Toddler Must Haves... with Avent Philips!

When Everleigh was a baby my main concern was to keep her calm and clean. Now that she's a toddler my must haves have dramatically changed. Put it this way there is no swaddle blankets, rattles or any of the baby business in this post (newborn must haves here). In my limited experience when it comes to a toddler it's all about keeping them busy and out of trouble. So if you have a toddler, or have a baby that is about to be a toddler here are some of our families must haves. 

Hard Soled Shoes 

It is recommended that baby’s wear soft soled or no shoes at all until the age of two. So when we're at home I always try to follow this suggestion, however when out I find soft soled shoes extremely slippery. So to avoid slips, bumps and bruises I can't recommend hard soled shoes enough.

Avent Philips baby bottle

If you read my baby bottle post (here), you would know that my bottle experience was a complete and utter disaster. Like glass bottles being thrown at our animal’s kind of catastrophe. To make matters worse the bottles we were using were a pain to clean and to assemble. These days we have made the complete switch to the Philips Avent Natural bottles and sippy cups. For starters the bottle base is compatible with both the sippy cup top and the regular nipple. Making packing for day trips a breeze because you don’t need to take 30 bottles with you. 

However my favourite thing about the Philips Avent Bottle is that they are super easy to clean. The entire bottle has only 3 parts (not including lid) and you don’t need specialized cleaning equipment either. Gone are the days where I’m looking for tiny bottle parts lost in my dishwasher and here are the days where I can spend more time with my daughter.

For those with small babies these bottles also have a built in vent that reduces colic. The nipple shape also resembles a breast making it an excellent choice for those breastfeeding mom’s out there who are in dyer need of a break. 

Snacks 

You know that philosophy that states ‘you should eat 6 small meals a day’, well toddlers are the masters of this. To avoid giving Everleigh cookies, ice cream and cheerios I always stock the house with banana’s, raisins and oranges. If you’re a baker there are a ton of toddler snack recipes online. To avoid toddler food-tantrums at the grocery store I also stock the car with applesauce and toddler friendly granola bars. 

Board Books 

Everleigh loves her board books. Some feature glittery pages, while others make funny animal noises, what the all share in common is that all keep her occupied. I think the trick to board books is rotating them constantly that way they always seem ‘new’. I also like that board books travel well, we have a few in the car, a collection in her room and a couple in the living room as well. 

Basically when it comes to toddlers its all about giving them food, drink and keeping them out of trouble. Mother to mother, when all these have failed then we try for a nap! Thank you all for reading, and I would love to hear some of your toddler favorite’s too.
& don't forgot to check out the giveaway below too!
*This blog post is sponsored by Philips Avent and PTPA. All opinions on my blog are entirely my own. Our family has throughly enjoyed these bottles, and would recommend them for any parent out there!

Philips Avent Bottles Giveaway - March/April 2017

How To Make The Perfect Easter Basket

Tis the season of Cadbury Mini Eggs and chocolate buttons. It’s also the season of making egg bread, which I have failed making this year, but I digress. Ever since having my daughter Everleigh I feel like it’s been my parental duty to make every holiday extra special for her. So even though she’s 1, I thought why not make an Easter basket for the little one? Fill it up with age appropriate things for her and a little chocolate for us. So ladies and gent’s here are my must haves for creating a perfect Easter basket. 

The basket

I got Everleigh’s basket and the liner from Pottery Barn Kids. What I like about this basket is that the liners can be easily switched out. Meaning if one year she’s into unicorns and purple stars another year I don’t have to buy a whole new Easter basket. The build quality of the basket is exceptional and you can find great deals at Pottery Barn Kids once Easter is done. 

