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9 Interesting Things About Breastfeeding As A New Mom

Over the past 6 years I gave birth to 4 babies and breastfed them for a total of 4 years (1 year each) and when I started I did not know about these 9 interesting things about breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is one way of feeding your baby, you can also pump and feed your baby breastmilk through a bottle or use formula in a bottle. I have done all 3 ways of feeding – sometimes we would supplement in the first week of their lives with formula and then throughout the year I would pump milk so that I could be away from my baby for more than a few hours for different appointments. But my main way of feeding them was to breastfeed them and that’s something I feel like I know a lot about!

Are you feeling confused and overwhelmed by breastfeeding? What to expect when breastfeeding? Hannah, the popular Canadian mom blogger at Honey & Betts, shares everything she wish she knew when she started breastfeeding her four babies. From showers, to milk production, to saliva communication between the baby and your breast, to the best breast pumps, to milk let down! She shares all the dirt on nursing your baby!

There is no superior way to feed your baby, a fed baby is best! Pumping is known to be a lot of time but a great way to get your baby breastmilk if you plan on going back to work. Then some moms choose to feed their babies formula because they can’t produce milk or they are also going back to work or they simply do not want to breastfeed.

I mentioned the different types of ways to feed your baby because I didn’t have any complications with breastfeeding – I didn’t contract mastitis or have mixed emotions while feeding or have physical breastfeeding problems. Having a super smooth breastfeeding journey is not the norm, it is perfectly okay to have questions and concerns around it. If you ever feel like something is off or not working ask your doctor or lactation consultant! Trust your gut.

This past week was the last time I breastfed my last baby, but my heart was prepared. I treasure the memories of breastfeeding my babies, and I am excited for this new chapter of our lives. We are out of the baby phase! It’s bittersweet.

I remember when I was a 20 year old with my first baby, literally knew nothing about breastfeeding. I would wake up covered in sticky milk, completely overwhelmed by how much my baby needed me. I was her source of food. It was a bizarre contrast to how other 20 year olds were living. But I would not have traded it for anything in the world, it was the beginning of our family.

Here are the 9 interesting things about breastfeeding I wish I knew when I started:

Take a shower everyday: It will help you feel human again. It doesn’t matter if your baby is crying or if you don’t feel like it. Put your baby in their crib safely (no toys, no stuffies, no blankets or pillows) and take a 5 minute shower.
Where does the milk come out?: Am I the only one who thought breast milk came out of 1 hole in your breast? Because it is not like that! There are lots of tiny holes in the tissue that shoot out milk when stimulated. The best way to see this is if you have a milk pump that clear, it will show you exactly what is happening. Or YouTube it? Though you might find some weird stuff on there…
Saliva communication: Your breast milk is constantly changing! Your baby’s saliva notifies the tissue in your breasts if they are feeling unwell or not – what do you mean? If your baby has a cold and needs more antibodies to fight it off, your body adjusts your breastmilk to accommodate that through their saliva. Their saliva sends a message to your body to make different milk for the different things their little bodies need.
The BEST breastfeeding accessory: I know everyone claims to have the best recommendations, but this product is one I seriously wish I had known about with my first baby! The Haaka pump. It is amazing. By the time my last baby was 2 months old I had a huge supply of extra breast milk in my freezer for when my husband or family would take care of the baby while I was out. I did not need to use the Haaka pump for pumping, but I would use it to catch all the let down on the other breast when nursing so I wasn’t losing that liquid gold. Which leads us into the next point…
The milk let down: You can’t control your milk let down so when it happens it happens on both breasts when your baby is only attached to one. Especially when I was a new mom I didn’t understand why other women wore breast pads, they seemed like a hassle. But they are essentially creating another fabric barrier to soak up your let down milk to keep your bra and other clothes dry. Trust me, I have had so many wet t-shirt spots from leaking through my shirt. It’s embarrassing but it happens to everyone!
Breastfeeding can be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t hurt: I remember my first night in the hospital with my brand new baby as a first time mom, I thought I had her latched correctly but it was just a little off. I now know it was off because it hurt and when I pulled her off there was a little blood blister. It hurt so badly, but the only way to correct it was to make sure her latch was proper and to do 5 minutes on each side until she was full. My point is the engorged breasts from your milk coming in, the raw nipples, clogged milk ducts are uncomfortable parts of breastfeeding – but if it hurts please call your doctor to talk to them.
Clogged milk ducts: I shared a little more about clogged milk ducts in this blog post, but if you start to feel like you have flu-ish symptoms (ie aches, chills, plus pain in your breast) you may have a clogged milk duct! It’s when the milk is not fully drained and the tissue becomes clogged, it can lead to a scary infection called mastitis that will require you to go to the hospital for treatment. So being proactive about not dismissing symptoms is important!
Invest in good nursing bras: It wasn’t until I found Knix that I finally found a good nursing bra, and technically these bras are not “nursing bras”. I had the worst experience with nursing bras with no support and with nursing bras that had lacey details on the side (ouch, the chaff!). It’s honestly trial and error until you find ones you like and then buy 4-5 of them!
You can over produce milk: In the first few days of your milk coming in after you give birth it can be tempting to try to pump to get it started. But your body replies on supply and demand, so if you start telling your body it needs to make more, more, more it will go into hyperdrive to make it. And then when it comes in it will be more than you need if you don’t have any production issues. I didn’t know about this so I went to town thinking my milk wasn’t coming in and then it came in! The engorged was unreal and not fun at all, more than normal.

