July Feature: I'm on Work Like a Mother Podcast!

Today I look a look at my schedule and realized the summer is basically over! One stop in Staples and seeing all the school supplies perfectly lined up seemed to solidify that. 

It's been quite the hiatus here in this space! I'm most active on Instagram - specifically my stories - but am excited to share that I was recently featured on Work Like a Mother Podcast produced by Neighborhood Schools. 

Check it out (you can also search "Work Like a Mother on Spotify or Apple too!):

Here's a link to the summary transcript here! 

I'm excited to be doing a lot of cool projects offline, but please check out my personal website Quiana for all things brand me. 

For now I'm settling into 2 more weeks of camp for my kids then a few fun family adventures as things continue to re-open and we safely reunite with family and friends across the US. 

Safe travels to those of you traveling this summer as well!

Welcome 2021: Time to Align (& a Giveaway)

{Mug via Mud LOVE}

Exhale.

That's exactly what this Monday feels like to me.

I was over on IG TV this morning with a Happy New Year message explaining a bit more.

Check it out...

Mom Boss in the Making? Join Me in NYC This Saturday!

I'm thrilled to share that I'll be speaking alongside at The Exchange presented by Moms Make it Work this Saturday, November 3 from 11a.m.-2p.m. As I shared in my Quiana in Action post, this year has really been shift for me as I've been transitioning to doing more outside of the blog including more speaking engagement and hosting events. 

My Cheeky Days Podcast Feature: Diving into Diversity

In February, when I spoke at Altitude Summit, I had the privilege of meeting Elizabeth of Cheeky Days who describes her blog as a meeting place and resource for courage, kindness, curiosity, and joy. 

PSA: Day Designer 2018 is Now Available!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

Aren't they pretty?

I'm in Ohio for the week with the kids (so much fun stuff over on my Instagram Stories!), but quickly wanted to pop in with the announcement that 2018 Day Designers are now available to purchase! Do you know which one you'd want to get? 

At Home Spa Party with Zoey Koko

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

As a little girl some of my earliest memories are of watching my mother do her makeup. She'd let me play in it from time to time and I'd top it off with my own bit of flair - anyone else remember peel off nail polish and stick-on earrings? Now with my own daughter, I see these same memories being replayed in how Nia loves dabbling in my beauty products so I was excited to learn about Zoey Koko, a spa party experience created by Boston-based entrepreneurs Sara and Dahlia. 

Personalize It with Always Southern Co.

With a name like Quiana comes great sacrifices including never being able to find my name on personalized items at the store! In the rare instances I find a "Q" item I snatch it up with a quickness. I'm so jealous of the kids nowadays with unique names since the advent of custom online shops including my friend Mary Baker Reconnu's shop Always Southern Co. 

Mother's Day LipSense Giveaway!

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

I'm an admitted low-maintenance mama when it comes to all things beauty and wellness so when LipSense popped up in my feed, as I often do I gave it a quick glance and kept scrolling. Yet people kept raving about it. 

Enter my childhood friend and fellow mompreneur, Kara McElree. 

Today's the Day: Get Your Day Designer Midyear 2017 Edition

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. 

This year is whirling by and if you still feel like you're just now getting your bearings you're not alone! In case you missed getting a January 2017 Day Designer today the Midyear edition is available for purchase at last. Check out these beautiful designs:

The "Jungle Out There" (lower  left) is my favorite! {Images via Day Designer}

 

10 Things I'm Looking Forward to in 2017

Tomorrow we officially return to normalcy when Nia will be back at school and today I'm sharing my annual list of what I'm looking forward to this year...

Create Your Best Home with Robin Wilson Clean

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Clean; all opinions expressed are my own.

As Women's History Month comes to a close I'm sharing exciting news about Robin Wilson, an entrepreneur making her own history in the design and wellness space. I've featured Robin Wilson Home for nearly 3 years here on my blog, and I'm thrilled to announce the introduction of Robin Wilson Clean. The stunning redesign of her brand will help you create your best, healthy home from the foundation all the way to the decor.

Robin Wilson Home Quilts Now At Kohl's

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Home; all opinions expressed are my own.

Happy August friends! As I look around my social media feeds I see images of back to school in my timeline. While we have exactly 5 weeks from today until Nia's first day, we're already starting preparations and one of those things is getting our home in order. While some get excited for spring cleaning, I look forward to a fall refresh and I'm not just talking shopping for back to school clothes!

