Confession: big, wet, sloppy baby kisses are my fa Confession: big, wet, sloppy baby kisses are my favorite. Especially when the baby is dressed as a pumpkin. #halloween #baby #mom
My favorite pumpkins in the patch 🎃🍁 #family #fall My favorite pumpkins in the patch 🎃🍁 #family #fall #autumn #halloween
Officially walking into the -ber months like… 🎃🔪🎈🍁 Officially walking into the -ber months like… 🎃🔪🎈🍁🤡

#fall #autumn #spookyseason #october #september #horror
Our oldest boy starts kindergarten this coming wee Our oldest boy starts kindergarten this coming week. I’m definitely in the parent camp of those excited for the beginning of the school year because the last weeks of the summer are brutally mundane, but I can’t stop thinking about the fact that my child is half a decade old.

That all went by so quickly. #kindergarten #parents #moms
Enjoying these last summer days 🦞 #summer #seafood Enjoying these last summer days 🦞 #summer #seafoodboil #dinner
Seven years ago you asked me to marry you — easies Seven years ago you asked me to marry you — easiest yes of my life (even easier than agreeing to open another bottle of wine together). 🍷 Does this constitute an anniversary? Either way, I love you! 💕 #anniversary
Over the last few days there have been ENDLESS deb Over the last few days there have been ENDLESS debates online about women choosing careers over family, sacrificing careers for family, being a SAHM, cooking, childcare, being a wife, etc. The list goes ON.

I think at the heart of it all we have to understand that each woman is supposed to make this choice for HERSELF. The ability to choose was, actually, the main focus of the original feminists.

I hope that every woman gets to make these choices for herself. And, whatever she does choose, I hope she embraces wholeheartedly. More than that, I hope that other women - even if they make a DIFFERENT choice - defend her freedom to make the decisions for herself.

Also, here’s what I did with those apples lol 🍏

#feminism #women #motherhood
Two realizations I’m having: 1.) I haven’t posted Two realizations I’m having: 1.) I haven’t posted a picture of myself in MONTHS and 2.) These post-baby margaritas hit you like a ton of BRICKS 🍍🧂🍹 #selfie #momlife #lol
Here’s to slow weekends with family and trying new Here’s to slow weekends with family and trying new recipes. I hope you’re all having a great weekend! ❤️🍅 (PS, the lemon-mascarpone stuffed tomatoes were 😍🍋) #weekends #recipes #cooking #foodie
My little deck garden’s tomato yield 🪴🍅 🌞 I love My little deck garden’s tomato yield 🪴🍅 🌞

I love growing my own food. I dream of having a sizable garden one day but everything takes time. Gardening is a fitting metaphor for patience. You don’t yield fruit moments after planting a seed. Rather, fruit only grows after planting and watering and nurturing a small seed for a period of time.

This metaphor comforts me. #gardening #plants
Easy summer meal: clams and linguine 🍽️ Recipe: 1 Easy summer meal: clams and linguine 🍽️

Recipe:
1. Bring a pot of salted water to a rapid boil.
2. Heat 1/3 c. olive oil in a large pot with sliced garlic and red pepper flakes till aromatic (how ever much you like of both!)
3. Once aromatic, add 3/4 c. white wine, 1/4 c. water, zest of one lemon, and 1-2 tbs lemon juice to olive oil. 
4. Once boiling, add scrubbed clams (I used 2 dozen) and cover the pot. 
5. Place linguine in boiling salted water and cook till al dente. 
6. Once the pasta is finished and the clams have opened, combine and enjoy with crusty bread, white wine, and good company 🥖 #recipe #clams #summer
Father’s Day, brought to you by @webergrills 🥩 Hap Father’s Day, brought to you by @webergrills 🥩 Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! #fathersday
Cookin’ with Schukin! 🦐 Big thanks and shoutout to Cookin’ with Schukin! 🦐 Big thanks and shoutout to my Uncle Bobby for coming by for a cooking lesson and pinochle tournament! #summer #shrimpandgrits
I’m interrupting my posting hiatus to wish you all I’m interrupting my posting hiatus to wish you all a very happy halfway to Halloween 🧡 🖤 🧡 🖤#halfwaytohalloween #halloween #fall #autumn
I can’t believe tomorrow is already a week of this I can’t believe tomorrow is already a week of this little guy being here 🤍💙🤍💙 #baby #newborn
Introducing Stephen Frank Lopes 💙💙💙 #baby #announc Introducing Stephen Frank Lopes 💙💙💙 #baby #announcement
Look, it’s been a long 40ish weeks… Baby Boy will Look, it’s been a long 40ish weeks…

