Hi Guys, I'm Kenya. A married, mother to 2 magical little girls and a designer. I started 9 Months Later in 2012 as a way to stay inspired to look and feel my best after my first daughter was born. I hope that you find a little inspiration here as well! XO
Weâre just a few days into October and I could not be happier! Â Quite honestly, this summer has been one of the loooooongest summers of my life with kids so far but, on the flip side, there is so much that Iâm super excited about as the end of the year approaches.
A little bit about our summer⌠Our amazingly awesome sitter left New York to pursue her Broadway career at the beginning of the summer.  She is so sweet and super talented that while the girls and I (mostly âIâ) were beyond sad to see her go, we were very happy for her and totally cheering her on.  Since my hubs and I were planning to start our girls in preschool in September (more on that in a minute), we didnât want to go into a whole new nanny search for 8 or so weeks.  As many of my fellow Momshells can attest to, finding suitable help is no easy task and if you live in New York, it can easily amount to a monthly mortgage payment.  So, we decided that since I already work from home, it would make sense for me to hold down the fort for a few weeks until school started.  All Iâm going to say is, itâs October,  Iâm still home with my babes and I canât restock our wine bar fast enough!  Donât get me wrong, of course I think theyâre two of the most phenomenal human beings on the planet, but, theyâre still toddlers with normal, never ending toddler needs.  Raise your hand if you know what I mean!
The reason Iâm still home (working/not working) with my girls is because the preschool theyâre registered for is brand new, which is exciting but construction on the space isnât yet complete.  Weâre waiting for this particular preschool to open because itâs 5 minutes away from our home, the program is everything that we could want for a 3.5 & 2 year old and itâs not quite a mortgage paymentâŚnot quite.  Right now, weâre expecting them to start sometime in November and, in the meantime, weâve gone ahead and gotten help becauseâŚwellâŚmommyâs sanity.
All of that being said, Fall has always been an exciting time for me.  When October shows up, my mind starts racing with thoughts of yummy knits, great coats, knee high boots, my birthday and all of the upcoming holidays.  Iâm really looking forward to creating more memories with my girls this seasonâŚwhen theyâre not in school *wink*.  What about you guys?  What are some of the things that youâre looking forward to this Fall?
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Iâm thoroughly convinced that once you become a mother your rights to having privacy in the bathroom ever again magically disappear. Â Between the unwanted attention and never ending questions all you want to do is get in and out of there as fast as possible. Â My favorite way of reclaiming some of that lost privacy (and frankly, self respect) is making time to take a long soak in my bathtub.
Baths are wonderful and they go a long way to helping me relax, clear my head and enjoy the quiet.  Here are my 5 suggestions for creating the ultimate bath experience:
1. Â PICK ONE DAY OF THE WEEK AND COMMIT TO IT
Choose a day and time when everythingâs done (or as done as itâs gonna get for that day), when the kids are asleep and the house is nice and quiet and take a bath. Â This is going to be your time. Â Carve this time of day out weekly and use it to relax and recharge. Â Sunday evenings are the perfect time to indulge in âmeâ time. Â Aside from Sunday signaling the beginning of a new week, itâs also the day I feel gives me the most opportunity to slow down and make time for a soak. Â Once youâve done it a few weeks in a row, itâll become a part of your regular schedule and youâll look forward to having this time to yourself.
2. Â INDULGE WITH GREAT BATH PRODUCTS Â
Want to make your bath feel more luxurious? Â Add a few drops of detoxifying bath foam or a scented bath oil. Â Personally, I cannot live without aromatherapy bath salts with eucalyptus. Â Actually, anything with eucalyptus gets me. Â Something about the smell just automatically makes me feel refreshed. Â I also use a vanilla based body oil after my bath for an added layer of luxury.
