Mom Feature: Meet Kirsten

Photo credit @kirstenalise

We love following along with you and your littles as they grow! Being a mom is so much more than just changing diapers and rocking your babe to sleep. That's why we love to hear from the moms behind it all on daily life and the ups and downs that you face, plus all of the precious little moments. This month we're introducing you to Kirsten, a mama of Phoenix and lover of design and teaching her son about the world.

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m a SoCal native who currently lives in Boise, Idaho with my husband and our little one, Phoenix.
I’m definitely an ocean soul at heart, so I’m not sure this will be our forever home. Still, we’ve made it our own with coastal vibe decor touches. I love calming neutral tones and organic textures! I grew up surfing competitively, so of course I’ve decorated with an old board of mine and hung surf themed prints in Phoenix’s room.

My husband and I are high school sweethearts who met on MySpace (of all places). He grew up in Northern California and I grew up in Southern California. We’ve both had quite the journey to get where we are today but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

What’s the most rewarding thing about being a mom?

Our kids are the future of this world. It’s amazing to think that what we are helping them learn and the ways we raise them have a huge impact on who they will grow to be. It’s so rewarding when they start to understand something you’ve taught them that will affect the future in a positive way. We obviously start with little things such as finding trash and throwing it away, using please and thank you, being gentle with animals, helping put laundry in a basket, and picking up after ourselves. Eventually, kind and generous habits will turn into bigger things, and that’s the goal.

What was the most surprising thing you discovered about being a mom?

I think I’m surprised at how much I love being at home, teaching things to my little one. Me and my husband have decided to fully homeschool Phoenix. I was nervous that would feel like a chore because I hated school. It turns out, public school is a lot different, and when you homeschool, you can make learning as fun as you want! There’s just something really special about watching them pick up new things and being a part of the process. I feel like if he was at school, I’d miss that, and now I’m glad I don’t have to. Obviously, I know homeschool isn’t for everyone, but I think it is right for our family.

Photo credit@kirstenalise

What does self care mean to you? How do you take time for yourself and what does it look like?

This is so tough for me. I definitely have to remind myself to take the time for self care, because it’s easy to forget myself with all that’s going on. One thing that’s nice, is that I co-nap with Phoenix. This means I’m able to get rest in while he naps! Some of my mama friends make fun of me for this because it’s their time to do laundry or dishes, but at least I’m over here well rested! ;) Now that my husband works from home it’s a lot easier to ask for a few minutes to pamper myself with a hair treatment or doing my nails (something fun that makes me feel more human!).

What are some of your favorite activities to do with your babe?

When it’s summer you can most definitely find us at the beach or swimming at Phoenix’s grandparent’s house. If the weather permits, we love taking daily walks and getting out in nature. When it’s cold and the weather is horrible we get creative. love to save all types of recyclables and use them for crafts and activities as well. Paper towel rolls, baby food pouch caps, & egg cartons go a long way!

What mom chore/task/duty would you forever outsource?

If I had someone who could clean my house for me that would be amazing! But all the tasks that involve Phoenix, I wouldn’t trade. Even the tough ones like potty training! I’d regret it if someone else got the credit for all that hard work ;)

Photo credit@kirstenalise

What’s your favorite cozy piece from Colored Organics? Favorite thing about Colored Organics?

I love the long sleeve jammie sets. They’re so soft and they have such a cute and minimalist design to them. I love that Colored Organics keeps things simple. Organic fabric is also really important to our family--we like to use the cleanest products we can find. I think a lot of people forget that the pores on our skin are also a way for unwanted things to enter our bodies. This is why we like to use organic fabric when we can.

What advice would you give to an expecting mama?

Do your own research with everything! Before I had Phoenix, I was someone who trusted strangers with their words. I think when you become a mom, there’s a new responsibility you gain, and it involves really digging deep on everything you learn. There’s a lot I never gave thought to until I became a mom!

Anything you’d like to add?

Motherhood looks so different for everyone. It’s so difficult to not compare ourselves to another family on Instagram. I try to look to other mothers for support and inspiration, but never to measure up to. We all have such vastly different home scenarios, and as long as we’re keeping our children safe and loved, we are doing a great job as mothers!

To follow along with Kirsten and her adorable babe, visit @kirstenalise.