Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Memorial Day Weekend
Hope you all had a wonderful few days, enjoying the sunshine and time off with your loved ones. We got back into town Wednesday and were happy to stick around Denver for the weekend, and it was a great unofficial kick-off to summer.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
#WCW, Vol. 1
Hello and happy hump day!
I'm so excited to share with you a little something I've been working on...
If you've been reading my blog or following me on Instagram for a while, you probably already know how I feel about 'mompetition' and mom-shaming. Characterized by inner (or sometimes outer) mean girl traits, mompetition and mom-shaming are essentially the notions based off not feeling good enough. Mompetition refers to competing against or comparing yourself to other moms, and mom-shaming refers to making other moms feel like crap because you're feeling inferior. Suffice to say, it's bad news. However, in today's society with social media so readily available at your fingertips and new products, findings and theories popping up every day, it's kind of inevitable. I'd by lying if I said I hadn't compared myself to some pretty amazing mamas I know and felt guilty and sometimes ashamed even with the lack of measuring up. I have to constantly remind myself I can only be the best I know how to be and not try and be someone different. It's hard, though, right??
I've been doing a lot of thinking about motherhood and how isolating and lonely it can feel (even with tiny toddler tornados running amok). Sometimes I think mom-shaming stems from women not remembering how to truly connect with others, and we are too quick to judge because it's easier that way. Hell, I don't blame us; motherhood is hard and can be so exhausting so I get it. But the truth of the matter is we're all in this together---seriously. Not one mom is more superior or inferior than the other, and there is more than one way to parent and to be a parent.
So, without further ado, introducing: #WCW (Women Crush Wednesdays), a weekly series of women guest bloggers (aka friends of mine) who I admire and who are handling motherhood and/or motherhood-to-be with grace and love. Whether it be a juggling act of four or a quick and easy beauty routine, these women have totally nailed it yet in the same breath share their own difficulties as well. My intention for this series is to seek out the perspectives, triumphs and struggles of moms -- ALL moms.
My first guest blogger is an incredible friend of mine named Brittney. Not only is she beautiful, smart and funny, but she's got an amazing family of the most hilarious husband (who happens to be one of my husband's best friends) and two adorable little boys.
Brittney happens to be a baller at her job, which is actually baller in itself (she gets to go to the Grammys!!), and she is one of the best, if not the best, boy mom I know (she's even got my husband trained). Don't let her fool you; yes, her boys are total boys, obsessed with all things Star Wars and sports, but they are also two of the most sweet, well behaved, polite and courteous little men I've ever met. I asked Brit to write a guest post for me because she handles being a mom, a mom of two at that, while working an insanely demanding job flawlessly. Her husband works an insanely demanding job as well, so it's not like either one are putting their careers backseat to be more of a parent than the other. But I've never seen her freak out, and
A couple of weeks ago Sarah asked me to do a guest post on her blog. My response: Ah...sure...but what do you want me to write about?
I'll start by introducing myself: my name is Brittney, but I go by Brit, Pugh, Mama, Moooooooooom [said in a whiny kid voice] and Boss of Everyone. It's true. My five year old son even said it on camera, which is now posted on Instagram, which basically means it's law. I'm a mom of two boys: Hudson, two years old, and Cole, 5.5 years old. This half year is pretty damn important as I wasn't the biggest fan of his for the first part of five. He's much more enjoyable now. I work for an advertising agency in Minneapolis, married to a 6'6" math nerd/drunken rouge, live in the 'burbs and am a fair-weather fitness fan.
Now Sarah thinks I have an important job (she does) where I'm Business Barbie meets Mad Men meets Miranda Priestly (hahahah, I totally do). I didn't want to burst her bubble, but I'm really not that big of a deal (yes, she is). I'm not curing any diseases or stopping WWIII. I do have a tendency to be in meetings with people who make five times what I make and have P Diddy's cell number at the ready...but I'm not one of them. With that said, I do feel the stress of working full-time plus evening hours. The stress of trying to grow my team's knowledge while making sure they don't want to jump overboard. The pressure to win new business and grow the agency all the while trying to make sure my kiddo gets to Taekwondo on time.
Still with me? Bueller?
So here's my post -- The Five Things I Try to Remember When Shit Gets Real (Working Mom Edition):
1. Daycare people are saints, so buy them shit. About six months ago I was about to go into a meeting presenting to the CEO of a large retailer we all know, love, and spend way too much money at. About five minutes before presenting to said CEO, daycare called. You know that feeling on a roller coaster before it goes over the cliff? Yep. Had that in spades. Apparently Cold had diarrhea and had shit through four pairs of pants. He was currently wearing snow pants, and I needed to come get him ASAP. It just so happened this same week my husband was out of town, my parents are Florida snowbirds, and my MIL was visiting family out of state. Summary: I pitted out my fancy-ass shirt in :05 because I was freaking out. Then I remembered I had just purchased the teachers at school some amazing massage gift cards for Christmas, so I quickly called daycare back and pleaded my case: Please don't call CPS, I will be there in an hour, but I have to go present, yadda, blah, fake tears, sniffle, etc. AND IT WORKED! I'd love to say it was all me, but I know it was the sick gifts I splurged on.
2. Your kid won't die if he has to wear snow pants for an hour. See above.
3. People are way cooler than expected if you tell them you were puked on last night. No explanation needed, right?! "How was your night?" Oh, me? Had a great dinner of mac n' cheese, watched some Paw Patrol, was woken up at 2am and got puked on...you know, typical Tuesday. How about you?
