Ashley M Felts

Simple Nude Eyes & Lips - Quick Makeup Look

2018-03-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE makeup, but I tend to stick with natural nude colors 95% of the time. I love this look for that very reason. I guess you could consider me a makeup minimalist since I use fewer products than most tutorials you see floating around the internet. But, seriously, the versatility of this eyeshadow palette is amazing and these lip products are the perfect nude color! I hope you love this everyday look.

Here is a quick 5 minute tutorial to show you exactly how I put this look together. I'll list all the products I used below and link where you can find them. Full disclosure: I do sell the products that I used for this look, but I promise you, I wouldn't sell them if I didn't love them and wear them everyday!

Products listed can be found here or by clicking the tab in the menu that says Shop Beauty.

Eyes:

Moodstruck Eye Primer

Moodstruck Addiction Shadow Palette 1

Esteem Lash Serum

Epic Mascara

Lips:

Precision Lip Pencil in Plush

Lucrative Lip Gloss in Luxe

Tools:

Blending Brush

Crease Brush

Planning Your First Disneyland Vacation

2018-02-28T14:20:00.001-08:00

We're planning our first Disney vacation and I'm pretty sure I'm more excited than the kids will be when they find out. This trip is a first for me. I have never been to Disneyland or Disney World and I'm not ashamed to admit that I have completely immersed myself into planning mode. I'm reading every planning blog and watching every YouTube video I can get my hands on.

If you're planning your first Disney vacation you might be feeling like I was and have no idea where to start. I'll walk you through the steps we've taken so far to make sure our Disney Vacation is the best it can be!

Where do you start??

1) Decide when you want to go.
You probably already have dates in mind, but if you don't or you need to fine tune exactly what day to arrive and depart it's time to pull up a crowd calendar. This one, from The Mommy Mouse Clubhouse, is easy to read and extends all the way through 2018. We will spend a total of 5 days at the parks on our trip and I wanted as many of those as possible to fall on days with fewer crowds. Keep in mind these crowd calendars are only estimates and may not be 100% accurate, but it can really help in deciding exactly what days you'll spend at the parks.

2) A Disney Travel Agent??
Find yourself a Disney travel agent! I always thought having a travel agent meant I'd have to pay for the service and would end up spending more money. Boy, was I wrong!! Not only is our travel agent a wealth of information, but by booking through her we have the option to break up the cost of our trip into payments. Our park tickets are also included in the total booking package! Another thing I didn't realize is that you don't have to book a Disneyland Resort Hotel to use the services of a Disney travel agent. Our travel agent, Linda Gordon from Part of that World Vacations, was able to give us quotes for any local hotel we inquired about. She has been so helpful in this planning process!

An extra tidbit! Make sure you discuss character dining with your travel agent. Vouchers for character meals can be added to your vacation package. Click here to get an idea of what character dining is and the four different restaurants that do them. We decided to add two character dining vouchers to our travel package. Just be aware that you are only buying a voucher and you will still need to make actual reservations with the restaurants. At Disneyland reservations can be made starting 60 days before your trip.

3) Get familiar with hotels.
I know this is something my travel agent could have done for me, but I like doing my research. After we decided on our travel dates I pulled up Google Maps to get an idea of the closest hotels to the park entrances. We do not plan on renting a car so staying within walking distance of the park entrances is a must. Also keep an eye out for amenities you would like such as free breakfast or free wifi.

4) Flying? Consider travel logistics.
The two most common airports to fly into are LAX and John Wayne (SNA). SNA is closest to Disneyland. If you fly into SNA you likely won't encounter Los Angeles traffic and you'll get to your hotel more quickly. However, it's usually cheaper to fly into LAX. If you are traveling with small children you will also want to consider how you will be getting to your hotel. The only method of transportation that does not require car seats for younger children is the Disneyland Resort Express. You can also include that transportation cost in with your vacation package with your travel agent.

5) Join a Disneyland planning group on Facebook!
Almost everything I know about Disneyland has come from Facebook planning groups. I've learned which hotels are recommended, what "rope drop" means (being at the park when it opens), which rides are the most jerky and rough, which characters usually show up at character dining, which rides have the longest wait times, how fast passes work (read up on these!!), and so much more. You can run a simple search on Facebook for planning groups and numerous will pop up. Several are run by travel agents so just be sure to read the rules in the pinned posts.

6) Do your own "research".
Pull up the Disneyland website and start checking out restaurants, attractions, parades, and more. Use Pinterest to find blog posts with food recommendations, ways to save money, tips and tricks, and whatever else is important to you. In my experience it's better to be prepared and have a plan that you can adjust as needed, but always try to be flexible and go with the flow.

7) Have fun planning!!
I know it's easy to get overwhelmed with the amount planning a Disney vacation can entail, but I've consistently heard from experienced Disney travelers that planning is one of the funnest parts. Try your best to take it one step at a time and enjoy yourself!

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Being a Momma of Two

2015-03-08T23:55:00.002-07:00

I've neglected this blog for a number of reasons. I've taken on other ventures such as starting my own business through direct sales. (I sell Younique naturally based cosmetics and skincare! Here's my shameless website plug: www.3dmascarabyashley.com!) My husband and I are currently looking into getting a new house with more property. But the biggest of all these new things in my life is that I had my second baby a couple months ago. I currently have two children. One that's 2 and a half years old and another that's 2 and a half months old.

