city babies: pretty mamas...

Ho Ho Ho!  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!  I even added a little red and green to the little collage today :)

So it's been a while since I did a city babies post...like a year or something.  Mama's tired...and apparently lost most of her brain capacity somewhere between the delivery room and well, you know, parenthood.  And I thought pregnant brain was bad...Ha!  That was just a warm up!

Another thing that went down the shoot with mommy's brain was a general care and attention to herself.  There just never seems to be enough time to get everything done and still deal with my unibrow or those flakey cuticles!  What's a mama to do...sigh.  What I have discovered is that routines don't have to be the big, elaborate ceremonies, requiring lots of time and attention.  Sometimes all one needs is a little buff and polish:)  So that's what I do now: some scrubbing, a little moisturizing and a bit of conditioning.  Below, I've made a quick list with a few of my favorite items that have perked up my post baby beauty routine...or lack thereof, I should say...

1. Clarisonic Mia: I cannot live without this thing.  I'm serious.  Ask Santa for one...it will change your life.  That's all I have to say about that.

2. Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish: This stuff smells amazing and is my most favorite scrub in the whole world.  It is so moisturizing that you can go without lotion afterwards.  And I have the driest skin. Ever.  

3. Jason Vitamin E Creme: After the scrub, I coat myself in this extra thick creme...it helps heal scars and sun damage, is safe for super sensitive or breakout prone skin (I have both), and incredibly moisturizing.  I think it is supposed to be a facial creme, but I use it everywhere.  When I was pregnant I coated myself in this stuff everyday...my skin never looked better.  

4.  Josie Maran Argan Oil:  Okay...another obsession of mine.  I learned about argan oil when D and I were Marrakech a few years ago.  Everything they say about it is true.  It's great for dry skin, cuticles, split ends...bad attitudes (Well, maybe not bad attitudes.  But who knows?  Maybe you'll be nicer once your skin isn't so itchy.).  It's a miracle in a bottle.  Get some! 

5.  Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner:  I was never a fancy pants shampoo girl until I smelled this olive oil infused shampoo and I was instantly converted.  Single girls: I swear to you.  Wash your hair with this and you'll be shaking the men off of you.  A man once chased me down the sidewalk to ask me why I smelled so good...he was a little embarrassed after realizing that I was holding D's hand.  D was not amused.  (True story.) But I digress...on top of phermone enhancement, it also makes your hair shiny and glossy and beautiful.  I like this little starter kit...it has a travel size of the shampoo, conditioner and cream and is perfect for holiday travel.

As usual, these are just my silly little opinions and have no intellectual backing...just my own experiences.   So now it's your turn: what are your beauty routines?  Anything new I should know about?  I'd love to hear how you take care of yourself, mommy or not :)  

ho ho ho:)

ki

city babies: seeing pink...

I'm in love...

My niece is the most beautiful, perfect little thing I have seen since Monsieur l'Pea stole my heart away 16 months ago.  In spite of making her debut into the world four weeks early, she is healthy and round and perfect.  The Pea and I just returned from a week in South Carolina with the newest member of our family tree, and since the moment I laid eyes on this beautiful little girl, I have only been able to see in shades of pink.  My sister, unlike me, is not the pinkest girl on the block, so I promised her that I would stay clear of anything in the pepto range while on a mission to spoil my niece.  I have now started a collection of pink-but-not-too-pink things for my little protege that I think are perfect for pink and not-so-pink girls alike...

1. Perfect Pick Gift Set in Sparrow by DwellStudio: pink with a little neutral tones it down and the contents look great as decor until Miss Janey is ready to play

2. Barefoot Dreams Jacket and Hat set in pink: the Pea had this in blue, and it is the softest coziest thing I've ever touched...perfect for infant skin

3. Blabla Pink Birds Mobile: just sweet enough that my sis wouldn't mind having this hanging in the nursery.  I love that the entire thing is knitted by hand.  

4. Aden + Anais swaddling blankets: I've mentioned how much I love these before...they are the best swaddling blankets around.

5. Little Giraffe Satin Trim Blanky: Peanut has one of these in blue. We take it everywhere and it is starting fall apart from way too much love! (He loves it so much that somedays I think he is going to take it to college.)  And this is probably more pink that my sister wants in her house, but I don't care!  I love these little silkies--that's what Peanut's is named: Silky.  

6. Take Me Home Gift Set from Serena and Lily: Pea had this too...it's starting to sound like I just picked the pink version of all of his stuff, isn't?  But I really do love this little layette set.  The tassels are a quirky little touch and the entire set is made from the softest cotton jersey.

Top left corner: my inspiration...Miss Janey, taken on her one week old birthday.  

xo...

ki

city babies: world class traveler...

If "how do you live in a one bedroom apartment?" is the first question people ask, the second is "how on earth do you travel so often with a little baby?"  I'm not gonna say it's easy but I will not say that it's impossible either.  

Monsieur l'Pea was three months old the first time he flew on a plane, and since then we have been here and there and everywhere.  And because of my dear sweet hubby's very demanding work schedule, it is often just me and the Pea.  Through a lot of trial and plenty of error, I can tell you that you need to keep it simple, pack only the essentials, and don't sweat the small stuff.  It's gonna be a long day!  

So how do I do it?  I pack one giant suitcase for the two of us that I immediately check curbside, and the stroller stays with us until we board the plane.  I stopped bringing a laptop after the first trip.  It was way too hard to keep track of it. (I left it at security twice...not nearly as upsetting as the time I left P's car seat at security and a TSA agent chased me through LaGuardia with his seat in hand.)  And I never bring a pack 'n play.  Our parents have them at their houses and most hotels have been able to accomodate us with something comprable. 