4. Just because you have kids doesn't mean you're important at work. This one is critical. I've been in my field for over five years...shit. Over 11 years. Damn I'm old. Anyway. So I've been doing this career thing pre-marriage, pre-kid, pre-second kid, and the one thing that has always been my north star when dealing with co-workers: Having kids doesn't give you a special pass. It was your choice to give up your life to crackhead schizophrenics who have an obsession with Fruit Loops. Your night, whatever you choose to do with it, is your prerogative. No one person's plans trumps another. Just because I have to get my kid to t-ball does not mean it's more important than your yoga class. [God, I miss yoga after work.]
5. It's just a fucking job. In the end, it's a job. Yes, you should love what you do and should be passionate about it, but your family (whomever that is comprised of) should be your #1 priority. It's taken awhile to figure this out -- phones out of sight at the dinner table, laptops stored until pre-bedtime routine is complete, weekend email sessions only during rest time, etc. It's tough but in the end I want my kids to remember squirt gun fights and not "just one minute for Mommy to send this email." I want them to figure out their own work/life balance before there's a work/life to worry about. I want to enjoy my kids--even when I want to hit them over the head with the monster cars that WON'T SHUT UP--and I want them to enjoy me.
Wow. That shit was long. Hope I kept you mildly entertained, but if not, here's a video of my insanely cute kids telling you I'm the boss.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFNMYowhEeS/
I'm so excited to share with you a little something I've been working on...
If you've been reading my blog or following me on Instagram for a while, you probably already know how I feel about 'mompetition' and mom-shaming. Characterized by inner (or sometimes outer) mean girl traits, mompetition and mom-shaming are essentially the notions based off not feeling good enough. Mompetition refers to competing against or comparing yourself to other moms, and mom-shaming refers to making other moms feel like crap because you're feeling inferior. Suffice to say, it's bad news. However, in today's society with social media so readily available at your fingertips and new products, findings and theories popping up every day, it's kind of inevitable. I'd by lying if I said I hadn't compared myself to some pretty amazing mamas I know and felt guilty and sometimes ashamed even with the lack of measuring up. I have to constantly remind myself I can only be the best I know how to be and not try and be someone different. It's hard, though, right??
I've been doing a lot of thinking about motherhood and how isolating and lonely it can feel (even with tiny toddler tornados running amok). Sometimes I think mom-shaming stems from women not remembering how to truly connect with others, and we are too quick to judge because it's easier that way. Hell, I don't blame us; motherhood is hard and can be so exhausting so I get it. But the truth of the matter is we're all in this together---seriously. Not one mom is more superior or inferior than the other, and there is more than one way to parent and to be a parent.
So, without further ado, introducing: #WCW (Women Crush Wednesdays), a weekly series of women guest bloggers (aka friends of mine) who I admire and who are handling motherhood and/or motherhood-to-be with grace and love. Whether it be a juggling act of four or a quick and easy beauty routine, these women have totally nailed it yet in the same breath share their own difficulties as well. My intention for this series is to seek out the perspectives, triumphs and struggles of moms -- ALL moms.
***
My first guest blogger is an incredible friend of mine named Brittney. Not only is she beautiful, smart and funny, but she's got an amazing family of the most hilarious husband (who happens to be one of my husband's best friends) and two adorable little boys.
Dying---how amazing of a boy mom is she? Brit and her fam dressed up as Star Wars people for Halloween this year.
Brittney happens to be a baller at her job, which is actually baller in itself (she gets to go to the Grammys!!), and she is one of the best, if not the best, boy mom I know (she's even got my husband trained). Don't let her fool you; yes, her boys are total boys, obsessed with all things Star Wars and sports, but they are also two of the most sweet, well behaved, polite and courteous little men I've ever met. I asked Brit to write a guest post for me because she handles being a mom, a mom of two at that, while working an insanely demanding job flawlessly. Her husband works an insanely demanding job as well, so it's not like either one are putting their careers backseat to be more of a parent than the other. But I've never seen her freak out, and
She went to Cole's Halloween parade at school dressed up as Chewy. Not one single parent was dressed up, just Brittney. Reason #5028 why I love her.
***
A couple of weeks ago Sarah asked me to do a guest post on her blog. My response: Ah...sure...but what do you want me to write about?
I'll start by introducing myself: my name is Brittney, but I go by Brit, Pugh, Mama, Moooooooooom [said in a whiny kid voice] and Boss of Everyone. It's true. My five year old son even said it on camera, which is now posted on Instagram, which basically means it's law. I'm a mom of two boys: Hudson, two years old, and Cole, 5.5 years old. This half year is pretty damn important as I wasn't the biggest fan of his for the first part of five. He's much more enjoyable now. I work for an advertising agency in Minneapolis, married to a 6'6" math nerd/drunken rouge, live in the 'burbs and am a fair-weather fitness fan.
Brittney DictionarySo now that you have a general idea of who I am, I'll get to the topic Sarah wanted me to cover: working mom of two kids.
Fair-Weather Fitness Fan: Someone who wears yoga clothes practically every day, loves motivational fitness quotes, drinks green smoothes for breakfast and maybe works out once a month.
