My Favorite Beauty Products + the Sephora Sale!

Alright ladies, it's that time of year again. The Sephora VIB sale is going on RIGHT.NOW.

20% off every single thing on their website ...now through Monday.

Not only that, but Ebates has 8% cash back for Sephora purchases. If you haven't used Ebates yet, you have to check it out. I'm not saying it will make you a millionaire, but if you are already shopping online, why not make some money doing it. Getting $50 or so from them every couple of months definitely doesn't suck.

Unfortunately I wasn't thinking and recently made a fairly large purchase of things I needed from Sephora about a month ago. There are always things we just "need" from Sephora, right?

Like this bottle of Elizabeth and James Black Nirvana that I treated myself to. In my defense, I needed a new fall/winter fragrance. And I had been eyeing this one for ages. It definitely didn't disappoint.

The good thing is that I can always take advantage of the sale and stock up, plus while I'm at it, I will probably snag some presents since I usually pick up a bottle of perfume for my mom and MILs for Christmas each year.

And with this being my favorite things on this fine Friday, I figured I would list my top five items from Sephora. I'm no beauty or make-up expert - not even close - but I have tried a bunch of different products over the years and these are some of the best.

I mean, in my opinion at least...

{FIVE}

Sephora Mist Airbrush Foundation. I prefer lighter coverage than a true foundation and this does just that, plus it provides better coverage than some of the tinted moisturizers I've tried. And this brush works great to apply.

{FOUR}

Dior Concealer. For some reason, I was blessed with adult zits and bags under my eyes. Awesome, right? Um, no. Not even a bit. However, this definitely conceals better than any I've tried and lasts through the day. Important when you're dealing with the two previously mentioned situations. 

{THREE}

Sephora Baked Bronzer Duo. I used to use another bronzer that I swore by, but the jerks who made it decided to discontinue it (it was even a drugstore brand!), so I was on the hunt for a long time for one that gave me a nice sun kissed glow without looking all "tan mom" and this one does just that. 

{TWO}

Nars Blush in Orgasm. I started using this blush a few years ago after hearing a bunch of my girlfriends rave about it and now I rave about it. I'm not big into pinks, so the fact that this is more of a peach hue is perfect for my skin tone.

{ONE}

St Tropez Sunless Mousse. Best sunless tan ever. Hands down and I've been through a TON since I decided to give up tanning beds quite some time ago. I have recommended this to friends, family, people on the street and I've yet to hear anyone who didn't agree. And you just as well get the applicator mitt while you're at it.

Here's the deal, I still will not even touch another mascara or eyeliner. I'm a Loreal girl through and through and haven't found anything else I like better for those two things....if only that was the case with all of my go-to products, right?

Check out my Pinterest board for more beauty product faves.

So now it's your turn, what are some of your favorite Sephora finds?


Oh and we are celebrating this handsome man's birthday today. I love this time of year, the six months he is the same age as me. What can I say? I'm a #craddlerobber =)

As always linking up with my gals - Karli, Amy, Amanda and Natasha. Happy weekend!

Fall Faves

If you know me, you know that I'm not a lover of fall. Granted once we get into that season between my beloved summer and my least favorite cold, dreary winter months, I am generally okay with it.

I suppose there are some good things about it....

Like a nice pair of skinnies, slouchy boots and a comfy, casual cardigan. 

And of all the sports my husband watches throughout the year, my favorite is football season and the tailgating and in-home football parties that go with. It also doesn't hurt that we have a "wives fantasy football league" either...

I also love burning some fall-flavored candles...at least it's what fall means to me circa my mom's kitchen growing up. One of my faves is B&BW Spice. 

I have to say the one thing that can help me forget how much I will miss my warm summer months would have to be putting my plans together for my fall wardrobe. And this year is no different. I was scouring F21's website the other night after I put little man to bed and I have to tell you my wish list ended up being quite a bit north of $500. Hence the reason for a "wish list." I didn't think Nick would be too pleased if I made that purchase right there and then.

Check out my top finds...

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

I plan on owning most of these items (above) here in the near future. I mean, when you can get all of this under $200 that seems like quite the steal to me. And how incredibly great are all of these?

Hmmm...maybe I'm not too bummed for fall after all.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Our Favorite Things: Three Months to Six Months

We started getting the hang of things around this time, or at least we thought. Then our kid went and got sick on us AND had to get helmeted up. Even with all of that we learned a ton and found some cool must haves during this time.

