Loyal Hana

{written while watching debate highlights} hello beautiful reader! It is so hard for me to get regular on my blog posts. I feel like everything is still crazy up in the air and topsy-turvy with all the life changes I've undergone lately… I'm trying to get back on track!  I wanted to share with you mommies this beautiful company called Loyal Hana. For some reason, it matters a lot to me when brands for moms are actually created by moms. (Note: Hana means one in Korean.  The brand is dedicated to the Loyal Ones. I LOVE that)! Their clothes are so beautiful and stylish and perfect for all stages of motherhood.  Please go check out their lovely products! Thank you as always for stopping by. Sweetly, Michelle

Baby Blues

{Written while binge watching Outlander...one of my besties got me into it and its sorta addicting}  I am so glad this week is ovah!  Some weeks feel longer than others and this one just felt like it was 30 days long!  Do you ever feel this way? I did some client events this week and attended a field trip with my daughter's school yesterday (Note: Teachers. Whatever we are paying them-- we need to pay them more. It's exhausting. I'd take trying a case anytime over dealing with squirmy, wiggly, ants-in-their pants kindergarteners!)    

I have always loved navy blue. Along with black, grey, camel, maybe a little light pink or white thrown in every once in a while, it is a staple.  Now that I have a baby boy on the brain, I am gravitating more/ feeling sentimental toward my good friend the color blue.   This blue Asos dress is perfect for all of us mamas to be! It is flowy, not too constricting, not too exposed and it is light weight and hot weather friendly.  Give me a pair of cute fringey sandals (literally everywhere but ones similar to mine are here) an arm full of sparkly goodies and a little Tom Ford lip and I am set!  

I don't know why but I have been thinking so much about authenticity lately.  About how sad it makes me to see people-- whether it be in their personal or professional lives-- crave acceptance so much that they change who they are. It's normal to want everyone to like you and to fit in, but if some people don't, then what? I have always tried to surround myself with people who love me--the real me-- and those people sort of become my barometers in life. If my own little tribe loves me and appreciates me but also, let's me know when I am being a little foolish or a spazz - what else do I need? The truth is that this world is full of different people with different opinions and that's ok! We don't all have to be the same to coexist and I respect other people's way of life and hope they respect mine.  Individuality is difficult sometimes but if we can each manage to hang on to the things that we love and which set us apart -- even if those things are loved by no one else-- what a world we would be.  And at the end of the day, so long as your little tribe loves you, does it really matter what everyone else is doing or possibly thinking about you? Of course not! Here is to embracing what feeds our souls and makes us happy (and unique!) and realizing that people will think what they will think and we have no control over this (and no business worrying about it). Right? Stay you and true to you and keep doing what brings you joy. Wishing you the lovliest of weekends~ Sweetly, Michelle 

What Motherhood Means to Me (Part One)

{Written while GOT obsessing....so many theories, so little time...}  Mother's Day is fast approaching and this time of the year always makes me reflective....mostly about what I can do for my mom and my grandmother to show them how much I appreciate them and the incredible women they are.  Lately (maybe because I have a nice, round, getting-to-the-third trimester reminder), I have been thinking about motherhood and what it means to me and how it has changed my life.   I went into this journey with no real expectations.  I was never that girl who thought about weddings, wedding dresses or babies....I was focused on studying, and then law school,  and then working like a slave for partnership.  When my husband and I started our family, I was excited and scared but oblivious to what it really meant. Motherhood is so much more than simply having  a child.  For me, motherhood was the permanent passing of a baton from living for myself to forever living for someone else.  Gone were the days of weekly manicures and daily workouts and monthly facials and all of that. Suddenly, every moment mattered.  I became so aware of leading by example and of instilling values and teaching my child life lessons.   I tell everyone that motherhood is very personal- it will be different for everyone because every child is different, but generally, there are some things that are universal and here is what I believe they are:

• It really does take a village. Motherhood practically requires other moms around you...for support, for advice, for reassurance that you are not completely screwing up...and to help. To my daughter (and for my son when he is born), all of my friends are Aunties and these girls (and my mom and grandmother and aunts and cousins) are there for me (and me for them) for birthdays and sporting events and dance recitals and for carpool and if my daughter is sick, one of my besties might pick her up and help.  Moms need help...and need to help each other.  You can't tackle it alone.  
• There will never be enough time.  For whatever you want to get done. For house chores or day trips or play dates or whatever. And the big outings don't matter so much anyway. Be present. Be engaged. Laugh and tickle and play and DANCE (dance parties seem to cure anything, by the way). Let go of the schedule and the plans and just be. This was one of the toughest lessons for me because I am a person that makes to-do lists and in my work life at least, lives a very regulated and scheduled day. Learning to let all of that go, without guilt, takes practice. And I'm still practicing. But it's worth it.
• Establish traditions that are yours. Ever wonder what makes a family? It's all those little rituals and inside jokes and things that you do that are exclusive to you. Very early on, we established a bedtime ritual that includes reading (before it was me reading to her but now, she is reading to me too), and talking about our days and praying. For weekends, we have little rituals for Friday and Saturday nights and I hope that when my children grow up, they will remember these. I think I have the tendency to try and plan grand events and I feel bad if I don't have something fabulous on our calendars every weekend but I am starting to think that it doesn't really matter to Addison.  I think my daughter is just as happy when we are painting our nails or coloring and this is a good lesson- just be there. 
• Love your child for who they are. Before I had children, I had all sorts of ideas about how I would raise my child, how my child would  integrate into my life, how we would keep traveling and eating out just like usual. I look back on those days and laugh. I believe it all depends on the child you are blessed with. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to get a child that allows all of this ...My daughter was not that way. She did not like riding in the car, she would not sit calmly in a stroller, and that was OK. We adapted to her so that things could run smoothly. I suppose you have to let go of your expectations sometimes and just live a life that is in front of you. And guess what? That life will be incredible because it is yours...
• Get used to living in constant fear and anxiety and hope for your child. Nothing will ever mean as much to you as your child's happiness and nothing will ever hurt you as much as your child's sadness.  Everything I ever do now that I am a mother is with my family in mind. There is literally nothing I would not do for her.

For me, motherhood is a journey that I will continue to learn from every day. I've said it before, but it really did give my life new meaning for me.  And my heart has expanded to fill with a love that is like no other....

And speaking of new... We were lucky enough to spend an afternoon at Pacific City in Huntington Beach with other beautiful mommies and kiddos. Has everyone but me been already? It is so gorgeous. It has the ocean as a backdrop and the cutest stores and restaurants ever.  Adds and I were lucky enough to participate in crafts and story time and a beautiful little flower making project.  This was a preview of the events that are set to take place on Mother's Day...go to www.pacificcity.com for more details.

Thank you as always for stopping by,  dearest readers. I appreciate it so! Sweetly.... Michelle

That's the Bomb(er) 💣💣

{blogged with a bag of Easter candy} Hello there lovelies!  This weather though! We are back to sunny skies and warm temperatures here in So Cal and I am not complaining to a single person about this (however, come July when I am as big as a house, I reserve the right to complain to someone, anyone about the heat!)  So, I do not take naturally to bump dressing.  It is a challenge for me to find office wear or day-to-day wear (outside of comfy leggings, which again, #nocomplaints) that I feel feminine and put together and like myself.  I have had this bomber jacket from Nordstrom since last New Years. I have no idea why I bought this but I never wore it and since bombers are popping up everywhere right now, I thought it might make the nicest pair to my simple pleated white dress (a total closet staple). And it worked! I have these gold sandals that are not too high but high enough to keep me feeling like myself.  It is the perfect outfit for a Sunday brunch or maybea nice dinner and a movie.  I find white dresses to be so versatile-- with a jean jacket, a blazer, a long cardigan and flat sandals-- I find so many uses for them and I am a sucker for pleats.  So there you have it!  We are almost to the end of the week my friends!  Yayy!! We have my husband's cousins from Chicago coming this weekend to stay with us and I cant wait to show them around and play in the sand together!! Hope your weekend is full of rest and sunshine and fun! I appreciate you stopping by! Sweetly- Michelle

Dress  || Jacket  and here and here|| Sandals || Sunglasses