Squally Muffin

On 7/18/22 at 6:14am, 1 WEEK & 1 DAY past their due date, our newest family member made their appearance. 🥰🥹 We are 2 weeks into a lifetime of wonderful memories. ✨ Our family has been filled with so much joy, breast milk, and sweet baby noises. 👶🏽 In the mean time, who doesn’t love baby toes? 🦶🏽😍😩 They’re soooo soft 😩😴 #babyannouncement #july18 #8daysoverdue #cancerseason #babytoes #newbornbaby #familyof4 #2weeksold #ohhappyday #babyishere #yallcanstopaskingmenow #catsoutofthebag #newbornbabyphoto #mondayinspiration #squallymuffin (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CguFFifr158/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy 29th birthday to my husband, @kingherod_! This year has been.. a year for us, but I appreciate you trusting in me and believing in all of my crazy ideas for our family and our future. Cheers to another year of martial bliss! 🥂Muffin, @gigithechinesecrestie, & I love you so very much and we hope that you enjoyed your one day off from being our photographer because it’s back to work tomorrow. 🙃😛🥳 #birthdayboy #29thbirthday #29andfeelingfine #pandemicbirthday #squallymuffin #birthdayvibes (at Roosevelt Row Arts District) https://www.instagram.com/p/CH38-NCl02k/?igshid=1ut79llksv0do

Today’s #throwbackthursday post is dedicated to my daughter because yesterday she was serving LEWKS in front of her preschool! 👏🏽😍🤩✨ I asked for a quick picture to send to her Memaw and my girl gave me SEVERAL poses and slayedddd me! I was speechless! 😶 Now if she could keep this same energy for our next sponsored photo shoot... 😅 wishful thinking. I know. 🥴 Let’s finish this week out strong 💪🏽 #gratefulthankfulblessed #blackgirlmagic  #daughterlove  #trusttheprocess #squallymuffin #blackgirljoy 🐫 #explorepage✨  #dontworrybehappy #blackjoy #winningmindset #getexcited #beautifulblackbabies #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodmoments #daughterslove #daughtersrock #momblogger #mombloggers #momblogs #mombloggersofig #momblogging #igkids #igkidsphoto #kidsoninstagram #mykidsmylife (at San Tan Valley, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHxtBNTlN0M/?igshid=s13xtjbiwyj1

#throwback just cause I love this picture 🥰 Oh yeah, #CountEveryVote ✅🇺🇸🗳 #election2020 #election #bepatient #myman❤️ #mymancrusheveryday #blackmensmiling #blackmenrock #showlove #loveyourspouse #marriedtomybestfriend #theregoesmybaby #lookbutdonttouch #mineminemine #blacklove #beautifulsmiles #blackmenmagic #fatherhoodunplugged #husbandappreciationpost #iloveyouforever #blackfatherhood #blackfathers #fatherhoodrocks #daddylife #mancrushforever #alwaysandforever❤️ #HusbandsofInstagram #mce #squallymuffin (at Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHNnt7eF6Cm/?igshid=9nzcgqkntdvk

Vote. She’s depending on us. 🗳🇺🇸 #vote #vote2020 #electionday #blackvotesmatter #blacklivesmatter #exerciseyourright #exerciseyourrighttovote #votevotevote #voteforchange #votelikeyourlifedependsonit #votebymail #voted #votenotfight #squallymuffin #november3rd #election2020 #presidentialelection #thisisserious #votingmatters #voting #blackvotersmatter #blackvote #betonblack #powerintheblackvote #blackisking #blackispower #wakandaforever #africanamerican #africanamericans #votewisely (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHIbuhvlPZE/?igshid=icqte55h7b4c

Happy Halloween from our 2 @minions 💛🎃 Enjoy these images from my 1st and maybe last photo shoot with Muffin & @gigithechinesecrestie 🥴😅🤣 I am not okay. 😖🤪 Muffin’s Costume: @partycity GiGi’s Costume: @target 🎯 #happyhalloween #happyhalloween🎃 #happyhalloween🎃👻 #minions #halloweencostumes #minions😍 #minionslove #halloweeneveryday #halloweenart #squallymuffin #dressupfun #holidaymagic #halloween2020 #halloween🎃 #halloween #dogcostume #dogcostumes #pethalloween #dressupyourpetday #halloweenfordogs #puppycostume #puppiesxdogs #minionsfans #minionsforever #banfieldlife #gigithechinesecrestie #blackmomsblog #dogmomsofinstagram #motherhoodunfiltered #unfilteredmotherhood (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHAun4xFe5a/?igshid=hgaah71flusu