Now Sarah thinks I have an important job (she does) where I'm Business Barbie meets Mad Men meets Miranda Priestly (hahahah, I totally do). I didn't want to burst her bubble, but I'm really not that big of a deal (yes, she is). I'm not curing any diseases or stopping WWIII. I do have a tendency to be in meetings with people who make five times what I make and have P Diddy's cell number at the ready...but I'm not one of them. With that said, I do feel the stress of working full-time plus evening hours. The stress of trying to grow my team's knowledge while making sure they don't want to jump overboard. The pressure to win new business and grow the agency all the while trying to make sure my kiddo gets to Taekwondo on time.
Still with me? Bueller?
So here's my post -- The Five Things I Try to Remember When Shit Gets Real (Working Mom Edition):
1. Daycare people are saints, so buy them shit. About six months ago I was about to go into a meeting presenting to the CEO of a large retailer we all know, love, and spend way too much money at. About five minutes before presenting to said CEO, daycare called. You know that feeling on a roller coaster before it goes over the cliff? Yep. Had that in spades. Apparently Cold had diarrhea and had shit through four pairs of pants. He was currently wearing snow pants, and I needed to come get him ASAP. It just so happened this same week my husband was out of town, my parents are Florida snowbirds, and my MIL was visiting family out of state. Summary: I pitted out my fancy-ass shirt in :05 because I was freaking out. Then I remembered I had just purchased the teachers at school some amazing massage gift cards for Christmas, so I quickly called daycare back and pleaded my case: Please don't call CPS, I will be there in an hour, but I have to go present, yadda, blah, fake tears, sniffle, etc. AND IT WORKED! I'd love to say it was all me, but I know it was the sick gifts I splurged on.
2. Your kid won't die if he has to wear snow pants for an hour. See above.
3. People are way cooler than expected if you tell them you were puked on last night. No explanation needed, right?! "How was your night?" Oh, me? Had a great dinner of mac n' cheese, watched some Paw Patrol, was woken up at 2am and got puked on...you know, typical Tuesday. How about you?
4. Just because you have kids doesn't mean you're important at work. This one is critical. I've been in my field for over five years...shit. Over 11 years. Damn I'm old. Anyway. So I've been doing this career thing pre-marriage, pre-kid, pre-second kid, and the one thing that has always been my north star when dealing with co-workers: Having kids doesn't give you a special pass. It was your choice to give up your life to crackhead schizophrenics who have an obsession with Fruit Loops. Your night, whatever you choose to do with it, is your prerogative. No one person's plans trumps another. Just because I have to get my kid to t-ball does not mean it's more important than your yoga class. [God, I miss yoga after work.]
5. It's just a fucking job. In the end, it's a job. Yes, you should love what you do and should be passionate about it, but your family (whomever that is comprised of) should be your #1 priority. It's taken awhile to figure this out -- phones out of sight at the dinner table, laptops stored until pre-bedtime routine is complete, weekend email sessions only during rest time, etc. It's tough but in the end I want my kids to remember squirt gun fights and not "just one minute for Mommy to send this email." I want them to figure out their own work/life balance before there's a work/life to worry about. I want to enjoy my kids--even when I want to hit them over the head with the monster cars that WON'T SHUT UP--and I want them to enjoy me.
Wow. That shit was long. Hope I kept you mildly entertained, but if not, here's a video of my insanely cute kids telling you I'm the boss.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFNMYowhEeS/
***
To see more of Brittney and her boys, follow her at https://www.instagram.com/brityr.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
10 Things You Didn't Know About Me
Hi friends!
Another late night post---seems it's the only time I can catch my breath lately! The past weekend was kind of a wash because Sydney got pretty sick and we had to cancel everything. Freaking kids! They get sick so fast, don't they? One minute she was sneezing with a small cough and the next she was non-stop coughing, had the worst wheezing we'd seen in a while, had extremely labored breathing, there was whining, crying and . . . puke. So much puke. For whatever reason whenever Sydney's viral-induced asthma kicks into high gear, she vomits really easily and Saturday evening was no exception. I walked into our bedroom to see Sydney sitting on Jordan's lap facing him with her head hung down and pressed against Jordan's chest, just sobbing...and when I pulled her back from his chest, I could see Jordan was cupping with both hands a giant puddle of puke. (However, I've been puked on more times than I can count, so Jordan was kind of overdue for one.) Poor Syd. And poor Jordan.
Anyway, thanks to steroids, nebulizer treatments and her inhalers, Sydney is pretty much back to normal, and thanks to wine/scotch, hot showers and lots of Lysol, Jordan and I are pretty much back to normal as well. I've got a fun/interesting/awesome series coming to the blog tomorrow, but for today . . . here are 10 things you may or may not know about me. Enjoy!
Another late night post---seems it's the only time I can catch my breath lately! The past weekend was kind of a wash because Sydney got pretty sick and we had to cancel everything. Freaking kids! They get sick so fast, don't they? One minute she was sneezing with a small cough and the next she was non-stop coughing, had the worst wheezing we'd seen in a while, had extremely labored breathing, there was whining, crying and . . . puke. So much puke. For whatever reason whenever Sydney's viral-induced asthma kicks into high gear, she vomits really easily and Saturday evening was no exception. I walked into our bedroom to see Sydney sitting on Jordan's lap facing him with her head hung down and pressed against Jordan's chest, just sobbing...and when I pulled her back from his chest, I could see Jordan was cupping with both hands a giant puddle of puke. (However, I've been puked on more times than I can count, so Jordan was kind of overdue for one.) Poor Syd. And poor Jordan.