The Treat’s 

Since our little one is only 1 the majority of the chocolate in the basket is for us . However it wouldn’t be an Easter basket without a mini eggs and a kinder surprise. If your family is more on the health conscious side of things you can always replace chocolate for healthier alternatives, one of my favourite healthy treats are Oatmeal Banana cookies (they are vegan, gluten and sugar free recipe here) 

The Toys

Some families don’t do an Easter toy, however I grew up getting a little Easter “treat” as my mom would call it. Not wanting to overdo things I bought three little Easter toys for Everleigh. All very affordable the toys I got for Everleigh are a plush Nici Wonderland doll (here and on sale), the other is a set of maracas (found for around the $5.00 mark at Winners) and finally a bunny plush toy (no idea where I got this but it was super inexpensive). From one shopper to another I highly suggest purchasing a month or so before Easter. I find there are excellent deals out there just after Valentine’s Day. 

The Extra’s 

Depending on your child’s age you might want to throw in some Easter basket extras. Some of my favourites are colouring books, bath bombs, stickers, puzzles, pj’s, books or stationary. Growing up my mom would often add a cute pair of spring themed socks or cute pink lip gloss as an Easter basket extra. 

Like with all holidays the most important thing when purchasing any gift is keep your eyes open. Now I seriously can’t wait to crack open in to these cookies and cream eggs. Have an excellent week everyone, and should you have any Easter-y ideas feel free to leave me a comment below or on my social media. 

Let’s Hit the Bottle… With Philips Avent!

With so many baby bottle options out there, finding the right one for your little one can be a daunting task. When I first had Everleigh I was all into a ‘hippy’, ‘earthy’, ‘natural’ lifestyle. Now I’m not knocking any lifestyle choices out there, but I use these terms very loosely on myself because this organic, hippy way of living only lasted 3 months (and I’m being generous). It basically ended when my cravings for donuts became a full-fledged addiction and when my exclusively breastfeeding ways became ‘I need sleep, someone give her a bottle’. 

Keeping up with the organic mama (but paired down) theme we opted to use glass bottles. It didn’t take us long to realize this option wasn’t the best. The bottles were heavy, breakable and as Everleigh learnt how to toss them off her high chair, these heavy bottles became a safety risk for our dog, Lola. The next bottle we opted for was plastic, lightweight and less of a hazard for the pets in our house. However the pitfall to this popular baby bottle was that it had about a million parts. Which means there are a million parts to wash and to inevitably lose. Should you want to skip out on the bottles inner workings, the bottle leaks and by leaks I mean they empty. Trust me I have a sour smelling diaper bag to prove it. 

Stinky, discouraged and now an owner of terrified dog my bottle experiences where nothing short of a catastrophe. What I was craving was a baby bottle that was easy to wash and toss friendly. Something that loosely resembled a breast, and something easy for Everleigh to hold. Just a simple, easy to use baby bottle… 

My bottle journey lead me to Philips Avent Natural bottle and between you and I haven’t looked back since. Firstly these bottles are easy to wash, and uncomplicated to put together. The bottle itself only contains 3 parts (not including the lid) and they can be easy washed by a regular kitchen sponge. You could use a bottle cleaner should you be feeling fancy… I truthfully never feel this classy. Next up, I love that the Avent nipples are interchangeable. Meaning should I want to make Everleigh’s sippy cup a bottle in a pinch I can do so. For trips and vacations packing an extra nipple as oppose to a whole bottle can really save room in your carry on. 

Breastfeeding moms also will be happy to know that this bottle really imitates the natural contours of a boob… I can’t believe I just said that! However as my own breastfeeding journey comes to an end it’s nice to see Everleigh take comfort in her bottle through this transition. Furthermore this bottle doesn’t leak, has an anti colic valve, it's easy for baby to hold and it’s BPA free. 

Whole heartily we have loved this bottle, in fact my only regret is not using this bottle sooner. If you’re someone who’s having a disaster bottle situation I can’t recommend the Philips Avent Natural bottle enough. Likewise if you are pregnant or know someone who’s pregnant this is a gift that will save a lot of guesswork. Definitely on the top of my Mama must haves is the Philips Avent Natural Bottle.

*This blog post is sponsored by Philips Avent and PTPA. All opinions on my blog are entirely my own. Our family has throughly enjoyed these bottles, and would recommend them for any parent out there!

