Maternity Pictures!

A few weeks ago we had some maternity photos taken, we went to the beach and it was pretty casual.We had so much fun and got some amazing shots of our growing family. I could not be happier with how they turned out, C was so sweet although she did have a melt down when it was mommies turn to take photos. Haha Thank you again to Amanda from April Smith Photography, she's the BEST and has been capturing our family since we moved here 4 years ago! 

My Dress | Steves Shirt | Cs Dress old but similar here and here

This is such a amazing time in our life and I am so happy we got to capture it, we will cherish these photos forever. 

XOXO

Bumpdate Week 27

How far along: I plan to do these as a recap of the pervious week so this is my 27 week update, currently I'm 28 weeks! 
Gender: GIRL 
Baby Size: Rutabaga
Maternity clothes: Oh yeah, and we are starting to slowing move into the leggings territory. They are just so comfortable I can't help myself. HA! 
Sleep: Yes, still sleeping, but waking up a little more now to pee. Luckily I can fall back asleep pretty quick which is nice, although I don't know how long that will last. 
What I am looking forward too: Heading home to NY to see my family!
What I miss: All the FOODS!!!!!! 
Queasy or sick: Nothing this week, besides a mild case of the sniffles. 
Best Moment of the week:  Watching C with my belly, she loves talking to her baby sister and asking her to move. It's beyond precious I have to try and get it on video. 

XOXO

Bumpdate Week 23

Dress 

How far along: I plan to do these as a recap of the pervious week so this is my 23 week update, currently I'm 24 weeks! 
Gender: GIRL 
Baby Size: Eggplant 
Maternity clothes: Heck yes! Don't forget to check out my awesome giveaway! Ends on Friday so you still have plenty of time to enter. 
Sleep: Yes, still going well minus the whole peeing all the time thing, but I am happy I am not suffering from insomnia like I did with C. 
What I am looking forward too:  Having C feel baby sister wiggle and worm, Daddy got to feel her a few times. We haven't had these two sisters corporate while one is on the run, the baby is wiggling around, when I finally get C to sit then baby girl mellows out. One day it will happen. 
What I miss: Looking and feeling cute, I know this is a woah is me comment. I have totally found some awesome pieces that are super cute but I guess I am just missing my pre pregnancy body these days. 
Cravings:  Nothing specific this week, but I will be honest and say bad food. I need to reel it in. I am not gaining a million pounds this time around. 
Queasy or sick: Nope! YAY! 
Best Moment of the week: Having our wonderful friends visit this week was truly the highlight. We had so much fun! We took C to the San Diego Zoo, spent the morning at the beach and ate out a lot. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. 

XOXO

PinkBlush Maternity Review and Giveaway

So not too long ago PinkBlush Maternity reached out to me to see if I was interested in reviewing one of their items. I of course replied yes! I have seen there stuff all over but hadn't ordered from them before and now I am hooked. What I loved most about the pieces wasn't just how trendy and adorable they were, but also had affordable everything was. The best part they have stuff that works post baby!

The maternity dress I choose is perfect for this amazing spring weather. It's light weight and flowly while being cute and comfortable. I paired it with some tory sandals and a sweater from target. It was a fabulous spring look. And like I mentioned before I totally think this will be easy to pull off post baby. I loved the print it's classy and trendy at that same time, if you haven't noticed by now I am obsessed with navy so this was a great fit to my personal style.

I also decided this would be a great opportunity to order a cute pair of pajama's as well. I had a c section with C so I wanted something that I can take to the hospital or use at home with baby girl that won't irritate my incision. These adorable pajamas are perfect for just that! They are so soft and comfortable. The waist is very stretchy as well so they will be great for lounging around at home and the top will be perfect for nursing.

Thank you to PinkBlush Maternity for the adorable dress! Now for the fun part they are giving YOU a chance to have a little shopping fun of your own! They are giving one of my readers a chance to win a $75 gift card, which can be used for the womens line or maternity clothes so this is for anyone no bump needed. Enter Below and Good Luck!
Contest runs until April 15th, I will announce winner on Facebook, Instagram and on here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**PinkBlush sent me the featured dress for my review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own and PInkBlush is a brand I support, have purchased, and will continue to purchase in the future.**

