Why does mulch smell so good?!
#michigangardener #cedarmulch #gardeninglove
Being a mom is the greatest gift. ❤️ I have three children here and one child in heaven. One child we lost through miscarriage and one child we gained through adoption.
Being a mom to a child born to another brings so many feelings. It is filled with privilege, tragedy, grief, and hope.
Today and everyday I recognize the complexities of adoption. I am truly honored to get to raise this little angel and I know her heart may someday yearn to know more about where she’s from. And when that day comes, we look forward to walking down that path together. 🤍
#adoptionjourney #downsyndromeadoption #indiaadoption #mothersday
‼️SAVE THIS FOR LATER‼️My kids love summer rolls so we started making them at home! These are inexpensive, can be made-to-order (#momlife 😆) and are delicious.
INGREDIENTS
• rice paper sheets
• vermicelli noodles
• avocado
• cucumber
• cabbage or lettuce (or both)
• carrots
• tofu
(You can add things like mint leaves, basil, sesame seeds etc, but I typically keep them “plain” for the kids!)
INSTRUCTIONS
• cut up the veggies into long skinny pieces
• cook vermicelli according to package
• soak rice paper and assemble quickly in any combination you desire.
• EAT and ENJOY!
Dip in a store bought or homemade peanut sauce!
➡️ What would you put in your summer rolls?
#veganeats #veganfood #recipes #summerroll #summerrolls #whatveganseat #whatvegankidseat #plantbasedrecipe #veganmom
I’m not perfect when it comes to sustainable choices but when I find things I love, making a sustainable choice is easy! I tried @humblebrands a few years ago (and fell in love) but now they offer these paperboard packages which I can 100% get behind!
Try Humble for yourself for 15% off with the code MeganZ15 and make an earth-conscious purchase this #earthmonth! 🌎
#humblebrandspartner #NothingBad #SimpleIngredients #AluminumFree #SimpleAndTrue #CrueltyFree
Some I love and some I don’t think are worth the hype. 🤷🏼♀️ My top two faves (especially in this freezing weather!) is the undaria body butter and collagen dream night cream! Both are miracle workers for 0 degree weather.
I’m placing a new order soon because the items I love are AMAZING. 🌊 Shop their entire skincare line for 10% off with my code RPBM10. Have you tried OSEA yet??
#oseapartner #skincareroutine #momskincaretips #veganskincareproducts
“You look so tired.” 🥱
👆🏼A comment I receive both in person and online more often than I would like to admit. And to be honest, I AM tired. As a mom of three who works full time plus has a hobby in social media marketing (this page and one other), blogging, and more, I do alot and forget to take care of myself.
2024 is for building a better wellness routine which includes skincare morning AND night, more water, regular movement, and better sleep. Most I have under control - but skincare…that’s always been a hard one for me.
💭 When I learned about @oseamalibu’s Collagen Dream Night Cream, after falling in love with their other products, it was an obvious “yes” from me!
With key ingredients and benefits like
- Clean, vegan, climate neutral+ocean positive product 🌎
- Bio-retinol from blue-green microalgae 🌱
- Wild Lavender to help increase hydration and gives a beautiful scent
- Softer, smoother, more hydrated skin overnight 🌙
- Hydrating, fades lines and wrinkles, and increases firmness
It’s the first night cream clinically proven to reduce the effects of S T R E S S on skin 😮 (yes please!)
If clean ingredients are important to you,
If you are ready to show less stress on your face,
If you are ready to turn “you look tired” into “you look amazing!”
✨Then give OSEA’s Collagen Deam Night Cream a try. Enter the code RPBM10 for 10% off your order. ✨
Join me and thousands of other moms all over the world who are prioritizing their wellness this year so we can show up for our kids and feel our absolute best. Happy New Year, friends!
#OSEApartner #wellnessroutine #busymomlife #skincareroutine
This is going to be a good year. ☺️ What is one item on your in and out list?! #newyear #2024 #intentionalparenting
INCLUSION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
Ami practiced her songs (all 5 of them!) with her classmates for weeks and I was worried she would do everything but participate. Boy was I wrong!
She not only stood up there on her spot (with very little teacher help), she participated in all the songs, AND didn’t bug her neighbor friends (too much 😆).
We don’t know if she’ll always be in class with her neurotypical peers but this year, her first year in school after being adopted in Oct 2022, has been an absolute blessing!
She’s going to do big things in this world. 🥹❤️
#inclusionmatters #theluckyfew #downsyndromeadoption
🤍 What are your hopes for 2024?
#selflove #my35thyear #hopeforthefuture
I can 100% relate! ☕️ Coffee gives me allll the warm and fuzzies especially when it’s 24 degrees out.
*She did this totally on her own multiple times in a row….and then I had to capture it on camera 😆
#coffeelover #downsyndromelove #coffeelife
As much as these myths make me cringe, they can spark really good conversations about adoption.
❌ Myth 1: You should only adopt from your own country.
