Pregnancy and PostPartum Q&A: The Answers

From this post two weeks ago, I asked if anyone had any pregnancy or post-partum questions and had lots of feedback! Here are your questions and my answers, if you have any other questions feel free to ask below and I'll update this post.

- What is the one thing you know now that you wish someone would have told you before you gave birth to Ellie? 

I really wish someone- anyone! talked to me about the Baby Blues. All I ever heard about or read was about Post Partum Depression, but nothing about the blues you get. I had heard that after you give birth you’re emotional and would cry often, but no one talked to me about the feelings that come with it. Those few weeks were so hard on me, and I wish I knew to expect them. I think knowing about them wouldn't have changed very much of my experience, but maybe I could mentally prepare myself beforehand? Or at least prepare Matt!

Also, I really looked forward to getting dressed without a bump, it never dawned on me that it's still no fun getting dressed without it because everything has to be nursing or pumping friendly (if you're breastfeeding anyways). Before going to work and when I'm home on the weekends, I like to wear a breastfeeding tank underneath any top over it. That way if I BF while out, my side/back aren't in the open and I'm more covered up (my top shirt is pulled up, but my tank stays down). Before Ellie’s birth, I had bought a couple of tops and dresses to wear post partum, and they are completely not BF friendly. I can only wear them for a few hours, not even to work, because I have to take them completely off to breastfeed or pump. That’s kind of a downer and I wouldn’t have bought them had I realized that.

On the topic of breastfeeding, I thought the most difficult part would be the 3 weeks it takes to get the hang of it (your nipples will feel like they're on fire and are going to fall off) and the time it takes to nurse on demand. For me, the hardest part was all kinds of other stuff- how much is your little one eating, are they getting enough, do you make enough, and how you can increase your supply. I was able to meet with a Lactation Consultant and get a weighed feeding, we realized I had a low supply and would need to supplement for a short period of time. They also talked to me about how to increase my supply by nursing often and taking supplements such as Blessed Thistle, Fenugreek, Mother's Milk Tea, and lactation cookies (see my recipe here).

- How long did it take for your milk to come in? How often did you feed her? How did you increase your supply? 

It took four days before my milk came in, so I fed Ellie all colostrum those first few days. I fed her on demand and still do. Her first few days it was almost every hour to every two hours. Now it's every three hours, almost on the dot! The first few weeks, anytime she fussed I just put her to my breast and that worked to soothe her. At the beginning, I wasn't making enough so she would sometimes cry a lot and want to nurse 24/7. 24/7! I'm not kidding. That's when I went and saw a Lactation Consultant (LC) for a weighed feeding.

At my LC meeting I found out I was about 2oz short of a full feeding. We had to supplement using an SNS tube (a tiny tube used to feed your baby formula while they nurse so you can keep nursing which will help your supply from their feedings) and bottles for a few weeks. I also increased my Fenugreek intake to 3 pills 3 times a day. You will totally smell like maple syrup when you do that, but then you know it's working. I just started taking Blessed Thistle as well (1 pill 3 times a day) and that also helped maintain my supply while returning back to work.

What helped me the most I think is waking up during the night between 1-5am to pump. At first I was only getting 1oz, but now I get anywhere from 2-5oz during this time. Ellie sleeps during the night so I'm able to get up without having to feed her. It is really hard to break up your sleep by doing this, but you do what works for your family. I wish I started pumping earlier and was able to pump after each feeding, but I just didn't get the chance too. After a few weeks, Ellie didn't really sleep much during the day or only in my arms so I didn't have the opportunity to pump during the day. I would definitely recommend doing that if you're able to though. The combination of midnight pumping, nursing often, and my increase in supplements really helped to increase my supply. We no longer have to supplement and Ellie is getting nice and chunky.

- How do you stay motivated/find the time to always look so dang cute? 

Thank you, this is such a sweet question. If you could only see me now: in pajamas, hair unbrushed in a top knot, and no makeup. I do try and get ready every day though, it just makes me feel better about myself. My routine hasn't changed much, but there are some days I only get halfway through getting ready before I have to attend to little miss.

My hair is pretty easy to maintain, and I don't have to curl it everyday. Lately, it's been pretty hot so I'll have to curl just the crown section of my hair. If Ellie is awake, I'll put her in her Rock and Play and bring it into the bathroom with me. I think she likes watching me get ready. I'll have music on and sing along to the radio to her which helps keep her entertained. It doesn't take me long to get ready, I do the same thing almost everyday so I just have it down pat. You can read about getting your curls to last longer here- I SWEAR by this "recipe" of products. I do wish I was good at getting my hair in a ponytail and having it look cute. Usually, my ponies need a braid or something to make them look cute. Otherwise it's just sad looking. Then I’ll spend just as much time trying to get my hair up as if I just curled all of it. As for makeup, I do the same routine, but sometimes I'll skip eyeliner and shadow and just wear mascara.

Now that I’m back to work, I do a lot of pre-planning. I pack all of my sides for lunch (and make my sandwich in the morning), pack my pump parts, I pick out what I’m going to wear including my shoes and jewelry and lay it out, I also pack Ellie’s bag for daycare with her favorite toys and extra clothes. Then, in the morning I just have to get ready, eat, pump, and make my sandwich. It really makes life so much easier. It’s a lot of work sometimes though and there are nights when I want to just skip it, but I know I’ll regret having to do the extra work in the morning.

