My Top 15 New Baby Essentials!

1. Fisher-Price My Little Lamb Platinum Edition Cradle 'n Swing - LIFESAVER!!!! I didn't initially purchase a swing. I already had two girls who hated swings, I just bought a bouncer, a rock n play, and so many other things, I didn't think I needed it. Wrong baby! My little love bug likes to be held and snuggled...I literally remember holding her, nursing her while doing my makeup with one hand & trying to do my hair a few minutes later. I didn't have more than a few minutes. Shes a great baby but she likes to  be held. After looking at the Mamaroo & hearing a lot of feedback I decided to go with this swing. Love,  love, love! It has many speed settings, music, nature sounds, swings 3 ways and the best part is it also has a light feature with stars and moons which she loves when the lights off. Not to mention ultra cozy. She lasts long enough in here for mommy to get something done! I got mine from babies r us when she was about 4 weeks old. You'll love it! Retail - $179.99 

2. Boppy - If you don't plan on nursing or trying to, I don't see the benefit in this. I did have it with my two older girls, now 7 & 8 when they were babies and loved it. I use mine at night for nursing so its more comfortable its also super convenient to nurse with after you've had a c section for added support. A few times I have propped her up in it, but she slides down quick so I don't feel super safe doing that. When she is a little bigger ill use during tummy time or when she can sit. For now If im up at 2am and my Boppy isn't near I am not happy! Retail - $29.99 plus washable cover 

3. Bumbo - This was my #1 favorite thing with my oldest. I literally used this every single day from the moment she could hold her head up. I took it to the beach, I took it to restaurants and sat her in the booth next to me, on the kitchen counter, camping, poolside, everywhere. I knew I needed another one with this baby. The new ones come with seat belts, which didn't before. Berkleigh is still not sturdy enough for hers. I tried for a few minutes the other day and had to  take her out! I cant wait to use this with her soon tho. Now that they have trays I am so excited to use it to feed her to. I can bring to my moms house when she watches her so she doesn't have to buy a high chair! Super convenient! Retail - $44.99. Tray sold separate. 

4. Arms Reach Co Sleeper - We purchased this so Berkleigh could be right by the bed the first few months. It has pockets for diapers and such since, like me had to move your nightstand, the side goes midway down, which for my bed level fits right up even to it. It does come with leg extenders if your bed is higher or lower. Its great to roll over and have her right there, without the very serious danger of actually having her in our bed between us. She is in her own space, but I can still touch her and grab her easily. It also converts to a full on pack n play later on if I chose to place her in one. Retail - $149.99

5. Wubbanub - Her favorite thing ever! How genius is this?! Binkie attached to a lovey! We use the soothie binkies and have since day one. She loves them and refuses the cute blingy ones I bought or any other kind for that matter. Nope she likes those gaudy suckers from the hospital! Her first Wubbanub was the white lamb, a gift from my mom. Every since that day she wont use anything else. My husband even bought her the longhorn one and she still just wants her lamb! They are machine washable which is great! The binkie is not removable so you may want to have a few of these on hand since they can wear out over time. Its great for babies to hold on to and keeps it from falling out of their mouths all the time. We wouldn't dare leave the house without her lamb. Pure Genius! Retail - $12.99 

6. Aden and Anais Classic Snap bibs - Fabulous bibs! Large in size, super absorbent, 100% soft and thick cotton muslin. I just love them! Retail - $19.95 3 pack

7. Cloud B Sleep Sheep - Softest, sweetest lamb youll ever own! Plays 4 sounds from a heartbeat to whale songs. It has two timer settings and a battery pack. We actually keep the sheep attached 100% of the time to her carseat for the car and sometimes ill take out for the stroller. We also have the Gentle Giraffe On The Go which we use in our bedroom in her bed for nighttime. The giraffe just makes different sounds. I highly recommend you get at least one of Cloud B sound animals for a peaceful night! Retail - $25.95

8. Johnson's Hand & Face Wipes - I don't use their other products for baby but I do love these for emergency's. I keep them in the diaper bag for spit up drama. They smell like shea butter heaven and are so soft. Quick easy clean up wipes for her face or whatever the spit up gets on. Retail - $2.54 

