Why you should pamper yourself this Christmas...

So here we are! Two days before Christmas! Craaaazzzzyyyy!

Where has this year gone?

I've been wanting to get this post up for the last week or so but you know, life happens!

Sooooo... what I'm here to tell you today is to get dolled up this Christmas Eve/Christmas!

I usually am pretty lazy on Christmas day. I like to be in jammies and just relax from all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season but you never know how I'll feel this Christmas!

The reason I say get dolled up is because looking cute makes us feel fab! And giirrrl, after all the hard-work you put in daily and overtime with the holidays, you deserve to look and feel cute!

The picture above was from my birthday about two weeks ago. I did one of those wine and paint nite classes with my mom and two best friends and I had a blast! My birthday was so relaxing! I got my mani/pedi in the morning followed by a hair and makeup appointment at Ulta. It felt good to be pampered! And what topped it all off, hubby was a good sport and did not call me AT ALL to bother me about baby drama! Can i get amen?!

I felt so good, so relaxed and so pretty! 

If you have errands to run, last minute shopping to do, cooking to do, gifts to wrap, etc. schedule some "me time," you deserve it, you need it and you'll feel great and more refreshed!

Even if you don't have time to squeeze in a pamper appointment, take the extra 20-30 minutes getting ready and do your hair and makeup! Believe me, someone will compliment you while you're out! And that one compliment will make you feel like a million bucks! 

Life is stressful ladies. As moms, it's very easy to put ourselves on the back burner. Which is why it's important that we take care of ourselves! We're the nurturers so no one is going to remind us to do anything for ourselves. And I completely understand that running after a toddler or being at the beck and call of a newborn makes it so exhausting to put effort into "me." That extra 20-30 minutes getting ready might seem like a lot but trust me, the pay off is worth it! 

So, do something for yourself this Christmas! Get cute! Look fab! You'll love it! 

Ciao! XoXo

Our family Christmas card and a lesson on life

So, here is a proof from our family portrait session with JCPenney yesterday. I post this because family and friends all over Facebook rave about how beautiful it is. I mean, I could stand to lose some pounds with that chubby face but nonetheless it is a beautiful family. But this post isn't about "the perfect holiday card," it's about life just not being perfect! Seriously, as I'm writing this post, I'm entertaining my son to keep him from crying. 

Different people may look at this picture and have various things they "love" or "admire" about our family and this picture. Though we are extremely blessed, life just isn't perfect. This portrait session took 5 reschedules and drama down to the minute. My husband's job doesn't have set hours so we are almost always at the mercy of his job. It's not a complaint because it pays our bills and makes it affordable for me to stay home with the kids for now but it's one of those reoccurring nuisances when you try to make plans. So, the appointment itself was rescheduled 5 times, literally. The last reschedule was not because of work, it was because my husband realized the night before, he hadn't gotten a haircut yet. And as we know, a guy will do nothing and go nowhere (aside from work or an emergency) without a haircut lol. Then, the morning of, he needs to get pants. Yes ladies, he knew about this for over 2 weeks. Procrastinator much? Yes he is and in my opinion the biggest one out there! lol Anyways, while he is out getting his pants for the pictures, the baby is throwing the biggest tantrum ever and my daughter is dropping my makeup all over the floor, unraveling the toilet paper roll and just getting into everything. So of course, I do what any good mom would do, lash out at him for having not taken care of business beforehand and have a mini breakdown! lol  I quickly got myself together because as long as it took to do my makeup, I refused to let it run. Finally, we get to JCPenney and forgot both of our phones! Which this day in age is a pretty big deal! Especially to our family, why? Because of course the Groupon for our photo session was on my phone! and as I should've expected, the computers at the portrait studio do not have internet because they don't want their employees surfing the web while they're supposed to be working. Thankfully, the reluctant photo associate was willing to let me use HER phone to log in to Groupon to get our photo session voucher! Our pictures were finally getting done! But of course, I have a year and a half old who is being asked to have a photo shoot during nap time so she quickly lost interest! It was like pulling teeth to get her to cooperate and of course mommy was frazzled as usual! But! We got them done! By the Grace of God, we got our family pictures taken and chosen for Holiday Cards!