- What were the first few days like? Did you have help from family that stayed with you, what are some things you wished you would've done now looking back? 

The first few days were amazing! Ellie slept all the time, she would wake up only to nurse, and we had a ton of visitors. I had to sleep up right on the couch though because of my c-section- our bed was too high and soft and it was painful getting in and out of it. Ellie at the time, would only sleep in my arms as well. That was really the only tough part, but overall is was incredible. I had a ton of adrenaline still and sleep deprivation hadn’t quite kicked in yet. We had people over almost everyday to visit and bring food, and it was so nice of them! Take advantage of people’s help because it tapers off and in week 6 and on you’ll wish someone was coming over to give your arms a break and bring you a decent meal. Looking back, I wish I wasn’t afraid to ask for more help. I wanted to do it all, but having someone else do some dishes wouldn’t have hurt. Also, there was a day or two where when our guests made plans to come over we were up for visitors, but by the time they got there we were too tired to entertain. After a few weeks, I didn’t have a problem cancelling my plans or saying no, but don’t be afraid to do that from the beginning. I definitely would have tried to also sleep and relax as much as I could, but anytime I was able to get Ellie down, I would suddenly have a ton of energy and would keep myself busy. It’s really hard to “sleep when they sleep”, but if you can do it, I would!

-When did you have your nursery completely done? I keep stressing because we have a registry, mainly for family, but we're not having a shower (just not my thing). This means, there's no "deadline" for ppl to get us stuff which also means we don't know how much we're buying on our own. I feel like we should have everything set up a month in advance in case Peanut comes early. Yes no? 

Since I had a time and day when Ellie would be here (thanks to a c-section) I had my nursery completely done and organized two weeks before her arrival. Since you’re not having a c-section, I think one month would be plenty of time to get everything together and give you peace of mind before Peanut arrives. I would definitely buy a carseat, stroller, dresser, changing pad, diaper genie, crib, and anything else you’ll have your little one sleep in first. The first few weeks you don’t really use too much and can wait to pick up the other extras later. Since Peanut will sleep a lot in the beginning, you’ll have time to finish decorating and organizing the nursery, but you may just want to use that time to relax, watch TV, paint your nails, or sleep. Ellie still doesn’t sleep in her crib, so her nursery is really just for looks at this time. We only use her closet, dresser, changing pad, and rocking chair. LOL.

-I assume you need all the creams, wipes, toiletries all ready to go at home before delivery?

Yes! You will definitely need them ready to go for your little one’s arrival. Ellie had 8-9 diaper changes a day at the beginning, so you don’t want to be without those necessities!

-Who did you have visit you and E in the hospital? How long is an average stay? How did you let your friends/extended family know? (email, text, pic text, phone, etc.) 

On the first day we had only our family (extended family included), but at one point we had 15 people in our room! We are very social and close with our family so it was great having so many people visit us, but other people I know didn’t have any visitors besides parents or siblings. Whatever is best suited for you and your partner works, there will be plenty of time to visit once you’re home as well. After the first day, we had friends and more family come by as well to visit. We sent everyone a text message with a picture once Ellie arrived. We also let everyone know by text when they could visit and what room we were in. No one stayed more than 2 hours at a time and that was really just family, friends typically stayed about an hour. We personally feel that the hospital visits were easy and welcomed everyone who want to come by.

-How many outfits (onesies) do you realistically need to start off with? Everyone says to not buy clothes b/c those will be gifted, but I think I need a healthy supply of basics on hand, right? 

They grow so fast, there are going to be outfits that they never wear or only wear once. Depending on whether you’re going to take your little one out of the house, maybe 6 outfits to start, 8 onesies, and 5 pjs?.You can always buy more as you go along. I didn’t buy any newborn sizing, but had a few that were gifted to me and had to run out to buy a few more. Our 0-3 months were too big for Ellie so the newborn ones were needed. I also joined a Mommy and Me group that met once a week for several weeks and wanted Ellie to look cute at our meetings and would dress her up in the outfits that were bought for her. Usually at home though, I would just dress her in a onesie and some socks.

-Do you really need any toys in the beginning? Is that more to "decorate" the room with? 

Nope, you don’t need any toys at the beginning, all they do is sleep, eat, and poop. Just talking and singing to them is fun and enough stimulation at the very beginning. Once they’re more alert you’ll want to have rattles, soft little blankets, the OBall, and an activity mat though. I signed up for several email groups such as Baby Center, Lucie’s List, and What to Expect, they email you weekly based off your child’s birth with great ideas for activities, milestones, etc. I was always worried that Ellie was getting enough stimulation at the beginning and they had great suggestions to “play” with her such as taking different items of varying textures and rubbing them against your little one’s cheek and hands while talking to them about how it felt. Ellie really enjoyed when I did that with her.

 

-What was your sleep arrangement like at first? Bassinet next to bed? You hovering over crib in nursery? No sleep for you at all? Sleeping in glider in between nursing? This boggles me. I picture myself zombie-walking from the master to the nursery, not knowing exactly where I should be. 

