Rainy Parade

We’ve said it to our kids. We’ve said it to our friends. Its been said to us countless amount of times….Don’t let anyone rain on your parade. Right? Well, although the phrase has become quite the cliché and thus put in the back burner, it still holds a great amount of truth. Especially in this journey called motherhood. Boy oh boy, there are a lot of rainy parade days. We are always so able to sit and council our children and friends and family members but why is it so hard for us as mothers to live what we preach? Don’t understand? Let me explain…. Since the birth of your child you have been counting milestones, counting teeth, counting steps, counting meals and even counting words. Yet, throughout it all I bet you felt the need to compare yourself to other mothers and children…right? Don’t deny it. Come on… ALL of us have done it… WE compare. WE even compare ourselves to the supreme actresses who lose all the baby weight in two days. Right?…The question is : Why? Why do we allow others to rain on our parade?

We are all walking this parade of life. However, mothers have an extra struggle because of all the rules and regulations we have to “follow” and also all the comparisons we make if we do/don’t follow the rules and regulations. We are labeled and attacked not only by the media but by fellow mothers… Why?

Well, the why is simple: People are just plain mean. So there is no reason to sit and ponder the reason behind all of it. But rather, its worth sitting and pondering on HOW we mothers deal with it. I have been critiqued for all my choices as a mother. From breastfeeding to baby-led weaning, toys I choose to buy my child, theories I neglect to follow, lessons and morals I teach my child etc. The list goes on. If you care too much then you are an overprotective helicopter mom. If you don’t care, then you are a neglecting loose mother. If you aren’t sure then you are an immature mother….the list of attacks and labels go on… Why? Why do WE choose to live this way. Why labels?

The truth is, everyone has a story. Everyone has a reason for the choice they make, whether it’s a good reason or not, it’s still one worth understanding,. So yes, while I may be overprotective of my child, I also know that she was my biggest blessing. A blessing my husband and I never thought would be possible, given his history of cancer. The mother who chooses to free-range her child may have been free ranged herself. The mother who chose not to breastfeed may have spent night after night with swollen and painful breasts trying to fight through until enough was enough…

Life is tough enough for women, let alone mothers. It’s not fair for parents to constantly live in fear if they are “parenting correctly” cause it’s no one’s business (unless there is harm being done). You have to walk your parade with pride and humility. If anyone puts you down with their labels of you and critiques then it’s better to walk away than linger in bitterness. You are NOT a label. You are a MOTHER. You are NOT a helicopter or tiger or attachment parent (etc). You are simply a parent. You are NOT a textbook. You are a PARENT. You are not a ROBOT. You are a Parent. Let’s put negativity aside and support each other. ‘Cause a parade is much better on a sunny beautiful day.

The Reality of Beginning

Your due date is approaching and as you finish the last touches of the nursery you can’t help but stop and daydream of what will come: you swaying back and forth in the rocking chair as your baby nurses peacefully. You look out the beautiful window near you and watch the trees rustle as the gentle wind dances along. And you can’t help but notice the sweet smell of food roasting away in the oven, not to mention your perfectly cleaned house, while awaiting your spouse’s return for a joyous peaceful evening and night……

NOT! It’s typically wishful thinking….

Of course, I am not trying to sound like being a new mother isn’t pleasurable and peaceful or somewhat close to the above scenario, because there are MANY moments of peace and joy and moments when your heart feels like it will burst because its overflowing with love; however, along with those warm moments there are quite of few of frustrations first-time moms may face. I’m sure second or third or fourth time moms feel it too, but they have ways of dealing with it that first time moms haven’t mastered yet.

I, for one, am a first time mom who is finally starting to get a handle of it. The frustrations are not geared at my little angel, but rather the emotions or circumstances of motherhood. So this is my take on things and my ways of how to cope and tips to manage those crazy frustrating moments….you know, the moment you just want to rip your hair out and scream??

1. Everybody’s two cents

EVERYONE will always have an opinion. Ok, let me just take a moment and state the following: Opinions are NOT always bad. There is a lot that mothers can learn from one another, whether it be from a fellow first time mom or a mom of 7! Motherhood is a constant learning process. With that said, opinions can be overwhelming and overbearing for a first time mom. Especially when we are trying to get the hang of everything in OUR own way.

See, that’s the problem with people’s opinion, whether it be from friends, doctors or family, it can sometimes hinder rather than help! For example, let’s take a moment to chat about breastfeeding. Breast is best and that is common knowledge. However, not all methods are best for all mothers. The doctor at the maternity ward may tell you to nurse every 3 hours, on the dot, without fail, DO NOT FORGET!……. Pfff…. Yeah, well that was not true for me! It did not work because my little one needed the extra comfort and milk but did not want to wait 3 hours. So, what’s a mother to do in that situation? Nurse more. Yes, spoil the baby rotten with boobie time! I had to learn to let go of all the “restrictions” and set “schedules” aside and just simply- GO WITH THE FLOW. That’s what motherhood is all about. It isn’t limited to just breastfeeding, cause mothers who formula feed also go through similar frustrations.

Basically, no one knows YOUR baby more than YOU do. When everyone is yapping in your ear, just simply tune them out and go with YOUR own flow. Cause when everyone leaves, you will have to deal with your reality not them. I find that it’s good to nod and agree and take from it what you want- basically the passive way to deal with everyone’s take on everything! So it’s okay to throw the two cents aside and just do what you need to do.

