Gugu Guru

Babywearing Workout Video

Morgan Suarez is back this week with a special treat – a video outlining a 15 minute baby wearing workout! This routine can be done anywhere, all you need is a baby and a baby carrier. You can follow Morgan on her blog or Instagram.

Ah, the new year. A new beginning, a fresh start.

If you’re like me, working out more was on your list of resolution. And if you’re also like me, you’ve already been slackin’.

Sometimes it’s just not possible. Getting out of the house by yourself is no easy task. So, here’s a short 15 minute workout you can do at home while wearing your baby (or by yourself). This workout will you get you into tip-top shape in no time.

You can check out Morgan’s past babywearing workouts for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Holiday time!

Going Skiing With the Littles

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Today’s post is brought to you from travel editor Julie who has wise words on skiing with your little ones! (Pictured here: Ski Patrol Romper from Hatley.)

It’s a big deal to think about a ski trip with a baby.

Yes, this skiing installment is dedicated to slope style. I have be honest, if you are heading to the mountains for the first time with a baby under a year old, the chances that you, mom, are actually going to get on skis, is VERY remote. That is why I am dedicating this blog post to the mamas who want to raise a skier and be part of a skiing family, but are completely overwhelmed by the challenge. This is for the first timers. Start em’ young baby snow bunny.

When it’s just the three of you, a hotel is usually much more affordable than a condo for the weekend or longer. Baby is still probably in a crib, your bed or pack and play and you can spend the extra money on activities or spa. Don’t even plan on skiing, snowboarding, rather look into options for you and baby. With my first couple kiddos, I let my husband ski and enjoyed the snow with the little ones.

Altitude, Adjustment, and Must Haves

In December the five of us traveled to the Vail Mountain Lodge and Spa for a weekend of skiing for the big kids and my husband, and mountain adjustment for baby and I. Even though we live at 5280, a mile above sea level, it’s still an adjustment for everyone, especially when the air is icy and crisp. Babies, children, and even you, might not sleep well at altitudes of ski towns. Research altitude adjustment before going, it’s easily overcome.

However, my go-to products always include a nasal mist for baby to keep the nose from bleeding, big kids, and even husbands as well. Good lip balm (we suggest Lippy Lovey Lip Balm which has jojoba oil and shea butter and comes in delicious flavors like wedding cake and blueberry muffin – plus, the heart shaped packaging is adorbs), that is both a repellent and sunblock. And, additional sunblock. You are a mile up, you and baby will fry in the sun, especially with the reflection off the snow, you will read more later. Also note, most hotels and condos provide a humidifier for your bedroom if you request free of charge. One more trick of the trade, coconut water (we suggest INVO Coconut Water, it’s packed with electrolytes!). It’s loaded with electrolytes and is a good replenishment at high altitudes without colors or dyes for you and baby. Nursing moms should stock up on this stuff. All the stores carry it, you can grab it when you arrive as well.

But, if I can empower a few quick gear tips for traveling moms to the ski slopes, here is my top list for 2017.

Gear

This, to me, is the most overwhelming part of skiing. For many moms, this is the deterrent to the sport all together. I don’t have enough blogs in a year to document the gear we bring, but here are a few essentials.

Bjorn, Ergo: Whatever carrier you use for baby—bring it. I bring both! Strollers are extremely hard to maneuver in snow. Many restaurants and shops are located on second levels or walk downs with limited access for strollers, if any, so bring the carrier for baby while walking around the ski village.

Winter Clothes: No, I’m not giving you a list of baby clothes. Rather, bring all the cute snow clothes for photos. Babies grow tremendously fast so get he or she into that outfit or snowsuit and get the picture. This is why everyone purchased those darling snowsuits for baby and gifted them to you, that bright red sled, the fleece onesie—bring it! You will regret it if you don’t. Tears or smiles, it’s all good. Baby Boden or Patagonia, it’s the snow and face everyone wants to see.

Mitz Accessories: They make very popular boot and mitten clips. Trust me, the kids are going to lose something on the slopes—gator, goggles, mittens, helmet, it’s a lot to remember. However, the clips will hopefully prevent your child from losing everything and it’s much more clothes-friendly then what they do in ski school if your kiddo shows up without a set of clips or attachment for his or her belongings.

