Selfie Series Episode 4: Graphic Tees, Mom Edition
Hey loves, welcome back to the blog. Today is a special day, so this is a special edition of our selfie series. As you may have noticed the blog post is a day early and I was super excited to do it. Today is Mother's Day 2020 and though many of us are not able to celebrate with our mothers due to the current circumstances, I still think we can still celebrate our moms from a far.
June 25th 2013 I earned the best title I have to date, mommy! I am the proud mama bear of a 6year old boy cub and he is the best thing that could have happened to me. I take all my titles seriously, from Daughter, sister, significant other, and soldier. Yet none of them compare to being a mother, and the unconditional, requirement-less love I receive from my little one. I want to be the mother he could be proud of. The mother that sets the standard for the type of women he falls in love with. I just want to be the best mom he could pray for. As you have guessed this edition is special to me.
Now in doing this I didn't realize how hard it would be to find Black Owned Companies with pre-made designs for mothers. As you guys know that I only showcase companies that I have had great experiences with. Why? because there are enough people out there that showcase the negative. Now I have to be honest with y'all I forgot when Mother's Day was this year y'all (don't judge me lol). So when I had this idea about a week and half ago I reached out to several companies that did have designs and asked how long their processing time would be. These are the companies that responded and facilitated my purchases (Yes I actually purchased these items) unfortunately there were many that didn't respond or even have processing times on their site. Yet we won't dwell on that because that's not what we do here. These companies that I am about to share with you guys, had great customer service, easy ways to pay, and provided me the products in a timely manner. Almost all of these though predesigned are made to order shirts so processing time my be any where between 3-8 days so just remember that.
Mom Redefined
Mom redefined is a part of a company created by Rika B. Gerrikka Bunche aka Rika B, is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. She is also a “Mom Enthusiast” whose passion is inspiring mothers to break society’s “just a mom” standard.
Now if you have been following me you know I am a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. If you know anything about North Carolina HBCUs well you know who our rivals are lol. Rika B. obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from NC Central University (Them egales in durham that place lol). Though I joke if you aren't a #HBCUGRAD you can't speak on it. Yet I am super proud of this Egale though I don't know her personally.
In 2015 she launched Childish, an international brand for dope tees and has been a #MamaOnTheGrind ever since. In 2017 while on facebook I saw that a place called The Mom Lounge was opening in Triangle Town Center Mall in Raleigh, NC. The Mom Lounge is a one stop shop for the Mamas that features co-working spaces, shopping exclusively with MOMpreneurs, Mommy ThinkTanks, and so much more. So when I got this idea I knew she was someone I wanted to work with. I headed to the site and below are the shirts I got.
Motherhood, Instructions Not Included
We all know that there were no instructions with this thing we call motherhood. I love this shirt, it gives you the message that its ok to not be perfect in this mom thing.This is the perfect tee for all of the moms that are figuring it out day by day! This shirt will cost you $25.
I Make Mommy Moves
The Mommy Moves shirt is for those moms who love them some Cardi and are out here making mommy and money moves. You can grab this shirt for $25 on her site as well.
Mama on the Grind
This shirt is for the mom's on their grind making things happen. I love that this shirt also comes with the option to get one for your mini. The kids shirts go up to 6T. Alone it is $25 with the Mini it is $35.
After you order allow up to 3 days for processing and to then ship.
BOSSMOM NATION
Boss Mom nation was created by two mom named Aliyah Muhammad (Mother of three, in Atlanta, Georgia) and Shahidah Zareef (Mother of four, located in Oakland, California(YAY AREA)). BOSSMOM NATION is part motherhood community /part lifestyle band. Their primary focus is the mental and physical wellness of women, of mothers.
BossMom Nation talks about how motherhood is trill. Being Trill is about keeping it 101% with yourself and others, it’s important we keep that same energy with motherhood.
I love errrthang about this. I learned about BOSSMOM in 2017 when I went home to Oakland. My cousin gave me one of their pins and told me that it was a local black owned company. I loved the pin and rocked it on all my stuff, I moved and my pin went missing. They then popped up on my IG timeline so I headed over to their page. I have been wanting to grab something from them and this Blog post was the perfect time. They carry hoodies, sweatshirts, and regular tees.
I grabbed a a Classic BOSSMOM Crew Neck T-Shirt in Heather Tan. This shirt comes in a relaxed fit, it is 52% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester. The shirt costs $35 and then about $5 for shipping. BOSSMOM NATION takes between 1-2 days to process and ship out all domestic orders (this timeline may change if they have to produce it upon your order). I grabbed a medium and it fit very comfortably on both my big boobs and my arms. I love it and will be grabbing more soon
If It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a Nation to support the mother!
Mother Tougher
Mother tougher was created by Troy Micghel who is a local radio and video personality in Richmond, VA. Troy is a mother of 5, yeah y'all FIVE!!
