Showing posts with label favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorites. Show all posts

Friday, July 15, 2011

Friday Favorites

These last few weeks have been a blur... But, I know that I couldn't have kept my sanity and connection to the outside world without the following...
I've been busy with this...

and reading this...

watching flicks here

and when I'm not sleeping, I'm learning new tricks with this...
and strangely, I have a new craving for these all the time!


We received our photos from our newborn shoot with Sydney this week. I can't wait to share them with you!
Happy Weekend!
M

Friday, June 3, 2011

GIVEAWAY WINNER & Friday Favorites {Nonessentials for Labor & Delivery}

First, I want to thank everyone who entered my giveaway and say Hello to new followers! It was so much fun to read all your comments and I hope you will come back often to visit this little blog. I will definitely be doing more giveaways in the future, maybe another in honor of the special month of June (my birthday and baby girl's birthday month) 
So, without further ado, the winner of the Stella & Dot Jolie Cocktail Ring is............................. Erica who said...following via gfc

Erica an email has been sent to you to arrange delivery of your prize, Congrats girlie!
And now to Friday Favorites! With baby girl's due date quickly approaching, I've got my bag packed for our hospital stay and while I definitely packed all the essentials (toothbrush, nursing bras, cell phone charger...) I wanted to share with you my favorite nonessential items that I added to my bag as well.





1. Topping my list would be Bath & Body Works Wallflowers or any plug-in scent. Since you can't burn a candle in a hospital room, this was my way of introducing a calming scent and hiding that sterile hospital smell. The nurses loved it! They kept commenting on how great our room smelled when they came to check on me. I plugged in the same scent when we got home so it would always remind me of those first few weeks with Lily.

2. Sticking with scents, I would also suggest choosing a new or bringing a favorite body wash for your first shower. Something refreshing to sooth your senses after what your body just went through and help you feel back to normal. And again, every time I smell "sweet pea" it reminded me of when I gave birth to Lil.

3. Mellow Playlist on your MP3 would be next. I asked Aaron to start downloading all our favorites so I would have something to listen to other than the IV drip and blood pressure monitor. I slept most of labor last time anyway (thank you epidural), so soft background noise is perfect, but maybe with a little GLEE thrown in for good measure.

4. I bought a cute maternity gown when I was pregnant with Lily, and thought I would wear it for the delivery. I'm glad I didn't... it would have have been really gross, and I wouldn't have taken it home with me. But, it was prefect to change into right after and feel cute. A little lip gloss doesn't hurt either.

5. New "comfys." My sweet mom took me shopping a few weeks ago and bought me some cute new sleep T's and tanks, soft pajama pants, and new slippers to take with me to the hospital and to lounge in when we get home. It just feels nice to know there is something new to wear, and makes me feel more "normal" than being in a hospital gown when friends and relatives come to visit.

Linking up to


Tips and Tricks Tuesday


Happy Weekend friends!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Friday Favorites: Working It Out

Quick baby update:
So, this is what I was busy doing yesterday morning...
My husband performing the treatment that the acupuncturist prescribed. 
On Wednesday afternoon, I went in for my appointment and to my surprise no needles were involved. Instead they burned moxa sticks next to my little toes to encourage movement from the baby. Baby did move quite a bit during the treatment and again while A was performing it yesterday, per doctor's orders. One of the stranger things I've asked sweet hubby to do for me, but he happy obliged. What a guy :) 

I have also tried a variety of yoga poses that were suggested to me by a prenatal yoga instructor:
  • downward dog
  • dolphin pose
  • cat/cow
  • bridge
  • feet up the wall 
These positions get your hips higher than your heart which is supposed to encourage the baby to move into the correct position.

Doing these poses felt great and I can't wait to get back into yoga and working out regularly. Which leads me to my Friday Favorites, some great trainer tips from my friend and trainer, Amity Ponsetti with Lift Fitness.

Amity got me back in pre-pregnancy shape after I had Lily in no time at all. Her boot camp style workouts are challenging, but she is nothing but supportive and reassuring. My very own Jillian Michaels without all the yelling-- well maybe a little yelling. Kidding Amity! 

Since I have been dying to be more active lately, I asked Amity to give me a workout I could do while I'm still with child and I'd thought I would share her wonderful suggestion with you today:


Assisted Plie Squat:
Face wall. Spread feet a bit more than hip-width apart. Turn knees out. Start with legs straight and place hands on wall. Bend knees and lower torso towards floor. Straighten your legs, pressing upwards through your heels. Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

Assisted Standing Pushup:
Face wall. Feet again hip-width apart. Place hands on wall, arms straight. Pull belly-button inward towards your spine. Keep your back straight. Bend elbows and bring chest towards wall. Push back. Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

Standing Leg Lifts:
Stand tall, lift one straightened leg out to the side and return to start. Use wall for balance if needed.   Repeat 10-15 repetitions on each leg.  Perform 2-3 sets.

Wood Chopper:
Grab a very light weight (optional) with both hands and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Let the dumbbell hang naturally in front of your thighs. Squat down until your knees are bent
. Keeping your elbows slightly bent, brace your abs and press up to standing, swinging the dumbbell up until it's directly overhead. Lower the dumbbell back toward the floor. That's 1 rep - Repeat with 10 or 12 repetitions. Perform 2-3 sets.

