Whitney Rife

“How do you do it all?”

“How do you do it all?” This is a question I am asked daily… And I have all the right responses, “I’m really good at delegating time!” I’m not. “My husband is so helpful and supportive!” He is. Or I laugh the question off with the good ‘ol, “dry shampoo” excuse. And while dry shampoo can save me a good twenty minutes for three (okay, maybe four) days, it is not a cure-all.

The fact is, I don’t do it all. Not even close. Some days my child goes to bed unbathed, we order take-out (again), we run out of toothpaste because I couldn’t make it to the store, and it’s 11pm before I realize I haven’t talked to my husband all day. My to-do list is never done. 

I’m a stay-at-home-working-mom; my office is in our kitchen and in between snack time, playtime and toddler tantrums, I work. I’m not complaining, I am happy to able to spend this extra time with my little man, but someone or something always gets shorted. Either I feel like I didn’t do enough work and the bed never got made, or I feel guilty for being on my phone at all hours of the night when I should be spending quality time with my husband. And forget about self-care, I’m lucky if I get to pee without a tiny person shouting at me or trying to sit in my lap…

I love being a mom. I truly do. All the cheesy things they tell you when you’re pregnant resonate even more than I could have imagined. When I get unprompted hugs, or hear the giggles from playing peek-a-boo, or see my son’s face light up when “Daddy’s home!” I melt. Literal butter on a hot piece of toast melting. But it’s hard. It’s hard if you work. It’s hard if you stay home. It’s hard if you work AT home. It’s hard because every single thought you have when you become a mother is about this tiny person you created. It’s hard because you want to give your baby the best life, and you want them to be the happiest, and you want them to reach milestones on-time, and you want them to eat something other than applesauce and chicken nuggets, and you don’t ever want them to get hurt or feel pain. So you try and do it all, plus a little more. Try to do all of this AND keep the house in order AND love your husband as much as you did before there were three of you AND work.

It’s. Not. Possible.

Dear Moms, none of us have it all together. None of us “do it all.” Not even the Instagram moms that make looks like we do. Behind every picture where my child is smiling are 145 of a meltdown. Leggings, Starbucks and dry shampoo will not help you complete your to-do list… Just love that little baby as much as you can; they don’t care if the bed isn’t made, or if the pantry isn’t color coordinated… And have a good grandmother on standby for when you want to pee alone. I’m so thankful for ours every day.

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Celebrating Mother’s Day With Stage

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and has me extra-emotional and reflective this year. Motherhood has made me a total sap (in the best way possible) and raising my son has me reflecting on my own childhood in a way like never before. Growing up some of my most favorite childhood (and adult) memories are grounded in my family home – snuggled up around warm fires during the holidays, laughs shared over the dinner table, birthday celebrations in the backyard, welcoming home a new puppy… My heart has always been at home, and now, as a Mother, it is more important to me than ever before to create that same inviting space for my own family to make a lifetime of memories in.

We absolutely LOVE spending time together as a family outside, and I have been working on creating the same look and feel of our home’s interior to our outdoor living space. Staging the perfect backyard for my son to play or Shawn and I to watch a sunset became SO MUCH easier when I discovered these fabulous finds at Stage.com!

I’ve always dreamt of a backyard oasis to raise a family around, which is why I love the decor at Stage.com. From these vibrant Madison Park Navio Palm and Zuo Modern Tropical Pink decorative pillows (Both 40% off of $60!) and this Great Hotels Collection Toucans Throw Blanket to my new Zuo Modern Palm Tree and Pineapple Tray Set (which comes as a two-pack), I am able to incorporate the look of tropical foliage into my quaint, romantic backyard. Adding some bold greens to softer whites creates the perfect balance of indoor/outdoor living, where we spend the majority of our quality time together. This Toucan Throw is so soft and under $10 – making it the perfect way to snuggle up with Bo on chilly mornings and enjoying a moment of quiet before our day begins. Quiet moments with a toddler are hard to come by, but we’ve made this our morning routine and I’m so thankful for these tiny motherhood moments that I can cherish forever. And I hope that Bo will do the same.

