Nowadays some parents may find that coming up with fun ideas to keep your kids entertained can be quite challenging. With tablets, phones and other electronics around it can be really difficult to spark creativity on some children. Can you relate?

As some of you may know, I happen to be a big Harry Potter fan. When I found out I was pregnant I started to put together some ideas for a #Potterhead theme session for my baby girl. It only took us 5 years to get it done but guess what?! We did it and it came out perfect!

Mischief Managed – Our very first Mommy and Me Costumes

We had recently returned from our very first Salem trip and boy we had fun. Having been able to visit this well known historical site right before Halloween helped spike her desire to dress up as a cute little witch. We had just started reading the Philosopher’s Stone so it was just the perfect timing. 

I still remember her excitement when we unwrapped our somewhat matching mommy and me costumes. Little miss D was so happy to know that her mommy would also be wearing the same Harry Potter cloak. After a good ol’ Harry Potter marathon to gather a storyline idea, we were ready to go.

Although Halloween is not a part of my culture, I decided that it’s a great Holiday to be creative together. We both enjoy getting our makeup done and coming up with some amazing photos that we will cherish forever.

Creating magical images through my photography is one of my favorite things to do, therefore, we both have a lot of fun working on these together.

Little miss D happened to have been working on her Felix Felices potion when all of a sudden, a death eater appeared ready to take it all away. She needed to protect her coveted potion! Armed with all the spells she had learned in her first year at Hogwarts she was able to guard her cauldron.

Our newfound tradition continues

This year was no different! The moment that all the Halloween decorations started to appear in the stores, (I’ve got to admit, a bit too early for my liking!). We were all over them.

Originally, we thought of dressing up as the Power Rangers, because, why not? However, after some thoughtful consideration we wanted a mommy and me costume that would allow us to enjoy and enhance the beautiful fall scenery on the island.  

She had heard a children’s song that I’m sure many of you have heard as well…

“Scarecrow, scarecrow turn around;

Scarecrow, scarecrow touch the ground.

Scarecrow, scarecrow reach up high;

Scarecrow, scarecrow bend down low,

Scarecrow, scarecrow touch your toes.”

With that song in mind we began our search for our perfect mommy and me costumes and I got to say, she picked them right! After a quick Pinterest search for some scarecrow makeup ideas we were ready to go!

We were very lucky to have had three loved ones that helped us pull this 2019 Halloween session together, Shelyn, Ianna & Martin. Thank you!

The process of picking out a theme, choosing our mommy and me costumes and creating the images together has been a great way to push both our creativities to the next level. We shall see what next year brings. In the meantime, we will see you in town trick-or-treating!

If you have never tried doing something like this for Halloween then I surely recommend taking the time and letting your imagination flow! I can promise you and you and your little ones will have so much fun together. 

What is your favorite Halloween movie that you and your family like? Have you guys every mommy and me costumes?

Don’t forget to start sharing your Halloween pictures with us on Instagram using our Hashtag #BreastfeedingWorld for a chance to be featured in our Halloween special!

We are really happy to announce that this coming weekend we will be doing an IG Giveaway! Head over and make sure you follow us, you can win some amazing prizes! Stay tuned.

Alexia Garcia

I’m a proud mom to a beautiful little girl who is the reason of all my smiles | Creator and founder of the Breastfeeding World Project – passionate about normalizing breastfeeding | Professional photographer serving New York City

The post Mommy and Me Costumes – A fun way to enjoy Halloween appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Breastfeeding World Founder, Professional Photographer, Full-Time Working Mother

I believe we can all relate to the fact that life as a new mom is challenging in every way. One day you are enjoying a night out with your husband, partner, friends or family and the next you are juggling 20,000 things that are thrown at you. It feels like an everyday battle, for real!

A few years back, when I was pregnant with my little girl I was living in the city that “never sleeps”, in the city that “all dreams come true”;New York City.

At the time, both me and my unborn baby were going through very challenging high risk pregnancy, I was 21 years old and not prepared to be a single mommy. Most importantly, I thought I was not prepared to handle the required life changes that were to come. There was no other choice…

Since my high school years I had always been passionate about photography. After my daughter was born, I spent countless hours in front of my camera hoping to capture her every move. As a result, little by little I started finding joy in documenting our daily lives. I was able to re-kindle with my photography education and spent many more hours working along side very talented photographers who became my mentors.

Meanwhile, I found myself being called to document special moments in my client’s lives. As a photographer, my goal has always been to capture candid interactions that are full of raw emotions. Most importantly, you are the main focus in this whole process and capturing the essence of what makes you, YOU is what I aim for. 

