3 Easy Hairstyles for the Busy Mom
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?
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!
*Amy Bentley is an associate professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at NYU – Slate.com
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How to Show Your Husband You Love Him
As new parents, oftentimes life revolves around our baby and we tend to devote our focus on our new addition. However, we mustn’t forget to dedicate attention and love to our spouse. Seeing your husband in a new light of being a father is enough reason to love him even more! Personally, every time I catch my husband interacting with our baby boy, it makes me fall in love all over again. It’s important to express love to one another. Here are 3 simple ways I show my husband I love him:
1. Cook
Like the old saying goes, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!” Honestly, I’ve never liked nor enjoyed cooking, but I knew my husband loves food (like every man), so on our wedding day, I vowed to learn to cook for him. Suddenly, I discovered that cooking for the one you love is not bad after all. There are several advantages to cooking at home:
- Control your intake. Unlike eating out, you add your own seasoning at home and are able to prepare healthy meals.
- Learn to cook whatever you or your spouse craves. Prior to our engagement, the only thing I knew how to make was eggs and rice! Now, I can probably make a 3 course meal. Besides, cooking is not as difficult as it sounds (my only exception is certain seafood like lobster and crab, but why learn when you have Joe’s Stone Crab around the corner).
- Save a buck or two. Eating out can be expensive, especially if you’re doing it daily.
2. Guy time
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Guy time in my husband’s case is soccer. There’s no denying I married a soccer lover. I love seeing how happy he gets when he comes home from a good game. Whether it’s a sport or pastime, it’s good for your husband to have guy time, meanwhile, you can have a girl’s night out with your gals or do something productive like read a book or get a hobby.
3. Simply tell him, “I LOVE You!”
I say, “I love you!” to everyone I love. My family and close friends can attest to this. My parents taught me to express my feelings and as a family, we constantly tell each other I love you i.e. before hanging up the phone, we usually say, “OK, I love you, bye!” I tell my husband I love him before he leaves the house, before we go to sleep, and a couple of times throughout the day. I realize not too many families openly express this, which can be difficult to make it a habit. Yet, it is so important to say these words to the one you love because they produce assurance, affection, and can turn any frown upside down. If you are not accustomed to telling your spouse you love him, I encourage you to start doing it daily, and before you know, it’ll be a part of your family’s culture.
Here are photos of my love and our baby boy:
