Milk-Friendly

{FORTUNA FAMILY HAPPENINGS}: ON THE MOVE

2013-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you so very much to every single one of you who participated in my Birthday Giveaway last week. I loved reading through all of your comments and I feel like I know a little bit more about each and every one of you :) A winner has been chosen, and I am just waiting for them to email me back to claim their prize.
In the meantime, I can let you all know that as my family and I are packing up our stuff and traveling for a few months, my blogging might be on the light side. I love blogging and the help it gives my breastfeeding babes, but I don't want to give myself any added pressure while we are on the move. That being said, all of my ad spaces will be for a 90 day period, so if you were thinking of trying out the ad space thing, this month might be a good time to try :)

Mahalo!
With love,
Maryam

GIVEAWAY SPONSOR RUN DOWN

2013-04-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hi my Milk-friendlies!

There are just a few more hours left to enter my big birthday giveaway (Did you ENTER yet?) and I have to say that as I am reading through all of your giveaway comments, it was painfully clear that when you are a mom, ME TIME takes on a whole different meaning! The bare essentials like showering, sitting down for some tea, reading, exercise and the such is what real moms called FREE TIME. So so true. But do you know what? These little humans are ALL worth it :)

*****

Next, I just wanted to mention a few more things about some of the sponsors for the giveaway (in case you powered through those entry items and wanted to know a little more about some of the prizes), so here we go...

OF ONE SEA

This is my personal new venture and I have to say that it's both exciting and nerve-racking at the same time! I am in the midst of creating a new surf brand that's inspired by our beach surroundings here in Hawaii and the concept of world unity. I am hoping to have a mini launch by the end of this week. If you want to grab a shirt or onesie for you little ones, keep in touch through facebook and instagram because there will be very limited quantities for the mini launch.

WEBSITE. FACEBOOK. INSTAGRAM.

LOVING MOMENTS BY LEADING LADY

If you are looking for maternity/nursing bras that combine comfort, cute styles, back closures AND affordability, the new Loving Moments line from Leading Lady is that perfect bra for you. I was astonished at the quality and comfort of these bras that Leading Lady sent me to try. Being exclusively sold at Walmart, it puts these cute bras at a price point that many pregnant and nursing moms can afford, lending you the chance to really deck out your breastfeeding bra collection.

LUCKY MAMA BOXES

I had the opportunity to receive a Boobie Box courtesy of Lucky Mama Boxes and let me tell you something... I was thoroughly impressed! It's the perfect all-around gift to order for yourself and for ever new mom on the block. This little box is FULL of ever little thing a new breastfeeding mama will need. Even lactation cookies. Did I mention there were cookies?

YOU! LINGERIE

If you're looking for a fancier maternity/nursing bra, You! Lingerie has got the goods! I had the chance to try their Sexy You! Maternity Nursing Bra (courtesy of You! Lingerie) and it has turned into my favorite nursing bra. As fancy and lacy as it looks, it's actually incredibly comfortable and gives the "girls" some amazing lift. I am on the small side in that region (a 32B) but they offer up to 38H. I would definitely add one of their bras to your breastfeeding arsenal!

THANK YOU!

{GIVEAWAY GOODNESS}: MILK FRIENDLY BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY

2013-04-15T11:11:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I turned 28. And for me, with every birthday I tend to get the most reflective. When I tried to think of one word that described the way I felt on that day, it would be CONTENTMENT. Contentment with a splash of joyfulness. I feel the best I've felt in my skin as a mother and a wife. And let me say that finding this happiness in the core of your heart is what life is all about. There are always tests and difficulties along the way, because without them, we would be stagnant beings with no growth, but that feeling of contentment brings strength and perservearance to navigate those trying times with grace and thankfulness. I feel fortunate to come to this place at this point in my life so that I can take on this next year with the right foot forward.

Snapshots from my birthday day.

Ok, ok! Enough with all this pensiveness, let's get to the FUN PART! Me showering you with gifts. This week's giveaway is priiiiity amazing and I would be just thrilled to win even just one of the items. We have some wonderful and generous companies providing the prizes for you and a few from me as a token of appreciation from my readers. I hope you are as excited as I am.