Baby Boy will be making his arrival any day now so we’re over here prepping with the essentials 🍼🍷🧴👶🏻👣 #baby #pregnancy #motherhood #postpartumjourney
Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite boys 💙💙💙 …we Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite boys 💙💙💙

…we’re just waiting on the third one to make his arrival! 🤰🏻 #valentines #pregnant #boymom
It’s been quiet over here on the Instagram due to It’s been quiet over here on the Instagram due to all the moving, but tonight I decided to not unpack yet another box and bake something delicious instead. 🫐🍋🫖

Baby Lopes #2 is due in just a little over two weeks and to say I am SCRAMBLING to get stuff done is an understatement 🙃 Tonight I actually had pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions and realized I didn’t even pack a hospital bag yet hahahaaaaa brb… 😅 #moving #pregnancy
I *finally* got around to writing about my baby sh I *finally* got around to writing about my baby shower from last month! With all the craziness of the new house, getting ready for the baby, etc., I’ve had very little time to dedicate to my blog.

…but now it’s uploaded! ✨

I want to give a special shout out to @p.little.thingss for helping create such beautiful decorations for the party 🎈Jen was so helpful, creative, and listened to me for days about balloon colors and wood paneling 😂 I highly recommend Pretty Little Things for all your party needs!

Check out the link in my bio for more information ❤️ #babysprinkle #pregnancylife
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

my better self

the pursuit of well-rounded living

  • HOME
  • ABOUT & CONTACT
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Travel
    • Health & Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Bookshelf
    • Movies
    • Music
  • HOUSE & HOME
    • Entertaining & Recipes
    • Parenting
      • Oh, Baby!
      • Toddlers

Uncategorized · July 15, 2023

Enjoying the Season

Hello, everyone! I haven’t been writing as much the past few weeks due to some personal stuff and I’ve been meaning to pop on and share some thoughts I’ve had the last few weeks. (Side note: the personal stuff is…

Read More

Uncategorized · June 11, 2023

My Favorite Summer Movies

In my last post I talked about how it’s “officially” summertime. Okay, well, it’s not officially summertime until June 21st. Despite this, we’re still celebrating the upcoming season at my house. One of our favorite family activities and hobbies is…

Read More

Shop My Favorite Summer Movies

Fashion · June 9, 2023

Summer Handbags

*Cue Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” because SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE YEAR!* Y’all, it’s finally summer around here now that our son officially graduated from his Super Tot program at school and we are so ready for barbecues and beach…

Read More

SHOP MY FAVORITE SUMMER HANDBAGS

Health & Beauty · June 3, 2023

Welcoming Summertime

I am usually not a warm-weather fan (as you all know), but this year I am really looking to the summertime. I haven’t posted in a while because of how insane things have been around here, but I plan on…

Read More

Shop My Look

Travel · September 21, 2022

Ending the Summer in Florida

While I am excited for autumn (as you all know by now), one last summer adventure was a necessity to close out the season! This past weekend we celebrated my friend’s upcoming wedding with a bachelorette bash in Hollywood, Florida,…

Read More

Bookshelf, Music · July 25, 2022

A Perfect True Crime Podcast for Summertime

How’s everyone’s summer been treating them? I’ve been enjoying the season, but as I talked about in my last post I am really excited for fall! One of my favorite things about fall is, obviously, all things horror and anything…

Read More

Uncategorized · July 10, 2022

My Favorite Sundress this Summer

Summer is in full swing and nothing says “summer” quite like a sundress! This white sundress from J. Crew has been my favorite of the season. It’s so flirty, bright, and perfect for barbecues, picnics, etc. (It’s also on sale…

Read More

Health & Beauty · July 1, 2022

3 Ways I am Using My Day Designer This Summer

The Day Designer has been my favorite planner for years. This is how I’ll be using my planner this summer!