Bumpdate Week 22

How far along: I plan to do these as a recap of the pervious week so this is my 22 week update, currently I'm 23 weeks! 
Gender: GIRL 
Baby Size: Papaya
Maternity clothes: Yes of course and I have a super fun giveaway coming on Wednesday to stay tuned !You can win some awesome clothes of your own! 
Sleep: Yes of course as much as I can haha. We go to bed early family because I am so tired and I pass out. I still of course wake up a few times a night to pee, but hey I will take that over the insomnia I suffered from with C any day. 
What I am looking forward too: Still waiting on baby girl to stop being stubborn and move for her big sister and daddy. She squirms constantly and I feel a foot or hand on my side but the minute daddy tries she stops. 
What I miss: Not being so tired all the time. I am grateful that I can sleep this time around but i feel bad for C when mommy is so exhausted she can't run around and play. I do better in the morning then the afternoon, so we try to stay busy while I have the energy. 
Cravings: I had a big craving for sorbet still and ice cream, anything delicious and cold really. 
Queasy or sick: Nothing this week YAY! 
Best Moment of the week: Definitely Easter! C reaction was so sweet and precious I would live that moment over and over again. She is getting so big and sweet it makes me so happy. 

XOXO

Easter Weekend

We had a fabulous weekend! C was in her glory, she literally loved each and every minute of this weekend. I loved how much she enjoyed it and it was so cool watching her get so into it this year. She is still talking about the egg hunt and reenacting it for us which is quite possibly the cutest thing ever. 

Dress Similar here | Bag from two years ago but its pottery barn kids

On Saturday our neighborhood had an adorable egg hunt, we went last year but this year was way better mainly because C was so much more into it. She immediately got the concept and went straight for as many eggs as she could have. She filled up her whole bag, Steve and I were every impressed with her egg seeking skills. After we wrapped the egg hunt there was a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce house, games, a balloon artist, face painter and a photo booth. We didn't do everything but we did what we could and she loved it! 

Sunday morning started off with out own little family egg hun thanks to the "Easter Bunny". C made out like a bandit, she was so impressed by her basket and her pink puppy her immediate reaction was "I can't believe it" we spend the rest of the morning playing with her new toys and hanging out. Sunday was beautiful outside we had brunch with a bunch of friends, it was so fun and yummy. C was a real trooper since it took 3 hours to eat and it was way past her nap time. All and all it was a lovely day just a little long for a 2 year old. 

C dress | C Sweater | C shoes | C headband | Steve Shirt | My Dress 

xoxo 

Bumpdate Week 15

How far along: I plan to do these as a recap of the pervious week so this is my 15 week update, currently I'm 16 weeks! 

Gender: GIRL 

Baby Size: Navel Orange 

Maternity clothes: Oh yeah! We have a trip to Florida coming up and since it's also been 85 degrees here in California I ordered some maternity shorts. I guess we are skipping spring this year geeze. haha 

Sleep: Not bad actually, watch now that I've said that I'll never sleep again. I had horrible insomnia with C and was kind of expecting the same the second time around but I guess it's just anther one of those moments that proves every pregnancy is so different. 

What I am looking forward too: Feeling baby girl move! Yup still the same from last week although I am convinced I felt some flutters. I can't wait to really feel her squirm. 

What I miss: This is a tough one this week, but I would say sushi is pretty high on the list still. Why is it we always want what we can't have? 

Movement: Nothing yet, besides a few flutters here and there just nothing consistent. 

Cravings: I'm sure some of you saw on Instagram but I had a huge craving for raspberry sorbet the other night. It's so funny how a craving can just hit you all of a sudden and then boom that's the only thing you can think of until it's satisfied. Lucky for me I have a pretty super amazing husband who ran out and got me exactly what I wanted. Thanks again babe! 

Queasy or sick: This week wasn't so bad actually, I think I only got sick once which is a HUGE improvement for me. A few boughs of nausea but nothing compared to weeks prior, maybe I am finally moving past the super sick stage only time will tell. 

Best Moment of the week: Taking C to the dentist. Ha! So we were slacker parents and didn't take her to the dentist yet. We finally got our act together and she went for her first appointment yesterday, and can I brag about my kid for a minute she did AMAZING!!! She made it through the entire cleaning with no tears and got her whole mouth done while watching frozen of course. The best part was how proud she was of herself, she talked about it all last night. "Mommy the doctor cleaned my teeth and I  got strawberry toothpaste" It was the cutest thing EVER! A huge part of that was the office we went too, fantastic staff and so great with kiddos. 

XOXO

Stitch Fix Review #6

So if I am being perfectly honest I think this box was kind of a bust. I wasn't that happy with any of the pieces really minus one pair of pants that I kept because they are so comfortable. Let's just dive right in then shall we. 

Pixley | Francisco Mixed Material Top | M | $54

This top was not flattering on me at all, the sleeves felt very short and the mixed material, well lets just say both felt a lithe cheap. I was not a fan of the cut either it felt to short on my torso, so needless to say this went back. 