+CHECK IT+

PRIZES:

$50 Gift Credit to Thief & Bandit
A Nursing Bra or Tank & a set of Nursing Pads from Loving Moments by Leading Lady
A Pair of Leggings in you choice design and size from Mason & The Tambourine
One Bra and One Panty from You! Lingerie
A Children's Vneck shirt or Onesie from OF ONE SEA
A $20 Gift Credit to Owo Shoes (Go and enjoy 25% off while you can with the code owomilk.)
A Boobie Box from Lucky Mama Boxes
Bonus! $25 Gift Credit to spend at Brickyard Buffalo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please Note: Thief & Bandit, Loving Moments by Leading Lady, Mason & The Tambourine, You! Lingerie and Lucky Mama Boxes provided their prizes for this giveaway. The Owo Shoes, OF ONE SEA and Brickyard Buffalo prizes are a gift from Maryam from www.milkfriendly.com. This giveaway lasts just one week, so the last day to enter the giveaway is April 22, 2013. 11:59 Hawaii Time. Winner will be chosen by random and will have 72 hours to email me back to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will go to the runner-up. All prizes will be sent to winner directly from the company. I am not responsible for lost/stolen items. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 and older.

{FORTUNA FAMILY HAPPENINGS}: Packing Up and Giving Away

2013-04-10T10:28:00.000-07:00

Today is one of those "housekeeping" posts, you know, one where I babble on about all the tasks I need to get done around here.
To begin, we are moving out! After 17 months of "trying out" island life on the North Shore of Oahu, we are happy to say that we want this to be home. The owners of the place we've been leasing is ready to kick back and enjoy the island life and move back into this home. We are taking this gentle nudge to move things forward, put our things into storage, go travel for a few months and come back to figure out the next step.
That whole "putting things into storage" leads me to my next item of business- MY CLOSET. To my own astonishment, I am letting go of things left and right (I tend to be a hoarder). Yes, I have a new yearning for simplifying my world, but to be honest, with all my recent post-baby weight loss, I just don't fit into things like I used to. So for you, my lovely shoppers, that means you get some pretty awesome things. On top of that, I am selling $20 by the pound sets of clothing. Basically, everything I can fit in a package, under the one pound weight limit is your's. You can view my closet on my Instagram shop, @shopmilkfriendly and I also re-post on Twitter if you're over there too.

Next, I turn 28 on Thursday. WHOOP! I'll be doing something low-key with my family, but on this here blog, we can celebrate with a giveaway par-tay. I want to honor my sweet, sweet readers and host a giveaway of my current favorite things for YOU to win. With that, if you are not already an email subscriber, I'd go ahead and take care of that HERE so you don't miss out on anything.

:::::Here's a peek at some of the giveaway items:::::

See you back here for the giveaway!

{BREASTFEEDING IN STYLE}: Panted Playsuit/Rompers

2013-04-04T13:39:00.000-07:00

Click the image above to find the links to each of the looks

Last post, I talked about the romper. Since most one piece rompers have buttons or zippers to easily get in and out of, it makes for an incredibly simple way to breastfeed your baby. My previous post focused on short rompers and today it's the panted version.... but all the same rules apply.

While the romper shorts are a bit more for a day look, the long playsuit has a sophistication that can be dressed up and taken into the workplace and on into the evening. I am especially loving these three from Anthro and Free People.

Anthropologie

Free People

Anthropologie

Breastfeeding Friendly Long Romper

{BREASTFEEDING IN STYLE}: SPRING ROMPERS

2013-04-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Click the image above to find the links to each item

Rompers are by far, my favorite clothing item to wear. They are effortless like a dress in that you don't have to put together multiple clothing items like separates. But even better, they aren't a dress, rather shorts or pants. This gives you the flexibility to literally romp around with your children.
On top of that, they are a breastfeeding mother's best friend because by nature, they need an easy exit route like buttons or zippers in order to use the lady's room. I'll admit, it's not always a pretty sight when you actually have to strip down for this, but as far as being chic, cute, and breastfeeding-friendly, rompers are where it's at.

Click the image above to find the links to each item

Do you like the ease of a romper for breastfeeding?

{DIY}: Make Your Own No Sew Nursing Cover

2013-03-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

Ok folks, here it is. The easiest, cheapest, quickest nursing cover you'll ever make. You got that right! All you'll need is some scissors, an old/cheap/thrifted (preferably men's) shirt and your own two hands.

