Happy December, Mommy Chicks! This really is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the time to surround yourself with family and friends, decorate your home, cuddle up by a fire with a cup of hot cocoa, and give back to the community and the ones you love. I think everybody loves feeling the holiday cheer and one of the best ways to do that is to decorate! Don’t we all enjoy seeing lights on houses, Christmas trees in people’s homes, the smell of fresh baked cookies, and holiday music filling the air? I sure do! Well, one of my favorite home decorators/designers is Ceres Mercurio from Designs by Ceres. Her eye for affordable design is unparalleled and I am currently loving her holiday decor. Watching her create beautiful designs, work a full-time job (on top of blogging and designing), and be a wife and mother is inspiring. I’m sure you will be inspired too (especially if you love all things pink) — if you don’t follow her already.
May I introduce you to our December Mommy Chick, Ceres from Designs by Ceres!
N: Hi, Ceres! I am so excited to have you as our December Mommy Chick. For our readers at Baby Chick who don’t follow you or know you just yet, how would you describe yourself in three words? What would they be and why?
C: Thank you so much Nina! It’s my pleasure to be here! I think the words that best describe me are dreamer, driven and workaholic! I believe that as long as you work hard you can achieve whatever you want!
N: What inspired you to begin photographing and blogging your style and interior design?
C: My obsession with decorating! When we first moved into our apartment, I was so excited to be able to decorate my first place and I just started sharing on my Instagram. I had no idea that so many people would like my ideas and that it would become what it is today!
N: What do you love most about what you do?
C: Inspiring others and the friendships that I have formed! I love when my readers send me pictures of their rooms and how they decorated after reading my blog. I have also met so many great people that I’m now friends with via social media.
N: What’s the most challenging part of your job?
C: Blogging is just my hobby, I do have a full time job (financial analyst! Who knew!?). The hardest part for me is finding time for everything without compromising quality time with my husband and baby. That means I wake up very early to take pictures and go to bed a lot later to be able to write my blog posts.
N: What’s the #1 thing that you want people to take away from visiting your website?
C: That you can decorate and have a beautiful place on a budget. All you need is a little bit of imagination, creativity and some elbow grease to create a beautiful house!
N: I love your style – your home décor is always perfection! Where do you draw your inspiration?
C: Definitely Pinterest, from Instagram (love following talented people for that daily dose of inspo) and websites like TheEveryGirl and GlitterGuide.
N: What are some pieces that you feel every woman should have in her home?
C: A barcart (love my vintage one, or you can find so many cute ones for less than $100), a gorgeous coffee table and a tufted headboard!
N: What’s the greatest lesson (or lessons) that motherhood has taught you?
C: Unconditional love. I don’t think I realized what that was before becoming a mom. In addition I think becoming a mom reminds you to appreciate the simpler things in life. By watching her discover new things and mastering new skills, I’m reminded every day to appreciate the little things in life.
N: What are your favorite things about being a mother?
C: Watching this little thingy becoming a little person. It’s amazing to think that she was in my belly and now she is almost walking! Also, the pure joy that she brings into our lives.
N: What’s a piece of advice that you wish you would have known and would like to share with expecting moms and/or brand new mothers?
C: Don’t sweat the small stuff. I remember how stressed I was about having her sleep in her crib. She wasn’t having it, and many nights were spent waking up every 5 minutes to sooth her. Today she sleeps half of the night in her crib and half in our bed, and I’m thankful for the extra minutes that I have to snuggle with her!
N: Who is your mommy inspiration and why?
C: Omg, I have so many! My mom and my friends are all such great moms! But after becoming a mom myself, I have a lot more appreciation for all the single moms out there that work hard to raise their kids!
N: What are your greatest hopes for your daughter’s future?
C: That she is kind to others. I hear so many stories of high school kids being mean to each other, bullying in social media and that is just terrifying to me that she will experience that someday. So I hope she will treat everyone with respect and kindness.
N: What are your greatest hopes for women and mothers everywhere?
C: That we empower and support each other independently of our parenting style. There is so much “mom-shaming” on social media, and that is just not ok. So weather you breastfeed or not it’s your decision and we should celebrate the fact that we are able to feed our kids one way or the other!
Thank you so much, Ceres. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you, and I thank you for sharing more of your story with us. I have loved following your Instagram, and I hope that more women will too!
Who are you inspired by? Share with us and they just might be our next featured Mommy Chick of the Month?