3. Â TURN ON THE TUNES
Thereâs nothing like listening to your favorite playlist to help you unwind. I created a global chill station that I listen to when Iâm taking a long soak so, create a playlist of the music you love and lay back and relax.Â
4. Â LIGHT A CANDLEÂ
It may seem a little corny, but turning out the lights and melting into that bathtub with the music playing and your scented candle burning will make you feel like youâre in a totally different place.  My all-time favorite is Diptyqueâs Verveine / Lemon Verbena.  It smells amazing and is the perfect way to create a soothing atmosphere.
5. Â UNPLUG
This is pretty self explanatory. Â Close the door, shut the rest of the world out and give yourself a little time to decompress and indulge in you!
Iâd love to hear some of your suggestions on how you relax and carve out time for yourself at home. Â Share some of your thoughts with me below.
  My longtime love for Manolo and Jimmy Choo can be traced directly back to Carrie B...  Â
  These raffia Fendi platforms were everything that summer!
    These are my very first and favorite pair of Christian Louboutins.
    Â
Growing up, my mother and my grandmother were (and still are) the most stylish and put together women in the world to me.  I wanted every single item in their closets and often dreamt of the day when I could hopefully become as effortlessly chic as they were.  My mom used to clean out her closet each season and I remember the excitement that I felt sitting on her bedroom floor waiting for her to make her âeditâ pile so that I could rifle through it and pick out the things that Iâd loved for so long and could finally repurpose for my own closet. Â
Now that Iâm a mom, I approach cleaning out my closets with a slightly different perspective than I used to. Â My sister Ayanna was usually the sole beneficiary of anything in my wardrobe that didnât get much attention. Â However, even though my girls are still small, the idea of them being excited to discover momâs âvintageâ Tom Ford YSL lucite heels with the enamel lips circa 2003...in 2 colors (yes, gratuitous shoe porn for all of my shoe fiends) in the back of my storage closet just makes me giddy, and all I want to do is save everything for them...sorry sis!
This spring, I decided that there were definitely quite a few pairs of shoes that I could retire. Â These days I mostly live in flats or sneakers so, it just made sense to edit and store the shoes that donât get as much love as they used to, to make room for - you guessed it, new additions. Â With each pair of heels that I put in their dustbag, I reminisced over the happy, happy day that they were purchased, the exact outfits Iâd worn them with and why I loved them so much and I hope that one day, when my two babes are old enough and weâre going through my things together, they'll have the same excitement that I used to all of those years ago on my motherâs bedroom floor.
I consider myself an amateur when it comes to makeup.  My sister Ayanna has always been the beauty and cosmetics enthusiast and I a crazy person for fashion.  I used to have really bad skin as a teenager so, I shied away from using makeup and focused on skincare.  I think that a little mascara and lip gloss was as far as my interest in makeup went back then.  Somehow though, things changed and now I just cannot get enough of makeup (or makeup tutorials).  Â
I get asked a lot about my skincare routine and some of the makeup products that I use but my answer varies depending on the time of year and my schedule. Â I have normal to dry skin, so, my winter beauty products are a little bit different from my summer routine and I definitely try to glam it up with a full face beat for date night vs. something more subtle for hitting the playground with the girls. Â
Now that the weatherâs warming up, Iâm keeping things light and easy.  Easy is key because my minis are always at my vanity grabbing at brushes and lipsticks when Iâm getting ready so, as you can imagine, itâs pretty difficult to get through any sort of extensive makeup routine.Â
I generally rotate my moisturizers based on what my skin looks like when I go to bed and when I wake up but these days after cleansing my face in the morning, I start with Aveenoâs Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15Â which, can be found at any drugstore. Â IÂ used to put sunscreen on separately but always hated the heavy feel on my skin, so Aveenoâs made my life much easier (I love that word!) with this 2-in-one moisturizer.
  I follow up with a little bit of MAC Select Moisturecover Cream Concealer in NW40 and tinted moisturizer.  Iâve talked about my love for tinted moisturizers here before and I have to say that Laura Mercier has moved to THE TOP of my list with her tinted moisturizer with SPF 20.  I wear âMochaâ and I am absolutely head over heels for it!  I mix a pea size drop of my Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance moisturizer in with it before applying and it looks flawless!
