Friday Favorites ...

* I love the look of the fans from The Modern Fan Company.

* TKees Flip Flops are made to match your skin tone.

* This nursing pillow called, My Best Friend looks like it'd be great.

* Stainiac from The Balm has multiple purposes.

the best thing ever

they've appeared on my friday favorites ...

but i love them more now than ever.

i can't wait to dedicate a post to ...

the best thing ever

hopefully i'll get some time soon.

stay tuned!

Riptide Jumpsuit

MUST HAVE:

Riptide jumpsuit from Free People.

it is comfy, cool, and versatile.

I've worn mine everyday since I've gotten it.

It comes in black and heather grey.

I have both. Oops.

but hey, it's worth it.

Trust me...

Tradition?

It can be hard to start new traditions, but there's one tradition that I've actually enjoyed being a part of the last few years. It started just a few months after I started working at KSL. I was given the task of producing 4 stories for KSL's broadcast of the Days of '47 Parade. Having never lived in Salt Lake, I had no idea where to begin. Luckily, I got some help.

Luckily my sister-in-law Meagan, and her mom Janice are parade junkies and had been for a long time. It started with Janice. It had been a tradition in her family to watch the parade from Main Street, and it got passed down to Meagan who slept out every year to get a good spot on the route until she started having babies. Now, she just gets up really early to get a good spot.

They've included me the last 3 years, and I have so enjoyed watching the parade with them. Which brings me back to the point of this whole post. I was sitting at lunch with some women from St. George the other day and somehow the parade came up. I said I was going. Then, all but one of the women asked what parade I was talking about. I replied, "I go every year, it's tradition."

Sometimes, traditions start without us even knowing. It's fun, and it's fun to include others in our traditions. I'm so thankful I was included in a tradition that started so many, many years ago.

* These are the only pictures I've ever taken at the parade. So sad. I'm for sure going to be better at documenting our parade watching!

Friday Favorites ...

* Thanks to Lindsey for the heads up on CND Shellac. Manicures last 2 + weeks. Love it! Now I want to buy it.

* Mama Bargains has multiple deals a day!

* Have you tried the new Pretzel M&M's? They're pretty good.

* Group Deals on KSL.com.

Breastfeeding: Why I love it.

Nursing somehow came up the other day while I was in the makeup room getting ready for Studio 5. A colleague asked me what I liked about it. I immediately told her how much I love nursing and that I am a total advocate of it, but I didn't have time to share some of the reasons I love breastfeeding and some of the observations I've made over the last 10 months.

→ It takes some getting used to.

I remember thinking to myself, "Oh my, is this how my boobs are going to feel forever?" They were engorged and I had sore nipples. It was uncomfortable, but it didn't last forever. Think about pregnancy. It's not always comfortable, and it lasts 9 months. I was nauseous for the first 20 weeks. My boobs felt normal again after 6 weeks. Nursing was also something I had never done before. Of course it was going to take some getting used to, I'd never done it before.

→ Support is a must.

I come from a long line of breastfeeders, so I had a built in support system. When I was in the hospital, I had the lactation consultant come to my room a number of times. It is critical to get all the help and support you can.

→ You can't stress.

I was lucky. My milk came in the day I got home from the hospital, and I didn't even feel it. Linley latched on right away, and has always been a good nurser. I think part of the reason it went so smooth is because I didn't stress. I let my body do what it was made to do. (It helped that my Mom didn't allow me to stress.) I also think it's easy to stress that you're baby isn't getting enough, or you're not making enough milk. It's all about supply and demand. Who says you aren't making enough milk? Unless your baby is losing weight, your'e probably making plenty. And, you have to remember for the first little bit your body is trying to figure out how much to make. It's always changing, so is your baby.

→ You don't have to supplement.

I'm sure there are times and reasons when supplementing is necessary, but most of the time it's not. Back to supply and demand. Your baby tells your body how much milk to make. If your baby is getting formula, he or she will need less milk.

→ There's not a magic number.

Our husbands typically eat more than we do. And, I may eat more than my sister or friend. We all eat different amounts, so to think that every baby is going to eat the exact same number of ounces is silly. The other day I pumped for the first time in a long time. I got nothing out of one, and about 4 ounces out of the other. I started to stress a little, and worried maybe she wasn't getting enough ... but she's fine. She's happy and she's eating baby food so the ounces are going to vary.

→ Time to rest.

Nursing ensures that a mom sits down and relaxes throughout the day. Linley only takes a few minutes to nurse now, but I cherished the hours and hours I was able to sit down and take a break and nurse.

→ The bond factor.

It's such a great time to bond with your baby. I love that breastfeeding is something only I can do with my baby.

→ It's what's best for baby.

The nutrition is amazing. Colostrum and breast milk are full of everything a baby needs to grow and develop. It's a power food.

A girl I went to college with started a project called At Mother's Breast. Click here to read more about the project. I've really enjoyed hearing other mom's thoughts on breastfeeding.

GoOd EaTs!

We've really been loving this place.

There's one at Fashion Place.

And, there's another one on Foothill by the University.

My favorite so far is the BBLT.

But, I also really like the Oriental Salad.

And, the chocolate chip cookies.

And, the chocolate baby bunt. Haha!

Try it out. You'll like it!

Faves{on}Friday →

1 Baby Mum Mums are great for teething babies. They are great to bite on, but they don't get all over. They're made from rice and they melt in the mouth.

2 Jenny Jump Up is a fun way to get your child on their feet. It was only $15 at Wal-Mart, and she can swing or jump in it.

3 Magic Stroller Bag looks like the perfect way to hang a bag on a stroller. It also has a strap that can clip to the holes to make it a shoulder bag.