I love this for a quick 15 minute daily workout, pregnant or not! Thanks again Amity! 
If you would like to find out more info about Lift Fitness check out Amity's website and facebook page.

Happy long weekend y'all!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Friday Favorites: Drugstore Beauty

Following in the footsteps of my one of my favorite bloggers and friends, Alyssa, I thought I would make this friday's favorites all about the great beauty items you can find at the drugstore. I love Bobbi Brown and Aveda just as much as the next girl, but it's refreshing to not spend a wad of cash on make-up, hair care, etc. Enjoy!
Olay Ultra Moisture Lotion
Found this on a fluke. It on major sale, and now I'm addicted. I don't feel a need to use a separate hand and body lotion with this lotion and I love the scent.

Covergirl Natureluxe Silk Foundation Maple 340
Same blogger, Alyssa, introduced me to this foundation. I don't normally wear foundation, but this one is so lightweight, and I love that it has SPF in it as well. Oh, and I guess it's natural? 

Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes
Again, a sale and a coupon will make me try anything. I love these, especially for travel.

John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Cream
I love this when I wear my hair curly or wavy. Keep it from frizzing without weighing down. 

Buy.com - Goody Rubber Base Hair Brush
Favorite for round brushing my hair straight. Probably should invest in a higher quality brush, but this has served be well


The Essie summer collection is just so much fun! I love the corals and orange hues.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Show Us Your Life: Denver, CO & Pineapple Upside Pancakes

A and I took Lily on her first plane ride back in March for a little visit to Denver, CO. A's brother moved there recently, and we thought we'd visit him and his sweet girlfriend while taking a fun vacation. It was wonderful! LOVE me some Denver.

The city reminded me a lot of Austin, down to the Green Peace activists on the street corners. Our favorite spots were the Denver Zoo, where Lily got to see her first real life giraffe up close and personal, okay, maybe I was more excited about this than she was....




Lily with Denver (her littler souvenir)

The 16th Street Mall. A huge outdoor mall that had about every national store you could hope for...
via
then we randomly found a little street called Pearl Street in Washington Park and it have some cute boho charm to it. Of course I didn't take any pictures...
and last but definitely not least, Snooze.
via
It's hands down the BEST breakfast place I have ever been to. And their Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes are something out of a pregnant woman's dreams. They. are. heavenly. One part breakfast, one part dessert, all parts delicious!

A makes a mean pancake, and since he knew how much I loved the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes from Snooze, he tracked down their recipe online and got up extra early on Sunday to make them from scratch for me for Mother's Day. Is that love or what?!

They turned out fantastic! Snooze's buttermilk pancake recipe is a secret, but A used this one and said it worked great! He used Snooze's recipe found here for everything else. Here's how he combined the two recipes:

A's Mother's Day Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes

This recipe is for 12 servings

Ingredients for Pancakes:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup butter, melted
Ingredients for Everything Else:
  • 1/2 fresh pineapple, skinned, cored and chopped into small chunks
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
     
  • Cinnamon Butter:
  • 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

    Vanilla Crème:
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Steps:

Cinnamon Butter: Place the stick of butter, cinnamon and brown sugar in a food processor. Purée until combined and smooth; place in a small glass dish and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Vanilla Crème: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, pour in the heavy cream, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and the vanilla extract. Heat to boiling.Turn down heat and continue to slowly simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened. Remove from heat and pour into a small pitcher to use for serving. Set aside at room temperature until ready to serve.

Pancakes:
  1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk, eggs and melted butter.
  2. Keep the two mixtures separate until you are ready to cook.
  3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. You can flick water across the surface and if it beads up and sizzles, it's ready!
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, using a wooden spoon or fork to blend. Stir until it's just blended together. 
  5. Ladle about ½ cup batter onto hot griddle and sprinkle a heaping tablespoon or so of pineapple chunks onto the cooking pancake.
  6. When pancake is ready to be flipped, sprinkle a dash or two of granulated sugar onto the pineapple and then turn; this will caramelize the pineapple side.
  7. Place finished pancake on a plate in a warm oven and repeat process until all batter is gone.
  8. Stack two pancakes and serve with a dollop of cinnamon butter on top and the vanilla crème on the side.

    Here's all that was left...



Friday, May 6, 2011

Friday Favorites 2.0

Couldn't let the day go by without sharing these wonderful words found at one of my favorite blogs, Elements of Style.
Health:
  1. Drink plenty of water.
  2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
  3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
  4. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
  5. Play more games.
  6. Read more books than you did in 2010.
  7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
  8. Sleep for 7 hours.
  9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
  1. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  2. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
  3. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
  4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
  6. Dream more while you are awake.
  7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
  8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
  9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
  10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
  11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
  13. Smile and laugh more.
  14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Society:
  1. Call your family often.
  2. Each day give something good to others.
  3. Forgive everyone for everything.
  4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
  5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
  6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
  7. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
  1. Do the right thing!
  2. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
  3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
  4. The best is yet to come.
  5. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Friday Favorites

The Calyspo St. Barth Collection for Target. Makes me want to take a Caribbean vacay.

Found a cute top that I could squeeze my baby belly into, fun belt, and rompers for Lily and baby girl when she arrives.



And I think I need to go back for these





Happy Weekend friends!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...