Photography – A passion that lead to activism

While living in New York City I had been harassed for breastfeeding in public. Consequently, In late 2013 I created the New York City Breastfeeding World photo project with the intention of showcasing the beauty of nursing. Above all, mothers needed to stand together and support each other in their journey, that’s were I came in.

I partnered with several makeup artists and other fellow photographers in the area and we were able to gift 80+ NYC moms with a beautiful breastfeeding portrait session. From that point on, there was no going back!

As a result, Breastfeeding World has become an important platform for many parents around the world. It provides them with a level of encouragement and support that many need on a daily basis. I am confident that by sharing our experiences new moms will feel empowered to continue on their breastfeeding and motherhood journeys.

What started as an artistic photo project has now become a fast growing global community of like-minded women who are united by their passion for motherhood. Together, with unique stories, amazing one-of-a-kind events and professional advice, we are becoming that new momma’s support system. Being the Breastfeeding World founder has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. 

 

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” — Aaron Siskind

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A photography project founded in late 2014 by Alexia Garcia, photographer a Alegares Photography. Breastfeeding World aims to promote breastfeeding and encourage new moms to nurse their babies through the art of photography and story telling.

The post Alexia Garcia – Mother, Photographer & BFW Founder appeared first on Breastfeeding World.

Over 700 attendees later in our tri-state events, It is my pleasure to announce that Breastfeeding World will be holding it’s second annual breastfeeding celebration & Big Latch On on the beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard this upcoming Friday August 4^th.

For those who might be asking, what is the Big Latch On?

It’s an event that takes place at registered locations around the world, women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. It aims to strengthen national and global support for nursing mothers and their children.

Moms around the globe come together in groups, large and small, and nurse their little ones for a synchronized session that lasts one minute starting at exactly 10:30 am. You can learn more about the global event here.

Remembering Martha’s Vineyard’s First Latch On…

On 2016 we had sixteen nursing mothers who joined us and our supporters in celebrating breastfeeding by coming together for the Global Big Latch On on the island. This event was part of Breastfeeding World’s initiative to bring these types of amazing family gatherings to smaller communities to create awareness and build stronger friendships between our moms.

In between laughter, excitement and a whole lot of cute little faces and baby toes the moms that attended last year expressed that they felt empowered, they felt united but most importantly they felt a part of something big.

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We are truly excited at the prospect of choosing this year’s location soon. You see, I started Breastfeeding World as a photography project to showcase the beauty of breastfeeding and the importance of being able to do nurse in public as well. Iconic outdoor locations for our events have always been an important aspect to us and choosing the right one on this lovely island is truly a hard decision because Martha’s Vineyard has beautiful scenery no matter where you go.

Contribute to this year’s accomplishments

Breastfeeding World started as a self funded photography project and it slowly developed into a growing online community of like-minded families. It now relies on the superb team of volunteers that have joined me in making this dream come true.

To this date we are still self funded but as a team we work hard to be able to bring these events to the communities we love. We have decided that this year once again we would love to give our local businesses the chance to collaborate with us by joining our team of contributors.

If you are a business owner on Martha’s Vineyard that would like to contribute to our cause while getting promoted within our beautiful community of new mothers and families, please fill in the form below so we can chat more about it.

It is exciting for us to see how each year our number of participants and supporters increase, this means that our efforts and hard work are paying off because our message of “Sharing the breastfeeding love” is truly spreading around. Because of this we are open to get as many help as possible, if you are a breastfeeding supporter and would like to volunteer during our event please fill in this form and our volunteer coordinator will get you going.

How To Participate In This Year’s Martha’s Vineyard Big Latch On

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Latch On Participant: 

Are you a Breastfeeding or Pumping Parent with a nursling? Let us know to expect you, get a free raffle ticket and swag bag by Pre-Registering Here! Then all you have to do is join us the day of and check in!

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Sponsor: 

Would you like to support our local Breastfeeding community while marketing your brand to our participants? Email me at agarcia@breastfeedingworld.org for more details, and Register Here

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Volunteer: 

Everyone at Breastfeeding World volunteers our time and love because of our passion for the breastfeeding community. Are you interested in helping to make this event possible? Please email Alexia Garcia at agarcia@breastfeedingworld.org

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Save the date: Martha’s Vineyard’s  Second Annual Big Latch On – coming August 4th, 2017

Be sure to join us in our social media accounts and be up to date with the progress of our project!

And… Don’t forget to share your brelfies using our hashtag

#BreastfeedingWorld

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Alexia Garcia

I’m a proud mom to a beautiful little girl who is the reason of all my smiles | Creator and founder of the Breastfeeding World Project – passionate about normalizing breastfeeding | Professional photographer serving New York City

The post Martha’s Vineyard’s Second Annual Big Latch On – On it’s way! appeared first on Breastfeeding World.