You take a step outside, look up to the sky, and the clouds seem to roll on in, just when you weren’t quite expecting it. The gloomy days pass on by without an end in sight. While this may be a reality, or just symbolic of life right now, it happens. We go through phases in life that we just can’t quite seem to shake.
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Close your eyes. Think about what makes you breathe easier. What brings you joy? What causes your mind to wander in the best way possible. Life sure ain’t easy right now, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t find happiness or ease through the tiniest parts of your day. Those few moments, even if they are far between, can make the greatest impact on your days.
I heard a bell ring. I remember the sound. I quickly laced up my running shoes, and darted out the door. It was a cool spring evening. A breeze hit my skin, as I gazed to the other side of the track. In awe, I watched the runners with envy, as they’d leap hurdle after hurdle. I wanted to be one of them. I ached to be one of them.
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Over two weeks have passed since the birth of baby London, and I’ve officially crossed over the the other side. Hello Mamaville! Yes, I believe it’s actually a destination. From my postpartum thoughts and all the feels, here’s the report.
Hello Date Night! In the midst of primping myself for a night on the town, I grab my new favorite skin care products and hustle to get the job done. I’ve got to admit something. These winter days have my skin feeling anything but glamorous. Not to mention the sleepless nights or early mornings as a brand new mama. Day after day, I’ve stared back at my reflection in the mirror, and barely recognize my own face…the dry, unhealthy skin, the dark circles, the exhaustion. For the first time, I’ve realized my skin is desperate for help. I’ll be honest, I’ve always been incredibly lazy about skincare. The numerous brands overwhelmed me. The price points of these “magical products” are steep. My skincare routine was incredibly simple. I’d put my makeup on in the morning, and it was patchy and unattractive. My makeup wouldn’t go on smoothly, and even after moisturizing, my skin felt dry as a bone and quite unhealthy.
Yep, you read that right. After our last adventure with London in Maui (check out that post here), we caught the travel bug and popped over to Miami Beach to celebrate Grant’s 40th Birthday. Yes, Hawaii was supposed to be the big bang, but I decided we needed a little sunshine to ring in his 40th.
As a kid celebrating New Year’s Eve, I sat home in pjs with my fam. I watched the glamorous parties on tv, and wished to one day be a part of them. I longed to get dressed up, decked in jewels, and caked with makeup. I’ll never forget that feeling. That year I was with my family. My aunt and my cousins were visiting. It was the last New Years we spent with my aunt, who was like a second mother to me. She passed shortly after, from cancer. I wished that I had been even more grateful of those moments back then.
Aloha Lovebugs! We are back in action, and missing the Maui sunshine oh so much! What an adventure it was to escape with baby London for the first time, to a place that is so special to us. We’ve waited for what seems like forever, to able to do this, and it was everything we had hoped for! From stargazing, to restaurant hopping, hiking, swimming, and eating our way through paradise, we visited our favorite places and spaces, as well as some new finds. It truly feels like our second home. We felt lucky to share this adventure with our baby boy as well as our parents. We stayed in a different hotel than my parents, and therefore we were able to experience the best of both places, which I will share below. If you are making the journey to the rainbow state anytime soon, I’ve listed all of the details for you below. If you will be traveling with an infant, I shared our experience along with our tips, wins, and challenges here. Bon Voyage (and take me with you, please)! Mahalo!
For a good year, fear stood in my way of adventure. I held off on journeying to the places we wanted to go. See, the furthest we had traveled was to Maui, during our babymoon of my first pregnancy. As you know, after the loss, I was devastated. It was the last happy place that I remember being, with memories that were unforgettable, and unfortunately the only ones I have. The decision to return made me fearful. I rejected the idea on our babymoon with London, yet we always dreamt of bringing our baby to that very place that meant so much to us.
It’s been close to four months that I’ve spent in destination Mamaville, without a solo date night, and we were anxious to get out on the town. However, we decided to head on an epic adventure, to close out the end of my maternity leave. We traveled to Maui, as it is the very place that has been so special to us. For years we wished that we would bring our future baby to an island that feels like our second home. That wish finally came true.