New Mommy Must Haves!

Pretty much everyone I know is pregnant, just had a baby or is about to have a baby. It's got me thinking about all the things I could not live without in the first few months. When you are sleep deprived, trying to heal from labor and getting used to life with a new baby, it's the little things that you appreciate. Here are some of my must-haves!

If you decide to breast feed, this product is a gem! I used the tender care Lanolin multiple times a day and never had any cracking, dryness or bleeding. It's completely safe for you and the baby. Medela makes fabulous products for nursing-their pump is an investment, but it is by far the best, I would highly recommend it.

I can't say enough about Mustela's products. They not only smell wonderful, but they are completely gentle on your new baby's soft skin. These gentle cleansing cloths are the best for in between baths when they are first born. I also love their no-rinse cleansing wash for the face and diaper area. Gets rid of crusty noses and freshens up the bottom after dirty diapers.

When you are in the hospital, the nurses teach you how to Swaddle. You think you have it right when you get home and then you find that your baby has become a little escapee in the middle of the night. Kiddopotomus makes the best swaddler that is fool-proof and will help your baby sleep through the night. They come in Small, medium and large and in multiple fabrications. We personally loved the fleece ones as they were softer and we felt warmer for our baby. You can find them at Babies R Us

When your baby is tiny you want them to be warm and cozy. You also want clothes that are easy to wash and that make diaper changing a breeze. I discovered these leggings by Old Navy when my son was an infant and we literally went through 3 size runs of them, they were the best. They come in a 2 pack for $10.50 and they come in multiple color combos (they go up to 18 months). I loved them because they were slim through the leg and they looked just darling over his long sleeve onesies. They were my go-to pant for months!

I threw this in because I wish I would have known about these when I was post-prego. It's called the Belly Bandit. It is an abdominal compression binder that helps speed up the tummy tightening process after you have your baby! This binding process has been used by women all over the world for centuries...it has just taken the U.S. longer to catch on. Brooke Burke has been doing this after every baby...I am a believer after seeing her body!

Frisky Summer

I am definitely over my summer clothes...the maxi dresses have gotten their money's worth, I've worn every tank top and even my white jeans have lost their appeal. But, the one thing I am still in love with is that tan and glow that only summer can bring. When it is still 90 degrees, you want your clothes, makeup and hair to feel light. These are all items that even when you can't bear to put on your gladiators one more day, you will still feel fresh as you did the first day of summer.

As you have read in past blogs, I am a bit of a beauty nut. Thanks to my friend Gina, I now have a new makeup obsession...NARS. I have owned their "orgasm" blush for years, but never have tried anything else from them. I enlisted her help for the perfect summer, pink/coral shade that would be pool appropriate and that would look great for summer. She did not dissapoint when she applied "Frisky Summer" to my lips. It's a gorgeous shade of Raspberry sorbet that looks wonderful alone or paired with a soft pink lipstick. It's more Matte than shimmery, but it has the perfect wet glossy look for summer.$24 on nars.com

H20 is a skincare line that has been around for years. It's Chicago based and my obsession kind of started when I worked right next to a store. Their Hydrating Body Gloss spray is just the thing you need after a day in the sun. It's a dry oil which gives your skin a supple sheen without being greasy. It also has this wonderful light scent that is a mix of beach and floral. $14 on ulta.com

Alright, let's talk some more about NARS...another new product that I found was their cream eyeshadow. When it's hot out, the last thing you want to do is really spend time on your makeup. I like something easy and light that looks natural. Their cream eyeshadow is so wonderful, it doesn't crease and it applies super evenly. I was surprised how pigmented it was, you can honestly wear them without any other colors. My favorite shade is Mykonos which is a rosey copper shade. $21 on Nars.com

Lastly, my wonderful salon The Darling room (best blonde highlights ever, by the way) introduced me to this product by Oribe called Royal Blowout. When my stylist Johny put it in my hair it smelled so good I wanted to eat it...literally. I didn't want to wash my hair for a day because it was so wonderful. InStyle magazine has it listed as their stylists favorite products because it smoothes the hair without weighing it down and because it gives you sheen without being greasy...they should have mentioned the smell too, because it's outrageously good! $42 on c.o.bigelow.com

Adios July!!!

Normally July is a very festive month. You have the 4th of July, I have multiple friend's birthdays, and it's the middle of summer, what more could you ask for? In my case, it's been a bit of a stressful month.

I took 2 extensive trips with my 10 month old, sans my Husband who could not come because of work. I went North for 10 days to see my family and then south (9 hours each way in the car) to see my husband's family, all within 3 weeks. During this time, my son cut 2 teeth...MISERABLE. As you all know, it's not a fun process. He was such a trooper through it all. We just had many whiny days and sleepless nights during the trips, which are hard to deal with when it's just one person taking care of everything.

