Category: Work From Home

3/30/2023 0 Comments

5 Things I've Learned as a New Work From Home Mom

Now that I've entered the 3rd month of parenting, I've rounded up the top 5 things I'd share with brand new moms - plus 5 must-have things that got me through the first few months!

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

1) Let Go of the To-Do List
Prior to becoming a mom, I based the success of my days on the amount of things I could get accomplished. I jam-packed my schedule from early morning through late evening. I learned very quickly that my baby doesn't care about my to-do list, and I've learned what work and chore-related tasks can wait!

2) Routines are King
Cara Dumaplin from Taking Cara Babies deserves all the credit in the world! We purchased her First 5 Months Bundle, and it's made all the difference in the world! Establishing a good eat-awake-sleep model has really started to pay off! If you haven't checked her out, give her Instagram a peek!

3) Take Help When It's Offered
I didn't do this at first, and I wish that I'd accepted any and all help when it was offered from day one! Little things, like a dinner I didn't have to make, or allowing family to babysit while I got my hair or nails done allowed me to feel more normal. (And that first parents' date night out felt fantastic - even if we were home by 7 pm, LOL!)

4) Your Relationships Will Change
Everyone always talks about how your relationship with your significant other will change. And it will! This isn't always a bad thing. Seeing my husband become a dad has been one of the best experiences of my life. One thing piece of advice that I was told is that your significant other is not a mind reader. Communicating clearly is key!

5) Comparison is the Thief of Joy
We've all heard this phrase, but parenthood really highlights this! Whether it's your baby's milestones, your physical appearance, or some super-expensive baby gadget that all of the influencers are showing off...just stop! As long as you and your baby are healthy, happy, and safe - none of the rest matters! Remember that social media is a highlight reel, no one's really sleeping in those early weeks, and we're all just figuring out this parenting thing on the fly!

If you feel like you're experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, or anger, please click here for more resources.

Top 5 Items I've Been Using Non-Stop!

BabyBjorn Bouncer
Newton Crib Mattress (Use this link for a 100-night guarantee!)
Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced
The Best Stain Treater! (This stuff is magic!)
Muslin Burp Cloths

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12/7/2022 0 Comments

Gift Guide: Cozy at Home

I know that not everyone is traveling right now. Because my maternity leave starts soon, I’ll be staying at home for the next few months, myself! I’ve rounded up a few of the best things that I use at home. (Bonus points for all of the comfy and cozy goodies to help me brave another Northeast Ohio winter - especially with a newborn!)

I only recommend products that I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

#1 - Wine Opener
I gifted this one to my parents last year, and immediately wished that I'd bought one for myself! It's sleek and practical, and looks great in any kitchen! My wine opener will be getting a lot of use after this baby is born! ;)

#2 - Ring Doorbell
Something we use daily around here. With our Ring, I can see who's here (or which delivery I'm getting!) and can communicate with them if I need to. Bonus points for not ringing loudly through the house with a sleeping baby!

#3 - Amazon Fire Stick
We cut cable years ago, and now exclusively use Amazon Fire Sticks on all of our TVs. My Fire Stick will be working overtime during my maternity leave!

#4 - Loungewear
Between working from home, pregnancy, and my soon-to-be maternity leave, loungewear is basically my staple. While I love a good pair of Lululemon Aligns, I've also been a LONGTIME lover of these Under Armour leggings, which are more budget-friendly and available on Amazon. Also from Amazon are my favorite joggers (I have 4 pairs!) and I'm loving this loungewear set!

#5 - Speakers
We use Google smart speakers in our home. Did you know that my sister's name is Alexa? It's the sole reason that my family exclusively uses Google Home products! Amazon seems to have a major beef with Google, because they've pulled pretty much all of the Google Home devices off of their site!

I also use a Beats Pill in my office, which I absolutely recommend to anyone who works from home.

#6 - Yeti Rambler
We own a few of these and I use them every day. (My favorite is my Bimini Pink version!) I also own the straw lid in addition to the MagSlider lid that it comes with, and make my own iced coffee at home. Which leads me to number 7 on my list...

#7 - Ninja Coffee Bar
I don't know how I ever used a different coffee maker. I used to be a die-hard Keurig girl, but once I got this one, I never looked back. You can brew anything from 1 small cup to an entire carafe. Hot or iced coffee, extra rich or a classic brew. The combinations are endless! It also comes with a built-in milk frother. I can't recommend this enough!

#8 - Home Workout Equipment
We recently expanded our home gym. We added this bench, these adjustable dumbbells, and resistance bands similar to these ones. Just don't forget my favorite home gym hack - attaching a stroller fan to your equipment to keep cool!

#9 - Cozy Blanket
While we all love a Barefoot Dreams blanket, those can cost a pretty penny. This Amazon dupe is fantastic!

#10 - Water Bottles
I'm definitely one of those people who have water bottles in every single room. I've had my Hydroflask for years and am currently obsessed with the Disney prints on these Simple Modern bottles.

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12/5/2022 0 Comments

Maternity Leave as a Travel Advisor

One of the questions that I’ve gotten the most is “How will you handle maternity leave?”

Since I work from home, and have a "non-traditional" job, I'll also have a "non-traditional" maternity leave. Keep reading to learn more!

I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

I’ll start with the fact that I am so very grateful that this is my job! Some things that help make this maternity leave a little easier:

I have amazing clients - all of them know that we're expecting our first baby, and have been so amazing and sweet!
I work from home - a flexible schedule has been so helpful throughout pregnancy and will continue to help postpartum!
I have a few different sources of income - (commissions, affiliate links, etc.) allowing me to help to support my family financially during my time away from booking new travel.

Getting everything prepped ahead of time means a lot of extra work on the front end, but it will help me immensely once our little guy comes! This means designing and sending client packages earlier than I typically would. I also have pre-scheduled social media content that will go out on certain dates.

FAQs
Will you still be booking travel?
Everything that can be completed in advance is out of the way. (Pre-scheduled client emails, etc.)

Upon my return to the office after maternity leave, I will be focusing only on currently booked clients. After that, I will be slowly opening my books again for new clients. I will be limiting the number of clients I take on in the first few months back.

Will you still answer emails or messages while on maternity leave?
With a newborn, I simply will not have the time to personally answer the sheer number of messages and emails that I get weekly. Because of that, my auto-responder will go on as soon as I go into labor.

Anyone with travel inquiries will have a form to complete, and those folks will then be wait-listed until I return to the office.

Do you have anyone helping you?
Of course! THE biggest reason that I chose Wave of a Wand Travel is the stellar team that I get to work with every day. Currently booked clients have a direct contact to one of our agency’s co-owners. (It bears repeating - I love this team!!)

While I do have pre-scheduled social media content going out while I’m away, I’ll also be leaning on some of my team to help me with any Disney or Universal news that will need to be shared on social media or my website.

Here at home, my husband works for a fantastic company that allows him to take a great paternity leave, so we’ll be together to tackle the newborn phase!

Any work that I can do in advance is just about done! Hopefully this allows me to be ready just in case he comes early, and we can enjoy some of this holiday season relaxing, too!

We can’t wait to soak up everything about this baby and our new life as a family of three!

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Maternity Leave as a Travel Advisor

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