Genius product for nursing moms: Lily Padz

I know that Lily Padz have been around for a while, but this is my first time trying them out. I have to say, they are amazing. For all of you mom's who are nursing, you know how expensive breast pads can be, not to mention they are bulky and don't look that great under fitted clothing. Lily Padz are a solution to both of these problems.

They are re-usable "skin like" silicone pads that conform to your breast for a secure fit, allowing you to wear whatever you like without leaking. You can take them off in between feedings and stick them right back on. I rinse them with soap and water at night and let them dry which is supposed to lengthen the life of the LilyPadz.

They have been a lifesaver so far this summer when wearing a swimsuit. No leaky boobs at the pool...HURRAY!

Some advice, don't use them when your milk first comes in because you will leak. Wait a few weeks until your milk is regulated, and you should be just fine.

Let the drinking commence...

It's summer. I am no longer pregnant. Let's celebrate with a cocktail, shall we? My husband discovered this amazing new drink recipe which uses Grey Goose's newest vodka, Cherry Noir. The "Cherry Collins" as they call it, is a light and refreshing summer cocktail you could enjoy poolside on a hot day. It would also be a great cocktail to serve at your next dinner party.

and here is the recipe:

Ingredients

GREY GOOSE® Cherry Noir

2Parts Fresh Lemon Juice

¾Parts Simple Syrup

¾ Parts

Club Soda Splash

Preparation

1. Fill glass slightly above rim with cubed ice.
2. Pour ingredients in order listed to 1/2 inch from top of glass and stir.
3. Add soda straw and garnish with a cherry.

Tips

The sour is a classic cocktail, and the key to making a great one is using fresh-squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup, rather than pre-prepared sour mix. Use this same basic recipe to create delicious Sour cocktails with all of the GREY GOOSE Flavored Vodkas.

Summer wedding style for any occasion

Wedding season is in full swing! Most likely you will be attending at least one wedding this summer. Nowadays, brides and grooms are getting more creative with their wedding themes...so whether you are attending an afternoon wedding or a black tie affair, I have some fun ensembles for any occasion...

BEACH WEDDING

Source: goo.gl via Melanie on Pinterest

How gorgeous is this peach Alice + Olivia number? The flowing chiffon and peach color would be just perfect for a beach wedding. I would pop this with some bright aqua or even bright coral or pink accessories.

and a more affordable option...this colorblock maxi from Asos. Love the beachy feel of this blue and tan combo. Reminiscent of Sand and water, don't you think? And super inexpensive at  $41



AFTERNOON GARDEN WEDDING

Source: stevenmichaelphoto.com via Melanie on Pinterest

An afternoon garden wedding calls for something less dressy, colorful and fun. Lily Pulitzer does this sort of dress perfectly. The Sarafina Dress is a gorgeous floral in a feminine silhouette.

and a more affordable option. This darling belted dress in a bird print for $74

THE BLACK TIE AFFAIR

Source: hostessblog.com via Melanie on Pinterest

If a fancy wedding is on your agenda this summer, you may be looking for something more glam than your average cocktail dress. This dress by ONE  screams sexy, sophisticated summer wedding. It comes in 4 stunning jewel tones...the emerald green being my absolute favorite.

and the BACK! LOVE!

and a more budget friendly option, is this Strapless dress by Asos...only $74!

What will you be wearing to weddings this summer?

Hidden Gem in KC: The Fashionista Exchange

I have driven past the Fashionista Exchange a million times and had always been intrigued by it. I finally looked them up online and decided that I needed to clean out my closet and part with some items I had been holding on to. What I have learned is that if you haven't worn the item in a year or 2, you really won't be wearing it again. Unless it's an investment piece, just part with it...and make room for some new items in your closet!

I loaded up 2 bins and took them into the shop. The owner Danielle quickly scooped up my baby and allowed me to shop and look around as they assessed the items I brought in. The best part about the Fashionista Exchange is that they compensate you right there, on the spot. They will give you either 30% of what they can sell the item for (in cash) or 50% store credit. There is no appointment necessary, just bring in your clean, current and cute clothing!

If you are looking for good deals, it's also a fabulous place to shop. Everything I looked at was mostly under $30 and in excellent condition. They also had some designer items with tags still on them, like this grey Club Monaco beaded shift dress. The designer items were priced higher, as to be expected but they were still affordable.

She has everything from clothes, to shoes and a fun selection of accessories. I spotted this Hermes scarf and almost fainted. It's a steal at $49!

I of course didn't leave empty handed, I got this fun printed blouse for $9.50

 and this really pretty white tank with pleating and ruffle detail $24

Do yourself a favor and visit the girls at the Fashionista Exchange located at 8777 W. 95th St.
(95th & Antioch next to the Paul Mitchell school)
Overland Park, KS 66212 913-341-2537.