Philips Avent Bottles Giveaway - March/April 2017

Nursery Must Haves

When it comes to babies there are certain things you can never prepare yourself for. The crying, the pooping, the sleepless nights and surprisingly just how much time you spend in your babies bedroom.  From nursing to play time I some times feel like I spend all day in Everleigh's room. So with all this time spent in my baby girls nursery I've come with my essentials. So if your a new mom or have new mom in your life here are must haves that make mom life that much more comfy.

A Footrest

If you only get one thing out of this whole post let it be this, no nursery is complete without a footrest. In the early days your up all night and having elevated feet makes everything just that much more comfortable. Now that Everleigh's older and night time feedings have nearly diminished we use the footrest as a play table... for some reason she also finds it hilarious that she can crawl underneath it. Babies, they find the strangest things funny! By all means you can spurge, however there are tons of affordable options out there. I found my woven footrest (technically they consider this a bench) at Target on sale a couple a years or so ago.

Hooks

At first I bought these decorative hooks based entirely on aesthetic. Basically it came down to I needed to fill a space and this was a cost effective way to do it. From hanging wet towels to displaying cute outfits these hooks have come extremely useful over the past 11 months. I've even used them to store my spare sweater. Further more once Everleigh is older these hooks (theres two, only one pictured) can be used for her backpack, winter coat or any pretty outfits she wants to display. I bought these pretty bird hooks at Anthropologie.

Toy Basket

Wooden toy boxes cost a small fortune, not to mention they also take up a lot of floor space. So to save on money and space I opted for a small wicker basket. This basket stores some of Everleigh's favourite stuffed animals and since the basket is small she can easily pull out whatever stuffy she chooses. Once she gets older this basket can store books, magazines, socks or a spare throw. This bargain stylish toy storage cost around $30.00 and I bought it at my local Winners store.

Little Things Storage

From baby eczema creams to diaper rash ointments it didn't take me long to realize that by the end of the day Everleigh's dresser/change table becomes a total disaster. To combat this baby induced product explosion I highly suggest purchasing some sort of storage counter storage. I am currently using a decorative bird cage to house all of her baby things. However there are tons of beautiful inexpensive options out there, check out your local Home Sense.

When we think of nursery essentials we think crib and rocking chair. While those are obvious must haves its the little things that make all the difference. Espeically a footrest... I can't stress how nice it is to have your feet up at 3:00 am in the morning. So if your pregnant or know someone who is expecting I don't think you can go wrong with gifting some of these nursery must haves. 

Everleigh Update & Freshly Picked Cyber Monday Sale

Let's start with the update, Everleigh is walking! She took her first steps last month, but has now come up with the courage to walk all on her own. People told me that life itself get's busier once there children start walking, but the truth is I didn't realize just how busy things were about to get. My girl now has the desire to chase the cat around the house, explore every nook and cranny and of course play with everything she isn't suppose to play with. Apart of keeping her out of trouble my new passion is baby shoes, more specially Freshly Picked! 

For those who don't know Freshly Picked are pint sized moccasins. Unlike so many other brands these moccasins are durable, well designed, fashionable and ... drumroll please...STAY ON YOUR CHILD'S FEET. Actually I'm so obsessed with these these that I bought Everleigh a set as soon as her feet hit the floor. The funny part is Sak's didn't have her size so I ended up buying a pair that should fit her in well over a year (or more). I'll be the first to admit, yes I know I'm crazy. However the pretty pink moccasins melted my heart. 

Back to the topic on hand... I've teamed up with Freshly Picked and there people have told me that today (November 28th 2016) they are having a Cyber Monday Sale. The sale starts 10 am MST and all of there seasonal styles will be 25% off. So if you have a little one in your life this is the perfect time to spoil there tiny feet. For me this means Everleigh shoe collection will be expanding. She now owns Cardigan (here), but I have my eyes on the Lemonade (here) too.
Happy shopping ladies! 