For the first three weeks, I slept up right on the couch because it was too difficult and painful to get in and out of our bed after having my c-section. Matt slept on the floor in the living room with me, and Ellie slept in my arms mostly, but some nights she slept in her swing (while it wasn’t on). After week three, we were able to transition her into her Rock and Play and we all moved back into the bedroom. That’s still our sleeping arrangement now and we’re talking about transitioning her into her own room, but I’m not ready for that yet. I’m almost there though. I never thought it would be so hard to move her into her own room, that’s right next to ours and she sleeps through the night, but it’s much hard than I thought it would be. I think we’ll start transitioning her into her nursery with her Rock and Play first, and then to the crib in the next month.

-How did you lose the baby weight? 

The day I went in for my schedule C-Section, I had gained a total of 25 pounds during my pregnancy. After Ellie’s birth, the majority of that weight was already gone between Ellie being 8lbs 1oz, the placentia, fluids, etc. Once I got home and the swelling and fluids disappeared, I think I had somewhere around 8-10 pounds left. Since I’m breastfeeding, I burned a lot of calories from that so the weight went away really quickly. I also walked almost daily around my neighborhood anywhere from 1-3 hours. Our neighborhood is a giant loop that’s just over a mile around. The first few weeks that I began walking I would only walk 1-2 miles. I was only able to walk the 5 miles a handful of times because it would just get too hot. I didn’t walk briskly or monitored my heart rate, I just pushed Ellie along in our stroller and walked until she woke up. That was often her morning nap and we walked with my friend and her baby so it was our time to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

- Did you use black out curtains or a noise machine? I'd like to train the babe to sleep without crutches but I'll also do just about anything to ensure that he (I) sleeps. 

We do not use black out curtains for Ellie. They would be nice to have, but I don't think they are a "must-have". You may want to look at how the sun hits your nursery at different times of the day to see if it's something you would need to help with naps.

We do have a Traveling Sound Machine attached to her car seat that we absolutely love- it's great to keep out loud noises when we're out and about. I would absolutely recommend using one, it's amazing when you're outside the home. It provides a constant noise so other noises are drowned out and not as noticeable or or startling to your little babe. For home, we don't use one though. There have been a few times when Ellie was fussy where I used The First Years Sound Machine in her nursery as I rocked her, but we don't use it regularly.

When you get home, you'll try everything with your little one. It's all about survival- I swear. You'll have to try things a few times to see if they work or not as well as getting your little one used to something new.

Thank you everyone for your questions! Feel free to ask any more you might think of below or email me at anytime. Hope you all have a awesome week, feeling  great in your pregnancies, and give your little ones lots of kisses from me and Ellie!

**Updated Questions**

-Everyone keeps telling me I need swaddling blankets/receiving blankets/some sort of flannel blankets. What are they for exactly?? And how many do I realistically need? 

Yes! You swaddle your baby nice and tight because it reminds them of life inside the womb. It's make them feel safe, secure, and warm and makes the fussiest baby calm down. Swaddling is life saving! They make these awesome blankets with velcro to make the job easier for you too. My favorite is Summer Infant Cotton SwaddleMe that I talked about in my first Baby Must-Haves.  I would have 2-3 on hand to begin with and then go from there. We stopped swaddling Ellie sooner because she slept better, and now we use a sleep sack when needed.

- I would love to hear about how you selected a daycare for Eleanor - what the process was like, how far in advance, what you looked for in a good daycare.

Matt and I knew we wanted an in-home daycare for Ellie, we felt that she would get the most attention that way. Luckily, our friend's mother runs one out of her home in our neighborhood and has done childcare since the 80s. I talked to a few people about her and all had glowing reviews- in fact, some of the children she's watched have grown up and taken their own children to her! Matt's dad had told me that she's the best and if we wanted to get in we'd have to call right away. So at the beginning of May, we called her and talked to her and just instantly knew we would be a good match. Then, this summer once Ellie was here we took her by to meet with her and check the place out and they had a good connection. Then we took her another time when the other children were there and Ellie really enjoyed it. Her home is very welcoming, she's very loving and caring- it just emanates from her, the other children are very sweet and dote on Ellie. We were looking for a place where Ellie would gets a lot of attention, be able to be held often, and had a limited amount of children. We found our place the last month of my pregnancy, it would just be easier for us to not be rushed into finding somewhere and it gave us the chance to meet with them before and after Ellie's arrival. I would think about what's important to you in the environment your little one will be in, talked to their references, call your state about any complaints that have been filed, and meet a few times with them to see how you and your little one will like it. Ellie loves going to daycare and looks forward to going, she always has a smile when we get there!

-Were you worried about people holding your baby? We have friends who insist of us washing our hands first. I will probably do the same. Thoughts? 

Yes and no. We make sure that everyone has washed their hands and if we were worried about them holding her (like our niece and nephew since they're small) we just make sure they're sitting down and use a pillow or boppy to help them hold her. 

Ask Me Anything Reveal

The questions are in and here are my answers from this previous post. This was so much fun! I loved all the questions that were asked!

Meg. O: What's your beauty routine when you're in a hurry?
I don’t mind not wearing make-up (as you may know from this post) as long as my hair is done, but at the bare minimum I will use my MAC Studio Fix powder, mascara, and blush. That gives me enough of a “face” to be happy with the results. The powder helps with shine and evening out my skin tone, mascara makes my eyes pop, and blush adds some color. If I have the time, I’ll use some bronzer too.