If you are interested in selling items, just call them ahead of time to make sure they are still accepting merchandise.

Cheap and Chic (all under $25!)

I feel like I have been living at Target lately. Maybe it's the fact that we have a new baby and there always seems to be something we are out of . Wipes, gas drops, diapers...you name it! And as you know, it's impossible to get through Target without picking up something that wasn't on your list.

We have had a lot of Thank You notes to write, with the arrival of our baby girl. I found these adorable cards by Mara Mi at Target. They are $5.99 for a pack of 10 or $10.99 for a set of 50!!! They have vibrant patterns and colors and the paper quality is actually decent.

You probably have heard about or seen Emi-Jay hair ties. They are not cheap, they run about $12.99 for a pack of 5. I happened to find a knock-off at Target for $2.50 for a pack of 3! They were in a weird spot at our Target, they were on an end-cap in the pharmacy department. I picked up 2 sets and when I went back they were sold out! I am hoping they re-stock soon, because now I am obsessed with these hair ties. They don't leave marks in your hair and they also double as a bracelet :)

Last year I bought a Sonia Kashuk Kabuki brush for my bronzer and it is fantastic. I discovered her 7 brush set recently and they are so inexpensive. The entire "Star Studded" Brush set is $24.99 and this even includes a cute bag to hold all the brushes. What a steal!

Normally I am a bit picky about shampoo and conditioner. I typically purchase something from my salon. In a desperate need of a new conditioner, I stumbled across John Frieda's new Awakening line. The one I purchased is called Purify + Nurish which is designed for an oily scalp with dry hair. It's my exact combination! The Shampoo and Conditioner smells delicious and it gives my hair just enough hydration without weighing it down. It's extremely well priced at $5.99 a bottle. It also comes in Hydrate + Nourish for a dry scalp and breakage prone hair.

Pool Prepped

After a long search, I finally found my bikini for the summer. It's an el cheap-o from Old Navy, but I could care less. It's simple, cute and the most important part, it FITS! I didn't want to spend a ton on a suit that I know I probably won't wear after this summer. I still have a few pounds to lose and my body is not completely back to normal. I am also nursing, so I needed a top that would accomodate the "ladies" if you know what I mean. Both pieces cost me a total of $30! You gotta love that!

Now I need a cute coverup to go with it...

Loving this striped tunic from Joie

I love the simple sophistication of this Thayer shirtdress

A simple Maxi would get a lot of use all summer long...this navy one by C&C California looks easy and comfortable.

DYING for this yellow stripe also by Joie

At the pool, the only sandal that makes sense is a rubber flip flop. It doesn't get much better than  these amazing Missoni for Havaianas...aren't they fabulous?

and to top it off, our new favorite sun screen, Wet Skin by Neutrogena. This stuff is a MUST if you have kids and if you are going in and out of the pool all day long.

My New Mommy "Fave" list...

It's been 3 years since our last baby, and I can't believe all of the new It's amazing all the updated gear, clothing lines and baby stuff there is to choose from. Just when you think you have it all you come across something new and exciting that you can't live without.

Hare are some of my favorite things that are getting us through the newborn stage right now...

 For those of you like me, who tend to store important papers in many random places, this product is a dream. My friend Maria gave us the Baby Briefcase as a shower gift, and now all of Baby Vivienne's "documents", health information, and any other important paperwork is all in one place (and neatly labeled, I may add!) We just keep it in her closet, so I always know where to find it.

Aden + Anais was not around when my son was born, and it's a shame because their products are fantastic. I am totally obsessed with the swaddling blankets and my next purchase will be their "Burpy Bib". We have some rectangular burp cloths by them and they are by far my favorite. The muslin cotton just gets softer as you wash them, they are amazing!

Without any prompting or request of a new drying rack, my husband picked up this Boon bottle drying rack at Target. Not only does it look semi-cool, but it also works like a charm. Instead of having a huge rack on the counter, this uses less space and holds a good amount of bottles/parts.

If you have ever gone shopping for a nursing bra, you know that they are pretty unattractive. Most are nude colored and very BLAH. I came across these cute Gillian O'Malley nursing bras at Target and they are the best. They look feminine, give you good support and obviously the convenient front snaps to allow you to nurse. They call it a "sleep" bra, but I wear it during the day as well. $16.99 at Target

Wheat Collection is a Danish children's line that is fairly new to the US. Vivienne has 2 pieces from the line and I just love it. The collection is simple, with pretty details and made of beautiful fabrics.

Go Gently Baby is another adorable line that I have recently come across. The pieces are sweet and simple as can be. I love their diaper covers and little tops!

Candy Dress $60

Woven Top $48

Bloomers $30

What are some of your favorite mom items that you can't live without?