Mommy Beauty, an updated routine

I've been back at work now for two weeks and that means I've had to get up and look presentable at 6:30 am every morning.  I don't need to be glamorous for my job but I do need to look neat and put together. However, I also have to get my daughter ready for daycare, my pump bag ready for work, pack my lunch, make a breakfast - its much more work than before baby.  I've cut down my routine dramatically - I do try to pack as much of my meal as I can the night before and I try to shower / blow dry my hair at night to help save time.

A few makeup items have really helped me

This routine takes 6-7 minutes.  Tarte BB cream is awesome, it blurs any redness and brightens my face.  It also works as a mattifier, though I usually have to use face lotion underneath it.  Benefit Boi-ing concealer is the best at hiding my undereye circles and I tend to use Tarte bronzer all over my face and neck...because I'm paper white and need a bit of color.  Bobbi Brown Pale Pink blush and Bobbi Brown Sandwashed Pink add color...and since I have limited mommy room in my diaper bag, this lipstick and one chapstick are the only two beauty products that made the cut. I don't always have time for eyeshadow but usually I reach for foolproof neutral colors like Bootycall and Foxy from the Naked 2 palette. I have to do my brows with Anastasia brow powder and a swipe of Tarte mascara finishes the look.  It's quick, it's easy, and I don't even have to think about it.

Now for hair.  I just don't have time to fix it every day.  A ponytail, a top knot, or a bun are my choices.  I can leave it with natural curl but I will need a cut soon to get it layered.  I don't care to put the effort in to curl it everyday...especially with NC humidity fighting my hard work.  I'm due for a trim and color in the upcoming weeks and I'm seriously thinking about getting a mommy chop.  Isn't it a terrible idea to get a haircut after a big life event...like, giving birth?  I have such a hard time making decisions like this, I've had too many "bad" haircuts in my life.  Oh and this week my hair has started falling out, I was warned it would happen but it is alarming when you see clumps of hair fall out.  It is actually a good thing for me though, my hair is so thick right now that I have difficulty styling it.  Anyway, I've pinned some hair inspiration for a possibly mom cut...

 via

 via

 via

via Google images

I'll be making a decision in the next two weeks.

My favorite registry items...

Registry Favorites by carolinabelle84 on Polyvore

Hello all!  I wanted to share some of my favorite registry items so far.  Of course baby girl hasn't been able to use any of it so far but I'm ecstatic over the things we listed.  Most everything we registered for came highly recommended either by reviews or by friends.  All I heard from other moms was Aden + Anais anything so I definitely kept that in mind for burpies, bibs, and swaddle blankets.  Since we will have a young infant in the summer, muslin is perfect to keep her covered but cool.  

I'm loving our Britax B-Ready travel system and I can't wait to see it in action.  

Her crib is my love, those beautiful spindles are the absolute best.  

We will likely try a variety of pacifiers and bottles but for now we have the Tommee Tippee and Soothies to start. 

At my first shower I received my Skip Hop diaper bag, I didn't get gray though, mine is the limited edition French Stripe and now that I have it packed I can appreciate the fact that it uses vertical space instead of filling up like a duffle.  

We have several Halo sleepsacks, this style came highly recommended by one of my best friends.  

My husband likes the auto rock and play from Fisher Price, we will likely have it permanently set up in our living room.  

Oh and those Zutano infant shoes....cute!  I love all the color choices, I stuck with one multi colored pair since she will grow out of them quickly but I will probably buy them in a bigger size as well.  Zuntano's have snaps so they wear similar to a sock and I hope they stay on her tiny feet.

Britax B-Ready Stroller, Black
amazon.com

DaVinci Jenny Lind 3-in-1 Stationary Crib Fog Grey DaVinci
toysrus.com

Skip Hop Duo Deluxe Diaper Bag - Heather Gray: Amazon.ca: Baby
amazon.ca

Amazon.com : Tommee Tippee Anti Collic Bottle, 5 Ounce, 2-Count : Baby...
amazon.com

aden by aden anais "Oh, Girl" Burpy Bib
buybuybaby.com

Eucerin Aquaphor 3 1/2-Ounce Baby Healing Ointment
buybuybaby.com

Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier, Pink/Purple, 0-3 Months, 2 Count
amazon.com

Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper Aqua Stone Fashion
amazon.com

