Nutrition and Health

Mompreneur Spotlight: Lauren Kleban from LEKfit

The Gugu Guru team is big into adding must-have subscription services to your baby registry; when we came across Lauren Kleban’s workout streaming service, LEKfit, we knew we wanted to introduce Lauren to our mamas; we think LEKfit is a must-have item on your baby registry, as Lauren’s workouts are easy to follow and can be done anywhere! Lauren offers a ton of videos in her subscription service, with new workouts added every month. Read on about Lauren and her company, and head over to our Facebook to check out a special video Lauren created just for Gugu Guru’s followers (seriously, this is so cool). Head to the bottom of this post to enter for a chance to win 50% off a 3-month subscription to LEKfit.

Gugu Guru: How and why did you start LEKfit?

Lauren Kleban: I was a professional dancer before my first baby and I had been in the dance fitness industry since college so it was a natural transition. I created LEKfit because I saw a need for a workout that was both beneficial and fun; in a space where women (and men) could focus on achieving their healthiest self.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

LK: Everyday is different but I really try to stay present in whatever I am doing and focus on one task at a time. Finding balance will always be a work in progress.

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

LK: I get to work from home! I get to see my littles in between clients and they get to see me working hard at something I absolutely love.

You can check out all of Lauren’s videos on her website, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Single Mom Registry and Self-Care Tips!

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When a woman is pregnant, it’s often assumed that she has a partner or family that will help her and the baby out. However, when you’re a single mom, that’s not always the case and even family eventually goes home. Gugu Guru rounded up some must-haves to help make life a little (and sometimes a lot) easier for all of you amazing single mamas.

Baby K’Tan
Recovering from a c-section alone? The Baby K’Tan is a lifesaver. Since most doctors/midwives recommend no heavy lifting until after 6 weeks, nestle your little one in her Baby K’Tan to transport her to and from the car. Plus, babywearing can help you get tasks done around the house (not to mention that babywearing is proven to have great emotional and biological benefits for both mom and baby.)
UPPAbaby Cruz
We can’t rave enough about this stroller. It turns on a dime (even when using only one hand), has a huge storage basket at the bottom that is big enough to hold a week’s worth of groceries for a solo mom, and is super easy to maneuver.
PostPartum Doula Services
If you don’t have family or friends who can help out, a postpartum doula can lend the educated, nurturing hand that you need. Whether it’s bathing the baby, giving you tips on helping baby sleep, helping you with your emotional recovery after birth, or light housekeeping and meal prep, a postpartum doula can help make the first few weeks much easier.
DockATot
Chances are you will be juggling a ton of tasks on your own around the house. The DockaTot provides a safe, portable napping spot for your little one anywhere in your home. Better still, it’s an easy way to make bedsharing safer. For a single mom, bedsharing can be a sanity saver. (Please seek your pediatrician’s advice if you have questions or concerns about bedsharing.)
Baby Bjorn Bouncer Balance Soft
This bouncer will become your best friend! It’s lightweight and easily portable, so bring it into the bathroom and baby can bounce himself while you shower. It also grows with the baby (just increase the angle of the seat as baby gets older and add on the toy bar when they’re ready).
Giftcards for Local Grocery Stores that offer Curbside Pickup
Or better still, gift cards to grocery stores or services that deliver groceries to your home. Save yourself the time and (precious) energy of having to shop!
Toaster Oven
You’ll wonder why it took you so long to get one! Consider freezing meals in individual sized disposable pans that you can pop them right into the toaster oven, so you’re not stuck eating the same casserole for 4 days straight. (This also works for individual portions of brownies. And yes, there is nothing like a warm brownie straight from the toaster oven at 2am.)
Veetee Rice
Microwavable rice, you say? Yes! And it’s surprisingly delicious. 11 varieties, 2 minutes in the microwave, 1 happy new mama.