Whew! I promise I didn't write this to "vent" or to "complain" because I am very happy and proud that our pictures came together! A blessing for sure! I write this to say, life just isn't perfect. Being a mom isn't perfect. Being a wife isn't perfect. We all have struggles DAILY. What we CHOOSE to put on social media doesn't refelct our struggles or low moments but they're there! Life in general has a lot of moving parts but when you add being a wife and a mother into the mix, it gets real! I think at any stage, it's hard being a mom or wife but when it's new, and it's pretty much at the same time, it's the hardest! You're used to pleasing and doing for yourself. But now, there are 3 other people I have to please and do for and myself tends to take the backseat (if it even enters the car lol).  If you are overwhelmed, stressed or just happen to have "a moment," believe me, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! We all have our days and it's inevitable! We're human! BUT I've started to count my blessings and not my struggles and the blessing here is Our family pictures happened, Thank God I have a family to take pictures with, Thank God for giving me content for a blog post, etc. If we take a second to breathe, relax, and just give thanks for what is, we can allow peace to enter in our time of stress! So, ladies please remember, life's not perfect, we won't be perfect no matter how hard we try and giving thanks can truly bring peace! 

I hope you all are having a Happy Holidays! 

Ciao! xoxo

Ps. if you're looking to take milestone pictures, family pictures or anything of the sort, Groupon almost always has really good deals for JCPenney Portraits! Sitting fees are included in the Groupon rate and you can choose which package works for you that they offer! We did the 16 X 20 Canvas print for 39.99 then paid about $30.00 extra at our sitting for 48 Christmas cards! Super good deal if you ask me! Happy Holidays!

You really should... Visit Oak Glen!

So, about 2 almost 3 weeks ago my family and I went up the mountain in Yucaipa, CA and visited Oak Glen! OH MY GOSH! I fell in LOVE! If you don't know what Oak Glen is, It's a mountain area (I'm not sure how many miles it runs) that has various cute little farms! During the fall, it's Harvest season so you can pick your own raspberries, apples, pumpkins, makes your own apple cider, do some shopping, of course eating and enjoying the weather! Because, if you're a desert girl like me, you do not get to experience much of any climate besides HOT! and I WAS MADE FOR THE FALL! haha! I love everything about it! The food, the ambiance, the fashion, the aroma, thanksgiving, the weather, i just love the fall! 

Anywho, we got up there pretty late in the day and they do close at 5pm so I recommend getting there at least by 12-1pm so you aren't pressed for time! The farm we visited was Los Rios Rancho. It was so cute and quaint and had all the activities listed above! We grubbed on some bbq, homemade apple crumble crisp pie, apple slaw and of course fresh cider! I had to have iced cider with my bbq then a hot one once it got chilly! haha! We also just enjoyed the ambiance of the trees and weather and took a punch of pics! 

If you're ever looking for a fun fall activity or family day, head to Oak Glen! You won't be disappointed! If you don't have plans Thanksgiving weekend after stuffing your face and going black friday crazy, head to Oak Glen! They're having an apple butter festival! Scroll down to see pics from our day there! 

 The family! Kaleia (my daughter), Keith (ny husband), Yours truly, Keileb (my son), 

My mom and in the back my sister Taylor! 

 Apple Slaw! It was so good! 

 It's so hard to get babies to cooperate with a family selfie! lol 

 Daddy and Kaleia! 

 My little mommas boy! His favorite place is in my arms :) 

 Had to get our selfie in while in line for our bbq!

 Apple crumb crisp pie! I know it looks like a pile of crisp but it was good! lol

My pulled pork sandwich! yummy! 

Last Minute Costume Idea!

Helllooooooo guys!! Long time, no see!! or write... you know what I mean! 

I have been super busy with school, the babies, and just life in general! 

But not to worry! I'm going to make more of an effort here! 

Anywho! The reason why I'm here today is because it's officially October 30th! Like seriously, where has this year went! Only two months left of 2015! sheesh! but back to why we're here, now, today. It's the day before Halloween! and you know what that means! 

Last minute costumes are in FULL EFFECT!

I'm such a fan of Pinterest! I really love that site. It's probably the greatest online invention EVER! I seriously pinterest something before googling it! 

So, this year I took to Pinterest for costume ideas yet again! And I LOVED my costume!

And can I say, it cost me about 7 bucks and took ten minutes to make! 

I was a "Cereal Killer" haha! Get it?

Interested in how and what it takes to make this costume? Keep reading!

What you need:

A simple/comfy outfit (I chose leggings, a white tee and an older chambray shirt.)

