InstaReplay
/Happy Hump Day y'all. ( I don't know why the "y'all". Just seemed to go well with "Hump Day.") Half way to the weekend - yay! I don't have anything planned yet of interest, but since we've had busy weekends the past couple, and we have busy weekends coming up, I'm ok with no plans this weekend.
Hmm, maybe I'll paint the bathroom....that sounds relaxing, right? ;)
Recapping the last couple weeks from Instagram:
Shop look pieces below.
Fairlytale Wedding
/We were able to attend a very lovely wedding this past weekend. The ceremony and reception were both at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, and a better evening could not have been ordered. The ceremony was outside on a private lawn, the weather was so perfect, and then the reception followed in a beautiful ballroom. The bride is very much in to Disney princesses, so her style was very romantic and fairytale.
With a little help from some double-stick tape, I was comfortabe all night.
Please forgive my paleness.
Beaded shoes.
Details.
When there's a photo booth, you gotta take photos.
My dress and shoes are on sale right now, you can get them both below.
Formula for Happiness - Just Do Your Best
/Disclaimer: this is a sponsored post, click here for info.
The first five days after the weekend are the hardest. Right? ;)
That's a joke. But I would also the say the the first five months after having a baby are the hardest as well, and that's not a joke. Your body is recovering from a trauma (vaginal birth, C-section, both are traumatic), your hormones are out of whack (that's that technical term), you have a new living being that is dependent upon you for EVERYTHING, but you get very little sleep and are still somehow functioning (or giving that impression, anyway.)
Around the 5-6 month mark your little life-disrupter, whom you wouldn't trade for the world, starts to get the hang of this sleeping through the night thing, and you can sometimes get consecutive hours of sleep yourself. That makes it all a bit easier. And they start eating solids at this point as well.
Until they are old enough to be introduced to solids, all their nutrition comes in liquid form. And that is another huge source of stress and hardship mom's have to deal with. Considering it is the way nature designed us, I find it so baffling that there is so much controversy and societal reaction to breastfeeding. All other animals with mammary glands do it -- maybe people don't like being reminded we're mammals?
However, just because breastfeeding is what nature intended, doesn't mean it actually works that way. And that can be really frustrating for a new mom. She can feel like her body is failing her, and that she is failing her baby because she has the 'job' to provide nutrition for her offspring and she can't. I had no idea what it was like or what to do to breastfeed, I just assumed my body and my baby would know what to do because it was what they were designed to do. I was one of the fortunate ones that my milk came in very quickly and my son had a good latch from the first try. But I never took that for granted.
I attended the lactation support group for a couple weeks at the hospital where I gave birth, and there was every range of experience. I was in awe of these women, they were suffering through pain and exhaustion to try to do what was 'best' for their babies. But some had to supplement with formula. And I'm sure many ultimately had to transition to only formula. And I bet they felt guilt about that.
But the point here is that they shouldn't. You should not feel guilt about doing what is best for you and your baby. If you've tried what you can and you can't produce enough milk or nurse efficiently, there is no shame in formula. We are lucky that there are such quality formulas out there, you should feel good actually because you are providing for your baby.
Do your best, don't listen to the negatives - if your child is healthy and thriving, you're doing good, and doing it right, no matter how you're doing it.
Friday Favorites - Instagramers
/Another week is ending, which means another weekend is beginning! I'm late in the day with this, but better late than never (since never has been the past few days :( ) I'm loving these Instagram accounts that I've stumbled across, so I wanted to share with you as well, I don't think you'll be disappointed to have these ladies lovely images and talent show up in your feeds as well.
Bree Hannemann (@breehawaiii)
My husband and I love Hawaii (I mean, come on, who doesn't?) We got married there, we honeymooned there, we've been back almost yearly since, and even gone with our then one-year old (which was the worst trip, but only because he got sick 2 days in.) We always daydream about moving there, and Bree appears to be living our daydream. Her photos are beautiful, her family is beautiful, it's all just beautiful.
Images belong to @breehawaiii
Margie Keates (@thelovelyave)
Margie's feed is lovely to look at: perfect, colorful flower arragements of various sorts and sizes. What is amazing - and you'll do a doubletake when I tell you this - is that all the flowers you see are handmade from paper by Margie. That's what she does (I didn't know it was a thing until now) and she is so good. I don't know how she does it, they look so real. And since they never die, they are perfect flower investment. I may have to order some for my home.
Images belong to @thelovelyave
Dana (@23Danilla)
Dana clearly travels well, eats well, and dresses well, and takes good photos while doing both. There are a lot of travel/fashion bloggers out there, but Dana's feed has a nice feel to it, and her images are well constructed. I would think it's safe to say she has a fondness for the color blue, which I do too, so maybe that's my draw to her? But regardless your feeling of the color, you will appreciate what she is sharing (although you may find yourself yearning for an overseas vacation.)
Images belong to @23Danilla