What's In My Diaper Bag

You know how they say 'sleep when baby sleeps'? Well since discovering What's In My Diaper Bag posts I have neglected this rule. At first I wanted to know what kind of bags people carry, then my obsession turned into contents. Why do people carry garbage bags? Why this? How come that? Eventually all my research turned me into a sleep deprived, but well prepared mom. So ladies lets take a departure from beauty and talk about what's in my diaper bag.

The Bag

A part of me wanted to get a fancy designer diaper bag. However the realistic side of me knew I didn't want to baby my bag, so I opted for the Herschel Strand Bag. What sold me on this bag was the unisex design and build quality. After using this bag for six months I can thoroughly say I love thatnits expandable, easy to clean and durable. As an added bonus Herschel products have a lifetime guarantee and they are relatively affordable too.

The Contents

Skip In Hop Pronto Baby Changing Station

This diaper changing station has a pocket for diapers, a compartment for diaper creams and a removable change pad. The best part is this changing station conveniently folds into a clutch, which means you can literally transform any bag into a diaper bag. Likewise if you wanted to leave your diaper bag in the car this small clutch takes up no room in the bottom of  our stroller.

Burt’s Bee’s Diaper Cream

To be honest I rarely use diaper cream… however should Everleigh’s bum look a little red I like to have one on hand. The Burt’s Bee’s is a good natural diaper cream, but to be honest I find the formula a little on the thick side.

Honest Multi Surface Spray

Public change areas can be filthy… Actually the whole diaper changing business in gross, so having a multi surface spray handy can be a lifesaver.

Dr. Bronners Hand Sanitizer

Public diaper changing stations are pretty disgusting... diapers are disgusting... the whole baby changing thing can be gross, so to combat messy situations I always keep a hand sanitizer handy. My personal favourite is the Dr. Bronners (review here). 

Kleen Kanteen Kid Kanteen

I always like to keep a handy bottle of cold water close by especially on really hot days. In comparison to traditional plastic sippy cups the Kanteen keeps water cooler longer. I also happen to really like it's stainless steel body because its both light weight and durable. 

A spare set of clothes!

Babies are prone to spills, diaper accidents, spit ups and all sorts of crazy things! So to avoid these issues I always keep a spare pair of clothes handy. Typically I keep a onesie, a pair of pants and a sweater in my diaper bag. 

Aden and Anais Swaddle Blanket 

From a stroller cover to a peekaboo toy these large muslin blankets come in so handy. In comparison to other muslin blankets I've tried the Aden and Anais are by far the softest on the market. I now have well over 10 of these and don't dare leave the house without one. 

I even have a spare in my car just in case! 

Pacifier Wipes and Pacifiers 

Pacifiers because it keeps a Everleigh cool, calm and collected while we are driving. Wipes because should it the paci fall on the ground it's nice to have a wipe handy. I also like to keep some protein bars in my paci bag for myself should I get hungry while out on a walk. 

Toys 

I don't go crazy with toys but I like keeping a couple in my diaper bag should the baby get fussy while we our out. Currently Everleigh favourites our her Vulli Turtle, Nubby and Vulli Raddle Keys. 

I think that is everything? Come to think about it, that seems like a lot of things... I suppose like most new moms I follow that 'I'd rather been over prepared then under prepared' principle. Thank you for reading ladies, beauty posts will resume later this week. 

Battling Baby Eczema

As a longtime eczema sufferer I can tell you first hand it sucks. However when you child is suffering from eczema (and waking up crying) its absolutely heartbreaking. Not only has the whole experience been hard to watch, but finding safe eczema products for baby is a rarity of it's own. The good thing is there is a community of bloggers, moms, brand ambassadors and dermatologists out there that are more then happy to help. In Everleigh's case after months of suffering, along with a handful of products we are finally winning the battle against baby eczema. So without further ado here are our favourite products to help fight baby eczema.

Avene XeraCalm AD Lipid Replenishing Balm 

Usually I save the best for last but I'm going to go ahead and start with the best here. There is nothing that has helped Everleigh's eczema more then this Avene's Lipid Replenishing Balm. This cream is so effective that there was a noticeable  difference within the first use. 

