Couples Love Dare Challenge (this FEB!)

What if THIS Valentines day, instead of heart shaped chocolates or over-priced flowers, you were gifted something so much more sustaining and LIFE-GIVING! An opportunity to commit alongside your partner to spending the entire month of February being INTENTIONAL about three key areas in your life: Your HEALTH, your FAITH & the opportunity to create INTENTION around CONNECTING with your partner on a DAILY basis.

As parents of THREE (2 of which are two and under) we know how FAST the days fly by and how quickly we can lose track around how much QUALITY time we are spending together & before we know it, a disconnect in our communication leads to frustration and resentment that inevitably pulls us apart from being the POWER COUPLE we feel CALLED to be!

Listen, we are doing this challenge just as much for ourselves as we are for YOU, so we are by no means GURUS, but we have worked together for the past 7 years and have been in a relationship for nearly 11 and I speak for both of us here, but I believe we are in the BEST part of our marriage TODAY, not because we are perfect and have it all together, but because we've learned to be intentional about communicating our desires and needs as well as keep God at the center of every decision we make!

We would love for you to consider locking arms and jumping in WITH US all FEB to connect with other like-minded and growth-oriented couples, as well as zero in on EACH OTHER and growing as the POWER HOUSE team you were designed to become! You in? Drop your deets in the application below to be considered!

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MY 10 BABY MUST-HAVES!

I've received lots of requests to do a FAV THINGS list when it comes to NEWBORN BABY ESSENTIALS, and seeing as how I've had not one, but TWO babies in a 2 year period... I thought, ya know... I do have some hands on experience now to give solid advice! Haha!

I talked it out with my hubs last night and we came up with a list of 15 things we are SOOOOOO thrilled we invested in and linked them all below to help future parents know WHAT'S UP! Hope it helps!

#1 - Mumbelli Baby Sleeper/lounger: $129
Guys, this thing has been LIFE for our fam! Both of our girls (prior to Liam) suffered from TERRIBLE acid reflux issues... and I cannot say FOR SURE that this bed is what cause Liam not to suffer, but the reason I chose it in place of the VERY POPULAR Doc-a-tot is because it comes with a wedge insert that helps elevate the baby a bit to aide in the prevention of reflux. (& trust me when I say, you want to avoid acid reflux at ALL COSTS!)

The bed is super comfy for baby and has an adjustable strap insert that allows for the bed to comfortably sleep your newborn as he or she grows! He is 11 weeks and still chilling it in :)

#2 - Soft Tile Foam Play Mat: $120
OK, so I realize you can get a play mat for less, but you guys... once your baby is a couple months old this thing is out ALL THE TIME, so unless you have a designated playroom where you don't have to see it... having a PRETTY play mat is WELL worth it! My 21 month old still plays on ours DAILY (& it doubles as a very comfortable workout mat for us! haha! Don't worry, we sanitize after!) This is the mat we have! It's well made, super cute & pretty darn durable!

#3 - Baby Tula Free-to-Grow Carrier: $159
This item has single handedly changed my life with Liam! With having Madi just 18 months earlier, I had pretty much GIVEN UP on baby wearing! The two I had were SO uncomfortable and even though it was convenient to have both hands free, I could only wear him for 15-20 minutes before my shoulders were KILLING ME! That is, until I had someone recommend the TULA, and late one night while on Amazon I decided to give it a go! UMM... I cannot express how SHOCKED I've been at how much WE BOTH LOVE IT! It is the KEY to getting him to fall asleep or relax if he's upset and it's the only way I get anything done with having a babe that loooooves to be held and snuggled! Haha! We both get the best of BOTH worlds now! :)

#4 - Love to Dream Swaddles: $29.95
We call this our SQUIRREL SUIT because they look like little flying squirrels with them on, haha! Beyond the fact that these swaddles are super CUTE, they have been a FAV of both Madi & Liam because they can have their hands up while still being tightly swaddled so that they don't wake from their startle reflex! We buy them as shower gifts all of the time!