Sunblock: The first thing EVERY Coloradan does before going outside in the winter, yes, the winter, is put sunblock on any exposed parts. The sun reflects upon the snow and intensifies the rays on skin. Burns can be much worse in winter then summer. This is no joke when it comes to baby. This stuff is invaluable to your trip. Don’t leave your house without a sunblock you know does not irritate your child or cause a fuss.

I’ve been using No Ad since I life guarded in Illinois as a teen. Not much has changed. I am a huge fan of the sunblock now, and obviously they have a much larger and expansive line. I suppose that happens over two decades. Baby, kids, me, husband, we all use it year-round, we aren’t the skin cancer capital of America for no reason. Take precaution and reapply often.

DIY Toddler Game

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See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru once again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. This time? An easy and fun game you can play with your toddler.

Today’s DIY is a painting activity! This is a matching game made with paint on wooden discs. This is a pretty simple tutorial so you could involve your toddler in making it, if you want! The game itself helps teach colors, shapes and designs, which is an added bonus.

I’m always looking for activities I can do with my 4 year old while entertaining a baby as well and the Little Nomad mat has been a fun place for us to play together. We can pull out a little game or a story and set some toys out for the baby. Everyone is happy and we love gathering here.

This mat is so cute and flows nicely with my home decor. We have the mat in our living room and I love not having a primary color mat where we entertain! It’s nice and adult feeling but still functions perfectly for our little kids! The baby knows its her place space and loves to explore the mat! You can read more about it over at See Kate Sew!

Materials:

-2″ wooden discs
-colorful acrylic paints
-vinyl
-xacto knife

Instructions:

Cut out squares from the vinyl first and create shapes using an X-acto knife. Before cutting, layer 2 pieces of vinyl so you get two designs that are exactly the same.

You can use a hole punch, craft punches and other tools to make different designs. I made polka dots with a hole punch, a scallop circle with a scrapbooking punch and then made another by covering half the wooden circle with vinyl. There are lots of possibilities and you can take input from your toddler or older child, too!

If you are low on shapes, make multiple circles, for example, and paint a pair a different color.

Use paints to paint over the the vinyl.

Let the paint dry, then peel off the vinyl. Your shape will be nice and dry and you’ll be ready to play.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Stephanie Greunke of Healthy Mama, Happy Baby

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It’s no secret that Gugu Guru is a big fan of the Whole30, so when we got the chance to interview the mama behind the Whole 30’s Healthy Mama, Happy Baby program, we were beyond excited! Stephanie Greunke is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition who specializes in women’s health. She is a certified personal trainer and prenatal and postnatal corrective exercise specialist. Stephanie guides and supports women locally and globally through her web-based private practice, RockYourHormones.com. She also hosts a podcast called Real Food Mamas, which is available for free on iTunes and Stitcher. Together with Melissa Hartwig of the Whole30©, Stephanie created Healthy Mama, Happy Baby, a virtual pregnancy handbook consisting of a series of short videos with comprehensive information meant to guide women throughout their entire pregnancy. Read below to learn more about Stephanie Greunke.

GG: How and why did you start Rock Your Hormones, and how did the Happy Mama, Healthy Baby program come about?

SG: I originally started Rock Your Hormones to support women dealing with a wide variety of women’s health issues (such as PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhea, endometriosis, and infertility). As I started helping women heal their bodies and resolve their hormonal complaints, they ended up getting pregnant! I then switched my focus to prenatal/postnatal health to continue to provide optimal care for the women in my practice. I love educating women on how to optimize their diet and lifestyle to support a healthy, enjoyable pregnancy and postpartum. I empower women with the information they need to make the best choices for themselves and their family when it comes to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

During my first pregnancy, I realized how much misinformation was out there when it came to pregnancy. I kept reading conflicting information and became frustrated that women were confused about what to believe and were scared about veering off from the conventional path, even if it didn’t feel right. Melissa Hartwig of the Whole30 had a very similar experience to mine and we decided together to create something different. We created a virtual pregnancy handbook that replaces the conflicting, fear-mongering information currently available to pregnant women with a common sense, open-minded, positive approach to pregnancy. We continue to update the program with the latest evidenced-based recommendations and support the women on a daily basis through our private Facebook community.

