I'm nearing the end of my 3rd trimester, as my due date is in just a couple more days! Thought I'd take this opportunity before babygirl's arrival to share all my favorite items I religiously used during this last trimester. Not pictured, however, and yet carried over from my 1st and 2nd trimester essentials list, have been my heavy intake of water & my pregnancy pillow used for my super sore hips every night! An additional word of advice that I've found very beneficial is don't forget to stretch and walk at least 30 minutes a day! Hoping they help me bounce back into fighting shape faster!
Motherhood
My Top 10 Pregnancy Essentials & Must-haves for the Second Trimester
Thursday, April 04, 2019
I can’t even believe this mama + my growing babygirl have now entered the 3rd trimester! I feel like I blinked and my second trimester flew by. I certainly had my go-to items during that time I just couldn't live without, so felt the need to share!
1 | Ouai Dry Shampoo
2 | Mama's Cookies
I am currently planning my baby shower, and the first thing on my list was to find floral themed baby shower invitations. I have partnered with Basic Invite as they offer a beautiful selection of various customizable baby shower invitation options! What I really fell in love with after using their site was that it was completely user friendly. Anyone from future mama's, your shower hostess, or event planner will not be disappointed. Another great feature is all the vibrant color options! I was not only able to update the color of my favorite font to a particular blush pink that matched my shower theme and decor, but the fact I could literally customize the font, verbiage, and alignment on the card made it that much more personalized. Last but not certainly least, Basic Invite was incredibly helpful when trying to figure out which cool baby shower games we should use at our shower, and not to mention sticking with our floral theme aesthetic - I'm loving these adorable herbaceous babe baby shower games
Some other benefits Basic Invite offers:
Almost Unlimited Colors
What sets Basic Invite from the competition is that it that allows customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once you select a design, you can change the color of each element on the card to over 180 different color options. Unlike almost any other online stationary company, you can make sure the card is exactly how you want it down to the littlest detail.
Custom Samples
Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers the ability to order a printed sample of your actual invitation. With this feature, you can see exactly how it will print as well as the paper quality before you ever have to place your final order.
Over 40 Different Colors of Envelopes
Basic Invite is just as colorful with envelopes as with their invitations. Customers can choose from over 40 different colors when it comes to your envelopes, which allows your invitation stand out even before it is opened. All of the envelopes are peel and seal and can be quickly and securely closed.
Address Capturing Service
Basic Invite offers an address capturing service that allows customers to simply share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other form of social media to request your friends and family’s addresses. These addresses are then stored in the customer’s account and can then be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders.
Foil
Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. Customers can choose flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs.
Pinterest
If you're not sure where to start with your invitation needs, Basic Invite has a wonderful Pinterest page full of creative visual card ideas for all occasions!
Some other lines of business that Basic Invite has outside of customizable baby invitations include: stationary, wedding, thank you cards, and awesome free printables! Be sure to check out Basic Invite to make your party planning process personalized, radiant, and effortless!
**Thank you Basic Invite for sponsoring this post. All reviews and opinions are my own.
Fashion
10 Thoughtful Valentine’s Day Gifts For Her w/ Fast & Free Shipping
Friday, February 08, 2019
In need of last minute Valentine's Day gift for your wifey, girlfriend, daughter, mother, sister, bff, etc? I've got you covered! I've rounded up my personal favorite items from Amazon, that come with prime shipping! Hope this list makes shopping that much easier for you! Happy shopping and Valentine's Day!
OUTFIT DETAILS
Fashion Nova Goal Diggin Jacket - Mauve (Sold Out), similar here
When it comes to the first trimester of pregnancy, it is full of so many unknowns. Is what I’m feeling normal? Am I resting enough? Does everyone feel this awful/good? How much weight should I be gaining? Why am I so exhausted? Etc, etc. While everyone has a different experience, there are a few essentials that many women really depend on at the beginning that I think are relevant to any pregnancy. Here are my first trimester must-haves that got me through those many pregnancy unknowns!
1) Simply Peppermint Gum - Gum (mint or peppermint flavor only!) was so essential all throughout the day! Many nights I'd even fall asleep chewing gum, and thankfully woke up with it still inside my mouth lol. It really helped settling my stomach while also helping keep my mouth clean :-)
2) Ginger Ale - This one is a no brainer ;). With all of the nausea, ginger ale was definitely my drink of choice most days. Really, ginger anything helps! Ginger chews, ginger cookies, etc. Total life saver!
