Category Archives: Favorite Things

The 5 Best Baby Teethers (according to Prim)

November 11, 2015

We’re in the thick of teething over here, (which, is teething forever? It feels like it’s going to be forever) which means Prim is chewing on anything she can get her little hands on these days. Despite the fact that she’s pretty willing to gnaw on just about anything right now, she does have some preferences when it comes to teethers. I tried to find teethers that were made of natural products (food-grade silicone, natural rubber, wood, etc.) since I knew that Prim would basically be munching on them for days (months? years?) on end. Out of the assortment I was gifted or purchased, here are Prim’s favorites:

Sophie la Girafe and Mini Sophie la Girafe

Sophie is a standby in the teething world. There’s some weird magic that makes babies just love Sophie (apparently it’s one of the only baby toys that appeals to babies’ sense of smell — weird huh?) We like to joke that Sophie snout is a rare delicacy, as that’s the main part that Prim always seems to chew on.

Mini Sophie is great because it’s easy for little hands to hold and it’s small enough to toss in the diaper bag (great as a distraction for time in the carseat!)

Como Tomo Silicone Teether

I added this onto an Amazon cart awhile back as an “add-on” item in order to get free one-day shipping (I think I was out of breastmilk storage bags — whoops!) This might be Prim’s all-time favorite teether, even eclipsing Sophie (which, trust me, is hard to beat!) I think she likes that this teether is especially soft and easy to hold, and I like that it’s small enough to toss in the diaper bag easily so I can have it on hand when we visit friends or are out running errands.

Green Sprouts Cornstarch Hand Teether

This is a teether and rattle in one, which is especially good for distracting Prim when she gets fussy (which, for whatever reason is always when I’m trying to get ready in the morning.) Green Sprouts makes a lot of great toys, but Prim especially likes this one (I actually ordered it after Prim spent a day over at Alexis’ obsessing over it.)

Lifefactory Silicone Ring Teethers

The Lifefactory ring teethers came in a set with the baby bottles I ordered, and initially, I didn’t put too much stock into them, thinking that Prim would probably play with them briefly and then toss them aside. Luckily I was wrong, because she loves munching on those rings; and like the mini Sophie and the Como Tomo, these are great to throw into the diaper bag as well. And since they came in a 2-pack, there’s a backup for when one (inevitably) gets thrown on the ground.

Haba Kringelring

Haba makes a lot of awesome wood toys. The kringelring is colorful and easy for babies to hold, and even though I wasn’t really sure how interested Prim would be in using the toy as a teether, (since it’s made from beech wood) she actually loves chewing on it (when she’s not shaking it and watching the blue rings make noise.)

What do your kiddos chew on to help with teething? Prim isn’t too interested in cold teethers yet, but I’ve still got my eye on this one.

Baby / Favorite Things

Babywearing

October 21, 2015

I’ve mentioned babywearing on here before (just briefly), and now that Prim is 5 months old, I’m still loving wearing her around most days.

I’m definitely no expert, but I thought I’d write a quick post about my own experience with babywearing, in case any of you are mamas or mamas-to-be (or daddies!) and are interested in wearing your newborn, infant, or toddler.

Baby / Favorite Things / Pregnancy

Favorite Things for Breastfeeding

June 29, 2015

As I mentioned before, I didn’t have the easiest start breastfeeding Prim. However, I’m now a fairly competent (and confident!) breastfeeder, so I thought it might be helpful to share the things that helped me when I was starting to breastfeed.

A lot of these items I still use (though there are a couple things which were really just for the first weeks when I was still getting the hang of breastfeeding). So if you’re planning on breastfeeding and are wondering what you might want to add to your baby registry, here’s what I recommend:

My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow: The name is horrendous and most of the patterns look like some middle schooler obsessed with Lisa Frank designed them, but the pillow itself is so, so helpful when breastfeeding a newborn. The fact that you can actually secure the pillow around you is key, because it means it won’t slip around while you’re feeding, resulting in the baby slipping between you and the pillow. I stopped using the pillow after about 2 weeks, when I finally got comfortable with feeding and Prim got a little less… floppy. So if you don’t want to shell out the $45 for the pillow, see if you can borrow a friend’s for the first few weeks.
Breast Pump: You should be able to get a pump for free through your insurance now (which is awesome because the good ones are not cheap). I got the Medela Pump In Style Advanced, which works great and I totally recommend. Also, know that you can request a breast pump to use while in the hospital — it’s great for getting your milk production up, or supplementing if you’re having latch issues. Plus, most hospitals use Medela pumps, so take home all the extra pieces when you leave the hospital if you have a Medela pump at home, because the hospital can’t re-use them (extra breast shields, collection containers, etc.)
Medela Tender Care Lanolin: There are a lot of creams out there to aid in breastfeeding, but most doctors recommend 100% lanolin. I use the Medela cream religiously and it really helps to keep things comfortable. (And no, you don’t have to wipe it off before each feeding — it’s totally safe for the baby.)
Lansinoh Soothies Gel Pads: These are weirdly pricey, and may be unnecessary if you don’t experience sensitivity or latch issues, but if you have some trouble like I did in the beginning, these are a freaking God-send. Get your moneys worth by cutting each pad into fourths and reusing the quarters until they lose their stickiness.
Nursing Pads: These are more personal preference, but I like that these are organic cotton and washable. (And if you are blessed with an oversupply of milk like I am, get multiple packs. You’re gonna need them.)
Nursing Bras: This is personal preference, obviously, but this one is my favorite because it’s lightweight, stretchy and soft (and inexpensive!)
Breast Milk Storage Bags: If you’re planning on pumping and/or returning to work while breastfeeding, make sure you pick up some milk storage bags. I have these Medela ones, which are fine, but I think the seal could be better. I’ve also used the Ziploc brand ones, which are cheaper and freeze flat which is nice, but I’ve had some issues with the bottom splitting. My recommendation would be for the Lansinoh ones because they seal better than any of the others I’ve used. Whichever you opt to use, these are great for labeling and freezing breast milk (because who’s got space to keep a bunch of tiny bottles in the freezer? I sure don’t.)
Hands-free Pumping Bra: Again, if you’re planning on pumping and/or returning to work while breastfeeding, this is kind of a necessity. I didn’t have one for the first few weeks (not realizing that I’d be pumping then), and quickly realized what a pain pumping is without one — um, yeah, you can’t use your hands for 20 minutes. Awesome. I ordered this one online which works fine, but I recommend just cutting holes in an old sports bra — cheaper and easier.

If you’re a nursing mama with any additional recommendations, feel free to leave a comment!

Favorite Things / Pregnancy

Third Trimester Favorites

May 5, 2015

The third trimester is pretty tough. Your belly seems to grow by the day and all the extra weight (that’s, y’know, concentrated to one single part of your body) starts feeling, well, heavy. I started feeling a lot slower and more tired in the third trimester. Normal tasks get more and more difficult as pregnancy progresses, and you have this near-constant reminder that you’re not able to do all the things you could before you were pregnant. That being said, here are the things I’ve been enjoying in my third (and final!) trimester:

Baths: I’ve never been much of a “bath person.” Part of this is probably due to the fact that I’ve never had a really deep luxurious tub since I’ve been an adult, but I also like to get showering over and done with quickly because I generally have 400 things I’m trying to take care of every night. Being pregnant though, sometimes there’s just nothing better than taking some time to sit and relax in the warm water, lighting some candles and listening to soothing music. I started taking baths when I noticed that my body was feeling especially tired and achey at the end of a long day, and man does it make a difference. My tub is just a regular 1926 standard bathtub too, so don’t think you need some fancy soaking tub to feel the relaxing benefits of a bath!

Prenatal Massage: My birthday was last month, and one of the few things on my wishlist was a prenatal massage. I was finally able to get that massage yesterday (on my first official day of maternity leave!) and let me tell you — it was amazing. There is absolutely nothing like a massage during the third trimester to help ease some of the discomfort. If you can afford to get a massage, or can talk someone into getting you a gift card to a spa that specializes in prenatal massage, DO IT. You won’t regret it!

Pregnancy Tea: I started drinking pregnancy tea in the evenings recently, and while it isn’t exactly life-changing, it’s a nice way to wind down on the couch in the evening. I think it does give me some braxton hicks contractions (though I can’t be sure since I’ve been having them off and on since 22 weeks), but it’s supposed to help ready your body for delivery, so hopefully that’s what it’s doing. I also bought some raspberry leaf tea, but I haven’t been brave enough to drink it yet because I’m kind of nervous that it’s going to send me into labor… (Probably totally illogical, but still.)

Clothing: Nothing new on this front, really. Sticking to the workout wear I mentioned in my last favorites post (and am wearing in the picture above), plus the Old Navy maxi dresses I’ve mentioned 100 times. I also picked up one of the Gap Fit Breathe V-neck Tees, which is really soft and stretchy. I love that you can wear it to workout or with jeans or shorts as a regular top; plus it comes in a lot of colors.

Skin and Beauty: Same old, same old here. Still sticking with the Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter (and no stretch marks yet!) I’m really diligent about putting it all over my belly every single night, so I’m hoping I can make it to the end without a mark in sight. (Fingers crossed!)

Current Crushes / Favorite Things

Current Crushes: My Favorites for Face

March 31, 2015

I posted awhile back about a few of the beauty items I was using and loving, but didn’t get much into my skincare routine or what I use on my face on a daily basis.

I’m always curious to know how people care for their skin and what products they use, so I thought I might share my current routine with y’all, in case you’re looking to change up your own routine a bit (or in case you’re just nosy like I am).

