cookies but make em’ festive
A holiday tradition I started…last year (lol) is giving cookie tins with homemade cookies
A holiday tradition I started…last year (lol) is giving cookie tins with homemade cookies and holiday treats inside! Something new I’m adding to it this year is including a recipe card with one of the cookie recipes for the recipient!
*Please be aware, I fully know I’m not holding a “tin” in this photo. I have not yet been able to go get them from my local dollar store BUT FRET NOT because I will. This random wood box was in my basement so it became the photo prop out of convenience. The tins are just as cute and actually more functional because they have lids. you can also just line them with some parchment paper and then the cookies don’t even need to get wrapped in anything!
When I gave away the cookie tins last year, I included peppermint snowball cookies in each one. Every single person went NUTS or should I say, COOKIES, for them! They all asked me for the recipe and so I dreamed up my holiday recipe card design and thought, “this will go in each tin this year with that exact recipe!” I’m all about sharing a good recipe when I find it, especially for sweets.
The peppermint snowball cookies are from Mom Timeout, and I found them through my baking girl, Sally’s Baking addition. I’ll link below the snowball cookie recipe along with Sally’s compiled list of 75 holiday cooke recipes! She’s the best and I love her. My other tried and true faves are the ‘soft molasses cookies.’ Think gingerbread, but chewy and better.
https://www.momontimeout.com/peppermint-snowball-cookies-recipe/
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/75-christmas-cookies/
*HOT BAKING TIP: I have found that the BEST cookie recipes are ones where the dough needs to chill for at least 30 minutes before getting rolled / scooped and baked!
Thanks for reading!
xx Stephanie
*click on the furthest right picture to swipe for more photos!
holiday 2020 madness
Let’s talk about a thoughtful, homemade holiday gift for the baking lovers heart…
HAPPY HOLIDAY 2020 MADNESS YOU GUYS! I love the holiday season, duh, we all do!
But, on a serious note, I know this season can bring on a lot of depression. I have experienced this myself especially during difficult financial years and when it comes to loss. The holidays have a way of bringing so much cheer, yet so much expectation. It can really be a mixed bag. My best unsolicited advice is to take as much time away from social media as possible and go real old school. Get together with family, friends, coworkers, anyone who feels like a support system and good, positive company. Share some cookies and hot cocoa, maybe a hottie tottie if that’s your thing. Just remember what the holidays are really about and that’s togetherness. The simpler the better!
If you feel alone, lost or unsure how to help yourself, I’m always at the ready with a recommendation for great therapists. I truly believe we all need one, ain’t no shame xx
Now, once we’ve taken care of our mental health and supported our loved ones as well, we can get merry, however that may be for us! I am personally a huge lover of gift giving, gift wrapping and card writing. It may be selfish but I absolutely love receiving cards (sort of my love language) so I think, if I give them, I’ll get them, too! Or at least I’ll up my chances. I think I’ve mostly trained my family by this point to give hand written cards, so I feel like I’m winning!
I also loveeeee wrapping gifts. I’ll make a night of it by putting on a holiday movie (The Santa Claus, every time) and have myself a cheery little night getting excited about everyone opening they’re adorably wrapped gifts. I mean that’s part of the fun of opening a present! Seeing the outside, wondering what secretive magic lives beneath the wrapping paper and bows. I also have no qualms with breaking tradition and using any color I want for holiday gift wrap. Life’s too short, make everything your own little celebration! Hey, throw some llama gift wrap in there while you’re at it! They’re sure to get a smile or at least a funny confused reaction ;)
A GREAT GIFT IDEA!
Okay, I did not make up this gift, I stumbled upon it and loved it so much I had to share it with all of you! But I AM adding my own special addition to it for all of you to download FREE! Let’s read on..
Homemade vanilla extract!!!! Guys, I’m a baking fanaticcccc if you don’t already know. I will bake the dessert or the bread any day if someone else will cook the dinner. We’d be a perfect match. Taking applicants for this role. Anywho...homemade vanilla extract. The store bought stuff is great and does the job BUT the homemade stuff is way better and everyone can use it. We have all made chocolate chip cookies or brownies for some work event or life event or personal pleasure which means no matter who you are, you have vanilla extract in your cabinet right now. These make such good gifts for literally everyone. I am going to link below the bottles, the recipe and the at home printable label sheets you can use with my FREE label design, to stick on your cute gift bottles! Add a bow and you’re set to hand these off to your coworkers, kids teachers, friends and family! With a handwritten card or a little gift tag, she’s cute and ready to go to her new forever home. YAY!
Recipe for the vanilla extract: *You’ll see links in here to buy the vanilla beans but I’ll also add it below!
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-vanilla-extract/
The bottles: *8.5 oz bottles with swing top work best!
