Clean Clever Mama

I can’t think about the idea of “healthy mom-ing” without the role that exercise plays in it.  Not only is about feeling good about myself but it’s just as much about my emotional health.  I t’s not as easy as it once was and it has required a LOT of flexibility and accepting “something is better than nothing” but I have to prioritize exercise.  Period.      For most of my adult life, I’ve been a regular exerciser.  From step aerobics and body sculpt back in the day to discovering indoor spin in my early twenties (umm still obsessed!) my favorite workouts have evolved over time.  Yoga has been a staple since college but in the last few years Pilates moves have become appealing and really helped support changes to my body that have come during and after pregnancy.  Fortunately I was able to work out while pregnant with both the boys, and I desperately needed Pilates and yoga to offset the lower back pain and tighter hips of pregnancy.  Pe...

I’m a self-proclaimed “foodie” and can even be a total food snob without even realizing it.   Blame my years as a New York City girl, but I came to know and deeply love good food.  And as any former New Yorker will tell you, once you know great food you can’t “UN-know” it.  I’m also one of those people who loves to cook -- baking especially.  Needless to say kids have complicated all things around cooking!   One of my biggest “AHH” complete out of control challenging moments over the last several months has been the following reoccurring scenario:  me trying to whip up dinner amidst nursing sessions, a hyper toddler and/or a toddler-adjusting-to-being-a-big-brother.  I’m sure others can relate but for us, this “sibling adjustment” has often played out with split second moments of Parker playfully – yet -nearly - endangering Chase’s life.  And I’m not exaggerating… as far as head butts, throwing HARD toys, rolling across him… you name it! ...

The idea behind this blog has been growing over the last few years and we'll see where it goes.  While I'm not sure how "clever" I am, "clean mama" was already taken from - surprise - a cleaning blogger.  From the time of my first pregnancy (or to some degree throughout my whole life!) I have found myself on an unplanned journey to "clean things up" in all senses of the word.  As I've navigated pregnancy, breastfeeding and now raising two little guys in a world overrun by parenting tips, mom blogs and product overload, it's blown me away how PRETTY.MUCH.EVERYTHING can be a source of harmful toxins.  I'm being slightly dramatic of course but striving for cleaner living for my family sometimes seems like an uphill battle.  I certainly don't do it perfectly and I don't do it all the time.  Yes my toddler eats Chik fil a nuggets from time to time (as do I!) and, yes, my infant plays some with Baby Einstein and Skip Hop branded toys....