Mother's Day Gift Guide.

Thursday, April 28, 2016


Mother's Day is less than two weeks away, folks! And whether you make her something from the heart - or buy her something new; your mom just wants to know how much you love and appreciate her! Here are some of my suggestions for great gifts you could give her for less than $55!

1. Mikas Pond Bee Wristlet - Kate Spade $78 (on sale this week for $52)!
Super cute wristlet wallet for when you're on the go. Comes in multiple colors and has the classic gold finishings of Kate Spade! I love this because it will fit in whatever bad you might carry, but can also just be worn as the wristlet - so juggling kids and your wallet isn't so much of a hassle!

2. Dainty Sparklers Bow Reversible Earring - Kate Spade $38
Every lady needs a pair of pearl earrings, and these have a cute little twist! They're reversible so it's almost like getting two pairs of earrings for one! If you have little ones, dangle earrings can prove to be dangerous, so these studs are the perfect way to stay stylish & tear-free!

3. Women's Tote Bag with Zipfront Pocket - Merona $39 (at Target)
I am a sucker for a great bag. This bag is affordable, fashionable, and can hold all of my mama-junk that I have to carry around with me every day! It comes in three different colors and has two carrying options; on the arm, or on the shoulder (for when your hands are full of munchkins)!

4. Pink Innocencia Bath & Body Collection - Sonia Kashuk $6.99 - $19.99 (at Target)
All moms like spa days; it's just a fact of life. Might I suggest getting her a gift card to your local spa or this lovely bundle from Sonia Kashuk - available at Target! She will love feeling pampered like the queen that she is!

5. Multi-Use Nursing Shirt Milky Stripe - Milk Snob $42
If you have a nursing mama in your life - this shirt would be an AWESOME gift! It is a loungey shirt, nursing cover, AND car seat cover; all in one! It is made out o super soft and breathable cotton, and is very roomy for easy access for breastfeeding anywhere - I am DEFINITELY getting myself one.

6. Personalized Gold Bar Necklace - Love / Edor $39
Moms love personalized gifts, and this delicate gold bar necklace with her child's name on it is a perfect example! Got more than one baby? Try adding their initials to it, instead of one long name!

I hope that these suggestions have given you some great ideas, and that all the mamas out there have a happy and wonderful Mother's Day! Moms are often the unsung heroes of our lives, and they deserve to feel extra special for their big day... so be sure to tell her that you love her!
Got any suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay sweet,

Bumpdate: 28 Weeks.

Monday, April 25, 2016


Happy Monday, friends! I cannot believe that this year is already almost a third of the way over - time has been flying. I am now officially in my third trimester, and I am counting down the weeks until our sweet bundle of snuggles is here!

Baby Dos is weighing in at about 2 1/4 pounds, and over 15 inches long; about the size of a large eggplant. His/her motions have become more forceful in utero; almost painful at times for me when I get jabbed in the rib cage by some tiny feet! Everything has been going well this last week; I feel great and have had a good amount of energy. I have been progressing in my prenatal yoga and am feeling much stronger and more confident about my capabilities! 

As far as physically, I am having little to no negative symptoms, except for a little bit of a restless feeling in my legs at night (for which I cut out most of my caffeine intake and it seemed to clear up). I am only about 1.5 pounds under my starting weight now, and during the third trimester you tend to gain about a pound a week; so I am shooting for only *gaining* about ten to fifteen pounds or so from now until my due date!

Still looking for ideas for Mother's Day gifts? Check back later this week for my suggestions!

Stay sweet, 

Three Things on Thursday.

Thursday, April 21, 2016


Since I just celebrated my anniversary with the Hubbs on Tuesday, and Mother's Day is right around the corner, this week's three things are some gift ideas that I personally LOVE (and think that you might too!). I will be posting a larger gift idea list later on as it gets closer to Mother's Day!

One. 
I LOVE THIS BRACELET. Kate Spade has come out with a line of jewelry that is bee - themed, and I am OBSESSED. Bees are close to my heart not only because of the fact that we call Bonnie our little bee, but also because the bee is a scientific anomaly; it should not be able to fly yet it does with great precision and accuracy! It's one of the many reasons I decided to use the name "Milk & Nectar" for my blog and doula business - because mothers defy all odds and give birth everyday so gracefully and determined. This bracelet has a matching necklace, as well as several other coordinating pieces (HINT HINT).

Two.
Flowers (specifically these are peonies).
Flowers might seem like an overdone gesture, but a really nice bouquet goes a LONG way! Christopher bought me some flowers for our anniversary, because he knows that they are one of my many love languages. If you're ever at a loss for a gift, I would highly suggest some high quality flowers! I personally love all of the arrangements at Farm Girl Flowers, they just don't ship to my area - but you should see if they can ship to you!

