10 Things Every Woman Should Have in Her Closet

"What am I going to wear???"

Im sure we all ask ourselves this question at LEAST twice a week. Looking at a closet filled to brim with various tops, dresses, pants and shoes we just can't come to a decision. So what do you wear when you feel like you have nothing to wear?

Here are my 10 go to items that I think should be somewhere in every womans closet even if you have to really dig for it.

1. A White Blouse 
A white blouse can be worn with all colored pants and any style. Whether you are off to work with a dress trouser or going to do errands in some jeans. A white blouse can be dressed up or down.

2. A Black Blouse 

For when you don't feel like wearing the white blouse! :D

3. A Tank Top

This is for when you want to look cool but use little to no effort. A tank top any style or color is easy to pair with a simple jean pant or short. Hey even get crazy and use a printed or colored pant. Throw on some cool bulky jewelry and voila you my friend look awesome.

Forever 21

4. A Romper

Here's what I love about rompers. It's all in one; you throw it and that's it. I love me a piece that I don't have to find something to go with it. There are tons of different styles of rompers casual and dressy.

Sexydresses.com

5. Maxi Dress

I have like 12 of these in my closet but one will do the trick. I live by maxi dresses, they are so easy to dress up and you can change the looks effortlessly with a simple blazer, jean jacket or cardigan. Love these things!

6. The Little Black Dress

Ugh. I know what you're thinking "Is it really necessary" YES it is! You wont think it is until you have that one upscale party you have to attend and you are scrambling around in your closet trying to find something that's appropriate. 

express.com

7. A Business Suit

Your everyday life may not require you to wear suits, but every woman should have at least one in her closet ...just in case!

8. A Blazer

Blazers are a staple in my closet. I wear them to work and I can dress them down with jeans and flats to go out for a nice casual dinner or outing.

9. A Nude Heel

Not only do these babies elongate your legs and make your feet look SUPER sexy. Nude shoes can be paired with pretty much every color and outfit.

10. CONFIDENCE

Last and certainly not least. Be confident! You can have on a million dollar outfit but it is worth nothing if you don't love yourself first!

What are your closet must haves?



Foodie Friday : Wax Apple

Short post today but I wanted to share this "strange fruit" with you. My coworker brought these into work for almost everyone on our floor.

It's called the asian or wax apple and the taste is very different. The texture is like a watermelon but less juicy and the taste ... well I cant really describe it but its not as sweet as your regular apple. 

It's an antioxidant and I would recommend throwing them in a smoothie.

Don't get carried away with these though.... eating too many could send you to tge bathroom.

where do you get them? I haven't a clue my coworker grows them in her yard. If you see any please share where!!

Bitter Sweet Mothers Day

Mothers Day has always been a touchy thing for me. My mother passed away the day before mothers day in 2001 from breast cancer so since then mothers day has meant more than just gifts and brunch with the moms in the family on the second Sunday in may.

Everyday but particularly mothers day reminds me of the important role mothers play in our lives and how many people take their moms for granted every other day besides mothers day.

The one who calms you when you're upset, who cheers you on just when you feel you can't make it, who picks you up when you fall, who cleans your wounds and kisses them and makes it feel all better. The spirit so gentle that when you lie on her chest you fall into a sweet sleep. The embrace so warm that you never want her to let go.

Whether its your biological mother or women who stepped in for her when she was gone we all have this woman or women in our lives.

Lucky for me I've had an abundance of women both family, moms friends, godparents , and moms of friends who have had some sort of significant impact in my life as a mother figure.

As mothers day comes around I wanted to thank all of the women who have stuck around to ensure that the values I was taught by my mom flourished and continued to teach me more values that would carry me throughout my lifetime. 

Why is it bitter sweet? Well this is my first mothers day as a mother and the my mom isn't here to share it with me. While I feel her spirit with me everyday that warm embrace is something I would always rather. 

So if mothers day was just another day for you before be sure to give the mothers and mother figures in your life a special thank you and some extra love!

To all my mommy's that I've been blessed with thank you for teaching me how to not just be a mom but a good mother to my son. You've taught me how to heal his wounds how to discipline him and how to ensure he obtains life lessons and values that will carry him through to the end of time.

