Get The Look • Lolo slays the 1920s

On Memorial weekend, my family and I attended a wedding in Moore Haven, Florida. It's Quintin's home town. Q was the Best Man and we all flew down to celebrate the nuptials.

I wanted to put together an outfit that would be fun and sassy; yet, Southern Belle-ish for the occasion.

Get the outfit deets below:

                                         Lil Mama is giving you Josephine Baker meets 2014

I purchased this layered/flapper inspired dress from H&M




I purchased these sequin Mary Jane shoes from Sears



The pearls were a necessity for this look. I bought them from a costume jewelry store

The headpiece which I absolutely loved was purchased at H&M

Care to share some of your stylish tots? If so, send them over to me, i'd love to feature them. 

That's So Jaded,
Jae

I woke up like dis....#Beyonce

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of Beyonce's artistry. I have been a fan of hers since the early Destiny's Child days. So when I received this beautiful t-shirt with Beyonce's album theme on it, I was ecstatic! My sorority sister gifted it to her, and it is FLAWLESS


Ask and Ye Shall Receive


If you bought it, and it's in the house that you pay for, and is being used by a child that you birthed then, by default that means you don't have to ask your child or anyone in your home for permission to do anything. See how that works? Like, can you imagine asking your child if you can enter their room? The room you furnished? In the home you go to work everyday to pay for?

EggggggXactly

Well, something similar to that happened to me yesterday. I picked up Lolo from school and on our way home we ran into my mom and she bought Lolo a bag of Animal Crackers. Thanks Mom! :)

We get home and Lo begs me to open the bag. I open it, after all, I wanted something sweet to snack on as well. So she sits on the kitchen floor eating the animal crackers and I sit beside her, reach in the bag and pop one in my mouth. I mean, I thought we were going to chill on the floor, gossip and snack on some free crackers.   :perplexed

Suddenly! Everything stops! She looks at me with the blankest stare and less than 2 seconds later she is hollering, kicking and screaming on the kitchen floor.


She is literally so upset that I even had the audacity, to place my hand in a bag of crackers, that were sitting in a kitchen, that I pay to live in. Ok, so let me break this down some more for you, my hand that I used to cling on to the rails of the hospital bed, as I was in labor with her. The hand, I use to go to work everyday so that she can live a good life. The hand, I use to wipe her stinky poopy diapers. The hand I use to pay the cashier for the clothes she has on her back. Yessss.... that HAND!

I'm not going to lie; at first I was like.....


Then the tears got louder and more belligerent......

So finally I blurt out "Sorry Lolo". "I'm sorry. Mama is sorry"! This child looks at me like...
Lolo waiting for a more sincere apology

But because my daughter throws consistent SHADE on a daily basis, she was not giving in this easily. She got up off the kitchen floor and walked away. Oh, let me remind you, that I'm still sitting on the kitchen floor. So, she basically got up, walked away and left me sitting there like a remorseful dummy. In my own home.

I get up off the floor, and find her in my bedroom sitting on the bed eating her animal crackers "in peace". 


sit next to her and say "Lolo can I have one please?" 

My baby goes in the bag, reaches in and gets not one but two crackers and places it in my mouth! I thought to myself, 'geeesh that was easy'. All I needed to do was ask and I could have avoided the total eclipse shade that happened almost 10 minutes ago. "Hmmm" I thought, perhaps, there are boundaries that I should adhere to. Maybe I should've respected her space. Maybe I should've respected her belongings. Maybe I should lead by example and ask before I take something that's not mine.


                                                        Then I pondered on those thoughts....


Yeahhhhhh RIGHT! That's So Jaded! This is my HOUSE
Lesson Unlearned!

That's So Jaded,
Jae




Ready, Set ... Not Yet #PottyTraining



 It wasn't until I was out of my last diaper mid-way through changing her, that I entertained the idea of potty training my little girl. She and Quintin had just flown home from Florida and our signals were crossed with what we needed for the week. I ran around the house frantically looking for a spare diaper. I checked all the diaper bags, my work purse, and the back seat of my car. NOTHING! Ugh, what am I going to do I thought? I looked over at Lolo as she stared at me, with her legs dangling in the air, waiting for her wet diaper replacement.

