WHERE TO BUY CUTE CLOTHES FOR KIDS

April 16, 2019
I didn't realize this would be such a popular topic request from you guys but I am more than happy to share where I buy my kids clothes because truly it's one of my favorite things to do. So we are traveling every month for the next 3 months and honestly one of my favorite things to do as we get ready for vacations with the kids is putting their outfits together. I have to be honest, I do have a much easier time buying things for Emme than I do for Ben, there is just endless amounts of options for little girls.

My one rule though, is that I don't splurge unless I know they are going to get a lot of use of a piece, think jeans, jackets, sneakers. For the most part, I shop super affordable stores and the full advantage of the mid year and of of year sales... hello Zara sales, besties for life!
Alright alright, let's get to the good stuff! So what are my top children's clothing stores? Here all the pros and cons in my experience.

H&M

Pros: I find H&M to have the best variety and quality of clothes for a super affordable price. I've been dressing my kids with H&M clothes since they were born. One of my favorite things to but there are  sweat pants and sweatshirts for both of the kids. I love the quality and wash after wash they don't shrink and last for a long time. Boys jeans are my weakness at H&M, I don't find any other store to have the fit that the boys jeans have here. I love that they are always up to date with the latest coolest styles and the shoes are to die for!

Cons: Depending on what location you shop in, you get different options, I have a preferred H&M I love but it's in a mall that I don't love so much lol but I make the trip just for that H&M. I also don't have too much luck shopping online, I find the website a little overwhelming, that can be just me though, so take that with a grain of salt. I honestly don't have too many valid cons for shopping at H&M.

OLD NAVY

Pros: They have super cute clothes for toddlers... I have to be honest I am finding it harder to shop there for Ben since he is a little older now but I am still really happy with the clothes for Emme's age. One thing I love about the girl's clothes at Old Navy is that they have #mommyandme sets... and I love that! Their shoes are also adorable and I always find them to last pretty long. Hello summer sandals for $5!

Cons: I love Old Navy but my tip is to shop online! I find that online always has the best sales as oppose to every time I visit the store, a lot of items cost more at the actual store and I rather save  few bucks. I literally just placed an order yesterday with 40% off my purchase (online only sale) and can't wait to get the package. Another thing I don't love is the jeans, I find them too wide or too baggy for my taste. Oh and big tip, Old Navy runs big, even for adults, so keep that in mind.

ZARA

Pros: Zara has super fashionable pieces for both boys and girls and I can always find a cute outfit no matter what occasion I need it for. Zara kids' shoes are to die for, I literally want Emme's shoes in my size every single time. Yes, Zara can get expensive special for pieces that you are not going to get too much use from but I always take full advantage of the sales. I've purchased pieces for as low as $3.99 at Zara and the best pants for even $12.99 for Emme during this year's winter sale. So make sure you know when to shop!

Cons: Zara is expensive and the older your kid is the more you are paying for them jeans. My tip is to be smart about what you get at Zara. If it's a trendy piece more than likely  I am not getting it there but I have bought almost every single coat for Ben and Emme at Zara. They are great quality and have a variety of prices. So while it does get expensive you can always find something to fit your budget depending on when you shop.

TARGET


Pros: I love that Target has a big variety of clothes for the kids and Cat & Jack is my favorite brand there, actually I love Art Class too. I find Art Class to have such cute pieces for super cheap. Over the weekend while prepping for this week's trip I got Emme dresses for $9.99 and $12.99 and I love them, amazing quality too! You truly can never go wrong with Target clothes for kids.


Cons: Ok, Target, I love thee for many reasons but it irks the ish out of me when I go online and you have the items listed on the website, I fall in love and it is not available anywhere! You get my hopes up and nothing, it's not available for shipping or pick up, so please remove unavailable items that are never coming back, please? Folks, may be the only con I have about Target and their kids' clothes.
Ben's tee: Deux par Deux Kids | Emme's jumpsuit: Stylin' Sophie Shop 

Besides the big retailers, I love shopping for the kids on little small business boutiques too! Most of them I've found on IG via other moms I follow on there. Some of them are Stylin' Sophie, DeuxParDeux and PepperKids.

Ok, gotta go eat dinner now... I am finishing this post up from a local kids indoor playground and the kids are nice and sweaty and they've released all their energy now, giving me enough time to finish this and post it for you guys! Remember, when there is a will, there's a way.

Have a sweet and blessed week!
Xo,
Erika
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MOMMY AND ME | HAIR CARE ESSENTIALS

April 12, 2019
Emme and I have been blessed with a thick full mane of hair, we credit that to genetics as my mom has gorgeous thick hair. Both of my kids were born with full heads of hair and to this day their hair grows at speedy rates. Besides genes, we do a pretty good job at taking care of our locks. For today's post I am sharing our hair essentials because maintenance is key.