• Bumbo - once little man started sitting up, not a day went by that we didn't use the Bumbo. It was great to strengthen him up and perfect to use when we first started feeding him because of the great tray that attaches to it. We used this as our "high chair" for the first few months and also schlepped it to our family and friend's houses. Worked like a charm!
• Puma Track Suit - if you know us, you know we love and live in the Puma track suit. These are the best outfits for running errands, daily life and playing hard core. Pair them with a pair of sneaks and a t-shirt or onesie and you're set! Plus they look like a little guido (I can use this word since my hubs is Italian...lol), just add gold chain. Note: do not, I repeat, do not buy these full price. It's a major rip-off. You can find them for $20 at Burlington Coat Factory, Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Younkers (when they have a good sale). We still rock the Puma track suits to this day. I should probably have some type of stock in them.
• Gerber Puffs - these were one of the first "foods" that Cruz tried. Little fruit-flavored puffs of air..and he loved them. Initially I broke them up a bit, but they dissolve so quickly in little mouths that there isn't much worry of a choking hazard. Puffs were our go-to snacks for months, even mamas like them (at least I did). And they are only like 25 calories for 75 of those little suckers.
• Sassy Mirror - this is a great toy to add to your kiddos toy box. We first found ours after bringing little man to physical therapy for his Plagiocephaly. It was a great tool to use to encourage movement in his neck and get him to work on those neck muscles. Plus, they love looking at themselves in the mirror (why wouldn't they, they are so dang cute) during tummy time. I recommend this for all mamas and to start it early so you don't have a little one in PT, like our babe (if it's preventable, which ours happened in the womb, so it wasn't). Very cool toy.
• Onesie Extenders - I thought I came up with a new invention when little man's onesies stopped fitting length-wise but still fit in the body and I wanted something to extend the bottom buttons.  After looking online, I quickly realized some smart someone beat me to it and already invented it. (Damn!) But I quickly bought some and loved them! The best part about this pack of 10 was that there were different sized buttons so they fit all onesies. Get some, you'll be happy you did and will extend the life of some of your expensive baby tops.
• Carter's Bibs - as he got older, the drool started. Whether is was teething-related or just normal leaks, stuff just seems to spill out of their mouths. We found that the Carter's feeding bibs did a great job protecting his clothes and skin from excess liquid. Make sure to get those with the protective water barrier on the back, otherwise they are worthless and will be soaked in seconds.
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - this little rodent and his pals have been a lifesaver for us. I can remember the first time we found this show on TV - it was a very early morning during his first bout of RSV when I was trying to get him to cooperate for his breathing treatment. Once he saw the bright colors, he was mesmerized and still for the entire ten minute treatment. We've been big fans ever since. And I'm pretty sure the hubs and I can be caught humming or singing the 'hotdog dance' many times throughout our day. My co-workers seriously think I'm bat-shit crazy.
• Trumpette Skater Johnny Socks - we are huge, HUGE Trumpette fans. Not only are their socks super cute, but they fit very well and have the skidders that are key once your little starts walking/standing. Here is another note: do not buy these full price either - $26 for six pair is ridiculous. You can find them discounted on Amazon at times, flash sales at Zulily and at Marshall's or TJ Maxx. 
• Boon Baby Spoon for Plum - we go crazy for all Boon products around these parts. I would love to have everything on their site! The best part? Target recently started  carry a ton of Boon products - mainly online, but you can also track down some items in store. This Boon Baby Spoon rocked when we first started feeding Cruz baby food. It was made for the Plum baby food products and all you do is twist it onto the end of the package, squeeze and voila!...easy feeding. Plus, they clean easily for reuse. 
• Plum Just Fruit Baby - obviously with our Boon Baby Spoon, we needed the Plum baby fruit. Cruz also loved the many flavors of Plum Just Fruit (and truth be told so did I) and we he ate these for months.   They are organic and there are very few ingredients and no fillers. Plus, they are great to throw in your purse and provide a meal on the go. But wait for the 10 for $10 sale at Babies R Us or buy them on Amazon, otherwise they can get quite expensive. 

Well, that's that. Three to six months in the books.  I hope you have as much fun learning about what works for your babe and you as we did! There are so many options and variations of products that it can be overwhelming. I hope this helps!

Our Favorite Things: Newborn to Three Months

The first three months for us were the most confusing, rewarding, frustrating, exciting and amazing time. We stumbled much more often than we did the right thing. I was an emotional mess. Nick was a fumbling dad. But we figured it out and found some must-have products along the way.

