Stuff I Use Every Day to Help Me Keep My Sh*t Together

Usually when people learn I’m a full-time working mom of twins, they say something like, “I don’t know how you do it.” Sis, neither do I, but here we are. Just like you, I’m totes making this up as I go along. But I’ve figured out a few things that work for me to help keep the chaos to a manageable level. Below you’ll find some of favorites for me, the house, the kids, the pets, and for fun. I’ll keep adding to this list as I fall in love with new things or find ways to plug up other areas of my life that are falling apart. Gotta keep it interesting!

Stuff for Me

I teach ZUMBA®️ two days a week, but in between I need a fun workout I can do without leaving the house and without requiring much thought or planning because if there are any barriers whatsoever I won’t do it. I never thought I would fall in love with an exercise bike, but here we are. I love my Peloton! And I use pretty much the whole range of classes included with our subscription—especially the stretching and meditation classes. If you want to check it out, use my referral code PWADX8 at checkout and we both get $100 of accessories with your bike or tread purchase.

I’ve seldom met a planner I didn’t like, but the Passion Planner has been my favorite for the last several years for day-to-day planning in an easy weekly / monthly format. They offer dated standard planners running January-December, dated academic planners running August-July, and undated planners you can start at any time. There are also multiple sizes and colors for the perfect fit for you. Use my PP referral link for 10% off your first purchase of $15 or more: http://rwrd.io/gyciop1

For daily journaling / planning if I need to get into more detail, I tend to rotate among the PP Daily, SELF Journal, and a LEUCHTTURM1917 Medium A5 Dotted Hardcover Notebook. I’m slowly working my way through all of the color options on each of these.

The Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush, Black dries and styles my thick hair in under 15 minutes, and it’s a blowout that lasts for days.

I blast a little Tresemme Shampoo Dry Fresh & Clean 4.3 Ounce (127ml) (2 Pack) on my bangs and roots on non-shampoo days (which, let’s face it, is most of them) and just keep on going. Lifesaver.

Can we just talk about how great menstrual cups are? If for no other reason than you never run out or forget to buy tampons because YOU DON’T NEED TO. I use the DivaCup Model 2 Menstrual Cup but there are tons on the market. Try it. Try a few. You’re welcome.

I have about a million little zipper bags like these Selizo 8 Packs Canvas Pencil Pen Zipper Pouch Small Cosmetic Makeup Bags, Forest and Animal Style in my purse, backpack, bathroom, desk drawers, etc. to keep my stuff together so I can actually find it in the depths of my purse and so I don’t lose things. It makes it way easier to transfer bags, pack for travel, send the kids to get stuff for me from my bag, keep track of their stuff in their backpacks, and more. Collect and contain, my friends.

Stuff for the House

The only vacuums I have ever loved have been Dysons, and the Dyson V7 Animal Pro+ Cordless Vacuum Cleaner-Extra Tools for Homes with Pets, Rechargeable, Lightweight, Powerful Suction, V7 Animal Pro + is no exception. It charges fast and it gets the job done. Full disclosure, we don’t have a ton of carpet in our house. If we had a lot of carpet, I’d probably go back to the traditional Dyson Animal upright corded vacuum, but with mostly bare floors this thing is a beast. It’s light, so the kids can use it easily, which makes my life easier. I try to vacuum a little every day to keep things under control, and the time I save NOT wrestling with cords or lugging some beast up and down the stairs is huge.

I do not enjoy cooking. Like, at all. I do like eating and feeding people, but not if i have to make the food. Until now. I can follow a recipe, but I’m not exactly inspired in the kitchen. And thanks to the magical wonder that is the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker, I don’t have to be inspired in the kitchen to make something delicious that is dead simple. I can find recipes online for virtually anything. Every single thing I’ve made in the Instant Pot has been a slam dunk, and it takes literally minutes. Now that I’m really on a money-saving kick, I’m cooking at home every night and I use the Instant Pot almost every meal.

