The past 9 months have been a flash! Every day since giving birth to my little one has been a day of firsts. From learning how to put on a diaper to feeding, the first few weeks are filled with setting a routine and getting acquainted with baby. But after that…then what? How do I fill her day with enjoyment? Entertain her? Help her learn and hit her milestones? What can I do for my child’s early development and education? With social media at my fingertips, there are endless opinions and good hearted advice but, what is right for me and MY baby? Thankfully we have Before the Bell Oklahoma, where I can find early learning resources that are geared towards families, and preparing my little one for success before the age of 5. With that said, I want to share a few ways we incorporate learning into our routine that are easy to do, fun and will make all the difference in babies development!
Did you know
The first 2000 days of a child’s life shape their future? Yes, that means even as a baby, each day holds so much meaning, and value into shaping who your child will become, and what they will be able to achieve later in life. All of the actions we perform each day from laughing, drinking water, walking and smiling are all new to baby along with the world around them. It is up to us to show them, engage with them and help them to learn.
One of my favorite resources from Before the Bell would have to be the guide to track milestones. Not only is this a checker, but it provides me with tools to support my daughter’s development, even links to find free pediatricians. A huge takeaway from Before the Bell is that early education preparation does not have to be expensive. Many resources and activities are free! Now let’s get started as I guide you through a few ways I have incorporated education into my daughters every day experiences to show you just how effortless it can be!
Reading
At just a few days old, I began reading to my daughter. Not only was this enjoyable to me, but believe it or not, my daughter enjoyed it as well. From looking at the pictures to studying my expressive features and the tone of my voice, each exposure was new and interesting to her! As she has gotten older, she now holds on to the book herself and can point at specific items and words on a page. She also prefers when I guide my finger along with each word that is read, which helps her to learn letters! As each day and week passes her interest and engagement level increases which is such a rewarding and fulfilling moment as a mother and caregiver! Taking those few moments a day to slow down and read a book together makes such an impact.
Music and Singing
For me, this began when my daughter was still in the womb. I played music for her, starting around 4 months pregnant, and continued through pregnancy onward. Mainly exposing her to classical composers and a mix of traditional lullabies, along with some of my favorites. I noticed right away that the songs she was familiar with soothed to her when trying to nap her or put her to bed! Yes, she remembered them of felt connected to the music somehow. I also began singing 2 rhythmic tunes when she was fussy, and those songs always relax her to sleep. Music has always held a special place in my heart, and to know that my daughter is also sensitive to music is so touching. Before the Bell features provides own Spotify channel, which includes educational songs, along with parenting podcasts! Both of which can be wonderful assets, so if you are looking for something to play in the car or while you are preparing lunch, this is an excellent option!
Nature Walk
Outdoor time is something we love to do as a family. The exposure to new things is limitless, even in your own backyard! My daughter loves exploring colorful flowers, touching leaves of different textures, looking up at tall trees, hearing birds chirping, and feeling the rain. These activities might seem simple to you and me, but to a new little human they are vast and exciting experiences! Taking the time to share nature with my daughter has been beautiful. Not only is it educational for her, but I appreciate so many things now that I would have normally taken for granted because of the wonder I see in her eyes when she learns about it.
Sensory Stations
A simple and fun activity I put together for my daughter was a few sensory bottles. Just by filling a few water bottles with food coloring, dish soap, glitter, and baby oil, new toys were created! Offering crinkle, sparkle, sloshing liquid, and color these bottles help with coordination, and many other skills!
Language Love
To layer on top of reading, and speaking my husband and I are teaching our daughter daily in both English and Spanish. The majority of her books are bilingual, and many of her toys are in both languages as well. From singing lullabies, to everyday conversation, we expose her to a variety of words in both languages so that she can be fluent in them as she grows! My daughter is just 9 months old at the completion of this post and has said the following words. “Mama, Dada, Good, Mmm, and the sound Bah” She has not spoken a word in Spanish yet, but I am excited for the day she does, as there are many she already understands, such as actions like “dame cinco” and animals like “osa”.
I cannot wait to continue learning with my little one. She never ceases to amaze me with her abilities, and knowing that I am empowered with the tools to provide her the best start in life possible is a comfort and blessing. For more information about Before The Bell, visit www.beforethebellok.org.
A special thank you to the Houston Grand Opera for hosting Jhonathan and I for the evening.
Why the Opera?
