The first day of school went okay until pick up time. OMG! Three kids + three different pickup times = 3x’s the aggravation! The problem is the school closed the parking lot that I was use to using. The first pick up at Pre-school went well. (She took a nap as soon as we pulled off.) The second pickup was hectic. Tons of parents waiting around getting kicked out of the school because they want us to use the car pool lane only. Come on lady its the first day of school! By 3:00 I was beat but still had to pick up the oldest. So, I basically spent between 12:30 and 3:30 in my truck. Not happening today. Guess the kids will be doing after school activities sooner than I thought! Anyone else have car pool issues? I could use some help with this one. #day2

XO,

The alarm went off at 6:45, and I really wanted to hit the snooze button. I didn’t this time. It’s the first day back to school, and I was just as nervous and excited as the kids. I actually woke up around 3:45 a.m. because I had this crazy dream that I was fighting one of the teachers. OMG! The kids seemed happy when my hubby and I dropped them off. Even the little one went to centers and played with the cars. We walked back to the truck, and it hit me. All 3 munchkins are in school now. No more babies! It is a bittersweet feeling. Later, in my dream, I found myself contemplating the feeling, and strangely enough, I decided to consult a California personal injury lawyer.

Summer vacation is officially over. I did get a lot done over the summer. We converted our son’s room into a big boy room. He was begging for a Disney Cars bed. I got my patio furniture, hosted the family reunion luau, kept up with my exercise routine and worked on numerous events for Sporty Mommas, LLC. Oh the biggest accomplishment is staying sane with the kids off for 10 weeks lol. I am thankful for a great summer!

XO,

http://domesticexecutiveonline.com/2013/08/the-ultimate-back-to-school-guide-backtoschool/

T’was the Friday before school starts and all through the stores
Moms were grabbing supplies, uniforms and more
The lines were long
The cashiers were uptight
Think I am gonna have a drink tonight.

Hope you all have a fabulous Friday. Enjoy your weekend with your munchkins. I am in denial that my baby girl is really growing up and starting school. I know tears will fall Monday morning.

XO,

It is so crazy to me how trends come and go. Do you remember in the 80’s and early 90’s everyone had or wanted a pair of Hammer Pants? How many of you begged for a pair of those shiny, baggy, fly pants? I know I did. Since it is #tbt I thought I would do a Hammer Time shout out. Now days they are called Harem pants and I love them still. I love all of the cool colors, patterns and fabrics that designers are using now. Here are a few of my favorite Hammer/Harem pants. #Youcanttouchthis

You know the saying people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime? It is so true. Sometimes we have a hard time letting relationships go or we find it hard to start new friendships out of fear. Friendship is important and we need friends to keep us going, to remind us of where we use to be and to get us through those tough times.

Today I am so thankful to all of my friends. Some I see and speak to regularly and some I do not. Each one of them touched my life in a special way. When was the last time you told your friends how much they mean to you?

It’s August and the kids are headed back to school. For most of us that means busy schedules, PTA meetings, packing lunches and lots of homework. Here are a few tips to keep it all together this school year.

“Keep your Cool” heading Back to School

1.Start shopping early for school supplies and uniforms. If possible, leave the kids at home while
shopping.

2.Try to implement bedtime routines about a week before school starts. This will ensure everyone gets enough rest.

3.Pack healthy school lunches the night before. If you wait until the last minute you will throw anything in the lunch box. Check out www.eatingwell.com for lunch ideas.

4. Be patient! It is always an adjustment for parents, kids and even teachers the first few weeks.

5. Have your Sporty Momma t-shirt ready to throw on at all times. We all have those days where we can’t find anything to wear! Shop sportymommas.com for the latest sporty apparel!

It was a crazy, but fabulous weekend. I had my first photo shoot on Saturday. It was cool because a family friend took the pictures and I had no idea he was a great photographer. I can’t wait to share some of the photos with you all. My kids also had two birthday parties on Saturday so it was a busy nonstop crawled to my bed kind of day. On Sunday we took the family to see The Smurfs 2. I must admit I was hesitant about spending $100 to see a movie with so-so ratings but it was great. We laughed, sang and had a blast.

With only seven (omg), seven days left of summer, it is back to reality. Time to get the kids back on schedule and time to hit the gym. I have been slacking since the Orlando trip but I gotta get back on the grind. Hope you have a fantastic week.

XO,

Last night I had the opportunity to showcase Sporty Mommas at LMNT! It’s a cool art museum in Midtown. They host parties, weddings and other special events. Tonight it was all about gaining money for your business. I met some really cool people doing some neat things. From make up artists to a detective that trained people to use fire arms. There was a sweet lady from New York and her son that is a chef. It is always good to network and see what other entrepreneurs are up to.

It is the weekend baby!!! And it is a busy one. I have a photo shoot and two birthday parties on Saturday. You know how we Sporty Mommas do it. Hope you all have a fabulous Friday. Keep spreading the love!

XO,

My breastfeeding journey isn’t unlike that of many other women. I had some good days, some triumphs, disappointments and regrets. In retrospect, I realize I didn’t do my due diligence as an expecting mother. I knew I WANTED to breastfeed and that was it. I thought it was something that would come automatically. After all isn’t breastfeeding natural? Boy was I in for a surprise. Although I breastfed my son until he was about 9 months; I weaned after returning to work and starting nursing school; I was unable to produce enough milk to exclusively breastfeed. Why you may ask? I didn’t understand supply and demand. What’s worse, women who for whatever reason, don’t breastfeed exclusively face an ever growing stigma. They feel like bad mothers.

This weekend during the premiere of BREASTMILK, we were introduced to women from various social economic backgrounds and cultures that faced a similar dilemma. Women that felt scrutinized and unsupported at work, at home, and in public. Think about it for a moment:

* If you were returning to work, would you be able to pump every 2-3 hours, in a stress free, clean room (cannot be a bathroom)?
* At the hospital, did your nurses encourage formula?
* Did you leave the hospital with a gift bag filled with formula?
* Do you give women who breastfeed in public strange looks?
* Do you have a support system?

Women in our society have so many options and we should support each other’s decisions. We don’t know what difficulties someone is facing until we walk in their shoes. My lactation instructor Gini Baker, would always say “You did the best you could, with what you knew”. This is a part of the reason I have chosen to work with pregnant women. To pass on the information I’ve learned on my own journey.

Breastmilk is BEST. Nothing manufactured can compare to it. I am an avid supporter of doing so exclusively. There are so many resources available to help you on your journey. Seek the help of a IBCLC or CLC. La Leche League has weekly free meetings. If you’re having difficulty, don’t quit and don’t face it alone. Find a group of supporters; after all, they don’t say it takes a “Village” for nothing!

Breasfeeding Week is August 1-7.

Written by:

Nicole Vascianna
Momma of 1, RN and CLC (certified lactation counselor) and founder of The Village Maternity Services.
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I can’t believe our trip to Antigua is less than a month away. You know what that means…..shopping! I have been searching for the perfect dress to wear for the wedding. I don’t know if I should wear white or look for something else since the Bride will probably be wearing white. We have spent a lot of time researching the resort and all the great activities they have. I am a little nervous about leaving the kids for the first time. I know, I have to get over it. The hubby and I have not been on a trip in over 7 years! It is time. How did you feel when you went on your first vacation without the kiddos? #countingdown