It’s not exactly my minimalist or environmentalist dream come true, but y’all, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes are a lifesaver for keeping the bathrooms reasonably clean and for keeping germs down throughout the house. I do a quick swipe of the counters and toilets and hit the doorknobs and light switches a few times a week and I don’t have to think about it. One day I may be in a place where everything is natural and reusable and free of synthetic chemicals, but today ain’t that day. If it’s not that day for you either, you have my permission to use this guilt free.

While you’re at it, check out Swiffer Dusters if you’ve been holding out. I have the kids dust with these once a week and I do it every time I have a few minutes, and our surfaces are looking a lot better. These are particularly great for grabbing cat hair! Make sure you get Swiffer Duster Refill + 1 Handle (28 Ct.) Great to start so you have a handle, and then after that plain refills will do the job. I hear you can bend a wire hanger instead of buying the handle and if that’s your thing, go for it. But if not, make sure you get the handle one first.

Stuff for the Kids

I’ve written before about how much I love Peacemakers from Generation Mindful. These cards are an amazing way to support not just kids but the whole family with developing emotional intelligence and creating stronger connections. Kids who learn how to deal with big feelings become much happier adults—and they’re a lot more fun to hang out with!

If you want to take your Peacemakers practice to the next level, check out the Time-In Toolkit, also from GenM for more tools to support yourself and your kids with emotional intelligence, empathy, and connection.

We’ve started packing lunch for the kids four out of every five days to save money, and reusable glass containers with snap-on lids like these Glass Meal Prep Containers 3 Compartment – Bento Box Glass Lunch Containers – Meal Prep Glass Container – Food Storage Containers with Lids – Portion Control Food Containers Glass(3-Pack,36 OZ) are super durable, easy to clean, and hold everything they need.

And since we’re packing lunches, we needed lunch boxes! They make these Amersun Kids Lunch Box,Durable Insulated School Lunch Bag with Padded Liner Keep Food Warm Cold for Long Time,Small Water-resistant Thermal Travel Office Lunch Cooler for Girls Boy-2 Pocket,Light Blue for kids and adults (the adult ones are slightly larger) and they are awesome. Lots of pockets, keep the food cold, and they buckle onto their backpacks so they’re hard to lose. They also come in a ton of patterns, so even my picky kiddos found ones they loved.

Stuff for the Pets

If you have a dog that does anything other than casually saunter beside you on leash, get you a Gentle Leader Head Collar. They make even the most obnoxious walkers easier to manage, which means everyone gets more walks and enjoys them more. You can find them for virtually any size dog, and they have a ton of cute patterns.

If you have a furry friend who tends toward anxiety, you need Odessa’s Essential Health for Pets. Put a few drops in their food or on a treat (check label for dosing according to your pet’s weight) and you’ll be amazed at the difference. I don’t have an affiliate link for this one, but I’m sharing it anyway because it’s an amazing product and I’ve been blown away by the positive impact on our super-anxious, wild-child Border Collie mix, Luna.

Stuff for Fun

You know how we unconsciously tell ourselves stories about ourselves and the world? I have to constantly remind myself that my stories “I am no fun” and “I don’t have time for fun” are not true. Here are some of the ways I make time for fun.

I believe everyone has a story. That’s why I’ve been helping people and organizations tell theirs since 2004. I also believe that stories change lives, which is why I’m committed to telling mine in writing and from the stage. In late 2019, my employer, Advocates for Human Potential, supported me to take Jess Ekstrom’s amazing speaker course for women, Mic Drop Workshop. This self-paced online course includes everything you need to kickstart your speaking career, plus lifetime access to the course AND an online, women’s only support community that is utterly magical. I cannot recommend this course highly enough.

I love Let’s Make Art and subscribe to both the watercolor and lettering monthly boxes. I’m still learning how to make art a regular habit without feeling guilty about it, but these fun projects with simple-to-follow instructions make it so much easier. Use my referral link for $5 off your first purchase: https://prz.io/A24K5GSE.

I mentioned it above, but you know I love my ZUMBA®️! Use my code KKFITNESS at checkout for 10% off your favorite ZUMBA®️ gear.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, so I may get a small kickback if you purchase any of the items I’ve recommended, but it doesn’t cost you another penny.