Robin Wilson Home just launched her line of quilts at Kohl's! In addition to the gorgeous prints I've shared before available at Bed Bath & Beyond with the expansion to Kohl's comes additional prints including my favorite: Hyannis.

Both practical and stylish, I like the bold rectangle print of the cotton quilt, available in sizes Twin through King along with matching shams. The cream, brown and gray combination are strong enough for masculine tastes while the floral, striped and scroll print brings a feminine touch. Also with limited time especially during back to school season, I especially appreciate that the quilts are machine washable.

Here's the good news: originally $209-$299, Kohl's is currently having a special sale online on Robin Wilson Home quilts for only $125 to $179!

Beyond the new line at Kohl's the Robin Wilson Home brand continues to grow with the publishing of her new book Clean Design, which offers tips on how to make your home a safe haven while maintaining style. 

Also, as a fellow entrepreneur I'm very excited for the Robin Wilson Home brand and Robin being named to Atlanta Black Star's list of 10 African-American Women Who Are Entrepreneurial Powerhouses.   


Be sure to follow Robin Wilson Home on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest product news and giveaways!

 

Let's Talk Postpartum Recovery: V-Steam with Myrtle & Flossie

Sharing Grayson's birth story last week was important to me not only to have it on record as I did with Nia, but also to finally be able to share a slew of posts that have been waiting in the pipeline.

One of those is about my postpartum experience. I believe modern science and technology is a gift, but I also believe in the importance of educating oneself. This was part of the reason why I was open to trying a v-steam session with Myrtle & Flossie after giving birth. 

When I shared a picture of v-stream on my Instagram feed last year it definitely piqued some interest and I'm happy to share my experience at last!

Think of v-steam as a recovery facial for your vagina. There are those who see birth as a glowing, serene, ethereal experience. I am not one of those people. I am in awe of my body and the metamorphosis it takes to conceive, grow and birth a human. I'm also very a bit weird: while pregnant I admit to feeling empowered by the fact that I could grow a penis inside of me. Just think if a man could grow a vagina inside of him? I'm sure he'd broadcast it proudly for the world to know!

Anyway, getting off the weird train. . .

Fellow mompreneur Nia, founder and owner of Myrtle & Flossie (I've featured her on the blog before here!), offered me a complimentary v-steam session in my home ($55 value). It can be a challenge getting out the door postpartum (and even now 8 months later!) especially with more than one child, so I was thankful that this was able to be done in the comfort of my home.

Image provided by Myrtle & Flossie

What exactly is v-steam? It's a vaginal bath that has been performed for centuries in Chinese medicine, but is now gaining popularity across the US especially amongst holistic circles. Advised for postpartum as well as post-menstruation, it is a medicinal, herbal steam facial for the vagina. The practitioner combines a select combination of herbs in a steam bath while the woman sits over it for 20-45 minutes. 

Why would a woman want to do this? Tearing can be part of a vaginal birth and having experienced a 4th degree tear when I gave birth to Nia, the recovery from that was worse than the actual vaginal birth. I was in the most intense pain I had ever experienced. My midwife, knowing I had tore so badly, guided my pushing and thankfully, I did not tear with Grayson. I felt the infamous ring of fire, more so this time around than before as I did not have pain medication, and in the weeks following birth, my vagina was still very sensitive. For me, the v-steam was an extra step in the healing process.

Image provided by Myrtle & Flossie

Is it awkward? Nope! Like any good practitioner, Nia explained exactly what she would be doing. Everything was in her kit including her herbal mix of mugwort, basil, calendula, marshmallow root, wormwood and rosemary, and she set it up quickly and left me in the bathroom to experience the v-steam for about 30 minutes. I wore my own comfy robe and found the steam to be soothing. It was also a welcome break for self-care during the erratic first few weeks of caring for a newborn. 

Besides doing Kegels, the v-steam is a great addition to getting everything back in place postpartum and even if you're not pregnant and want to give v-steam a try, it's recommended at least 1 or 2 days after your period and is known for  tackling other issues such as: 

• Irregular and painful periods
• Vaginal cysts
• Infertility
• Bladder and yeast infections
• Hemorrhoids
• Uterine fibroids
• Scarring from childbirth, hysterectomies and laparoscopies

If you're in the NYC-metro area and would like to give v-steam a try head over to Myrtle & Flossie's website to book a session or simply reach out to Nia if you have questions - she's so helpful! It also makes a great gift too for any moms-to-be in your life and I encourage you no matter where you are to explore providers in your area.