A day in the life of me is tiring and busy, although I never seem to actually get anything done. Being a mother of two beautiful girls has its rewards, but it's also the hardest thing I've ever done. It's definitely not rainbows and butterflies, unless that happens to be what they're wearing one day. I'm pretty sure I just went 3 days without showering. I hardly ever have clean clothes for myself. I've washed the same load of laundry about 2 or 3 times without ever removing it from the washing machine. I swear that mildew smell sets in way too fast! My hair has a permanent pony tail bump. I have enough time when we get up in the morning to brew some coffee and put the kettle on for the toddler's oatmeal before the baby starts crying because she's hungry and then wants to fall asleep again. And I'm pretty sure my sex life would need a defibrillator to even detect the faintest pulse.

Having two kids is no joke and anyone that tells you different is lying to you. I applaud mommas that have more! Although there is no extra time for anything else except rearing children, we have finally achieved a good rhythm and our house is settling into its new normal. That new normal is pretty great! :) And I hope I can find at least a little time to share it here.

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29 Weeks Pregnant

2014-10-08T23:24:00.001-07:00

It's been 17 weeks since you have heard from me. That's just a little too long don't you think? I've gotten side tracked by life! That happens, right? Well, here is the long awaited pregnancy update. Keep a look out for another post to see what we've been up to as a family.

I am now 29 weeks pregnant with our second baby. This little one is a GIRL!! Ayla is getting a sister and I'm so thrilled! Her name is Everly Rae. We plan on calling her Evie.

Overall my pregnancy has been uneventful. Which in the pregnancy world is a good thing. All my labs have come back 100% normal. No gestational diabetes or anemia for me! Woo hoo! Evie is breech, as I expected she would be. I have a bicornuate (heart shaped) uterus that doesn't really give her the space to move into a head down position. My c-section has been scheduled for December 30th, 6 days after my due date. The plan is to try for a VBAC if Evie is head down. If she isn't head down we'll shoot for the December 30th c-section, but if I go into labor before then she'll be delivered via c-section at that point.

I really want to have a natural birth or at the very least be able to feel what labor is really like. I'm afraid I'll feel like I missed out on something I've always been so passionate about. I want the chance to experience labor at least a little bit. This is one of the main reason I pushed for my scheduled c-section to be after my due date. I'm hoping that I'll go into labor on my own and that this sweet little peanut will be able to come when she is ready.

Along with a breech baby comes all sorts of aches and pains. I have a little head directly under the right side of my ribs at all hours of the day. My poor ribs are bruised underneath and it burns constantly. I get kicks directly in the cervix which literally take my breath away. It's really difficult to bend over, but I'm sure that's the case for any pregnant woman. Those aches and pains aside this really has been a fairly easy pregnancy. I'm trying my best to savor it completely. My husband and I don't plan on having more children so this could very well be the last time I'm ever pregnant. As it would for a lot of women that makes me just a tiny bit sad. However, I've have been lucky enough to bring the goofiest little girl into the world and I'm currently carrying another little lady that I can't wait to meet. If two children is all I have that's more than enough love for me.

12 Weeks Pregnant

2014-06-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here we are again! I feel like I just did this whole pregnancy thing. This time around things are vastly different though. I'm going to use the tried and true weekly questions for each pregnancy update. I feel like that's the easiest way to compare week to week.

I'm a little behind with this post since I'm closer to 12 weeks and 4 days. I had my 2nd appointment on Wednesday and everything looks great. Baby had a heartbeat around 160. I am seeing an obstetrician (the one that did my previous c-section) for this pregnancy because unfortunately my midwives are not yet allowed to do VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) at the hospital. He's is a wonderful doctor and I'm so glad he gets to see me through this pregnancy. He believes as long as this pregnancy isn't breech that I'm a great candidate for a VBAC!

How far along: 12 weeks 4 days (the picture above was taken at 12 weeks exactly)

Total weight gain: -1 pound from pre-pregnancy weight

Maternity clothes: I'm still in my regular shirts and pants most of the time. However, I've been loving my maternity maxi skirts from Target!

Stretch marks: None, except the lovely ones left over from last time on my hips.

Sleep: I have a toddler that still wakes up most nights. Sleep probably will not be something I'll get to enjoy for several more years. However, on the nights Ayla does decide to sleep through the I'm out for the count until she wakes up.

Best moment of the week: Sharing our exciting news on facebook!

Miss anything: I miss enjoying food.

Movement: Not yet, but I'm so looking forward to it!

Food cravings: Not really. On a rare occasion something will actually sound good, but that's not very often.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Pretty much everything. The idea of eating right now sucks. Everything makes me stomach turn. I pretty much have to force myself to eat because I know I need to and I'll feel even worse if I don't. This would explain why I am one pound under my pre-pregnancy weight.

Have you started to show yet: I've got a little bump going on. It's mostly bloating, but it's slowly starting to get bigger.

Gender: We have no idea, but I'm leaning toward boy.

Labor signs: No.

Belly button in or out: In.

Wedding rings on or off: On.

Happy or moody: Moody for sure! My poor husband.

Looking forward to: Starting to get more of a belly and finding out if this little one is a boy or girl!

