Motherhood Beauty

Living in a society where we see Hollywood celebrities have babies and then return to the red carpet a month later looking better than ever is just sort of ridiculous if you ask me.  Being a mama shouldn't mean you have to look unattractive, out of shape and never put on make-up again, but there are certainly days where just brushing your teeth and taking a shower seem like HUGE accomplishments.  The following are some items which I use these days to not only embrace motherhood, but try to put my best foot forward.  (Remember, my beauty routine these days usually consists of taking 5-15 minutes tops to get ready while my wee one is napping or playing with some of his toys)!

(1) Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes ($6 for a pack of 30) not only smell amazing, but are so soft and the perfect way to either remove makeup without water, or just make you feel fresh (especially when you don't have the time for a shower). After using them, your skin will feel so soft thanks to the cucumber, aloe vera, and exfoliating minerals from the Dead Sea. I am obsessed with these things!

 (2) Tre Semme Dry Shampoo is amazing! I used to wash my hair and blow-dry it EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!  Not anymore.  I go two to three days thanks to this stuff- it takes out the oils and odor.  I used to use the dry shampoo Sephora sells which would cost about $20 for a small can.  Tre Semme only costs around $5.

(3) Aquaphor Lip Balm: My lips always hurt and feel dry when it gets cold out, and I have tried almost EVERY lip balm on the market.  This is the BEST!!!

(4) Coco Mademoiselle Perfume: I am a perfume girl, and this is the latest fragrance I am loving that husband got me for my birthday last year. It smells sexy and fresh.  It's the perfect thing to spray on right before hubby gets home and feel great, even if you had a "I'm ready to pull-my-hair-out -of-my-head" sort of day.

(5) NARS Heat Wave- This is my absolute favorite lipstick color these days.  A pop of color on you lips can do wonders to make you not look so "i have a baby and I'm sleep deprived!"  The hubby even loves it too!

(6) L'Occitane Pure Shea Butter: I swear by this stuff. During my pregnancy I often used it to prevent itchiness and stretch marks.  Now, I continue to use it every night on my dry hands which I have from washing my hands constantly with a baby.

Boy or Girl Myths

Before I was pregnant, I always swore that I would most definitely want to find out what I was having so that I could get everything ready, and so that the shower could be gender specific, and I would also always say it's a surprise no matter when you find out. But, as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I quickly changed my mind and decided that I didn't want to find out ahead of time...(although we wound up finding out due to Doctor's error- funny story, but she slipped! :-)  Anyway, whatever you decide with your loved one, here's some fun myths (Old Wives' Tales) of ways to possibly know better whether you are having a boy or a girl. Who knows if they are true or not, but it's still a lot of fun to guess!

It's a boy if:
You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball
Your areolas have darkened considerably
You are carrying low
You are craving salty or sour foods
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
Your hands are very dry
Your pillow faces north when you sleep
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
Your urine is bright yellow in color
Your nose is spreading
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles
You are having headaches
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair develops red highlights
You are carrying high
Your belly looks like a watermelon
You are craving sweets
You are craving fruit
You crave orange juice
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
Your face breaks out more than usual
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
Your breasts have really blossomed!
Your pillow faces south when you sleep
Your urine is a dull yellow color
You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number

LULU Wraps

There are so many different baby carriers on the market that it can be overwhelming which one to choose for you and your baby.  I registered for the Baby Bjorn, and actually exchanged it for the Ergo Baby.  I have been happy with it, but I didn't feel so great and comfortable using it when my baby was very little (even though I had the infant insert).  I wish now that I had actually had a wrap for the first few months of my baby's life, and then started using the Ergo Baby when he got a little older, a little bigger, and a lot heavier.  So for the next little wee one (not that I'm pregnant again now, but one day I hope), I will definitely be getting a LULU Wrap.  LULU Wraps are good for the first four months of your baby's life.  They can carry babies up to 35 pounds.  LULU Wraps are made by Elle Rowley, and you can purchase one for only $45 through her Etsy Shop.  They come in all different colors too!


Some more great things about LULU Wraps:
- It's made of cotton and spandex so there is the perfect amount of stretch and constriction to keep your baby safe.
- The weight is just thick enough to keep your baby warm during the winter months without overheating him or her.
- Every LULU Wrap comes with its own handmade, drawstring bag to keep lint from getting on it and makes for easy transport when you put it in your diaper bag.
-LULU Wraps distribute the weight of your baby evenly, so you won't break your back carrying your baby around for hours.
-LULU Wraps can be machine washed and line dried.

Belli is the Best

What woman doesn't pray not to get stretch marks when she's pregnant, right?  I was the same, and I have to say (maybe it's genetics), but I also think I owe a BIG thank you to Belli Skincare's 

Belli Pregnancy Pampering Collection which includes pregnancy body wash, body lotion, belly oil and a body exfoliator! Belli Pregnancy also uses Teratology Screening to test each ingredient and make sure there are no chemicals used which could cause birth defects.  Plus, it smells like lavender and makes a mommy-to-be feel good...I told you Belli is the Best!

I loved it and would totally use it again next time around.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub in my Puj Tub

For the first couple of weeks before your baby's umbilical cord falls off you have to give your him or her "spit baths" (bathing with a wash cloth and not submerging in water). Once it does fall off, it is time for baby to "Rub-a-Dub-Dub" in some sort of tub, but which one you ask? There are so many different choices out there, but my pick is the Puj Tub. It's the perfect tub choice, especially for families who live in city apartments with tiny sinks and no bathtubs. The Puj Tub folds up into a small seat that fits into the tiniest of pedestal sinks and lays flat for easy storage as well (unlike other tubs that can't lat flat and take up too much space in a small bathroom). Versus other tubs out there, this one is also great at giving you the freedom of using both hands while washing the baby, instead of having to reserve one hand to hold his or her head up while washing the rest of his or her body. The Puj Tub retails for just under $40 bucks and can be found in most Baby Stores.