And those are the 9 interesting things about breastfeeding I wish I knew before I started! These have been my experiences, and your breastfeeding journey may not look anything like mine. It’s difficult to navigate but you and your baby will be pros at it by the end!

What are your breastfeeding questions? Or what interesting thing about breastfeeding do you wish you knew when you started? Let me know in a comment below!

If you like this post, check out my Ultimate Secret To Making Any Outfit Breastfeeding Friendly post before you go!

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Hannah is a Canadian Mom Blogger from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada who shares her life around motherhood to 4 kids, on-the-go beauty for moms, healthy and delicious recipes, bohemian home decor, family travel, and local Edmonton businesses.

10 Motherhood Tips And Tricks You Need To Read Before You Have A Baby

Motherhood is hard and wonderful at the same time, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! Some moms prefer the baby stage, some moms prefer the independent school age kid stage, and some moms enjoy their kids the most once they are adults. We are all different, and we all go through the same stages with our kids – infant, toddler, child, preteen, teenager, adult. For the moms and moms to be that are entering the infant stage I have 10 motherhood tips and tricks you need to read before you have a baby, so keep reading!

Looking for motherhood tips and tricks? Hannah, the biggest Canadian mom blogger at Honey & Betts, shares advice for new moms and moms to be: always breathe. Do your research before you take anyone's advice. From hospital bag checklists, to breast pumps and bottles, to birth stories, to taking care of your baby, to sleepsacks and tips on preventing SIDS, balancing motherhood and baby schedule's.

The Most Relaxing Hospital Bag Checklist: the arrival of your baby is a mix of emotions, even if you are a second time mom. This hospital checklist is here to guide you in making sure you do not forget anything. The less stress the better and it sure is a cute print out for having on hand!

2. What Is Induced Labor At The Hospital For 3 Days Like?: You read that correctly! You can find my 3 other birth stories for my other children linked to this blog post, but Adeline’s 3 Day Induced Labor takes the cake for overall being the longest labour… and they say your labour time shortens with each one. I’m the exception to that rule, I guess!

3. How To Take Care Of Your Baby’s Sensitive Skin: It comes in handy having overly sensitive skin of my own, and I knew right away how to help my baby’s sensitive skin during those first few months especially during the winter. Whether it was a calming bath to encourage her to sleep through the night, or a baby massage when she was crying restlessly, or poor chapped cheeks during the winter.

4. The Best Bottles For Bottle Feeding (Formula or Breast Milk): We have tried so many different brands and styles of baby bottles, even though I exclusively breast feed it is a life saver to have a breast pump and baby bottle on hand, and this is the only type of bottle all of our babies would drink from. Even a friend who’s baby decided to stop breastfeeding and only take a bottle at 6 months refused any kind of bottle except for this one, so you know it’s the best of the best!

Looking for advice on being a mom? Whether you are a boy mom or a girl mom, Hannah, the best Canadian mom blogger at Honey & Betts, shares her top tips for moms. From helping your baby sleep through the night, to deciding if you want to have more children, to asking for help as a new mom. Check it out!