I owned all these items so no expense there!

Combat boots (or something similar) 

Mini cereal boxes (8-pack at my local target for $3.19)

Spray Blood (my local costume shop for $2.98)

Plastic knives (had those on hand too)

safety pins (already had) 

red lipstick (already had)

What you do:

1. Get your outfit together. 

It took me about 4 outfit changes before deciding on this. I wanted to be comfy and cute but I also wanted it to look like a costume without being "skanky"

2. Using your red lipstick, write "cereal killer" on the back 

3. Take all the cereal out of the boxes

you can eat them right away if you want but I chose to wait haha!

4. Safety pin the boxes to the shirt wherever you'd like 

5. Hang the shirt or have someone hold it for you and spray paint the blood everywhere!

I'd do this outside just in case your spray is messy. Mine wasn't too bad.

And Wahlah! You're done! Quick, cheap, last minute Halloween Costume! 

You're welcome!

Comment below if you loved this idea and would like to see posts like this! 

Ciao! 

Fall Favorites: My top 10 fall necessities for 2015!

The fall transition has arrived! yay! the only bummer, SoCal Fall is like a notch below summer. It's still freakin' warm all the time! ugh! Luckily, this fall's trends are wearable no matter where you live! yay!

So, for this post I've rounded up my top 10 fall favorites! As I collect them, I will do outfit of the day posts! So, stay tuned for that!  

1. Bomber Jackets 

 This is a super trendy and stylish layering piece that can bring some edge to your look!

2. Carli Bybel/ bh cosmetics eyeshadow and highlight pallete

I have been dabbling more and more with make up and beauty and I fell in LOVE with this pallate! 

AND it's super affordable! only 12.50! Here's the bummer, because Carli Bybel is so loved and well followed, (over a million followers on IG!) this pallete sold out in hours and is now on back order! 

3. Draped Open-front Cardigans

I am IN LOVE with these! I want one in every neutral color! So simple and chic! Can be easily worn with a bodycon dress, skirt and tank, or jeans and a tee! So versatile!

4. Sleeveless Vests 

I love the color of the one pictured! These are another amazing layering piece! This will quickly add style to your look! 

5. Graphic Tees

Graphic tees have always been a favorite of mine. So easy. Dress it up with a statement necklace and some pumps and you have a quick, stylish outfit!

6. Parklane Jewelry Velocity Ring

The ring speaks for itself! Stylish rings are IN right now! Don't forget the mani!

7. Over the Knee boots

Boots are a fall stable. It's officially fall when you're breaking the boots out! And who doesn't love a good over the knee boot? come on. 

8. Parklane Jewelry Turn it Up Necklace

Layering necklaces is so in! I'm loving this trend! So young and hip! 

9. Parklane Jewelry Velocity Bracelet

Because what's a great ring without the matching bracelet? 

10. Parklane Jewelry Virtue Ring

This ring is one of my favorites! You can wear it as one or you can split it into 3 different rings to add more style to your fingers!

Hope you enjoyed my fall favorites list! I can't wait to style looks for you all to see!

ciao!

*images pictured are google images not my own

*Parklane jewelry items can be purchased directly through me. contact me for info

Why I've been MIA... Newborn Hazing!

Whew! It has definitely been awhile since my last blog post and here's why! :) 

I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy on August 15, 2015 at 9:47 pm by way of VBAC! 

(insert jaw drop face here)

SO! As we know from my last post, I was prepared (call me crazy but I was excited too) to have another c-section! Well, the Doctor (not my primary) talked me into trying Vaginal Birth After C-section and I did it! whhhaaaaaattt?! So crazy! 

I was in labor beginning the 14th of August around noon and what was I doing? looking for a new house! AND my hospital bag wasn't even packed! I was house hunting, visiting a family member in the hospital and running errands while having contractions! I know, I'm pretty much insane but I'm so last minute and beyond impatient and the last thing I wanted was to be in a hospital waiting for them to check me in or send me home (which the 1st hospital did do - annoying). 

So, after doing all that, packing my bag, going to the hospital I had my daughter at just to get turned away, I went to another hospital and checked in around 11:00 am on Saturday the 15th. The doctor in triage talked me into trying for VBAC and 10 1/2 hours later, my baby boy was born! 

