The hormonal ups + downs of a 35-week pregnant working momma

By our glowing guest blogger CarlaValencia de Martinez

BohoJulia asked me to write a post while she’s busy taking care of a newborn. Sadly, if you were thinking you were done with the rantings of a hormonal pregnant lady, you’re not. I’m right behind Julia with just 5 weeks to go before we get to meet our baby girl, Carlota Paz Martinez. (And I think the double girl hormones REALLY jack you up.)

SO rather than share with you how uncomfortable it’s getting combined with the idea of getting one more ultrasound (I’ve had about six) I decided to share some of the things I’m loving from nesting, to cooking (which means eating), to decorating and everything in between.

eat

One word: beans

Yes, the simple, unassuming pinto bean cooked in a slow cooker is one of my favorites and it’s SO easy to make. This basic recipe becomes the base for refried beans, chili, bean soup and so much more.

What you need

A slow cooker

4 cups of pinto beans (picked through and washed with water – no need to presoak, the crock’s going to do that for you)

chicken stock or just plain old water

half a yellow onion

3 (or more) garlic cloves

Tbsp. of salt

Instruction

Put the rinsed beans in the slow cooker and cover with water. I like mine soupy to start so I cover with about 2 inches of water or chicken stock. Throw in the onion and garlic, cover and set on high. As soon as the beans start to cook or you smell them (this takes hours), add the salt and continue to cook. I either set this all up before I go to work or at night before I go to sleep. By the time I get home from work or wake up my beans are close to ready, if not ready.

My favorite way to eat them is in a bowl with whole grain rice, chopped avocado, tomato, Mexican sour cream and homemade hot sauce with warm tortillas.

nest

I’ve been in a mad dash to organize my entire house (don’t worry I won’t show you everything). Here’s a peek of Carlota’s room. I especially love the canopy over her crib which was inspired by a pinterest image I found that reminded me I had this inexpensive IKEA canopy I had used when Pascual was a newborn. I remade it into a girly version with gold glitter feathers and pom poms (which I am obsessed with). I also found www.lwphsews.com on instagram and LOVE the quilts, swaddles, crib sheets and more this mom of two hand makes. And the peace sign given to Carlota by a group of lovely ladies makes me smile daily. www.vintagemarqueelights.com

read

My first birth experience involved pitocin, epidurals, episiotomy and more – oh my! And I really had no idea what was going on. It wasn't a bad experience, but it just wasn’t even like I did anything, if that makes sense. So this time, I wanted to educate myself and just finished reading Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth.  May is probably this country’s best known midwife having delivered thousands of babies along with her partners at their compound in Tennessee called The Farm.  It’s basically a hippie’s guide to natural birth, and it was a great read with true birth stories, explanations for everything I did the first time I gave birth and realistic goals for someone like me who wants to have a natural birth in a hospital.

Buy the book here:  http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin-ebook/dp/B000S1LT1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408560474&sr=1-1&keywords=ina+may%27s+guide+to+childbirth

Image via Gabriella Nissen, Art Director at 002 Magazine

wear

Who am I kidding? I’m not wearing much of anything exciting except my de petra. (Does that count?) I’m basically spending tons of time in my bedroom of late so in essence I’m wearing my room. I am so in love with this mirror I had custom made by Gino Vian www.themerchanthouston.com and I get to stare at it every day for a long time from my bed rest vantage point. Speaking of bed rest, I love the rustic simplicity of my super soft www.parachute.com bedding that only gets better with every wash. 

I’m not going to lie, this bed rest thing is NOT easy!  I like being lazy by choice in most cases, but I’m not very good at it anyway… it has been made so much easier thanks to my girlfriends and family who pick up my co-op on Tuesdays and bring it over; take Paz on playdates; bring me flowers, a hardback book with a handwritten note inside and dinners, or just stop by to sit in my bed with me.  Thank you; you all know who you are.  I love you so much that now I am crying uncontrollably – but I am beyond happy and full of love.

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Pick up a copy of 002 Magazine to see more of Carla's work and our favorite section, her monthly list of favorite things!  Follow her instagram here: http://instagram.com/valencarla 

002's Summer Market & Why I Fired My Brother.

This weekend will mark the most strange combination of sales pitches that I have ever given at any one time.

I will be selling some of my favorite things: doTerra Essential Oils, Laser Hair Removal & MoPho phone cases.

My brother was going to help sell essential oils & laser hair removal but he got fired before he even started. Some of his sales tactics were a little too colorful. Here's a few song & dances that he came up with all on his own:

• "Hey you, with the crow's feet...come on over here!  We got an oil for that!"

• "Excuse me, ma'am, you're looking a little chubby today!  We got an essential oil mix that will help suppress your appetite!  Au naturelle!"
• "Hey Halitosis, honk that milk bone breath over hear and whisper without fear! It's called peppermint oil."
• "Hey Unibrow, laser that now and ditch the cow (gf)!"

