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my favorite natural home products to lessen the toxic load, exploring the oil life, minimizing clutter and sharing our journey to smaller home living.

As promised, if you saw my last post on the new Groupon Goods, I let you know I was going to let you in on another special feature Groupon is now offering. 

Groupon Coupons. 

And I am totally addicted.

Groupon Coupons gives you access to coupons for top retailers, restaurants, theme parks and more. Some favorites that I took advantage of today were Birch Box, Barnes and Noble, Shutterfly (for ALL the baby books, guys seriously I take so many photos of this kid), TicketMaster for an upcoming date night concert, Sephora (because, make-up) and I even saved on theme park tickets for an upcoming trip we're planning! 

All in under ten minutes. 

So, without further adieu, I leave you with savings upon savings through Groupon Coupons. You're welcome and happy shopping!  

Also, shout out to Groupon and myself on Twitter and let us know what you saved on! This girl loves to know your favorite healthy and fashionable products! 

As a new mama, I absolutely adore online shopping. 

I've always been a fan of Groupon for booking trips and date nights with deals around the city, but now they are offering Groupon Goods and the site has become a one stop shop for buying anything I need at the click of a button. 

I also love, love, love that there are no membership fees to shop on Groupon Goods. Just nationwide deals on my favorite products. 

As Mr. Charming and I are gearing up to travel more this season with our little man, I headed back to check out the goods and ended up with a cart full of awesomeness. My favorite items included USB chargers for all of our phone and camera equipment (photos, hello!), awesome food storage containers for all of our healthy on-the-go noshing and, while I was there, some cute stuff for the house. Because as much as I adore traveling, having a place of our own that's decked out in our favorite things to come home to is what makes leaving worth while. 

Another feature I love is that there are dates posted with the sales prices, in true Groupon fashion, so you never miss out on something you love. Many days I have gone to a store and have seen something on sale, only to not buy it, think on it later and then miss out because it's gone or no longer on sale when I go back to get it. With Groupon Goods, I don't have to worry my pretty little head about it and can make sure I get what I want at the best possible price. I also can have it shipped to my house, so I can mom it up and take care of the babes in my yoga pants and top knot while still getting everything I need. (yay packages!) 

If you are interested in trying it out, come back this weekend for exclusive coupons to some of the most popular retailers in home goods, clothing, travel essentials and more. 

Have you used Groupon Goods and if so, what has been your favorite purchase? 

• Get all my guest posts in, edited and scheduled for my maternity leave.  - NOT SO MUCH. 
  Not fully accomplished. Got the posts in! But haven't edited or scheduled them yet. 
• Continue to hit blogging number goals! - ACCOMPLISHED!
  This I did! Even with less time spent here, it continues to grow and I'm so happy! 
• Rock my nutrition seminars and speaking gigs this month! - ACCOMPLISHED!
  They went so well and I wasn't very nervous at all! I guess all those years singing on stages does help with the whole public speaking thing ;) Excited to do more after baby arrives. 
• Add nutrition packages to the site. - NOT SO MUCH. 
  Yeah, I need to get on this. 
• Complete all deadlines without stress. - ACCOMPLISHED! 
  I did hit all deadlines. There was a little stress when I had a deadline at 6am on a Holiday morning, but I've been pretty blissed out this month as we await the arrival of Baby P! 

• Extend grace &care to myself and nap if I need to. Baby is coming soon! - ACCOMPLISHED-ISH.
  I have been napping but not nearly enough as I probably should be in my third trimester. Running
  two magazines and my own business, I'm starting to look forward to my maternity leave. 
• Prenatal Yoga a minimum of 2x a week, Cardio a minimum of 3x a week. - NOT SO MUCH. 
  Yeah. No. We have been taking walks when it's not over 110 degrees outside, and I've been cleaning
  and nesting like crazy which wears me out to no end. But I need to up the Yoga for both the fitness and relaxation aspects for the birth. 
• Get a lot more work done on the nursery!​ - ACCOMPLISHED!
  YES! We have ALL the furniture. I did all the laundry and put all the baby clothes and shower gifts away, returned all the doubles we recieved and Mr. Charming is doing the wainscoting as I type this then he will paint! It's almost done! 
• ​Get a cute dress to wear to my baby shower - ACCOMPLISHED! 
  This was probably the hardest goal to hit this month, but after 10 stores, many almost-meltdowns in fitting rooms and on the verge of giving up, I found a dusty blue maxi dress that I fell in love with. The biggest win? The guy couldn't locate the price, it was the last one and he sold it to me for $10! SCORE! I was. no joke, going to spend upwards of $100-$200 to find a dress I felt pretty in. haha!
• Get in lots of date night / friend time before third trimester exhaustion takes me down.
  We had a lovely BBQ night with our neighbors for Memorial Day and spent lots of time with one of our best friends before he moved north for the summer. I also got to see some of my best friends in the world for the baby shower and my sister, who I haven't seen in 17 years, came to stay with us the weekend of the shower! My heart is so full. 

