The Spring Break Swimsuit Every Woman Needs

It’s been months since we’ve felt the warm sun hit our skin (at least here in Utah), and our vitamin D levels have been depleting since mid October. My skin is begging for a little sun nourishment!

Who else is in need of a cocktail and ready to layer on the SPF?

Whether you have an exotic vacation planned or just want to spend most of your day pool side, a suit that you feel great in paired with a cute coverup is essential.

But purchasing a suit that flatters your body type and fits your comfort level can be difficult to find! (Learned from the girl who is short with a large chest)

Have no fear ladies, I have found that suit…!

My favorite swimsuit of all time is The Maria from Albion Fit. This was actually the first swimsuit I purchased during my PostPartum months with Graham. It made me feel sexy and it pulled in all my loose wobbly bits from my emergency c-section.
Two Years later I have yet to find a better one-piece swimsuit that looks good on every damn body! Thats a bold statement but 100% true.

The Maria Swimsuit is utterly classic and sophisticated. It has a high mesh panel on the front with a sweetheart neckline. The back features a comfortable low back, gown straps, and 5 straps for a unique and feminine look. Perfect for lounging in and out of the pool during your Spring Break vacay!

I love how it looks great on large busted woman like myself. Throughout my years of swimsuit shopping, finding a swimsuit that fits the ladies has always been an issue. I love how this suit features removable bust pads, and wide shoulder straps, and a built in shelf bra. Oh and guess what, its maternity friendly!

I am wearing the La Fleur Design which features a white and vermillion lily print. This beautiful print has a tropical vibe and bold colors. I also own this suit if solid black!

I wore this swimsuit during my recent trip to Palm Springs, California. These fun photos were taken at the Parker Palm Springs Resort. By far one of the most eccentric hotels I have visited. I adored its property from the Lemonade Stand to its Alice in Wonderland like garden paths.

To shop all my colorful outfits and accessories from my recent visit to Palm Springs, hop on over to my Like to Know it profile.
Like to Know it is a free social based shopping service that allows users to instantly access and purchase whatever your favorite blogger is wearing. You can download the app and every item you “like” will be saved to your profile. The bloggers main photo will have little pictures below it listing each item in the photo and they will each take you directly to the URL page of the store its from.

I have linked all clothing, shoes and accessories from this photo shot on my Like to Know it profile.

Now go out and enjoy the first warm-weather days in one of the best bathing suits of all time!

This post is NOT sponsored and all my opinions are 100% my own. I just adore this suit and company so much, I believed it deserved its own special feature!

Photography by the lovely, Call me Christine

A Valentine's Family Love Affair

Oh Valentines Day….

Valentine’s Day provides a great opportunity to have fun with your children and shower them with love! I love decorating our kitchen table and having Graham wake up to a “HEART ATTACK” explosion full of treats and games!

While Valentine’s Day is often associated with romantic love, it’s a holiday you can share with your whole family, and it provides an opportunity to teach our children about the importance of caring for others, especially animals. It provides another learning opportunity to let Graham know why I am raising him Vegan.

Valentine's Day can rekindle the romance in your marriage…and being romantic is soooo good for your relationship..
Whether you go out, stay home, get dressed up, or opt for your jammies, make this Valentine’s Day special with your spouse….not because Hallmark told you to, or because I told you to, but because your relationship deserves to be honored, even if for just one day of the year.

Do not miss the opportunity to kiss, hug, and be intimate together on Valentine's Day, my friends. That would be tragic!

In what unique and meaningful ways does your family celebrate Valentine's Day?

Do you have some time-honored traditions for this holiday you can share with me?

I am constantly posting our outfits and home/party decor on my LIKE TO KNOW IT profile.

https://www.liketoknow.it/megan.the.vegan.mom

GRAHAM’S OUTFIT

Graham’s Heart Breaker Sweater and Red Pants can be found at Old Navy. I purchased his White Converse shoes from Nordstrom.

MEGAN’S OUTFIT

My dress is actually 2 years old & from a little boutique located on Bainbridge Island. I linked similar dresses on my LIKE TO KNOW IT profile.

SEAN’S OUTFIT

I purchased my husbands outfit from H&M and Express. Men are so easy to dress, I wish women were!

I hope you and your loved ones have a very SWEET

Valentine’s Day!

Raising a Mini Vegan

Raising a Mini Vegan... or my current state, A Wild Toddler! 

Teddy Graham was vegetarian from conception to 9 months old. When I transitioned to Veganism so did Graham.

I get a lot of questions from people who’d like to follow this path but for one reason or another have been scared into questioning whether it’s healthy. I understand the fear, because we want the best for our children and wouldn’t want to do anything to compromise their health and well-being. But when I sit back and think about it, a plant-based diet of whole foods is healthier than the diet I grew up on, (eating chicken, cheese, beef, eggs, etc).