Thank You ... Mom
Cindy Thompson
Maria Morgan
Marsha Lambert
Janet Thompson
Richa Sands
Lisa McCartney
Abbie (Alvater) Carey
Pamela McCartney
Chakita Archer

Phyllis Garraway 

 

5 Tips to Produce More Breast Milk

Hello new moms and moms to be! This one was a special request and I knew a lot of "US" have or had this problem. Producing breast milk! #newmommyproblems

I struggled with this the first few months after having my baby and after extensive research and trial and error here are my top 5 tips to producing more breast milk.

1. Drink LOTS of water (as I fill my 1.5 Ltr bottle)
- The first few weeks after having my baby I must admit I was terrible at this. I'm not a big water drinker as I think water is just so boring!! Finally with the help of my husband yelling at me to drink water every minute I increased my water intake and almost immediately noticed the difference in the amount of milk I was producing and at how many times a day my breast would "fill up".

2. Eat your meals ON TIME!
- Don't starve yourself! If you are anything like me you aren't even remembering to eat unless someone asks you. I was home with just me and baby and wasn't eating until my husband got home. When I started to eat proper meals and on time my milk ducts were happy and so was my baybay!!

3. Fenugreek Tea
- I swear by this herbal remedy. This seed is beneficial in many ways including reducing cholesterol and preventing colon cancer. However my favorite benefit is it helps the production of breast milk. They have this available as tea and in a pill form. I have heard that the pill form is more potent but I just used the tea and it worked wonders for me. There are also products on the market that have fenugreek in them like "Milky" by Tia and Tamera Mowry (Sister Sister) <--- Love those girls.

4. Relax!
- If you're stressed chances are your breast milk production is low. Sometimes you have to just sit in a quiet space and breath easy. You would be surprised at how much piece of mind will help your body.

5. SUPPLY AND DEMAND!
- Just remember these three words Supply and Demand. The more you pump or feed your little one the more milk your body will produce. You will notice after a while of breastfeeding that your breast fill up the same times when your baby is ready to eat. When your baby isn't eating pump as often as possible. Your baby will thank you for it!

Please remember I am in no way shape or form a pro and I am still learning as I go along. This is what worked for me but it may not necessarily work for you. Unfortunately there are some mothers whose bodies just wont allow the to breastfeed.

I hope these tips help someone out there! Leave your comments if they did or if you have more tips to add!

My thoughts on the Clippers and Racism

With the recent story about Donald Sterling (Clippers oplaguescist comments and the fire it has sparked on the topic on social media led me to write this blog. One of the reasons I started this blog was because my Facebook statuses don't allow the amount of words I need to say to get my point across sometimes.

I have seen so many people saying that the Clippers should have sit out the game, and that they are cowards. I think when stories like this come out we are so quick to judge, so quick to say "this is what they should have done".

Think about this and answer this question TRUTHFULLY!!!

If your boss made some racist comments would you quit right on the spot or would you do your job and get your paycheck until you found something else?

Truth is the majority of these basketball players play this game because of the love of the sport (the pay is just a really good bonus that comes with the job). These players work hard alllll yeeaaarrr looonggg in hopes to being named the Champions at the end of the season. If I were these players I would not sit out a game in the Playoffs and risk the chance of making it to the one place I've worked hard to get to all year either!! I think there point was made when they came out with their jerseys inside out and threw them on the ground.

While there is so much noise in the market remember THEY DID SOMETHING ... If I asked 10 people who had something to say about how they didn't do enough what they did about racism about 8 of them would say nothing.

Do not be mistaken. What Sterling said (if he really did say it because I don't think this was even confirmed yet) was definitely wrong and I do not agree with it one bit. There should be some serious repercussions if he did say this.

(A lot of people are going to disagree with what I have to say next)

Does Racism Truly Exist in the abundance that we think?

We have racism issues? Do we? Or are we enslaving ourselves?
Here are some examples that make me think black people are making themselves suffer racism in 2014:

1. We hear it all the times the "N" word which was so de-grating and terrible years ago is now thrown around all the time amongst black people (and some white) like its cool!! So we can call each other "N****" but someone of another race cant? Respect yourself before you expect it from someone else.

2. Its always because someone is black ... Like come on guys ... Every time someone doesn't get a high position at a large company  "because they were black".  UUmmmm ever thought maybe it was because someone else who just happened to be of another race was more qualified? :O of course not! That just cant be!! Whenever a black person is locked up it's "because they were black" ... sure orr maybe juusstt maybe they are in there because they committed a crime. When a black person walks into a store and someone doesn't offer them assistance "its because they were black" Really? How about you get over yourseld shop on your own and ASK if and when you need assistance. I personally rather not have help.

