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Motivation To Keep Breastfeeding, Even When It Sucks

Motivation to Keep Breastfeeding Even When It Sucks  |  The Organic Beauty Blog

Breastfeeding is one of those aspects of motherhood that you just expect to come naturally.  We’re mammals after all, right?  Do mama bears and lions really struggle with low supply, sore nipples, and mastitis? Obviously our animal counterparts are spared the emotional and lifestyle dramas and sacrifices that come with choosing to breastfeed their young — the stigma of feeding in public or breastfeeding a toddler, the limits on alcohol and potential dietary restrictions, the feeling of being totally tethered to your baby at all times (especially if, like mine, they have no interest in drinking pumped milk from any receptacle).  Even with those particularly human challenges aside, it just seems like it should be easier to do something our bodies were built to do.  But it isn’t.  At least not for many of us mamas.

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Boho 1st Birthday Inspiration

Minted-Boho-Floral-1st-Birthday

Well our little butterbean is 11 months, which means the count down to her first birthday has officially begun!

We’ve been knee-deep in party planning, and I have to say, I think throwing kids’ parties is going to be an unexpected perk of this whole motherhood thing.

The theme we’re going with is sort of a boho floral, which will go perfectly with our party location at a park in the Santa Monica mountains.  I’m picturing wildflower crowns, dreamcatchers, a teepee, and a beautiful naked cake (gluten-free and vegan of course) topped with pale pink blossoms.

We’re collaborating with Minted on this lovely little shindig, and I am so beyond in love with all their adorable kids’ party invites and party decorations!

I can’t wait to put the whole thing together and share the photos from the big day!

In case you’re planning your own shindig.. Minted has a sweet 4th of July sale going on that ends today!!

ENJOY 15% OFF MINTED WEDDING AND BABY+KIDS ORDERS. USE CODE: JULY4, EXP 7/5

INSPIRATIONS:

Teepee: Etsy  |  Invitation and paper goods: Minted  |  Birthday Balloon: Etsy  |  Boho Romper: Etsy  |  Flower Crown (similar): Etsy  |  Baby Moccasins:  Freshly Picked  |  Dreamcatchers (similar): Etsy

Inspiration: Sustainable Summer Soiree!

We love a good party. And now that we live in beautiful and sunny Santa Monica, with tons of indoor and outdoor space to entertain, we were itching to throw a little housewarming party to take our space for a test ride.

In typical Organic Beauty style, we focused on elevated entertaining — using sustainable party accessories, fresh local produce, and an affinity for organic style.

Check out my inspiration board for a sustainable summer soiree, then peep some photos and recipes from our housewarming party where we put it into action!

 

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5 Tips for a Healthy Inspiring Workspace

By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC

Healthy Inspiring Workspace

Since I launched my own business several years ago, I went through several iterations of what it looked like to work from home.  In our little Brooklyn apartment, we didn’t have space for a proper desk, so I typically worked on the couch (not recommended), or at the dining room table (only slightly better). When we moved to our lovely new home in Santa Monica, I finally had a little corner dedicated entirely to my work, and I set about creating the workspace I had been wishing for.  What I found astounded me — a dedicated, healthy, and mindfully created workspace made me more productive, happier, and less stressed out during my work day! I actually looked forward to my work and settling down at my little desk.  The difference was mind-boggling.

So whether you work from home like me, have a traditional out-of-home office, or hunker down at a shared co-working space, there are definitely some important steps to take to make your work, in whatever form it takes, a more enjoyable experience.  After much trial and error and, of course, those failed attempts in Brooklyn, I’ve narrowed down these 5 key elements to creating a healthy, inspiring workspace aligned with how you want to feel throughout your day.

 

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Daily Inspiration

Adventure is waiting for you

The Organic Beauty is going camping! Filling life with little adventures keeps you happier, healthier, and more inspired. And guess what? That keeps you away from chips, cookies, and other stuff we use to substitute for adventure.

What adventure will you go on this weekend?

Words That Inspire

By Callie McBride

With all things in life, I believe in turning to others for the power of inspiration. I often feel humbled by their words, because it’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you always know what’s best for yourself. Whether for work, school, my personal life, my health goals, or simply for lifelong advice, I cherish inspirational words that others contribute to my outlook on life. I’ve compiled some of my favorite quotes to share with you; may they leave you feeling curious, motivated, assured, and inspired, as they have for me!

Words That Inspire | The Organic Beauty Blog

“I only allow myself one day to feel sorry for myself. People who complain really get on my nerves. When I’m not feeling my best I ask myself, ‘What are you gonna do about it?’ I use the negativity to fuel the transformation into a better me.” -Beyonce

“You’re damned if you’re too thin, and you’re damned if you’re too heavy. According to the press, I’ve been both. It’s impossible to satisfy everyone, and I suggest we stop trying.” -Jennifer Aniston

“If we imagined our successes as much as we magnify our disappointments, we’d all be much happier.” -Abraham Lincoln

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

“There’s power in looking silly and not caring that you do.” -Amy Poehler

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” -Robert Collier

“Do not dance around the perimeter of the person you want to be.” -Gabrielle Bernstein

 

What words inspire you to be your best self? Share with us to lengthen this chain of inspiration!

Cartoon Inspiration Brings Health Motivation

By Callie McBride

I find that some of my favorite motivation to stay healthy and happy comes from the Internet. Whether on Facebook or Twitter, Tumblr or Instagram, the constant progression of technology brings with it endless resources for support for, education toward, interaction with all things health and wellness.

Think about it: there are forums to join when you want to become vegan (thekindlife.com); there are Facebook pages to “like” to receive updates about health and wellness events (wellandgoodnyc.com); and there are plenty of Twitter accounts to follow and browse through feed for the latest trends and tips in holistic living (@NU_Health).

For me, cartoon images are what get the job done. They make me think, laugh, and become inspired to take my health to entirely new levels with unique recipes and challenging workouts. C’mon? How does that hilarious little broccoli man not make you smile?

What’s so fantastic about online resources is that so many people are attracted to them, so you will constantly find new content: foods and recipes, workouts and exercise classes, new information about health benefits, and even people to connect with. Events such as vegan meet-ups, central park running groups, and free cooking classes exist for a reason: they allow like-minded folks like us to experience the joys of healthy living as one big unit full of support and understanding.

Here are a few resources to peruse on your lunch break or lazy weekend:

Facebook:

Facebook.com/nuhealthandwellness

https://www.facebook.com/FullyRawKristina

https://www.facebook.com/TaraStilesLiving

Twitter:

@nu_health

@MindBodyGreen

@HealthyLiving (Huffington Post)

Tumblr/Blogs:

tully-lou.tumblr.com (an Australian yoga clothing brand’s cute inspiration page)

The Chalkboard Mag (Pressed Juicery’s online vision board of health and wellness)

John Douillard’s LifeSpa (an awesomely nerdy and incredibly informative resource for ayurvedic health)

Okay, I think I’ve made my point. The real business here is the adorable and pleasant cartoon inspiration I found throughout the week that made me laugh and consider my relationship with food. Enjoy, and this weekend, spend some time finding your own motivation! Comment and share yourfavorite sources of inspiration.

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{All images via fitnessporn}