Of course, surviving the early months as a single mom goes far beyond have just the right “things.” Here are some tips on taking care of your emotional health:

Emma Johnson, creator of WealthySingleMommy.com, a website for professional single mothers shared with us that as a new single mom, “it can be easy to compare yourself to all your traditionally married friends, and their Instagram-friendly pics of their nursery, baby room, cute outfits, and all the material goods that marketers push on new mothers. Tip #1: RESIST! Happy, healthy, thriving single mom families do one thing very well: Live within their means. This includes building a life on the budget you have now, building a network of friends, neighbors and family who will support you logistically in terms of child care, sick care, and other emergencies.” Plus, she added how important it is to take care of yourself, mama! For, “Martyr moms are not good moms, and the more you care for your physical health, with fitness, rest and quality food, emotional well being with time spent with positive people who love you and your kids, a romantic life, and give yourself the freedom to build a big career with high income goals. There is no such thing as decisions ‘as a single mom.’ Prioritize an amazing life, and make it work for your family, no matter what that family looks like.”

Psychologist Naomi Bernstein, from NaomiBernstein.com, speaks a lot about using the 5 Love Languages (Receiving gifts, Quality time, Words of affirmation, Acts of service, and Physical touch) as self-care for yourself as a single mama. As she says, “If these displays of affection are necessary for an individual to feel fulfilled in a relationship, the same is true for someone who is single. Knowing your own love language and loving yourself in that way is necessary in order to feel fulfilled. When you do not have a romantic partner to send messages of love and appreciation you have to find other ways to get the message across to yourself. You can provide yourself with any and all of these love languages. It may sound awkward at first but it is possible and necessary, especially as a single mother.”

Check out some of her tips for using the 5 Love Languages as a single mama:

Receiving Gifts – Make an Amazon wish list for yourself and if you’ve had an especially hard day or even just to recognize that you’ve done something worthy of special appreciation, buy yourself something!

Quality Time – Call an old friend for a chat, eat Chex Mix in front of the TV, read a good book, meditate, exercise anything that is all focused on YOU and what you want to do.

Words/thoughts of affirmation – Write down positive thoughts about yourself and read these to yourself daily. Create and write down a list of positive empowering mantras. Make sure you pay attention to all the good you do and take focus off of mistakes or imperfections.

Acts of Service – Ask for help. If you find yourself thinking, “I don’t need help, I can do it on my own” or if asking for help makes you feel weak or incapable, remind yourself that we weren’t meant to do this on our own. We were meant to be surrounded by friends and family to help one another.

Physical Touch – When you’re not in a relationship it can seem hard to provide this for yourself, but you can. Cuddle, hug or hold hands with friends, family and your children. Treat yourself to a massage, facial or mani/pedi!

BabbleBoxx’s Mom+Baby Box Review!

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BabbleBoxx, a new subscription box service which specializes in getting amazing brands into your hands, has recently launched a mom+baby box – the Gugu Guru staff was lucky enough to try it out! Here’s what we got in our box – and read on through for amazing discounts JUST for our readers!

FUJIFILM’s INSTAX Mini 70: As a new mom, taking pictures of the new baby pretty much consumes most of your day – but you need a camera which is quick and easy to use! FUJIFILM’s INSTAX Mini 70 is the perfect camera for a new mama! Want to snap a picture of you and your baby? The INSTAX Mini 70 camera has a selfie mode that automatically adjusts settings for perfect selfies using the front-facing selfie mirror. The INSTAX Mini 70 is available in Canary Yellow, Moon White, Island Blue, Passion Red, Midnight Black and Stardust Gold – wouldn’t this be an original and adorable baby shower gift? Love it!