Anyway, thanks to steroids, nebulizer treatments and her inhalers, Sydney is pretty much back to normal, and thanks to wine/scotch, hot showers and lots of Lysol, Jordan and I are pretty much back to normal as well. I've got a fun/interesting/awesome series coming to the blog tomorrow, but for today . . . here are 10 things you may or may not know about me. Enjoy!
1. One of my most favorite things in the world is watching Sydney sing Adele's 'Hello' and 'Let It Go' from Frozen. It will NEVER get old, and I hope she always sings with that much passion.
Girlfriend gets i n t o it.
2. I'm not a clubber, definitely not a gambler, but I'm obsessed with Vegas. O b s e s s e d. I just love it so much. I will go anytime with anyone.
3. I'm dyslexic with the colors orange and green. When I mean to say orange, my mouth says green and vice-versa. Only happens with those two things and those two colors.
4. My most watched movie is Avatar, and I have no idea why. One day Jordan told me I loved it, which I thought he was crazy because I didn't even like it, and he pointed out how I watch it every time it's on TV . . . I totally do. Every. single. time.
5. I dream of having an all-white kitchen and a german shepherd that doesn't shed. One thing is going to happen sooner or later and the other I'm going to have to make peace with.
6. I hate sleep. Haaate it. I hate going to bed, hate sleeping in, hate napping...I hate it all. I function best on 5-6 hours of sleep a night and that's 5-6 hours too many.
7. But no matter how much I hate sleep . . . I H A T E ET. (Yes, that disgusting, gross, wrinkly alien from that stupid movie with that stupid kid biking over that stupid moon.) I HATE him.
8. Professionally, I'm insanely Type A, but personally I'm about as Type B as they come.
9. I'm not really a fan of the Kardashians but at the same time would love to be one. Is it too much to ask to hop on a private jet to get beignets in New Orleans?
10. The first night I hung out with my husband, I told my friend that if I was looking for something serious, he would be perfect for me. #nailedit
5. I dream of having an all-white kitchen and a german shepherd that doesn't shed. One thing is going to happen sooner or later and the other I'm going to have to make peace with.
6. I hate sleep. Haaate it. I hate going to bed, hate sleeping in, hate napping...I hate it all. I function best on 5-6 hours of sleep a night and that's 5-6 hours too many.
7. But no matter how much I hate sleep . . . I H A T E ET. (Yes, that disgusting, gross, wrinkly alien from that stupid movie with that stupid kid biking over that stupid moon.) I HATE him.
8. Professionally, I'm insanely Type A, but personally I'm about as Type B as they come.
9. I'm not really a fan of the Kardashians but at the same time would love to be one. Is it too much to ask to hop on a private jet to get beignets in New Orleans?
10. The first night I hung out with my husband, I told my friend that if I was looking for something serious, he would be perfect for me. #nailedit
Stay tuned for tomorrow!!
xo,
Sarah
Friday, May 13, 2016
{Review + Giveaway} : Cosatto Supa Stroller
Good morning!
You've probably seen me strollin' around social media with a brightly-colored, super cute umbrella stroller by now, yes?
Isn't it the cutest?? It's called the Supa Stroller is brought to you by Cosatto, a brand dedicated to brightly colored patterns and a fun twist on baby gear -- "saving the world from boring baby stuff," to be more exact, and if you know me well or even at all, you know how much I love that tagline.
The Supa Stroller currently comes in nine different patterns, ranging from flamingos to monsters and flowers to sharks. They're all such bright colors and fun patterns that it was hard to choose just one! I ultimately ended up picking the Pixelate pattern (because it's gender-neutral and also the brightest), but I kind of wanted one of every kind. ;-)
If I'm being honest with myself and with you, I didn't really have very high expectations for the stroller. We have quite a few different strollers actually, and we aren't completely in love with any of them, so I was absolutely b l o w n away when we received our Cosatto. Not only did it aesthetically exceed my expectations (it's SO bright and fun!), but it's functionality, durability and high-quality design hooked me for life.
The main component which distinguishes Cosatto over other strollers is it is clearly designed for the modern mom in mind. When folded, it stands on its own, which you might not think is that big of a deal, but trust me when I say it is. The seat easily reclines into four different positions, which is incredibly convenient for when your child wants to nap, lounge or relax watching a movie on your iPad -- from the freaking SUN SHADE! Yes, that's right; the Supa Stroller has a multi-media gadget pocket (aka a pocket for your iPad or tablet) built into the hood of the sun shade, complete with a speaker. You can also use the speaker to hook your iPhone or iPod up and listen to some beats with your kiddo.
Are those not the most amazing features or what? Admittedly, as most parents do, we allow Syd to watch movies on the iPad while traveling or on long/busy days out of the house. Something about watching a movie or playing with a toddler app on the iPad while not having to hold it has completely captivated her---and also saved our iPad from being dropped anymore, ha.