Pregnant with Baby #2

2014-06-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

I'm a little crazy when it comes to trying to get pregnant. I obsessively start peeing on pregnancy tests about 8 days after I've ovulated. Thank goodness for Wondfo tests from Amazon. Otherwise we'd probably be broke.

This time around I wasn't charting, but I always have a good idea of when I ovulate based on the average length of my cycle and cervical mucus. My husband and I were on our second month of trying to conceive and I took a few tests (yes a few!) around 9 days past when I believe I ovulated. After about 15-30 minutes I kept seeing what looked like super super faint lines on the tests. I thought they were evaporation lines since they weren't showing up within the time limit and they didn't really have any color to them. After 5 evaporation lines I finally googled the lot # for that particular batch of Wondfo pregnancy tests and read about other women having the same problem. So, I thought I'd seek counsel with my private group of wonderful moms on Facebook. They all seemed to think I was pregnant and demanded that I take another brand of pregnancy test right away. Luckily I just happened to have one. It was positive!!

I called my midwives the next morning and asked for a blood draw to check on my HCG level. My first draw was 11.5 which was consistent with how far along I figured I was at the time. I went back 48 hours later and my HCG level tripled to 33.9 which is exactly what we were looking for. My expected due date is 12/24/14, Christmas Day eve. We are so excited to give Ayla a little brother or sister!

I'll be posting updates and belly photos as my pregnancy progresses. So, stay tuned!

How I Handle the Tough Days

2014-06-09T10:18:00.004-07:00

We all have those days. Your kid(s) didn't sleep the night before, they woke up early, and are especially cranky and fussy. There is a toddler attached to your leg whining for breakfast and you drop the eggs on the ground while trying to muster the energy to make some coffee. After the battle of a decade you have finally fed your offspring, and possible yourself, gotten both of you dressed, and managed to walk out the door. Then the dog escapes from the yard in the two seconds you had the gate open while trying to corral your 25 pound toddler onto your hip so she doesn't run off into the driveway.

That was me this morning. I finally managed to get into the car after yelling at the dog that he was never allowed outside again. I sat there in the car for just a second trying to take a few deep breaths. Then I called my husband to vent for a few minutes. I told him I was going to give the dog and our child away to the circus. He said that probably wasn't a good idea. Of course I agreed, but I did tell him I need a break.

By the time my daughter and I got back from the grocery store I was in a completely different mood. Just the short trip to buy bananas and almond milk turned the entire day around. It got me thinking about ways we can give ourselves a little break during the day when we aren't actually alone. I complied a little list of things you can do when you're having an especially difficult day.

Start with some deep breaths!
Load the kids into the car and go for a drive.
For some quite time put on their favorite show, DVD, etc.
Go for a walk and let your kiddo explore.
Make it a mission to find the perfect park. Try a new one when you both need a distraction.
Take a hot shower. Whether it be during nap time or if you have to bring toys into the bathroom for entertainment.
Go outside and play.
Go for a coffee (or whatever you favorite drink is).
Read a book. I try to do this during nap time.
Listen to music. It could be something soothing or something to dance around to.
And if all else fails start counting down the hours to bedtime.

What do you do to keep your cool when you're able to lose your mind?

5 Clean Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

2014-04-23T11:46:00.001-07:00

The world always needs more chocolate chip cookie recipes. Doesn't it? Better yet how about some clean chocolate chip cookie recipes. I rounded up 5 good ones for you. Enjoy!

1. Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie

2. Primal Chocolate Chip Cookies

3. Crispy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie

4. Clean Eating Chocolate Chip Cookies

5. Double Chocolate Protein Cookie

Toddler Eats #3 On-The-Go

2014-04-17T18:02:00.001-07:00

In part three of my toddler food series I'm going to show you some of the healthy meals and snacks I bring on the go for my kiddo. It can be harder to keep food healthy when are you aren't at home. These ideas aren't exactly picture perfect for every meal of everyday, but they travel well, require hardly any preparation, and they're way better than fast food.

Olives. These are super easy to just throw into a little tuperware container. Or Pearl makes them prepackaged in to-go cups. You can find those in the grocery store with the rest of the canned olives.
Food Pouches. One of my favorites! I really like the organic GoGo Squeez apple sauce pouches from Costco.
Diced Fruit Cups. These can have a lot of sugar in them so be sure to get the kind packaged in fruit juice, not syrup.
Fruit. A lot of fruit is packaged very nicely by nature for eating on the go. :) Ayla's favorite is banana.
Fruit Leathers. These are great and kids love them! Try to find a brand with minimal ingredients. Costco sells the Stretch Island Fruit Co. brand that just lists fruit on the label.
Crackers. Ayla's favorites are Annie's Homegrown cheddar bunnies crackers.
Canned Vegetables. You can find prepackaged veggies in to-go cups next to the canned vegetables in your grocery store. The sodium content in canned and prepackaged veggies is pretty high, but it's definitely a healthier alternative to french fries.
Raisins. I buy a big container and then put a handful into a reusable sandwich bag.

The next options need to stay cold. As I'm getting ready to run out the door I'll throw of few of these things in a thermal lunch bag with an ice pack that I keep in the freezer.