Gerber Essentials: Moms are often hyper vigilant when it comes to the material which touches their baby’s skin – which is why we are such a big fan of Gerber’s onesies. These all cotton, super soft white onesies, are the ultimate baby clothing essential! The expandable, lap shoulder neckline easily slides over baby’s head to make dressing a cinch. Pair these onesies with pajama bottoms, because the snap closure is positioned higher in front for quick access to make diaper changing easier. The ribbed leg openings are designed to perfectly fit baby’s legs and provide freedom of movement all day long. Your little one can wear these year round because they are available in short sleeve and long sleeve lengths. Many moms use these onesies for their monthly photos, since these are sturdy, white (perfect for colorful backgrounds), and come in all sizes! (Order online now through 10/8 and receive FREE $6 STANDARD SHIPPING on your order. Use code BBOXX16FS at checkout. Offer expires 10/8/16.)

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste – Original Formula & Maximum Strength Formula: Babies have super sensitive skin – and often, diapers can make their soft little tushes hurt! We’re big fans of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste (we always give some with baby shower gifts!) for soothing your baby’s backside from diaper rash. Pediatricians recommend a diaper rash cream/ointment that leaves a thick barrier between the diaper and the skin. Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is specially formulated to provide the thickest barrier of protection for your baby.

TempTraq® wearable Bluetooth® temperature monitor: Ugh, don’t you hate those nights when your little one is sick and can’t stay awake long enough to take their temperature over and over? Luckily, there is now an amazing solution with TempTraq! TempTraq is the only wearable Bluetooth temperature monitor that continuously monitors body temperature. The soft, comfortable patch continuously senses, records and transmits temperature data for up to 24 hours to either an Apple or Android compatible mobile device through the free TempTraq app. It can even send temperature alerts to give caregivers peace of mind and children the rest they need to get better – what a wonderful gift for a working parent! They can monitor their little one’s temperature all day from work! (Gugu Guru Readers get 10% off when you use code BABBLEBOXX10; offer Expires 10/31/16).

Rainbow Light Multivitamins – 35+ Mom & Baby: One of the most important things a pregnant mom can do is remember to take her vitamins! But, what happens after the baby is born? Mama, you still need to take care of yourself and take those vitamins. We’re a fan of Rainbow Light’s Multivitamin for mom and baby; this is the only Pre & Postnatal Multivitamin formulated for the unique nutritional needs of 35+ mamas in just one tablet per day. They are made with natural, purity-tested ingredients and NO artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or sweeteners; they’re vegetarian and contains NO gluten, wheat, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, eggs, fish, and shellfish – healthy for all moms! (Use discount Code ‘HappyBaby’ for 20% savings on Rainbow Light Prenatals and ‘HappyFamily’ for 20% off multivitamins).

illumai Biome Care System for Hair: Very excitedly, Gugu Guru got a special sample of illumai’s hair care system to try – many new moms are watchful over the products they use on their skin and hair, but illumai’s hair care is perfect and safe for all moms! The illumai Biome Care System for Hair uses a revolutionary new approach, ideal for the natural changes in new mother’s hair. The illumai system was developed by a former pediatrician and globally recognized immunology scientist to gently clean, nurture, rebalance and protect hair and scalp, using only 7 ingredients. There are so many changes which happen to your hair during and after pregnancy, so you want hair care products you can trust! illumai has you covered! (VERY special offer just for our readers: Use promocode 44GUGUGURU at checkout for 40% off the illumai Biome Care System. Expires 10/31/2016).

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

DIY Burp Cloth Tutorial

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Let’s get crafty! See Kate Sew partners with Gugu Guru once again to share a fantastic DIY tutorial. We’re all about nursing in this post co-sponsored by Momsense.

I’m so excited to be here sharing a burp cloth tutorial today! I’ve never really needed burp cloths before, my baby #3 is a little bit of a spitter!

We partnered with Momsense for this tutorial for Breastfeeding Awareness Month! The Momsense Smart Breastfeeding Meter is a new product that tracks how much your baby is eating! The meter has a pair of headphones equipped with a microphone that safely sticks to baby’s neck. The microphone amplifies her sucks and swallows for you to hear. It also has a little animation that goes with it and it translates the swallows to give you a good sense of how much milk your baby is getting!

