Gugu Guru

Time Saving Tips for Working Moms

It’s no shock that working moms have a million plates to juggle on a daily basis; never is this more true than when a breastfeeding mama returns to the workplace and has to also juggle pumping, too! We asked out team for their best time saving tips for working moms to share, what are your best time saving tips for working moms?

Keep a calendar: When it comes to time saving tips for working moms, our top tip is to keep everything on a calendar; it may seem time consuming at the outset to put all of your important dates in a calendar setting, but believe us, it will save you time down the line. It takes way longer to look for the email invite to the birthday party than to simply peep into your Google calendar – double time saving if you share the Google calendar with your signifiant other or sitter! If you’re more of an old school calendar working mom, we love the personalized calendars from Parabo Press (which also make a great gift).
Plan your clothing for the work week: one of the daily hassles working moms encounter is figuring out what to wear for work every day! We recommend planning your outfits for the week ahead of time. Make a mom-uniform for yourself and stick to your favorite colors and what feels comfortable. If you’re pumping at work, make sure your outfits are pumping friendly.
Pump with Ease: Speaking of pumping, make sure you choose a breast pump that is easy to use and can help you multitask at the same time! We’re big fans of the Motif Luna Breast Pump for working moms. We love the Luna Breast Pump for many reasons, but one is that you can totally multitask while pumping with the Motif Luna Pump, as it features a soft, low purr that doesn’t disturb co-workers, phone calls or sleeping kiddos. Plus, It’s also one of the lightest pumps on the market, which means it is easy to commute with and can fit into any bag. We’re also fans of their Motif Breastmilk Storage bags; having stored breastmilk is a huge time saver, and these bags help get the job done. They feature an easy-pour spout, leak-proof double zippers, and the self-stand design makes it easy for refrigerator storage. Plus, they can also lay flat in your freezer to maximize space.
Outsource, outsource, outsource: Working mamas simply do not have time to do it all, and that’s simply okay! We’re huge fans of outsourcing everything we need – from grocery delivery to diaper delivery and more. We’re big fans of Abby + Finn diaper delivery, as it is super easy to customize your needs and the diapers are top notch quality. KIDBOX is another fave of ours to make your life a little easier, as they will handpick clothing for your kiddos and send it straight to you – no need to head to the shops or even spend time online shopping!
Meal Plan: Again, it seems counterproductive to sit down and meal plan for the week, but believe us, when you go into the week knowing what dinner is every night, it will save you so much time later on! Check out this post for helpful meal planning tips (and don’t forget to stock up on VeeTee rice for work lunches and dinnertime, too).

Thank you to Motif Medical for making this sponsored post possible!

Back to School Car Safety Tips for Working Moms (+ giveaway!)

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We’re excited today to have this guest post by the Evenflo Baby team all about back to school car safety tips for working moms! Plus, head to the bottom of the post for an “on-the-go” giveaway!

School is back in full swing, and as parents, most of us are running around trying to get to different school and activity drop-offs and picks-up and often-times carpooling different children in our vehicles of different weights and heights. As a seasoned mom of 2 who has installed a myriad of car seats, I thought I knew it all (spoiler alert, I had a lot to learn!)

I recently had the opportunity to become a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. When I started this 4 day training, I was skeptical of what knowledge I would gain, but by the end I was really blown away by what I learned and also to discover that I was making several common mistakes when it came to both car seat usage and installation. I am sharing with you some of these very common mishaps that occur to help you keep your little ones (and their friends) safe this fall while on the road!

Forward facing using LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) – there are 2 common mistakes in this scenario:

Using both the lower anchors and seat belt for a car seat installation. You may think that 2 ways of securing the child and car seat are better than one, but in fact the performance of the car seat in the event of a crash may be negatively affected by using both the lower anchors and the seat belt at the same time. NOTE: You always want to use the upper tether when possible for forward-facing installation, whether the installation is with the lower anchors or the seat belt.
Keeping a child secured in the 5 point harness and using the LATCH system past the weight allowed. There are LATCH weight limits so be sure to check the manual of your car seat manufacturer to see what these weight limits are.

Moving your child to a booster seat: Your child may be ready to move into a belt-positioning booster seat once they have outgrown their forward facing harnessed car seat. Your child must meet the minimum height, weight and age requirements – but, (and this is what many parents forget about) they also must be mature enough to keep the seat belt properly positioned for your entire car ride. If they are moving frequently and the belt isn’t staying in place, then you should consider keeping them in a harnessed car seat that has a higher weight limit until they are really ready!