The stroller pushes easily and smoothly thanks to features like the lockable front swivel wheels and adjustable handles (which is a bonus for when Jordan uses it, as his 6'1 frame needs handles a little longer than me). Besides holding your iPad and iPhone, the sun shade folds out to be quite large protecting your babe from even the harshest sun, and the basket underneath has a good amount of room and is easy to get things in and out of. It has a removable cup holder, which can change from side to side, which is always convenient and should be mandatory with any stroller ever made because us parents need coffee every day, all the time. The stroller opens and folds up easily; however, it is slightly heavier than our other umbrella stroller -- which I didn't like originally but truthfully actually love now, and here's exactly why: When we initially searched for an umbrella stroller, I wanted the lightest weight one possible because I knew we would be using it primarily for when we traveled. Airports are crazy enough, so the thought of lugging our big stroller around was awful, so we were hooked when we found one that had great reviews and was extremely light. The stroller performed just as reviewed, and we were very happy with it...until I realized every time I went to put Sydney in the stroller, I had to lock the wheels so it wouldn't roll away because it was so light. Whenever I wanted to put my purse in the basket underneath, I had to lock the wheels. Whenever I had to get something out of Sydney's backpack (which has replaced the diaper bag), I had to lock the wheels. I constantly had to lock and unlock the damn wheels for no good reason at all, and it was beyond annoying. Furthermore, if I hung even the lightest bag on the cup holder or handles of our other stroller, whenever Sydney would get out, or if I was pushing it around and Sydney wasn't in it, I would have to take off the bag otherwise the stroller would tip over. So annoying and unnecessary. I realized the stroller, lightweight or not, was still somewhat hectic folding up before we boarded the plane and realized the actual weight had no bearing on any convenience factor other than when it's folded up and you're actually carrying it -- but when does that happen? Never.
You've probably seen me strollin' around social media with a brightly-colored, super cute umbrella stroller by now, yes?
Isn't it the cutest?? It's called the Supa Stroller is brought to you by Cosatto, a brand dedicated to brightly colored patterns and a fun twist on baby gear -- "saving the world from boring baby stuff," to be more exact, and if you know me well or even at all, you know how much I love that tagline.
The Supa Stroller currently comes in nine different patterns, ranging from flamingos to monsters and flowers to sharks. They're all such bright colors and fun patterns that it was hard to choose just one! I ultimately ended up picking the Pixelate pattern (because it's gender-neutral and also the brightest), but I kind of wanted one of every kind. ;-)
If I'm being honest with myself and with you, I didn't really have very high expectations for the stroller. We have quite a few different strollers actually, and we aren't completely in love with any of them, so I was absolutely b l o w n away when we received our Cosatto. Not only did it aesthetically exceed my expectations (it's SO bright and fun!), but it's functionality, durability and high-quality design hooked me for life.
The main component which distinguishes Cosatto over other strollers is it is clearly designed for the modern mom in mind. When folded, it stands on its own, which you might not think is that big of a deal, but trust me when I say it is. The seat easily reclines into four different positions, which is incredibly convenient for when your child wants to nap, lounge or relax watching a movie on your iPad -- from the freaking SUN SHADE! Yes, that's right; the Supa Stroller has a multi-media gadget pocket (aka a pocket for your iPad or tablet) built into the hood of the sun shade, complete with a speaker. You can also use the speaker to hook your iPhone or iPod up and listen to some beats with your kiddo.
Sydney enjoying some 'in-stroll entertainment' on the iPad -- totally life-changing.
And by beats, I obviously mean Taylor Swift.
Are those not the most amazing features or what? Admittedly, as most parents do, we allow Syd to watch movies on the iPad while traveling or on long/busy days out of the house. Something about watching a movie or playing with a toddler app on the iPad while not having to hold it has completely captivated her---and also saved our iPad from being dropped anymore, ha.
The stroller pushes easily and smoothly thanks to features like the lockable front swivel wheels and adjustable handles (which is a bonus for when Jordan uses it, as his 6'1 frame needs handles a little longer than me). Besides holding your iPad and iPhone, the sun shade folds out to be quite large protecting your babe from even the harshest sun, and the basket underneath has a good amount of room and is easy to get things in and out of. It has a removable cup holder, which can change from side to side, which is always convenient and should be mandatory with any stroller ever made because us parents need coffee every day, all the time. The stroller opens and folds up easily; however, it is slightly heavier than our other umbrella stroller -- which I didn't like originally but truthfully actually love now, and here's exactly why: When we initially searched for an umbrella stroller, I wanted the lightest weight one possible because I knew we would be using it primarily for when we traveled. Airports are crazy enough, so the thought of lugging our big stroller around was awful, so we were hooked when we found one that had great reviews and was extremely light. The stroller performed just as reviewed, and we were very happy with it...until I realized every time I went to put Sydney in the stroller, I had to lock the wheels so it wouldn't roll away because it was so light. Whenever I wanted to put my purse in the basket underneath, I had to lock the wheels. Whenever I had to get something out of Sydney's backpack (which has replaced the diaper bag), I had to lock the wheels. I constantly had to lock and unlock the damn wheels for no good reason at all, and it was beyond annoying. Furthermore, if I hung even the lightest bag on the cup holder or handles of our other stroller, whenever Sydney would get out, or if I was pushing it around and Sydney wasn't in it, I would have to take off the bag otherwise the stroller would tip over. So annoying and unnecessary. I realized the stroller, lightweight or not, was still somewhat hectic folding up before we boarded the plane and realized the actual weight had no bearing on any convenience factor other than when it's folded up and you're actually carrying it -- but when does that happen? Never.
My next favorite thing about the Supa Stroller is all the freebies that come with, including chest pads, a head-hugger, a rain cover (those things are like $50+ usually) AND a four-way Cozy Toes, which is their patented idea of basically a cozy fleece sleeping bag that easily zips on and off for cold weather. Are you kidding me?? So I don't have to bring blankets?! Whyyy did I not have this when we went to Disney World and it was 30-degrees and Sydney wore eight layers and three blankets? So. freaking. amazing. Cosatto, can you make an adult-size Supa Stroller with an adult-size Cozy Toes?? Asking for a friend. ;-) The Cozy Toes also has a 'kangaroo pouch,' which is like a little fleece muff where Sydney can stick her hands in to keep them warm (because we all know how well kids keep mittens and gloves on).
