Month of Mama part 6

Had a wonderful self-care week. CJ Grand spa on Friday and we have been doing FIT4MOM's family nutrition plan called Gather. Heading in to a week of workouts. Got a couple new swimsuits in my Amazon cart because my other suit is just NOT okay for swim lessons. The top is just not able to hold my boobs properly. I had considered wearing my SheFit bras as swimsuit tops so I think I'll just go ahead and do that.

I've had a chance to wear my purchases from Latched Mama. Love the dresses so much. Love the nursing t-shirts too. Just so soft and comfy and flattering and not causing me to overheat. Love love love.

Also have been wearing my Kindred Bravely stuff. Love the Sublime bra so much I ordered a second one. It's amazing when you upgrade your wardrobe, you really feel taken care of.

Tried out the Goodr sunglasses today. So fun doing a try-on session with the whole family. Love how the OGs fit over my glasses and as expected the BFGs fit my husband very well.

Our son's daycare sent home all of his stuff so he's officially out for the summer. I'm happy to report we were able to change our swim lesson day/time from Saturday at 1:30pm to Monday at 11:00am. This is good because the other one was during naptime which made him extra cranky.

We made hotel reservations and bought plane tickets so it seems like the summer is locked down. I did the Curly Girl method for 16 weeks and I conclude that it is awesome. It was affordable after an initial shock buying stuff that I did not really use. I could write a whole post about just that. Hope I can get a haircut someday. Maybe before school starts again in the fall.

Month of Mama part 5

This month has been busy in the best way. I'm having a TON of anxiety about the end of the academic year and a return to 24/7 time with kiddo. It's not that I don't want to be with my kid, I think it's just the stress of any transition comes with uncertainty and I put so much pressure on myself to do everything well. So grateful for Fit4Mom for providing me the scaffolding to frame my life around so that I can lean in to my community and not feel like all the programming is up to me.

F4M Mothers Day Mega Class

We had a super-fun mega class on Mother's Day weekend. There were a lot of swag items given out. Fit4Mom is planning a Fun Run this weekend instead of Strides 360. And we're doing a group trip to the Zoo on the last week of the month. The next Body Well session doesn't start until July so I will miss some of it. But I'll probably still sign-up for it anyway for the accountability. June will be a month to shape up and do a class (almost) every day.

End-Of-Year Celebration @ Daycare

It was our son's first graduation ceremony LOL. Actually just a party in his classroom with all the families of the children and then a reception with cookies outside on the patio. We got to see the toys he likes to play with. It was sad to think that he won't be seeing his friends every day. But we've planned some other activities to keep him socializing and learning.

Swim Lesson @ Water Wings

Kiddo had his first swim lesson which was awesome. What was not-so-awesome was that something fermented in our car and it smelled really bad and we localized it to the car seat so we had to take it out and take it apart and wash it and let it dry and put it back together and reinstall it in the car. Meanwhile, we had to go to a swim lesson on the bus which was totally fine, easy and fun. Kiddo really enjoyed it. It was good practice for our Disney trip and it gave me confidence to see how easy it was.

F4M Gather Meal Plan Week 1

I was totally on the Mashup Mom ALDI meal plan until kiddo started getting older and pickier. The Fit4Mom Gather meal plan was written by a mom of a 3-year old so the recipes are more little kid friendly. So far, the rainbow of foods has been really good, everything has been quick to prepare and tastes great. We took these 4-oz food portioning containers down to Disneyland and they were absolutely perfect for having grab-and-go healthy snacks throughout the day.

Train and Bus Adventure @ Disneyland

We had the most fun at Disneyland. As I told my mom, you're parenting no matter where you are. So whether you are stuck at home driving each other crazy or out there in the world trying to stay sane, it's all a day in the life of being a mom. Here are just a few of the many faces of Albert at Disneyland. He loved running free. Simple things like stealing my sunglasses and spotting Mickey mouse brought a big smile to his face. He loved Tom Sawyer's Island the most and had a very hard time leaving it. I had so many moments throughout the day where I thought, "this is what childhood is all about" just kids being kids and a whole huge park centered around imagination.