  I absolutely love this baked bronzer from Sephora!  It is super light and just looks so natural when I use it over my tinted moisturizer or even on clean, moisturized skin.  Iâve had this one for a while but you can find one similar here.  I definitely try to work this into my routine as much as possible.
  I wear lash extensions most of the time but since I havenât had a second lately to have them redone, Iâve been using this Outrageous Volume mascara from Sephora and I have to say, itâs becoming a fave!Â
  Iâm partial to red lips but love my MAC Amplified lipstick in Girl About Town.  I think pink lips in spring is so pretty.  I line my lips with it before applying and dust a little translucent powder over them which helps the color stay put.
So thatâs pretty much it. Â My current spring makeup look which is super easy to apply, especially when youâre short on time. Â I hope that it was helpful and I would love to hear about any products that you Momshells are using for spring!
Momshells, please get excited about the off the shoulder tops that are everywhere this season! Â I personally love them because I think that bare shoulders and back action is such a sexy, understated look for women. Â Â
                        Â
Strapless looks have always been my fave but having two babies has definitely changed the way my boobs look in a push up bra, so, off the shoulder tops offer me an amazing alternative to totally strapless. Â The other plus is that some styles are very forgiving so, if youâre still working on losing baby weight especially around your mid-section [raises hand 2 years later], the loose fit will do a great job of helping you feel more confident.
The OTS look is super cute and incredibly versatile.  Nordstrom.com has a great selection (Iâm waiting on two styles that I ordered by Tibi & Topshop) and there are tons of other options and price points in the market.  The one that Iâm wearing here, I designed and had made for myself.  There was some leftover fabric in my studio from a style that we cut for my childrenâs line and decided to design one while I wait for my online order to arrive.  Random, I know!
I paired my top with super skinny jeans and heels.  Iâve had the jeans for ages, but I shortened them and frayed the edges a little to make them feel fresher for spring.  Pairing volume on top with something a little more fitted on the bottom is a great recipe for balance with this type of look.
OTS works for day or evening. Â I test drove the top on the playground with my girls and it was great. Â Of course I ended up changing out of the stilettos and into more comfortable wedges because Iâm not totally psychotic and the slightly dressed down shoe went just as well with the whole look.
The bare shoulder is something that Iâm crazy over so, donât be surprised if you see this top and many others like it on serious repeat this summer!
xo, K
Top: Mine | Jeans: Gap | Shoes: Christian Louboutin (both) | Shades: Chanel
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I have to be honest with you guys, I really donât like having my picture taken. Â Iâm much more comfortable behind the camera than I am in front of it. Â My dad used to be a photographer so, growing up, it was nothing to be the subject of an impromptu photo shoot at the drop of a dime and I loved every minute of it! Â Now, not so much. Â Iâm not sure what changed along the way, but taking pictures is not something at the top of my list of fun things to do.
When I started blogging, very little of my content included photos of myself.  All I wanted to do was talk about fashion, beauty and other things that were helping me cope with my new role (and limited schedule) as a mommy.  However, you guys often email and ask me to include myself in my posts more because you want to get to know me better and see a lot of what I talk about in motion, which, makes me happy and nervous all at the same time.  Â
Iâve always hoped that 9 Months Later inspired other Momshells so, after a good pep talk with myself, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and work on overcoming my awkwardness in front of the camera because I love hearing from you all and I want to get to know you all better. Â
I decided to do my first shoot with my two beautiful little babies because they make me happy and would definitely get me to focus on something other than being in front of the camera.  Delilah is a natural (read: ham) in front of the camera but, Scarlett is my wild child and is quite unpredictable.  So, as you can imagine, the shoot was a circus but at the end of it all, I have to say that Iâm so happy with the photos.  They totally capture the love, the craziness and the imperfection that is my new life with these two, which, Iâm sure you guys can understand!
Iâm totally not a fashion and beauty expert, but I do have lots of goodies to share with you in the coming weeks, so, as requested, get ready to see lots of fun stuff that I hope continues to inspire and motivate you paired with a little bit of moi!
