In the Pool with Beachfront Baby Wraps

One of the best things about living in California is the weather! It’s warm nearly year round and we can swim from March through October. Every summer, we spend a lot of time outside playing, barbecuing, and almost every family party is by the pool. Having all of our children comfortable in the water is important to us, Matt played water sports all through high school and worked as a lifeguard for years. He’s such a natural swimmer, I wish I was too! Ellie started swim lessons last summer, took a winter break, and started them again last month and I think she’ll be ready to swim without floaties this summer. Fingers crossed!

Swim Diaper // Hat // Wrap

Suit (from Target, it's not online, but I love this and this one!)

One Size Beachfront Baby Wrap in Passionberry
Suit (Victoria Secret- not online, similar here)// Sunnies

Both our babies love the water and with this Beachfront Baby Wrap, I can keep Emma close by and allow her to enjoy the water while remaining hands free to enjoy the pool myself or help with Eleanor. The first time I took her in the pool with me, she loved being in the water and fell asleep on me for two hours she was so relaxed! The wrap was easy to figure out how to use and it held her securely and comfortably for us both. I was afraid that when Emma was sleeping that if I got out of the pool she would be cold and wake up, but since the wrap is a polyester jersey mesh, it doesn’t hold water and dried really quickly, so I was able to get in and out of the water without waking her or being cold. It was awesome! It will also be great when our summer heat sets in and we head to the zoo, splash pad, or other outdoor activities since it’s lightweight and breathable.

Beachfront Baby Wraps sent me this product for review, but all opinions and experiences are my own.

Gladiator Sandals Under $75

One trend I'm still not over is gladiator sandals, I just love all the straps! I think they scream summer and help give a casual outfit a bit of edge and help dress it up. I love that they work with shorts, dresses, and even pants for cool nights. I found a ton of great options at good prices, but the best is that there's so many variations. Some fit lower on the ankler, have ties, back zippers, and different designs.

One // Two // Three // Four // Five // Six

I just ordered the last pair today and I can't wait for them to get in! I love that they lace up, but zip in the back for easy access. I'm also eyeballing number 5 too, the laser cut design is gorgeous!

Spring into Spring with a Natural Glow from Jergens!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyJergensGlow #CollectiveBias

This year marks our fifth wedding anniversary and we want to do something special to celebrate. We’ve talked about different ideas and places to go and Matt has something in the works that he’s keeping a secret, but he did share that it will be warm and I’ll need my swimsuit. Swimsuit. That word makes me quiver in my boots. First things first, I’m going to need a tan! I love having a natural looking glow without the hours in the sun or time in a booth. Having a nice glow boosts my confidence, helps to hide blemishes, and keeps me ready for sunny days and short hemlines.

I like to use JERGENS® Natural Glow® 3 Days to Glow™ Moisturizer and JERGENS® Natural Glow® Daily Moisturizer as part of my nightly and morning routines. The JERGENS® Natural Glow® 3 Days to Glow™ Moisturizer gives me the perfect natural looking color quickly and it’s perfect if you have an event coming up. Even just a single use gives you a beautiful color shade. The JERGENS® Natural Glow® Daily Moisturizer helps to maintain that glow, I especially love it to maintain any color from vacation as well. I swear it helps to keep a tan for an extra 10 days or more!

I’ve been using JERGENS® Natural Glow® products since college to help me get and keep some summer color. I love the scent, it’s not strong, but smells good and their products always leave me streak free with a nice even color. I have a really easy routine I use daily/weekly that I’m sharing in today’s post!

- First, exfoliate using a loofah or exfoliating gloves
- Apply the JERGENS® Natural Glow® 3 Days to Glow™ Moisturizer in a circular motion to ensure an even application

- Focus on your large body parts and use the leftover lotion on your hands for the rough patches such as your knees, ankles, and elbows
- A great tip for those rough patches is to mix 50/50 glow moisturizer and regular lotion for these areas
- After 3 days of application you'll have beautiful color and can then use the JERGENS® Natural Glow® Daily Moisturizer every day or every other day to keep your tan

I do this routine every night after my shower and then wait for the lotion to set while I do my nightly beauty routine and then hop right into my all white bedding without any color transfer! You can find the JERGENS® Natural Glow® products in the cream aisle at Wal-Mart!

