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Baton Rouge Moms Birthday | Celebratory Giveaway

October 22, 2018 by Tiany Davis

It’s Baton Rouge Moms birthday!! This month marks 5 years since I launched Baton Rouge Moms, however, Baton Rouge Moms was born 13 years ago when I purchased the BatonRougeMoms.com domain. I was a mom with 4 little boys and had big dreams for the Baton Rouge Moms community but little time to bring those dreams to fruition. I wasn’t in the right season to invest huge amounts of time or money into my big dream, so I waited. I’ve come full circle, my boys are now 11, 13, 15 and 17, I never gave up on that dream and when the time was right for our family, I launched… with the help of Maggie Howes of My Baton Rouge Mommy, Tiffany Cruz of Fabulous Mom Blog and a great team of local moms and friends.  

Baton Rouge Moms was worth the wait. 

Baton Rouge Moms Birthday

It’s been a busy five years. Today, Baton Rouge Moms has grown into a diverse community of almost 50,000 moms! We have over 30,000 friends on Facebook, almost 10,000 on Instagram, over 2,000 on Twitter and some that enjoy coming to our website that are not on social media at all. We reach and engage over 50,000 moms across Louisiana each WEEK! My online work and passions have always circled around supporting and encouraging mothers. I started Baton Rouge Moms but WE built this great community and it is my pleasure and my joy to serve Baton Rouge moms and small businesses right here where we live and love. 

Baton Rouge Moms Birthday

THANK YOU for supporting Baton Rouge Moms, thank you for taking the time to Like, Share and Comment, it’s what keeps us going and growing. I want to thank the many businesses we have had the pleasure of working with and connecting with families in the Baton Rouge community, it’s because of these small businesses that Baton Rouge Moms continues to be a FREE resource for families in Baton Rouge and beyond! 

Baton Rouge Moms is evolving and changing things up a bit…

You may have noticed some changes on Baton Rouge Moms, though I started blogging over 15 years ago, I wanted something different for Baton Rouge Moms. As a hyper-local resource, Baton Rouge Moms is no longer a “mommy blog”, we will still share posts but they will be centered around family-friendly Baton Rouge living.  Baton Rouge Moms will bring you even MORE of the content and resources you have come to know and love. We will focus on family-friendly outings, day trips, and the things parents need in their daily lives, such as kid-friendly restaurants, camps, directories, and guides. Stay tuned as we begin to roll out new features! You will also continue to find us volunteering at most family-friendly events around Baton Rouge such as Halloween Town, Spook in Rowe, Christmas on the Boulevard, Mistletoe Market Santa photos and more! I love meeting you all and your kiddos at these events, please stop by and say hi! 

Baton Rouge Moms Birthday

Baton Rouge Moms Birthday

We’re kicking off the birthday festivities with a week of giveaways on our social media pages, some fun surprises, and a brand-spankin’ new theme and logo! How bout that new logo? Thanks to the brilliant and talented, Megan Kelly for hooking us up! 

BR Mompreneurs

Something else pretty special is happening today… a new resource for entrepreneurial moms has launched in Baton Rouge, BR Mompreneurs! If you are a mompreneur trying to juggle all of the things you know how important support is. Since we are in the business of supporting moms, collaborating with Megan Kelly and her new venture was a no-brainer! We are so excited for all that’s to come for our great community of moms! Learn more about BR Mompreneurs in Megan’s first Ask the Experts post and be sure to check out her website, follow her Facebook page and join the Facebook group for support! I’ll see you there! 

Thank you for celebrating Baton Rouge Moms’ birthday with me! Be sure to connect with us on Facebook & Instagram for a week of giveaways and some early morning treats and surprises! 

