This post is brought to you by a STSL sponsor.
Keep calm and carry on. That’s the phrase, right? Or is it keep calm and eat a cupcake? Yeah, I think I like that one better.
I feel like this has sort of been my motto for the past couple of weeks or so (not necessarily the eating a cupcake part…unfortunately – or fortunately – I haven’t had those in the house). Things have been a bit crazy lately between lately and some days, I wind up needing to take a few minutes to pause and just…relax.
And speaking of relaxing, I’m super excited to share some of the awesome new and updated products that I’ve recently tried out from The Honest Co (plus an awesome discount). I’ll get to those in just a second.
So as for me lately? Well, my day job has gotten pretty busy, and thanks to a coworker leaving on maternity leave last week, I’ll be pulling double duty for the next three months or so.
Bad timing (but exciting!) on my part, I also decided to dive in to a bunch of different blog tasks I’ve been meaning to do recently. So while it’s been great to finally get some things checked off the to-do list (with some more on the way), it definitely takes up a lot of time.
Lucas has been awesome, and he has also filled with more energy than I could ever fathom having myself. The child can go from 7:30am – 8pm (on those fabulous days he decides to skip a nap) and he doesn’t miss a beat. He’s like, superhuman or something?!
Then there’s the whole being pregnant thing. While I’m still generally feeling good, the bump is making things increasingly more difficult to chase after the crazy toddler who’s likely running around the house or jumping off the walls.
Now granted, we could certainly label many of these as #smallworldproblems (I’m beyond grateful to have a great day job, a fun and fulfilling side job/hobby of blogging, an incredible family, and another on the way!), but it doesn’t mean that they can’t all lead to some added stress at times.
So what do I do to de-stress? Well, if I weren’t pregnant, I can tell you exactly what I’d be doing…
But unfortunately, that still won’t be on my radar for a few more months. So lately, I turn to other outlets to de-stress and keep calm.
Exercise
My workouts do so much more for my sanity than they do anything else.
Getting in a quick 25-40 minute workout 3-5x/week has been a saving grace for me, and I’m so thankful I’m able to keep moving right now. I will say that some of the workouts are starting to get a bit more difficult, but I adjust as needed. As long as I’m moving (even if it’s yoga!), it’s a great feeling and it lets my mind escape just a bit.
Blogging
Yes I know…didn’t I just basically say that this was the opposite? Sure, handling some of the behind the scenes stuff can be stressful, but the act of just writing and being able to chat with all of you (almost) every day really is a fabulous outlet for me.
Dessert
I’m sure you can’t really be surprised by this (hello, sweet tooth), but winding down the day and sitting to relax with a little dessert every night really does just make me happy. Bonus points if it’s paired with one of our favorite TV shows!
Heath Bar Crunch Cookie Bars – SO good!
A Calm and Peaceful Bedtime Routine
This one actually doesn’t apply to just me…the same also goes for my active little Lucas.
To help wind Lucas down from the day, tubby time is the name of the game. And lately, we’ve been loving the Ultra Calming Bubble Bath and Body Wash from The Honest Company.
They’ve got the most amazing lavender scent, so both Lucas and myself get to reap the benefits of its calming effect.
And not only do they have the bubble bath and shampoo/body wash, but they’ve also got a conditioner and a lotion, too.
You guys already know how much I love The Honest Company. Since launching in 2012, they now have 100+ products that address the ever-growing category needs of baby, personal care, home care, vitamins & supplements, and gear. We proudly use a number of these products, and have been using them for quite some time now. So when I saw that they recently updated their Bath & Body line, I was really excited to try them out, since these were items that I hadn’t yet experienced.
Oh, and a heads up! Right now, you can get 35% OFF your first bundle! Click HERE to check out the Honest Co Bundles and enter the code STSL35OFF at checkout!! The offer will be good through March 14th, so don’t miss out! See full details of the promo below.