Mother Tougher is a movement purposed to uplift every voice of EVERY mother. A community of supportive women who encourage, motivate and inform rather than judge each other. A judgement free Zon for mothers of every journey of motherhood, natural birth or c-section, to bottle or breastfeed, to vaccinate or not, adoption, IVF or surrogacy. So often, mothers are silenced or shamed into making decisions to appease others. Not anymore! Mother Toughers are educated, opinionated, loud & proud!
I found Mother Tougher during the search for this post. I typed in #MomShirts and honestly went scrolling looking for black women in dope shirts. I also saw her picture on @blackmomsblog page. I asked her for her where she got the shirt and she tagged me in the shop page. I reached out and told her I would be placing my order and wanted to know if I would be able to get it in time. Sis was so helpful as I placed my order and was supportive of the #AuntyMovement
MILF
When I went on the site I got super excited!! This was the first shirt I saw that really popped out for this post. This is the MILF Shirt, I grabbed it in a medium and the color mauve. We all know what it means... Mother I would love fries lol. The shirt is a relaxed fit and will cost you $23. The medium fit well on my chest and loose in the midsection. As you guys know sis has some big arms and this shirt fit nicely on my arms. This color is a great spring color and when we can finally go out I can't wait to dress it up with some Jeans and a light weight blazer and go to brunch. Mama needs a bottomless mimosa type of party lol.
Mickey D's
Now every black kid has heard this line from their mamas before, low-key I couldn't wait to say it lol. The Mickey D shirt is one of my favorite shirts on her site. You can get this in about 5 different colors, I grabbed this in a medium. This shirt will cost you $25. It is a relaxed fit like the other top and it gave me the same fit. This is the top you wear to pick up the kids and remind them not to ask for no McDonalds on the way home lol. ooh and moms we know McDonalds isn't the best, we just were tired of eating the rice that was at home lol
Phenomenal Mother
Now you understand, Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, it ought to make you proud.
I say, it’s in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman, Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That’s me!- Maya Angelou
I have always loved that poem and as a mother I strive to be as confident in my motherhood as I am in my womanhood. This shirt popped out to me because it is something that in 20 years from now I want my son to be able to call me. I want my husband and my future other children to be able to say when they talk about me! I want to be a Phenomenal Mother....Thats me!
Like her other options you can grab this in 5 color choices. I grabbed this in a medium, and burgundy. This shirt is another great spring/summer color option. Its $25 and a great dress up or dress down option.
Stand confidently, be the great mother you are!
I grabbed another shirt but I will save that for the instagram, if you aren't following me yet, head over to @ShadyAuntyKelechi
Code Name: Mama
Code Name: Mama is a company owned by sisters Lauren and Carmen. Code Name: Mama as a lifestyle brand to celebrate one of our favorite roles in life. A brand which caters to the lifestyle of motherhood without forgetting that even as mother's we are still sexy and beautiful.
Their focus is on the community of mothers, the shirt shop, the meet ups, their blog and vlog "The Common Queen", art, and much more. Their desire is to reach as many moms as possible. Women who are excited about life as a mom while keeping that spark of femininity alive.
I found them the same way I found mother tougher. IG is honestly a great place to find black own companies. The Mama land shirt is only available via the Code Name mama app ($1.99 via apple store). This shirt reminds me, that its mother territory, where you are the ruler and the follower all at the same time lol. The shirt costs $30 and about $5 for shipping. It is a crew neck shirt with that loose fit shirt. It has stretch and relax room and perfect to dress up or just wear around the house with a messy bun while you clean and have some wine.
For other shirts head over to: codenamemama.net
JaMiMa' Creations
JaMiMa's Creations is a new custom print company out of Sumter, South Carolina. It is owned by a friend of mine and United States Air Force Veteran, Torya Young. Torya is a mother of Three and a North Carolina Native. She recently retired from the Air Force and is currently working to build up her company.
If you follow me on Instagram you have seen my " I'm Not For Everyone" Shirt, this is the store I got it from. The Magically, Melinated, Mom is a custom print but will be coming to her online store (she is still working on it)
This shirt describes all of me and my self love glory lol. This shirt is a unisex shirt so I grabbed a medium and the shirt before shipping will cost you $25 for Small to XL and go up after that. Its a quick throw on shirt but honestly I think you can dress it up as well.
Magical Black Mom
I think every black girl oozes magic, and as a mom you ooze a different kind of magic. I grabbed this in a ladies cut large shirt. I probably should have grabbed a medium it fit a little looser than I wanted. This top was $25 and processing time on both shirts took 3 days. Upon shipping it took about 2 days but take into consideration I am located on the East coast and things are still slow due to COVID-19
I truly enjoyed my purchases from these five companies and I will def be back to make more purchases. I hope you all enjoyed this Mother's Day edition of the selfie series. I hope all the mamas enjoy their Mother's Day. Check out these companies and as always when you grab one tag me in your photos so I can see how you slayed the look!!
Enjoy your Mother's Day, I am off to make my own breakfast(honey is away but next year I am demanding breakfast in bed lol)