How do you prepare for a summer tan?

Must-Reads Reunion Post: Spring Trends

Spring is one of the best seasons in my opinion, it’s the pre-season to summer, but it’s not outrageously hot yet. It’s also one of the best times to shop for your warm weather wardrobe, you’ll get the most wear out of your purchases, right at the start of the season. Also, sometimes it’s easier to purchase on a smaller budget scale a new trend to test out before biting the bullet on a more expensive version of the trend.

Two of my favorite trends for spring are trends that seem to be around every year- pastels and florals. I love these two trends! They’re fun, easy to wear, and so versatile. I think they’re great for any age and gender. Pastels and florals are available at every price point and simple to try out in a variety of ways. Sandals, shorts, tops, dresses, and accessories are all ways you can try out a new trend without fully having to commit to it.

Here are some of my favorite pieces I’ve seen for the trend:

Sunglasses // Kimono // Sandals // Lace Dress // Necklace // Mint Shorts // Floral Shorts

A while ago, I used to participate monthly must-read posts with several bloggers and today's post was a reunion one! We haven't posted together in some time now and it was great to to catch up and see where everyone is today. Below is some recent posts from these great gals and you can also check out their favorite spring trends too!

What are your favorite sprint trends?

• Alison*Elle - Alison has been embracing 2015 with a helpful reminder from this love wall.
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle discovers her favorite Express camisole comes in a Spring-worthy floral print. 
• Ella Pretty - Zeba was super-excited to get a full page feature in a Canadian magazine!
• Fifth & Bloor -  Mehreen is loving her extremely ripped jeans! She talks about how to style them here.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen just announced Baby #2 and shared some pregnancy updates.
• Schnelle Couture -  Danielle discusses her new hair care finds
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette channeled her inner Betty Draper with this dress for spring

Sandals I'm Loving

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

Sandals are staples for me and since I live in the California sun, I get to wear them all year. It's crazy to follow people all over the US and see how drastic the weather can change from one coast to the other. Luck for everyone warm weather is just around the corner and I've been drooling over some sandals I just had to share. As you can see, I'm a fan of neutrals although several of them come in varying colors. #1 in hot pink and green! I'm in love with 1,3, and 7 and have them in my carts ready for check out.

Summer Essentials:Rompers

Pineapple Romper // Carolyn Hill Clutch // Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace // Key West Wedges 

// Heart Sunnies // MAC Snob //

For summer I've been obsessed with this look. I can't wait to get my hands on this romper, it's so cute and I love the fun print. Rompers made a comeback a few years ago and I see them everywhere right now. They are back in a huge way this season. Below are some of my favorites!

Off the Shoulder Romper // Southwest Backless Romper // Tiered Romper

Kaleidoscope Romper // Floral Romper

What do you think of the romper trend? Only drawback is restroom breaks, but that's not enough to stop me from sporting them!

Recent Purcases + Obsessions

Since having Ellie, I haven't really been shopping that much. A few things here and there, but no big purchases really. One thing all you preggers need to be aware of is how easy it is to shop online using your phone for those middle of the night feedings. Sometimes after you nurse you're kind of awake (who am I kidding, sometimes I shop to stay awake during these sessions) so you check stores and shops out and next thing you know you get jewelry and clothes you barely remember ordering in your mailbox. Let's just hope they're all winners right? It's so much easier to shop online then toting your baby in your stroller around and in fitting rooms. Trust me. Then some sites keep all your info on hand making it even easier to buy because you just need to "add to cart" and you're done! There no second guessing your choices while you dig around for your card info. It's a heaven sent and the devil at the same time. So here's some of my recent buys and some extras I wanted to share with everyone.

J.Crew Inspired Crystal Brulee Necklace from Simple Addiction

Designer Inspired Mint Crystal Bee Necklace from Very Jane, the seller was Fancy Frills Boutique

J.Crew Inspired Crystal Vine Statement Necklace from Very Jane, the seller was Apple of My Eye Jewelry

Distressed Denim Cut Offs from Forever 21

Special Number Bracelet from GroopDealz, the seller was Erica B Studios 

Aldo Barbara Sandals

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Kiss Me Coral

Floral Print Leggings from Very Jane, the seller was White Plum Boutique 

I've obviously been on a jewelry kick lately. It's an easy way to dress up the clothes I already have and I don't have to worry about how they fit me. I've lost all the weight I gained from being pregnant, but everything fits so different now. Jewelry fits just fine though! For the number bracelets, I bought Ellie's birth date- I thought these were so cute! I can't wait to get all of the jewelry pieces in. 

