Hot Mom Summer: 'Tis the Season of Sun, Saunas and Self-Care
The Wellness Refinery caught up with some amazing Mamas just in time for Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day is all about celebrating Mother figures around the world and locally. Especially now that the pandemic has changed parenting in a big way, heck..it changed EVERYTHING. People now more than ever are focusing on self care, whether it’s a bubble bath, drinking tea or watching a movie...These local mama’s shared all of their tips and tricks for staying sane during a pandemic and taking care of oneself (while taking care of others!).
Erica Sullivan @mom.e.planner
Creates all natural non toxic cleaning products, safe for children and pets
“I have worn so many hats but for some reason motherhood has always been the thing that kept me afloat”
Neighborhood: Philadelphia - Mt. Airy
Kids: Corey - age 10, Camden - age 9, Cru - age 2
Celebrity Mom muse: “Combine celebrity moms…. Chrissy Teigen & mix of Kourtney Kardashian”
The pandemic has changed parenting in a big way, heck..it changed EVERYTHING. People now more than ever are focusing on self care, whether it’s a bubble bath, drinking tea or watching a movie...
How has the pandemic switched up your self care routine?
“Now that I don't have the time it has drastically changed my self care routine. Mother’s Day feels like Christmas this year because Mother’s have worked over time”
Self care is so important and it’s definitely something we learn to do while we’re growing up. Practicing good hygiene is the one of the fundamentals of self care but it’s also more than that, it’s being in touch with yourself and your body as you grow and learn about the world around you…
Do your kids know what self care is?
“We’re really big on introducing our kids to everything we do” “Making sure they understand taking time for yourself is necessary and needed”
Where do you go when you need 30 minutes of peace and quiet or to treat yourself?
“In the shower”
On Mothers Day Would you Rather…..Breakfast in Bed or Brunch Reservations?
“Brunch at Louis Louis”
Our Smoothie this month is the Matcha Mama it consists of Strawberry, Banana, Coconut Yogurt and Dates blended with the perfect amount of Matcha to perk you up…
As far as caffeine goes are you a Matcha Lover or Coffee fanatic?
“Matcha girl… i drink Matcha almost every day”
We are donating a percentage of sales from our matcha mama smoothie to the Maternity Care Coalition, MCC, an organization that offers a wide range of services to mothers; parenting classes, safe sleep education, providing cribs and diapers, therapy, breastfeeding workshops, Doula programs
How can local businesses support mothers and the community?
“As a mom we see the world in a different way… I can go to the mall but then I have to travel in and out of small doorways that don’t allow me to really fit a stroller through. I wish more small businesses took the time to ask what moms need. How can we make this more accessible to them?”
Deanna Dini @deannadini
Social Media/PR/Digital Marketing Specialist
Neighborhood: Morristown SJ
Kids: Ryan - 2 ½ years old , ~baby on the way due in July
Celebrity Mom muse: “This one is hard. I have more mom muses that are influencers and not necessarily considered your typical celebrities. I love Cat And Nat @CatAndNat - they are so real and tell it like it is when it comes to motherhood”
How has the pandemic switched up your self care routine?
“I read five books during quarantine one of which was one of the longest books I’ve ever read” And keeping up with morning workouts! “This morning I did a 6 AM workout and I felt so much better”
Do your kids know what self care is?
“No he doesn’t but I think he understands when I put on makeup that Mommy is going to work”
Where do you go when you need 30 minutes of peace and quiet or to treat yourself?
“Probably my car”
On Mothers Day Would you Rather…..Breakfast in Bed or Brunch Reservations?
“Brunch Reservations - I love going out to eat! Parc or Talula's Garden”
As far as caffeine goes are you a Matcha Lover or Coffee fanatic?
“Funny because I NEVER drank coffee or anything coffee flavored until quarantine (lock down + a wild toddler will do that). While I occasionally have coffee, teas are still my go-to and I LOVE matcha!”
We are donating a percentage of sales from our matcha mama smoothie to the Maternity Care Coalition, MCC, an organization that offers a wide range of services to mothers; parenting classes, safe sleep education, providing cribs and diapers, therapy, breastfeeding workshops, Doula programs
How can local businesses support mothers and the community?
“By donating to organizations like MCC!”
