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tiny moments with aveeno baby

May 25, 2016 2 Comments

about a week after edith was born, i was surprised to discover that her precious baby skin started to peel! my only experience was with adam, and this never happened when he was born. it was a little disconcerting to see so much of her skin start to flake and peel off, but i talked to her pediatrician who reassured me that it’s completely normal for most babies. she recommended that we take care not to bathe her too frequently, and that we could apply a very gentle lotion to help keep her skin moisturized. so when we got home, i decided to incorporate a daily moisturizer into her routine.

when babies are so tiny, their skin is sensitive, so i was thankful when Aveeno got in touch and asked if i’d like to try their Baby Wash & Shampoo and Baby Daily Moisture Lotion. i especially love the moisturizer because it’s a hypoallergenic formula that is free of fragrance, harsh chemicals and allergens. i’ve been using their products since i was a kid, so i felt more than comfortable using it on edie, and i’m so pleased with the results. her skin is baby soft, just the way it should be.

this time around, when it comes to bath time, my trick is to wait until her belly is full and she’s been napping for a few minutes before i gently pick her up and very slowly dip her into a luke-warm bath with the water running. with the temperature just right and the white noise of the water, it’s such a soothing experience that she actually stays asleep or just flutters her eyes a little bit during the entire bath! she stays completely calm and relaxed, even as i gently remove her from the water and quickly wrap her in a warm towel. then it’s the perfect opportunity to moisturize her skin with some lotion while i give her a baby massage. it’s great because i can tend her delicate skin and enjoy some special bonding time with my baby while i rub her little fingers and toes. it’s tiny moments just like this that i know i will cherish forever.

share your #TinyMoments and tag @AveenoUS to show off your #AveenoBaby.

i partnered with Aveeno® on this post. all opinions are 100% my own.

lifestyle, giveaways

enter to win big with olly kids’ wellness boosts!

May 24, 2016 No Comments

i can still vividly remember taking vitamins when i was a kid. my dad was a pretty big health nut, so he insisted that we swallow these terrible, uncoated, yellow speckled horse pills every morning. every time he would call us over to take our vitamins, there would be lots of moaning before we took them. and no matter how hard i tried, i would always get that bitter taste in my mouth before i was able to force it down. sure, it was good for us to supplement our diets since kids can be picky eaters and vitamins are important for growing bodies, but taking those nasty pills bordered on traumatic, haha. so when my friends at olly asked me if i’d like to try their new kids’ wellness boosts, i was totally on board. i’m a fully grown adult and i still can’t force myself to take anything but their women’s vitamins, so i knew that their new kids’ formulas would be a huge hit with adam.

the best part is that each formula has a different color, flavor, and purpose. every day, as part of our routine, adam gets to pick between four options: happy tummy is bright yellow with probiotics, prebiotics, and peppermint. super brainy is aqua blue with omega-3s, blueberry, and choline. growing bones is pretty in pink with calcium, vitamin d, and sea minerals. mighty immunity is dark orange with cherry, elderberry, and zinc. he gets to pick his favorite (lately he really likes the pink!) after dinner and before our bedtime routine. the best part is that he comes running from wherever he is in the house and happily takes his vitamin every single time. in fact, as you might expect, we have to hide all of the bottles or else he asks to take them all the time!

to celebrate the new kids’ boost launch, olly vitamins is giving away a huge prize package! click here to enter their up, up and away giveaway for a chance to win:

a year supply of your choice of two OLLY Kids Wellness Boosts
$250 gift card to tea collection to keep them suited up in style.
$500 gift card to target for all the gadgets and gear needed to keep their day action-packed.
$100 gift card to starbucks so you can keep up as their trusty sidekick.
and a year supply of method cleaning products so you can transform their super world back into your home.

my style, lifestyle, kids

getting out of the house with munchkin latch

May 17, 2016 2 Comments

believe it or not, adam never took a bottle his entire life. shortly after he was born, i made the decision to work from home, and i was all in. i didn’t know it or plan it beforehand, but i ended up being a total crunchy mama. i was all about attachment parenting, baby-wearing, breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping, night-nursing. sure, there were a few times when i tried to get him to take a bottle or a pacifier, but in the end, i was never away from him long enough to even warrant the need. i have no regrets with how i chose to do things with him, but in hindsight, my dedication came at a cost. i often wore myself thin and pushed myself to the limits. i didn’t take as much “me time” as i should have, and i probably made it harder on myself than it had to be.

