Summertime Monochrome

As I'm sure most of you know, I L-O-V-E monochrome! It literally just makes my heart smile! I feel like its so modern and timeless but edgy all at the same time! As a matter of fact, our *new* master bedroom will be monochrome too, I'm so excited! So needless to say, I love a little black and white when it comes to my sons wardrobe. OK, maybe a lot of black and white..

Today, I'll share an adorable summertime outfit featuring my FAVE color scheme and the most adorable little model.

Told you he's the most adorable little model! I've mentioned before how much I adore Little Adi Co.'s Bummies, we literally have 6 pairs! I can't pick a favorite but the black and white striped pair is super cute! So lightweight too! And this tank?! I ACTUALLY WON THIS TANK! Yup, Greyham NYC was doing a $50 giveaway on their IG page and I decided to play along and I actually freakin' won! I was so excited and besides myself! I ordered 2 of their tanks! I'll have an OOTD with the other tank sometime soon! and last. but not least, the beanie. I've always loved beanies from Beau Hudson, but i recently discovered NOXX and holy moly I'm in LOVE! I think my favorite part about their beanies (at least the ones I bought) is that they are super duper lightweight! I think they are perfect for the summertime! Actually, year round for California! Anyways, Hope you like his 'fit! Pretty fresh if you ask me! But hey, I'm biased!

Beanie: NOXX
Tank: Greyham NYC
Bummies: Little Adi Co.
Shoes: Converse
Sunglasses: FJs Popshop


Happy Sunday!

A Healthy Breakfast

I'll be the first to admit it: I have struggled with my weight my whole life. I think its because, at the time, my parents and family didn't know any better. I don't think anyone knew any better. Nutrition wasn't as important back then as it is today. I feel like because eating nutritious, healthy ingredients weren't a priority for my family when it came to meal time, My "eating foundation" started off pretty shaky. Processed food, sugars and foods high in fat were a staple in my diet growing up. Because I was a picky eater, it was easy to just fry some chicken nuggets and french fries and call it a day or pop a frozen pizza in the oven and have that for lunch and dinner. Please hear me, there is no judgement here. I understand that we, as parents, get very busy and sometimes we have no choice but to resort to whats "easy", all I'm saying is that I have struggled with eating healthy and I believe my eating foundation contributed to this. So knowing what I know now about nutrition and how important it is to eat healthy, whole foods, I make sure to incorporate them into my sons diet and make all of his food at home. It seems daunting but, really, it's pretty easy. I like simple ingredients and simple meals.

Today, I want to share a super simple pancake recipe that packs a whole lot of nutrition AND tastes amazing!

What you'll need:

1 banana

1 TS Ground Cinnamon

2 Eggs

1 TBS Baby Brain Organics Superfood (you can buy this here)

Side note: I LOVE the BBO Superfood. Its a very fine powder of sprouted flax seed, quinoa, chia seeds and blueberries, all organic! I usually add this to his smoothies, pancakes, and even yogurt! Its Gluten, soy, nut, egg and dairy free! It's amazing to have on hand to add an extra punch of nutrition to any meal! (I've even used some in my own smoothies!)

 First, use a fork to mash up an already soft banana. This was the last of my bunch and it was super ripe so it was easy to mash.

 Next, add your 2 eggs (I like farm fresh eggs, but when those are not available, i'll use free range brown eggs),cinnamon and BBO.

 Your batter should look a little something like this!

And your finished product should look a little something like this...(clearly I'm no master chef. I'm not very good and making perfectly browned and round pancakes, but Cameron doesn't really mind!)

I pureed 2 strawberries, a hand full of blueberries and 1/4 of a banana and poured it on top of the pancakes. Almost like a "syrup"! As you can see, his little hands were quite eager to take a taste!

 It feels so good knowing that I'm feeding my son such healthy, and delicious foods!! He's not a very picky eater and he LOVES a good meal! And when he was finished with his second serving, he said "ahhdaaaa" (all done), we took a few more pictures and then went on to clean up!

Super easy right?! Feel free to comment with some of your favorite healthy recipes! 

Until next time...

Araz & Cam

Feature Friday: Radical Kid Co.

Happy Friday! Today, I'm SUPER excited to share with you a shop that I have followed since they first opened! I remember, Cameron was only couple of months old and some of my fellow IG mom's were posting about this new shop called Radical Kid Co. It peeked my interest, so I decided to check it out. I remember seeing this super cute distressed denim vest and I fell in  love with it! It was totally unisex (most that I had seen before favored on the "girly" side) which I was super happy about! I waited until Cameron could sit up before I placed an order for it. Trust me, I wanted it sooner, LOL, but I wanted it to look right! Either way, when I finally got it in the mail I was besides myself! It was SO. MUCH. BETTER. IN. PERSON! Even my husband was impressed (which doesn't happen often!)

Vest: Radical Kid Co.

Tee: Ozzie + Olive

Beanie: Beau Hudson

Pants: Two Little Kings

 Needless to say, I have ordered more items from Radical Kid Co and have been more than happy with my purchases! Quality, Originality and Style are a few of the the traits I love about this shop, so I was STOKED to feature them today! Heres a little Q&A with Keaira, who by the way has the most ADORABLE little boy AND another on the way!