Carpooling and extra car seats: Most busy parents who are frequently carpooling other kids around will keep an extra car seat or booster seat in their car. I, for one, never thought about the importance of keeping these extra car seats secure when not in use. A 10lb booster seat can become a dangerous projectile inside the vehicle in a crash or sudden stop. So make sure you secure all car seats even when not in use! You can buckle them in with an unused seat belt or store them in the trunk of the vehicle.

The Gugu Guru team is a huge fan of Evenflo Baby’s SensorSafe technology to make life a little easier and whole lot safer. Evenflo’s patented SensorSafe™ technology connects you to your little one the entire time, in real time. It’s built into the clip of their car seats and strollers and alerts you, through the app, if babe gets unbuckled or if the temperature is too warm. When verbal communication doesn’t yet exist, this connectivity to babe’s needs is invaluable—and it is found in the products below. To learn more about their SensorSafe technology and products, check out this post.

On the Go Giveaway

Best Baby Cribs: Take a Walk Down Milk Street

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We’ll tell you how to get to Milk Street (a.k.a. the home to the best baby cribs). It’s one of our favorite destinations—and here’s why.

The look and feel of the Milk Street furniture finish is one of a kind—literally and figuratively. Due to the hand-waxed look and patina process (up to eight layers of glaze), no two pieces are exactly like. “Each layer of finish is individually tested above and beyond the most stringent coatings standards to assure you that your baby is protected from any harmful chemicals.” The top-quality craftsmanship and attentive care given to each and every piece can be seen and felt.

Another amazing feature? The grow-with-me design. A crib is an investment, so it’s nice to know that this is money well spent. The convenient convertibility factor lets you get attached to these beautiful pieces (because you will, no doubt). The cribs can convert into a toddler bed, a day bed and a full-size bed, so your mini me can continue sweet snoozes in style for years…and years.

And, while we LOVE the magazine-worthy look, the safety elements make these the best baby cribs. Surpassing the highest standards, their innovative team of experts stay up-to-date with the ever-evolving changes taking place in the baby gear industry.

Just when you think it can’t get any better, the next-level warranty lets you know it’s the real deal. Milk Street is so confident in their products, they offer an extended five-year warranty upon purchase against all manufacturing defects. That’s a long time…

Speaking of timing, unlike most handcrafted furniture companies, Milk Street does its best to deliver within two to three weeks (depending on location). So you won’t have to wait the typical eight weeks—a major bonus if you take time to make décor decisions. We can relate.

Owned and operated by empathetic women, Milk Street takes extra steps to ensure that each piece makes life a little easier for parents. You can sleep soundly knowing your babe is safe and snuggled in a nursery that’s dreamy.

Fashion Must-Have Gabri Isle for Busy Moms

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Let’s face it, one of the most fun parts of parenting is picking out all of the adorable clothing. However, any busy working mom knows there’s simply not enough time in the day to peruse online shops to find unique and cute clothes for your littles. Luckily, Gabri Isle is here to help. We’re huge fans of this mom-owned business for so many reasons, but we have to say, their commitment to supporting other women’s brands is top of our list, as Gabri Isle brings original baby clothes from female-driven brands across Europe to the US. The online boutique makes buying unique, high-quality European designer clothes a reality.

So, what does this mean for you? It means you have a one-stop-shop of unique and gorgeous European baby and kid clothes in one place! No more worrying about browsing endless websites looking for the perfect baby clothes, as Gabri Isle curates the best-of-the-best baby clothes from women-owned brands. There are just so many adorable pieces of clothing we can’t pick a favorite, but this MIMIKIDS Double Gauze Pastel Green Romper is surely up there on the list!

This Pastel Green Romper is made of 100% double gauze fabric, making it super comfy for baby and easy to play, toddle, and crawl in. It can easily be dressed up for a special occasion, or worn around the house on a sunny day. We’d also layer a long-sleeved t-shirt and tights underneath to wear the romper in chillier weather, too. The romper has button closure with two buttons on each strap to grow with baby and makes diaper changes easy. Whether it’s for your little one, a gift for a new baby, or doing holiday shopping, we love Gabri Isle for busy working mamas to make your life a little easier!

Thank you to Gabri Isle for making this sponsored post possible!

Working Mother Must-Have Backpack Diaper Bag from JuJuBe

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When it comes to working moms, it’s so important to choose a diaper bag that fits your busy lifestyle. We’re huge fans of diaper bags that double as backpacks, so when we saw the JuJuBe “Be Right Back” bag, we were excited to share it in our Working Mother Registry. We love diaper bag backpacks because they are ideal for busy parents who need both hands free – and also work well for babywearing! The Be Right Back diaper bag backpack from JuJuBe has so many beneficial features for working moms and is a must-have item for any parent.