Hard Boiled Eggs. I buy ours at Costco. They sell an organic hard boiled egg that's already peeled. It's so convenient, but of course you can make your own.
Cheese. I like to buy the Mini Babybel cheese or regular string cheese. Ayla seems to prefer the shape of the Babybel brand.
Yogurt. The squeeze tubes of yogurt work great, but most of the time I just grab a tub of the regular whole milk organic stuff and throw a spoon in the lunch bag.
Lunch Meat. This is another one of Ayla's favorite. I'll roll up slices and throw them in a sandwich bag.
Pickles. Since I grab a few out of the big jar in the fridge I like to keep these cold.
Hummus. I like to get the small servings sizes of hummus. Sometimes I'll grab the ones packaged with pretzels too.

A Letter to my Daughter #3

2014-04-04T11:34:00.002-07:00

Dear Ayla,

We went to the park a couple of days ago with a few of your cousins. It's a beautiful park in Seattle right on Puget Sound. We walked around the beach looking for seashells and pretty rocks. We ate lunch on a picnic bench and you discovered the undless joy of going down the slide on the playground over and over again.

The day reminded me of how much you've grown. You can climb the stairs on the playground by yourself and you nudge my hand away when I offer you help. Although you refused my help you still wanted me to catch you at the bottom of the slide. And after 30 minutes of tromping around on the rocky beach you wanted me to carry you the rest of the way.

I'm enjoying every little expression you make and every word you learn, but most of all I love that you still cuddle with me and you still run over to me for kisses. You make my heart so full Ayla. I love you.

Love,
Momma

7 Easy (Healthy) Meals in under 7 Minutes

2014-03-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you're like me sometimes it's hard to find a couple minutes during the day to get in a healthy meal. I put together 7 fast and healthy meal ideas that won't take more than 7 minutes to prepare.

Spinach, tomato, and avocado salad. Throw however much spinach you desire into a bowl, add tomatoes (I like to cut the cherry or grape variety in half), add diced avocado, squeeze lemon juice over the top, and sprinkle with S&P. This is one of my favorites! Sometimes I add olives.
Avocado chicken salad. Mix one can of chicken (or tuna!) with a mashed avocado, and season with a little S&P. Done! You can throw this on some bread (I recommend Dave's Killer Bread), on top of some lettuce, or just eat it with a fork.
"Antipasto" plate. Another one of my favorites. Open your fridge and pantry and grab whatever is ready and healthy, then throw it on a plate. Or just eat it out of the package if you wish. My latest lunch like this included about 6 slices of salami, a handful of grape tomatoes, half a handful of olives, and a quarter of a cantaloupe.
Left-overs. Utilize your left-overs! Throw last night's veggie into a pan with some eggs and make a yummy scramble.
Smoothie. This literally takes a minute. My favorite combo is 2 scoops of protein powder, a handful of spinach, 1 banana, a few frozen strawberries, and almond milk. Blend and enjoy. What could be easier? And if you have a Nutribullet (I love mine!) or something similar, clean up is a breeze.
A Lara bar. This is usually something I'll eat if I'm out running errands. I like Lara bars because there are minimal ingredients. Most flavors are made up of only fruit and nuts. And they're tasty!
Yogurt with fruit. Mix some fruit and berries into your favorite plain full fat yogurt. Add some honey or no sugar added preserves for extra sweetness. And maybe even some granola if you're into that too. Yogurt doesn't have to be just for breakfast.

What are some of your favorite easy meals when you only have a few minutes?

Planning Baby #2

2014-03-26T21:39:00.002-07:00

Having a second baby wasn't on my mind until after my first turned a year old. In fact until recently it was the farthest thing from my mind. I have what some people would call a strong willed child and she hasn't been the best sleeper either. All I could think about was a good nights sleep and a day without endless meltdowns.

Ayla is now sleeping better. I can reason with her more during meltdowns and she's able to communicate better too. The talk of baby #2 has begun. So, naturally I'm obsessing about it.

I've gone back and forth on when I want to start trying for a second baby and my husband and I are still on the fence. I've weighed pros and cons of having children close in age or spacing them out more. I've looked at the relationships I have with my siblings and my husband's relationships with his. I've even read articles, including this one, which I thought was really interesting by the way.

I'm a planner. It's hard for me to just let things happen. I'm also impatient. Extremely impatient actually. Now that the thought of a second baby has entered my mind it won't exit until we're bringing that baby home. I kid you not, I've already thought about baby names and if our next baby will share a room with his or her older sister. I've already researched and decided on what double stroller I want.

When I say I'm obsessing about it, it's not an understatement. Through the talks of if we are ready for our second baby, my husband and I keep reminding ourselves that you can't plan everything and even when you do it almost never works out the way you thought it would.

For the time being -until we decide we're ready- I'll continue obsessing and thinking about it. But more than anything I'll enjoy the exclusive company of my hilarious toddler.

What's in my Toddler's Easter Basket?

2014-03-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

Like many other holidays candy and junk food surround Easter. It's difficult to walk through the seasonal section at any store and not have many gift options beside candy and food. I decided the Easter bunny isn't bringing Ayla any candy and I'm only going to put a couple food related items in her first Easter basket. We didn't do one last year because she was so young and because I'm a mean momma. ;)

1 divided Easter themed plate/tray from Target
1 board book, Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz
1 plush Elmo doll from Amazon
1 plastic slinky from the dollar section at Target
2 apple banana sauce Crushers pouches from Trader Joes
1 big paper Easter egg (from IKEA) filled with Annie's Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies crackers.

