Obsession du Jour: dapple

dapple - $5.99 at Diapers.com

I hope that you mommies out there have switched all of your regular household cleaning products to natural cleaning products because many of the ingredients in regular products are toxic to babies!  Although this was a bit of an investment I have done so a while ago, but I'm constantly looking for new products that really get the job done.  My newest obsession is a dish washing liquid called "dapple".......it is AMAZING for washing all things baby.  It is all natural and safely removes breast milk, formula, and other baby foods.  I wish I had discovered this earlier when I was still breastfeeding, since it would have been perfect for washing the stubborn breast milk off of bottles.  And it's affordable at only $5.99.  Here are some of dapple's features:

• Rinses fast
• Natural-based ingredients
• Phtalate-free, paraben-free, SLES- & dye-free
• Fragranced with pure lavender essential oil
• Biodegradable
• Not tested on animals
• Certified to contain no detectable levels of dioxane

Try it and you will be obsessed too :)

9 Months Later :)

This weekend my hubby was sick, so Sasha and I spent most of the weekend lounging (away from him!), and taking lots and lots of pictures.  It made me realize that she has gotten so BIG lately, it's absolutely insane.  Today my little princess in 9 months old!  Time flies......

Also, Happy happy happy birthday to the most amazing mama in the world (MINE!) :)

Carter's Sale

Hello Friends :)  Even though I usually don't put up new posts on the weekends, I thought I would share with you that EVERYTHING on the Carter's website is 50% OFF through Sunday.  So get stocked up on all your summer needs because these prices are great :)  Happy shopping!



vacation vacation vacation!

Today has been a long day with Sasha.....but it's ok because it was finalized today that we are going on VACATION!!!  We have not gone anywhere for over a year and a half, so we are long long long overdue.  A family friend was absolutely amazingly generous and is letting us stay at their Fort Lauderdale condo...with Sasha :) Once the initial excitement wore off, my head started spinning from thinking about all of the things that I would have to bring for Sasha, how we're actually going to travel with her, etc, etc, etc.  Since I am crazy (just kidding, but I kind of am), I now need to do SOOOOOO much research (and shopping!) in order to prepare for this trip.  So I will report back on all of the things that I find out about travel with a baby and everthing that she will need for the summer weather...which should help all of you to plan for your summer vacation, or staycation!  In the meantime, I will try not to have a panic attack :) 

thredUP

I buy way too much for Sasha, I am aware of it, and it's a problem......but it is so hard to resist all of the cute stuff out there!!! Regardless of what your financial situation is, you are probably overspending on children's clothing and toys.  And then once your child wears the clothes, they don't fit into them within a couple of months.  I already have a couple of 50 gallon bins filled with clothes that Sasha has grown out of wasting space in my basement.....  Well now there is a solution! 

thredUp.com is a website that lets you trade a box of your gently used clothing for someone else's box.  There are descriptions of what comes in each box and the "sellers" are rated, which is wonderful!  It's super easy and reliable.....and all you pay is a $5 fee and for the shipping of the box (approximately $10.95).  Any box that you send ships free because the "buyer" pays for the shipping. Here are the step-by-step instructions from the site:

Very simply put, it works like this: pick a box you like, pay $5 plus shipping, prepare a box of items that no longer fit your child, when someone picks your box, send it for free. Here is the step-by-step version:

PICK - Browse boxes listed in the thredUP community and select one you'd like to receive. Hopefully, by now, you have your friends on thredUP so you can just pick their boxes. If you're busy, tell us your clothing preferences and the experts at thredUP can choose a box for you.
PAY - Once you've picked your box, all you pay is $5 plus shipping to have it delivered.
PREPARE - As part of this process, you are required (this is a swap after all!) to list a box of clothes that your child no longer wears. We'll ask for basic details such as types of clothing, number of items, colors, brands, season and sizes. Don't worry, the USPS will mail you empty boxes for your gently used clothes.
SEND - When someone picks your box, thredUP will alert you and ask you to send this box. It is free to send boxes on thredUP because the recipient pays the shipping. You'll be able to print the shipping label and schedule the pickup all in one click. Would you rather drop it off at the Post Office? No problem! Just cancel the pickup and leave a note for your postal carrier. As soon as your box is tracked by the USPS, you will see your box status has been changed to "shipped" in your thredUP closet.

Happy swapping!!!!!

Must-Give (or Have!) Baby Gifts



It feels like everyone around me has been hit with BABY FEVER lately!  While this is amazing because we can all share our experiences, have play dates later, etc......it also means that we have to buy lots of gifts for lots of babies/baby showers. Now that I'm a mom I have a few must have (or give!) gifts for the new mommies out there.  So go get them for your friends (or for yourself) :)

 



Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether - On Sale $17.05 (original $23.90) at Amazon





  1) Sophie the Giraffe has some sort of magic power over most of the babies that I know.  Don't ask me to explain it, but it is amazing.  The rubber is soft for babies gums and it's lightweight and easy for them to handle.  Sophie has been Sasha's favorite toy from the start, and it is a definite MUST HAVE for any baby.

