how to stay productive while working from home, make sure you read it as well. 

6 simple ways to have a better sleep

This blog post is sponsored by Centrum

Uneven sleep quality results in tons of physical and mental problems. Therefore, having a good night’s rest plays an important role in having a better mood, more energy, and general wellbeing. Those who are having a hard time sleeping at night can improve the situation. In partnership with Centrum, I’m sharing 6 simple ways to have a better sleep.

Stay productive during the day

Being able to get a good amount of work done for the day will help you be able to relax your mind to prepare to fall asleep. At night, set your tasks for the next day. Make sure you get yourself ready for a busy ahead. Taking vitamins is a great way to support you during the day.

Shout out to Centrum Whole Food Multivitamin Women’s & Men’s Multivitamins. They are uniquely made with a natural blend of organic whole food fruits and vegetables. I have a separate blog post sharing How to stay productive working from home, you might want to check it out.

Sleep-inducing music 

As music has a strong power to heal your soul and relax your mind, some kinds of rhythm can actually sing you to sleep in seconds. 

Those meditative sounds are able to slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Listening to some soothing piece of music before bedtime is a good preparation for a nice rest. Here are my recommendations you can add to your playlist: Piano version of your favorite songs, the sound of rain or ocean, slow romantic rhythm, etc. A sleep sound machine can help too.

Relaxing bedroom

Make your bedroom feel more comfy with a high-quality mattress. Use nice bedding fabrics that give you a cozy feeling. Be sure to keep your bedroom lighting comfortably low. And don’t forget to keep all the pillows fresh and covered with a good smell.

Television and all other electrical devices such as computers, laptops, and gaming devices are better kept out of your shuteye areas. These objects can easily steal your sleep at night so don’t give them any chance. Bedroom’s temperature is also crucial. Ensure your room’s air conditioner works well at keeping your place cool enough to relax. These are my favorite tips out of these 6 simple ways to have a better sleep.

Lavender oil 

Study shows that Lavender oil does wonders to your sleeping habit. Applying some drops of lavender oil to your pillow everyday may help a lot. You can also use this oil in your laundry routine as well. 

Place an essential oil diffuser near or in your bedroom for more comfy effect. That nice smell works great at healing your anxiety and giving you a stress-free mind before shuteye.

Regular sleeping schedule 

Sticking to a good bed-time routine is more important than it seems to be. Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day will boost your energy. It will activate your concentration all day long. Sleep deprivation is so harmful to your mental health. Enough sleep with a nice schedule keeps you out of negative and unpleasant emotional disorders.

A problem in your schedule of bedtime can cause insufficient work execution because of a heavy sleepy feeling. There are some apps you can download to your phone to set a regular night-time routine and evaluate your sleep quality as well. 

Proper dietary food intake

Have you ever heard that some certain kinds of drink or food can positively influence your sleep? Try a cup of hot chamomile tea mix with one teaspoon of honey before bedtime and see how amazing it works for your sleep. Kiwifruit contains a high amount of antioxidant properties. It is a supplement that may help you to have a deeper rest at night. 

You can also take supplements such as Centrum Whole Food Sleep to help you naturally fall asleep. I personally love this supplement as I obviously see the difference when using it. It is from Centrum’s new line of supplements. They are Non-GMO and free of major allergens, artificial ingredients, and synthetic dyes. They are also Vegan*, paleo, and keto friendly.

Besides, there are many other foods  that also give advantages for your sleep such as nuts. Add them to your daily eating menu and enjoy the results. Drinking water the right way can help as well.

So, the above are 6 simple things that you can do to have a better sleep. In order to avoid consequences caused by sleeplessness, start with the above tips to make it easier for a good sleeping time. Since lack of sleep will push your aging process go faster than expected, improving your night-time quality is so important unless you want to look like an auntie in your twenties.

(*The following Centrum products are vegan: Stress & Mood, Mental Focus, Natural Beauty, Sleep, and Energy)
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

How I stay sane being a full time stay at home mom

Having kids literally is not easy. It’s even harder and crazier sometimes especially being a full-time mom. After such a while being a mom of my beloved daughter, I’ve finally got some experiences to tell now. I’m gonna share some survival tips for all the moms out there who are struggling with your motherhood problems. In this post I’m going to share how I stay sane being a full time stay at home mom?

Stay organized and make peace with the mess

A house with kids is surely messier than it was before so what you have to do is being prepared to face the situation. You should set up a certain cleaning schedule on a daily basis so as not to see all the clothes piled up or a sink full of dishes waiting for you to wash them all. Cleaning every day is needed and it helps a lot. 

As your home is where you and your kids spend most of the time in, keeping it clean and fresh can make your mind more relieved and stress-free. 

Ask for help if you need to

You may want to surround yourself with all the supportive people who are always ready to give you a hand whenever you ask for. Raising a child, especially a newborn, requires so much effort and sacrifice, so do not hesitate to ask for help if you feel tired and exhausted. Don’t push yourself so hard. You totally can share all the work with your husband or your mom. This is an important tip to stay sane being a full time stay at home mom.

