Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

On Stress, Sleep, and Remembering to Take Your Pills (Giveaway!)

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Do you ever have trouble sleeping due to stress? Welcome to adult life…it is one of the true (but really lame) hallmarks! The other big marker of being an adult that I’ve been experiencing lately is forgetting things. SEVERAL times a day I take myself to various parts of the house and upon arriving have to ask myself, “Why am I here?” Most of the time I can remember after thinking about it for a moment, but sometimes I can’t! It makes me feel old and definitely off my game.

Sainthood Herbs recently sent me some products aimed to address both issues, and I wanted to tell you about them just in case either (or both!) might be something you could use.

sainthood herbs mental agility stress & sleep

Stress & Sleep pills are designed to help reduce stress by inducing relaxation. They are not intended to be a nightly sleep aid, but to be used with occasional sleeping difficulties. Most nights I am able to fall asleep in a matter of minutes (I’m very lucky, I know!) but if I have been working on strategy for the blog, or am trying to figure out how to approach a story angle, I can really struggle to fall asleep as my brain keeps trying to work out problems. It happened to me just last night, actually, and that’s when I reached for the Stress & Sleep bottle to get a little assistance.

Mental Agility pills are designed to boost your cognitive performance by improving working memory and supporting attention. It also contributes to healthy cognitive function. I personally have noticed a positive difference in my ability to concentrate when I take these pills. The trouble is that I keep forgetting to take them! I want to get into the habit of having one with breakfast every week day, and at present, I only remember once or twice a week to take them. And yes, I think it is hilarious that I can’t remember to take my mental agility pills. If ever there was a sign that I need them, that’s it!

I haven’t been using these pills long enough or consistently enough to vouch for their effectiveness, other than anecdotally. But if you are seeking some help with powering up or powering down, they really might be worth a try.

 Win it!: Two lucky Stuff Parents Need readers will each win a bottle of pills featured here (1 will win Stress & Sleep, 1 will win Mental Agility).

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways on the sidebar of my page.

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How to Treat Sunburn: Natural Options

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Sunburn Information

Is anyone else out there “blessed” with the type of skin that burns easily, then peels, and then is pasty white again?

That’s me! The only time I’ve ever looked even slightly tan was after a month of daily (though short) tanning bed sessions in high school (thank goodness that interest of mine was short-lived!) and after getting a spray tan, during which time I looked awesome for about 48 hours, and gross for 48 hours after that (the color came off in patches…good times).

I don’t even try to “get some color” on my skin when I’m outside anymore, because the end result of that attempt is always sunburn. I am quite serious about applying sunscreen to myself, and even more so to my children, as melanoma runs in my husband’s family and they are therefore at a higher risk for skin cancer.

My girls haven’t experienced any significant sunburn yet, but Darah has already had those “rosy” cheeks and nose after a few hours in the sun, which of course I felt horribly guilty about. At the time, I didn’t know what I could do to treat it, so I schooled myself in sunburn information and natural treatment options, as I try to go the homeopathic route as much as possible. I thought I’d share my findings with you. Bookmark or pin this site for later reference. I hope you never need the information, but if you do, make sure you can find it easily!

How to Treat Sunburn Naturally

how to treat sunburn naturally

photo credit: lightsoutfilms

1. Vinegar. You can spray or dab vinegar directly onto your body as soon as you know you are burned. It is antiseptic in nature and acts as a cooling agent, as well, which helps with that burning feeling you get when you are freshly sunburned.

2. Baking soda. Baking soda is a great natural antiseptic and also helps with the itch associated with peeling skin that starts a few days after sunburn has occurred. I recommend adding about 1/2 cup baking soda to a bath for a good soak once you start peeling.

3. Sunburnt Therapeutic After Sun Relief. This is a new product on the market that was recently sent to me, and I decided to write about it because I was impressed with its natural ingredients and homeopathic approach to relief. It is designed to cool overheated skin, soothe and hydrate the skin, and reduce the appearance of redness & peeling. I haven’t had to use it on sunburn yet, but I did test the cream and was pleased to see that it wasn’t sticky.

4. Tea. The tannins in the tea do help soothe burns and quicken the healing process. What I read online suggests making a strong pot of tea (stronger than what you would drink) and then applying the tea (once cooled, obviously) to sunburned skin with a cloth. You could also soak in a tea infused bath.

5. Cucumber. Cucumber is my least favorite vegetable on earth. I think it is absolutely disgusting. But thinly sliced, it evidently provides a lot of soothing and comfort to burned skin. This would be enough of a reason for me to actually buy one, I think!

Obviously, the best way to cure sunburn is to not get it in the first place. Be sure to lather up with some mineral sunscreen before you head outside. Be especially diligent around your face and your shoulders, as those are the areas that tend to burn the quickest, at least on my body!

Have you found any other natural sunburn relief remedies? Have you tried anything suggested above? I’d love to hear about your experience! 

This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend what I already use! 

 

Natural Stress Relief: Rescue Remedy Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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There’s a saying about the experience of raising children that states, “The days are long but the years are short.” SO true! My little one is blossoming in front of me, and try as I may, I can’t hold on and keep her as a baby. She’s nowhere close to that, anymore. She’s 100% toddler, and every now and again, I even get a glimpse of the kid she will soon be!

But let me tell you, it is easy to lose sight of just how quickly this is going by in the day-to-day practice of being home with a toddler. There have definitely been days when I have stared at the clock and begged it to move faster so that Tim would be home sooner and I could get a break from my whiny child. And it seems that every day when Darah goes down for her nap, I stare at my “to do” list and get completely overwhelmed. I’m the type to put 8 hours worth of work on my list, knowing full well that I only have 1 1/2 hours to actually do the work. Sigh…

When I sit down with that list, I also grab a Rescue Remedy product to help me calm down at the start of my work time. Rescue Remedy is a natural remedy made from flower essences that is designed to relieve stress. It has been around since the 1930s, which means that several generations of people have benefited from it.

Rescue Remedy sent me 3 different products to try. First, I tried the Rescue Pastilles. This is actually my very favorite item. It is an alcohol-free, sugar-free gummy lozenge in a really cue tin. The flavor is orange/elderflower. I find it to be delightful and helpful at getting me to calm down.

Next, I tried the Rescue Gum. This is perfect for keeping in your purse. It has the same flavors as the pastilles (orange and elderflower). The gum has a liquid center which makes it fantastically fun to chew. I love the idea that you can have gum on hand that will help you relax.

Finally, I tried the Rescue Spray. Two quick sprays of this product on your tongue provide one full dose of Rescue Remedy. This is something I keep by my bed. For some reason, I’ve been having bad dreams lately, and when I wake up from those, I can give myself a dose of Rescue Remedy immediately and then get back to sleep.

I feel comfortable using Rescue Remedy because it uses only all-natural ingredients. I also like that it has been around for so long. When a company’s product doesn’t work, they don’t get to stick around for so long!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win the same Rescue Remedy gift set I reviewed!
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