Halli just turned one last month. I can’t believe how fast the year flew by. Going from one kid to two kids was a harder adjustment for us than I expected it to be. I also forgot how expensive babies are! Diapers, wipes, clothes, baby food, it all adds up so quickly. I like to be able to save a little bit of money where ever I can, so I was really excited when Perrigo Nurtionals asked me to try some of their products.
About Perrigo Nutritionals:
- Many moms are not aware that they can save up to 50 percent on infant formula by choosing a store brand over a national brands.
- Store Brand Formula is nutritionally comparable to the national brands, yet are typically up to half the price, and can save you about $600 a year
- Perrigo Nutritionals is the largest supplier of Store Brand Infant Formula and nutrition products in the world and one of only four companies recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for meeting the strict FDA requirements for safety, nutrition and quality for infant formula-manufacturing in the United States
- Same standards and expertise used to develop infant formula applied to toddler foods
- Toddler foods are appropriately developed for variety of stages of growth and motor skills with quality, nutritional ingredients to create foundation of good nutrition
Halli has been exclusively breastfed, but with my first baby Hayden I was unable to nurse after 3 months. Formula is so crazy expensive. We would often buy the store brand formula and it saved us so much money! Now that Halli is older and eating baby food she loves the baby food pouches. She has always been an independent eater and has never liked me to spoon feed her. She is Miss Independent and does it all herself. I love the baby pureed pouches because they are easy to take on the go with a lot less mess. Baby puffs and yogurt bites are also great quick, mess free snacks for when we are on the go. Perrigo Nutritionals store brand products are as nutritionally complete as the national brands, but cost significantly less. They are sold under individual retailer brands, such as Walmart’s Parent’s Choice and Target’s Up & Up Store brand product. With Perrigo Nutritional brands I can have the best of both worlds and save money while having quality products for my kids.
Perrigo Nurtitionals also sent me a really great book to read called, “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life,” written by a wife, mother, and blogger extraordinaire Crystal Paine. The title of the book alone had me hooked. What mom doesn’t want to stress less and sleep more?! I am naturally a worrier and I stress. In the past few weeks my husband has had a complete job change and we are moving across the country in a matter of days. With all of the huge changes and the up coming move, my typical worrier personality has basically been on overdrive and I have felt like a basket case! There are some days I know I have been in complete “survival mode,” and have barely limped through the day. Crystal’s book is exactly what I needed. It had so many good reminders and helped me mellow out. Crystal gives really great practical tips for families, for example on how to save money.
Crystal Paine’s 5 Money Saving Tips for Families
Create a Budget
- A budget gives you parameters and purpose, it gives you boundaries, and it gives you freedom to live creatively within those boundaries.
Shop With Cash
- When you shop with a credit card (or even a debit card, for that matter!) you can have your budget in your head and you can do the best to stick with it when you check out, but it’s so much easier to go just a little bit over here and there when you’re swiping!
Plan a Menu
- When you have a plan in place for what you’re supposed to be eating each meal and you’ve already purchased the ingredients for those recipes, it’s a lot harder to justify chucking the plan for takeout.
Use Coupons
- Coupons are a great way to save a lot of money on your grocery bill, but they can be hard to keep up with. Clipping, sorting, and organizing coupons takes time — so enter a coupon database! You’ll have access to printable and other coupons currently available and it’s one of the most effective and efficient ways to save money on groceries.
Buy Store Brands
- One way to save a great deal of money on your grocery budget is to learn to like and use a variety of brands. The sooner you can get over being a brand-snob, the more your pocketbook will thank you. For example, while I breast fed my children, moms who choose to formula feed can save up to 50 percent by switching to store brand formula, which meets the same FDA quality standards as expensive name brands. There are also coupons available at a website – StoreBrandFormula.com. This one simple change can save moms about $600 a year.
This year I have been trying more to focus on having joy. Enjoying my kids more, and getting down to play more often. I’m trying to enjoy the mess! Life is messy, kids are meant to be messy, sometimes messy can be fun and sometimes it is better just to go with it. Reading this book helped remind me of my goal to slow down and embrace joy in our life. A huge move and new job is craziness and sometimes complete chaos, but it is also exciting! A fresh start and new opportunities is very exciting, it is like a new little adventure. No matter what stage of motherhood you are in or if you stay at home mommy or are a full/part time workin’ mama you will love this book!