2. Clean up and Yummy time

So, you haven’t showered in three days, the dishes are piling up, dust is accumulating and your pots/pans have cobweb villages in them…ugh!!! …… Yes, I am sure many…and I mean MANY mommies have gone through this. I sure did, especially in the beginning when all I was focused on was making sure my baby was alive and happy… Well, until family starting criticizing or friends had something to say or your spouse showed disdain…. Then it got real….. real annoying. See, it isn’t always the single folks who criticize our time or lack thereof to clean and cook and play the role of Mary Poppins, it’s also the married friends and family and the ones with a bunch of kids or two. Criticism isn’t limited to certain people. It’s everywhere and everyone. So, although it’s great to live in a super clean house and have homemade dinner on the table every single evening, it’s also not reality for some mothers. What we forget is that every baby is different, therefore making it a different circumstance for the mother. While some mothers have babies who take their nap on time (and long ones) others do not. I had to learn the hard way and just put everything aside until I felt ready to get back into cookin’ and cleaning.

It may be cliché but I truly believe that dishes can wait and the cobwebs can wait- YOU are a new mom and that is tough enough. People underestimate how scary and tough it is to be new at mothering,

Yes, I am still a first time mom (my baby girl is a1 year old) but I believe there is a big difference between a 1-5 month old and a 1 year old. Trust me, a lot of it will be picked up quickly! But until then it can be very overwhelming. It is not worth getting frustrated at the dirty dishes and lose precious joyous moments with your new bundle. Some family and friends will critique, but many will offer to help.

So get the help when needed and don’t be afraid to communicate with your spouse…..take a deep breathe, clean when you can, cook when you can, but spend time and love on your little one at all times because it is true- time does fly by!

This journey of motherhood is at times bumpy but it is an amazing one. The frustrating times will be a distant memory when your bundle throws you their first smile or when he/she learns how to crawl or say “mama”/”dada”. Nothing will compare to that joy because you will be the proudest mother alive… along with the rest of us. Life is too short- hold your little one as long as you can and kiss them a million times a day because those are the wonderful moments of mommyhood.

Baby Girl DIY hair bows!



Hey there mamas! So I finally did some DIY projects! Took a trip to Michael’s arts and crafts store with the little one and I just couldn’t resist! I made this super easy less than a minute bows! All you need is hot glue, bows of your choice and hair clips. 



Hair clip and flower/bow of choice:





Hot glue top part of hair clip:



Put the flower/bow on top and press a little. Let it dry for a few minutes. 



And voila! You’ve got pretty hair clips for your baby! 

Top daily products

As first time mommies we’ve read all those “must have” lists. Looking through many different products can drive you kind of crazy! Do we really need all those things? Well we decided to make a post about what we use and love the most!

1. First product is the most used of all: diapers!

We’ve tried a few brands, the popular pampers & huggies, the organic brands Babyganics & Earth Friendly. But our favorite of all are the Honest company diapers.

The Honest Company has non-toxic and plant based diapers. “Honestly FREE of: chlorine, latex, lotions, fragrances, common allergens, phthalates, fragrances, optical brighteners, PVC, heavy metals, organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT) & harsh petrochemical additives.”  In a world where toxic chemicals are everywhere, having some control on what’s on our precious baby’s skin is always great! 

Ok, yes they are awesome for being toxic free, but those prints are the cutest! They even come out with seasonal prints!  Talk about stylish! They really put thought into all the little details of their products, all of their packages to the boxes are pretty and fun. And I’m a sucker for pretty packages!

They have the bundle of diapers and wipes, it’s $79.99. You can pick when it’s shipped- mine are every 6 weeks. You can pick up to 6 different prints of diapers. Their wipes are also great and non-toxic like all their products. The other great thing is the convenience of diapers and wipes delivered to your door! You even get a pretty looking box to put away those outfits that don’t fit and hey even make a diy box car or train! These little ones do love boxes! 

2. California Baby products! 

All of their products are amazing! All 100% natural base with organic ingredients.  The Shampoo & body wash is great! The calendula cream is amazing for baby eczema and cradle cap. Everyday body lotion is super absorbent and doesn’t leave that goey sticky feeling. The diaper rash cream is also great! I haven’t used their sunscreen just yet, since it’s still winter, but it’s definitely on my future list.

3. Coconut Oil

This was a tough one! I use this so much that is was hard to pick a ranking! Coconut oil has so many benefits! I have used it as diaper cream since my baby was a newborn! It’s great as lotion and moisturizers so well! Eczema and dry skin goes away very fast. For breastfeeding mommies it’s also great for cracked nipples or just to relieve that soreness! It’s safe for babies to ingest, it’s even good for them and us! So be free to put a tablespoon in your smoothies too!

4. Sakura Bloom Ring Sling

Oh, what would I do without my sling! Seriously, I don’t know how other moms do without this. Ok, this might be personal preference, but I use this everyday. Babies love being in the sling. They’re close to mommy and can hear our heartbeat- my little one falls asleept within minutes. No wonder there’s a famous hashtag #sakurabloomsleepydust!  Check out their Website and their instagram account @lovesakurabloom for some breathtaking pictures. Besides being so easy to use and light weight, it’s so stylish! Everywhere I go the sling is a showstopper! Everyone stops me to complement or ask about it. I should probably be getting some endorsements or even a discount! Cuz once you have one, you’ll want all the other colors and different fabrics. That’s probably the hard part- deciding which one to get!

So many benefits of baby wearing! Click here for 10 great reasons!

Just be careful when you pick a baby carrier to check the position baby’s legs will be in. That’s very important!  

5. Aden and Anais swaddle blanket

These blankets are so soft and big! I’ve used them since the very beginning for swaddling and now I still use them for lots of other things. They’re great car seat covers, towels, blankets and honestly anything you can think of! I really love them.

6. Honest Stain Remover 

This was a recent product find and now it’s a must have! Babies have blow outs (poop explosions) and other food stains on their precious outfits. This was a saviour! I used oxyclean before, did the job, but I was looking for something less toxic. This really does it! Totally recommend!