 Happy Friday! Today my husband and I are celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary! I can't beleive it has been 4 years, its amazing how fast time passes! I absolutely loved all of the details of my wedding (thank god, because I spent nearly 2 years planning it!), I hinted in my Instagram post that I picked out my dress a year before even being engaged. I know that sounds crazy (like literally crazy) but we knew we wanted to get married. We had discussed it in detail. So knowing that, I had started to think about the things I would want for our big day. The most important detail for any girl is THE dress, I happened to stumble upon my dress while searching though countless websites and immediately thought "oh my, that is gorgeous!". I bookmarked it and went on with life. About a year later, I went back to the gowns I had saved and that dress was still my favorite. Of course, when I called a few local places that carried the designer, they didnt have the gown. It was a "last season" design and they could order it for me but I would not be able to try it on. I knew I loved the dress, but I was horrified at the thought of buying a gown without first trying it on. So I spent way too many hours locating 1 (yes in all of New York State) 1 bridal shop had it in their showroom to try on...I went into the City to try it on and that was it. It was my dress. Then another blow, this particular store was aking over $1500 more than any other boutique I had spoken to. Not very smart on their part, but the wedding industry is a billion dollar business and I'm sure when they realized they were the only boutique who had the dress to try, they assumed I was desperate. I left, without ordering the dress, and returned to one of the other boutiqes that carried the designer and had been extremely helpful during my search to find the gown to try on and I ordered it from them. Do your research ladies! It will save you thousands. Below are a few photos of that dress (I still love it so much) and some other fun snaps from our big fat Greek & Irish wedding. as well as all of the amazing vendors we worked with. Enjoy!   This Gorgeous woman is Stacy Doolan, The most AMAZING makeup artist!               Lots of Greek dancing and money throwing!  The Accountants     Dress: Aire Barcelona
Bridal Boutique:Lotus Bridal, Brooklyn, NY Photography: Lovemore Photo Makeup: Stacy Dollan, MUA
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 The holiday season is upon us and the first thing on our holiday agenda is holiday photos of the littles! I am excited to be partnering with Janie and Jack for this post to style photo ready looks for Lilly and Cole. When choosing looks for the kids, I always look for pieces that are classic yet modern and Janie and Jack delivers just that. Their collections are gorgeous. I especially love that they offer a wide range of styles from casual to special occasion to make it easy to find something for every event..        I chose an ivory cable knit sweater dress and cable knit tights for Lilly. I love the gold accents the buttons lend to it and I accessorized her look with a gold grosgrain ribbon headband and leather gold bow flats, The tailoring and details of the pieces are amazing and I love that the look is timeless and girly without being too frilly or over the top.      Cole's outfit was so much fun for me to style because this is his first Christmas and the first holiday I am shopping for a boy! For him I chose an ivory cable knit sweater, a plaid poplin shirt, navy corduroy pants and accessorized with the sweetest reindeer bowtie and wingtip crib shoes (so cute!). I had fun playing with different textures and patterns from the collections to select each piece and I am so impressed with their selections for the little men! Most retailers have a huge selection for girls and then you get to the boys section and it's limited. I also love their accessory selection for boys. Accessories really put that necessary finishing touch on a look and Janie and Jack really delivers! My personal favorites are the bowties. I am officially on the bowtie bandwagon after seeing Cole wearing his. So dapper!