5. Why You Want To Include A Breast Pump On Your Baby Registry Even If You Plan On Exclusively Breastfeeding: Doesn’t the title explain it enough? This electric breast pump was a necessity for my babies who refused to drink formula when I wanted a coffee date with friends or a date night with my husband. Check it out!

6. How To Choose The Best Sleepsack For Your Baby: I cannot emphasize this enough, do not put your baby to sleep with a blanket in their crib. Sleepsacks are an investment but honestly the peace of mind that we are preventing SIDS far outweighs the cost. I will create a budget friendly sleepsack list soon, because I know not everyone can afford to drop $50 on a sleepsack.

7. Why Is My Baby Crying At Night?: That’s the golden questions, isn’t it? In the wee hours when you and your partner are fumbling through the darkness trying to sooth your baby, go through the checklist to troubleshoot the issue! Soon you’ll be professionals at having the checklist in your mind.

8. How To Overcome The Mom Guilt: Do you work from home? Want to go out for lunch with your friends? Want a weekend away? I’m sharing how I balance my work, social gatherings, housework, and quality time with my family.

Top tips for new parents? Hannah, the popular Canadian mom blogger at Honey & Betts, is sharing 10 practical tips for new moms to read before having a baby. From baby care, to the best baby bottles, to dealing with postpartum anxiety, to induced labor. Check it out!

9. Mom Truths About Having More Children: Having more kids is so exciting, but also there is a lot of mom truths that are not shared! One of them being, you will wonder why you ever complained about balancing one child’s nap and meal schedule…

10. The Best Non-Baby Gifts For New Moms: If you are anything like me, a mediocre type A personality, you don’t mind listening to others give unsolicited motherhood tips and tricks but it’s hard to ask for the help you want as a new mom. I want you to send this blog post to your significant other, your mother in law, your own mother, your siblings, share it on Facebook and everywhere. This list is how you love on new moms because it takes a village! And it’s really hard to ask for what you need sometimes, so let me do the talking for you in that blog post just send it to everyone who needs to know!

Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram at @honeyandbetts! Send me a message so I can personally congratulate you on your motherhood journey!

What are the worst motherhood tips and tricks you have ever received from parents, in-laws, family members, or friends? I’d love to know!

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What Are The Best Beautycounter Products For Dry Skin?

I haven’t shared any Beautycounter products in a long time – with good reason after I quit selling Beautycounter as a consultant, you can read about that here. I decided to finally get back on the horse and share what are the best Beautycounter products for dry skin.

Over the past couple years I have continued to use Beautycounter skin care products mixed with other amazing safer beauty products – and I always want to share the best skin care products for those who also have extremely dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin like me!

First off, if you have dry skin and you are chatting with a Beautycounter consultant – double, triple check what products they are recommending to you. When I first started as a consultant, I knew a lot about what worked for my skin and what didn’t. But when I chatted with other new consultants they were constantly asking in the Consultants Facebook groups on what to recommend to their new clients.

There is a list and checklist of Beautycounter products that the head office or up-line consultants have created for new consultants to refer to, you can find most thing consultants use by searching it in Pinterest, but I found a few of the typical recommended Beautycounter skin care products for “dry skin” made me breakout even worse. And once I stopped using them, my skin cleared up!

Be your own advocate in everything!

Thankfully, my skin reacts immediately (within a few days of use) so I can back track what products I switched or added in and stop using them. But many new and experienced consultants always recommended to their clients to use the products for 3 weeks and then if it really wasn’t working for them then they would assist them in returning it.

If I went by their advice, my skin would be a mess for 2-3 weeks before thinking “Hmmmm maybe this product isn’t for me”. Like I said, advocate for yourself!

Looking for the best Beautycounter products for dry skin? Hannah, from the popular Canadian lifestyle blog shares her favourite safer skin care products that will help heal your flakey, scaley, dry skin. Don't worry about wrinkles and hormonal acne, check out Hannah's recommendations here!

