| Mommy Diary ®

Mexico A Family’s Guide to Riviera Maya Mexico

I can’t believe it’s already time for my daughter to begin preparing for college. @kaplantestprep⁣
⁣
College entrance is more difficult than it was when I was in high school and so much has changed in the college prep process. SAT and ACT are no longer required by many schools but students are still taking them and SAT is going completely digital in 2024. ⁣
⁣
All these changes can be daunting for both parents and students but @kaplantestprep has you covered with its UNLIMITED TEST PREP program that allows you to take unlimited classes for SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP until December of your student’s senior year. ⁣
⁣
Now is a great time to enroll your student to better prepare him/her for upcoming exams! The sale ends on 6/1, full price is $1999 and with the $500 sale it is $1499 - use code MAY500 to save. More info on my stories and link in bio. #kaplanpartner

Today as I’m planning for our upcoming family travels, I feel glad I’m not pregnant or have a newborn to take care of. For some reason this sounds like a radical statement but it’s really not. Because after giving selflessly to my 4 children for many years, I’m ready to mother myself too. ⁣
⁣
As someone who gave up a lot to motherhood, from age 23 to be exact, I always felt like my own life needed to be lived too. Unlike many others who travel, climb up the corporate ladder or find that special person when they feel ready, I let God show me which path to take. It was complete surrender not because I’m brave, but because I felt it was the right decision at the time.⁣
⁣
In retrospect, I missed out on a lot- my entire 20’s of self-discovery and play- which added to the weight of my own life. I had to mother others before I can mother myself and give more to my family before I knew how to care for myself.⁣
⁣
I’m reaching a new season of motherhood where I can begin to think about what I want too. ⁣
⁣
And this is a beautiful place of endless possibilities and hope. It excites me in a whole new way, and I like it here. ⁣
⁣
#motherhood #NYC #mommydiarytravels

POV: your friends are in town so you play hooky and go to @disneyland.
Check out the secret room at Lamplight Lounge on my stories! 🪄
#disneyland #californiaadventure #california #disneyfamily

Our family room got a spring refresh! I finally decided to give up the white couch fantasy to this Gabriel Chaise sectional and Daybed from @Sixpennyhome.
The constant cleaning of the white couches with kids & dogs was stressing me out and I was ready for a change.
This color is called Nectarine Dream and the perfect neutral that won’t show every stain. The cotton linen fabric holds up nicely too! #gifted

AD 📲Let’s talk about social media & teens. I don’t think social media is all bad, it depends on how we use it. Social media is now a daily part of our lives and our teens +13 are using them to connect with their friends. It’s also a powerful tool for building community and finding like-minded peers.⁣
⁣
@meta and @instagram provide safety tools for parents and teens to make their online experience more positive. I love that @instagram is focused on teens’ experience & safety rather than simply increasing time spent online.⁣
⁣
1) Supervision tools with Instagram allows parents & guardians to monitor and manage their teen’s time on Instagram, see their following and follower list and receive insights their teens choose to share.⁣
⁣
2) Quiet Mode allows adults and teens set healthy boundaries on Instagram by muting notification and put app in dark mode⁣
⁣
3) Take a break- teens can turn on break reminders featuring expert-backed tips on how to take a moment away from social media⁣
⁣
There are so many more safety tools available on Instagram and Meta. Go to the link in bio to learn more!⁣
⁣
#instagram #meta #socialmedia #parentingtips #metapartner

Back to reality after my first encounter with @agustd and the #armybomb
#bts #armybomb #agustD #backtoreality

Celebrating 100 Days For Baby: A Korean Tradition

Hi everyone! We celebrated Baby D’s 100 days this past weekend...

Fertility Cleanse: Why And How To Do It

The need to increase fertility is a fairly common problem,...

Birth Story of Gia Rumi: A Natural, Unmedicated Labor

There is no right or wrong way to give birth...

How To Plan An Intimate Vow Renewal Ceremony

Backstory: When I married my husband in 2004, I dreamed...

10 Preschool Transition Tips For 2-3 Year Olds

Starting preschool can be both exciting and difficult for both...

5 Sleep Training Tips

I’ve gotten several questions lately about sleep training. It’s a...

Best Cameras For Moms And Beginning Photographers

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional photographer. What follows is simply...

4 Reasons Why The Shade Store is Worth it: Windows Before And After With The Shade Store

This post is sponsored by The Shade Store. As always,...

Luxury Closet Remodel With California Closets

What girl doesn’t dream about a beautiful custom walk in...

Choosing The Perfect Benjamin Moore White Paint

Today I want to share my story about how I...

Best South Korea Travel Guide: Part 1- The Planning

Planning South Korea Travel for families, where to stay, facts...

Visit California Newport & Carlsbad Family Travel

We recently partnered with Visit California to take a 4...

Luxury Family Travel In Las Vegas: Things To Do At Wynn

Best Family Friendly Luxury Hotel In Las Vegas: Wynn &...