Here's a close up of the shorts, I love the little stud details it has. I didn't even realize they had the studs right away! I love fun surprises and details like that.

These Aldo shoes are my favorite sandals. They are so comfortable, I can wear them all day long and they go with everything. My sweet cousin and his girlfriend got them for me when I was home from the hospital. They figured I had everything I needed for Eleanor, but deserved a little something special for myself. Isn't that so sweet? I have the best family.

After raving about the Revlon Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss (review here), I had to get another color. It's the best lipgloss EVER. Hands down. It's so soft and creamy, I want every shade. Instead of buying 3 or 5 of them, I  just wanted one and was torn between the Super Natural, Kiss Me Coral, and Pango Peach. I chose the Kiss Me Coral because it has a matching lipstick I already own of the same name- Kiss Me Coral (review here) which is one of my favorite colors- especially for summer!

Clothes wise I haven't bought Ellie anything in a while. She's fitting into her 3 month clothes pretty well. She's so long some of our 0-3 month footless pjs are shorts on her (some of her leggings too)! Plus, we are over flowing with summer clothes so if I do buy anything for her I get it in a size she can wear next summer. When I saw these shorts at Target, I couldn't pass them up! How cute are they?

Also, I pay so much more attention to articles that are easy for diaper changing. I bought the prettiest pj set from Nordstrom the day before our scheduled c/s and couldn't wait for Ellie to wear them, but they are a nightmare for diaper changes. You pretty much have to take it almost completely off, which is a hassle in itself because of the snap placements, and I'm not doing that at 2am. So she's worn those pjs for maybe 2 hours and that's all. I'll probably dress her in them once more just to snap a pic so they're not a complete waste.

Finally, my latest obsessions. These Lipton Tea & Honeys are delicious! I love all of these three flavors and honestly can't choose a favorite. Right now I'm loving the Dragonfruit Peach, but last week I was all about the Coconut Passionfruit. They do have caffeine- 10 mg, but that's less than a third of most sodas I figured it's no big deal. I'm very affected by caffeine because I never eat/drink it (besides chocolate) and a can of Coke can give me the shakes and raise my anxiety levels if had on an empty stomach, so I just steer clear of it altogether mostly. These teas don't affect me at all though, so I'm happy to drink them. I've never been a big water drinker, but these help gulp down an extra bottle everyday. 

Have you tried these Talenti Gelatos? OHMYHEAVENS. It's the pure joyfulness of running through sprinklers on a hot day as a child in a jar. It's so soft, it has chocolate caramel truffles, and it's delicious. My husband and I had to bought two- his and hers- on our last Target trip and want to get more. It's the best ice cream (well gelato if you want to get technical) I've ever had in my life. Run out and buy some people!

What have you been loving lately? What have you bought this summer?

What's in my Beach Bag & Monthly Must-Reads

Canvas Tote With Metallic Sequins

up & up Sunscreen Spray

Beach Towel

Swim Suit

Plastic Beach Mat

Beach Chair

For my beach bag, I stick to the basics. At the beach you don't need much more than the sand at your feet and salt water in your hair. I'll also toss in a magazine, H2O, and some fruit for a refreshing snack.

What's in your beach bag?


Question of the month from Kristen: What are your beach bag essentials?

• Alison*Elle - Alison is obsessed with her new neutral colourblocked pants!
• Ella Pretty - Ella reviews the differences between Moroccan Oil and Macadamia Oil
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay's loving a printed maxi in Maui
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls - Kristen shared Eleanor's birth story in pictures
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle got a pair of rainy day flats that can brighten up the cloudiest of days
• The Currently Obsessed - Mehreen wants you to come meet her newest addition to the family

The Kiki La'Rue Winner has been chosen! Head here to see if it's you!

Fair, Food, and Fun!

