Less is more. Project Natural Beauty

"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself".

We live in a world were comparison is hard to avoid.  

I did an Instagram poll and over 800 people voted that they wear make-up every day, and over 500 people said they needed make-up to feel pretty. I decided to do a "natural beauty" project to capture different women in their true beauty. I wanted them to wear minimal to no makeup and I am so grateful for each and one of these girls for making my vision come true.
Ps. I have no make-up, and I did not use photoshop*

As cheesy as it sounds, we all need this reminder every once in awhile.

You are beautiful just the way you are.

xo

Dear mothers, your belly is beautiful.

"Family is the center of life, it is the key to eternal happiness"

- L. Tom Perry

As far as I can remember, I have always wanted to become a Mother. Never once did I think about the fact about my body changing. Growing up, I watched a whole bunch of women including my mother and sisters give birth. Never once did I look at them and think about their postpartum bodies. Maybe I was too little to understand, maybe I didn't get it because I wasn't a mother, maybe I didn't notice or maybe I was too busy snuggling babies. Either way, it was never about their bodies. 

Fast forward to when I had Noah. One of the first comments I got, mind you I just birthed a baby, was "wow fatty, let me see your belly". At the time I didn't think much about it, but looking back that bothered me so much. All of a sudden I started stressing, I needed to be back to my fit self instantly! All of a sudden my thoughts shifted and for a time I wasn't myself. My thoughts were consumed with "how can I get my pre-baby belly back??". I remember poking my belly and I am pretty sure my finger touched my back. After a good meltdown, or several... I thought, "Forget about that comment Fatty, you just had a baby...that is freaking amazing."

We live in a world were we are being told to be perfect. To look flawless during and after delivery, to have a videographer and capture every moment of that day, to have Pinterest worthy photos. Because if we don't, we "missed" the point or we aren't keeping up with the Jones'. 

Why why why?

Instead of women being hopeful of one day being able to carry a child, some are too scared to give up their bodies. Scared because they have heard horror stories. 

"You will never be able to hold your pee again. You will never have abs again. Your boobs will hit the floor, etc."

Let me tell you something, forget about all the horror stories you've heard! There's nothing more incredible than holding your baby in your arms. The moment you have longed for, for 9 months, enjoy it to the fullest. There's nothing more special than watching your spouse become a parent. Let that be your focus, not what your body looks like the day after.

Your body may not look the exact same, it will be even better! You carried one/multiple children, that is freaking amazing. You discovered strengths you had no idea even existed. You can now carry a carseat, grocery bags and talk on the phone at the same time. Skills! You can change a diaper in record time with no skid marks down your finger. You can sleep with one eye open, literally. You can prepare a bottle in the dark. You can read a bedtime story by heart. You get countless of kisses and hugs every day. Each day you keep your kids fed, happy and safe.

I can go on and on... because you my dear, YOU ARE AMAZING! 

                                                                  Matching outfits from Flexi Lexi

Your belly is beautiful because it created life. That is hard work.

If you are worrying about getting "back" or you're currently in that phase, my advice to you is- enjoy the journey, and know that your fit self will be back. Be patient with yourself, a lot happens with our bodies during pregnancy, so let your's take the time it needs to adjust back. 

Learn to love yourself in every stage, and you will learn to appreciate what you've done so much more.

xo

How to handle comparison.

 Don't compare yourself to others,

that is when you start to lose confidence in yourself.

- Will Smith

The comparison game on social media is so toxic, and has been weighing heavily on my mind lately. I was sitting on the couch, scrolling through my Instagram feed (waisting time) and I automatically started wishing I had "this and that". Comparison truly is the thief of joy. Insecurities are developed because we compare our "behind-the-scenes" with everyone else's "highlight reel". 

A lot of the time when we start comparing ourselves with someone else, we don't realize how that person worked HARD to get where they are. It is so easy to look at people's highlights and think that their lives are perfect. I promise you this, everybody has trials, big or small. 

Here is the thing; just because someone has reached certain milestones before you did, doesn't mean you won't get there too. 

Your worth is not measured by likes, comments, notes or followers; but in your ability to love, support, encourage, take note and lead.