9. Blooming Bath Baby Bath - I am a sucker for packing and cute things, So when I saw this on Pinterest long before I was pregnant,  I pinned it! Cutest thing ever! I have a great kitchen sink for it but this wont work for you if yours is too small or so big that it doesn't have anything to wedge into. I love this and its machine washable. I toss it in the dryer to dry on gentle. Its very cozy & padded for her to feel comfortable drying her baths. Perfect for new babies! We are still using it at 10 weeks & I imagine we will for awhile. Retail - $39.99 

10. Ergo baby carrier / Original Collection with infant insert - My sweet girl just loves to be swaddled, snuggled and held, so this is perfect. I use at any store I go into. I pretty much keep in my trunk. I love this because it works for my 5"2 frame and it works for my husband who is 6"4 and uses it all the time around the house. He loves it too and its comfortable for us both. She goes out like a light when shes in her Ergo. I feel like she is well supported inside & lightweight. Best carrier in my opinion and we have a few wraps. Retail  - $130 

11. Aden and Anais Classic Swaddles - I love these for the same reason I love the bibs. Super soft, lightweight especially for the Arizona Heat, and huge! They are very large So I fold in half to swaddle her. So cozy and breathable muslin. They come in the cutest patterns. Retail - $49.95 4 pack

12. Britax B Ready Stroller - Sigh...I love my stroller. I have the sleek silver one and I am  so in love! It clicks in and out easily so you can click in the bassinet attachment or the car seat which may be convenient for some. I personally don't walk her around the stroller in the car seat for health reasons but I like that it has options. It can face both ways, and is the easiest stroller to open and close...although the first time I was out alone with my girls and had to close it, we actually stood in the parking lot and watched a you tube video on how to close it...no lie...I didn't get away with that since my older girls went home and proceeded to tell everyone we knew. Easy ride, nice big wheels and many color options. We also use the Britax B Safe carseat along with it. I am a long, almost 9 year Britax user and I may never sway away. Retail stroller only - $499.99 

13. Sophie the Giraffe Teether -Simply because shes so cute, and my ped told us my 10 week old is teething! Help me now!! Apparently she is well loved because shes easy to hold, and hard but soft enough for baby gums. Sophie also comes with many books in her collection, which I love! Retail - $19.99 for Sophie alone

14. Fisher Price Rock n Play - This has replaced my Arms Reach Co Sleeper. Not because I don't love the sleeper but because I bought this from hearing rave reviews and it ended up sitting in my living room, then I bough the swing, etc and wow, I have a lot of stuff now! B also ending up going thru a gross spit up phase and I wanted her inclined. This is in my room, right next to my bed and her Gentle Giraffe is attached to the back of it! She sleeps in here at night now. I think she loves it because its cozy and she feels like she is being held maybe. I also rock it back and forth with my hand if she gets fussy. Soon Ill start going back and forth to the co-sleeper and this just so she doesn't get used to sleeping at an incline so when its time to transition to her crib she wont have a hard time being flat. This is so cozy & I know a million peopl e who swear by theirs. I also love that it folds up super easy. We took out of town with us as her bed already and to my parents house to sleep in. Down the road we will use as our travel bed until she grows out of it.  Retail - $44.99

15. Nose Frida Snot Sucker -  When I saw the photo circulating online of the old school blue bulb snot sucker that a woman cut in half that was filled with mold and nasty things after she swore she washes it...I tossed it out! I heard about this, but didn't know I actually suck the snot out myself until I first used it. Mmmm....There is actually a replaceable filter you use each time so you don't actually get anything in your mouth. My sweet girl is actually pretty calm when we use the Frida, where as the bulb she freaked out. I think this is much more gentle yet WAY more effective. It looks super weird and sounds even worse, but I promise you its so worth it. I actually used it tonight on her stuffy nose and boy did this get a lot out and clear her stuffy nose up! Retail - $14.99

Those are my top 15 baby products!! I personally use all of the above, even the exact same colors, and highly recommended all of them!

