How to find your mom village!

Encouragement from moms for moms is like the air we breathe:

We need it,

It fills us up,

it allows us to do what we do everyday.

 "It takes a village to raise a child!" This phrase is as old as time and at one point or another we have all heard it. To me, a village is being surrounded by family/friends that are there through thick and thin. So if you think about it, you've most likely been surrounded by a village at least once. 

When I moved to America from Sweden, as you can image that was one of the hardest and most terrifying things ever. I didn't know a single soul. At 19 years old, I had to step out of my comfort zone BIG time and speak a language I hardly even spoke. My BYU family became my village. They helped me in ways I didn't know was possible. Then I got married, and we had Noah a year later. I was so lucky to be surrounded by family and friends so I hardly felt alone. I had my friends but I quickly realized that I also needed mom friends. 

Noah needed kids to play with, I needed to have adult conversations besides my husband. As a first time mom, I had no idea what I was doing so what better way to learn, than from moms. To feel like you weren't the only one that had a fussy kid, or that wasn't getting enough sleep at night. What better person to ask about breastfeeding than a fellow mom. Now that I have three, it has become even MORE important to me to have mom friends. 

When we moved to Arizona, we moved to an area with people who had lived there for years. I assumed most of these moms had their own "village", and some did but a majority did not. Here is the thing, we often assume that we know what other people have/need. We psych ourselves out before we even know, thus, we miss out on major opportunities. 

Momming is hard, whether you're a new mom or have 5 kids, it is still hard. Do not be afraid to reach out, step out of your comfort zone and do not assume you know other people's stories. Finding a mom village does not have to be difficult, I think we are the ones that make it hard. We live in a digital word where we can connect with other moms through FB groups, Instagram but also neighborhood groups. These places help us connect with people we probably never would've met. I am a living example of that, a lot of my close friends that I've met since we moved started online. And I am still alive haha :)

                                                                            My Sisters Closet 

The next time you see another mom with the baby item you’re thinking about buying, or their child who looks to be the same age as your little one, go over and say hi, because I am sure that they are hoping that they have the courage to do the same…

We are all in this together <3

xo

My secret to how I do "it" all

Never doubt a mother. 

She can carry a screaming toddler,  

two gallons of milk, 

talk on her cell phone and

 still slap you for looking at her crazy.

I can't stop laughing at this quote, it is so funny and so real!! Lately I have had people ask me, "how do you do it all fatty?". You have three kids, you're a wife, you cook, you have time to workout, you blog, you have your fitness thing..how? The answer is very simple,  I don't . Truth is, my house is a mess 90% of the time. There is usually a pile of laundry that needs to be folded or washed. I love cooking, but costco pizza is also our jam! I usually remember that Noah is in charge of snacks at preschool the day of! I am totally winning haha. I bribe my kids often because #youdowhatyougottado and we all end up happy! 

Oh, and I eat a lot of chocolate and ice cream :)

Somedays I am on survival mode and others I feel like super mom! 

I think we all do it, we just do "it" differently. We are all super stars in our children's eyes. We are their biggest heroes. Don't let someone else's strength make you feel less of a mom. I wish I was a cleaning freak, a baker, a craft monster and other things...but I'm not! 

And guess what? That is OKAY, because I am a whole lot of other great things! And so are YOU!

xo

Moms need mom friends!

There are some people in life, 

that make you laugh a little louder,

smile a little bigger and

and live just a little better.

I wrote a post a while ago about the different kind of friends that every mom needs (h e r e). I got lots of fun feedback from friends and then it dawned on me... you are very lucky to have at least one mom friend on that list. 

When I first came to the states, I had nobody. I knew of 5 people in Utah (3 of them being the coaching staff at BYU) and that was it!  In college I made life-long friends. Friends that are now spread out all over the world. We have the kind of relationships that even though we are far apart, we still keep in touch. 

When I was pregnant with Noah, I was pregnant at the same time as two of my sister in laws and some other friends. It was so nice not to feel alone with all the uncertain things that were happening. One example was the fear of labor, and then all the things that happens after! If you're a mom, you know what I mean :) 

The newborn stage as a first time mom can be brutal, I don't even know what I would've done without my best friend Wendy. I am pretty sure we texted every single day. We texted about everything from sore nipples to getting peed on. We talked about being exhausted, sleeping schedules, colic, tummy aches, constipation, all that fun stuff! Texting your other mommy friend at 2 am is completely normal because you know they will either respond right away or within and hour or two. 