How did you come up with your brand/shop name?

 My son, he's my wild and rad kid.

 How long have you been in business?

It was 6 months on April 20th!

What’s your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

Being able to make time for family. Having that freedom to make my hours so that I can be a wife and mother and still make money is very important to me. My son is only getting older and I never want to miss a moment. Plus it's cool being a girl boss!

What was the first item that you created and sold?

The first items I started to sell were infinity scarves. My first one I sold was a red plaid one.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now? The vest. All of them, but especially the original one. That was the first kind of vest I made for my son the summer before I decided to open a shop.

Where do you draw your inspiration from? I sound repetitive, but seriously it's all from my son. His personality really is a huge influence. Also, I like to go outside. I like to look at what people are wearing. Trends change so much so it's important to me that I stay on top of what people will actually wear and buy.

What are some of your favorite shops?

Zara, h&m, gap, and nextdirect. I have a huge list of Instagram shops because honestly I shop on Instagram more than any other place, but it's too many to name and I'll feel bad if I leave someone out.

Any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Just do it. My friend Jenn over at Lazy Sunday Kids convinced me to just do it. I was so nervous, I was doubtful, I was questioning my abilities and she's really the one who gave me the push. If they like it, great and if not, atleast you can say you did it. It's all a learning process. Everyday I'm learning new things and asking my fellow shops advice because I honestly want longevity and I want to be the best. At the same time I want to remain humble, grateful, and always thankful. No matter how many followers or orders I sell in a week, I would never have any of it without God and the people who support me.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what are 3 things you couldn’t live without?

My son, my phone, and my body pillow, because that's the only way I can get a good nights sleep!

Share a fun fact about you!

I'm extremely flexible, so much so as a child I was in gymnastics and really wanted to be a contortionist cirque du soleil!

Radical Kid Co.

Here's some pics of Cam in this LEGIT (pun intended) Tee from the shop!  

Tee: Radical Kid Co.

Jeans: H&M

Hat: Slyfox Threads

Btw..As an incentive for visiting the blog, she has offered you 20%OFF!!! Use code: THANKYOU20 at checkout!! 

 

Stay rad my friends!

Araz

Cameron's new bedroom, and why we've been MIA for a month!

Hello!!

So, I just checked...it's been ONE.WHOLE.MONTH since I posted! I knew I was busy, but dang, I didn't realize that much time had gone by! A little bit about whats been going on in our world...we sold our house and bought a new one. Anyone who has done either of these things know how stressful it can be..but selling AND buying, at the same time..no one could have prepared me for! Add a 9 month old and 2 dogs in the mix..it got crazy! Things are finally settling down a bit, most of the boxes have been unpacked and it's looking more like a home, and less like a construction zone in here! 

Here we are, super-duper exhausted after a LONG day of moving..yay us!

 With a new house, comes new decor, right? I know I'm not the only crazy one who likes to change things up all of the time (my poor husband gets to deal with my ever changing style!). Either way, I saw this as a great opportunity to spruce up Cameron's room. Hes less baby, more mini-toddler these days, and I thought his room should reflect that. (No more changing table because he would literally jump off, and bye bye glider.) There are still a few more things I want to do, but I thought I would share what we've done so far! Hope you like it!! Cam seems to!

I found these adorable baskets at Home Goods for toy storage! I love them because I can just throw all of his toys in there but Cameron has access too!

These bookshelves are actually SPICE RACKS from IKEA! I found the idea on Pinterest and thought they were SO cute!

I bought these super cute adventure theme decorations at Hobby Lobby!

Other than his crib and rug, this was the only thing I kept from his Nursery. They are actually cardboard letters that I painted.

I'm pretty sure this is my favorite part of Cam's room! This teepee from The Land of Nod is PERFECTION! I can only imagine as he grows how much fun he will have in there! He can read, play and nap in there. I absolutely LOVE it and I think it completes the room!

I think he loves it too! He crawled in there as soon as he saw it!

Hope you guys like his room! I know I do! If you have any questions, leave a comment! 

Xoxo,

Araz and Cam

Feature Friday: Ozzie + Olive

Its FRIDAY! YAY!! Things have been a bit quiet here at 2scoops, in case you haven't noticed. Ive been working hard on a few things. 1) We're moving. Hectic enough as it is, and add an 8 month old to the mix. This mommas going half crazy. 2) I've been working on some awesome collaborations for you guys so stay tuned...

I want to do a SHOP FEATURE every other Friday. That is the goal, and so far, I'm 2 for 2 with this post! WOOHOO! This weeks Shop Feature is Ozzie+Olive! I came across this little shop on Instagram from one of the moms I follow! As soon as I saw their feed, I knew this was a shop I would be purchasing from, and so I did. And wow, was I impressed! First of all, the packaging was SO cute! (like a little present!) The way they have branded themselves is awesome! The quality of the shirts I ordered were superb. The labels, the hang tags, all of it! Very professional. I first fell in love with the BLACKOUT series! Something about the black on black had me <3

(You can get the above outfits details HERE!)