My older daughter loves to listen in and it’s so fun to involve the kids and dad in the breastfeeding experience. I needed this meter about 6 years ago with my first when I was struggling with milk supply, so I’m so glad it’s on the market now!

My favorite part about the meter is how inspiring it is to a breastfeeding mama! It’s so neat to see and hear how effective your breastfeeding session is and is pushing us to get the best and longest breastfeeding experience possible. Read my full review on SeeKateSew.com to hear all about my struggle with supply and how the Momsense Smart Breastfeeding Meter has been a game changer for us!

Today we’re making burp cloths lined with absorbent towel material! I thought lemon fabric would be cute since we’re talking about eating! The back of the cloths are made from a towel. You can either use a pre-made towel or terry cloth material for the backing. The only other thing you need is the pattern (provided below) and basic sewing supplies.

Let’s get started!

Materials:
–See Kate Sew Burp Cloth Pattern
-a store-bought towel or terry cloth material
-1/4 yard cotton ( lemon fabric source)

Print out the burp cloth pattern at 100% (do not scale). Cut off the overlap and tape the 3 pages together. It will look like this:

Use the pattern piece to cut out 1 piece from cotton and 1 piece from your towel material.
Put the cotton piece on top of the towel piece with the right sides together.
Pin and sew the front and back together 3/8″ from the edges, leaving a 2-3″ opening on one side.
Turn the burp cloth right side out through the opening you left. Press. Turn the opening edges in.
Topstitch around the cloth 1/4″ from the edge. The opening will be closed as you do this.

You’re done! A little stack of these make a really cute shower gift (maybe paired with a Momsense meter!).

Back to Preschool With Stasher, skip*hop and Rockets of Awesome

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Hey there – it’s Monica, Gugu Guru’s founder. It’s that time of year {sigh} summer is really coming to an end, people. This means it’s time to finish up all the prep for going back to preschool and I’m sharing a few product discovery picks that have made life a little easier in our home this year.

Stasher

Disclaimer: I received Stasher bags for review but all opinions are my own.

I would not describe myself as an “eco mama” by any means, my cupboards are a good mix of organic and the not so organic stuff. However, I would say that my family is really good about recycling. One item that we use a lot and that does make me feel guilty is ziplock bags. We use a TON of them to store just about everything – from leftovers to crayons and more – leaving me constantly rinsing them out in an effort to re-use them and do my part to save our planet from all this trash. Well, my worries have come to an end folks. Enter Stasher – the world’s first—and only—self-sealing, airtight, non-plastic bag!

Why am I loving on Stasher for Back to School? It’s just genius in terms of not being wasteful. I don’t only mean for the environment but also for all the leftovers your picky baby or toddler or kid will be generating over his or her childhood. I cannot tell you how many times, I have had food on the tray of the high chair and pondered, “Is this ziplock worthy?” Now the answer can always be “yes” with Stasher.

These bags are super functional; easily going from the freezer, to the microwave, and to the dishwasher. Also, you’re not limited to storing food, they make great travel bags, organizers and more.

skip*hop Zoo Lunchie Insulated Lunch Bag, Owl

I just love skip*hop; it’s a classic brand with iconic designs. You’ll be met with a lot of choices when you go back to school shopping – especially when it comes to backpacks and lunch boxes. Don’t be fooled into grabbing that cartoon character lunch bag. Smart, high-quality design like skip*hop is always a good investment for parents.

This roomy, insulated PVC-free lunch bag keeps food and drinks cold. The large main compartment is big enough to hold a sandwich, fruit and juice box and it also has an interior mesh pocket for utensils (or snack!) The top handle attaches onto another bag – which is great for kiddos that are new to handling backpacks.

Rockets of Awesome

Full disclosure here: Rockets of Awesome used to be a baby registry site called Cricket’s Circle and I guess you could say Cricket’s Circle was a competitor to Gugu Guru of sorts. So, needless to say I was very intrigued when the company evolved into a kids’ clothing subscription service called Rockets of Awesome and I signed up for my boxes the day the site launched. The first thing I thought was, “Who needs another clothing subscription service?” I am here to say, I do – and you probably do too!

