Twelve Tips To Get A Better Night Of Sleep

"These opinions are my own and I received products to facilitate this post."

Do you have trouble falling asleep? 
Check out some helpful tips to get a better night of sleep.

         
 As I get older, I seem to have more trouble falling asleep. I have tried many things to help me fall asleep and these are the ones that I have discovered to help me sleep. If I practice most of these tips, I have no trouble falling asleep. Not all these tips will work for everyone but if you are having troubles with sleep, I recommend trying them to see which ones work for you.


Some highlights of a sleep survey:

Women wake up more frequently in the middle of the night because of kids or pets than men (23 percent of women, versus 12 percent of men).

Ninety-one percent of people surveyed say they wake up at least once during the night.

Nearly two-thirds of people (63 percent) would give up coffee or alcohol for the rest of their lives in exchange for a better night’s sleep.

Thirty-eight percent of women report feeling like they don’t get enough sleep compared to only 20 percent of men.

Check out more about this sleep study HERE

1. Exercise
  Getting some exercise during the day can help you fall asleep faster. I find that going for a walk every day helps me to fall asleep but I have to work out before 7 PM or the exercise tends to keep me awake.

2. Stop all caffeine 7-10 hours before bed
  If you are sensitive to caffeine, like me then you need to have a cut-off on your intake to be able to fall asleep. I personally need to not have any caffeine 8 hours before sleep so by 3 PM, I have to stop drinking coffee and tea. I also have to say no to chocolate as it has caffeine in it too.



3. Take a warm shower before bed
   There is just something about the warm water that helps a body relax and fall asleep. I like to shower an hour before bed.

4. Slow down on electronics before bed
   For some, those computers and TVs can make sleep difficult so try slowing down or turning off at least an hour before bed. For me slowing down on my computer means stopping work and doing relaxing things on my computer like watching a TV show or catching up with friends on Facebook. Also, do not bring the phone to bed as the light and noise will interfere with your sleep. Most calls/texts can wait until morning. If you must bring the phone to bed turn off notifications and face the screen down so no light is showing.

5. Use a sound machine
  A sound machine can help you relax and drift off to sleep. I recently received a Baby Oasis Sound Machine and this has helped me to fall asleep. This wonderful device has over 10 different sounds on it like ocean waves, crickets, woodland animals, dolphins, car ride, white noise, heartbeat, and others. You can even record your own sounds. The sounds are so realistic and I love that it charges on my computer. My favorite sounds are the ocean waves and crickets. You can read my review of this sound machine HERE.

6. Use an essential oil diffuser
  I love using essential oils to help me fall asleep. My favorite scents are lavender and orange. The scents of these oils are so relaxing. I even use a diffuser in my 8-year-olds room to help him sleep better. My son falls asleep quickly but tends to move around all night in his bed. Ever since I started using lavender oil in a diffuser in his room, he no longer moves all night in his bed. Since he gets a better night of sleep, he also behaves better during the day too.

7. Get a new pillow
  Having the right pillow can make all the difference in sleeping better. I am a pillow person and I use a contour memory foam pillow and a softer pillow on top of that. If my head feels comfy then I sleep better. There are many pillows out there so go pillow shopping to see which one works best for you. Splurging on pillows is so worth the sleep. The pillow that I am loving right now is a Memory foam cooling pillow.  This soft memory foam pillow gives me great neck support so I get awesome sleep. This Cool Gel Pillow also stays cold all night. I no longer have to puff up my pillow before bed as my pillow stays comfy all night and holds its shape.

8. Try a silk pillowcase

 Sometimes the smallest thing can be what is affecting your sleep. Do you lay your head on your pillow and say "this is so comfortable?" Well, maybe it is time for a new pillow and pillowcase. If your head is not comfortable that can affect your sleep. A silk pillowcase may be just the thing you need to get a better night of sleep. A soft silk pillowcase can help your body temperature to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Silk is naturally hypoallergenic so it is great for allergies. My favorite silk pillowcase is made from 100% mulberry silk and I like that is soft but not slippery like other silk pillowcases I have tried.

 Celestial Silk's 25 momme pure mulberry silk pillowcase is thicker, more durable and more luxurious than lighter weight ones.

