Monday, August 26, 2013

ups and downs

blouse: c/o so kate   necklace: groopdealz   shoes: kohls (recent clearance $8)

Ups
This blouse from the online boutique So Kate.  There are so many cute clothes that I had a hard time picking out one thing! I would also like to own this polka dot blazer or this floral necklace.  
We made it through our first trip to a store alone last week.  I was nervous the whole time that Addilyn would start crying, but she slept the whole time.  She must love Target.  Thank goodness. 
I usually do not do anything cute or impressive with my nails, unlike my sister Lauren.  But I tried out the new Sally Hansen fuzzy nail polish and loved it.  Read more about it, as well as my tutorial for my nails here!

I got through the one day of work that I had to go to for a long time.  I left Addilyn home with Chris for the morning half and picked her up at lunch to come back with me for the afternoon.  I missed her like crazy and couldn't not think about what she was doing every minute.  Thankfully Chris did great with her! 
I've made a few desserts since Addilyn was born, and finally made a real dinner last week.  I'm looking forward to getting into a routine of cooking again, as it's been quite a long time since I wanted to make dinner.  Like over 9 months a long time.  Now if someone would just do the grocery shopping part for me.
Blogging friends.  My friend Maria sent this sweet card and book all the way from Holland!  I am continually amazed at the thoughtful and amazing woman I've met through blogging who have prayed for me and encouraged me this last year and a half.  

Downs
The bachlorette is over.  I didn't even like this season but am a loyal fan and will probably watch it no matter what.  And so I miss it.  Hurry on up Fall shows.  

Nighttime.  It stresses me out.  Sometimes a lot. I struggle between the idea of starting some kind of schedule and just letting her do own thing for now as she is still so little.  Sometimes I find reading about it and hearing what others are doing helpful, but sometimes it stresses me out more.  
Alone time with Chris not happening.  Working through this major transition has had its challenges as eight years of marriage has made us very used to plenty of time alone together.  I'm absolutely loving that we are now a family of three and realizing that this is a season of life we are in and we'll just have to work harder to work on our marriage. 
While she does look happy here, I know Molly is struggling to adjust to life with a baby in our house.  Inevitably the amount of attention she gets has definitely decreased and I feel sad for her.  Hopefully once Addilyn requires a little less attention and we get into more of a routine, I'll be able to love on Molly some more!

I went to Kohls with my mom last weekend and Addilyn had a huge spit up/throw up disaster.  It was all over her onsie, carseat, stroller - everywhere.  And it just kept coming.  I felt so bad and was SO glad my mom was with me to help.  

What was the best part and worst part of your week last week?

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Saturday, August 24, 2013

I Heart My Nail Art

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.



I usually fail in the creative nail department, unlike my sister who always has the cutest, fancy nails.  I was really excited to try out the Sally Hansen fuzzy nails, as it would give me some motivation to not just paint my nails but to do something creative with them.  So of course I called Lauren and asked her which nail polish I should buy, as she's already used the fuzzy nails.  Combine that with some pinterest searching for nail designs and I was ready to go to Walgreens to buy my nail polish.

I went straight to the Sally Hansen display and there were so many color choices that it took me awhile to decide.  And lucky for me both polishes were on sale.  The fuzzy nail polish was two for ten dollars and the xtreme nails were only two dollars.  I am wishing I bought a few more shades of the xtreme nails for the future!

I went with two purple colors for the base and a light pink for the fuzzy nail top coat.  
lacey lilac    wool lite    violate voltage

Going with the color blocking trend I painted all but my ring finger with the lacey lilac x-treme wear nail polish.  I love how fast this polish dries!

I used the violate voltage color to paint my ring finger.  It looks like I needed to add a second coat.  But the nice thing is that when you put the fuzzy coat on it covers any area that isn't perfect!

I then put a coat of fuzzy nail polish in the wool lite color over each nail.  It looks pink in the bottle but appears white on your nails.  