Last year I was introduced to opera. I have always been exposed to the arts since I have very young, attending Museum of Fine Arts exhibits, attending plays and broadway musicals, the symphony, and the ballet..this list goes on and on, but I had never been to the opera! So I had the opportunity to see La Boheme and was completely blown away. The opera offers singing, acting, all while a live score is being played.
Date Night Begins!
Jhonathan and I had the date night of all date nights at the opera, a few weekends ago celebrating the start of the season at Houston Grand Opera, with the opener of Rigoletto, followed by the HGO annual gala. Now this night was not a “normal” night at the opera, it was on a much grander scale, but I can give you a bit of what all this night entailed, and what to expect at a performance throughout the season.
Asking your closest girlfriends to be your bridemaids is such a special moment, and has become a big deal over the past few years. I really wanted to create something special for my girls, and yet keep it affordable so here I will be sharing what I gifted in their proposal boxes! So here I’ll show you how to put together a cute, thoughtful and personalized bridesmaid proposal gift without breaking the bank!
The best place to start your gifting search is Etsy. Seriously, they have so many unique and customizable pieces at any price range. I went with name decals for customized glasses, and this cute sticker to add to a miniature champagne bottle. The stickers were $1.99 each, and I found the stemless glasses in a 4-pack at Target for $9.99
Taking engagement photos for your save the date can me so much fun, but it can also be stressful if you don’t know where to start. Here are my tips to getting pictures you will absolutely love.
Pinterest Is Your Best Friend
Start your search with Pinterest. This is my #1 tip. I browsed Pinterest to find pose and location inspiration as well as outfits. This helped me to narrow down locations and create the theme I was looking for. Why I say to start with Pinterest is because it is so easy to search and find relevant information and you can create a board to save the photos to, by doing this you will be able to narrow my scope and identify the theme you are looking for. It seriously helped me so much in determining what it was Jhonathan and I wanted to convey in our shoot.
Today I want to chat with you all about Stay Alfred! If you are unfamiliar with the brand, Stay Alfred is a hotel alternative for travel! They offer furnished apartments in the center of some of the hottest cities, giving you easy access to local attractions with all of the comforts of home on your vacations.
We stayed at The Star, a historic building in downtown Houston that was renovated and converted into apartments. The room was a one bedroom with a full size kitchen, living room, bathroom, laundry room, and bedroom. The furnishings were neutral and beautiful making us feel immediately welcome and at home upon entry.
What You Need To Know
So I want to share with you the info that I would want to know before doing something like this! I always have lots of questions when trying something new, so I want to share with you the “check-in and out” process just so you will have a heads up and feel super comfortable! So before your stay, Stay Alfred sends you a detailed itemized email with your check-in and check-out time, amenities, parking, key access and drop-off, room number, and travel dates. They even provide you with picture references to make things easier! So for check-in, the keys are located in a digital valet on the wall of the lobby which has a touchscreen. You just follow the instructions provided to you via the email and steps prompted on the touchscreen and a small drawer opens with your keyfob inside. You then return it to the same location at the time of check-out. Super simple!
Location, Location
During our stay we walked a few blocks over to Minute Maid Park and enjoyed an Astros game! It was $1 hotdog night at the stadium so that was such a bonus, lol. Stay Alfred makes sure its locations are in prime areas so that you feel close and connected to whichever city you are traveling to. After the game we walked back over to the apartment and enjoyed a night in and even had a few girlies pop over for some wine and chit chat!
Their locations also offer you access to the apartments amenities. (Be sure to check their site to view what all is available at each specific location.) At ours there was a beautiful pool and relaxing patio area, which we made sure to enjoy.
So what really sets Stay Alfred apart in my eyes is that you can vacation like a local. You are staying in a building that where locals live, therefore you can get a real taste of the city. Also, since it is a real apartment, you lose the “living out of your suitcase” feel that often occurs on extended hotel stays. Here you can wash your clothes, hang them in the closet, and even fix a meal in a full size kitchen, just as you would at home! They also are perfect for groups! With 1, 2, and 3 bedroom options Stay Alfred is perfect for families and groups so that everyone can stay together with beautiful common areas but have separate sleeping quarters within the same place!
I definitely recommend checking out Stay Alfred for your next vacation or staycation! They have wonderful locations, and great prices for all sizes of traveling groups!
As most of you know, I am a dog mom and both of my boxer pups were rescues. I strongly believe in adopting pups, and giving them that second chance at the amazing life they deserve. So when Houston Pets Alive reached out to me for a little help, I jumped at the opportunity!
