Socials

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

My Life is Together-ish

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Topics
    • Travels & Food
    • Photography
    • Beauty
    • Lifestyle
    • ‘Ohana Life

September 14, 2020

5 Self-Care Tips for Drained Moms

We get it. Your children are your world. Your reason for living. Some may even say their purpose in life. But this post is here to tell you that it is ok if your little sunshine gets on your nerves sometimes and makes you want to get as far away from them as possible. Although that vacay would be nice, many great moms will feel guilt. Which is perfectly normal!

But you know what should be normal? Prioritizing yourself and not feeling guilty about it! So here are my list of self-care habits you should start doing because you, mama, hold it all together for your family! Take care of you for your kids and importantly, for yourself.

1) Sleep, rest, & relax

Photo by Gregory Pappas

When I was close to my due date, a lot of experienced moms gave me the advice to “sleep when baby sleeps”. There’s a reason for that. As soon as your baby goes to sleep, Rest! Relax! Or sleep if you can! Leave the mess in the kitchen. Don’t fold your laundry. Whatever it is that you have to do, it can wait! Sleep can do so much for you, especially for those new moms out there. Sleep can improve your mood and mental health. It’s hard to even think about napping in the face of everything that you need to do but sleep needs to come first.

2) Continue your hygiene. Take that shower!

Photo by Photoholic

I don’t care how tired you are. Get in that shower! You will feel 100% better after a bath. Have someone watch your child or shower during their nap time. If that isn’t an option then have your baby take a shower with you! Take your baby’s tub in with you. You and your little one can both get clean. Of course, after your shower complete your routine with brushing your hair, putting on lotion, etc.

Brush your teeth & wash your face. A lot of new moms can get cavities for the first time due to your little one stealing your calcium. What parasites! am I right?! Totally kidding. Anyway, These little hygiene habits can make a big difference and get you through the day.

3) Hydrate and eat right

Photo by Daiga Ellaby

You will be surprised at how much energy and overall wellness hydration can make you feel. If you’re like me and need reminding me to drink enough water throughout the day, keep a water bottle nearby and set an alarm to drink a certain amount. Diet is just as important. When my daughter was a newborn, my diet was a challenge for me. I was tempted to eat junk, I would skip meals, and even go some days without eating. That left me feeling weak and sluggish. Keep healthy snacks around you. Trust me, that bag of chips may make you feel good at the moment but a healthier option will have a better effect for you in the long run.

4) Get out of those pj’s and get dressed

Photo By Alyssa Strohmann

Get dressed in the morning even when you aren’t going anywhere. This action alone can trick your brain to get into work mode. Your mood in the morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Not only does getting ready change your mindset, it makes you feel good. Feeling prepared for the day is one of those small self care tips you can practice.

5) Get some sun!

Photo by Arek Adeoye

Strap your child in that stroller and go for a nice stroll in the sun because the sun can help improve your mental health! I mean, it makes sense since there is just this correlation between all things happy and sunshine. According to this article, the sun has a big part in our circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm is responsible for our “iternal clocks”. When it’s dark out, our bodies will release melatonin preparing us to sleep but when the sun comes up, we feel awake and alert. The circadian rhythm can help stablize bodily functions and put our hormones in check. So you can only imagine what staying indoors all day can do. Throwing off your circadian rhythm can affect your mental health. Luckily, we have Mr. Sun to help us correct our hormone imbalances. If you’re feeling dark and sad, go outside!

Prioritize Yourself ♥

There is room for you in your priorities. So don’t feel guilty when you just need time to yourself. You’re human. Take some time off, recollect yourself, then go back to being super mom. You will still be loved by your family and most importantly, you will love you.

May 16, 2020

How my Pregnancy Took a Toll On My Emotional, Physical, & Mental Health

I found out I was pregnant with my daughter when I was just 20 years old. Of course, the first feeling I felt was fear but some reassurance from family members put me at ease. It wasn’t until I went through my pregnancy journey, I realized that being pregnant was one of the most challenging moments of my life so far. Pregnancy really took a toll on me physically, emotionally, and mentally. At the same time, I was a full-time student and worked a part-time job until I gave birth. Here is my journey

six months pregnant

Disclaimer: All pregnancy journey’s are different. Although some have harder pregnancies than others, all pregnancy journey’s are a joyful challenge.

Emotionally

When we think of how pregnancy will affect someone, we instantly know that their emotions are going to be through the roof. In my opinion, being pregnant is a perfect time for a woman to change her mood from psycho to sweetheart all within the same minute. Pregnancy gets you a free pass card on being cranky! In my case, I leaned more towards anger and nothing but anger…*shoutout to my patient boyfriend! I owe ya!*

Everything was his fault. If I had left my phone at home, it was his fault. If I was starving, it was his fault. If I was late to a class it was somehow his fault. It was like I made it my daily goal to connect him back to my problems and not try to think of a logical explanation to my mistakes. It was honestly very exhausting being angry all the time. Dang hormones! Looking back on those times, I am so thankful that my boyfriend continued to stay patient with me!