Aden + Anais 100% Cotton Muslin Swaddle Wrap, 4 Pack - $44 at Amazon

2) These muslin swaddle wraps are to die for!  I got them as a gift when Sasha was first born from a relative with a baby and she told me that these were her favorite.  I had seen them in stores and it seemed absolutely insane to me to spend $44 on lightweight cotton blankets.  Once I used them I realized what all the hype was about.  They are so soft, lightweight, and breathable.  I used them for swaddling, I use them currently as lightweight blankets, I drape them over stroller for shade......I just can't say enough about them.  There are many, many different designs so check them out!


My First Taggie Cloth Bedtime Book - $12.95 at Babies R Us

 3) I love these cloth books because your baby can play with this book, you can take anywhere with you, and you can wash it when your baby spits up all over it!  Plus, the different colors and textures of the tags are very interesting to most babies.  Great little gift :)

Monthly Onesie Stickers - $9 at Purple Possom



Monthy Onesie Stickers - $9 at Purple Possom

Sasha at 1 Month with her onesie sticker :)

4) Monthly onesie stickers are such a cute way to commemorate each month of your baby's life.  You just stick each sticker on a onesie when the time comes and take lots and lots of adorable pics.  The stickers then come right off and don't even ruin the onesie.  There are literally a hundred different designs on the Purple Possom site, and there are even stickers that you can get personalized with your baby's name.  How cute is that?

My Other Children



Benji, Maggie, and I in Michigan 2009



Ok, so now that we've gotten to know each other I'm going to let you in on a little secret......I have two more children......their names are Maggie and Benji, and I ADORE them :)  Maggie is a feisty 5 1/2 year old Boxer mix and Benji is a kind 6 year old Lab mix.  Before Sasha came into my world, they were my world.  So it kind of breaks my heart when I can't give them as much attention or walk them as often as I used to.  They are a huge pain in my butt a lot of the time (especially now that Sasha is crawling and I need to clean up their fur nonstop!), but they are the most loyal and lovable companions. To add to it, Sasha loves her "siblings"!




Sasha :)



Sasha + Maggie = BFF's



Benji is soooo patient :)



Get It Together!!!!!

Let me paint you a picture:  It's about 1 pm on Friday and Sasha is dressed in an adorable outfit (of course!) with a matching headband, socks, and shoes.......I am still in my pajamas, haven't brushed my teeth, my hair is looking a mess, and I'm obviously not wearing any makeup.  I bring Sasha over by the mirror so that she can see how cute she looks...and that's when I black out from horror.....well not really, but I should have!

There is NO REASON that I couldn't have spent a couple of minutes getting myself together that morning. This was so not like me....who was this person in the mirror?  The best part about this scenario is that I still dressed my little girl like she was going to a party.  Moral of the story: get it together Kate! 

I know I'm not the only mom that has almost fainted from the sight of themselves in the mirror.  So, lets all vow to spend those couple extra minutes a day.  I am a pro at 5 minute makeup, so if you need to get together in a snap too here are my fave products to look fresh and together in no time.

 

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
$42 at Sephora
  

Step 1:  Apply Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer all over your face.  This is an amazing product because it provides light coverage, has SPF 20, and moisturizes.  It is a little expensive but I LOVE it!

 

Trish McEvoy Dual Resort Bronzer
$32 at Amazon.com

 Step 2:  Apply bronzer with a brush where the sun would naturally hit your face.  I love the Trish McEvoy dual bronzer because I like that it isn't too dark, and that I can decide which color to use, or blend them as needed.

 

NARS The Multiple in Orgasm
$39 at Sephora


Step 3:  Apply a cream blush, such as NARS Orgasm on your cheekbones, and blend with your fingers.  This is a universally flattering color....and the multiple literally lasts FOREVER!

 

L'Oreal Millionize Mascara
$7.97 at Walmart

Step 4:  Apply 2 coats of mascara on your top lashes.  I am consistently trying new mascaras and my newest obsession is the L'Oreal Millionize mascara.  And at under $10 the price can't be beat :)

Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment
$22.50 at Sephora

Step 5:  Apply a tinted lip balm.  This Fresh Sugar Rose tinted lip treatment smells amazing, is extremely moisturizing, has SPF 15, and gives you the prettiest rosey pout.  Amazing :)

Follow Me :)

Hello Friends :)

If you like the posts that I have written so far then please "Follow Me" by subscribing to my blog.  Just click on the link to the left of the posts under "Follow My Blog".  Thank you for all of your support!!!!!!

Kate

Walk It Out

I was raised in a family of walkers.....and talkers, but that's a subject for another day......I literally cannot remember a day that my parents didn't walk our family dog.  When I moved out and got my own dogs I walked them too.  So the logical thing to do with Sasha when I had her was walk her :)  All joking aside, Sasha and I walk for hours a day, and have been doing that since the day she was born.  Not only does it make me feel good, but Sasha loves it, and it definitely helped me shed the baby weight! 

While walking is wonderful, I am not a girl that has ever felt the need to sacrifice fashion for comfort.  Since I walk everyday, it's important for me to look good doing it.  While I can appreciate a good pair of gym shoes, here are some stylish alternatives for you moms on the run!