#5 - Burts Bees Pajamas: $12.95
Whoever keeps making these button or snap pajamas OBVIOUSLY does NOT have any kids, because seriously, ain't NOBODY got time for THAT... no matter HOW cute the print! These are our absolute FAV PJs for both boys and girls from newborn to 12 months! They are SOFT, have a GREAT fit to them, stylish prints available and MOST importantly, they are ZIPPER PJs!!! You honestly don't need to buy anything else from newborn to 3 months if you want to keep it simple!

#6 - Nanit Baby Monitor: $270.99
We now have two of these (one for each baby) and I love that I can view everything from my cell phone and not have to worry about carrying around a monitor! It's also nice when traveling or away from the house, because I get notifications when they are put to bed and can watch them sleep! The only thing that would be on my WISH LIST with this one is that they would allow for split screen to have BOTH babies up at once rather than having to click a drop down to choose the one I want to see... BUT, other than that, we love it! Great camera image, push notifications and dependability.

#7 - Carter's Baby Clothing Sets: $69.99 for 15pc set (to much much less!)
After having these two babes back to back I've realized that until your baby is 6mo + there really is NO USE in buying anything but Burts Bees Jammies or Carter's baby clothing sets! They spit up on everything and grow like WEEDS! Why waste money (unless there is a photoshoot going down! haha!) Carter's has definitely stepped it up with the cute patterns they have available and the quality is pretty solid for the price you pay! I've been thoroughly impressed and highly recommend!

#8 - Little Bipsy Clothing Boutique: CODE: Linds15 for 15% off!
Speaking of photoshoot ready... This boutique has thee MOST ADORABLE fashion for boys I have yet to come across!B We don't dress him in it daily... but when we want to turn him into a little show stopper... we slip him into one of their pieces and homeboy is stopping the ladies in their tracks! I loved their stuff so much that I contacted the company to see if I could get a discount code for you and they obliged! YAY! (CODE: Linds15)

#9 - Baby Night Light: $15.95
I realize it may seem ODD to have a simple NIGHT LIGHT a part of my TOP 10 items for our newborn, but this little gift from my bestie, Amanda, happens to be the gift that keeps on giving! Not only is it adorable, but the light is adjustable and does not need to be plugged in! SO you can move the light around with you & press and hold to adjust to the perfect amount of light for nighttime feedings and diaper changes! Bright enough for you to see baby, but dim enough not to wake them more than need be to get the job DONE! #WINNING

#10 - BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss: $249.99
OK, lemme be honest, when I first found this item online it was during a DESPERATE phase of discontentment with Madi at about 4 months old. She was struggling with reflux, hated to be strapped into ANYTHING and had me pulling out my hair to try and find some sort of life balance! (AKA - I was desperate and would try anything) I remember seeing the price of thing bouncer and thinking, "WHYYY would this be so expensive? It looks so BASIC!" (but like I said, I was DESPERATE, so I gave it a go anyway) -- and it IS BASIC, but also BASICALLY AMAZING! lol! She loved it and would stay content in it while I worked at my home desk and bounced her softly with my foot! Hallelujah! We just brought it out for Liam and he seems to love it as well!

(ADD ON that we love: This Playtime Stroller Arch that can clamp onto anything *including the bouncer* and provide them stimulation and amusement!)

This list could go on and on, because we have lots of FAVS we have found along the way, but when it comes to babies from NEWBORN to 6 months, these were my TOP PICKS for more regular use! Hope they help! If you decide to try one, share your thoughts and experience with me (& OTHERS!) Us mommas have to be each other's SUPPORT & ENCOURAGEMENT and rather than pointing fingers at what we may not do "right" or "alike", let's instead share what's WORKING and HELPING US in hopes it helps another momma as well! #TOGETHERweareBETTER

*Some of the links above are affiliate links & I can earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if purchased, however ALL of the above listed are products I use regularly and am absolutely passionate about & was not paid to promote! :) I will ONLY ever share things I use and love.*

God doesn't CALL the QUALIFIED, He QUALIFIES the CALLED!