But most of all, be sure to be organized and bring exactly what you need.  Below, I have collected a few of my travel day essentials that have gotten us from the City to the South and everywhere in between...

my travelin' man...from top to bottom: East Hampton, Panama City Beach, Atlanta, Hilton Head, and California...

no1: comfy clothes.  Just as I will never be caught dead in the airport in anything velour, track suit themed or with writing across my rear, neither will my son!  Cute can be comfy...say no to white trash!  I love anything by Splendid Baby.  They are made of the softest cotton I have ever touched.  Oh...and don't forget a spare outfit or two.  (I heard the most horrific story the other day about a 3 month old who destroyed her outfit on the plane and had to fly to Miami wrapped in a blanket, naked, with completely traumatized/mortified parents...you don't want the details but just trust me.  Spare outfits: You. Need. Them!)

no2: wipes.  And I'm not talking diaper wipes...I would assume those were a given.  I'm talking about hand sanitizer, paci and toy cleaner, surface cleaner, etc.  I seriously don't know how our mothers survived without everything imaginable in wipe form.  They fit easily in the diaper bag and solve a multitude of issues.  I never leave for a trip without one of everything, and they have yet to go unused.  From wiping down airport changing stations to cleaning off a dropped teething ring for the eighteenth time, they are a must have for airports and flights.  From top to bottom: Mustela face and hand wipes, Baby Ganics The Germinator, Baby Ganics The Grime Fighter, and First Years pacifier wipes.

no3: Hudson diaper bag by Dwell.  I chose this diaper bag because nothing about it said diaper bag.  I love the clean and polished styling in my favorite color combo: navy/black.  Plus, it is big enough to carry everything one might need for a long day of travel but never interferes with a good airport outfit.  (There is also a shoulder strap included, perfect for freeing up hands... ) 

no4: Moby Wrap.  My sister gave me a Moby Wrap at my baby shower, and she swore to my very skeptical face that I would love it.  She was right...I would not have survived the early months without it.  And then when I began traveling it was even more amazing.  I would just tuck Monsieur l'Pea into the Moby wrap and tote him through the airport with free hands, and as an added bonus he always fell asleep within seconds of being wrapped in.  He loved it and usually slept peacefully for the majority of the trip...a total lifesaver.  

no5:  Orbit Baby G2 Travel System.  Last but without a doubt not the least.  I could not survive without this thing.  This space age looking contraption is a car seat and stroller in one, which means when I travel, I don't have to bring a car seat and a separate stroller to the airport and attempt to carry more than I can handle.  The seat simply locks onto the base to form the stroller and then easily breaks down with the flick of a switch.  I will admit there was a bit of a learning curve in the beginning, but now that I have mastered it, I can travel by myself without a lot of extra gear.   

I would love to hear your stories and advice!  Ever travel with a wee one?  Do you think you will one day?  Tell me about it!  

xo...

ki 

city babies: the 1-2-3's

It's no secret that city living takes on an entirely different meaning when little bits are added to the equation.  Since becoming a mother the question I am most frequently asked is, "What is it like living in a one bedroom loft with a baby?  They have so much stuff..."

Yes.  Yes they do!  

After nine months of careful contemplation and ten more months of trial and error, D and I finally have a handle on living in a small space with someone who takes up all of your space!  So before we move into something a little bigger, I thought I would pass along a little bit of what I have learned along the way...

 My first piece of advice is to keep it simple.  Don't over think it.  

The second is to buy things when you need them.  If you have friends or family members that would like to buy some of the larger items like a high chair, ask for an I.O.U. and cash in when you are ready.

When L'Pea was born we had exactly what we would need for the first three months.  That was all the room we had.  And as he has grown, we have added accordingly and moved the items that have reached their expiration date into storage.  I am positive that living without the clutter has really made a difference in our sanity.  

Below, are a few of my favorite basics that got Monsieur L'Pea through the 1-2-3's (months, that is)...

no1: Sausalito moses basket by Serena and Lily.  It's small, it's portable...perfect for the first few months.  I love the preppy, sturdy design of this basket and the extra large handles for toting around.  It is also a little deeper and roomier than the average moses basket, and after baby outgrows it, it makes a great toy storage bin.

no2: Gerber diaper shirts.  My mother insisted that I would need these and I was not convinced until I found out that Pea was born with the worst case of acid reflux.  Within seconds of nursing his precious little outfits were destroyed each day.  After two weeks of changing Pea's clothes every two or three hours, I decided maybe Mom was right...these shirts were an easy alternative to full outfits when we were just hanging around the house.  They are inexpensive and come in multi packs, and they are super easy to take on and off...much easier than pulling something over a newborn's head and snapping a million buttons.  

no3: aden+anais muslin swaddle blankets.  I cannot impress upon you how much I love these things.  I give them to everyone as gifts now because they are the greatest!  Bigger than average swaddling blankets, they are the perfect year round weight and have a million uses after the swaddling phase is long gone.  Love them!

no4: a bouncy seat.  You will eventually have to put that little bundle of love down, and he will probably not be happy about it! Enter the bouncy seat...just turn on the rocker or the vibrating function and you are home free!  Make sure it has something for the little guy to stare at and play with when he gets a little older.  We had this one...although I would have probably bought the one pictured if I had know it existed as I love anything that combines a baby with bunnies...

no5: Skip Hop play mat.  Oh, L'Pea loved his play mat!  He would slap those little birdies around and have that whole mat making music!  After he outgrew the mat, we removed the creatures and he continued to play with the toys for many more months.  

looking for baby shower gift advice?  check out this recent post from chevrons & eclairs...

xo...

ki