Tips for Mom

How To Find More “Me Time”

A variety of Celestial Seasonings samples and compensation was received in exchange for this post. But all opinions are mine, like always.

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson… As moms, we all know that we need more “me time,” right? But in between running our households, running our businesses, running around for a boss, or running around after kids – there’s not a whole lot of time to devote to ourselves. Which is why I totally treasure those small moments of peace I get each day. I try – key word, *try* – to add some small routines into my daily schedule that allow me a little bit of me time every day.

I used to think I had a busy life, back in my “previous life”. I worked management in retail, while also doing displays and fashion merchandising. And of course, selling. I had long, crazy hours. I never stood still, all day – not at work, as I ran non-stop to keep everything running, or after work, as I had a crazy-full social life. Work hard – play hard, that was how I lived. But that was nothing compared to what my life is like now – Homeowner, Mother, Business Owner. Ohmyheck. I’ve never faced so much stress, or had so many things in life depending on me to ensure that they get taken care of. [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 18, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 12 Comments

Back to School Routines – Tips from A-Z

“If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers.” – Edgar W. Howe… I love the summer months. I love family and friends gathering at my home for pool parties and BBQ’s. I love sunshine, and flip flops, and drinking frozen cocktails in my hammock. But, all of that fun comes at a price – my usual routines get totally knocked off schedule! In addition to my 3 year old, I have my nephews {7 & 9} each day in the summer too. When you throw in a few of their friends that come to visit – it makes running a full-time business from home pretty darn challenging. So, while I love summer days – I am getting excited to once again get back into the routine that back to school season brings.

Back to School Routines – Tips from A-Z [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 2, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 9 Comments

School Year Stain-Busting Tips

This year, resolve to NOT throw out your money by having to throw out stained kids clothes… We all know that kids can be hard on clothes. I had always thought my nephews were bad – as little boys, they could find any spot of mud or dirt within a 20 mile radius, I swear. But my 3 year old is just as bad – whether it’s a shirt full of juice as she learns to use a big-girl cup, a smear of tomato sauce across her pants at dinner time, or just general sticky-messy-yuckiness of toddlerhood – she dirties up her clothes just as much! Partner that with a Mister who is a race car driver – and I have a ton of household stains to deal with.

Resolve to tackle stains – Join the Stain Tip Exchange [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 2, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

3 Steps to Make Sure Cold Sores Don’t Ruin Your Holiday Fun

Cold sores are nasty little buggers, aren’t they? And they can totally ruin your day any time of year – but especially at the holidays, when you have lots of special occasions, parties, and pictures being taken. Almost everyone has been exposed to the virus that causes cold sores – about 90% of us, when we were kids. But only about 2-40% of peeps are the unlucky ones, who regularly get outbreaks of ’em. If you get a big ol’ nasty one, it can totally stop you from wanting to see people – which means no parties, no dates, no fun times. But – there is a trick to help you totally prevent them. Keep reading…

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 25, 2012 Filed Under: Tips | 15 Comments

Learn the 7 Simple Steps That Will Make Your Flowers Last Longer

Purchasing flowers for a loved one can be a wonderful way to show them how much you care about them… However, it can be very frustrating to make sure that the beautiful bouquet you purchase doesn’t wilt and die within the first few days of purchase. If you are tired of spending money on rose bouquets that don’t last, here are seven simple steps you can take to make sure that your roses last as long as possible.

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 6, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

How-to Guide to ‘Check Your Deck’ this Summer #Infographic

Deck Safety Infographic: Do you know how to tell if your outdoor living space is as safe as it should be? These simple to follow tips will help you ensure that your deck or porch is in tip-top shape, and ready for summer fun. {And it will offer a few ideas to help you fix any problems you find too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 19, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

My Simply Perfect Morning Routine… #IDandMe

“A morning without coffee is like sleep.” – Author Unknown… If you’ve read even just a few posts here on this site, you know that the majority of my bloodstream consists of coffee. I crawl out of bed, slither like a helpless jelly-fish to the kitchen to brew my first pot of coffee, and after a few cups of caffeinated goodness, I’m magically transformed into a super mom, ready to take on the challenges of my busy day. Yes, my name is Meagan, and I am a coffee junkie.

“Coffee is a beverage that puts one to sleep when not drank.” – Alphonse Allais

I like pretty much any coffee drink, to be honest. I’ll drink a fancy shmancy drink at Starbucks, and I’ll chug down a cheap cup of coffee from the 7-11 if that’s all I can get access to. {If you were lost in a desert, would you turn down a glass of water because it wasn’t a designer bottled brand? No. And when I haven’t had my coffee, I get pretty desperate for hydration too…} And while I do drink a ton of basic brewed coffee, my fave, especially in the summer, is a perfectly sweetened iced coffee drink. Here’s how I make my home-blend:

International Delight Creamer {I usually use Non-Fat French Vanilla, but I do mix it up from time to time}
International Delight Original Flavor Iced Coffee in a carton
Coffee-cubes – extra strong brewed coffee frozen into ice cubes

I throw a few of the coffee-cubes into my rad International Delight cup, pour the pre-made Iced Coffee {cartons available at Walmart and Safeway} over the cubes, then throw on a splash of creamer to sweeten it up just a bit. Stir it up, and enjoy an amazingly delicious, super quick pick-me-up anytime, made right at home. {Remember how much money I saved when I switched to Iced Coffee from International Delight for a month?} Sooooo good.

“Behind every successful woman…is a substantial amount of coffee.” – Stephanie Piro

This is my daily coffee moment… I love to mix up a glass of creamy iced coffee, then head out to the patio with my drink and my laptop, to get some early morning work done before the craziness of the day begins. It’s such a nice way to get started… sunshine, the sound of the birds singing in our field, and a perfectly blended iced coffee to get me revved up and ready to tackle my to-do list.

Check out International Delight’s new Coffee Creamer packaging on Facebook!

Enjoying a coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee break Kit, by completing these two steps:

1) Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest

2) Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

jjjEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

This

ddddEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

ThisEnjoying coffee at home will be even more special for 4 lucky winners! Enter to win $1000 toward your dream kitchen and an International Delight Coffee Break Kit, by completing these two steps:

•1. Re-pin my coffee moment photo on Pinterest. (* this will clearly be defined by blogger)

•2. Come back! In the comment field below, tell me you pinned and share your special coffee moment.

This

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight June Sponsored Conversation. The opinions and text are all mine. International Delight Sweepstakes and Rules.