Love jenny xoxo: How do you feel about your baby bump? I feel like I'm always comparing and wondering if I'm normal... is that normal?! :)
Based on my body type, I knew I would start to show soon. The length of my waist between my last rib and the top of my hip is maybe 2 inches, so I have nowhere for the baby to go, but out! In the beginning, I was a bit self conscious of my bump, that maybe I was showing too soon. My stomach is really the only part of my body I’m self-conscious of because I’ve always had a bit of a belly (even at 108lbs in high school and I’m 5’8”). One thing that I did when my bump first appeared is check out the week-by-week section at The Bump and you can see where you are at with the pregnancy, where your baby’s growth is, etc. In that same section, you can see pictures of other women at the same week as you and check out their bumps. When I saw how varied each woman was carrying and showing, I never compared myself again to other pregnant women. Some women hardly show at all, some women looked like myself, and other women had larger bumps than me. Each woman and each pregnancy is different. Everything is pretty much normal in pregnancy, just not everyone experiences it. Nausea is normal, but I never had any nausea during my pregnancy. Now, I love my bump, although getting dressed and shopping is more of a task, I feel more feminine and part of a little club now that my bump is all on display.

Frances: What is your favorite thing about being pregnant? Are you afraid of giving birth?
My favorite thing about being pregnant is feeling our little girl move. It’s the most thrilling part! Even though I can feel her from inside, I like to put my hands on my bump to feel her from the outside too. I can’t wait to meet her, hold her, and give her kisses. This is the most joyful time of my life and I’m thrilled Matt and I are starting our family.

Do you have a birth plan yet?
My birth plan is really simple: Do not die.

I know that giving birth can’t be planned out, and I’ve heard from so many mothers that their birth plans didn’t go as planned or follow what they thought would be their delivery. I just want to go with the flow and communicate with my doctor about what are options are at the time a crisis may arise. One thing I know for sure is that I want an epidural. I think I may die without it.

That’s it really. I’ve started just recently to do more reading into having a birth plan, and I have things for the baby like for her to be fed breast milk only, no formula or pacifiers, and to have her vaccinations spread out. I’m researching more about other things baby-wise that Matt and I will decide together.

Are you afraid of giving birth?
I’m sure my above birth plan gave it away with my fear of death, so yes, I am afraid of giving birth. I know women do this every day and have done so since the dawn of time, but it still scares me. I pray every day that my delivery goes smoothly and our baby girl is healthy. Any mommies out there with tips?

Carolyn: What are you most looking forward to about parenthood?
There’s so much I’m looking forward to! Loving her, supporting her, spending time with her, and teaching her to be a strong, independent, and loving woman. Seeing the world through her eyes and experiencing things for the first time with her, watching movies, waiting for Santa, the kindness that's embedded in children before the world shows them it's ugly side. I want to give my children the childhood I didn’t have. I want them to feel loved and have a home that’s safe, stable, and a place that they want to be.

What scares you the most about parenthood?
Parenting is scary in general. There’s no perfect child or perfect parent. It’s a job that’s filled with guilt because what works for one doesn’t work for the next. I believe each person takes the good from their own childhood and add whatever they needed themselves as a child and tries to leave out the bad. I’m just scared of not being the parent she needs me to be and not realizing it in time. I guess it’s really trial and error and good communication. Also, it scares me about what she’ll experience in the world that I can’t control, like bullying, heartache, things of that nature.

What is your FAVORITE beauty item? Only one! :)
Mascara! It’s a Godsend. It’s something that looks great on everyone regardless of eye shape and makes the biggest difference to my overall look.

What's been the biggest adjustment for you since becoming pregnant? 
All the food you can’t eat! The soft cheeses, rare meats, salami, eating seafood more than once a week, etc have been the hardest. It’s so crazy how much food you can’t eat nowadays. In one way it’s good, there’s so much more processed food than in years before and we know so much more about how the food we eat affect our pregnancies and babies. Still, that list of do not eat is ridiculously long!

Do you have names picked out? Are you telling them?
We do have our name and middle name picked out and had it before we even started trying! We are telling people what her name will be, but not on any social media. We want there to be some surprise. So I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait!

Mindi: What are your fave hair and skin products lately? 
My favorite hair product I've used recently is Redken Guts 10 Volume Spray Foam. This gets amazing body without weighing your head down or being too heavy and forcing you to wash your hair the next day after using it.  For skin care, I'm in love the Ormedic organic line I reviewed here. It's the most amazing products I've used and have made a huge difference in my skin.

What is your go to style lately with being pregnant? Where are the OOTD pregnant pics? lol 
I've really just been wearing the same outfits as before, but now I'm wearing only my maternity jeans or my Kiki La'Rue jeggings. Luckily, most of my shirts were loose and long so they're going easy into maternity wardrobe.  My shift has been kind of wonky at work recently because I was training a new incoming class, but I'm back to my regular shift and will start to get off even earlier in two weeks so the hubs will be able to snap some pics now! I promise I'll have some more OOTD pics soon!

ooh and I am still waiting to see you wearing your glasses! lol 
I know! I need to get a pic of them! I just rarely wear my glasses, but I do love the new ones I picked up last fall. 