Fiona rocking her first day of school outfit: a striped dress with tulle skirt and matching crown headband from Rockets of Awesome.

To get started with Rockets of Awesome, you take a style quiz for your kid(s). The more information, you give about your child’s style, the better. Then you get a note that the stylist is working on your box and you should receive it within the next few days.

Here’s what I liked:

There is NO FEE to try this subscription. Just pay for what you keep. There are so many subscription boxes out there that charge you a fee just to get a box – even if you don’t keep anything. When I saw this, I felt like Rockets of Awesome did their legwork when it came to researching what parents would appreciate from a box service.
My kids were thrilled to open their boxes and see what was selected for their style. That was the highlight of the experience – the element of surprise.
The clothes are all unique & stylish, mostly well constructed and a very reasonable price.
Very easy to return what we didn’t want to keep, as well as provide feedback to the stylists on why we kept what we did.

Some minor things to be improved:

A few of the items – just a few – seemed a little lower on the quality side.
My son is very tall but very skinny; some of the pants sent to us fit his waist but looked like floods. Sizing with kids is a tough nut to crack sometimes. We’ll see how it’s handled with the next box.
A glitch with billing that was resolved relatively quickly, but I had to contact Customer Service to point it out.

Could you just hit Old Navy and shop for clothes there? Yes, but this is more fun. However, the real deciding factor of whether I will continue with RoA will be the upcoming boxes. Will update you all in October. In the meantime, if you want to try it out, you can use this link to receive a free item with your first purchase.

How did Rockets of Awesome know that Rory is camouflage-crazed? Not sure. But this outfit in his box was a total winner.

Photography: Sinnerman Photography

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, you help to support Gugu Guru as we receive a commission on the sale. Thank you in advance!

Mompreneur Spotlight: Caroline Freedman, co-founder NurturMe

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This week’s Mompreneur interview is with Caroline Freedman, co-founder of NurturMe. NurturMe is the first and only family of certified-organic, dried fruit and veggie meals and snacks created to nourish healthy growth and overall wellness in little ones. Made from specially selected super fruits and veggies that are quick-dried in order to preserve freshness, flavor and vital nutrients, NurturMe baby and toddler foods are certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher, with no added preservatives, sugars or salts. They’re also super lightweight and made in the USA, leaving a smaller carbon footprint on our planet than the other options found in the baby aisle.

GG: How and why did you start your NurturMe?

CF: The idea came about seven years ago, when I was pregnant with my first child. I was doing a lot of research about when to feed your child, what ingredients are appropriate, how the whole process works. … It was very intimidating. I was surprised to find there was no innovation in baby food. It was still Gerber. It was still pureed foods in jars. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to create a brand that could appeal to modern parents.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

CF: I found a partner. Aside from actual workload, there is just so much problem-solving that goes on. My business partner, who also has two children, Lauren de la Rosa, and I help one another. We have two very different approaches, and, in some situations, her approach is more effective and, in others, mine is. The fact that we have that dynamic as co-founders has enabled us to both grow our families, stay sane and enjoy this ride we’re on. Also, in regards to maintaining balance, it’s important to have a rich and fulfilling social life. There’s this idea that entrepreneurs have to have their heads down and focus on work all the time, but my experience has been that as my company and my responsibilities have grown, my relationships and my friendships have deepened. I don’t have this tunnel vision on work 100 percent of the time.

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

CF: One of the things I love most about it is being an example to my girls. Their view of what a mom does is work, run her own business, while also (hopefully, from their perspective) being an involved and present parent. It’s something that I hope will shape them into confident girls and women who feel that they, too, can do whatever they set their minds to.

Please visit nurturme.com for additional information, including pricing and where to purchase NurturMe products. Visit NurturMe on Facebook and Twitter for special promotions, recipes, new products and more.