 We will start with Emme's favorite products...let's start off by saying that Emme has eczema so I've had to try a few different shampoos to see what works best for her and won't dry her scalp. Over the years we have used everything from Johnson's Baby, Aveeno, Honest and others. But right now we are using Cetaphil Baby Wash and Shampoo with Organic Calendula because during the winter months her scalp was extra dry and this works for her. I wash her hair just twice a week to prevent extra dryness. After shampooing her hair I use Honest Calming Lavender Hypoallergenic Conditioner and then we untangle with Johnson's No More Tangles Hair Detangler and voila!
Now my hair care routine changes over time depending on climate and needs, just like Emme! I also wash my hair just twice a week - thank goodness for whoever invented dry shampoo, I owe them my life. No really, I use it more than I drink water... ok, maybe I am exaggerating a bit but you get the point.

Right now my hair care routine consists of Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal. I've been using it for months now and I really love what it does to my hair, it's shiny and healthy. After I wash my hair I use The Good Stuff Weightless Protection Mist while the hair is damp, I love this mist and have raved numerous times over on Instagram about it. In between washes I use Batiste Dry Shampoo and that's pretty  much my hair care life. Simple! I've tried many dry shampoos and always switch, I owe you guys my "dry shampoo faves" post, coming soon.

I've heard it's always good to switch up your beauty products and I agree. Besides being a blogger and getting to test different products and brands, I think that if you use a product too long it gets too used to your hair or face and won't have the same results, therefore I do change it up every so often but for now this is what Emme and I are using. Now we are off to enjoy this gorgeous day, have a beautiful and blessed weekend! Hope you are having a good hair day!

Xo,
Erika
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10 TIPS ON HOW TO START A BLOG

April 9, 2019
One of the most asked questions I get is How Do I Start a Blog? And sister, the most straight and honest answer I can give you is... just START! One foot in front of the other and start. Listen, I don't believe there is a magic process on how to start blogging, I wholeheartedly believe that if you have a passion for something and you want to make time for it, then you do. Of course there are certain steps and I will share below but most importantly you have to want it and not for the "free" (it's not free we work our asses off for it!) things or the cool events but because you truly love it.
I have to be honest since we are here, I have noticed so many people want to be bloggers and that's awesome, because yes, it's great, there are amazing opportunities and being your own boss is yup, boss af... but if you are doing it for the insta-fame or the "free" stuff, don't do it at all. It does show and you will feel it too. You can't force something that is not there, find what you like, whatever that may be and blog about that. Don't go following trends just because they are cool right now. Do what you love and put all your effort and work into it and it will grow. But you have to be patient and you have to love it. 

But I know you are here for me to give you tips on how to hit that start button, so here are some things that I've learned over the years that I think will help you leap in to this fun world of blogging, ready? Here ya go. 

1. Pick a name! My advice is to go with something general and not narrow yourself down to a specific topic - only because you never know where life may take you. You may start off with fashion but then move on to travel or mommy hood... I say this from experience. I mean, you can always change the name (like I did!) but just a little suggestion:) 

2. Invest in your domain! It looks nicer and much more professional, you can buy your domain for a low annual price at places like godaddy.com. Now that you have your domain purchase, pick a blog host! There are so many hosts now a days, I still use Blogger but eventually do want to migrate to WordPress or SquareSpace, I've heard great things about both. 

3. Register an email! You can use gmail, that's totally ok! I still have mine with gmail and it's perfectly fine;) Or you can buy the email to match your website name on GoDaddy when you purchase the domain. Remember to keep all your contact information cohesive so that it's easy to find you and your business cards look nice and neat.

4. And yup, you know it, get an Instagram account! Again try for it to be cohesive to your blog name and email. Big Tip: Before you buy your domain, check to see if your preferred IG name is available;) trust me, it's happened to me! This blog was supposed to be called just "erikabatista.com" but someone on IG had @erikabatista so I had to settle for @byerikabatista - close enough! Big Tip: Make sure you have your IG profile in order, nothing worse than a profile that doesn't tell me what this account is about and write out your email address on there too! How else are people going to contact you? 

5. Write! Once you have all of these accounts in order, you are going to want to write out the type of content you want to create. Write out at least 3 posts before you announce and launch. You want to have content to show what your blog will be about. Think of what you would want to see on someone's blog. Most importantly when you write... be YOU. Just because everyone is writing about NYFW or Festivals doesn't mean you have to also, unless of course you truly love and enjoy the two, have attended in the past or will attend. Be authentic and organic. 

