I feel like I can finally say I’m starting to settle in to life as a mom of two. Kennedy turned 11 weeks old this past Monday and while she doesn’t have a consistent schedule yet, we have a pretty natural rhythm down most days and it seems to be working for everyone in the family. Dylan is the typical 2.5 year old toddler boy and is constantly exploring, making messes, and trying to do everything on his own. No two days of mine are the same and while having to juggle these two kiddos does keep me on my toes (and oftentimes leave me wiped out by the end of the day!), I look back and find it so fulfilling to be able to see my little people change and grow!
I will readily admit that when I first had Dylan, it was a big adjustment for me. I’m the sort of person who likes to plan out my day ahead of time as far as what I’d like to get done and I remember there were many times with Dylan where the entire day would just escape from me — 5:00pm would roll around and somehow I’d still be in pajamas!
This second time around, I knew I wanted it to be different. I knew that in order for me to still get things done, I needed to be more flexible. I needed to figure out new ways to get the same things done more efficiently and in a way that was more conducive to my on-the-go lifestyle. My life is increasingly mobile these days and having tools and technology at hand to help me transition from one task to the next is absolutely critical. I started using this Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ultrabook from the first day that Kennedy was born and it was been a lifesaver. While I do absolutely love snuggling baby Kennedy all day long, there’s still a bit of me that needs that sense of accomplishment from getting things done and this ultrabook has really helped me do just that!
Before getting this Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ultrabook, I was pretty much doing everything on my smartphone. But, there are just some things that I prefer doing on a wider screen and with a full-size keyboard that an actual computer offers. This Lenovo ultrabook is really the best of both worlds — super thin and lightweight (it’s thinner than a pencil at just 0.5″ and weighs only 2.6 lbs!) so I can carry it everywhere like my phone but also big enough that I can do some real work like I would on a laptop if needed.
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| cooking has never been faster now that I can easily see and scroll through recipes |
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| fitting in an at-home yoga session during naptime |
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| propping the ultrabook up in tent mode as I catch up on email, news, and social media during a long nursing session |
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| watchband-inspired hinge |
I just love how adaptable and portable this little ultrabook is! One of the features that I noticed immediately is this unique hinge — it actually looks like that of a watchband and bends/flexes so effortlessly! There are 813 individual pieces of aluminum and steel and the design allows the Yoga 3 to be stable in any of the 4 modes (laptop, tablet, stand, or tent) without any wobbling like that of other laptops I’ve tried!
And now for the best part — you can win the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro ultrabook for yourself! Just enter via the widget below. You can also check out how others are using their ultrabook in the Trend Hub and enter through their giveaways to increase your chance of winning! Good luck!
Disclosure: I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
P.S. In case you missed it:
- Gingham, Leopard Print + Panama Hat – Comfy in blues with edgy studded pumps.
Sometimes balancing life with two kids can feel a little overwhelming, one piece of advice that I've found to be useful is always making sure you take a little time for yourself, even if it's just 5 minutes. It really does make a difference!
Thank you so much for the tip Marissa! I have to remind myself to do this and I agree it really does help just to take a mini breather!
Definitely hard to find more time in my days during the work week as my commute each way takes at least an hour and a half! I try to be productive on the train by answering blog emails during that time or catching up on other things in my personal life. So I think it really comes down to using your time wisely when you have a couple minutes to spare 🙂
Thanks so much for the tip, Erica! I'm always trying to get better at my time management!
You are such an inspiration babe. My life has changed so much since having my bebe two weeks ago. I'm still trying to find that balance and I love that you've found that rhythm that works for you. You have such a beautiful family. <3
xo, Alina
STYLEBYALINA.com
During play time, roll a ball back and forth or play stacking games to help her enhance her little muscles.
Help Baby pull herself up then show her how to bend her knees to get back down to the floor. This will help ease her falls when she starts taking steps on her own.
I am a student and it is hard balancing school work and also blogging . so what i do is , i make a list of what i need to do that day . i have a planner for school work and a notebook for blogging . I also try to do something that makes me happy . Mine is listening to music . That keeps me going 1
Trying to fit everything in my daily life and starting organized is a habit I'm working on getting better at.
it is always important to set a little bit of time for yourself. 🙂
Patience is always key.You learn a lot of patience when you become a parent 🙂
Oh great tip! Thanks so much!
Oh that couldn't be more true!
I fit more into my day by always making to do lists and getting all the things I need to get done first so I don't have to worry about them the rest of the day!
As a stay at home dad, it can get very busy with the kids, but I like to make a layout of the day, ie: trip to the park or grocery shopping on what day and that has helped me spend more time with my family. Side note, I think I put my twitter handle on the cuteandlittle IG account. Not sure if you can correct that tab…it should read randomhero411 for IG.
I fit more into my day by following the 2-minute rule: if it can be done in 2 minutes, just do it now, rather than putting it off. Helps with all of the little tasks that pile up.
Thanks so much for thfor tip! And I'll fix the IG handle entry. 🙂
Yes! I just started doing this too! It's helped a lot in just keeping our house a little cleaner and less like a hurricane came through by the end of the day. 🙂
I believed in set in nap time – not when they are newborns of course, but it really helped our day when I could schedule things around it and they were ready at that time.
I schedule everything in my life on a calendar. For bigger projects, I break it into steps and write down what needs to be done for each day. It really helps keep me on track!
My advice with kids–live one day at a time and do not take for granted a moment. Life is too short to get caught up in the little stuff. Make sure you are leaving/living a legacy!