 

Filed Under: Celebrate, Family Friendly Baton Rouge, Giveaways & Freebies, Mompreneur

Total Mom Makeover Show Premieres Tonight April 6th at 8/7pm Central

April 6, 2017 by Tiany Davis

It’s something many of us dream about and long for, for different reasons and in different seasons of motherhood… a Total Mom Makeover!! When Diasy Teh of The It Mom put out a call searching for moms to tell their stories and share why they wanted a Total Mom Makeover, I jumped on it! I won’t share my whole story or it will spoil the show but between diving head first into the trenches of motherhood, homeschooling, running a business and taking care of an ailing parent, I neglected myself and my well being. I needed help to turn things around and I didn’t know where to start. If you are a single mom let me tell you that not only you can get that first date but also a second date with this makeover, also be sure to check www.perfect12.com where you will find some interesting dating instructions and tips.

Total Mom Makeover

I was blessed to have been chosen as one of four moms to be included on The Total Mom Makeover Influencer Panel, together we chose the 8 moms that would join us for a Total Mom Makeover. Their stories touched me and made a lasting impression in more ways than one, you will get to meet each of these moms in their own show each week starting TONIGHT, w’ll be giving some awesome beauty tips from https://beautysetter.com/ as well and of course you will have an Excellence Medical Cosmetic Clinic helping you out, so don’t miss out!!.

Total Mom Makeover

In a whirlwind of a weekend, 12 moms were whisked off to California for a weekend of pampering, connecting and growing – we also learned the how-to’s of how to apply the very same makeover techniques so we could use all of the info we had gathered once we returned home. But that’s not all!! We were surprised with luxe products and outfits in a personalized kit that we brought home! Once we were transformed with the new hair for which we used one of the strainers from http://besthairflatirons.com/ and some awesome hair extensions from Haarverlängerung Berlin, makeup and outfits, we had photo shoots and…. no more spoilers!! If you wan to get the best fashion accessories visit Blue Bungalow which has the most beautiful outfits. For those moms out there I recommend using natural skincare which is one of the healthiest ways to take care of your skin, besides other methods like a Laser treatment at home that can make your skin healthier fast.

 Total Mom Makeover

Total Mom Makeover Show  – April 6th, 2017 and every Thursday at 8/7pm Central beginning April 6, 2017

This reality webshow airs its season premiere on April 6th, 2017 and every Thursday at 8/7pm Central beginning April 6, 2017. Each episode will feature one mom’s unique story and their vow to stand out from the crowd with the opportunity to travel to a new location for an all expense paid weekend getaway and head-to-toe makeover transformation by the The It Mom’s “Dream Team” – some of the most elite fashion, beauty and style experts from around the county.

Meet the 12 Moms That Received an All Expense Paid Head-To-Toe Total Mom Makeover

I hope you’ll take the time to watch and be inspired by each moms transformation,  they went through some rigorous Coolsculpting. This experience was about so much more than getting pampered and receiving free products, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The Total Mom Makeover was an experience that I would like to pay forward….. soooo…. stay tuned for details because Baton Rouge Moms is going to bless TWO moms with their very own Total Mom Makeovers right here in Baton Rouge!! More details to come, but for now, be sure to watch the Total Mom Makeover TONIGHT April 6th, 2017 and every Thursday at 8/7pm Central!

Total Mom Makeover

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Filed Under: Fashion/Beauty, Mompreneur, Moms, Women Tagged With: Baton Rouge Moms, Beauty, Makeovr, Moms, motherhood, Total Mom Makeover

Gluten Free Labeling Info for Mompreneurs

May 26, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

I recently met the owner of Andi Lynn’s Elderberries, a local business that produces herbal syrups, tinctures, glycerites, and tonics. Her supplements are made with farm sourced, wild harvested, and organic ingredients then handcrafted according to traditional herbal preparations.

And her product contains no gluten ingredients, but she was wondering how a small business should go about labeling products as gluten free. I researched a little bit and I hope this info can help her and other mompreneurs.

gluten free baton rouge

If you label your product Gluten Free it means that:

  • None of the ingredients is a gluten-containing grain. Gluten-containing grains are wheat, rye, barley or spelt.
  • None of the ingredients is made from a gluten-including grain without the gluten removed. Wheat flour and malt are just two examples of ingredients that are made from gluten-including grains.
  • If an ingredient is made with a gluten-including grain with the gluten removed, it must test below 20ppm (parts per million) gluten. Wheat starch is an ingredient made from a gluten-including grain that has had the gluten removed.