Coming soon: JUNE 11, 2022

Our next big adventure and pretty much the only thing I have on the calendar for June so far is going to be a fun run down in Carson near CSU Dominguez Hills. 

Month of Mama part 4

I looked outside my door this week and what did I see? The missing package was out there looking at me!

I'm pumped because I thought this package was lost forever and these items have been unwrapped, unpacked and they were in the wash this morning which means I can try them on either today when I get home or over the weekend, whatever. If it doesn't fit, it must acquit, I mean send it to my sister.

I also got on the clickety-clacks and started placing orders for other stuff I wanted. These are items that have been on my wish / worry list for a long time. There are materials to make more fairy jars. There are items that will support my new summer meal plan. There are items that will support my fitness / travel and Disneyland trip. There are some items for "fun at home" because my son is obsessed with vehicles at the moment and he loves these two monster books. Finally, mom needs her vitamins so I'm restocking my supply.

I was kinda on the fence about getting a new fitbit but then I looked into the data and saw that the one I currently have is 3 years, 8 months and 21 days old and that's like FOREVER in technology years. So yeah, it's OK to replace. 

We have lots of ideas for stuff to do:

• Fit4Mom (obviously)
• Discovery Cube Thursday – Sunday from 10AM – 5PM
• Disneyland - Monday, May 16, California Adventure - Tuesday, May 31st
• Totally Toddlers Art & Sensory Studio - Mondays 4pm (open studio), Monday 10am & Friday 10am (toddler playgroups)
• Water Wings Swim School - Saturdays 1:30pm
• My Gym - Mondays at 4:20pm & Tuesdays @ 5:30pm (open gym) and the 1.5 - 2.5 year old specific classes run $129.00 every 4 weeks and have a variety of days / times

I'm also planning for our trip to Nebraska in July. It's always nice to bring gifts and I thought these crazy sunglasses would be perfect. I will bring them all and then let people pick which one(s) they want to keep. Mainly my sisters. And maybe my brother-in-laws.

I ordered these just a bit too late for Mother's Day. I got the idea from my mother-in-law. She always has these fun visors, which are great for being outdoors in the heat. They preserve your hairstyle pretty well. I got the red one to wear with my minnie mouse ears on our Disneyland trip but I'm guessing they will also be good for workouts and coordinating with my ridiculous sunglasses.

I'm so ready for FUN IN THE SUN and you can't take that away from me. SUMMER IS HERE!!!

Bike Month 2022

We took kiddo to a couple of group rides: a Walk Bike Glendale event on Apr 3 and then 626 Golden Streets on May 1. Before I forget I wanted to list everything we brought so I can remember what we did and did not use.

Sunscreen 100%

We had a stick and a cream and a spray and we used them all. And nobody got burned. And I put kiddo in long sleeves. And I wore arm bands. And we wore gloves. I think all these things helped.

Diaper bag

100% necessary. I don't know what it is about the bike or if my kid just poops on schedule, but both times we had to do a diaper change of a poopy one in the middle of the event.

Radio Flyer Canopy

I didn't bring this to the first ride but I did have it for the second. It was no hassle and it kept my phone shaded. This is important because phones can get really hot in the sun which drains the battery.

Snacks

100% required. Fruit, crackers, milk, water. We used all these. Energy bar. Saved my butt when it got close to noon and we weren't at our lunch spot yet.

Tools

We brought 2 spare tubes for each bike, Allen wrench, screwdriver, adjustable wrench, tire ions and pump. Thankfully we did not need them but it's always good to have especially when your tires are an unusual size and it is unlikely someone else will have one for you.

Ring Sling

It was nice to have a lightweight carrier but it wasn't necessary. I didn't bring a change of clothes for any of us but that might be worth packing next time especially considering the chance of poop is 2 for 2 so far.