Thank you again for everyone that had a question! I love doing these posts and seeing them on other blogs. I think it gives you more insight to the blogger and a chance to ask a question you don't know the answer to yet from their posts. If anyone thinks of another question(s) ask me below and I'll update this post!
*******
I got a late question, from Pamela: I wanted to ask if you read any books pre-conception. There are a million of them out there and I want to delve into them but it's all so overwhelming! 

I actually didn't read anything while trying to get pregnant, I had thought about picking up some books before we started trying, but I felt like I was jinxing myself. I figured I would start reading something after our first month of trying, I also didn't want to put too much pressure on myself either. I was very blessed in getting pregnant right away, so I never had the chance to read anything before hand. Veronika from Veronika's Blushing has read several books that she has posted about on her blog, some of them are on my list of to-read too now!

Keep Calm and....

Hola everyone! I've noticed I've been asked a ton of questions recently about pregnancy, parenting, blogging, beauty, hair, etc. and I just wanted to do an open forum inviting you to ask me whatever you like and I'll do one post with all your Qs and As. I did this before in this post and had a lot of fun with it.

Nothing is off limits, but I assume you'll be polite and nice. It's ok to ask personal questions, albeit not rude ones. Do I need to establish a line? If I think it's too personal to post, I'll just email you back directly! How's that? 

So please, ask me anything!

Vlog: My Favorite Lip Products

A few of you have asked me about lip products and which are my favorites, so I thought I'd do a video to go over all of them. I asked some of you on my Facebook if you'd be interested and you were, so here we go!

Please excuse my hair, I had just gotten back from running errands and hadn't curled it for the day so it's kind of bleh. 

Also, I was talking to my sister about how almost all my lip products were within the same shades and we got to talking that most girl's makeup cases were the same. You buy what you like and what works for you right? What do your products look like?

Do we use any of the same products? Am I missing any holy grail products? Spill!

Vlog: Everyday Makeup

Here is my everyday make-up routine. It's nothing special or crazy. I mix up my shadow, eyeliner, and blush preferences daily, but I showed what I do most often.I'm sure next week it may change up a bit, but this is my basics.

I must tell you, it is SO HARD doing your makeup into a computer screen! It mirrors everything you do, and it's really difficult to do the small things like liner.

Want to know what else is in my makeup bag? Check it out here.

How do you wear your makeup everyday?

Casual Date Outfit Inspirations

On Twitter, I was asking for some post suggestions and my lovely friend Danielle of Sweet Nothings suggested date night outfit ideas. Hello! What a fantastic idea? How often are we just searching and tearing our closets apart to find something great to wear? I hopped right on it!

First, I think that the majority of boys like simple. Girls dress for girls, but when you're on a date, you have to dress for him. How are you going to enjoy the date and it's activities when you're worrying about your clothes? You want to wear something comfortable that keeps you ready for anything. You don't want to wear something you have to tug on, is sucking the life out of you, or is uncomfortable to wear. The key is finding something that chic, fun, and comfortable so you can focus on those sparkly eyes, cute dimples, the conversation and your date.

One super versatile piece that's great for a date is a good chambray top. It's easy to layer, goes throughout the seasons, and a bit tomboy which get boys riled up.

Old Navy Chambray Top (similar here and here) Gap Black Skinnies (similar here) AE Shorts 

Heels and Jewelry of your choice

Here's some great ways to wear your chambray for a variety of dates, to the movies, coffee, a day date, etc. Switch out your accessories and shoes to dress up or down. Colored bottoms like red and hot pink would also be a lot of fun!

Another great route, especially for nighttime dates for drinks or dinner would be to add a blazer, I love the look of a crisp white one.

Nordstrom Blazer (similar here and here) Gap Skinnies Concert Tee (pick one up from F21 here, here, and my personal fave here)  F21 Striped Top (similar here)

Just add wedges, layered necklaces, and a structured bag and you're set.

There you have it. Some easy go-to outfit ideas for a night on the town with some eye candy.

Did you like this post? Would you like to see more of these for other dates or events?

If you have any post suggestions, please email, comment, FB, or Tweet me!

Ask Me Anything QandA

Thank you everyone who asked me a question on my Ask Me Anything post. So many great ones, I couldn't wait to post this! The questions ranged from all kinds of topics, some of them really made me think! I feel like we're all girlfriends, just gabbing. Let's get this QandA party started!

Kathy S: What/who are your inspirations in life and for your blog?

My blog inspiration comes from everywhere really! My friends, the magazines I subscribe to (InStyle, Glamour, People Stylewatch), Pinterest, fashion/beauty trends, and my everyday life. If there's something I enjoy, I want to share it with everyone. I've been known to send out emails/texts about new products/sales so this blog is my perfect platform.

In life, my inspirations would have to be the women in my family. They're so loving, smart, creative, caring, and strong. Each woman brings something to my life, my aunts, sister, mom, grandmothers, and my in-laws. I'm so very blessed to have such amazing women in my life.

Kate: From 1st course to last, what is your all-time favorite meal? 