A few weeks ago, the Hubs and I went to the LA County Fair with some of our friends (you may remember their baseball themed wedding) and it was my first time in years. I love the fair, all the random things to buy, the animals, rides, and especially all the food!

We bet on some horses, Matt was the only winner!


Ate the obligatory fried fair food- this is avocado.

Checked out the petting zoo, one of my favorite fair events!


Took some wacky pics

And lastly, rode the terrifying ferris wheel! 

It was such a blast and I'm so glad we got to go with our friend Katie and Cameron. They're such a fun couple and the perfect pair for the fair!

Here Comes the Sun

This past Friday,  we went with some family and friends to see Paperback Writers perform as The Beatles at a local outdoor mall. I love The Beatles. LOVE them, in fact our wedding ceremony had a Beatles theme. It was super cool. We got to the show early to save some seats (we set up several chairs, a blanket, and a cooler) and then went to dinner a few stores down at RA Sushi. My in-laws are new to sushi and were a bit apprehensive, but we ordered for them and they're now converts. After dinner we headed back to watch the show and enjoy the awesome weather and good music.

Then I found that this man, had moved our cooler and had placed his chair on my blanket that was obviously reserving the area. I kindly asked him to move, but he refused saying he didn't have room. I let it go, my husband wasn't there yet and there was a possibility he would get off work too late to come so I let it slide. Inside, though I was seething at how rude he was to move other people's stuff and actually take up enough area of a stranger's blanket that those people couldn't even stretch their legs out.

Well, the show went on and the band was amazing. A few songs in, my husband called to say he was headed over and I told him about the rude man above and he assured me he would handle it. Right when I hung up with him, jerk face waved over two friends to him where he was saving seats for them. Oh hell no.

Again, very politely I explained that if he had enough room for two more people to join him he needs to move off my blanket. He told me no, and I explained, politely, that my husband was coming and I needed the space on the blanket to put another body. Then he told me, verbatim "I'm not moving sweetie". Then I got ghetto on him.

We had a little tiff where he got snippy with me and Matt's bff and my soon to be brother-in-law had to get in his face, about the appropriate way to talk to a woman. He backed off sheepishly and moved. We apologized to the people around us and they all said it was ok, he was rude (I guess he also had his kne, digging into a woman's chair right into her back) and applauded us for getting rid of him. After I was vindicated, I really enjoyed the show.

The band is in full costume, accents, and plays as though they are the Beatles members. It was great! In between breaks, they had trivia questions and giveaways for the mall shops, my only regret was I didn't know about the concerts at the mall sooner so I could check all of them out! Each week is a different band, next week is The Rolling Stones and we're all going again to catch the last show of summer.

Everyone was singing along and by the end of the night the whole crowd was on their feet dancing. People of all ages, and this young men next to us played air guitar and drums all night long. It was an amazing night and I'm so glad we had the chance to check it out.

Beauty Routine

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in C4

My new NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium

MAC Mineral Blush in Warm Soul (review)

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara Lots of Lashes

Revlon Lipstick in Temptress

MAC Lipstick in  Force of Love (review)

My make-up has been seriously low-key this summer. I mean, I still put on my “face”, but I’ve been using less products than in the winter. I keep my face pretty bare, I use powder, bronzer, blush, mascara, and lipstick. Pretty simple. Some days I don’t even wear mascara, and it feels so great when you can rub your eyes. LOL.

Do you wear less make-up in summer? What have you been wearing?

What's in my Beach Bag? Link Up

Gorgeous new mommy and fashionista Meggy from Chasing Davies has a fun new blog link up, head over to check out all the entries and see what she packs!

First, you need a fabulous beach bag like this Merona Tote and fill it with all your goodies:

Sunscreen

Sunnies
Self-Tanner 
(for before the beach, plus it's adds some shimmer! See my review here)

Fedora
Chapstick with SPF

Cover-up

Magazines

I like to travel light to the beach (or pool), I always pack something to drink and some snacks. Fruit and sandwiches are the best- both filling and refreshing. Plus some flat sandals. DO NOT wear heels to the water. You'll look like a crazy. Courtney Kerr is right, a cover-up buys you a wedge. Heels are never OK in my book.

What do you pack in your beach bag?