4 Buckhead Bettie Beach Bum Big Bag looks like a great bag to take to the beach or pool. It's big so it would fit towels and other things. It looks soft and light weight.

recent read

compelling story

full of life lessons and insights

interesting

worth the read

Braid Headband

This one I've been trying to do for a really long time. But like I said, it takes a little bit of longer hair to pull this one off.

But trust me, there are always ways to do these, even if you have to just try and experiment a little...

This is the picture that has been my inspiration for who knows how long...

What can I say, her hair is to die for. Messy but also very put together.
Well, obviously, I don't have a professional to do my hair everyday, so there are definately differences, but sometimes you have to just play around with it enough so it works for you.
This is the final outcome...

Here are the steps to getting the "real hair braided headband"
(and a disclosure is that I had my hair like this before bed and my roommate
thought it was hilarious, hence the picture of me in glasses. Anyway...)

Take your hair, parted, straight back, how every you prefer and lift the top section up.
Like this....

Then, pull hair out from both sides, or one side if you prefer just a smaller braid up top.

Then you braid both sides, but make sure that the braid you do is braided under, and not over like normal.

This is also known as an "outside" braid.

(I use small clear elastics, that way I know for sure the braid will stay and not fall)

Then, once you have braided both sides, or one side, depending on your choosing,

take one side and cross it over the top of your head. Grab the bobby pins (preferable to match your hair color) and start pinning.

(HINT: I've found that if you don't open the bobby pin, and just slide it in, it holds the hair better and much more tight).

Then repeat until it is secure enough and feel confident it won't fall.

Now, the last part is up to you.

The first time I tried this, I ended up just putting the left over hair back into a low bun. But you can do whatever you feel is most comfortable.

What I found looks best, and it is how my hair is in the top picture, is I split the hair in half, and twisted each side and swept it across the back of my head, if that makes any sense, and pinned until that side felt secure enough to stay, then repeated to the other side.

An alternative to doing this, if you feel as if your hair isn't long enough is to

buy the actual braided hair headbands. Google them in, and they should work like a charm.

They have them pretty cheap at sephora.com.

Be creative and have fun. Don't worry about it looking perfect or looking a certain way.

This hairstyle is fun and different and sure to get compliments.

Good luck. It'll be great!

(And feel free to comment if you have further questions...)

Kirah ...

Wallet, Book, sunglasses, keys, sanitizer, perfume, Cell phone, cough drops, and gum: Book for me when I have time, perfume when I want to feel a little more like a woman than a mommy, cough drops because I have been sick this last week, everything else I hope is self explained!

Diaper and wipes: Need I say more? Bottle, Formula, bottle of water, jar of baby food, spoon: A baby has got to have food. Bottle of water just in case we are somewhere I don't trust water.

Binky, Binky wipes, sunscreen, chap stick, lotion, sanitizing lotion, baby Tylenol, mommy Tylenol: She plays with the Binky more than actually using it but she loves it.

Extra outfit, socks, Bib, and toys: Never know when you need an extra outfit or toys to entertain.

I'd love to know ...

What's in your diaper bag?

Email pictures and descriptions to:

mostlyamommy@gmail.com

And if you don't have a diaper bag, that's okay.

I'd love to know ...

What's in your purse?

If you {carrot} all ...

... watch STUDIO 5 tomorrow @ 11 AM.

{cheesy, I know}

The new face of genealogy.

Don't wait until you're old.

How you can start writing your personal history right now.

And, fun ways to get your kids involved.

Hair Knot

So, it's summer time and I seem to always get in a funk where washing my hair is such a pain, and washing it and styling it become a waste because for me, living in Arizona, it's hot and I end up sweating and it looks gross anyway. So thankfully, my hair is at the length where I can do just about anything to it, and this summer, buns are HOT (but they are literally, they are cool). Whether it is a top knot or a low knot, this look will keep you on trend and keep the "blanket of your back."

This is the look I use when I'm way to lazy to wash my hair or make any effort at all.

I just whip it all back, tie it with a hair tie and bobby pin my bangs back and I'm all set to go.

I do pull a few wispy hairs out, so I don't look completely bald, but during the day, pieces will fall

and I wind up with a look that is easy, simple and best of all, cool. (as in temperature)

If you feel as if you can't "rock" the top knot look, try a low one.

either way, it's cute and right on trend...

Good luck, and remember, it is all about confidence.

If you have the confidence to rock it,

the rest won't matter...

* Missy is 25 years old, single, and living in Arizona. She works in retail, and has a passion for style and fashion. She also happens to be my sister.

Hello, Monday!

Well, here we are at the start of another week. How do they go by so fast? I'm hoping to be really productive this week. I don't necessarily have a ton going on, but I do have some things I need to get working on. I feel like my to-do list is growing by the minute.

I have a story that needs to be written, another story that needs to be shot. I'd love to get Linley and I signed up for swimming lessons. I am on Studio 5 this Tuesday. I have a few photoshop projects I need to get working on. And, I may just try to fit in a quick trip to St. George. We'll see!

I'm also excited about some things I've been working on for this blog. I couldn't be happier that my sister is helping me out with what we're calling According to Missy.

Gotta get going ...

No more, peas!

We love fresh vegetables.

I don't usually like peas, but these fresh peas were yummy.

I liked them best raw.

Getting them out of the pod was a lot of work though.

It took me hours to get them out.

And, it looked like I'd hardly gotten any out.

Can't wait for corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

My favorite.

Friday Favorites ...

1 Thomas Bagel Thins from Costco are great because they’re a bagel without all the bagel 2 I love this coated canvas bag from Gap 3 I’m loving DeoDry dry effect deodorant from The Body Shop 4 Olive Oil Body Butter from the Body Shop feels so good on your skin