It’s here, the season that most of us had been patiently waiting for all month long… it’s back-to-school time! Some of us were eager to get back on a regular routine and take solo trips to Target. For others, we’re missing sleeping in and not having to do homework. Some of you begged for one more week of summer. Some moms were counting down the minutes until the school bus pulled up. Read More
The kiddos are heading back to school and if you are like me and have a kid with gluten or any food allergies, packing a gluten-free lunchbox can get quite challenging. If the thought of finding gluten-free options stresses you out – don’t worry, you are not alone! Even though it may seem like everything has gluten in it, we have way more gluten-free options than we did ten years ago. Here are five gluten-free lunchbox ideas for back to school!
The other morning I had breakfast with one of my friends who is expecting her second child any day now. She expressed her concerns of being a new mom of two under 3 and asked me how I did it. My response was simply to ask for help. Asking for help may be the hardest thing to do for women. We are natural born nurturers and most of us ok I will speak for myself here, want things done our way. Because our way is the best way, right?
First Time Mom
When I was a new mom I read so many books, took a bunch of classes and made long lists of things that I would do and wouldn’t do. I had it all planned out and well let’s just say things don’t always go as planned. From breastfeeding to co-sleeping to selecting the pediatrician it was not easy but like all other phases of motherhood you have to do what works for you. Please remember that mommas. Your mom, mom friends, grandma, aunts, cousins might not always agree on your parenting choices and that is perfectly okay. My number one rule as a mom is to always trust your gut.
The Juggling Act
Life as a mom of one is probably the hardest part. All of a sudden you have this tiny little human to nurture, feed, protect, educate and basically take with you almost everywhere that you go including the bathroom. I will never forget placing the infant carrier in front of the shower with the shower door open just so I could bathe. But a momma has to do what she has to do. From this moment on it is no longer about you, it is all about the baby. Before you know it you have this mom thing down pat and baby number two is on it’s way.
My second pregnancy was a lot different from the first. I was so busy running around with my daughter that I really didn’t pay attention to the discomfort, weight gain, and exhaustion. We traveled a lot because my hubby played baseball. I became a master packer, willing to nurse anywhere (with the proper cover up) and able to make friends practically anywhere cause I really didn’t have a choice. I literally blinked and my son was here and now I was a mom of two. They are 27 months apart. Some people said to wait until they would be at least three years apart and now I know why. The diapers. Two kids in diapers is expensive and a lot of work. Oh and if you think that you didn’t get much sleep before, having two little ones meant even less sleep. It’s just a phase though it gets better, I think lol.
You Got This
I was a pro by the time the third baby came home. Our surprise bundle of joy came exactly 28 months after her big brother. She was delivered via cesarean at 39 weeks but had to spend 10 days in the NICU. It was so tough on me. I didn’t understand why this pregnancy was any different than the first two. I did everything the same the whole pregnancy. Between having the two other little ones at home and leaving her in the NICU, I struggled for a few weeks. I asked for extra help this time. We hired a live in nanny for the first three months. It was a total disaster. It was so bad that I promised I would never hire help again. (That’s another blog post) Now we had a four year old, two year old and a newborn. I drove my Momma Bus (Infiniti Q56) and kept a double stroller until they got too heavy for the stroller.
Up until this day there is never a dull moment. We are always doing something. I am always at a doctors appointment, meeting or shuttling kids around to sports activities. My hubby is retired so he is home and is very hands on. The best part of having them close together is that they are very close. They still like the same things. The oldest one still plays with the younger ones and they don’t mind sharing. They are fun, happy, loving kids that leave their mark wherever they go. They look after each other and are truly one another’s biggest fan.
One thing that I do struggle with is trying to make sure that I spend enough one on one time with each one of them. That can be very challenging. Each kid is different and have their own needs. One needs more cuddling. One needs more help with homework. The other needs space to just be themselves. It is going by so fast. Seems like yesterday I was pushing a double stroller with one hand and holding my oldest with the other hand. Now they are 13, 11 and 8.5! Parenting three back to back ain’t easy but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
XO,
Sharonda
The staff at For Eyes in Pinecrest made getting our annual eye exams so easy. As a mom of three, back to school shopping can get very stressful. Since there are three kids that makes three of everything including doctor’s appointments. Yesterday we completed our dental visits and today the Stew Crew headed to For Eyes for their annual vision check ups and new glasses.
Our appointment at For Eyes was great from start to finish. The staff was super friendly and helpful. My son was a little nervous about the new state of the art eye machines but the optical assistant helped him feel safe and comfortable. She even made a few jokes to help him relax. Dr. G gave us a mini lesson on eye health while reviewing the digital images. They were very accommodating and patient with all three kiddos.
