To help you make the most of the remaining summer days, I've put together a comprehensive list of everything that I keep in my pool bag. Most of these things we have in there at all times which makes the process easy for getting out the door and maximizes our time actually swimming instead of just getting ready for the pool.

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, expecting a second child, I want to offer some reassurance: I genuinely found the transition to be easier the second time around. Now, I understand that every baby and every situation is different, but having gone through it before, you have a sense of what to expect. You're a seasoned parent, equipped with valuable experience, and you can lay the groundwork to set up your new life for success.

A few weeks back, my husband and I embarked on a fantastic adult-only trip to Nashville for a weekend getaway, accompanied by a few of my high school friends. I put together a loose itinerary and made a few reservations in advance. As I've done in many of my blog posts, I wanted to share the details of our weekend escapades, highlighting the things we enjoyed and what we might have done differently. My aim is to assist you in planning your own Nashville adventure with your closest and dearest friends (trust me, it's an experience that will create lifelong memories!).

We're finally back home in Austin after a whirlwind 10-day trip to Pennsylvania. This year's trip was particularly special because it was our daughter's first time traveling. That meant my husband and I had the pleasure of flying with both a baby and a toddler. Now that we're on the other side, I can confidently say that our trip was a success! So, I thought I'd share my Plane Packing list with you—the list of everything I packed for the plane ride with my toddler and baby. My hope is that you can save time by using my list instead of brainstorming your own.

Believe it or not, July 2nd is the official halfway point for 2024. Time is really flying by! The halfway mark is the perfect opportunity to take a moment to reflect on what's been working, what hasn't, where I'm currently at, and what I want to change up for the second half of the year.

Once you have everything you need for pumping on-the-go, you might be wondering, "What's next?" In this post, I’m sharing my experienced mama’s process for pumping breast milk on-the-go and how I use all my must have products. I hope you find it useful and pick up a tip or two for your next travel adventure!

To save you the time and effort I've put in with two little ones, I want to share a list of all the essentials I use for traveling with a breast pump. These supplies are also airport and TSA-friendly!

I’m now focused on preparing myself and our family for this new chapter as I head back to work after maternity leave. So, here is my family's preparation for my return to work and my game plan for once I'm back in the office. I hope some of my tips and advice come in handy if you're going through a similar transition.

Although, I am no expert, I wanted to provide some of my practical advice and tips for adjusting to send your baby to daycare after maternity leave. This is my second rodeo, so I have experience with what worked the first time and what aspects I want to adjust to make the process even smoother.

To lend a hand to other parents expecting baby #2, I've put together the list below of what I bought or repurchased in preparation. Hopefully, this list will help make your transition smoother!

This past weekend, I finally graduated with my Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Texas in Austin. Can you believe it? Having my MBA was always a goal of mine and these last few years have been quite a journey. There were times when I wasn’t sure if I would actually make it to graduation day, but here I am, diploma in hand, feeling a mix of relief and overwhelming accomplishment.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been reflecting a lot on my own mom and our relationship. Like most moms, mine was a superhero! And now that I’m a mom myself, I have a whole never level of respect and gratitude for her. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank my mom for all the not-so- obvious things that have shaped me into the mom and human I am today.

I have been writing a sentence a day, every single day since the summer of 2009. That is approximately 3800 days or 10 ½ years! This simple practice has given me a snapshot of my daily experiences and emotions, all neatly tucked away in a few journals. The best part? It only takes me a maximum of two minutes each day. Writing a sentence a day has truly changed my life, and I believe everyone should incorporate this practice into their lives.

The passage of months feels different now, perhaps because we measure our kids’ age in months. Each new milestone achieved, each pound gained—it all marks a version of my children that slips away, never to return. These ‘I’m not ready’ conversations often begin when my husband broaches the topic of attempting a new milestone with our little one. In nearly every instance, I find myself unprepared, while my baby seems ready. Our mommy guts have an uncanny way of knowing. They’re like our internal compasses, pointing us toward the next chapter even before we consciously realize it.

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, happening on Sunday, May 12th. Now that I’m a mom too, Mother’s Day has taken on an entirely different meaning. Sometimes I even forget that I am now someone’s mom (well, actually two people’s mom!). If you're on the lookout for a gift for yourself, your own mom, or just need a subtle hint for your loved one, I've put together a short gift guide of things I either want or already have and absolutely love.

There is no other way to say it, going anywhere in public with a newborn can be hard and overwhelming. With the birth of our second baby, I knew I would have to leave the house a little bit more than we did with my first only because the idea of being cooped up with a newborn and my toddler sounded a bit miserable. With this in mind, I decided to compile a short list of the places we have gone to during these first several months that have been practical and accommodating for both my toddler and my newborn.

I wanted to share an excerpt I wrote back in February 2022, during a particularly vulnerable moment in my journey as a mama to my three-month-old son. I’m a little nervous to share about this day and my feelings, but I go back to what I wrote frequently and feel comforted. I hope that by sharing I can help other moms feel less alone in similar situations.

When it comes to breastfeeding, I’m not an expert. However, I did nurse my first for 10 months and my second for going on three. When you calculate the total number of hours, you can say that I have a lot of experience. Beyond practice, I have found “supplies” that have really helped me with breastfeeding and creating an efficient and enjoyable feeding experience. This is a popular question my new mom friends ask me, so I wanted to share the list below of my must-haves along with links of where you can purchase. I hope this is helpful for new moms, moms-to-be, or those who are supporting/shopping for mamas.

Having the confidence and experience this time around has given me permission (not that I should need it) to change things up. So, here are a few things I’m doing differently with baby number two than I did with first (and why).

I am a huge Podcast fan. During a run, driving in the car, making breakfast, folding laundry, feeding baby in the MOTN- I have a podcast on. Below are some of my must-listen podcasts and others I have subscribed to and will listen to when I have extra car time—because there is never enough time to get to all of it.