• "You ...with the embarrassing, disobedient child...bet ya need somethin' to help put that nuisance to sleep at night!  We got somethin for ya!'*

• 'Hey there, looks like you have extremely thick, coarse hair. Let me ask you: Does the carpet match the drapes?  You might want to look into laser hair removal!'*

What an a-hole. Two words: You're fired. Well actually, we need his manpower for setup and breakdown. But don't worry future customers, we won't allow him to talk.

Now that the snake oil salesman has been canned, come see us in a very safe and air conditioned environment! Should be fun!

Big Mar's oils in 002 Magazine's: 'Things I Love'.feature.

Big Mar in action.

Big Mar's happy laser customers! :)

MoPho time. Black stingray with Depetra embellishment. A fine partnership! The Depetra sisters will also be at market with their jewelry line. J'adore! 

Black stingray MoPho with bohoBlack monogram, done by MoPho designer Bennett Rowe

More embellishment via BRowe, the gent behind MoPho.  He is a good family friend and also a good regular friend. 

MoPho rockers. 

Pink stingray with coin embellishment via BRowe

Silver Street Studios

1501 Silver St.

9am - 2pm

*alright I made up the last two. Kind of fun to come up inappropriate sales pitches. 

High Burlesque // 002 Magazine // The Moonlight Dolls

Dear 002 Magazine,

CoCo La Rouge overlooking the new venue. Holy chandelier!

You are hip. You are current. And you are pretty f'ing cool. 

This past week Houston's 002 Magazine featured The Moonlight Dolls in their April issue. After a full day of shooting around The Moonlight Dolls Studio and the new Prohibition, the team at 002 pulled together a beautiful editorial that truly showcases everything we are trying to achieve at our new location in downtown Houston. 

It is so nice to see The Moonlight Dolls in this light. They are already beautiful women but, more than that, they are extremely talented performers that deserve the recognition. And let's not forget about the costuming. God bless the quiet and creative Lian Pham (who is also managing partner of Prohibition). She is constantly bringing new ideas to the table for The Dolls' costumes. And I know her...she's up all night rocking a crying 8-month old while sewing ostrich feathers onto the girls' bustles. To all you working  mommies out there... I really have no words. You're all my heroes. 

Since construction of the new venue is still underway, we decided to hold 'Pop-Up Burlesque' shows in The Moonlight Dolls Studio, which is just next door to Prohibition. Hugging the corner of Main and Prairie, The Moonlight Dolls Studio is prime real estate. I pinch myself when I go outside and see where we are located. Sure there are parts of downtown Houston that still need some work, but for the most part, downtown H-Town is poppin'! It will just be a matter of time before we are all fighting for a spot on the Metro rail so be sure to get your passes in order! 

If y'all would like to see some beautiful burlesque performances from The Moonlight Dolls, you can purchase a table and/or bottle service at Studio 1000. And YES, we renamed the MLD Studio "Studio 1000" for these shows. Don't act like it doesn't excite you! The shows are running every Saturday evening until the new place opens up. They are elegant, intimate and classy burlesque performances. If you'd like to come, message me on Facebook and I will personally set you up. How you like that for customer service?!?!?

Cheers, Houston! We LOVE you! 

In HTown, Burlesque and 002 We Trust,

bohoBurlesque Babe Grace 

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/gracesalinas 

JoJo Bella

Kitty Kitty BANG BANG!

Kitty Kitty BANG BANG & Abby Cadabra

The dressing room really does look like this minus a bunch of random, super hot male models.

Oh Kitty!

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony by bohoJoe for 002 Magazine

My bohoBestie Carla invited us to interview Bone Thugs-N-Harmony a few weeks ago.  It just so happens that my brother is a big fan, huge fan, slightly obsessed fan.  I asked him to handle the interview, and he killed it. He had questions that caught them off guard, the banter back and forth was funny and flowed, they even asked us to come hang after the show!  He is now our go-to for all gangsta rap interviews, so bring em on!

All photos by Anthony Rathbun

Q&A with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

March 6, 2014

Q&A with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

By: Joe Salinas

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was just in town for their Texas Takeover Tour, if you missed it, I feel for ya.  Not only did I go to the show, but I interviewed them.  I’m not a writer, I’m not a blogger, I am a diehard Bone Thugs fan and well my sister Sarah did it again…

To set the table properly for this I have to start by pointing out something a lot of you already know.  My sister BohoSarah lives her life with an energy and charisma that rubs off on you, makes you feel a bit stronger, it’s contagious.

Every once in a while her charisma means people invite her to do things like interview Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.  And she calls you saying “Will you interview Bone Thugs for me?” seems legit, but it still took a full day to sink in that I would be in the same room with Bone Thugs.  This is the group I listened to repeatedly starting in 1996, I was 14 and my sister had to convince my parents that a song about “glocks” and “bloody victims” was OK.  I’ve never stopped listening to them and you can hear Bone Thugs in every hip hop song you listen to today.  Hardcore rap with a melody, they were the first.  

