Every once in awhile I like to do a “favorite things” post so I can show you guys some of the things I am loving right now and share them with you, too. And if I can find a way to give you guys a deal on some of them, then that’s just icing on the cake! It’s whip cream icing though, because buttercream is way too much, duh.
And this isn’t just stuff that I’m pretending to like, or trending items that social media makes us think we’re supposed to love, like pumpkin spice tampons and junk like that. This stuff is GOOD.
If you decide to purchase any of these things that have helped me in my life, I want you to know that all but one of them were created by other women like you and me. So not only are you are getting a great product that I hope you love as much as I do, but you are lifting up a fellow sister by supporting her in her dream. You’re also helping me, because if you buy any of these items, I get some wine money. And Momma needs her wine.
1. Get Organized AF!
In case you have been hiding in a cave for the last few weeks, or you aren’t following me on Facebook, you might have missed out on my recent picture that went VIRAL, (say what!?) which you can laugh at HERE.
I’ll tell you who isn’t in a cave though; it’s Denise Albright’s 73 year old dad, clearly an awesome guy who saw my picture on MSN and sent it to his daughter, a fellow boy-mom who happens to own a kick-ass company that creates really cool and convenient back to school signs, among other super-sweet organizational items.
So imagine my surprise (and laughter) when I received a package including a lifetime supply of her signs, so I will never ever have an excuse for forgetting that picture-perfect moment again. Genius.
Another item I’m loving is her Class Keeper Memory Book. Not only am I a sappy sentimental who saves everything my son ever made, wore, or looked at; down to his first bandaid and newborn nail clippings; but I’m also a borderline hoarder about it. I have stacks and stacks of certificates, school pictures, and scribbled drawings I just can’t seem to figure out what to do with. Which is why this binder is perfect for moms like me because not only does it give me a place to keep it all, but it’s organized AF, cute, and best of all, off my kitchen counters. Win-Win-Win.
If you want to get your hands on these signs, (which are sold both individually or in a complete matching set from preschool clear up to college), the Class Keeper Memory Book, or any of Denise’s other amazing mother-saving items, check out her site where you can use THIS LINK OR just enter my coupon code ORGANIZEDAF at check out and save 30% off your entire order through the end of September! THIRTY PERCENT! That is HUGE!
Don’t have a kid? Buy one for the stressed-out-unorganized-hot-mess-of-a-mom you know and love. We are everywhere, and this would make a thoughtful and unique gift!
2. Clean Up Your Face (and Your Life)
If you haven’t heard of this book or this author, I have to wonder if you really are living under a rock. And if you have heard of it, but you haven’t read it yet- OMG girl, what are you waiting for???
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis is the book that put me on the path to becoming the happy and successful woman that I know I was meant to be.
Actually, to put it more realistically, it gave me the swift roundhouse kick in the booty that I needed and taught me to start mentally throat-punching all the negative thoughts I was having so that I could truly believe in myself and reach for my dreams.
Between this book and her soon to be released documentary “Made for More,” which I was fortunate enough to get to view in theatres a few weeks ago with my tribe, I now believe that there isn’t anything that I can’t do.
Except make a lunch my kid will eat. But that’s beside the point.
In fact, I’m already making plans to take a road trip with my besties so we can participate in her annual women’s conference next year, which before reading her book I would have never imagined those words would even be coming out of my mouth. That’s how much of an impact this book and her documentary have had on me and pretty much everyone who has read it.
And I don’t think it’s a coincidence that just a week after seeing her movie and making a conscious decision to take real action towards my goals, that I was contacted by two popular magazine and newspaper editors and a television news producer, do you?
So if you are ready to make big changes in your life, stop making excuses and snag your copy of Girl, Wash Your Face HERE. I promise you will not regret it.
If you don’t have time to read an actual book, you can get the audio version HERE.
3. Locate Your Inner Badass
If you’re ahead of the game and you’ve washed your face and you are well on your way to total and complete awesomeness, I’ve got your next read.