Loveappella | Rainie Long Sleeve Asymmetrical Knit Top | M | $54

This top was just not my style, I did not like the asymmetrical look at all. It felt too baggy and hung in all the wrong places. 

Honey Punch | Layla Elbow Patch Detail Cardigan | M | $48

Now I'm normally a sucker for a good cardigan, and unfortunately this was not one. It was way to boxy and too big for me. I felt like I was swimming in this. 

Romolo | Alain Triangle Pendant Necklace | $28 

Not a horrible necklace just not my style. Maybe with one pendant I would have liked it better, but this just wasn't for me. 

Margaret M | Emer High Waisted Trouser | S | $98 

I really loved these pants, which ended up being the only thing I kept. They are high waited which I like but they fit like you pants while being cute and sophicated enough to wear out and about. 

So as I mentioned not the best box. 

As you may recall this my 6 month challenge is over. I really enjoyed my Stitch Fix experience, but I think for now I am going to put my boxes on hold at least through the holidays and new year.

XOXO

Stitch Fix Review #5

This has easily been one of my favorite boxes yet. I made mention after my last box to Stitch Fix that I wanted to see more fall pieces but since it's been so hot here I needed fall pieces that were light weight. They totally got the memo and sent me some things I just love. 

THML | Tavia Pullover Sweater | Medium | $68.00

This top is so cute, I love the mix of stripes and the navy and olive together. I need up sending it back though because it was itchy. It has wool in it and for me that's kind of a no go, I have a hard time with harsh fabrics but I loved the look of the top a lot. 

Market & Spruce | Sawyer Space Dye Dolman Sleeve Knit Top | Medium | $58

This I kept, you all know I am a sucker for a good dolman top and market and spruce apparently. This is such a light weight sweater, perfect for the upcoming southern California "winter". 

Fate | Adair Jacket | Medium | $68

This jacket was the only thing in the box I wasn't a huge fan of. It was too big and felt very boxy on, plus the length on me wasn't my favorite I would have preferred it shorter, so it went back.

Kut From Kloth | Kate Distressed Boyfriend Jean | 6 | $88

Last month as you saw here, I kept the Kut Kloth jeans they were the only thing from last months box I liked. Well I went to put them on last week and they ripped in the zipper/crouch area. I wrote Stitch Fix about it since I hadn't even owned them a month yet and I wash in cold water and hang to dry. They are letting me return them with the returns from this month and offered a replacement or refund. I decided to get a refund, because I like the above jeans better so win win for me I suppose. 

Street Level | Horon Reversible Magnetic Closure Tote | $48

This bag is SO cute and so versatile. I love it and when I saw it I knew I was keeping it. Super pumped to add this one to my bag collection. 

All and all I really enjoyed this fix.

XOXO

Stitch Fix Review #4

So I am on my fourth fix and I have to say I have received some of my favorite go too pieces from doing this. I still get excited when every box comes and look forward to the next one. Heres the thing with this fix. I was in MAJOR cleaning mode the other day and apparently I threw out the piece of a paper with all the product info, i.e. pricing, name, brand. I feel like such a dummy. I have pictures for you guys but that's all I got. I tried searching the site for my past orders and go nada. I apologize for lack of info but here you have it review number 4.

This Blazer was super cute and comfortable, I liked it a lot. The fit just wasn't my favorite, too boxy,  so I sent it back. I believe it was a Medium and $88 

I really didn't like this top at all it was way too short and tight despite being the right size. It hugged in all the worst places. It went back. I believe it was around $48 

This dress was very pretty just too short, the lining on the inside was almost 3 inches shorter then the actual dress making it ver short for me. I also felt like it was see though. So this one didn't stick around either.

I really liked this top when I saw it but the cut was too short for me, which sticks because I thought it was sweet and different from what I normally buy. The Jeans I LOVE they are Kut Cloth Denim, Size 6 in the Reese. I wanted some more distressed jeans and they totally fit the bill. They were $88 but with the $20 off were only $68 so I kept them.

This box wasn't my favorite, but the pieces were cute just not me. I left some more notes and hopefully next month is better. 

XOXO

Stitch Fix Review #3

Got my third box this week and they nailed it! Even though I only kept two pieces I was pretty pumped with this box and it totally got me in the mood for fall, now if only the weather out here would cooperate.

41Hawthorn | Queensland Dolman Jersey Top | Medium | $48 

This dolman top was one of my favorites, I wore it immediately as you can see by the wrinkles. Haha I washed it and forgot it in the dryer. I love how comfortable it is, and the color was not my first choice but I thought it looked good on me.