Part of our time is spent entertaining loved ones which is why I am obsessing over the Pineapple themed merchandise from Stage.com – a southern tradition for the best in hospitality! Stage.com’s Zuo Modern Metallic Pineapple Large Sculpture was a must have! I love that it is a soft, delicate pink to bring out the beautiful design of my decorative pillows. I have even found the perfect button-up for Shawn to perfectly tie him into the setting! He looks adorable in this Cactus Man Men’s Pineapple Woven Shirt which is now just $23.99 from $40! He loves it and says it is super comfortable. Even Bo can look as stylish as daddy in this Carter’s 3-pc. Mr. Good Vibes Diaper Cover Set which has its own little pineapple graphic and matching Good Vibe shorts – all which pairs perfectly with a pair of Khaki Sperry Tuck Boat Shoes at just $29.98.

Our home, inside and out, is a reminder of what truly matters the most – togetherness, grace, and unconditional love. I had to have these gorgeous quotable pieces of décor from Stage.com to serve as a reminder to the things we value. This New View How to Live a Happy Life Plaque ($19.98), Primitives by Kathy Sunglasses Wood Sign ($3.98), New View “You Are My Sunshine” Shiplap Frame ($9.98) and Primitives by Kathy Beach Decorative Pillow ($12.98) all work together to spread the message of love throughout our home. These little (and VERY affordable) accents are not only cute, but they send a message to family and guests that remind us all, heart is trulywhere the home is. I even picked up this super sweet Enchanted Hand Painted Flamingo Mug as a reminder, to myself, to “Be Fabulous Darling!” At just $3.98 I had to treat myself!

I also scored the most comfortable Empire Waist Maxi Dess from 24Seven Comfort Apparel in a precious ivory color that pairs flawlessly with these Olivia Miller Women’s Twisted Sister Braided Rhinestone Sandals. The quality of these vegan leather slip-on flats is incredible at just $24.98 and the metallic gold is absolutely on trend. 

I think back on the wonderful, priceless moments I’ve spent with friends and family and realize how blessed I am to be so surrounded by such love. My heart is so incredibly full! I can end my day with the flicker of this Tri-Coastal Design “Relax and Unwind” Candle (which smells so good, y’all) and a cozy moment of reflection under my new favorite throw – this gorgeous and so, so soft Dream Home NY Shanna Throw that is under $10 at Stage.com!

Visit Stage.com to fill your home and your heart with beautiful items like these!

*This post was sponsored by and created in collaboration with Stage.com.

 

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Mother’s Day With Mixbook

Last year for Bo’s first birthday, Shawn and I took Bo to Disney World and spent a magical week creating magical memories. Y’all, I must have taken 500 pictures that day! It was just such a great moment to capture Bo’s smiling face as he experienced all things Mickey Mouse!

Going through the photos later, this momma’s heart melted. It warmed my soul to see how that day unfolded and my son so happy. That is when it hit me!

My mom is also a sucker for fond memories and photographs. I wanted to make sure to give her some of these photos, knowing she’d feel as touched as I was and want to share them with my dad and her close friends. But, there were too many photos to pick just one for a frame (which is boring anyways) and that’s when I called on Mixbook to help make my Disney photo book!

Mixbook is a super easy way to store your collection of photos inside one beautifully bound book. These coffee table books are printed on quality paper, in vibrant colors, so your precious photos are displayed creatively. There are several shapes and styles to choose from, as well as paper finishes and leather binding options!

I just sat on my couch one night and sorted through Mixbook’s over 400 design templates and found one I just loved for my mom. Then I uploaded my favorite pictures of Bo from Disney and easily popped them in to the Mixbook pages which was fast and so simple. For someone busy like me, being able to totally design a book at bedtime was my own little slice of magic!

Mixbook gives you the ability to move things around inside of your design, crop, add text and even add stickers and backgrounds to really personalize it perfectly. This is going to be such a great Mother’s Day gift for my mom and a beautiful way for her to display and share photos of her grandson.

And honestly y’all, these books are so inexpensive I got one for myself (because why not?!) and am already working on building another book from our wedding photos! Mixbook couldn’t be easier and has fast, affordable shipping options. It is a perfect idea for Mother’s Day but also Father’s Day, which is around the corner too!

I have found an adorable way to keep and organize Bo’s photos as he continues to grow and make memories and I promise you, you will be as obsessed over the quality as I am.

Right now, you can use code WHITNEY50 to get 50% off your first Mixbook so look no farther for the perfect gift for your momma! Mixbook is it!