For Eyes has all of the latest styles and designers that will keep you looking fabulous. Choose from Ray Ban, Prada, Jimmy Choo to Gucci. There is definitely a frame for everyone. For Eyes also has a great selection of sunglasses and contact lenses. I learned that polarized lenses are amazing at protecting the eyes from the sun. Get an opinion on what frame to choose from dd frames review.
For Eyes is a great place to go for quick appointments and great service. It is perfect for the entire family. They also accept walk ins and have great office hours. Some locations close at 6 p.m. , but For Eyes in Pinecrest stays open until 8 p.m. Be sure to check your local For Eyes for office hours. I am so happy that I can cross getting new glasses for school off my list. Next up….annual physicals. Have you made your back to school appointments yet?
Enter to Win FREE glasses for your entire family*. Simply follow @foreyes on Instagram and comment on this post why you’re excited to get your #BacktoSchoolEyes on, and you’ll be automatically entered to win up to 6 FREE eyeglasses or prescription sunglasses valued at up to $250 each.
**Restrictions apply. Winners will be randomly selected on September 6, 2019. Prizes must be claimed by October 31, 2019, and must be claimed in a For Eyes location.
XO,
Sharonda
The ladies at Basic Invite sent me an email at the perfect time. I had literally just used my last personalized thank you card and was searching all over for a new design. So I was thrilled when Basicinvite.com invited me to partner with them and share all of the great personalized products and services that they have to offer. Trust me Mommas, Basic Invite is far from basic!
Basic Invite offers a variety of products and services including over 900 wedding invitation sets, save the date cards, bridal shower invitations, holiday cards, personalized stationery, thank you cards, business cards and so much more. You can use their easy to use website to upload photos, text, and graphics to customize your items. I had so much fun mixing and matching my logo with different color options and designs. There were so many great selections to choose from it was hard picking just one. So I made three lol!
Are you planning on getting married soon? Basic Invite also offers free wedding and birthday party websites that includes a free address collection service that will help you not only collect guests addresses but print them on the envelope for free. Basic Invite has all-new wedding websites that are completely customizable just like their wedding invitations! These wedding websites are mobile friendly and super easy to use. You can instantly upload all of your wedding details along with images and a map with directions which is super convenient for your guests. Choose from 180 custom colors and even choose a design to match your wedding invitation suite!
Not quite sure about your choice? Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of their actual invitation. So you can actually order a sample of each item before you decide to print in bulk. This way you can test out different options, paper quality and color choices before placing your order. I know that I like to touch and feel before I buy. How about you?
Basic Invite is full of unique products. Their new Bridal shower invitations beach theme is gorgeous!!! From custom magnets, wedding coasters to send and seal wedding invitations you are sure to find something that will stand out. Need help with your Basic Invite order? Just ask and customer service is ready to assist you with designing the perfect piece.
I think that Basic Invite is perfect for busy moms who want to make beautiful products in as little time as possible. Are you planning a bridal shower, birthday party, quince or baby shower anytime soon? Basic Invite is your online destination for high quality products that will leave you coming back for more. Head over to basicinvite.com and tell me what you think.
*This post was sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.
XO,
Sharonda
My Sporty Momma and her BFF’s since college meet up almost weekly for their G.O.T.M. outings. It’s an exclusive club that they created just for them after they all retired from teaching. Well once a year the daughters are allowed to go on an outing with them. Last year we all hung out at Town in South Miami, but this year our god sister Heather came up with the perfect outing. After multiple group texts and trying to find the perfect time, we booked Cake It Miami.
Have you ever heard of Cake It Miami? Cake It Miami is a DIY cake decorating studio in Miami Lakes. They provide the ultimate cake decorating experience for adults and kids. It is a great way to celebrate any occasion like birthday parties, girl’s night out, bachelorette parties, or even a baby shower. Cake It also sells delicious custom cakes. You name it, they will make it happen.
As soon as we walked into the design studio, we were met with a warm and friendly ambiance. This set the tone for some much needed Mommy-Daughter time. We quickly unpacked our snacks and bottles of wine. After taking a few pictures with all of their cute backdrops, we got down to decorating. Cake It provides everything you need to decorate a professional “Instagram” worthy cake. Each station is equipped with freshly baked layered cakes, an apron, decorating tools and icing… lots of icing. We asked Alexa to play Beyonce and it was on!