• Hit all deadlines for all three jobs. 
• Start tapering off end of June at work to prepare for maternity leave. 
• Get all maternity blog posts scheduled for July, August and September. 
• ​Create 2016/2017 goals for when I'm back to work so I'm ready to go!  
• Map out some YouTube Video ideas for after maternity leave. 

• Finish home projects that need to be done before I hit my ninth month. 
• Find a pediatrician! 
• Pack our hospital bags for Baby P's arrival. 
• ​Prenatal yoga 2-3x per week leading up to baby's birth day. 
• Celebrate my birthday! 

What are YOUR June Goals? Share in the comments below!

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Dreft. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions and moments swooning over baby items are 100% mine.
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As nesting continues full force in our home, I am anticipating the arrival of Baby P more and more everyday. 

We are in the process of rearranging rooms so that Mr. Charming can wainscot and paint the nursery and I am working on smaller details like finishing the registry and making sure all of our future littles things are ready for when he or she arrives. 

As you are all aware of my affinity for wanting the best for the babes sensitive skin, I knew from before the time I got pregnant that I was going to use Dreft for it's hypoallergenic properties. With pollen and dust being a big problem here in the desert, laundry will be frequent and I wanted to use something that's going to sensitive enough for delicate newborn skin. 

Dreft recently partnered with the renowned Dr. Dyan Hes, a top rated pediatrician by New York Magazine, a mother herself and founder of Gramercy Pediatrics. 
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I honestly have been having so much fun shopping for the nursery bedding, little ones blankets and the itty bitty clothes! Oh, the clothes! Even though we arn't finding out the sex until he or she is born, there have been so many cute neutral finds and I'm washing them all this week to get them ready to be hung up and tucked in to baby's room. 
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Nothing else beats that fresh baby smell and Dreft just reminds me of memories of when my sister, my cousins and my nieces and nephews were baby's. There is just something so light and wonderful about it. And being the number one choice of pediatricians makes it a huge win in my book and makes me feel good about what I'm using on these adorable little garments. 

We also purchased the baby's going home outfits. I am so in love with their vintage styles and they are so soft and now smell so, so good. 

Dr. Hes will be giving plenty more tips during the Dreft Twitter party on May 9th, so make sure you RSVP above and join us. 

One task must be completed as your entry, additional tasks are not mandatory but count as extra entries. Good luck!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions, tutorial and photographs are mine. #SummerCarCare #CollectiveBias

I know this may sound crazy to some, but one of the phases I was looking forward to in my pregnancy was the nesting phase. As an avid organizer and clean freak when it comes to my living spaces, I was excited to get my second trimester energy burst so that I could get the house into gear. 

After spending many weekends on the house, another aspect I couldn't neglect was the car. A few years ago we purchased our Nissan Versa, as we knew it was going to one day be our family car. I love it's pep and spunkiness and it's comfortable and roomy inside for road trips and kiddos. Here we are about to meet our first little son or daughter this summer and I knew it was time to get the car into gear for their arrival. 

​I started with taking it in for a deep clean, both inside and out, so that it would be ready for the car seat installation once we were past my baby shower. As well as the regular three month check and tune up. 

One of the most important aspects to me is that the air is clean inside and the engine runs as efficiently as possible, as filtered air, both for us and the car, is important when you're living in such a dry and dusty climate such as Arizona. 

I'm thankful my husband has been patient to teach me about how to care for my car in ways both big and small, so that I can feel confident in the every day tasks, as well as in emergency situations. It's empowering to be a woman or a mom and be able to make these easy swaps to know you're making your car as safe as it can be. 
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​I knew it was probably time to swap out my engines air filter, so that was my next step. We are FRAM fans, as they have an extensive line of wonderful items to help with our car care. Available at Walmart, the FRAM Extra Guard filter was easy for me to locate when it came to finding the right one for my car. On my cars model its super easy to find the filter box under the hood too, which made this a quick and easy task. If you need help locating yours you can look to your cars manual to help you locate it. Below I show you an easy step-by-step tutorial to changing your cars engine filter, once located on your car.  I've also included below my step-by-step guide to helping you get your car ready for baby. 

Like filtering the air in our homes the FRAM Extra Guard is your engines first line of defense. Which is really important to your car running effectively, increasing acceleration, horsepower, and improving your overall engine performance. Much in the same way that we perform most effectively when we can breathe clean air. 

​In less than five minutes, with zero tools, I started by locating my filters case and removing the lid. After snapping it off, I opened the new filter, ensuring it wasn't exposed to the elements until it was ready to be installed. 