So here is my interview, it was surreal and incredible.  I got to ask about Eazy-E and the beginning, where they are now and even got some advice for the Houston Texans...kind of.  With some friendly jabber in between, these guys kicked back and had a great time with us.  They even invited us back after the show; well maybe just my girlfriend but whatever.   I didn't think it was possible to be a bigger fan and then I walked in a small smoky room and this happened.

Is it true you guys got your break by calling Eazy-E from a payphone and free styling into his voicemail? 

Wish Bone:  He actually was on the other end.  Flesh-N-Bone: It was a friend’s phone, we called him up and we actually made several calls to his office and was able to get in contact with his secretary.  She promised that she would get us in touch with him…she was a doll, she kept true to her word and when Eazy-E was back in the office she made his ass get on the phone and take our calls.

Did you guys just know “I gotta get this guy on the phone” or how did that relationship develop? 

Flesh-N-Bone: Well we didn’t really know it was going to happen because we had dealt with people before that were like “ok we are gonna do this, we gonna do that”.  We didn’t know Eazy-E was going to be the type of business man that seriously earned that shit.  As a businessman he set himself apart from all the other cats that were full of shit.

What do you think Eazy-E on social media would be like? Wouldn’t that be something? 

Bizzy Bone: Yes it would, his son looks just like him and is in the business, I think he would be running the company at this time.  We retired at a successful era and just now decided to come back and do something together, but if he was here it would still be rock ‘n rolling and it would be crazier though because he was innovative.  He was into video games before they came out; he was about blasé and beautiful stuff.  Flesh-N-Bone: He would have millions of followers because he was he was a marketing genius and would have smashed social media.  He already understood how to get to the masses and promote. 

Did everyone have the same switch at the same time from doing an album like Faces of Death to coming out with “Crossroads” where you rap about praying every day?

Bizzy Bone: It was kind of the same concept whether you’re thinking about hell or thinking about heaven.  You’re not afraid.  So when we got to Eazy he knew how to organize it and put it together.  Put it together for the masses and it became like a battle cry, like our warriors going to war overseas.  They don’t have drums no more; we got that shit right here for you - Ipod. 

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, yall should be in it. 

Bizzy Bone:  Thanks man, 4 more years, it’s the voting system however it goes.  We’ll get more into it as it gets closer. 

I know you guys are sports fans; you know what else we have in common?  Both of our football teams suck.  If you had first pick in the draft who would you take? 

CrazyBone: ahhhh man . 

A mobile quarterback? 

Crazy Bone: A mobile quarterback. 

My man, he just said Johnny Manziel. 

Who would you say is responsible for putting Houston rap on the map? Flesh-N-Bone:  J Prince.  Bizzy Bone:  Dayum!  Flesh-N-Bone:  That motherfucker’s the man. 

*Joe Salinas is the brother of 3 of the sisters that make up the blog bohoBlack.  He’s never met a stranger and appreciates the simple things in life like fishing, his family, the Texans, the Rockets and pre-2000 gangster rap.   He works at ElasticSolutions selling software.  He’s also been re-tweeted by Snoop Dog. 

~ 7 days of bohoBlack ~

• bohoBabies who insist on wearing the same shirt
• a pretty hand courtesy of Marzi
• waiting on the grand opening of the new Prohibition
• an interview with Bone Thugs for 002 Magazine
• family, fun and some pretty words
• half of our crew across the pond in Rome
• belly dancing classes at the Moonlight Dolls Studio 

love,

bohoBlack

Dear Clark, I love my shampoo.

   

My mom loves patchouli.  Which, if you are unfamiliar with the smell, the urban dictionary defines patchouli as: Hippie perfume...smells like forest, pot and snuggling. I kind of love that definition.  And I really love my mom, so naturally I have always loved the smell of patchouli.  I didn't realize it was a hippie smell until I was in college and I overheard an ex-boyfriend saying "her mom is a total hippie, she wears patchouli".  It's like when Daron (my brother-in-law) came to a family gathering for the first time and noticed my Aunt's mullet. Those things that are staring you in the face, but you don't notice until someone else points it out.  I'm rambling.

Back to my shampoo, on a girls trip with the lovely girl crush Carla (who has AMAZING hair btw), I used her shampoo and was instantly hooked!  It smells natural and delicious, a bit like patchouli, but very sophisticated feminine patchouli.  It reminded me of my mom, of growing up and if they made a perfume that smells like this shampoo I would wear it every single day.  It's made in Texas by two Dallas hair stylists with natural ingredients FROM Texas and the yummy scent comes from pure and powerful essential oils.  It's not cheap ($22), and you have to order online, but I promise it's a splurge you get to smell all day and my hair feels better than ever.  

You can purchase HERE.  And if you are not into shampoo or patchoui, here is a pic of Mo.  >>-----> Because everybody is into gorgeous babies right?

Happy Friday folks!
Love,
bohoSarah