First I have a backstory (and feel free to skip over it so you can just get to the nitty gritty). So, a couple years ago, for my oldest son's 3rd birthday, we threw him a superhero party. I found this DIY on how to make superhero capes out of t-shirts. It was awesome. Then fast forward a year and a half later to this past Halloween. My children are (still) obsessed with superheroes and our family dresses up as various Avenger members. My youngest baby (aka Baby Hulk) is just 3 months old, so he would obviously be nursing 'round the clock. We had literally minutes to get ready and out the door to trick-or-treat because ny husband (who was dressed as Thor) only had one hour off from work that night. So we ran out the door and hit the streets at lightning speed. It came that time when baby was getting fussy and was ready to nurse to sleep. With all the Halloween commotion, baby wasn't having it and wouldn't settle down to nurse. So I then proceeded to steal Thor's red cape (one of the ones I made for the b-day party) and I put it around my neck, but faced the cape part over the baby. The world slowed down for baby and he nursed his way to dreamland.

THEN IT HIT ME. I just discovered the easiest nursing cover known to man.

First, please don't be overly-impressed by my superb doodling skills.
Then, go grab yourself an old t-shirt, maybe one from a man's closet, or one from the thrift store, or this one I used that was 5 bucks from Old Navy. You sort of want it a little bigger so there's more width to work with. Also, the V-Neck is cool because it kind of acts like the peek-a-boo aspect of legitimate nursing covers.
Then some scissors

Now imagine that you have the shirt on, and you want just the front of the shirt and the neckline for the nursing cover (sorry, I am a visual learner.) Then do a little snippet next to the collar on the shoulder. Just a tiny one, heading toward the back of the shirt (I snipped too far to the front.)

And then cut around the neck collar. Next, down the shoulder seam all the way down to the end of the sleeve. Keep the sleeves there until the very end. You can try it on, checking out the width and keep them if you feel like you want more coverage, or snip them off if you don't need them.

Cute assistants really help too.

Then from the armpit, cut outward passed the side seam and into the back of the shirt. Again, you want to give yourself plenty of width so you can trim it down as needed.

And that's it, my friends. You just made yourself a nursing cover in 5 minutes. Plus it's lightweight and easy to throw just about anywhere.

{BREASTFEEDING IN STYLE}: Button Down Dresses in Plus-Sizes

2013-03-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is a quasi Part Two to the Shirt Dress round-up I did last week. One of my sweet readers, Sarah Elisabeth, asked if any of the dresses from the group were plus-sized. Unfortunately, the answer was no. I was then determined to set out and find some dresses that were equally adorable while also being breastfeeding-friendly. Well my friends... I was pleased to find MOD CLOTH had exactly that. All I had to do was browse through their "Styles You Love in 16 & UP" and I was able to find some prrrrretty perfect shirt dresses. Any of these would be excellent Easter dresses with you and your nursing babe :)

Click the image above to find the links to these darling dresses.

FEATURE SPONSORS: Natural Mamas

2013-03-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

I have a supreme appreciation for all the lovely blogs and businesses that chose to advertise on my site here. This month is full of mothers just like you, who are spreading love and appreciation for all things natural and beautiful. Please take a few minutes to snoop around and say "Hi.

*****

It's a Big World Baby Blog

Sweetest family raising a curious, world-loving little girl. Love her list of natural recipes and remedies for babies.

*****

Full Moon Creations

Blog and Shop with natural moms and babies in mind. My favorites are her amber teething necklaces or baby ring sling that you can wear in the water. Pretty perfect for spring break vacations by the pool/beach!

*****

Sweet Pea Sylvie

Lovely family living in New Zealand with their little stud muffin, Marley. It's summer over there now, and these photos at the beach are beauties.

*****

CLEAN

This is so cool. Makenna, the wonderful woman behind CLEAN has an e-course for anyone who wants to live more naturally. I know that we as a family dramatically changed our ways as soon as we got pregnant with our first baby. If you are a newbie to the natural, clean lifestyle, you should definitely jump on board with Makenna so that you can make the change now.

*****

Naturally Attached

The gorgeous mama, Brigid, shares her tips and tricks for living a modern green lifestyle. I've especially enjoyed reading through these posts.

*****

My Little Loves

Bekah, my kindred spirit. Once you read her blog, you'll always want to keep coming back.

*****

Elizabeth M. Stone

So much pregnancy, motherhood, vegan, non-gmo information. Sift through Elizabeth's TOPICS tab to find out.

*****

Life's Little Thrills Shop

Handmade Guatemalan huaraches/sandals and other goods for mom and baby. I just got my first pair of huaraches and LOVE THEM!

