Life as Kyla

lifestyle & motherhood

Transforming my home from Farmhouse to Boho on a Budget: PART ONE DINING & KITCHEN AREA

Do you ever just look around and realize, wow, I need a change? I had that happen where I looked at my farmhouse decor and although it was cute, I was bored and I needed a change. It feels so nice to refresh your space! I am so excited to finally share this very big project I have been working on for the past month!

B E F O R E –

This was the dining area before I flipped it to a boho vibe. The table was painted a dark brown on top. I had a buffalo checkered runner, tin chargers, a tin S, and it was screaming outdated with the chevron curtains.

A F T E R –

I did a lot in the dining room area. I started with stripping the table top of the brown paint and refinishing it with some lighter gray stain so the natural wood showed and then a clear seal on top. I loved the chargers so I kept them but did ditch the tin items. The wood sign was updated with a neutral tapestry from Homegoods. It was $30, but worth it for the statement it made in my dining room. I am going to have the pieces I can link linked on my LiketoKnow.it!

| Shop with me HERE |

I painted the small lamp with a neutral color and added a little bit of baking powder to give it some texture! I changed out the napkin holder to this super cute basket from Walmart. Can you believe it’s only $6!?!?!?!

B E F O R E –

I also worked on this corner of my kitchen next to my sink. I wanted to update just a couple things to match the new vibe. I removed the farmhouse style basket, got a new affordable rug. All will be linked on my LiketoKnow.it!

I also ended up doing a DIY on the wooden tray you see in the corner. I used painters tape to tape off the tray and painted with some acrylic paint I got at Michaels. It did take a few coats to cover the words, but it looks super cute and gives a little pop of color to the kitchen! Just goes to show updates can literally be a couple dollars in paint! LOVE a cheap flip!

I did a lot of shopping at target, homegoods, tjmaxx, marshalls, and amazon. All very very very affordable. Some of the exact items from homegoods/tjmaxx/marhalls are not available online, but I linked similiar items. Also feel free to DM me on insta if you have questions or need help finding things I have in my home!

Before
After

Make sure to subscribe with your email so you do not miss when I show the living room and foyer flip! I love the new look.

What is your favorite part of my dining area and kitchen flip? I’d love to hear from you!

xoxo,

Mom Boss Monday: The Graham Co.

Hi everyone, welcome to the sixth week of my series Mom Boss Monday. Every Monday I will be featuring an amazing small business that is run by a Mama so you can shop small easily, and support a Mama while doing so! I want to help empower other Moms to chase their dreams! If you missed last week’s Mom Boss Monday you can read that here. If you want to read about my personal small business Wildflower & Co you can click here. Make sure to subscribe in the sidebar on the right to make sure you never miss a Mom Boss Monday!

Meet Hayleigh Owner of The Graham Co.

In 2016, we welcomed our first baby, Theodore. I struggled to find cute clothing for him in our budget. So I turned to the sewing machine and taught myself to sew. To this day I make most of his clothing.
Just before he turned three years old, we welcomed our second baby boy, William. William was born two months premature, weighing four pounds. He spent two weeks in the NICU, an hour away from home. When we came home and got acclimated to life, I started The Graham Co. Making clothing for babies is my absolute passion. It is such a blessing to be able to stay home with my boys, while doing what I truly love.

Hayleigh’s biggest tip to other Moms working towards their dream of being an entrepreneur,

“Just get started! It won’t ever be perfect, but just go for it and adjust things as you need to.”

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One of the things about Elsie that I am absolutely obsessed about is her thigh rolls. I do not think there is anything better than a chubby baby’s little leg rolls. I am obsessed with bloomers and bummies and showing off her cute rolls at all times! They are perfect because they allow for wearing cute knee high socks or lace socks too, also one of my faves!

I also love bummies because they allow Elsie to easily get traction on her knees, which is important for developing those skills for crawling!