Follow NurturMe on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Mompreneur Spotlight: Heather Stoeckel Karpinsky of Baby A & Baby B

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This week’s fab mom is twin mom Heather Stoeckel Karpinsky of Baby A & Baby B.

GG: Tell us about your product and how you came up with the feeding set?

HSK: We were so excited when we found out we were expecting twins. The news came as a big surprise and so did their arrival. Grant and Gavin were born at just 31 weeks after I developed preeclampsia. When they were born, I did not get to hold them. They were rushed immediately into the NICU and I remained in the operating room praying. That day started my journey as a mother of twins and the experiences below gave me the idea for the Twin Feeding Set.

Stopping the Spread of Germs: When we were able to go home after 6 weeks in the NICU, we were very happy and nervous. My babies had entered into this world as warriors and I wanted to do everything in my power to protect them. Leaving the strict rules of the NICU and heading home made me very worried about exposing Grant and Gavin to sickness. Parents of premature babies know that colds can be harsh and in some cases cause permanent damage to a premature baby’s developing lungs. When my son Gavin got a cold at just 6 months old, I did everything in my power to ensure he got better quickly and that Grant did not get the same cold.

Keeping foods separate due to allergy: Being a parent makes you want to do the best for your children. I wanted the best and most healthy foods. I started making purees at home. It was a great way to save money and ensure only the best ingredients were used. We soon discovered that Grant loved anything with apples and Gavin did not. Gavin would get an upset stomach when he ate anything with apple. So ensuring their foods were not confused became important.

Making things a little easier: Feeding twins is so different than feeding a singleton. I always felt so silly juggling separate bowls and spoons while frantically trying to feed my boys. I also felt weird using the same spoon and bowl when both boys were healthy. It was a stressful experience and I hated making them wait so long in between bites. I searched online to try to find something that would make the process easier, but was unable to locate anything, so I started looking into doing it myself. These circumstances gave me the idea for the twin feeding set.

The Twin Feeding Set provides two mouthpieces to keep germs from spreading and two matching bowls that make it easy for parents to measure how much food each child has consumed. The Twin Feeding Set is also easy to hold and allows the parents of multiples to feed both children without juggling separate bowls and spoons. We started using the first model of the twin feeding set for my boys when they were 7 months old and they have yet to spread a cold or germs. We tested out the product for 6 months before we started to sell them online. The twin feeding set has enabled them to eat their favorite foods at every meal. It was a dream come true for us because it turned a stressful time into an enjoyable time for everyone.

GG: What is the best part of being a mompreneur?
HSK: The best part of being a mompreneur is connecting to other parents of twins. It makes me a better mother and I love hearing their stories. Becoming a mother to twins is my life’s greatest blessing and being able to use what I have learned from my past experiences has been truly wonderful.

When I graduated from Albright College in 2002 I started working at MBNA, a bank based in Wilmington, DE. I took a position in customer service that taught me to “think of yourself as a customer” and “success is finding a better method.” When MBNA was sold, I took a new role in development at the University of Delaware. I helped to raise money for scholarships, programs, and research. The birth of my twins altered my plans and going back to work was not possible. My salary did not cover the cost of daycare and coupled with my husband’s hectic career as a helicopter pilot we agreed it was best for me to stay at home with my boys. My focus was on nurturing and caring for my twins, however part of me missed working. When I discovered how simple changes to the products I already used everyday would make parenting twins a little easier my journey as a mompreneur began. Being a mompreneur has given me the best of both worlds. It enables me to be at home with my boys while letting me use my experience in customer service to help others. My new role has helped me grow personally and professionally while connecting me with parents of twins from around the world.

GG: How do you balance it all?
HSK: I take it one day at a time and always do my best. Balancing is almost impossible with twins! You can plan and prioritize and then something can happen that changes all of those plans. I am so lucky that I have a great support system (my husband, mother, father, friends, and my entire family) that I can always count on. The day of my first large order my son Grant had an allergic reaction that caused a severe asthma attack and I rushed him to the hospital. Without the help of my mom and my husband I would have failed in getting my orders completed that day. I would never want to let anyone down, so doing things all by myself would be impossible. It takes a village.

