One of my favorite things... TWINNING!

Something that has been EXTREMELY popular on my Instagram page is #twinning posts of Kaleia and I. 

I'd be lying if I said it's not my favorite thing to post. 

I don't know. 
I have this crazy talent of finding matching outfits for us two!

Everytime I post #twinning looks, I get so many likes & comments!

I love it! and clearly you guys do too! haha

So, here are four of my favorite #twinning looks of Kaleia and I from the last 2 years: 

4th of July. 

Kaleia was 3 months old here.

 One thing I love more than #twinning is a theme!

I think this was a church look. 
I was pretty in to skater skirts for a moment. 

Now, I won't be caught dead in one! 

You have to evolve your style!

This was our "denim" moment. 

I'm still a fan of it. 

The most current. I love a good fur. 

Fur's not her fave. Excuse me, Faux Fur.

Those are my top 4 photos! I hope you all enjoyed them!

I haven't abandoned the #twinning game, I've just tabled it for the time being. 

But you never know when Kaleia and I will pop up matching!

And if you don't think I'm not bringing Keileb into the mix... you have me sadly mistaken haha

And if you want to #twin with your mini and have no idea how, hit me up! 

I'd be more than happy to style you and your mini! 

Ciao! XoXo

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!

Okay, so before I get verbally stoned... I know, I'm late! lol but hey! 19 days into the New Year is better than 6 months into it right? And let's get the shade out the way now. "Who writes a New Year post AFTER New Year's Day?" ME! That's who! haha! Now, we can begin!

Happy New Year beautiful people! 

I've been spending the first few weeks of the year goal setting (i'm not big on resolutions), getting inspired and soaking up as much knowledge as I can in efforts to really boost my businesses in 2016! But, this post is not about ME, it's about YOU! YES, YOU! 

This year, bring YOU back! As a woman of God, Wife and Mother (in that order) I often get frustrated about ME. I feel in pleasing every one else, I'm losing ME! Being all three of these women shouldn't make me feel lost, it should make me feel like a better version of myself! So, in 2016, reclaim you! Love the woman you have become/are becoming. Embrace your struggles, responsibilities and triumphs! Those make you who you are! You don't have to change who you are because of a New Year just strive to be better than the last! It's all about growth and I know you can do it! No matter the size of your goals or the size of the life changes you want to make, any change is a big one! Do not let life, society, the internet, or even your peers make you feel like your time is up and you're a lost cause! As long as you are alive and well, there is still time for you!

Be determined in 2016! Have motivation! Determination and motivation will be the gas that drives inspiration! If you have a goal, seek to achieve it! If you love something, do it! People will always have something to say and always want to share their opinion but it's your life! God has given us all talents and when we have faith and utilize our talents for good, blessings will come! Being a Christian, a wife or a mom does not make you any less of who you are. It adds to your resume of life skills. Women, we wear many hats, let's embrace and love them all in 2016!

Ciao! XoXo

P.s. if you love my posts, get interactive! I want to hear from you! What do you like? What don't you like? What touches you? How did a post make you feel? Give me topics! Ask me questions! This isn't a one way street here! Let's be social!

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

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! 

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 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!

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!