Should you test?

You are not required to test your ingredients, but you are responsible for ensuring that your finished product contains less than 20ppm from any source of cross contamination. If you want to have laboratory testing done, ELISA Technologies will test a sample for $75.

The FDA encourages  you to use effective measures to ensure that you are complying with their requirements such as: laboratory testing, requesting certificates of gluten analysis from your ingredient suppliers, or seeking third party certification from organizations like the Celiac Sprue Association or the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

gluten free

What should your label look like?

The “Gluten Free” label can be anywhere on your package and can look however you’d like it to look.

You must comply by these rules if you make any gluten free claim such as “free of gluten” or “no gluten.”

You are not required to use “may contain” or “produced in a facility that also uses” warnings on your labels.

You are not required to label your product “Gluten Free”, even if it is gluten free, unless you want to.

Even if you don’t label gluten free, you ARE required to list the top 8 allergens that your product contains. These are: Milk, Eggs, Fish, Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat and Soybeans.

For more info:

Guidance for Industry: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods; Small Entity Compliance Guide

Food Allergies, what you need to know: A guide for consumers. (Includes information on May Contain statements.)

Gluten Free Testing Laboratory

Filed Under: Food, Local Business Spotlight, Louisiana, Mompreneur Tagged With: Andi Lynns Elderberries, gluten free, gluten free Baton Rouge

The Healing Sole – Pain Relieving Flip-Flop – Giveaway

March 30, 2016 by Tiany Davis

All moms have experienced aching feet, many of us have experience aching, swollen feet, especially when pregnant. Tired, hurting  feet are a common complaint for most people, especially those who have to stand for long periods of time, as moms, I think we can all relate! There are days when I feel as though I am on my feet from the time I hit the ground until I go to bed at night, I even eat meals standing!

These long days and extended periods of time on our feet can actually damage our feet, causing conditions like plantar fasciitis that lead to pain after a long day. I recently learned about a new shoe, a southern favorite, a flip-flop, created right here in Baton Rouge that is designed to help your feet recover after a long day of hard work or heavy activity.

The Healing Sole

The Healing Sole has been getting some much needed media attention in recent weeks, you might have caught Dr. Meredith Warner interview on WAFB’s Healthline, where she discussed the launch of her new groundbreaking invention and the many benefits it provides.

Dr. Warner developed the shoe after two tours with the U.S. Air Force as a combat surgeon in Iraq and Afghanistan. She saw the need for an easier solution to plantar fasciitis, a common and painful condition that occurs when the tissue that connects the toes to the heel (the plantar fascia) is damaged. It affects men and women, young and old, the athletic and non-athletic alike.

Dr. Warner realized that healthcare was becoming extremely expensive for her patients. With a high deductible plan, most of her patients had to pay for the treatment of their pain with cash for months before insurance would help. It is Dr. Warner’s goal to educate patients and to design, produce and provide consumer medical products to allow patients to take control of their own care. Often a foot doctor may charge a patient thousands of dollars to treat heal pain. Treatment usually involves expensive x-rays and physical therapy, painful injections and even surgery.

Dr.  Meredith Warner designed a flip flop that incorporates a variety of treatment methods within one simple structure that is portable, affordable and may be used repeatedly over time.  This means that there is now available a flip-flop that is actually a part of the treatment process for this painful condition.  This flip flop was designed to allow the foot to recover naturally.  The flip-flop is to be worn after the work day to enhance tissue rest and allow the body’s natural healing mechanisms to work.  In addition, The Healing Sole flip flop was designed to be compatible with a physician’s treatment program; it does not necessarily replace that program.

