9 Gifts to Treat Yourself, Mom!

Invest in yourself with these gifts for YOU!

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Around this time of year, moms spend a LOT of time thinking about gifts for other people. There’s parents, siblings, nieces & nephews, friends, husbands, coworkers … and, of course, the big one — kids. I bet you’ve already looked at about a dozen gift guides by now, haven’t you? (Shameless plug — make you sure you check out my lists for toddlers and preschoolers that won’t be a waste of money!)

But have you given any thought to what you should give yourself? Maybe you and your husband don’t exchange gifts (we don’t – we buy something we need or want for the house). Or maybe your budget is tight and you don’t want to “waste” part of it on yourself. Or maybe … you think it’s selfish to get something for yourself.

But Momma – you deserve to treat yourself every once in awhile, and what better time than Christmas!

But if you’re feeling guilty about the thought of gifting yourself something for Christmas, then get something practical. Something that’s going to pour into you, or enrich your life in some way. Don’t think of it is buying yourself a present — think of it as an investment in your life and family.

I’ve put together a list of 9 gifts to invest in yourself. There are a few products and a few courses, but all of them will make your life, your body, and your family a little bit better. These gifts are for YOU, ladies, but don’t feel guilty! Your family will thank you for them, too.

9 Gifts to Invest in Yourself

MuTu System

If you’ve had babies, and your tummy still isn’t what it used to be (or your pelvic floor — aka the reason you have to cross your legs when you sneeze), then you might have a diastasic recti that never healed postpartum. I discovered I did after I had my first baby, and it only got worse after my second.

(Read my post to learn more about a diastasic recti, how I discovered I had one, and how you can know if you have one, too.)

After I had my second child and diet and exercise were just not cutting it, I decided to give the MuTu System a try.

The MuTu System is a comprehensive diet and exercise program designed to strengthen your core, improve pelvic floor function, and help you achieve a strong, fit body. The goal is to help moms lose the “mummy tummy,” regardless of how long ago they had their babies. The main objective is to help correct a diastasis recti, but it also targets pelvic floor function, overall core health, and weight loss through healthy food choices.

I did the 12 we ek program, and I saw definitive results (and since it was a comprehensive lifestyle change rather than a quick fix, the results just keep coming!). I would recommend this program to anyone looking to strengthen their core, improve their pelvic floor function, make lasting changes to their overall health, and … yes … lose the “mummy tummy.”

You can learn more about the MuTu System and how it helped put my body back together HERE.

Why It’s an Investment

I don’t think it’s selfish at all to spend time and money on your health. This system will make you stronger, help your body function better, prevent issues stemming from a weak core and connective tissue, and improve your body confidence.

This benefits your whole family because a strong, happy, confident mom (and wife!) is good for everyone!

I’m not going to lie — this system is a bit pricey. If you have the budget for it, though, I think it’s well worth the cost.

Start the program now!
Make Over Your Mornings course

Oh mornings … the test of every mom’s patience and often the most stressful part of the day. Breakfast debacles, frenzied preparations, and last-minute scrambles for shoes, coats, bags, lunches … By the time you get out the door, you are often already worn out for the day.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! Thanks to Crystal Paine’s 14-day Make Over Your Mornings course (and her Make Over Your Evenings course, as well), I am reclaiming my mornings, restoring peace, and starting my day off well. (For more information about the course and what it did for me, read my post How I’m Accomplishing More By Doing Less).

This course is incredible, doesn’t take a lot of time each day, and is super affordable! (and even more affordable this weekend — keep reading to learn why!) It is low in cost, but high in value.

Taking the Make Over Your Mornings course will not only benefit you — your goals, your life, your sanity — but those benefits will spill over to your entire family. ‘Cause when Momma’s stressed … well, that’s just not a fun place to live. Trust me, your husband and kids will be thanking you for taking this course by the end of the 14 days.
Other courses from Crystal Paine

If you’ve already taken Make Over Your Mornings, or think you might want to, you might also want to consider her other courses.

