BEAUTE || sparkling eyes

Picture by Roger Weiss

FRIDAY. I’ve been getting lots of requests lately to do a make up post with my personal favorites. I might do one this weekend!
Until then I leave you with this gorgeous picture by Roger Weiss. Happy Easter everyone!

BEAUTY || shades of grey

cream shadow/liner duo, smashbox. Lipstick, Wet’n'wild no 901B

MAKEUP. I get lots of emails from people wondering what kind of makeup I use. Well, I’m by no means an expert but what the heck! Yesterday I found this awesome cream shadow liner duo from smashbox that I absolutely love! It’s perfect for creating soft, smoky eyes and the best part is that you don’t have to be a brush wizard to handle this baby, just use your fingers and it will look awesome! The color duo I’m wearing is called Slate but they have a bunch of other color combinations that I’m dying to try aswell.

As I said in the beginning of this post, I’m no makeup pro at all but I know what I like, so if you want more makeup tips in the blog, let me know and I’ll try to post more about my personal favorites!

//fashion //Lucky Kids for Stylish Moms

Lucky Kids Magazine is out now

It must have been my lucky day because my mailbox contained not one, but TWO Lucky magazines.  I have a subscription to the shopping and style mag, and was quite delighted to see that the extra magazine was the first issue of Lucky Kids.  How perfect is it that the premier issue is for Spring?

I’ve had my fair share of kid-related magazine subscriptions when my little one was younger, but now, everything in those mags seems too babyish for our lives now that she’s 10.  But in flipping through Lucky Kids, it’s refreshing to see that this magazine is very much a fashion magazine, only with a focus on the kiddos.
The content in this spring issue covers everything from shopping suggestions for lunch boxes, whimsical room decor, and even a mommy care section.  The fashion editorials feature school-aged children, which is a sigh of relief for me because every time I see cutesy clothes for the tiny tots, I can’t help but reminisce when my girl was that small.  But for the mommies with little ones, don’t worry because there are plenty of toy and fashion suggestions for babies and toddlers.
I won’t spoil the whole issue for you, but one thing to note is that instead of the random child-related advertisements for x-product, Lucky Kids has full-page ads for the kid-sized brands that you wear, or wish you could wear (hello, J-Lo and the Twins for Gucci)!  I love looking at the kiddy ads because it’s so interesting to see how these big time brands style these cute little models and advertise to the fashion-loving mommies.
The Lucky Kids magazine is a supplement to Lucky Magazine, so you can keep up with fashions for you and your family in the print form.  Check it out on the news stands now!
Looks like M.I.S.S. isn’t the only media coming out with something for the mamas!

FASHION ///Easter Dresses for Baby and Toddler Girls

My favorites from Janie & Jack
It’s the Tiny Dancer’s first Easter so I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect little Easter Dress. She’s too young to dye Easter Eggs or go on an Easter Egg hunt but she’s not too young to look cute! This is the perfect time to start looking because I’m noticing mom’s tend to buy holiday outfits pretty early so you want to be sure to get an Easter Dress for your tiny dancers before the pickings are slim.

There are tons of different styles to choose from – frilly and demure to simple and classic. You can go for soft pastels, spring brights or preppy navy blue and grassy green. And of course you can go really high end (Baby Dior) or keep it cheap and cheerful (Carter’s). Either way, your baby will look adorable. Here are some of my favorites…
JCrew – Crewcuts
Gymboree
BabyGap
Clockwise starting from top left: Carter’s, Crazy 8, Zara Kids, Sweet Heart Rose
Clockwise starting from top left: Alice & Olivia, Baby Dior, Stella McCartney Kids, Chloé

Motherhood //On The Go Snacks For Infants & Toddlers

With spring here, it’s only a matter of time before you’re packing up the kids for some road trips or vacations.  Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile, if you have kids then you’ll need snacks.  When you’re on the road you’re bombarded by fast food and lots of unhealthy options.  So to keep things healthy, and within budget, it’s always a good idea to pack along your own snacks.