now that my little edith is here, i still intend to parent the same way, but i am definitely feeling more comfortable letting go and giving myself a break more often. in fact, this time around, i’ve already gone on a date with brendan, and she only turned three weeks today! i don’t even think i had left the house at this point after adam was born. not kidding. and over the weekend, our entire little family packed up our bags for a picnic in the park, and i didn’t sweat it at all. i pumped a few ounces of breast milk, and took it as an opportunity to get some fresh air and to let brendan and adam get in some much-needed bonding time with the tiny new addition to our family. and it just felt so good to get outside.

obviously, i want the best for both of my children, but i think that this time around, i’m learning to strike a better balance around taking care of myself so that i can truly take the best care of my baby (and toddler). so of course, it was really great to have the opportunity to team up with my friends at munchkin to try out the munchkin latch bottle. the idea behind the design is to help baby transition from breast to bottle and back again. the accordion-style nipple stretches and bends like the breast, allowing baby to latch on correctly. and it has an anti-colic valve to keep air from traveling through your milk. and i’m happy to report that edie took the bottle on her very first try and had zero issues going straight back to breastfeeding after we got home. it went so well, that later that evening, grandma was on duty while brendan and i went out on our date!

this post was sponsored by munchkin latch.

my style, maternity

maternity style: see comfort differently with born x zappos

April 12, 2016 4 Comments

i’m in the home stretch with only two weeks left of this pregnancy! in fact, this might be the last look i post before the bebe is born. and when it comes to getting dressed, i would have to say that this is the hardest part. fitted clothes are no longer an option, so i’ve been wearing lots of flowy dresses. and while i’m not experiencing nearly as much swelling with this pregnancy, i’ve still been opting for comfortable, breathable sandals most of the time. so i was especially excited when my friends at zappos asked if i would be interested in trying out a brand new pair of born sandals. believe it or not, i’ve actually never owned a pair of borns, despite the fact that i’ve only heard good things about them. i guess i hadn’t considered that a “comfort” shoe would equate with something fashionable. but once i started browsing through the selection, i realized that they really do cover all the bases in terms of style. these super minimal sandals are surprisingly comfy thanks to a cushioned footbed, which is especially helpful while i’m carrying all of this extra weight. and i know they’re going to come in handy once the baby is here, since i know i’ll be walking a ton.

and as always, zappos is a breeze when it comes to ordering shoes. they offer free shipping that almost always comes even quicker than expected, they have a 365 day return policy, and their customer service is top notch!

also wearing: fillyboo wild at heart maternity nursing dress, guatemalan straw hat, academy jewelry time zone necklace

cycle chic

riding around town with columbia

April 11, 2016 6 Comments

as you may already know, when it comes to bikes, i’m a bit of a fanatic. i’ve toured the california coast on a sporty touring bike, i’ve commuted to work on a cute little road bike. and i may have a bit of a habit of collecting vintage bikes…. so you know i was super excited to add a new columbia bike to my collection! if you’re not familiar with the brand, they’re basically the mother of american cycling companies. columbia has a long history, starting in 1877 when they were founded by alexander pope (who served as a mentor to henry ford himself). they invented the tandem bike, and i’m sure you’ve seen some of their classic styles from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, including those spectacular vintage cruisers decked out with banana seats and wild colors. i tend to be a little bit less flashy in my styling, so i went for the men’s westfield vintage city bike. i love the vintage styling, complete with a cute little led headlight and fender taillight. and the sturdy steel frame with internal 3 speed hub is just right for a smooth, easy ride around town.

and lately, a leisurely ride around town is exactly my speed. i don’t commute to work or race on the weekends, i just like to hop on my city bike to get some fresh air and to clear my head. for me, it’s a luxury to get a few hours to myself so i can grab a market bag, swing by the farmers market to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies, and stop by the park for some relaxation. and i’m really excited to continue riding this bike around town in the months ahead.

the columbia westfield is available at dicks sporting goods. be sure to check out toys r us, target, amazon, and walmart where additional columbia bike models are sold.