Make Over Your Evenings – This is the first course I took from her, and I loved it. It helped me restore some balance in my evenings and helped me use them to their full potential (including time for me!!).

Grocery U – This is a FANTASTIC course for learning how to save money on groceries. If your food budget is out of control, or you simply want to learn a few new tricks for reigning in this oftentimes “budget killer,” then this is a course I highly recommend.

Make Over Your Year – I have not taken this course, but I’ve heard really good things about it (and Crystal’s courses are always amazing). Now would be the perfect time as we’re finishing this year and heading into the next. Start 2018 right with Make Over Your Year

15 Days to a Healthier You – I have this course, but have not completed it yet. So I can’t speak from experience about it. But I do know that she recently revamped it and brought it back for purchase because she had so many people asking for it, so I’m excited to take it!
Live Simply Real Food Planning Challenge

I’ve been a big fan of Live Simply for a while now, and when I spotted her Real Food Planning Challenge, I was intrigued. When I saw that it was only $8.99, I jumped at the chance to up my real food game.

The Real Food Planning Challenge is an ebook workbook packed with tips, tricks, and tools for stocking, planning, shopping, and preparing real food. There are step-by-step instructions, recipes, shopping guides, time-saving tips and tricks, and LOTS of cute printables. If you’re interested in feeding your family a healthy real food diet, this is the course for you. Whatever is currently holding you back, whether it’s time, cost, or simply lack of know-how, Kristin has the solution for you.

Why You Should Consider It

Good for you – after taking this course, you’ll be a more organized, less overwhelmed, and more joyful homemaker

Good for your family – this course will help you feed your family well, improve their health, and give them a less stressed-out momma

Good for your wallet – Kristin will teach you how to cook real food on a budget, so you can support your family’s long-term health without sacrificing your budget elsewhere. Plus, at under $10, the course is super affordable!
Roomba

Now we’re getting to my favorite splurges for moms – the ones that might seem costly up front, but will pay off big in the long-run.

First up – the Roomba!

This little guy is my new best friend. I absolutely love him, and would not want to go back to the days without him. We now have reasonably clean floors every day (and with a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, that’s saying something!!), and I DON’T HAVE TO VACUUM EVERY DAY! Woo-hoo!!

We got our Roomba last year for Christmas (my mom got it during Black Friday sales, so watch for those!), and it changed our house AND our marriage. No, I’m serious. You see, my husband was getting a little tired of coming home to dirty floors, and I was tired of him expecting me to vacuum every day. Round and round we went … until the Roomba solved our marital woes. Now all is happy (and clean) in the Mullen house.

You can read my full review, including my best advice, tips, and tricks, HERE.
Instant Pot

Next up – the Instant Pot!

Now, I’ve been hearing from a few people lately that they don’t use their Instant Pot much, and to that I say (and have literally said), “Whaaaat??” I use mine several times a week, and I love it.

I make the majority of our food from scratch, and the Instant Pot saves me so much time. I can make dried beans in an hour and a half, apple sauce in half an hour, and chicken stock in just over an hour! It also makes the tenderest, juiciest, most fall-off-the-bone meat you will ever eat, and seals in all the flavors of the food you make. Plus, it’s one of the most nutritional ways to cook food. But the BEST thing about it is that I can safely cook food from frozen in it … because I’m kind of known for forgetting to thaw. 😉

You can read more about why I love my Instant Pot HERE. And come back Monday for another post of my favorite Instant Pot recipes!

This time of year is full of gift guides, trips to the mall, and (if you’re like me) surfing the Internet in your jammies at home. But I hope you take a minute to think about what you’re going to do to treat yourself this year for Christmas. Don’t think of it as buying yourself a gift, but rather making an investment in your personal well-being and the happiness of your family. Merry Christmas, Momma!