 

THE HEALING SOLE

FEATURES DESIGNED TO:

  • Relieve pain from plantar fasciitis
  • Reduce pressure at the heel
  • Release stress on key areas of the foot
  • Recover your foot function & comfort

  The Healing Sole Baton Rouge

It is important to get an EXACT FIT of The Healing Sole for it be effective, you can find a list of  retail locations here—>  https://www.thehealingsole.com/retail-locations/ or you can visit an upcoming event with Dr. Warner at the Flip Flop Shop in Perkins Rowe, this Saturday, April 2, from noon until 3 p.m. Dr. Warner will be there to answer questions about heel pain and plantar fasciitis, as well as help with flip-flop fittings.

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You can also find The Healing Sole online on Facebook and Twitter.

THE HEALING SOLE Giveaway

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Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Education, Giveaways & Freebies, Health, Local Business Spotlight, Mompreneur, Moms, Running, Women Tagged With: Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Events, Foot Care, health, The Healing Sole, wellness, Women

Spring Mini Sessions Special | Baton Rouge Children’s Portraits

March 1, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

If you’re planning to do spring portraits in the Baton Rouge area, you won’t want to miss this opportunity with Erin Stephens Photography!
 

Baton Rouge Area Spring Portraits with Erin Stephens Photography

 
For a limited time only, Erin is giving an early booking BONUS to everyone who schedules a mini photography session and submits a deposit by March 15th. Booking early will reward you with complimentary digital sharing files of ALL the edited final proofs from the session!
 
Baton Rouge Photography
 
Not only is Erin Stephens a local photographer with a studio art degree, she’s also a Baton Rouge Mom with a soft spot for children’s portraiture. Connecting with kids in a fun way helps her capture beautiful, natural moments with artistic results. Visit erinstephensphotography.com to learn more.
 
Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, service or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Local Business Spotlight, Mompreneur, Moms Tagged With: Baton Rouge photographer, Baton Rouge photography, Senior portraits

It’s OK to Be the Weird Mom

February 28, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Mommy judgement. Mommy guilt. These are constant topics in magazines and blogs aimed at mothers and they need to be. So many moms, myself included, need daily reminders that we are all doing ok and there’s nothing to feel guilty about.

Baton Rouge Mom BlogOne of the hardest lessons for me to learn as a mom is the advice we have been told over and over since we were children ourselves – be yourself. It seems so simple, but it’s harder than many realize. Whether you’re a single mom, married mom, older mom, younger mom, working mom, stay at home mom, there is always some ideal we formulate that we never seem to attain. We are often convinced we are inadequate, a failure, clueless, different, weird. We are an embarrassment to little Johnny who is going to move across the country as soon as he graduates from high school, only call at Christmas, and write about how his mother screwed him up in his memoirs.

Some of the judgement we feel is completely fabricated in our own imagination. Sometimes it is all too real. But there are more important consequences of denying your own voice than condescending side eyes when you bring Walmart cupcakes to the bake sale. Not being authentic and true to yourself robs you of your joy and deprives your children of the gift of knowing who you really are.

Baton Rouge Moms BlogAs someone who has struggled with depression, I know there is no faster way down that path than by denying your own needs and desires. Once the perfect 2.5 kids and a dog life I always wanted fell apart, I was lost. I was torn apart with guilt for not being able to give my kids the perfect life. I stopped listening to my own voice and tried to live up to the expectations of others, sometimes real, sometimes imagined. I tried desperately to shove myself into a mold I didn’t fit in. I was an expert level player of the comparison game. My perfectionism paralyzed me with fear.

It’s OK to Be the Weird Mom

Then I woke up one day and wondered why I felt so empty and miserable. It has been a long journey, but my path back to happiness has centered around accepting my quirky, weird, wonderful, authentic self and learning to listen to my own voice. Once I committed to doing that, it is like a light turned on with my life, especially as a mother. I see it in my kids and it is a wonderful feeling knowing I am a better mom because I have embraced my own, authentic values.

Baton Rouge Parents Blog

But perhaps the most important thing about giving our children the gift of authenticity is by doing so, we give our children permission to also be their true selves. Whether it’s embracing their own quirks, or the courage to pursue a talent, our kids will always shine brightest when they are true to themselves. As mothers we can help bring that light out into the world by being brave enough to do the same.