The sticker label sheets:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XCND8ZJ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A2PFIQQO7UBV3G&psc=1
Madagascar vanilla beans:
Also, if you want to take the gift one step further, you can include a pack of these recipe cards AND write your favorite recipe on one of the cards for the recipient. Just a thought!!! These are a limited release this year as I test out a new product so once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Shop the recipe cards:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/893751816/holiday-recipe-cards-gingerbread-house?ref=shop_home_active_1
____
FREE printable download:
The labels are 1.5” x 1.5”, all laid out on one sheet. You then print them onto your label sheet from the link above, using any printer. They have dotted cut lines around each label for your convenience to just cut out with a scissor! After, you just peel off the back and stick it onto the front of your homemade vanilla extract bottle for the ultimate cuteness.
When we were jungle cats
Halloween costume ideas! When we were jungle cats…A tiger, a leopard and a lion.
We have this thing with animals…
Logan was not fully cooperative with this shoot last year, as can be seen from his little meltdown above.
Real talk, I have never been a fan of Halloween. Until I became a mom! Something about making a tiny human into a cute creature changed the game for me. It brought out a whole new side of my creativity that I did not know existed and it was a pleasant surprise. [ and let’s be honest, a whole new thing to stress about - cue artist perfectionism complex ] I literally hand painted and then beaded a little leopard print onto felt and created my own leopard ears. Am I crazy? Probably. But I love them. I also painted John’s shirt so these costumes were really made with love <3
Year one, we were wolves. Short back story, we named Logan basically after seeing the moving Wolverine [ John’s fave ] and misreading the meaning of the name “Logan” thinking it said “a little howl” but really it said “a little hollow” and we still laugh about it. It no longer matters though because he is such a Logan.
Year two, we stuck with the animal theme. A tiger, a leopard and a lion. It’s honestly so fun to do animal makeup and since I am the mastermind behind the costumes, I get to choose ;) This year was more challenging though, with Logan being in his almost terrible 2’s phase, which all the momma’s out there know can strike at any moment once you hit that 18 month mark. So we went to our spot for photos and were met with utter disdain and disinterest. I managed to snag a few shots and put our self timer to the test for a family photo. Above is some real life for ya! And below are a few more photos from our best efforts to capture mom’s hard work. At least John and I had some fun!
John: “Get a shot of me leaping through the air like a real tiger”
Me: “…ok”
What will 2020 bring? Well, I am pregnant and we are moving and Logan is older now with real opinions and awareness so. Stay tuned to see how it turns out… and I will do the same! [ sweating ] We’ll post updates on instagram tomorrow!
Thanks for reading and have fun everyone! [ says the neurotic perfectionist. it’s fine, everything is fine ]
xx Stephanie
Wildflower Events Styled Shoot
A whimsical, bohemian styled wedding shoot, hosted by Wildflower Events and held at Valley View Farms.
What is going on here. This stunning, magical, fantastical, other worldly beauty grew from the immense creativity and passion that is Wildflower Events and a fabulous group of brilliant vendors and photographers (all to be listed below!)
Lindsey and Dara are the creative brains behind Wildflower Events, based out of Connecticut. They thought up this beautiful styled shoot held at Valley View Farms in MA and gathered up a group of vendors to offer their talents to the day.
Sweet Talk Floral was in charge of all things floral and foliage. You’ll see the perfection they designed below. That floral orb over the dinner table? Yes. More.
All the photographers brought their own special vision and styling abilities, bringing us such a gorgeous variety of photos that perfectly captured the details of the day!
Vendor credit below!
Host + Design @wildflowereventsdesign
Florals @sweettalkfloral
Venue @valleyviewfarmwedding
Bridal Gown @everthinebridal
Hair and Makeup @upstyle.co
Stationery @stephanietarastationery
Caterer @wheelhouse.farm
Cake @themixingbowlbyjules
Draping @tiedyeandtonic
Models @kayli_n @remy_christopherr @ambivalentmind_
Dining Chairs @gatherandlounge
Envelope Calligraphy @nancyfavoritocalligraphy
Gauze Napkins @snassycrafter
Photographers: @coreylynntucker , @alexandjully , @atlasandstone , @jemrichards , @cassandradayephotography , @cml.photos
Below are some shots from a variety of photographers galleries, credited below the photos! I love seeing all the different styles in one place. When choosing your own wedding photographer it’s best to ask yourself what kind of photos do you love most? Which style represents you and your partner? Warm and moody? Bright and airy? Posed? Natural and candid? There’s a photographer for everyone out there and they are so worth the investment! They will capture all the beautiful moments and details you worked so hard to plan for months, maybe years, to have and cherish forever.
Photos 1-3 @alexandjully
Photos 4-11 @atlasandstone
Photos 12-25 @coreylynntucker
Photos 26-28 @jemrichards
elopements.
Elopements. They are typically associated with Las Vegas. Two young kids, wild and in love, run away from their parents to get married and start their lives together as husband and wife / husband and husband / wife and wife. Everyone is disappointed and disapproving. It’s almost taboo. But, what if we change the narrative?