Enjoy and love those babies!! 

xoxo 

Welcome to the world Miss Berkleigh Quinn

Berkleigh Quinn

December 21, 2013

Our family is over the moon to announce the much awaited arrival of our sweet angel. Berkleigh was born on Saturday, December 21st. 2013 at exactly 8:00 am via repeat and scheduled C- Section. Berkleigh was breech which led to her arrival in the OR taking a tad longer than normal. She was very happy in there and clearly comfortable. Yes comfortable in my rib cage. 

Berkleigh was born at 7 lbs 4 oz and 19 inches long. She was my big baby!! The doctors actually said they thought she would be 9 lb range. Clearly I was so huge they assumed it was all baby. Sadly, not the case. Her big sisters were 5 and 6 lbs, so you see why I call her by big baby. 

During out stay she quickly developed some severe jaundice. Her levels were increasing very quick and they made me supplement formula to try to help her eliminate the billirubin as well as keep her under the lights with a mask. I was allowed to feed her every few hours tho. Her weight also dropped, as all newborns do but hers was over 10% which is dangerous. We almost had to stay over Christmas but I kept her fighting that weight and we were released at 6 lbs 11 oz so the doctors were happy with that. Her billirubin went down enough for him to feel comfortable to let us go home and we had some follow-up blood done to ensure it continued to be reduced. 

She has been a very alert baby girl since she was born. She is the sweetest girl. We came home on Christmas eve. 
Here is her going home outfit!!

We were so thankful to go home that day and be with our other girls and enjoy the Holiday! Here are some photos from our stay and her first few days!

The morning Of my C section - 

 Big Sisters picking us up to leave the hospital!

I cant wait to watch you grow!

Surprise! We are having a baby in less than 7 weeks!!

Clearly, Ive been a little sidetracked since April, my last blog post! Its been a long journey and I could make this a million pages long telling you our story on trying to conceive but I will skip those tears and get to the good stuff! I found out we were pregnant in April after a good year of actively trying. I was 100% positive I would not be pregnant when I took the test. I was pregnant in this pic two days before I found out and didnt know. Guess The monster Snickers should have given me a clue!!!

What a shock. I could not stop smiling!! I surprised my husband with a Christmas bag and a Baseball that read, "Baby Brew coming December 2013". It took him a few minutes to figure out what was going on! So excited! Our little pea is coming December 27th, 2013!

We kept it a secret for awhile from the main public other than family and very close friends. A few weeks after I found out we had to go the emergency room for bleeding. The unkind and unsympathetic doctor told me he saw nothing and I was probably having a miscarriage. My HCG levels were very high so he said to check back with my doctor in 48 hours to see if they double. They gave me all kinds of info that just devastated me and really had no answers. We went home and cried for a good few days. Our baby is a fighter tho and a few days later my HCG more than doubled and continued to and now we are weeks from our due date! We told everyone with this quick home pic we threw together of our girls. 

I was very sick the first trimester. Miserable working and trying to manage it all. I felt so sick day and night I prayed for it to be over every single day. Finally at around 15 weeks It all went away. I started to show very very quick. I was the same with both girls. I dont know why my body just pops out every time im pregnant but it does every time. Nothing I can do. At this point ive pretty much run out of alphabet in bra sizes (scary) and ive gained 63 lbs.Yes a Whopping 63 so far and im gaining about a 1 lb a week now going forward these last 7 weeks. Fabulous!!! 

About 8 weeks here. I Popped out fast!!

10 weeks here!

12 weeks 

18 weeks

21 weeks 

25 weeks 

3rd Trimester

30 weeks 

Most recent 33 weeks

- XOXO -

Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Mascara Review

Too Faced Better than False Lashes Nylon Extension System

What is it? Its not just any mascara that promises to plump, thicken and enhance your eyelashes. It is a lash extension system that will give you dramatic, amazing lashes that look like you either were born with amazing long, thick lashes or invested your time in applying false lashes, which lets face it, we do not all have the time to do every day and personally I worry to much about them falling off when I'm out.