This is post for ALL those out there who QUESTION if YOU have what it takes to succeed… 

It's for those who wonder if their PAST will define and determine their FUTURE…

It's meant for the person out there who feels like ALL of the odds are stacked against them… THEY know WHY they want their dreams, but have no clue HOW they will make them happen…

It's for the UNDERDOGS, the OUTCASTS, the LONERS, the DREAMERS, the BLACK SHEEP, and the people out there who feel like NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THEM.

I am here to tell you that I felt ALL of those same feelings… I was and am a normal girl who had BIG DREAMS sown into my soul that NO ONE else understood or really supported… and EVERYTHING about my past said there was NO WAY I would succeed if I pursued those dreams…

But yet, that still, small voice in my head kept whispering that ONE DAY I would achieve things greater than even I could imagine if I only trusted God to take control and set my crooked path, straight.

In 2010, after losing EVERYTHING monetary to bankruptcy, I fell to my knees and gave God FULL control, I stopped listening to the opinions of others… and stopped trying to explain my dreams… I ejected the tape in my mind that constantly played all the reasons why I wasn't GOOD ENOUGH… and I set forth on a path my heart said I was meant for… in that time, I have faced MANY a failure… I have had people hurt and disappoint me, I've fallen to my knees and considered turning around and going back to what is comfortable many times… but through it all, I leaned on God and He always provided enough for me to keep going.

Today, I have a responsibility… it is my PURPOSE to get as many people to realize THEIR PURPOSE and then have the GUTS to pursue it! I sit here looking at these pictures of a little girl who knew all along she was made for much more than average, but somewhere along the way, she had FEAR implanted in her by those who didn't SEE what she saw… and it held her back from God's purpose for her life for far too long…

I KNOW, like I know, like I KNOW that YOU are called to GREATNESS and a purpose that will blow your mind with it's IMPACT on the world around you… if only you dare to take the first steps in faith and let God take the reigns from there! <3

#BelievingBIGthingsforyou!

STOP the MOM Judgement Cycle!

Can we talk about MOM-JUDGEMENT for a sec?!

It is BY FAR the thing that gets under my skin the MOST right now!

Listen peeps: There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between wanting to offer someone advice out of love based on your own experiences and criticizing someone because the way they choose to do it is not the way YOU would choose to do it.

A.) If you have tips that you think the person would find helpful or even questions or concerns about the way they choose to do something -- DON'T POST IT PUBLICLY where it will come across as CRITICISM, respectfully PRIVATE message them! To ME, that is the difference between sharing your experience and trying to educate vs self-righteous lecturing to SHAME someone.

B.) Remember, this is SOCIAL MEDIA -- You are only seeing but a snippet of someone's life! You know but 1/20th of the story and why someone makes the parenting choices they do! Don't be so quick to assume you know the other 95% of the story by making up your own version!

C.) TREAT OTHERS HOW {YOU} WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED!!! Come on mommies... aren't WE the ones who are supposed to be passing on and PREACHING this GOLDEN RULE??? Can we not give each other some grace, a little bit of the benefit of the doubt??? You know... assume we LOVE our children just as much as the next mom and are all just trying to do our BEST with the cards we've been dealt?

MOMMAS... I WILL NOT JUDGE YOU...

If you want to publicly breast feed your kid till they are 5...
or if you decide not to breast feed at all...

If you co-sleep until your children are teenagers...
or if you put them in a crib from the time they come home from the hospital...

If you give birth at your home using a doula all natural...
or if you get an epidural at 2 centimeters...
or If you have a c-section...

If you snap back right after having your baby... or if it takes you a decade...

If you soothe your baby skin to skin or in a swing... or with essential oils... or in a techie bassinet ;-)

If you decide to cloth diaper or use an organic brand or if you use an off-brand generic that makes them easier to afford...

If you decide to be a stay at home mom or if you have to put your infant in childcare to provide for your family...