this post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with pollinate media group® and columbia bicycles, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ridecolumbia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

beauty

cleaning up with kleenex

March 15, 2016 1 Comment

i have to make a confession. as much as i talk about how important skincare has become for me, i have a very bad habit of going to bed without washing my face. i don’t wear a ton of makeup, but it’s enough that i know it’s a bad idea to hit the pillow without removing it! my excuse? it’s really easy to forget those bedtime routines when all of your energy is focused on getting a toddler to sleep on time. especially now that i’m in the last few weeks of my pregnancy and i have zero energy. sometimes i kinda just collapse in bed and forget to take care of the basics. so when kleenex asked if i’d be interested in teaming up to try their new facial cleansing products, you know i was on board. they’ve just released this new line of products, including facial cleansing wipes, exfoliating cushions, and eye makeup removers. it’s not a whole cleansing system, just a collection of products with a range of solutions to help you clean up. they’re particularly useful to keep by your bedside if you’re a sleep-deprived mamas like myself, but they’re also perfect to pack in your bag for a trip, or to keep in your gym tote for a quick refresh before or after a workout.

since my nightly routine of crashing in the bed after putting a toddler to sleep is a little less than glamorous, i decided to take some silly pictures instead. enjoy! and check out the new products available exclusively at kleenex!

and as always, thank you so much for supporting the sponsors that make this blog possible!

lifestyle

in the studio with sudo

March 1, 2016 4 Comments

crazy to think about it, but i think i’ve been blogging for eight years now. it’s actually been so long that i’ve started to lose track of the time! and between blogging, social media, selling vintage, and shopping online, it’s safe to say that i have a hard time managing it all! not only that, but for the past eight years, i’ve pretty much just used one email address for everything i do online. back when i started in 2008, i wasn’t thinking about internet security or business plans. i didn’t have some carefully crafted stage name, it was and still is, just me. and all these years later, as embarrassing as it is to admit, i’m still basically operating like it’s the early aughts.

fast forward nearly a decade, and i can’t tell you how many times i’ve found my inbox flooded with online newsletters, invoices, weekly social media updates, pr emails, personal family emails… the list goes on. or how many times i’ve missed a really awesome opportunity because i literally never saw the email amid all the junk. and i can’t tell you how many times i’ve had my credit card information stolen thanks to online security breaches. but i’m only one person! and i only have so much time to dedicate to everything i do online. especially when i’m also the primary caretaker of a very rambunctious toddler.

but despite all of that, i’m still very dedicated to my little “online empire” haha. in addition to recently finding a renewed sense of interest in filling this blog space with things about my life, i’ve also been moving full steam ahead with my vintage shop. i don’t mention it here much, but it’s been a really fun and rewarding outlet for me. and it helps pay the bills, so it’s a win-win. and for today’s post, i thought it would be fun to share a little sneak peek at my home office/studio space. i still have a loooong way to go in setting this space up, but a little corner of the room is starting to shape up!

and one thing that’s helping me along is my latest partnership with sudo. this brand new app allows you to automatically generate safe, secure, and private personas to use online to help you protect your online safety and privacy. each persona comes complete with email addresses, working phone numbers, and password managers so that you don’t have to worry about giving out too much personal information that might leave you vulnerable to data leaks, hackers, or just plain spam. and it helps you to compartmentalize all of the different things you do online, whether it’s blogging, social media, shopping, or selling. i’m especially excited because they’ll also soon be rolling out sudopay, a virtual credit card service that encrypts your personal information to protect you from credit card and identity theft. if you want to check it out for yourself, you can read more and download sudo here.

lifestyle, beauty

morning routine with clinique smart

February 17, 2016 1 Comment

it may not always seem like it as you scroll through the photos on my blog, but life with a toddler (and being 29 weeks pregnant!) is actually pretty hectic. after adam was born, i made a huge decision and quit my day job to stay at home full-time to be his primary caretaker. in addition to working full-time as a blogger and vintage seller! it was a major shift. i can still remember those early days when i was alone with him, tip-toeing to the bathroom and attempting to wash my face and put on a little bit of makeup before he woke up in the morning. and later, when he started crawling, i would have him “help” me get ready. only for him to wander just out of view so he could unravel an entire roll of toilet paper and tear it into tiny bits! these days, things are a bit more relaxed when it comes to the morning routine. he knows the drill, and often hangs out with me at my vanity while i get ready for the day. a big part of what makes it easier is to have a foolproof routine with as few steps as possible, while still reaping the benefits of smart ingredients like antioxidants and spf. taking care of my skin has meant that i can get away with wearing less makeup, which has made a huge difference in the amount of time it takes me to get ready every day. so when clinique asked me if i’d be interested in partnering-up to try the clinique smart system, i was definitely on board.

