My Life

Growing Our Family: We’re Expecting Baby #2

By Esperanza on June 24, 2026

Pregnancy, Pregnancy announcement, baby announcement, baby #2, second baby, second pregnancy, toddler mom, boy mom, toddler parents, newlyweds, growing family, growing our family, family blogger, mommy blogger, beach, beach photoshoot, family photography, maternity photography, Lincoln City, Oregon coast.

When we made the temporary move to Colorado earlier this year, we knew it would be a season of change and adventure for our little family. As we settled into this new chapter, Andrew and I decided it was finally time to start growing our family. From the very beginning of our relationship, we talked about our hopes for the future and the family we wanted to build together. After getting married last September—following eight wonderful months of dating and a six-month engagement—we felt ready to take that next step. To our surprise and excitement, it only took two months of trying before we found out we were expecting!

Starting Our Next Chapter: Growing Our Family

By Esperanza on May 1, 2026

Life update, growing our family, growing family, family, motherhood, fatherhood, childhood, sibling, toddler, toddler parents, Mira, Colorado, fertility tracking, fertility, pregnancy.

It’s been such a full, beautiful, and honestly busy season for our family. Andrew and I got married last September, then one month later headed off on a three-week honeymoon through Italy, which still feels like a dream. We came home, celebrated Sage turning two in January, and then jumped straight into our move to Colorado in March. It’s been one milestone after another, and for a while it felt like we were just trying to keep up. But now that we’re finally settled, everything feels calmer and more intentional—and it gave us the space to ask ourselves what we wanted next for our family.

My Life | Wellness

How We’re Swapping Toxic for Non-Toxic in Our Home

By Esperanza on April 14, 2026

Non-toxic, Non-toxic swaps, Non-toxic living, Non-toxic homes, Non-toxic lifestyle, home, guide, shoppable guide, sustainable, healthy living, sustainable living, toddler parents, parents, healthy home, family blogger, lifestyle blogger, The Urban Darling.

Andrew and I recently watched The Plastic Detox on Netflix, and honestly, we were shocked by what we learned, especially about how microplastics can impact our health. We’ve always tried to be intentional with how we live. Clean beauty, sustainable products, and healthy eating have been important to both of us since we first met, so we felt like we were already doing a pretty good job. Our home was filled with non-toxic cleaning supplies, organic foods, and we avoided things like synthetic perfumes and conventional deodorants. But this documentary opened our eyes in a completely new way, and as parents, it hit even deeper.

DIY Projects | My Life

Modern Bohemian DIY Wedding In Phoenix, AZ

By Esperanza on October 28, 2025

Phoenix, Phoenix wedding, boho wedding, modern bohemian, vintage wedding, thrifted wedding, DIY wedding, wedding decor, wedding style, wedding dress, groom style, wedding food, Italian wedding food, bohemian wedding, vintage style, thrifted style, handmade wedding, wedding photography, romantic wedding, wedding tablescapes, wedding altar, altar decor, tablescape decor, groom, bride, ringbearer, flower girl, bridesmaids, groomsmen, wedding DJ.

With our sights set on saving for a home, we decided to pour creativity—not money—into our wedding decor. Every element was a DIY labor of love. After our son went to bed each night, Andrew and I would sit down to thrift, design, and plan together. Since we couldn’t get married in Italy, we brought the feeling of it to Arizona—warm, relaxed, and earthy. I leaned on my background in interior design to curate a modern bohemian aesthetic with neutrals, terracotta tones, and natural textures that felt effortlessly romantic.

Couples Style | My Life

Bridal Sunset Session At A Mission In Tucson, AZ

By Esperanza on

Phoenix, Phoenix wedding, Morilee, Arizona, Arizona bride, Tucson Bride, Phoenix bride, Morilee bride, Morilee wedding dress, boho wedding, modern bohemian, vintage wedding, bridal session, bridal photography, bride, groom, bridal editorial, mission, Tucson, wedding style, wedding dress, groom style, elopement shoot, vintage style, thrifted style, wedding photography, romantic wedding, wedding.

A week after our wedding, we met our photographer at a stunning historic mission just outside of Tucson—a place that once sat high on our list of potential venues. In the end, it didn’t make sense logistically, but the beauty of it never left my mind. Heading there for our bridal sunset session felt serendipitous, like the universe was letting us experience that dream in a different, more intimate way.