3. We have television channels and awards for black people like B.E.T and B.E.T awards. Imagine the hell that would break lose if there was a channel launched called White Entertainment Television?!?!?! Ohh noooo that would be racist.

Don't get me wrong Im not saying that in some cases this isn't true and that racism does not continue to follow some of us. Like theTrayvon Martin case (R.I.P) definitely racial profiling. But you have to admit this is the name we have made for ourselves as black people...We're the "tuff guys" our men don't hug because thats "gay", we don't share our feeling because that makes you vulnerable and weak....dont let your cloths actually fit you (rolls eyes).

I could go on all day about how we as black people make ourselves victim all the time but I have a baby to tend to.

I say all of that to say this before you say anthing think about what you would do, have done or are doing about it...

Getting Baby on a Schedule

After four long blissful months of being a new mom , I think I'm finally on my way to getting my sweet baby boy on a schedule. 

While I heard all the remedies to make this happen sooner like self soothing (there was no way I was doing that), having the same routine daily (yea.. in a perfect world) and just waiting for it to happen (sounds better), I knew I had to do this my way, a way that worked for my husband and I. So here is my journey to almost a full night of sleep. 

Month 1: Just forget about the routine thing this month in my opinion. Hey if you want to go ahead and try to keep a schedule with little to no sleep go right ahead. In month one I hardly had the energy or time to eat (when I remembered to and didn't sleep through the hunger). During this month I just flowed with baby. I would sleep or eat when he slept and took some time to myself when hubby got home. 

Month 2: I was close to insanity at this point. I was crying for just 3 hours of straight sleep. Month 2 was when I gave up on putting him to sleep in his crib and having to physically get up to feed him every 2 hours. He slept comfortably in my bed right next to me. (Say whatever you want ... he hasn't been suffocated and there was never a time that he was rolled on) Spoiled? How does one "spoil" a baby?? ....moving on ....When he would wake up for a feeding I would lay right there and position him to my chest and he would eat away while I drifted back to sleep. 

Month 3: It started getting better. This is when I started to try a "routine". This is also the month I went back to work ( still having separation anxiety).  Any who, I knew whatever routine I came up with would have to be something realistic with me going back to work. Kaiden had already set his own little routine for himself. I already knew that he would eat every 21/2 hours and that he would take a good 30 to 45 minute nap around 11am, 2pm, and 4pm everyday. So I just needed to figure out what happens when I get home from work around 6pm. So we decided that his bedtime routine was all we really needed to work out. That turned out being pretty easy, every evening at 7:30pm we give him a good bath, feed him and he his down by 8:15pm the latest. 

Month 4: We are doing pretty well with his bedtime ritual and he seems to now understand that once these things happen its time to go to sleep. He is only waking up about once at night now (2:30am) and his doctor just ordered that he can now skip this early morning snack to start sleeping through the night (looking forward to that). 

To all you new moms out there don't let people pressure you about getting your baby on a schedule. Do what works for you and your family and take your time!!! Also remember that every baby is different so what worked for your friend, mom, aunt or cousin wont necessarily work for you. Don't rush the process. After all when you look at that little sweet face who cares about sleep?  JK you will NEVER NOT care about sleep. 

>Follow Me on Instagram for more photos of me daily runs ins :) @VanzBlogz <   

Bye bye baby weight : No more excuses

After weeks of procrastination and giving myself reasons why I couldn't start working out I finally bit the bullet and got started.

Starting is always the hardest part but I knew I had to just get up and go for it... well that and my husband is a fitness trainer and wouldn't get off my back. The first thing I had to was take all my excuses and throw them in the trash .... make them a distant memory.

So I went through my excuses one by one and gave myself resolutions:

1. I want to go walking but I don't have a stroller yet.
That one was a easy fix. I strapped  my baby on my chest and we got some fresh air together.

2. I cant go to the gym... who's going to watch the baby?
My husband helped me solve that one. He brought the gym home and gave me a  bunch of exercises to do while Kaiden is asleep.... he's even my weights sometimes. 

3. I'm soooo tired....
This is very true I'm exhausted when I get home from work .... but a girls gatta do what a girls gatta do and if I want to reach my goal of -50lbs I'm going to have to work out a schedule to make sure I get the rest I need. Maybe go to sleep earlier. 

Well there you have it ... I now have solutions to every reason why I couldn't work out. Now all I have to do is keep the momentum going.... (yea that's all :| )

Wish me luck...