I found The Graham Co. on instagram and instantly fell in love with the neutral and calming instagram aesthetic! I loved how simplistic all of her designs were. When Elsie’s bummies arrived I was even more in love! They are so so so soft and such fantastic quality. I love how stretchy they are and that they do not show her diaper at all (a lot of brands do)!

Although I am a huge bummies fan, The Graham Co. also has an adorable selection of leggings/pants as well! Each one handmade with love and care! Whether you are a girl mom or a boy mom The Graham Co. has something for your babes, and with every purchase you are supporting a Mom’s dreams!

Make sure to check out The Graham Co.’s website here.

Also make sure to follow Hayleigh and The Graham Co. over on their social medias.

Instagram | Facebook | Etsy

The Graham Co. has given my readers a special discount code for her shop. Use code KYLA10 until April 5 to save!

Love,

12 Easter Basket Ideas for Baby

*This post may contain affiliate links that will cost you nothing extra at all, but may result in a very small commission for me.*

As a Mom that went through infertility and loss, holidays have always been a hard time. With all the pregnancy announcements and cute pictures of the littles having fun, it’s just tough when you want that so bad. I have long dreamed of holidays with my own baby, and now it is a reality. Honestly a lot of a times I have to pinch myself because I feel like I am living in a dream.

I am not going to lie, I am that Mom that goes all out, but I am also on a budget. With Easter right around the corner I was so excited to find the cutest items to go in her basket! I also wanted to make sure I added some functional items. For reference Elsie is going to be 7 months right around Easter!

The headings for each item are hyperlinks!

Here are 12 awesome Easter basket ideas for your baby-

1.) Montessori Wooden Carrot Toy

I was so excited to see this toy on amazon! It is a perfect for babies to work on their pincher grasp and other fine motor skills. It is perfect for the Easter theme as well with carrots and bunnies! I can not wait to see Elsie play with this one!

2.) Silicone Travel Snack Cup

Elsie is getting into solid foods and the girl already loves her puffs. I know it is a matter of time until she will LOVE this snack cup, and I will too! It is so cute and has so many cute colors (rust, mauve, etc.) I loved this neutral color! It also has a lid which I love so you can throw it in the diaper bag. The handle is also a great touch for travel for little hands to hold onto. The cup expands too so you can fill it with a few snacks or once your kiddo is older more! So functional, so cute, and perfect for the next stage of Elsie’s life! WINNING!

3.) Bunny Ears

I feel like bunny ears are a complete necessity. I linked some feminine bunny ears with flowers that Elsie has, but the white ones from her basket are from the target dollar spot. They are tiny because they are actually pet bunny ears, and they even have an elastic cord that keeps them on. It is so convenient and they fit a baby perfectly! Bunny ears are a cute photo-op and they are an easter necessity! I will link some more plain ears below for boy Moms! If you look at your local Target, Walmart, and dollar stores I’m sure you will find a cute pair.

4.) Bunny Stuffed Animal

I linked the adorable bunny I put in Elsie’s basket, that being said (I am AM SO SAD, sorry guys) it is sold out at the moment. I absolutely love the Aurora stuffed animal brand, the animals are so cute and look realistic. I am linking a few other bunnies and a lamb similar to Elsie’s here if you would like to snag one for your babe.

Here are some adorable Amazon options if you would like to add one of these sweet cuties to your babe’s basket.

Click Here
Click Here
Click Here

5.) Personalized Sunnies

I sell these adorable sunnies (and flower shaped sunnies) in my etsy shop and they are completely personalized! I got her name, however you could put “Hippity Hoppity” or “Little Bunny” or anything you want on these sunnies! If I do not have the color you want in stock, just message me!

6.) Personalized Wooden Rattle

I am obsessed with this personalized rattle by Abel’s Workshop and so is Elsie! She loves chewing on it and I love how it has her name on it and that is completely safe for her! I love the little rings on the handle and how it adds an extra interesting element to the rattle as she plays. This is not only a toy she loves, but will be a beautiful piece to save for her when she grows up.