Mompreneur Spotlight: Ashley Gartland Coaching

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Here at Gugu Guru, we love when moms support and encourage other moms; when we learned about Ashley Gartland Coaching, we knew we wanted to share it with all of the new and veteran mamas out there. Ashley is a life coach just for moms; her mission is to help all moms find their purpose and passion, while being a great mom and taking care of themselves, too!

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about life coaching for moms.

AG: The shorter version of my story is that I’d been working as a freelance food writer for about a decade but felt called to do something different. My career was great but I wanted something more. I’d always kept a list of “dream careers” hidden in my desk drawer and life coach was at the top. Shortly after I had my second daughter, I realized I could keep that list hidden and play the waiting game indefinitely. Or I could start exploring what it would look like and what it would take for me to pursue what I saw as my purpose beyond motherhood. So I did a lot of research and started working with a coach myself. Then I signed up for an intensive coach training to get certified and built the business I dreamed of as a life coach who helps moms find fulfillment beyond motherhood.

The moms I work with today absolutely love being moms but they also know they want something more for themselves. In either one-on-one coaching sessions or in my group program, Bold Mom, Balanced Life, I work with these moms to help them explore their passions and find their purpose beyond motherhood. Our goal is to create a balanced life that allows them to be the kind of mom they want to be and also be a bold woman making a difference in the world. That feels like a big goal at the start but as we work together these women learn that it is absolutely possible for them.

GG: How do you balance work and family?

AG: Any work-from-home mom will tell you that the lines between business and family often blur – and I’m ok with that because I think it’s important for my daughters to see me dedicating my energy to something I really believe in. But family will always be my foundation so I make sure it remains a priority by having some routines in place. For example, my day starts and ends reading and snuggling with my daughters and we always spend Friday nights together as a family eating pizza and watching movies. These simple rituals make sure that the balance never tips too far toward work – and I have similar routines I use to make sure I’m giving time and attention to my work and clients as well.

I also believe that balance should look different for everyone so the real key to balancing “it all” is figuring out what balance looks like to you first. For me, a balanced life includes time for family, time for my business and time for myself. I don’t give equally to all those parts all the time but I know they all have to exist in order for me to feel like I’m living a balanced life.

GG: What’s the best part of being an mompreneur?

AG: The freedom to set my own schedule and be the kind of present mom I always wanted to be is absolutely a benefit of being my own boss. But the best part of working as a life coach is that my daughters get to see me putting my energy into a career that I love. They see how much it lights me up to do meaningful work and help other women and I hope that leading by example in this way will inspire them to go after their dreams when they are grown too.

All photography credit to Hazel + Pine.

UpSpring Baby: Health & Wellness Improvement for Mom

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This is more of a momprenuers (plural) feature. We speak with Lisa Williamson Rowe, co-founder and CEO of UpSpring Baby – a brand that creates first-of-their-kind products for today’s modern family. UpSpring’s mission is to improve the lives of moms and babies alike and create products that promote health, wellness, and safety. With Mother’s Day around the corner, it seemed like the perfect time to sit down and speak with Lisa about UpSpring’s dedication to health and wellness improvement for mom.

GG: How did you decide to launch your business? Tell us a little more about UpSpring.
LR: We [along with fellow co-founders Julie Jumonville and Dede Woodman] were three mom entrepreneurs that saw unmet needs in the mom & baby market. In 2005, we decided to partner up and create products that met those needs. Our first two products were Milkscreen, an at-home alcohol detection kit for breast milk, and Walking Wings, a unique tool for babies learning to take their first steps.

GG: How do you balance work and family?
LR: In my home, we definitely have family focus time, like dinner time. However, UpSpring has really just become part of our daily life and my family is likewise so much a part of UpSpring. My children and family life have inspired the UpSpring brand in many ways, and have given input and feedback all along the way as we’ve built the company.