I really love dressing for the holidays. Do you like dressing the kids in matching looks or just coordinating with color or patterns? Check out the Janie and Jack Holiday Collections and let me know your favorites!  Happy Weekend! We finally had some cooler temps here in New York this past week and got to break out some of our favorite new wool goodies from Lana Care. They sent me the items to review back in August before Cole was born and I have been waiting ever since to wear/use them. They did not disappoint! You will probably notice a trend of organic and eco-friendly clothing and home items in some of my more recent post. I have been making an effort to source more sustainable products in all areas of our daily life and I am very excited to partner with companies like Lana Care that offer such exceptional quality products for my family at a reasonable price point, Lana Care was founded in 1990 in Denmark by a Nurse / mother of 3 who wanted to design products that promote health and well being for mother and baby. Wool has so many amazing properties and the wool used to make all Lana Care products is strictly certified GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and IVN Best (exceeds even the GOTS standards) organic untreated wool. Any and all dyes used are also certified non toxic. Below are the items we have been using and a bit more about them.   Lana Care Wool Pants / Lana Care Wool Booties I love these wool baby pants and booties. Wool is warm but extremely breathable which allows the wearer to maintain a comfortable temperature and makes these items super comfy for baby.! Not to mention ADORABLE! The pants have an adjustable waistband to accommodate a growing baby and the booties can be worn alone or layered with regular socks.  I am always cold so these cozy footlets are perfect for sleeping in as well as inserts in rubber rain boots for a bit of added warmth. (remove them before walking on wood or tile floors though! The wool is soft as silk and very slippery on smooth surfaces.)  These shoe inserts are my new cold weather must have! They slip easily into any pair of boots to add warmth and comfort. Fun fact: wool stays warm even when wet, so they are perfect for the Little's rain and snow boots!  Baby/Toddler Pillow Organic bedding is a must for me. When I was pregnant with Lilly I started looking into the harmful chemicals used on most bedding and going forward I only considered organic or non toxic options for the kid's mattresses, pillows and most of their bed linens., The toddler pillow is the perfect size and thickness for little ones, The Lana Care Pillow contains only organic wool encased in a super soft organic sateen cotton cover. They come in Junior and Standard Adult sizes as well!  Wool breast pads are genius. The Lana Care pads are very large, made to cover the entire breast, not just the nipple and surrounding area. For reference, I am a 36 C and I got a medium. The warmth of the wool helps with circulation and helps prevent clogged ducts ( I haven't had any!). The wool also allows air flow and prevents the yucky things that can happen when you expose skin to moisture for too long. The breast cream is all natural lanolin, perfect for helping to heal dry or cracked nipples and you do not need to remove it before nursing your baby. FYI: the lanolin cream is great for healing any dry, irritated skin- I have also used it on my hands and lips! The all natural lanolin soap cleans the wool pads without exposing them to any chemicals as a laundry detergent may do. so your entire nursing experience is safe and healthy! Let me know some of your favorite cold weather products and brands!
     Onesie & Paci Clip: Finn + Emma / Pants: Carters / Boots: Old Navy Happy Monday guys, I hope you had a great weekend! Cole slept through the night for the first time and I am one happy and refreshed Mama!
If you have been following me on Instagram or reading my blog you know I am slightly obsessed with sourcing adorable clothing for the littles. It's one of my favorite things to do, so much so that I often shop more for them than myself! Another passion of mine is keeping my family safe and healthy, which is why I love finding brands that offer more than just great styles. Finn + Emma is one of those brands. Offering contemporary and modern designs and prints, all of their clothing, toys and accessories are constructed with high quality, natural and organic materials and eco- friendly, non-toxic dyes. They are also manufactured in Fair-Trade settings and the quality is amazing. I was so pleasantly surprised at the quality of the fabrics and how well they wear and wash. In the age of "fast fashion" where quantity often overshadows quality and the questionable conditions under which clothing is manufactured, it's refreshing to find brands that make clothing you can feel good about buying, Admittedly, I don't outfit my children in exclusively organic fashion, but I like to make better choices when and where I can. Whether it be the food we eat, the products we use or the clothes we wear, I like to limit my family's exposure to certain things. That to me is a major mommy win! Check the Finn + Emma Collections and if you if you see anything you like use this link for a 15% coupon for your purchase of $50 or more. Are you a fan of the sustainable fashion movement? I'd love to hear what brands you love and why!  