It was actually exciting to see the difference for me! I know, I'm odd, haha, but i love seeing the improvement when I improve or upgrade something in my home or car. And that old filter definitely needed to be changed. 

In just a few seconds I popped the clean filter into the holder, slid it back in the case and voila! Done and done. A clean & happy car! A happy & secure mommy to be! Win/win! 

For more on how I am getting car ready for baby, click here to see my Top 10 Steps for Preparing Car For Baby.  
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Do you have any tips on preparing car or home for baby? I'd love to hear them below! 

4. Tune Up
This can be scheduled during one of your routine oil changes, but its important to know what may need to be tuned up on your car. Squeaky belts? Loose brakes? All of this should be addressed before your baby's birth date. 

5. Registration 
This should go without saying, but important piece of information to make the list. Make sure your emissions, tags and registration are up to date. 

6. Easy DIY Upgrades
Items like faulty windshield wipers, adding air to your tires, or swapping out easy changes, like your cars engine air filter, can all be done at home to save you on labor costs. See how I easily swapped out my cars engine air filter in under five minutes. 

7. Mommy Car Care Kit
Aside from the diaper bag, I created a Mommy Car Care Kit. It's a small box in my trunk that includes a pair of flip flops if I need to pop on some comfy shoes, diaper wipes, a small pack of tissues, an extra changing pad, a few diapers, a hoodie for me, a hoodie for baby and a summer change of clothes for baby as well. Always better to have extra items on hand than not enough I always say. When our babes gets older, the kit reflect that. With non-perishable snacks, color books and a toy or two. 

8. Car Emergency Kit
Mr. Charming and I are big into kits, for home, work and car and our car emergency kit consists of items such as flashlights, emergency blankets, water, a few canned foods, a First Aid kit and boots/close toed shoes, as well as the necessities to jack up the car or change a tire. 

9. Window Covers
This one is optional, but where we live in Arizona, the summer gets extremely hot. Shaded window covers and a car seat cover are must haves to keep the baby's area cool when we are shopping or out of the car. 

10. Car Seat Installation
Once your car is clean and checked its time for the cherry on top, installing car seat for baby! We plan to visit our local Fire House to have them install our model for the first time. To be safe, we can see how to properly install our chosen car seat in our particular car model as they are all so different. 

 
Goals are an important part of life. They help keep you focused, organized and driven towards both large and small accomplishments. I've seen many bloggers, creatives and others in the online field sharing their monthly goals for accountability and to inspire others to take action and keep track of goals as well.

As a nutritionist, one of the main components of my business is helping people create, achieve and surpass their goals. Below you will find my Personal and Business goals for April. 

It’s that time of year, when the flowers are in bloom, the kids are still in school and you set your sights on Spring Cleaning.

Most women, at the mention of those two little words, cringe, and for a while I was right there with you. Room by room I’d start to sort through piles of unworn clothes, paperwork that badly needed filing and other knick-knacks I’d collected over the last year.  (How on EARTH did I end up with so many mismatched socks and an excess of coffee mugs when I’m not even a coffee drinker?)

Feeling overwhelmed and burdened by something that SHOULD make me feel lighter, I took a step back, took a deep breath and got organized.  Below is a guide to five ways you can clear the clutter in a way that is fast, efficient and (nearly) STRESS-FREE.  I couldn’t totally sell it like it’s a beach vacation ladies, we are still cleaning after all.
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​1. Make Yourself A Schedule:
This is number one. With so many responsibilities for today’s woman, we won’t make time to deep clean or Spring clean unless we schedule it. Pick a day and a few hours on a calendar and make it an appointment for you and your home to have some uninterrupted one on one time. I have a large home, so I usually schedule 1-2 hours a day for an entire week to complete it.

2. Take It One Room At A Time:
For so long, when I’d take on a task such as “clean the house” or “Spring clean” I would tinker a little in each room, not accomplishing all that I wanted to get done and feeling like I didn’t do enough.  Now, I make it a point to take just one or two rooms a day and complete them before moving on to the next. That way I have areas that are sparkling, and can focus all my attention on the next spot that needs my attention.

3. Prioritize The Critical Corners:
Spring cleaning means cleaning out and sorting through things you’ve probably haven’t gone through in a year (or maybe more).  Old paperwork, coupons, receipts, clothes, chipped kitchenware, all the stuff that gets forgotten. It’s important to not only schedule out your rooms, but the corners of the rooms that needed the most TLC.  For me that means the mail cubbies in my kitchen, sorting through silverware and cleaning out my pantry.  In my office, its sorting tax documents,  organizing receipts and business cards and cleaning off my computer. And so forth…

4. Commit To Letting Go:
This one is a hard one for a lot of people. I’m a purger, meaning I probably get rid of too much each year, whereas my husband likes to hold on to things. If it’s important documentation, tax receipts or sentimental items, find an organized, specific place for them. If it’s old mail you don’t need, shred it. If it’s clothing you havn’t wore since last year when you held onto it during Spring Cleaning, donate it or throw it away. It’s ok to let go. It makes room for the new.