There is FAR TOO MUCH that we as mommies can find in COMMON, one being the UNWAVERING LOVE we have for our children & the other being the experience of knowing just how CHALLENGING it is to play the role of MOM no matter HOW you choose to do so, to be focused on criticizing the few things we decide to do differently!

You wanna know what I think is the MOST IMPORTANT part of being a GREAT mom??? MODELING the behavior we'd like for our children to display as adults! Showing them BY EXAMPLE how to treat others with respect, give GRACE, exemplify what it means to build others up and add value to society! THAT is what THIS momma is focused on --- Who is with me?!

FAQs of The Ultimate RESET & my POSTPARTUM rebound!

FAQs of The Ultimate RESET & my POSTPARTUM rebound!

GUYS! I am SO excited to share some answers to questions I've been receiving since starting the Ultimate Reset on December 1st as a way to kick-off my postpartum journey towards reclaiming my PRE-BABY body (& honestly, even MORE important -- get my hormones and health back in order after enduring all of the craziness that comes with carrying a baby for 9 months!)

As much as I would LOVE to be able to answer every single question sent by each specific individual, at the end of the day, I am only a couple of weeks postpartum and have a newborn in tow pretty much all day, er'day! lol! So this FAQ is my attempt to be able to get you the answers you are looking for! I hope it helps! 

*If you have a question that is NOT answered, feel free to message me at LMatway@yahoo.com*

Here we goooooo!

What IS The Ultimate Reset?

The Ultimate Reset is the all-natural alternative to harsh "cleanses" and starvation diets that helps return your body to optimal health—naturally. It helps to restore your energy, support a healthy mood & maximize your health with a combination of supplements and a set meal plan that incorporates the use of fresh fruits, vegetables and other whole foods. There are THREE phases, each phase slowly cuts out animal proteins, grains, and dairy to give your body the opportunity to heal and return to its peak state!

I have personally completed it 4 times over the past 4 years and make it a point to do once per year because of all of the benefits that come along with it!

Can you do the Ultimate Reset while PREGNANT?

I was advised by the creator of the Ultimate Reset that it is NOT safe to do while pregnant. Your body is undergoing SO MANY changes already! Best to wait until AFTER! :)

Can you do the Ultimate Reset while breast feeding?

I am not the end all authority on whether or not doing the U.R. is a good option for YOU, however after doing lots of research and reaching out to one of the creators of the Ultimate Reset for advice on how I could complete it safely, I decided to personally do the Ultimate Reset while breast feeding, however if you decide to give it a go, there are important modifications that you need to implement in order to make it safe for your little one AND keep your milk supply up in the process.

#1 - There are multiple ALL-NATURAL supplements you take while doing the Ultimate Reset. I am taking all but ONE, the Detox solution you are supposed to take during week 2. Reason being, detoxing while nursing can cause those toxins to be released into your breast milk, which you obviously do not want! 

#2 - You need to add in extra calories to make up for the approximate 500 extra calories that breast feeding burns per day to keep your milk supply plentiful. Again, I am no lactation specialist, so I cannot tell you for a FACT that your supply will neither increase or decrease while doing the Reset. I am just sharing what I am personally doing during MY journey -- and 9 days in, has worked great! 

HOW AM I GETTING IN THE EXTRA CALORIES?

For the MOST part I have added in extra calories through consuming larger portions & adding a banana and scoop of all-natural fresh pressed peanut butter to my daily Shakeology, however I am making it a point to LISTEN TO MY BODY! Some days I am EXTRA hungry and need to add in additional snacks, which I pull from the approved food list for each phase listed in the meal plan guide included with the program.

What do meals on the Ultimate Reset look like?

Here are a few pictures of some of the meals to give you an idea! :)

Is the Ultimate Reset hard?

I am going to be COMPLETELY forthright with you, it IS challenging! It takes 3 weeks of complete commitment. You WILL have to take the time to MEAL PREP. You will have to be willing to SAY NO to temptations along the way... and you will need to have the discipline to forego eating out, the willingness to try new things, and the focus to know WHY it will be worth it for you to stick it out! 