Three.
This is by far the BEST liquid lipstick that I have yet to come across. It dries matte without drying up your lips, will not smudge while you sip your drink or take a bite out of your food, and it doesn't transfer to your poor hubby's face when you give him smooches for buying it for you (HINT). I loved my "Dusty Rose" shade, but they are unfortunately sold out of it at this time! I found the "Stripped" shade and I think I have found a new love! 

Is there anything that you ladies are pining for, this Mother's Day? Let me know in the comments below so I might add them to my Mother's Day Gift Guide!

Stay sweet,

Bumpdate: 27 Weeks.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016


Okay, so if you live in Texas, you might be reading this post from an emergency flotation device... in which case; thanks for being such a steadfast reader! (Just kidding, if you are on an emergency flotation device just hold on and read this later). Thankfully out here in the desert, errrr I mean "semi-arid grassland prairie" (Hubby is a know-it-all), the rain gets sucked into the ground in a matter of a couple hours vs. a couple days! 

Besides today being my 27 week bumpdate, it is also my wedding anniversary with my sweet Hubbs! We had a toddler-free date night on Saturday, and really enjoyed ourselves! It is so funny to think that we have only been married for two years and together for a little over three; it feels like he has been a part of my life for forever now. Add the fact that I am soon to give birth to our second sweet nugget and - WOW! Time seriously flies when you have kids. 

Speaking of kids... It definitely feels like he or she had a growth spurt this week (or maybe I might have eaten too much ice cream, but what's the difference really?), as I am now only about 2-3 pounds under my starting pregnancy weight! Plus, I feel like a football is doing yoga in my stomach almost all of the time. The kid is all knees, elbows, and butt I swear! Having a posterior placenta has been fun/creepy this time around because this kid MOVES; and with no placenta in the way, you can SEE he or she going to town in my womb. It''s like Hallmark moments meets Alien v. Predator. 

Baby Dos is weighing in at just about 2 pounds, and it around 14-15 inches long (according to my Baby Center app), about the size of a large head of cauliflower. He or she is certainly moving alot more often, and on a more regular schedule. I get the most activity when I am either eating, relaxing (like right before I fall asleep!), and sitting in church - I think it is because they get squished in my abdomen! I have had no swelling this week, my heartburn is almost gone, and my hemorrhoids are less painful! I have been increasing my stretches because of some tightness in my lower back and sides, but no pain - praise the Lord!

Today also marks the beginning of my serious potty training schedule for B, so if you have any tips, kind words, or prayers to send me - please do so in the comments below!

Stay sweet, 

Three Things on Thursday.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

This post also contains affiliate links. If you shop from my blog, I may be compensated for clicks or purchases that you make. Read my disclaimer page for more information.

This week's three things were heavily influenced by my pregnancy, just a forewarning. I have finally been getting my appetite back, as well as nesting like a crazy little bird - so I picked some great products to share with y'all in lieu of all of that craziness. Here's my three things this week for you to enjoy along with me!

One.
Total Moisture Face Cream - Benefit $42.00
This is one of the priciest things in my makeup repertoire, but so so so worth it! I live in a very dry environment, in addition to never getting enough sleep - I end up with dry bags under my eyes. Yuck. Even on days when I don't wear makeup {read: most days}, I will DAB a TINY bit of the moisturizer on dryer areas of my face and neck; and the results are almost instantaneous. I have been using this small jar for almost three months now, and have literally not even made a dent in it anymore because of how powerful and concentrated it is!

Two.
Caramel Cocoa Cluster Frappuccino - Starbucks $(varies by location)
Y'all. They brought this drink back this week and I must say that it takes a close second place in my heart to the S'mores Frapp (BRING IT BACK STARBUCKS). It's delicious and I needed it, and you need it to! Go!

Three.
Mama Bottom Balm - Earth Mama Angel Baby $12.99
So this product might be TMI for some readers - if that's you... I'm sorry friend... but I gotta keep it real. This is one of Earth Mama Angel Baby's best postpartum products, but I am currently using it now because hemorrhoids hate me. If you're a fellow sufferer (praying for you, girl), or you have postpartum vaginal swelling and bruising, perineal tears, episiotomy pain, o r maybe you just went on a long bike ride that you regret; I would suggest this to any of y'all! The balm is naturally cooling, hospital recommended, and soothes discomfort with 100% natural herbs; like St. Johns wort, Yarrow, Witch hazel, and Calendula.

If you have enjoyed any of these products, or have any suggestions, let me know in the comments below!