Cloud b Sound Machine Soother, Sleep Sheep (Discontinued by...
amazon.com

Bashful Large Beige Bunny 15" by Jellycat:Amazon:Toys & Games
amazon.com

aden by aden anais 3-Pack Bib Set in Oh Girl
buybuybaby.com

Lamaze Early Development Toy, Marina the Mermaid
amazon.com

Zutano Elephants Booties
giggle.com

Five on Friday

Favorite Maternity Basics by carolinabelle84 on Polyvore

So today's five on Friday is going to be a bit different.  I wanted to share my favorite maternity basics.  I really didn't want to have an extensive maternity wardrobe because it's a hefty investment for a few months of wear.  My biggest suggestion is don't buy everything at once, the pants that are a comfy fit at 5 months might not be so comfy at month 8.  The second suggestion is limit your color palette.  Sure it's fun to have a wardrobe full of variety but it's way easier to have a few pops of color that can mix and match instead of having to make individual outfits.  Being pregnant in the Winter is great because I can use scarves and chunky jewelry for color.  Here are my top picks, straight from my closet:

Maternity Basic Tank XS-Liz Lange for Target
target.com

Gap Women Full Panel Modern Boot Pants
gap.com

Indigo Blue Premium Secret Fit Belly(r) Destructed Skinny Leg...
motherhood.com

Maternity Knit Legging L-Liz Lange for Target
target.com

Ivory Pintuck Maternity Blouse
$76 - seraphine.com



You need a pair of well fitting jeans.  I have two pairs of demi panel jeans (one boyfriend and one skinny leg) from Gap Maternity and they are awesome.  However, demi panel isn't as comfortable since my third trimester so for longevity I suggest these Indigo Blue from Motherhood.  The price is great, the fit is very comfortable for advanced pregnancy, and they are stylish.

I can not stress this enough.  Liz Lange tank tops from Target!  I plan to wear them even when I'm not pregnant, by far the best tank I've ever bought.  They don't ride up, and they completely cover my bra.  I love them so much I have five of them and wear one every single day.  I like to wear my belly support band over my tank and under my blouse for extra comfort.

Liz Lange leggings - I have the basic and the ponte knit, both are worth their weight in gold.  For a small price I have some nice opaque leggings that go with everything.  They also allow me to wear my leg warmers and boots for extra warmth on chilly days.  I'm tempted to wear these when I'm not pregnant too, they don't have a panel and are nice quality - no one would be able to tell they were maternity and they don't create the dreaded muffin top.

The most beautiful tops I have are from Seraphine from A Pea in the Pod.  I didn't pay full price though, Destination Maternity has sales often and I have been lucky to grab some at reduced cost.  I have several in different colors and they add some variety and "pretty" to my closet.  I think they are perfect for work and can easily be dressed up for evening.

Gap Maternity Modern Slacks are the best pants for work.  They wash really well and are perfect for wearing long hours at the office.  Not all pants have a comfortable belly panel that doesn't budge throughout the day and these maintain their shape and don't stretch as the day goes on.

Thanks for stopping by!  The weekly link up is brought to you from these gals:

Beauty Wishlist

Because sometimes it's fun to try new things...

Beauty Wishlist by carolinabelle84 featuring hourglass cosmetics

1.  I'm finally getting bored of my Naked 2 palette.  I've used it regularly for almost two years and it's time for a change.  This palette is the stuff of dreams.  

2.  I will need foundation in the next month or so and I'm looking for something new.  I've heard great things about the Hourglass Immaculate foundation, since I have oily / combo skin, I'm definitely interested in it's claims to control shine.  

3.  Speaking of Tarte, the lipsurgence pencil in Amused could be the best summer berry color for my skin tone.  

4.  Not sure if I'd feel comfortable spending this kind of change on blush but I've heard the best things about Hourglass ambient powders and the Diffused Heat is so beautiful.

5.  As soon as my Nars bronzer is finished I'm going to try this one from Tarte.  

Link-Up: These are a few of my favorite things . . .

Link-Up: These are a few of my favorite things . . . by carolinabelle84

Kate Spade tech accessory / Bracelet bangle / White House Black Market black shoes / Metrokane bar tool / Tocca orange home accessory / Thirstystone drink holder / Lilly Pulitzer / Threshold Flannel Sheet Set

I'm joining the link up party a bit late tonight - I almost forgot it.  R asked for my wish list early this year so instead of posting "wishes" I'm posting trusty favorites.  I own the above items and I love them.  These are all items that I think would make fantastic gifts for any special lady on your shopping list.

White House Black Market flats.  Great with jeans or slacks, they are the perfect transition shoe from work to drinks.  Well for me at least, I work in the medical field and heels are not practical.

Thirstystone monogrammed coasters.  I love these, they look so nice on our table and protect our furniture.  Since I got a new monogram in this year I've been obsessively putting J's all over my house.