How do you balance work and family?

I do my best to keep them separate. When I’m with my kids, I’m WITH my kids. When I’m working, I’m working. I used to try and tackle a quick e-mail or two while my son was independently playing, but found that I would easily become frustrated if he needed my attention before I was done. I felt that wasn’t fair for either of us, so now my computer stays in the office and I set my phone on a table far enough away from our play area, so I’m not tempted to check social media during playtime.

I hired a nanny when my first son was about nine months to give me more time for work. It was important for me to spend the first six plus months with him, but as he approached his first birthday, I was ready to add more work hours to my day. Starting when he was a year and a half, I had him spend Monday – Friday morning with our nanny in order to give me time to work on my business. I picked him up from the nanny, feeling refreshed and productive, so I could spend the remaining day present with him.

I just had a second son in October, and lucked out with a great napper. Since I’m not ready for him to be with a nanny, I use his naptimes to work. I have to be extremely organized and focused because my work time is condensed. I pick no more than three tasks to accomplish each day, and say “no” to a lot of business opportunities. I give myself grace with my business knowing that this is a short season, and I will be able to put in more work hours once he’s a little older. As long as I’m doing a little bit every day to maintain my business, I’m happy. And if mama’s happy, everyone is happy.

What’s the best part about being a “Mompreneur” and running your own business?

I love having a flexible schedule. With young kids, they are bound to get sick (a lot). Even with all the nutrition/wellness tricks in the world, their immune systems are constantly being challenged and it’s a good thing for them to get sick every now and then. Being able to take a “day off” without having to check in with a boss and enjoying the extra snuggles makes being a mompreneur the best option for me right now.

In addition to being a mom, I’m a military wife. We move every couple of years, so having a virtual private practice and online program is such a blessing. I don’t have to worry about starting and quitting jobs every few years because everything is online.

Top 10 Tips for Running While Pregnant

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Editor’s Note: Last week we shared some great products for a Runner’s Registry, and today we’re joined by Tootsies‘ founder, Jackie Edwards, whom happens to be a 5-Time Olympian and a Certified Personal Trainer! She’s here to give her top tips for running while pregnant! Tootsies is a new line of fun and fashionable compression socks specifically branded for the modern mom-to-be who still wants to maintain her sense of style while alleviating the discomfort of swollen ankles, feet and legs. Reduce swelling. Look good. Feel great!

Running has long been known to be a great way to add cardio to your workout program for many reasons, including increasing endorphins in your brain, which ultimately puts you in a better mood overall. Running can also help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep while providing you with an awesome total body exercise. Gestational diabetes and hypertension have also been known to be reduced in women who exercise regularly.

The decision to run or not during pregnancy depends on many different factors and you should always consult with your doctor to get the best advice. No two pregnancies are the same and you can never be too precautious. If a woman has had no prior history of running or jogging before pregnancy, it is generally advisable not to begin a running regimen while pregnant. If you were an avid runner before getting pregnant, then it is likely that you will be perfectly fine to continue with your routine however, you should still listen to your doctor’s input on the duration and frequency of your runs. There are certain medical conditions such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, placenta previa or short cervix, where running should be completely avoided.

Here are our Top 10 Tips to help you successfully navigate your way through pregnant running:

Wear supportive running shoes that have high arches to ensure comfort and stability.
Wear a proper running bra without wires to help support tender breasts. Some women will also benefit from wearing a belly band to support a large baby bump.
Focus on really good running technique as opposed to increased pace and try to run on flat surfaces.
Tune into your vitals. Know the signs to stop exercising. Contact your doctor if you experience an abnormal shortness of breath, chest pain, painful uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding, dizziness, or feeling faint.
Be aware of your conditions. It is important to avoid running in the heat, especially in the first 12 weeks because overheating could potentially harm your baby.
Nourish your body properly. Blood sugar swings are common during pregnancy. Have a small snack/meal about an hour before you exercise and carry an easily digestible snack or have juice on hand while you exercise in case you begin to feel lightheaded or dizzy. Be sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise.
Listen to your body. If you don’t do it already, pregnancy is a great time to start paying attention to the signs your body gives you. The signals your body puts out during pregnancy are clear and obvious. Heed them! If you’re feeling too tired to run one day, consider resting or walking instead. Trust your body and don’t overdo it.
Measure your mileage and don’t run yourself to exhaustion. Record the number of minutes you run. If you are able to engage in a conversation while running, that is typically a good indicator that you’re exercising at a safe level.
Pay attention to increased joint laxity. Be aware of increased joint range of movement caused by pregnancy hormones. This increased laxity is necessary because our pelvis must be flexible enough for a baby to pass through. However, an increase in flexibility can put you at risk for injury so be aware of this increased range of motion, don’t overstretch and protect your joints.
Last but not least – PUT YOUR TOOTSIES ON!!…You didn’t think we’d forget this one did you??……Always wear your Tootsies Maternity Compression Socks when you go out for a run, particularly in the third trimester when your ankles, legs and feet are more likely to be swollen, achy and tired. Compression socks help to reduce and prevent swelling and inflammation, reduce and prevent spider and varicose veins, improve blood circulation and reduce fatigue and soreness. Your Tootsies will be your best running accessory! #treatyourfeet #rockoursocks

Once you have safely delivered your bouncing bundle of joy, be very careful about your return to exercise after giving birth. The months following childbirth and delivery is a time for your body to rest and repair because your pelvic floor muscles and abdominals have been stretched and pushed to their maximum limits. During this time, it is important to retrain your breath, and rehabilitate and strengthen your core and pelvic floor before you return to running.

Most women who return to running and vigorous exercise too soon after giving birth won’t actually experience any issues. However, the number of surgeries for pelvic floor disorders is on the rise, so it’s better to err on the side of caution.

Good luck with your pregnancies and have fun running!!

Product Discovery: Hooter Holster Pumping Bra

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Any pumping mama knows it’s not always easy to find a cute bra that makes pumping accessible and easy on-the-go. When new mama Carey Bradshaw started exclusively pumping for her baby, and saw that the options for hands free pumping bras were slim, she set out to create her own which was stylish and super functional. She founded Hooter Holster, whose mission is to make mamas feel like superwomen in their adorable and functional hands-free pumping bras. Hooter Holster offers two adorable bras for pumpin’ mamas, check them out below and head to the bottom of the post for an exclusive discount code!

The Hooter Holster Hands Free Pumping Bra – or Hooter Holster “Original” – is a cute hands free pumping bra made out of a comfortable stretch cotton material. It features a strapless maternity bra, as well as an easy on-off tube top design with a flouncy peplum bottom perfect for post-partum bellies. This bra features an easy to slip on hands free tube top design, and will stay in place, no matter what your breast size is! The elastic keeps breast pump shields in place and it is super easy to take breast pump shields in and out. Look like a superhero mama in this adorable bra!

The Hooter Holster “Jug Band” Hands Free Pumping Bra is a handy variation on the Hooter Holster “Original.” It is equally cute (obviously), made out of the same comfortable stretch cotton material. It features the same strapless maternity bra easy on-off tube top design. However, the Jug Band comes without the peplum bottom, so you can easily throw it on underneath another shirt for those on-the-go moments. Hands free pumping has never been more cute, comfortable and convenient.

Hooter Holster is offering Gugu Guru readers a special discount – use code GUGU20 for a 20% discount and free shipping!

Video Review: Products for a Wedding Registry and Baby Registry

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Today we’re talking about gifts that pull double duty because they are good for your wedding registry AND baby registry – specifically the shatterproof drinkware and Dip and Sip stainless steel straws from the TaZa brand. These products are not only a perfect gift for newlyweds (who may want to start a family soon after tying the knot) but also for expecting parents. These type of gifts truly keep on giving!

We love that these TaZa products are:

Ecofriendly because they’re reusable
Kid-friendly
Safe because they’re BPA free and EA free (Plastic can leach off flavors and chemicals into an otherwise healthy drink.)
Stylish and practical for entertaining
Dishwasher safe

Add them to your Gugu Guru registry here:

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 588dec5d2505ed0c55140559

PRODUCT WIDGET – ID: 588ded03428ba01ddb98d4f0

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