Custom Blanket: Joann Grace Designs It feels like forever since my last blog post! I decided towards the end of my pregnancy that I wasn't going to stress over blogging and preparing posts ahead of time for when baby arrived. Instead just took the time to enjoy the last couple of months of being a family of 3 and preparing for the new arrival. We are a month into life with a toddler and a new baby and... Oh. My.Goodness. We all love this little guy more than words can do justice. It has been amazing and exciting and so full of love. It has also been harder than I ever imagined. I just had this idea that it would be easy, I've done this before, how hard could it be? However, I underestimated how different it would be. What I didn't expect was the anxiety, over everything- Is the baby eating enough, is his poop normal, is he breathing, is Lilly eating enough, wondering when I would sleep... That brings me to the sleep deprivation- Lilly has had some sleep regression issues with the new baby arriving, so we would get one to sleep and the other would wake up shortly after. It was like they were playing a cruel joke on my husband and I. I know this is to be expected, and most parents experience this but I was so unprepared for how exhausted I would be, both physically and emotionally that it totally threw me. And last but not least- the MAJOR mom guilt. I felt so guilty about nearly everything that it consumed me the first few weeks and I am still struggling with it, though not as bad. Trying to make time for Lilly, or my husband, or keeping up with our home and meals etc. Finally, both my husband and my mom both urged me to just let it all go. Let the house get messy, let the dishes and laundry pile up, if you need to order takeout more often, then so be it. This was hard for me, but slowly I did just let it go and I am so much happier and more relaxed! I still have to take care of the mess and the meals but I do it when I can and the added pressure isn't there making me crazy. I also broke down and hired cleaning people every other week. I know it sounds ridiculous but I refused using a cleaning service for a long time because I didn't like the thought of other people cleaning my home. I got over feeling that way pretty fast! After the first cleaning I was like why didn't I do this sooner!? Sometimes as a mom, we need to cut ourselves some slack and accept help. I highly recommend it iff it is an option! Our first month also came with a scare- Cole was hospitalized the day after his 1 month mark. Lilly had a little cold, and even though I tried keeping them apart, washing my hands constantly and disinfecting everything, Cole still got it. He had a fever of 99 so I took him to the pediatrician on the 15th. She advised me he looked ok but if he reached 100.4 or higher he must go straight to the ER. (prior to this, I wasn't aware a fever for an infant was 99- 100.00 and anything 100.4 or higher required a trip to the ER.) She stressed how dangerous fevers and infections were in newborns so they monitor them very closely and take it very seriously. He seemed to be doing fine the rest of the day but at 1 am on the 16th I took his temp and it was 101. We were taking him to the hospital. Cole was taken in immediately and had to have blood and urine drawn as well as a spinal tap. That was the worst. I couldn't imagine him having to endure something like that and I felt so helpless. My husband stayed in the room for the spinal tap, which was surprisingly fast, while I stood in the hallway and cried. I was able to hold it together until then but as soon as they shut the door I lost it. A really nice nurse came over with a box of tissues and reassured me it would be ok. Then I pulled it together and went back in where they put in his IV port and admitted him. Over the following 2 days he received antibiotics via the IV as well as shots and they monitored his vitals until his test results and cultures came back negative. It was a long 2 nights but we were able to go home Monday afternoon once they confirmed it was just the common cold and not something more serious. It was one of the hardest, scariest things I have been thorough but it really put things into perspective and showed me just how strong being a parent makes you. This week things have returned to normal. Everyone is recovering from their colds and I am one happy Mama. I am celebrating by giving away 2 sets of Milestone Baby Cards. You may have seen me using them in my photos the past few weeks. They are an adorable and fun way to document your baby's milestones. You can write the date on them and save them as keepsakes after you take your photos. We are really enjoying them! Head over to my Instagram page @mommylifestyled for instructions on how to enter (if you do not use instagram, just shoot me a message in the comments below!). Two winners will be chosen at random on Monday 10/24 and be notified by 10/25 (EST) . Thanks for reading our story and good luck!  Outfit: Old Navy / Deluxe Baby Dock by DockATot   Custom Blanket: Joann Grace Designs / Outfit and Shoes: Old Navy   1. Ruffle Sleeve Blouse / 2. Bell Sleeve Shirt / 3. Tutu Dress / 4. Faux Fur Vest / 5, Skinny Jeans / 6. Jeggings / 7. Flare Jeans / 8. Trench / 9. Sweater Poncho / 10. Lace-up Flats / 11. Animal Hi-tops / 12. Booties / 13. Felt Hat
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Happy Friday! I FINALLY shopped the Nordstrom sale today (better late than never) and I was inspired by my own wants vs. budget to share some of my top OTK boot fall picks and their budget friendly alternatives.
I am all about shoes and boots right now as I am not really sure what I will be wearing size wise after baby, so the majority of my clothes shopping will have to wait until September. Shoes and boots however, always fit! Click on the price/source for links. I hope you enjoy my picks! Have a great Weekend, xo.      Happy Tuesday! The heat and humidity have been rough on me this past week, but I suppose that is to be expected during a summer pregnancy. I have about 6 weeks to go (crazy!) until we meet baby boy!