Stay sweet,

"What Do You Do?" & Other Hogwash.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016


I am a mom.
I am a mom who stays at home with her toddler most days.
I am a mom who has a career that is flexible, passion about that career, and has big plans for the future.
I am a mom who is tired of being asked/told...
"...when are you going back to work?"
"...that's nice that you stay at home, I wish we could afford that."
"...so what do you want to do besides have babies?"
"...that's nice for you, but I would go crazy being stuck at home all day!"
"...what do you do (sometimes with the added "all day?" at the end)?"

First of all, hop off. If we do not speak on a regular basis, why do you care anyway? If you are not paying my bills or expecting a payment of any sort from me, should you be asking/assuming about my family's finances? And if you have the cojones to passive-aggressively insinuate that I am somehow missing out or crazy because I stay at home with my toddler and you don't/can't/won't; I would take several seats.

Don't come for me unless I call for you, boo.

Yes, I am truly blessed to be able to stay at home with my daughter during the day and watch her grow; but it is because my husband and I work HARD at saving our money and have been blessed by the generosity and support of our family in the past and present. I do not lay around eating bonbons on the couch all day; I am putting in the woman-hours into keeping up our home and making sure every need of our collective lives are taken care of on time and fully, into educating our child who loves to learn and be challenged (and be challenging), into educating myself so that I may become a better doula and soon, midwife. I am not unfulfilled because I am not working a nine-to-five; I work a 24/7 with no holidays, sick days, or benefits (except a smoking-hot coworker). I do not harbor any contempt, judgment, or pity for mothers who work away from home; if that is something that you need or want to do, by all means girl, go get your paper! I do not plan on being at home all of the time for the rest of my life; but I am also not itching and praying for the day when my children are grown and no longer need me to chase them around the house with snot-rags and sippy cups.

The real shame of this is that I feel the need to post something like this, defending MY choices for MY family. I had a conversation with a friend this week who was telling me of an online interaction that she had where a woman that she had never met decided that she knew best about my friend's family and how they should conduct themselves; the fudge? She was describing to me this one-sided confrontation, and asking me why it was that fellow women especially would be so mean to one another; over things that neither apply to them nor affect them. I didn't get it either. If you are a mother who feels the need to comment and judge other mothers who are doing their best to live their best lives for themselves and their families; you can't sit with me.

Stay at home moms are not "just" moms. Working moms are not neglecting motherhood. Do not assume to know me by what you may see or infer, because it's what beneath the water that sunk the Titanic; and I highly doubt you're better constructed. Stop assuming that SAHMs need something else in their lives to be fulfilled, or that they don't have interests outside of diapers and Daniel Tiger. Stop telling mothers who go to work that they're "trying to have it all" in lieu of focusing on their kids.

All mothers work. All mothers love their children. All mothers parent differently. EVERY mother matters and should feel supported and respected.

So in conclusion, please try to keep ignorant comments and assumptions out of your mouth, if not your mind. Be kind to everyone, especially mothers, because you have no idea who they are and what they struggle with unless they grant you the privilege of letting you know. Never ever ask a SAHM "what do you do?" or a WM "don't you miss your kids?" - you will get cut.

If you have any thoughts on this subject, please let me know in the comments below! I would love to hear from you!

Stay sweet,

Bumpdate: 26 Weeks.

Monday, April 11, 2016


So you may have noticed that I missed last week's bumpdate... oops. So sorry! I was sleep deprived or in pain for the majority of last week - as we moved B into her "big girl bed" last weekend, and it proved to be more of a transition than expected! But I am back this week and feeling better than ever! I was really struggling with some lower back pain in my tailbone last week, and ended up going to the chiropractor for the first time - OH MY GOODNESS HOW DID I LIVE BEFORE?! This lady cracked me like a glowstick, y'all. It was insane. But besides a little soreness for the following twenty-four hours, I was pain free afterwards! I definitely plan on going back every so often to stay aligned and in good shape. 

I officially can NOT see my toes anymore, eep! And I often feel like I am smuggling a medicine ball under my shirt these days. Baby Dos is weighing in at almost two pounds, and is over a foot long - but he/she feels like closer to ten pounds and the size of a basketball! I haven't weighted myself this week because I have been running around like a chicken without a head, but believe that I am still about four pounds or so under my pre-pregnancy starting weight.

My swelling has been all but invisible all week long, and my tailbone is pain-free after seeing the magic chiropractor! The only real pains that are giving me grievance this week would be the big H's; hemorrhoids and heart burn - neither are pleasant to deal with, but are hopefully temporary. I have been drinking close to 96 ounces of water each day, and been doing a twenty minute prenatal yoga program - along with feverishly cleaning my house - as exercise! Nesting has definitely hit me HARD... I literally just mopped the floor and scrubbed down the kitchen at eight in the evening last night, y'all. Overall, I am feeling more excited about the arrival of Baby Dos, and am looking forward to have a snuggly little nugget to add to the family!