Recovery has been a breeze! I have to remember I'm still recovering from child birth and force myself to rest and relax. My son is healthy and getting chunkier by the day thanks to mommas milk! (i love breastfeeding)  We found and moved in to a new home over labor day weekend, so it's been a pretty hectic time for me but I am so happy and blessed overall! I do occasionally get the baby blues and have my emotional/overwhelming days because dealing with a newborn and a toddler is A HOT MESS! But hey! I'm a mom! I'm sure EVERY mom has those days regardless of the children's ages!

So, if any of you have been wondering where me and my blog posts have been, this is why we've been MIA! :) 

My experience with a c-section...

As I'm quickly approaching that time again, (38 weeks today hence my lack of blog posts) I wanted to share a bit of my birthing experience because I've noticed a trend in the way people view Cesarean deliveries!

Now let me first say this, PEOPLE! A CESAREAN ISN'T ALWAYS A BAD THING! STOP MAKING A PREGNANT WOMAN FEEL BAD IF SHE TELLS YOU THAT'S HER METHOD OF DELIVERY! 

I know in some cultures they believe you aren't a "real woman" if you do not have a baby natural and without any medication. That's old school and a crock of you know what. Cesarean deliveries are JUST as common as natural deliveries and they aren't always because of a "problem." Every woman is different. Every woman's body can endure different things. Every pregnancy is different! What was easy for one, may have been almost impossible to another. Which is why i say STOP! Stop trying to force natural birth on a woman, Stop gasping and shrieking when a woman tells you her method of delivery, Stop turning your nose up, Stop thinking a cesarean somehow equates to a problem or an inferior way to deliver. 

With that out the way, here's my story:

With my pregnancy with my daughter, I had been told since about 36-37 weeks that I would delivery by way of a cesarean. Reason being? My birth canal was small and I wasn't dilating, although she was in position and ready! (I know, a lot of people say "doctor's just want more money so they tell you that" if that's the way you think about your doctor, you already have a problem. Call me naive but I've haven't encountered a doctor who was not worried about my well being) 

So, about 2 days before my due date, I started having contractions and went into labor and was admitted to the hospital on my due date. Now, I CHOSE to deliver at a hospital that did not have my records and that my doctor did not deliver at and of course it was a Saturday. So, because I was in active labor, this hospital asked if I wanted to try natural and since I had been made to feel that having a c-section was a problem, I said "yes, i will try BUT DO NOT HESITATE to give me a c-section as my doctor has already made a c-section appointment for this Monday." So, i got my epidural and i felt great! I was talking and laughing through labor like there wasn't an earthquake striking my body every 3 minutes! By 8-9 centimeters dilated, my cervix had swollen up and my daughter's heart rate dropped and mine shot up, which resulted in an "emergency c-section." 

Fast forward to this pregnancy:

Being that all this took place a little  over a year ago (16 months to be exact), I am scheduled for another c-section because my pregnancies are so close together and if i try and go natural, I run the risk of bursting my incision. Am i worried? No! I actually prefer to deliver by way of a c-section because I've healed great from my last one and I'd hate to ruin a good thing trying to go natural just because "it's the norm."

I write this as a post of possible inspiration. I hope to inspire women to not be scared of a cesarean. Like I said, every woman's body is different and that includes during pregnancy. You and your doctor know what you can handle and do not do anything YOU aren't comfortable with! I also hopes this inspires people to drop the idea of c-sections being abnormal or only because of a problem. If you have an acquaintance, friend, or loved one who is going to deliver by way of c-section, be supportive! It's not  always a bad thing! It's child birth! It's not meant to be pretty! Natural deliveries sure aren't pretty! And just because you may have had children natural, doesn't mean that's another woman's path. 

Life throws us all curve balls and in my experience, going natural was actually detrimental to my child and I, so my doctor was right and wasn't just trying to get more money. And come on, with as many women that get pregnant daily, do you really think a doctor is hurting for c-section money? It's not like pregnancy is going extinct any time soon lol 

Images found on google

My Baby Registry Picks!!

Baby Registries... For some women, they're fun! (Like me lol I use any excuse to go to a store) for some women, it's dreadful. But nonetheless, it's necessary if you plan on having a baby shower! 

These days, registries are on line and in almost every store that sells baby stuff but I personally rate my favorites based on the gifts (newborn freebies and samples!) and the ease of the process!! 

