Hi there, how are you guys doing this week?

Thanksgiving is around the corner and I wanna start this post by reminding all of us about the beautiful feeling of gratitude that involves this holiday season. I have so much to be grateful for. This year we added a new member to our little family (Nora), I started the blog and a YouTube channel, we moved from a small town to a much bigger city and we found the perfect place for us. There is just so much, so much to thank God for, all the many blessings in our lives. I am extremely thankful for all your support and love. It keeps pushing me to be better and keep my work going. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am extremely thankful for each one of you. 

I am grateful that in this short journey I have found some amazing entrepreneurs whose items inspire my style as a momma and my personal style.  So, two weeks ago I came across these two Esty shops and I completely fell in love with them. They became two of my favorites shops for accessories for babies and toddlers. I absolutely love their products and so do my girls.

New Girl Knots

Britt is a very talented momma from New Jersey. She makes the most beautiful and very stylish top knot turbans. I love them because they are so in right now. They add the perfect touch to any outfit. The fabric is soft, and the prints are so cute. I think a little girl cannot have too many turbans and they make the perfect gift for the holidays. I am considering getting one for me too, so I can match with my girls. New Girls Knots sent over a promo for my followers as well! If you use the code MOMMA10 at her Esty shop you can get 10% off. How awesome is that? Check out her shop here.

 

Mommy and Me Chewelry

Marissa is the creator and owner of Mommy and Me Chewelry. When Isabel was little I always complained that she was always chewing on my necklaces, so I mostly stopped wearing jewelry. This time, when Nora started teething I decided that it was time to try out Mommy and Me Chewelry.  And guess what? I LOVE IT and so does baby Nora! I regret that I did not want to spend the money with this product when Isa was a baby. This is a life saver for me because it can keep Nora calm and entertained while sitting on my lap, plus Marissa’s products are handmade, BPA free and so stylish. Check out her shop here.

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I am a big support of small shops, especially when their products are so amazing and handmade which adds so much love in each piece. I love these two Esty shops and I hope you love them as well.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for checking in

xoxo

 

 

 

In honor of World Prematurity Day, today I decided to share with you some of Isabel’s story, from my point of view anyways.

I remember like it was today, the day I took that pregnancy test and two lines showed up.  It was a Thursday night and my husband, Gregory, and I spent the evening playing volleyball with friends at church.  When we finally made it back home, without telling Gregory, I took a pregnancy test that night.  I saw two lines showing up in that plastic, purple, dollar store test.  Immediately I started shaking and screaming.  Gregory hurried to the bathroom quite a bit nervous asking what was going on. He saw the pregnancy test in the bathroom sick.

–       What do two lines mean? He asked.

–       We are having a baby. I said.

We could not believe it! Having been married for only 4 months and already with a baby on the way.  How crazy and scary! Both of us cried happy tears of excitement that night.

The next week, at 5 weeks of pregnancy, I had my first prenatal appointment.  It was in a small clinic that I enjoyed visiting. The doctors and nurses were so friendly and nice to me.  I felt completely secure to be their patient at that time. They asked for some blood work as well as a pee sample. It was confirmed then, that baby Huish’s due date was April fourth of two thousand fifteen.  The following 10 weeks were miserable.  I could not eat or drink anything without vomiting and getting ready in the morning was impossible.

When I hit the second trimester, everything was almost back to normal.  I had my energy, appetite, and disposition back.  At 22 weeks, I had an ultrasound scheduled.  Gregory and I got at the clinic a couple minutes early. We were extremely excited to find out if we were having a boy or a girl and of course, my husband was cheering for a boy.

We were shown in to the room. The ultrasound technician started by showing us the baby’s legs, arms, fingers, head, and heart.  For me, that little tiny human looked a lot like a shrimp.  After a couple of minutes talking about how tiny the baby was, the technician finally told us that we could start buying everything in pink.  We were having a little girl!  How exciting!  But after all the joy and excitement, she took a moment and called the doctor, Dr. Evans.

The Doctor came into the room where we were and they both watched the images together. He told us that our baby was measuring weeks behind and because of that, he would need us to go do a level two ultrasound so they could make sure everything was okay with the baby. We were so excited to finally being able to call the baby, “She”, and to start buying clothes for her that we did not care much about doing a more expensive ultrasound.

I had done at least 6 level two ultrasounds by week 32, and in all of them, baby girl was measuring small.  So, going to the hospital every week was a lot of work and planning for Gregory and me because we lived an hour away from the hospital, in a small border town called Douglas. The appointments would last around an hour or so, and afterwards we would always go out for a lunch date, which was fun.