My husband, LOVED the LEGEND BLUE series...

Shirt: Ozzie+Olive
Vest: Radical Kid Co.
Pants: Two Little Kings
Beanie: Beau Hudson
Shoes: Adidas

....and so I surprised him and ordered matching DADDY and SON Tees!

HOW freakin cute are these two? *SWOOOOOOOOOOOOON*

Anyways, I asked Kathryn to answer a few questions just so I (and you guys) can get to know her better! Based on her answers, I'm pretty sure we could be BFF's!

How did you come up with your brand/shop name?

Ozzie + Olive are awesome, not so common kids names that I have always loved. Although I only have one child so far, my brand is meant for both boys and girls, so what better name to represent my brand! 

How long have you been in business?

I created an Instagram account a little over a year ago, just to sell my son's clothes like many other mamas on IG b|c he was and still is growing like a weed. Ozzie + Olive organically evolved into a brand over the past year.

What's your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?

I'd have to say, all of the love and support I have received from mamas (& papas) that love my brand. It makes my day every time I get tagged in a photo or left a comment saying how much they love their tees/camos. It's an amazing feeling that with so many awesome brands out there to choose from, O+O is in family photos! That means the world to me! These are photos families will have forever and I am beyond honored to be apart that.

What was the first item that you created/sold?

Before the camos, there were O+O Originals! Originals are extremely comfortable, similar to MC Hammer lounge pants & one of a kind because every pair is made from recycled clothing. 

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

That's hard! I'll pick 2! First, CamoCargos for sure! We have so many pairs of our own b|c I'm so in love with them. Second, the Please&Thankyou Raglan/Tee. My absolute favorite & definitely the most worn by us.

Edit: PS-there's a third favorite too! The TODDLER TOTE! Coming soon! 

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

My son is the root of all inspiration. Definitely a cool kid without even trying to be. Sometimes I just look at him and the things he does and a lightbulb comes on! hahaha He's awesome. I enjoy dressing him in a way that matches his personality.

What are some of your favorite shops?

Hmmm, I have so many! Although we mostly wear O+O, I love supporting small businesses. I'd shop small any day over the big box stores b|c I'd much rather support a home, and help a family put food on the table, than add to the wealth of a major retailer.

My last three purchases are from Classymamadesigns, PaintedT & PassiveJuiceMotel, but I purchase from a lot of shops so I could go on and on! & I buy from other mamas on IG too! hahaha! With a kid growing at the speed of light, I don't mind shopping or swapping 2nd hand here and there :)

Any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?

Whatever you do, provide great customer service. I think that's just important in business in general. I stretch myself so thin. Of course I am a mother first, and he takes up 90% of my time, so after I put him to bed each night, I stay up to fulfill my obligations to O+O. Although sometimes some slip through the cracks, I try to make sure I reply to every email, comment, DM (Direct Message), & tagged photo b|c EVERY one is important to me. I want my customers to know that I appreciate each of them, and really do try my best to express my appreciation. Customer service will take your business a long way & I Love when I read comments about how connected I am to my customers. Its important. Each order you receive should be equally as important and appreciated just as much as the next b|c one day, you may have none.

Share a fun fact about?

I'm an HGTV nerd. I make dream boards for everything, including inspiration pieces to give Genevieve Gorder (b|c yes! I plan to hire her to decorate my entire home after I win the lotto). I'm a dreamer, what can I say!

I was super excited when Kathryn agreed to let me feature her shop! Not only are the "DOPE" Tee's, well, DOPE, but her R&G Collection was AMAZING! Respect and Gratitude//Black Heritage Month! Not sure IF she will be offering that collection again, but I sure hope she does! Amazing Tee's of some VERY influential people done SO tastefully! LOVE!

Amazing right?! As a THANK YOU for reading and following, Ozzie+Olive is offering FREE SHIPPING! TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY!!! CODE is ThankYou2Scoops

Hope you enjoyed!! 

xoxo

DIY Easter Photo Shoot

If you're anything like me, you LOVE having pictures of your kids..BUT..you don't love the price tag of hiring a professional photographer to capture every "first ____" or every "holiday", By no means am I anything even close to being a professional photographer, but I have a pretty good DSLR camera and i'm slowly learning how to use it. So, with that said, Cameron and I have mini photo shoots almost on a daily basis. He enjoys having his picture taken, I think, and I enjoy learning to use my camera and staging and styling different looks. 

With Easter upon us, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to have an Easter themed DIY photo shoot. It was pretty simple and easy..Here's what you need:

1. Cute, happy baby. CHECK.

2. Easter basket with some easter eggs. CHECK.

3. Adorable jeans with suspenders from H&M. CHECK.

4. Bunny tail.CHECK.

5. Lots of grass. CHECK.

I just set up the basket, the baby, and (of corse) his favorite stuffed animal on the grass in my back yard and let everything just happen organically. He had fun discovering the eggs and I had fun snapping away....

 

Hope you liked these pics!!

-Araz