Cheers to the weekend friends! I was a day behind this entire week… but not complaining (better that than a day ahead…). No big plans over here, so it should make for a nice, relaxing, couple of days. Sharing my monthly Q+A below… hope you all have a good one!
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1. Do you still use TULA? So many people rave about it and I was wondering if you recommend it?? Is it as good as everyone says??
Yes! I still really like TULA. When I was pregnant I needed to switch things up a bit. So I tried out a few new products and ended up liking them. Of the TULA products that I swear by include the cooling eye balm (they’re releasing a new version that I’ve been loving), exfoliating mask, illuminating serum, and the under eye cream.
2. Do you have any tricks for keeping your layered necklaces untangled?
Yes! This is called the layer slayer from Miranda Frye! 10% off with code Shannon.
3. What are your favorite hair products? Do you use dry shampoo? I don’t like the feeling of product in my hair so I don’t use much, but would love to know what you use for shampoo, conditioner, etc….
I use Oribé dry shampoo + I also use Playa New Day Mist (which resets my style the day after I’ve curled it). I also use Enjoy Shampoo + Conditioner, as well as Ava purple shampoo to cut brassy tones. This Moroccan hair oil is a daily product as well (I use before blow drying, and after I style to smooth everything out). Currently in the market for some cleaner hair products but haven’t had much success (except with Playa).
4. I’d love any tips you have as far as helping a toddler transition to a new sibling. My kids are almost the exact age difference yours are, and I feel like my daughter + Harper are spirit animals. My son is a week old, and while my daughter is very loving, attentive to him, and usually fairly helpful she’s been more prone to whining, tantrums, etc.
The transition can be so hard. For us, we saw Harper wanting to do a lot of the “baby” things to get attention… be swaddled, sit in her crib (not that Camille was sleeping there), etc… so we would always make a point to say “When you were Camille’s age, a baby, we did this for you too…. and now we do xyz” so that she would make the connection that she had the “baby” thing at one point but now she has “xyz” that Camille doesn’t have. So we would say “We used to change your diaper when you were little but now you’re a big girl and you get to use the big potty.” Eventually she started asking “Did I get that when I was a baby” as opposed to acting out. We also validated her feelings… “We know it’s hard that you have to share the attention right now….” and really tried to have her help as much as she could. It hasn’t been a perfect, or seamless, transition, but those were the things that worked the best for us.
5. How do you structure your work from home days (creating blog/ig content, etc.)?
My day starts everyday around 5:45am and from there I have “blocks” of time where I can work. We used to have a nanny who came 15ish hours a week, in the mornings, so I could do several hours of work in the morning and then a couple when Harper napped. Yet, she graduated and we’re currently looking for a new one. That being said, “blocking” my time is what works right now. So I do a little bit of work from 8:15-9:30am (this is usually responding to messages/comments on instagram + returning e-mails). I then work again when the girls go down for a nap, from 2-4pm (this usually involves writing posts/editing photos/e-mails). Then once the girls go down from 7:30-9pm I finish up the day (responding again to instagram messages + finishing up blog content/planning). Then we take photos on the weekend (typically takes about 2 hours).
6. Do you ever lose your patience as a mom?
Short answer, YES. Longer Answer: I think there are different levels of losing your patience. Do I get frustrated with Harper? Yes, daily. Do I snap at her sometimes? Yes. Do I speak a little too firmly at some points? Yes. I mean, we’re all human! For me though, I do try my hardest to be aware of my emotions and feelings, have momentary check-ins, and then check-out before I get to the point of yelling. I frequently feel myself getting frustrated so I take a time out… I just say that “Mommy is getting really frustrated right now and I have to leave the room.” It’s not bad to do that. I used to encourage parents to do this all the time. It teaches children how to manage their own feelings. Once I’ve collected myself, I come back and address the situation. I might have to apologize for snapping or being too firm in my tone…. or I might go back to addressing whatever behavior was occurring in a more collected/calm manner.
7. What do you + TJ do for a living?
TJ is in software sales, and works from home. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (not currently practicing, but dabbling in some current continuing education units) and run my blog full time (while I rarely talk about what goes into running a blog, it is a full time, less conventional, job that takes about 30 hours a week).
8. Do you only drink wine on the weekends? And do you limit how many glasses per night?
Yes, I typically only drink wine (or cocktails) on the weekend. I’m not opposed to a mid-week libation at all, I just don’t (again, if it’s vacation or something special mid-week I will… it’s not a rigid rule). I do a lot of my blogging work in the evenings (7:30-9:30/10pm) so it’s not really an opportune time to sit down and relax with a glass of wine. On the weekends, when obligations are significantly less, I enjoy a few glasses.
9. Tips for waking up early when you have a newborn at home?
Depending on when your little one wakes up, I’d work your way backwards. For me, Camille wakes up at 7:30am, so I know how much time I need to workout, + work my way back for the ideal wake-up time. When I had Harper and was needing to wake up earlier I gradually got myself to an earlier wake up time by waking up 10 minutes earlier a few days a week until I reached the preferred time.
10. What kind of oils do you diffuse in you home?
To be honest, we don’t diffuse a ton of oils. I’m currently diffusing the Sunset scent from Saje Wellness. I love their products and use a lot of their non-oil items as well… such as a lotion for Harper and shaving cream.
11. In need of some new comfortable loungewear. Can you share some favorite ones??
These ribbed pants + knotted tee are a great option… this barefoot dreams cardigan is seriously so soft + cozy (worth the money)…these comfy joggers are so comfortable (I bought my first pair several years ago and they’re back in stock)… and this little leopard set is too cute.