7.) Neutral Crocheted Hair Bow

This adorable neutral crocheted bow will go with everything! I am obsessed, I just checked and it said there is ONE left. So you better run. Here is an amazon bow pack that has multiple bows and one that is very similar to the one in her basket, just in case it sells out!

8.) Board Book

We are Christian, so Easter is all about Jesus’ resurrection! I found this board book called “The Gospel” to help explain what the Gospel is to our little sweetie. Books are always a great option for your little one! Here are some other options!

Click Here
Click Here
Click Here

9.) EZPZ Cup

I have heard so many amazing things from the baby-led weaning community about this cup! Learning how to drink out of an open cup is an important developmental milestone! There are many awesome benefits of this cup which you can read on their amazon/target/website listing! I’m excited to have Els try it.

10.) Bunny T-Shirt

I made this bunny shirt, and you can purchase it on my Etsy! I love how cute it is and the message! I love the color of the shirt too, nice and neutral! It is the softest shirt ever!

11.) Yogurt Melts

Elsie is obsessed with these yogurt melts and I figured most Easter baskets have a treat, so this is perfect for the tiny baby version! I went with peach!

12.) Reversible Bib

I am obsessed with these embellished reversible bibs by Ingleside Dreams on Etsy! I love that it has a patterned side and a neutral side! I also love the details! It’s the sweetest bib ever and it was the perfect little thing to add to a baby’s Easter basket!

*Bonus Gift on the side: Bubble Machine*

One thing I have noticed is Elsie is becoming much more aware of her surroundings. I saw this adorable bubble machine for sale on the Target app and I HAD to get it because she would love seeing the bubbles float around.

So here it is if you are interested!

What are you putting in your baby’s Easter basket? Did any of these items catch your eye? Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Mom Boss Monday: Abel’s Workshop

Mom Boss Monday: Abel's Workshop

Hi everyone, welcome to the fifth week of my series Mom Boss Monday. Every Monday I will be featuring an amazing small business that is run by a Mama so that you can shop small easily, and support a Mama while doing so! I want to help empower other Moms to chase their dreams! If you want to read about my personal small business Wildflower & Co you can click here. I missed last week due to getting double knee replacements, which I posted about here. I am going to be getting back to a regular posting schedule now that I am doing a bit better. Make sure to subscribe in the sidebar on the right to make sure you never miss a Mom Boss Monday!

Meet Kayleigh Owner of Abel’s Workshop

My name is Kayleigh, I’m 25 and I live in Ogden, UT with my husband Levi, our two kids Abel and Abby, our dog, Pepper and our cat, Helga.

I started Abel’s Workshop in March of 2019 – not long after our son, Abel was born. When searching for toys for Abel, I was disappointed to find that a vast majority of the toys lining store shelves were plastic. These toys often featured bright lights and repetitive sounds I knew could be overstimulating for young children, and many of them were manufactured in China – a process I knew was harmful to our environment.

Online, I found toys that better suited our needs and values, but these toys often came with price tags that were wildly out of my reach as a new stay at home mom. I have always had a passion for creating things, so I started creating natural wooden toys for Abel that were designed to support whatever skills he was developing at the time. When I saw how much Abel loved these toys, I knew it was something I wanted to share with the world – and thus Abel’s Workshop was born.

Abel’s Workshop started at a kitchen table in a tiny apartment, and quickly expanded to a 900 sq ft workshop. Our whole family plays a role in the business now, and we are proud to outsource some tasks to other small businesses as a way of supporting them as well!

Our mission at Abel’s Workshop is to provide quality, natural, eco-friendly toys that inspire imaginative play.

All of our toys are designed to support children’s development, and each toy is reasonably priced so any family can easily access quality, eco-friendly toys for their little ones.

Our hope is that one day our toys will line the shelves of popular stores alongside the plastic ones, so parents everywhere can enjoy their benefits.

If you are dreaming of starting a business – don’t be afraid to take the plunge! My biggest advice for new business owners is to have specific plans and specific goals laid out for your business to keep you on track and motivated. Business ownership comes with ups and downs, but keep going – you can achieve the impossible!