What is the Easter bunny bringing for your kids this year?

10 Super Easy Primal/Paleo Lunches

2014-03-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it can be hard to make the time to prepare healthy meals at any time of the day, especially lunch. I did a roundup of super easy and fast primal and paleo lunches that you can put together in no time at all. These lunches travel well so you could bring them on the go. What are some of your favorite primal and paleo lunches?

1. Italian Sub Rollup

2. Salad in a Jar

3. Cucumber "Sandwich"

4. Soft Boiled Egg with Avocado and Tomato

5. Avocado Egg Salad (not in a wrap)

6. Avocado Tuna Salad

7. Stuffed Zucchini

8. Turkey Club Wrap

9. Cucumber Boats

10. Chicken, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Toddler Eats #2

2014-03-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

I started a series of posts to focus on healthy toddler meals. See the first one here. Below you'll find another day of what Ayla typically eats.

(I like to choose organic options when possible. If something is organic it will say so in the description. The photos are described from left to right and top to bottom. If you have questions please leave a comment. I'd love to answer them!)

Breakfast- Whole fat greek yogurt with a dollop of organic no sugar added preserves. Sliced organic banana and organic kiwi. (There is usually left over fruit from breakfast that I'll serve as a snack or with breakfast the next morning.)
Lunch- An organic banana. Two pouches of organic pureed veggies and fruits. One is sweet peas. The other is a blend of sweet potato, apple, and carrot. (We were out running errands so I threw a couple of things in the diaper bag before we left. As far as baby food pouches go, I buy whichever organic brand is on sale and/or I have coupons for. It usually ends up being the Plum Organics brand. These pouches are so great to have on the go!)
Snack- Organic sugar plum tomatoes cut in half.

For dinner Ayla almost always eats what we eat. The only exception is if something is especially spicy.

Dinner- Organic chicken simmered in masala sauce from Trader Joes. Organic cauliflower "rice" with a little masala simmering sauce. Roasted organic zucchini.

For more toddler meal ideas check out Toddler Eats#1.

Toddler Eats #1

2014-03-18T22:02:00.002-07:00

I decided to start a kind of series on what my toddler eats everyday. I try my best to make sure she is getting wholesome nutrient dense foods the majority of the time. And even though she is only 16 months old I've realized it's fairly easy to fall into a food rut when trying to figure out what to feed a picky toddler. Plus I like to keep things quick and easy for at least the first two meals of the day. I hope this can provide some inspiration for your toddler's meals and help keep a variety of healthy and especially tasty foods in their diet.

I like to choose organic options when possible. If something is organic it will say so in the description. The photo descriptions are from left to right and top to bottom. If you have questions please leave a comment. I'd love to answer them!

Breakfast- Half a slice of buttered toast (we eat Dave's Killer Bread). Half an organic apple peeled and sliced. Whole fat greek yogurt with a dollop of organic no sugar added preserves.
Lunch- Chicken salad (shredded chicken mashed up with half an organic avocado). Cut up organic pickle. Organic mozzarella string cheese. Squeezable strawberry apple sauce.
Snack- Black olives, cut in half.

For dinner Ayla almost always eats what we eat. The only exception is if something is especially spicy.

Dinner- Organic baked chicken, seasoned with lemon and pepper. Shredded organic sweet potatoes sauteed in organic coconut oil. Steamed organic broccoli and cauliflower (frozen).

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What I Loved & Hated about Breastfeeding

2014-03-15T00:17:00.001-07:00

I'm lucky to say that our breastfeeding journey was a fairly easy one. Ayla latched well from the beginning and I never had any supply issues. It's been about two weeks now since Ayla has nursed. When I was pregnant I thought I wanted to breastfeed for 2 years. We made it to 16 months. Not because we/I didn't enjoy it, but because I think we were both just kind of done. Ayla seemed more interested in other things. We were down to only a single nursing session before bedtime and that only lasted about 2 minutes. It makes me sad to know that part of our relationship is over now. However, I'm breathing a breath of fresh air at the same time. I loved and hated breastfeeding.

Reasons I hated breastfeeding:
1) A bottle was never fully adequate for my baby. She would take a couple ounces from a bottle at most, then turn her nose up at it. I felt guilty leaving her with her daddy or grandma for more than a couple hours while she was exclusively breastfed.
2) My child has an obsession with hair. She likes to twirl, pull, and run her fingers through my hair. Especially while she was nursing, and even more so when she would nurse in our bed at night. It was painful and kept me awake. And forget about trying to move her hands, she would go ballistic. It turns out this is a kind of security blanket for her. Once she discovered her own hair she started running her fingers through it to fall asleep.
3) Breast pumps suck. Sure they are incredibly miraculous inventions. But I'd be willing to bet that anyone who tells you that they love pumping is lying to you. Although I didn't have to pump very often it's still not fun being tied up to a machine, especially when milk output is never the same while pumping as it is while actually nursing. That being said I still loved my Medela Pump in Style. It was hands down the best shower gift I received.
**UPDATED**
4) I went bra shopping for the first time post-breastfeeding. I needed new bras and finally decided to just do it. I got fitted at Soma and the woman said I was a 36D. I looked at her like she had two heads and responded, "that can't be right. I stopped breastfeeding almost a month ago and I was a 34B pre-pregnancy." She brought me a C cup instead. I walked out the door with a nude colored 36D wrapped in white tissue paper. I'd be elated with growing two cup sizes if it didn't mean my boobs now resembled limp deflated balloons. I suppose that how it goes though. I get to feed my little girl the best a mother can offer and feel great about it, but I have to sacrifice my youthful perkiness. That's what push-up bras are for right?