Hey Guys. Â So a little while back I shared my short list of things that Iâm most excited about for spring and I promised to share a few details and why I was so excited about them. Â
First up is nail color - more specifically, pastel and sorbet colored nails.  Why do I love these so much?  I mean, pastels and sorbets arenât anything new, but theyâre just so fun and light and are totally making me happy lately.  They feel fresh for the season and Zoya has a great lineup of nail colors that fit the bill.
Iâve always been one to play it safe when it came to nail color, not wanting to go too far out on a limb which, is very weird considering: 1) Itâs nail color for goodness sake and 2)Â Iâm a creative having worked in fashion the majority of my adult life where trying new things is what itâs all about (go figure). Â These colors however have me hooked! Â
If youâve been following me on Insta, youâve know that I have a specific (and probably slightly unhealthy) obsession with longer wear nail color. Â With 2 toddlers, longer wear nail color is a must and between the playground, opening endless (and I mean endlessss) snack packages, bath time and getting things done around the house, my nails definitely take a beating. Â
Iâve recently been test driving Chanelâs new long wear nail colors and I love!  Meanwhile, note to Chanel: more colors please!  Zoya however, is a brand that Iâve raved about many times before because of their toxin free formula.  I started using the brand when I was pregnant with Delilah and it still remains my holy grail for longer wear nail color but, your mani will only last longer if you use the Zoya base + top coats along with the nail color.  I tried to use another regular base coat once when I ran out of the Zoya base and the next day my nails looked disastrous!
Above and below are a few of the colors that Iâm trying out this season. A couple of the colors are new and some have been in the line - one is actually a staple that I use all of the time (which you can see from the half used bottle on the right).  Iâm a serious fan of Zoya and these colors are a welcome change from my weekly basics, but, no matter the brand, you should totally try out a few pastel or sorbet colors this season.  I promise looking down at your newly manicured nails will definitely put a smile on your face - especially when youâre in the middle of a toddler tantrum.
(mwah), K
(From left: Robyn, Tiana, Tulip, Laurie, Show White)
Spring has always been an exciting time for me but now with the girls, springâs arrival has really become a family affair.  Delilah loves flowers as much as I do and sheâs looking forward to watching the peonies in our garden âgrow upâ.  Scarlett is mesmerized with the Swiffer duster, so even at a year an a half, sheâs been of some help with the spring cleaning.  As for myself, the most exciting thing about spring is breaking out all of the fun new clothing items and accessories Iâve been hoarding since fall and modeling them for my little minis.Â
Iâll be sharing more details on all of my favorites over the next few weeks - including why I love them so much and how to style them, but for now, hereâs the short list of items that Iâm particularly looking forward to this season:
                         For months it was business as usual. Life couldnât have been better. My daughter was growing bigger and healthier each day. My skin was clear. My nails were strong and I still didnât own one item of maternity clothing. Among other things, my beauty routine included a weekly Friday morning appointment with my chic and utterly hilarious, hair stylist Antonio followed quickly and closely by my weekly mani and pedi with Jin at the nail salon. My eyebrows were thread every other week by Sanjii and waxing with Marta was on deck once a month. Pregnancy so far was a cakewalk.  I couldnât understand what all the fuss was about. Â
Fast forward a few months later, my daughter arrives and then I realized one small thing ⌠Iâm an idiot! My sweet, little girl with her baby smell and her cute baby rolls managed to bring mamaâs program to a screeching halt! I helplessly watched my entire personal care schedule pack her bags, get in the car and drive off of the cliff Thelma and Louise style. Â
Iâve always been a big supporter of Man-Caves.  I mean, I totally believe in togetherness and quality family time, but Iâd much rather my husbandâs Playstation and sports stuff be tucked in a land very far away where thereâs no chance of my ever seeing it.  Actually, I think that everyone in the house should have a âhappy placeâ thatâs just theirs.  My happy place used to be my spa master bathroom, but between my 2 tiny little bodyguards that follow me around every inch of our home and the Bubble Guppies potty training decor, my would be sanctuary has become a scene out of Grand Central Station.