9. Stretch and breath
 Once I get in bed, I do some stretches and deep breaths to help my body relax. I like to stretch my arms and legs while I do deep breathing. I take a long breath in and hold it for the count of 20-30 seconds then I release it slowly. I do these breaths for 3-4 times and it really helps me to fall asleep.

10. Keep the room cool
  A cooler temperature may help your body fall asleep faster.


11. Use Magnesium
     A magnesium supplement may help your body to relax. It is best to use this supplement 30 minutes before bed. You can take a supplement in the form of a magnesium drink, a pill, or a magnesium spray.

12 Change out your lightbulb 

On days that the sun does not come out, I have trouble falling asleep. I know that sleep is what my body needs to feel better but my body does not want to fall asleep. Sometimes these sleep tips help me fall asleep but not always. So I changed out the lightbulb in the family room to a healthy LED light that helps my body settle down for sleep. This unique soft white light eliminates the blue light so my body gets the light it needs to settle down. This light has also been helping my boys with bedtime too as the whole family typically spends the evening in the family room. The light is still bright enough for daytime use also. Sleep not only helps your body rest and recover, but helps your brain operate at its best. Sleep unlocks focus, creativity and helps you make good choices.

Blue light impact on delaying sleep
If most of us are not coming anywhere close to the requisite 7-8 hours of sleep each night, we have to do everything we can to stop delaying our sleep at night and keep our bodies on our natural circadian rhythm.   Soraa Healthy is literally the only LED bulb you can buy with zero blue light and as such at full brightness it's less than the incandescent and can be even closer to a candle because of its ability to be perfectly dimmable.

What tip will you try to get a better night of sleep?

Spring Clean Your Fragrance Routine! Do You Know What Is In Your Perfume?

                          Sponsored post: I received compensation for this post

         Do you know that your favorite fragrance could be loaded with chemicals? 

  About three years ago I decided to start getting chemicals out of my house and it has been quite the journey. It has been quite the learning experience for me as I realize how bad some of these chemicals can be. I have also learned that products that I thought were safe for my family are not. Over the years I have been swapping safe natural products for things like beauty products, cleaners, and more.   I think it all started with my son and toothpaste. My youngest son always had painful mouth sores (also known as canker sores) in his mouth and we were treating it with "magic mouthwash" from the doctor. The sores never went away as the "magic mouthwash" just alleviated the pain. It was a sample of an SLS-free toothpaste that I received that took away those painful mouth sores and started me on my journey to get chemicals out of my house. Some of the chemical products that I have switched out to natural alternatives have been cleaners, deodorants, toothpaste, weed killer, air freshener, sunscreen, and hand lotion. Perfume/fragrance is the one chemical that I am working on right now.

#GoodScents

It’s time for transparency with fragrances! 
  I was shocked to learn that many fragrances are full of phthalates and petrochemicals and some are even derived from animals+. Most of us have no clue what chemicals are in the fragrance in our personal care products as companies can just list fragrance on the label and they don't have to disclose what synthetic scent chemicals are in their secret recipe for their fragrance. Their fragrance could contain additives like phthalates, petrochemicals, and even oxybenzone—and none of it needs to be disclosed. Did you know that fragrance is in many products? Products like shampoo, dish soap, lotion, cosmetics, soap, etc.

 The need for transparency in fragrances was clear.

Goddess Garden Founder, Nova Covington, was inspired to start her company after her daughter had serious reactions to the synthetic chemicals in conventional body care products. Because label reading was such a necessity for them, transparency has been Goddess Garden’s standard practice. However, when it comes to fragrance, everyone—including the most avid label readers—are still in the dark. Even among natural products, labels often list only ‘a blend of natural and essential oils.’ This is simply not enough information if you have allergies, sensitivities or if you prefer clean ingredients or animal-friendly options.

  My youngest son has helped me strive to get natural scented personal care products as he has had several bouts of eczema from products, even ones labeled hypoallergenic. I myself, have had coughing attacks when there is too much fragrance in products. So I knew it was time to seek out products with fragrance from natural ingredients.

 I have not been able to wear or be around perfume for as long as I can remember as I am sensitive/allergic to perfume. In fact, my husband knew to never buy "manly" scented products. The teen on the other hand, quickly learned that if he applied aftershave and needed a ride to school, that all the car windows would be open, even in the winter, so I would not have a coughing attack. So when Goddess Garden introduced their Natural Perfume Line, I was excited! I could now wear a fragrance that went beyond my natural deodorant and me smelling my armpits. This natural oil-based perfume that has natural perfume oils will complement the aromatherapy bracelet that I love wearing.

