I recently had the opportunity to learn more about Goddess Garden sun care products and I am happy to give you my full review in this post! I also get to give a bottle away to one lucky reader!

Ever since having Xander, John and I have become more aware of the products we use as a family – whether it’s on our skin or in our household. In some cases what we’ve already been using has been great… and in other cases, we are surprised at what we learn! I am happy to tell you I’m very pleased with Goddess Garden sun care products and am happy to add these to our “products we trust” list!

Baby Natural Sunscreen

The only active ingredient is zinc oxide (19%) and all other ingredients are inactive – including a honeysuckle flower extract, that doesn’t provide an overwhelming scent. This sunscreen didn’t feel greasy at all and it didn’t seem bothersome to Xander in the slightest. It has a SPF of 30 and should be reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying.

• Made with completely non-toxic certified organic ingredients and chemical free
• 92% organic ingredients
• Water resistant – SPF 30 broad-spectrum UVA/UVB coverage
• Pediatrician and dermatologist recommended
• Price point: $17.99 for 3.4 ounces
• Direct link: Baby Natural Suncreen

Sunny Body Organic Sunscreen Continuous Spray

Active ingredients consist of zinc oxide (6%) and titanium dioxide (6.4%). There is a light fragrance to this sunscreen due to honeysuckle extract and lavender oil. The lavender was what was noticeable though – and I noticed it immediately compared to the baby sunscreen. This sunscreen didn’t feel greasy at all. It has a SPF of 30 and should be reapplied after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating and immediately after towel drying. Even though this product is called a “continuous spray” I did need to rub it into my skin – you can’t just spray and go.

• 94% certified organic
• Sheer minerals and chemical free
• Mom-made. WBEN certified company
• Non-aerosol container is fully recycle
• Biodegradable, reef-safe, gluten-free, cruelty free, vegan, non-GMO
• Made in the USA
• Price point: $21.99 for 6 ounces
• Direct link: Sunny Body Organic Sunscreen Continuous Spray

The Environmental Working Group rates Goddess Garden products as a 1-2, which is a very safe rating, giving you the piece of mind that your baby and family are using a safe product for your body and the environment.

Products can be purchased online or conveniently at Whole Foods.

Giveaway!

One lucky reader will receive a bottle of Goddess Gardens sunscreen! You can pick the baby, kids, or adult formula (kids product not reviewed in this post). Open to US and Canada.

To enter: leave a comment telling me (1) why you want to win and (2) which formula you would select – adult, kids, or baby! Good luck!

Giveaway closes at 11:59 PM EST on Friday May 24, 2013. Good luck!

When my husband and I first began talking about me being the stay-at-home partner, I never imagined how busy I would be. Caring for our one-year-old daughter, E, takes up the majority of my time. As much as I love being a mother (and wife!), I feel that it is very important for me (and all mamas!) to not forget about myself and the things that I do for me — like fitness and blogging — in the hustle and bustle. It really can be a struggle to find balance and fit it all in but it’s okay for things to be a little imperfect. Things don’t have to be perfect to be amazing!

Planning and flexibility are key for me when it comes to fitting it all in — from housework to running to writing. Having a plan in place, whether it is a chore chart or a workout plan for the week, helps to eliminate any daily guesswork or waffling on what to do any particular day. It’s all already laid out for me! I just need to figure out how to fit it into my day. If the training schedule says run, I start the day thinking about how and when I can find a way to run. Sometimes this means hopping on the treadmill when E naps, sometimes it means hitting a local trail with a friend or two and other times it means pushing E in the jogging stroller through the neighborhood. I love when I can be active with E! A couple of months ago I created a workout that mamas can do with their baby, I am the point person for a stroller workout group that meets once a week and we’re currently enrolled in an aqua mommy exercise class that meets on Fridays. So fun! Blogging is a little less structured but I do try to start each week with a rough idea of posts/topics I wish to write about in the coming days. I find time to blog around everything else, writing when I get a chance. I tend to do a lot of my writing while E plays independently or naps and in the evening while my husband is giving E her bath.

Where does flexibility fit in? Well, having a plan is great but sometimes life just doesn’t fit into the plan. There are days after I have been up all night with a sick baby that I know that I could use a nap more than a run. Some days just don’t go according to plan and that’s okay! When that happens I’m flexible enough to know I can adjust things over the next few days and it will be fine. I find balance by having a plan in place to help me stay on task but by also being flexible enough to deter from the plan when necessary and not let it throw me completely off track. Perfectly imperfect!