I wasn't sure if I would love the fuzzy look or not, and wasn't sure if it was worth the $5 (on sale) a bottle, but I really did love it.  I love that it covers any mistakes you make on your base coat and it doesn't have to be applied perfectly to still look good.  Which is great for me since I am far from an expert when painting my nails.  It also didn't take too long to do and gives your nails a much more fun look than plain nail polish.  

Now I'm wishing I would have bought one in another color!



Check out the rest of my shopping experience in my google plus album here!



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Thursday, August 22, 2013

one month favorites



My sweet blogging friend Jennifer and I have known each other since I started blogging and her friendship has been such a blessing, as we've gone through a lot of the same things in regards to getting pregnant .  We found out we were both pregnant within a few days of each other and had our babies within a few days of each other too.  Jennifer asked me to share some of things that I have loved this first month and shared hers as well.  She did a great job putting it all together and let me share it on my blog too! :)

Here are my favorites from the first month: 









1. Circo Love n Nature LED Tap Light
When I registered for this I didn't realize how much I'd love or use it.  We keep this next to our bed and leave it on all night.  I love that when I wake up I can see Addilyn right away and know that she is okay.  It's also not too bright where it seems to get her really awake, but bright enough I can see to feed her and change her.  Plus, it plugs in so you don't have to keep buying batteries.

2. Gilligan & O' Malley Nursing Bras
I did not think much about having to wear a bra to bed but I definitely need too and am glad I found these.  And I wear them most days too, which once I start actually going out more I'll have to wear real bras I guess. :) They are super comfortable and easy to move to the side quickly when you have a crying, hungry baby in the middle of the night!

3. Happy Baby Wrap Carrier
I won this in a giveaway and had registered for the Moby Wrap but was happy to use this instead. Addilyn loves it and usually falls asleep after ten minutes or so of being in it.  She spends at least a few hours a day in it.  I love it because I can be on my computer, eat or do things around the house with it.  I still feel a little nervous not holding onto to her with at least one hand but hopefully I'll get over that soon!

4. Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet
The first few weeks Addilyn did not want to sleep in anything but my arms.  Many nights I slept on the recliner in our living room, which helped too since I felt like I was nursing every hour.  We tried everything to get her to sleep on her own: a swing, the bouncy seat, the little section on the pack and play. We pretty much at a little store of baby furniture next to our bed.  We decided to try this co-sleeper and have had much better luck.  I love that I can see her on my same level, can easily hold a pacifier in her mouth for many minutes and can easily pick her up too.

5. Summer Infant Swaddlers
Addilyn does not like to be fully swaddled, but we still use the sleep sack so that her legs are nice and snug.  We just leave her arms out.

6.Water Bottle
I thought I drank a lot of water when I was pregnant but I am drinking way more now.  And thankfully water sounds much better now than when I was pregnant.  I know it's a good thing to drink lots of water when you're breastfeeding and I definitely feel the need to.

7. Fisher Price Baby Bouncer-Forest Fun
We both love this!  I think Addilyn loves that it vibrates and is at an incline and I love that it is easy to carry from room to room while she's in it.  She's pretty content in here while she's awake (of course depending on the time of the day) and will take naps in here too.  Without this I'm not sure how I'd go to the bathroom or shower.

8. Gerber Newborn Gowns
These are the only thing we put Addilyn in for pajamas.  It is so much easier than zipper or snap pajamas to check her diaper at night.  And since we put her in a swaddle/sleep sack I know her legs or feet don't get cold.

And here are Jennifer's favorites for her sweet boy Bryce:

  
1. Gerber Newborn Mittens
You'll be amazed at how babies can come out looking like Edward Scissorhands. Their nails can be quite long but they are thin like paper making it darn near impossible to file down. I actually packed these mittens in our hospital bag and the nurses kept swooning over what a good idea it was to bring them to with (I know I'm a genius). Much to my hubby's dismay, I made Bryce wear these puppies until the day we took him for his newborn pictures. Couldn't risk scratching up that pretty lil' mug of his!