                                                                

 I love that Goddess Garden created these organic hypoallergenic perfumes for a woman like me. I like that I can wear a great scented fragrance and not have to worry about allergies and hormone disruption. Yes, the fragrance chemicals that are lurking in most beauty products are linked to hormone disruption!++

Spring Clean Your Fragrance Routine ++

From hormone disruption and allergies to animal cruelty, something smells fishy with fragrance! Spring is the time when we open our doors and windows and clean up and refresh our homes. As you kick-off, your spring cleaning, don’t forget to clean up your fragrance routine! Look for fragrances hidden in not only your cleaning supplies but also in lotions, haircare, soaps, facial care, and cosmetics. And remember, even if something isn’t heavily scented, it may still contain fragrance. They’re often used to conceal the smell of the chemicals, so label reading is a must!

 These natural scented non-toxic perfumes smell so good! I simply love all the scents and love choosing a new scent every day. I think my favorite one is the Lavender Sky essential oil roll-on perfume. This is the best lavender perfume that I have smelled, even my youngest son wears it! My son applies it to his neck before bed as the lavender scent helps him to relax. The roll-on essential oil perfumes also come in scents like Wildflower, Amber Fire, Citrus Sunrise, and Rainforest. The ingredients are simple and all listed on the box. There are no hidden ingredients as Goddess Garden has nothing to hide as they don't use chemicals in their products. I already use many other products from Goddess Garden. My favorite is their natural sunscreen that keeps my skin safe from the sun. I have worn this sunscreen* to the pool and my skin has never experience sunburn.

Check out Goddess Garden's line of Natural chemical-free perfumes & Spring Clean Your Fragrance Routine!
http://www.goddessgarden.com/product-category/perfume/

+ Animal Origins of Fragrance https://www.goddessgarden.com/blog/animal-origins-of-fragrance/

+ + In the mood for a hormone chat? https://www.goddessgarden.com/blog/mood-hormone-chat/

* Goddess Garden Sunscreen http://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/06/protecting-kids-skin-in-pool-without.html

FREE Clif Nut Butter Filled Single Bar

Get FREE Clif Nut Butter Filled Single Bar OR Luna Rica Single Bar Receive ONE (1) Clif Nut Butter Filled Single Bar OR Luna Rica Single Bar. Available in most stores.

Exp 03/11/2018

This Friday, February 23rd, 2018– ONLY, you can load a coupon to your Kroger (or Affiliate) Plus Card for FREE Clif Nut Butter Filled Single Bar OR Luna Rica Single Bar,
Although 02/23/2018is the only day that you can load the coupon, the coupon offer is redeemable through 03/11/2018

https://kroger.softcoin.com/programs/kroger/freefri/

Elderberry Cold & Flu Fighting Gummies

    I love this easy delicious and fun way to get immune-boosting elderberry into kids!

 This cold season has been brutal. The news keeps talking about how many flu cases have been reported and it has been a high number. It also seems that a bad cold virus is going around too. My boys thankfully have not come down with the flu but they did battle that nasty cold that came with a lingering cough. When my boys are sick I like to give them homemade natural remedies to help them heal quickly. One of their favorite immune-boosting remedy that my boys love is these delicious gummies that are made with elderberry syrup. These yummy gummies are loaded with immune-boosting ingredients that have helped my boys get well faster. My boys only had a sore throat one day!

Elderberry: A Natural Remedy for Mild Colds and Flu?

 Elderberries naturally contain A, B, and C and stimulate the immune system. These dried berries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are specifically shown to help beat the cold and flu more quickly.

My boys and I also enjoy these elderberry gummies when we are not sick as they also give us extra immune support.