Hand Sanitizer & Toilet Paper

I did have wipes the second time and it was nice to wipe hands around mealtime and diaper change, after applying sunscreen, and before naptime. I almost brought toilet paper but then didn't. We didn't need it but almost. The Port-A-Potty was almost out of TP by 1:30pm and the event ended at 4pm so I imagine at some point in the day, the TP ran out.

Sunglasses & Hats

Kiddo played with them and wore them and they were good to have for all of us. I bought 3 trucker hats in case we took off helmets but wanted to not burn our heads. We didn't really use them but it was probably because we were able to find GOOD shade when we needed it.

Cash

Didn't really need it but it was nice to leave a tip at the bakery where we got lunch. Always good to have.

Cooler Bag & Ice

I brought the fruit in a cooler bag with ice packs and I brought two chillers with ice in them. It was GREAT to have cold water to drink on a warm day. It's not classified as necessary but I would call it nice to have.

Bikemate Bag and Squeaker

This is a set of superfun accessories that were available at Aldi in June 2021. I snatched them because I thought the bag would work well on our Brompton and I was right. But I attached it to the accessory bar of the Taga and it is the perfect place to store masks, keys, phone, sunglasses, just the essentials. Also our kid loves squeaking the horn/bell whatever you call it. We didn't get the flag or water bottle but if I see a set like this again, you better believe I'm buying it.

Month of Mama part 3

I did try to find these items used, I really did. But there's only so many things you can buy used. Bras and panties are just not in that category. I have been searching out the brand names Kindred Bravely and Latched Mama constantly on Facebook marketplace and other online outlets of used clothing. There just isn't that much inventory. So when I finally placed an order, and it got lost, I decided to just take the plunge and get the items new.

First, I have to say the simply sublime nursing bra is 100% what I needed to add to my wardrobe. I didn't see myself wearing the nursing bras I bought ages ago while still pregnant but now that I work outside the home, I do have to wear some kind of bra every day. Turns out these are the only ones that don't hurt after awhile. It was 100% comfortable and supportive from the moment I put it on. I didn't get this white/blue ombre, I got it in Beige - XXL-Busty. Cannot recommend strongly enough.

I did get two pairs of Bamboo Hipster Panties | Beige - XXL/XXXL but I am not a fan. I will probably pass these along to my sister. I can't say what bothers me about them but they just aren't comfortable for me on my body at this moment. I think if I had a big pregnant bump, it would make sense but with my mom tummy it just looks like an overhanging blob of fat and it's not cute.

This model looks fine in the panties, but it didn't look like this on me. She's carefully hiding the love handles too. I'm wearing the Organic Cotton Nursing & Sleep Bra | Beige - XXL-Busty today at work and I love it. It's really soft and it doesn't cling too tight and it does support and it doesn't dig into my back rolls. For making a large order, I got this nursing and sleep bra for free and I also got free shipping. The total was $163.15 for all these items.

I also got the Bamboo Nursing & Maternity Tank | Slate Blue - XX-Large instead of the clip down spaghetti string tank shown in the first photo. I didn't expect it to be double-layered on front and back. I guess it does also camoflauge the back rolls better that way. It seems like it will get hot in the summer and I still get night sweats so I'm not sure it will be a home run but I will definitely try it out. My husband helped me fashion show all of these items in different combinations. He told me that the Bamboo Maternity & Postpartum Lounge Shorts | Slate Blue - XX-Large and the Everyday Lounge Joggers | Slate Blue - XX-Large are probably best kept as house pants. They are a very thin material and definitely showcase my cellulite. I got the Eleanora Bamboo Maternity & Nursing Lounge Dress | in Oatmeal Stripe instead of Navy Stripe and in size - XX-Large. It looks like it's going to be very comfortable and perfect for nursing on the go. I like that it is light-colored so that it will reflect light and be nice and cool for summer.