*****

Mason & The Tambourine

Raddest baby & children leggings. See if you can find my boys modeling :)

*****

{MASON & THE TAMBOURINE}: Website Launch and Review

2013-03-16T01:34:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce that the long awaited, super fly fashion for kids, MASON & THE TAMBOURINE has now opened up shop! The M&TT website officially went live last night (Friday March 15th, 2013) and my boys got to do a little pre-test of their rad leggings.

First off, the fabric and quality is above par (they use organic fabrics and soy-based inks.) And second, these leggings are ultra soft and comfy (my oldest, Coral, didn't want to take them off to shower.) I love that the designs are gender neutral and totally studly for all those groms out there.

Melany, the owner/designer behind M&TT, is one of the sweetest ladies that I've met in this internet world and I am honored to call her my friend. Also, her son and inspiration for the line, Mason, is a beautiful little man (and nursling) who's just a month or so younger than my Ocean boy. Melany has accomplished SO MUCH for a first time mom and I am incredibly proud.

So be sure to hop on over to the brand spankin' new site and support a mom (& small biz owner) while covering your little human's legs with greatness :)

All leggings are c/o Mason and The Tambourine. If you chose to use these photos to re-blog or share on the internet, please make sure to give credit to www.milkfriendly.com

{BREASTFEEDING IN STYLE}: SPRING SHIRT DRESSES

2013-03-13T01:52:00.000-07:00

Itching for spring? Well I thought I'd do a quick little round-up of some shirt dresses that are sure to put some pep in your step. Button plackets and pretty ocean blues make it simple for you to easily breastfeed your little love and still be a total babe. Oh, and all under thirty bucks. Done and done.

Click the image above to find the links to these darling dresses.

{SAKURA BLOOM SLING DIARIES}: BEAUTY

2013-03-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

B E A U T Y

I am in constant awe of the exquisite setting that our boys get to grow up in. Every single day they have multiple opportunities to be outdoors, to release energy and to satisfy their inquisitive natures. Physical beauty is stretched 360 degrees and it's not the crisp sand and sparkly sea, nor the painfully stunning sceneries. I'd have to say that the most radiant beauty I have felt this year, is the gladness in my heart. A reflection of my family in this moment and in it's totality.

When I started the sling diaries six months ago, Ocean was just turning three monts old. He was such a wonderful, easy baby, but I think I was still a little unsure as to whether I could handle it all and wondered how the family dynamics would turn out. Life is not perfect and there will always be testing moments but I now know that his presence has pushed each us to be better in our own particular way. I am incredibly thankful to be able to see these positive qualities in all of us.

Ocean boy, we love you so very much and we hope you never stop doing your magic.

******

This is my last and final entry in the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. {I am wearing the Pure Baby Sling in Organic Maple.}

previous entries :

T R A D I T I O N

P.S. My pants are from Tobi and the rad leggings on Ocean are from Mason and The Tambourine.

'OHANA

2013-03-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

I think these pictures capture (parts of) us well. A bedroom that got pulled together moments before these photos were taken. The boys' constant (crazy) energy with tiny moments of adoration and love. A quiet nursling who drifts off to sleep in the midst of acrobatic acts on daddy's back. Our firstborn, Coral, who is outgoing, photogenic and always ready to jump in and make you smile. A more reserved Sky who loves like crazy and is always willing to share a kiss with the ones he trusts. A loving father who sneaks a surf in during nap time so he can spend every moment with his children. An Ocean baby who is incredibly in-tune with his surroundings and figures out the world at lightning speed. A wife and mother whose grown up with each of her babies and thankful for the opportunity and bounty to call these boys (men) mine.

Maxi Dress from Tobi.

A DAY IN THE LIFE with Sweet Pea Sylvie

2013-03-04T10:28:00.001-08:00

Today we get to take a peek in to a day in the life with one of our sponsors, Sweet Pea Sylvie. Sylvia and her cute little family live in New Zealand and you might remember her touching recount on how her son Marley weaned HERE. Make sure to click on over and say Hello.

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When I wake up I like to play in my bed for a little while before I demand my milk. This way mama and papa get to sleep a bit longer. I'm just a good son like that, ya know. Once I'm up and fed, I usually potter about and help mama do her chores.