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12 Things…

12 Things I have learned after parenting for one year and being married for 6 months… 

 

Photography by Scott Smallin
Location: Conway, SC

I wanted to share a bit of a different post with you all on our 6 month wedding anniversary and that is 12 things I have learned about marriage and parenting:

  1. MARRY YOUR BEST FRIEND.  Life sucks sometimes, and sometimes it is really, really hard.  It is so important when you have that person right beside of you who just gets it.  Shawn is my person.  Before we got married, I thought, if I ever have to go through anything, he is who I want right by my side 24/7 and after seeing him parent Bo with me, marrying him was the best decision I have ever made in my life.  Sure, we argue and fight and I act like a spoiled brat and cause a fight here and there just to stir the pot, but at the end of the day he’s my best friend and best friends only want the best for each other.
  2. MAKE TIME FOR JUST YOU TWO.  It is so so so important! Shawn and I always had a date night, pre-Bo.  Our friends knew that when I got into town, Shawn and I were just date nighting it and thats the way it was for years.  Since having Bo, we always set aside one day to go out on the boat or an evening to go to dinner at our favorite place and hang out.  We are very fortunate to have some of the best people surrounding Bo that love his as much as we do, so leaving him to go out with my husband for a little while has been really easy.  Plus, we both work so hard during the week, it is so nice to just put our phones away and be.
  3. HAVING BABIES DOESN’T MEAN YOU CANT HAVE FUN ANYMORE. This is super important as some parents can get in a rut that the fun is over.  Babies are so fun and a reflection of you.  Things Shawn and I used to do, we still do! We still go on the boat, we still go for walks, we still go riding around town, we still ride motorcycles, okay you get it…  Life doesn’t stop when you have babies.  You keep being the best, most spontaneous parent that you were before and your baby will grow up loving life as you do.  Shawn and I love hanging out with each other and with Bo.
  4. IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AFTER YOUR RELATIONSHIP. I often say this and I mean it.  Don’t forget about your husband.  Seeing Shawn as a father makes me fall even more in love with him.  He is everything I imagined he would be and a million times more, but I often forget to thank him for all he does for Bo and I and constantly ask him to do more or be more even tho he has to be absolutely exhausted.  I need to remember in all moments, not just when we finally sneak away for a date night, to be a little more present with him and be a little more thankful for all the crap he does for us.  He provides us with so much and most of the time I take those things for granted.
  5. THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN YOU WANT TO QUIT IT ALL. It happens to everyone and its pretty much inevitable.  You just have to keep faith and remember why you started in the first place.  You marriage, your baby, your job…remember why you fell in love with him, remember that baby needs you, and remember that if you don’t love your job, do something that you do love.  Life is too short and so precious.
  6. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF POOP. Hehe, seriously, A LOT OF POOP. But hey, you have to make compromises and one Shawn and I have made is I will change poopy diapers if he makes bottles at night time + takes the bag out of the Ubbi Diaper Pail.  I personally think that one is WAAAAY worse so I will change those diapers all day long, hehe!  Like I said, marriage is alllllll  about compromise!
  7. NO BABY IS THE SAME AND NOBODY CAN TELL YOU HOW TO PARENT YOUR CHILD.  Sure, you will get advice 24/7 and with Bo, we needed it, a lot of it.  He cried 24/7 for the first 9 months of his life so it was exhausting and of course took a tole on Shawn and I’s relationship.  He would come home with all these books and I would have all these Google articles about what to do.  Of course none of it worked so it would cause us to argue because we were restless and exhausted as to why nothing was working.  We finally came to the realization that while our friends all had “perfect” babies, ours was perfect too, he just wanted to be held 24/7 hehe.  The day he turned 9 months old, I swear he stopped crying and is so happy now but it was moments in the first 9 months when I look back now, I am so thankful I had Shawn by my side.  He was so patient with me and Bo while both of us would be crying and trying to understand why I can’t make my baby happy.  Trust your gut mama, you know what is best for your baby.  Not google, not friends, not books…you do.  And don’t compare your baby to one on instagram or social media.  9 times out of 10 its staged-hehe and just remember, it is not a freaking competition! Your child will crawl, walk, talk, etc when he/she is ready.
  8. MULTITASKING IS MY JAM. Literally as I am typing this, I am feeding Bo Ranch Lil’ Crunchies, talking on the phone to my brother who is having technical difficulties at the store, changing the TV channel back to Paw Patrol, and I am cooking Bagel Bites-lets just hope they don’t burn, hehe!  It is so crazy how before having a baby, I was so busy now I am like WTF was I doing then?! I wasn’t busy AT ALL!  We are SO BUSY now lol!  It is so crazy what you can get done in a day now AND what you can do with ONE HAND!
  9. BABIES DON’T NEED AS MUCH AS YOU THINK THEY DO. It’s true.  Before we had Bo I had to have it all.  Every gadget, cute onesie, darling pair of shoes, every brand bottle, etc.  He literally needed a onesie, a couple bottles, blankets, and a soothie.  Oh, and a carseat for when we went places hehe.  There was so much stuff I thought we just HAD to have and ended up GIVING it away because we never ever used it.  The most important thing you can give your baby is your time and your love.
  10. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.  You rarely have time for anything, but don’t stop taking care of yourself.  Of loving yourself too.  Don’t forget who you were before you had your baby, before you got married and be that person again.  Take time to get your nails done, go to lunch by yourself, spend hours wandering around Target or just using the bathroom by yourself again.  Your body needs it, your mind needs it.  Your husbands needs it and your baby.  A happy mommy means a happy baby and a happy husband.
  11. YOU WILL KNOW A LOVE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER KNOWN LOVE BEFORE.  Yes, you LOVE your husband. And yes, you LOVE your family. But the love you have for that little baby when they lay him/her on your chest is a love like no other.  I can remember my mom telling me this and I was like yeah right, I love you so much but it is so true.  Everyday with every little new thing they do is absolutely amazing-I seriously tear up at least 14 times a day.  I am just so proud of him, of us.
  12. NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF AND YOUR MARRIAGE.  YOU ARE DOING SO GOOD MAMA!
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Happy 1st Birthday, my beautiful baby boy