What should you do when social media gets under your skin?

DELETE DELETE AND DELETE!!!

Seriously, it's that simple. There's no need to follow someone that makes you feel bad about yourself. Nobody wants to be friends with someone that doesn't bring positive thoughts to the plate. Remove all that negativity from your feeds and fill it with inspirational, fun, motivating, whatever it is that you like fill it with that. 

Dress: Piper and Scoot

xo

 

I took away the TV and it changed everything!

Before you continue to read, know that I am by NO means saying that watching tv makes you a bad mom.

With that said, summer is here in full force! Ben is busy with his rotations and studying for his boards. Noah has his summer break from preschool, and I found myself almost panicking because I have been dreading the summer. I have been dreading not being able to go to the park whenever we wanted, and basically being stuck inside. When you're stuck inside for so long, it is very easy to let the kids watch a movie or a show so we all get a "break". I mean who doesn't love watching movies? In our home, with my kids it became a little too much. I've discussed with other moms about screen time and ours wasn't anything crazy. Yet for my kids, it made them a little crazy. 

I had been praying so much for help and guidance. How can I teach them better? How can I be more loving? What do I need to do to keep our home at peace? How can I be a better mom? All those questions, and you guys it has been HARD! Many prayers, many tears, feeling defeated and not feeling an answer to my prayers. I felt a couple times how I didn't deserve to be their mom because I wasn't doing a good job. I was feeling real low and stressed because I knew we needed to do something... I just didn't know what yet. 

My mood consisted of easily becoming irritated, no patience and no fun. It came to a point where the kids would wake up WAY early, and the first thing they would ask for was to watch a show. We'd say no or not right now then (insert mega tantrum). That is when it hit me, we needed a break from the tv. We needed to stop with the shows and the movies and just let them be creative. I needed to be more involved with them, play with them more, laugh with them more, create more memories and not let the tv be an option. I needed to be more present with them.

The first three days were the hardest, I had to say no a lot. I had to come up with different things to do that N & O would enjoy. But you guys, it has been the best change and decision we have ever made with our kids. It has been over 2 weeks now, and we treat them with a movie on Friday night. You should see their faces, they get SO excited and actually appreciate watching the movie. The kids wake up and they want to play with their toys, play with each other, help me make breakfast, and go play with their friends. I have seen such drastic change with their attention and mood. They get excited about simply coloring. Noah is so fun and his imagination is so exciting to watch. 

These are the kind of memories I want them to have. There's nothing more enjoyable then the sound of my children's laughter. To some this may sound drastic, but this has hands down been the best decision ever.

Happy Hump Day

xo

What I will be wearing all summer!

If you show up looking more glam than the rest,

whats the worst-case scenario?

You look THE BEST in the room?

- Rachel Zoe

I never used to be a dress kind of girl, but now that we live in Arizona I have grown up ;) . The only time I'd wear a dress would be for church. Now that it is warm again, I will be living in dresses pretty much every day. 

I got this basic maxi dress from pink blush and it is easily one of my favorite dresses in my closet. I have it in black and I'm probably going to get the grey one as well. I paired it with sandals and a hat (bad hair day), but it can easily be dressed up! If you are looking for an everyday easy dress, I highly recommend this one!! The slit on the side makes it fun, and still modest :)

I hope you all have an amazing day!

xo

Not today Satan, not today!

"It is not what you are that holds you back,
It is what YOU
think you are not."

I preach about confidence and loving who you are all the time. I too have times when I let the adversary tell me that I'm not enough. I'm not cute enough. I'm not doing enough. I'm not a good mom. I'm not making enough. I looked myself in the mirror the other day, and you know what I did? I started picking at things that I didn't like. Ugh, my hair, my face looks like I'm going through puberty again. My abs don't look like they used too. My skin is all stretched out. On top of that, my kids have been extra difficult this week and I have felt super defeated. 

Why do we pick ourselves apart? Why do we spend our thoughts and emotions on what we don't like and wish we could change about ourselves? Or why do we compare our worsts with other peoples best! Why do we let Satan dictate our happiness? I literally said out loud "Satan, not today". Here's the thing, we do not need to justify him being in our heads. I remembered this during that very moment, Satan is smiling while I was crying. This only happens because I allow him to. I also remembered the power of prayer. That I can tell him, "Bye Satan, not today" and he will be gone. Whenever the adversary tries to bring you down, force yourself to say prayer. Give him a big fat BYYYYYYYYE ! 