Chores get boring pretty quickly though, so while she bakes, I like to play in my Jolly Jumper. When I get sick of that I like to adventure off to partake in top-secret mischievous things. Mum usually catches me before I can accomplish my missions, but because I'm so tenacious, I keep on trying.

After my morning nap we have some morning tea. Mum eats pretty much everything she just baked, while I settle for much healthier things like my favourite organic apple rice crackers which are really expensive apparently. But I don't even know what that means, so I just eat them anyway.

In the afternoon mama usually takes me for a walk. Today the weather was unpredictable so we just played outside instead, even though the silly lawnmower man hasn't mown our lawns in like forever. I ate some flowers while mum wasn't looking, but don't tell her okay promise.

In the evening we have dinner, then I have a splash in the bath. I like to feed myself so I usually get little finger foods. Mum eats a pile of healthy things, which I don't understand because earlier today she ate all that baking. Weird.

Then once I've had my bottle and brushed my teeth, we read a story. My favourite are those silly Dr Suess ones - that guy is hilarious! Then mama tucks me in, gives me a big kiss and I fall asleep to dream big dreams. It's just like that Suess man says in my book:

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one"

{Breastfeeding in Style}: Post-Partum House Dresses to Lounge with Baby

2013-02-28T17:00:00.001-08:00

I know many of you sweet readers are moms-to-be. And just like the next mama, you are crossing off baby registry lists and getting everything just right for the arrival of your lovely little babe. I want to remind you, DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOU. The days after baby is born can be euphoric/exhausting and you don't have to throw out the idea of looking "cute" in the midst of all of it. And I like to purchase clothing that can work while breastfeeding without actually being made for breastfeeding. Mostly, you'll want to be comfortable, classy and have an easy way to breastfeed that baby of your's every 2-3 hours.

SO here are a few {I like to call} House Dresses, that are breastfeeding-friendly but absolutely wearable after you are done nursing your little ones.

Chemise $88 . Nursing bra $24.

Babydoll Dress $88. Racerback Bralette $38

Sleep Shirt $30. Maternity/Nursing Bra $29.99

Sleep Shirt $78. The Dairy Fairy $58.

You can also read another post I wrote in the early Milk-Friendly days about ROBES and other post-partum things.

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P.S Just one more day to enter the BFF giveaway.

Hawaiian Aunties

2013-02-26T19:04:00.002-08:00

My top available HERE..

Aunties and Uncles: I would say it is one of the most endearing parts of Hawaiian Culture. The sense of family, or 'Ohana, is so strong here that it permeates the traditional familial bloodlines and crosses over to just about any elder who loves and cares for you children.

***And my boys have their Auntie Amelia***

Technically, she's my sister's sister-in-law and one of my dearest friends, but still.

********************************************************************

P.S. I picked the BABY GIVEAWAY winner and Vanessa T, I'll be waiting to hear back from you :) Still a little time to enter the MOM giveaway and a day or so for the FITNESS and BFF.

{Giveaway Goodness}: For My BFF Giveaway

2013-02-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well hey there!
Thanks for coming back and joining in for the last hurrah. Today is our (doo doo dodooooo) FINALE and it is all about my lady loves {because that's what you are, my online lady-friends}.

See look, here's your rose -----{---@

I also wanted today's winnings to be chalk-full of gifts that I'd love to give my very best friends. I hope you like them and maybe you'll stay around after this whole party thing is over and we can stay friends from here on out. Mmmmmkay?????

1. $50 Gift Card to Tieks
2. $10 Gift Card to My Charming Colors Shop
3. $20 Gift Card to Francesca's Collection Boutique
4. $25 Gift Card to Life's Little Thrills shop
5. $5 to Nassim Naturals in her Etsy Shop
6. $25 Gift Card to Anthropologie

It is super simple to enter. Just sign in with your Facebook or Email address (I need a way to get a hold of you if you win) and then the fun part >>>check all the entry items off the list. Nothing better than crossing off lists and increasing your chances to win free things. Make sure that you fulfill the mandatory entries, please! You cannot win without completing these tasks.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Oh, and if it's your first time entering this week's giveaways, here's DAY ONE, DAY TWO and DAY THREE. You might still have some time to enter.

Please Note: Tieks, My Charming Colors, Life's Little Thrills and Nassim Naturals have provided their prizes for this giveaway. All other prizes are provided by www.Milkfriendly.com. This giveaway lasts just one week, so the last day to enter the giveaway is February 28th, 2013. 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen by random and will have 72 hours to email me back to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will go to the runner-up. All prizes will be sent to winner directly from the company or www.milkfriendly.com. I am not responsible for lost/stolen items. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 and older.

