Tag: parenting

Madelyns 3rd Birthday: A Pastel Carnival to Remember

To celebrate my daughter turning three this year, we wanted a theme to capture all the joy, fun and laughter she brings effortlessly to our life. So we created a pastel carnival inside our home and it turned out magical! I wanted our guests to feel welcomed by the atmosphere and littles to play freely and have fun.

Majority of the indoor winter birthday we hosted on our back porch. We hired a face painter and balloon artist who added such a special touch to the day! Each kid chose what image they wanted painted and chose balloon art such as princess wands, animals and hats.

This wood pallet I found in my garage from another event. I wanted a unique way to display cotton candy. I played around with some string and placed this right next to the dessert table. Which held the most delicious Confetti Cake with vanilla icing and animal cracker pastel cupcakes.

All of the adorable supplies in this room came from Amazon including these hats, plates, DIY stickers, and balloon decorations! We rented a long kid size table with 12 chairs around to sing happy birthday and complete their sticker crafts.

Each guest left the carnival party with a bag including a personalized thank you sticker.

My daughter talks about her birthday party constantly. Frequently asking when she can have another birthday. Some may say she is too little to remember a birthday party this extravagant, which can be true. But that doesn’t matter to me. These early years are flying by and days like this let me hold on to her sweet memories a little longer.

I hope she always feels as special as she did on her birthday party day. This was a perfect way to celebrate another year around the sun with our beautiful Madelyn.

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Even on the Hard Days, Don’t Stop Dreaming

Motherhood is beautiful, captivating, awakening- but absolutely never easy.

There are days when the sink is overflowing, my toddler has thrown four tantrums before lunch and I still have not finished my coffee. It can be second nature to forget who you are, as you are sprinting around the house on empty to fill the needs of your family. But what I have realized, or tried to put into practice, is that life does not stop for anyone or end when you become a mother.

Cliche, but I feel like I was born again. I have found a deeper meaning in my abilities and strengths after becoming a mom. Having to juggle all different roles and hats has brought new revelations. I wanted to change the direction of our life. One where we focus in on what moms can do, not what moms cannot do since they have littles attached to them.

“You have a promising career, loving husband, healthy children and home, what else could you possibly want?” This question haunts me. I felt selfish for wanting more in life. For even entertaining the thought that something might still be missing. I thought for a second, people must be under the impression that my children are not enough for me. When on the contrary, my children have sparked a fire in me I can’t being to explain. They view me as their absolute hero and that in itself, is enough to keep going.

Why wouldn’t I want to show them the traits of being hard working and motivated? I want them to be encouraged in the hard seasons, to set meaningful goals for themselves, and to follow through even when it’s not easy.

Motherhood has a way of making us questioning everything. We question the meals we prepare, the time we spend on screens, our daily routine. Ourselves and our capabilities.

If today feels heavy or the goals feel distant, just take one small step.

Write down your top three goals in life long term- financial, spiritual, realistic

Read or listen to an inspiring podcast.

Share your ideas with the village who supports you.

“In embracing motherhood, we don’t lose ourselves- we unlock who we’re meant to become.”

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Building Your Own Village

They say It takes a village, but no one really tells you how to find one-especially when you are deep in the trenches of motherhood. In the beginning, staying home was way easier to manage than trying to coordinate the perfect time in between naps, lunches, and meltdowns. But I knew my children and I needed something more, another connection.

What helped me build my own village was having a consistent group of other young moms to start “mom walks” with. Something simple, predictable and a great physical outlet. When you are taking those daily walks you are releasing stress, building connection and nurturing your own mental health. This does not have to be a well though-out plan, just a stroller, your babies and a walking path.

Your village becomes way more than just company- It is a space you go to vent, learn and grow in motherhood. It’s where hard days are heard without judgment and little wins like your child sleeping throughout the night is celebrated. Motherhood friendships help us remember who we are outside the chaos of each day. This connection matters more than we realize. And our children feel the same.

Our children watch us as we make time and space for others, show kindness and develop trust. They learn alongside other children, sometimes keeping us busy with the sharing issues, but we are learning to handle it together. While each play date may be different than the last, they begin to build their own friendships- playing, laughing and learning to walk through life confidently.

Your village doesn’t have to be loud and flashy. These people are supposed to ground you, lift you up, inspire you in motherhood. This might be the other mom at the park you see weekly, a coworker turned family, or a group chat that keeps you laughing out loud.

Motherhood isn’t meant to be done solo. Go to story time. Visit the park. Let the village in.

“The way we love our friends becomes the way our children learn to love theirs.”

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A Gentle Journey through Motherhood

Learning and Growing-Together

Motherhood, like the seasons, comes in waves. Some days bloom with ease. Others stretch me thin. As a mother working from home with a toddler and a baby, our home is rarely ever quiet but always full. In the midst of nap times, deadlines for work, and scattered toys, I’ve found a gentle way forward.

I may not always be available to read a quick book or go outside and play. But I started seeing a difference in myself and my children when presence is prioritized. I moved from one task to another, telling myself I will slow down after- after I submit this email, after the laundry is folded, dinner is cooked. But my children do not live in the “after,” they live in the “now”. I do not want to miss this precious time because I am doing everything else.

This season has challenged me more than I imagined. It’s asked me to be better, be present, keep showing up even when I am exhausted. They are learning the world one moment at a time and I’m learning to guide them through it.

I’ve come to see how much my children are learning not just from what I teach, but from how I live. They are watching, absorbing the environment created around them from their very first breath. The tone I use, the way I handle stress, how I care for our home – It all speaks to them even when I am silent.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. Every move I make directly impacts them. We are both growing side by side- me, becoming the mother they need; them, becoming exactly who they are meant to be.

“These are the days that shape us- not through perfection, but through presence.”

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