Now lets get a little nerdy here... this balm contains thermal water which instantly instantly reduces redness and calms irritation. So if you or your child is suffering from an eczema flare up this will bring immediate soothing relief. Continued use not only moisturizes the skin, but actually repairs the skins natural lipid layer. The overall effect calm, healthy, nourished skin. Perfect for the whole family this eczema fighting powerhouse has become one of my favourite beauty products ever. 

Avene Xera Calm AD Lipid Replenishing Cleansing Oil 

The vast majority of baby products are loaded perfumes and chemicals, so finding the right body wash was not an easy task. After months of searching I found two excellent washes and out of those Avene's Lipid Replishing Cleansing Oil is our favourite. This thick oil/gel cleanser does wonders for the skin such as hydrating, repairing and reducing redness. In combination with the Lipid Replenishing Balm the two work wonders to fight eczema!

I have also been loving this as a facial cleanser for myself... I might actually do a whole review on this as a cleanser because it really deserves the added attention.

Skinfix Gentle Hair & Body Wash

Another favourite of our's is the Skinfix! Now there are a few things I really like about this product such as it's non-irratating fragrance, soap and chemical free formula. This formula also contains some amazing hydrating oils like jojoba, apricot and sunflower. In the soothing department this body wash contains chamomile and calendula extracts. While this body wash is loaded with amazing ingredients it feels really light on the skin. If your on the market for a gentle body, for sensitive skin I highly recommend this Skinfix Gentle Hair & Body Wash.

Coconut Oil

Firstly let me start by saying when Everleigh was going through eczema flare ups coconut oil couldn't keep up. With that being said now that her skin has calmed down coconut oil is a great product for everyday moisture. Not only does pure coconut oil lack chemicals and perfumes but it's actually been proven to reduce the itch that irritating eczema itch. Just like the Skinfix if your baby is prone to dry, sensitive skin coconut oil just might do the trick.

So mothers and eczema sufferer's I hope these products help you in your own journey. Just remember there is a whole team of people out there that are more then happy to aid you in your journey. If you have any favourite product's feel free to share them in the comments sections below.

Newborn Must Haves

As someone who had no baby expereince "Newborn Must-Have" lists were one of my most researched things while pregnant. What do these new babies need? What will make life easier? What products where over hyped? What products where under hyped? Where just among the few questions among the 100's I had. So with a baby thats just over two months old I thought I would share with you our must haves... literally these are things that we use everyday we couldn't be without.

Aden and Anais Swaddle Blankets 

Everyone talks about these blankets, so one of the first things I bought for baby were a pack of these swaddles. They are amazing! If you plan on swaddling your baby they are by far the softest, easy to use swaddles I've tried. However even if you don't plan on swaddling you can use these as a light weight blanket, a play yard mattress cover, a burp cloth, a stroller cover, a surface for tummy time, a breast feeding cover or an emergency change pad. I've tried other brands but nothing compares to the Aden and Anais. We now have a total of 12 of these handy blankies I can't recommend them enough. 

Comfort & Harmony Peanut Swaddle 

A few weeks ago Everleigh found out she had arms and since then she has not stopped moving them... including in her sleep. Eventually our girl would end up hitting her self in the head and enviably wake her self up. To combat this arm issue I invested in these Peanut Swaddle. I don't want to sound dramatic and I realize that every baby is different, but these are worth there weight in gold. The first night Everleigh used these she slept for 7 hours straight. If you have a squirmy baby or just aren't into traditional swaddle blankets these are a must try. 

WubbaNub Pacifier 

From bad teeth to nipple confusion you hear horror stories about pacifiers. Actually before baby I would have slotted me into an anti-pacifier category. The next thing baby is here and all the rules go out the window. Parenting lesson: 1. take everything you know and throw it out the window. 