I found Kayleigh and Abel’s Workshop through TikTok and immediately fell in love with her work. The first video I saw featured her natural wood stacking rainbow. Elsie is a rainbow baby after years of infertility and loss, and so rainbows are really special to us. I am not a huge fan of super bright primary colors, but the natural rainbow was just my speed. I then fell into the TikTok blackhole and started watching all the TikToks Kayleigh had posted and found myself wanting just about every product they offered. I loved the ability to personalize Elsie’s toys!

We got our box of toys SO fast. I am probably the least impatient person ever and am constantly checking the tracking codes, but wow it was here in a snap! I loved the packaging! As soon as I set eyes on the toys I could tell they were insanely good quality. They were heirloom quality pieces to save for Elsie! Beautiful and so nice! I was very impressed. They were better than I even imagined. Elsie instantly wanted them. She went right for the personalized natural wood rattle with her name on it! She’s teething so it quickly found it’s way to her mouth, and she loved it (as you can tell by the drool on the rattle above). I also love the interactive rings on the handle, they definitely added to the fun and her thinking as she played.

I am an elementary school teacher so purposeful play is very important to me, and I know that it is how children learn best. It is important to me that my daughter has toys that make her think and that expand her understand of the world and how it works. Play is the way to a kid’s heart and brain for sure!

I just had double knee replacements 2 and a half weeks ago and I have to have my husband help me with setting up my pictures- yes it is as miserable as sounds LOL. He was getting frustrated because he would set her up and then she would IMMEDIATELY go for the toys. I told him that was fine because then it can show you guys proof, she’s obsessed. She loves holding them and taking the rainbow apart.

She did not mess with the blocks here because she did not know they were there, hehe. Otherwise she was shoving her blocks in her mouth. She loves these toys, and I love that I know they are safe for her to have in her mouth and non-toxic. I love that these toys will make her think and are not just something flashy to distract her. I also love that these toys will grow with her and make her use her imagination, ESPECIALLY the rainbow.

I loved this video that Kayleigh posted of just a few of the other interactive and creative ways your kiddo may use their rainbow! The rainbow she has featured in the video is her bright color way! I love that she offers natural and colored for Mom’s that want the colorful option!

@abelsworkshop

Have you tried these with your Rainbow Stacker? #rainbowstacker #toddleractivities #momtok #woodentoys #playideas #toddlermomsoftiktok #whenwomenwin

♬ ily (i love you baby) – Surf Mesa

You should definitely follow Abel’s Workshop on TikTok to see the toys in action, behind the scenes footage, and creative ways to use their toys during play.

We also filmed a tiktok featuring the toys we got and Elsie playing with her Abel’s Workshop toys! This girl seriously makes me smile!

@kylasieges

Today is Mom Boss Monday and we are featuring the most amazing toy company @abelsworkshop we are in love with the quality! #baby #montessori #mom

♬ The Sound of Sunshine (Album Version) – Michael Franti & Spearhead

Any of these toys would be amazing for an Easter basket if you celebrate easter, I know I plan to have the rattle in Elsie’s even though I let her play with it for these photos. Although I’m not sure if she will let me have it back. She loves it a whole bunch. I love that it has her name on the side! It’s the perfect touch! We will definitely be adding these personalized rattles and the other toys to birthday and baby shower gift list! What sweet present for a tiny new baby and Mama. I’m obessed.

Everything from Abel’s Workshop is top notch including shipping and customer service! Also check out their social media for future products and deals!

You can follow and contact Abel’s Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and their website. Make sure to follow where you can so you do not miss out on updates and launches.

If you purchase from Abel’s Workshop then make sure to save using our code LIFEASKYLA for 15% off!