It comes with two tubes, a gold, which is Step 1 & 3, the lash primer/mascara; and a smaller white tube which holds the Flexistretch nylon lash fibers and is Step 2.

Here's how Too Faced instructs you to apply it.

 Step 1: Prime the lashes with the activating base(gold tube) in slow, even strokes from lash base to tip. Since this is not a traditional mascara but a lash extension system, traditional quick motions aren't as effective in application.

Step 2: Build the lashes with Flexistretch Nylon Fibers (white tube) in the same slow, even strokes from lash base to tip. As you apply, sweep the brush out in one motion. You should be able to see the white fibers.

Step 3: Seal the lashes and meld the layers together with the base formula (gold tube). In slow, even strokes, pull activating mascara through in one motion, from lash base to tip. Pull the base application through in one even stroke at a time, until all the fibers are covered. Your lashes should look long, full and red carpet ready. For even fuller lashes repeat step 2 and 3.

When I first purchased this I followed those directions exactly. After several days of using this and testing it out, I have learned a few things and have changed the way I applied this daily until I found a way that worked for me.

I want to say first that I start out and complete only one eye at a time. I first curl my eyelashes. Then I  apply the enclosed Gold Tube or primer/mascara only to my top lashes. I do this because this mascara/primer is very sticky and the first few times I used it on bottom and top, my lashes wanted to stick together which was uncomfortable and challenging.

I then immediately grab the nylon lash extension tube and take the wand only on my top lashes as well. I don't know, I haven't tried it on the bottom, but bottom lashes too long just don't look right to me, so stick to the top only. The company says to start from your eyelash base, as you normally would with mascara and go up to your tips. I however, didn't think that made for good, separated lashes. When I did that the first few times, it was too clumpy, and really you don't need to "extend" you base anyway. So I have found it is much cleaner, less clumpy, prettier and more natural to apply the fibers starting at the mid center up to the tips. I really focus more on the tips overall tho. I do about two or three strokes going from the center outward to each side. I don't dip the fiber in the tube until the next eye. It will have plenty on it already.

I finish the top coat with a different mascara. I just don't think the gold tube provided is that great of a mascara and I don't like how sticky it is. I think it was made to be more of a primer and sealer and not neccesarly a builder in itself. I also don't particularly like the wand. So I have used several different kinds as my 3rd step. Urban Decay Lush lash, Urban Decay Super Curl, Benefit They're Real Mascara and Maybelline Colossal Volume Express. They all worked great for me this week so I would recommend any or whatever your normal favorite mascara is. You can do as many coats as you want for your 3rd step starting at the base and working your way up to the tips curling the wand up as you go. I do about 2 or 3 coats, less or more until I feel the fibers are covered and the lashes are separated and feathered out. If you need to you can grab a lash comb and comb any clumps out, but you will still have stickiness so you need to do it quickly. I would only comb if absolutely necessary since one day it actually made some lashes stick together! =( Once its all on, it is very difficult to touch up, almost impossible.

 I absolutely loved how this made my lashes look! It definitely looked like I had false lashes on. Not super dramatic ones, but conservative ones. So for a general mascara it is a GREAT alternative for the time to takes to apply lashes. I will say, that this process is timely in itself in your morning routine, but not as timely as individual lashes.

 

Pros: The White bottle, although small seems to have a lot of product in it, and the brush has so much on it and you only need so little, I can see getting a ton of uses out of it. This will last beyond the mascara.

My husband literally asked me if I had false eyelashes on!

It did not flake on me at all even after a 10 hour day.

Makes for big, popping dramatic eyes!

Easy to use.

 Cons: Mascara is very sticky

I don't feel like the Gold tube, of mascara is worthy of even being in the package. I wish they used one of their better Too Faced mascaras.

It is impossible to take off. I tried makeup remover wipes, coconut oil, face wash, hot washcloth. I don't wear water proof mascara just because its also so hard to take off and is brittle on your lashes and I am very cautious of how sensitive the skin around your eyes is, so for me this is my biggest and one true gripe. Eventually it did come off, but It was a struggle which left me frustrated.