Let me be perfectly honest, cake decorating takes some serious skills. The time and patience that it takes to create a mermaid cake is no joke. Now I know why these custom cakes cost so much. I am thankful for the instructor who walked around and assisted us through out the class so that we all could take home beautiful cakes. And guess what, the cakes tasted as great as they looked.
The best part of Cake It Miami was creating memories. My daughters couldn’t stop talking about how much fun they had. It was a blessing to watch my mom and her friends laugh and smile as they watched their daughters and granddaughters play together. The cakes were pretty damn good too. Learn more at Cake It Miami! Here’s what my daughter’s had to say.
“It was fun, we got to experience how to decorate cakes.” -Shalisa
” I loved decorating with the piping tools, creating flowers and eating it!” -Shayla
XO,
Sharonda
I have some very exciting news to share with you all. My first post went live this week over at Miami Moms Blog. I am thrilled because it is my birthday week. I know that this year is going to bring bigger, better and bolder things for me and Sporty Mommas. Miami Moms Blog is a community that provides resources and fun events for moms all across Miami. It is part of a bigger unit called City Moms Blog. There are currently 92 cities affiliated with City Moms. I am so blessed to join the team of fabulous Miami mommy blog contributors. Check out my post here! 
XO,
Sharonda
Happy Monday Mommas!!! I cannot believe that it is July already, can you? July is one of my favorite months because it is my birth month and we get to celebrate the 4th of July! Last year I was freaking out a little (ok a whole lot) because I was turning 40 and had all of these expectations of what my life should have looked like by 40. Well ladies I learned so much this past year but the most important lesson was that I was exactly where God wanted me to be. I embraced that as the months went by and was able to relax and just enjoy the ride. As 41 quickly approaches, I am just thankful to be alive. You feel me?
Do you guys have big plans for the 4th of July? We are actually going to be away this year. Our daughter’s team qualified for a national basketball tournament so we are on the road. We will be spending the weekend with our travel basketball family doing that #basketballmom thing. I am sure that we will have a blast and find somewhere to watch the fireworks.
I have always loved the festivities and trendy 4th of July apparel so I will be stocking up on cute matching tees for the family before we head out. Old Navy and Target always have the best tees that won’t break the bank. Yesterday I saw an add for $2 tees at Old Navy. Here are some fun last minute 4th of July outfit ideas! I hope that you all have an amazing 4th of July. 
XO,
Sharonda
**pictures via Pinterest
The summer is officially here and boy is it hot. Last week the heat index was 108 degrees in Miami. When the weather is this warm nobody wants to put on tons of heavy makeup. So I thought I would share some of my favorite beauty products that help me look great during these hot summer days. These products are great for beach days too. Most of them are waterproof. FYI: I completed my look below in under 5 minutes while on vacation in Turks. You ladies know that we barely have time to get dressed so we need all of the hacks that we can get, lol. Also, exploring Pico Laser Benefits for achieving flawless skin without the hassle of extensive downtime has captured my attention recently.
Phase 1:
The first step is cleansing with charcoal soap.
Moisturizing is a must I use Josie Maran whipped butter and add a few drops of face oil 1 from Beautycounter
SuperGoop Sunscreen is fantastic. It can be used as a primer and sunscreen. Since I turned 40 last year I have made more of an effort to use sunscreen daily. Do you apply sunscreen before your makeup?
Phase 2:
Becca Blur Foundation in Sienna
Anastasia Brow Filler
Fenty kilawatt bronzer
Fenty Glass bomb in shimmering rose nude
Makeup setting Spray– All Nighter by Urban Decay
P.S. If you are feeling a little sassy add a red lipstick. That will take your glow to a whole different level!
XO,
Sharonda
Well Mommas, after slacking on my fitness routine and all of the late nights eating on vacation, this Momma needs a detox. I am about five pounds heavier than I want to be and I can feel it. My skin is suffering a little too. Whenever I get pimples on my chin, I know that it is my diet. I texted my girlfriend a few days after I returned from Turks and asked her what type of tea did she used to help cleanse. She told me to try Teami. I rushed to the website and did a little browsing and Instagram stalking lol. I saw that it was a natural based tea and a replicable company, so I purchased the skinny tea and a cute tumbler.
Now you ladies know when I find a great product that I have to share it with you guys. So today I started my tea detox. I will keep you all posted. If you want to join me on my first teami challenge, head on over to teamiblends.com and use my special code: sportymommas. I know that it will take consistency, patience and mindfulness in order to see results. Are you with me?
P.S. I did get back on my workout routine and downloaded the My Fitness Pal calorie tracking app. I hope that helps too.
XO,
Sharonda