Mother's Day for a Single Mom

This post is sponsored by James Avery

This is my first Mother's Day as a single mom. Maybe off the bat it doesn't seem like it should be too different from any other Mother's Day, but I don't have a spouse that will be giving me a card or a gift or even hot coffee at the start of the day. 

So, what do I do this Mother's Day to make sure that I celebrate the most important job in my life, especially after one of the hardest years yet? Well, i got myself an extra special piece of jewelry from James Avery. 

When it comes to jewelry I like to keep things simple and special. James Avery has always meant a lot to me over the years growing up in Texas. I wrote about the gift I got myself over the holidays to remind me of peace (click here to see), and I wear it non-stop. So, what better gift for Mother's Day than a bracelet with an "L" and an "N" to remind me of my children. 

I love that it's on a cord because it's comfortable when I'm typing at work vs. a hard bangle. Elle and Levi also like seeing their letters on my arm. If you still don't know what to get for Mother's Day I would highly recommend a James Avery charm bracelet like this.

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

MOTHER'S DAY OUT

For over half of my life Mother's Day has been about celebrating my mom, but the past three years I have had the gift of being celebrated as a mom myself. It's such a special title and, what I believe to be the most important calling I have on my life. I teamed up with Shane Co. to create a perfect mom's day out because sometimes moms need to take off the mom hat and just be ourselves in order to be the best mom possible.

Motherhood can be a pretty thankless job for many years, but Shane Co. wants all moms to feel loved and celebrated. I don't think I knew all that my mom did for me until I stood in her shoes, and it makes me want to buy her all of the special things in the world and then some. haha! I was a pretty hard child, so I sure owe her.

I have two questions for you. What does your perfect Mother's Day look like, and what does your perfect Mother's Day gift look like?

For me, it would be a morning with my kids - snuggling, eating donuts and drinking warm coffee. Ya know, a lazy morning with nothing to do and no place to be except in bed. The second half of the day, however, I would want to get dressed up, eat delicious food and have a day out with my friends. That's exactly what Shane Co. treated me and two other mamas to at The Upton. Reachel Bagley of Cardigan Empire and Venessa Kaufman of We The Classy are two stylin' moms that know a thing or two about balancing work and motherhood. Definitely go check their blogs out! 

We sipped cocktails and at yummy bites while laughing about our kids, and we did it in style. We got to play dress up and wear the shiniest diamonds and most precious metals. It was like a fairytale. 

Alixandra Collections even provided us with some gorgeous garb. This silk floral blouse is SO me. I would wear it with jeans and dress it up with leather any day.

Thank you, Shane Co., for celebrating me and wanting to celebrate moms around the globe!

Photos by Rennai Hoefer

Moms Are Superheroes

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Heroes aren't imaginary. They're real. Contrary to popular belief, they don't wear masks every day, but instead love to wear jewelry, jeans, and sometimes even dresses. They rescue kids from danger every day, stay up all hours of the night, and can turn tears in to laughter within seconds.

Moms are heroes. They can make pain go away with a kiss and give birth to new life. Those are incredible super powers, and I am so thankful for them because none of us would be here without moms.

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I am so thankful that I get to be Elle's mom, and a mom to this little one growing in my belly. I wouldn't usually describe myself as a super hero, but when 31 Bits picked me as one of their Super-hero Moms, it made me think about the role that moms play in the world. It sure is a big one, and it's an honor to be a hero for Elle.

I must say, however, that I have one super hero kid. As much as I might have an impact on her, she sure has an impact on me. She has superpowers to make me feel happiness, purpose and humbleness like nothing else. I think it's safe to say that everyone in this world possesses qualities of a superhero, but I'm sure glad that I can know what it means to embody "superhero mom" powers for Elle and Baby E.

If you have a superhero mom in your life make sure to visit 31Bits.com to look for a gift for her. When you purchase a piece of jewelry from their site you are also providing income for superhero moms and kids in Africa. Cool, right? Check it out!

Photos by Gina Meola

Fast & Easy Style Tips for Moms

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Happy Mother's Day! This is my first Mother's Day where I get to hold my baby in my arms and not just feel her punch my tummy. haha. It is an incredible privilege to be Elle's mom, and I hope one day she gets to experience this same blessing. In honor of Mother's day I would like to share five fast and easy style tips with you. I had the chance to do this on television for Arizona Midday in conjunction with HelloSociety this week (clip coming soon).

1. Dress it up - The fastest and easiest way to feel gorgeous is to put on a dress. It's one piece of clothing and you don't have to match anything to it except for a pair of shoes. Right now, lace dresses are very popular, as well as bright printed maxi dresses.

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2. Make a statement - Still trying to shed the little bit of baby weight? Draw attention to your face and away from those extra pounds with a bright statement necklace or a colorful scarf in your hair. Both are easy to put on, very trendy and make people focus on what is important - YOU!

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3. Smell the roses  - Nothing makes a woman feel more special than getting flowers, right? So, why not wear them this Mother's Day?! Floral prints are very popular and can be worn on shorts, blazers and skirts. If that is too adventuresome, try a pair of floral printed shoes. Even in small doses flowers are special.

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4. It's in the bag - Handbags are always a treat because they have nothing to do with body shape and you won't have to worry about guessing the right size because it will always "fit." The Chloe Marcie bag is the "it" bag of the year but if you're looking to spend less, the Michael Kors Hamilton tote or anything from the Kate Spade Grove collection is beautiful.

5. Five minute face - After I became a mom, the "5-minute face" became a necessity for me to feel pretty while juggling a baby and a job. I had a makeup artist (Stephanie Neiheisel) sift through my makeup, get rid of what I didn't need, and show me how to create the best 5-minute face for my skin tone. It changed my life!

Images: My Blomquist, Dean Street Society, Oscar PR Girl, Frolic-Blog.com

Stylish Moms

Mother's Day is on Sunday. YAY! So, I thought it would be great to share some of my favorite blogs by some super stylish moms that I look up to. 1. Kenziepoo - Rachelle is one hot mamma. She's the editor of La Petite Magazine and the the blogger behind Kenziepoo. She also blogs for Babble.com a lot. She has AWESOME personal style. Her hair and makeup alone are always on point.

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2. Rockstar Diaries - I'm sure you've probably already heard of Naomi from Rockstar Diaries, but she is one of my favorite stylin' moms. He hair and outfits are always unique and adorable. Plus, she always has the best braids. I wish I could do that for myself. My arms just get too tired I think. haha!

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3. Kelly Murray - Kelly is an amazing visual artist and illustrator. She is also the head fashion designer of Jedidiah, so the girl knows a thing or two about good style. She has a beautiful little girl, and has incorporated motherhood into everything she does. Definitely check out her blog and her personal style posts!

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4. Simply Grove - Kirsten is an amazing interior decorator. Her good taste in home decor completely translates into fashion. She has two adopted kiddos that have to be the most trend setting kids on this planet.