Price- At $35 it is quiet an expensive mascara

Would I recommend this to my personal friends and any one of you? I absolutely would! Too Faced did a great job!

xoxo

Autumn

Bare Minerals pressed Powder vs. Bare minerals loose poweder

Disclaimer: I actually typed this months ago and just saw it in my draft box. So I am posting now since I still think its a review id like to share!

So I have been an avid Bare Minerals Original Foundation loose powder user for years. It really helped my skin stay healthy and is lightweight, but its messy and I don't like bringing the loose container around in my bag with me, so when I saw they came out with a pressed powder version, Ready Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 20 I ran straight to Ulta. I was super excited. I bought the recommended brush for it as well, the Precision Face Brush.

However, I was quickly disappointed when I started wearing it.

First impression. Packaging was great! A regular mineral compact powder which I couldn't spill or make a mess with and had a mirror. The powder looked smooth and velvety. When you swipe your brush in it and tap it off, alot of product gets on the brush, too much. Also I wear in the Original loose foundation, Fairly Medium, this product in Fairly Medium is not the same color. I had to keep going back and getting different colors. It is not an exact color match to the original. I ended up getting Medium Beige in the Ready Compact. Unlike the Original, you do not want to "Swirl" your brush in the compact then on your face. The proper way to use the compact is the swipe the brush, tap, then swipe it on your face in sweeping motions with the Precision brush. You do not want to "buff" this foundation on. It is a different texture and mix then the Original and will not look the same, hence why you need to apply it differently than you are used to with the loose powder. It has a build able medium coverage which is fine for me.

Nevertheless, applying it properly for me, still didn't make me happy. I don't like this product. It felt dry, cakey, settled too quickly in my lines and never had an even smooth finish on my skin as the loose Original does. I do not like the overall way this feels on my face. I was very disappointed in this. When I happened to be walking by a Bare Minerals store months later, I mentioned it to the makeup artist and she agreed a lot of people felt the same way.

I am surprised to me, this is so different than the Bare Mineral Original Foundation and a little bummed out. I do still have the full compact, since for me I have to try something for awhile usually and at that point it was dumb to return it. Who knows maybe ill re-test it out on a random day and feel differently but the good week or two I gave it when I first purchased it, just didn't leave me with an "I love this" feeling. Latley, I actually havent even been wearing my Bare Minerals Original since I switch my products up so often.

I hope you all enjoyed this review and keep in mind these are my own opinions. Id love to hear yours on the product!

xoxo - Autumn

Real life job...life after baseball

So after months of school to prepare for his EMT Certification, fire department, a job in the government etc since we are in our "life after baseball" stage, Brew started a new job this week with Omega Morgan after we returned from our Spring Break trip in Lake Havasu.

 

A friend of his who works for the company has been trying to bring him on board for awhile. They are originally based in Portland then moved into Seattle and now just moved into Phoenix, but still mainly based in the Pacific Northwest! The market here for them is new but they have a lot of potential and work here which is great. They are a large scale moving and shipping company. They build the crates, shipping modules, etc for the jobs too. They ship bridges, planes, expensive large equipment, literally big jobs! He will travel all over eventually for jobs that require their services. He is excited to be with them and already exhausted! He left our trip early on my birthday Monday since they needed him to go to Tuscon on Tuesday. Since then he has only had a few days in but enjoys the daily change so far.

 

I had to giggle and mention this because I thought it was so funny. So some time this weekend we were talking about 4th of July and how its always on of my favorites and he finally gets to go for the first time ever in our relationship with us to Prescott for the 4th. He's like what day is it, I replied with Thursday. Its a holiday we all have it off, he goes well I dint have Friday off. I said "Babe its months away you can ask for it off, this is real life, a real job, not baseball". He replied with, "Oh wow, well ill do that." I have to explain why this is so funny to me. In baseball, during  the season, there are no days off, you have no PTO time, no vacation or sick time, nothing. You have a random day off maybe 2 or 3 days a month but that's it. If you asked for a day off other than those days, they'd look at you like you were insane and probably send you home! You can get up to 3 days off usually for a big event or family event, childbirth, wedding, etc. Only things like that but that's it for the whole season! So to be in real life, normal life, and actually have a real job, schedule, weekends off, and be able to ask for a vacation or a day off is so new to him. I just have to laugh at how innocent he is and new to this real life he is in. Even tho he has experienced all of those new things with me and my career, its new for him to actually be in it himself.