The weeks passed by and suddenly I was 36 weeks. It was a Thursday morning, going to a routine appointment to check on baby girl when at this time a Doctor called Silva, who was the main doctor at the clinic, came to our room and told us that the baby had Intrauterine growthrestriction (IUGR), which is basically when the baby has a poor growth while in the mother’s womb during pregnancy.

IUGR is dangerous and in most cases, the baby would be healthier receiving more nutrients outside the belly. For this reason, the doctor told us to come to the hospital again in three days, on a Sunday afternoon, to be induced.  We were shocked! I left the hospital room miserable, feeling awful about my body not being able to keep my little one safe.

On Sunday morning, I woke up early, prepared mine and the baby’s bag. We went to sacrament meeting and afterwards, straight to the hospital.  Getting there, I did the check-in, and a nurse took me to the room where I was going to deliver my baby.  The room was huge, and red. Yes, the room was RED! Crazy, right?  I think the color was a little disturbing but it was okay I guess. My amazing and loving husband gave me a blessing and then the nurse administered the inducing medicine via IV.

The next day was Monday, I was in so much pain that talking was almost impossible. Miserably, I asked for pain medicine because I could not take that situation any longer. So, they gave me an epidural and my water broke in that afternoon.  My mom and sister got there to support me while my contractions were getting stronger every minute.  Pushing was the worst part of all. I pushed for hours and soon my beautiful baby girl was there, real and with us but, I did not have the chance to hold her.  She was born with some breathing problems and because of that, they took her straight to the NICU.

The next day, the pediatrician let me see but not hold my girl. She had tons of machines and tubes around her. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen but she was strong and she wanted to live.

It took her a whole week to get better and finally could go home with us. Everybody was so excited. Now she is a healthy and strong two-year-old. Every day of my life I will give thanks to my Father in Heaven for the opportunity given to be Isabel’s mother.  She is the light of my heart, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Thanks for checking in.

xoxo

Hi everybody,

This week’s post is not mine but from a very talented blogger friend of mine. I am very exciting for her to share this yummy Gluten-Free Apple Crisp recipe with you as we are getting closer to the holidays!

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Hi there, I’m Kara! Founder of Life Well Lived, lover of allll things chocolate, obsessed with recreating recipes to be healthier, and creator of Transform: Nutrition Bootcamp {where I’ve helped hundreds of women change their nutrition, lose weight, and change their lives}.

It’s November again, and if you’re anything like me, there’s so much to look forward to about this season. With the exception of the colder temps, I love the changing colors, the time with family, and all the delicious desserts that come with this time of year.

In my family, Thanksgiving can’t be celebrated without apple crisp. It’s a seasonal staple in our house. But this year I’m especially excited for apple crisp because of this easy + simple + delicious recipe. But the best part of this recipe is that it’s free of all the added sugars that most crisps contain. This Gluten-Free Apple Crisp is sweetened with only pure maple syrup. I promise, your friends and family won’t even know it’s a healthier version.

You can prep it ahead of time and store in the fridge for a day or two. And when you’re ready to make it just pop it in the oven to bake.

This apple crisp has the perfect sweet, crisp topping with soft, cinnamon apples. The perfect dessert or breakfast {don’t you love when a dessert can act as a breakfast too?!}. The warm apple smell that will fill your house is enough of a reason to make this recipe.

 The secret ingredient to my crisp is using Seven Sundays Blueberry Chia Buckwheat Muesli. Side note: my family is now obsessed with their cereal. I love that they use simple ingredients, no refined sugars, and it’s delicious. Immediately, I knew after my first bite that I needed to use it for my next recipe. You can snag some here. If you choose not to use the muesli, I’ve included a substitute below.

 And if you’re wanting to learn proven strategies that I personally use to prevent holiday weight gain this year, join me in my next LIVE masterclass! It’s FREE and I’ll be showing you how to find balance this holiday season. You can enjoy your favorite foods without going up a size in your jeans! You can register for my free class: 5 Simple Steps To Prevent Holiday Weight Gain HERE!

Want to discover more secrets to fat loss and simple + easy + delicious recipes? Then check out  Life Well Lived. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram @karaswanson.

 

Gluten-Free Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

6-8 apples cored, sliced {and peeled if that’s what you prefer}

1 1/2 cup Seven Sundays Blueberry Chia Buckwheat Muesli*

1/2 cup almond meal

1/4 cup pure maple syrup {or honey}

1/4 cup coconut oil {melted}{or olive oil}

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 tsp cinnamon

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a bowl mix apple slices and cinnamon together then add to 8×8 pan.