Dressing in this heat is tricky and since a maternity wardrobe is usually a bit limited, especially in the final weeks, I have been relying heavily on accessories to get me through. I don't typically wear a lot of jewelry, but when I do I limit it to either a statement piece or classic pieces that are versatile enough to wear with lots of different looks. A watch is a must have, and I will admit that I usually stick to the standard silver/stainless or gold timepieces. When JORD Wood Watches reached out to me about a collaboration I was excited, but a little nervous to step out of my comfort zone, style wise. I love the use of sustainable materials and unique designs and I was immediately drawn to the Cora Watch in zebrawood and turquoise. I love how I can add it to my basic summer maternity looks and it adds a pop of color and interest. Another feature I love is how lightweight the watch is! Their mens watches are just as stunning. Even my husband, who doesn't wear watches, commented on a few that he liked! (Gift ideas!) I am partnering with JORD to give away one $75 credit towards the purchase of a gorgeous wood watch (Mens & Womens). In addition,every person who enters will automatically receive a $20 JORD e-gift card, so its a win win! To enter, click here. *Giveaway will run until 8/7/2016 Have a great week and good luck!  Custom designed trellis print monogram towel by Joann Grace Designs       I have taken a bit of a break from blogging recently but I will be sharing our summer style and adventures as often as possible until baby #2 arrives, We have had lots going on and this summer pregnancy is a little bit more exhausting than I anticipated!
We have been spending lots of time outside with friends and family, keeping cool by the pool or at the beach. Living on Long Island there is no shortage of great beaches just minutes from our house so we try to take advantage! This summer I have been highlighting my favorite summer must haves for both myself and Lilly and if you have been reading my blog or following me on Instagram you know we love accessories! At the top of our list is this adorable custom designed monogrammed towel by Joann Grace Designs. I love anything personalized as it adds a special touch, and a great towel is a must have summer essential. Lilly's loves her towel, it comes almost everywhere with us and we get tons of compliments on it when we are out. Another reason I love it is that it's super soft, absorbent and lightweight, which makes it easy to throw into our beach or baby bag. As a special gift to my followers, Joann Grace Designs has offered to give one of you a custom designed trellis print towel! For additional details and to enter to win, head over to my Instagram www.instagram.com/mommylifestyled. If you are not active on Instagram simply leave your name and email in the comments section of this post and I will enter you into the drawing! Happy Fun in the Sun! Joann Grace Towel Giveaway details: Giveaway will run from 7/18/16 through 7/21/16. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted/announced on Friday 7/22/16. *Open to U.S residents only. *This giveaway is in no way affiliated with Instagram. Towel Details :Here Microfiber - 30” x 60” super absorbent beach towel is made of 100% microfiber polyester terry fabric. It’s ultra-light and compact design makes it great for travel and throwing into a bag on your way to the beach or pool. Trellis design, choice of colors and name or monogram. Retail value $42     Photography: Cathryn Elizabeth Photography  Invitation Design: Etsy  DIY Hot Air Baloon Centerpieces: 36" Baloons-Party City / Baloon Net-Amazon /Baskets-Michaels    Cake: Le Chic Treat     Lilly will be two next week so I thought it would be fun to recap her first birthday photo shoot and party details. We celebrated with an "Oh, the places you'll go!" theme. I love the message of the classic book and I thought it would be a great theme for her first year and representation of the hopes and dreams we have for her. I went with inspired elements from the book as I didn't want the theme to be so literal. While I love the book, I didn't want a all the Dr. Seuss characters/colors (it's a little too busy for my personal taste), so we chose the hot air balloon element and a mainly pink, aqua, white and gold color scheme. Cathryn Elizabeth Photography killed it at her photo shoot and even had a hot air balloon prop made! My favorite element of the party was her sign in book. We left out a copy of "Oh, the places you'll go!" and asked all of the guests to write a special message to her for her first birthday. I cant wait for her to be old enough to look back at all of the sweet messages and well wishes from all of our closest family and friends. Now I am off to finish planning the details of her 2nd birthday. I can't wait to share it with you all! |
Hi! I'm Lisa, a wife and mommy who loves fashion, home decor and projects and sharing our favorite baby / kids gear and activities. Thanks for following along on my journey through Mommy Life. Styled.
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January 2019
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