Newborn - 3 Month Favorites:

• Fisher Price Activity Mat - we loved this mat and made sure to give him time on it often each day. Since they aren't doing much but laying around or being carried around in their first few months, it was great to have a fun little area for him to kick around and check out. I loved this one because even though it's cartoony, it's not too baby-ish and the bright colors are great. 
• Puma Crib Shoes - these are one of my fave items. Little ones are always having to rock socks and not much else, so I loved throwing these on him when we ventured out. Plus, they are very flexible and comfortable on tiny baby feet...and about the cutest thing ever. I've purchased many a pair for mama friends almost ready to pop a kiddo out.
• Tommee Tippee Bibs - we received so many bibs at our shower and I purchased no less than 37 fun ones myself, but after much trial in the early days, these Tommee Tippee bibs proved to be fab. They are super soft, plus they are thick around the neck and catch all the excess milk from his feedings or just all the drool that finds its way out of their tiny mouths.
• Playtex Ventaire - I knew off the bat that I wasn't going to breast feed and as soon as I explained that to people, the recommendations for bottles flooded in. A ton of great feedback specific to their individual children, so after trying out a couple on our own, we went for the Playtex Ventaire. Easy to clean, easy to put together, inexpensive and little man never had any problem with them. I, on the other hand, struggled slightly. Who knew there were different nipple sizes and that after a few months he grew out of the original and needed a wider one and wasn't getting enough milk because of this? Thank the lord for those smart day care ladies.
• Vicks Pure Mist Humidifier - a humidifier is a must and this one has been phenomenal. It makes just enough noise to provide comfort and has a way to add Vicks and poof it in the air should your little one get sick.
• Boppy Pillow - there are so many uses for this thing that it's a must-have. By many uses, I suppose I should clarify that it essentially just props the baby up, but it was great to keep him off the back of his head. You could also turn them around and work on strengthening their neck and, of course, covering it with a pretty blanket and taking oodles of pics of the little guy for the baby book. Plus, the cover easily comes off for washing, should something get on the cover. Yeah, should something get on the cover. Many somethings will get on the cover and most are really gross, so make sure to buy one. 
• Puj Tub - besides the cute name (and you all know how much I love creative branding), the Puj tub is great. During those first few months when you are bathing your child in the kitchen sink, this bad boy is a savior. Easy to fold into bath mode, it's made of soft, comfy material and when you're done you can hook it to the wall of the shower where it will drip dry and is stored out of the way.
• Carter's Sleeper Gowns - Cruz lived in Carter's during his first few months and these gowns were a fave of mine for the first few months. Comfortable, easy to get into when he needed a diaper change and adorable. And, for the mama's to boys, don't worry it seems a bit girly, but once you realize how convenient they are, you don't worry that you are putting your son into a gown. And neither does dad.
• Carter's Sleep & Play - if he wasn't in the gown, you would find him in one of these sleepers. While I wasn't hot on the large animals that always cover Carter's clothing, they had enough sports-themed and less obvious prints that I was able to cycle them through the week. Plus, I loved that they buttoned-up versus zipping, no worrying about zippers stabbing their chin.

Well, there you have it, all of our favorite things during his first three months of life. Hope this was helpful!

Our Favorite Things: Baby Registry

I've been meaning to post some of our favorite things through Cruz's different stages for quite some time now. If not for my own recollection when we have baby #2, also for some of our friends who are becoming new mamas soon. Hope these are useful!

Baby Registry Faves.