Elopements. They are typically associated with Las Vegas. Two young kids, wild and in love, run away from their parents to get married and start their lives together as husband and wife / husband and husband / wife and wife. Everyone is disappointed and disapproving. It’s almost taboo. But, what if we change the narrative? Actually, it’s already being done by so many couples around the world. Literally around the world because instead of just flying off to Vegas to get married by some Elvis priest, they’re flying to all the romantic places like the waterfalls in Iceland or the warm desserts in Arizona. They’re making the decision to get married, as two consenting adults in love, who are ready to begin their lives together and make all their wildest dreams come true. And it all starts with them and only them. Which brings us back to the word, elopement. It’s intimate, romantic and private. It can be anything you want it to be and it’s all about two people celebrating their love for one another. Making promises and vows. It’s love.
With the pandemic wiping out all our big, grand wedding plans one month at a time, elopements are becoming a popular compromise. Yes, these couples are settling for an elopement instead of the big wedding they originally planned but it doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. It’s a choice, to not let life's plans affect yours. We have to roll with the punches while life laughs at our plans, in order to find our way and our happiness. So elope. Don’t wait another year to start your life as a married couple, to start having children or to start tackling your dreams together, whatever they may be. Have your intimate ceremony, with a group of vendors who will be there cheering you on and creating a magical celebration for just you two. The party with all of your family and friends, if that’s what you want, can happen anytime. Your loved ones will be (should be) thrilled to celebrate your marriage any time, any day, even if it’s not what they originally planned for. After all, it’s not their plan. It’s your plan.
There have been financial shifts and a change in how we think and live our lives due to this pandemic. Which is another reason eloping can be an amazing alternative to your original wedding ideas. You will save money that can go towards your future needs. Like a house, a car, a vacation, a move, a child, savings and more. Doesn’t sound so bad, huh? It’s also the perfect time to do something so radical because for the first time ever, the entire world is feeling the effects of this unprecedented time, one way or another. Which means more and more people are considering the exact same thing. How do we get married and have the wedding we want now that we have less money? Have less ability to do so? It’s like a more open mind has been given to every single person. We all have a little more grace. A little more understanding and acceptance. A lot of it being because we have no choice. But sometimes that’s okay when it ends up being for a happy and healthy reason. Plan your elopement and don’t worry what your mom and your grandma and your Aunt Tess think. For the first time, they probably won't have much to say about it since they realize it’s either that or put everything on hold. And why do that, waste time waiting, when anything can happen in a day, a week, a month, even an hour?
I’m not saying you shouldn't wait a year to have the wedding you want. If you’re happy to wait and don’t feel held back, then that is the right choice for you! There are so many right choices. I definitely don’t think there’s a one size fits all mentality when it comes to living our lives. Live them for you.
In light of the change, the desire for more elopements and the financial toll so many of us are experiencing, I have created a semi custom collection for elopement announcement cards. Here’s the idea…
You get eloped! You hire a fabulous photographer and videographer to capture the magical day and ceremony.
You choose your favorite photo (or photos), which yes is nearly impossible to do when you work with the right photographer.
Get in touch with me! I use the photo(s) you chose, I coordinate an elopement announcement card (as seen below) in a cohesive color scheme, one that compliments your stellar romantic day!
Add a link to your wedding ceremony video and gallery of photos, for all your guests to view at their leisure as a way to feel part of your special day.
You announce “The new Mr. & Mrs. / Mr. & Mr. / Mrs. & Mrs.” in style, and send them off via snail mail to all your loved ones!
There are so many ways to keep the cost down on these elopement announcement cards, which was done intentionally. You can attach your card to the photo using a modern paper clip, fun washi tape, string and wax seal (choose from our in house collection or have your own custom design made to keep forever!) and more. The photos below will show you more of what I’m explaining and I’m always happy to answer questions or review options with you so shoot me an email and let’s get going! info@stephanietara.com
Quarantine toddler life, love and adventure
Logan and I are quarantined together. Lol duh, he’s my child. And it’s been interesting. Being a mother and business owner is a constant battle, one that I’m aware is just a phase…
Logan and I are quarantined together. Lol duh, he’s my child. And it’s been interesting. Being a mother and business owner is a constant battle, one that I’m aware is just a phase. One day my kid(s) will grow up and go to school and I will have more “free time” to grow my business and then one day my kid(s) will move out forever and I’ll have all the “free time” I’m hankering for now and it makes me sad and also happy and also nauseous. Life is deep and I try not to live too far in the future, just the healthy reminder to myself that everything is constantly evolving and to breathe through each stressful phase.