Reasons I loved breastfeeding:
1) I didn't have to mess with bottles or formula. It seems so much easier when the tools are attached to you and ready to go at a seconds notice.
2) I knew I was giving her exactly what she needed. Breastmilk changes as your baby grows to provide him or her with exactly what their growing body needs. I didn't have to worry about what the ingredients were or if Ayla was getting everything she needed.
3) I adored the bonding experience. The way your baby looks at you while you're nursing her is unlike anything you'll experience. She needs you and you alone to survive and it's as if she really knows that.
It's also a very primal feeling. You're feeding your child the exact same way mothers have been feeding their children forever.
4) It made me sit and be still. No matter what was going on if Ayla was hungry I had to stop and feed her. It forced me to sit and be still for a little while. I'd stop and focus on just her. It was like pressing a pause button for just a couple of minutes.
5) I knew it wouldn't be forever. I got to lay in bed with her at night while she nursed. I got to stroke her soft cheeks, kiss her sweet head, and memorize that beautiful face. I knew it wouldn't be long before she wouldn't want me to hold her for more than a few seconds. Babies don't keep and I savored those moments.

How My Marriage Changed after Baby

2014-03-10T20:51:00.003-07:00

I always knew my husband and I were going to have children it was just a matter of when that was actually going to happen. We started trying to get pregnant 2 months after we got married. It took much long than expected to finally bring home our first baby. Over 2 years after we got married we finally became parents. Bringing home that perfect little baby girl changed our marriage more than I could have ever imagined it would. I wasn't completely oblivious about what a baby does to a marriage. It just doesn't matter how many people you talk to, you'll never know until you experience it for yourself.

My husband and I have never had a fight. Seriously, we have never had any kind of big fight, up until we had a baby that is. In the past 16 months he and I have fought enough to make up for the 2 years of wedded bliss before becoming parents. I'm guilty of starting most of the fights. I'm guilty of expecting him to read my mind and getting pissed when he doesn't. I'm guilty of being a bitch just because I'm exhausted and burnt out. I'm guilty of wanting and expecting too much of him. He's guilty too. He's guilty of assuming he gets off the hook for things because he provides for our family. He's guilty of thinking certain things are my "job" because I'm the mom. When all is said and done the root cause of our fights is almost always lack of sleep and raising an especially strong willed and difficult child.

My husband and I have always been excellent at communicating, but there is something about sleep deprivation and hormones (my hormones to be more specific) that makes people irrational. We've screamed at each other and then 5 minutes later we're talking about things calmly and deciding how to handle a similar situation in the future. We've never not been able to stand each other and loved each other so much at the exact same time.

We still get mad and frustrated with each other which is almost always my fault (I'm a bit of a hot head), but we've finally reached a new normal for us as a couple. I get mad and he lets me. Then we talk about it. One of my utmost worst personality traits is a lack of patience which was never fully displayed until I became a mother. Everyone goes through rough patches and it's clear that the first year after our daughter was born was ours. Luckily we already had a strong foundation and while figuring out our new "normal" I'm happy to say that our marriage was never once in jeopardy. We never spoke the D word and it never even remotely crossed our minds.

Having a baby isn't easy and it sure as heck wasn't easy on my marriage. But we still love each other unconditionally. Seeing my husband as a father has brought me so much joy that I would do it a hundred times again if I had to. We're happy and settling into our new lives as parents and it's a wonderful thing.

My Toddler Must Haves!

2014-03-04T22:40:00.002-08:00

Now that I'm a little bit more seasoned at this parenting thing the kinds of things I couldn't live without while raising a child have certainly changed. Ayla is 16 months old now and has definitely hit full on toddler mode. Here is a list of somethings we use all the time.

1) Board Books! Ayla is crazy about them! She will sit in front of the book shelf and look through book after book. Board books are a must since she is still really rough on them and would definitely tear pages. A couple of our favorites are Where Is Baby's Belly Button? and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

2) Playtex Insulator sippy cups! When you have the valve in place these things don't leak. They keep drinks cold for hours which is super awesome and they're super easy for Ayla to hold.

3) Fisher-Price Space Saver Highchair! This is the only highchair you will need to buy. It has a detachable tray that's dishwasher safe. The seat reclines for infants and changes into a booster seat for toddlers. They redesigned the arms of the chair and you can now push your toddler all the way up to the table when the tray isn't in place. Go buy one!

4) A stroller! I love baby wearing. However, my kiddo is pretty independent and has taken to constantly squirming whenever I have her in the ergo. And did I mention she's close to 24 pounds now? Wearing that little beef cake (she's actually around 50% for weight) for long periods of time is not as easy as it once was. Luckily she loves being in the stroller. I have a Graco Trekko that I like. I can fold and unfold it with one hand, and with a little extra oomph I can lift it into my car with one arm too. For the meantime it does the job, but I have my sites set on this bad boy whenever baby #2 comes along.

