There are certain times of year when I wish for seasonal changes and colorful leaves on the ground. But enjoying a day of Miami’s crisp yet sunny fall weather this weekend easily made me forget that. In search of outdoor entertainment for Lucy, who is now a vocal and vibrant 19-month-old, led us to some of Miami’s most scenic spots.
I celebrated my 34th birthday this weekend. A year ago, I was becoming a mom for the first time, something I thought would never happen. Not because I didn’t think I could handle it. But more because I didn’t think it was my “thing.” I was never the little girl pushing a baby stroller with her dolly in it. And I never went gaga for kids the way my friends did. When I hit my twenties and realized I didn’t coo at every passing infant the way other mommy-hopefuls did, I figured that wasn’t my path and I was OK with that. Combined with my hopes for a successful career, a love of tattoos, incurable wanderlust, and a mouth that curses a little too often, I was hardly anything close to the definition of motherhood. But then I met Lucy.
I’ve had an uncontrollable urge to clean recently. It’s been feeling a bit similar to the nesting phase I went through during my pregnancy, but spanning across all areas of my life. I spent the better part of my Sunday sifting through clothes and shoes, finding myself at the end of the process knee-deep in unnecessary clutter I’d accumulated over the years. Tops and dresses with tags still attached, shoes that had never been worn, and skirts with their pleats still intact all sat neatly piled in a bag on their way to find their new homes. It felt like I’d shed my own skin. And I’ve never felt lighter.
The holidays are upon us, which means there will be photo opportunities galore. And while some people have a natural gift for looking great in every picture, some of us need a little help in facing that camera. Like me, when I forget I should probably suck in my stomach after indulging in Abuela’s cooking a little too often. (But seriously, Abuela’s cooking is amazing.) Here’s a guest post from the lovely Natasha of NOM Photography to help everyone get in line and look their best. Read through to the end for a special discount code for readers of Bubbles & Ink. Happy holidays!
It’s been twenty-four weeks since Lucy was born. Twenty-four amazing weeks full of love, discovery, and adjustment. Twenty-four weeks throughout which I’ve learned that there is nothing as incredibly rewarding as being a mom. But I am tired. So, so incredibly tired. And after five months of non-interrupted mothering, give or take a few work opportunities and a couple of much-needed weekend getaways with my husband, I am struggling to find a balance between working, blogging, parenting, and rediscovering what it means to be me.