Love,

Mom Boss Monday: SanRae Boutique

Hi everyone, welcome to the fourth week of my series Mom Boss Monday. Every Monday I will be featuring an amazing small business that is run by a Mama so that you can shop small easily, and support a Mama while doing so! I want to help empower other Moms to chase their dreams! If you missed last week’s Mom Boss Monday you can read that here. If you want to read about my personal small business Wildflower & Co you can click here. Make sure to subscribe in the sidebar on the right to make sure you never miss a Mom Boss Monday!

Meet May Owner of SanRae Boutique:

“Hello everyone!

Allow me to introduce myself! My name is May. I am the the owner of SanRae Boutique and proud mama of two amazing babes.
Our journey started in the summer of 2020 shortly after my daughter Sanela Rae was born (whom would ultimately become the inspiration behind our brand name). I always knew I wanted to run my own business. Having gone to school for Fashion Management and working in the retail world as a store manager for over 8 years I knew what my passion truly was. Everything I’ve every dreamed of sounded great on paper, the mere prospect of bringing it to life was more than a little intimidating. What if I failed? Could I deal with my ideas being rejected? Nonetheless I took a leap faith and started this shop.

Without a doubt my kids are truly the inspiration for overcoming those fears and chasing my dream.

We started out small, curating different styles based on our customer’s babies. Currently our brand has branched out by designing a few pieces specially made for our shop. I have so many ideas and designs in mind for the future of SanRae and I cannot wait to share that with all of you!

Kyla suggested I share a tip if you are a Mama chasing your dreams! One tip and what has worked for me as a “mamapreneur” is definitely working once the family is fast asleep. It’s the best time of the day, I can work uninterrupted, fulfilling any orders that may have come, searching for vendors for future merchandise and reading emails. It may not work for everyone but it has certainly helped me keep that work/life balance I have wanted for so long. Building a brand definitely takes time and dedication, but it’s certainly an endeavor I have not regretted. You’ll always have your share of attempts and failures throughout the process of becoming an entrepreneur. However, it’s always those momentary defeats that allow you to learn new things and improve your brand. After all, there are no great success story that are not built on the hard lessons and humble beginnings.

Thank you again for supporting our business. We sincerely appreciate you all being apart of our journey!”

One day when I was scrolling through instagram I saw one of my friend’s baby in the cutest little floral romper. I asked her where she got it and SanRae was the answer. This continued to happen a couple times with my friend and I finally followed May’s boutique on instagram!

When I got the little sweater romper in for Elsie I was so excited. It fits our aesthetic perfectly. First off, yellow is my favorite color, and my small business is named “Wildflower & Co” because Elsie is my little wildflower!

Check out our cute sunshine-filled Tiktok we made wearing this outfit.

@kylasieges

Her blinking when she knows the clothes are coming! 😅 Love my little sunshine so much and this outfit from SanRae boutique! #babygirl #babystyle

♬ Sunshine (The Light) – Fat Joe & Dj Khaled & Amorphous

I love the details on this romper, with the floral stitching! I also love the little wooden buttons and the fact that the whole romper is a sweater! I also am obsessed with the fact it shows off her chunky thighs!

The shipping was so quick, which in a world of amazon prime- is super important! It was packaged so cute and had a sweet card from May! She is quick to respond on instagram DM if you have questions as well, which I love about shopping small! Target and Old Navy are not out here answering my questions at all!

SanRae Boutique has a bunch of really adorable options for your babies and toddlers, baby boys and girls! May is absolutely rocking being a Mama and running her own boutique, and during a pandemic.

If you enjoy special boutique pieces for your baby follow SanRae Boutique on instagram so you do not miss any launches and also check out her shop here.

Thank you SanRae for participating in Mom Boss Monday! May all your Mama Business dreams come true!

Love,

The Start of My Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Journey

This is a little off topic for my typical niche of motherhood and lifestyle, but it is a part of my life and my motherhood journey, so I am going to share!

While searching for information on Bilateral Total Knee Replacements in someone my age I found essentially nothing. I hope this can be of help to anyone undergoing this surgery and especially younger people.

