Adventure

Mama Mondays | Taking on Too Much {nothing new}

8:00 PM

Technically, I know Monday is almost over and I haven't yet posted in a few days but I have been better, right?

Yesterday, we had a holiday party for a few of our friends who all happen to have children - that's actually how we met :) Their kids all attended our kids day care - who is sadly, yet understandably - closing it's doors at the end of January {Oh no! What am I going to do?! More on that shortly}. Anyway, if you know me well, then you know I simply just take on too much. I also procrastinate a ton but yet, I think I get the job done and really feed off the steam of crunch time. So of course having hung out with some great friends and their kids - at a get together one evening, I wrote an email to all those mamas and said - hey - I love you guys, you are amazing mamas and I love how we can get together and enjoy talking, eating good food and drinking adult beverages while our kids play together - just like how I remembered growing up with my many cousins {and which my kids don't have the luxury here in the bay since our whole extended family is in Southern CA} - so I would like to throw a holiday party before we all head off our separate ways until seeing each other again sometime in the new year.

For awhile there - I just let it sit..not sure if it was really going to happen and if I should have invited others too - again, taking on too much. I probably would have invited everyone I could think of who we enjoy spending time with and who also have kids..but our house could not have fit that many people. Anyway, the party went well, it was great to see everyone again and some folks couldn't make it because they either got sick or their kids did - that's what happens during the holidays and winter months right? I had been planning this party for awhile now - maybe a month {in my head and on pinterest}. But when I mean planning, I mean - planning on how to make my house look less chaotic and a mess and more put together like an adult. Like an adult with style and taste and not someone who has most of her furniture from when she was in college that she either got for cheap or off the street. So what is a former self proclaimed partial hoarder to do {its always really hard for me to say no to free things! but I've made some significant strides this year}? PURGE!!!!

And I did {and I am still on a mission to continue purging}. I have been following the whole "the life changing magic of tidying up" - in blogs and in a private FB group {which inspires me to no end!} plus the new modern minimalism and my wanderlust to get rid of everything and pack up my family to be nomads..like this family - SO INSPIRING!

I finally got around to creating an IG profile, so you can see our home's work in progress there and other snippets of our lives. Follow us there if you like.

I have a few more things to finish up this month before our next road trip to LA again..a few sessions and end of year business things {GASP!!! I hate this part of being a business owner!}.

anyhoo..I am all over the place!!! It is because I've had a glass of wine AND some chocolate - thanks to the party leftovers :D

Until next time my friends....but wait..I'll leave you with this great post from another blogger and mama. Check out her post here. Can you relate?


joys of motherhood

Mama Monday

7:30 AM

Here are some photos of some mamas doing what they do best, being mom:
What is one thing you love about being a mother? What is one thing that is difficult at times, on being a mother? 

I'll start - One thing I love about being a mother is in their eyes - I know I truly could do no wrong,.Even though at times, I know I am too hard on myself and think I am not doing a good job {whether it's because I gave them more screen time than I originally intended - just to get some work done. Or I didn't prepare ahead of time and had to make instant ramen for lunch} or am good enough - which is one thing that I find difficult about being a mother or parent. That I doubt myself constantly - on most, if not all the decisions I make regarding my kids. 

What about you? Tell me in the comments or send me an email. No judgement - EVER! Motherhood is a sisterhood..cross my eye and hope to die :D

Beauty

Motherhood Mondays - {Guest Post}

7:00 AM

Hi Everyone! I'm still here but am trying to catch up with everything. Raima starts a new daycare tomorrow, Jax's daycare actually, and I've been trying to get over this sinus cold plus working on some photography stuff. SOooo, this post is provided by a guest blogger - Marcela De Vivo.

Beauty Tips for the Work-At-Home Mom 


Working from home and taking care of three kids can get a little insane at times, and some days looking my best seems like it’s the last thing on my very, very long to-do list. Over the years, however, I’ve picked up some beauty tricks that make it easier to feel stylish and done-up even on my busiest days.

How? The trick to it is to incorporate simple, easy-to-do steps into your routine, or to set aside time one day a week, every week (even if it’s only an hour!) to do some freshening up and styling that will last for more than a few days – whether it’s painting your nails while the kids are taking naps, or wrapping your hair for a deep-condition while you drive them to school. Again, if you keep at it, eventually it’ll become routine.
 
Photo taken by Jax (as you can see, I need to get on a makeup routine)


Take off the Sweats

I work from home where nobody is going to see me on most days except the kids. That’s why on days when I feel really stressed and busy in the morning, I reach for something really fast to just throw on.