Realizing that our beautiful brownstone could probably use a few more happy places now that our girls are getting bigger, my husband & I decided to re-embark upon a home renovation project. Â I say re-embark because weâd started the project a few years back when I was pregnant with my first daughter and it was a nightmare! Â Needless to say, weâve been living with an unfinished kitchen since then.
While our reno to-do list is pretty long, weâve decided to take things one step at a time beginning with creating a new happy place for Mommy - a calm, modern, organized and updated work studio space (with a door) where I can disappear for hours designing and blogging, which, Iâm super excited about. Â
My studio space is right off of our backyard, so it provides me with tons of light and an amazing view of my garden, especially in the summertime - the perfect blank slate for a redesign.  Itâs a disaster area right now with sewing machines, boxes of samples and fabric everywhere, and Iâll be sharing updates as we go along, but in the meantime, here are a few photos that are serving as some major inspiration.
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Hey guys!  Itâs been forever since my last post, hasnât it?  While I could run down the list of âthingsâ I wonât bore you with the deets.  Letâs just leave it at life has been a mini-circus, as my fellow Momshells can understand.  However, Iâm back now and between my circle of pregger Momshells-to-be, endless spring inspo and amazing new beauty products Iâve been trying out, I have tons of content to share with you, starting now....
Before les bebes and before I started working from home, my makeup routine was probably a â9âł and happily took the better portion of the morning to perfect.  Once I started working from home however, my morning beauty routine went down to about a â4-ishâ.  With the littlesâ demands for yogurt, tutus and the iPad for morning ABC Mouse lessons before our godsend of a sitter arrives, 2 minutes is pretty much all I get to make myself presentable to the world.
Enter: the new NARS Matte Velvet Skin Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. Â This product has changed my mornings. Â Now when I wake up, after I cleanse and moisturize, I apply a light coat of NARS skin tint, some highlighter (maybe a little contour if the girls are submersed in tech land and Iâm feeling adventurous), mascara, lip color and Iâm ready to go.
This is the perfect everyday, lightweight product.  Iâm especially excited to use it during the warm weather months because I really donât love wearing too much product when itâs super hot.  There are 12 shades to choose from and those of you familiar with NARS products know that NARS has one of best palettes in the market for all skin tones.Â
Honestly, if Iâm short on time (which is always) or not up to putting on a full face (which is always), this tint is more than enough to get my day started and leave me feeling like Iâve made a considerable effort which, for Momshells is quite the accomplishment!
For those of you who know me, stating that Iâm a shoe whore (yes, I said it) is an understatement.  My undying love of a good stiletto dates back to my senior year in high school when I used my entire first paycheck from my part-time after school job to buy a pair of black suede pumps that cost $250.  My dad hit the roof over my questionable financial decision making abilities and attempted to ground me for 2 weeks.  I say attempted because my mom (aka. a fellow shoe lover) intervened on my behalf.  Men *smh*.  2 weeks however, would have been a small price to pay for how my brand new suede pumps made me feel.  It may have been impractical but my oh my did I feel invincible when I wore them!
Anyways, now that Iâm raising two tiny ones (who btw are showing strong signs of becoming members of our shoe lover tribe) and either working from home or running errands, Iâve been forced to re-think my shoe choices daily. Â I mean, letâs face it, walking around the house in a 5âł heel with no one around to catch a pang of shoe envy isnât fun. Â Although, my big girl gets really upset with me when I tell her she canât wear my shoes to the playground. Â So, that might be something...