3. Mix the rest of ingredients well and spread onto the apples.

4. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until fruit is bubbling and topping is golden brown.  

 

This would be PERFECT with homemade coconut whip cream or a scoop of Coconut Bliss ice cream!  

*If you aren’t using the muesli, use 1 cup gluten-free oats and ½ cup chopped nuts {almond, pecans, cashews}.

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I cant wait for you to try this Gluten-Free Apple Crisp! It would be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving.

Thank you for checking in

xoxo

 

 

 

 

 

Hi there, how are you guys doing? We have been doing amazing, except the girls who were NOT going to sleep the last couple of days. This week’s post is about how I keep my life in balance, or at least how I try to keep life in balance, I mean, just last night I had a mini breakdown and I found myself crying a bit.  Maintaining balance is an ongoing, fluid process. If you haven’t found out yet, you will, because being a wife and a mother is so consuming.  Seriously, it is SO CONSUMING guys! I constantly find myself in the middle of a mess trying to catch up with all the things I need to do for my husband, for myself and for my two little girls and still run a house. Life just easily gets busy for me with all the things that my mind tells me need to be done today and not tomorrow.

When I became a mother, I was 21 years old and It was so overwhelming. I had to give up so many things to be what I saw as a “good” mother at that time. Honestly looking back, I think I made things a lot harder just because in that time I did not know what I know today. Recently, I became a mother of two and the idea of motherhood keeps pushing me to fight for my goals and dreams so in the future my girls will be proud of their momma.  So, I hope that you can find some inspiration here to keep up the good work.

For me, my mother is my greatest inspiration. She works so hard to achieve her dreams in life. I love that! I have seen how her priorities move her to reaching her goal time after time. I think setting priorities helps me feel secure and less stressed for the challenges that always appear when spending the day with my kids.

1-      I put God first. He is my strength, my Lord, and my Father. My relationship with God is something I always want and will put first above anything and anybody else.

2-      In second place comes my relationship with myself. I came to the conclusion that I am the only one that is responsible for my happiness. And if wife is happy, husband is happy. HAHA. Same thing with the kids. Plus, when I feel good about myself, consequently I feel good about the people around me. So, take a shower and put some make up on mama! Feel pretty and love your new life as a mother.

3-      Then, comes the relationship with my husband. He is amazing I love him so much!  He might as well be in with number 2 because he completes me (he came up with this last part & made me include it).

4-      In fourth place comes my children. I do everything I can to let them know that they are very important to me, that I love them and want the very best for them.  Don’t get me wrong, my girls are a priority for me (that’s why they are on the list), but I have found that they are not the center of my life because they aren’t the center of the world either.  Some day they will grow up and need to build their own life with their spouse, and I will still have my first three priorities.

So, this is how I keep my balance, by giving some and taking some. Life is always busy, but when I am healthy, my mind is calm, and I am happy I feel like I am in good balance.

Take care of yourself and thanks for checking in

xoxo

Hi there, how is your week going so far?

Our week has been crazy, busy trying to catch up on piles of laundry and dishes, finishing the girl’s Halloween costumes, scheduling doctor appointments, and going grocery shopping. Ugh! Why do moms always have so much to do and so little time? I wish my day had more than 24 hours.

Anyway, today I want to take some time off from this busy week and share with you two very talented mommas and their cute Etsy shops. Only recently I came across their products, and I fell in love with them.

Adelaide and Co

Cassandra is a new momma and together with her grandma, Flora Adelaide, own Adelaide and Co. the shop was named after her grandma and her daughter, named Adelaide Grace. Her little Adelaide is her primary inspiration. Their bonnets are completely handmade and absolutely beautiful.  Check out her work at her etsy shop.

 

 

 

 

Robin’s Lullaby

When Robin was a little girl, her grandma taught her how to sew.  A few years ago, her grandmother developed Alzheimer’s.  After her grandma passed away, she was given her grandma’s old sewing machine and decided she wanted to spread her love for sewing to others. And since she loves babies, she decided to focus on creating not only trendy, but, functional baby items. Robin’s products are a dream come true for her and me too!  Check out her work at her etsy shop.

Bandana bibs/drool catchers

 

 

I share inspiration with both mommas.  My grandma basically raised my sister and me.  My mother and father both studied and worked arduously outside of the home.  My grandmother worked very hard bringing up her two daughters and she taught us so much.  It makes me sad because I haven’t had the chance to see her since got married here in the U.S.  We hope to see her for the upcoming holidays and let her meet my two little ones for the first time!