Listen to your favorite music every day

Music is magic, it’s amazing in healing your inside soul and boosting your mood positively. That’s why I advise you to listen to music every day. A piece of your favorite rhythm can wash away all the unhappy feelings and replace them with happiness again. Let the music fill your entire house with positive vibes, believe me, it can change your life. 

Stay away from negative people

Avoid those negative people who don’t have your back. They have problems in everything you do and don’t allow them to drain your energy. Being a stay-at-home mom makes you more sensitive to others’ opinions and comments about how you raise your child or how to take care of the house. What you have to do is to keep yourself calm and just turn a deaf ear to all that toxic unhelpful comments. 

Do not isolated yourself

A stressed mommy often stays alone thinking about all the bad things that have happened. Don’t ever do that. Share your feelings with a friend or someone you trust and look for a solution. Socialize yourself in a group of people or a small community where you feel comfortable to share things with, you can hang out once a week having dinner with friends and get space for yourself. Or you can just walk your baby around in a stroller to get some fresh air outside and that’s enough. 

Consider yourself as top priority

If you put your kids above yourself, you’re totally wrong. Taking care of yourself is most important. Remember this, you can’t love anyone else if you don’t even know how to love yourself right. Make time to nurture your soul and take good care of your body, take part in some social activities or do regular exercise to keep yourself healthy and balanced. 

You love your kids, I know, who doesn’t. However, you have to be happy, healthy and mentally positive first to give the best to your children. 

Seek for a home-based job

This is my biggest tip on how I stay sane being a full time stay at home mom. Being able to make money from my blog (as well as my Instagram) is such a blessing.

Money is crucial. I know how it feels when you can’t make your own money and live dependently on your spouse’ income, that’s bad. During the time being a stay-at-home mom, why don’t you try to seek for some home-based job such as content writer or work-from-home customer service or some other positions which allow you to work for a living and be mom at the same time. Getting yourself busy with work can also keep you away from stress and mental illness. And of course, spending the money made by your own strengthens your courage and confidence as well. 

You know what, motherhood is wonderful. Your home may be filled with toys and your hair may be a mess every day, but some couple of years later, what you and your child remember is not that messy house or dirty hair, what stays in your mind is all the happy time you’ve spent together. Life has its highs and lows, keep your head straight and never give up. God has plan for you and he saves the best for last. 

A must-have for the cold holiday season

This blog post is sponsored by HALLS but all opinions are my own.

It’s getting cold in Arizona

The holiday season is always my busiest time of the year (plus my daughter’s birthday and Traditional Vietnamese New Year). Even though it’s busy and can be a little overwhelming, it’s a joyful season after all, especially with the family holiday trips.

The cold weather gets me every time though. Getting a sore throat or coughing would make the season a little less joy-filled. I’m sure I’m not the only one who easily gets a cough or sore throat during cold months, so here I’m sharing my must-have get well traditions.

HALLS Cough Drops have been staple in our cabinets. They help relieve temporarily relieve irritating coughs and sore throats.

There are a variety of flavors to choose from including Cherry, Honey Lemon, and Metho-Lyptus. My husband likes the Metho-Lyptus flavor while the Cherry flavor is my most favorite.

A cough or sore throat can strike without warning, especially while running around (or traveling) this season. So I have a pack of HALLS Cough Drops in my bag as well.

Side story, I actually got a sore throat last month when the weather started to change. I had a horrible night’s sleep as I started to feel a sore throat coming on. The first thing I did after getting out of the bed was to take a HALLS cough drop. I could feel the temporary relief.

Be prepared for whatever life throws your way, especially during travel. No matter if you are traveling for business or leisure, you don’t want a cough and sore throat to interrupt your day. I highly recommend packing a bag of HALLS Cough Drops with you. They will provide relief and cooling if those symptoms happen.

HALLS brand has always been the brand I trust when it comes to cough/sore throat relief. Having HALLS on hand is very necessary. Let’s stock up your medicine cabinet with HALLS.

Besides, here are my favorite things to do to get well when I have a cold:

-Sipping a cup of hot tea

-Snuggling under a cozy blanket and watch movies

-Take a warm bath

-Shopping online for no reason (spending a little money magically helps haha)

-If you don’t feel too bad, get up, and get some cleaning chores done. The feeling when you overcome the tiredness and finally tackle your to-do list is the best!

Do you have a get well tradition(s) too? Share with me in the comment below.

Xo,

Vannie

7 Random Summer Must-Haves & Tips for Moms

This blog post is sponsored by Boiron® and PTPA

Summer means lots of fun time with family. As a new mom, I found myself buying things that I completely didn’t think about before having kids. So, I have this blog post to sum up what I think would be needed for moms with kids or family in general, especially during summer time. Let’s jump right in.