What's great is the slate color of the leggings coordinates really well with this "denim" colored floral. This hoodie is long in the back and covers up the aforementioned cellulite very well which would make it more acceptable to leave the house in this ensemble. It's also very lightweight which is nice to protect my arms from baby talons but yet not get me overheating.

What I also love is that the color of this "mountain springs" nursing dress coordinates with the slate leggings well too. The placement of the banding is very flattering and my husband authorized me to wear this to disneyland. I think I will pair it with some of the shorts on the previous post. I like that it has side-access nursing or you can pull the neckline down. It's very stretchy and forgiving. I also like the length. It will allow me to sit on a hot bench and not touch the metal to my skin but also have my knees uncovered so that they can sweat.

I'm not super happy about the color of this dress. It's not really good for wearing out and about. But I'm wondering if I overdye it with the other tie-dye stuff, maybe I can get some good banding like the Mountain Springs one and then it won't look so pajama-y. I like how in the photo, she is showing how you can pull to the side for night nursing. I also like how they use plus-size models so you can see how the clothes will look on your body and decide if the style is right for you.

I love the color of this dress. The fabric weight is pretty heavy. I finally got my husband on board with why I store dresses in a drawer rather than on a hanger. It came with a belt and the nursing access is really good. The only problem with it is that I am very short, so the dress is almost to the floor.

These last two I found on poshmark used. They are worth every penny. I have been LIVING in the loungewear long-sleeved top. The tank dress is a bit long and I might sew up the shoulders but with that modification, it is awesome. These two are how I became more confident that I needed the 2XX and 3XXX sizes. I don't care. I'm fine with it. They're comfy.

Month of Mama part 2

Wow, I spent the last post writing about things but I did not get to my clothes and shoes. Which was of course what I had originally wanted to write about.

Team Sparke running skirt + Minnie Mouse ears.  We had the most fun walking through downtown disney on christmas. I saw all the people wearing their ears and I knew that when I went to disney, I would want to wear a pair of ears too. I also have been following Team Sparkle running skirts and since I'm enjoying running more I thought a running skirt would be fun. Even better it matches the ears.

New Shoes. I was struggling with footwear. I had been sporting the same pair of Brooks for a few years with little need for more. The quarantine pandemic times kept me home with the exception of Fit4Mom workouts. Those shoes really took a beating. So I replaced them with two pairs. I appreciated the expedited service at Fleet Feet in Burbank.

LuLaRoe haul - after getting just one shirt from Buy Nothing, and a few pairs of leggings, and then a second shirt... I knew I was in love. I want comfort. I demand it. Coming out of the pandemic and extended maternity leave, I didn't fit into any of my old clothes for teaching. It was alarming. I thought after 2 years my boobs would have shrunk down to a normal size but nope! Luckily I found a woman who was moving and dumping her entire inventory. There were lots of shirts in sizes that didn't fit me so I was able to gift them out to other people. I had like 14 pairs of leggings leftover and seriously just look at all these shirts. Over 20 because I remember counting them and realizing that I would have to repeat. There were a couple of dresses as well and some skirts. This has been a lifesaver.

Fit4Mom Merch - it was around the time of back to school when I decided to get a few items from the online shop. I really liked the Mama Magic tank but when I didn't buy it, it went out of stock in my size. But I found this MomPwr tank that is tight but the design is pretty cute. I got a MAMA trucker hat with a ponytail slot that I love and wear all the time. I get complimented on it a lot. I also got a headband with the F4M logo and a tie-dye type print. I don't wear it a lot, but when I do, it's super comfy. I thought about giving it to my sister who will be going through postpartum hair loss pretty soon so maybe this is a hint that I need to drop that in the mail for her.