 

 

Thanks for checking in

xoxo

 

Bianca Huish

 

 

 

 

 

I believe in motherhood.  Nights of being awake until morning light, no more regular showers, or watching TV shows during lunch break.  By the age of 24, I found myself rocking a baby to sleep infinite times a day at the same time trying to entertain a busy toddler.

The day I became a mother of two everything changed.  I had no clue that the tiny humans I had at home would change my life forever.  Everything seemed to be so hard and impossible to do with two kids in the house. There was dust on most of the furniture, so many dirty dishes in the sink, and trash accumulated in white bags on the kitchen floor.

I noticed little things like a stain on the wall that I had never before noticed.  It became extremely ugly and annoying as I stared at it for a long time while sitting in my rocking chair. Even with all these difficulties, I soon noticed a change in my attitude toward my new routine.  Suddenly, the space in my heart that was filled with frustration and exhaustion was renewed with patience, love, and kindness. 

 

I had a change of perspective.  Days and nights consisted in a routine of feeding, bathing, and changing diapers all day long with so much joy.  I found a love for my new position as a mother of two.

Months have passed and my daughters and I have been having great moments together. We learn so much from each other. I became their biggest entertainment and they are my greatest daily inspiration.  I love them and I have so much to teach them in so little time.  Soon enough, it will be their time to experience the prism of motherhood, the unknown and unique feeling of giving birth to a child and becoming a matriarch.

For these reasons, I believe in motherhood.  I believe the change I have experienced and experience still daily with my daughters has made me a better person.

 

Thanks for checking in.

xoxo

 

 

 

Credits:

Photography: Christiana and Tara Huish

 

 

 

 

Hi there, welcome back!

  This week has been a true nightmare in the Huish’s house. Can you guess what the topic of this week’s post is? Yep, we are officially potty training Isabel! 

   To be completely honest with you, Greg and I have been trying to potty train Miss Isabel for almost a year already with no luck! She has denied every possible method we have read or thought about. We tried the three days naked method, the pull ups, the M&Ms, singing, dancing, reading, the call grandma and grandpa method and nothing seems to motivate Isabel to use the potty.

   A couple of days ago with our luck, Isa (Isabel, Isabear, Miss Isabel, bel bel) started taking her poopy pull up off and playing with her literally ‘homemade play-doh’.  It was everywhere. Ugh!  I spent at least 5 days cleaning up poopy carpet and disinfecting toys (so much fun, huh?). 

   We are hoping and praying for some progress this week or the next and differently from the last time we tried to potty train her, we are not giving up! Even if I end up having to duct tape her pull up, because….seriously !

 xoxo

 

 

 

Hi there, welcome back!

For some reason I never thought I would be involved in the blogging world, but here I am.

I spent the last two weeks trying to organize my thoughts and figure out what I was going to write today. Seriously guys, having two kids is no joke.  Life is Crazy!!!  There is always someone wanting food, someone that needs a diaper change, someone getting hurt or screaming like there is no tomorrow. And between all of that, there is a couple trying to survive their second year of parenthood.

So, I guess this is going to be a post about Gregory and I.

I met Gregory in October of 2011. (Wait, what? We’ve know each other for 6 years already?  Yay! That’s awesome.) I was 18, He was 21 and serving as full time LDS missionary in Brazil. Two weeks before he finished his mission, Greg was sent to my hometown in Paulista.
It was a Friday afternoon, and the missionaries came to my parents house for lunch. I remember everything about that day like it was today. He came my direction and introduced himself. That day we became friends! I have to confess that when I first saw him I thought he was really cute!

Two weeks later he went back home to Arizona. I am pretty sure (I have proof) that he added me on facebook right after he got off the plane, seriously guys! haha. Who would know that 6 years later we would be married for three years, parents to two little girls, moved five times, lived in two states, and finished a bachelor degree?

And after all these years, I am still completely in love with this man. He is my rock, my best friend, and literally the man of my dreams. I am pretty sure you will see a lot of him on here because he is cute and I am obsessed! haha.

Thanks for checking in.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, My name is Bianca.  I am a big city girl from Pernambuco, Brazil.  My husband’s name is Greg (he is cute by the way), and we have two daughters so far, Isabel and Nora. I can’t get enough of my little family so you will be seeing plenty of them here along the way. This is the beggining of blogging for me so hang in there with me while I figure everything out.

Thanks for checking in.