And now quarantine. A new phase. And it’s hard. I’m both aggravated and grateful. John is still operating his restaurants, even if it’s in a different way, we have our security and that’s always a blessing. My work has slowed down exponentially since I rely heavily on social gatherings to attain new clients. Childcare came to a screeching halt and even help from family became minimal as we worry about social distancing and being healthy. There have been so many meltdowns and so much angst. I’ve wondered how on earth people run businesses with children at home full time and I know they’re all struggling too because this is a unique situation where for the first time that I’ve been aware, every person is in the same boat as the next in regards to being home with limited or no help. Figuring it out one day at a time and most of us feel like we’re failing. I know logically we’re not. I’m not. You can’t fail at something that you’ve never done before. You learn. So we’re all learning. And learning is difficult and time consuming.
Entertainment and teaching a toddler. I’m not trained in either. We just become parents and figure it out on the spot. Quarantine is different though. There are no third party activities to provide an outlet when you’re out of ideas. We have watched lots of movies and Sesame Street and it took the first 3 weeks for me to accept that this is okay, I’m not a bad mom. I also personally love movies and still consider myself an active member of society so hopefully I’ll instil the same in Logan.
I’ve read articles about toddler activities. Looked at ideas on social media (one being the busy toddler instagram account, who offers excellent, attainable ideas), spoken to other moms and my own mom. And then I tried the activities and the projects and the plans. In my particular experience, it hasn’t worked. My son has boundless energy. He is fixated on certain activities like throwing rocks down the sewage drain outside, which is like not allowed. So there goes outside time. I spent weeks trying new things, new schedules. None of it brought me the actual peace I was looking for. Because Logan is 2 years old. He’s in the “boundary stage.” It’s my job to teach him what he can and can’t do and essentially, that’s the only thing on the docket day in and day out right now. I miss the help of childcare professionals taking on a couple days a week and providing an environment to thrive with other toddlers. It was the hardest decision I made as a parent initially because I didn’t grow up in daycare. I quickly learned though, it’s not just about my need to work or have time without my child attached to me. It’s an experience that Logan will grow and learn from, surrounded by people who are trained to teach him. And now it’s gone. I know so many others are feeling that same stress and I’m with you.
This month’s struggle -
Food. My child, bless his soul, has always loved food and would eat so many things. He ate crab cakes, meatballs, sweet potatoes, hummus. It was great. Then, he turned 2 and decided he had opinions and I’m still coming to peace with that. So my biggest stress as of late has been meal time. I would spend time making something he usually eats, and he would throw it on the floor or even better, pick it up and hand it right back to me and say “no.” Send me serenity. It’s been so aggravating. When he throws a hunger tantrum it makes matters even worse because I know he’s hungry and likes the food I made for him but at this age there is no reasoning or understanding. Just reacting. John told me to stop trying. He suggested I give him pizza and meatballs and mac and cheese for every meal for a week to give myself a break and then we would reassess. So I did it. For about 2 weeks I just rotated those foods. Plus some eggs for breakfast and lots of fruit. The kid loves berries. My stress levels came way down and Logan stopped having meal tantrums. I’ve just started slowly reintroducing some of his old favorites back (like trader joe’s fried rice) and I think, he might just be so sick of pizza and meatballs that he is happy to eat something new. Because it's going well. Knock on wood. So that’s one of my toddler stresses this season of life. Anxiously awaiting what's next.
Hang in there. You’re doing your best and your kids know it. They love you for just being there smiling at them and showing love. They don’t know eventually they’ll need to do math equations and read. Only we know that. So let it go right now. They’ll learn it eventually. *she says to herself* - *also I still can’t do math and I’m mostly fine, she reminds herself*
xx stephanie
custom part 1, design + illustration
Hi there, it’s me, your local stationery guru. That might be a little much but I like to think I know enough to call myself an industry professional. I’m doing a series of blog posts that cover all kinds of services that I offer, with photos for reference and bits of information about each one.
Hi there, it’s me, your local stationery guru. That might be a little much but I like to think I know enough to call myself an industry professional. I’m doing a series of blog posts that cover all kinds of services that I offer, with photos for reference and bits of information about each one. I get lots of questions and inquiries about what “custom” really means and why I charge what I charge. I get asked what letterpress is, what foil printing is and what illustrations I can do and more! So I’m here to help and keep everything in one place.
Today’s topic will be focused on custom illustrations. What I do, how I do it, what I charge and why. I like to note the importance of remembering, this investment is not just in mailing these pieces to your guests, though that is a huge part of it. You are investing in artwork that represents your story together as a couple, which I think is so special.
First things first, do you remember learning how to paint before there was such a thing as digital art programs? Okay so I still take a paintbrush, dip it in water and hand mix each color and hand paint every detail. But first, step one is sketching the design concept, using a pencil and paper, to be approved by each client before moving onto the painting. Once I understand your vision and style from a phone call and a few shared reference photos, I’m ready to build your full custom stationery suite design. Let’s break it down below!