Here's the thing... It's THREE WEEKS guys! Sure, you have to make sacrifices, but the results are SO worth it! I mean, think about it... I am doing this during the HOLIDAY SEASON -- AKA -- TEMPTATIONS GALORE! Haha! If I can do it, YOU can do it! ;-)

My Week One Results

Where can I purchase the Ultimate Reset?

You can purchase the complete Ultimate Reset kit HERE!

Want EXTRA SUPPORT while going through your Ultimate Reset journey?! Request to join this group: Lindsay's Ultimate Reset Support Group

Have other questions? Write me at LMatway@yahoo.com or www.facebook.com/LindsayMatway

Deets on my New Coach Mentoship Academy!

 

During my recent sneak peek into coaching I shared WHY I am SO PASSIONATE about this business and continue to pay this gift forward to others! It's a huge part of what I believe my life's calling is and I don't take the opportunity to mentor someone lightly! It is what wakes me up with butterflies each morning and has me sleepless in bed brainstorming at night! That being said, I have realized over the years that I have to be selective with both the amount of people I bring on (to be able to connect and have time with them) and I also need to be sure they are in a place in their lives where they are ready and willing to do the kind of work it takes to truly change their life for the better long-term, otherwise this journey becomes unfulfilling for both parties involved!

If you would like to be considered for my next mentorship group, please take the time to thoroughly complete the application below!

I am excited to get to know you better and see where this journey takes you!

XO Lindsay

Fill out my online form.

The 5 Rules of Coaching

By Lindsay Matway, Founder of The Bombshell Dynasty

5 Rules of Coaching:

"A Bombshell is a woman who exudes her LIGHT unto this world by actively pursues her greatest potential... and seeks to inspire others by walking the walk. A woman who is BEAUTIFUL, no matter her age, color, shape or size, but because she OWNS her life! A BOMBSHELL never lets others determine her destiny, she is a LEADER, a motivator, a LEARNER of LIFE! A BOMBSHELL's job and sole purpose is to help others to see and bring out their INNER BOMBSHELL!!!

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My decision to become a Beachbody Coach has completely CHANGED my life! I went from a new mom who was lost & stuck bartending, always finding myself in the SAME situation, flat broke after my bills we paid! Now, fast-foward & I know EXACTLY what I want in life, and have seen many of my dreams become my reality, I never have to worry about money, and BEST OF ALL... I get to help others make those same changes in their lives! BLESSED!

 

#1 RULE - Don't let anyone determine what you are capable of... because I know plenty of people who didn't believe in me... or Beachbody... but the only belief I needed to be successful in this was MY OWN!

 

#2 RULE - CONSTANTLY look for ways to serve in the lives of others (without looking for something in return!) Every job should be looked at as a SERVICE job... no matter if you are an accountant, postman, coach, or server... Give people the BEST of you... no matter WHAT you do!

 

# 3 RULE - Stretch yourself beyond what you think you are capable of every single day! If you are not uncomfortable at least 5 times a day then there is a good chance you are not growing in the direction of your dreams! You HAVE TO be willing to do the little things you DON'T WANT to do in the short-term... to get to the BIG things you DO WANT to do in the long-term.

 

# 4 RULE - Add VALUE to people's life... Leave everyone better for having known you... Listen to them without thinking about what YOU are going to say next, really take in the emotion in their words and respond with thoughtfulness! This alone sets you apart from the pack!

 

 # 5 RULE - Work on YOUR OWN problems and issues first, before you try changing others... *This was a BIG turning point in MY life* So many of us spend our time picking apart others, pointing out how easy it would be for them to turn their life around... but do NOTHING about changing our own! You want to help others change? Start living up to the potential in YOUR OWN LIFE! You cannot make someone change, but you can INSPIRE them to seek their own light... by shinning YOURS!

 

Just as a candle can light another candle without losing any of its own light... You can ignite passion in thousands without ever having to DIM your own light. So BURN BRIGHTLY, unashamed of your God given glory... Because you never know HOW MANY candles there are out there just waiting to be LIT by YOU! :)