Lifestyle

One of the hardest things for me as a mom, is saving money. With a little girl and another girl on the way, there is always always always something to spend money on. Apart from the living expenses, there's adorable tutus, hair products, dance lessons, etc. As a result, my savings account kind of tends to fall by the wayside. Which is not good and leads to a ton of anxiety and stress. Anxiety and stress are two things I am always actively trying to stamp out of my life. These two things lead to headaches, high blood pressure, and a ton of other health impairments. Personally, it makes me tense, lowers my vibration, produces negativity, and causes more harm than good. Basically, I need to get better at saving.

I found this incredible app called Qapital. This is how it works:

1. Download the app.

2. Set up savings goals. I have two savings goals right now; Rainy Day and Travel. When you set up your goals, you also put how much you want to save.

3. Set up your saving rule for each goal. The rules are so creative and make it super easy to save without having to think about it or even do anything. One of the rules is it'll round up your everyday purchases to the nearest dollar and put the change in your savings. Another really cool one, is called guilty pleasure. Every time you spend at a location you choose (for me, it's Trader Joe's), Qapital will automatically transfer $10 to your savings. Since I shop at Trader Joe's so often, I can see my savings adding up quickly without me having to do anything out of my regular routine!

4. Link your bank account. 

5. Watch your savings grow!

Your Qapital account is FDIC-insured and uses bank level security to keep your money and data safe, which is awesome. My favorite thing about this app is that there are no monthly fees, no annual fees, and no minimum deposits! Thank goodness. It grinds my gears when apps try to get you in with a free trial and then start charging you the next month. Also, there are free transfers from your savings to your bank account. Basically, I can't find the bad here. 

Get $5 towards your savings goal, when you use this link!

Thank me later. 

*This post is not sponsored. This is an app I personally use and love. It does contain an affiliate link, meaning I get a little love if you use it. However, you also get $5 if you use it, so win win. 

1. Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil is life. There are so many household, skin, hair, and nutritional uses for it! I personally use it primarily for our hair and skin. We use it on our bodies day and night as a moisturizer instead of any conventional lotion. We also have naturally curly hair that tends to dry out and frizz and putting coconut oil in it adds a ton a moisture. We do scalp massages with coconut oil to promote healthy hair growth and it works like magic! Another magical use for coconut oil is oil pulling. Oil pulling helps naturally whiten teeth, freshens breath, and draws out toxins from your body. Just take a spoonful of coconut oil, swish it around your mouth for 10-20 minutes, and spit it out in the trash can. Don't spit it down the drain since coconut oil is a solid in cooler temperatures. In the kitchen, I add this oil to smoothies and my coffee. It is able to withstand high temperatures which makes it a great oil for cooking with. It's been known to cure UTI's, prevent high blood pressure, boost immune systems because it's antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-viral, improve digestion, help with eczema, prevent gum disease, and on and on and on. Seriously, I could go on all day about this stuff! Coconut oil has a shelf life of 2 years and does not need to be refrigerated so it's very convenient. I always have at least 3 jars of this stuff around the house. I keep one in the kitchen, one in the shower, and one next to the bathroom sink. 
I personally use the Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, 15 Ounce  from Amazon. Trader Joe's also has a triple filtered coconut oil that has no coconut taste or scent that I like to pick up. This one is great as a moisturizer in case you don't want to smell like a walking coconut 24/7. Or if you don't particularly like the taste of coconut, that one would be great to cook with as well. 


2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is plant from the succulent family. It has a ton of benefits for your skin and hair. Rub the gel on your skin to soothe sunburns, moisturize, reduce acne, and lighten dark marks. Rub it in your hair to prevent dandruff and to promote hair growth. Personally, we use it a ton in the summer. I rub it on my daughters skin after she's been in the sun for long periods of time to soothe the skin. I also rub it on bug bites. The vitamins and minerals in it soothe itching and reduce inflammation. I definitely rub it on our scalps as another way to promote hair growth and soothe any itching or dry scalp areas. Every so often, I'll use it as a moisturizer on my face. It is so cool and calming to the skin and feels amazing! You can get Aloe Vera stalks at Whole Foods or invest in your own Aloe Vera plant. It's an air purifying plant, btw! They are a succulent so they are an easy houseplant to have. If you buy the gel in a bottle it will have a couple additives to prolong it's shelf life but make sure to store it in the fridge. 


3. Rose Water
This is probably my most favorite essential on the list! Research shows that Cleopatra used this in her beauty regimen. I spray rose water on myself like 10 times per day. Rose water is super beneficial to the skin. It helps skin retain it's pH balance, it's anti-inflammatory, it's anti-bacterial, it's a mood enhancer, keeps away fine lines and wrinkles, and so much more. It is also great for the hair as it's a natural conditioner, helps with dandruff, and yes, helps with hair growth. Personally, I use it as facial toner after I cleanse my face. I also fill up a spray bottle with 3/4 water and 1/4 rose water and spray it on our hair when adding extra moisture. Using this same spray bottle, I spray it on my face and skin to soothe the skin, soak in those benefits, feel rejuvenated, and smell like a rose! I love the Rose Water Toner - 100% Organic Natural Moroccan Rosewater (Chemical Free) - 4 oz from Amazon. I also really love the "PURE Rose" Drinkable Bulgarian Rose Water from Royal Sense. 

4. Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Castor Oil is a curly girl essential for sure! If you have curly hair, go get some castor oil. JBCO is rich in omega-9 fatty acids which help prevent your hair from drying out. It also has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. It's most notable benefit is it helps with hair loss and seriously promotes hair growth. I do scalp massages and hot oil treatments on our hair using JBCO. It can help with detangling hair as well as approving the appearance of spilt ends. I also rub it on my eyebrows and eyelashes.  Tropic Isle Living- Jamaican Black Castor Oil-8oz Plastic PET Bottle can be found on Amazon. 

5. Rosehip Oil
Rosehip Oil may actually tie with RoseWater as my favorite essential. I give this product ALL the credit for clearing up dark marks and hyperpigmentation on my skin. Seriously, this stuff is like magic. Everyone's skin is different but it only took a few weeks for me to start seeing results. I just put a drop or two of the oil on the dark area and pat it into the skin with the pads of my fingers. I also put a drop on my hand and mix it with my daily moisturizer in the morning and rub it into my face that way. When a pimple or blackhead goes away on my face, a dark mark tends to linger for quite some time and the rosehip oil seriously helps with that. I also use it on my daughters scratches or anything that leaves a dark mark behind. It works even quicker on her super young skin. I personally use and LOVE the Teddie Organics Rosehip Seed Essential Oil, 1 fl. oz. from Amazon. A great thing about oils is they last for a good six months or more since you're only using a few drops per day. 

6. Chia Seeds
I love chia seeds because they're small and discreet and I can easily sneak them into our food without anyone noticing. I cook eggs with them and they look like pepper so my daughter doesn't question it. Little does she know I'm sneaking in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, iron, and calcium. I also add these miraculous little seeds to our smoothies and salads. I will add it to my own water and drink it when it sprouts and gets that really cool, filling jelly-like texture. Putting it in water helps curb your appetite, adds nutrition to the water, and makes drinking it a little more interesting. Chia seeds are also a pregnancy super food because of the omega-3s! I buy the  BetterBody Foods Organic Chia Seeds from Amazon and it lasts foreverrrrr. Another way to eat chia seeds is to make a chia seed pudding. The Neurotic Mommy has a good cherry chia seed pudding recipe.

7. Air Purifying plants
It's essential to purify the air in your home because of all the hidden impurities that household products give off. According to NASA, indoor air is more polluted than outdoor air. NASA conducted a study that demonstrated the ability of particular plants to purify the air. Some of the best air purifying plants are English Ivy, Pothos, Fern, Dracaena, Bamboo Palm, Peace Lily, Spider Plant and Snake Plant. These plants, among others, remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia from the air.   In our home, we have a Peace Lily (named Lily), a Dracaena (named Draco Malfoy), a Snake Plant (named Snake), a Pothos Plant (named Lovie), and a Spider Plant (named Einstein). Yes, we named our plants. I honestly feel like naming and talking to your plants helps them grow! In my experience the easiest plants to care for are the Peace Lily, the Snake Plant, and the Spider Plant. The Peace Lily tells you when it wants to be water by dropping it's leaves. When it's watered, the leaves go back up! The Snake Plant is old faithful and can withstand long periods without water. I've seriously forgotten about watering it for weeks at a time, and it's perfectly fine! The Spider Plant can also withstand low light and periods without water. If you have pets or small children, keep these plants high up and out of reach. A lot of these plants are poisonous when ingested.

8. Spray Bottle
Spray bottles are just super handy. I use one for my rosewater/water mixture and keep it by the bathroom sink. I also use another that's simply filled with water to mist our plants whenever I feel like they need a good misting. You can also use these if you DIY your own cleaning products. You can get these Tolco Empty Spray Bottle 8 oz. Frosted Assorted Colors (Pack of 3) from Amazon. If you twist the top a small amount, a misting spray will come out. If you twist the top quite a bit, the liquid will shoot out in one stream. 

9. Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap
Dr. Bronner is my homie. I love love love this soap. If you have extra time on your hands, read the bottle. It's like a novel but it gives you a lot of information about the product. What I like most about this product is that it is primarily made up of  organic oils, it comes in a ton of different scents, and it lasts foreverr. It's organic and fair trade so it's environmentally friendly. I also love how easily it lathers! It's super concentrated so you should dilute it with water when using it as a bath soap or shampoo. We use it as a shampoo, hand soap, body wash, and dish soap. I love the rose scent! I also love this Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - Peppermint 32oz because when using it as a shampoo it makes your scalp tingly, and I like that. 

10. Shea Butter
Last but not least, shea butter ya'll. Shea butter is great for moms (or just women in general) because it's great for stretch marks and is gentle enough for baby skin. It helps repair cracked skin, chapped lips, and it also soothes sore muscles! It can also be used as a moisturizer for hair. I personally use it primarily for rubbing on my growing baby bump and areas that have old stretch marks. Sometimes, we'll use it as a lotion. I love the Ivory Shea Butter, 100% All Natural by Raw Apothecary . It is 100% natural, additive free, and comes in cute packaging that looks good in the bathroom. The smell is something you have to get used to which is why I don't use it as a body lotion more often. It sort of has a strong chocolatey scent.


Those are my hippie mom essentials! What essentials do you guys keep in your homes??

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a little love if you make a purchase using the link. All opinions are 100% my own!