Here are the skin care products I recommend for dry skin:

Charcoal Cleansing Bar: This is my favourite cleanser to use after working out, it cleans my skin while detoxing it too. I do not use this bar every day – I found it dries out my skin too much. You can read here what my regular skin care routine is for morning and night time.
Counter+ Charcoal Facial Mask: Another awesome post-workout skin care cleanser after you use the Beautycounter charcoal cleansing bar – but in moderation. If you know your skin is sensitive or on the dry side I recommend cutting the wait time in half. The bottle recommends 10 minutes, I usually keep it on for 5 minutes. That’s a rule I use for most skin masks to make sure my skin isn’t red and irritated afterwards.
Counter+ No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil: If you live in a dry location like Edmonton, Alberta, this face oil is a life saver! Doesn’t matter if it is summer or winter, I use this moisturizing and brightening facial oil year round. I find 1-2 drops into your moisturizer is plenty, compared to the Beautycounter recommendation of 3-4 drops.
Essential Nourishing Collection: I use the Beautycounter Nourishing Day Cream and Night Cream daily, and the rest of the line sparingly if needed. Overall this skin care collection does not make my skin flare up or break out at all, which could be the solution for you too!
Lip Conditioner in Peppermint: I cannot communicate how much I love this lip balm! While I wish they would put it in a tube or twist-up container, I can look past the jar Beautycounter has put it in. It’s a hefty price, but once you try it you’ll be hooked too.

Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming blog post on the worst Beautycounter products for dry skin!

Have you tried Beautycounter? Tell me, what do you think are the best Beautycounter products for dry skin?

If you like this post, check out my How To Hide A Pimple Without Looking Cake-y post before you go!

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7 Thoughtful Non-Baby Gifts For New Parents

Parenthood is wonderful. Parenthood is difficult. Parenthood is a huge adjustment. I’ll be honest, baby registries are great but if you know a mom-to-be that is hard to buy for here are some amazing, thoughtful non-baby gifts for new parents!

One of the best gifts that my parents gave me were: in the first week of having my new baby my MIL came over with groceries and cooked us beef dips and banana bread. I sat with my new baby and relaxed, I didn’t realize how valuable that afternoon was but I know it now.

And then in the first month I had a really bad cold one night, and my mom came and did a night shift with my little baby. I had pumped breast milk for her to bottle feed, and I was able to finally get the rest I needed to beat my sickness.

Looking for unique gift ideas for new moms? Hannah, the popular Edmonton blogger for the blog Honey & Betts, shares the best non-baby gifts for new parents who have everything. These are gifts for moms that will help them rest and relax with their new baby.

Both were such amazing gifts to receive as a new mom! In light of those unique gift ideas I have 7 gifts to give new parents:

1. Surprise them by cleaning their house and cooking them dinner!

2. Visit them! Bring baked goods and coffee, hold their baby, and talk with them.

3. Drop off meals – breakfast, lunch or dinner. Have you ever tried frozen blueberry pancakes? They are easy to reheat and enjoy with all their favourite toppings!

4. If you are the grandma, do a night shift with pumped milk! A solid nights sleep is a wonderful gift.

5. If they have older kids, take their kids for a sleepover or dinner date.

6. Skip The Dishes or Amazon gift cards!

7. Shovel their walk way (in the winter) or walk their dogs.

It’s also a blessing for you to know when to leave, you don’t want to be the one who over stays – depending on how low maintenance you are as a guest. I’ve had high maintenance guests over when I was freshly postpartum that I mentally made sure to meet outside my home so I could have some control over when I could leave.

If you suspect you are a high maintenance guest, there are a few things you can do to be a better guest to a new mom – bring your own coffee (or even better, like said above, bring some for everyone), get your own glass of water, if there is something you need please be comfortable enough to get it yourself. Let the new mom in your life rest and relax.

What are your favourite thoughtful non-baby gifts for new parents?

If you like this post, check out my Baby Shower Gifts For Mom post before you go!

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Self-Tanner 101: How To Apply Isle of Paradise Mousse (WITH Before And After Photos)

I can officially add Isle of Paradise Mousse to my list of best self-tanners (especially for legs!)! I’ve been super pregnant this summer with my 3 young kids so while I really want to go to the beach every weekend – I’m exhausted! But I had heard so much about Isle of Paradise’s mousse, tanning drops, and tanning water that I knew I needed to try them all out for a sunless tan.

Left leg is with the Isle of Paradise Mousse in Light, right leg is without.

I’ll be sharing my Isle of Paradise tan reviews (the tanning drops and the tanning water) this summer too! Because they all have different applications, preferred uses, and difficulty levels – so I wanted to review each product with individual blog posts so it is not overwhelming.

Back to the Isle of Paradise mousse! I tested out the tanning mouse in light (it comes in light, medium and dark) – and the light one gives me the most natural looking tan. Maybe one day I’ll try the medium but even though I am fair with pink and olive undertones, the light does a great job!