Pages: 1 2

Parenting · June 14, 2021

Simple Summer Activities for Kids

Happy Friday! Am I the only parent who feels like every day of summer vacation should be filled with some sort of activity? This feeling for me is especially heightened this summer after spending the majority of last year stuck…

Read More

Entertaining & Recipes · June 8, 2021

S’Mores Skillet Dip

S’mores are a classic summer dessert that are so easy to make. To make it even more simple, check out my S’mores Skillet Dip! Ingredients Butter (for greasing) 6 bars of chocolate (I used regular Hershey’s bars; the 1.55 oz…

Read More

Oh, Baby!, Parenting · July 7, 2020

Baby Beach Essentials

As residents of the Jersey Shore, when I was pregnant and creating my baby registry I had a lot of baby beach essentials on the list. I had various tents, special blankets for my kid to sit on, portable fans,…

Read More

Uncategorized · June 14, 2020

A Summer of Horror

We all know that autumn is the designated spooky season. Between the new chill in the air, the harvest moon, and Halloween, autumn pretty much takes the cake. Not to mention, some of the best horror films take place during…

Read More

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next →

Looking for Something?

instagram

follow @antoinettecealopes

Confession: big, wet, sloppy baby kisses are my fa Confession: big, wet, sloppy baby kisses are my favorite. Especially when the baby is dressed as a pumpkin. #halloween #baby #mom
My favorite pumpkins in the patch 🎃🍁 #family #fall My favorite pumpkins in the patch 🎃🍁 #family #fall #autumn #halloween
Officially walking into the -ber months like… 🎃🔪🎈🍁 Officially walking into the -ber months like… 🎃🔪🎈🍁🤡

#fall #autumn #spookyseason #october #september #horror
Our oldest boy starts kindergarten this coming wee Our oldest boy starts kindergarten this coming week. I’m definitely in the parent camp of those excited for the beginning of the school year because the last weeks of the summer are brutally mundane, but I can’t stop thinking about the fact that my child is half a decade old.

That all went by so quickly. #kindergarten #parents #moms
Enjoying these last summer days 🦞 #summer #seafood Enjoying these last summer days 🦞 #summer #seafoodboil #dinner
Seven years ago you asked me to marry you — easies Seven years ago you asked me to marry you — easiest yes of my life (even easier than agreeing to open another bottle of wine together). 🍷 Does this constitute an anniversary? Either way, I love you! 💕 #anniversary
Over the last few days there have been ENDLESS deb Over the last few days there have been ENDLESS debates online about women choosing careers over family, sacrificing careers for family, being a SAHM, cooking, childcare, being a wife, etc. The list goes ON.

I think at the heart of it all we have to understand that each woman is supposed to make this choice for HERSELF. The ability to choose was, actually, the main focus of the original feminists.

I hope that every woman gets to make these choices for herself. And, whatever she does choose, I hope she embraces wholeheartedly. More than that, I hope that other women - even if they make a DIFFERENT choice - defend her freedom to make the decisions for herself.