i’ve been a long time fan of clinique products, so i was excited to give their new 4-in-one system a try. the idea behind the product line is to visibly reduce wrinkles, even skin tone, firm, and brighten skin with formulations that will work for every different skin type. it’s a smart yet simple routine that makes getting ready stress-free. the less time you have to spend worrying about your skin, the more time you have to take care of everything else on your plate. speaking of which, i should probably get to work on the nursery!

if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, i’ll be giving away a jar of the broad spectrum spf 15 custom-repair moisturizer and night custom-repair moisturizer on my instagram later today!

wearing:
vintage dress, hand-overdyed with natural indigo
brookes boswell panama hat
birkenstock arizona sandals
j.w. hulme legacy handbag

lifestyle, beauty

valentine’s date night in with vaseline lip therapy

February 8, 2016 No Comments

even before we had adam (and before i was pregnant with a second), brendan and i have always kept our romantic endeavors pretty low key. as fun as it is to go out on the town, sometimes it’s nice to drop off the baby with a sitter and just relax at home. it’s always been really important for us to be able to just hang out and talk to one another. to catch up on what’s going on in life, to talk about politics or parenting, to hash out future plans, or to just goof off. even though it might sound ordinary, it’s really what’s kept us together these past 10 years, babies or not!

this year, i’ve been especially mushy and sentimental about valentine’s day… i’m gonna chalk it up to these crazy pregnancy hormones! but i wanted to make a point to have a romantic date night in with brendan. obviously, this is a no-frills endeavor, but it’s still fun to do a little bit of prep! setting out flowers, picking up a few sweet treats, and pampering myself just a little bit. fortunately for me, vaseline has just released their new lip therapy tins, so i’ve partnered with the brand to give them a try.

over the past couple of years, i’ve transitioned into wearing less makeup and focusing more on skincare, which includes making sure my lips are soft and moisturized. i tend to spend more time trying out scrubs and face masks over going all out with makeup. i usually wear a tinted moisturizer with a dab of blush and some mascara. if i’m feeling fancy, i’ll swipe on a flick of eyeliner. and i have lots and lots of lip balm. so of course i was excited to try the new vaseline lip tins. i love the minimal, almost vintage aesthetic of the packaging. and of course they are perfect for a date night in, or as part of my daily routine, especially during these dry winter months when my lips tend to get chapped.

a selection of the new vaseline lip therapy tins: original, cocoa butter, rosy lips, and aloe. the tins can also be found at target stores nationwide.

can you think of anything better than rosy lips on valentine’s day?

a cute little cake arrived in the mail with my new lips tins. perfect to try on our date night in!

my style, maternity

maternity style: holiday comforts with zappos

December 22, 2015 4 Comments

hard to believe it, but i’m already more than halfway through my pregnancy! it’s not my first time celebrating the holiday season while pregnant, but if there’s one thing i’ve learned from the past, it’s that you gotta dress comfortably! but of course, i still want to look nice for the few holiday parties and new years celebrations that i will be attending, glass of sparkling cider in hand. so this year, i partnered with zappos to shop my holiday looks using the style room. it’s basically a one-stop shop for all of your holiday outfit needs, and everything is listed in tidy categories based on your personal style preferences. for this simple holiday look, i went for a mix of classic and contemporary. but since my belly is just starting to emerge, i was a little bit unsure of what size to order. the nice thing is that they have free two-day shipping and free returns, so when the first dress turned out to be the wrong size, i was able to quickly make an exchange with plenty of time before christmas and new year’s.

now, i know this outfit isn’t your traditional holiday outfit, but i’m not exactly going to be hitting up the club. my christmas eve will be spent with family, most likely unwrapping a present or two and stuffing my face with tamales. christmas day is also a pretty casual affair around here, and new year’s eve will be similar. i’ve invited a few people over for the celebration, but we’ll probably be turning in a little early with a nearly two-year-old in tow. but that’s alright with me! there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate the holidays, and i’m totally ok with going super low-key this year.

wearing:
vince camuto turtleneck sweater dress courtesy of zappos
sam edelman petty boots courtesy of zappos
vintage jacket
clyde mohair pinch hat
clinique lip pop in cola pop

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