10 Ways to STAY BEST FRIENDS FOREVER with your HUSBAND

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5 Ways to Help Prevent And Treat Postpartum Depression

The other night I had the opportunity to attend a special event at my church. Once a month all of the ladies get together and we do something fun! I am grateful I had the opportunity to attend last night and I am excited to share with you today what I learned.

We had a special guest come and speak to us about Postpartum Depression. He is a well-educated doctor who I love and respect so much. I took a few notes during the discussion and walked away feeling uplifted and wanting to share with you 5 ways to help prevent and treat postpartum depression.

Having a baby is SO exciting! It is a life-changing event that completely affects you mentally and physically. Our bodies go through a pretty crazy, but absolutely amazing and truly miraculous thing. Carrying a baby for 9 months is hard. Gaining weight, stretch marks, morning sickness, afternoon sickness, night sickness, high blood pressure, Braxton hicks, contractions, back-ache, you ladies know…the list goes on and on.

Having a baby is the 3^rd most stressful event that can happen in someone’s life.  It can be scary and overbearing. It can be complicated and nerve racking. With all of this stress it is easy to fall and become depressed. Your body has gone through so much, you are up every 2 hours and you are taking care of another human being!

To help prevent and treat Postpartum Depression I encourage you to follow these 5 steps:

1.    TAKE TIME FOR YOU: This was something I had a hard time with after having Laila. I wanted to be with her ALWAYS! I could not leave her sight. I remember my mom staying with us when she was first born and I would take a 5 minute shower and hop right out to yell down the stairs, “Is she okay?!” My mom would always reply, “Yes. She is still sleeping.” I could barely even be away from her for 5 minutes! It is so important for you to take time for yourself. Leave the baby with his/her dad, take a warm bath, read a book, go out to lunch, have a girls night, go to a movie, work on a craft. Do something you love and take some time for yourself. It is SO healthy and completely necessary.

2.    GO OUTSIDE: I have always loved going outside and getting some sun. There is something that feels SO good about sitting outside and letting the rays hit your body. It is so important to get outside and enjoy the fresh air! Sit on your porch, go to the pool, take a drive…get out there!

3.    WORK ON SELF IMPROVEMENT/HOBBY: Do you love painting? Crafting? Singing? Working out? Blogging? DO IT! Do what you love and work on it. I love that we can always improve. I think I felt like before I had Laila, that my life was going to completely end and I would have no time to do anything for ME.  I have learned how important it is for me to work on my own improvement. As I work on things that I can do better, I have become a better mom for her. I am happier, full of energy and learning every day.

4.    MEDICATION AND/OR COUNSELOR: If depression gets bad, I encourage you to seek help. Medication is a good thing. A Counselor is a good thing. I think sometimes people are in denial or nervous to hear a doctor’s or counselor’s opinion. I know they can help us through the hardest times and help pick us up to become whole again.

5.    TALK ABOUT IT : My dear friend who suffered from postpartum depression raised her hand and said that when she went through this, she just wanted to talk about it. She wanted someone to listen and she wanted to feel like she wasn’t alone. Don’t we all just want someone to talk to sometimes? We are girls! We need to talk it out! Sometimes it is important for us just to vent and get our feelings out. That can make us feel so much better!

If you suffer from postpartum depression, know that you are not alone! You are not weird or crazy. You are not different or wrong. I want you to know there is always help and always a way to get better. I know that if we follow these 5 steps, we will see the light at the end of the tunnel and things will get better. Our love for our children will grow. Our love for our husbands will grow. Our love for ourselves will grow.  And we will feel God’s love in our lives more than ever.

“That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve it. It is simply always there.” – President Thomas S. Monson

The Cure to Diaper Rash

Laila had her first bad diaper rash a few weeks ago and as a new mom I was seeking for help! I am still learning every single day and I love to hear tips and tricks from other, more experienced moms. 

After asking around, Boudreaux's Butt Paste was one of the most popular recommendations. I ran to Target and got some for only $7, rubbed it on the irritated area and over night her rash was better! I really believe in this stuff now!

I love that you can put it on with every diaper change, treats and prevents future rashes and it doesn't have a bad odor. 

You experienced moms out there... do you have a favorite diaper rash cream you like to use? I suggest this for any of your cute babies that get irritated from diaper rash... I know it worked for us like a charm! 