So, this post is dedicated to the 3 places I chose to do my registries at. Yes, I did 3 lol all because of the freebies! Lol don't judge me! I love free stuff! But also so that my friends and family have a variety of stores to choose from! I'll go in order of favorites staring with number 1:

Number 1 favorite: TARGET 

Target gets the top spot mainly because of the variety of samples (that I will actually put to use) and the ease of the process this time around! Target has implemented some improvements on the registry process in the last year. You literally walk in to customer service, tell them you want to create a registry, and they give you an iPhone where you create the registry and scan items! Then, when you're finished, you can email/text yourself the DIRECT link to your registry!! I found this to be super useful and handy! People will ask you until the day of the shower "where did you register/what do you want for the baby" (even if they received an invitation so clearly some people don't pay attention but we love them nonetheless lol) that's where you reply with your registry link! They have it right on their phone! No need to waste paper or any more time! I love that genius addition! Then look at what you get! Wipes, a full sized bottle, pacifier, etc. plus tons of coupons! Target has my top vote! 

Runner up: BUY BUY BABY

I read great reviews about Buy Buy Baby's registry gift pack so I decided to give them a try. I wasn't super impressed but I wasn't super disappointed either. I do like the full can of enfamil (I plan on breastfeeding but you never know if you might need formula) and the Bio-Oil stretch mark gel! The staff made this experience pleasant! They were so cheerful and happy to help! (Getting an ice cold water was nice too. Especially since registry scanning is quite time consuming) I think what makes this number 2 is it's literally the "Bed Bath & Beyond" for baby stuff! They are owned by the same people and you can even use "Bed Bath & Beyond" coupons there! NICE! 

Honorable Mention: BABIES R US

This gift pack had to be the least of my favorites because look at it lol it's scarce compared to the other 2. What I thought was coupons, was actually pamphlets to easily scan items. That is nice and efficient I guess but where are the discounts?! I was a little disappointed in this one. I love Babies R Us but this gift pack could've been better. However, I LOVE that Babies R Us has a program where after the baby is born, they will send you a gift card with 10% back of what was spent on your registry! So, if your family and friends combined spend $1,000, you get a gift card worth $100! I think that's amazing! That really came in handy for us when we had our daughter! 

So, there you have it! My registry picks, why and my reviews of them! I know this is a longer post but I hope it helps a mommy to be out there! ;) 

My challenge to mommies!!

Hey lovelies! 

So I posted this picture on Instagram and Facebook, and the inspiration I got for a blog post was a little deeper than "style." 

Being that this blog is super new, I'm sure you all don't know that I am 33 weeks along in my second pregnancy. That's about 8 months! So I'm pretty close to meeting our next little addition to our growing family! Super exciting! 

But this also means, I get very little "me time." 

Anywho, back to the inspiration. When I took this picture I was on my way to my best friend's birthday dinner and it made me stop and think how important it is to get dolled up and have some girl time! I have been so wrapped up in my growing family, building my businesses, launching my blog and everything baby and toddler related that I often forget to have ME time! NO BUENO! 

We can't forget about ourselves ladies!

The importance in taking some "me time" is crucial! Especially when you have a family depending on you to hold everything together. Taking some time to yourself can refresh you, de-stress you, rejuvenate you and give you some time to miss your loved ones so that life isn't just going through the motions and being taken for granted. You are the lifeline of your family! Take care of you so that you can take care of them with energy and even more love! 

So, once a week, take some time to yourself! Get your nails done, get a massage, enjoy happy hour, have a girls night, visit Barnes and Noble and enjoy a good read and a coffee, host/attend a jewelry party (wink wink). Whatever you love and you haven't done in awhile or before, DO IT! 

Get out! Get Dressed! Get that "me time" you deserve!

Summer Staples... Maxi's & Midi's

Okay... so... unless you've been living under a rock, you know maxi dresses are ESSENTIAL for your summer wardrobe! How could you not love them? They come in standard color or prints, flowy or fitted, pricey and economic. You can find them just about anywhere and they look great on any body type!

So every summer, I am drawn to our beloved maxi dress but the current midi dress trend? IT'S EVERYTHING! I love midi dresses just about as mush as maxi's! They are so easy! and trust me, when you're pregnant, easy is your best friend! 

Rather you are pregnant or not, no matter your shape or size, you can find a maxi or a midi to make you look chic on these hot summer days! I am a huge fan of "less is more" but I'm not into "letting it all hang out." By throwing this quick summer staple on, you're only dealing with one article of clothing, you'll not only look great but you'll feel even better! Not to mention, you wont have to spend an hour trying on clothes and figuring out what to wear for the day! 