This whimsically designed backpack has easy-to-use zippers for quick open and close, and is ideal for short trips to down or long days out. The back panel is constructed from padded, breathable mesh to keep you cool and comfortable all day long, and the memory foam changing pad in the back pocket provides added cushioning for your back. In fact, this backpack has a ton of storage and room for everything you will need. It features 1 mesh pocket and 1 zippered pocket in main compartment, 2 bottle pockets with Thinsulate by 3M for daycare drop off or long days out, as well as a quick-access top storage pocket, cell phone pocket, and most importantly, the mommy pocket for your keys, lip gloss and wallet.

The Be Right Back backpack also includes a memory foam changing pad, and for the working mama on-the-go, the backpack can even accommodate tablets or small laptops. It comes in 5 designs, so you are sure to find one which fits your personal style. And, most importantly, it is machine washable…and has a limited lifetime warranty. The JuJuBe Be Right Back diaper bag backpack will not only keep everything organized and in place, but will help you feel chic on-the-go as a busy working mama.

Thank you to JuJuBe for making this sponsored post possible!

The Ultimate Work at Home Mom Office

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by Naomi Alon

Working from home can be a challenge in its own right, but working at home AND taking care of a baby can be a daunting task. With so many moms opting to work from home these days, designing the home office is a conversation worth having. Here are my top tips for creating a workspace at home and managing childcare at the same time.

Make the office a place that you want to be. Whether you have a dedicated office space, or are just using a corner of your bedroom or living room, make that space fell great! Choose a desk and decor that make you feel happy, a comfortable chair you can sit in for longer periods of time, and plenty of plants and natural light to help you avoid feeling stir-crazy.
Make room for baby. If your baby is still small and you need to keep a close eye on them while you work, a portable mini crib or bassinet is a great option. The one that’s drawn in the design board has casters on the feet so it can be rolled around. This is great if you tend to work in different areas of your home, like moving from the desk to the sofa to the dining table, etc. A portable changing caddy can help in this situation.
Add some conveniences. Depending on the location of your room and the age of your baby, getting a little mini fridge can be super convenient to keep water, milk or little snacks nearby. This can be helpful if you live in a 2-story home, or if you need to work in the office quietly while baby sleeps.
Make space for yourself. If you have childcare or another stay/work at home parent, consider getting a white noise machine or noise canceling headphones. That way, if someone is in the other room playing with the baby, you can focus on your work.
Get serious about storage. Try to keep your office space as organized as possible, and teach your child from a young age that it is a hands-off space. If you’re prone to clutter, consider getting a secretary desk that closes up, or a cabinet you can hide things in when needed.

About the Author:

Naomi Alon is the owner of Little Crown Interiors, a design studio in Southern California offering local and nationwide e-design services just for nurseries and children’s spaces.

As a special promotion for Gugu Guru readers, Little Crown Interiors is offering 10% off nursery design services when you mention “Gugu Guru”, and 10% off anything in the online shop with code GUGUGURU (exclusions may apply).

Why Moms Should Take a Walk

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Our friends at 99 Walks know a thing or two about walking. Every month, hundreds of women who want to get moving sign up and join them for a walking challenge, and end up falling in love with the supportive community, daily inspiration, and the gorgeous, wearable inspiration they receive after crushing their goal.

But they also know how to have fun. Here are 9 of their favorite fun facts about walking.

You need to walk 25 steps to burn off 1 blueberry and about 11 miles to burn off a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese.
Want to burn more calories? Try walking sideways, which burns 78 % more calories than walking forward.
The average walking speed for the typical adult is about 3 miles per hour. If you’re walking to the beat of “Shut Up and Dance”, you’re cruising along at 3.5 mph. At this speed, it would take you about 17 minutes to walk one mile.
Your walking shoes will last somewhere between 300-500 miles (unless you’re a kid, in which case your feet will probably outgrow them first!)
Walking on a rough but level outdoor surface requires 50% more energy than walking on a paved road.
The first woman to walk around the world was Polly Letofsky, a American who completed her trek in 1999, walking over 14,000 miles by foot.
Walking can actually be considered a full body exercise. Although the forward motion comes from the legs, your arms and core and at work, too. In total, it requires 200 muscles to take one step.
Walking makes you more creative. Research shows that people who are up and moving in nature are more creative than those sitting down indoors. Albert Einstein walked one and a half miles to Princeton University each day and Darmn took three 45 minute walks each day.
Walking briskly for one mile in 15 minutes burns approximately the same amount of calories as jogging the same distance in 8 minutes.