Filed Under: Mompreneur, Moms, Parenting, Women Tagged With: Baton Rouge Moms, motherhood, parenting

A Faithful Mom Planner

November 28, 2015 by Tiany Davis

With a new year quickly approaching, it’s time to make sure that 2016 will be a year of intentional living, a year to not only take care of family, home and work…  but yourself.  When would be a better time to plan and organize for a new year than when it’s about to begin!? Two Baton Rouge moms have done all the work for us, they created a complete planner that allows moms to live a full and organized life, a planner that will truly help us keep track of every aspect of our lives in a simple, creative and intimate way… A Faithful Mom Day Planner!

A Faithful Mom Planner

A Faithful Mom Planner

A Faithful Mom Planner is very well made, sturdy and small enough to fit in a purse, they are very well detailed and best of all LOCAL! They are even printed right here in Baton Rouge! Organize your days, monthly activities, menu planning, family time, individual family member’s needs, home keeping, service, gifts, special dates and holidays… with inspiration and encouraging faith reminders throughout! I’m a bit of  planner enthusiast, I love paper planners, I’m a pen and paper kind of girl. I also love to decorate my planners and personalize them to make them not only functional but pretty. The problem is that I really don’t have time to decorate and fiddle with washi tape and stickers but with A Faithful Mom Planner, they are decorated so beautifully, you don’t need to decorate unless you just enjoy doing so.

What pages are included in the planner:
-weekly and monthly planning pages
-personal and family goals and highlight pages
-monthly menu planning pages
-monthly family night planning pages
-a page to keep up with people you are asked to or would like to visit each month
-children information pages for each of your children
-spouse information page
-budgeting worksheet
-home cleaning worksheet
holiday planning worksheet
-household information page (light bulb sizes, air filter sizes)
-personal and family scripture reading charts
-emergency preparedness worksheet
-meeting notes and inspiration page
-cards and invitations pages
-birthdays and anniversary pages
-lots of notes pages!

A Faithful Mom Planner

A Fatihful Mom Planner

Here’s a quick overview of the Faithful Mom Planner

 

A Faithful Mom Planner GIVEAWAY:

We are giving away ONE A Faithful Mom Planner! Enter to win via the Rafflcopter below and for extra chances to win, hop on over to our Facebook & Instagram!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Filed Under: Giveaways & Freebies, Holidays, Local Business Spotlight, Louisiana, Mompreneur, Moms, Organizing, Parenting, Reviews, Women Tagged With: A Faithful Mom Planner, faith, Organization, planners

Baby Bump Maternity Baton Rouge – #Giveaway

June 20, 2015 by Tiany Davis

When local mom and entrepreneur, Julie Allen, launched Baby Bump Maternity, she did it out of necessity. The lack of fashionable maternity clothes for everyday wear, work attire and evening have been at the core of pregnant woman’s frustrations for decades.  Julie knew she would be filling a great need for expecting moms; giving them options so they would not have to sacrifice their style simply because they were dressing for two. Baby Bump Maternity strives to boost the confidence of their clients with fashionable clothing during and after pregnancy.

Julie is currently expecting her second child, I asked her how she does it all. Like most of us, she does her best to daily balances the hats of mom, wife and entrepreneur. Working from home and running her own business gives her the flexibility to stay with her son, you might even find her at the store with a newborn once her little one arrives.

Julie with son Jameson and expecting baby number 2!

Julie with son… and expecting baby number 2!

Moms in Baton Rouge have a trendy and stylish option for maternity clothes at Baton Rouge’s only maternity boutique, Baby Bump Maternity & Children’s, thanks to Julie and her husband Robbie.

