6 Ways to Sneak in More Sleep As a New Mom

What is the Sleepy Girl Mocktail?

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail is a tart cherry juice mocktail that originates from TikTok. Holistic health influencers and athletes have been praising the concoction for its benefits in aiding restful sleep and healthy digestion.

“The wellness world is obsessing over finding ways to get better and more regular sleep,” says Lainie from @lainiecooks on TikTok. “I think this trend will start moving into daily habits you can change for optimal sleep, and what foods you can eat that contain natural melatonin or high levels of magnesium to help you unwind, relax, and lower cortisol levels."

Why is the Sleepy Girl Mocktail good for sleep?

The traditional recipe for the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is tart cherry juice, magnesium glycinate powder, and Olipop (or any sparkling drink – but I personally love Olipop for its gut health benefits). The drink promotes the body’s melatonin production to support sleep, says Dr. Renee Korczak, Ph.D., RDN, CSSD, LD.

“Tart cherries, which as most people don’t know, are filled with a lot of nutrients, like antioxidants, anthocyanins, and notably for this use case, melatonin,” says Dr. Korczak. “Melatonin strongly affects the human sleep-wake cycle to help support sleep.”

When combined with magnesium glycinate, the drink’s effects are, well, more effective for sleep.

“Magnesium is a mineral with several functions, as it assists with hundreds of enzymatic bodily reactions like energy production, protein synthesis, muscle contractions, and more,” says Dr. Korczak. “In terms of sleep, magnesium can help regulate certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers that relay messages between nerve cells in your brain.”

Before taking a sip, it’s important to evaluate your needs for supplemental magnesium. It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about any intake concerns, especially since magnesium can impact other medications you may be taking. Further, you can get in magnesium organically by snacking on fruits, nuts, chia seeds, and even dark chocolate!

How can I get better sleep?

According to Dr. Korczak, insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality are common issues amongst many Americans. She shared a few tips to consider before reaching for that tart cherry juice to make the mocktail:

1. Establish a regular bedtime.
2. Create a restful environment, and limit the use of devices and TV watching before bed.
3. Don’t overeat before you go to bed. Also, don't go to bed hungry, and avoid alcohol and / or caffeine prior to bed, as these can interfere with sleep.

The Viral Sleepy Girl Mocktail Recipe

• ½ cup tart cherry juice
• 1 serving magnesium glycinate powder
• Olipop Cherry Vanilla or Ginger Lemon (or any other sparkling drink you like – I also love Aura Bora Lavender Cucumber)

1. Pour the tart cherry juice in a glass over ice.
2. Add the magnesium glycinate powder, and stir until fully dissolved.
3. Top your Sleepy Girl Mocktail off with Olipop for added digestive benefits, and sip your way to good sleep!

Did the magnesium-filled Sleepy Girl Mocktail actually help me sleep?

I am truly a Sleepy Girl by nature. I think I could fall asleep just about anywhere if I was tired enough, but figured I would try the mocktail recipe to see if it really could boost my tiredness and send me off into a peaceful night’s sleep.

Making the tart cherry mocktail was terribly easy. I slowly sipped it about an hour before bedtime, when I already felt the sleepies kicking in. The taste was super tart, thanks to the cherry juice, but it wasn’t painfully sour. I definitely plan to play around with the juice-to-Olipop ratio next time I make it!

Upon waking the next morning, I didn’t feel like my sleep was wildly transformed – but I did sleep good. I can likely attribute that to the regular sleep schedule I’ve been on for months now, so I can’t speak on the mocktail’s effects too strongly. It was delicious, though, and I could see myself sipping it whenever I’m craving a yummy nighttime drink.

I’m no expert, but I imagine this drink is super beneficial for those struggling with sleep already. If you’re having issues maintaining a regular sleep schedule, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail is perfect for you!

Overall, the Sleepy Girl Mocktail earns an 8/10 for me.

Unique Baby Names for Girls 

• Aria — All we can think about is, "Here comes Queen Aria," whenever we see this name. Similar to Arielle's name from The Little Mermaid, Aria is synonymous with something melodic.
  
• Iris — Just like the iris of your eye, this name means your daughter will more than likely have a bright and colorful personality!
• Maia — Instead of the traditional spelling of Mya, this name has Latin roots and means "great."
• Ayla — Your daughter will have sturdy characteristics thanks to her Hebrew name!
• Asha — Let your little girl's name remind you that there's much to be hopeful about.
• Naomi — Take a cue from famed model Naomi Campbell and let your daughter's name introduce her beauty to the world.