6. Spell check and review before posting! Trust me, I've been there and there might be typos on this post too but I am here to remind you please triple check your posts. Make sure your sentences make sense. Write out an intro, body and conclusion, lol - I read so many blogs that don't even have an exit sentence. Focus;) 

7. Be consistent! The only way to grow is to consistently create content, here and on IG and YouTube. I know that growth can be slow but trust the process, if you work your ass off, you will get work. Produce and create quality content and photos. Create and write with intent. When you are in a rut, take a moment to regroup. Listen to podcasts, read inspirational books and pray, if this is what you really love, pray that you find your way. Do whatever it takes if you feel in your heart this is what you want to do. I am this dramatic because this is a difficult business, it gets rough and it does get slow but once you hit your mark, things start to happen quickly. You'll get there. 

8. Please your audience! The people who follow you or will follow you, follow you for a reason. They are your audience and they love you, support you and trust you. Create content that you love. Ask your audience what they want to see, create the content that aligns with your life. I ask you guys all the time on IG what you guys want to see on YT and on here. This exact post is a suggestion I got last week for topics to write about and here I am:) I listen to my peeps! 

9. Don't compare! We have all been there but don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle! (Thank you Rachel Hollis for that). I've done it and all it does is make me feel like shit. I have to remind myself that everyone started at 0 and that even if the numbers are slow some days, I have an audience that is loyal and truly enjoys my work and have come to appreciate my kids and my life... and that is truly priceless. Find your purpose. We all have one. 

10. Have fun with it!  What's the point of doing anything if you are not having fun. Sure there are days when I can't seem to think on how to even begin to write a post or even an IG caption, so I stop, take a break and focus again. I love what I do, it has brought me amazing one-in-a-lifetime opportunities I don't take for granted. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Is it fun? Yup, it truly is but you have to do it for the love and passion. There's nothing like connecting with people all around the world that can relate to my wins, my struggles, this mom life, my love for fashion and even my anxiety. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

In case you missed my other tips search "blogging tips" at the top right corner of the main page:) All about what apps I use to edit my photos, how to reach out to brands, ways to invest in your blog and my Instagram tips and tricks. Now go ahead and kick some butt... ready? set, bloom!

xo,
Erika
Blazer: Boohoo | Top, Bag + Jeans: Miss Lola [use code erika30 for a discount] | Shoes: Forever 21

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ARE WE HAVING MORE KIDS? HOW DID DAVE PROPOSE? | Q&A

April 5, 2019
A couple of weeks ago I told you guys we wanted to record a fun Q&A for our YouTube channel and the questions were definitely fun and even a sweet trip down memory lane. The question of the moment was definitely "ARE WE HAVING MORE KIDS?!" - We got this one a lot! If you want to know the answer to this, watch the video below. 

As always, don't forget to give our video a thumbs up and subscribe so we can make more of these videos. We had so much fun with this one and you get to see a very silly side of us and the kids.

Thanks for always supporting what we do and for wanting to know more about us.
Xo,
Erika

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HOW I BALANCE LIFE & KIDS AND MAKE TIME FOR MY HUSBAND

April 4, 2019
It's not the first time I get the question... "how do you balance home life, work and two kids and still make time for your husband?" and the answer isn't that simple actually. It definitely gets hard sometimes but it's totally manageable. You just have to get creative and want to make the time. For me, my husband is top priority and I am his and we like it like that, it works for us. This mentality has helped us preserve our attraction, love and affection for each other for the past 15 years (10 years married).

For us, our time together is essential. Whether we spend time alone at home or going out, we make the time. I know life gets crazy some days and having kids is stressful and very busy but the key is to remind yourself that when the kids are adults and off to make their own lives, the only people left in your home will be the two of you. Are you making sure that you and your spouse still like each other? That you enjoy spending time with each other without the children? That you are more than mom and dad? Have you even thought about that? I've seen in happen in real life and on TV, that once the kids leave the house, so many marriages dissolve... for so many reasons; nothing in common, were just holding off for the kids or simply that the love is no longer there or they no longer even like each other. Possibly because neither party spent the time nourishing the relationship. Relationships are very hard and a constant work in progress. You are two different people making ONE life together. Read that again... it's hard.  
But marriage is like a plant... you have to nourish is and water it and take care of it in order for it to grow. Dave and I are very much on top of keeping each other happy and keeping the flame on and up. Besides respect, love and communication, I personally believe attraction is key. And we both work on all of these constantly because we love each other and enjoy each other. We prioritize our date nights and we make sure that we keep each other on our toes. For example, we take turns planning one special date night a month, the last one I planned was the cooking class. Being completely transparent, there have been many times were I feel that Dave slacks off and doesn't plan something unless I remind him and yes I get annoyed but as soon as I communicate it to him, he plans something for us to do. This is probably one of the things that Dave does that annoys me the most: he's not the planner of this relationship... I am. Yup. I am such a planner and as he says I am really good at it! ::insert eye roll here::

But that doesn't mean we only go out alone once in that month, we take EVERY chance we get to go out; friends' birthdays, dinners, whatever it is, we are there. To be honest, a big part of that is my mother. She is so great to us and is always down to watch the kids. My family is very close to us and they adore our children so they never say no to staying with them, if anything is the complete opposite, they ask me to bring them. So I would say that's the biggest plus. 