Everleigh loves her pacifiers but mostly she loves her Hippo WubbaNub. Unlike other pacifiers the weighted toy helps her not shoot it out of her mouth. We have a total of three WubbaNub's, the Hippo (aka Bing Bong) is the best because his big nose makes it easy for Everleigh to hold. 

Mustela PhysiObebe

Let me start by saying ... Forget what you know about babies smelling amazing, because these little monsters have the tendency to smell like sour milk (especially through the neck). Our solution to this cheesy problem is Mustela's PhysiObebe. This no rise cleanser is the perfect easy way to keep baby clean and smelling fresh. Not only do I love the scent of this I also love that products contains no nasty ingredients too. This has to be one of my favourite baby "beauty" products thus far.

So there we have it those are my newborn must haves! If you have any recommendations feel free to leave me a comment below. 

Meet Baby Everleigh

Where do I even start? I had a baby... 

Well let me back track to January 1st around 3:00 pm my water broke. In my case it really wasn't dramatic as the movies make it to be. There were no contractions, nor was there a huge gush of water and I have to say overall I felt pretty good. Basically my midwife told me if active labour didn't start overnight we would meet her in the hospital in the morning. So I did what any rational person did and went out for dinner. After that Jay and I watched a movie and about 1:00 am the contractions started. By 4:45am we were on our way to the hospital and by 11:00 am I was ready to start pushing. 

Pushing, I don't think anyone can prepare you on how absolutely exhausting this task is. After pushing for an hour I was advised to stop because the babies heartbeat was getting dangerously low. Things start to get a little blurry at that point, but around 2:00pm my midwives and doctor recommend the best thing to do was to get a c section. The next thing I knew I was been wheeled into the operating room. I have to say I'm usually pretty brave about these things, but I was absolutely terrified. 

At 2:29pm on January 2nd Everleigh Teresa was born at a healthy 7 lbs 12 oz. We later found out that the umbilical cord had been wrapped around her neck, which was why her heart rate was getting low. With that being said baby is now doing well and gaining weight like nobodies business.

It still blows my mind that this little lady came from my tummy. Without getting to mushy (because I swear the moment I start talking about her I cry the happiest of tears) I couldn't imagine life without her. 

What's in my hospital beauty bag?

Before you roll your eyes at me let me explain!

I don’t plan on wearing a full face of makeup during labour. Nor do I care if I look tired, ill or pale after birth. My beauty bag is solely based on the principal of 'I want to have things to make me as comfortable as possible during my stay at the hospital'. Yes, I realize childbirth isn’t a fashion show but I just can’t help that beauty takes me to my zen place. So ladies and gentleman (I’m sure most men have clocked out by now) these are the contents of my hospital beauty bag.

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Balm  

From what I’ve read lip balm is a must during childbirth. I’m not sure if this is from the intense breathing or the dry hospital air, but I don't want to added discomfort of cracked lips. To combat this pesky inconvenience I have selected the Fresh Advanced Therapy. Why you ask? Basically I read a ton of good reviews and thought it sounded like a good idea.

Clinique Moisture Surge Facial Mist

Beauty guru, journalist and a complete kick ass, Sali Hughes mentioned this spray was a must have during child birth. It’s refreshing, hydrating and ultimately if it’s good enough for Sali its good enough for me. Total diva product, but everything about this spray sounds like a good idea.

Lavender Aromatherapy Spray

Will lavender aromatherapy spray work as a natural from of an epidural? I don’t think so. With that being said I do like the scent of lavender and I’m willing to try just about anything to keep me calm during labour. This natural aromatherapy spray was an affordable $10.00, so I thought to myself why not?

On a side note I think this would make a lovely affordable pillow spray as well.  

Ole Henriksen Nurture Me Cleansing Clothes

I am a proper cleanse kind of girl through and through! AND I recommend you always take the time to properly cleanse your skin, but I’ve heard sometimes in labour things get crazy and your skincare routine goes out the door. So while I am still bringing a proper cleanser with me I thought these whips could come in handy should I need them. Again I bought these based on rave reviews; let’s hope they live up to the hype!