Looking for someone to walk with? Join the 99 Walks October challenge and earn this bracelet for walking 33 miles. You’ll be healthier, happier and glad you did. Learn more at 99walks.fit.

Don’t forget to check out 99 Walks’ first guest post, 99 Reasons That Walking is Magical for Moms.

Video: 10 Minute Dinner Recipe Shenae Grimes Beech

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It’s no secret that we love mama Shenae Grimes Beech. In this video, she shares a day in the life, along with her favorite time-saving 10 minute dinner recipe (find full recipe below video).

All of a sudden my baby is crawling FAST and pulling herself up on EVERYTHING! Thanks to VeeTee for sponsoring this video because this work from home/mom life thing is getting crazier by the minute! Their rice is genuinely so clutch in giving me and my husband more quality time together after long days running after Bowie! VeeTee is featured in the 10 minute dinner recipe below.

VeeTee is a line of gourmet & delicious rice ready in just 2 minutes in your microwave. Available in seven delectable varieties, VeeTee rice is gluten-free, plant-based, vegan, certified free of GMO and free from any artificial flavors or colors.

10 MINUTE DINNER RECIPE:
1 lb fresh peeled and deveined shrimp
olive oil, enough to coat
1 lemon, zest and juice
1 heaping tablespoon of minced garlic
1 tbsp butter or butter alternative
salt, pepper, dried parsley flakes

1 package of sliced mushrooms
olive oil, enough to coat
salt, pepper, dried parsley flakes

1 package VeeTee rice

PRODUCTS SEEN IN THIS VIDEO:
Nespresso Vertuo Machine
Baby Brezza Formula Maker
Baby Brezza Bottle Sterilizer
Wander & Roam Play Mat
Qdos Baby Gate
4MOMS High Chair

If you’re a fellow mama or mom-to-be, become a part of Shenae’s growing #MOMLIFE community! Click here to sign up and you’ll receive an invite for our private, judgement-free, funny, super helpful and supportive #MOMLIFE FB group: https://lostinlala.com/momlife

Meal Planning for Working Moms (and Other Hacks!)

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This week we’re sharing the art of meal planning for working moms and some other great hacks. Any working parents knows what chaos mealtime can be, so we asked some of our favorite moms for their go-to mealtime time saving hacks to make meals for the family a less harried experience!

Mealtime Time Saving Hacks

Meal Planning for Working Moms: You will hear time and again that meal planning for working moms can help save time during the week, and it may seem counterproductive, but it’s true! We’re not talking about planning elaborate meals, we just mean mapping out a basic meal plan for your family so you’re not rushing to the market after school pick-up. For some incredible meal planning resources and downloads, check out Percolate Kitchen. Percolate Kitchen offers helpful guides like How to Create a 5 Minute Meal Plan and a quiz to help you know What’s Your Meal Plan Type? and you know how much we love us a good quiz here at Gugu Guru!
Meal Prep: We know, we know, who has time for meal prep? But, hear us out! Meal prep can be super simple if you pick the right meals in your meal plan. For example, if you pick a protein and frozen veggie, you can pair with VeeTee Rice for a super simple and very quick meal. Roast a bunch of veggies on a Sunday, or make shredded chicken in the Instant Pot, and pair with VeeTee Rice for a balanced meal. We love VeeTee Rice because it is gluten-free and vegan so every member of the family can enjoy. Still a little intimidated? Check out one of our favorite sites for meal prep, Work Week Lunch.
Taco Tuesday: When it comes to meal planning for working moms, who doesn’t love tacos? Taco Tuesday is an easy way every member of the family can enjoy a delicious meal. Taco protein of your choice – be it meat or beans, taco shells, cheese, lettuce, salsa and VeeTee Rice make a super quick, filling and very yummy meal. Plus, the littlest members of the family will love customizing and building their own tacos. Delicious meal + entertainment for the kiddos? Well, this sounds like a win/win to us! (Are you more of a bowl fan? No problem! Check out these delicious Easy Chicken Taco Bowls from New South Charm or Mexican Rice Bowls from A Million Moments.)
Stir-fry Friday: Friday nights are most definitely not the night you want to be cooking, so we’re here to introduce you to Stir-fry Fridays! Simply put, take all the leftover veggies from the week, and stir fry them up with your favorite VeeTee Rice and eggs for a budget friendly, easy-to-make and delicious meal. Rice is a wonderful food for baby-led weaning, so even your babies and toddlers can enjoy! You can find some stir fry inspiration here.