Do you love to read? If you don’t, you should! #sponsored This school year is epically different than the years prior and now more than ever, our kids will be looking to us to feel connected. Muffin and I love to read together and today we want to encourage you to read, share, and connect with us through amazing apps like @epic4kids! Epic is the leading digital reading platform for kids. They have over 40,000 amazing books to choose from for ages 12 and under. Muffin is pretty early in her reading career, so we do lots of team reading. She especially likes to look at the pictures and make up her own story before we tackle reading the words on the page. Reading together always sets us up for a great time! #ReadShareConnect #Epic4Kids #sponsored (at Phoenix, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2bBLLlx9O/?igshid=1otymgmfyi02b

‘‘Twas the week of Halloween ft. my favorite kitty cat 🎃🐈 #kittycat #halloween #halloweenoutfit #5yearsold #blackcat #squallymuffin #dressupfun #holidaymagic #halloween2020 #halloween🎃 #kidsclothing #dressingup #blackcatsrule #pigtailbraids #kidsfashion #animalshoes #mondaymood #mondaymonday #hellomonday #halloweenforkids #halloweenforever #innocentfun #modelposes #sassygirl #bigmood #halloweeneveryday #halloweenlife #pandemichalloween #preschooler #preschoolfashion (at San Tan Valley, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGz4sbvFXyf/?igshid=1gr9v4f8b3eup

Sunday Funday ✨🚲 How did you spend this beautiful Sunday? We sold so much stuff in preparation for this move; but one that I particularly felt bad about was Muffin’s bike! My girl loves to go bike riding; and she can go for miles too. 👏🏽 After a couple of weeks of shopping, I bought her this beautiful bike. It goes perfectly with her bright and bubbly personality. It was delivered while I was working on Friday and I came home and put it together all by myself. After being bit on my thumb by a kitty and hurting several other fingers during the assembly process. 🥴 Her happy face after seeing it assembled was all the reward I needed. 💛 Today was my first time escorting her on a bike ride in our new neighborhood and let me tell you, it was perfect. 💞 I hope that you all are being safe and having a wonderful holiday weekend! #sundayfunday #sundayfunday☀️ #3dayweekend #schwinn #schwinnbikes #sundayvibes #labordayweekend #bikeride #bikeriding #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodintheraw #blackgirlmagic #blackmothers #squallymuffin #gigithechinesecrestie #makingmemories❤️ #familytimeisthebesttime #itsthelittlethingsinlife #phoenixarizona #santanvalley #santanvalleyaz #eastvalleyaz #eastvalley #arizona #arizonalife #arizona🌵 #mothersofdaughters #bikeriders #preschoolathome (at San Tan Valley, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE0Vl3ZFuhW/?igshid=1xyezcjl8f4k1

This fall is not going to be like any other before it; nonetheless kids still need the proper nutrition to learn, grow, and use their imaginations! We’re prioritizing spending time outside with friends when possible. It always astounds me the depths of imaginative play that kids will display when given the tools for success! Today’s tool is @CLIFKid’s Chocolate Chip Zbars (which areSmart Snack compliant!) CLIF Kid Bars are an USDA organic, oat-based energy bar. Obviously they taste, but what you can’t taste is the 10-12g of whole grains in every bar: plus it’s a great source of fiber! Check out my stories to see more cute pictures of the #CLIFKidCrew and get a promo code for 20% off your own Bar Variety Pack! https://www.instagram.com/p/CEC4Buslbrq/?igshid=1bn8jzf5hxlfq

Here’s your daily dose of Black Girl Joy to remind you that there’s always a reason to smile, even if you don’t feel like it! I challenge all of you: give me one reason for you to smile this week! I’ll start: we’re alive and well! That’s makes me smile. 😁 Even though there’s a lot of change in our near future, we’re ready to face it head on with big smiles just like this! Especially when we want to cry. 😅🙃😄 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ #blackgirljoy #blackgirlhairstyles #mondaymotivation #mondaymood #mondayvibes #alwayssmile #behappyandsmile #youdeservethebest #squallymuffin #blackdaughters #blackgirlsrock #blackgirlmagic #naturalhair #melaninpoppin #blackisbeautiful #laughter #laughoutloud #blackmentalhealthmatters #blackmentalhealth #blackmentalwellness #blackisbeautiful #blackmotherhood #blackmothersmatter #blackmothersbelike #blackmomskillingit #blackmomsbelike #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodthroughinstagram (at Monday Motivation) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_nZxyF12M/?igshid=1fzdhjbe6f13p