Step 1: THE CONCEPT
Let’s chat! About everything and anything. Your love story, your favorite foods, colors, hobbies. Your wedding vision, style, goals. All of this is your story and the foundation to your custom artwork. Details guide me to guide you when choosing printing methods, artwork style, paper color and more. There are so many options and I want to narrow that down to be right in line with your whole vibe. Sometimes your bouquet is a great source of inspiration for the suite. Or maybe it’s the venue property or the surrounding town, full of culture and life. We will talk about it all. Leave it up to me to take your input and create your dream stationery.
Step 2: THE SKETCH
After we chat, I spend time doing research, gathering reference photos and color stories and start to sketch ideas. I will draw out a rough idea for your floral border design, your venue illustration, your map and more. Anything we discussed, I will sketch. In this phase we are nailing down your layout and how the pieces flow together and layer with one another. The sketch is my roadmap to paint your beautiful artwork.
Step 3: THE PAINT
Once I sketch out your artwork and get the layouts planned, I can then start painting and choosing what printing ink colors look best. Since we’ve already discussed all your wedding details, I know what color story we are working with and feel confident moving forward in this phase. However, if at some point a color doesn't sit right with you, I will make changes. I want to work with you every step of the way to keep the artwork in line with your vision.
BASE CUSTOM DESIGN PACKAGE:
I charge a minimum of $1,500 for my custom design services. This cost covers the artwork for a custom invitation, rsvp and info card design. {To be clear, in addition to this price, there are all the printing costs for both the stationery and envelopes, plus any other beautiful embellishments and packaging detail options you choose} Broken down that means with your incredible ideas and visions, I illustrate a brand new, never before painted or used, illustration. The illustrations range from florals to custom crest designs to venue illustrations to love stories and more. There is no limit to the illustrations I’ll do for my clients. I take any and all ideas they have and apply them to their wedding suite to make it especially unique to their wedding. This is the best part.
Note - recently I have expanded my offerings to also include colored paper options, letterpress printing, foil printing and more. I’m always aiming to stay fresh and modern while keeping with my whimsical painted illustration theme. That is the fun and challenging part of my job and I love it!
MIDDLE CUSTOM DESIGN PACKAGE:
My next price point is $2,000 for custom design services which includes all the items mentioned above (invitation, rsvp and info card design), with the addition of a custom map design and envelope liner. { To be clear, in addition to this price there are all the printing costs for both the stationery and envelopes, plus any other beautiful embellishments and packaging detail options } The maps are one of the most complex illustrations I offer. There’s no limit to how many landmarks and details we can include in the map. I will of course, give you my opinion if the illustration is becoming too crowded but otherwise, all the fun things are in there! On the back of the maps, we normally note a schedule of events and then lead people towards your wedding website for further information and accomodations. This is a great spot to note your favorite places and things to do from the map design. It’s also a way to entice your guests to check them out and go to your website to book their wedding weekend with you. The map artwork also lives on. I always send out a complimentary 8” x 10” map print, on watercolor archival paper, to each client after we’ve completed our journey together, so the art can be hung in your home. There is always the option to have the art printed any size you want or on other mediums, such as fabric, as well!
TOP CUSTOM DESIGN PACKAGE:
The next price point for custom design services starts at $2,500 and can increase from there. This price bracket includes artwork for all the pieces mentioned above, {custom invitation, rsvp, info card, map and envelope liner} with the addition of custom thank you card, menu card and escort card designs for your wedding day.
PRINTING COSTS:
The cost of printing varies based on printing methods, paper weight, quantity and more. Once I gather more information from you and begin to build your vision, I will note these costs on the proposal I send out to each potential client to review.
If you’re shopping around and want to compare different stationer’s costs quickly, it’s helpful to fill out my inquiry form here, so I can gather all the info from you right away and get the proposal made and sent! I know wedding planning becomes a job and part of that job is comparing costs. Making time to call a bunch of different vendors is sometimes not feasible and you want price fast. I understand and I hope the form helps make the process easier for you!
On the other hand, if you’re the type who likes to chat with each vendor a bit first, I’m also down for that! I love having an initial phone chat with my clients (and touching base on the phone throughout our time working together) so we can really hash out details and understand one another. There’s no one right way and I aim the best flexible for you.
This felt like a good overview of the custom illustration and pricing process. I’d love to hear from you if there are more questions so don’t hesitate to reach out through my form or my email!
Thanks for reading xx
when we were wolves
One year ago, the Potenza family transformed into wolves for halloween. I think my look was more fox like but for the sake of cohesion, we’ll go with wolves.
One year ago, the Potenza family transformed into wolves for halloween. I think my look was more fox like but for the sake of cohesion, we’ll go with wolves. What I did was research wolf (and fox) makeup on Pinterest, bought a very cheap fur vest, made little felt ears, sewed some craft fur into one of John’s flannels, and a few other details and then decked us out. It literally took 3 hours to get ready. Nothing is done lightly in this house. We then headed to the woods where we utilized that handy self timer and snapped away. Did people pass by on their hike and give us funny looks? They sure did. But you know what, who cares. We just growled at them until they ran away. Lol no we did not do that but it would have been very fun.