3) Rainbow Light Trimester 1 Prenatal Vitamins - I LOVE these vitamins for a few reasons- but mainly because they didn't upset my stomach at all. I've taken them all times of the day, stomach full of food or not, and they've never made me feel ill. They're also a food-based multi-vitamin which is awesome, and you only have to take one a day.
4) Avocado Toast - There are no words to describe how yummy and healthy this combo is, and if you're not a fan, we cannot be friends lol. Just sayin'....easy to stomach and easy on the stomach, all it entails is an avocado, whole grain bread, olive oil mayo, salt and pepper, and if you're really feeling extra, fresh squeezed lime juice and red chilli pepper flakes!
5) Greek Whole Milk Yogurt - I'm not always the biggest dairy person, but I know that it is essential during pregnancy, so lately I've been into Greek yogurt, especially Chobani's Whole Milk & Greek Gods Honey yogurt. I add in all sort of different things to mix it up (granola, frozen fruit, etc.), and I love that it's a healthier choice for a sweet treat for the end of the night, chock full of calcium and protein for babyboo.
6) Healthy Snacks - Apples, Applesauce, Almonds, Cheese Squares, Peanut Butter, Kind Bars, & Goodness Knows bars were my favorites. As long as there wasn't an intense smell associated with my snacks, it was good with me and my tummy.
7) Stacy's Pita Chips - This one is debatable. Some women love saltine crackers, others plain Cheerios, it's totally your perogative. For me however, I loved salted pita chips. I always made sure I had a bag next to my bed when I'd wake up hungry in the middle of the night. My husband still laughs at the thought of me loudly chewing my crackers discreetly in the dark during those 3 months lol.
8) Peppermint Tea - To help soothe your stomach, I recommend drinking peppermint tea (caffeine free). If you are experiencing nausea, anything peppermint helps. Even carrying peppermint candy in your purse, or the essential oil can be a total relief.
9) KOR One BPA Free Water-bottle - We are told by our Dr that a pregnant woman's water intake needs to be on average, approximately 10 cups (2.3 liters) of fluid per day. I aim to drink at least 4 of these of a day, and being able to refill my bottle keeps me on track with my water intake.
10) Belly Oil - When your tummy stars getting bigger belly oil is LIFE! There are so many great options depending on what you're willing to splurge or steal on. Hatch has a great mama oil that's a lil more pricey, but there are definitely other amazing affordable options including body butter's such as Burt's Bee's Mama Butter, Trader Joe's Coconut Oil, and even Aquaphor (yes, Aquaphor, I'm telling ya, it works wonders).
11) Music & 'The Bump' Pregnancy App - With all the tossing and turning during bedtime, I like to listen to help put me to sleep. I'm an R&B chick, so H.E.R's album was my go-to. The "Lullaby by Michael Silverman" station on Spotify has also been another fav that mixes soothing lullaby and classical tunes. Another option is Hypnobirthing, which is quite popular among modern mama's these days. I tried to get into, but it just wasn't for me, so I just stick to music instead. There are those nights however, when pregnancy insomnia kicks in and music still won't help, so the Bump app is a great tool to read about what's going on with your new body if you're gonna be up anyway.
12) Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your Body - A good friend of mine gifted me this book, and I have not put it down. I felt this one is a great alternative to "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and "The Sh!t No One Tells You About Pregnancy". It's a one stop shop for all the answers to a first time mama's questions, and includes informative body and self-care exercises, healthy recipes, and even covers topics after the first weeks your baby is born.
13) Crane 'Air Droplet' Humidifier - This came in so handy when I was painfully sick. I couldn't breathe and needed something to help me cough up a lung and a half to get all the mucus out of my chest, and thankfully this humidifier was the answer. A great perk is that it has various output controls, and didn't interfere with my already awful sleep habits as it is whisper-quiet.
14) Lavender Scented Candle - Although the use of essential oils during pregnancy is controversial, since experts don’t have clear data on the safety, for me the scent of lavender is calming and the candle really helped ease a lot of my nausea. Everything in moderation right? I avoid lighting my candles for a long period of time due to the wick emission (something to be careful of pregnant or not), but this candle really just did it for me.