If you haven’t heard of Houston Pets Alive, they are a non-profit organization with a huge heart, and mission to make Houston the largest no-kill city in the country. They work to save pups from being euthanized and assist in finding them forever homes.
Myself, Kristine of Kristine’s Kaleidoscope, and Alessandra of Alessandra Laura all spent the day at the Stella Link shelter location, to learn a bit more about Houston Pets Alive, meet the animals currently up for adoption, and spread the word!
The shelter is run by an amazing and inspiring staff alongside daily volunteers – which they are always in need of! The pets are all well attended to, and are provided a private kennel, water and food bowl, with blankets and a toy. They have veterinary assistance available to care for those at risk, and strive to keep the pups as happy and comfortable as possible. While there, we spent some time walking a few of the pups and gave as many of them love as possible. The air in the shelter is full of hope, and you can feel that even in the pets. They know they are in a safe space, and are just waiting for that special someone to come and take them to their forever home.
If you are looking for ways to help out, or want further information on the pups we have featured feel free to check out the HPA website! There are so many options that one is sure to be perfect! I have even listed a few ways below!
The shelter also hosts events you can attend! Click here to see their calendar!
I hope this inspires you to help out a dog or cat in need! I was completely humbled by my time at the shelter and will be working with them again in the future to help out in whatever ways I can.
Thank you Houston Pets Alive for all you do!
I was recently invited to visit my local Crossroads Trading, to experience what all it had to offer. I love the idea of thrifting, but haven’t been to a location quite like this before!
Everything is that “one amazing treasure hunt item” you hope to find, and you are sure to leave there with something special!
First things first, you can sell your gently used, current season items for cash or store credit! While the sales associates are appraising your items, its time to shop! While browsing I came across items from Manolo Blahnik, Salvatore Ferragamo, Halston, Kate Spade, and Burberry! Those are some serious labels people!!!!
I tried on a Burberry dress, which was priced at $85 and a beautiful tan long coat from a Los Angeles brand, DRA for only $37.50, still with the original tags! The dressing rooms are super roomy with great lighting and plenty of space and mirrors.
H&M dress $12.50
Elaine Turner dress: $32.50
My next score was a mini Longchamp bag in Navy…can you believe it was under $40!? You cannot beat that price.
The store is categorized my clothing type, accessories and there is even a men’s section! I was very much impressed with the cleanliness as well as the breadth of assortment. And most shockingly, the labels! Every item I sifted through the rack was a recognizable label. And to see those price tags…it will bring a smile to your face! Everything is so reasonable- not to mention, all items are very gently used, if not brand new! I can’t remember when I have had that much fun shopping!?
So if you have a Crossroads Trading near you, stop in and check it out! Better yet, purge your closet for the new year by taking in those items you aren’t wearing anymore and trade them in for something designer! You seriously don’t know what amazing product you might find! For locations click here!
So you are thinking about entering the blogging world. There might be many questions keeping you from dipping your toes into this industry so I am here to answer a few of them for you.
I get asked pretty often how did I grow my following? How does one start in this business? And, are there any tools available to be successful? That got me thinking, I should share a quick reference guide for all of these answers!
Though I would like to add that these are my own opinions to success in blogging, I know there are many other ways, I just wanted to share a few quick tips and tools that I wish knew from the get-go to help anyone just starting out. So let’s get started!
Focus on your brand, and who you want to be.
This is something I don’t feel I paid enough attention to when I started. Branding is really important and something you don’t want to exactly rush yourself into. Now I’m not saying you can’t change your mind, but it’s best to start with a name you love, is unique, you can identify with, and that you will keep. This helps you when it comes to SEO and where you will populate through google searches. Also you want it be catchy and easy to spell so people will remember you, and you will be easily searchable through Instagram.
Photo Time! Find your angle, literally!
When taking pictures I started off by looking at bloggers photos that I admired. I would screenshot photos I really liked based on pose and background for reference, and then reference them when prepping for a photoshoot. This is not an exact science as everyone has different flattering angles and it takes practice to find yours, but it’s a good start!
Before shooting examine yourself in the mirror and pretend it’s a camera. Watch your hands, feet and slowly change your positioning. As you do this, take note of expressions and angles you like and try to memorize that position. From there, you will start to find what feels most comfortable at your shoots and also the more experience you have, and the more photos you take, it will come more naturally, and you will grow from your own critiques. I am sharing some comparison shots of myself from when I first started next to a more recent image. Slight changes in posture, foot positioning and face angle can make such an improvement!
