It is perfect.
May 18, 2011
New Mommy Love by Farrah
I call them the First Years. No, not law students or firm associates. They are the First Year, First Time Mommies.
Although I just graduated to a Second Year, I love catching up with the First Years. And Farrah Pepper is one of my favorites. I met her at a work conference, and I only get to see her once a year, but when I do, the world is a sweeter, funnier, smarter place. Farrah also has great taste, so when she told me about her new mommy must haves, I knew they would be good. And they are.
A sheet of monthly onesie stickers. What is that (I had to ask)? You put the sticker on the onesie and take a picture to document your new baby’s journey through the first year.
Aren’t these ties absolutely adorable?
Skinnygirl Margarita by (former Real Housewife of New York) Bethenny Frankel. Farrah keeps a bottle of this at home at all times for impromptu entertaining. 100 calories per serving and just add lime. Yum.
Chewbeads for mommy and baby. Necklaces are my favorite accessory, but they are tough to wear through the teething phase. Farrah told me that this was only necklace she wears around the baby.
And, like myself, Farrah is obsessed with Trumpette socks. Her eight month-old, Lila, wears the Jennys, Maryjanes and Pixies. For summer, check out the Tillys, a strappy sandal. Swoon!
The mother’s prayer by Tina Fey. This is fantastically funny and poignant. I also got a little teary.
So, what are your new mommy must haves?
April 25, 2011
A Real Arm Smoother
Tiny little bumps like to populate the skin on the top of my arms, so I am religious about using this wonder lotion to smooth things over: Lac-hydrin 5. Tip: you can find it at your local Walgreens, but it is half as expensive to buy online.
April 22, 2011
Shoe Surprise
These showed up on our doorstep. And my husband gave me that look.
Too bad… I am already in love.
Pediped from Zappos (left to right): Ruby, Mimi, and Riley.
March 31, 2011
Fantasy Shopping for Baby
How about this Stella McCartney bathing suit?
Or a heart shaped purse and these wittle gold Prada sandals from Neimans?
Or a Bamboletta dolly?
March 8, 2011
High-Tech Tuesday: Are iPhones Bad for Babies?
Fisher Price is not concerned. They are making cases so your tot doesn’t wreck your phone.
One of my girlfriends had twins shortly after my own child was born. She was the first to warn me that handing your phone to your baby just to placate him is like handing over five one-hundred dollar bills (yes, that’s $500) and crossing your fingers that the baby doesn’t shred it. And babies do love the iPhone. Ours is like a zombie once she sees a flash of my white bumper. She must have it, just short of tearing my eyes out and turning blue, red, and purple. Here, she is extremely happy, having secured both our iPhones:
My own mom wisely said once that video games – in moderation – were good for children. She must have known that one day those gamers were going to rule the military. In fact, we just had lunch with a partner I used to work for in the city, and he brought his 16 year old son who is seriously brilliant and seriously planning on making his millions on video game design.
My father generously bought each of his granddaughters (including mine) an iPad when our baby was six months old. And she LOVES it. But, I think the jury is still out on the whole baby-iPhone thing. If the peds are scared s**tless about letting children under two watch television, I am certain that iPhones and iPads are next on the list.
By the way, Baby Piano HD is awesome.
February 21, 2011
Makeup Monday: Fresh Face in Three Steps
A friend recently mentioned that her almost one-year old is not sleeping through the night. In solidarity, I am posting my favorite beauty tips that will give you a fresh, well-rested appearance – but in toddler time.
Step ONE: Swipe a fool-proof concealer in two half circle motions – one from the inside corners of your eyes up to your brow bone, and again from just underneath the inside corner down into the hollow of your eye until you reach the pupil. Your concealer should be on shade lighter than your skin and cannot be a heavy or overly dry formula; it must meld into your skin. My pick is the award winning Cle de Peau (their new formula is slightly creamier and even easier to blend). I like to slap it on, then follow the next step, and clean it all up with a blending sponge.
Step TWO: Blend a brightening bronzer or blush into the top apples of your cheeks. This will brighten up your complexion and give the illusion of rest. I just tried a sample of Nars Illuminator, and it does the trick.
Step THREE: Apply a long-lasting, peachy-pink shade lip color, like Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle.
The goal is to look like the this model, Vanessa Paradis (who is, incidentally, wearing the Rouge Coco shade Mademoiselle.)
February 14, 2011
Makeup Monday: All I Want for Valentines
We spent our Sunday afternoon at Target, and I do not think that my husband had a clue that Valentines was upon us until all of the pink and red cards by the front door announced the holiday.
Especially with children, these holidays change as you get older. So, when my husband asked what I wanted, I didn’t steer him to a jewelry counter. What I really wanted was… Valentines kisses. Sweet sloppy ones from our tot, and long romantic ones from the spouse.
Any kisses this time of year demands lip balm. And it can’t be full of chemicals or mineral oil. It can’t the kind in a pot that you have to dab on with a gloved finger. Finally, it can’t be expensive because it will inevitably get lost for some extended period of time. Like until next year.
And, voila, eos lip balm. It is:
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
- Petrolatum-free
- Phthalate-free
eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and the sphere packaging is too big for my toddler to swallow. Best part – it is about $3.
Next Valentines, I am going to buy a pack of 8 and hand them out with the cute old Valentines cards we traded as kids.
Happy Valentines! May yours be sweet and memorable.
February 3, 2011
Friday Q&A: Traveling with a Baby?
I am at the tail end of my trip, just hours before boarding a plane home, and I am excited about seeing my family. Speaking of which, I have been putting together a list of tips from our all-day plane, train, and automobile ride with our 1 year-old. Let me share them:
- Consider bringing familiar items for comfort, like a blanket with the baby’s scent, lovies, and/or a sound machine to make the transition to a new environment a little eaiser.
- Ship bulkier items ahead, such as diapers, wipes, toiletries (I like Burts Bees Baby Set), mattress pad and sheet, clothes, sleep sack, changing pad, books, formula, snacks, and any musts like a car seat.
- Pack a carry on with one extra outfit for baby, a couple of onesies, and an extra blouse for you. Throw in a couple of extra large zip lock bags for dirty clothes and diapers.
- Here’s a great tip I got from the book for new dads: Be Prepared (actually, this is the best book I have read for any new parent). Pick up some small plastic toys from the Salvation Army or Goodwill, sanitize and wrap them in paper bags so you can break them out when you are mid-flight and desperate for a distraction.
- I highly recommend getting a cross-body wallet/purse, so you have easy access to your ID and cash without digging in an oversized tote bag.
- I regret opting for the cheap umbrella stroller rather than the Bugaboo Bee, which would have fully reclined for easy diaper changing. Instead, I struggled with the large diaper pad and questionable changing tables in the airport. (Note that we contracted a fun case of Impetigo mysteriously soon after our first plane ride.)
- I absolutely loved the One Step Ahead travel bed – so much easier to cart around than a Pack n Play, and our baby loved it.
- Wearing a layered set of oversized pearls was an added bonus/ distraction on the plane.
- The Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM is still the way to go! Great advice, Melissa.