Mom friends can be hard to find, but everyone needs them.

Moving away from Utah was so hard, I moved away from my second family again. It was also very hard moving from friendships made since I moved in '08, and I knew they would never be replaced. That being said, I knew it was going to be hard as the "new girl" to make new friends. I feel so lucky for moving into such an amazing ward/place with so many incredible people. We have lived here for a year and I have met so many awesome individuals. It doesn't mean that it hasn't been hard for me, because it has. It is hard and scary to put yourself out there, it's hard to have to "start over" again. 

I'm pretty social and outgoing, and I still think it is terrifying to put myself out there. The truth is, if you never try you will never know. Taking that first step is always the hard part, and often times whoever you are trying to befriend could probably use a friend too. 

Mom friends are necessary.

Amidst the chaos and the go-go-go with the kids every day, it is very easy to feel lonely. The struggle is real people, and finding good mom friends is hard. Don't give up, make yourself available, talk to the new mom at the park, and be the first person to say hi.

xoxo

Mommyin' is HARD work!

Being a mom is hard. I have always had the "if my mom can do it, I can do it" mentality. Then I became a mother and realized how stinking hard it is. I honestly wonder quite often how my mother did/does it. Growing up I never knew there was such a thing as postpartum depression, until my best friend got it after her first. Today, I have many friends that deal with this or just depression in general. To you, who's dealing with this, I say; you are not alone. 

I think theres this hidden pressure on us women, that we should be able to do everything, especially in the LDS community. Sometimes theres these pressures to be perfect and to live perfect lives. A life where our kids obey, never cry, never throws tantrums and are reverent at all times. I promise this isn't reality. I promise this happens to all of us, one way or another. 

My friend told me "I never wanted to admit things were hard, because I thought that made me look like a weak mother". 

I hope and pray that you never feel this way. We all struggle. Being a mother is hard work. 

" The joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction" - Russell M. Ballard

Do you ever find yourself feeling defeated, frustrated, tired and full of love all at the same time?? The struggle is real people. I could be pregnant for days, because I seriously LOVE it, but then we gotta raise these little humans. They all come with their own personalities, and struggles and that is the real challenge.

Don't let peoples images make you feel less of a mother. Not everyone post about their struggles, but I guarantee that they're there. Motherhood isn't always smiles and giggles, there are daily tantrums, giant tears, food battles and sharing problems. Oh and naps! Don't even get me started on when your toddler is tired but they fight it and become super duper sensitive to everything. Then later they fall asleep at 5PM and then have another battle at 8PM, because they aren't tired. I promise, you're not the only one! 

Thank heavens for the brighter moments. The times when they do obey, when they randomly hug and kiss you, when they get excited about the simplest things. Those happy smiling times are there and I am convinced that they are there to keep us going each day. 

3 things that keeps me sane as a stay-at-home mother.

1. My husband!

He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He keeps me sane, he texts me all day long to make sure we are doing okay. He wants to be involved, he loves seeing pictures of our daily adventures. When he comes home, he takes his parenting right where he left off. Sometimes he doesn't even have time to change his clothes before he's on the ground wrestling with the kids. He helps me with the kids, wakes up at night without complaining, and tells me to go out and have fun. I'm beyond grateful for him and all that he does for/with us. 

2. Play dates

I would die if I didn't have play dates set up each week. Plus my kids love their friends and playing at other people's houses. 

3. Me-time/Girls time

I will always preach that me-time/girls time is so important. You need to take care of yourself everyday, whether it is 30 min or 3 hours! Whatever you need to fill that cup. Do something for yourself that makes you happy. Create healthy and sincere friendships that will help and uplift you. Girls that you can count on, vent to and just have the best time with. 

xo 

 

The struggle is real!

We are PREGNANT!!!!

