Moments of Musing

Blog + Instagram Goals 2018

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

When the new year comes around, I make personal goals — this year, I decided to also put my blog and Instagram goals into writing. My hope is this will hold me accountable and maybe even help them manifest into reality. 


Blog Goals

  1. Continue creating authentic content. 
  2. Work on meaningful projects and collaborations. 
  3. Expand my reach — with both audience and brands.

Instagram Goals

  1. Get back to a more colorful feed theme. 
  2. Grow my account to reach more people and brands. 
  3. Meaningfully and successfully “revive” my #momentsofmusing project. 

*I also have numerical goals (X number of page views, X number of followers, X in profit) but I’ve decided to keep those private.

Do you make personal and professional goals for the year, or just one or the other?

Lucky No. 7: 7 Ways to Nurture your Marriage as Parents

Filed Under: Marriage //

This past weekend, my husband surprised me with a night away to celebrate our 7th year. (You can read more about us here.) I was excited and also had some of those butterfly nervous feelings because honestly, we’ve been parents first and foremost lately. I am not saying this is a bad thing, though I know there is great debate over whether a marriage or kids should come first.

We try to balance both, and I think we do it well, but lately balancing it has become more difficult. S has been sick and therefore, caring for him has taken a front seat for us. This past weekend gave us the opportunity to put ourselves first and focus on our marriage, if even just for a very limited time.

It felt great. To just be husband and wife. To be pampered (thanks, babe!). To just be together. I highly recommend parents get away and do this, too.

It’s no secret that parenthood changes and challenges a marriage. If you find yourself trying to balance your marriage and parenthood, here are some things I’ve found helpful:

1. Help one another. 
A marriage is never 50-50 but spouses can alternate who carries the “weight.” Don’t let your partner feel like (s)he is drowning in housework or parental duties alone.

2. Write love notes.
They can be on social media or hidden in your partner’s lunch. Don’t forget to remind your partner why you love them, what you love about them and give them praise where praise is due. It’s cute, can go a long way, and takes very little effort.

3. Take time to focus on yourselves.
This means both as individuals, as a couple, and as a family. Of course, you love your kids, but it’s important to practice good self care and to nurture your relationship. If your relationship is thriving, so too will your little family.

4. Practice empathy.
Try to understand where your partner is coming from. Communication is a big key to success in this area.

5. Communicate. 
Let each other know how you feel and why. Speak to–not at– one another, and be sure to actively listen to your partner. Empathy ties in here.

6. Be goofy. 
Just because adulthood and parenthood demand much responsibility doesn’t mean you have to be serious all the time. Laugh at missteps and mistakes together. It’s much more effective than yelling at one another over them.

7. Remember why you fell in love in the first place. 
Your love has likely evolved during parenthood–that’s normal. Trust that your foundation is strong (if not, work to make it strong) so that you can rely on it when you’re feeling frustrated.

Love in Any Form

Filed Under: positivity //


On my way home from work last night, I saw a guy with flowers in his bookbag and it made me smile. I don’t know if the flowers were for a partner or a parent but it got me thinking about love nonetheless. 


Recently, someone I know got their heart broken… and it hurt me to know they were hurting. I gave advice but most of all, I wanted the person to know that love still exists. It exists all around us. 

Love in any and every form — whether it be between partners, parents and children, friends or family members — is such a beautiful thing. And I don’t ever think we should forget that. Because even when hearts are broken, hopes shattered, or dreams dashed… there is love. 

Love to carry us. To help us. To hold us. To sustain us. 

It is a gift and an honor to love and be loved, one I hope everyone gets to experience. It makes bad days okay and good days even better. It makes us sing a happy song or add a hop to our step. It makes us feel safe and secure. It helps us to grow and change and be who we are meant to be. 

So to all those who are suffering from a broken heart, I want to remind you that there’s still so much love around. Hold onto it. Squeeze it. Remember it. Cherish it. 

Sending love from me to you. xoxo

Thoughts on my Second Pregnancy + a Bumpdate

Filed Under: pregnancy //


As I’ve alluded to previously, connecting with this pregnancy has been a bit different. It took longer and it still feels unique. When we first saw the positive pregnancy test result, I cried. Tears of happiness, excitement and then “OMG am I betraying my firstborn?!” (#momguilt much?) followed by the constant concern of how I’ll be able to love another baby as much as firstborn. (Most moms I’ve spoken to reassure me that your heart just does it and so I am less nervous about that now.) With my firstborn, they were tears of happiness, excitement and then “oh $h!t, are we really ready for this?!” 

So, I’m well aware and used to the reality that mixed feelings will be involved when expecting a new baby. After all, it’s an adventure and experience unlike any other. 

What I wasn’t prepared for was how phsycically different this pregnancy would feel. I mean, I know moms say it (“every pregnancy is different) but I didn’t realize just how different pregnancies with the same sex baby can be. 

This pregnancy, I felt much sicker. As in I thought I was going to faint a couple times, felt nauseous until 20 weeks, and puked at 23 weeks. I am so much more tired but I cough that up to working full-time, house hunting and moving, and chasing my toddler around.

At the same time, I’ve felt so much more relaxed. I’ve gained less weight. I am not obsessing over the weeks because they seem to be flying by. I am not worried about every. little. thing. I know the baby is anatomically healthy and he moves a lot. His cute little movements, by the way, don’t take me by surprise as much. It’s like they’re a part of my everyday normal and I love it. 

As for the connection, I feel more prepared and less scared and I think it’s what has contributed to the extra time it took to feel like the pregnancy is really real. That, and the fact that in just four short months another beautiful baby boy will be joining our family.

I am now confident my firstborn will not feel betrayed but I do expect him to not love sharing my attention all the time. I am also confident, though, that he will absolutely love his new baby brother, companion and (hopefully) best friend for life. 

Recently, we were in the pediatrician’s waiting area and S tried to play with a girl. She screamed (at the top of her lungs) for him to get away from her toys, scaring S. I soothed him and kept playing with him. He then approached a crawling baby, whose brother came up to them and said “that’s MY baby!” I carried S away, and I told him soon he’ll have his own baby. 

That day and experiences like those are proof that he wants and enjoys other kids’ company. It helps me feel better about our upcoming transition from one to two kiddos. 

———
And now, here’s a mini a bumpdate since I kind of did one a few weeks ago:
Weeks: 24 — 6 months down, just 4 to go!
Sex: Boy!
Name: Still undecided but we wouldn’t announce until birth anyway 😉
Feeling: Much less sick, excited, much more connected and a bit anxious to meet our bundle. 
Wearing: Regular clothes for the most part… if you watched my Instagram stories yesterday, then you know it’s soon time for the hair tie pants trick and/or maternity pants. 

Back to Our Routine

Filed Under: motherhood //


Yesterday was my first day back to work in a while. I was fortunate to have a  long weekend for the New Year holiday, and work from home a few days plus two weekends in between. We celebrated the  holiday and hosted family for about a week. 

While I absolutely LOVED being home with my little guy 24/7, I found myself feeling blah on Sunday. I was over cleaning, washing dishes and folding laundry all day everyday. I was actually looking forward to getting back into our routine. Who knew?? 

I think the both of us actually were looking forward to getting back into the swing of things, honestly– or at the very least, for fresh air! (We’d been indoors since the blizzard last Thursday.) 

Of course, I missed him all day yesterday and I miss him already today (and it’s not even 9AM) but knowing he’s enjoying his time with Nana makes me feel better. 

Now, come summer I’ll probably be singing another tune because there are so many more opportunities to be outside and enjoy the weather …during winter, not so much.