Baby Bump Maternity & Children’s

Baby Bump MaternityEstablished in New Orleans out of a need for fashionable maternity clothes, locally owned, Baby Bump Maternity first opened its doors in 2007 on Magazine Street, and has been clothing fashionable NOLA moms and their little ones  ever since. With the great success of their first store, and after many requests for a Baton Rouge store, owners Julie and her husband Robbie Allen decided to bring a Baby Bump Maternity boutique to Baton Rouge, they both recommended me to read these secrets which helped them be the successful people they are today. Baby Bump Maternity’s clothes have been sought after across the country!  

There is something for everyone, the trendy mom, the conservative mom, and the laid back mom. Julie has employed the perfect associates to help you put together the perfect maternity wardrobe, customized to your needs, likes and dislikes.

And if you’re anything like me and you’re clueless when it comes to fashion, no problem, they will guide you to find just the right thing.

bsb

At Baby Bump Maternity you will find all of your maternity and pregnancy essentials including body butter, oils, pregnancy and postpartum bands, nursing covers, cute hospital gowns, purses / diaper bags, newborn items, educational baby and toddler toys, plus baby, toddler and children’s clothes, accessories and so much more.

Baby Bump Maternity

Julie and Robbie offer a first class shopping experience and enjoy bringing styles and smiles to the mamas that frequent their boutiques. They also love the community they serve and participate in community outreach programs, charity events and socials for moms.

familykYou can find Baby Bump Maternity & Children’s online at Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. They are located at the Acadian Village Shopping Center on Perkins Rd. {Just two doors down from Trader Joes}

Giveaway: Baby Bump Maternity & Children’s is giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one Baton Rouge area mom.

Please use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway! If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated BRM via a cash payment, gift, or giveaway. Opinions expressed herein are that of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the sponsor.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Fashion/Beauty, Local Business Spotlight, Mompreneur, Moms, Pregnancy, Women Tagged With: Baby Bump Maternity, Baton Rouge Materity Boutique, Baton Rouge Maternity, Baton Rouge Mom, pregnancy

When the Child Becomes the Teacher

June 5, 2015 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Before my daughter was born, I had a strong feeling that she would be quite the handful. She was almost constantly moving about. She was even a little bossy. When I’d lie on my right side, she seemed to have a fit, kicking and tumbling as if she was communicating her disapproval.

When she was born, it was confirmed. She was a handful. She definitely wasn’t the laid back baby her brother was.

I knew I’d have to learn and adapt.

We are also very different. Much like my soon-to-be 15-year-old son, I am more of the go-with-the-flow type.

My daughter is a strong-willed, energetic, free spirit. She isn’t afraid to voice her opinions about anything. She refuses to be put into a box. She longs to do things on her own terms. Consequently, there is never a dull moment between us.

mother and daughter lessonsIn first grade, she just decided that she had enough of school. She wanted to draw all day and refused to do her work. I started getting calls from her teacher almost daily. Although, she wanted nothing to do with schoolwork, when we’d do her homework together it was apparent that she was learning. She’d breeze through it and was ready to be on her way.

I made the decision to homeschool her.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into! It has been quite a challenge keeping her engaged.

Recently, I was listening to an audio when someone suggested that we get the children we need when we need them. That suggestion really got me to thinking.

My daughter recently turned 8. As I reflect on the time we’ve had together so far, I can see how she is a wonderful teacher.

I thought I was flexible and patient. Well, my little girl certainly puts those qualities to the test!

Nevertheless, there are so many things that I admire about her. She inspires me to live and speak my truth. We also have the best conversations!

I don’t think that it is a coincidence that she began to challenge me most at a time when I desired to make changes within myself and to step fully into who I am.

Often we learn the most when we are challenged.

When we become parents, we focus heavily on what we have to offer our children. But, our children can serve as wonderful teachers for us as well.

Are there times when I feel I could just get into my car and drive into the abyss? Yes! Gotta keep it real.

But, I also recognize the lessons and gifts that come along with being a mom.

What are some lessons you’ve learned from being a mom?