Thanks for sharing your fit mama story Holly! I hope you all enjoyed getting to know her! Want to be featured on Fit Mama Friday? Email me 1-3 paragraphs about how you fitness as a busy mom! Please include a horizontal picture as well. Email address: HealthyHeddleston@gmail.com. This series is focusing on mama’s who stay or work from home. My friend Lisa has a Working Mama series for mamas who work away from the home.

What’s Beautiful 3.0 launched just last week and I’m super excited to get involved this year! Together with Under Armour and female athletes across the world, the campaign aims to redefine the female athlete by setting epic goals and pushing past where we’ve ever been and where we thought we could go. Under Armour encourages us to show them our journey. Show them what makes our story one that stands out from the rest. Make goals. Meet goals. Set new ones. Aim bigger, push harder, reach further. Prove to everyone and most importantly yourself, that you can do it.

Many of my FitFluential friends have already written their posts with their goals and here I sat struggling… not knowing what a good goal would be. I have tons of goals for myself… but none of them felt right for this campaign. You see, ever since I PR’ed at the Nike Women’s Half Marathon two weeks ago, I’ve found myself lacking motivation. I think it’s completely common to take a full week off after participating in such an incredible event, but my motivation has yet to resurface. I decided that I would take a simplistic approach with my What’s Beautiful goal, keeping things open to meet any type of goal along the way.

My Goal: I will take it one step at a time. I WILL.

Connect with Me: Katie Heddleston

So whether I workout for 15 minutes or 50 minutes, I will keep moving along, one step at a time. Sometimes this goal will be literal, and sometimes this goal will mean just getting out of bed and reminding myself that I’m awesome – that it’s okay to take things slowly – one step at a time.

Further, What’s Beautiful participants are encouraged to connect with each other by following one another and/or by creating teams. In my personal life, I’ve found great support and motivation among my group of running mom buddies, so I’ve decided to create a team for mamas!

Team Goal: You’re a mama. And you’re awesome. This totally makes you a Mama Rama. The goals of our team is provide a positive network, encouraging each other that being a FIT Mama Rama is one of the best gifts you can give YOURSELF, your FAMILY, and your KIDS. Let’s get it!! I WILL. WE WILL.

Join my Team: Team MAMA RAMA

If you’re a mama (or mama-to-be!) I hope you’ll consider joining!

There’s also a competitive side to What’s Beautiful 3.0. Every week, Under Armour will give away swag bags full of gear, to women who are seriously getting it. There’s a chance to have your profile featured in the “Top Performers” sections – providing an example and encouragement for the rest of the world!

After 8 weeks, 10 finalists who’ve kicked some serious bootay, will be announced. From there, three winners will be flown to Cost Rica to attend a four-day yoga and surf retreat, including lessons by world-class instructors, transformative massages, spa treatments, locally-sources meals prepared by chefs, all while staying in plush accommodations looking over the ocean.

That’s enough to make me declare my goal. Now it’s up to you: What will your goal be? How will you redefine What’s Beautiful? How will you be unstoppable?

14 months is an incredibly fun age! His personality is shining, his mind it working, and he’s developing so quickly. He’s such a mimic and will try to repeat words all the time. His signing is becoming super crisp, and this little guy could eat vegetables all day long. Xander is obsessed with dogs and will bark at live dogs, his stuff animals, and dogs on TV. He loves to climb people, the couch, and his little chair/table set. He knows what he wants and tries to figure out how to get it… even if it’s slightly dangerous. He’s quickly gaining speed and will soon be full out running.

The summer is going to be such fun with my little side kick! He already is obsessed with being outside on the deck – whether we are blowing bubbles or watering the plants. He thrives in swim lessons and I’m excited for summer water activities.

Xander, you are a special little boy and your personality is the best! Daddy and I love watching you grow and development – we know you are already so smart! Love you, Mommy

Here’s a little peek into what we were up to order the past week!

All the grandparents got to see Xander’s personality shine this week. He’s so expressive and is a total mimic. He is also absolutely fascinated with dogs and had a good time playing with his doggie buddies.

Normal posting will resume Monday. Hope you all had a fabulous week!

~Katie