#AD Today is going to be #EggceptionallyGreat! With fall quickly approaching, we’re all trying to get “back to” normal. I don’t know about you, but this will be an entirely new normal for us in every respect! What does your new normal look like? One thing I for sure want to prioritize in this new normal is eating healthier snacks. It’s easy to do that with @greatdayfarms Hard-Boiled Eggs! I picked up a 2-pack from my local #Walmart’s Deli section for such an amazing price! They also have a 6-pack, which may or may not be in my refrigerator too... Sometimes I just eat the eggs & other times I quickly add them to a salad to add some more protein: either way, I can’t beat the convenience of them when they’re priced so deliciously! You can be Eggceptionally Great with Great Day Farms too by swiping up in my stories or clicking the link in my bio! (at Back to Work!) https://www.instagram.com/p/CD4jygZFA4N/?igshid=73vb3rve9c3e

Do you love rainbows? We do too! #sponsored Obviously Muffin is loving her new @officialrainbowhigh dolls! We have Ruby, Sunny, & Violet; they each have a beautifully colorful personality to match their undeniable style! Click the link in my bio to learn more about these cute girls! #collecttherainbow #RainbowHigh (at Somewhere Over The Rainbow) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDxDdEMFuTX/?igshid=1cf4tk3cakmbl

Address me like the Queen I am! 👸🏽 Thank you @masterpiecemeco for turning me into a Nubian Queen! I can’t wait to put this beauty up in my office. When I’m feeling down, I can look up at my MasterPiece and remind myself that I am royalty, I have value, I am worthy, I am strong, and I am regal. 👑 Check out my stories to see my reaction when I opened this beauty! If you want to turn yourself into a beautiful masterpiece, whether it be inspirational like mine or you’re looking to humor yourself with some of their other hilarious options, use my discount code: LARIA10 to get 10% off! #masterpieceme (at Queen Of The Castle ;)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDt1SAGFWGZ/?igshid=1kmqp80eakals

My minion is an actual Minion!! #sponsored Guess who’s obsessed with her costume from @partcity? All this for less than $20!! Halloween won’t be ready for the Squally Squad this year! Party City makes it easy to create unforgettable Halloween experiences for your family; there’s no reason not to when they have free delivery & curbside pick up options too! #partycity #partycityhalloween #halloweencostume #socialspotters (at Minions from Despicable Me at Universal Studios Hollywood) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDopxe0lQrp/?igshid=frubth4l4qnx

Rest in love Bella, aka Cute. 🐭🌈 You don’t have to pretend that everything is okay anymore, sweet girl. You put up a GREAT fight despite every thing. I know you would’ve kept fighting even longer if we asked you to, but we couldn’t let you suffer anymore. 💔 You got me through undergrad and veterinary school. You befriended everyone you met and gave everyone new perspective about ferrets. Going to Home Depot just won’t be the same without you. 😭 There’s not another ferret in this world like you and we will make sure that every ferret we have after you KNOWS what big shoes they have to fill. As a veterinarian, I’m at peace with death, but that doesn’t make this any easier. We love you Bella. My first daughter. My best friend. My partner in crime. Life just won’t be the same without you. 😭 (at Knoxville, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDmkifHFzPE/?igshid=xtdyng9akj92

Challenge Accepted ✔️ We are strong, but we become empowered when we show up for each other. I’m not sure where this challenge originated, but I’m always down for uplifting and support my fellow women. I’m smiling in this photo, but if you knew what I was going through that day... I had EVERY reason not to smile. I had every reason to crawl into the bed and hide under my covers and not show up, but I showed up for my friends which in turn allowed me to show up for MYSELF. I will continue showing up for myself and others because you never know what it is that you may say or do that will give someone else the encouragement that they need to continue pressing on. If you are in need of a push today, allow me to be that shoulder that you lean on today. You are smart. You are capable. You are beautiful, inside and out. You are valuable. You are wonderful. You are perfectly imperfect; and I love you. 🖤 I was nominated by a few wonderful women: @margalooo, @itschelsee, @radiantchild__, & @valerienboone. Thank you ladies. 🖤🤍 (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDMIcuglB7B/?igshid=1qmtyhiwbagz5