• Fisher Price Papasan - we used this from the first day we brought little man home and basically daily until just before he turned one. Being able to prop him up and safely strap him in to the vibrations and music - it really was one of the items we used most often, sometimes even opting to allow him to sleep overnight in it when he was really congested. And for us with having such a sick baby early on, it was great to give him his breathing treatments from and use during steam sessions in the bathroom. I didn't love the colors necessarily (as you can see they didn't really match the color palette), but the thing worked so we that I didn't really mind.
• Bordeaux's Butt Paste - this is by far the best diaper rash cream that we have found. At first we started off with using baby Vaseline, but quickly realized it didn't do the trick like this stuff does.  And, hello, it's called Butt Paste. How cute is that?
• The First Year's Bottle Drying Rack - nothing fancy about this guy, but it has worked the best for us. I purchased the Boon Grass at first because I love their products and it's so darn cute, but I personally didn't like it and ended up returning it. TFY's drying rack has worked well and i love that it has two levels, is pretty compact and you can't complain about the basic white color.
• Chicco Keyfit 30 Car Seat - this is a purchase that I did TONS of research on - between online and other mamas - and time after time I read and heard that this is one of, if not the, best. The base was a bit tough to figure out at first, but after we decided to get one for each vehicle they pretty much remained there so we didn't have to worry. Other than that, the seat itself was easy to maneuver and it was simple getting him in and out of it. And weight-wise it was one of the lightest and even my weak self could transport him distances without getting tired.
• Hospital Aspirator - I wish I had a website to list here where you can purchase these (and if you do, hook a sista up), but the aspirator we received from hospital was far and above better than any others we tried. (Remember to keep yours!) But wash that bad boy out periodically, cuz it will start to stink if you don't.
• Chicco Playard - we love this pack n' play and pre-baby decided to save a few bucks and use it as the bassinet in our room for the first couple months. We have no regrets. Since, we've used it when traveling and its super easy to set up and little man sleeps perfectly in it. The only complaint? If you haven't used it in a while, it can be tough to close back up when you are packing it away, but that could be user error.
• Boon Flair High Chair - by far one of our top and favorite purchases! We didn't have a high chair on the registry to start out, because I was stuck on this one but the hubs wasn't sold that we needed to spend the money. After bringing home a Chicco seat that was supposed to be easy to clean up (a must!) and easy to store, we immediately packed it back up and brought it back to Babies R' Us and I quickly ordered the Boon. This chair is phenomenal. It is SO easy to clean and if you have witnessed a kid eat a meal, you are bound to have a huge mess on your hands after. And remember there are three meals a day, so ease to clean is a must! This guy is plastic and easily comes apart for cleaning. It adjust to different heights and moves easily around the kitchen. I would give this my best rating.
• Carter's 5-pk Onesies - like diapers, you can never have enough onesies - just hoping you aren't going through onesies as you will diapers because that would be expensive. (Though, I've opted to cut off quite a few in my day because they were nasty.) I've tried all the brands and Carter's are by far my favorite. They wear well after multiple washes and fit well, plus they are made of a thicker material that keeps them in shape. Just make sure you are spot treating them before washing because formula (and other gross stuff) stains and will quickly yellow these guys out.
• Baby Jogger City Select - this is actually my number one, absolute favorite item (and we were lucky enough to receive it as a gift from a really good friend).  This stroller rocks - easy to fold up/store, tons of storage (great for all you shopping-loving mamas like moi), adapts to your car seat (must purchase adapter), fits two kiddos, the seat changes from back facing to front facing easily and lays back in many different levels. Plus, I use it as my running stroller! It's a bit more expensive, but the reason we justified it was that we would be able to use it for kiddo #2 and it covered all of our needs. 
• Offi My Pet Lamp - I loved this lamp as a key piece of our nursery decor, but it also proved to be extremely useful as well! The light is muted enough that it was perfect to provide a bit of light during middle of the night feedings while not being too bright to keep him awake. And its still useful now as the light when we are reading our "before bedtime" books and again in the morning when he just wakes up and needs the morning diaper change. And I still cannot get over how stinkin' cute it is! Plus, they have tons of different animal shapes and colors to choose from. 
• Baby Bjorn - I realize I'm saying I love every item so far, but I suppose that's why they have all made our favorites registry list. The Baby B is no exception. We didn't receive it out of the gate, but looking back this is an essential registry purchase. At first we started with the Moby Wrap - I can see how this would be nice, but it just didn't work for us - I was too scared I wouldn't wrap it just right and the baby would just slip out. No thank you. I was sure to mess up enough on my own, I didn't need a baby wrap to be another way. The Baby Bjorn, however, was amazing! We used this all the time. Around the house doing chores, at the zoo, on walks, at the mall to change it up from stroller time, everywhere! Plus, Nick loved using it as well. I loved being able to use it during different stages - early on when his head/neck control wasn't the best all we had to do was stick him in it facing us and put the neck protector up. When he got big enough to hold his head up, we were able to turn him forward and roll down the neck protector so he could check out the sights.
• Graco No Touch Diaper Pail (no longer available & not pictured) - what a jerk item to talk about on here. Not available? Why even post? The reason I'm posting this is because we loved this diaper pail and for the first full year it worked perfectly. Held a good amount of diapers, didn't smell and was hand-activated. Then, it started smelling when we opened it and when I started looking for replacement vents I found that it was no longer available. Not just the vents, the entire system. Now it sits in our garage, but it still works pretty well. Just get a good diaper pail, it will be one of your most used items and you want to make sure it's good!

I hope you all enjoyed looking through this as I did putting it together and remembering what products we loved the most from our registry. If you are in the process of registering...have fun!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Another Link Up to "From Mrs to Mama" - all about my favorite things:


1.  Tell us about five favorite memories in your life.
How do I limit it to just five...but here goes...

November 13, 2011 - Cruz's birth
This was by far the happiest day of my life...its the day that I learned a different kind of love for this little person the hubby and I created together. My first memory of him is of him grabbing Nick's finger and squeezing it just seconds after he was born. The look on Nick's face and the tears streaming down our faces were evidence of a love unconditional.

