Tara, Author at The Young Mommy Life

Don’t Be Scared To Show The Real You

Last week was a difficult week on many levels. Personal challenges were coming at me left and right and at one point, I burst into tears in public, sobbing quietly on my way to the car. I went home to do what I always do -- get in the bed and cry privately, hoping somehow that the tears would be cleansing enough for me to be functional by the time my kids got home from school. But something … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Featured, Health + Fitness, Love + Family, Mom to Mom, Quit stressin' ·

“Mommy, She Looks Like Me!” The Dove Hair #LoveYourCurls Campaign Shows Why Representation Matters

"Mommy, that little girl looks like me," my daughter says, excitedly, tugging my arm to get me to turn my head as we cruise down the aisle of Target. A cute black girl with a halo of tight curls is featured on the signage in the girls' department, decked out in a brightly patterned outfit that my daughter would definitely wear. "I see," I tell my daughter now. "She has hair just like you, … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Beauty + Fashion, Featured, Sponsored post ·

Do You Wanna Be Happy? (The Secret Might Just Be Easier Than We Think)

Every day for the past two weeks, I've listened to one song on repeat: Kirk Franklin's newest single, "Wanna Be Happy?" If you're tired of being the same If you're tired of things not changing It's time for you to get out the way Don't get stuck in how you feel Say Jesus take the wheel He knows the road that you need to take (But it only works if) If you wanna be happy (Look at … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: #SurvivalGuide, Featured ·

[GIVEAWAY] 4-Ticket Family Pack To The Great Lakes Science Center

I was provided full admission to the Science Center for my family and four full admission tickets for a giveaway to my readers, by Great Lakes Science Center. As always, all opinions are my own. As my children are growing older and their schoolwork gets a little more challenging, I feel like I'm working overtime to keep them engaged with their work and trying to find new ways to make learning … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Featured, Giveaways ·

My First Stitch Fix Box: Like “What Not To Wear” But Without The Humiliation

Back in the early 2000s, my favorite show was "What Not to Wear." I absolutely loved watching Clinton Kelly and Stacy London ambush an unsuspecting, fashionably atrocious woman and needle her into admitting that she needed help with her style choices. They got $5,000 for a new wardrobe (although I always thought Stacy and Clinton made them buy too many high-priced items) and assistance in … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Beauty + Fashion, Featured ·

Caring More About How My Body Feels Than How It Looks

This is a sponsored post by Fiber One and these opinions are 100% my own. Last year I published a piece on giving up my Netflix membership so I could sign up for a gym membership. The goal was to get active and do something about the bad habits I had settled into. I know that, as a sneeze away from 30, I’ve got to treat my body better. I can’t sit around all weekend and eat delicious Chinese … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Sponsored post ·

Are You Giving Yourself Permission To Be Happy?

My 30th birthday is a little over a month away and this weekend, I took the bold step of purchasing two plane tickets (one for me and one for my hubby) to head to New Orleans to ring in 30 properly! Some of you might not realize how huge this is. I hardly ever travel if it isn't for work or a vacation with the kids. I will hop on a plane in a minute for a conference or something that will bring … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: Featured, Health + Fitness, Love + Family ·

Sisterhood + Sandwiches At The 2015 Self-Care Retreat

I am still over the moon about the recent Self-Care Retreat held last month in Alexandria, Virginia. I wake up pinching myself like, Did that really just happen? Part of the reason why it was so magical is because it truly felt like the women in the room were the women who were meant to be there. We all meshed so well and so quickly—it was like we were meant to be friends and this was the … [Continue reading...]

Filed Under: YML Retreat ·