Dior Skin BB Cream

I love Dior’s BB cream because it’s light weight, natural looking, moisturizing and you can apply it with your fingers. Should I want to spruce myself up a bit this seems like the perfect handy must have product.

Clarins Instant Concealer

Again if I feel like getting slightly dolled I thought this might be good to have in my bag. As for the product itself this is my go to, high coverage, long lasting concealer of choice. I have a whole review on this product here. I can’t tell you how much I love this stuff it’s probably one of the best products I’ve tried this year.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Mascara makes your eyes look brighter, bigger and more awake. For the seconds it takes to apply mascara is a must for me and barely takes any room in my bag too.

The slew of samples!

The Honest Company Face and Body Lotion - I am prone to dry skin so I thought this mini tube would come in handy especially since hospitals are prone to being so dry.

The Honest Company Body Wash-Our hospital tells you to bring your own body soap, again I had a tube of this kicking around in my sample stash.

The Honest Company Lavender Hand Soap- Not really sure why I am bringing this, but it smells nice so its coming with me!

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Shea Butter-This nourishing cleanser is both gentle and hydrating. For those who know me know I can't be without a proper cleanse.

Clarins Blue Orchid Oil- A dry, sensitive skincare must! This oil is so nourishing I'm not even worried about taking a serum or a traditional moisturizer with me. 

So with the baby coming any day now, I welcome any suggestions what did back in your hospital bag? I am actually I'm surprised I haven't put myself into labour by this long winded post. 

I hope all of your enjoyed your holidays and have a Happy New Years ... until next time!

The Ultimate Pregnancy Beauty Must Haves

Pregnancy update: I can no longer see my feet. This means that tube of lipstick that fell out of my purse and somewhere on the bedroom floor… it might as well be lost forever!  In pregnancy there are a certain things us ladies need. These “Must Have” lists usually outline a list of prenatal vitamins combined with a selection of maternity clothes. Now I’m not disputing you don’t need those things, but there are certain beauty things we need to. So ladies here is my pregnancy beauty must haves!

Massage

As a girl who used to bounce around the house I have now become a step closer looking like a waddling penguin women. I have to say I’m cool with my new found stride, but as the boobs and belly get bigger I’m finding I am prone to back pain. To combat the persistent back pain I get massages and ladies it works freaken wonders. Not only it release tension, feel great but it also helps me sleep like a baby at night. If you’re pregnant I would highly suggest prenatal massage because it will make you feel like a million bucks.

Intense Belly Hydration

There no nice way to put it, but growing bellies and itchy skin come hand in hand. This means over the past few months I’ve tried belly oils, butters, balms, lotions and I’ve come to two conclusions:

The greasier the better… BUT

I will gladly use anything you throw at me, because some moisture is better than no moisture!

I really like Aveda’s Beautifying Composition Oil and The Honest Companies Belly Balm. However I also like to have a portable option in my purse too such as a The Body Shops Mini Body Butters.  Yes, portable options, because trust me it’s never a bad time to moisturize your growing belly.

Bath Time

As mentioned before the pregnant body is prone to all sorts of aches and pains.  Another way I combat these symptoms is a relaxing bath. If you want a fancy bath by all means whip out your favourite Lush bath balm and light your favourite candle. Personally I find a bath using Epsom salts gives the most relief to those achy body pregnancy symptoms. My favourite Epsom salts are Target’s Up & Up Lavender Bath Salts. Not only are they extremely affordable (about $4.00 for a 3 pound bag), but the lavender scent is super soothing too.

Concealer

As a dark circle sufferer concealer has always been a really good friend. However since becoming pregnant I have made a best friend out of this makeup live saving product! Okay I’m exaggerating about the life saving part, but concealer is a must have for the pregnant women. Why? Well first a common pregnancy symptom is red blotchy skin. For me my red blotchy area is around my nose and a little concealer does wonders at masking my persistent Rudolph nose. Secondly, because of all those raging hormones we pregnant women are prone to sassy-ness and pimples. Concealer will be your best friend during those times too! Finally is the lack of consistent sleep can cause some serious dark circles under the eyes. Ladies concealer has your back during those groggy mornings too!