I am absolutely in love with this stroller. The design, the durability, the functionality, the aesthetics -- everything about it is truly remarkable and makes my life so much easier because let's face it, bringing a toddler out in public is like walking around with a ticking time bomb, am I right? Anything that makes parents' lives easier is a major win in my book.
ANNNND...because I love it so much and am so passionate about this super fun, super awesome Supa Stroller, I'm giving one away to one of my lucky readers/followers! Head on over to my Instagram to officially enter -- and for an extra five bonus entries, comment below with what design you love the most. DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR INSTAGRAM HANDLE as well so I know who are you are on Instagram! Unlike my previous giveaways, this giveaway is strictly and solely being held on Instagram.
Best of luck to all -- and cheers to the freakin' weekend!
xoxo,
Sarah
While I was gifted a Supa Stroller from the wonderful people at Cosatto, all opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Mom Style
Happy Thursday! Only one more day until my husband comes home, and only one more day until the weekend, which means socially acceptable champagne drinking at 10:00 in the morning! Just kidding. (Kind of. Except not because I just spent the entire morning writing this blog post and it just disappeared and didn't save. So now I'm writing the entire f-ing thing all over again, so a shot of Fireball mimosa sounds amazing right now.)
The other day I met a girlfriend for coffee and we were discussing needing new wardrobes---and she told me she actually loves my style. Um, what? I just stared at her blankly and asked her if she realized I was wearing yoga pants and had no makeup on. She laughed but insisted I was still stylish and looked pulled together, and I was beyond flattered---and confused, as I thought I had been kind of resembling a cast member of The Walking Dead lately. I've never been one to look 'effortlessly cool' (maybe just the 'effortless' part), and I've always chosen comfort over fashion. A blogger I follow always posts the most gorgeous pictures of herself in amazing clothes and heels--and to be fair, she's more of a fashion blogger--but the thought of chasing or even walking with Syd in heels gives me anxiety.
However, I have always somewhat tried keeping up with what's on trend because fashion and style have always been an interest of mine (despite what the above paragraphs suggest, haha). I'm no fashion blogger, so bear with me, but since becoming a mom and having less time for myself, I've found what works for me and my current situation---situation being comfort to chase Sydney, an elastic waistband to eat the occasional donut, and a bit of style to let people know I haven't completely thrown in the towel yet. I don't know if 'athleisure' is a real term or something my spirit animal made up, but I sure as hell have ran with it. Below are staple pieces in my wardrobe I continuously rotate through and mix-and-match with other pieces in my closet.
1. Yoga Pants/Running Tights: Obviously. What did moms do before yoga pants were invented? What do people wear at schools where yoga pants are banned? These are the questions that keep me up at night, and these are the questions my husband answers with, "Sweetie, I don't think as many people wear yoga pants as you think." Umm...FALSE, JORDAN. Everyone wears yoga pants---or at least everyone should. They've come such a long way, though, so it's not like I'm running around in ragged sweatpants. My favorite brands are:
The other day I met a girlfriend for coffee and we were discussing needing new wardrobes---and she told me she actually loves my style. Um, what? I just stared at her blankly and asked her if she realized I was wearing yoga pants and had no makeup on. She laughed but insisted I was still stylish and looked pulled together, and I was beyond flattered---and confused, as I thought I had been kind of resembling a cast member of The Walking Dead lately. I've never been one to look 'effortlessly cool' (maybe just the 'effortless' part), and I've always chosen comfort over fashion. A blogger I follow always posts the most gorgeous pictures of herself in amazing clothes and heels--and to be fair, she's more of a fashion blogger--but the thought of chasing or even walking with Syd in heels gives me anxiety.
This moment was cute, but this day---not so much.
However, I have always somewhat tried keeping up with what's on trend because fashion and style have always been an interest of mine (despite what the above paragraphs suggest, haha). I'm no fashion blogger, so bear with me, but since becoming a mom and having less time for myself, I've found what works for me and my current situation---situation being comfort to chase Sydney, an elastic waistband to eat the occasional donut, and a bit of style to let people know I haven't completely thrown in the towel yet. I don't know if 'athleisure' is a real term or something my spirit animal made up, but I sure as hell have ran with it. Below are staple pieces in my wardrobe I continuously rotate through and mix-and-match with other pieces in my closet.
1. Yoga Pants/Running Tights: Obviously. What did moms do before yoga pants were invented? What do people wear at schools where yoga pants are banned? These are the questions that keep me up at night, and these are the questions my husband answers with, "Sweetie, I don't think as many people wear yoga pants as you think." Umm...FALSE, JORDAN. Everyone wears yoga pants---or at least everyone should. They've come such a long way, though, so it's not like I'm running around in ragged sweatpants. My favorite brands are:
- lululemon - My favorites of theirs are the Inspire Tights and the Speed Tights, but I'm willing to bet the All the Right Places Tights and Tight Stuff Tights are pretty solid choices as well, given their names. Well played, marketing department at lulu.
- Athleta - Their Chaturanga line is amazing! The pants come in all lengths and so many fun prints, and their material is incredibly soft and durable.