I love wearing a simple, standard color dress then throwing on some cute sandals and a statement necklace. That quick i have a stylish outfit that won't cause me to burn up! 

Love maxi's and midi's also? Let me know in the comments! 

picture created by @modamomnbabes on Polyvore

Why I chose Park Lane Jewelry...

First, what is Park Lane?

Park Lane Jewelry is a leading direct sales company that specializes in high quality fashion jewelry. 

The company was founded in 1955 in Chicago by Shirley Levine and to this day it is still family owned and operated! They have a parternship with E! Network and E! has it's own catalog and line with the company AND Park Lane provides all the Jewelry for Dancing with the Stars. Cool, right?

Now, before you start rolling your eyes and thinking this is a bogus pyramid scheme company, let me tell you what made me join!

I went to my first jewelry show in August 2014 and really didn't think much of it. Really, I was just going because my mom wanted to go. haha! Once we arrived, I fell IN LOVE with the jewelry! I was trying on and taking pics of EVERYTHING! I was shocked to see that it wasn't outdated or crappy! Plus, I went home with like 4 pieces of FREE jewelry just by playing games that night and agreeing to host my own show!

So, I held my party in November (really, just to get more free jewelry) and to my surprise the Director of the show presented me with the Diamond Couture set (found here) I fell in love with at the previous party JUST for having a show! Not to mention, I took home around $300 worth of free jewelry that night! So, after my party the Director tells me how much my party earned in sales and how much I'd earn in commission if I was the director! She expressed how I would be really good at joining the business. I pretty much was doing her job for her at my show. I knew the customer specials and crazy customer sale plus the hostess specials like the back of my hand! I knew this because I'm always looking for a great deal and I want THE MOST for THE LEAST! haha!

So i decided to give it a shot! I loved the jewelry, I loved the sale and I loved the hostess perks so why not get paid to promote and sell it? I went to Park Lane's annual Las Vegas Convention in February of this year and that changed the game for me! Learning the company's beliefs and seeing how many women are successful with this company (8% make 100K+) inspired me to hit the ground running! I wanted to quit my corporate job when I got home! haha! I was in love with this company! 

So, that is my "why Park Lane?" I love the company, I really love the perks and pay and I am obsessed with the jewelry! If you don't love your job, why stay? Life's too short to not do something you love and that brings you happiness and Park Lane brings me that and more! 

If you have any questions on the company, what I do or how you can see, purchase or earn the jewelry, just click here to email me and I will be more than happy to share any and all info with you! 

  

5 tips for Shopping Online!

Ohhhhh.... Online Shopping! This is a true hit or miss and not my particular favorite form of shopping; Mainly because I cannot see or try on the items before purchasing. However, I do have some pointers on how to make online shopping successful for you! Here are my 5 steps to online shopping:

1.) Know your body type and what fabrics/cuts work for you

This is an important thing to know in any shopping you do! Wearing the appropriate sizes can actually make you look more slim as opposed to clothes that are too big/small that result in looking bigger. 

Know what fabrics work for you! For example, cotton is very comfortable and when it is mixed with spandex or lycra, it'll add stretch and comfort! Another favorite fabric of mine is jersey (no i'm not talking sports jerseys, it's almost an extension of cotton). Knowing your body and the fabrics/ cut of fabrics that flatter it will help you minimize returns and wasted money and time! 

2.) Always read the description and reviews! 

This step is pretty self explanatory. By reading these sections, you will gather the fabric information and how the item fits! If a website does not have either of these listed under your wanted item, I'd skip it! You're taking a huge gamble that COULD result in disappointment. :( 

3.) Check if the website has a size guide

Being that you can't try items on from behind your computer, tablet or phone, you need all the information you can get on how the clothes from any specific site or retailer fit. A size guide is a chart showing how measurements relate to the given sizes that a retailer carries. (keep in mind, if a website has various brands they work with, size and fit are relative to brand so the size chart could be very generic).

4.) ALWAYS check shipping prices/times and return policies BEFORE ordering!

This is HUGE! This is probably the FIRST thing I would do when I get to a website before even browsing. If you need an item next week and it takes two weeks to ship, you have a problem! Also, if a site says no returns or exchanges, I'd pretty much run! I once purchased a dress from an "online boutique" I found on instagram and they did not honor returns or exchanges! I paid $50 for a very cheap dress that I could've found at the Alley in Downtown LA for $10! Total waste of money! It was NEVER worn!

