About This Blogger.

Hello!

Somehow you have found my blog!  And you’ve clicked on this link, which means you want to know a little bit more about me.

My name is Mandy.  I live in the Carolinas with my sweet family.  I am an Ultrasound tech by trade, although my passions run more towards writing and photography.

I like movies, dancing to music, spending time outdoors, the summer, buying new clothes (but not jeans), painting pottery, drinking wine with friends, and play dates with my kiddos.

I dislike cleaning, remembering to pay bills, arguing, dealing with diapers (cloth or disposables), sleep battles, menu planning, and clutter.

I have two beautiful babies – Ronan and Ruby.

I am married to a wonderful man named Brock.

I can drive a stick shift.

Sometimes, I have to remember that it’s okay to laugh.

I never have enough pictures with me in them.

I wish I had more family portraits.

I am terrible at trying new recipes.

I love to bake.  (But always get nervous with new recipes!)

I am comfortable in my own skin.

I don’t really hold back – the good or the bad.

 

  • http://www.thenewbornbaby.com/online-breastfeeding-class Debbie Page, IBCLC

    I love your style of writing. I already feel as though I know you.

    Debbie

  • http://www.thenewbornbaby.com/online-breastfeeding-class Debbie Page, IBCLC

    Is there a way to subscribe to your blog?

    Debbie

  • Allison

    I have been trying to leave a comment for you on the breastfeeding entry but it will not let me. Please look up Dr. Mona Gabbay. She is a breastfeeding doctor in NYC and is amazing. her website is thebreastfeedingdoctor.com. I wrote what seemed like pages to you but it would not go through. Please e-mail me for more info if you like.

  • http://www.tempestbeauty.com Mandy

    This makes me smile! I have been told by people that know me that my writing style exactly reflects my speaking style. I’m glad! I’d love to get to know you as well. Thank you for your interest in me and my sweet Ruby. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

  • http://www.tempestbeauty.com Mandy

    I know of subscribing by RSS feed – I don’t have an official subscription set up. :/

    OR! If you are on facebook, you can “like” the TempestBeauty facebook page, and my blog updates will update to your wall!

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/TempestBeauty/134136226615125

    That link should work – please let me know if it doesn’t!

  • Kendra

    Hi, I just wanted to let you know that your post was shared on the Peaceful Parenting FB page. Are you familiar with that page? I LOVE IT! They are an amazing group of people and have helped a lot of mommas. I wanted to make sure to give you the link, as I am sure that many many great comments will be left there instead of your blog. Best of luck! Your children are adorable.

    http://www.facebook.com/peacefulparenting#!/peacefulparenting/posts/255280521150491

    -Kendra

  • http://www.tempestbeauty.com Mandy

    Sorry Allison! I have been responding to and approving every comment as I read them – so it appears they aren’t going through! But they really are. I’m trying to respond to every single one – over 300 so far. Shew! But thank you! I will try to get in touch with Dr Gabbay! I appreciate your willingness to help, and your determination – trying twice when your comment didn’t get through. You are a gem. All my love! <3

  • http://www.tempestbeauty.com Mandy

    Thank you Kendra! I JUST followed them and have read through the comments. Thank you so much for sharing my post there. And thank you for the support. You are wonderful <3

  • http://mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/bittersweet/ Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

    Mandy, you have a beautiful family. Your children are gorgeous. They take after their Mommy! Like you, I love writing and photography. My camera is always with me. There was a time I didn’t want my picture taken, too. That changed after I read an article from someone who didn’t have photos of her mom, and when her mom was gone she had hardly any photos of her. As much as I didn’t want pictures taken of me, I started allowing it for my family. (plus publicity now) So, smile for the camera and let people take those pictures. Your family will thank you one day a hundred years from now.

  • http://www.tempestbeauty.com Mandy

    Thank you Mary! You are right – I LOVED seeing pictures of my mom and dad when they were younger as well. It’s time to get in front of the camera a little more. I appreciate your comment! <3

  • Martin Lefevre

    Hi,

    Sorry I write you via comments. But I could not find contact e-mail or feedback form on your site.

    We are looking for new advertisement platforms and we are interested in your site http://www.tempestbeauty.com.

    Is it possible to place banner on your site on a fee basis?

    Please, contact us at e-mail.

    Best regards,
    Martin Lefevre

    P.S: delete this comment.

  • Sandra

    Mandy,

    I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story about Ruby’s maxillary frenum situation. I am the mother if two, four year old son and 9 week old daughter. I had many issues with breast feeding with our son, and chalked it up to him having a small mouth, poor latch etc. I ended up exclusively pumping and bottle feeding breast milk for 14 months. I was determined to not give up this time around… And after blistered, bleeding nipples and being in agony for 6 weeks, my daughter and I have finally adapted into a somewhat comfortable regime for breast feeding. It’s still not entirely comfortable, but we endured this long, so there’s no way I was giving up this time! I noticed the other day that my daughter’s maxillary frenum is quite prominent… I had noticed that with my son as well but hadn’t thought much of it.

    My husband an I are both in the medical field, and my mother in law was in dentistry for years. We all had noticed our son’s maxillary frenum as possibly causing the same dental issues in the future as Daddy…. Yes, Our children inherited this maxillary frenum from my husband… (He won’t live this one down haha) …Who had spent years in painful braces to try to close the diastoma between his medial incisors, because if his maxillary frenum being attached at the gingiva.

    SO… Long story short… I hadn’t really thought much of the maxillary frenum as being a problem other than for dental issues down the road… And I started thinking “hmmm… I’m sure it is easier to correct this now, easily, instead of braces in the future”.

    I consulted with my dear friend, Doctor google, And I stumbled across your blog! I didn’t think that this could be causing the nursing issues I’ve had with both babies! I had that “ah ha!” Moment… And now I can’t wait til our next appointment with the kids family doctor so we can be referred… If I could have this procedure done today, I would… I’m really optimistic that this will solve many of the current issues we have with nursing, and hopefully prevent issues down the road.

    Thankfully we live in Canada and this type of procedure will be covered by Medicare, but I’m not sure how common it is around here to have done… The Lactation consultant and doctors haven’t even mentioned it, despite the latch issues and painful breast feeding… Thy checked for the tongue-tie, but no one had ever mentioned the lip-tie.

    Thanks so much again for sharing your story… You helped me to realize that there IS something I can do to make the breast feeding experience better for both my daughter and I… I just wish I had made this discovery 4 years ago with my son!

    All the best, and Happy New Year!