 

Anyway, Omega Morgan is a great company with all the perks for him and I am so excited for his future! The future is still unknown and this is still very new to him and some days are better than others, but I trust that there are plans bigger than we can understand right now and that keeps me positive! I am still just super excited to have him home for good!

 

On another note, I wish all of our friends safe travels as Spring Training is ending and everyone is parting ways to their new homes for the season!

 

xoxo - Autumn

Glam Glow Mud Mask

GLAM GLOW MUD MASK 

So I stumbled upon this disturbingly disgusting photo on Pinterest of what looks like a frostbitten nose. I was intrigued to research it when I realized it was a facial mask. Then a sweet baseball wife & friend also posted about it and told me about her experience and I knew I had to try it. Ill post her blog link below and the blog she reviewed it on below if youd like to check it out.

Gross right?! After I read it won the 2012 beauty aware I had to try it. I tend to have really large pores especially on my inner cheek area and my nose. I cant stand how big they look sometimes and at the end of the day my makeup really tends to set in those suckers. So I ran to Sephora and ran home to put it on.

Application:

1. I washed my face really well with my favorite cleanser and Clarisonic Mia

2. I applied a good amount on my fingertips and spread it evenly around my entire face, staying away from my eye area. It has a very light green tea ish smell to it which I found pleasant.

3. Now you wait. When it first goes on its very dark, just like it says, like mud. Within seconds before I Was even done applying it parts were turning an ashy gray/green. I waited 10 minutes with it on. During this time my face got very tight, tingly and ashy gray. I couldn't move my lips at all after the 10 minutes.

4. I used a warm washcloth to gently rub it in circular motions wet on my face to get it off slowly. Ive read alot of reviews that it took actual scrubbing to get it off, but I did not have that experience. Mine came off very gently and easy. Then I made sure with splashes of water it was all removed and my face was clean.

5. I followed up with a face moisturizer

What they promise: Designed as a 10 minute anti ageing facial in a jar for behind the scenes use in Hollywood’s entertainment, music, fashion and award industries, for immediate camera ready glowing skin. Delivers noticeable 3 day glow from skin collagen synthesis, helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles, leaves skin brighter, smooth and soft, multilevel resurfacing exfoliation evens out skin tone, helps tighten skin and minimise pores, absorbs impurities without removing natural oils, helps protect against free radical damage.

My thoughts:

The package is very glamours and glitzy almost like its soley for hollywood starlets. I love packing, im a big sucker for a packaging. It gets me everytime!

WOW! I took better before and after pictures that are hard to tell in photos but my pores looked so much smaller, my skin literally felt tighter and when I woke up the next morning still had a great glow! I did this at night, but the next day when I did my makeup, it went on so smooth and even. It literally looked amazing, even my husband noticed the difference in my cheek area and nose. My foundation looked flawless and my face still had a great glow. I have heard different reviews on how long it lasts but I will say my great, just had a spa facial glow lasted a solid 3 days then faded away. I will tell you the nasty stuff that came out of my pores was much needed and needs to be done once a week. This is an amazing alternative to spa facials or dermatologist facials if you cant go often or cant afford them often. You should get about 12 masks out of the jar says the brand reps, but Ive heard some people get as many as 20

It retails for $69.00 but you can get it as low as $44 from Amazon.

http://www.glamglowmud.com/

I highly, highly recommend this mask! It seriously does as promised and works wonders. Its great for a weekly mask or if your preparing for an event or important party/appearance/photshoot to use beforehand as well. Love love love!!

http://strikeoutinstyle.com/

http://ivoryandolive.com/2013/03/reader-review-i-tried-glamglow/

xoxo - Autumn