New Parent 101: How to Stay Well-Rested with an Infant

October 20, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

It’s been a long time since I had a baby in the house, and I have to admit I had forgotten just how exhausting having a baby was when I gave birth to my new little bundle of joy.

As cliché as it sounds, I actually fell asleep in a bowl of cereal one morning! My husband was just as exhausted, sitting across from me at the table. We laughed and decided then and there that there had to be a way to get more rest.

Parenting is tiring…there’s just no way around it! But if you’ve got a new baby in the house and spend most nights in and out of bed wondering how much DO newborns sleep, these tips will help you get a little more rest when you need it!

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

You don’t need to do this alone. You and your partner shouldn’t feel like you can’t ask for an extra hand as you adjust to life as a parent. You know the expression: it takes a village! So, call on your village. You’ll be surprised how happy your friends and family will be to help. [Read more…]

Sleep Easy with the Comfortable and Eco-Friendly Douglas Mattress-Giveaway

September 11, 2017 by Kathryn 3 Comments

After trying a few different mattress types in my lifetime, I am now a lifelong fan of memory foam. The comfort, support and affordability are superior to any other mattress I’ve tried, and the Queen-sized Novosbed mattress I received to review last year even managed to convert my pillow-top loving husband to memory foam.

Now, the same company that created the Novosbed is back with an all-Canadian mattress that combines its eco-friendly design with unbeatable comfort and affordability: the Douglas mattress!

The timing couldn’t have been better for me to test out the Douglas. The Queen-sized bed we had was already starting to feel too small thanks to my pregnant belly and with a new baby on the way, I knew that wasn’t going to change. I’d been thinking about making the upgrade to a King mattress, so I couldn’t wait to see how the Douglas mattress worked for us. [Read more…]

Tired and Stressed? Try These 3 Tips to Help You Get the Sleep You Need

May 4, 2017 by Kathryn 20 Comments

When I was younger, I had some pretty serious issues with insomnia. Some nights, I’d drift quickly and easily off to sleep without a second thought. Other nights, I’d find myself tossing and turning for hours on end, finally falling into a light doze only to suddenly wake up unsure if I’d ever been asleep at all.

For the most part, the fun and exhaustion of children solved my issues with insomnia and ended up being the best sleep aid. After a long day of running after my boys, I’m sometimes lucky to make it into bed with my eyes still open! But there are still occasional days when the insomnia takes over again. And when that happens, these are the three tips I’ve discovered over the years that help me get the rest I need!

Find a Mantra

One of the best sleep aids I’ve discovered for those nights when I’m feeling tired but can’t quite make the jump from sleepy to actually asleep is repeating an easy mantra in my head while doing some deep breathing. Often, it’s a phrase as simple as “I’m falling asleep, I’m falling asleep,” repeated over and over as I take each breath. Within ten minutes, I’ll usually be fast asleep. And as an added bonus, I’ve found that adding a motivating goal to my mantra (such as plans to exercise or catch up on work) helps me tackle that goal with more energy the next morning! [Read more…]

Get Natural Baby and Child Bedding for a Great Price at the Dream Designs Baby & Kids Healthy Sleep Month Event

April 8, 2016 by Kathryn 5 Comments

When it comes to comfortable, breathable and beautiful cloth, there aren’t many fabrics that can top cotton. But did you know that growing three pounds of cotton, enough for a sheet set or a shirt and jeans, requires one pound of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides? Not only is that damaging to the environment, any residual chemical residue left in the cotton could be damaging to a person’s health too!

Luckily, there are plenty of great natural and chemical-free alternatives to purchasing conventional cotton these days and here in Canada, Dream Designs is a great place to find them! This fabulous store has been providing natural fabric home products to Canadians since 1981 and its products are stylish, comfortable and earth-friendly.

[Read more…]

Handle Spring Fever Restlessness with 3 Easy Tips #ONatural

March 17, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

In less than a week, the first day of spring will be here! And as a confirmed lover of sunshine, green grass and warm temperatures, I could not be happier. But at the same time, I’m also finding that I’m a little more restless than usual and have a much harder time getting to sleep each night. It’s a feeling that I think of as spring fever, and from the way my boys are acting lately, I’m not the only one that’s feeling it! But getting through the changing season is a lot easier with a few simple tips! These are the three ways I make sure my family is as calm, cool and relaxed as possible through the first few energy-filled weeks of spring!

1) Run it Off

In Saskatchewan, springtime doesn’t necessarily mean the snow has melted and the grass is green. In fact, there’s been snow on the ground until almost May for the last few years! This year we’ve had unseasonably warm weather, which means getting outside is easier. But even when the weather is nasty, burning off some of that extra energy with a brisk walk or jog does wonders to keep me calm and relaxed. On a nice day, I’ll take the boys outside and we’ll explore the neighbourhood together. When the weather is too cold and miserable, I’ll just put on some relaxing music, hop on the treadmill and walk for 30 minutes. But either way, I feel happier, healthier and much more relaxed when I’m done. [Read more…]