5. Think Twice, Before You Buy:
Or sign up for that next newsletter or put your name in on a sweepstakes for cookware when your kitchen is already overflowing. There are so many ways in the world today for us to obtain more STUFF. Impulse purchases at our favorite stores and taking freebies we really don’t need just because they’re free.  Fill your home with things that mean something to you. Things that are beautiful and have a place. And just because you discard the old, doesn’t mean you have to replace it. Think twice before you buy, and envision where it’s new home will be before you bring it home only to find there aren’t any vacancies left.

Remember, just take it one day and one room at a time. And make it FUN. I put on music, loud, and get comfy. I make myself a mug of warm tea and I always, always plan a reward at the end for my hard work. Sometimes its reading a health magazine cover to cover (a luxury in my busy days), watching an episode of my favorite show, or a pedicure.
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So while Spring cleaning doesn’t feel like a vacation, it doesn’t have to feel like work either.

What are your least and favorite aspects of Spring Cleaning?

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours! I hope today finds you surrounded by family, whatever that may look like. Whether it be just you & your spouse, a house full of kiddos, extended relatives, or friends that have become family, I pray many blessings over your home and Thanksgiving table today.

My heart is so thankFULL everyday. This week has been a whirlwind of awesome that I just want to take time to soak it all in this weekend. I had multiple girl-day catch ups with some of the women who make my heart feel so full. At the new magazine I'm continually meeting amazingly talented artists and I get to interview an actress from one of my favorite shows next week. 

I then spent the afternoon on the phone with a major reality show yesterday talking about parts of Mr. Charming's and I health & travel adventures and this week I'm honored to be a part of Earth Balance's Vegan Holiday Bake-Off! It's surreal and amazing and all the Glory to God for these opportunities!

For the Bake-Off I got super ambitious and made my FIRST EVER Bundt cake. Gluten-Free, Vegan and Refined-Sugar Free (aside from the optional glaze), it came out beautiful AND super-delicious. Not going to lie, I tasted a slice after it's photo session last night and it paired well with my breakfast this morning. hehe... I'd love it if you'd take a moment to vote for my cake, as I'd love to be in the running for the People's Choice Award. I'll share a slice if you do... 

We enjoyed a breakfast of Paleo goodies mixed with a small slice of cake as we watched the parade and got to sit and enjoy the view of our holiday decor before the cooking for the day began!  Aside from my Bundt, I've kept my holiday menu clean. I believe that even during the holidays, it's important to respect our bodies & our health and make good choices. 

Does this mean starve yourself? Abolutely not. 

Does this mean sitting out of all the fun and resenting the day? Absolutely not. 

Just know your limits. While I eat a primarily Paleo diet, I am a PIE fan from way back. So on special occasions, or a random Wednesday, you know whatever, I allow myself the slice of pie. Why? Because mentally, depriving yourself is only going to make a healthy lifestyle harder. Today I am forgoing pie because, cake & I may whip up a batch of my Paleo chocolate chip cookies to share with the littles. You can see my full menu below. 

I live by a 90/10 rule. 80/20 when I'm feeling fantastic. I make healthy eating and fitness my priority, every day. So I'm conscious of what I'm consuming. That's the best way to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

My charming little Charlie is going bananas over all the smells in the house today, and I took some time during the bake off to get some new shots of my little love. Isn't he just so darn handsome? I think so. He and his fur-brother got a special breakfast of chicken livers, chicken, brown rice, carrots, peas and vitamins. So, he's happy as a clam right about now. 

As for our menu, it looks a little something like this... 

Starters
Fruit & Veggie Tray
Spring Salad 

Entree
Turkey Cooked With Onions, Celery and Organic Bone Broth
Organic Cranberries
Mr. Charming's Famous Dairy-Free Sweet Potato Au Gratin
Whipped Garlic Butternut Squash
Coconut Flour Honey Biscuits
Garlic Roasted Broccoli 

​Dessert
Glazed Maple Apple Bundt Cake
Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sparkling Organic Cider
Hot Crio Bru

So thankful for a roof over our heads, for food on our table, for the love in our lives, friends and family, our beautiful marriage, our fur babies and living our dreams. God is good. All the time. I'd love to hear about your healthy fare & delectable splurges. If you need any assistance planning a gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo, vegan or sugar-free Christmas or New Years menu, contact me. I'd be happy to help!