I am still constantly learning and evolving which is one of the great things about this industry, there is always ways to improve and grow! This is just a quick glimpse at how much improvement can happen over a short period of time.
Be consistent
Once you start blogging and posting to Instagram, get it the routine of posting at the same time and same days. For example; once you determine what time of day you receive the most traffic, continue posting at that time like clock work. Your followers want consistency and will look for your post, let’s not disappoint them!
Planoly – This is a monthly service I use to help me determine what I want to post and when. This is important because the way your feed looks is extremely vital to grow your following. You want your feed to look clean and even. It should tell a story through color and consistency. Using services like Planoly you can move around your images to plan out the perfect layout before you post your images.
Hashtags
Now this is something to check up on pretty often. Keep up with the most commonly used hashtags for your genera. Do your homework to see what hashtags local bloggers are using, and which “big” bloggers are using. You will notice a traffic spike once you find the best hashtags to use for your posts. Stick with those, but always keep an eye on new trending hashtags.
Affiliates, Education, and Community
If you are a style, fashion, beauty or lifestyle blogger Style Collective is a MUST! This community is filled with bloggers from all over the world working together to build their businesses. One of the most exciting offerings is NYFW. They create a forum with all of the tools you need to get there and even help to set you up with hotel roomies!
SC provides you with the educational tools to build your best business and supports you along the way. From creating your media kit, to sending the perfect pitch, and your first invoice! Sign up for it HERE or from the banner on my homepage.
Next become part of the BFrow fashion community! This is an additional space to share your blog posts for additional exposure, along with having the opportunity to meet and connect with an amazing community of fashion bloggers, just like you!
Community
Find out who is blogging near you! Meet up for brunch and share ideas! This is the most beneficial tool I have found in this industry! You will soon be attending local events on a regular basis, and will become a part of your local blogging circuit. Having friends close by provides opportunities for collaborations, photoshoot buddies, and amazing friends that do what you do! Blogging can get pretty lonely so it is nice to know there are others who understand what you are going through and get the business! You can inspire and learn from each other to be successful and grow in the industry.
Marketing Companies to check out for collaboration campaigns
Reward Style – This is an invitation only, commission based platform that gives your following the ability to shop your posts via blog and Instagram.
Shop Style – This platform is also commission based but does not link to your Instagram, only blog or insta story (via swipe up function) The added bonus to this services is you actually can make commission off of clicks, not just purchases.
Fohr Card – This company feeds straight from your social platforms are generates analytic data verifying your following and offers campaign opportunities.
Octoly – This marketplace offers you the ability to pitch to top beauty brands who can send you their products for review. *You must have 10,000 followers to apply.
TapInfluence – This marketplace is used by influencers and brands alike to collaborate together on campaigns. You simply create a profile and sync it to your social media platforms and brands will reach out to you for work based on their criteria.
Investments
Purchase your domain name. This is really important because it can be seen as an investment in your brand. Purchasing your domain gives you opportunities to make commissions from your site and looks professional when reached out to companies.
Set up a business account through Instagram – more and more companies are requesting analytic data the easiest way to fetch this for them is with Instagram analytic tools.
Purchase a DSLR, and a 50mm lens. Now I held off on this as long as possible but seriously, if you are wanting to do this…you need one. The lens is important because it is what gives you those well-lit images with the blurred backgrounds.
That’s it for now…
Okay, so I know this post was quite long, but I wanted to provide as much information as I could! I truly hope this helps to answer some of your questions and motivates even one person to turn their dream into a reality!
This year I had the opportunity to attend StyleCon, Dallas! This was the first year StyleCon has been held in Dallas so seeing as I am a Texan, and the drive is just a short 4 hours, Myself, and fellow bloggers Kristine of Kristine’s Kaleidoscope, and Alessandra of AlessandraLaura decided to road trip to Dallas together for the event!
We left Houston Friday evening so that we could be ready for the festivities bright and early Saturday morning. For our accommodations, we stayed across the street from the venue at the Fairmont Dallas. For my review of our stay, click here!
StyleCon is a one day event filled with panelist in the industry, and tons of vendors sharing all about their brands! The opportunity for partnerships, collaborations and making new friends was enormous! Brands like Fit Joy, Boohoo and beGlammed all came prepared with fun interactive booths where you could sample, share, and speak to their products!
As a Style Collective member I was there to see Annie Spano, the founder who would be speaking on a panel during StyleCon. It was so nice to see Annie again since the NYFW party she put together for all of her style collective sisters, and her time on the StyleCon panel was fantastic!