This question was one of the hardest! I just love food, it's delicious and a great way to spend time with loved ones. It's so hard to choose just one meal, so I cheated a little bit and went with a feast. For appetizers, I love chips and salsa/guacamole, brie cheese and crackers, a wedge salad, a nice filet mignon medium rare, with a side of bbq'd zuchini and steamed broccoli. For dessert, I love apple or banana milkshakes.

Cassie: What is your profession?

I just started a new position as a Customer Service representative for a large bank (I don't want to give the company name for privacy, if you'd like to know, email me and I'll be happy to tell you) and I love it! I'm one of the people who answer your 1-800 calls. I've never been happier with a job before either! I've worked 2-3 jobs simultaneously since I was 16 and have never felt so satisfied with a company before. The people I work with are wonderful, the atmosphere is professional, fun, and inspiring. My only regret is that I didn't start here sooner!

Casey: What was one thing you would change about your wedding day if you could?

If I could change one thing, it would be that we hired multiple photographers. The husband and I paid for the wedding ourselves and only had a budget for one photographer, but if money was no object I would have hired three.

When do you think you and your hub will try for kids?

The hubs and I can't wait to start our family and we get asked about it all the time. Any time I'm feeling under the weather everyone at work automatically thinks I must be preggers. It's so funny! We actually won't be trying to start our family until next summer. Oh, and we want three kids. :D

Where do you buy the majority of your clothes?

I buy most of my clothes from Nordstrom and Forever 21. I find a bunch of basics from Target as well.


Heather: I always love to hear a little more about blogger's daily lifestyles.
Do you work out? If so how often?

I do, but I've been on and off about working out regularly. I like to work in the morning and I'll go 4 times a week solid for a while, will take one week off and it will take me months to get back in the habit. I could work out at night, but I get home late (8pm) and just want to unwind, get some chores done, and get ready for the next day. Working out at night is going to be one of my new years resolutions though!

If so what's your workout regimen?

I'll typically do 20-30 minutes of cardio (either the treadmill or elliptical)  followed by 20 minutes of weight training.

Do you follow a strict diet?

Absolutely not. I eat everything, but do try to eat on the healthier side with lots of veggies and fruit.

Cook at home or eat out mostly? 

We mostly cook at home. My husband and I grew up in homes where our mothers cooked everyday, so we're trying to follow suit. I think it's healthier and most cost-effective. A typical dinner is chicken, veggies, and macaroni and cheese. If it's a later night for us, (I typically get home just before 8pm) and my husband also had to work, he'll bring food from Outback home, their wedge salad and a prime rib.I also pack a lunch every day for work, sandwiches, leftovers, protein shakes, fruit, PB crackers, and string cheese is pretty typical.

Oh and I'd love to see a video on your day-to-day hair and make-up routine 

I usually wear my hair curled every day, here is my video on how I curl it. Curling it takes me just as long as straightening it, but I've found that my hair lasts for more days without washing it when I wear it curled.

I've been asked a few times about my day-to-day make-up routine, so a video is on it's way!

Natalie H: If you were stranded on an island, What Five Beauty - Must- Haves would you want with you? 

Love this question! I'd definitely bring and eyelash curler, mascara, pink blush, chapstick, and a nude lipgloss. These are all my everyday things and make the biggest difference in making my look come together.

Natasha XOXO: I'd love to read about your daily skin care routine; products you use and why; products you've used in the past and why you don't use them!

First, my skin is pretty normal, not oily, but I do have some sensitivity from childhood Eczema. For make-up removal I use Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Foaming Cleanser. This is so hard to find in stores- I think it may have been discontinued, so I bought in bulk online. If anyone has any similar products, I'd love to find a substitute! L'Oreal Go 360 Cleanser for Sensitive Skin. this wash is gentle and gets a lot of make-up off, plus I love the scrub pad. I follow that up with Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner, toner is always mentioned in magazines so I swooped this up a few years ago and never looked back. It smells nice, doesn't sting, and although I've never had an issue with an even skin tone, I think this helps maintain mine. When that dries I moisturize using Oil of Olay Complete for Sensitive Skin, and Mary Kay Timewise Firming Eye Cream. I love these moisturizers because their great for sensitive skin, they're not too thick or runny and they absorb into my skin pretty fast.

I use these products everyday and love them. They're a perfect fit for my skin, not oily or drying and have helped me to keep an even skin tone. I've heard that it's best to use products from the same line because they're meant to work together, but I can't imagine giving one of these up. Maybe as my needs change as I age I'll slowly make my way into all Mary Kay or Oil of Olay.

I've used these items for years that I don't even remember what I used before! I've know I used Clean and Clear face washes and now that I'm older I don't think I really need them anymore, a simple cleanser does the trick. Also, I used to use St. Ives Apricot scrub and haven't bought it since college. I think I would still use it though if I felt my skin changes and I get oilier.

Better Off Med: What is the best compliment you've ever received from someone? 

The best compliment I've ever received was an email someone close to me sent asking how I keep such a happy disposition despite trials and roller coasters I've been through. It was such a heartfelt and personal email, I've saved it and have read it over and over again. By nature, I've always been a glass is half-full type of person, I mean if you can't change something, at least make the best of it. Plus, I believe that happiness is a choice, it's important to focus on what you have been given and what you're capable of changing. For most choices, I'd rather be happy than right/sad/mad/or depressed so I choose to count my blessings and see the silver lining in life.