In addition to the Dreamy Lavender, the refreshed Bath & Body line includes new scent options, like Sweet Orange Vanilla (perfectly gentle – their signature scent!) and Apricot Kiss (deeply nourishing – good for nourishing dry skin). They’ve updated the packaging to reflect all of the different scents, and they’ve even increased the size from 8.5 oz to 10 oz at the same price to provide more value! Gotta love that.
Oh yeah, and they also have this Purely Simple scent-free lotion which I really love.
It’s their most delicate formula and has also worked really well on the growing belly, too. Lately, I’ve also been taking a few extra minutes before getting in to bed to lather up my hands and feet with the Dreamy Lavender scent to help me wind down and just relax. Lavender has always been one of my favorite scents to wind down with, and this one really is truly amazing.
I think I’m going to have to order another bottle of the lotion so I can keep it on my desk at work to help me keep calm for these next few months!
Don’t forget! Right now, you can get 35% OFF your first bundle! Click HERE to check out the Honest Co Bundles and enter the code STSL35OFF at checkout!! The offer will be good through March 14th, so don’t miss out!
How about you guys? What are some of your favorite ways to de-stress/calm down after a stressful day?
Promo: 35% off first bundle
Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by The Honest Company who provided products and payment. All opinions are my own.
Terms: *Eligible for new Honest Co Bundle subscribers only. Limit 1 Promo Code per customer/household. Code must be entered into “Promo Code” section at Checkout. Ends at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on 3/14/2016. Valid for up to 2 Bundles purchased in a single transaction. Cannot be applied to previous purchases, Gift Card purchases or Gift Bundles. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other promotion. Terms subject to change at any time.
Colleen says
Your sponsored posts are better than most other bloggers! You do a great job making them personal and show that you actually use/try the product. Keep up the great balance on your blog!
Courtney says
This comment really means SO much to me, Colleen! I definitely put a LOT more time into my sponsored content because I like to make sure that it shows how much I truly do enjoy the product/brand I may be promoting. So thank you!!
Reid says
Silent reader here but I felt the need to comment because most sponsored posts only get negative feedback. I agree 100% with Colleen! By taking the time to put your personal touch on the post it shows that you truly care about the product, the brand behind the product and your readers. You’re a fabulous blogger so keep it up!
Jessica says
Agreed. Your blog, including your sponsored content is the BEST and has become one of my absolute favorites. I have a lot of respect for the way you handle blogging and life in general.
Linz @ Itz Linz says
Blogging helps me unwind and just getting in bed lol
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Blogging is definitely my outlet! While I know many people would consider it stressful (as I too am doing a bunch of behind the scenes updates right now), it’s fun and I love it!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says
Workouts and blogging are two of my main outlets. And winding down before bed, usually with a snack and some blog-reading, is SO key for me. If I don’t have a good chunk of downtime before I crawl into bed, I cannot sleep.
Jennifer says
I just bought the lavender conditioner and the vanilla shampoo for Charlotte. They are both heavenly!
Laura M. says
Thanks for the coupon code! I’ve been wanting to try their products for a while now. Looking forward to the lavender scent, it’s one of my favorites. I agree with the above comment about sponsored posts. You do a good job at making them personal & interesting.
Sandra Nuñez-Simms says
Yay!!!! I just saved a whooping $13 bucks on my first bundle with your coupon code. I’ve been dying to try the honest brand and with my new little addition coming in June I decided why not take the plunge!
Thank you :)
Taylor says
Oh Lucas is just too cute in the bath!! I love to have a glass of wine, workout, or just turn on some reality tv and lounge around when I need to de-stress.
Jamie says
I emailed you a while back about your career change- thank you for your response! It meant SO much to me, and it was so helpful to hear your story and insights on the whole thing. Going along with that, what do you do at your job now? You’re usually pretty vague about it, and I totally understand if you want to keep it that way, but I thought maybe I missed it. I’m curious! Thanks again for taking the time to put together these posts and respond to your readers! We appreciate you!
shelly says
I know what you mean about all that energy! My 2 year old has a crazy amount too. It made for one tired pregnant mommy (when I was pregnant a few months ago).