5) The Honest Company Wipes! We get 4 packages of these with our shipment of The Honest Company diapers every month. I use them ALL the time and not just on my toddler's booty. Most parents know the versatility of a baby wipe and won't even question why this is one of my must have toddler items.

6) Annie's Homegrown Cheddar Bunnies! My kid loves loves loves her cheddar bunnies. Sometimes convenience foods are something you just can't avoid and when that happens you should have the best options on hand. These are made with organic wheat flour and cheese from cows not treated with the growth hormone rBST, and they are free of any artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. Plus I can pronounce every ingredient on the box and know what it is. I keep some in a small reusable sandwich bag inside my diaper bag at all times. They works great to keep little hungry hands busy when you can't sit down to a meal right away.

7) See Kai Run shoes! Ayla has little sausage feet. She wears a wide and it's been a little challenging finding cute shoes that fit. My sister in-law buys See Kai Run shoes for her kids and said she loves them. I got this pair for $8 during an amazing sale right before Christmas. They fit Ayla's wide feet and I love how long the straps are.

8) My cell phone. I can't tell you how many times handing over my cell phone for a minute (or five) has saved myself from a diaper changing battle or epic melt down out at dinner. Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, and sometimes allowing my one year old to talk to "Galaxy" (similar to Siri) and say hi over and over is what has to happen.

What Helped My Toddler Sleep

2014-01-30T22:56:00.001-08:00

If you know me, then you probably know my biggest struggle as a mother is combating my daughter's aversion to sleep. Even at 15 months old she still does not sleep through the night.

My husband and I have co-slept with Ayla since she was born and since around 9 months old, maybe earlier, we've had her napping during the day in her crib which works well for us. The issue came at bedtime. I would nurse and cuddle her until she fell asleep then lay her down in the crib. After that she would wake up every 30-45 minutes. Once my husband and I were in bed we'd bring her into bed with us the next time she woke up.

After being worn down by getting my kid back to sleep every 30 minutes after bedtime and at my wits end with the lack of me time or better yet, husband and me time in the evenings, I knew I had to do something. Right in the nick of time my sister in-law gave me a book to borrow. The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy. I have read other books. They either didn't work for Ayla or the entire process was so long and time consuming I didn't have the energy to really give it a try. But this book made sense.

The concept is simple. Your baby doesn't know how to fall asleep on their own or put themselves back to sleep on their own so you need to allow them to learn how. Being more naturally minded when it comes to parenting I am not very keen on the idea of letting my child cry it out so the gentler method explained in this book caught my fancy. You start by laying your drowsy child down in the crib after cuddling and nursing or whatever your usual routine is, but you don't leave the room. You stay there quietly shushing and saying soothing things when needed. Naturally they'll be upset, but your child knows you're still there. Every few days you move further away from the crib until ultimately you're able to leave the room.

This method has freed up some much needed time for me and my husband in the evenings. Ayla typically sleeps in her crib until around midnight then I bring her into bed with us. I know sometime in the future she'll sleep through the night and I'll probably wake up in a panic at 5am wondering if she's okay, but for now I'm getting the best of both worlds. My husband and I get to enjoy having the bed to ourselves for a little while, but I still get to wake up with my little lady next to me. I don't follow the authors advice completely since I do still bring Ayla into bed with us. The author also has different directions for certain age groups so I do recommend getting the book for yourself. It's absolutely worth it!

A Letter to my Daughter #2

2013-09-17T23:53:00.000-07:00

Cuddling in bed with Daddy when you were only a couple weeks old.

Dear Ayla,

We've been working on getting you to sleep in your crib over the past few months. You nap there during the day and start off your nights there for a couple of hours. But every night you end up in bed with me and Daddy.

Each night I hear you start crying on the monitor and rush into your room to pick you up. The moment when you see me is the exact same every time. The look of relief on your face is undeniable. In some way it makes me feel like I'm doing things right. You really do feel comforted and protected by me. I pick you up each night and tell you, "I'm here baby, it's okay." Then I carry you to the bedroom where you sleep in bed with me and Daddy for the rest of the night.

Not everyone thinks you should be in bed with us, but you know what my little love? It's where you feel the safest. And that's what matters to me. Of course, you won't always be in our bed just like you won't be nursing forever. I cherish moments just like the one this very minute. I'm sitting in bed writing this as you are curled up next to Daddy right beside me. You're both sound asleep and Daddy is snoring.

I hope someday when you have children that you allow yourself to experience these small meaningful memories. They're going to be over before you know it. Time as flown by since you were born and it only seems to be gaining speed.

Love,
Momma

A Letter to my Daughter #1
A Letter to my Daughter #3

Why I Couldn't Stick to Cloth Diapering

2013-09-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

My little Seahawks fan in her pink jersey and The Honest Company diaper.

I consider myself a semi-crunchy mom. I'm still breastfeeding my 10 month old, we co-sleep, I practice attachment parenting, but I totally missed the boat on cloth diapering. I didn't buy my first cloth diapers until Ayla was 6 months old.