 

 

Our darling Bo,

Today is your first birthday and I have already told you happy birthday at least 100 times today, you look at me like I am crazy and continue to give me “love pats” as I like to call it when you smack my face and scream “ah ah AH.” I am pretty sure you are more excited to play with your puffs than the fact that today,you are one and we are celebrating in the happiest place on earth, Walt Disney World.

It is so hard to believe one year has flown by.  That is one year of holding you, kissing you, cuddling you, singing you to sleep, changing your diapers, feeding you, teaching you, watching Little Baby Bum everyday, listening to “Marry Me” by Thomas Rhett 9,731,838 times, and watching you grow.

From the moment you started growing in my belly, I knew you would be so full of life, excitement, and INTO everything.

The moment they laid you on my chest, I was so scared yet you put me at ease.  Your first breath literally took ours away and for minutes after when you were just laying there all I could think was I had waited 9 months to literally meet you, the love of my life, and you were so perfect.  (You can read more of my birth story here and more about celebrating his due date here, he came 10 days early.)

I still remember the first time you sneezed, I was obsessed and for two weeks, I tried everything I could to get it on video, and then I finally did. As you got older, you and I would watch those moments of when you were “little” and you would laugh as you knew that was you and you remembered those sweet days.

The first time you really smiled after ganny called you handsome when you were wearing your little bow-tie for Christmas pictures was a moment for as long as I am living, I will never forget.   There are many moments when you have stolen my heart, but that was the first time as a mom, my heart completely melted.

I want you to know that while your daddy and I have big plans for you, we already know God has a perfect plan for you. His will for your life has already surpassed my own expectations for you in just these last twelve months. My continuous prayer for you as your mom is that you always see the good in this world and continue to be this amazing bright eyed boy with the world in the palm of your hand.  Love God, and know that all we have, he has given us.  We don’t know who you will be just yet, but we trust him that he is going to do something amazing with your life because you are here and you are able.

Today is the biggest celebration thus far in our life and I want you to know Bo, if you see tears today, they are happy tears.  You are so loved more than your heart could ever imagine and not just by me, or your dad, but by our families and our friends.  I cannot wait to see all the smiles you keep bringing into this world and all the wonderful things you’ll continue to do, and all the love you’ll bring into the hearts of those around you.

We are so proud of you.
You have all of our love, forever and ever.

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