Elderberry Cold & Flu Fighting Gummies
Ingredients
1 cup elderberry syrup (Check out my homemade recipe)
1/2 cup very hot water (almost boiling)
1/4 cup Gelatin powder (I use this one)
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil for greasing pan
Glass pan

Instructions
Grease the glass pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking.
Place 1/4 cup of cooled elderberry syrup in a 2 cup measuring cup and add gelatin powder.
Quickly whisk together to temper the gelatin powder.
Add the ½ cup of hot (not boiling) water and stir quickly until smooth.
Add the rest of the elderberry syrup and stir or whisk until completely smooth.
Pour into the pan and put in the fridge for 2 hours or until completely firm.
Cut the gummies into small squares and store in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers.
Take daily as needed to avoid flu or take every few hours to help beat the flu faster.
Will last up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup In The Pressure Cooker

    This homemade elderberry syrup is great for cold & flu!

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 This has been a tough season for colds and flu. Thankfully my family has escaped the flu but we did suffer through a nasty cold virus. My youngest has had some sort of bug three times while the other boys only had one cold. Even this mom who never gets sick had one day of feeling sick with a sore throat. I am glad that the boys recovered quickly from this bug. My sickness only lasted a day. I credit my family quickly getting well from the use of elderberry syrup, vitamin C, and my honey lemon ginger tea. I ingest all these natural remedies, several times a day, at the first sign of a cold and I always feel better the next day. My boys have not learned the signs of a cold coming on yet so there colds usually last a couple of days compared to my one day. I ran out of the elderberry sample that I received from a conference last year so I decided to make my own elderberry syrup. I was surprised at how easy it was to make and so much cheaper than store-bought. You can buy dried elderberries Here.

Elderberry: A Natural Remedy for Mild Colds and Flu?
 Elderberries naturally contain A, B, and C and stimulate the immune system. These dried berries are naturally high in immune-boosting compounds that are specifically shown to help beat the cold and flu more quickly.

Elderberry Syrup: An Easy/Delicious Way to Get the Benefits Of Elderberry
  I like to use natural remedies for colds as traditional medicines only relieve the symptoms. A natural remedy like elderberry instead helps boost the immune system so your body can fight the germs. Elderberry syrup provides the concentrated immune-supporting benefits of black elderberries in a great-tasting way. My homemade recipe uses homemade elderberry concentrate with herbs like cinnamon and ginger, plus raw honey for not only taste but for an extra immune boost. I got my dried elderberries online but you can find them also at health food stores. Since you only need 2/3 of a cup to make a batch, the dried berries will make several bottles of elderberry syrup. Black elderberry syrup will boost your immune system to help your body fight germs from the flu and coronavirus.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup
Ingredients
2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces)
3 1/2 cups of water
2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
3/4 cup raw honey

Put all ingredients, except honey in the pressure cooker pot, seal lid, and set manually for 9 minutes on high pressure. Vent pressure and mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl, discard the elderberries. I like to strain my syrup through a wire mesh strainer and I also press on the berries with a spoon to get all the liquid out. When the syrup has cooled stir in the honey. Store the syrup in the fridge.

You can also make the elderberry syrup on the stovetop if you don't have a pressure cooker.

 Pour water into a medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, and cinnamon. (do not add honey!)
 Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.

Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.

Elderberry syrup is also great for a daily immune booster!
The standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear. You can also make delicious gummies with the elderberry syrup.

Make sure to check out my recipe for these delicious Elderberry Cold & Flu Fighting Gummies!

http://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/02/elderberry-cold-flu-fighting-gummies.html

Vegan Bacon

Craving bacon but don't eat meat?

  I have not consumed meat for a long time but once in a while, I get a craving for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich. The combination of a toasted slice of bread with tomatoes and lettuce just calls my name. I have tried this sandwich without bacon and it is just not the same and I just will eat another type of sandwich rather than eat a dead pig. So when I discovered that people were making vegan bacon out of eggplant, I just had to try it. I do enjoy eggplant when it is marinated in soy sauce so being that vegan bacon is made with similar ingredients, I just had to make me some bacon. I found this recipe through many searches and omitted/changed ingredients. The one ingredient that I omitted was liquid smoke as that one just sounded weird to me and I did not want to spend a lot of money for a bottle of smoke. Now if you are a meat eater, this vegan bacon will not be the same as the real stuff but if you want to follow a meatless diet than this is a great substitute for when you are craving a BLT sandwich.

 I sliced the eggplant in different sizes to see which ones worked best. The thin slices made crispy bacon while the thicker ones made chewy bacon. I suggest trying out different sizes to see which texture you prefer.

