Health & Beauty

My husband and I rarely get sick with a cold or flu anymore. We think it’s because we use this garlic & honey cold remedy any time we start to feel under the weather. (And no, we do not get flu shots.) Do you know about the health benefits of garlic? Garlic is a natural antibiotic and a smart alternative that kills only the bad bacteria while preserving the good bacteria in your body! This garlic & honey cold remedy works as an immune defense home remedy that strengthens your body from within!

The total cost of having a baby in the first 2 years falls somewhere between $12,462 and $26,612. You can break this down to something like $500 to $1000 a month. Here’s a breakdown of the actual numbers… the cost to have a baby, plus the cost to raise a baby for the first 2 years.

At 2-1/2 years old and 35 pounds, my son is quite heavy for me to carry. Even though he can walk on his own, my husband or I usually need to scoop him up and carry him at some point whenever we’re out & about. I’m so glad I discovered this toddler hip seat carrier — it puts an end to muscle fatigue and backaches from carrying a heavy toddler!

Wondering what to do with all of your used baby blankets when your baby is no longer a baby? I counted nearly 20 baby blankets in my son’s closet… he’s now 2 years old! I wanted to donate them to a special cause. Here’s my experience donating baby blankets to charity, a list of where to donate used baby blankets, and some fun ways to repurpose baby blankets and reuse them around the house!

Is this your first pregnancy? Wondering what different types of contractions feel like and when they should start? Here’s how to tell true labor contractions apart from other types of contractions — including false labor and Braxton Hicks contractions.

Getting a CAT scan soon? Nervous? Don’t know what to expect? I recently had my first CT scan with contrast. See what it was like, the difference between MRI and CT scan, what CT scan prep is like, and how long a CAT scan takes. I attempt to answer all your questions about CT scans — so you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when you have your first CAT scan!

If your feet and heels are dry and cracked like mine used to be, you’re going to love these tutorials showing how to exfoliate feet by making a DIY foot scrub and enjoying a soothing foot soak in the comfort of your own home! I’ve learned that you should never use a foot tool (like a foot file, foot scraper, or pumice stone for feet) because they’re too abrasive and don’t allow fresh, new, baby soft skin to grow — so the skin on your feet will just keep getting thicker and rougher!

Feeling your baby kicking inside you is one of the awesome rewards of being pregnant. Here are 5 ways you can get the baby moving — so your husband or kids can feel the baby kick, too! Plus, how to count fetal movements, why fetal kicks matter, and what to do if you don’t feel your baby kicking or moving.

After months of playing with VTech playsets with my son, I thought other parents might benefit from my thoughts regarding the Go Go Smart Wheels collection. To this day, I still ask myself the question if VTech Go Go Smart Wheels cars and playsets are worth it…

Whenever I stop moisturizing my skin (as few as 2 days in a row) the dry, flaky skin starts to reappear on my nose, my hands, and my feet! So I’ve learned the importance of exfoliating and the differences between the 3 types of dry skin moisturizers: body lotions, body oils, and body butters.

My 2-year-old wants to ride his Big Toys Green Country Jeep every time we’re playing in the yard! Here’s our honest review of this fancy, expensive, remote control ride-on Jeep — including the pros and cons.

If, like me, you’ve started using microdermabrasion products and a face exfoliator to keep your skin looking smooth and healthy, then you’re probably wondering if too much of a good thing could actually be hurting your skin. How often should you exfoliate your face? Here’s everything you need to know — including how to exfoliate your face!

My girlfriend didn’t know about the GoodRX app — and she was really upset when she learned that she could’ve saved $140 on a recent prescription of Tamiflu for her daughter. So I thought there may be others who don’t know about Good RX yet either. Here’s how you can get prescription discounts and start saving on your medications immediately by using the GoodRX app (…it’s FREE).

Want to protect your dress shoes on rainy days without looking like a farmer going to feed his cattle?! Here are the best rain shoes for men, according to a trusted men’s stylist.

If you haven’t been to a chiropractor before, then you’re probably a little nervous about getting an adjustment — and you’re not sure what to expect. Here, a chiropractor answers your questions, revealing what your first chiropractic visit will be like, the average chiropractor visit cost, and an overview of what a chiropractor does when you visit their office.

While I don’t think that CBD oil is the magical cure for everything that goes wrong in the body, I do believe that the properties of CBD are quite beneficial for some conditions. Here’s what I’ve learned about CBD vs. THC and my personal experience using CBD oil for pain management.

The Radio Flyer 4-in-1 trike is adjustable in so many ways… it grows with your toddler! My son is almost 2 years old and we’ve found that the Radio Flyer tricycle is a great alternative to a traditional stroller. Here’s my review of this toddler trike – including the pros and the cons.

If you’re the parent of a 2-year-old boy like I am, chances are your friends & family will ask what you recommend they buy for your son’s birthday, Christmas, or other special occasion. If you happen to be a grandparent or friend of the family, then you’re probably wondering which gifts for little boys are most needed at this stage. Here’s a first-time mom’s list of the best gifts for 2-year-old-boys.

The fourth trimester begins when your baby is born and continues until she reaches 3 months old. It’s a time of adjustment for both the mother and the newborn — who was quite content for 9 months inside the womb and now must learn to adapt to all new sights, sounds, and activities. Here are 5 pediatrician-recommended ways to re-create that feeling of being inside the womb during your baby’s first 3 months of life.

My first colonoscopy a few years ago required drinking 1 gallon of a nasty tasting solution. This year, my colonoscopy prep drink was CLENPIQ instead. See why I love this new colon prep drink — it’s SO much better than other bowel prep drinks!

After spending a couple hours at Arrington Vineyards on a Sunday afternoon, we determined that our next visit will include a picnic basket and blanket. It’s such a relaxing place, you could spend an entire afternoon just lounging around and enjoying the scenery & special events — along with a great bottle of wine (or two) made right on the premises!

I am 20 months into being a full time, stay-at-home mom with no immediate family nearby. And I’ll be the first to say… I sometimes need a break! So I’ve made a point to find ways to give my toddler and myself a break from “just us” once in awhile. Here are 10 ways I’ve found to take a well-deserved mom day, meet other moms, and help your child make new friends. My best tips for socializing your stay-at-home toddler…

I try to keep a handle on the flow of the toys coming in and out of our home and ways to organize them in order to keep them interesting and useful for my son. See how we prevent too many toys from entering our home AND how to organize toys in such a way to avoid toy clutter.