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Written by Jaclyn D. for 53 Weeks. As a young, independent woman, time was all I had. I worked part-time at a news station and attended the university as a full-time student. I dedicated my free time to writing stories for class assignments or relaxing on the beach like a washed up coconut. I could sleep in if I wanted to, heck, I could get up and just go. I could literally jump in my car, bad breath and all, and just go. Time? Who needed that? Time brought change (good and bad), and I wasn’t ready to be all ‘grown-up’...

I just LOVE this uber cute idea for Valentine’s Day!! Twinkies dressed up like Minions to let your “sweetie” know that they’re “One in a Minion!” I actually lifted this photo from a friend of mine, and she got the idea from Pinterest. I wanted to share it here because it’s just too cute. I’ve discovered the whole concept of giving valentines in school has far surpassed the flimsy paper ones we handed out in my day…these days it can’t just be a card, there’s stickers, tattoos,...

Any first time parent can relate to the overwhelming task of figuring out the ins and outs of baby products, trying to pick a stroller, baby furniture, create a registry, etc… And — if you’re ever cruised the aisles of baby stuff at the stores without doing your homework, it can be a mind-blowing experience! Well, that’s where the “Biggest Baby Shower” comes in. The event, hosted by Big City Moms, features more than 100 of the best baby and parenting companies in the industry and the “expo”...

When I was pregnant with my first child, it was a huge educational experience. There was so much to learn about how to properly care for my unborn child (and myself) through diet and exercise, not to mention trying to absorb and digest all the information related to preparing for your newborn’s arrival! Now, when it came to the birthing process, as I started to formulate my birthing plan and consult my circle of friends on how it all worked out for their deliveries, I really started to think that I wanted it to be as natural as...

If you’re not familiar with the “baby helmet,” and not sure what it’s all about, this post is for you. First things first, when you see a baby or young child with it, there is nothing “wrong” with the baby. Secondly, it is not to protect their head from falling or head butting, although it may inadvertently be doing that… Lastly, it doesn’t hurt the child nor “squeeze” their head. In our case, my second son Isaiah is now wearing a DOC Band (baby helmet) from Cranial Technologies. The...

My son Isaiah is now wearing a DOC Band…it’s a “baby helmet” designed to help shape and guide his head into a more round shape, since in his case he has a flat spot. I’ll write another post about the treatment and process, but this post is going to be more focused on the “swag” aka decor we had done on his helmet! But the quick summary of whats going on is, he has a form of plagiocephaly called brachycephaly, which basically means that the width of his head is considered a bit too wide compared...

When I became pregnant and we invested in a body pillow designed for an expecting mother… I fell in LOVE! The “Snoozer” Dreamweaver pillow was truly heaven sent. It’s a 100% Goose Down Hypoallergenic full body pillow, shaped like a candy cane. And since many pregnant women have trouble finding a peaceful nights sleep due to the rapid ongoing body changes on the inside and out, this can definitely help…I remember thinking it’s THE BEST and totally worth it! Here’s the official description: The...

The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus was in town and we decided to take a family outing to enjoy the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Since my boys are 18 (Raef) and 6 (Isaiah) months respectively, this was the first time we had even attempted to take them to a show, so we were just going to go with the flow. We opted for a 3pm matinee on a Saturday afternoon, and that was actually one of the biggest (in attendance) for the circus. There was a decent size crowd entering the arena when we got there and by the time we were...

A post written for 53 Weeks by Charlyn D. On October 9, 2013, my daughter, Kaileya, turned 1 year old and for her 1st Birthday Party, I planned to have a luau/Hawaiian theme, since I always envision her to be a little hula girl when she grows up! This picture was on her actual birthday. After blowing out her guava cake from Aki’s Bakery in San Jose, I had her sit in her highchair which I decorated it with a grass skirt with silk flowers attached to it. Since my husband is a graphic designer, I had him make a Hawaiian-themed invitation...

One of my unexpected battles during my first pregnancy was extreme swelling in my feet and ankles..and now that I think about it, my legs in general got a lot bigger, especially my calves (which have always been far from skinny)! The swelling condition is also referred to as edema and I had it BAD. I was probably carrying an extra 20 pounds in water weight around my feet and ankles… And — not that I really wanted to share a photo of my feet and ankles, toes too…but the above photo is just that, the day I checked into...