GG: What’s the best part of being a mompreneur?
LR: It is just so rewarding partnering with other mom entrepreneurs and sharing products. We are now a village and that village includes other mom inventors, pediatricians and medical experts all sharing our dedication to promote wellness.

Some of Gugu Guru’s favorite products from the UpSpring catalog:

Milkscreen is an easy-to-use at home test that detects alcohol in breast milk. Because everyone metabolizes alcohol differently, the amount of time it takes for alcohol to leave your breast milk also varies. Now you may never have to pump and dump breast milk again.
Milkflow is a concentrated blend of natural herbal extracts including fenugreek and blessed thistle. This powdered drink mix helps you stay hydrated, promotes a healthy breast milk supply and is far more exciting to take than pills.
The Wellmom Breast Pillow is designed specifically to support the mother’s breast while breastfeeding. UpSpring’s new pillow is the first of its kind to provide optimal breast placement while nursing, which resolves the tiresome and painful-to-the-wrist act of physically holding the breast. The pillow lifts and comfortably supports the breast, and its stay-in-place cover holds the breast in position for hands-free nursing.
C-Panty: C Section Recovery Underwear: C-Panty after cesarean-section panty speeds recovery and slims post baby belly. Compression reduces pain and increases mobility. C-Panty takes care of you so you can take care of baby in comfort.
MS Panty: Postpartum Recovery Underwear: Designed for vaginal deliveries, MS-Panty is an after baby panty to speed up getting your pre-body back with just the right amount of compression.
Wellmom’s Organic Coconut Nipple Balm expedites healing and moisturizes tender skin with all natural ingredients that are okay for baby to ingest. Wellmom Coconut Nipple Balm does not contain lanolin, petrolatum, or parabens so you don’t have to remove the balm before breastfeeding baby.
Shrinkx Hips Ultra is the first and only wrap clinically proven to narrow hips after delivery. Shrinkx Hips works thanks to the hormone Relaxin which loosens pelvic joints and ligaments for childbirth. Relaxin stays in your system up to 8 weeks after delivery. Wearing Shrinkx Hips during this time gently guides hips back to their pre-pregnancy position, or smaller.
Shrinkx Belly Postpartum Belly Wrap helps you lose inches faster off your belly and waist after delivery. Triple compression customizes fit so you can look and feel better sooner.

Product Discovery: bambu kids

by Gugu Guru 1 Comment

When new parents think about feeding their babies and toddlers, most of the time they think about what they are going to feed their little ones. However, parents often forget that what they put baby’s food in, and how they feed them is just as important! bambu kids features bowls, utensils, and even straws, which are all made from organic bamboo. As a wonderful and safe alternative to plastic, these products are all BPA free and finished with organic flax seed oil. Bambu Kids’ bowls, spoons, and bibs would make a perfect addition to any baby shower gift, especially for a mom who loves to cook!

The baby feeding spoons are designed as baby’s first foray into utensils; with a handle long enough for mom or dad, but a spoon-part small enough for baby’s mouth, these spoons are designed for ages 6 months and up. The spoons are made from a single piece of USDA certified organic bamboo and finished with a food safe oil derived from the flax seed. They are a safe and healthy alternative to plastic, free of phthalates and BPA.

As baby eats more and more solids, they’ll need a bowl to hold their food! This Bambu Kids’ bowl is made from USDA certified organic bamboo and finished with a food safe oil derived from the flax seed. Its rounded edges are easy for little hands to grasp and it is shaped to help avoid spills. As a healthy alternative to plastic bowls, your baby can knock this bowl on the ground and you won’t have to worry about shattering or breaking!

When it comes to keeping your baby clean during feedings, the Hemp Denim Baby Bib is a wonderful and safe alternative to vinyl or plastic bibs. This reversible bib is machine washable and accented with cotton piping to make it comfortable for baby. Made from a blend of hemp and certified organic cotton, this bib will surely last from babyhood to toddlerhood and even beyond.

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