Meet the Mom – Angela

Name: Angela Cruz Ledford – @angelacruztube

Where did you grow up: Monroe, Louisiana. Nobody ever knew where that was until Duck Dynasty was filmed there.

Town you live in now: West Palm Beach, Florida

Why you love living there: I’m a small town girl, and West Palm Beach gives me the “big city feels” without the crazy traffic. There’s so much to do here and in the surrounding areas, which we call “The Palm Beaches” in the tourism world. I love our weather, our beaches and our people!

Tell me about your kids: Baby Cam – short for Cameron – is 5 months old, and I’m starting to get the “He looks just like your husband” comment. However, it was obvious from the beginning that he inherited my Filipino nose, and I’m glad I have some representation there, LOL! He’s what I call my “dream baby,” because he’s everything I could ever have hoped for in a son: sweet, calm and cheerful. I’m extra-thankful that he recently started sleeping through the night.

Favorite things to do with the family locally: I’m always excited to visit family attractions with animals, such as Lion Country Safari, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Manatee Lagoon, South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, Gumbo Limbo – and the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, since I used to work there. We took Cam to the Zoo this month, and he slept through the entire experience. But it’s perfect for families with young children (stroller friendly) and I loved seeing all the upgrades, including Lorikeet Loft. I can’t wait for Cam to be old enough to feed the lorikeets!

Best family restaurant: It’s not really one restaurant, but I’m all about Grandview Public Market. It gives us options, since we have such different tastes. My husband can get El Cochinito, and I can get Ramen Lab Eatery and Crema’s Thai rolled ice cream for dessert. Cam’s just happy to be along for the ride, since he’s not eating food yet.

Ideal family vacation spot and why: San Francisco, since all the Filipino side of my family lives there. I’m taking Cam there for Christmas to meet everyone, and I’m excited to take a photo of him with the Golden Gate Bridge! I always play tourist when I go, even though I’ve been there every year of my life.

What’s your ‘day job’? I’m a PR Manager with Discover The Palm Beaches – @palmbeachesfl – the tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County. I’m a beauty blogger with a YouTube channel, and I have a home based business of an anti-aging haircare line that helps people with hair loss (right now I’m going through post partum hair loss, so I’m really grateful for the line). I also recently made it official and started my own photography business, Palm Beaches Photography – @palmbeachesphotography – after years of taking photos for fun. I used to exclusively work with families, pets and children, but I’m starting to do more wedding and engagement photography. And finally, I’m a pianist and organist, so on any given Sunday you might find me at a local church as a substitute.

What is something that makes your life easier/better/more fun? My husband is a Delta flight attendant, so the benefits help us travel.

How do you balance your ‘day job’ and motherhood? I’m not very good at the balancing act… I would LOVE to hear how other mothers do this, though! My only thought is that I can accomplish more because I don’t watch television. Even back in the day when I was a news anchor, I still refused to watch TV. It steals your time!

Who inspires you and why? Oprah, because she freely shares her hard-earned wisdom. Her story is inspiring, and I truly identify with her for so many levels.

What do you do for self care? I’m on a weight loss journey, so health is my priority. Disregard my former comment about ramen noodles and ice cream, haha! I have lost 40 pounds with Weight Watchers – now branded as @ww – and I go to spin class even when I’m not feeling like it. But once I get there, I’m always so glad I went. My goal is to lose another 30-40 pounds. I don’t rush it, especially since I’m still pumping breast milk so I need a few extra calories. I just had a baby, after all! Let me eat all the ice cream!

What did you wish you knew but no one told you about being a parent? I should have warned everyone in my life that I would be seeing them so much less. I knew my social life would take a major hit, but it still would upset me whenever friends made the comments such as “I never see you any more” or “I haven’t met Baby Cam yet.” Your time is so limited as a parent, and you have to prioritize what’s important to you.

Anything else you want to share? I had gotten to the point where I thought motherhood had passed me by. Now that I have Baby Cam, I am overly obsessed with any and all babies. EVERYONE BE WARNED, I AM OFFICIALLY A BABY CREEPER AND WILL STALK YOUR BABIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA!