Gal Mama Tips

(The majority of this was written a few months ago...)

Don't make your child your clone
While 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 makeup
I 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 two
Babies 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 themselves
Once 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 group
Mamas 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 life
A 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 accessories
We'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!