THANK YOU!!!!

P.S. This is NOT part of the giveaway, but if you feel like voting, that would be cool too.

2013-02-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

So I have a little confession. The last day of the giveaway will have to be tomorrow. The baby slept in and SO DID I {THE HORROR, I know}. Early mornings are usually my time to work on/finish things up on the computer.... and today I just. kept. on. sleeping. I hope you'll forgive me.

In the mean time, there are still a few entries you can add to your repertoire like sharing the giveaway on Facebook, etc.

BABY GIVEAWAY. MOM GIVEAWAY. FITNESS GIVEAWAY

The last and final giveaway is for all the lovely LADIES. So if you're a female, or, well a dude who likes high-end ballet flats that can fold up and fit in your purse (there's nothing wrong with that!) then you'll want to be back here mañana.

Thanks for understanding about the sleeping in thing.
My best,
Maryam

{GIVEAWAY GOODNESS}: Let's Get in Shape

2013-02-20T10:19:00.002-08:00

Aloha and Welcome back to my crazy days of giveaways! If you're just now peeking in, there were two other days of prizes still up for grabs found here: DAY ONE & DAY TWO. Today's theme is all about getting fit and feeling great.

You may have read the post about how I got back in shape after my third baby. If you didn't read it, you can get yourself caught up HERE. My oldest will be 5 years old in a couple months, and after carrying two more babies after him, I feel better than I have in a long, long time. Everyone deserves to feel great, even after you've carried the most precious cargo known to man {our bodies are miraculous I tell ya!} and well, I think today's giveaway offers you the tools to do just that: get fit and feel gooooood.

Please Note: The blender and sample meals are provided by TSFL Coach Randall and Nassim Naturals provided her gift card for this giveaway. All other prizes provided by www.Milkfriendly.com. This giveaway lasts just one week, so the last day to enter the giveaway is February 27th, 2013. 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen by random and will have 72 hours to email me back to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will go to the runner-up. All prizes will be sent to winner directly from the company or www.milkfriendly.com. I am not responsible for lost/stolen items. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 and older.

GOOD LUCK!

{GIVEAWAY GOODNESS}: For the Love of Mom Giveaway

2013-02-19T08:38:00.002-08:00

Well hello and welcome back, pals!
If you're just now stopping in, today is day TWO of my FOUR days of giveaway. Yesterday's giveaway (which you can still enter HERE) focused on baby and today, my friend, it's all about you (that's me assuming you're a mom or mom-to-be... and if you're not, please don't run off, you're still just as welcome). So go ahead and enter to score this heap of marvelous prizes for you or someone you love.

1. Your choice of any Glamoumom's Nursing Bra Long Tank.
2. $50 Gift Card to the Busy Mom Boutique.
3. $20 gift card to Little Hip Squeaks.
4. $5 to Nassim Naturals in her Etsy Shop.
5. $10 Gift Card to My Charming Colors.

It is super simple to enter. Just sign in with your Facebook or Email address below in the Rafflecopter widget (I need a way to get a hold of you if you win) and then the fun part >>>check all the entry items off the list. Nothing better than crossing off lists and increasing your chances to win free things. Each day this week will be another group of awesome prizes with different themes so be sure to check in again tomorrow.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please Note: Glamoumom, Busy Mom Boutique, Little Hip Squeaks, Nassim Naturals and My Charming Colors provided the prizes for this giveaway. This giveaway lasts just one week, so the last day to enter the giveaway is February 26th, 2013. 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen by random and will have 72 hours to email me back to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will go to the runner-up. All prizes will be sent to the winner directly from each company. I am not responsible for lost/stolen items. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 and older.

See you back here tomorrow. Same place. Same time.

{Giveaway Goodness}: All Things Baby Giveaway

2013-02-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Aloha Pals!

Thank you for joining in on my big giveaway week. It means a lot to me to have so many of you visiting me and the fam here at my virtual "home." Many of you have been here from the very beginning and some of you might be dropping in for the first time. Either way, I consider you my compadres and like I would with any dear friend, I am eagerly giving you things. Well, these generous companies are giving you things and today I get to feel the exhilaration of presenting them to you. So get comfy, check out all the prizes and get hyped. We can see if you are as stoked to win it as I am to give it.