DKNY Ketchy Sneaker - On sale $68 (Original $85) at Zappos.com





Chuck Taylor All Star High Tops - $45 at Zappos.com



DKNY Mauri Sneakers - On sale $59.25 (original $79) at Zappos.com



PUMA Sneakerina Sneaker - $65 at Endless.com





Blog Premiere!

Ok, so I'm so excited that you decided to check out my blog!  This is all very new to me and hopefully you will like what you see and "follow" my blog by clicking the link on the left sidebar:)  I have written a few posts so that you can get an idea of what I'm all about, and I promise this is just a taste of what is to come.  So, scroll all the way down and start at the beginning!  Thank you and ENJOY!!!!!!!!

Self Doubt (Leave it at the Door!)

Yummy Bottom!
Personalized Bloomers - $14.95 at etsy.com

Ok, so as a new mom, or maybe this continues even later on, I continuously worry whether I am doing everything "right" for Sasha.  Thankfully I have my amazing husband to help me snap back to reality when I get a little obsessive about things.  Well I had a bit of a panick attack the other day when I met another mom at the park.  I saw that she had a daughter about Sasha's age, so I struck up a conversation with her.  Turns out her daughter was the same age as mine, but there were a couple of LARGE differences: her daughter was enrolled in Gymboree, swimming lessons, gymnastics, and participated in multiple playgroups.  Now, I had already decided to enroll Sasha in Gymboree within the next month.....but all of the other things that Sasha was NOT doing made my head spin.  Once I left the park I started manically thinking about how I could have let this happen......I was hindering my child's development.... Sasha was so behind! 

When my husband got home, I told him all about my encounter, and about the fact that I had failed miserably at the upbringing of our child.  At that moment I glanced over at Sasha, who was playing and looking happy as can be, and I realized that my child is just fine.....I don't need to try to keep up with some stranger, I need to do what's best for my baby.  Well, I'm trying! :)

Making Baby Food

Before I had Sasha, I NEVER thought that I would be making my own baby food.  Of course this was yet another thing that I changed my mind about once my little princess was born.  The benefits of making your own baby food are enormous, even if you are buying organic purees. 

Although it might seem like a lot of work, my Beaba Babycook makes it so simple and fast.  It not only steams, but it also purees any vegetables, fruits, meats, or fish that you may want to puree.  Since I am home with Sasha I usually make single portions for her.  But you can always make larger batches of food and freeze them in the a flexible tray (such as the ones shown below) and defrost them when needed.

If this is something that you're thinking about doing, then I would highly recommend getting Annabel Karmel's book called Top 100 Baby Purees.  It is full of easy recipes for baby's first year of eating.  Also, check out her website for tons of free recipes, great tips, and other helpful resources about feeding your little one.

On sale for $8.61 (original $16)  at Amazon.com

Beaba Babycook - $149 at Amazon.com

Beaba Multiportion Freezer Tray - $19.95 at Amazon.com



Sasha's 7.5 Month Photoshoot

About a month ago we did a photoshoot for Sasha at our house with a fabulous photographer named Lisa from Coconut Dolly Photography. Lisa was great with Sasha and made us feel completely comfortable. I am thrilled with the results and can't wait to get some of these printed and framed!  Here are some of my favorites, although it was definitely hard to choose.  Enjoy :)

Tutu and headband from Trinity's Tutus

Non-Buyers Remorse

Have you ever been just NOT in the mood to shop?  Well that is exactly the mood that I was in the other day, at the most inopportune time (of course!).  We've had a couple of rough nights with Sasha lately due to the evil monster better known as teething.  Although she's usually sleeping about 10-11 hours a night now, she has been waking up every few hours moaning from teething, and has been having trouble falling asleep for naps :(  I decided to take her to the mall and thankfully she did fall asleep!  But, I was completely not in the mood to shop.....I looked through all of Gymboree, Baby Gap, The Children's Place, etc....and NOTHING......I was DYING to go home already.  Of course, she eventually awoke and we went home.

That night I was plagued with non-buyers remorse......I could not get these adorable strawberry outfits out of my head from Gymboree.  There was a strawberry tutu and  striped t-shirt that Sasha HAD to have!  I know it sounds silly, but you know the feeling moms!  The next day I called a friend that worked at the mall and asked her to get the outfit for Sasha, and I even sent her in with a coupon that I had gotten with an order from Diapers.com :) Bless her soul, she saved the day, and now our lives are complete...just kidding (but seriously)!

The t-shirt - on sale $11.19 (original $19.95) at Gymboree

Strawberry Sweater Dress - on sale $17.14 (original $34.95) at Gymboree

Strawberry Sunhat - on sale $6.29 (original $12.95) at Gymboree

Here's some pics of the Strawberry Collection at Gymboree.  Unfortunately, the website no longer carries the tutu, but there are so many other adorable things there!  And it's all on sale now!!!!! Oh yeah, and once the summer rolls around, pics of Sasha in her MUST-HAVE outfit will follow :)