I bought a pack of six BumGenius pocket diapers when I finally decided I wanted to jump on the cloth diapering bandwagon. I did a bunch of research and decided these were the ones I wanted to go with. They are supposedly the "Cadillac" of cloth diapers. My not-so-crunchy husband, Tommy said before we spent money on an entire stash of cloth diapers to give it a go with the 6 we had. I started using them and loved them! They are cute, soft, easy to get on Ayla, but then came the washing and drying and sunning out stains. I'm so terrible when it comes to laundry. I kid you not, I don't do laundry until I'm on my last pair of clean underwear. I did really well for the first month or two using the 6 we had. I'd use them and while I was washing and drying I'd use disposables. I also used disposables while we were out of the house.

I'll be honest with you. I'm not the best housekeeper. Overall our house will stay picked up and on occasion I go on crazy cleaning sprees, but quite frankly sometimes I feel like I suck at it. My husband is the one that most often does the dishes. Mr. Not-so-crunchy even does his own laundry (this is also partially because he washes his own work clothes, those things get nasty). I don't want to make it sound like I don't do anything around the house because I do, but I procrastinate on things that in my mind aren't as crucial. I'd rather spend time with Ayla, run errands, garden, meet up with friends for playdates, cook dinner, watch a movie with Tommy, or whatever else.

I slowly started using disposable diapers more and more. Using the cloth diapers didn't add that much extra laundry to the mix, but I just liked the ease of disposables so much more. And I loved not having one more thing to do around the house. But in the back of my mind I knew I wasn't doing what was best for Ayla. The chemicals in standard disposable diapers have always irked me out. Check out this article. That's when I looked into The Honest Company. Their diapers are plant based, chlorine free, and they have no fragrances, lotions, or latex. I signed up for a free trail, loved them, and the rest is history.

Yes, I am be paying more for The Honest Company diapers, but I'm okay with that. They are better for Ayla than Pampers and I'm not married to an extra load of laundry every day or every two days. All of that being said I applaud any parents that cloth diaper! I still use them on occasion and I'm not writing it off completely for baby number 2, but I don't think we'll ever be a 100% cloth diaper home.

A Letter to my Daughter

2013-08-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Ayla,

I don't know what took me so long and I don't know why I didn't start doing this since the day you were born. I'm sorry I haven't done a better job at writing down your milestones and the special little things you do. I have never been one for scrap booking so I think that might be why I haven't written in your baby book very much. I know how much I love looking back at mine and I want you to have that chance too.

Today I sat down and wrote in your baby book while you took a nap. It's amazing how fast time as gone by since you were born. It has been the absolute most challenging and most rewarding experience of my life. My marriage to your Daddy has never been tested more. I've also never ever been more appreciative of anyone, than I am of your father for giving me you.

I suppose I haven't written things down because I've been living in the moments with you. Maybe that's why I've neglected this blog so much too. Or it could be that I've just felt a bit overwhelmed since the moment you were born. As soon as I feel like I have a handle on you, you go and learn something new. You are one incredible strong willed child. I'm told that you're just like me. The jury is still out about whether that's a good thing or not. I do know that you're going to be one smart and totally kick ass woman one day. I can't wait to see who you turn into. For now though, you're my funny, sweet, stubborn, beautiful, active, amazing baby girl. And I love you more than any words can say.

Love,
Momma

A Letter to my Daughter #2
A Letter to my Daughter #3

Primal Sweet Potato Pancakes

2013-04-26T17:23:00.002-07:00

I made these tasty things one night when I was tearing through the fridge and pantry trying to figure out what I was going to make for dinner. They are so simple and so easy! One sweet potato yields about four "pancakes".

1 sweet potato

1 egg, beaten

cooking oil/grease of your choice

salt & pepper

Grate one sweet potato. Press the grated potato shreds between two paper towels to draw out some of the moisture. Combine potato shreds and egg in a bowl. Stir in salt and pepper to taste. Over medium heat add cooking oil or grease, enough to cover the bottom of the pan. (I had just cooked up some bacon so I used the left over bacon grease.) Using your hands press the potato shreds into compact pancakes. Place 2-3 pancakes in the hot pan, cook through and brown on each side for about 5 minutes. Depending on how thick your pancakes are it could take longer. Place on paper towel lined plate while you cook the rest of the pancakes.

Primal Vanilla Coffee Creamer

2013-04-25T14:53:00.001-07:00

This is a recipe I tried over a year ago. My husband and I were making the switch to primal eating and he was dead set against letting go of his flavored coffee creamer. I'm happy to say that stuff no longer has a place in our fridge! But at the time I felt like I needed to come up with a substitute for him. The original post can be seen on my Primal With Child blog, but I'll just throw it in this post to make things easier for you. (As if one click is any more difficult, but whatever.)

1 cup whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

4 tbsp maple syrup (the real stuff!)

1 vanilla bean

Add the milk, cream, and maple syrup to a cool sauce pan. Slice and seed the vanilla bean. Whisk the seeds and bean pod into the milk mixture. Heat over medium low, stirring frequently until steaming. Remove from heat and let cool. Remove the vanilla bean pod and store in a glass container in the refrigerator.

Try this recipe and tweak it to your liking. You could do two vanilla beans or add some vanilla extract for a stronger vanilla flavor. You could also try adding coconut extract instead of vanilla. Play with it!