1. Bebe au Lait Jaipur Gift Set: Includes one nursing cover and three burp cloths
2. A baby layette from San Belle: Includes a Longsleeve Bodysuit, Shortsleeve Bodysuit, Pair of Pants & a Sleeper
3. $20 gift card to Little Hip Squeaks
4. $5 to Nassim Naturals in her Etsy Shop
5. Your choice of any Onesize Cloth Diaper from Terra Baby

*****

It is super simple to enter. Just sign in with your Facebook or Email address (I need a way to get a hold of you if you win) and then the fun part >>>check all the entry items off the list. Nothing better than crossing off lists and increasing your chances to win free things. Also, don't forget that today is just the 1st of 4 days of giveaway. Each day this week will be another group of awesome prizes with different themes so be sure to check in again tomorrow.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please Note: Bebe au Lait, San Belle, Little Hip Squeaks, Nassim Naturals and Terra Baby provided the prizes for this giveaway. This giveaway lasts just one week, so the last day to enter the giveaway is February 25th, 2013. 11:59 EST. Winner will be chosen by random and will have 72 hours to email me back to claim their prize, otherwise the prize will go to the runner-up. All prizes will be sent to winner directly from the company. I am not responsible for lost/stolen items. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 and older.

{Fortuna Family Happenings}

2013-02-15T18:35:00.001-08:00

Hi Friends! Today I have lists of things I really need to share with you :)

First things first: do you like the new look? I've been tinkering with the vibe and design of the blog and updating things here and there. I sometimes have 5-7 minutes to speed through and finish one task at a time, so things will slooooowly start looking different around here.

Here's another re-design I did a while back, but forgot to share for the Grommom

Next, one of my affiliate sponsors and my MOST BELOVED waterproof, babyproof, sandproof, everythingproof phone case from LifeProof is offering a special sweetheart discount right now. Hop on over and get yourself 15% off ALL LifeProof cases and accessories. Click here and order before 12am Sunday the 17th to use your CUPID15 code at checkout.

yum

We also took a few family photos which I am currently sifting through. It's been a long while since we've taken photos as a whole family and now we have a new little man to include. I was hoping to put a holiday card together to send out but I am looking at these now aaaaaaaand I am not sure we have any usable photos. Lots of blurry rowdy boys and concerned babies.

Ocean's HALP face

You might be asking yourself, "Why holiday cards now? It's February, you crazy lady!" Well, this is the time of year that our family celebrates Ayyám-i-Há, a time for us to be hospitable, exchange gifts and engage in acts of charity. So with that, I am in the mood to GIVE THINGS AWAY, to you, my virtual kin of course.
So starting Monday, I will be hosting a big ol' giveaway (well, at least by Milk-Friendly standards). There will be lots of breastfeeding-friendly things for you, fancy shopping and relaxation gift cards, rad baby stuff and more. Scroll and click through below to scope out and get familiar with who'll be a part of that giveaway party. Also, to make sure you don't miss out, it might be a good idea to >> subscribe by email<< now, so that you can make sure you won't be tardy for the party {because nobody wants that}.

Ok, so see you here at "my place" this Monday?

With love,

Maryam

{Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries}: Tradition

2013-02-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

My dear boys,
I sat on this month's theme and couldn't exactly put my finger on why my mind went completely blank. We are entering into our fifth year as a family and I can't say that we've established any sort of concrete tradition thus far. I racked my brain trying to think of some place or some thing that we do that will be passed on from generation to generation. But nothing seemed to come to me.
And then it hit me. I may not have had the time and clarity of mind over these passed five years to plan certain events or coordinate particular customs, but I do know {and hope!} that your Daddy and I can pass on one of our most beloved beliefs. We, as your parents, are a part of YOUR life, not the other way around. We have such a short time with you boys under our wings and we want you to grow up knowing that every day is for you. Not only that, but that on each of those days, you just. feel. LOVED.

Happy Valentines Day, my boys.

With all my heart,

Mommy

This post is part of the Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. {I am wearing the Simple Silk sling in Amber.}

previous entries :

Similar Chambray Button-up.
Ballet Flats c/o Tieks.
Similar shorts.