Market & Spruce | Corinna Striped Dolman Top | Medium |$48

This top is super fall and super comfortable. You all know I am a sucker for stripes. This top fit great and is a fabulous fall transition top.

Kut From The Kloth | Siena Cropped Pant | 6 | $58 

Fun3Fun | Julianna Back Cutout Top | Medium | $38

I loved these black pants and I was surprised by how much. They are more trouser style, which I usually don't love. I loved the length but the fit was a tad bit off. They were a bit snug in the hips which wasn't super flattering. This top I super loved and so badly wanted it to fit, it would have been perfect for our upcoming trip. Unfortunately it's way to short in the front. I don't like it when tops come up that short on me, it's very unflattering. So these went back.

Zad | Martin Mini Layered Metal Cuff | $28

This bracelet is cute just not my taste. I'm a little picky when it comes to jewelry. So this was also a no go.

All and all I love this box. I wish that green top was a little longer and I would have kept all the clothes, and it was fun to get a accessory this time. Till next time!

XOXO

Mama Mondays | Mommy Beauty Tips

Mama Mondays | Mommy Beauty Tips
Monika Zeldin 

Gosh, I remember that feeling of panic like it was yesterday, when I got my nails done for the first time since my son was born.  It took me three months before I had the courage (and trust in others) to leave Dorian for 30 minutes. I had the fastest mani/pedi of my life and it was probably the nail techs too! Now, looking back, I laugh at how unrealistic my expectations of myself was as a mother and how much pressure I put on everyone also to be perfect for  “baby D”. 

Being a stay-at-home mom, I waited at least eight months before I felt confident to leave my son long enough to get my hair done and even receive an eyebrow wax treatment after that!  Once it did happen though, and my son was perfectly fine upon getting home, I committed to taking time for myself. I noticed that once I started taking this “me” time to get a mani/pedi, hair treatment or facial, I started to relax not only as a mom but, as a person in general.  No one tells you that once you become a mom, you’re selfless nature can take you far away from yourself and leave you resentful and maybe even a little loony, if you let it get that far.  It is important to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.  It’s like the airplane analogy; “make sure you put on your mask before assisting others….”.  Whether you are a brand new mom or a seasoned pro, we are after all first and foremost, feminine beauties and taking care of our skin and hair is a MUST.  This doesn’t mean spending hours in the bathroom to prep every morning, (seriously, who has time for that?), it means making a habit of a few simple daily things to keeping ourselves hydrated, nourished, and looking good.  If you do get some time to give your skin and hair a little extra TLC, there are plenty of options out there for you to get it done in speedy fashion.  Remember, you put on the mask first, then….

5 Quick Beauty Tips for hardworking mamas:

1.     WASH your face every day and every night.  If you are a brand new mama, then clean your skin every night, at least. Don’t rush through your routine, take a little time. Luke warm water is your friend, not hot (causes dry skin) and not cold (tightens pores and hard to pull out impurities). Once a week, use an exfoliating brush on your face, it works wonders. (My favorite: Clarisonic Mia)

2.     APPLY a good serum on your face. Serums are lightweight and most are water-based, eliminating oils and petrolatum, which are common in moisturizers. Serums contain the most potent doses of anti-aging ingredients and truly help with cell rejuvenation and turnover. Plus, they work great on oily skin, which is a huge culprit of mommy hormone flare-ups. Bonus: Store your serums in the fridge to wake up your tired skin and tighten those pores! (My favorite: Luxu Hydrating Serum)

3.     DAB, dab, dab on the eye cream/gel. With the lack of sleep, our eyes are the ones that get hit the hardest (red eyes, dark circles, puffiness).  If you have a good eye treatment that can minimize these for you, then you’re coming out on top, even if you physically don’t feel like it. (My favorites: Rodan + Fields Multi-Function Eye Cream and Eve Lom Eye Cream)

4.     WEAR sunscreen! One of the things I am sure we all agree on is how much we treasure our long walks with our kiddos, especially when they are newborns. With that being said, sunscreen is your best friend. Even if it’s a ‘stay indoors’ kind of day, sunrays do seep through the window, so lather on that protection and save your beautiful face! (my favorite: Badger Unscented Sunscreen)

5.     BRUSH those beautiful locks. One of the most horrifying experiences is shedding copious amounts of hair after you give birth to your baby. Nice work Hormones. It is important, whether you shampoo frequently or not, to brush your hair at least once a day. I don’t always have time to do a good lather in the shower, but I always can take a minute to simulate my scalp with a good brushing.

When you have time to treat yourself a little extra, CUEHair Salon and Skin Care (Newport Beach, CA) offers the following services in under an hour.  It’s wise to invest in beauty maintenance.  When you look good, you feel good and that is a win all around.