Lolo unamused by my antics 

It was at that moment that I said, I have to potty train her, because I just can't keep up. -- I'd heard many times that girls are easier to train than boys so sure I figured this would be a piece of cake. Right?! Additionally, she had already been showing interest in bathroom activities. Following me to the bathroom whenever I had to go, and sitting at the door like a watch dog until I was done. Her recent obsession was getting tissue so that she could "help" me after I used the bathroom.

That weekend I went into Buy Buy Baby and literally bought everything I would need to potty train little miss Jade. I got the Dora Potty Toilet , I got the big girl, potty training seat that goes on the big toilet, bought the portable seat for public restrooms, a step stool so she could climb up, baby hand soap to wash her hands, and even got the soft toilet tissue so it could be soft on her privates.  I think I dropped like $130 on all these accessories and "things" that I thought would make my life easier in terms of potty training her. I was so excited! My baby is growing up. No more diapers. Just cute little panties that say, "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday" on them; and of course she would ALWAYS wear the right day of the week because that's what Mitchell's do.
No MORE DIAPERS! What! What! 

Leaving Buy Buy Baby, I just knew Lo was gonna be all into this. And since she's my baby, she'd likely ace it on her first try (insert proud mommy *smirk* here). I get home and set everything up for this grand affair. You have to understand that in my mind, this was going to be an epic right of passage to her little-lady/womanhood



I pull down her diapers and sit her on the baby toilet. The thought just excited me, I start to clap loudly. She's so amused at the sight of Dora on the toilet seat that she won't even concentrate. "Mama ah Dora, ah Dora" Yes, Lolo that's Dora! Then she says, "Mama Sit". No, Lolo I don't have to go to the bathroom, but you should go though. "No sit". So, yeah, I sit    :look:  . Then she starts looking down at her private area and at that moment I'm sure that things are finally clicking for her. Sure, she's seen me on the toilet countless times so I know the big reveal is close by.

You can do it Lolo! 

A few moments pass and she gets up and says "Mama All Done". For a second I was excited. "OMG, my baby pottied, I just gave birth to her the other day". But then it dawned on me that of course she didn't use the potty because I would have heard it. She starts clapping for herself  :clapping: and walks away; diapers at her ankles, bare booty just fading into the darkness....

I try to contain my disappointment but all I could do was look her in the eye, and whisper in my head.....

Don't Judge Me! Ok! OK you can judge me! :perplexed

What boggled me most is that she knows and understands quite well when she has to use the bathroom. So I was a bit perplexed why she wouldn't go on the potty. Like it's right there, it's so easy. Just do it.

That moment, when you realize that your baby is just as normal as all the other kids can be quite a rude awakening. As moms we swear up and down that our children have these super powers that they don't. We think they're the best, the smartest, the prettiest, the kindest child that has ever graced this planet. I'm pretty sure that some of you reading this believe your child will cure cancer one day. And, maybe they will... but then again.. maybe they won't and that's ok too. But, what I am learning most from this potty training process is that you can't rush perfection. It will take time, Lot's of time and one day it will click for her. That one day just hasn't happened yet. So... off to Costco I go.

Huggies! Size 5 please..... 
What are some of your potty training woes or successes?

That's So Jaded,
Jae

Statement Jewelry for Tots

Ugh! It was a sad day in mommy accessory land when Lolo took my necklace which I've worn on countless occasions and broke it. I loved this necklace. It was multifaceted. It was chic, bold, colorful, sassy and fun. This necklace was truly a statement piece. 

Necklace - Dressed Down

Necklace - Dressed Up



Lolo and I had a family trip to Kansas City, MO to attend my cousins wedding. I love our airport outfits to be comfy yet stylish! 

I still had the necklace that she broke, hoping, dreaming and wishing that one day it would come back to life. Well, it did. I was able to gather some of the missing links and make a necklace for Lolo to wear.

I got crazy glue, needle and thread and a magnifying glass and I went to work. 

• For the gems that had fallen out of the necklace, I glued those back on and used the heat from blow dryer to reinforce them.

•I used the needle and thread to piece together the links. I did this over many times to ensure the necklace wouldnt come apart due to the heaviness of the links. 