Graham consumes a variety and delicious healthy diet. I rarely go out of my way to make a meal just for Graham, because he always eats what Sean and I are having for dinner. During lunch time I still make him regular toddler food, but instead of eating animals and animal by-products, he eats the vegan versions—vegan chicken nuggets, vegan grilled cheese, vegan mac and cheese (his personal favorite), vegan ice cream. Overall he enjoys munching on whole grains, legumes, hummus, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, just like Sean and I. 

My little boy is  thriving on a plant-based diet, he's strong, energetic, smart, happy, and healthy. 

I put this variety snack tray together for Graham whenever we head out to the park, or play in our backyard, long road trips, or just watching an afternoon movie in the living room. Its so easy and fun for him to munch on.

Carrot Chips

Edamame 

Sea Salt Popcorn

Blueberries

Gala Apples

Cucumbers

Vegan Cheddar Squares

Grapes

Pretzels

Raisins

Do Not Be Judgmental

I think it’s important that vegan children understand that having educated parents who can exercise their beliefs of animal cruelty and values of living healthy by choosing to serve them a vegan diet is a privilege that many other children don’t have. 

As I stated in my first blog post about becoming vegan (Read it HERE)... As a child I wish I had the knowledge about living a vegan lifestyle earlier on and how I would have become Vegan if only I was educated on it. 

Some children often do not have such a choice, and eat what they are served or taught to eat by their parents. If a child is drinking a carton of milk it isn’t because they don’t love animals; it’s likely because their parent wasn’t able to prepare a more healthy option, or are unaware of healthier alternative options, (Pea milk, Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Cashew Milk, Hemp Milk, etc).

I also believe that it is important that vegan children show those unknowing children the same level of understanding and empathy as the animals we are trying to save and love upon.

We all have to try our hardest to be as kind as we can to everyone, including animals. It's all a work in progress, and the best thing we can do is to be an example for the kind of world we want our families to live in.

But in the end children are still learning who they are and we are helping them to navigate their ethics in this world. This is the challenge of parenting in more ways than simply how we eat.

To Shop Megan's & Graham's outfit click HERE

To Shop my back patio click HERE

Thank you to The Chevron Heart for sending us these adorable matching t-shirts! We proudly flaunt them in our home state of Utah and cannot wait to wear them to SLC VEGFEST next month! 

XOXO

Rainy Day Mommy and Me outfits

“I'm singing in the rain

Just singing in the rain

What a glorious feelin'

I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds

So dark up above”

Thank you Gene Kelly for such a lovely song and movie! Anyone else just love when it rains? My husband Sean, is not a fan of the wet season but Graham and I sure have fun splashing around in puddles!

So grab your raincoat and wellies and enjoy this Spring weather!

Scroll down for outfit links.

CLICK HERE to shop our rainy day outfits!

Graham's Winter Outfits

Jumpsuit

Shoes

Rudolph Sweater

Stripped Pants

Red Hunter Boots

Beenie

Plaid Pajama Set

Hoodie

Pants

Shoes

Shirt

Overalls

Boots

Socks

Sweater

Pants

Halloween Twinning with my lil boo

Pumpkin patches are our thing.  It was always a family tradition growing up so I’ve loved bringing it into my own little family now. We’ve been three times so far this year. We like to try out different ones every time.

I love the feeling knowing that fall has arrived when you get to the pumpkin patch.

Graham loves to stand in the middle of the field and ohhh and aww at the pumpkins. I wonder what is going through his mind when he sees hundreds of round "orange balls" everywhere.

He tries to pick up pumpkins that are the size of him, its quite silly to watch.

I try to keep us out doing activities between Grahams MyGym and Kindermusik classes, which is why we have been to the pumpkin patch multiple times this year!

The season of fall and the month of October is one of the best times of year! I enjoy the beautiful colors, Halloween, and of course, fall clothes for both me and Teddy Graham.

I found these cute mommy and me outfits and knew they would be a perfect fit for all our Halloween outings.

I am wearing a size small in the hoodie. I prefer a tighter fit, so next time I will order an extra small.

MY SWEATSHIRT:

https://mindymaesmarket.com/products/doublehood-sweatshirt-halloween-bo

MY JEANS:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/blanknyc-ripped-skinny-jeans-playing-favorites/4671009?origin=coordinating-4671009-0-2-PDP_1-recbot-fbt_similar_items&recs_placement=PDP_1&recs_strategy=fbt_similar_items&recs_source=recbot&recs_page_type=product

MY SHOES:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/converse-chuck-taylor-shoreline-sneaker-women/3466405?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=WHITE

GRAHAMS SHIRT:

https://mindymaesmarket.com/products/kids-lil-boo-sweatshirt

GRAHAMS PANTS:

http://www.gymboree.com/shop/item/baby-striped-pants-140172296

GRAHAMS SHOES:

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/freshly-picked-sandal-baby-walker-toddler/4651528

XOXO

Megan The Vegan Mom