We love VeeTee Rice because it is the ultimate time-saver for any busy family, and so delicious! Simply pop the tray of VeeTee in the microwave for 2 minutes and you’ll get steamy, fresh rice that’s also chemical and preservative free. Available in 7 different varieties, everyone in your family is sure to find one they love. Make your weeknights just a little easier with VeeTee Rice and leave yourself more time for Netflix and sleep! Ready to stock up on VeeTee? Use code GUGUGURU for 20% off order, or head to this link for the discount automatically applied.

Like what you see here? Check out this video and 10 minute meal by celeb working mama, Shenae Grimes-Beech.

What are your favorite mealtime time saving hacks? Comment below and let us know!

Thank you to VeeTee Rice for making this sponsored post possible!

Photos are by Terry Farms Photography

Top Working Mother Tips from Mom-Focused Companies

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When it comes to real-life tips for working moms, who better to ask than the women who run mom-focused companies? Here are some super-helpful top tips from some of our favorite companies for moms:

Your Milk Shoppe: Your Milk Shoppe is a group of Maternity Consultants & Moms on a Mission to support & encourage women during the transition to Motherhood. They are also the Creators of The Peace of Mind Initiative, a program that supports corporations in attracting and retaining female talents once they become mothers.

Top Tip: Embrace the power of “NO.” Learn to be completely ok with not being everything to everyone, and give yourself the space to prioritize yourself and your precious time. ❤️

Soutiens: Soutiens is on a mission to help parents – and parents-to-be – feel confident and successful in their careers and at home. They know that working parents face a unique set of challenges: navigating parental leave and benefits, the stress of returning to work before they are ready, balancing family needs with work needs, guilt, and so much more. With The Return Plan, expectant parents are guided step-by-step in planning for parental leave so that returning to work after baby is a little easier. Soutiens also helps businesses create and implement programs to support working parents. We provide classes for expectant employees, community building activities for all parents, and interactive workshops for managers.

Top Tip: Use the small, in-between moments of your daily like to create quality time. No grand gestures needed.

FemCity: FemCity is your new favorite place to thrive, grow, learn, and get inspired both online and in person. They come from all walks of life and bring our collective experience to the table. They believe in lifting one another up, reaching out for help, and walking away from every interaction more empowered and excited than before.

Top Tip: Create a “co-op pod,” for those working mothers who are in the nanny-free zone and running solo, here is their top tip for working mothers: For those times when you receive that dreaded call a child is sick, the random day off from school, the summer season shuffle and the off-chance moments where you need childcare help, they hear you. They have been there and done that and here is their secret to managing it all. They created “Mommy Co-Op Pods” with each of their kids and it saved their working life, added some fun for their kids and gave their friends some time off too. The concept is to create a circle of 3-5 moms that either live in your neighborhood, work in your space or have children in the same school. This group is your agreed upon, mutually beneficial, army of moms for when emergencies happen. You can use the Co-op Pod for emergencies and for those holidays. Each mom takes part in stepping in on a rotation so that days off, long summer seasons and unexpected sick days don’t impact each working mother in the Co-Op Pod. This can take forms as a rotating playdate for summer or holiday breaks to the singular moments of a sick child in alignment with an important business meeting. We all take turns stepping in so that each working mother can flourish and the kids are flourishing along the way too with an extended community of mommy love.

Slay Like A Mother: Trying to hold it together as a human, woman and mother is an endless parade of struggles— and let’s be honest, none of us knows what the @!*# we’re doing. Sure, we may deploy some self-deprecating humor every now and then— just Google: “my book club reads wine labels”— but it’s high time you owned up to a deeper truth. That a dragon of self-doubt lies deep inside of you. A gnarly and vicious beast that may lurk out of sight, but never out of mind, as it inhales everything you do wrong, nothing you do right, and blows it back in your face. Yeah, that beast. And it’s time to slay it. Right now, you have a choice. You can do it the hard way, on your own. It’s totally possible because you’re a warrior (but of course you don’t believe that, yet.) Or, you can take the easy way. With friends. And snacks. We’re a resource for slaying what’s in front of you, one small step at a time. You’re invited to beg, borrow and steal as many “Damn, how’d she think of that?” moments as you’d like. There’s no trolling here. No “You should’ve tried X.” We’re here to confront our challenges, not each other. We’re here to say that as women we’re strong AF and if anyone can figure out how to destroy what’s holding them back so they can live the life they want, it’s an ever-lovin’ mother.

Top Tip: Decide who will be getting up in the middle of the night BEFORE going to sleep. Clear expectations make the world go round, especially with a new baby in the house.

Check out must-have newborn items from real working moms, and toddler/kid must-haves, too!

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