Baby Shower

A friend of mine threw a baby shower last weekend and because I find shopping for children fun and exciting, I decided to post my thoughts & gift.

While most people have registries, the registry link I was given had a lot of purchased items so I was left on my own to purchase something else. I ended up taking some of the knowledge I learned working in a children's department and gifting a few key items that I feel every mother needs, at least this is what I've noted when several mothers purchased like items from me, haha. 

A blanket. I'm not a mother but I'm sure when that time comes, I wouldn't want to put polyester-type fabrics on him/her. I purchased an organic cotton blanket; super soft that any baby can be wrapped up in. Check out my other recommendations here & here.

One-piece suits aka onesies. Along with the mothers I shopped with at the department store, I've seen my own family favor onesies over 2-piece suits. At a young age, you don't want to fuss around with multiple clothing items. Placing your baby in one outfit and buttoning them up is the way to go. I've heard from several mothers that these Gap one-piece suits hold up really well- and are true to size! (boy's version here)

Bib. Because you can't have enough- says almost any mother, for quick wipes here & there.

Check out some other popular baby shower gifts:

Swaddling Cloths. after each wash, the fabric gets softer and softer. Why wouldn't you want to wrap your child in this?

MamaRoo.The best gift any mother can receive. This nifty bouncer plays soothing sounds to calm a baby, as well as move in different motions. My favorite? Driving a car motion; a much safer alternative... and you save gas, haha.

WubbaNub. I've probably sold and/or suggested one of these to almost all my baby gifting customers. The little stuffed giraffe or monkey prevents this pacifier from getting lost.

I googled some images of baby gift wrap to get an idea to jazz up my Baby Gap gift box. Taking some twine and some hand-cut images added a sweet touch for the mommy-to-be. Hope she enjoyed it as much as I did shopping for it!

Haul | Tom Ford

I stopped by a Tom Ford counter to check out the Sable Smoke lipstick and walked out with a couple of more items. After trying on several different lip colors, my ultimate favorite has to be Warm Sable. 

Sable Smoke | Warm Sable | Ravish blush

I will show lip swatches in upcoming posts once I get my lighting down.

Staying hydrated throughout Winter

I tend to turn on the heater in the chillier months which can be very drying to my face. After numerous occasions of waking up to see my face peeling and burning, I've decided to lather my skin with moisturizing products that will keep my face hydrated throughout the night.

Here are a few of my favorite products that keep my skin quenched during Winter months:

diptyque Cleansing Balm. While this can remove makeup off of your face, I use this as my hydrating cleanser. Unlike other cleansers that make your skin feel tight or strip your skin of moisture, this thick balm leaves a nice soft layer from its wax and oils. (a little goes a long way with this pricey cleanser)

Josie Maran Argan Oil. Slap some of this oil onto your face for extra hydration at night. But don't actually slap your skin... tap it in! All that heat at night will suck the moisture out of your skin but this will create another layer of moisture on your skin. If the oil is too rich for you, try the lightweight version.

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. The last place you want to apply makeup onto are dry under eyes; where makeup tends to settle in those fine lines. Applying a thick creamy eye cream like this the night before will allow your concealer and/or highlights to be applied on smoothly. And it also plumps those tired eyes from looking saggy.

Vaseline. It has multiple uses but my favorite, is for the lips. I used to use several different lip balms years ago until I realized Vaseline was the only product that kept my lips from getting chapped. I also noticed I don't have to reapply as often as I do with other lip balms. And the best part, it's inexpensive.

L'Occitane Hand Cream with 20% Shea Butter. Don't we all hate ashy hands? And the worst feeling is when your hands hurt due to how dry they are (mine do). This hand cream soaks into your skin instantly and keeps them moisturized. No oily hands or excess perfume/scent lingering around with this product!