Right now one (1) Mom Spotted readers has the opportunity to win ONE (1) prize pack from Perrigo Nutritionals
- A copy of “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life” by Crystal Paine
- 1 container of store brand formula
- 9 assorted Puree Pouches
- 5 assorted Puffs
- 4 assorted Yogurt Bites
To enter use the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!
About Megan
One of the tips I would give it time to take 30 minutes to relax, unwind, do something that she likes or relax.
It is OKAY to ask for help! People offer and we never take them up on it because we want to prove we can do it, but it OKAY to ask for help. It beats being dead tired, worn out, and ticked that your house is a mess.
To relieve stress I have a glass of wine after the kids go to bed.
Take time for yourself everyday! Do it during nap time if needed, but do it!
When people offer to help, take them up on it. We all need help in our lives at times.
get lots of rest and have some me time
Try to get a break every once in a while- where you can have a few minutes to yourself before your family wakes up.
don’t forget about YOU time… go have your hair done, or your nails!!
Take YOU time! Even if it’s just 10 minutes a day, make sure you make time to do something YOU like/want to do!
I know it’s cliche and has been said so many times. But, sleep when the baby sleeps.
Meditation and deep breathing have helped me.
Take at least 30 minutes for yourself and relax, maybe when the kids take a nap, get to read some book or relax and watch a little television, something that they like and they can relax. It is good to take time for yourself.
take a mommy time out. sometimes you just need some time to yourself.
The number one way to relieving stress is to remember “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff”. And always remember to choose your battles wisely. Going to the park? Is it that important that your child wear matching clothes and shoes? Let them have times where they can be independent!
To take a few minutes each day to just sit & breath deep each day. I sat in my car for a minute before going inside
Make some time for yourself to help de-stress.
I like to take a nice warm bath and just soak in there, then read a good book on my bed and just relax.
If you have older children that are old enough to dress themselves and put their own shoes on, let them. Dont stress yourself out even more by always making sure you have picked out their clothes and shoes, etc. It is okay if they don’t match perfectly, or if they decide to wear cowboy boots with shorts.
Go for a walk or take a nap!
Get organized-labeled bins close to where you use them to save steps.
You choose whether to stress about something or not. Put your energy into finding solutions, not stressing. And don’t stress over things that you can’t change. Take a break even if it’s only for 10 seconds.
take relax whenever you can
One of my tips is to try to be organized and try to keep ahead of things.
Always take the time for yourself or you will be stressed. I always take some time in my day to be with just me.
get as much sleep as possible
I deal with less stress being organized and staying well rested.
Sleep more and eat fresh
Sleep more, and try to find time for yourself
shower after the kids have gone to bed-it will be the only alone time you get all day!!
Get & stay organized. Lay out clothes for the next day. Per-pack school/work lunches. De-clutter house, garage & cars. Take breaks through-out the day. Do things that relax you like talk walks, read a book, listen to music or take a bubble bath etc. Sleep 7 to 8 hrs each night. Thank-you for a great #giveaway!
Find time for yourself!
Keep organized so appointments and other things don’t surprise you
Keep time for yourself…without that you’re guaranteed to be stressed out after too long.
One of my best tips is to put on some serene sounds CDs. It can quickly relax you and your baby.
my advice is to trust your instincts instead of stressing about what everyone is telling you. when it comes to your baby a mom usually knows best
Try to get all the rest you can
My tip is to always be ahead and to anticipate things happening, so when they do you don’t feel overwhelmed.
My tip is to always plan ahead and expect the unexpected.
Find time to relax. Get a sitter just for maybe 30 min or 1 hour, just to give yourself time to relax.
i need to find time to relax
Be as organized as possible and rest as much as possible.
Go with the flow!
I have a friend watch my kids on days where I’m really stressed out. I reciprocate and do the same for her
When your kids are napping, don’t rush to do chores. Spend a few minutes doing something you enjoy like reading or watching a show. Seriously, you need these small breaks!
my advice is to find time for yourself. take a bath, light some candles, and read a book.
don’t worry about cleaning the house or having it perfect, it can wait. enjoy your time with your new baby and take your time to feel good.