That being said, hereâs a peek at my post-kid short list of stylish and comfy shoes you should be adding to your rotation stat!  Just remember to leave room for those heels because feeling invincible will never be impractical.
xo,
K
A great neutral - New Balance Suede & Mesh Sneakers - $80. luisaviaroma.com
Super cool and comfy suede point toe - Nicholas Kirkwood - $450. bergdorfgoodman.com
For a burst of fun color I like - Nike Air Pegasus - $100. netaporter.com (Other colors on sale)
These are great with skirts - Maison Margiela Sneakers - $395. netaporter.com
Three words⌠Press On Nails.  Saying that immediately takes me back to a time when my walls were plastered with boy band posters and I was addicted to every Molly Ringwald movie ever made. I never thought I would be saying those words again but, here I am.  Over the past 2 weeks, press on nails have become my new quick solve when Iâm short on time and canât get to the nail salon, which, Iâm sure as many of you moms know is probably about always!
The first time I used them was for a last minute getaway to Miami with the hubs a few weeks back.  Between making arrangements for the kids with the Grands, packing everyone up, and freaking out over last minute âmy bodyâs not readyâ swimsuit options, there was zero time to get nails done and I happened upon Kiss Press On Nails in the cosmetics aisle at CVS.  Sidenote: CVSâŚ. I mean⌠is there a more perfect place on earth to buy fun, inexpensive beauty products?  Anyways, I was excited to try press ons again because who doesnât like options?  That night, once the girls went to bed, I glued, filed and painted my way to glam nails all in under an hour. Â
Then last week for my birthday, I decided to get fancy and try some that were already colored and decorated with nail art. Â
These things are great! Â They last for about a week and a half, donât pop off and when youâre ready they soak off in nail polish remover in no time. Â While I love, love, love adding them to my list of possibilities, press ons are definitely not something that I would recommend for long term wear and my nail tech would kill me if she knew, so letâs just keep this amongst girlfriends, shall we?
If thereâs one thing that becoming a mom to my 2 little beauties has taught me itâs how to complete my daily beauty routine in half of the time in order to avoid a simultaneous toddler/infant meltdown.  Now, I donât know about you but mornings around here usually start off really great, with lots of smiles and laughs and hugs and kisses and then somewhere down the line, things always take a turn because mommyâs in the bathroom taking way too long to apply primer and curl her lashes.  So, figuring out how to manage looking like a human being in the 0.3 seconds that my girls give me to get out of the house and head to the playground was a priority.
Beauty goddess Bobbi Brown once told my best friend that if she didn't have time to properly apply her makeup, it was better to go without anything.  I totally agree and have come to believe that even if I (gasp!) donât have time to apply any kind of product in the mornings, a well groomed eyebrow can go a long way.  Enter Smashboxâs Brow Tech To Go.
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I love this product because itâs a multi-tasker.  One end of the stick allows you to fill in and define your eyebrows and the other has a gel brush that helps them to stay put.  Quick and efficient.  Check and check.  Using this product, has forever changed the face of my mornings (no pun intended).  Daily casualties are at a minimum and good times are being had by all.  Now, I if I can just figure out the rest of this âmommyâ thing.
Itâs been way too long since my last post, hasnât it? Many of you have been emailing me asking if Iâm still publishing, and the short answer is YES! Iâve been M.I.A. because, after having Munchkin #2, I really needed to take a break, decompress, find myself and find my new rhythm.
Iâm not ashamed to admit, the transition from Mommy of 1 pretty little one to Mommy of 2 pretty little ones semi-rocked my world.  Between being home with the girls, building two businesses, overseeing home renos (the list goes on), I was running on fumes.  So, the hubs and I decided that I needed a break (READ: Happy Wife.  Happy Life.) and we all headed to my Parentsâ house in the dirty south (a.k.a. sunny Florida). Â
Mom offered to help out with the girls while I relaxed and Hubs told me to stay as long as I needed and not to worry about anything else. Â I have to admit, as a New Yorker, I felt a little guilty about escaping and not toughing out the brutal winter, but I wasnât crazy - well, I kind of was at that point - but I wasnât crazy enough to turn down the offer to go south for the winter.
When we all arrived in Florida, the only thing I had planned, was to sleep the entire time.  However as the days went on, I found a few things to lighten the mood, help re-build my confidence and  bring me out of my zombie-like state.  Iâm not talking reading a stack of self-help books all day by the pool, I mean these were simple, fun, random things like...