Check out the blog later this week for my response to some questions about being a SAHM, and for my Three Things on Thursday!

Stay sweet,

Three Things on Thursday.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

This post also contains affiliate links. If you shop from my blog, I may be compensated for clicks or purchases that you make. Read my disclaimer page for more information.


Sometimes as mommies we are so busy trying to keep everyone else relatively clean and fed, that we forget that we need to take care of ourselves too! Just like in the event of an emergency in the sky - you need to take care of yourself before you can properly take care of others; like a hot shower and a cup or six of some strong coffee to start your day off right! So in honor of taking care of ourselves, I am starting a new series called "Three Things on Thursday" to bring you three things that you can do/buy/make/eat/etc. each week to #treatyoself - because you deserve it mama!
One.
Detox Purifying Black Mask - Sonia Kashuk available at Target $15.99
I love to good mask to keep my worry-wrinkles at bay! This clay-based mask contains kaolin to absorb oil and impurities from skin. With superb anti-aging qualities, the mask features a combination of effective alpha-hydroxy acids – glycolic acid to slough off dead skin cells, lactic acid to stimulate cell growth, mandelic acid for anti-bacterial properties and salicylic acid to smooth texture. White tea provides antioxidant protection and aloe vera, calendula flower and chamomile extracts soothe and moisturize. Eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils have astringent properties to tone the skin, while cucumber and licorice extracts brighten for a more unified complexion.

Two.
The Simplified Home Base Binder Kit - Emily Lee $48 (on sale now for $36)
I am Type A with a splash of other, more fun letters, but mainly anal-retentive. One thing that I love is having cute and helpful products to keep my schedule and home in order! Emily Ley has a bunch of beautiful products for productivity, home + office, and even for your babies! The Home Base Binder includes the binder, pages and dividers. The perfect place to manage home, family and everything in between! AND it is on sale right now!

Three.
OPI Nail Polish $3-$8
Something that I love to do to pamper myself is to paint my nails. My sweet friend Katherine (another awesome doula in the Austin area who you should definitely hire!) was the one who started this in my mind, because she reminded me that having pretty nails makes you feel pretty... and when I feel pretty, I feel powerful. So, until my belly gets in the way (which could be any day now) I will continue to give myself at home mani-pedis! I got this color at Target because it was called Strawberry Margarita, and since I am pregnant it was the closest I can get to a real one! 

Have any suggestions for ways to treat yourself throughout the week? Let me know in the comments below!

Stay sweet,

Making Memories: Lucy Darling Baby Book Review.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Lucy Darling  provided me with product,  and compensation in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have shared about the products are my own. For more information, please view my disclaimer page.

It is no secret that I am a slightly anal-retentive person. Maybe even more than slightly. I love to plan, organize, and decorate. My husband is constantly telling me to please stop moving furniture around, color-coding the family calendar, and for the love of goodness stop going to Target (my one true weakness)! When it comes to getting ready for Baby Dos, I half limited myself on how much I can psychotically plan out, because we are waiting to find out what the sex of the baby is until his/her birthday; so I had to find something else to do besides pick out gender-specific clothing and monogramming. 

I can start his/her baby book! 

I was a total slacker with B's baby book, like I didn't even start it until right before her first birthday slacking. I also was very picky about what I wanted for her baby book, and found myself very wrapped up in aesthetic presentation (she is literally not going to care what I wrote or how the pictures are organized as long as I have her birth certificate for her to enroll in school or some summer camp, probably). With Baby Dos, I knew that I wanted to keep myself from over-thinking anything this time around - so I set out to find a baby book that was pleasing to the eye, gender-neutral in theme, and easy for me to manage without a crafting-induced panic attack.

Lucy Darling delivered everything I asked for, and more! 


They also sent me a super cute little note along with the book! 
I chose the Little Animal Lovers Memory Book for Baby Dos because it is gender neutral in theme, already decorated with cute little animals, and the perfect size! I started filling out the little text spots on the pages, and putting his/her ultrasound picture in! 


I got some super cute jungle stickers to go with it!
Lucy Darling has a little something for everyone, with their 60 unique sticker designs, 150 nursery art prints, closet dividers, memory books and multiple baby products in the pipeline! 

They also design all of their own products and print them locally in the USA - love love love supporting local businesses! From pregnancy belly stickers to alphabet cards, closet dividers to memory books, Lucy Darling has everything that you could want.

I'm going to keep updating the memory book as my pregnancy progresses (and afterwards when we actually know who was inside my womb for all this time) and plan on buying some of the SUPER cute monthly stickers for Baby Dos for his/her monthly photos! If you would like some adorable stickers as well, now is your chance! Head on over to my Instagram or a chance to win some FREE monthly stickers (pregnancy OR monthly baby set)!

Stay sweet,