Mamahood Styled



5/22/2014

//Long Live the Weekend//

Have you seen the memes that state the necessity of one more day in between Saturday and Sunday? I'm all over hitting 'like' on those! Seriously, we are overworked as it is (hence, my Monday is set to be a 12-hour workday)! I am a proponent for 4-10s! Our weekend should start Thursday evening so that we get to enjoy three-day weekends, every weekend! But alas, my job doesn't operate that way (yet) and my husband's does, but only every other week. So, back to our two-day stint.

This weekend was so nice! I loved it so much! Friday started off with Geoff and I both taking an hour off to take Oliver to shoot a commercial! How insane is that? Baby Boy was asked to help a local small business in their summer commercial. He did great and we were so proud of him. A little apprehensive about what the final product will look like, but otherwise, happy with at least being able to add this to his list of background knowledge and experiences! What a lucky little guy! He is so loved by so many! God really sent us a good one! ;)

Unfortunately, after the shoot, we found out that Nana is ill- a nasty tummy bug attacked her. I ended up bringing ODCM to work with me and that was fun! He did so well! He was pretty overwhelmed in the beginning by all the kids but then got comfortable and even helped me pass out certificates and pins during an assembly I had to help MC.

This weekend consisted of taking Nana a care package, cleaning house, homemade meals, meal prepping, workouts, homemade ice cream, a DQ run, a little DIY, & just enjoying each other!

I woke up reminiscing about the weekend and wishing we could all stay home together, for another day. Unfortunately, Nana is still sick today and we have been juggling our sweet boy. & this mama is working at least 12 hours today! Woot! #onlynot

Ready for your weekend?  Hoping it was nothing short of lovely!

I leave you with a portion of this week's camera roll:

One of my students sent me this! How cute!

Oliver filming a commercial!! 
Baby Boy showing off his belly button at the park!

Twinning Vans!

I did the chalk wall for a local business! Much harder than I had anticipated, haha!
Just a baby boy, his rolls, and his puppy...oh, and mama's weight lifting gloves. 
Mom + Me = LOVE
                                               

commercial shot

Nothing beats dancing him to sleep <3
//this mama needs sleep//

The Honest Co. featured Oliver on their IG. How rad!
Look at this beauty!


//Run, free, Baby, run, free...//


//daily life, haha//
// student messages...better than the one that we found today that was highly inappropriate, haha//

Mother's Day 2014 in Cinnamon Clothing Co. wear
That baby bottom is my fave
Instead of sleeping...
Park Date
Bedhead

sweetheart
//mama's homeboy//

//he needs sleep too//
//I've been spending a lot of sunsets at work lately//
                                                                 

5/15/2014

// homegirl recipe: whole-wheat spinach tortillas //

Back in 2010, Geoff and I decided to make a switch from Top Ramen, Doritos, cokes, and junk food, to truly wholesome, nutrient-dense foods. We were a bit extreme and we knew it; but hey, when the world deals you a Cancer diagnosis, such measures are necessary for your physical and mental health. I cannot tell you how difficult it was, though, especially in social settings. As humans, we are defiantly protective of our emotionally-ridden foods. Even if we did not mind not eating what everything else was, others did; even if they did not verbally state it, the implications were loud and clear to us. It was especially difficult to go out to eat and not have healthy foods on the menu (or knowing that what was advertised as 'healthy' wasn't at all). We were vegetarians for two years, vegan for two weeks (we love our cheese too much), and since then, eat primarily healthy with treats sprinkled in throughout for our wholesome souls. My specialty has truly become making our favorite treats into healthier alternatives. When I first starting blogging about recipes, specifically, I asked girlfriends who were also looking for healthier alternatives to guest blog. I thought it would be such a fun way to support, share and encourage each other!

Cue, Stephanie! Stephanie has been a friend of mine since elementary school! Despite all of my moving around, we ended up at the same schools throughout our childhood and teenage years. Today, you can find this gorgeous girl, DIYing, crafting, hosting, cooking, running, working out, all while motivating others, including her husband, to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle! She recently posted these tortillas and I immediately texted her asking her to guest blog for us!
(Follow her on Instagram @stephanievdominguez)

Warm, soft, healthier tortillas? Yes, please! I can't wait to try these! Without further ado, here is this beauty:


Servings:
2 dozen / 6” tortillas

The Goods:
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup water
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cups all-purpose gluten free or wheat flour
6 cups spinach

The Process:
1.     In a large pot, add water and spinach and cook
     down over medium heat until tender.

2.     Remove excess water from spinach, but keep the nutrient rich spinach water to add back into dough.

3.     In a blender or food processor, add spinach and blend until smooth.

4.     Add baking powder, salt, oil, and flour to spinach. Blend until mix crumbles.

5.     Slowly add spinach water as needed until dough is smooth.
                                               

6.     Remove dough and divide into equal parts.

7.     With a rolling pin, roll each part into thin circles. Or use a tortilla press (much quicker)! 
     Sprinkle flour as needed to avoid dough sticking to rolling pin or tortilla press.

                   
8.     In Teflon coated pan over medium heat (no need to add butter or cooking spray), toast each side until golden spots appear.
                                                   
9.     Enjoy!




Share your favorite healthier alternative recipe! Have a challenge for me to healthify (yes, that's a word!) your favorite indulgences? Let's do it!



5/12/2014

// motherhood //


Becoming a mama has been one of the biggest blessing of my life. I never dreamed of being a mom. I have girlfriends who have made it one of their goals in life. I was ready to always be the Titi to spoil my best girls' babies. Even when I found the love of my life. He even knew that one of his lifetime goals was to become a dad. How beautiful is that? I have always been career-goal-driven. My measures of success have become internalized to be on my education, my career, & stability in life. I could see myself having a family, someday...but it was not in my peripheral.