However, one of the easiest things you can do to look and feel better is to put on some real clothes. If you’re not at the gym, take off the gym clothes. You don’t have to get dressed up like you’re going to a wedding, but a great pair of jeans and a pressed top or a simple dress will go a long way toward making you look better.

An easy way to get in the habit of getting out of your grunge clothes is to pick out a few “staple” outfits that are comfortable but stylish and ready-to-wear. That way you don’t have to waste too much time in front of the mirror trying to figure out a new look.

By planning ahead and having the knowledge that you DO have some stylish looks in your closet, it’ll make changing out of those sweats, PJs and workout clothes much easier.

Care for Your Face

If you’re down to the bare-minimum care for your face, you probably only washing your face in the morning and evening. That isn’t quite enough to keep your skin clear and glowing.

The first step is exfoliating and moisturizing. This doesn’t have to be complicated or involve a lot of crazy products. Facial scrubs are great for removing dead skin on the face and leaving your skin healthy and glowing, and there are plenty of recipes out there for scrubs that you can make at home with ingredients you’ve probably got sitting in your cupboard right now.

Using a Tinted Moisturizer

As for moisturizing, using a tinted moisturizer is my not-so-secret weapon. It works to hydrate my skin, keep it healthy, and works to conceal a lot of little flaws. On days when I don’t have any time to apply make-up (which, let’s be honest, is most days), this still makes me feel as if I’ve got my war-paint on.

When you’re looking for tinted moisturizer, find one that’s pretty close to your skin tone. You want it to look like you’re not wearing any makeup at all – just like your skin is a little more perfect than it really is.

Honey, Milk and Cucumber Mask

However, if you’ve neglected your skin for a little too long, try this honey, milk and cucumber mask to help rejuvenate your skin. It’s easy to make, and it works quickly, so you don’t need more than 20-30 minutes.

Step 1: Peel 1/4 cucumber and process it in a blender until it’s a watery paste. Remove about half of the liquid with a strainer or muslin cloth. 
Step 2: Add one tablespoon of whole milk and stir.
Step 3: Heat two tablespoons of honey in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Add the honey to the cucumber and milk mixture and stir. 
Step 4: Gently apply the mixture onto clean skin. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. You don’t need to wash your face after using the mask.

I swear by this one. But if you don’t have time to make the mask then just slather the honey on your face anyway. Avoid the eye areas (if you’ve got signs of puffy eyes, slices of cucumbers DO actually work!) and leave it for 15-20 minutes.

You’ll be surprised by the results - I know I was! Now my youngest isn’t the only one with baby-soft skin.

Treat Your Hands

Taking care of my hands always seems like a big to-do, but I’ve figured out ways to keep it short. While your kids are napping, watching TV or even doing their homework, you can sit down with them and give yourself a quick manicure.

You don’t have to soak your hands. In fact, you should always cut and file your nails when they are dry to prevent splitting. Save the cuticle care for a trip to the salon.

Once you’ve shaped your nails the way you want, apply a clear coat of nail polish to give it a shiny but natural look. This way your nails look nice and healthy, but chipping and cracking won’t be that noticeable. Between kids and work, my hands take a beating, and this really helps.

Taking care of yourself does take a few minutes each day, but looking good doesn’t have to mean a whole day at the spa, or two-hour skin care regimes. Using these tips, you can look and feel great on a daily basis, and you won’t have to sacrifice precious sleep to do it.


Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in the Los Angeles area. She has written on everything from health & wellness, marketing and technology, and currently writes for the beauty blog at Skintrium.

I will be back with more posts more frequently, hopefully in the next couple of weeks as I get the hang of having about 4 full time jobs at the moment! Hope you'll bear with me :)


**Disclaimer for Guest Posts:
The views & opinions expressed in any guest post featured on ourbabywagners.com are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of ourbabywagners.com or Cherlyn Wagner.

ECPC

Messy Art Day at ECPC

7:00 AM

Photos courtesy of Charlie

We finally went to the annual Messy Art Day at ECPC - El Cerrito Pre-school Cooperative. It took awhile for both kiddos to get into the day. There was a huge amount of kids and parents and activities. I'm sure they experienced some sensory overload and was probably quite overwhelmed at first but then, they really got into it - right about the time we needed to leave so we didn't have a level 10 meltdown.

By the way, Raima picked out those shoes. They are slightly too big and used to be Jax's but he never actually wore them. I tried to take them off and put on her actual sneakers she always wears and she adamantly refused and really threw her back into the demands of those oxfords, if you know what I mean. Kid's not even two yet and she's already making outfit choices!

How was your weekend? I'm sure I will have the Monday blues, and things are really picking up at my desk job (though not much has really changed, if you know what I mean) and picking up in my photography business too (yipee!).