Filed Under: Mompreneur, Moms, Parenting Tagged With: Baton Rouge Mom, motherhood, parenting

Second Choice Outfits – Listen to Your Mother

March 30, 2015 by Guest Contributor

I saw the call out for auditions somewhere on Facebook. My desire to tell a story took over and I emailed for a spot. I didn’t tell anyone I was auditioning. If I didn’t get chosen, I couldn’t tell anyone of the rejections. After all, I am not a mom. Who was I too tell Baton Rouge what I know of motherhood? I got the email less than a week later, I had been chosen to read in that show. I was excited, but I don’t think the full extent of what I was participating in had hit me yet. It did on March 21st.

It was a rough day March 21st. I woke up feeling clammy, but today was the day I got to meet 12 other women I got to speak next to in the Baton Rouge Listen To Your Mother production and there were pictures to be taken which meant I had to fix my hair. My hair that hadn’t been washed in 4 days. Dry shampoo wasn’t going to cut it. So I washed and I blow-dryed and I laid my 21 week pregnant exhausted body under my full blast ceiling fan. I couldn’t cool off. I kept moving. I put on the only outfit that I felt like made me look pregnant as opposed to eating too many cheeseburgers. I headed out the door. First stop brunch.

As I sat through brunch I could feel my belly rumbling. I hadn’t been sick all pregnancy. Could this late onset morning sickness? I ate my food and my friend and I left. Next stop rehearsals, except….half a block down I just looked at my friend with a face of desperation and asked her to pull over. My cute outfit, my washed hair was now covered in my brunch. I will spare you the other details. I was heartbroken, these moms were going to meet me in my second choice outfit, with remnants of my own brunch in my hair. I looked in the mirror to see mascara running down my face. No more lipstick to be had. My hair…oh my hair, but I drove downtown. I already didn’t feel like I belonged, but now, A SECOND CHOICE OUTFIT (a second choice outfit at a very swollen 21 weeks is not acceptable in my hormonal brain). Then I sat at a table with 12 other women, 12 other moms.

ltym-br cast

Among the initial thoughts of, “Oh my goodness, do I belong here?” There was also a sense of belonging. I moved to Baton Rouge a year and a half ago and never really felt I found a place. At that table I had my place, it was labeled with my name on it. There was my place at a table of moms. As the introductions went around, I felt the rumble coming again, but I couldn’t leave. These women read their pieces and my heart grew three sizes. Each story I found myself holding on to each and every word, cherishing them. These words were tiny piece of these mothers’ heart and as each story was read, I realized something. This wasn’t just a show about motherhood. This was a show about being a wife. Being a daughter. Being a child. This was a show of gratitude and hope. This was a show of celebration and choosing joy. This was a show that my quasi “not a mother” self found her place in. This was a show for the feminist, the non-feminist. This was a show that summed up the personality of the south I had come to know and love perfectly. This was a show that allowed me to forget that my mascara was gone, my lipstick was lying along Jefferson Highway and my stomach turned with ferociousness that could only mean bad seafood from the night before. I belonged at this table, second choice outfit and all.  

LTYM-BRAs I left that rehearsal, I couldn’t help but be prideful. I get to stand up on a stage on May third and tell Baton Rouge my story of motherhood and I get to do it with the camaraderie of 12 women I had never met before a fateful Saturday of food poisoning and new friendships. To say I am proud is an understatement. Maybe I am not technically a mom, but I do have a story to tell about motherhood, step-motherhood and having a mom. If I belonged at that table, I can assure you, you will find yourself belonging in that theatre as one by one, these ladies share their stories of life.

This is the first year that Listen to Your Mother is coming to Baton Rouge. I hope you will find yourself heading over here and getting a ticket to hear these stories on May 3, 2015 at 2pm. The show will take place at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge. The show will benefit Hope House. You can read all about the cast and sponsors on the Listen to Your Mother Baton Rouge website. You can purchase your ticket on Manship Theatre’s website or clicking here.

Filed Under: Baton Rouge Resources, Celebrate, Community Outreach, Louisiana, Mompreneur, Moms, Parenting Tagged With: Baton Rouge Events, LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER, Mother's Day

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