I LOVE my BODY campaign ( Featuring Maika Ngong ) #ilovemybodycampaign

  This mamipikin could have never said it any better. In her own WORDS.

Please read and pass along.

     " I want to start off by saying I am extremely grateful for the I love my body campaign. I've been following the blog and showing my support by clicking the like button but not really thinking about the significance of the campaign. I've just been looking at the "cool" aspect of it and not really making an intimate connection. It is not until this past Sunday that I really saw the value of this campaign for me. Not for those who read the blog, but for ME. I asked someone to help me take pictures for my blog, and as we were taking the pictures they said "you don't even have the body to be doing what your trying to do." Naturally, I got pissed and seized my phone. I was deeply hurt and wanted to end the shoot but as I scrolled through the pictures I realized that they actually looked good. So I told the person "well, think what you like but just keep taking the pictures because they look nice." We took some more pictures until I was able to get a more amiable photograher. Despite the fact that I got plenty of good shots, I was not able to let that comment go. I approached the person and asked them why they would say such a thing? Don't they know those are the kinds of comments that can paralyze someone? That can break a person? I even asked them if Oprah is skinny?

I sat down and remembered the "I love my body campaign" and said I must take some pictures and send them in. Not only will I take these pictures but I will take them wearing my favorite blue skirt with a tank top, no jacket, no sweater! It occurred to me that this isn't just about being the most beautiful or super sexy, it's about being able to walk up to someone and saying "Hello, my name is Maika, how are you?" It's about Freedom! I know I'm not perfect, I know I need to put in some hours in the gym, and make healthier choices, but before I can do any of that I must love myself first! Only by loving myself, learning how to love myself, will I be able to reap the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Going to gym but not loving yourself is not a healthy lifestyle.

To close, I just want to repeat that I am extremely grateful for the "I love my body" campaign. I might not have had the courage to continue taking pictures if I did not have that mantra ringing in my ears! YOU MUST FIRST LOVE YOURSELF

   My fellow mamipikins please be bold and encourage others. Send in before and after pictures or present pictures with your  story so that we can continue to encourage, empower and support one another in this health and image journey. Lets run a dynamic  " I LOVE MY BODY CAMPAIGN " . 

Let #nomamipikin be left behind.  
Kisses and love 

All in a Day

  I cannot simply explain to you all without pictures, the reality of this walk in motherhood. We have days like this all the time, i did not take a picture of the huge pile of laundry i had to put away at the end of the night, or the cleaning, and making lunch, client phone calls and more.

   So the next time you think you are having a long day, or an unending list of appointments remember you are not alone.

We are SUPER HEROES!!!!!

This is all in a day............
   

"Muffins for moms" at my first Graders school.

"Muffins for moms" at my first Graders school.

"Off to a meeting"

" Venue Meeting "

Book signing event  " Whose shoes are you  wearing"

Book signing event  " Whose shoes are you  wearing"

"Art exhibition"   (Yes Me too..Lol )

Keep Pushing and remember to take a glass of Wine in between:)

     My daughter looked at me as i came down the stairs, she wanted to know if i was all dressed up for her school or if i was going to a party.... haha i smiled and said that, i was going to her school and was determined to be the best dressed mom at the " muffins for moms " breakfast. She smiled and said " I knew it mommy, i always tell everybody in school  you are a celebrity and a famous party planner, now they will get to see it" you already know I was in mommy heaven. Neh ( my daughter )  has very high standards, if she sees me as in this light, then i know exactly how much she admires me, and that to me is all that matters. I told her she was pretty famous in my circle of celebrity friends as well.

Love you all, 

( Please share a day in your Life with us, send all emails and pictures to asherisevents@yahoo.com)

"Putting God first in everything I do as a mother has helped with my balance" Etonde Akamangwa

     I am a mother of two girls and know what it means to be raising kids in America. Finding a balance with husband, kids and work can be very draining to our souls.I was blessed to be in a church that had a MOPS group and this changed my perspective about motherhood. I was able to hang out with real women like me facing the same challenges. Things even got better when I became a steering theme member. Learning how to help and encourage other mothers became a blessing to me.

 











          


When I first read of this blog nomamipikinleftbehind the MOPS concept played in my brain. It is very important as mothers to encourage each other through this very different yet, blessed season of life.  Putting God first in everything I do as a mother has helped with my balance. Learning to love and forgive my husband a thousand times make life easier. Knowing that my husband comes before my kids is very important in this season of life. God<husband<kids.

           Taking time off away from the kids with your husband is very important in keeping this balance. Oh yes, I mean drop the kids and go for a weekend. Money spent on babysitting, is money well spent in investing in your marriage.I go ahead and plan a getaway because waiting on my husband can take forever. I tell you, if you make him have fun like before kids, he will be the one arranging for the next getaway :-). I've learned that my kids are not stress as most mothers say. Instead, motherhood brings about stress due to the challenges of finding a balance.  "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?" (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NIV)

            I look at this season in my life as a blessing and try to enjoy it day by day despite the mommy mommy mommy, screaming, diaper changing, vomits yet, lots of laugher they bring.Investing time and building strong relationships with my kids is what matters most to me. They have no other mother but me and only God knows how long I have with them. 

          Finally, exercise has helped me gain a new look in life. I've taken a conscious decision to stay healthy for my husband and kids. I am one of those who look at food and gain weight lol!  I had to learn how to eat again after the pregnancy because the cravings stayed. I exercise because need to take care of the body God has blessed me with. Also, to have energy to run after my kids. I'm not trying to be a size 2, but trying to model good eating habits and a lifestyle change to my kids.