Below is a recap of that glorious photo shoot and maybe some ideas for your own family halloween costumes? Really if you just get the most basic requirements and add them to clothes you already own, you’re much better off than building a costume from the ground up. Way too overwhelming. Leggings and plain shirts can become anything. And have fun with the details! I did a search the other day for animal ears on amazon and there are quite a few. Shop small guys but when in a pinch, amazon all the way. #realist
our first airplane family vacation
Guys, vacation is bliss. Preparing for vacation however, mayhem.
Guys, vacation is bliss. Preparing for vacation however, mayhem. Granted we booked our trip 12 days before departure. But still. I’m just not a fan of booking trips far in advance, especially as a business owner and parent, anything can happen in like an hour nonetheless weeks and months. Better to book it right before you see your window of opportunity to abandon all responsibilities for awhile, ensuring you can actually relax and enjoy the vacation instead of thinking about all that there is to do when you get back. And that’s my mind set. And a very long sentence.
Now let’s talk about the resort we stayed at, Baha Mar, in the Bahamas. What a beautiful place. It’s made up of three hotels – the Grand Hyatt, the SLS and The Rosewood. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt which seems to be the hub of the resort. It is the middle hotel, connecting to the SLS on one side and the Rosewood on the other, with a giant casino on the first floor. You never have to leave the hotel to get from one to either of the others. All three locations encompass the resort which is filled with pools, food trucks, huts, beautiful foliage and more. And of course they all lead up to the gorgeous beach.
As a family with a toddler who can explode at any given moment (both me and Logan, let’s be real) I was nervous upon arrival. Lots of stress about food and amenities for my son, who loves to eat but can be very particular. I was slightly freaking out about not having my kitchen and normal routine of roasting sweet potatoes, making scrambled eggs and getting meatballs from our local restaurants. So food was definitely one of the first things I needed to explore after checking in.
First things first, most of the restaurants book up really quickly, so it helps to make reservations on opentable before you arrive or the morning of for some. Everyday was different but for the most part we could make our reservations in the morning for a dinner as early as 5:30pm. Below I’ll list our favorites and a link to all the dining offered in the entire resort.
Also note, this resort is extremely pricey. The food is twice as much as what we would pay here (a bottle of Fiji water was $7, a slice of pizza was $7.50 and a Caesar salad for two was $29 – yikes, I know) You definitely have to come prepared and have to be a lover of food.
Costa {< click to view menu}- This incredible spanish restaurant is located outside of The Rosewood. I’ll admit we had a good laugh finding our way there because it’s probably the only place that was difficult to get to. But once we did we were like oh okay. Gorgeous. Set on top of coy fish ponds, all different floating lounges with a super tranquil vibe. Logan ate French fries for dinner this night BUT WE had the most delicious spanish food ever. The tortitas de papas are a must along with the ceviche and the chicken tacos which are kind of like a crispy enchilada. Their cocktails are also fantastic. Five stars.
Fi’lia {< click to view menu}- This Italian restaurant is located right in the heart of the Grand Hatts main floor with easy access. They have delicious meatballs that Logan had twice for dinner. Indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating was ideal for our hyperactive son who midway through the meal decided he wanted to go for a run so we easily took turns chasing him around right outside the patio without having to really leave the restaurant. This is clearly a “parents of toddlers” exclusive story. But for everyone else, the food here is delicious. The Italian salad was ridiculous, they prepare the Caesar salad dressing on the spot and I thoroughly enjoyed my Cabernet.
Cleo {< click to view menu}- a mediteranean restaurant with a stellar reputation but we unfortunately did not make it in here because it was very booked the whole week. It’s located in the lobby of the SLS. The lobby is also known as the Sky Bar which looked chic and lovely but not toddler friendly.
Pizza lab {< click to view menu}- Located in the Grand Hyatt, right below a Starbucks which was convenient for grabbing milk after Logan ate his lunch here, every day. Suffice to say he’s taking a week or two off of pizza now that we’re home. They also have meatballs and other kid friendly meals!
Cafe Madeleine {< click to view menu}- a coffee / pastry shop which I LOVE and basically live for. While I was adjusting to vacation mode with my toddler, I would leave the pool and let John take a break (after being a superstar playmate in the pool), and push Logan in the stroller, up from the pool to this cafe for a coffee and a pastry while he napped. We also ate breakfast here a few mornings and the quiche is divine. They sell little bottles of wine here and the counter stays open until 9. Great spot for parents to grab a treat and/or a bottle, to bring up to the room for after you get your baby to bed. We however, were so exhausted we did fall asleep shortly after Logan most nights but it was still a nice option to have. We just chose to catch up on sleep instead of having romance this time around.
Regatta buffet – again, insanely expensive buffet but a great variety of food to choose from. Plus, by day two I got savvy and brought empty Tupperware’s to fill with fruit and some snacks to have by the pool for Logan later on. I don’t think anyone saw me but I also can’t see them minding. Also, Logan had his first hard boiled egg here and that’s exciting because he liked it and I finally could relax knowing he had some form of protein in his body. And then we ate pizza again and all was right in the world.
Scoops – Ice cream shack on the beach! This was lunch for Logan one day, ok fine maybe two. And I didn’t hate it myself.
The pools. There are so many. They all have different layouts, sizes and feels. We of course, went for the giant family pool with a fish tank under a cave and a waterfall and lots of shallow areas for kids to wade into the water without fear of them plummeting to the bottom. It was absolutely perfect. John went down around 7:30am to save us chairs and we got to the pool around 9 and that was the rest of the day. We alternated grabbing a lunch or a drink at one of the trucks nearby so everyone wins. One of my favorite trucks was El Jefe serving tacos and a beverage called the Blue Coconut that was my pool drink of choice for all five days. I also indulged in a couple poke bowls and I still don’t understand why there’s not one right outside my house at this very moment. Real life is mean.
My favorite part of the trip was after dinner when everyone was fed and done being taken care of for the most part and we could just aimlessly walk around and chase Logan as he happily ran through the resort. It was so peaceful and silly and exactly what he wanted to do and we didn’t have to stop him or figure out a way to make him be quiet or sit still. Going on a family vacation is really about the kids and it’s a blessing if you can find a few moments in there for yourselves. Giving your partner a chance to have alone time two or three times throughout your trip is really healthy for you both and I highly recommend that.
Toddler ready travel necessities:
Umbrella stroller. Ours is not great so I won’t link it here but basically anything that’s light enough to throw around but durable enough to hold your kid, allow them to comfortably nap in it and maybe hang some bags off of and has underneath storage space. We gate checked it which was super easy.
Cosco brand carseat { < click to view ours} for the plane. For Logan, this was totally necessary in order to keep him in his seat for the duration of the plane ride.
Snacks for the plane ride. I prepped little baggies and containers with Logan’s favorite go to snacks and we bought drinks in the airport. Best to keep it simple and bring instead of buy there to save money!
iPad with purchased movies. We bought four movies and were able to access them through the Apple TV app on the iPad when we didn’t not have service. Also, Disney+ does not work in the Bahamas which is very funny because now we all of a sudden cannot live without it. So I was really glad that we had our go to’s purchased in the app to get us through the plane and essentially, all our meals on the island.
Headphones { < click to view ours}- We brought these headphones but Logan did not want to wear them. John suggested we could have put them on him before our trip to get him used to them but it’s still not guaranteed. Luckily he was okay watching the movies with no sound but another kid could be totally fine wearing these! I put them on and they’re very comfortable.
That about sums up my synopsis on Baha Mar but if you have questions, feel free to message or email me. I’d be happy to share anything helpful! Below are some photos of the resort to give you a full visual.
my postpartum.
I’m going to take a rare opportunity to discuss something with less humor than usual. I’m still going to add my flare of comic relief here and there because where I’m at now, it’s easier to look back on these moments and feel lighter. That’s why it’s so important to keep pushing forward no matter how hard of a time you’re having. So that you can take that moment to reflect and see how far you’ve come, how much stronger you’ve become and how much braver you are now.
I’m going to take a rare opportunity to discuss something with less humor than usual. I’m still going to add my flare of comic relief here and there because where I’m at now, it’s easier to look back on these moments and feel lighter. That’s why it’s so important to keep pushing forward no matter how hard of a time you’re having. So that you can take that moment to reflect and see how far you’ve come, how much stronger you’ve become and how much braver you are now. We are all just doing our best. Repeat that to yourself DAILY as a reminder. We are human beings. Fragile, emotional, unsure and confused most of the time. But waking up everyday and trying to achieve something. That ‘something’ is different for all of us. For some it might be making it to that next vacation. For others it might be growing your own business (ok, that’s mine, surprise!) Maybe you want to have a family and cook dinner every night for the ones you love. All of these things are reasons to stay here on this planet until you absolutely cannot anymore at the ripe age of 110. And then I’ll see you all in the land of the dead where it just gets better! (Coco reference. If you haven’t watched that movie yet, RUN DON’T WALK to netflix.)
Mental health is one of my top priorities for myself and my family. I see my therapist every week and I have straight now since I found out I was pregnant. And before that I have been on and off seeing my therapist since I was 15 years old. I don’t ever plan on stopping now more than ever. Life as an entrepreneuring mother, wife, sister, daughter, niece and friend, is something I take seriously. I aim to put all the thought and care into those relationships and myself, as possible. And I admit I need a little help. Like all the time.