- Lucy - Their Perfect Core legging is by far, hands-down my favorite pair of pants, ever. The compression is super slimming without being too tight, and chances are if you've seen me in black lettings on Instagram or real life, I'm probably wearing them.
- Old Navy - Old Navy isn't just killing it at the toddler and baby game, their activewear is pretty awesome as well. I love their Go-Warm Compression pant, and their price points cannot be beat (lululemon--take note; $198 for a pair of yoga pants is insane).
Bonus tip: running tights generally have more compression than yoga pants (think Spanx as an acceptable form of pants).
2. Distressed Denim: On the rare occasion I want to go glam (glam being pants without an elastic waistband), I find myself wearing distressed denim. My favorite pair are from BlankNYC, which is quickly becoming my go-to brand (you'll soon find out why). The jeans linked are soft denim and super flattering, and the distressing stays put---major win. A couple years ago I bought an overly priced pair of AG distressed jeans, and the first time I wore them the holes ripped way bigger and looked so stupid. I also have a pair of Old Navy Destructed Rockstar jeans and absolutely love them! The fit is flattering, and the distressing is the perfect amount.
3. A Good T-Shirt: For years I kept buying inexpensive plain white tees, trying to find the perfect fit, until I realized my closet had about 10 of them that I never wore. I finally bit the (expensive, ugh) bullet and purchased Rag & Bone's Classic V Tee, and I can honestly say it's worth every penny. It's kind of a burnout tee (but not see-through) so it's super soft, and the slouchy fit is perfection. I also have heard amazing things about Z Supply's t-shirts, so I got this one to really change things up this summer. Plus, their price point is a little easier to swallow. ;-)
4. Leather Jacket: I'm obsessed with [faux] leather, black leather specifically. I throw my black leather jacket on over anything and everything to instantly make my outfit look a little more pulled together. For so long I had been on yet another clothing hunt for the perfect jacket; I wanted one that was slim-fitting but not tight, affordable but not cheap-looking, a little bit longer in length than most women's leather jackets but obviously not too long, and hardware that was trendy but not gaudy. I had almost given up hope when I stumbled upon this one from BlankNYC; it. is. AMAZING. It's so perfect that I want to get another one--same size, same color--just in case something happens to mine and they stop selling them. It's incredibly flattering and well made and under $100!
5. Sneakers: If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have a slight obsession with New Balance sneakers, style 574 specifically---they're my favorite and come in the most colors and patterns! (Not to mention they have matching toddler 574s!!) However, I recently got a pair of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus and have completely fallen in love. Not only are they comfortable and cute, but they're also functional and have replaced my running shoes entirely. Apparently the gray/silver and black ones I have are sold out, but I love all the new colors as well. I pair sneakers with almost anything and everything: yoga pants, jeans, shorts, even [faux] leather pants (yes, seriously---if you don't believe me, check out Becky Hillyard on Instagram).
I complete my 'ensemble' with a few pieces of jewelry, a good pair of sunglasses (sunnies hide everything), sometimes a baseball cap and painted nails, always. I don't know why, but even on the hottest mess of a day I feel more put together when my nails are painted than when I have a cute outfit on but my hands are bare.
As much as I joke about always looking disheveled, I actually just told my husband I was going to put forth more of an effort into my everyday appearance. There's definitely something about getting ready, doing your hair and putting on makeup that boosts your confidence and makes you feel like Beyonce, am I right?? The other day I ran to the mall for some eyeliner and lipgloss, and I began chatting with a makeup artist---and suddenly she was filling in my eyebrows and contouring my face, and I'm fairly certain I looked better on a random Wednesday than I did on my wedding day (sorry, Jordan!). She was a total day-maker, and I walked out of the mall feeling like a million bucks (and ready to go to a club). While my makeup will never again look that flawless, and while I recognize I most likely won't always have the time to get ready, do my hair and put on makeup, I'm going to start at least trying. Yesterday I felt better, I parented better, and I sent a zillion puppy dog selfies to my poor husband showing him what contouring is (he still doesn't know and/or care).
To round out my 'mom style,' a few of you asked how I curl my hair, and I'm actually so happy to share because it's revolutionized my hair-styling life. I used to use regular curling irons, every brand and every size, and never consistently styled it how I wanted to regardless of what I did. Curling wands use to freak me out until a trusted acquaintance (with amazing hair, obviously) recommended NuMe curling wands and swore up and down by them. On a whim, I decided to get a couple---and I LOVE them. It took me a few times to figure out how to use it correctly (and not burn myself), but they're a total game-changer. They retail for $139, but since I love them so much and bought them using a discount code from another blogger, I'm sharing the same deal for you! Running through the end of the weekend (Sunday, 5/15 at midnight PST), use code GETWANDS29 to get any of their curling wands for only $29!! I promise you'll love them.
What pieces of your closet do you love?? Any favorite brands or styles you love? Please share, as I'd love to change things up. (My husband would probably agree, haha!).