Among the things we don’t have or can’t do, one thing you do have that you can’t trade for anything is a knowledge that Heavenly Father is yours and loves, listens, and helps us regardless of our ‘flaws’ or shortcomings. That is what matters most.

Be kind to yourself. Be proud of yourself. Because you are good enough. You are pretty enough. You are strong enough. You are worth it. You do deserve the best. You do deserve to be happy always. Do not hold yourself back any longer because you are freaking amazing. Strive everyday to be a little better, to be the best you. Believe in yourself.

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

Surviving 3 children, 3 years and under

You go through big chunks of time where you're thinking,

"this is impossible, oh this is IMPOSSIBLE".

And then you just keep going and going,

and you sort of do the impossible.

-Tina Frey

Shirt from Malyn Logic

When we found out we were pregnant with Kingston, my instant reaction was "holy moly, we will have 3 kids 3 years and under". Some people think we are crazy, and other think we are completely insane haha. A lot of people told us how having 3 rocked their world. With 3, you are outnumbered, schedules don't work together, its uneven, someone might be lonely, etc. While some of these things might be true, remember that YOU decide how things will be. I totally believe that your attitude sets the tone in the family. I am all about having a routine and a schedule. It sure has been a little harder getting all kids on the same sleeping schedule (cause mama gotta nap too). Instead, I have taken Noah's nap away so while the kids nap we bond. I am not going to lie, at first I was so sad to loose that nap. Then I remembered, this won't last forever. These are the moments I will look back at and smile about. Besides, taking away his nap has resulted in Noah going to bed earlier and waking up later :) As they get older, the one-on-one interaction with each individual becomes more important. 

Being a mother of three, I have learned to appreciate my slings/wraps so much more. They have been a lifesaver for us. Although I might be outnumbered, I still have my hands free for Noah and Olivia! I have also found that doing activities that each kid enjoys has been super important. Olivia has had a harder time with this new transition, and it has been important to do things she loves. 

 My biggest struggle has been night time. If Ben isn't home, it has taken a lot longer and I find myself not being able to do our normal night routine! 

Oh, and I haven't gone grocery shopping alone yet. Needless to say, I miss my random target runs!

If you're pregnant with your third and terrified how things will go, don't be. Every baby, every situation is different. Don't let other people scary stories affect you. Find things that works for you and your family. If I can do it, so can you :)

3 things that helps me everyday

1. Start my day with a prayer

I know it might sound basic or a given, but I need that boost.

2. I keep my house bright
I find myself feeling happier when it is bright in my home

3. Have a plan each day and try to go out!
Something we do as a family, even if it is coloring. I hate the feeling of "not accomplishing anything". Going out with three kids isn't ideal everyday, but we try to go out each day. Even if it is just to the mail box :)

Sling color sage from: Wildbird

xo

Some of my favorite pregnancy looks

16w Swimsuit: Albion Fit

Dresses: Pinkblush maternity

 22weeks

Top: Downeast

25weeks

Dress: Nordstrom rack

Overalls: Old navy

Diaperbag: Fawndesign

26weeks

Dress: Isabella Oliver 

27 weeks

Skirt: Old navy Top: Another stripe shirt ;)

28 weeks

31weeks

Nursing tanktop (the absolute best, so comfortable) Bravado Designs

33 weeks

Skirt: Pinkblush

34weeks

Dress: Pinkblush maternity

35 weeks dress from Jaykaiy

38 weeks

A couple of days before Kingston was born.

Top: Shop Stevie

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy went by. I thought I would share some of my favorite pregnancy outfits with you. By the look of these photos, you can tell that I lived in dresses! Arizona heat is no joke, so I didn't have much of a choice haha. I also lived in leggings/yoga pants, but nobody wants to see pictures of that!

Although I love having baby K with us, there's something special about carrying a child. I kind of miss the bump, but I like being able to shave my legs with no problem ;) 

xo