PC: Cecilia Harvard

We are so excited and let's be real a little terrified haha! I've always said, I want all our kids to be fairly close in age. Ready or not, here we come!! This pregnancy has gone by so fast, can you believe I'm 18 weeks already?? How did that even happen!?
I have been feeling great, at the end of the day I'm always exhausted and staying passed 9PM is a struggle, but other than that this pregnancy has been kind to me so far. That first trimester was brutal, I didn't even know I could be that type of exhausted. My poor husband had to drag me out of bed every morning because I was in denial it was already morning. Chasing after 2 kiddos is hard work, I don't even know how I'm gonna be able to chase after 3 one day.
I have been exercising just like I used to, this baby is a lot lower than my first two were so there are a lot more visits to the bathroom.
Before I got pregnant with Noah, I had just finished my collegiate track and field career and I was in my best shape yet. A month after he was born, I was back on the track trying to get back in shape. I thought to myself "people do this all the time, so I can do it too". It was hard work. The first 2 months, I wanted to quit every single day. Only 10 months after having Noah, there I was on the starting line, representing my swedish club. I was in the best shape I had ever been, better than pre-baby. I ran personal bests in all my events, all of that after having a baby.
Why do people tell you "once you have a baby, your body can't do such and such"? That's false, YOU can do whatever the heck you want, but you have to put the work in.

Success doesn't happen because you never fail. 
Success happens because you never quit.

17 weeks pregnant here

I get comments like "I wish I had your genes". I want people to know how hard I've worked to get back and stay in shape. I made a promise to myself to stay active through my pregnancies, because I knew my postpartum body would thank me later. Not only my postpartum body, but my state of mind as well. Hard things are never easy to do at first, but they get easier with time. It takes a lot of discipline and dedication, and if I can do it so can YOU.

I wish society didn't make women feel guilty because of us wanting to take care of ourselves. That once you have kids, it is all about them. Don't get me wrong, it is pretty much all about them but don't forget about you. It is hard to see your body go through changes and not having any control over them.I've had to once again, prepare myself for these changes. Being mentally healthy is just as important as physical health.
Exercising is a part of my lifestyle, and it doesn't look the same for everyone. If you love to walk, then walk and if you love zumba then do zumba. Find something that you love and stick with it. The truth is, if you compare yourself with others or other peoples physique you will never learn to appreciate your own. You won't be able to appreciate your progress. Whether you are pregnant or not, healthy doesn't mean a salad. Healthy isn't a measure of weight. Being healthy involves your mind, spirit and heart just as much as it involves your body. Each persons version of healthy iix different. Sweets don't make you unhealthy but sadness will. One day at a time my friends!

xo

Dreams do come true- featuring Jaykaiy

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.

- Muhammad Ali 

Are you a little shocked that I am wearing something other than black? Haha, I am too! I couldn't pass up on this beautiful color! I am in love with this maxi dress from Jaykaiy. My favorite is of course the oversized pockets, and how comfortable this dress actually is. I have worn it more than I'd like to admit, but could you blame me? It is so flattering and did I mention how comfortable it is?

Jaykaiy is a boutique who is owned by one of my best friends Jacqueline. She is one incredible friend, wife, mother, photographer and entrepreneur. She has so many talents, I look up to her so much. We grew up together in Sweden and now we are both living in the states with our families. She is a friend that I feel so blessed to have. I just wish she lived next door. It has been absolutely incredible watching her since a young age, dreaming about owning her own boutique and selling clothes. She also hand-makes baby clothes, clothes that my kids own and that I treasure. I am so proud of her for following her dreams, head over to her boutique and get shopping h e r e. 

Moms follow your dreams, if one mom can do it, so can you :)

Diaperbag is: FawnDesign

xo

Dear Mama

You are appreciated

Lady

Don't you know we love ya? Sweet lady

And Dear Mama

Place no one above ya, sweet lady

You are appreciated

- 2pac

 I received the perfect early mothers day gift from Made by Mary, it is the gold "mama"! I love it and have been wearing ever since I received it! I have been wanting a bar necklace, and this one is perfect.

Ever since I received my necklace, the song "dear mama" has been playing in my head. Everybody has their own story and struggles. It makes me think of my own mother, and all the sacrifices she made for us all growing up. She is amazing, I don't know how she does it all but she just does. I think of the many times I would give her so much grief and roll my eyes at her, but she still hugged me and kissed me goodnight. 

Not a day goes by without us talking to each other, we always FaceTime at least once a day. The other day I was telling her how tired I was, and complaining about unimportant things. Her response was "suck it up fatty". Obviously, that wasn't what I was expecting! So I stared at her for what felt like forever, wondering if she would change her answer. Who was I kidding? This was exactly what I needed to hear. She's not going to sugar coat anything, it's my mom we are talking about.

