Kristen Ireland
Kristen lives in Ottawa Hills, OH, with her husband (Carl), two babies under two, (Graham and Maren), and a Frenchie (CeCe). Originally from Detroit, MI, she came to Toledo by way of Chicago, IL. She teaches high school science full time, as well as being a Beautycounter consultant and Toledo Moms contributor. For fun, she enjoys spending time with family, dining out, & traveling (as much as one can these days with two tiny humans in tow!). Illness in her family, “unexplained infertility,” and the responsibility of being a mama have evoked awareness of the ingredients in everyday products & foods, and their impact on human health. Kristen is passionate about making her world a little safer, one clean swap at a time. You can follow her clean swap suggestions @SwapToSafer and shop #betterbeauty products from Beautycounter at www.beautycounter.com/kristenireland
Back to School From a Teacher Mom
As soon as the calendar hits August, I start to wonder where the summer went? It seems like things were just getting started when, all of a sudden, the "Sunday of Summer" storms onto...
I Am A SIDS Sibling
1982 started with my parents and older brother, Cameron, welcoming my brother, Graham, to the family. Little did my parents know every parent's worst nightmare was about to come true, just a few short...
Swap To Safer – Household Products Edition
Why Swap to Safer?
I started paying attention to labels when I finally got pregnant after struggling with unexplained infertility. Previously, I assumed products were safe if they were on the shelves. However, I've learned...
A Tale of Two Cesareans
My birth plan wasn’t typical. I wished for a c-section. From very early on in my pregnancy, the thought of delivering vaginally was not appealing to me. Probably, it’s because my mom delivered all...
My Story of Infertility: Kristen Ireland
The year is 2016. I'm a newlywed. We decide it is time to have a baby. As a science teacher, I have a strong understanding of the physiology involved in human reproduction. There are...
An Open Apology Letter From Pre-Kids Me
Dear Mama,
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for thinking time is linear. I didn't know how much time distorts after having kids. Babies are so small, so fragile, so needy for so long, yet they also grow...
STEM Experiments At Home
As a science teacher, I have often found the most effective experiments and demonstrations are the simplest ones. Just because you find yourself at home, doesn't mean you can't conduct high-quality STEM (science, technology,...
National Awkward Moment Day 2020
National Awkward Moment Day is March 18, 2020.
The dictionary defines awkward as: "(1) causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with, (2) causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience, and (3) not smooth or graceful;...
How To Create A Classroom Environment At Home
I have been a high school science classroom teacher for 13 years. I have witnessed many events that have caused disruption in learning, either when I was a student myself or in my years...
Swap To Safer – Clean Beauty Makeup Edition
Motherhood is not always glamorous. Days can elapse between showering, let alone doing hair and makeup. I needed something to bring the glamour back to my daily casual look, family-friendly affair, or – dare...