 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 
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 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!          Jewelry: Windsor Avenue One of my favorite things about starting my blog has been all of the photos I now have of Lilly and I together. The Mommy & Me posts are my favorite because I get to capture the moments we spend together doing everyday things we love and bond over. Moments I would otherwise not be able to capture as I am usually the one behind the camera. As Lilly grows, I notice more and more that she loves to do anything and everything I do, whether it be getting dressed for the day, putting on makeup and jewelry, preparing meals, etc. She loves to be a part of everything and I adore spending that special time with her.
We recently discovered Windsor Avenue Jewelry and the Mommy and Me Collection. The Collection includes coordinating jewelry for Mommy and Daughter as well as the most adorable "Mommy and Me" book written by Windsor Avenue's Founder and Creative Director, Olivia Hollaus. Olivia is another reason I was drawn to the Windsor Avenue brand. She is the definition of a Mom Boss, creating and running a successful jewelry business, designing the collections as well as being a mommy. I am all about supporting other moms and their brands and I absolutely love the Windsor Avenue line she has created, The jewelry exudes timeless elegance and classic femininity. I am loving the "MOM" pendant necklace and Lilly was so excited to receive and wear her very own Nola xo bracelet and necklace. I have have even enjoyed wearing her Nola xo earrings until she gets her ears pierced and can wear them herself. They are the perfect, dainty pair of earrings that can be worn on a daily basis, casual or dressed up! To check out the collections and learn more about Windsor Avenue, click here and treat yourself (and your little!) to something beautiful. As a special offer, exclusive to my followers, use code MOMMYLIFESTYLED now through this Sunday (6/12/16) to receive 60% your purchase! Happy shopping, Lovelies!       After weeks of rain we finally got some sunshine and so we broke out some of Lilly's new summer pieces. This flamingo swing top is so sweet! The rips are DIY, you can catch the tutorial I posted here.
Lilly's seriously cute new sneakers are by Oomphies. We have a hard time finding shoes that fit her (despite her shoe collection, sourcing those babies is work!). Her feet are smaller and narrow so most toddler shoes are too large and buying baby sizes isn't always practical as they don't offer enough support or traction for an active toddler. Oomphies offers great styles in a large range of sizes that boast many practical features like bungee laces and easy to maintain canvas uppers. We love them! If you have similar issues finding shoes for your little or are just looking for a great new brand to check out, I highly recommend them! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week, Lovelies!       Lets talk functional fashion and comfort, As the bump gets bigger and the weather gets warmer, dressing can get a little bit tricky. My go to has been the Cardimom by Multiwear. It is the most versatile multi-function sweater for my busy mom lifestyle that I have found yet. It serves as the following:
During my pregnancy I have been wearing it on cooler days that require layering. I style it as both a flowy sweater as well as a cardigan. I love the longer, flowy fit. It pairs perfectly with and balances the silhouette of skinny jeans, leggings and yoga pants (a.k.a. the mom uniform). The lightweight knit is so soft and perfect for the shoulder seasons when weather is changing. It is a piece that will certainly get lots of use pre and post baby #2. I can't wait until baby boy is here to use it for nursing and babywearing this fall! Multiwear is offering an exclusive discount to you lovely mamas on the purchase of any Cardimom. Use code: MOMMYLIFESTYLED and receive 10% off your purchase!  1: Black Scalloped Edge High Neck Halter / 2: Geo Print Bandeau / 3: Strappy Braided Racer Back / 4: Coral Front Tie Tankini / 5: Textured Stripe Halter / 6: Palm Print Halter Swimsuit season is almost here and if you are pregnant like me that means navigating the somewhat limited world of maternity swimwear. I have spent weeks scouring the internet for chic and affordable swimsuit options for a beach vacation we have planned for May.
These are my top 6 picks, ranging in price from $30 (use sale codes!) to $66. Happy shopping Mamas! |
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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