  1. An Igloo cooler for your car. We live in the desert, so we would like to have cold drinks while being on the go. Having a cooler in the back of the car saves us money, by bringing our own homemade tea or smoothie instead of stopping at Starbucks or any places to get expensive drinks ALL THE TIME. We also have one to use in our backyard when we have a BBQ. 
  2. A natural safe-for-kids-and-pets backyard spray. You can easily find some good options on Amazon. You don’t want the fun time to be annoyed by mosquitoes or bugs, since children are around. I have a whole blog post on how I keep my daughter safe from insect bites while being outside. An Igloo cooler for your car. We live in the desert, so we would like to have cold drinks while being on the go. Having a cooler in the back of the car saves us money, by bringing our own homemade tea or smoothie instead of stopping at Starbucks or any places to get expensive drinks ALL THE TIME. We also have one to use in our backyard when we have a BBQ. 
  3. A jumper for your kid at the pool. It looks like the picture below. It’s not very expensive. You can have more peace of mind letting your toddler wear it and play more freely at the pool.
  4. Fun outdoor/backyard toys for kids. Kids love playing in water. A water table or a sprinkler would be the best. Also, a bubble machine, or a sandbox would be amazing too.
  5. Drink dispenser. It will be so handy to have especially for family backyard dinner or BBQ. I would prefer a plastic one over a glass one, just to be safe while kids are around.

6. Fun and cute compostable dinnerware. I love collecting the cute items to make BBQ time more fun and appealing. I sometime use melamine dinnerware because they are durable and easy to clean. There are so many cute options for melamine dinnerware too.

7. This last must-have is so important. I would highly recommend having some Boiron® Acidil® and Gasalia® ready at home. With all the summer foods, especially after having a BBQ, you can easily get indigestion

Boiron® is my favorite homeopathic medicine brand. Acidil® and Gasalia® are made for you to treat yourself at home when having indigestion symptoms.* They are made with natural active ingredients that works with your body. Plus, there are no drug interactions when taking them.*

Gasalia®  is suggested for use for in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Acidil can be used for adult and children 12 years of age and older. You can take Gasalia® when having the first sign of gas, and take Acidil® at the first sign of indigestion.* I also shared 10 ways to avoid and treat indigestion in a different blog post. Make sure you didn’t miss it. 

Summer is the time to have fun, not to be worry. So, I hope you keep yourself and your family healthy and happy. Let me know your tips if you have one. It’d be so helpful. 

Thank you Boiron® and PTPA for sponsoring this blog post. All the tips and opinions are based own my own experience.

*Claims based on traditional homeopathic practice, not accepted medical evidence. Not FDA evaluated.

5 Tips for Better Wellness in Your Life

Far too many of us take our health and wellness for granted, until an illness or injury happens. But living a healthy life often means leading a happy life and a longer one too.

For greater wellness, follow these five tips and you might be surprised to find that relatively small changes can make a major difference.

Aim to Take Frequent Breaks in the Fresh Air

If you work indoors, you probably don’t get outside often enough but going outdoors and enjoying the fresh air can actually raise levels of the feel-good hormone known as serotonin to make us feel better. Aim to get out for at least a few minutes once every hour or two. You’ll not only be giving your eyes a break from the glare of the computer screen and harsh lights but it will reduce your stress levels, enhance energy, strengthen your immune system and even improve blood pressure.

Move More

While getting outside regularly will get you moving at least a bit, try to move as often as you can. Even brief periods of exercise can help. Take 10 minutes to walk the stairs or walk around your building, with a goal to get at least 30 to 60 minutes of cardio exercise a day. It’ll go a long way in helping your waistline, relieving stress and reducing the risk of countless health problems from migraines and depression to heart disease and diabetes. It will instantly put you in a better mood and provide an energy boost too. According to Harvard Medical School, the secret to better health is exercise.

Eat More Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

They say at least three-quarters of your health is linked to what you eat, which means it’s important to feed your body with what it needs for total wellness. Greens are one of the best sources of vitamins, minerals and fiber, but aim to eat a rainbow of colors from purple grapes and orange carrots to yellow squash and green spinach. If you don’t like veggies, toss some into a smoothie with a banana or another sweet fruit and you probably won’t even notice they’re there. Your body will thank you with a healthier weight, better cholesterol levels, improved digestion, more beautiful skin and a stronger heart.

Breathe

Obviously if we don’t breathe, we don’t live, but did you know there is a significant difference between actually breathing properly and the shallow breathing that most of us do automatically without a second thought. Taking just a few minutes to check to see if you’re breathing the right way can almost immediately transform a poor mood into a better one and even ease anxiety and sadness. You should inhale deeply, from the belly and then exhale deeply which aids the body in eliminating carbon dioxide while helping to replenish it with oxygen. Check periodically to see if you’re breathing the right way.

Embark on a Wellness Retreat

Travel is a great way to enhance wellness as it often brings opportunities for more exercise, and usually in fun forms. Take that up a notch by embarking on a wellness retreat in Queensland, Australia or perhaps another destination you’ve been dreaming of. Retreats like these not only help to motivate, but often they bring the chance to learn more about nutrition while enjoying all sorts of outdoor adventures too.