ESTEEM: A Fashion Show Benefiting the Elisa Project

Tomorrow morning Darlington and I will appear in our first fashion show together!

I couldn’t be more excited because not only will I get to share with her something I’ve been doing since I was sixteen years old, but it’s part of a fundraiser for The Elisa Project, a nonprofit that serves men, women, adolescents, and children who struggle with eating disorders. They serve more than 30,000 individuals annually. Currently, about half of their clients live in the North Texas area, one-fourth in Texas, and one-fourth throughout the nation. A huge part of their mission is to teach young people the value of self-esteem, which is one of the most critical steps toward the prevention of and recovery from eating disorders.

That’s where Darlington and I come in!

June 22, 2016June 22, 2016

Wellness Wednesday: COURAGE

As a new mom, I’ve had to let go of so much. Just the other evening, I sat covered in vomit at the movies when my daughter had a tad bit too much to eat and relieved herself all over Momma. I whipped out the package of baby wipes and went to town on the both of us. Twenty minutes shy of the credits, we left—me in a crusty pair of Lululemons and Darlington, naked and happy. Sometimes “letting go” feels like a sacrifice, but after a bit of reflection, I remembered that there are things bigger and more important than me and my self-consciousness—a lesson I’m continually faced with as a mother.

February 1, 2016January 31, 2016

BABY FOOD: Darlington’s Peas

Before I start gushing about how much Darlington loves peas, I need to talk about Mrs. Great Advice (Priya). I went to lunch with my mommy mentor, and she asked me about my plans for Darlington’s food, once she was ready for solids. Sleep-deprived and working on my own breastfeeding productivity at the time, I really hadn’t thought that far ahead. Priya grabs my phone and types a website in my notes section—www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Just like the countless other mom tips she has provided (example: contractions counter app. Yes, I used it!), I am totally addicted.

January 11, 2016January 8, 2016

Darlington’s Rice Cereal

Introducing solids is different for every baby. Around four months old, Darlington started having problems sleeping at night. Nothing seemed to satisfy her insatiable appetite. There were twenty-four-hour periods where she drank up to thirty-five and forty ounces of milk. I had mother-friends telling me Darlington was ready for solids. So, I did my research and read that vegetables were the best place to start. I decided to begin with carrots. I even wrote about it and shared my recipe on the Monday Menu. Then, just as soon as the sleepless nights started, they stopped.

But, turns out, it wasn’t due to the introduction of solids. Darlington was finally over her four-month growth spurt. I didn’t realize there were big growth spurts that happen at four months and then again at seven months.

Read More “Darlington’s Rice Cereal” >

November 19, 2015December 17, 2015

A Mother’s Journal: The First 5 Months

I’m that annoying mom who talks baby stuff like it’s the only thing I have going on—poopy diapers, tummy time, growth spurts, height and weight percentiles, teething tricks, scooting vs. crawling. I promised never to become this person. Even when I was single or married without children, I avoided those mom parties, the places where moms herd…graze…compare…