12. What filters do you use for your photos now?
I go back and forth… since it all depends on the image I’m editing. Sometimes it’s a VSCO J5 filter or sometimes it’s a TEZZA filter in Vintage, Mocha, or Inspr.
13. What do you try to avoid in your everyday diet? Gluten, dairy, etc…..
So nothing is officially off limits… that’s too restrictive. I don’t eat dairy regularly (this started because when we were trying to get pregnant, and having difficulties, by acupuncturist had me change a few things in my diet…) but if I’m on vacation, at a family function, etc and there are items with dairy I’m not going to turn it down. For me, I just try to eat clean (lean meats, healthy fats, energy providing carbohydrates….) 80% of the time.
14. Do you miss working outside of the home?
Funny you ask this, I was just talking with one of my best friends yesterday about this topic (she works from home too). I don’t miss having a traditional 9-5 with a boss and a set time that I have to be to work. But I do miss the daily camaraderie of being around people in your career. People to bounce ideas off of, to be there to support you daily…. blogging is relatively isolating (which 70% of the time is okay for this introverted-extrovert) but there are times where I’d love to be surrounded by people to vent or share struggles.
15. What are your favorite toys and ways to play with Camille??
So we have a few great items I love for Camille like this wooden play gym, this play mat, and these organic plush toys …. I also find that I’m typically juggling a toddler + newborn so a lot of the activities are dual… Harper + I dance and sing together in front of Camille… when I read Harper stories, Camille sits on my lap…. Peek-a-Boo with a small swaddle always gets a few giggles, or I do mirror time with Camille…. and I frequently will walk around with her and label the items outside, or in the house.
16. What are the best bra solutions for postpartum boobs and cute tops!
So I love this bra + this bra…. they’re nursing friendly, comfortable, and don’t look frumpy. As far as tops go, I think anything with buttons is too hard to nurse in (having to button and unbutton is too complicated) so I just pull my shirt up. A few of my favorite tops that are easy to nurse in include this slightly distressed tee, henley long-sleeve tee, flowy ruffled top, and this leopard print pullover.
17 I’m thinking of starting a lifestyle blog. What’s your biggest/best piece of advice?
To be you + to not concern yourself with “follower” count but instead focus on building an authentic + engaged community.
18. How do you stay so motivated to eat so healthy? I can never stick to it.
For me, personally, it’s just how I feel my best. As I’ve mentioned before, when I go on vacation, I typically indulge. Towards the end of a trip, I’m typically feeling like it’s time to get back to routine… my body responds to clean and nutritious food… and when I deviate I can feel it. I think, for me, it’s about a lifestyle that I ascribe to… I don’t do quick/fad diets or anything extreme (nothing is off limits… if I want to have some popcorn, I’ll have a small serving… if I want some chocolate, I’ll have a small serving… deprivation just doesn’t work for me). It’s such an easy way of eating that it’s just become a part of my daily life.
19. Any tips for transitioning a toddler from staying home full time to part time preschool?
Harper was already going to some form of “out of home” activity without me a couple days a week (Sunday School + another group that I belong to where there was childcare) so she was ready to make the transition to longer durations. We did read her books on going to school, took her to walk around the preschool before the first day, and tried to let her know how things would be changing, but also staying the same, by going to school. Harper was asking to go to school so that’s how I knew it was the right time for her.
20. I’m looking for a great tan cardigan. Any cute ones you have seen for fall? Something more for out of the house wear.
A few cute tan/beige options include this longline cardigan, slouchy ribbed cardigan, and this oversized cardigan (under $25).
21. Did you use a designer to help with your house design?
My friend who is an interior designer helped us design our master bedroom/bathroom. She had some great ideas like a his + her closet… and designed the layout of the master bathroom.
22. Who inspires your personal style?
I’d have to say Anine Bing + Julie Sarinana… both always look effortlessly put together
23. What’s your favorite season?
My Seasons in order of preference: Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall (in Ca it’s just an extension of summer)
24. What sign are you?
Capricorn. I basically fit all the traits exactly…. stubborn as heck (just ask TJ), very realistic about life, disciplined, practical, ambitious (very hard on myself), loyal, and sensitive. Don’t I sound like someone you’d love to be friends with???
25. You wear so much white, how do you keep it looking clean? I always end up stained!
I love white, so I don’t really think about it much! I just carry around this stain remover…. works really well!
26. How do you make the jump out of counseling after putting in so many years and money for school?
For me it was all about happiness… if you’re not happy with what you are doing (regardless of the time/money spent on it) then putting together a plan to change the situation is important. When I made the shift, due to burnout + life changes, I was at a point where I could sustain on the blog + I knew that the education/experience I garnered was invaluable. I think in the mental health profession there are a lot of different opportunities outside of the traditional therapy role. It just takes looking outside the box to find the right fit.
27. Do you do injections? I really don’t want to but feel as if my age has started showing.
I do not do injections. I probably could benefit from them, but it’s just not something I’m interested in starting.
28. How do you prevent your sweaters from piling when you wash them?
I dry clean the majority of my sweaters because I feel that they last much longer when I do (maintain shape and fabric….). That being said, I don’t wash a sweater after each wear. If it passes the spot + smell test, then it can afford another few wears. TMI??
29. Favorite Podcasts??
I actually have never listened to one! I need to poll instagram and get some good ones!