  It is easy to get in these habits of complaining or simply wanting someone to sympathize with us. I admit that it does feel good when that happens, but it doesn't change the situation. It doesn't change that I'm still tired, or whatever it is that I may be complaining about. To my surprise it did exactly what she knew it would do. It woke me up, it changed my attitude for the day. It made me realize that yes I am tired but complaining will not give me more sleep.
So here I am, telling you to suck it up. I am telling you this in the nicest way possible ;)
I'm telling you to suck it up, because I know you can do it. Suck it up because mopping around will not change the situation. Suck it up and go have fun with your kids.
Tomorrow is a new day!

xo

Modesty with Lularoe

You can dress attractively without being immodest. Within the Lord's guidelines, there is room for you to be lively, vibrant, and beautiful both in your dress and in your actions.

- Thomas S. Monson

PC:Sydneyayles

Growing up, I always felt like there were a slim selection of modest but cute dresses for church. If you ask my mother, she will tell you how I rarely wore dresses. I always found myself rotating between the few "cute" outfits I had. Maybe it was because I didn't know about online shopping (which is probably a good thing), or I wasn't looking at the right places. Today, I have more dresses than I ever thought I'd have. I have so many friends that are Lularoe consultants, so do yourself a favor and find a consultant in your area. I teamed up with my friends from PennyandBoss and Savannah, and we are sharing different styles that they carry. 

I'm wearing the Amelia dress, it is absolutely comfortable, comes in many different designs plus it has pockets! You can never go wrong with pockets. I was debating between this color or a floral (black and white) one, but decided that I needed to step out of my comfort zone. 

Lularoe carries more than just dresses, they have darling leggings, skirts, shirts, you name it!

xo

Fitness apparel snob- SENITA

Many of you who read my blog, know how much I love exercising. Do you prefer wearing your fitness apparel because its so much more comfortable than skinny jeans? If your answer is yes, you're going to love this. If your answer is no, then you will change your mind once you let senita into your life.

I've been into sports since I was a little kid. Over the years, as I grew older I have gone through many different brands of athletic gear. As a former D1 and professional athlete, I have a lot of fitness apparel and have become a gear snob. I know that it can get expensive, specially when you buy the "higher end brands", ain't nobody got time for that. This is where senita athletics comes in. It was founded by my good friend Jenna, whom like me was a D1 athlete.

She did a LOT of research, a lot of digging to find the highest quality fabrics and started senita athletics. A company that sells durable, comfortable, fashionable and affordable fitness apparel.

I believe in everything that I post, and I promise you that these are worth every penny. You aren't going to want to take them off, not only that, they come with pockets to put your phone in.

You are doing better than you think you are!

Last week was hard, emotionally hard. Who knew a toddler could make you cry and then laugh historically 5 minutes later. Although there were many ups, there were a lot more downs. Motherhood is hard you guys, real hard. I applaud all you Mothers for your strength, unconditional love and for being plain awesome!!! While I was struggling with my toddler, trying to understand him and his needs, I was also just having a hard time with myself. Having a hard time loving me, and feeling worthy of this "mama" title. All these thoughts were just weighing me down, there were lots of tears and lots of prayers. I prayed for guidance to know how to help my children the best way. Most importantly, I needed to find that love and strength within myself.

It's easy to compare yourself with other moms, and sometimes feel like you should be doing more. Trying to be like that instagram mother you follow that seem to live the perfect life. Here's the thing, your children loves YOU, just the way you are. 

Elder Holland's talk came to my mind (which happens to be the talk of the week), coincidence?... Maybe... But I know this was inspired and I encourage every mother to read this talk often (here).

 " To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle—and all will—I say, “Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. "

Those words were exactly what I needed to hear, I know this was the answer I was looking for.

 I had scheduled a shoot with my new friend Becca (find her work here), but that morning started rough. I was frustrated with my look (mostly my hair) and felt insecure about our photo session. I wanted to do a holiday look, but not the typical (red, green, gold) look. I got this skirt and absolutely loved it, and decided to use it for my Holiday look. These pictures were a reminder to me to never doubt how strong I am, to be confident and to always love myself.

I shared one of these photos last week, and I got so many compliments from you. THANK YOU for making this girl grin from ear to ear. Sometimes you just need someone to smack you with a bucket of confidence, for you to wake up and look in the mirror and say "I'm sexy and I know it". I hope you enjoy the rest of these photos! Special thank you to Becca for taking these, and hooray for new friendships.

Photography: Becca (www.foundphotography.net)

Top: TJ Maxx

Dress: Shein I got size Small

Shoes: DSW

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIENDS!

xo