We found out we were expecting our second little love in August and couldn’t be more excited to grow our family. My experience has been totally different than with our son and I will be sharing my first trimester recap soon for more on that. Today I wanted to share some of my favorites for the first 12-13 weeks of pregnancy. I am not going to lie, the majority of the time I felt like I was simply in survival mode, but there are definitely some things I used or love that I wanted to share!

I would love to know any of your favorites or recommendations!

1.Prenatal

I typically like something more organic when it comes to vitamins and used the Vitamin Code Prenatal with my first pregnancy, however this time around I had to find something I could stomach. These seemed to be ones I could manage and take every day, which was the most important to me. I plan to finish out what I have and then switch over, however I have really enjoyed these!

2.Belly Oil

Even though my belly hasn’t changed I am still a huge believer of moisturizing and hydrating my stomach as soon as possible. My good friend who had twins recommended this body oil with my first pregnancy and I absolutely loved it. I went through two bottles with my son, so expect the same. It is a little pricey but worth it!

3.Belly Butter

Once again, not a necessity but something I like using right away. I use this after the belly oil sinks into the skin and really love the combination. I slather it everywhere!

4.Nausea Relief

There a different things that work for different people when it comes to nausea. I tried to basically ride it out, however my doctor did recommend B6 to help. I ended up not taking it since I started to feel better shortly after my first appointment around week 11. A couple of things that did help me were Gatorade Zero (cold) and Jolly Ranchers. I tried peppermint and sea bands but those didn’t do anything. I also had to make sure I ate every couple of hours or it would get worse.

5.Grace

The first trimester can be extremely hard and taxing physically/mentally. I basically felt like I was experiencing my worst college hangover all day every day and it never went away. We can have so many expectations for ourselves on what we should be doing, eating, etc. Do what you can, listen to your body, and give yourself ALL the grace along the way!

Stay tuned for first trimester recap!

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Blessings,

Jac

I was listening to a podcast the other day about our bodies and mindset around them as women. I feel like maintaining a healthy mindset can be difficult, especially with our culture and society. It is so easy to to tell ourselves we have to look a certain way or be a specific number on the scale. Chances are even if we meet our personal goals, we still want more or some type of change. The more I thought about it, I realized that this is the reality and battle that many women face on a daily basis.

Our bodies are absolutely amazing and our health is the greatest gift we can be given. It has taken me 30 years to finally reach a place of love, gratitude and appreciation for my body and all that it is capable of doing. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my off days and thoughts just like anyone else. However, I continue to make an effort to do things out of love and transform my mindset one day at a time.

I truly believe mindset is everything when it comes to any type of transformation. It is a gradual process that takes consistency, time, and willingness to change. I thought I would share some ways I maintain a healthy mindset when it comes to my overall health and body image.

I would love to know anything that works for you!

1.Do Things From A Place Of Love

Creating a healthy lifestyle from a place of love completely alters the way you approach food and exercise. It helps maintain a realistic lifestyle long term instead of continuously cycling through the short term.

2.Know Your Why

Understanding why you want to be healthy will keep you focused and consistent long term. Motivation only lasts so long so understanding your why and reason for creating healthy habits will help sustain changes.

3.Think Big Picture

Short term goals and results feel good temporarily but aren’t sustainable. Nothing compares to feeling good in your skin throughout different seasons. What is your main goal? Is it to continuously be working towards a specific number or to create a healthy mind and body? Our health is so much more than what we physically see.

4.Find Things You Enjoy

Move and use your body in ways you enjoy! There is no one right way to exercise or take care of our bodies. Do what works for you!

5.Practice Gratitude

Doing things from a place of gratitude shifts your approach and mindset around health. Appreciating what your body and mind are capable will continue to give you perspective.

Blessings,

Jac

I recently shared some of my favorite men’s gifts. You can check out that post here: Men’s Gift Guide: Part 1. Today I wanted to share the another five. I prefer to get all my shopping done early so we can fully enjoy the month of December. I would love to know some of your favorite gifts that you have given or are planning on getting!

6.Luch Box or Cooler

If you know someone who takes their food to work, a nice lunch box may be a great option. My husband prefers to take all his food, so I am upgrading his lunch box this year! There are a couple of different Yeti options which is nice and my go to brand for him. If your loved one doesn’t take a lunch, a travel cooler may be another great option. It is so nice having a smaller, more portable cooler! Of course, there are many other great brands too!

7.Backpack

My husband didn’t know he needed a backpack until I purchased one for him. He now uses it every day for work and takes it on any travel trips. It is nice to have a good quality backpack that will last! I prefer Columbia or North Face, but once again there are so many great brands and styles/options!

8.Air Pods

I am sure most people have air pods at this point, but if a loved one does not this is such a great gift. These are by far the most used and loved ear phones my husband has ever had! They have different options and price ranges which is nice and just released a new version with noise cancelling!

9.Shoes

Upgrading or purchasing a pair of shoes can be a great option for any man. Some of my husband’s favorites have been Nike Free RN sneakers, Foot Joy golf shoes, and Hari Mari flip flops. For the sneakers and golf shoes he got to customize them and loved being able to do that! The flip flops are a little pricey but are amazing quality and worn daily. You can choose a nicer pair, or more casual!

10.Gaming System

If you have a loved one who enjoys gaming, a new system may be a great gift! Many times you have to get on the wait list way in advance to be able to purchase and pick up, however you could always purchase a gift card to go towards the system once pre sales and initial sales calm down. My husband has his eye on the new PS5 this year!

Hope these gave some ideas for any men in your life! Happy shopping!

Blessings,

Jac

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