I am 26 and I have end stage arthritis in both of my knees. It is a genetic issue. Multiple people in my family have had to have joint replacements, it is what it is. My knees are at the point that they are starting to bow significantly, so I will be getting bilateral total knee replacements. They will replace both my knees within the same surgery.

I genuinely do not remember a time when my knees did not hurt. I remember in elementary school going to the doctor because my knee was hurting. I went on crutches. I remember throughout middle and high school getting MRIs on my knees, going to physical therapy, and going on and off crutches for years. I was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans, but had no real options to help my issue and was essentially told to “grin and bear it.”

While I was pregnant with my daughter Elsie my knees hurt even more. To the point I genuinely could not ignore it anymore. I figured it was just the added weight and the hormone relaxin that relaxes your muscles and ligaments. I waited a few months after having her and my knees actually got worse even though I lost a tremendous amount of baby weight.

My husband Evan noticed how much I was limping and brought up the point that we already had paid our maximum out of pocket for the year and I should just go before the new year. I made it in to seeing an Ortho near our house pretty quick at the middle of December.

You can see just how bad my knees are and how they are bowing pretty significantly. This will be corrected with the surgery!

He asked me some questions and manipulated my knee and then sent me in for some x-rays. I will never forget his face when he looked at my scans. I figured he would just say what they all had said in middle and high school- I have osteochondritis dissecans and that there was nothing he could do, but his face dropped and he said “how have you been living like this?”

He then turned the monitor and showed me the scans. He said, “You have pretty severe end stage arthritis. You are completely bone on bone and you need knee replacements, but you’re SO young.” He then explained we could try some injections and see if that helped bring some relief and he prescribed me some custom unloader braces. I tried it until February, and it was not working at all. Literally not better in the slightest. I let him know and he said “I did not think it could help, but was worth a shot with your age, but I’m not surprised it still is really painful.” He referred me out to a surgeon.

The surgeon here near our house said the same thing, I desperately need knee replacements.

My Mom had a hip replacement where she lives, which is about 2 hours from my house and her surgeon is award winning and PHENOMENAL. Despite the odds I got in to see him within the month, and he said the same thing.

That was it for me, three doctors all saying the same thing.

I was faced with a decision. Wait for the inevitable in pain, OR go ahead and get the knee replacements while Elsie is really young and have a shot at an active and happy life with her?! The decision seemed pretty easy.

I want to be that active and fun Mom that takes her kids to the zoo, the park, Disney, etc and isn’t held back at all. I want to live my life with less pain! I talked with my husband and we decided it was now or never.

I was waiting for the call from the surgery scheduler, and I got it last week. She told me I could wait until the end of April or take a cancellation date since someone just cancelled. Despite the quick notice we were able to rush and get everything together. Getting it done sooner is a step closer to healing! I am trying to beat Elsie on the mobility factor, and little miss is on the MOVE.

@kylasieges

An update just so you know what’s going on with me! I will explain more in the comments. 🙏🏻 #totalkneereplacement #tkr #prayer #goodvibes

♬ Vivi Trend x No hands DJ Yames – Dj_yames

This is my night before surgery blog post. I am scared. I have cried and hugged my daughter and used her as a tissue a few times today. I am scared of leaving her for surgery. I am scared of the pain. I am scared of infection and blood clots. I am afraid of the lack of mobility. I am afraid of the long recovery. I am afraid of missing out on these sweet moments with my daughter, because she is only a little baby once. I am scared. I am scared. I am scared.

I am scared, but I am ready to fight. I am ready to conquer this.

I am praying that I will heal as quick as I can for my girl! I have not even had the surgery yet and I am already ready to be back on the floor playing with her and active in her growth and learning!

SHE is my why. I want to the best for you baby girl. Mommy loves you. I got this.

I will be definitely posting about this on my instagram @kylasieges and I will hopefully be updating here when I am able. I hope that this will be helpful to someone one day.

Thank you everyone for your love and support! I still have the scheduled “Mom Boss Mondays” so subscribe and stay tuned!

Love,