It is safe to say that excessive crying happens to a majority of pregnant women. I cried over the smallest things. Every morning I would eat avocado toast for breakfast. Well one morning, I cried because halfway through, I got full and couldn’t finish the rest. I felt so bad for wasting my breakfast. Not one of my proud moments to be crying over avocado toast.

Mentally

Before I was pregnant, I have always had anxiety. When I became pregnant, my anxiety got even worse. I was anxious about a lot of things. Because I was working and going to school, I was anxious about judgment from my peers. Being young and pregnant while living in the Bay Area, where a majority of people my age wouldn’t even think about starting a family at 21. I know I have been seen as a failure to some. People would ask me if I was expecting and when I would share the news the first thing they would say was not “congratulations” but “I’m sorry”. The rude comments got to me. The rudest comments I remember were “Oh my god you’re pregnant?! Is the father still around?” and “I can’t believe she’s pregnant. What a waste!”. Yeah, dealing with this for 9 months messed with me.

Physically

Whew! Where can I even start with this subject!? I would hurt in places that I didn’t even know could hurt. During my first trimester, I had the worst breakouts and was nauseas throughout the whole 9 months. Notice how I didn’t say morning sickness because my sickness did not only take place in the morning! I could not keep anything down. The only thing I ate, because I craved it, was frozen fruits. Especially Taco Bell’s Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze…very specific. Certain foods that I could not stomach was meat. If I saw or smelled the scent of meat cooking, I would go running to the bathroom. I found this diet change interesting considering the fact that I was 90% a carnivore before I became pregnant. This was of course one of the few physical experiences I went through.

I had pain everywhere. In my back, stomach, and heart. My heartburn was triggered by everything I ate. Sometimes even ice cream depending on the flavor i.e. chocolate. My mom told me that the more heartburn I had, it meant hair growth and that my daughter is going to come out with a lot of hair. I guess that old wives tale was true because she in fact did come out with a full head of hair! Glad to know my pain paid off.

I was also really restless and tired everyday due to my daughter’s foot being in my ribs every night. It’s a really sharp pain that hurts bad enough to make you cry. I certainly did. On top of the pregnancy gain, there was swelling in my feet and randomly, in my gums. Although this was common, it was annoying because the pain made it hard to eat.

Takeaway

Like I mentioned before, every pregnancy is different and in its own way, beautiful. Mine was a challenge. A challenge that I will forever cherish and be thankful for. If there was one takeaway that I hope you got from this, is not fear but that this is raw motherhood. To the soon to be mothers, I am excited for you. Excited for you to realize that you are stronger than you think. You can handle more than you know. I am so excited for you to see what being a mom is about!

I would love to hear about how your pregnancy was like! So please leave a comment below 🙂

April 3, 2020

My Maternity Photoshoot on Oahu, Hawaii

My first maternity shoot in Hawaii! This was my first time ever being shot by someone professional. I was honored to have the talented Amber Mozo shoot my photos! If you are not aware of who she is, I recommend you check out her photography on instagram. Her photos are breathtaking!

I’m not used to being on the other side of the camera because naturally, I’m so shy. I didn’t know what to do with myself during the shoot so you can imagine how awkward I was being but Amber just made things more comfortable by having a simple conversation with me. A technique I got from her and use when I shoot photos of people.

My photos were taken at Mokulēi’a Beach in North Shore. Although I have a lot more pictures, I thought I would just post my favorites. Enjoy 🙂

A flower for me and a flower for my girl
The highlight is gleamin’
When you run out of poses just look out into the ocean
🙂
Love the dreamy feel of this photo
Me and my other half
A rare moment of us being mushy
Honi!

March 18, 2020

Big Dog in a Small Apartment Survival Guide

About a week ago we welcomed our German Shepherd puppy mix! We really took a chance on going through with the adoption ad that a family friend sent us. Although we had our hearts set with a German Shepherd breeder (a deposit was put down and everything), after meeting our pup at the Berkley Humane shelter I knew she would do great with us and vice versa. She is such an affectionate sweetie. It’s been only a little over a week with her but I really can’t imagine our days without her! Yeah yeah yeah, I know I’m dramatic.

My sweet Hilo wilo!

Meet Hilo (HEE-LOW)! Our 4-month-old pup weighing in at 37.5 lbs! I myself am a first-time dog owner so I really didn’t know what to expect. Not only am I a first-time dog owner but my first dog is a German Shepherd. A dog breed that is known to be one of the smartest working breeds out there. On day 1 Hilo learned where her crate was, what it was for and how to sit, and it took us 5 days to potty train her. I knew she was going to be the type of dog to outsmart me and if she really wanted to, get into trouble! Any German Shepherd dog owner will tell you that a bored German Shepherd is a reckless one. Nonetheless, Our family is ready to start this new journey!

1. Toys

LOTS AND LOTS OF CHEW TOYS! Puppies are chewers. Their chomps don’t feel too nice either! Think of their bites like a mild baby shark. So get a lot of toys with different range of textures because you never know what your puppy may favor. Hilo loves plush animal squeaker toys. She didn’t really pay any attention to the rope and tug chew toys. Since I had only bought her three stuffed squeaker toys, she decided to steal some toys from my daughter so I had to make a run to the pet store to get more. She also loves any type of ball that she can carry around and chase after.

Her favorite is a platypus squeaker and the sheep ball!

But my absolute favorite and versatile dog toy is the classic Kong dog toy. You can throw it, your dog can chew it, stuff it with treats, or use it as something to keep your puppy busy while you’re gone. It’s perfect! I love the fact that you can find recipes online to make something called a “kong stuffer”. Hilo’s favorite kong stuffer recipe is a mix of frozen bananas, kibble, and low sugar peanut butter. If I know I am going out and leaving her in her crate for a couple of hours, I will prepare her favorite kong stuffer the night before and freeze it.

2. Crate

Crate training is an important process for any new dog coming into a new home. Your puppy will gain a sense of stability knowing that this crate is their den. Their den is their escape for when they feel anxious, stressed or not feeling well so it’s important for them to know that they have their own space. This does not only give stability to the dog but to the owner as well. Knowing that your dog is safe and not soiling your home while you are away, gives you a peace of mind. There are many positive benefits to crates so make sure you buy one of the appropriate size.

Her sleepy corner

3. Cadwell Potty Training Bells

In an apartment, I don’t really have the luxury of a front or backyard for my fur baby to relieve herself. For the past couple of days, the Cadwell bells have made potty training so easy for me and my apartment floors. I ordered my set of bells from Chewy.com and was pleased to find a training manual included in the packaging. My smart pup was able to get the hang on it after the second day of having the bells. I hang it on the front door handle and she is able to “boop” the bells with her nose with her fixed gaze on me to let me know she needs to go. If your dog is on a larger scale, I would encourage you to teach your dog to hit the bells with their nose rather than their paws scratching the door.

One issue I did come across with this method is that Hilo associated the bells mainly with going outside but not really with going to the bathroom. So for two days straight I heard ringing every five minutes. I fixed this problem by taking her out every time she rang the bell. Yes, I took her every five minutes outside because if I ignored the bells, it would defeat the purpose. As annoying as that was, I found it was important for her to go out to her designated spot to use the bathroom and when she was done, go back inside. No playing, no sniffing, no walking around. Straight to her spot then back inside. I wanted her to disassociate the bells with going outside to play.

4. Indoor Games

Mental stimulation is just as important as the physical workout. Now that we’re in the rainy season, walking is not too ideal because of the wet dog smell Hilo brings back with her. During times when we can’t go out, I come up with DIY brain games and ‘smart’ toys to entertain her and tire her out. Here are some of the things I’ll do to keep her mentally stimulated:

• During her meal times, I’ll sprinkle her food around the apartment so she can sniff her food out.
• Teach her new tricks
• Fill her Kong with treats
• Brain toys DIY
• Brain games DIY
• DIY Tug-o-war toys made out of old t-shirts

There are so many ideas you’ll find online!

5. Time

Keeping a dog breed that is huge, smart, and energetic in an apartment is not easy but it’s not impossible. If you live in an apartment or a small home, I suggest you make sure you have a lot of time in your schedule for this breed. Lucky for us, my schedule alternates with my boyfriend’s schedule. So Hilo and our daughter are never alone. One of us, if not both, are always at home with them. Leaving a breed like a german shepherd by themselves for more than 3 hours will only lead to an over-energetic and destructive dog. Training is another important factor. When my daughter is napping, I use that time to train and exercise! Keeping your dog on a schedule could keep her “zoomies” at bay.

Having a dog is like having another child. I feel like I am taking care of two toddlers!

Welcome To My Blog!

Welcome To My Blog!