What did you find helpful during your postpartum recovery? Have you ever heard of v-steam?
 

Survive Teething With Baby Banana Brush (& a Giveaway!)

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own. 

There are certain laws of second child-dom that have come to pass in our household which essentially can be summed up in the following: whatever happened with the first child will be opposite for the second child. For example, Nia was sleep averse, however Gray loves to sleep. Nia was OBSESSED with nursing, however Gray isn't as passionate about it. We barely noticed when Nia teethed, however Gray's teething is epic. 

About that last part: TEETHING.

It is the reason why I mustn't skip coffee in the mornings and why my to-do list is being neglected. Grayson needs LOTS of cuddles and snuggles to get through teething (and the looooong nights!). He has two teeth that popped in already on the bottom, but the two on the top look extremely painful. His gums have been stuck in swollen limbo for over a week. 

If you follow me on social media you've seen Gray with his favorite teethers across my feed:

They're from Baby Banana Brush who I met at Toy Fair earlier this year. Created by Heather Phillips, a fellow mompreneur, after this scary experience with her son, they have been Gray's favorite especially during this brutal rough patch of teething. I was given the original Baby Banana Infant Teething Toothbrush and Octobrush at Toy Fair, which I attended while I was pregnant with Gray, and waited patiently until I was able to use them. They have since become a necessity in our household!

In addition to the Banana and Octobrush, there's also Sharky and the new Cornelius:

Being from Ohio, I'm especially a fan of Cornelius, the cutest mini-ear of corn! When Grayson sees his Baby Banana Brushes he gets very excited, and I love seeing his little, chubby hands reach for them. Here's a quick video of him in action:

Curious about the technical details of Baby Banana Brushes? Here's the breakdown:

• Made of 100% medical grade silicone (BPA, latex, phthalate, and toxin free!)
• Dishwasher safe
• Can be frozen for extra teething relief
• Baby Banana Brush has amazing accolades and has won awards
• Very affordable at $8.95, (check the website for retailers which vary by product) 

Now the fun part! I'm excited to be giving away the following Baby Banana Brushes to 4 lucky Harlem Lovebirds readers: Banana, Octobrush, Sharky and Cornelius! The giveaway starts today, Monday, December 15 and runs through Thursday, December 18 with the winner announced on Friday, December 19 (open to U.S. residents only). Enter via the Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!

Be sure to follow Baby Banana Brush on Facebook and Twitter for the latest product news!

The One Time I Met Tory Burch #CORYANDTORY

As I'm slowly making my way through recapping the whirlwind of events I attended during my 3rd trimester, I'm realizing how epic it really was! I nearly forgot that I met Tory Burch ya'll - crazy right?! Here's how it went down . . . 

About a week before the actual event a fellow Wellesley alum friend who works with U.S. Senator Cory Booker posted this listing on Facebook:

Seeing how soon the date was I thought, "Oh this must be full, but I'll give RSVPing a try anyway!" I logged onto Eventbrite and surprisingly, there were still openings so I signed right up. I mentioned it in passing a few days later to my sister Ariane, and she was a bit annoyed that I hadn't invited her. I let her know it was a NJ-business-centric event and didn't think she would be interested seeing how she's all "Miss Manhattan" and all. She's not really like that (!), but anyway, she was definitely interested. When Ariane tried to sign up it was sold out however a spot opened up last minute and she was able to join me. Hooray for sister power!

Ariane grabs a quick bite - it was so quick, it was blurry! Just keepin' it real!

The "fireside chat" event was held at Liberty House (quick fact: ran by a female entrepreneur!). It was a gorgeous, sun-filled room with an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline - I would've loved to get pictures of the view, but the sun rising over the skyline just wouldn't allow it. Still the spot is definitely etched in my memory as one to visit with Mr. Lovebird. It was my first time there, and it's quite romantic! A networking breakfast was also provided, but with Nia in preschool and drop-off at 8:30 I couldn't get there early enough so Ariane and I grabbed a quick bite and took our seats.  