5.) Unless a brand has amazing reviews and you feel at ease with it, shop BIG!

By shop big, I mean department stores and big retailers. Now, shopping small has it's advantages. Shopping small stimulates local economy and the shop owners tend to be more appreciative of customers. However, they tend to be pricey and you have to be very careful of craftsmanship. The advantages to shopping big are: you know the fit of the clothes, they usually have great shipping times and returns are easy! Some of my favorite places to shop online are Forever21, H&M, Asos, Karmaloop and Big department stores! 

Hope this post helped someone out there! Please comment any feedback!

image found on google via digitalsherpa.com

Karmaloop is a huge online retailer that has GREAT deals around Christmas! I usually get my husbands casual clothes here!

My favorite place for freebies and deals!

One of my favorite instagram profiles/websites is Free Stuff Finder!

Her blog has all kinds of deals! From beauty and couponing deals to new mommy freebies! There's seriously something for every body here. 

If you love freebies, saving money or are interested in how to coupon at your favorite stores, check her blog and instagram page out! You'll definitely find something useful and you might even get addicted! 

After all, what's better than saving money?

Trend Obsession: Backpacks

Okay. So, we all know trends come and go right? I mean, that's what fashion is all about! It repeats itself! Well, a current trend I am absolutely OBSESSING over is fashionable backpacks! I've been told I'm a bit more adventurous and sporty this pregnancy due to having a boy so this could be it too! haha! 

But back to the backpacks. I love the versatility of backpacks! It's a super chic bag for the mom on the go! It doubles as a purse, diaper bag and lunch bag! Because how annoying is it carrying a purse AND a diaper bag? SUPER! and although there are diaper brands out there that are making some fashionable diaper bags, it's still...well... A DIAPER BAG! It still feels like it's someone else's tote that you're strolling around with! I guess the backpack gives a little freedom in my opinion! It makes me feel like it's MY BAG and it represents MY STYLE, yet it carries everything I need to function with a toddler on the go! I'm definitely a fan of fashion backpacks right now! What's even better, they literally are EVERYWHERE! You can find them anywhere from Target to Nordstrom! I found a cute every day one for 12.99. SCORE! I have searched the internet for fashion backpacks I love and compiled a list of my faves! (pictured) You can see where to get them below! Happy Shopping!

Pictured Backpacks:

1. gx by Gwen Stefani: currently on sale here

2. Michael by Michael Kors: here

3. Merona Backpack Handbag: here

4. Modalu Agatha Rucksack: currently on sale here

5. Faux Leather Buckled Backpack: here

6. Grafea Hari Backpack: here

7. Alexander Wang Prisma Skeletal: here

8. Rebecca Minkoff Julian: here

Welcome to Modamomnbabes!

Welcome to Modamomnbabes!

With my very first blog post, I wanted to introduce myself  and let you all know my motivation behind creating this blog!  (I've been brainstorming and going back and forth on blog ideas literally for years haha!)

A little about me, (I hope this isn't repetitive) I am a Stay at Home mommy of a one-year old baby girl  and currently expecting baby number 2 in August! It's a boy! yay! I've been married for about 4 months now, so I guess you can say I'm still a newlywed! I am a current freelance Personal Stylist and Fashion Director for Park Lane Jewelry! (I'm in the process of transitioning from "stay at home mom" to "work from home mom" lol)

So why the blog? Why now? and What to expect?

Why the blog? Well the short answer is, I LOVE GIVING ADVICE! I'm always giving someone advice on something rather it's an outfit, relationship problem, party idea, etc. I just love sharing my brain with people so why not a blog?! 

After leaving my corporate job with event sales in March, I knew the time was now to dive into what I love! I love my family, I love fashion, I love trying out new products and giving my opinion so why not share these things online?

You can expect pretty much anything mommy related here! However, you don't have to be a mom or mommy to be to engage and get to know me! I'm here to build a relationship with my readers, answer your questions, give advice on things you want see and make more friends! The posts you will see will range from product reviews to fashion/style posts, mommy/pregnancy posts and you may even see some event planning posts! Nothing is off limits here! I'm a mom and as we all know that title wears many hats! 

So stay tuned, have fun and let's be friends!