As a highly emotional and independent person, talking to friends and family about my “issues” usually brings me more stress than help. I have healthier relationships and boundaries ever since I stopped sharing all the hard things with them. That’s not to say that I don’t fill them in on what’s happening in my life and when I’m having a struggle. The difference is I no longer rely on them to help me solve them. Less judgement, more laughter, support and love.
While I was pregnant with Logan, I did a lot of research on postpartum depression. Knowing how emotional I was/am, how young I was and how unfamiliar with babies and children I was, I thought this would help prepare me. What I didn’t know was nothing could prepare my naivety for how different my life would actually be as a new mom and also, a forever mom.
I literally came home from the hospital after giving birth, which was fine and healthy and normal by the way. No birth horror stories here. I did faint in the shower at the hospital but that is simply because I am crazy. Quick synopsis, I genuinely was just terrified that if I moved the wrong way my entire vagina would rip open and I would die. Like I said, crazy. Ok that will be the last time I use the word “vagina,” promise. In THIS post, promise.
So I get home from the hospital, I’m sore and tired and feeling weird. John and I greet our cats who I haven’t seen in three days. My family came by to help us get settled. And all the while I’m not looking forward to sitting and cuddling my brand new baby. I’m thinking about all the things I want to work on in my studio and wondering when I will be in less pain to comfortably sit in a chair and do so. This, incase you’re unaware, is the wrong behavior and thought process. It’s lovely to be excited to continue working and feeling like yourself again. But it is unhealthy not to give yourself at least 3 weeks of maternity leave to literally sleep, feed yourself and the baby, watch tv and learn how to breastfeed, if you so choose. I could have asked for help from my family. Come over, hold my baby and let me sleep since my entire body just experienced a trauma. But no. I decided I was supposed to do it all myself in order to become a capable mother. Big mistake. One that I have now learned from and was so completely blind to at the time, no one could have convinced me otherwise. It’s okay though. I forgive myself because some people need to learn the hard way. But as long as we learn, that’s all that matters. And as long as we stay here on the planet, trying. I can’t emphasize that enough. If you feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, to any degree at all, find help. It is all around. Someone you know, knows a great therapist and once you take that leap, you will never look back. Except to reflect on how far you’ve come, duh.
Back to post partum. The entire first year with Logan in our lives, I had no childcare and I continued trying to work the same amount of hours as I had before I had a baby. This. Is. Insane. I was feeling, guilty, angry, depressed, anxious, confused and like a failure pretty much everyday. I was resentful of my husband for getting to go and work and be alone and do his thing just like before we had a baby. I was getting sick constantly because I gave myself no grace and allowed myself no time to breathe and rest. It took me an entire year WITH therapy to get my shit together. After Logan turned 1, I told John we needed to create a weekly schedule so that I could have balance. We found a daycare 2 days a week and my grandparents commited to one day a week to watch Logan. I now have 3 full days to just work and be Stephanie. Business Stephanie. Creative Stephanie. Drink coffee while it’s still hot, Stephanie. Frown if I want and no one is looking at me, Stephanie. Put a show on in the background and not worry it’s melting my sons brain, Stephanie. I could go on but I think you get it. Especially if you’re a parent YOU GET IT. I love my son more than anyone and he makes me smile and feel genuine happiness when I’m with him. But I feel those feelings and absorb those moments so much more now that I know every week I can just be me on set days. Recharge my batteries, schedule in my responsibilities, take a nap if I feel I need one (this doesn’t happen often but I should work on it). Eat a ton of cookies for lunch if I fancy. It’s healthy and it’s necessary.
I did not like my life for that first year. I had a lot of happy moments. I bonded with my son and we spent lots of time together, which I cherish. I grew more than I ever knew I would or even needed to. I learned how to make baby food and cook healthy meals. I shopped for adorable baby outfits and shoes and smiled. I made strides in my business. I exhibited at my first big tradeshow and it was a success. But I did not like my life. I felt like I was getting the short end of the stick and it was because I didn’t make the necessary changes for myself that went along with the change that was thrust upon me the second Logan entered the world.
My postpartum depression was not the kind where I didn’t want to be near my baby. It was the kind where I continued to over sacrifice, trying to be “perfect” and “happy” all the time but actually just felt anxious and angry. I have been feeling better, like Stephanie again, since about April of this year. That’s not even very long ago. But all of the memories and feelings from above that I described feel like a lifetime ago. I am sure when I have another baby I’ll make some mistakes and the adjustments will be difficult but thankfully I know better now. I won’t be afraid that my life will never be balanced. I will be prepared to readjust and ask for more help.
If you’re feeling down whether you had a baby or not, reach out to anyone you know who can help you find the right help. And if you know someone who has been down, had a baby, is starting a business, is struggling with some facet of their life at all, be kind. Offer to bring them a meal. Offer an ear to listen and offer the knowledge that we all need a professional from time to time. Or every week forever, like yours truly. We are all doing our best.
Thanks for reading, xx