DIY Projects | My Life

Our Wedding: A Handmade Celebration Full of Love, Rain, & Pasta

By Esperanza on October 7, 2025

When we first started planning our wedding, we dreamed of saying “I do” in Italy. That plan eventually evolved—it would have been too hard for our families to travel—but we carried that vision with us. We wanted our day to feel warm, intentional, creative, and full of soul. Every detail was chosen with care, and almost everything—from the florals to the food—was made by our own hands. We thrifted, styled, cooked, arranged, and designed our way through six months of wedding prep, carving out time after our son went to bed each night to bring our vision to life. Then, the weekend of our wedding, a record-breaking rainstorm swept through Phoenix and nearly derailed everything. But just like our love story, this wedding was never about perfection. It was about showing up, leaning in, and building something beautiful together—even through the mess.

Beauty | My Life

My Wedding Beauty Prep | Microneedling, Lip Filler, Botox, & More

By Esperanza on September 20, 2025

Wedding, wedding beauty, beauty prep, wedding beauty prep, microneedling, lip filler, botox, lip blushing, PRP SkinPen microneedling, Chemical Peel, Oxygen facial, lip filler, hair makeover, lymphatic drainage, bride, bride to be, bride 2025, The Now Massage, Elevate Grace, Phoenix, The Pretty House Beauty Lounge, Bonita Aesthetics, Karma Aesthetics. — Screenshot

Like any bride, I wanted to look and feel my absolute best on my wedding day. Andrew proposed to me in April after eight months of dating, and we quickly set a wedding date just six months out. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of finding “the one” and getting married. After the heartache I experienced in a past relationship, meeting Andrew and getting engaged truly felt like a dream come true. As the big day approached, I became more intentional about my wedding prep — hitting the gym more regularly, cutting out alcohol, drinking more water, taking collagen, and more. But along with the lifestyle changes, I also had a long list of beauty treatments I wanted to explore. In this blog post, I’m excited to share the full rundown of my wedding beauty prep!

My Life | Pregnancy

Celebrating 18 Months Of Breastfeeding My Baby

By Esperanza on August 5, 2025

Breastfeeding, baby weaning, breastfed baby, breastfeeding journey, breastfeeding mom, motherhood, motherhood journey, baby boy, first time mom, boy mom, new mom, mom style, mommy blogger, lifestyle blogger, The Urban Darling, toddler, baby.

My breastfeeding journey is sadly coming to an end, so to celebrate 18 months of breastfeeding my son, Sage Wylder, Andrew took these beautiful photos of us. When Sage was taken to the NICU after my c-section, I fought really hard to be able to breastfeed him because it meant so much to me. I totally would have kept going, but the toll it was taking on me physically was really starting to wear me down. It’s been an emotional roller coaster—mentally and physically. I wish they would warn you about the hormone crash that happens when you start weaning your baby off breastfeeding. It’s been brutal, not to mention how much I miss the connection between Sage and me during those precious moments. I’ll forever cherish that time, and I’m proud of myself for sticking with it as long as I did! Also, Sage looks huge in these photos, lol—I wish we’d taken them when he was littler, but it’s hard to make the time in these busy days. I’m so glad we made the effort!

My Life | Travel Style

My Surprise Beach Picnic Proposal In Malibu

By Esperanza on April 30, 2025

Proposal, surprise proposal, beach proposal, engaged, engagement, engagement photos, engaged couples, El Matador, Malibu, California, family travel, family style, family blogger, beach picnic, The Urban Darling, engagement ring.

We are ENGAGED!! Andrew proposed to me on our second day in Malibu on El Matador beach with a surprise picnic that he planned with my sister. They had been designing the ring & planning the proposal since the beginning of January! We have been talking about getting engaged/married since we started dating, but because Andrew is from Colorado, I thought he would propose on our upcoming trip there, so I wasn’t expecting it. He and Sage “popped” the question together which was so sweet and special! After all the heartbreak I went through in my previous relationship, I’m so lucky to have found this man, and for a “second chance” at love. I can’t wait for the future for our little family!

Beauty | My Life

Mommy Makeover | New Hair, Fillers, & My First Wax

By Esperanza on November 7, 2024

Mommy makeover, mommy, makeover, self care, hair makeover, new hair, hair before and after, fillers, botox, waxing, brazilian wax, hair removal, Lady & Wolf Salon, Giovanni Med Spa, Opal Raw Beauty, Phoenix, beauty, Phoenix blogger, lifestyle blogger, mommy blogger, The Urban Darling.

At 7 1/2 months postpartum, it was time for a little mommy makeover! I needed a boost in confidence and some self care after many months of sleep deprivation and non-stop mommy duties lol. I wanted to get my hair done (dye & fresh cut) at my favorite salon in Scottsdale. I wanted to freshen up with some botox/fillers at Giovanni Med Spa and I decided it was time to try getting my first wax at Opal Raw Beauty! In this blog post, I am sharing more about my experiences at these local Phoenix businesses.