{Image Credit: Leading Women Entrepreneurs}

In the hour-long chat Tory shared her start-up story: how she requested funds from about 200 potential investors (mostly friends and family) and created a 5-year plan launching in 2004 without a dime spent on traditional media - yes, it can be done!

As a mom, I was especially interested to hear how Tory handles mompreneurship and she explained that it's ALWAYS a struggle, but that family is first. She makes sure she is 100% present when she is with them and takes her sons to school herself daily.

{Image Credit: Leading Women Entrepreneurs}

I was thrilled to hear Tory and Senator Booker share their enthusiasm for social media. I still can't believe how hard some folks diss it, but I'm also a firm believer. Of course there is foolishness on there, but as Senator Booker explained, if you have 200+ followers, you have influence beyond measure. Tory explained how becoming an early adopter of social media helped lead to her success especially without a marketing budget. In fact, she handles her own Instagram and Twitter accounts personally!

The biggest challenges Tory sees when it comes to female entrepreneurship is 1) access to capital and 2) mentorship. Because of this she created the Elizabeth Street Capital initiative (the name was derived from her 1st store location) partnering with Bank of America to provide $10 million towards low cost loans. She encouraged the audience to apply to the program which has basic criteria of a great idea and a sound plan. 

After the event, I knew the attendees would bum rush the front to get pictures and was surprised to see how gracious Tory was to take them. I cautiously made my way to the front with my large belly and a few ladies literally carved a path to Tory for me, and I was able to chat with her quickly and get a quick picture with her and my sister:

I was surprised when Tory asked me the name of the baby (kinda how Dr. Oz did)! I stumbled a moment and explained that my sister didn't even know it yet, and it was still under wraps. 

Overall, the event was a great kick-off for me and my sister as well as we're in the works on a special sister-business project along with our other sister Lauren. It's been a bit of a slow start, but we're confident in the direction we're headed, and it was such an inspiration to be able to hear directly from Tory about how she built her business. It was just the encouragement we needed!

Are you a Tory Burch fan? If you're a mompreneur, who inspires you?
 

Home With Robin: An Inside Look at Balance

Disclosure: I am a compensated brand ambassador for Robin Wilson Home; all opinions expressed are my own.

I was thrilled to announce just a couple short months ago the launch of Robin Wilson Home's line of comforters in Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and today I want to share a quick peek behind the brand.

In her short film Robin discusses her challenges balancing her business, motherhood and marriage. Especially as a mompreneur I find her story truly inspirational. Robin had some tough decisions to make and it's exciting to see now where her brand is headed. 

Follow along on her journey (click through the blue button to play the video in Vimeo):

SHORT FILM: Home with Robin from Robin Wilson on Vimeo.

 What speaks to you about Robin's experience finding balance? How do you maintain it in your own life? Do you think it's even possible?
 

Lil Lovebird's Independence Day with Little Partners' Learning Tower

Disclosure: I received a Little Partners Learning Tower and Art Easel for purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are my own. 

If you follow me on Instagram you've seen pictures of my Lil Lovebird using her new Little Partners Learning Tower. Even over the July 4th weekend she used it to help me make our family's traditional Flag Cake:

Our independent Lil Love Bird on Independence Day!

Nia's at the stage where she likes to help out around the apartment as much as possible, especially in the kitchen, and building off her preschool prep class which ended a few weeks ago the Learning Tower was the perfect addition to continue on the Montessori-based approach we've taken to letting her help out in our home and become an active, independent member of our family.

It took less than an hour to put the Learning Tower together//Nia making her lunch

I was first introduced to Little Partners when I met the President and CEO Carol Gamble at Toy Fair 2013 (you can read my recap here). It was so inspiring to hear how Carol, a fellow mother and Montessori educator found her company - my regular readers know how excited I get to support fellow Mompreneurs!

As a city-dweller I was initially concerned about the space the Learning Tower might occupy, especially in our last apartment which was more narrow than our current one. I've learned that while a collapsible tower's been considered, it isn't the safest, and instead, because it can be used from 18 months until 5 or 6 years old, the longevity of the Learning Tower makes it an investment worth making. Not only can it be used as a traditional tower, but it converts into other fun activity centers such as a puppet theater and art easel.

