Archives for January 2017

10 Things I Love About My Husband!

January 24, 2017 By Joceline Raad

My husband’s birthday is approaching and he deserves the best! Sometimes, we forget to acknowledge and point out why our spouses are amazing. It’s important to verbally express it frequently. I remember once when we were courting, I surprised him with 101 handwritten reasons of why I loved him. So today, I wanted to share with you only 10 things I love about my husband (in no particular order):

A man of faith. Through prayer and faith, we see God fulfill miracles after miracles in our life.
His noble heart. He is an unconditional friend. He gives without expecting anything in return.
He’s not easily angered. He never raises his voice. If ever we have a disagreement, he keeps calm. Everyone knows that it’s easy to get upset, but he always holds his composure no matter what.
He always speaks words of love. Our goal as a family is to never speak hurtful words to one another and to always tell each other words of love and encouragement. (Side note: It is so important to express love to your spouse with your words!)
He’s the BEST in everything! Sports, music, you name it! I guess you can say, I am and always will be his number one fan. A husband’s number one fan should always be his wife.
He’s my personal chauffeur. No matter how tired he is, (like those long 4 hour drives back from Orlando to South Florida) he will never tell me to take over the wheel. The main reason is because he’s a gentleman and would rather me rest or keep him awake by talking up a storm the whole drive home.
He always surprises me! It’s honestly his thing, and he’s pretty darn good at it – since our courtship to when he proposed by flying us to NY and popped the question at Bow Bridge. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers or a Hallmark card filled with heartfelt words, he continues to surprise me even now.
He’s my greatest supporter. I know I can achieve anything I set my heart on primarily because he’s my supporter and motivator.
His joyful spirit always makes me laugh. I could never stay mad at him because he retaliates with his charm and jokes. Plus, I love to laugh and he never fails at turning my frown upside down.
He’s the best father. Seeing him in a new light as a father makes my heart grow fonder of him. Words can’t describe the happiness I feel when I see him and our baby boy interacting.
BONUS: How handsome he is. He will always be my handsome groom and I strive to always be his lovely bride. A wife should always feel physically attracted to her husband, no matter how long you’ve been married and vice versa. Many times we dress our best for everyone else, however we should always aim to look gorgeous for ourselves and above all – our husbands.

Spread love and share the 10 things YOU love about your husband. Feel free to use the hashtag #10thingsaboutmyhusband. Your husband will be ecstatic and you will make his day. Go on! Try it and thank me later. 🙂

Part of My Wedding Vows – All of Me by John Legend

January 19, 2017 By Joceline Raad

3 Easy Hairstyles for the Busy Mom

January 17, 2017 By Joceline Raad

Motherhood is the busiest “hoods” in the world! It can take a toll on keeping up with personal appearance due to lack of time. You can get away with unpolished nails and no makeup, but hair is a factor that will transform your appearance dramatically. A cute hairstyle can take you from looking a hot mess to a hot momma in a matter of minutes. Check out these 3 easy-to-do hairstyles for a busy woman.

Ponytail. A ponytail is a classic hairstyle that is and always will be timeless. When you are in a rush, all you need is a hair-tie and voila! Plus, it helps keep your locks away from your baby’s hands. If your baby is like mine (who happens to love to pull on hair!) this is the best way to go.
High + loose bun. Several moms LOVE the high bun which made a comeback this past year. If you are breastfeeding, a bun keeps your hair from getting in the way and also makes you less irritated and hot. Besides it being extremely comfortable, it is cute! I love seeing women with high, loose buns.
Hair down. This is the most practical hairstyles. Let go and let your hair down. Work the “long hair don’t care” look! If you are blessed with wash-n’-go hair (the kind of hair that does not need a blow dryer nor flat iron), ROCK it everyday! However, if you have frizzy hair like me, blow dry it and go.

Another easy alternative is a simple threefold braid. Each hairstyle takes a matter of minutes and there is no need to go to a hair salon. Try a different look each day to change it up.

Breastfeeding in Public: Yay or Nay?

January 9, 2017 By Joceline Raad

After 5+ months of exclusively breastfeeding, the best way to breastfeed is when I am at home, carefree and topless. Though this may sound abruptly honest and a little “TMI”, it’s the truth. To all the mommies-to-be and new moms out there, this is something that no one will ever tell you, but boy do I wish someone would have told me in my early days of breastfeeding. Besides it being extremely comfortable, it is also comfortable for your baby and the skin-to-skin contact adds to the emotional connection with a newborn.

Now, what are you supposed to do in public? Well, you’re obviously not going to go topless, however, how are you expected to nurse your child in the outside world? We live in a society where breastfeeding in public is somewhat of a taboo – where pulling out your boob to feed your newborn may shock everyone around you. But why? Why is something so natural, such a taboo in public? Society was not always like this. So when did things change and why?

According to Inventing Baby Food: Taste, Health, and the Industrialization of the American Diet by Amy Bentley*, here are the 2 main reasons why breastfeeding became taboo in America:

Baby food companies. Baby food companies began associating their product with progression and “civilized” America. Suddenly, breastfeeding older infants became a thing of the past and was not done by women in industrialized countries.
Mid-century mentality of sexualizing breasts. Post-war America brought about the rise of pin-up girls and the birth of Playboy. Breasts were viewed as something sexual and not functional.

Though there have been movements (like the #NormalizeBreastfeeding movement) that promote public breastfeeding, it can still be uncomfortable for women to nurse their child in public. Personally, I may have been a bit judgmental about women nursing in public without covering up prior to becoming a mom myself. But now, everything has changed. It’s a case of finally being in the shoes of a breastfeeding mom and it’s something that is only understood when we experience it. Nevertheless, we have to respect people’s diverse views on this subject and we must not force our personal views on anyone.

Here are a few ways you can comfortably breastfeed in public:

A lightweight cover. A fellow mom gave me a cover by Hooter Hiders! I adore it because it’s lightweight and efficient.
Wear easy-access shirts. There are quite a few clothing that make it easier to breastfeed anywhere. Button-down blouses and shirts with front zippers are my favorite!
Sit next to your husband or loved ones. They will help you wherever, whenever and will never make you feel awkward.

That is the way I breastfeed in public. It’s comfortable for me and my baby and I try to also be sensitive to those around me. It will always be a Yay for me and never a Nay because when my baby has to eat, that is all that matters. If you’re a breastfeeding mama, nurse your baby publicly. Many times, no one will even notice you’re breastfeeding. Don’t feel limited to only nursing at home. You can do it – go for it!