PS. Our kids don't actually go to ECPC, but if we could afford it, had the time (its a co-op) and lived in the area, it would be a great choice for us.

Amazon

Motherhood Mondays - A (kindle) Book review

11:15 AM

So, before kids I was a voracious reader, especially when I would commute to work on Bart. I could go thru 3 books during my work week and pick up 2 more on the weekend. It was great. Now? I'm lucky if I can finish a magazine from 3 months ago. In fact, I have stacks of unopened magazines from months ago and three that just came in. What? I get deals on subscriptions and some were free, so sue me.

Anyway, sometimes I forget that I have a kindle since we use the poor thing mostly to appease my toddler on long road trips in the car. Which it works perfectly for, but I forget that its mine and hello! I can read books and magazines all night long. You know? Instead of sleeping, like most normal people because that is the only time I am able to do anything of luxury. When no one needs me, or is calling (yelling) for me or is just up in my biz annoying the crap out of me. From work to home, it's sort of the same thing- the demands. But anyway, it is very different with my family of course. I can't get fired if I decide I've had enough. Sorry, what was I saying? Oh yeah reading, at night, or really early morning- it's the best ever. I know some moms wake up way early to get some time to themselves. I am not one of those moms. I am not a morning person, at all. Yes, I know. The irony (of parenthood) isn't lost on me.

Soo...(I wrote the above on my phone in the car, while we were on our way to a birthday party, the first of two that day - Saturday) where was I? Oh yes, anyway I'll just get to the point..I received a free kindle book to review - I Just Want to Pee Alone - I didn't even have to crack the "book" open to know that this was going to be a good read, the title of the book alone had me because yes, I do - just sometimes would like to be able to pee alone. and with the door closed. and without any interruptions or people asking for me and or looking for me and then inevitably, barging in on me. all this, before I even get to pee (on that note, have you read this? she is hilarious too) So, anyhoo. this book is HILARIOUS. I started reading it in the middle of the night, hence my above long intro..and I seriously almost woke up Raima when I read it and continued to read it until like 2 am. I had to hold back my laughter and ended up snorting, it was not pretty. The book, is a collection of essays by mom bloggers about life and kids and yes, parenting and all it's trials and tribulations but in a funny, sarcastic and often times crass voice - which I love. While yes, I did receive this book for free in order to review it, my opinion still is this - GET IT, READ IT! and commiserate and laugh out loud. I'll help you wipe the tears ;) If you don't want to take my word for it, read the other reviews. I will definitely continue to follow those bloggers.

 In other news.. I got to hang out with one of my good friends who graciously let me photograph her. My idea was to really pamper her but I didn't get that chance (we talked instead - so giving her my utmost attention could be considered pampering, right? Maybe  just a little?). We got to hang out though and talk, with no interruptions! which was needed since it had been so long since we last hung out. 




Isn't she just lovely? Funny how, when I asked her if I could photograph her, she said sure but "warned" me that she wasn't very photogenic. Um, with what I had at the end of the session and as the images above clearly indicates - I don't think her statement is true.

Funny us mothers. We are so used to photographing our children, our families and others but never ourselves (did anyone read that huffpost article?). We make, I make - a lot of excuses for the very fear of - I don't know, not looking pretty? I don't think it's that (not entirely anyway). It's also hard for us to take a compliment, we brush it off and try to believe it's not true but we want to believe it's true too. I think we are so used to being the care takers that when we do something for ourselves, like get our picture taken, professionally or not, it's as if we feel that doing so is a little bit selfish, but you know what? that's ok! We should be, and can be selfish - or rather be thinking of ourselves, and taking care of ourselves so that we can take care of others better. We can only do so if we have taken care of ourselves and love ourselves too. If we are happy, they are happy. It all starts with you, as a person, an individual, as a mother, as a wife, a sister, a daughter - you are beautiful. It's kind of something I want to offer - a pampering session. I know I know, not another one of those boudoir sessions! But you know the premise behind those are great. I may not want to do the full on boudoir but I do want to offer a session where you do get pampered and come away feeling more confident about yourself. I also want to give women the tools to recreate the looks at the session for their everyday life. Like you know, when you get your hair done at the salon and always wish you could recreate it at home easily? so you look that good, everyday? I want to do that, offer that. And you can, because the tool you need, is you.

Anyway, ok, off to play with my kiddo, after I work on some more edits. How was everyone's weekend?

 disclosure: I did receive a free kindle edition of the book, I Just Want to Pee Alone, but my review and opinion is an honest one and is my own. Some of the links in this review are amazon affiliate links, it does not cost you a thing nor does it change your pricing but I do earn a percentage if my recommendation leads to a purchase. Thank you.

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