They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I completely agree. Most people think of help with parenting when they think of this phrase, and I think that’s absolutely true. However, there’s another aspect, as well. It takes a village of mothers to lift each other up.

My son was excited about Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile from the moment he saw the first trailer, so when we had the opportunity to attend a private screening of the movie at Soho House, I knew I had to go for it. You guys, my son had so much fun. And you know what? So did I.

Since I became a mom, I’ve seen firsthand just how much energy and effort it takes to raise a good human. It takes even more energy to raise that human while continuing to keep your dreams and your hustle alive. That’s why I’m sharing the Mama Markets gift guide.

If you’ve been a part of my journey through the years, you know that I’m passionate about law and activism. I believe the two go hand in hand. We can use the law to help make the world a better place.

When we think about making changes with the power of the law, we often think about places like Washington D.C., or New York City. But big changes are also happening in some of the less obvious states - like Nebraska!

For the past four months, I’ve done the same thing every morning. I roll out of bed and reach for one of my father’s plaid shirts. They still smell like him and hang just a bit loose on my shoulders, and for a moment, I remember the warmth of his hugs. More importantly, I let myself feel the weight of my loss. My dad passed in July of this year, and I’ve learned so much about grief in the days and months since. Our society is so grief illiterate—it wants to distance itself from anything sad or uncomfortable. Today, I’m sharing some of the concepts and resources that have resonated with me from experts in grief. I hope they bring you comfort, or help you comfort someone else.

I’ve always loved Halloween, and I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because my son, Eukiah is also a big fan of All Hallows Eve. We love watching spooky (for his age) movies together like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Frankenweiner. We also love exploring fun Halloween themed events like Haunt O’ Ween together!

Seeing Spookley the Square Pumpkin was probably the highlight of my son, Eukaih’s year. We’ve become huge fans of the books and the related animated series, so when I heard about a Spookley meet and greet, I knew I had to take my son.

As a lifelong athlete, I know the importance of taking care of my joints and tendons. That’s why I’ve been a fan of Copper Fit since they came onto the market several years ago. Their line of supportive and compression garments and accessories has been a huge help to me over the years.

If you’ve followed my blog or social media for any length of time, you know that I’m as passionate about fashion as I am about social justice and supporting mommas. That’s why I love my new discovery, Chalonne Apple Watch bands. They’re chic, stylish, and sassy.

If you haven’t heard of Blowfish Malibu, then I’m glad you stopped by. They’re a footwear company that’s as devoted to being kind to the Earth as they are to making fashionable shoes for women and children.

As many of you know, I’ve spent my entire adult life promoting equality and justice. I put in the hours to get my law degree and pass the bar specifically to try to help right the wrongs in the world. That being said, I’m not all serious all the time. I like to be silly, too. That’s why I was so excited to be one of the first guests on the new Conversations with Nick Thompson podcast.

One of my best friends, Karen Scott just turned 40, and I wanted to celebrate in style. So of course, I threw a pool party! I used Swimply to help me find the best pool for the best party to kick off Karen’s big 4-0!

My recent Vegas getaway was much-needed and much-welcomed. I had the opportunity to connect with my fellow Fashion Mamas in Vegas for a wonderful event sponsored by UGG Koolaburra. It was the best combination of fun and relaxation I experienced in a long time.

I’ve been so drawn to podcasting lately. I find that it’s a great way to dive into some powerful life themes, lessons, and ideas in a way that’s both informative and entertaining. It also takes the pressure off, as well because it just feels like a conversation.

As a long-time book nerd and lover of the novel, I was excited to attend an event with my bestie, Veena, to talk with Taylor John Smith about the movie adaptation of one of my favorite novels, Where the Crawdads Sing.

I’m as passionate about taking care of my body as I am about taking care of my mind and spirit. They say the body is a temple, and I truly believe that. Keeping fit helps me maintain the stamina and energy I need to run my blog, be a mom, and work toward making the world a better and more just place.

Disney Junior hosted me, Eukiah, and some other parents and kids to kick off the second season of Spidey and His Amazing Friends. The event was held in Santa Monica at the Pier, and it could not have been more fun!

This 4th of July my family underwent a tremendous transition when my Dad passed away. While I’ve been open about his death and the loss I feel, I haven’t shared as much as I’d like to about him as a human. While anyone who reads the blog or follows me on social media knows that I consider him an amazing man, friend, mentor, and father, I want people to know why he was all of those things. That’s what I’m doing today. So, my friends, let me introduce you to my father, Melvin Harris.

Family time is so important to me. It always has been. Family is what gets us through the hard times and makes the good times even better. It’s the core of our lives. That foundation on which everything else is built. There’s nothing more important.

I was able to celebrate Aloisia Beauty and naturally beautiful skin with great friends at Cielo Farms winery, and it was an amazing time. Friends and fun were the aorder of the day.

I recently took a much-need self-care break with the girls at GlenIvy Hot Springs so we could all relax, rejuvenate, and recharge. It’s was a wonderful time filled with laughter, destressing, and generally letting the weight of the world off of our shoulders.

Last week, I was invited to the BlogHer Health Summit to speak about Black Maternal Health. I was so honored to lead a discussion that empowered Black women to take charge of their maternal health and the steps we can all take toward more equitable healthcare.

Something I don’t often get to talk about here is the volunteer and pro bono work I love. In some capacity, I’ve been helping refugee assistance organizations for over two decades. Helping the displaced find solace in the world is very close to my heart and serving these communities is important to me because I believe that health, safety, and well-being are basic human rights. Now I’m doing my best to instill the same sense of empathy and involvement in my son.

I’ve been in love with renfaire since I first experienced it as a little kid. I was immediately captivated by all the costumes, the jousting, and pretty much everything that went along with it. It just captured my imagination.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day this year. I psent mine with my sone and some amazing friends at a special Mother’s Day event at the LA Zoo. Blowfish Malibu treated us all to a lovely ay of explration, education, and forever memories, and it couldn’t have been more special.

When people think of the life of a traveler, they often think of someone who backpacks across Europe or couch surfs for years on end. And while some people do travel that way, that’s not the only way the life of a traveler plays out.

It’s Earth Day! I’ve always believed that humans should be the stewards of the planet and not the thing that hurts it. That’s why I’ve always been a proponent of teaching conservation to kids. I took my son to Aquarium Pacific to celebrate Earth Day and to teach him about all the amazing life that lives in the sea.

This Easter, I got together with some of my favorite mom friends for an amazing Easter brunch. It was such a wonderful time of connecting, laughing, bonding over stories about motherhood and beyond, and of course, enjoying delicious food.

RYKA shoes empower by making it more comfortable for us women to crush our days and they also work to make the world as a whole better for women. Recently, I partnered with them on the Futures Without Violence initiative in which they partnered with the nonprofit organization of the same name aimed squarely at preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. They did that by donating $25,000.00 of the proceeds from the sales of their Courage Sneaker to the organization.