(The majority of this was written a few months ago...)
Don't make your child your cloneWhile similar themes between mama and baby can be adorable, dressing a two year old in matching MA*RS will quickly take you from cute to creepy
From personal experience, if you and your child (or in my case, step child) are both wearing leather jackets but completely unique coords, you'll get a lot of positive attention
Just remember that kids are meant to look cute,
not sexy!
Doing your hair and makeupI found this to be the hardest thing to accomplish when looking after Maddexx on the days where I was by myself. If you don't have any one else to help you for 30 minutes or however long it takes you to get ready, be prepared to distract your little one! I found that sitting my step son on the counter beside me (all my makeup etc was on the other side of the sink where he couldn't reach), he would pretend to brush his teeth and amuse himself with the sink faucet
This gave me enough time to do my hair and makeup without worrying what he was getting into. Other ideas would be to put the child in the bathtub or playpen to play. Depending on their age, they might even be content sitting on the bathroom floor with a few toys!
Don't spend much money on clothing until your child is at least twoBabies grow incredibly fast (especially within the first year!), so buying designer clothing that's only going to fit them for a few months can really take it's toll on your wallet. If you really want to buy designer clothing, stick to the basics like pants and coats. That way you'll have more money to spend on other things...like diapers
Let your kids dress themselvesOnce they're old enough to make clothing decisions, let your child dress themselves once in awhile. I had a friend who let her 4 year old little boy pick out an outfit one day when we were going shopping. He decided on a tuxedo jacket, plaid button up shirt, pj pants and cowboy boots, and he was so proud of his coordinate he walked with a swagger and told everyone in the store that he had picked it out himself
I'm not saying every kid is going to dress as crazy as he did, but at least give them the opportunity to express their individuality through fashion, just like mama does!
Join a mom groupMamas come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common; their children. You may be surprised at the types of women you get along with once you have a child
Bringing your little one to a mom group is a great opportunity to exchange ideas, tips and of course let the kids play with each other.
Don't let yourself go!Working out with a baby can be easy and fun! Simply using them as weights is a bonding experience and you don't even need to leave the comfort of your home! Once a week you should try to schedule have a few hours "time off"
You can use this time to catch up on the latest fashions, hang out with friends, do some cleaning, sort through clothing, go on a date, etc. Ask a different friend or family member to come over and watch your child while you catch up on things around the house - most would be happy for the chance to spend one on one time with your little cutie
Involve your kids in your everyday lifeA great way to raise a well-rounded child is to include them in (almost) everything you do. Washing laundry, going grocery shopping, etc can all be fun once your child is used to doing them with you and they know what to expect
Most kids copy what they see their parents doing, so don't be surprised when your little one picks up a broom and starts sweeping
Buying baby accessoriesWe're lucky that these days we can buy car seats, cribs, bottles, etc not only for fairly cheap prices, but also with cute themes!
Stores carry matching accessories in adorable colors and themes, which is awesome if you're a cute-a-holic like I am! And if you can't find anything you like locally, check online. I've seen some of the cutest gyaru inspired crib skirts, dressers, etc on sites like
Rakuten 
The shipping might run a bit high if you don't live near Japan, so look into DIYing items yourself if possible. There are plenty of sites for crafters that can help you get started!
PS check out my tumblr
fuck yeah gal mamas!
But anywho, I'm busy busy busy these last few weeks. I was already working for two places plus volunteering, and now I took on re-doing my friend's website as well. I'm not used to being this busy during the summer! 
I haven't even been swimming yet! I need a tan 
So yeah, I love my new place...I need to take photos of it & post them online. It's so cute and I actually like the decorating job I've done! I'm getting a new futon this month and a microwave, so as always I am poor poor poor 
Also my friend Kyle has been basically living with me for the last two weeks. It's nice to not be alone but we both just got out of relationships so we're not bf/gf or anything 
I can't wait!
And maybe if I'm good at it I could do nails for others as well 
gel nails, I'm not gonna lie! Gel nails are just what the name implies - gel is applied to the natural nail (or over a plastic tip) and cured under a UV light for a few minutes per layer, then voila! You have gel nails! I personally recommend gel nails because a) They don't smell!! b) They're pretty quick to do c) They come out looking super smooth and shiny! Most gels kind of level themselves off, but they can be filed and buffed if needed 
Personally I think they feel very natural, and they do a great job of protecting your natural nail (if you have weak, thin nails like me). Gel nails don't chip, so your color/nail art is protected but you can apply nail polish over your gel nails if you don't want to wait a few weeks (in between fills), to change your nail color 
Also, in my experience gels hold deco (rhinestones, cabochons, etc) better than acrylics or glue.
Like gel nails, acrylics can be applied over plastic tips or sculpted on their own. Acrylics come in a ton of colors, glitters and brands, as they've been around forever. Many people claim that acrylic nails are tougher than gels, but this hasn't been the case for me. Acrylics take a bit longer than gels to cure (I think! I haven't had acrylics done in a few years!), but the real reason I personally don't get acrylic nail extensions is because of their smell 
That's right - they smell like chemicals from hell! Back in the day they used to use Methyl Methacrylate, so if you see acrylics done in a salon that seem too cheap to be real, or the nail technicians are wearing masks, be careful! If the salon won't tell you what acrylic brands they're using, find a different salon 
) Be sure to buy the highest quality nail glue that is available to you! Press-ons are notorious for falling off and getting lost, leaving you with one finger (or more) that stands out...and not in a good way
Press-on plastic nails are best suited for one-day wear, on a day that you won't be doing hard work while using your hands. If your falsies all stay on for more than one day, consider yourself lucky! 
(Fiberglass/Resin/Porcelain seem too brittle, Solar seems too expensive and Silk Wraps seem more for people who have damaged nails, which I do not have)