THE WELCOME TO MIAMI SIGN...
No other sign can impart both fear and joy in anyone like this one can.  Joy, because you know that Miami (even in the wintertime) will always make you feel like youâre on someoneâs Riviera. Fear, because that sign, can make the best hard body see Homer Simpson when they look in the mirror.  In the end, I chose Joy over fear, because, letâs face it...I actually did look like Homer Simpson and probably wouldnât be bikini ready until my little Sissy Boo was headed to college.
GROCERY STORE WINE & JUNK FOOD...
Honestly, it doesnât get much better than walking into a Publix to buy sun block and randomly finding cheap wine and Chesterâs Hot Fries in the same aisle... It had instantly become the Best. Trip. Ever.
PALM TREE LINED WALKS AND ZUMBA...
I would rather have every eyebrow hair plucked out one by one and then have my eyebrows tattooed back on, than exert myself by working out in any way, shape or form.  However, I really wanted to get my body back to something, Iâd vaguely recognize when naked.  So, between early morning strolls with the girls and attending the best Zumba classes ever at my momâs gym, I started to feel very Momshell-ish again.
DISCOUNT DRUG STORE MAKEUP...
This one is self explanatory. Â Fave mascara 50% off = WINNING!
GIRL TIME....
Every Momshell needs to spend some time with her girls and being able to spend time with my bestie âLâ who lives in Florida with her beautiful and fabulous family was AMAZEBALLS!  We kept it fun and civilized (most nights).  Spending time with her really lifted my mood and reminded me how laughing with a bestie until your stomach hurts can help make everything else seem doable.
As if hanging out with one BFF didnât already make it feel like Christmas every day, there was the surprise visit from my girlfriend âSâ who called as soon as she landed in Miami and told me to pack up the Munchkins and get down to her hotel stat for some 5-Star weekend dress up and poolside fun! Â
By the time the girls and I were ready to leave Florida 3 months later, I felt brand new, relaxed, clear and focused. Â I donât know if anyone can ever be fully mentally and physically prepared for motherhood the first, second or even third time around but in the end, I was very blessed to have a hubby that understood what I needed and parents that let us invade their home, dirty diapers and all. Â
So, hereâs my humble advice to any of you Momshells that might be struggling to find yourselves in the midst of the chaos... Even if itâs not a 3-month stay in Miami, inhaling ridiculous amounts of cheap Chianti and hot fries, or applying your $2.99 mascara score in your momâs bathroom with your best girlfriend, try to find the small things that make you happy.  If you do, you may just wake up one day and realize how beautiful, utterly amazing and capable youâve been all along!
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Happy Mother's Day Momshells! It doesnt get much better than these sweet, loveable, awesome little people. You are doing an amazing job. Did you hear me? You are doing an AMAZING job. Bravo beauties âĄâĄ
I learned a long time ago that beautiful, delicate things, plus small children almost always equals the perfect recipe for disaster. Â There's no getting around it. Â No matter how well behaved your (or someone else's) little ones might be, there's always an adorable little hand with this morning's oatmeal on it or baby spit up waiting in the wings to greet you. Â
However, when I became a mommy, I was determined to figure out how to have fun with my girls and maintain my right to wear pretty things that make me smile. Â For spring, that includes this season's very popular suede.Â
On a good day sans the kiddies I would easily consider a cool suede skirt or sleek trench coat "at risk" for unfortunate episodes, so, accessories are the perfect, easier to navigate solution for the slightly faint of heart. Â There are lots of options at different price points in the market, but, here are a couple of items to help you stay stylish and kid friendly in suede this spring:
A suede clutch in a rich hue is the perfect accessory for day or night.  I love this Karen Millen Suede Clutch, $175. karenmillen.com.
This chunky heel in natural suede makes me so happy! Â Pair this shoe with your wide leg jean for play or a sleek sheath for a great work look. Â Gianvito Rossi Suede Pump, $650. netaporter.com