October 11, 2000 - The day that started it all.
It's hard to believe that the hubby and I have been dating since Oct 2000 and married for three years. I'm not going to sugar coat it because it's not always easy, but I'm so fortunate to have met this man. He is truly the only person for me and I love him more than words can say.

March 2008 - Cabo San Lucas
I love this for two reasons. 1) it was the trip we got engaged. 2) but more so it was the best vacation I've had in my life. Not necessarily the location - although Cabo was gorgeous, there are many other places that I can't wait to vacation - but it was just the hubby and I on this trip. We got to spend uninterrupted time with each other, met some great people, relaxed and enjoyed every bit of this time together. It was a true vacation - not one that you come back from and feel you need time to recover.

September-December 2003 - Life in New York City
I will never forget the four months I spent living in Manhattan and my time interning for Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks. I feel I became more of my own person - living on my own in this massive, foreign city, but I will never forget the experiences I had and the people I met.

December 24th (many years when I was younger) - Christmas Eve w/ my family
Christmas Eve with my immediate family is a favorite memory of mine. This was before boyfriends came over, any of us were married or had children and it was just the seven of us spending time together - eating, opening presents and best of all us five kids spending the night in the big bedroom playing glow in the dark catch, telling stories, listening for mom & dad putting our presents under the Christmas tree. I love this time with my family.


2. Show us three of your favorite beauty products.

                 Prevent                                     Conceal                                                 Bronze

Proactiv - I'm just giving up my secrets here, but yep I get zits.  I never had many issues UNTIL my adult life and then BAM! breakout city. I tried EVERYTHING my dermatologist recommended and finally discovered this amazing product. I should be like Jessica Simpson doing a commercial of my problems, because it wasn't pretty.

Dior Concealer - I was also graced with my gorgeous mama's deep, dark circles. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get, they are there. I'm also not able to be one of those girls who can leave the house without make-up, I just can't - it would be like Night of the Living Dead. As long as I have a little concealer, I'm at least good to go. And this stuff is the best I've found.

Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Self Tan - this stuff is the bomb. I can't lie, I'm a tanning bed girl, but in my old age I'm trying to limit my exposure, but I still want the tan look. I've tried every sunless tanner out there (Clinique, Clarins, Loreal...) and this one by far is the easiest (read: foolproof/no streaks) to apply, smells the best and lasts the longest.  Bonus: my SIL found it on mega sale last year and got me 8 tubes for way cheap.

 3. Tell us what your favorite TV shows are to watch.
Wow, I'm really divulging all the embarrassing stuff about myself here - TV is my guilty pleasure and I watch some ridiculous shows.

Shark Tank - someday I will invent/create something that will be featured on that show and make me millions.

Sons of Anarchy - newest infactuation. I realize I don't seem like the type of girl to be fascinated over a show about a biker gang, killer, drug running, but this show rocks. Start from the first season and you'll be hooked.

HGTV: House Hunters, Property Brothers, Income Property, etc - people are so dang creative and talented. I love to feel worse about my lack of creativity by watching these types of shows and pretending I'm going to take their ideas and use them on my own home.

Real World, the Challenges, Teen Mom on MTV - I get sucked in every single time. (perhaps because we didn't have MTV growing up. I suppose I can blame my parents?)

Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad - who doesn't love girls catfighting to find the man of their dreams?

Friends & SATC re-runs - the two best.shows.ever. hands down.


4. Show us two of your favorite pictures.




Makes me smile every.single.time.



My family - I'm the luckiest girl in the world



5. Tell us your favorite thing to do during "me" time.

Go for a run - this has quickly become one of my favorite things to do. A time where I can clear my head, think about anything, get my workout in and enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes it's just hard to find the time to do it between working full time, raising a little one and doing all of the other "life" chores that need to get done.

Read - I have always loved to read and that hasn't changed, the time I have available to do so, has though. One of my favorite things is cuddling up with a book, a glass of wine and just laying on the couch getting lost in a book.

Go shopping - this is a favorite of mine whether I'm alone, with little man, with family/friends...this girl just LOVES to shop. And it doesn't matter if it's a mall, boutique, Target, online, grocery shopping or at the pharmacy - I don't discriminate when it comes to shopping!

Blog - it's been about a year and a half since I started this blog and I've absolutely loved writing it. Not only as a place where I've documented my pregnancy, the first year of little man's life and my life in general - but it's a place where I've documented so many memories and frustrations and loves.

Reading Blogs, Shopping Etsy, Searchinig Pinterest - there are SO many creative people out there...I love to live through them!