❤️Fact: Children all over the world need families and we should all care for one another. If you feel strongly that your child lives in a country other than yours, that’s okay! But if you plan to adopt from another country, please learn about their culture and let that remain a part of their lives. Culture and heritage is so important so learn as much and share with them as much as possible.
❌ Myth 2: You should only adopt a child of your own race.
❤️Fact: Family is family and no matter your race or ethnicity, you CAN be a solid and incredible family for your child. Like mentioned in the myth above, it’s important to learn about your child’s ethnicity and background. It’s also important that your child is represented in your community so if you adopt a child of a different race, find a community to be part of where they can see their beauty reflected there.
❌ Myth 3: You shouldn’t talk about the cost of adoption.
❤️Fact: I get it. People hate the money talk. But without having these conversations, we won’t have a good understanding of what to expect or how to move forward financially. Remember that the fees associated with adoption are for paperwork, the people processing the papers, etc. It does not pay for the child. *cringe*
❌ Myth 4: We should have left our child in the orphanage in her own country because she would be better off there.
❤️Fact: um…. no. No child is better off in an orphanage than with a loving family. EVERYONE goes through trauma and grief, and adoption has a huge piece of that. But as our daughter’s parents, we can provide her with the services, love, support, and everything else she needs to process those feelings. Because even with those feelings, she’s better off here, feeling loved and cared for daily, than in an orphanage without a mom and
I’m so grateful for this little life we’ve built ❤️🥰 #thankful #thislittlelifeofmine
REPRESENTATION MATTERS. ❤️ Ami (pronounced “Ah-me”, not Amy 🙂) doesn’t show a ton of interest in toys or anything cuddly but this plush from Modi Toys is a different story. She loves pointing out her bindi and crown and the music makes her so happy! We try to incorporate her Indian roots at much as possible and Modi Toys honestly makes it so easy.
If you have a little one with Indian roots, check out Modi Toys for the holidays! The other plush mini’s are definitely on Ami’s wishlist. 🎁
Shop Modi Toys: https://bit.ly/ModiToys
#indianroots #affiliatelink #indiaadoption
✈️ Popped on a plane and down to Tampa to check out a fundraising event for work. A few days in my own hotel room, nobody stealing my snacks (hey there @popchips!), and a decent nights sleep was great! But let’s be real, I’m ready to be back with my family. 🫶🏼
#minivlog #popchipstime #travelingmom #vegansnacks
How To Start The International Adoption Process | Part 1 #internationaladoption #adoptionprocess #downsyndromeadoption #indiaadoption
Do you want to adopt internationally? Here’s what to do first!
As we started the process, we called a lot of local agencies to figure out what to do. Each agency asked that we know what country we planned to adopt from first to ensure that they could provide a valid home study prior to getting starting.
So we weighed our options. (If you want the list we made of countries and requirements, let me know)
✨Please note that this process may vary from state to state, or depending on your specific situation! Either way I highly suggest contacting your local adoption agencies as a first step just to be sure you complete things correctly.✨
Once we decided our country, we had to review all the requirements and do a handful of paperwork with the agency to make sure we qualified. From their we started the home study process which consisted of in person interviews, home visits, psych evaluations (for India) and a variety of other pieces of paperwork.
Your home study takes about 3-5 months depending on how fast you can complete the paperwork and get your appointments done. We did ours in about 3 months each time. (Once to be approved for China and once when we switched to India)
Once your home study visits and all the paperwork is complete, you will (hopefully!) get your approved home study!
From there you can continue on with the international adoption process according to the country you plan to adopt from. ❤️
👋🏼 What other questions do you have about international adoption? Keep them coming and I will do my best to answer!
#internationaladoption #adoptionprocess #downsyndromeadoption #indiaadoption
Adoption Q&A - Why Did We Choose To Adopt From India?
#indiaadoption #adoptivemom #adoptionquestions #nationaladoptionmonth
Happy National Adoption Month! Let’s answer your adoption questions. Ask them below and I will do my best to answer them throughout the month. ❤️ #NationalAdoptionMonth #downsyndromeadoption #adoptionjourney #adoptionquestions
I want to start making Indian food from scratch but with working full time and having 3 kids, it’s not very easy. Thankfully there are some great store bought options we’ve found that even the kids enjoy.
▪️Samosas from Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Foods are our favorite
▪️Tikka masala from Maya Kaimal Foods comes vegan which we LOVE
Added to some basmati rice with chickpeas and some veg, it’s a satiating meal for the whole family!
What meal should I try making next? This was a super easy one but I’m open to things more complicated! (Like homemade Naan! That’s on my to-do list 🤤)
#veganindianfood #eatvegan #plantbasedmom #indianfood
Of the 400,000 children in foster care, approximately 117,000 are waiting to be adopted. (AdoptUSKids) We thought long and hard about this for our family. However, at this season in our life, our daughter was in India.I believe that adoption, no matter where from (international or domestic), is important and beautiful. All children deserve a loving family. All children should be given the opportunity for a long life. All children are worthy. But remember…. You must choose what’s best for YOUR family. ❤️#adoption #internationaladoption #indiaadoption #adoptionjourney #downsyndromeadoption