There were plenty of snacks to help ourselves to throughout the day as this event ran from 9:00-5:00 so many thanks to all of the lovely snack vendors who kept our energy up and tummies full through the amazing day!
StyleCon 2017 was amazing, and I can’t wait to attend it again next year!
So this month marks one year since I started blogging. That’s right, one whole year! Where did the time go? I started blogging and sharing my interest for fashion, travel and beauty through Instagram for so many reasons; to face my fear of the unknown, of being shy, and to create an outlet for fun where I could chat with others about things I am passionate about! Over the past year I have grown immensely as a person, and have learned so many things about myself, as well as this business, I did not know before. So in celebration of reaching this one-year milestone, I wanted to share some of my most favorite collaborations, places I have traveled, and amazing people I have met along the way! I also wanted to take this time to share some tips, for anyone who is thinking about entering the vast world of blogging…the things I think I would have liked to know one year ago, so enjoy!
Before I start…
A special shout out to Sarah-Jane of SarahJaneReign! She is a big reason I finally took the plunge to start my blog! I was really nervous to start this journey, of blogging and sharing on Instagram, (even though I had always wanted an outlet to share my interest and thoughts) I just didn’t know where to start. She assisted in showing me that it is totally possible and if I wanted to make it happen, I could! She gave me the nudge I needed to start my blogging adventure, and I slowly paved my way to where I am today! I gratefully thank her for believing in me so that I could, in turn, believe in myself. Giving me the boost of confidence to take the leap, and make it happen!
So here it is! My First Year Highlight Reel! I decided the best way for me to commemorate this day would be with a reflection of the past year, and where it has taken me. I have shared three photo galleries spanning the past year through favorite collabs, places I have traveled, and the wonderful people I have met along the way. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank everyone who has come along and shared this journey with me. Your support, guidance and wonderful words have paved the way, and have given me a place to truly be myself and fulfill my dreams.
To start things off, here is a gallery of a few of my favorite partnerships and collabs that I was so lucky to take part in this past year. Partnering with companies and reviewing their products is what being a blogger is all about. These opportunities are what help you to grow and curate content. Which is why I want to say a special thank you to all companies I have collaborated with, for taking a chance on me and trusting me to represent their brand and products. It is always a huge privilege, and I am so thankful for each and every partnership.
Featuring: Coach, Luca-Love, Jord, Heavenly Organics, Origins, Shein, Panda, Coola Suncare, SaraBoo, Smile Brilliant, Mirina Collections
Here is a quick look back on a few places I traveled to this past year, and was able to share with you all through my blogging experience!
And last but certainly not least, my fellow bloggers! These ladies motivate me daily and seriously I am so blessed to have crossed paths with each and every one of them this past year!
A shout out to few blogger babes I have had the pleasure of meeting over this past year: Elly of Uptownwithellybrown Lily of daily_craving Margaret of Stylethegirl Allison of Bayoucitylifestyle Sarah-Jane of Sarahjanereign Alessandra of Alessandrealaura Kristine of Kristine’s Kaleidoscope Alisee of thisisaboutstyle Chanell of essenceofchanell Lan of thelanline Stephanie of stephanietaylorjackson Laurie of lrosebylaurie Megan of styleyourlifepretty Tracy of tracedwithtaste and Ameerah of brunchandslay
Words of Advice
My advice for a blogger just starting out is
- Be consistent and honest
Once you decide to go for it you have to commit to it.
- Believe in yourself and your vision
This is what will make all of the difference. Once you determine what you want to share, stick to that. If you don’t know why you are blogging, chances are, no one else will know either. You have to have a clear cohesive message, and stand behind it.
- Pave your own way, because there is no exact science to this.
Social media is always evolving and so is this business. These is no exact formula for success. You just have to give it your best shot and see how it goes. There is a lot of trial and error involved, but it isn’t anything to get discouraged about.
- Have fun!
Okay so this is most important! I sometimes get really stressed out, wanting to take the perfect picture, but have noticed my best work comes when I am in the moment. Every project I have worked on has been very enjoyable and fulfills my need to be creative. Every experience has been fun, so I think that is something to take note of. If you aren’t having fun, its time to switch things up!
So before I end this post I wanted to add that, sometimes all it really takes to get you going is to have someone believe in you! So if you are reading this, and have wanted to start blogging, but were not sure if you could do it, just take the plunge! You will never know until you try! And, chances are you will make some amazing friends along the way! So cheers to 1 year! I totally cannot wait to see what year 2 has in store!