My favorite “on the go” snacks for infants are Plum Organics Super Puffs, Plum Organics blends (with Boon spoon – perfect for travel!), Baby Mum-Mum rice biscuits (they’re individually wrapped), Cheerios, fresh fruit, cooked veggies like sweet potatoes or squash, YoBaby organic yogurt and Earth’s Best teething biscuits (also individually wrapped – these can be messy though – depends on how your child handles them).

My favorite “on the go” snacks for toddlers are Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers, Plum Organics Fiddlesticks (gluten free fruit & grain sticks), cooked veggies like sweet potatoes or squash, Plum Organics Fruity Fingerfuls (freeze dried fruit & grain bites), raw veggies like celery sticks or mini carrots, YoToddler yogurt and fresh fruit.
When deciding what to bring with you keep in mind:

• Don’t try anything new on the road -it’s not a time for experimentation (or an allergic reaction).  Bring what you know the kids like.
• Always have plenty of wipes with you to clean up the aftermath (but you knew that already).
• Don’t have the kids eat in a moving car – pull over to a rest stop if possible.  This obviously does not apply to trains and planes but the kids should be seated or standing still when they’re eating or drinking.
• Don’t forget travel utensils, bottles and sippy cups (and the drinks that go in them)!
• If you’re bringing a cooler, don’t forget to freeze the ice packs.

FASHION ///It’s Raining, It’s Pouring! Cool Rain Gear for Kids

Clockwise from top left:  Stella McCartney Kids Rain Jacket, Burberry Trench, JCrew Crewcuts Trench, Polo Ralph Lauren boots, Burberry boots, Gucci boots
We all know the saying, April Showers bring May flowers…so it’s time to get the kiddos ready for spring with the freshest rain gear. Rain coats, hats, umbrellas and boots all make up a rain ensemble and the looks for kids vary as much as they do for adults. In fact, I think kids have a way better selection. They can go really cute and character-based to super high end (I’m lookin’ at you baby Burberry trench and boots!). Or, you can always keep it classic with traditional brands or the all yellow school uniform look. Whatever your child chooses, the outcome will be adorable. Check out my favorite looks for rainy weather…

Hello Kitty rain wear by Western Chief
Clockwise from top left: Barbour Beaufort Jacket, Land’s End Jacket, Puffin Gear rain hat, Raindrops hildren’s umbrella, Stellla McCartney Kids boots, Hunter boots
All from Kidorable
And we can’t forget the tiny tots – here are some rain proof stroller accessories to keep the lil’ ones dry…

Clockwise from top left:  Stroller rain cover, JJ Cole Bundleme, Stroller Umbrella

FASHION ///Grey Is The New Pink

When it comes to baby girls, everything comes in pink.  Pink Clothing, pink baby accessories, pink nurseries – everything pink.  I’m so sick of pink that I feel like I drank a bottle of Pepto Bismol.  When the husband and I learned that we were having a little girl, we wanted to stay away from too much pink.  We didn’t like the idea of indoctrination and following the cookie-cutter “girly” theory that little girls = pink.  My daughter happens to like blue – does that make her a boy?  Don’t get me started, I’m digressing…
Our house had been painted before we bought it and all of the bedrooms were painted a very pale grey.  I had wanted to add a chalkboard wall (with black chalkboard paint) but we decided to wait until the Tiny Dancer was a little older.  So, we left the nursery a pale grey and added pops of color to the room.  We had some pink – just not ALL pink.  I didn’t realize we were so on trend but apparently when it comes to nursery design, grey is the new pink.  From very pale grey, to almost black, grey is a beautiful modern neutral.  As a neutral, it works well with just about every color so you can add pops of brights or splashes of pastels or you can just highlight one accent color.  Creating a blank canvas, grey is also gender neutral so if a brother and sister share a room, grey is a great option.

We are re-decorating the nursery so I’ll be doing a post on the before and after.  But for now, here are some images that I found inspiring…

Image Sources: OhDeeDoh, Niken, Lil’ Magoolie

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