15) Eberjay Gisele Comfy Pajamas Set - I literally lived in my pj's and Ugg slippers my entire first trimester. I had no energy to do all the simple things that I used to, such as running errands or even just hanging out with friends outside my home. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and be comfy on my couch. I love this pj set, as you still look put together while lounging comfortably.
16) Seamless Bralette - Normally I free the nipple while I sleep, but as my chest was getting bigger and in more pain, I found that a seamless bralette kept the ladies in place more comfortably with than without. Totally your preference! Nordstrom, Macy's, H&M, Gap, & Target sell many great versions of the bralette, but the photo above is the exact one I love the most (plus it also doubles as super stylish lol)!
17) Maternity Leggings - I've tried a ton of different types, and these are hands down the best! Ingrid and Isabel normally retail at a higher price-point at Nordstrom, but they now have a maternity line at Target, and honestly the only difference I could feel was within my wallet lol. They're incredibly comfortable that makes lounging and running errands that much better. Throw on a cute tunic and flats and you're good to go!
San Francisco living is quite minuscule, so it was no surprise that my new condo barely came with an entry way. Across from my make-shift coat closet/linen closet/pantry (umm yeahhhhh, all 3 of these storage spaces have been combined into the 1 closet between my entryway and kitchen. I def wasn't joking about minuscule!) there is a slim vertical wall that I could creatively play with. "Ughhh, but where do I start?!?!" I frustratingly thought to myself. So, I did what any internet-savvy, yet, design-challenged woman would do....hit up Pinterest duhhhhh. As a first-time homeowner the app has been LIFE and my go-to for all DIY ideas! Seriously though, I don’t ever want to live in, or imagine a world, without Pinterest lol. When searching for what to do with my tiny wall entryway, I came across sooooo many amazing ideas, but one really stuck out for me: The family command center. They are all the rage in the modern home right now, and are a Type-A/OCD organized human's dream. I did notice however, there was not one command center that fit into my modern/glam home. Almost all the ideas offered online had more of a farmhouse/rustic vibe, and not quite enough glam. Then the ah-hah-light-bulb moment struck me like, boom! (Insert thought bubble here) "Since a glam family command center doesn’t exist online, then maybe I should create one!" I stuck with my favorite classic color combo of black, white, and gold, and went to work (actually, more like went shoppin' hehe). I'm a visually organized person, so I had to bring my vision to life after making my purchases. I created my command center when Polyvore was around a few months ago (#BringBackPolyvore - Don't even get me started on that topic smh), then measured their accurate spacing on my tiny wall until I was finally ready to start hanging up all the items! The only DIY-ing I did was paint the silver hooks on the key-holder gold, since I couldn't find a black and gold one I liked anywhere. Other than that, all the items I found were ready to be hung, and each cost under $20 - come up!! You can see my process, and item details all below. Thanks for reading, enjoy loves!
My Teeny Tiny Entryway, To Give You An Idea Of Just How Ridiculously Small It Is #SanFranLiving |
The Narrow Vertical Wall The Command Center Will Be Placed |
My First Attempt At Measuring The Placement of The Items! |
Boom! 1 Down, 6 More To Go! |
It's Not As Easy As It Looks, Trust |
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It's Coming Along, Yay! |
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The Rest Of The Items, Almost There! |
My Trusty Pen-Touch To Cover The Silver Hooks w/ Gold! |
Cleaned Up Extra Paint Marks Off The Black Wood w/ Goo Gone & Touched Up w/ My Gold Sharpie |
One Last Drilling Into The Wall To Secure The Key Holder! Yes, Of Course I Own A Pink Drill LOL ;-) |
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"His" & "Hers" Organized Mail Bins |
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Whatttttt!! New Command Center, Who Dis (**hair toss**finger snaps)?! |
Enchante Fabulous Dry Erase Weekly Plan Board: TJ Maxx HomeGoods
Mesh Monogram "M": Marshall's (similar)
Realspace Clear/Black Acrylic Pencil Cup: Office Depot
White & Gold Pens: Poppin
Black 4-Hook Wall Mounted Key Holder: Amazon
Gold-Tone Letter Wall Organizer: TJ Maxx Home Goods (similar)
Chalkboard hanging Sign Tags: Amazon
We just got back from a beautiful wedding weekend in Austin, Texas. There was lots of fun, sun, love and of course, BBQ! Instead of packing a ton of outfits (like I usually do), I decided to keep it simple and try to get the most out of just a few pieces for our short 48 hour stay.