10 Ways to find JOY in the Journey of Motherhood

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Talk About LAST Minute - Costume Ideas

Last night was our ward's Trunk or Treat for our church. I wasn't planning on going because my husband couldn't make it and I didn't want to take Laila alone. About two hours before it started (talk about LAST minute!) I decided to go! I thought it would be fun for Laila and I to get out of the house and do something fun! I didn't want to spend money on costumes for us, so I looked in our closets and came up with Honey Boo Boo and Mama June. I didn't have to buy A THING! I don't know if that is a good thing, admitting that Laila and I dress like Honey Boo Boo and Mama June on a daily basis, but hey! it was FREE, it was FUNNY and it was PERFECT! 

I found a pink tutu, sweater, lace tights, sparkly shoes, my blonde hair extensions, a crown and a sash for Honey Boo Boo to wear and I found some baggy sweats, an oversized tshirt, a hoodie and wore my hair in a messy bun for Mama June. 

Today is Halloween and I hope everyone is all set and ready with their costumes! I hope even as adults you are dressing up... it is SO fun to get in the spirit and have fun with our kids! I have made a list of 10 EASY, possibly FREE, and CUTE Halloween costumes you can throw together today so you can dress up tonight too! 

FIRST, I suggest you take a look in your closet and see what you have. I think you will be surprised on what kind of costume you can come up with, with just your own clothes and items in your house! 

1. A Cowgirl: Grab some jeans, boots, a cowboy hat, a button up shirt (tie it in the front on bottom) and put your hair in low pig tails or braids. 

2. A Ghost: Grab a white sheet and cut holes in it for your arms arms and head, paint your face white and wear white or black leggings underneath. 

3. A Witch: Wear all black and grab a witch hat! (Target has the cutest witch hats!)

4. A Zombie: These are so popular because of The Walking Dead right now! Find some old clothes you don't want and put holes and fake blood on them, paint your face white with black eyes. 

5. A Farmer: Grab your flannel tshirt, a stuffed animal cow from your kids room and some jeans or overalls! A straw hat would be a cute add on too!

6. A Referee: Grab a white tshirt and black duct tape. Make stripes with the black duct tap and wrap a whistle around your neck. Cute with a black skirt or black leggings. Wear with chucks or tennis shoes. 

7. A Nerd: Go into your husband or boyfriends closet and grab a polo shirt, tuck it into some shorts, hair in braids, glasses and carry around a book! 

8. A Superhero: For some reason when I looked in my closet I had several super hero t-shirts. Grab your t-shirt and some leggings, wear socks up to your knees and put a cute bow in your hair. You can make a cape out of a sheet or towel.

9. A baby: Wear your pajamas, clip on a binkie, hair in pigtails, draw little freckles on your cheeks, slippers and carry around a stuffed animal! (So comfy too!) 

10. An Athlete: Grab your favorite jersey or tshirt, baseball cap on your head, hair in braids, socks up to your knees and you are set! 

A big tip I have is TUTUs!! I love TuTus! They are cute, fun and EASY to make! Run to Wal Mart and grab a spool of tulle. They have a lot... I just went a few days ago! Cut the tulle into pieces (as long as you would like your tutu), tie the tulle on a piece of ribbon and make your own tutu to go with ANY of these costumes. They make all costumes look girly and fun. You could make a black one for the witch and referee, a white one for the ghost, a red one for the nerd, any color for the superhero and athlete, and a pink one for the baby! You KNOW Laila will be in a tutu tonight :)

Here is a tutorial from someone on YouTube if you do not know how to make a tutu:

I hope you have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN and that we all try to "Make Today, The Best Day!"

A Mom's (and Baby's!) Worst Nightmare...Teething.

The past three days have been pretty rough around here! Poor Laila's two top front teeth are trying to come through and it has been the saddest thing. Teething is SO hard for both the baby and mom. They are in so much pain which makes them so unhappy and fussy. (I know I would be too!) I was at a loss and didn't know how I could help her! I texted my sister who is pregnant with her 5th baby (SO exciting!!) and she told me about Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets. I found them at Target for about $8 and they seriously worked a miracle on my little lady! She has been sleeping better, happier and is acting more like herself. If you have a teething baby, I HIGHLY recommend you use these. 

Laila's two teeth haven't popped through yet, but we can't wait for them to finally show up! Crossing our fingers they come SOON!