Kelley: If you could raid any celebrity's closet whose would it be? 

This is such a great question!! And oh so hard! After much thought, I'd have to choose Blake Lively. That girl is super fashionable, has friends in all the right places, and I'm also assuming that whoever's closet I chose their clothes would magically look just as good on me. :D

Thanks again to everyone who sent me a question! I had a ton of fun answering these. If you think of another question, leave me one below and I will respond via comments.

Love you ladies! Hope everyone has a great last week before the holiday!

Vlog: How- To Loose Curls

Loose waves are everywhere and so easy to create and wear. One of the best features of this look is that it only gets better as your day goes on because, loose and messy is in and only adds to the glamour. I was inspired by the VS Fashion Show, and wanted to show you my best attempt at re-creating the look.

It's really simple, I curl it the same way as I did in this curling video, but focus on the middle section of my strands, leaving out differing ends from the curling iron. Also, the smaller curling iron you use, the larger section of hair you'll want to curl, and vice versa for a bigger curling iron (use a smaller section of hair).

What did you think? Are you going to try it out? 

Ask Me Anything

ask me a question. or several questions.
Nothing is off limits (except, rude/crude questions...obviously) and let me know if there's a video you'd like to see of any how-tos, etc.

After seeing a few bloggers, The Bargain Blonde most recently, do posts answering their readers' questions, I wanted to join in. So my dears, please, ask away! I'll be posting my answers in the next week.

So excited, I look forward to your questions!

Oh and at a bar recently, this guy walked in and I told him how awesome his mustache is and he asked me if I wanted to comb it. I said hells yes, then he busted out a mini comb he kept in his pocket. So awesome.

New Vlog! How I Curl My Hair

I think the top two things I get asked the most is how I curl my hair and how I do my smoky eyes (see that vlog here). I did a step-by-step before with pictures here, but seeing it live is so much better. It's so easy and I can seriously do it blind because I curl my hair every.single.day. and have used the same technique since junior high. Veronika just posted a video as well on how to curl her hair, and she has really long pretty hair so be sure to check it out as well!

Goodness, can't the pause the video at a better angle for me???? Hell.Wow, didn't realize it was 20 minutes long! I swear it doesn't take me that long, I think it's just because I'm talking at the same time.

Things to note, I said these in the video, but in case you miss them:

-I switch off on different sized curling irons depending on how I feel. I either use a smaller 1 inch or a 1 1/4 inch size. Long hair looks great with a mix of both sizes.

-Your hair "sets" by how it cools and not just how it heats up, so if your hair doesn't hold a curl well, consider pinning each curl to set. You can also do that for a big night out when you want to look extra special.

-When I wear extensions, I find it easiest to curl the extensions before clipping them in (I clip them in as I go) and then combing out both the extensions and my own hair together with my fingers. That helps the extensions to blend in better and all the curls to have a similar look.

-Always curl away from your face! It's the most flattering for all face shapes. You can also do a mix of forward and backward curls throughout the rest of your hair (this is best for thicker hair), but your front curls should always be curled back!

-For looser beachy waves, leave the last 1-2 inches out and start curling a little bit away from your roots focusing more on the middle section of your strands.

Here's pictures of my hair with different sizes irons and lengths:

This is with all of my own hair, using a 1 1/4 in iron, curling all the way to the ends.

Here I am with my extensions, using a 1 inch iron, curling all the way to the ends.

Here with my extensions, using a 1 1/4 iron, curling to the ends.

Here with all my own hair, using a 1 1/4 iron, leaving the ends out.

Here with my extensions, usinging a 1 1/4 iron, leaving the ends out.

Wow. Looking back on some of these pictures, I really miss my longer hair :( Just a few weeks months and it will be back.

Oh, and I've been emailed a lot about my extensions, so here's the deal: I used to buy the hair, cut and sew them myself, but now I just buy them with the clips in place. It's a little bit more expensive, but worth the cost and the no work! I buy my hair only if it's human hair and from a store called Bobo's Beauty Supply (similar to a Sally's). I don't buy any particular brand, just as long as it matches my natural color I snatch it right up!

When you're trying on the hair, I find it best to bring someone with a critical eye (I bring my mom) and to see if you can compare the extensions to your real hair in the sunlight. It really makes a difference, I've wasted $$ before on a mismatch and wasn't able to exchange or return it.

I hope this video helps you ladies and if you have any questions, feel free to email or comment me and I'll be sure to answer!

Hair How-To

One of the top questions/comments/emails I get most is for my hair when I wear it curled. Thank you everyone for all of your compliments and inquiries, I appreciate each one of them, they really make my day!
I'm pretty lucky in the hair department (God gave me good hair I guess instead of a naturally flat stomach- I'll take what I can get!) in that my hair is easy to manage and holds a curl really well. I have "normal" thick hair, but it's very fine so I can get great volume on my hair because it's not weighed down, but sometimes I have a difficulty with getting a thicker braid or more fullness so I sometimes wear 2-3 tracks of extensions to help me out. I also wash and blow-dry my hair every 3-4 days depending on how it looks. My hair isn't oily so on the days I have to go an extra day I use Tresemme Freshstart Dry Shampoo (see a review here). I also use a deep conditioner every other week.