• The final product is below

Denim Trill

Moms, if ever you're shopping for
your kid and you see something that doesnt quite fit them, buy it anyway and alter it yourself. You be the fashion designer and let your little one be the star.

That's So Jaded,
Jae

#GetTheLook • Lolo slays the high bun

Hi Mommies & Friends!

I wanted to share this look with you that Lolo wore to church on Palm Sunday. Cute right?! Well get the look below....


I purchased the animal print cape from the Children's Place almost two years ago before she could even fit it. I fell in love with it so much that I had to have it. The funny thing is, it was 12-18 months and it was on sale because Spring was nearing. I probably paid about $7 for it which was way more than half price.

I did some digging for you and found a few that were on sale on Ebay. There are some that are new with tags, and some that are used. Check it out here: Leopard Cape !

I paired the cape with bright red tights to add some flair, a leather skirt (from Zara) and a plain white tee. I really wanted to go chic with this outfit so I opted to pull her hair in a sleek bun. The look came together just how I'd imagined!

What other ways do you think she could rock this cape? Let me know...

Stop ! Smell the roses ! Don't become #Jaded

I needed some new undershirts and tanks for Lolo as she is growing so fast. I searched online for onesies in 24 months and could not find them anywhere. I thought, Geesh they all stop at 18 months, I hate that. The thing is, Lolo isn't potty trained "yet" so she's still in diapers. And, I just hate to see kids bending over and playing and you can see their backs and their diapers. I think they need undershirts, and at her age one that snaps so it doesn't lift up. I know, I know, I'm crazy about the littlest things. It's just that I notice everything and I always pay attention to the smallest detail, it really annoys people in my life; it's always been who I am.



I went into the Children's Place looking for undershirts but they didn't have any for tots. My goodness, they're just going to lump my precious baby into the "Kid" phase with no warning? I want my baby to remain a toddler therefore I want something that snaps. Make it SNAP please!!!! Like you're called the "Children's Place" why wouldn't you have undershirts for tots?



Luckily, there was a Carter's store a few stores down. I go in Carter's and instantly see undershirts, I grab them all in her size, some that snap, some that don't, different styles and different colors. Whooo Hoooo!!!!

2 points for Mama! 

At that moment the sales lady comes to me and says, "OMG are you shopping for your daughter?". I said, "uhh yeah, I am". She said to me, "I cannot believe you are shopping for 2T already". I just smile, still a bit confused to who she was   :look:. She explains, "I remember when she was in your belly and you would come in here every weekend, glowing with starry eyes, picking up everything that was soft and pink". I laughed, "aww really, you remember that?".... "Yeah you would stop in every row, pick up everything and just smile". Then she said, "now you're just in here picking up what you need". We both laughed. Said our pleasantries and she walked away.

It was at that moment that I realized I had become "Jaded". I do remember there was a time where I was so happy to shop for the littlest things, I took my time. Everything tickled me. She was my first born my everything. It's almost like I lost appreciation for the fact that she is still that little baby that was inside of me. She is still the person who had me 'glowing and starry eyed'. Now don't get me wrong, this little girl keeps a permanent smile on my heart but I was over the 'awww look at that phase'.

I ran in Carter's to get what I needed and was on my way out. Not stopping to appreciate that I was so very lucky to be raising the person that I created. It's just that sometimes motherhood can be challenging, we're so tired with balancing our own lives and then trying to give our children the best life possible. So it's easy to become Jaded.

Moms, Aunties, Grandma's, dads too, we have to remember that as our children grow up, we still have to keep that glow and passion in our eyes. Take time to smell the roses. Let's vow to continue to smell their blankets, and kiss between their toes (even though they're walking now and that's nasty)    :barf: , let's continue to sing nursery lullabies even if they're more advanced now and they'd prefer to listen to Beyonce    :sekret: (Yeah sorry, not sorry), but my point is, let's always try to remember the moments we would walk around aimlessly rubbing our bellies and just smiling; 'glowing with starry eyes'.


Because... though they're walking, talking, getting into trouble, or in high school, college, grown, married or whatever; they're still our children and they're still the baby we cried over when we heard their first heartbeat.

#ThatsSOJaded

-Jae