Does it smell bad?

First off, let me clear the air – the Aisle of Paradise mousse does not smell like the stereotypical self tanner scent we all know well. It smells tropical and fresh! I really enjoy it, and the scent is consistent throughout all their tanning products.

How do you not get streaks when tanning?

When I first read the instructions on how to apply the Isle of Paradise light tanning mousse it mentions using a tanning mitt or a buffing mitt – if you are a beginner I highly recommend grabbing one from Sephora, or Amazon. It will make you are streak free!

But for myself, you can see above I used an old, dark facecloth that I knew the mousse wouldn’t noticeably stain. I’ve been doing this since I became super comfortable with self tanning a couple years ago – it’s a tried and true way of getting the same flawless tanning results with household items!

Let’s discuss the main reasons this is the best self tanner (especially for legs):

It absorbs and dries quickly – I was unafraid to lie on top my white duvet 10 minutes after applying – it’s that good!
It’s easy to apply – I like to apply the mousse one pump at a time, then using a sweeping motion down my leg to put it on. You can see exactly where you’ve applied it (it’s not a clear product on application, it is a dark brown), and I make sure just like when I’m shaving my legs to not leave any areas unattended. I leave my knees (front and back), ankles, and feet last – I use the leftovers of the mousse on the cloth to buff those areas. Since they have the driest skin too much tanning product could make them stand out in an obvious way!
It gives a beautiful, sun-kissed glow – you do not need to worry about coming out orange (no matter if you choose the light, medium or dark options)! The results of the Isle of Paradise mousse is a bronzed, natural tan – which is what we are all looking for in a tanner!
It smooths and evens out skin
It is made without unnecessary chemicals – Isle of Paradise makes their products free of : Sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban. Though it does have fragrance in it (if you’ve read this you know how I feel about fragrance!), it contains less than 1% of synthetic fragrance.

Here are my tips for how to apply self tanner:

Exfoliate and shave your legs before – the bottle’s instructions suggest doing this 24 hours before you apply the tanning mousse but I didn’t do that here or any other time I’ve used it. And I have severely dry skin so you know my skin is absorbing the heck out of this product.
If you’re a beginner, moisturize your hands, feet, knees, and elbows (if you’re doing your whole body) before you apply – using moisturizer makes it harder for the tanner to absorb into those really dry areas and make your tan look wonky. But I’ve been doing this for a while and feel confident applying self tanner without this step.
Wash your hands!! Don’t forget to wash your hands after you apply your tanning products. Tip #2 says it will make it harder for the tanner to absorb, but it will still absorb into your skin so clean your hands diligently afterwards with soap and water.

I hope this helps you make an informed choice on if you want to purchase the Isle of Paradise Mousse in light or medium! I looked throughly through the online reviews of this tanning product and could not find any photos for comparison – I was unsure if the light would be too light or if the medium would be too dark.

I figured I was not the only one looking for before and after photos of the Isle of Paradise mousse!

Have you tried the Isle of Paradise Mousse? What is your favourite Isle of Paradise tanning product?

If you like this post, check out my Best Cheap Drugstore Tanning Product post before you go!

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You may not realize it, but I post a lot of blog posts that don’t always get shared on my social media – to be honest, sometimes I forget! If you want to be the first to see baby photos, the first to know about giveaways, and not miss out on anything – make sure you sign up for my email list! You will even receive my FREEBIE for the 3 phone apps I use to edit all my blog and Instagram photos, hurry up and go get it!

Hannah from the Canadian blog Honey & Betts shares her life.

The Best Cheap Drugstore Self Tanner For Fair Skin | Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray Vs. Cream Before And After

It feels like the biggest trend in beauty right now are beauty and make-up dupes, and for those who don’t know what those are – a dupe is a less expensive or drugstore version of a high end beauty product. And I read online that not only was Airbrush Legs a dupe to the St. Tropez tanning line, but that it was better than St. Tropez in some beauty bloggers opinions because it overall in some opinions the best cheap drugstore self-tanner for fair skin!

Is the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs spray on or cream applicator better? Hannah, from the Edmonton beauty blog Honey & Betts, is sharing her thoughts in a review for the Fairest Glow for fair skin. Check out what the best cheap drugstore self tanner for fair skin is!