Hope y'all are having a wonderful Thursday---and mamas and mamas-to-be, check in tomorrow because I'm hosting an AMAZING giveaway you won't want to miss!!
xo,
Sarah
3. A Good T-Shirt: For years I kept buying inexpensive plain white tees, trying to find the perfect fit, until I realized my closet had about 10 of them that I never wore. I finally bit the (expensive, ugh) bullet and purchased Rag & Bone's Classic V Tee, and I can honestly say it's worth every penny. It's kind of a burnout tee (but not see-through) so it's super soft, and the slouchy fit is perfection. I also have heard amazing things about Z Supply's t-shirts, so I got this one to really change things up this summer. Plus, their price point is a little easier to swallow. ;-)
4. Leather Jacket: I'm obsessed with [faux] leather, black leather specifically. I throw my black leather jacket on over anything and everything to instantly make my outfit look a little more pulled together. For so long I had been on yet another clothing hunt for the perfect jacket; I wanted one that was slim-fitting but not tight, affordable but not cheap-looking, a little bit longer in length than most women's leather jackets but obviously not too long, and hardware that was trendy but not gaudy. I had almost given up hope when I stumbled upon this one from BlankNYC; it. is. AMAZING. It's so perfect that I want to get another one--same size, same color--just in case something happens to mine and they stop selling them. It's incredibly flattering and well made and under $100!
5. Sneakers: If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have a slight obsession with New Balance sneakers, style 574 specifically---they're my favorite and come in the most colors and patterns! (Not to mention they have matching toddler 574s!!) However, I recently got a pair of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus and have completely fallen in love. Not only are they comfortable and cute, but they're also functional and have replaced my running shoes entirely. Apparently the gray/silver and black ones I have are sold out, but I love all the new colors as well. I pair sneakers with almost anything and everything: yoga pants, jeans, shorts, even [faux] leather pants (yes, seriously---if you don't believe me, check out Becky Hillyard on Instagram).
I complete my 'ensemble' with a few pieces of jewelry, a good pair of sunglasses (sunnies hide everything), sometimes a baseball cap and painted nails, always. I don't know why, but even on the hottest mess of a day I feel more put together when my nails are painted than when I have a cute outfit on but my hands are bare.
As much as I joke about always looking disheveled, I actually just told my husband I was going to put forth more of an effort into my everyday appearance. There's definitely something about getting ready, doing your hair and putting on makeup that boosts your confidence and makes you feel like Beyonce, am I right?? The other day I ran to the mall for some eyeliner and lipgloss, and I began chatting with a makeup artist---and suddenly she was filling in my eyebrows and contouring my face, and I'm fairly certain I looked better on a random Wednesday than I did on my wedding day (sorry, Jordan!). She was a total day-maker, and I walked out of the mall feeling like a million bucks (and ready to go to a club). While my makeup will never again look that flawless, and while I recognize I most likely won't always have the time to get ready, do my hair and put on makeup, I'm going to start at least trying. Yesterday I felt better, I parented better, and I sent a zillion puppy dog selfies to my poor husband showing him what contouring is (he still doesn't know and/or care).
To round out my 'mom style,' a few of you asked how I curl my hair, and I'm actually so happy to share because it's revolutionized my hair-styling life. I used to use regular curling irons, every brand and every size, and never consistently styled it how I wanted to regardless of what I did. Curling wands use to freak me out until a trusted acquaintance (with amazing hair, obviously) recommended NuMe curling wands and swore up and down by them. On a whim, I decided to get a couple---and I LOVE them. It took me a few times to figure out how to use it correctly (and not burn myself), but they're a total game-changer. They retail for $139, but since I love them so much and bought them using a discount code from another blogger, I'm sharing the same deal for you! Running through the end of the weekend (Sunday, 5/15 at midnight PST), use code GETWANDS29 to get any of their curling wands for only $29!! I promise you'll love them.
Amazing curls brought to you by NuMe; everything else brought to you by an amazing Snapchat filter. (P.S. Snapchat filters are life, by the way.)
What pieces of your closet do you love?? Any favorite brands or styles you love? Please share, as I'd love to change things up. (My husband would probably agree, haha!).
Hope y'all are having a wonderful Thursday---and mamas and mamas-to-be, check in tomorrow because I'm hosting an AMAZING giveaway you won't want to miss!!
xo,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Five Things No One Prepares You For Parenthood
Tonight there was a chick walking around the gym wearing shorts, an oversized white t-shirt and a winter stocking cap, carrying an open party size bag of Cheetohs. If there was anyone I'd like to walk up and say hi to, it was that girl. Amazing.
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So Jordan has been traveling for work quite a bit lately, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love all the extra girl time I'm getting with Syd. She's become such a hilarious little best friend of mine, and even though of course she has her Sour Patch Kid moments (like chucking her shoe out the car window perhaps), she's such a good little girl.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
{Review + Giveaway} : Nuby Designer Series Sippy Cup
Hiiii!
I'm not sure if there's enough coffee in the world to make me feel human today---I'm SO tired. You know the feeling when you're so tired that your body has the shivers and your eyeballs are on fire?? Yeah--currently happening. Last Thursday Syd came down with a cold and cough, which obviously triggered her asthma, and we were up with her all night. Friday she stayed home from school because she was even worse and her nebulizer wasn't working too well and then started vomiting from all her coughing and evidently a weak stomach. Saturday and Sunday she continued to get better with the help of steroids---but my body just has not caught up on sleep. #whambulance
I'm not sure if there's enough coffee in the world to make me feel human today---I'm SO tired. You know the feeling when you're so tired that your body has the shivers and your eyeballs are on fire?? Yeah--currently happening. Last Thursday Syd came down with a cold and cough, which obviously triggered her asthma, and we were up with her all night. Friday she stayed home from school because she was even worse and her nebulizer wasn't working too well and then started vomiting from all her coughing and evidently a weak stomach. Saturday and Sunday she continued to get better with the help of steroids---but my body just has not caught up on sleep. #whambulance