1 carry-on, 2 days, 3 outfits. Here's what I recommend throwing in your bag if you find yourself visiting Austin for a couple days!
PACKING LIST:
Clothing:
Underwear
Bra/Pasties
T-Shirt
Romper
Cardigan
Denim Shorts
Bathing Suit
Elevated Dress (for a nice dinner or in my case, the wedding)
Shoes:
Comfortable Sandals or Sneakers
Heels
Accessories:
Leather Belt
Statement Earrings
Sunglasses
Hat
Tote Bag
Camera (I used my iPhone Camera)
Portable Phone Charger
Carry-On Cocktail Kit
Toiletries:
Face Wash
Sunscreen
Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
Lipstick
Mascara
Blush
Carry on sized Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash
Dry Shampoo
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Razor
Unfortunately it was raining hardcore the first day we arrived so we were pretty limited on sightseeing prior to the wedding (waaaaa!). But we managed to pull through the day after, and take in a few sights. I was unable to wear 2 out of my 4 outfits on this trip, so I saved the others to shoot in SF since it was pouring.
We stayed at the amazing Westin Austin at The Domain, which I highly recommend! Not only were they super accommodating, with an all around lovely atmosphere, but also walking distance to plenty of lively restaurants, upscale shops, and fun nightlife. If you are traveling as a family, all of the nearby amenities make it so easy for all ages to get to, and enjoy. Should you opt to stay on the premises, the hotel offers an indoor and outdoor American breakfast, lunch and dinner experience, with live music, at their onsite restaurant.
If you're visiting beautiful Austin in 48 hours as well, I have compiled a quick list of sightseeing below:
SIXTH STREET
MURALS: You're My Butter Half, Love From Austin, Greetings From Austin, etc
BBQ & TEXMEX: Franklin BBQ: Juana Taco
CATHEDRAL OF JUNK
LONGHORN CAVERNS
1) Dolce & Gabbana Printed bikini top + High Waisted Bottoms
2) Ted Baker Monochrome Stripe Underwire Bikini Top + High Waisted Bottoms
I can't believe Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I feel like it was just Christmas a second ago. Valentine’s Day is a holiday I always look forward to, because it’s a day to celebrate the one you love. Sean always does something over the top for Valentine’s Day – the last few he’s given me 2 dozen roses and a pearl necklace. He is so on point, but poor guy def has the hardest time coming up with something I don't already have. I always say I don’t want anything big, but then he thinks that doesn’t leave much for him to pick from lol.. One gift I always tell him he can’t go wrong with is a scented candle. It’s the best way to give a luxury gift without a huge price tag. I love candle's for Valentine’s Day (or any holiday at that). I've linked a few of my favorite candle's below - All under $100 - in case your boo also has a hard time figuring out a gift for his lady whose got it all ;-)
I took it upon myself to bring back an oldie but goodie: my vintage Missoni zig-zag dress. No doubt pink is the color of love, so it only made sense. Although it is a turtleneck sweater dress, it's still a mini, and my little legs would be left frozen had I not paired it with some boots. Kept my accessories pretty tame since this little number already speaks for itself. We'll see if I keep this color in rotation, or go with a signature red on actual Valentine's Day.
I took it upon myself to bring back an oldie but goodie: my vintage Missoni zig-zag dress. No doubt pink is the color of love, so it only made sense. Although it is a turtleneck sweater dress, it's still a mini, and my little legs would be left frozen had I not paired it with some boots. Kept my accessories pretty tame since this little number already speaks for itself. We'll see if I keep this color in rotation, or go with a signature red on actual Valentine's Day.
1) Voluspa Vermeil Candle - Prosecco Rose
2) Jo Malone Candle - 'My Wanderlust - Cardamom & Moroccan Rose'
3) Henri Bendel Candle - Jasmine & Bergamot
4) Illume Laurel Glass Candle - Thai Lily
5) Target Valentine's Day Glass Candle - Pineapple Pomegranate or Pink Peony
6) Ladurée Candle - Ispahan
7) Viktor Rolf Limited Edition Flowerbomb Scented Candle
8) Flamingo Candles - Valentines Wifey for Lifey
9) Bath & Body Works 3-Wick Candle - Honeysuckle Bouquet
OUTFIT DETAILS
Silver Hoop Earrings: Forever 21