Ok, So like I said in my instagram I'm NO food blogger but when I find something I like and is easy enough to make I get really excited about it and want to share.

Here's a little bit about me and the kitchen: I hate it. the end LOL

Plus I don't have time for it.. Standing in there waiting for things to become edible. It's time consuming and boring. Am I right.

However, every now and then a little lightbulb turns on above my head and I make something yummy, fast and easy. Then I obsess over it for a few months and regret never sharing it with others. So here's to sharing more of these rare but yummy recipes (i find it funny even calling them that) in a series I like to call: "Easy Enough for Mimi"

Hey let me be corny, k! (no pun intended) 

With that I bring you my new favorite summer smoothie made with Oakhurst Wild Blueberry Milk!

In your BULLET or BULLET - like contraption add:
 

• 1 sliced banana - or - 1/3 of one. depending how big ;)
• 3 cut up large strawberries
• A handful of Maine Wild Blueberries (they are smaller but sooo much tastier)
• Top if off with ice cubes - I just drop in enough tot get to the max line
• Pour in Oakhurst Wild Blueberry milk (to taste)
• Mix & enjoy! 

See - easy haha of course some of the portions are to taste and add in as much or as little as you like. It's refreshing af and super tasty if you like blueberries (which who the heck doesn't?) Hope you try it and if you do let me know! I love getting your DMs <3 

I will start this post by saying that I feel like I just joined the ultimate sisterhood I never knew existed. The amount of love and support I’ve felt from other moms on and off this Instagram - in the short time I’ve been a mom - is truly overwhelming. I never thought I’d get so much help, advice, answers to my questions, support and words of encouragement from friends on instagram but holy cow here you all are and I am so so grateful for you.

That said, I thought I’d start paying it forward and posting more about my life as a mom and the things that are really helping me get through.

The other day I was really struggling with my breast feeding journey. It’s really only been three weeks but the lack of sleep, still recovering from child birth, getting to know Eli’s wants and needs, still getting use to the cries and basically being overall clueless to this new motherhood thing.

From the beginning in the hospital I was feeding my baby and immediately pumping right after every feeding. This really helped me build my supply and after a week I went to my first Lactation appointment where my nurse told me to stop pumping after every feeding because I'm basically telling my body I have twins and I could run into problems like mastitis etc. Cool! Only pump when Greg is feeding Elias out of a bottle and if I feel I need some relief after a feeding. Great!

Welp, fast forward a few days and my supply dropped significantly. At the same time - Elias became a hungry little milk monster and began cluster feeding. Especially int he mornings. I felt... deflated (for lack of a better word) I couldn't keep up. Why did I stop pumping?? Now I don't produce enough for this little hungry man and I was completely freaking out. What do I do now? I know, I'll start pumping a few more times a day and maybe that will bring my supply back up. .Enough to satisfy my little guy. Right? Nope, my body was not working with me on this plan. But it worked before? What's going on? well, to be honest I don't know. But I can tell you a few things I was doing wrong. I was SO consumed with my newborn that I had forgotten pretty much all about myself. I forgot to Hydrate, I forgot to eat, I thought I could run on little rest and I was STRESSING OUT HARD. Sure I read that stress can really affect your supply but not me. No, I've worked on TV sets and in advertising.. Stress is in my veins it doesn't affect me like it affects others. Yeah.Right! I called my LC (lactation consultant) and she told me I was good for pumping a bit more again and that it should all be fine. As long as the baby is dirtying diapers, he is def getting enough. ::Sigh:: Relief! But what the heck is up with the pumping situation. I went from pumpung 3 - 4 oz to struggling to get .5 oz !? 

I reached out and asked on my stories if any moms had taken anything to help with milk supply. Because as one mom put it. Breastfeeding is a mind f*ck.

Oh yes. it is.

and if you want to go into more about my current and very new experience shoot me a DM i’d be happy to vent haha

But a lot of moms offered some REALLY helpful advice and for that THANK YOU!!!

What popped up most were:

• HYDRATE! drink more water than you ever have before. Your milk is liquid so makes sense that taking in liquid only helps! 
• EAT. A lot. Every time you breast feed your body burn hundreds of calories and you need to nourish your body as much as possible to help it continue producing food for your LO
• REST. Yes, i know its hard but take it from someone who is currently in the trenches. When it comes to choosing between dishes and sleep. Choose sleep. SERIOUSLY. Don’t even try to roll your eyes at this one lol It is AMAZING what a good hour nap can do for not only your physical but OMG your mental as well.. 
• these three things pretty much fall into the “fill your cup before anyone else’s MOTTO” Because it’s true. You can’t run a car on empty.

Biggest tip of all:

DON'T STRESS. WAY easier said than done I know. Someone even told me to put a sock over the bottles while I pump so I don't watch it and get more and more stressed as nothing come out. Here are some of the responses I got on my stories: 

But one of the biggest food tips that was given is to eat lots of Oatmeal. Yeah, something I literally think I’ve eaten twice i my life is now something I eat every single morning since ….. and I love it!

Here’s the thing, the first batch I made was so bland I needed to get in there and make it my own. So here’s a little recipe that I’ve cooked up and really hits the spot.

• Equal parts Milk (any kids works), Old fashioned Oats and Water. For just myself - i do 1/2 a cup
• two dashes of salt
• two teaspoons of honey
• a few drops of vanilla extract

Simmer on low heat until the oats soak up all that moisture and WALLAH!

Once in the bowl I’ll add a bit more honey, some cinnamon and blueberries bc they are my favorite 😊

It’s honestly so yummy and easy to make that I actually don’t dread making it every morning. (I hate the kitchen) Idk if it’s my mind or it really is helping but this with a few other helpful hints has really helped me relax about breast feeding. Trusting my body to do it’s job has proven really helpful and Eli is happy, healthy and full which makes me very happy.

Oh yeah, the one that really helps with reducing stress the most. Do something for yourself every day. Even something small. For me, it's the showers and my skin care routine 1000% helps me relax more. 

Also, Styling and Photographing of course. It's the thing that makes me feel MOST like myself.

I hope this helps someone who might be struggling a bit with breastfeeding. It’s a really hard task but you can do it! I’m learning every day what our amazing bodies are capable of and every day I’m learning that books, and consultants are great but your body and your baby will ultimately tell you how to do your job.

DISCLAIMER* 

I wrote this post a few days after asking my instagram friends for advice and I started using that advice immediately. However, My supply although good for feeding is still low on the pumping side. I am pumping to start training my body to supply more for when I inevitably have to go back to work in 2.5 months. Again, It is still low.. Nothing magically changed overnight. But I am taking the no stress route seriously and continuing to pump 3 times a day. Putting in the work and knowing I have a bit of time. I will continue to update you guys whether here or on my instagram on my breast feeding journey and if you have any advice that you haven't seen on here yet, I welcome it! 

Here are some of the things I've ordered as a result of the advice:

To help with Hydration: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IT9NLHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Supplements: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EI46XSM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XIYL8G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_fresh_asin_image_o02?ie=UTF8&almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&fpw=alm
 

Food:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084TQL55H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_fresh_asin_image_o02?ie=UTF8&almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&fpw=alm
 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NQ8672L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_fresh_asin_image_o02?ie=UTF8&almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&fpw=alm
 

Photography by: Tracy Orzel

https://tracyorzelphotography.pixieset.com/

Make up by: Kari Cowperthwaite

https://www.styleseat.com/m/v/karicowperthwaite

Location: The Francis Hotel

https://thefrancismaine.com/