CUE EXPRESS SERVICES

-       Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment

-       Express Shampoo/Blowout

-       Express Facial

-       Hand Rejuvenation

-       Sugar Wax Eye Brow / Lip Wax

-       Eyelash Strip Application

Monika Zeldin is co-owner of CUE Hair Salon and Skin Care in Newport Beach, CA. She handles all aspects of marketing and events.  Monika’s background is in Magazine Publishing, brand marketing and social media strategizing. She now splits her time between taking care of her 18-month old son, attending Pure Barre, pampering herself with facials and hair treatments and striving to make her full-service beauty salon a long-lasting success in Orange County, CA. www.cuehairandskincare.com

GO Check it out!!! 

XOXO

Loving Lately

I was going though my beauty routine the past few days and thinking to myself wow, some of these products are really great you should share them. So, I figured why not do a loving lately post. So here we go four essentials I can't live without these days. 

If you follow me on instagram (@bumpsbabesandbellinis) you probably have already guessed I am a HUGE Dry Bar fan. I have gotten blow outs from many different places, around the country and not one has ever been as good as the blow outs I received at Dry Bar. So naturally I started using their products. This one is one of my favorites. First lets talk about how all of their products have the best names! How cute is that! Hot Toddy as it says on the bottle is a hair protector from heat and frizz control. My hair gets so frizzy, its not fun. I only wash every other day sometimes every 3 days and this stuff makes it super smooth and almost frizz free. You can usually tell if I forget to use it. It's lotion for your hair, I so recommend this. 

I have been using Aveeno lotion since I was a kid. I suffer from eczema and this was some of the only over the counter lotion my pediatrician told my mom I could use. Since then I have tried many other lotions and I have to say I always go back to Aveeno. I like a light weight lotion for everyday use, but it still has to be moisturizing enough to last thoughtout the day and this sheer hydration totally does this trick! 

Back to Dry Bar again, haha. I never used dry shampoo before recently. I had a lot of trouble finding one I liked. Then at my last blow out, I asked about the Detox, dry shampoo. I decided to grab a bottle and give it try. Well boy am I glad I did. This dry shampoo is fantastic. It doesn't leave my hair feeling heavy or dirty, it feels fresh and clean. I usually use it if I'm rocking some three day hair and don't have time to tame my mane. So happy I picked this up, it's my new go to hair product. 

Last but not least Color Wow, my mom actually turned me on to this product. Here's the thing guys, ok deep breath.... I am going gray. There I said it now everyone knows, haha. I have actually had gray hair since I was 16, and I fought dying it for the LONGEST time. Well about 5 months ago I decided it was time, my hair is now growing in gray in the front and I had to do something about it. I was headed to a wedding in May and was due to get my roots done, but didn't have the time before we left. I knew my mom would have a solution, that she did and I discovered Color Wow. I love this stuff, it covers up the grays until I have time to get my hair colored and it works so well, plus the it's small enough to fit in my purse. 

Well there you have it a few of my favorite things! Have anything you can't live without? Leave it in the comments below, I love trying new products. 

XOXO 

Stitch Fix Review #2

So I got my second box in the mail last week, and I have to say it was way more me then my first. The styles that were picked out this time around were so much more my style, I ended up keeping two of the tops from this box and I have already worn them both twice! So here you have my poorly lit iPhone photos :-) 

I love love love this top! It was by far my favorite in the whole box. 

The fit was perfect and the style was very me 

A view of the back 

Market & Spruce | Xander Short Sleeve Woven Back Sweatshirt - Medium | $54.00

I decided to keep this one, it's crazy comfortable and a wonderful summer to fall top. 

RD Style | Carlotta Mixed Material Knit Top - Medium | $58.00

I am a huge fan of this top. It fit perfectly and was also very comfortable I felt like I could dress this up or down as well depending on the outing. 

Heres a view of the back, I kept this top as well. 

Mavi | Sonja Boyfriend Jeans- 6 | $88

I liked these Jeans but the fell a little to low for me. I prefer a higher rise with my denim. They were also very comfortable and stretchy, but I wish they fit my hips and thighs a bit better. 

Loveappella | Saxby Scoop Neck Top - Medium | $54

I liked this top and felt like it fit nice, but it was a tad itchy for me. The material didn't feel very nice on my skin. I also felt for the top itself it was too pricey. 

Market & Spruce | Elmira Jacket -Medium | $68 

This jacket was different and fun, just not my taste. It made me feel too boxy. I prefer my jackets to be a bit more fitted. 

All and all I loved this box, at least way better then the first one. I'm looking forward to my next fix!
XOXO