It looks like around that time I also attended a Zyia activewear party and purchased a few bras and a running belt. It's like a belt for my oversized shirts and dresses that holds my phone wallet and keys. It's PERFECT. I wear it EVERY DAMN DAY because my new LuLaRoe wardrobe is without pockets. Unfortunately, neither the Bomber nor the All Star Bra worked for me. I couldn't really enjoy those 2 bras because I'm still breastfeeding. I wear nursing bras when I have to (for teaching) then braless at home. I workout in Enell or SheFit. The Zyia bras just didn't provide enough support for a workout but were too tight for everyday wear. 

So that brings me to my preferred activewear. I love my SheFit bras. I had two already that I had been rocking for over a year. So I decided to re-up and re-supply since there were a few styles at a discounted price. Rather than looking for a new swimsuit, many people report that they use their SheFit as a swimsuit top which makes really good sense to me.

I can see why the watermelon tie dye isn't for everyone. It has some hints of some strange blue color, which just so happened to match pretty well with these shorts I got. The first couple were from Faeriesty which is an LA-based company. Each pair was only $5 but they are very simple and the waistband is a bit loose for serious workouts, I got the 3x size. I added two pairs of CRZ YOGA feeling naked biker shorts, which do have pockets. I love how they feel, they will be great to wear under dresses and such, but the waistband does slip down during workouts.

And I can't wrap this post up without talking about the jewel in my crown, Purple Reign. I had such great support from my first Enell bra, which BTW I did pay full price for. The company offered a deal on this style and I don't really care about the color. 

So that brings me to a natural stopping point. I still didn't get to the thing I really wanted to talk about, but I guess that means I just have to write up a part 3. And it also means I'm a very lucky lady because I have invested so much time and money in appreciating myself. Which I deserve because I work very hard. And you only have one body, which should be appreciated and cared for.

Month of Mama

I have been on a spending spree but I am so happy with the items that I have purchased. This month of mama, I am going to tell you about the things I have recently bought and why I love them.

In addition to all the wonderful pumping stuff that I bought for my pumping life and returning to work and babywearing, I also got some things that are just for me. To protect and cherish my body. To emerge from pandemic quarantine work-from-home maternity leave and to celebrate my body as it is and not how I wish it were.

Hello Treacle - Diamond Boobs magnet. I was so sad to see that there are so few ways our culture celebrates breastfeeding milestones. There are more vendors in the UK that celebrate with gifts. The magnet quality was so-so, it was very thin but it came with this really cool card that says THANK YOU FOR BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC on one side and on the other side it says "By breastfeeding you are giving your child the best start in life. And by breastfeeding in public you're helping to normalize breastfeeding and encouraging other mothers to do the same. Keep the message going by passing this card onto the next mum you see breastfeeding in public. Have a wonderful day! #NormaliseBreastfeeding www.HelloTreacleStore.com"

MamaDearJewellery - Diamond Boobs keychain. I actually love this. I clipped it to my Sarah Wells pumping bag.

LiquidLoveStickers - I put two of these on my breast pump and the third one (Never quit on a bad day) is sitting right in front of me on my computer monitor so I can see it all the time. I love it so much.

Legendary Milk - Sticker pack. I used these stickers to decorate my Ceres Chill and my Think Sport water bottle. I shared some with my sister.

Studio Spirit Y Sol - Affirmation card deck. After my sister gave birth by c-section, I realized that I had a lot of unresolved feelings about my own birthing experience. I have been looking at these cards every day and meditating with the Calm app and trying to let go of the negative emotions and memories associated with how my son was born.

These are silly purchases I researched while doing middle-of-the-night (MOTN) feeds. Even around 2 years old, my son still wakes up in the middle of the night. Usually between 10-midnight and then again around 4-5am. If I can't go back to sleep, I do scroll a bit on my phone. Are these items essential to my health and well-being? No. But when I look at them, do I feel rewarded, recognized, valued, affirmed, and a sense of belonging? Yes. So in that way, they are taking care of my mental health.

Sometimes I do wonder how I'll look back on this time. It seems so important to me right now. But maybe when I've moved on to the next stage or season, I'll just be glad to be done with it.