Vegan Bacon
Makes 8-10 slices

Ingredients:

1 medium eggplant
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 300°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.
Cut eggplant in quarters, lengthwise. Slice each quarter into long, thin strips.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, maple syrup, and cayenne powder.
Place eggplant slices the bowl of sauce and brush both sides with sauce. Season with pepper. If you don't have enough sauce, just make more.
Bake until eggplant is cooked through and beginning to get crisp, 45-50 minutes.

My Favorite Winter Olympic Inspired Products

                  "I received samples of  products to facilitate this post."

 My family has been enjoying the Winter Olympics this week!

                                       

     This week has been a cold and dreary week here. While I am happy that we received some much-needed rain, the dreary days are not fun. I don't know about you but it is hard to get work done on dreary days, I just want to stay in bed. I don't even feel like working out, so I force myself to the gym, thankfully my husband wants to go to the gym. So I meet him at the gym when he gets off work and this encourages him to workout. The kids are all healthy and that lingering cough that they all had is gone. I think we went through two whole bottles of honey while they were sick for their coughs and using it in my Cold & Flu Honey Lemon Ginger Tea. Since the busyness has slowed down, we have been watching the Winter Olympics. The opening ceremony is always my favorite part to watch while the boys love watching snowboarding and cross-country skiing.   

The Olympics Cross Country Skiing reminds us a lot of Rice’s Honey, the American raw, unprocessed natural honey since 1924. Every beehive, located on specific farms across the U.S., is lovingly cared for and results in the most glorious American honey. And, the difference between the specific locations of this honey can actually be tasted – since every honey bee pollinates their crops in a different location, and in doing so, creates unique floral notes! When you purchase a bottle of Rice’s Honey, you can choose which location to purchase and for the first time, every bottle purchased gives back to PACE, a non-profit organization that helps protect all pollinators. Rice’s Honey has a mission to help promote pollination and sustainable bee farms across the country.  The Rice’s Honey partnership with PACE, the Butterfly Pavilion’s global initiative to increase awareness of pollinators through public engagement, education and restoration/conservation programs will help inform consumers about the importance of pollination. One of every three bites of food eaten worldwide depends on pollinators.  Without them, there would be no fruits, nuts, vegetables, oils or most flowers and they contribute more than $24 billion to the United States economy.

 My younger boys have been loving chocolate muffins for their after-school snack and the teen has discovered that he likes gourmet cheese. So my cheese stash has been raided by him. This mom is happy that her boys are eating healthy foods. I really like that the teen is focusing on good nutrition for sports performance. The other day he was asking for a plain protein powder to add to his oatmeal. I think that child number 4, the short picky eater, must be having a growth spurt as he ate four slices of pizza and his legs have been hurting.

What better way to enjoy the thrills of the Winter Olympics Ice Hockey than with some delicious, gluten-free veggies-first Garden Lites chocolate muffins? Found in the freezer aisle in your local grocery or club store, Garden Lites will wow you with their decadently rich taste matched with wholesome nutritional assets! With every bite filled with nutritious vegetables – though you’ll never know it – this is one guilt-free yummy snack you can enjoy all day, every day! Garden Lites Chocolate Muffin’s first two ingredients are zucchini and carrots and are 33% veggies.

Norseland Celebrates the Winter Olympics with the perfect wholesome, natural snacks to keep you satisfied while you watch the competition this year. The entire line of cheese snacks are delicious, a source of protein and always portable, so you too can be part of the winning team! Just like the athletes who participate in Nordic Combined, where athletes compete in cross-country skiing and ski jumping, Norseland will make you want to put a medal on it – with their array of cheese snacks that are Norway inspired delights!

    I discovered this delicious pasta that cooks in two minutes in the microwave so they are great for a quick lunch. I just add sauteed veggies and jar pasta sauce to the pasta for a delicious meal. Now I have no excuse for not eating lunch on busy days.

Skinny Pasta is poised to win this year’s Olympics “Freestyle”, with their WW endorsed pasta! Just like the Winter Olympics “Freestyle” skiing competition, which combines speed, showmanship and the ability to perform aerial maneuvers while skiing, Skinny Pasta can juggle all of your wellness needs including being gluten-free, all natural, free of sugar, wheat, lactose, soy, salt, cholesterol, fat, and preservatives; Skinny Pasta® is also low in calories, with only nine calories per serving. Its main ingredient, the Konjac plant, is native to Southeast Asia and contains Glucomannan, a dietary fiber.  Now, with new WW Freestyle program, Skinny Pasta will earn a gold medal in your kitchen!