I don't have a kid. But my sister does have an year old dude 🙂 I see how she struggles and manages so well to keep balance on her work and personal life.
Coming to me, I like to start my day with a to-do list that I keep checking off at the end of my day. It helps me to keep my days well planned 🙂
My tip for fitting more in my day, is by keeping everything organized and I also love to prepare freezer meals for the week, saves time on making dinner and makes more time for other things to catch up on.
My tip is to not only take time for yourself but don't forget making time for your friends. I was so busy I hardly saw people much at first, but now I make time. Parenting is all about balance. A happy mom will most likely lead to happier children 🙂
I think what helped us was setting a schedule for sleep. Not gonna lie it wasnt easy but it opened up time for the parents.
To fit more in my day, I stay up later…I'm not much help, but it's the truth.
My lists and my calendar helps me stay organized and helps me see where I can fit more things in to make the most of my day
Remember to stop and listen to them. Sometimes we are so busy we forget they just want to play and talk
Thank you!! Such a great tip!
I find that I need to plan some time in the week to do nothing so that when inevitably something comes up, I can just say that I already have plans. I need that to time so that I don't get stress overload!
I'm a student and I work almost full-time. One thing that helps me get stuff done is making small goals with time, so I'll say "okay, I'll have dinner around 6:30 and then start homework at 7:30" etc. I don't follow it exactly but giving myself little time frames to do things in keeps me focused on how much time I'm spending on certain things.
I multitask a lot. It's the only way to get certain things done. Also, take breaks when necessary, it helps with staying refreshed and focused.
With my little one, my fourth, I have finally realized how every child is so different , what works for one does not work for another most of the time.
Pick your battles…some of the small stuff can slide and it doesn't make you a bad parent or make your kids rotten. It'll save your sanity!
I don't know really how to fit more into the day. Sometimes less is more and sometimes times gets the better of me.
Try to always stick to a schedule. That helped me so much. There weren't too many temper tantrums over naps , bed times, or when meals were.
Introduce them to music early on.
To fit more into my day I actually try to have a calm mental attitude, it helps me get things done I might have been putting off, and makes the tasks more enjoyable as well
I try to apply this quote "a place for everything, everything in its place" so I can maintain my appartment organized and I do not accumulate things to do that then will keep me busy for hours.
I keep a google calender to make sure i fit everything in.
My kids are grown up, but lately I seem to fit more into my day by sleeping less! Kidding (kind of), but it seems that way sometimes. I also use break times and down times to blog or answer comments. The reason I need the Yoga! So light to carry with me 🙂
I try to always tried to have a basket of bubbles/coloring books, jump rope, nerf gun just fun stuff for go to when there is not much else to do for one on one time with my kids
What helped me out in the beginning years with my son is knowing that things were bound to change and accepting that. If he napped, it might not last, if he didn't nap, it might not last……and everything else.
Spend time with them and take pictures.
I don't have kids yet, but as I just recently graduated I have been adjusting to a full time "real" job for the first time ever. I don't think I have necessarily figured out yet how to balance my life, but I like to start the day off in a positive way – by grabbing a cup of tea and looking up things I enjoy on the web (like Cute&Little!) – I find starting off with a positive attitude and something that I enjoy makes the rest of the day go smoother.
The thing I have found most helpful as a parent is trying to stick as much as possible to a schedule. It isn't always easy with children but planing ahead and staying on track makes my days easier.
I find that if I plan my day by writing things down I can fit more into my day. I sometimes do this at the start of the day or the day before.
When my son started pre-school he had a lot of separation anxiety from me. I gave him a little photo of the 2 of us and he carried it with him in his pocket. When he started feeling missing me he could pull it out and look at it and it calmed him down. He didn't have to carry it after a couple of weeks.
When I'm feeling cramped for time I try and do something little to feel productive. An example is tidying one area of the house. Doing a bunch of little things adds up and makes a big difference in my life.
I get up before hubby for some productive computer time.
I have always been open with my kids with the scary conversations. Now that they are 12 and 15, we still have a good relationship.
Oh man, I wish I knew how to fit more into my day! I work 1 full time and 1 part time job, try to get to the gym 3-4 times a week, run a household and I'm taking an online class. I get up an hour before anyone else in the morning to get household chores done, check emails, and do some studying. Other than that I just try to be as efficient as possible, like cooking a double batch of dinner and freezing half or doing reading assignments while on the treadmill.
When she is napping I try to catch up on work! Not always easy!
I really like the pomodoro technique, it really helps me focus and stay productive all day!
I am not a parent, but I fit more into my day by giving myself a little treat when I finish a task. It doesn't have to be anything big. Just some motivation to get to the next thing! For example, if I finish the dishes, I get to make a cup of coffee and take a break.
Oh we started story time very early….I had so much fun reading books to him….even though he didnt understand….it was very relaxing for me…and he almost always feel asleep listening!
Remember that there are many phases that a child goes through. Those difficult ones won't last forever. Sometimes that was easy to forget in the middle of it all. Have a good support system and an encouraging person to lift you up. Also, pray, pray, pray! Congratulations and enjoy that sweet little one!
My tip is to not worry about being perfect. There is no such thing as a perfect parent. You will make mistakes and you will learn from them but with love, it will all be okay.
I tried to get up before they did – at least 15 minutes. I know that the need for sleep is overwhelming, but being able to have a cup of coffee and do one task (or a piece of one!) before they woke up was key to me not being overwhelmed!
I use the microwave timer and set 20 mins to do a task so I stay on track without distractions.
In the beginning when baby napped i tried to nap…. Now of baby naps i drink a big cup of coffee hahA