Basically what I’m saying is invest in a good concealer ladies…

A Quick Pregnancy Update

Maybe it’s the hectic summer weekends maybe it’s the super busy days at work, but it has been a while since we got caught up. So I thought why not does a pregnancy tag today? So readers grab a tea and put on your favourite face mask let’s start this tag shall we?

How far along?

25 weeks.

Gender? 

We found out we were having a baby girl!

Maternity Clothes?

For the longest time I didn’t have the biggest bump, which allowed me to wear my regular pants till 20 weeks. Sometime around the 20 week mark my regular pants just didn’t cut it anymore. I literally had to leave work early to go get a pair of maternity pants; the uncomfortable feeling was just that bad. So I bought a few pairs of maternity leggings and honestly I haven’t looked back since.

I also have a pair of maternity yoga pants and jeans which are super comfortable too!

Stretch marks?

None yet! I do find my tummy has been itchy lately thou.  My quick solution to this is a hydrating body butter.  Currently I am using L’Occitane’s Shea Body butter and it seems to be doing the trick.

Sleep?

I’ve often thought pregnancy is turning me into a baby, because I’ve been sleeping like a baby.

Miss anything?

Pregnancy is well worth the sacrifice.  However I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t miss sushi accompanied by a glass of white wine. White tuna rolls … how I miss you!

Movement?

Before I got pregnant the idea of something moving around in your tummy freaked me out. However, I have to say movement has been my favourite part of the experience to date. Her moves and kicks are a constant reminder that she is there and that all is well.

Cravings? Aversions?

No aversions but I have had a craving for Root beer! This craving hit me at 11pm to the point where I drove to the grocery store to get a fix.

Told you guys this would be a quick update! I hope all of you are doing well and thank you for taking the time and reading. 

First Trimester Must Haves

There are telltale signs of being pregnant, for me my first symptom was my skin. Sometime around April I woke up to eczema on my forehead, which was soon followed by a couple of weeks of oily skin. This dry to oily skin pattern continued and even today I bounce back and forward weekly. In addition to my face fluctuating there have been some changes on the body care fount too. With all these changes, I thought why not just document them in an essentials post? So ladies and gents here are my first trimester beauty must haves.

Avene Cold Cream

Pregnancy hormones can do a number to your skin and one of my biggest problems is eczema. Luckily I have my good friend Cold Cream to combat this pesky inconvenience. Not only does this magical cream help calm down redness and irritation but it actually does a great job at restoring the skin too. I have used this product as an eczema spot treatment for years with miracle results and I continue to use and love this product today.

If you’re pregnant suffering from eczema this steroid-free treatment is well worth a try.

I have a whole review here.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

Once I finally eczema at bay I am encountered with my other delightful skincare problem… oil. To combat this concern I use the Regenerating Cleanser. I love the fact that this cleanser/scrub helps control oil and breakouts yet doesn’t feel stripping in the slightest. In fact the Regenerating Cleanser makes the skin feel smooth and look luminous. While keeping spots and blackheads at bay I can truly say the Regenerating Cleanser is both natural and effective.

Review here!

La Vanilla Deodorant in Pure Vanilla  

Armpits, not a glamorous thing by any stretch so I will keep this sort and sweet! I have been using Pure Vanilla for years, however usually in the summer I like to mix things up with a regular deodorant/antiperspirant. After dabbling into the world of aluminum deodorants again … I noticed I was getting rashes. Let's put it this was...I now know that armpit sensitivity is a very real thing! Since then I switched back to my La Vanilla and haven’t had a problem since.

Bonus item- A Good Body Lotion

I think everyone should own a good body cream/lotion/butter, but there is something really special about splurging in good body care when you’re pregnant. My recent splurge lead me to Fresh’s Lemon Sugar Lotion and I am loving how lightweight it feels especially on hot summer days.  Plus the lemony scent is mouth-watering.