If you don't have family around to watch the kids, you still have options girlfriend. Remember more people than not do not have family that live near by and they still make it work. Find a trusty babysitter just for weekends. Outsource as much as you can, even if it's just one night a month, make it work! I feel that most of the time, we simply don't ask. I am such an "asker" (if that's a word?) and honestly one of the reasons I achieve my goals is because I always ASK. Whomever, for whatever I want or need. The worse you can get is a no. Remember, your relationship should be top priority, make it work! Ask your brother, sister, cousin, suegra, bestie, whomever you trust with your kids. 

And if it gets too hard to go out because you have absolutely no one at all... girlfriend, get creative! At home dates are as fun, way less expensive and you can get super creative. Put the kids to bed, order fun or fancy food... open up the bottle of wine and have your date night with your boo, honey! Trust me, prioritizing your relationship is very possible. You just have to try and make sh*t happen for yourself. As long as two people are attracted to each other, love each other and are willing to put time and effort in your relationship, then you are already doing it sis. I am not saying it's easy but if you start to make date nights a priority on your calendar, believe me life gets sweeter. 
If you need some fun date ideas, I share this and this in the past. I hope this post gets you all inspired and excited to make time with your spouse a priority. Now get to planning it's almost the weekend! 

Xo,
Erika
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10 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

April 2, 2019
Surprise! Do you guys like the blog's new look? I figured we would make it a fun intro by also sharing 10 facts about me that you didn't know already. While chatting with a friend last week, I told her about a random fact (see #3 below) and she was like "omg you should post about it, that's so cool!" So a week later here we are, I figured I would share a little list of facts about me that I haven't share in the past. Personally, I love to read these about other people so I hope you enjoy it and let me know if you can relate. Here we go:

FACTS ABOUT ME

1. I was born in Miami. I lived there for the first 3 months of my life. Then raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador until I was 10 years old. I have the fondest memories of my childhood. 

2. When I came from Ecuador in 1993 I did not know a word of English. So I was an ESL student. 

3. I was a spelling bee champion, yup by the time I got to 8th grade I knew English so well that I participated in the school Spelling Bee and won. 'Till this day I am such a spelling freak, it's a pet peeve of mine actually. My trick is (still) that I pronounce English words in Spanish in my head and that's how I memorize how to spell them. Spanish will always have my heart! 

4. I don't have any tattoos. Boring right? I still think of getting a mini one day, just to say I have. YOLO vibes. 

5. When I was heartbroken my mom sent me to Ecuador to recharge and keep my mind off it. I ended up partying so hard that I flew back hungover AF and it was the worse flight of my life because I felt like I was going to die from that hangover.

6. I was super shy as a child. So shy, I wouldn't leave my mom's lap. It wasn't until high school that I found my confidence (per say) but I clearly remember being shy all throughout elementary school and middle school. Not sure how I ended up here, sharing photos of myself and being this confident and secure but I love it. 

7. The reason I am an only child is because my mom couldn't have any more children. She had placenta previa and bled so much when giving birth to me that they asked her to choose her life or mine... she chose mine, thanks to God we both lived. But she couldn't have any  more children.

8. Dave broke up with me a year after we started dating... because I was "too clingy". He texted me saying how he "was crazy to think he could live without me" 3 days later and clearly I took him back, should've made him suffer! Bahahaha. 

9. I had post part depression when I had Ben. It wasn't too deep or too much but I clearly remember always being flustered and overwhelmed an crying over the dumbest of things. It was hard at the beginning and back then (only 7 years ago) not many people talked about it. I wish they had. 

10. I have a potty mouth. Not a proud feature at all but I try and fail miserably at changing it... but I continue to try and one day I will not be such a sailor. But I never curse in front of my mom! lol so strange. 
Yup, I am sure you wouldn't have guessed many of these, right? I posted some other facts last summer, you are welcome to check them out here. Hope you enjoyed this fun post, I love these types of post. Getting to know you guys better is always as highlight and I hope this little facts I am sharing, allow you to know me a little better too. 

Un abrazo, 
Erika
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