Hannah, from the popular Canadian beauty blog Honey & Betts, shares the difference between Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Fairest Glow Spray On vs Cream. Check out her tips on how to avoid self tanner streaks!

For the past 3 years I have been only using Nkd Skin organic self-tanner, a safer beauty self-tanner that I think is fool proof – but when in pinch I wanted to see how to Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs worked on my pale, post winter legs.

But then the next dilemma arose when I was standing in the sunscreen aisle in London Drugs… which is better the Airbrush Legs Spray or the Airbrush Legs Lotion application? And when I grabbed both I wanted to test the out together so I could compare them on my legs.

My Right Leg | Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Lotion

Before I tried this experiment, my brain was in favour of the lotion because that’s what the Nkd Skin tanner is and I’ve had great success with it.

When I first opened the Airbrush Legs Fairest Glow Lotion (there are fair, medium and dark options so be careful which one you buy!) I immediately thought “wow, that’s pretty orange…”. Thankfully, there is a limited smell to the self-tanner – and in my opinion even less than my Nkd Skin tanner.

The Airbrush Legs Lotion spreads easily but be aware that it dries fast! I did not have a buffing mitt so I used a dark facecloth to buff out the cream in light circles all over my legs, ankles and knees.

The first layer of the Airbrush Legs Lotion was noticeable, then the second layer was even more so. I recommend only one layer for future use, the second was almost like when you apply too many coats of nail polish (head to this blog post for a few of my favourite nail polishes!) and the colour starts to look worse rather than better… that’s the effect I experience with the second layer of the Airbrush Legs.

My Left Leg – Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Spray

Like I mentioned above I went into this review thinking I was going to prefer the lotion to the spray, just from hearing from other beauty bloggers that the Airbrush Legs Spray was quite messy. But to my surprise, I prefer the spray to the lotion!

The photo of me applying the spray was the first time I used the bottle, and the bottom end of the stripe is the accurate result of the spray. I didn’t hold down the nozzle hard enough until the end so even though it looks like it’s a weak line, the rest of my leg was covered easily after pressing hard enough.

And with the Airbrush Legs Spray I felt like the product applied more even and used less product!

Same with the spray, I used a dark facecloth to buff out the self-tanner onto my legs, ankles, and knees. And was very happy with the look afterwards!

But the same with the second layer, it looked cake-y. So I highly recommend with either the Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Lotion or Spray one layer is plenty.

Tips For Applying Airbrush Legs Self-Tanner

Both the lotion and the spray dry quickly, I found applying and buffing the self-tanner in sections was the best strategy.
Use a buffing mitt, or a dark facecloth! If you want to avoid streaks or looking like you have a self-tanner fail you need to buff all the areas that you applied self-tanner.
Apply sparingly to your ankles and knees, just like with all self-tanners your ankles and knees are drier than the rest of your legs so they’ll absorb more product and give that dreaded orange look if you’re not careful.
Wash your hands immediately! The Airbrush Legs dries fast and orange hands are not cute.

The next time you’re in a pinch for a cheap drugstore self-tanner for fair skin, you can achieve that glow with the Airbrush Legs!

Which do you prefer, the Airbrush Legs Lotion or Airbrush Legs Spray? Or what do you think is the best cheap drugstore self-tanner for fair skin?

If you like this post, check out my The Best Costco Beauty Products 2019 post before you go!

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P.S. if you’ve ever wondered about your skin or what products you should be using for your skin type check out my quiz below and I’ve hand-picked skin care reviews that would help your skin live it’s best life! Check it out!

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Road Trip From Edmonton To Drumheller | Explore The Dinosaur Capital Of The World

Quick Weekend Road Trip From Edmonton For The Whole Family

This summer we took our kids – Annaliese, Abigail, and Adeline – from Edmonton to Drumheller, AB which is the dinosaur capital of the world! It was a quick 3 hour road trip from Edmonton to Drumheller (quick is relative to the other road trips we have done in the past), and it all started with an early morning wake-up call!

Once we arrived in Drumheller, AB it was a quick 10 minute drive from the town’s centre to the world-renowned Tyrrell Museum. When we visited on Saturday morning there were people from all over the world visiting (naturally you notice license plates, chat with people in line, and take note of their apparel that states where they are from), and that’s when you know you’re at a world renown museum!

Though the Royal Tyrrell Museum rates are more expensive, the rates are worth your while. If you live close and your kids love dinosaurs an annual membership may be something to invest into!

When we entered the Royal Tyrrell Museum exhibits – immediately, we were transported into the past and you could see the wonder and awe in Annaliese and Abigail’s eyes. The dinosaur bones and dinosaur pictures are huge, they are beautiful, and they are completely mind-blowing.

Annaliese could not stop running from display to display asking for the entire write-up to be read to her, though her overall favourite part was finding the prehistoric mammal. She thought it was the coolest thing ever!

I remember visiting the Tyrrell Museum when I was in junior high school on an all day field trip – it was my first time there and made its mark as the most fascinating field trips I ever went on! And I’m glad we made time this summer to build family memories together on our road trip from Edmonton to Drumheller.

My tips for visiting the Tyrrell Museum with kids:

Bring lots of snacks and water bottles!
Wear running shoes because the Tyrrell Museum is an extensive walk for toddlers and kids.
If you have a toddler, bring a stroller! Double strollers that are side by side are hard to navigate when it’s busy, so try to bring a single stroller.
Go during the week rather than the weekends, that is when all the tourist buses charter people in and it can be overwhelmingly busy.
Plan to walk the hoodoo trails outside the museum, they are unique and lots of fun for kids!

Have you planned your visit to Drumheller, Alberta’s Tyrrell Museum?

If you like this post, check out my Top 3 Family Beaches In Alberta For Kids post before you go!

And make sure you pin this family travel post on Pinterest so you can come back to it later!

Free admission was provided for an honest review of the experience. All opinions are 100% my own.

Crying Newborn Baby List | 5 Things To Check When Your Newborn Is Crying

Go through the Crying Newborn Baby List of 5 things to check when your newborn is crying and you will find the problem and the solution at once.

If your baby does not have acid reflux or colic, follow this list. Seek out your doctor or pediatrician’s help if you have questions about your babies crying.

Moms, your body is amazing. Not only did your beautiful body create a tiny baby in 9 (but we all know it’s technically 10) months, but you endured through their birth (whether vaginal or c-section)! Celebrate your body and the miracle it has created!

The journey of motherhood, from the brand spanking new mom to the adjusted fourth time mom, has an upheaval of emotions. You pretty much experience all the emotions multiplied by 10 (thanks to those postpartum hormones coursing through your body) and then multiplied again by the lack of sleep you are getting.

It’s safe to say most moms invest in their favourite coffee machines. We’re all in survival mode, but don’t worry this phase will pass.

To get through survival mode you need the right equipment (hello, coffee) and checklists, well that is what hikers and hunters do when they are handling extreme conditions… parents need the same preparations to take care of our babies.

My go-to checklist, that used to be on a piece of paper stuck to the wall above the change table, but it’s now ingrained in my brain and I take it everywhere.

Here are the 5 things to check when your newborn is crying:

Your newborn baby is hungry. Their teeny tummies can’t hold a lot of milk, so this may be the solution most of the time. Don’t worry before you know it you will know exactly what their hunger cues look like, and be able to feed them before they become difficult.

Your newborn baby needs to burp. Every time you feed your baby, follow up by gently patting their back until they let their air out from gulping down their milk or formula (be prepared with a burp cloth or blanket in case some liquid comes up too…). Or if they have been crying for a long time, again gently pat their back until they burp.

Your newborn baby has a dirty diaper. If you find your baby commonly has a diaper rash, they may have super sensitive skin (mine all did) and Vaseline doesn’t do the trick. I found an extra strength diaper rash cream at our grocery store that protected and healed their skin, I highly recommend it!

Your newborn baby is overtired. This is the most difficult one, notably as they get older. Because instead of nodding off to sleep, they may become more fussy and cry more causing them to be overtired. Babies can be cranky, but if all their needs are taken care of let them lay in their safe bed while they give into their exhaustion. Creating a calm environment will also help them fall asleep easier, the less stimulation the better.

Your newborn baby needs to be held. You will know your baby best, if they need snuggles give it to them. But if it’s their nap time and they need to get some sleep try swaddling them. I was the worst at swaddling using a traditional swaddling blanket, but I discovered different swaddlers (and then they will grow into sleep sacks) that require no special technique and they were life savers!

Read more about motherhood with this sweet babe:

Breastfeeding & Bottle Feeding Journey | Activities For Your 3-4 Month Old Baby | Being A Girl Mom | Stroller Reviews