& then the unfathomable occurred. After eight years of dating, a home of our own, starting to establish our careers, vehicles purchased, a dog, you know, the typical measures of "success," Geoff was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in its final stages. A story within its own, it was a huge slap in the face. I remember the hurt so vividly- my heart really felt like it was breaking in my chest, while we waited for his surgery to remove the growing, monstrous tumor. I recall the unrecognizable cries that were coming out of me and the feeling of despair, of really feeling that his life on earth could realistically be over. I remember the pain in his mother's eyes and face. But it is not until now, as a mother myself, that I can truly relate to it.

Two weeks after Geoff's surgery, we were told he would be starting highly intensive chemotherapy and the likelihood of him conceiving children was in the single digits to zero. Without hesitation, we decided to try. & guess what? It looked like it had worked! How amazing! Except that it was a false alarm and my body decided it was not ready. & we quietly mourned for a loss that happened so rapidly that we didn't even get a chance to register everything that we had just been through. But we were on a quest of survival for G and all of our focus and energy re-shifted to that.

We got engaged that weekend! We fought for his survival. & he made it through. A year after his last chemotherapy treatment we decided to test him to see if he could become a dad like he always wanted. The test results came back with disheartening news. We stayed focused on each other and got married.

& then, the unimaginable happened a year later. We got pregnant! We were just as in shock as the multiple doctors and midwives that we saw; just as in shock as the loved ones we initially confided in!

& the cards were dealt to us again, as G was diagnosed, again. That wretched ugly monster had reared its head into our lives again and had procreated itself into dozens of tumors in his body. This time we were told he would survive, but his spermatic cord would not- meaning that the miracle of its return, was going to be robbed from him, again...




Which brings us to the miracle that is Oliver and to the topic at hand: motherhood. Becoming a mama has opened my heart and mind to a life that I never imagined, never knew I would yearn so badly for. It is such a rollercoaster. It brings you up and down and all around. Some moments, I'm on top of the world, while others I am full of self-doubt and questioning what I am doing. The one thing I am so assured of is how much love I have for this little human being. It really feels as if my heart is outside of my body, beating and pumping away and enveloping this little creature in all the love I can muster. Yet, it is frustrating and trying as well. It is a give and take; daily testing; expanded patience; every emotion you can muster up balled into one. The most beautiful and amazing experience of my life. I question what I am doing, if I am doing anything right, if I'm messing him up...and despite all of that, I have decided to just LOVE. Just love him hard. Just do all things through love. & have faith that it will all be okay. Because not all mamas get the opportunity to do this. & not all mamas get to repeat it...and some mamas lose their babies...and so, I have to focus on right now, and just. simply. love.

To all the mamas out there, we have got this...just love..love fiercely, passionately, madly, truly, and deeply..and it will all be okay.



5/06/2014

#redballoonsforryan


My heart is so heavy. My soul feels like it is crying. My Instagram feed slowly started getting flooded with red balloons and images of this sweet red-headed little boy. This last Friday, three and a half year old Ryan, went to Heaven. He was struck by a truck as he went to retrieve a frisbee. I cannot even begin to fathom what his mommy, daddy and loved ones must be feeling right now.

& I cannot help but think of how that would destroy our existence, if this little boy was my own.
All I want to do is run to Nana's and cuddle my baby boy so hard and never let go...

Look up the hashtag #redballoonsforryan and send your prayers, thoughts, positive vibes to him in Heaven and his family, until they are reunited. There are a lot of fundraising projects being organized, as well.

We are all connected in this crazy, jumbled, inexplicable world we live in. Today, I am thankful for my baby boy and for the connections encountered through my little social space I share with anyone who reads this.



5/01/2014

Nana

Nana & Oliver D Cruz


"Are you ready, Baby?"
He kicks his little feet, clasps his dimpled-knuckled chubby hands, and with a glisten in his bright eyes, happily chants "Na-na, na-na, na-na!!"
I get out of the driver's seat and open the backseat door, as he kicks his little legs and starts getting louder with his chant. His anticipation is contagious and I struggle to get him unbuckled fast enough, as he is also trying to get out of his carseat in the most hurried way.
I carry him down, and he pulls away from me, running to the side door.
He starts knocking, I pick him up and he starts ringing the doorbell, repeatedly. We can hear as someone approaches the door, and as it opens, he squeals with delighted excitement.
He throws himself onto her and wraps his little arms around her neck.
She has a twinkle in her eyes, and a huge grin on her face.
"Why, good morning, Oliver! I missed you!"
She smothers him in kisses and he does the same, tilting his little head and staring her right in the eyes, with a huge, warm mesmerizing smile.
He starts pointing to the kitchen for a snack, then changes his mind and wants to be put down. He races to her shoes, picks one up and brings it to her feet, trying to get it on the wrong foot.
He runs back to the door and starts grunting and talking at it, looking back at her.
We laugh and I ask for goodbye besitos. He rushes through them and waves and says "bah-bye" to me.
With tears in my eyes, I wish them a happy day and leave. Before I drive off, I look back and see them embracing each other and laughing.
& they are off on their daily adventures.

I think to myself how amazing it must be to grow up with and spend your days with your great-grandmother. What a blessing she is. How I always wished I could have had a grandmother or great-grandmother to grow up with. She devotes herself to him and he couldn't be more in love. She teaches him and loves him. She selflessly adores him. & we adore her.
I wipe a tear of happiness and gratitude.
"Yes, Baby Boy, Nana is, indeed, the best."
<3
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