Gender-Neutral Unique Baby Names

• Campbell — This Scottish name means "beautiful field" so we're sure it means your son's being will be full of beautiful traits and perspectives .
• Reese — There's a reason why Reese Witherspoon has such a enthralling personality. Her name means "passion" and "enthusiasm."
• Greer — We can hear Beyoncé's song "Protector" playing when we say this name because it means "guardian."
• Lennon — There's a reason the world was so drawn to John Lennon's name. Lennon means "dear one" and we know that's how you'll feel about your newborn!
• Sterling — "Twinkle, Twinkle little star" has nothing on the name Sterling. On second thought, it could serve as your baby's unofficial theme song.

Unique Baby Names For Your Son

• Lennox — Trade the 'n' in Lennon for an X to get this Scottish name. It rolls off the tongue, making it easier for others to pronounce.
• Adler — Your little eagle is sure to soar high under your watchful eye.
• Rowan — Have a cute baby that was born with a head full of red hair? Name him Rowan which means "little Red one." While you're at it, check out these lucky Irish baby names for more ideas!
• Banks — If you feel drawn to water during your pregnancy, there's a good chance there's a reason why. Banks translates to "edge of the river."
• Rigg —Whether you choose this as your baby's first or middle name, it'll be easy for others to remember it!

Tips For The Best Wedding Guest Makeup

1. Prep Your Skin

Skin prep is the #1 key to not only getting dewy looking makeup, but long-lasting makeup that doesn't crease! We asked the experts atDr. Hauschka what they would do for long lasting makeup, and they said, "Moisturized skin is glowing skin. Always prep face and with rich emollient moisturizers (like our certified natural Rose Day Cream). Your makeup will easily glide over face and blend with your moisturizer for a glowy finish." IMO, this tip is absolute gold because you don't want your skin to dry or cake over throughout the day, and it seems like this will really help with that!

They also said, "If you want your complexion to look naturally sun-kissed, look to bronzers you can blend with your foundation or moisturizer. (Mixing a few drops our Translucent Bronzing Tint with your moisturizer provides a subtle sun-kissed glow without shimmers.)" Talk about a glow! We love this dewy tip and have PLENTY of moisturizers, both tinted and otherwise, to recommend!

2. Opt For Simple

Next, you definitely want to opt for a more simple look, makeup-wise! It's better to keep things minimal instead of doing too much with a bold lip and bold eye. Makeup artist and owner of The Green Room Agency, Nysa Green said, "Pick one feature to be the focus of your look, and concentrate on that. It can even be legs or shoulders. Tone down everything else." We love this trick because it's so simple to choose either a fun eye shade or lip color and have that be the focal point!

Nyssa also said, "Use a setting spray to keep everything in place through the festivities." Setting spray is the key to really lock in your makeup and ensure it lasts all day!

And Nyssa's final tip? "Avoid a red lip unless you want to stand out in all the pictures!"

3. Don't Upstage the Bride

When doing wedding guest makeup, you want to make sure not to over-do it because you never want to appear like you're trying to upstage the bride in any way. Celebrity makeup artist, Stephanie G-M gave us a tip on this matter and said, "I suggest going for a look that elevates what your day look may already be. Starting with either a bit of color on your lips as a stain or eyes with statement jewelry (like above) means you'll be looking elegant but not out shining the bride's look."

She added, "Dewy skin and a little more blush than usual will also brighten up the look you go for. I would suggest just balancing it and not doing a full eye look and full lip look for the wedding." Duly noted!

4. Don't Forget Touch Ups

Stephanie G-M also gave us all the tips and tricks for how you can quickly — and effectively — touch up your wedding guest makeup throughout the day. She says, "Carry blotting paper with you for any shine that may occur instead of powdering it away when you are trying to achieve a dewy look. Always have a balm you can use to enhance highlight areas. You can always use your lip color as your cheek color too as the day goes on!" She also added, "You can always carry an eye liner with you if you choose to make it more bold for the evening." We love these tips for essentials to keep in our clutch!

Put It All Together For This Gorgeous Natural Wedding Guest Makeup

Makeup artist, Yaz Roque has a great look that is a must-try when it comes to the perfect wedding guest makeup look. She said, "With wedding guest makeup it’s key to keep it simple. I love to give wedding guests neutral tones, with a little bit of a shimmer on the lids. My tip would be to switch out your harsh liquid liner with a more smoked out liner, soft glam on the skin, and a pinky mauve or nude on the lips. You can even finish with my favorite lip oil at the moment byBlossom Beauty, it’s natural, smells amazing, and gives the right amount of shine for a perfect pour. Plus it’s under $7.” We love a good lip oil! I can't wait to try this look out for an upcoming wedding! This look is super natural yet still overstated enough for fancier occasions like a wedding.