Doula Business & Surrogacy Update!

Okay, so my blog has been a bit slow as of lately.  Not too much to post other than my awesome Stitch Fix clothes but I wanted to bring this back to surrogacy and birth related stuff for at least one post.

First of all, I have mentioned it before I think, but after my amazing birth with the phenomenal crying doula, she has moved me to actually become a doula myself.  I am training in 2 weeks to become a labor and postpartum doula.  This is my dream -- to work in the labor and delivery, pregnancy and postpartum field.  Not only am I becoming a doula, but I also had a job interview at a local birth center and was offered a job that day!  We have to figure out hours and pay  as well as child care, but can you believe it?  Two dream jobs coming together at the same time? 

Here is the beautiful logo for my new business Always Faithful Birth Services.  My friend Amanda from Camp Lejeune so kindly drew it up for me! 

I wanted something that was military related without being saturated in military lingo.  The Marine Corps motto is Semper Fidelis which means Always Faithful.  Those in the military community will understand that this is a nod to the military, but one day, Kurt will separate from the military and we will move on to a place where there probably won't be as many military members/families around.  I needed something that was also flexible enough to be understood to those who are not affiliated with the military and I will always be faithful to my clients.  Taking it further, the honor courage commitment is my promise to my clients and their promise to themselves.  I will always honor their birth wishes and help them have the courage to have commitment to the birth that they desire.  The symbol means faithfulness or loyalty. 

These are the two color palettes I am working with.  I wanted something that also was patriotic and military without being saturated in Ooh Rah feelings.  I like the glittery gold from the one palette to take the place of the chocolate in the other palette but I may stick with the chocolate color still.  I haven't 100% decided.  I also like that there is the subtle pink and blue of baby boys and girls in the colors I chose! 

So there you have it -- my new business has a name. I have the domain for my business and I am working on building a website slowly.  I will probably start out on FB mostly because I am familiar with that platform but I am going to make a beautiful website when I have the time to sit down and figure it all out!  Right now i have a lot going on in life and need to keep up with what is already on my plate before thinking about seconds!

Now for surrogacy news!  I am sure a lot of people are waiting for some kind of update.  E&L and I decided back in January that we may or may not do surrogacy again in the future.  They told me that if the perfect couple fell in my lap, that they hoped I would match with them... well, that is exactly what happened!  I was talking to a local IF couple about clinics and attorneys and my experience in Virginia with surrogacy and the legal process.  We were not looking to match at all but eventually after talking for a while about the process, we decided to meet!  They are a lovely couple and one of them even does the same thing my husband does and is a reservist so they have lots to talk about!  They adored my kids and we just all got along really well! 

They have just had a phone consult with the attorney and a consult with the clinic to start the process last week.  I did have to cancel my upcoming cruise because of the Zika Virus being active in 2 of the 3 ports, but that means maybe time for a vegas trip with my husband instead!  We plan to start working together at the end of this year or beginning of next year and hopefully, we will be just as successful and the journey will be just as smooth as it was for my last journey! 

When I have more news, I will definitely update!!!  Wish me/us luck!

Stitch Fix #5

This is a just a fly by post to show you my fix #5.  I am pumping then heading to bed so it has to be a fast one!

Trade mark Box shot!

First my note for Chelsea-- Gotta love the incomplete sentences and the choppy writing.  But when you see that you are about to be styled, you run in fast and hurry up and write something!

Note from Chelsea

I wanted to love this top.  The print and the style were just my style.  But the fabric was not.  I did not like the texture of this as it had polyester in it.  So I sold it on the boards!

I loved this top on the cards and even liked it in person, but my boobs were just to out there.  I would not have felt confident showing that much skin!  I tried to style it dressier and with a casual outfit. Sold it on the boards

These pants were just okay when I first styled them.  I just didn't like them.  They felt too long.  They were just meh.  I sold them on the board.  But then I tried to style them again for these photos right before I sent them out to their new owner and had immediate remorse.  When styled like this, I thought they were super cute!  But ... nevertheless, they went to their new owners! 

This is the dress I got on the last fix in purple/blue but I asked her to resend it in a different color. I am guessing they couldn't find it in my size so she sent it in black which is super versatile!  I love this dress and how it fix.  Without and with a cardigan -- kept it this time.  Didn't want to have send back remorse!

Finally, this cute wrap dress.  The first thing you see is my boobs.  You cannot unsee them but it is so flattering that I am definitely keeping this one!  It's a great business casual piece when paired with my ruffle blazer from fix #2 or 3 or a cute summer date dress! 

Here is the price list and with everything, I paid about $33 for 2 dresses because I had some credits and also selling the other pieces allowed me to get the 25% discount on these! 

If you are interested in checking out stitch fix, check out my other posts about how they work (you get sent 5 pieces and tell them a price point to stay within.  You pay a $20 styling fee and if you buy something, that fee goes towards that item.  If you buy all 5, you get a 25% discount.  If not, you get a prepaid envelope to drop the fix back in!)  Melanie's Stitch Fix Referral Link

Exciting news to come when I have a chance to sit down and write about it too!  My doula training is on the horizon with lots of new and exciting things to go with it!