{Breastfeeding in Style}: Picks from the Prabal Gurung Collection for Target

2013-02-11T13:46:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, Target launched their coveted Prabal Gurung collection in stores and online. Now I don't normally leap at Target's designer collection realeases, but I have to say that I think this collection is stunning. I especially love Prabal's use of prints, color blocking and the refreshing silhouettes he offered in many of the dresses. So...before all the goods fly off the shelf, I wanted to share my favorite pieces that are both stylish and breastfeeding-friendly...

Breastfeeding in Style: Picks from the Prabal Gurung Collection for Target by milkfriendly

{Also, if you are an avid Target shopper and don't already follow my friend Jen and her pal, Laura from "Target does it Again" you should definitely jump on it.>>> tumblr and instagram}

Getting in Shape After Baby

2013-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hi Friends! I am finally here to share a little bit about how I reclaimed my body after my third baby. In just over three weeks, I lost my first goal of 13 pounds and now I've reached my final goal of 15 pounds, all while keeping a breastfed baby happy and chunky. And just so you friends know, this is not a sponsored post. I've had so many inquiries from everyone asking me how I did it, so I thought I would do just that. Plain and simple, this is what I did...

So there's nothing extreme about it. I simply followed a program where they send you meals and I stuck to it. As a busy mom, I found myself eating generally healthy and then occasionally skipping meals here and there. On desperate days, I would finally get around to eating something, and I would end up over-eating and/or burying myself in a nice pint of Ben&Jerry's or a couple bowls of cereal. Some of my family members started Take Shape for Life (TSFL) and I saw them losing weight and loving it. My brother, Randall, and his wife lost a total of 65 pounds together and looked phenomenal. He then decided to become a TSFL coach, and he continued to help the rest of my family and friends lose weight. Witnessing their successes, I knew that when it was time for me to go ahead and lose the baby weight, I would give this program a try.

Here are a few questions I've been asked from readers...

How old was your baby when you started the program?
5 months post-partum felt like a good time for me. Baby and I had a very solid breastfeeding relationship (nearly 20 pounds at 5 months) and he was beginning to start Baby Led Weaning (eating real food).

Why did you chose this program?
I had never been on a real diet before. After my second baby, I did a protein shake- meal replacement thing and lost the weight, but I didn't love the program enough to do it again this time. I had seen that some very close friends and family members (including my mom, sisters, brother, brother-in-law. sister-in-law) were doing the TSFL program and were successfully letting go of their excess weight. I had 13 lbs to get back to my pre-pregnancy state and those pounds were just lingering. I liked the idea that they would send me meals and I wouldn't have to think about it, just open the pantry and eat something every 2-3 hours. I suffered from low-blood-sugar-induced headaches so eating smaller meals more often ended up helping with the headaches and gave me more even energy. I also learned that with this program, the smaller, more regular meals throughout the day actually helped me shed my body fat. Not only that, but I appreciated that they had a modified program and guide for breastfeeding moms.

How does it work?
Simply, you eat multiple, low calorie, well-balanced meals throughout the day. On the breastfeeding program, you get to have 2 meals of lean protein and greens and then 4 of the meals they send you. If you are not breastfeeding, then it's 1 Lean and Green meal and 5 of their meals. In the first 3 weeks I quickly made it to my goal and then switched to their "maintenance program" where I continued to still shed fat. Now that I've reached my goal weight, I am back to eating "normal" food, with just a protein bar or shake here and there along with a little bit of exercise as I can.

Did you exercise?
No, not for the first three week period when I lost my first goal weight. During the initial weight-loss period, I don't think you're supposed to over-exert yourself which was cool with me :) It was after that period, into the transition and maintenance phase that I started a little jogging and toning. In another post, I want to share how I do that with 3 little ones at home full-time.

My favorite Meals:
Chai Latte- I loved to blend it with ice and is super filling
All the Shakes- The Mocha, Vanilla, Strawberry are my fav.
Bars- S'more Crunch, Cinnamon Roll Crunch. Both the Maintenance bars are bomb.
Bites- I like the Parmesan Cheese Puffs and the Cinnamon Pretzel Sticks
Soft Serve- Love these all
Mac and Cheese- takes a little getting used to. I add lots of black pepper and a little nutmeg.

All the meals come out to under $3 so you might actually be saving money on food each month. If you are interested or have any more questions, you should get in touch with Randall. If you decide to order, you can get a big discount on extra meals. I am sure he'll be happy to help you reach your goals just like he did with me :)

My brother and his cute red-headed family:)

My best,
Maryam