Dana Allen @indiedreams
“I am very holistic, I am very interested in herbalism and plant life, I am a practitioner of yoga and I am mom”
Neighborhood: Point Breeze, South Philadelphia
Kids: Noah age 16, Cole age 4, Kahlo age 2
Celebrity Mom muse: Ciara
How has the pandemic switched up your self care routine?
“It went from something that was materialistic to something that’s become very basic and super intentional… self care is being by myself in my bathroom and just brushing my teeth”
Do your kids know what self care is?
“My 16 year old is getting more familiar with the aspect of self care… it’s about doing things that make you feel good and if you don’t think anybody is gonna like it or no one else is doing it it doesn’t matter” “With my younger kids we’ve been focusing on hygiene”
“When I talk to my kids now it's not a ‘you have to do this because I said so’ it’s more so ‘don’t you want a clean house? Clean houses make us feel good.’”
Where do you go when you need 30 minutes of peace and quiet or to treat yourself?
“I’m not even saying this because I’m doing this blog for you guys... the infrared sauna is literally my sanctuary” “When she [Ashleigh] finally re-opened during the pandemic I was ecstatic”
On Mothers Day Would you Rather have Breakfast in Bed or Brunch Reservations?
“Brunch reservations - Parc!”
As far as caffeine goes are you a Matcha Lover or Coffee fanatic?
“Coffee - my blood is probably about 75% coffee hahaha”
“When I drink matcha I feel like it sustains me a little bit more than coffee though”
We are donating a percentage of sales from our matcha mama smoothie to the Maternity Care Coalition, MCC, an organization that offers a wide range of services to mothers; parenting classes, safe sleep education, providing cribs and diapers, therapy, breastfeeding workshops, Doula programs etc.
How can local businesses support mothers and the community?
“I feel privileged that I have a car… [businesses can] think more about areas where there is that disadvantage, maybe you're a business in Graduate Hospital you’re close enough to the neighborhoods like Point Breeze and Newbold, so, can you do pop ups? Can you lower the cost of whatever you're offering?”
“Providing more education… [for example] intro classes so people understand what it is your business is about and why it would be good for them”
Erika Lundy @erikalundywellness
Erika, is a holistic pregnancy and postpartum health coach and our smoothie partner (our Matcha Mama) for this month!
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse
Kids: Levi - 1 ½ years old
Celebrity Mom muse:
“I remember being pregnant at the same time as Shay Mitchell and she took this amazing breast feeding picture a few weeks after when she was on set”
How has the pandemic switched up your self care routine?
“A happy momma equals a happy baby” “Yes, the [kids] do come first but I know I'm the best version of myself when I’m taking care of myself”
Do your kids know what self care is?
“I encourage him [Levi] to feel his feelings and take deep breaths...We have this book called The Little Monkey Calms Down and it’s about this little monkey who drops his ice cream and he starts getting mad and sad and angry and it says ‘it’s okay little monkey it's okay to cry’ or ‘calm down monkey cuddle with your blanket and take a deep breath’ and then we take a deep breath together”
Where do you go when you need 30 minutes of peace and quiet or to treat yourself?
“I go for a walk and put my baby in the stroller and listen to a podcast”
On Mothers Day Would you Rather have breakfast in Bed or Brunch Reservations?
“Last year was my first Mother’s Day and we were quarantining with my sister. It was a really nice day and I just loved being home all and being outside”
Our Smoothie this month is the Matcha Mama (Thank you Erika!). It consists of Strawberry, Banana, Coconut Yogurt and Dates blended with the perfect amount of Matcha to perk you up… as far as caffeine goes are you a Matcha Lover or Coffee fanatic?
“Pre kids I was just Matcha. I would come into the Wellness Refinery and get the Matcha Glow. Now I need coffee in the morning and then in the afternoon I’ll do a matcha pick-me-up.”
We are donating a percentage of sales from our matcha mama smoothie to the Maternity Care Coalition, MCC, an organization that offers a wide range of services to mothers; parenting classes, safe sleep education, providing cribs and diapers, therapy, breastfeeding workshops, Doula programs etc.
How can local businesses support mothers and the community?
“Doing what Ashleigh’s doing with this smoothie and donating to local nonprofit organizations”