What To Wear To A Blogger Conference

 I received a pair of Slimsation pants to facilitate this post.

WHAT SHOULD YOU WEAR TO A BLOGGING CONFERENCE?

               

  Packing for a blogging conference can be stressful for some. You want to make a great first impression with the brands that you meet. You also want to look good for meeting other bloggers. So what do you wear to a blogging conference? This is always a hot topic on the conference discussion boards. A lot of people say dress in clothes that are your style. Well for most of us bloggers we live in our yoga clothes or PJs as we work from home. So that does not work for me as most days you will find me in my comfy bathrobe. So when I attend conferences, I like to dress up and I get excited about choosing my clothes. When I say dress up, that means business casual clothes that make you look good but are also comfortable. Got to remember that you will be on your feet all day, so dress comfortably.  Skip the tight clothes and instead wear comfortable pants with cute tops! Make sure you also wear comfortable shoes!

Bring pants that be worn twice
 When I attend conferences, I light to pack light as I want room for my swag! So I bring pants that can be worn more than once and easily match all the tops that I bring. Tops take up less space than pants do. I like wearing my skinny jeans with cute tops! My new Slimsation ankle pants look so awesome but are so comfortable. The best part is you don't have to be skinny to wear them! These are pants that are made for us moms! They have a flexible tummy control panel that hides my tummy bulge that I earned from having five kids. When I wear these fabulous and comfortable pants I look ten pounds lighter! These pants come in so many different styles, patterns, and colors! The pair that I like to bring to my conferences is reversible so I get two different looks from them. One side is a cute animal print and the other is a solid color.

                   
Dress in Layers
 Since most conferences are inside, I like to wear an outfit that has a cute jacket that I can remove if I get warm. The jacket is also good for those cold air-conditioned conference rooms. Layers are also great if the conference is in February like Shiftcon is this year, and it is in a warmer place like Califonia. The days might be warm and the nights will be cold.

Bring comfortable shoes
 You will be walking a lot at conferences so comfy shoes are a must. I like to bring comfortable boots in the winter and sandals in the summer. These cute Oofos were recommended to me by another blogger several years ago and they are ultra comfortable! Fashional ankle boots are also great as they are easy to take off for airport screening.

Bring a dress or two
There are always parties at blogging conferences so make sure to bring a cute dress. This is a time to dress up and have fun as the kids will not be there. This is my me time!

Bring jewelry
 Wearing jewelry with your outfits always makes them look great. I always bring several necklaces and bracelets. My favorite piece of jewelry is my aroma bracelet! This cute piece not only looks great but it allows me to travel with my essential oils. The cute beads on it absorb my favorite essential oil so I can smell it when I need a recharge of energy or a stress reliever.

Bring a swimsuit
If your hotel has a pool, bring a swimsuit. I like to unwind in the hot tub after a long day at the conference. Again, I am without kids for the weekend so I get to relax!

Bring a tote purse or a cute backpack
You will need to carry items and stash some swag so a cute large tote purse is great. I sometimes bring my backpack with me, especially if the conference is not in the hotel that I am staying at. That way I can bring my smaller laptop with me to take notes on. This bag is also great for holding a bottle of water, snacks, phone, and your business cards along with other items you might need. Make sure the bag is comfortable to carry, over the shoulder is best. Leave the small purse at home or the hotel as you might set it down somewhere and misplace it.

                                           This is my conference backpack!

 I just recently attended Shiftcon in California and I was rocking those cute animal print ankle pants that I received from Slimsation. They looked so cute with the new boots that I just had to have for this conference. I love using a conference as an excuse for new clothes! I am glad my husband agrees with me. These pants were so comfortable and they did a great job of hiding my tummy. They felt like leggings but looked like a cute pair of jeans. I think I need a couple more pairs! The hard part is deciding which cute print.

                             

                                               https://slimsation.com/collections/ankle

                            I love how these pants hide my tummy bulge! No spare tire for me!

 While I was in California, I also went to the beach and I wore my cute Slimsation pants. I loved how easy they were to roll up so I could dip my feet into the ocean.