Mother's Day Inspirations {Lulu :: Simply Lulu Style}

Today I have Lulu of Simply Lulu Style who has impeccable sense of style and some of the cutest shoes a girl would want. I love following her on Insta to see her everyday style because that's when mamas need inspiration the most. She has two adorable kids and shared her infertility story on the blog, which touched my heart totally made me cry. I'm so happy for her that her prayers have been answered and she now posses the title of a mother. Take it away girl!

Hi there!  My name is Lulu and I blog over at Simply Lulu Style.  Anna was so kind to reach out to me to be apart of her Meaning of Motherhood blog series and I was thrilled to participate.  Wow what a topic though right?  I think I could write an entire book on the subject... but I won't! :)  Ever since I could remember I wanted to be a mother.  However it there was always something nagging inside that wondered - would I be able to?  Sometimes I just have a funny sense about things.  Indeed my husband and I struggled, (you can read more about there HERE), but we are so blessed to have 2 kiddos we affectionately call the nuggets.  Jack and Ella are twins born in 2008 and are the sweetest, funniest, adorable kids (I'm a little biased).  

Motherhood has been much harder than I expected and not really because of having twins.  It's the second guessing, the I'm not sure what to do, the NO ONE TEACHES YOU THIS!  At first it was all these things were riduculous to handle.  Add to this my nuggets had terrible reflux.  And by terrible I mean the babies were screaming and crying for hours and hours.  Side note: It's SO important to find a good pediatrician who will listen to you.  We did not.  Finally we found help, got medicine, and the nuggets were like new babies.  But during this process, of reflux, having twins... I was a new mom!  I had no idea what to do.  But the Lord gives you a mother's instinct for a reason and trust me it's there.  I had everyone and anyone giving me advice.  Everything from how to feed them, how to burp them, how to put them to sleep, but inside I began to get a good sense.  A grew, I learned, I read and developed my own strength and intuition as a mom.  

At the end of the day mothering is about 2 simple (but not so simple) things: love and discipline.  Love first, then discipline.  Don't get me wrong, I'm strict, very strict.  But my nuggets always know I love them no matter what.  I pray... a lot.  I pray that God watches over them, protects them (heart, soul, mind, body).  I pray that they the love God, love others, love each other.  I pray that they are best friend (and they are).  I pray, pray, pray.

I pray to remember the little times with my little family.  Last night we were just getting the nuggets ready for bed, showers, jammies, Ella wanted me to paint her nails, you know, the regular stuff :).  Afterward we were all hanging out in our room.  Ella was coloring, Jack was playing a game with Daddy, I was folding clothes.  It was just a normal night, nothing special, but to see them so sweet in the moment was somethingI wanted to remember.  I'm still really learning to live in the moment.  But I think motherhood is a lot about that.  It's about love, discipline, and living in the moment.  

I hope you stop by Simply Lulu to see more of my nuggets and get inspired by some mom, but not-so-mom, style.  Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day Inspiration {Irina :: Bond Girl Glam}

Hello there! Today we have Irina of Bond Girl Glam is giving us hew take on the meaning of motherhood. She is a beauty and has Bond girl flare (hence the name of her blog). I love her new motherhood role and how magnificent she is at it. Her baby girl is beyond adorable and I love seeing her outfit photos on her blog. Plus her birthing experience is so close to mine, I feel like on some level we connected over that. Take it away girl!

Introduce yourself and describe your motherhood situation.

I’m a first-time mom to a baby girl named Vienna.  My husband and I will be celebrating our 5th anniversary in a couple days, so we waited almost 5 years to have our first baby; it felt like the perfect amount of time to have to ourselves, and now we can’t imagine life any other way. I have been exclusively breastfeeding since the beginning (about 5 months), and I can’t wait to introduce solids in the next month.  We hope to have at least 2 children eventually.

What does motherhood mean to you?  Motherhood to me means guiding a little person so that they can learn to guide themselves and help others.  It also means forever being a source of love and comfort for that little person.

What's your favorite part about being a mother?  My favorite part of being a mother is watching all the little milestones happen in front of my eyes.

What is the hardest part of being a mom? I dislike how fast everything passes, but it also makes me try to live in the moment.

What is your number one goal for your children?  I hope my children remember their childhood with absolute fondness.  I hope they learn to feel confident, be infinitely curious, and feel incredibly grateful for everything that comes their way.

Is there anything else you would like to add?  You are enough and are doing enough, mama!

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

P.S. Check out my feature on Elegance and Mommyhood. 

Mother's Day Inspirations {Kimberly :: Penny Pincher Fashion}

Hello my lovely readers! I have been thinking a lot about motherhood and how it changed my life forever. I have asked a few of my favorite style bloggers (who are mothers too) to participate in a series discussing their take on motherhood. 

The first guest post is by Kimberly from Penny Pincher Fashion. I have been a fan of her blog for a long time now. She has a timeless sense of style and her polished outfits get me every time. Kim is also a wife, mother to two adorable kids (see below) and a business woman. She does a great job at balancing it all. Here is her take on the meaning of motherhood.

Introduce yourself and describe your motherhood situation

I'm a full-time blogger/stay-at-home mom.  I have been married for 15 years & we have two children - my daughter is 11 (going on 16) and my son is 7.

What does motherhood mean to you?

Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs in the world.  It brings both abundant joy & endless fatigue.  It is sacrificial love that means putting your children's needs first.  It is being a protector, defender, provider, teacher and disciplinarian.  It is a role that is full of challenges, but also rich with blessings.  No matter what other responsibilities I have, being a mom comes first.

What's your favorite part about being a mother?

Seeing their personalities evolve - it's amazing how completely different my two are from one another.  My daughter is outgoing & talkative while my son is more quiet & reserved.  It's so fun to watch them develop their own sense of humor, to see the things they are beginning to take an interest in & to hear how they interpret the world around them.

What is the hardest part of being a mom?

Watching my kids struggle.  My son was diagnosed with Tourette's last year and seeing him battle it has been one of the hardest things for me as a parent.  I wish with all my heart that I could just take it away from him, but I know that he is becoming a stronger person because of it and that it is making him more compassionate towards others who have similar conditions.

What is your number one goal for your children?

To have self-confidence, to feel loved & to be kind.  I guess that's more than one thing!  :)

Maxed Out

dress: Pink Blush Maternity c/o, hat: J.Crew  (also similar), bag: TJMaxx (similar), glasses: Kate Spade, watch: Kate Spade

Welcome to another week, to our vacation week! I'm excited to relax and spend some time with family, doing nothing and eating lots of delicious food. Good thing I don't have to suck anything in at this point. Ha! I love this new dress that I received from Pink Blush Maternity because it's super comfortable and makes me feel so feminine. It's perfect for the time you need to get dressed and not think about it. Hope you have a great day and thank you for stopping by!

Link Up:Touch of Tartan

Paisley Print Bump

top: Sheinside c/o, jeans: Pink Blush Matenrity c/o, pumps: Nine West, satchel: Ralph Lauren, sunglasses: Kate Spade, watch: Kate Spade

There is always so much work to do before a vacation. Between errands, packing and cleaning the house (I hate coming back to a mess) it's been non stop here. And of course, my pregnant brain forgets half of what I need to do, as well as my to-do list after I leave home. Ha! At least it's gorgeous out and we are enjoying the sunshine while out and about. Hope you have a great weekend!