Hello! I'm Ariana. I'm an artsy mom just living her life by half-assing her way through motherhood, surviving the great benefits of anxiety, and just overall trying to save a coin or two here in the Bay Area, CA where it's affordable. In case you couldn't tell, sarcasm is the only language I speak. I hope you will find my articles to your liking and maybe even help you get your life somewhat together...ish. P.S. Although I don't leave my home to socialize, I encourage socializing over the internet so please leave comments or messages! Anything is welcomed!
About me

  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Search

Categories

  • Adventure
  • Beauty
  • family
  • Lifestyle
  • Photography

Pinterest

Popular Posts

Valentines Day Shoot on a Dollar Tree Budget

The greatest realization that came out of quarantine for me is that I can get pretty creative when I’m bored. Since there is not much to do during these times, I felt like Valentine’s day was going to be pretty boring for me and my little one. So of course I had to plan a […]

Lessons Learned from Anxiety

Remember when you were a kid and your mom left you in line at the check out line in the grocery store and even though she said she will only take a couple of minutes to grab an item, you’re moving closer towards the cashier and your mom is not in sight. Your nerves are […]

FOLLOW

@arianamlit

How was your Valentine’s day? Spent mine doing a How was your Valentine’s day? Spent mine doing a vday DIY photoshoot with my mini and it was so fun!! Got all my props from the Dollar tree so total price of this whole set up🤔? 12freakin dollars!!!! Checkout my blog post tonight to see how I did it and a dollar tree photoshoot prop haul❤️❤️❤️
I look like im trying to sell your house✨ 
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#blogger #bloggerstyle #bloggersgetsocial #smallblogger #bloggerlife #bloggerlifestyle #bloggersofinstagram #blogger_de #blog #photography #momblog #momblogger #lifestyleblogger #polynesianblogger #bayareablogger #oaklandblogger #sanfranciscoblogger #selfportrait #homephotoshoot #photographer
Spent a few hours taking pictures in the city. Sin Spent a few hours taking pictures in the city. Since i have a new camera, I’m still trying to get to know it’s settings and manual mode! All i know is, is that I need to come back here and practice😬 
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#blogger #bloggerlife #bloggersgetsocial #blog #bloggerstyle #bloggers #smallblogger #californiablogger #californiabloggers #bayareablogger #bayareabloggers #sanfrancisco #sf #thecity #sanfranciscoblogger #oakland #lifestyleblogger #travelblogger #blogphotography #photography #photographer
Family trip to Yosemite 2020 🌱 Not only were th Family trip to Yosemite 2020 🌱 Not only were the views breathtaking but we were able to practice safe covid guidelines to protect ourselves and others. The great thing about vacationing in nature, its big enough to social distance😉. Do you have any plans for the holidays? 
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#momlife #momblogger #lifestyleblogger #smallblogger #californiablogger #norcal #bayarea #bayareablogger #toddlerlife #photography #yosemite #yosemitevalley #bloggersgetsocial
Frosty fall leaves! It is almost winter!!! • • Frosty fall leaves! It is almost winter!!!
•
•
•
•
•
•
#winter #frosty #snow #ice #blogger #lifestyleblogger #mommyblogger #yosemite #californiablogger
🤍🤍🤍
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#bodypositivity #smallblogger 
#lifestlyle #lifestyleblogs #lifestyleblogger #bloggerlifestyle #lifestyledesign #homedecor #roominspo #lifestyleguide #lifestyleinspo #lifestyleblog #lifestylephotographer #lifestyleclothing #lifestylebrand #lifestyleshop #lifestyleinfluencer #lifestylefitness #adayinthelife #bayareablogger #oaklandblogger #sanfranciscoblogger #californiablogger #bloggersgetsocial #blogger #mommyblogger
My compassion, my goals, my success. I make my own My compassion, my goals, my success. I make my own limits and thats so liberating ⭐️
•
•
•
•
•
•

#lifestlyle #lifestyleblogs #lifestyleblogger #bloggerlifestyle #momblogger #quotes #motivation #lifestyleguide #lifestyleinspo #lifestyleblog #lifestylephotographer #lifestyleclothing #smallblogger #blogger #lifestyleinfluencer #iowabloggersunite #bloggersgetsocial #adayinthelife #bayareablogger #oaklandblogger #sanfranciscoblogger #californiablogger
Hellooo December 🤍 New month, new goals! I thin Hellooo December 🤍
New month, new goals! I think my December fav’s are going to be whatever is seasonal at Target & Trader Joe’s. 
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
#bloggersgetsocial 
#lifestlyle #lifestyleblogs #lifestyleblogger #bloggerlifestyle #lifestyledesign #homedecor #traderjoes #lifestyleguide #lifestyleinspo #lifestyleblog #december #winteriscoming #hotcocoa #hobbylobbychristmas #lifestyleinfluencer #lifestylefitness #adayinthelife #bayareablogger #oaklandblogger #sanfranciscoblogger #californiablogger

Copyright © 2021 · Theme by Blog Pixie