A little background — I have problematic skin. I’ve suffered from random bouts of acne since middle school and have tried just about every topical medication on the market and eventually went on Accutane in high school. Accutane tamed things for a few years, but my acne returned when I went to law school (coincidence? I think not.) and I started using Proactiv. I used Proactiv religiously for years and found that it worked wonders. However, a few years ago it stopped being effective, and I was tired of having to shell out money every month for the products. I wanted to get into a routine that was more sustainable long-term, and more focused on anti-aging, so I pestered my husband into buying me a Clarisonic brush for my birthday (which was everyone’s obsession 2 years ago). I gave the Clarisonic a go for 9 months before giving up on it completely. Honestly, the brush made me breakout worse than anything had in the past, and left my skin feeling tight and looking shiny. I loved how clean my skin felt after using the brush, but the downside (the way it made my skin look) far outweighed any of the benefits. I finally decided to shelve the brush and get back to basics — gentle cleansing, no product swapping, letting my skin breathe, etc. — and I really noticed a difference. My face cleared up in a matter of weeks, and aside from the random pregnancy hormone-fueled breakout here and there, my skin has behaved and stayed clear since I stopped using all the fancy gadgetry and products.

Also, obviously I’m super pale (it comes with the red hair), so I tend to be prone to redness (with my lovely pink undertones and easy ability to blush over anything). My skin tends to be more on the dry side, especially in winter, so I focus a lot on moisturizing and trying to keep my skin balanced and even-toned.

I’ve divided up my routine into three categories — prep, base, and finish. I’ve made a lot of changes to my skincare routine over the years (and some recent changes as well), so I’ve noted the products I’ve been using a long time (years) vs. things that are newer in my repertoire.

PREP

Cleanser: I use the Dove White Beauty Bar to wash my face every morning and every night. I’ve been using Dove soap on my face since middle school and stick with it because it’s so gentle and mild.
Makeup Remover: I use Neutrogena’s oil-free eye makeup remover to remove any traces of eye makeup in the evenings. It’s gentle and non-greasy and ok for contact lens wearers like me.
PM: At night after washing my face and removing all my makeup, I use Tarte’s Maracuja Oil on my face, Tarte’s Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Treatment under my eyes, and Burt’s Bees classic beeswax lip balm on my lips. If I have a blemish, I use Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick for spot treatment. I like the Maracuja Oil because it’s moisturizing but still feels light and surprisingly non-greasy. The eye cream is one I’ve been using for about a year and a half — I am always on the hunt for the best eye cream out there (and have tried many). This one is nicely hydrating and doesn’t irritate my skin (as many do). And of course, you guys already know about the Burt’s Bees Blemish Stick if you’ve been reading my Pregnancy Favorites posts. It’s kind of smelly (due to the tea tree oil), but it’s natural and works well, so it gets my vote.
AM: In the morning after washing my face, I use Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15, Tarte’s Maracuja C-Brightener Eye Treatment under my eyes, and Burt’s Bees classic beeswax lip balm on my lips. I’ve been using Neutrogena’s moisturizer for years now. Occasionally I’ve strayed and tried something new, but I always find my way back to Neutrogena’s classic because it’s light, has SPF, and doesn’t make me break out.

BASE

After prepping my face with moisturizer, I use Laura Mercier’s oil-free tinted moisturizer (in Cameo) for light, all-over coverage. There’s a total cult following for this moisturizer, and for good reason. It somehow provides awesome, even coverage without having that thick, cakey “I’m wearing foundation” look.
For under my eyes and any other spot that needs concealing, I use YSL Touche Eclat concealer (in Shade 2) and/or Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer (either in Fair or Brightener… I can’t remember which one I have). Bonus for the Maybelline concealer — if you buy the shade lighter than your skin tone it works great as a highlighter as well as a concealer. The YSL concealer is pricey, but it provides really natural-looking coverage, which is tough to find in a concealer, and it doesn’t crease — even when worn all day.

FINISH

To set my makeup, I had been using Laura Mercier’s Invisible Loose Setting Powder (great for a matte finish, because the LM moisturizer is fairly shiny), but recently I switched over to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder (in Diffused Light) because I’ve felt like my 3rd trimester skin could use a little extra pick me up (I’m really tired these days, so the lighting powder gives that “lit from within” effect which makes me feel a little bit less “I’m 100 weeks pregnant.”) The Hourglass powders aren’t cheap, and I think whether you like them or not totally depends on whether you’re someone who likes that sort of luminous, glowy look. I used to wear a lot of glitter back in the day (hi, I started wearing makeup in the 90’s), so the whole luminous thing is totally up my alley. I’ll probably be horrified by it in like 10 years (or my daughter will be horrified for me. Y’know.), but hey, I’m into it now, so what can you do.
I, being the pale vampire that I am, of course finish things up with some blush — my go-to is Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush. I use the Blissful shade, but am on the hunt for a rosier hue to use occasionally. I’ve heard good things about Hourglass’ blush — and given how much I like their powders (I have both Diffused Light and Luminous Light) I may just need to give them a whirl.