Target Flannel Sheets.  So soft after only one wash and great for the chilly nights we've had the past few weeks.

Lilly Pulitzer Day Planner.  I love my planner and I've had it since August 2012.  I traded it in recently to try the new Kate Spade planner for 2014 but I may go back eventually.  I love the Kate but if I was going to purchase one for a friend I think I'd stick to the Lilly.

The Rabbit Corkscrew and Aerator.  I love this thing.  I will never be without it again. As an added plus, it's fun to use.

Tocca Candle in Stella.  This is the only candle I keep in the bedroom.  The scent is super saturated and it has a long burning time for it's size.  As a bonus the smell is clean and citrus-y... and it's pretty.

Bauble Bar pave bracelet.  This is a more wallet friendly than the popular jcrew version and it looks great with everything.  Bauble Bar's customer service is fabulous and you can earn points towards future purchases.

Kate Spade Apple iPhone 5 cover.  I love the color and the print.  It was a hard choice to make though, no one does cute covers quite like Kate.

Dear Santa...

Dear Santa... by carolinabelle84 featuring Kate Spade

Brown bedding / Kate Spade jewelry box / J Crew clothing / BaubleBar drop earrings / Banana Republic scarve / Tocca body moisturizer / The Game Of Things / The Great Gatsby [DVD UV Copy] [2013], $16 / Tea Forte Loose Tea Canister-Black Currant, 3.5 oz, 50 servings

R requested a Christmas wish list so I thought I'd share mine with the world...

• Tocca Cleopatra hand cream - I usually purchase mine from Bevello
• Bauble Bar earrings, you just can't go wrong.
• Leopard Print scarf.
• Great Gatsby DVD.
• Game of Things.
• Tea forte - I love white ambrosia the best but black currant is my second favorite.
• J Crew Factory skinny cords in maroon
• Target sweater throw.  Kohls had some last year with a fleece backing that was amazing too.
• Kate Spade ring holder.  It was on our wedding registry, truly any items leftover on our registry would make an amazing Christmas gift.

Current Face Routine

current face routine by carolinabelle84 featuring a murad face wash

Ole Henriksen anti aging skincare / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics cream skin care / Philosophy face peel mask, $94 / Murad face wash, $54 / Murad face wash / Fresh lip treatment / ORIGINS Clear Improvement active charcoal mask 50ml, $16

I've broken out quite a bit over the past couple of months and I'm just now getting back some control over my skin.  I wanted to list the key players that are keeping my acne at bay.

Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Foaming Facewash.  I use this at night and I think it does a surprisingly good job of cleaning off my makeup.  I'm not attached to it and I'm willing to try other products but it's been reliable and I'll likely come back to it from time to time.

Fresh Sugar lip balm.  It's amazing, I use it every night after I brush my teeth and it moisturizes my lips over night so my lip product goes on smoothly in the morning.

Philosophy Microdelivery Peel.  I use this ever Sunday night and I scrub for a solid minute with each product.  I will never be without this product!  My skin not only looks better but feels so much better after I use it.  It's really helping with a few lingering sun spots.

Ole Henriksen Three Little Wonders.  I've used this for over two years and it's great.  I use both the gel and the cream at night and the serum in the am.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask.  I use this on Wednesday nights and it helps to remove any lingering gunk.  It's pretty fantastic and my skin feels great after I use it.  I think it helps with redness too.

Bobbi Brown Eye Repair.  Nothing super fancy about it, the cream is rich and it hydrates the skin around my eyes so my concealer goes on smoothly.  Its not cheap but it lasts a long time.

Murad AHA and BHA Exfoliating Cleanser.  I use this in the am before the acne cleanser.  The scrub is very gentle and I feel that it makes the acne step in my morning routine more effective.

Murad Acne Clarifying Cleanser.  Ah, my favorite part of my morning getting ready routine.  It smells like tea tree oil and is refreshing.  I love the tingle.

There it is....it may seem like a lot of products but I have sensitive, combination, acne prone skin and during cold weather months add lovely dry patches to the list.  It's a challenge finding a routine that fits all of my requirements and for now, this is doing the trick.

Five on Friday: Polyvore Edition

Totally cheating for this week's Five on Friday and sharing five of my chilly day favorites...

Chilly Day Favorites by carolinabelle84 featuring a polka dot cashmere sweater

I don't own any of the above items but I hope I will collect them over the next few months.  Since the weather has been cloudy, rainy, and cool the past couple of weeks I've taken stock of my winter goods.  It's slim pickins' right now.  

Join the fun, make some friends . . .

Wedding Skincare

Current Skincare by carolinabelle84 featuring murad