Also, here’s what I did with those apples lol 🍏

#feminism #women #motherhood
Two realizations I’m having: 1.) I haven’t posted Two realizations I’m having: 1.) I haven’t posted a picture of myself in MONTHS and 2.) These post-baby margaritas hit you like a ton of BRICKS 🍍🧂🍹 #selfie #momlife #lol
Here’s to slow weekends with family and trying new Here’s to slow weekends with family and trying new recipes. I hope you’re all having a great weekend! ❤️🍅 (PS, the lemon-mascarpone stuffed tomatoes were 😍🍋) #weekends #recipes #cooking #foodie
My little deck garden’s tomato yield 🪴🍅 🌞 I love My little deck garden’s tomato yield 🪴🍅 🌞

I love growing my own food. I dream of having a sizable garden one day but everything takes time. Gardening is a fitting metaphor for patience. You don’t yield fruit moments after planting a seed. Rather, fruit only grows after planting and watering and nurturing a small seed for a period of time.

This metaphor comforts me. #gardening #plants
Easy summer meal: clams and linguine 🍽️ Recipe: 1 Easy summer meal: clams and linguine 🍽️

Recipe:
1. Bring a pot of salted water to a rapid boil.
2. Heat 1/3 c. olive oil in a large pot with sliced garlic and red pepper flakes till aromatic (how ever much you like of both!)
3. Once aromatic, add 3/4 c. white wine, 1/4 c. water, zest of one lemon, and 1-2 tbs lemon juice to olive oil. 
4. Once boiling, add scrubbed clams (I used 2 dozen) and cover the pot. 
5. Place linguine in boiling salted water and cook till al dente. 
6. Once the pasta is finished and the clams have opened, combine and enjoy with crusty bread, white wine, and good company 🥖 #recipe #clams #summer
Father’s Day, brought to you by @webergrills 🥩 Hap Father’s Day, brought to you by @webergrills 🥩 Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! #fathersday
Cookin’ with Schukin! 🦐 Big thanks and shoutout to Cookin’ with Schukin! 🦐 Big thanks and shoutout to my Uncle Bobby for coming by for a cooking lesson and pinochle tournament! #summer #shrimpandgrits
I’m interrupting my posting hiatus to wish you all I’m interrupting my posting hiatus to wish you all a very happy halfway to Halloween 🧡 🖤 🧡 🖤#halfwaytohalloween #halloween #fall #autumn
I can’t believe tomorrow is already a week of this I can’t believe tomorrow is already a week of this little guy being here 🤍💙🤍💙 #baby #newborn
Introducing Stephen Frank Lopes 💙💙💙 #baby #announc Introducing Stephen Frank Lopes 💙💙💙 #baby #announcement
Look, it’s been a long 40ish weeks… Baby Boy will Look, it’s been a long 40ish weeks…

Baby Boy will be making his arrival any day now so we’re over here prepping with the essentials 🍼🍷🧴👶🏻👣 #baby #pregnancy #motherhood #postpartumjourney
Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite boys 💙💙💙 …we Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite boys 💙💙💙

…we’re just waiting on the third one to make his arrival! 🤰🏻 #valentines #pregnant #boymom
It’s been quiet over here on the Instagram due to It’s been quiet over here on the Instagram due to all the moving, but tonight I decided to not unpack yet another box and bake something delicious instead. 🫐🍋🫖

Baby Lopes #2 is due in just a little over two weeks and to say I am SCRAMBLING to get stuff done is an understatement 🙃 Tonight I actually had pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions and realized I didn’t even pack a hospital bag yet hahahaaaaa brb… 😅 #moving #pregnancy
I *finally* got around to writing about my baby sh I *finally* got around to writing about my baby shower from last month! With all the craziness of the new house, getting ready for the baby, etc., I’ve had very little time to dedicate to my blog.

…but now it’s uploaded! ✨

I want to give a special shout out to @p.little.thingss for helping create such beautiful decorations for the party 🎈Jen was so helpful, creative, and listened to me for days about balloon colors and wood paneling 😂 I highly recommend Pretty Little Things for all your party needs!

Check out the link in my bio for more information ❤️ #babysprinkle #pregnancylife

WANT MORE?

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

FOLLOW ALONG

STAY A WHILE

  • My Favorite Skincare
  • Life-Changing Literature
  • Salem, MA: My Happy Place
  • My Favorite Dinner

Copyright © 2025 my better self · Theme by 17th Avenue

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...