2. Nosefrida
You know how some people have a weird fetish with popping pimples? Yeah, well, I kind of have this odd obsession with sucking my son's snot. Okay, so it may sound strange but this non-invasive nasal aspirator is awesome (and yes, there is a filter so the snot doesn't come anywhere near your mouth). I had read rave reviews about this sucker (haha no pun intended) and figured I would give it a try. Bryce's nose get's congested a lot and so far I have found the Nosefrida works a whole lot better than the bulb aspirator at clearing it out.

3. Fisher-Price Snug a Bunny Swing
Swings, some babies love them, some babies hate them. Thank goodness Bryce loves his swing (most of the time).

4. Graco Pack n Play with Newborn Napper
This thing has been a lifesaver! The baby's nursery is on a different floor than our master bedroom so it's nice because not only can we have him near us while we sleep at night (and I don't have to walk the stairs semi-conscious to nurse) but it also has a changing table. Definitely glad we registered for this!

5. Baby K'tan
This carrier is so easy to put on versus the Moby which looks really complicated. Any time Bryce  has a full belly and a clean diaper and is still fussy I know I can always count on this carrier in calming him down. In addition, it allows me to use the restroom, eat , and do laundry!

6. Gerber Soothe Colic Drops Probiotic Supplement
Our little man has problems digesting after his feedings and I hate seeing him in pain trying to pass gas. It was a relief when our pediatrician recommended these colic drops. Unlike the other drops on the market this is the only supplement for breastfed babies with the priobiotic L. reuteri (which is a friendly bacteria!) It has definitely helped a little in easing his tummy troubles.

7. Aden & Anais Swaddle Wraps
When I was pregnant this was the one brand that other mommas constantly recommended to me. These swaddle blankets are perfect for summer babies because they are lightweight and breathable. Originally, I was intimidated by their large size (seriously, they look like you can swaddle a baby rhino in them) but once you ace your baby burrito wrapping skills you will love them. I use them for multiple things like draping over his car seat to block the sun and to cover myself while nursing in the doctor's parking lot (yes, something I thought I would never do!)

8. Babyganics Hand and Face Wipes
These wipes are great to have on hand for in between baths!

If you want to check out Jennifer's adorable baby boy and her amazing projects she shares visit her here!! And moms - please tell me some of your favorite items for the first few months!

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headbands, cookie dough dip and the same shorts

 top:  burlington coat factory   shorts: loft    sandals: target

1. Most summers I don't wear shorts too often but so many of my dresses do not work well for nursing so I think shorts and skirts will become much more frequent!


2.  I bought Addilyn two of these headbands on groopdealz this week and can't wait to get them.  


3. I have yet to make a real meal since Addilyn was born but desserts I can handle.  This dip was delicious!


4. Chris and I took Addilyn on a walk at the forest preserve the other day.  We walked there quite often when I was pregnant and it was so fun to be there pushing a stroller instead!


5. I love this picture of my parents just staring at Addilyn.  I'm so glad they live so close and we get to see them often.  

I hope you have a great weekend!  Happy Friday!

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Blissful Moment



I'm sure it's no surprise that these last few weeks have been full of sleepless nights and some anxious and stressful moments.  Life with a newborn has been exciting and wonderful but also stressful. Which is why I was so excited to get a chance to try out the new drink neuro BLISS, which is a tropical citrus lychee flavored drink that was designed to reduce stress and relax the mind.  It contains chamomile, with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.


After some research and finding out that nearly 50% of Americans spend over half their day stressed out, neuro BLISS decided to launch their Bliss and Tell campaign to encourage people to take time to relax and share their blissful moments.


I'm realizing quite quickly how even twenty minutes of time for myself these days is a good stress reliever.  The other day when Chris was home holding Addilyn, I got to sit outside and read for about thirty minutes and it was wonderful.  Some fresh air, quiet and a little time to myself definitely improved my mood and made me a little more relaxed.  Plus it helped to be enjoying a tasty drink while doing so!  I love that it has just a little carbonation and a little citrus flavor.  And another plus is that it has only 35 calories a bottle!

Want a chance to win a $10K dream vacation? Share your blissful moment here!
Want to try neuro BLISS yourself?  Use the coupon below for $1 off.



I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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