You don’t have to use GPS to locate your inner badass, you just have to read this book. Jen Sincero has a way with words, and as long as you’re okay with an F-bomb sprinkled in here or there, this book is sure to help you punch fear in the face and be the best you that you can be.
To get your copy of You Are A Badass so that you can start acting like the Badass I know you are, click HERE.
4. My Pits Don’t Lie
If there’s one thing a bunch of moms like to talk about when they get together to party, it’s personal hygiene. At least that’s what happens when my mom crew and I get crazy.
Over the Summer we were at an outdoor concert in our neighborhood and somehow the subject of sweaty pits came up. What can I say, we party hard.
We were discussing all the weird hippie stuff we had heard about or tried, like rubbing strange combinations of things into our armpits like coconut and tea tree oil, or coffee grounds and ice. Something like that. Because all of us think our deodorant is slowly killing us.
Anyway, my friend Rachel (not Hollis) was trying to tell us about this new natural deodorant she was currently “testing” and I immediately shut her down with an eye roll and a 1990’s ‘talk to the hand’.
Listen, I have tried all of the deodorants. All of them. And all thirty three of the so-called “natural” deodorants that I have tried over the years have left me with either smelly pits, a red rash, uncontrollable itching, or clothing stains. In some cases, all of the above. And every single time I ended up going right back to my trusty old aluminum-laden-ticking-time-bomb-deodorant stick.
But Rachel knows I’m dramatic so she said she would let me know in a few weeks if it was different so I said, “as if”, and we continued tapping our feet and snapping our fingers or whatever groups of moms do when they rock out at a concert.
Turns out, she loved the deodorant. She said it really is all that and a bag of chips and that she was never going back. So I said “Schwing!” and promptly ordered some for me and my man, too.
And seriously you guys- this is the best aluminum and paraben-free deodorant out there. You can ask Rachel if you don’t believe me.
It might not be created by a one-woman powerhouse like the other things I love, but it is made in the USA and I feel good about that too.
They have a really good selection of scents like Lavender & Rose, Citrus & Herbal Musk for men, and my personal favorite- Coconut & Vanilla. They even have free shipping and free returns which is especially awesome when you are a pessimist like me and don’t believe anything’s really going to work. (But it will!) There’s literally no reason you shouldn’t try it.
And I just so happen to have a nifty little coupon that gets us both a FREE mini deodorant. I love them because you can keep one in your purse for the days when you are wondering what that smell is before realizing that it’s you, because you forgot your deodorant. Again. So make sure to use THIS LINK so you can think of me when you swipe your rashless pits.
5. Haters Gonna Hate
With my newfound and fortuneless internet fame, I have learned a valuable lesson that I want to share with you now.
It’s that with every 15 minutes of fame you get, you get at least 15 haters. And there’s nothing that makes me laugh like reading the comments of my own haters.
Someone saw my son’s first day of school picture and felt a burning urge to tell me, and I quote: “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Trust me Brenda, I’m ashamed of a lot of things but that picture doesn’t even make my top 50.
I’m guessing she hasn’t read my blog.
Anyway, I posted this picture in response and the world wanted to know where they could get their hands on this mug. Apparently there’s a lot of haters out there and guess what, we don’t care, do we?
So fellow Mom and business owner Nicole Spiegel and I teamed up to bring you these awesome mugs- so nab one from her design studio while they last HERE. And be sure and check out her other products and services while you’re at it- this girl boss is freaking talented and I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything she can’t do. Seriously.
So shine on my fellow entrepreneurs, mom-bosses, side hustlers, and dreamers. Buy yourself this badass mug and let’s raise them in solidarity, unashamed, while we shatter our goals.
Because internet trolls are just cry baby whiners and we drink their tears for breakfast.
Lindsay is a badass working wife and mom. When she isn’t overwhelmed with shame for her parenting tactics, balled up in a corner wishing some lady on the internet would set her straight, she writes.
Ok, TOTALLY getting that deodorant!!