Here are some products I use everytime I wash my hair; Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer, Tresemme 24 Hour Body Root Boosting Spray, Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Split End Protector, and Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum.

First I blow-dry my hair completely and sometimes use 2-4 velcro rollers at my crown:


Then I part my hair in layers going from the bottom up- I roughly separate it at my ears and below, then the end of my eyebrows, temple, then the remaining hair- and use a totally 80s scrunchie to separate because I've found that the scrunchie leaves less of a "dent" on my hair then a claw clip, but whatever works for you. I then use a 1 1/4 inch curling iron and curl from the TOP DOWN (vs bottom up), this is very important because it gives you body at the root and middle part of your hair instead of just the ends. It also curls your hair completely instead of just the tips. Curling your hair this way makes a significant difference in how long your curls will last. A few people I've done their hair for have started curling their hair this way instead of the bottom up and have told me what a difference it's made for them.


Ok, so start at the top 1 1/2 to 2 inches with the curling iron and curl up leaving the ends loose and out of the curling iron's clasp. Hold for a few seconds (I do 10 second when I have the time and I'm going out).  I like to curl my hair so it curls away from my face on each side, I think it helps minimize the chubiness of my cheeks, and I like that 70's type vibe a lot. Depending on what works best for your hair you can use hairspray before or after each curl. I hold my curling iron barrel vertically, but holding horizontally gives a slightly different look for the curl that also looks really cute.

Then release the clasp and slide down to the middle section of your hair and curl all the way up leaving just the ends loose. Hold a few seconds.



Finally, slide the barrell all the way down to the ends and curl up to the root. Hold a few seconds.


After I have my entire head curled, I spray it with hairspray and wait a few minutes to let the curls "set". Your hair sets not just with heat, but how it cools.

Sidenote: If you hair doesn't hold a curl well or you need the curls to last longer than usual, try curling your hair and the pinning it at the roots. At this point, you will look like curly sue!

Once your hair is ready, rake your fingers through your hair to break up the curls. Then style as desired, I tease my crown (using Velcro rollers helps to get even more height) and the front sides. Hairspray again and you're ready to go!


Here's how it looks with all my own hair:

Here's how it looks with 2-3 tracks of extensions. I use the same method of curling for the extensions, but curl them before putting them in because I find it's easier:

How was this little tutorial? Was I clear on how to do it? Did you find it helpful?

How do you curl your hair? Do you wear your hair curled often?

Reader Question: Make-up

Last night, Amanda from Tales of a Horvath Housewife asked me "What order should you put your make-up on in? I have read several different things (eye make-up then face make-up and vice=versa) and I am totally confused. What do you think is the best way??"

Thanks for you question Amanda, I love hearing from my you guys! Make-up is so much fun and is a great way to try new looks. Everyone puts theirs on a little differently, but I'll tell you how I put my make-up on and what I have learned from magazines, having my make-up done, and going to make-up parties.

First, you want to make sure your face is clean and apply sunscreen to your face, not forgetting about your neck and chest. I know it's winter and you might not be outside much, but one of the top sun damages we expose ourselves to is the sun shining through our car windows or walking to and from your car. Crazy huh?

Then you want to apply a moisturizer, giving your face some time for the moisturizer to set in.


Eyes
I like to start with my eyes first, so that if any shadow falls onto my cheek I can clean it up without having to re-do my face make-up. If you wear a primer, put it on first otherwise you can use some liquid foundation to help your shadow "stick".

Then put your highlighter (brown bone and inner eye corners) and light shadow on first, followed by your medium and darker shades. Remember a key to shadow is blending and that it will look different- and often better- after eye liner and mascara. You can always touch up your highlighter if needed to after.

Once your eye shadow is done, the next step is eye liner (if you wear it). Some people do this before, but that makes no sense to me or some make-up artists I have asked. I guess it's just a matter of preference. For eye liner, you can do a series of dashes and then connect them or one continuous line. When I first started wearing liquid, I would just try my best and then use a Q-tip in make-up remover to fix any mistakes, and now I'm a pro! Never use liquid on your bottom lid though, it is not 1985 and it didn't even look good then. Another option is to use a liner brush and dark shadow for a softer daytime look.

Here comes the best part, mascara! Make sure to curl your lashes! Even when I don't wear make-up, I always curl mine. A little secret is to heat your curler up with your hair dryer for maximum effect, but be sure to check the temperature before you put it up to your eye!


Face
First apply concealer to cover any dark circles, pimples, or redness. Then use foundation to even skin tone. Make sure to blend as to not have that dreadful orange line around the jaw. Next, set everything with some powder.

After powder, you can use either bronzer or blush. I suggest to play around with what look you like best, blush under bronzer or vice-versa. Or you can use just one and not the other.

Don't forget your brows! Whether you color them in or not, at least brush them up and out. Clear mascara is great at keeping them tame, or you can spray some hairspray on an old mascara wand.


Lips
Finally, your kisser. You can use foundation as a primer and a great nude base to really make color pop. If you wear liner, use it first to help keep lip color from straying. How do you ladies wear your make-up? What are some tricks you use? Do you do your make-up in the same order as I do? I love hearing from you, if you ever have a question please leave me a comment or shoot me an email!