Between these trips I had an unfortunate experience where I was assaulted in the grocery store parking lot while I was strapping my baby into his car seat. The perv just grabbed me, but it was still very invasive and scary, especially since I had my baby with me. The A-hole proceeded to attack a woman at knife-point in a park two days later...thankfully he was caught and is now in jail. I am lucky they found him, most of these things go unresolved. I was left rattled, but certainly more aware.

ok, so I got it out, the whining is over and it's time to move on...We have August to look forward to! August brings great things; my husband's 30th Birthday (he reads the blog, so I can't divulge my plans yet), Rachel Zoe, Project Runway and Mad Men all return this month! We can't forget that fall clothes will be in stores...I can't WAIT to get some cozy sweaters and boots for my new SAHM wardrobe.

So, let's raise a pretend toast (mine would be a St.Germaine Cocktail) to no-teething, good reality t.v. and a new, fabulous month!

Southern Hospitality

This is my husband's grandmother Laurie breaking it down at our wedding. She is affectionately called "Tyke" by many family members because she's so tiny! I am packing the bags for yet another trip, this time to the deep south to visit Laurie in Shreveport, LA. She has not met Julian yet, so we are taking him to see her. Let's hope he does well on the 9 hour car ride! (God help me) I won't be doing any blog posting for another week or so, I will miss you all! Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Fall shoe infatuation

I am usually the girl who dreads putting the summer clothes away and trading in my sandals for boots. But for some reason I am just SO excited for fall. This season is different, I am now a SAH Mom and the majority of my fall clothes and shoes are appropriate for work, but not so much running around with my soon-t0-be one year old. I spent a good amount of time looking for shoes that would accommodate my new lifestyle. Here is my "wish" list for fall.

I have always wanted a pair of flat black boots, especially ones with a somewhat pointed toe. I almost fell over in my chair when I saw these. Love the zipper detail, love the low heel...wow...they are perfect. Belle by Sigerson Morrison on Piperlime.

Lori's Shoes in Chicago has a new line of Italian Leather boots exclusive to them. These camel riding boots by Le Pepe are absolutely gorgeous and worth every penny of the $398 they are charging for them. These are a timeless classic and could be worn with everything from skirts to dresses to your favorite skinny jeans. Very Ralph Lauren...LOVE!

I have to say, I was shocked when I saw that these shoes were Juicy Couture! I love the metallic leather and the ankle straps with studs. This would be the ideal shoe for beautiful fall weather and mild winters that we have in Kansas City. These are a fabulous find on shopbop.com for $350

Jeffrey Campbell, where have you been all my life? I love your shoes, I could buy almost every pair of them! These Grey and Blue heels are absolutely fabulous. I love the color combo, and it has the scalloped detailing down the front that is so big this season. The best part about this designers shoes is that they are very modestly priced. This pair is only $96 on Lorisshoes.com

Nowadays flats have become a staple in my wardrobe. I wore Tory Burch's for a long time, and I am ready for a change. I love these python flats from Jeffrey Campbell. They are neutral enough to wear with many different colors and I love the stud detailing on the toes. Also on Lorisshoes.com for $110

What shoes are you lusting after this season?

Drooling...

I am kind of embarrassed to say that I am about as excited as I would be at Neiman's last call. I guess my life has changed because I am now getting a rush from looking at fall clothes for my baby.

I just received an email about Boden's new fall line and Holy Cow, I wanted to buy everything! I know it is only July, but this U.K. based store sells out of their sizes quickly! Their quality is spectacular and not everyone knows about it, so your kid can look somewhat unique at gymboree or your next playdate. Here are some of my faves for both boys and girls 0-24

months

I adore this car cardigan with striped sleeves! Cardigans are a trend this fall, so I think it would be super cute for my little guy as well! $44

I adore everything about this outfit for little girls. The pretty yellow corduroy pinafore paired with the bright striped tights...perfect at $34

This Teddy Button through coat is so precious, I would definitely be buying this if I had a little girl. It's a steal at $38

I want this whole getup for Julian-the toggle coat and hat and gloves with the penguin applique. The coat is $38 and the hat and gloves are $32

Boden makes the best tee shirts! This Monster tee is hilarious at $22! I also love the drawstring jersey-cotton lined jeans. These also come in corduroy as well, which I will be buying in brown for $32

It's the little things...

If you have ever lived in Chicago (or even visited) You may have happened upon a wonderful little beauty supply store on Oak Street called Bravco. It's tucked away in a 2 story brownstone (2 doors down from Barney's Chelsea Passage entrance) and it is full of tons of little gems in the beauty supply world.

One of my favorite things that they carry hair accessories by a brand called Smoothies. Now, these aren't your normal ponytail holders or bobby pins. The Bobby Pins come in brown, black and gold to match your hair color. They also make ones that are really small that are perfect for those of us with thinner hair. They are great for when you want to do little twists and braids because they tuck perfectly into your without being noticed.

Their Blax Snag free hair elastics are the best! They prevent hair from breakage and they also come in different colors and thicknesses. I love the clear ones because again, you can do many different things with your hair and you don't have to deal with a big thick ponytail holder.

Since I am no longer within walking distance to Bravco, I now have to order Smoothies products online. Thankfully they have a WONDERFUL website. Check it out...smoothiesbyintuition.com