To show you how easy it was to put the Learning Tower together I made this quick video (and be sure to watch through the end to see a funny outtake with Mr. Lovebird!):

 

Throughout July I'll be sharing more fun posts featuring our Little Partners Learning Tower, but first, I'm excited to host a giveaway for one of my readers to win the art easel! While the easel can attach to the Learning Tower it can also stand alone mounted to your wall (it comes with the hardware for both). 

Here's Lil Lovebird using the easel - she especially loves using the color coordinated magnet bar to post her art or photos:

To win an easel for your Little Partner enter via my Rafflecopter giveaway below; as always my giveaway only has one mandatory entry with the rest being optional. The giveaway ends Sunday, July 14 with the winner announced on Monday, July 15. Good luck!   

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out Little Partners on Facebook//Pinterest//Instagram//Twitter//YouTube!
 
   

Introducing Mommébox: a Subscription Box Service for Moms (and a Giveaway!)

A few months ago I hinted at Mommébox a subscription box service on Instagram and at long last I'm excited to share my vlog about it including a giveaway:

I'm now the Director of Business Development for the start-up and have been curating products for the boxes. You can learn more about Mommébox here and sign up for the next box, Spring, in time for Mother's Day. 

To enter the giveaway use the Rafflecopter form below. As always my giveaways only require one mandatory entry with the others being optional.  

Giveaway ends on Wednesday, April 24 with the winner being announced Thursday, April 25. Open to U.S. residents only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!
 
   

P.S. If you're a company owner and would like your prodcut featured in an upcoming Mommébox email partners@mommebox.com!

Mompreneur Spotlight: Chic Chanta

My semi-formal spotlight on mompreneurs has had a snowball effect of sorts and has been opening my eyes to all the fellow mompreneurs around me IRL (in real life) and online. 

A while back I won a giveaway that Christina of Being Mrs. Jones was hosting to launch her new business Chic Chanta - an online boutique for tutus and accessories. I won a cute tutu and bow set for my Lil Love bird  -  Christina added in a bracelet bonus as well!

I gave Christina a color scheme and she customized Nia's prize!

What I love about Chic Chanta is the attention to detail. As a graphic designer (Christina designed my current blog template - yes, she's multi-talented!), she has an eye for color and style. Her items are packaged neatly with tissue and a custom label. Nia was excited to open up her surprise package and model it for me. 

She prefers not to wear any other clothing with her tutu

Adding Chic Chanta to Nia's growing collection of tutus has been wonderful! The products are well constructed and made with love. I encourage you to support Christina and check out her blog too - her girls Izzy and Zoe are the cutest!

Do you have a tutu lover in your household? How do you manage your growing collection?
 
   

Go! Go! Sports Girls Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite aspects of Toy Fair 2013 was being introduced to mompreneur brands and one of those was Go! Go! Sports Girls created by Jodi Norgaard.

Jodi and I spoke about how she was inspired to create her business, Dream Big Toy Company to promote self-appreciation and the benefits of daily exercise, healthy eating and sleeping habits, self-esteem and overall healthy life-skills for girls ages 3-12. I shared how I come from an avid sports family as well as my all-female school heritage from 8th grade through college which inspired me to become a confident woman and excel not just in academics but sports as well. 

Here's what I like most about the award winning Go! Go! Sports Girls:

{Image Credit}

• They represent a variety of sports - sports like basketball, volleyball and soccer are available as well others such as golf, swimming and dance (personally, I'd love to see a lacrosse girl too - one of the sports I played in school!) 

• They come in various skin tones - one of the first things I noticed about the display at Toy Fair was all the wonderful shades that were available

• They're not just pink - the uniforms are in several appealing colors 

• The attention to detail - the girls come with appropriate and removable accessories which go in a mini-backpack and come with a towel and there is positive secret messaging on the dolls' tummies:

{Image Credit}

While my Lil Love Bird adores her share of princesses, I appreciate that there is an option for her to have an athletic doll that will help inspire confidence and self-esteem and the fact that Taye is chocolatey is awesome - it's great that Nia sees dolls that look her! I would've loved to have a Go! Go! Sports Girl growing up, and I was thrilled when Jodi gave me one to bring home to Nia!

Would you like a Go! Go! Sports Girl for the little budding athlete in your life? Well I'm giving one away to one reader!

The giveaway ends Thursday, April 11 with the winner announced Friday, April 12 (open to U.S. residents only).

As always my Rafflecopter giveaway only has one mandatory entry with all others being optional. Good luck!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway