My Mini Escape

These days, I don't get much time to get away, so I seize the opportunity for a break whenever I can. When I don't have time for a bath, one of my favorite "getaways" is to slip into my husband's shower (our house has his and her's baths, and my bathroom only has a bathtub), with the lights off, and take a shower in the dark. I know it sounds strange, but it is so supremely soothing to stand under the jets with no pressure to shave, do my hair, or multitask in any way. All I do is relax and get clean with a fabulous smelling body wash. Don't believe this is the quickest and easiest way to relax. Pass the baby to your husband and try it for yourself!

Product Reviews: Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub and Delicious Self Tanning Cream

These reviews are from my friend Nicole, a glamorous 27-year-old mom of two babies. Nicole is one of those moms whose hair and makeup always look perfect, even though she has a 2 year old and a 9 month old.

Clarins - Gommage Exfoliant, Smoothing Body Scrub

I used this while damp in the shower. The exfoliant "beads" were the perfect roughness. I really like a tough exfoliant and this product gave me the hard scrub I desire, although it was gentle enough for all the delicate areas of the anatomy. The product was nice and thick and stayed were I was rubbing really well. The exfoliant rinsed off my body nicely and I immediately felt smoother. I have clogged pores on my arms which result in little bumps. The next morning the skin on my arms were noticeably smoother which made me very happy :) My only complaint was the smell. I wish it were a tad bit fresher smelling.


Clarins - Delicious Self Tanning Cream

I used the self tanner immediately after the exfoliant. Upon opening the jar I was excited by the color - it was a beautiful bronzey cream. Some self tanners are white and you have to imagine what the color will develop into. Clarins gave me a confidence booster right away which I loved. The smell was typical of a self tanner although not as offensive as some drugstore brands. The texture of the cream was my favorite part of the whole experience. It was truly delicious - just as the bottle suggested! I wish I had an everyday moisturizer with such a great consistency, because I would love to smooth something of this texture on my body in great volume everyday!!!!! The tanning cream absorbed very nicely into my skin without leaving a heavy or greasy feeling. I felt comfortable getting dressed shortly after the application. The next morning I woke up to a pleasant bronzy glow without feeling orange. I was very pleased that I had no streaks or dark spots anywhere, yippee! I have never had a good experience with a self-tanner, but this one has changed my way of thinking. I will definitely use this product again.

Botox Works!

Okay, I know this isn't news to anyone, but until you try something for yourself, you just never know. I knew it would have an effect, of course. I just wasn't sure it would be a desirable one. I went to a local, very respected doctor, Dr. Curtis Schalit, who is very experienced with Botox. He is known for his subtlety with the procedure - no frozen faces here. Now the two week waiting period has passed and I am thrilled with the results. Nobody, not even my mom or sister, know that anything has happened, but the crow's feet are gone. I still smile, I am still expressive, and other expression lines still show up on my face, but I am literally unable to wrinkle my eyes in a way that generates crow's feet. How fabulous is that.

After seeing the results, even my husband is considering it! I'll post pictures soon, but it seems that the Mommy Makeover is underway after all!

Craving a Kid's Necklace

I was at the pediatrician's office today for Eva's 9 month visit, when I spotted the most amazing ensemble on the cover of Parenting. And it wasn't on the mama. It was on the toddler girl. A cozy cream sweaterdress accessoried with a long necklace made of colorful crochet beads. Love. Turns out they are both by Ouef. I went straight to the website and bought the necklace. Now the only question is - do I keep it for myself or give it to Lola? LINK

If I only had a boy...

For about 8 weeks during my first pregnancy, I thought that Lola was going to be Luke. I took the challenge of having the best dressed boy on the block very seriously, even though he hadn't even been born. I picked up tiny polos and khaki pants, cozy sweaters, precious little linen one-piece ensembles. Friends gave me boy gifts, including an adorable blanket with a car motif by Coccoli from my cousin Lois, a favorite item I've yet to pass on. On a trip to Italy, I chose boy outfits, including tiny crocheted booties in boyish colors and a little grey flannel shorts outfit with suspenders over a white shirt. But even as I shopped, I bemoaned the relative lack of adorable boy clothes. Fortunately, that's changing every day. These days, the baby boy of my dreams is undergoing a fashion crisis. Is he cute and clean-cut preppy boy, in his john-johns and polo shirts? Or is he colorful, and slightly hipper (but not overly so - no rock star tees for me) Euro boy? As with my girls wardrobes, I can't make up my mind, so I buy what I love and leave it at that. Here, some cool clothes that might make the cut for the little lad in your life.

Best & Co Cashmere Sweater: LINK

Hip onesies: Love the bold, graphic print from Kit & Lili LINK.

Amazing gorgeous silkscreened designs at Lucky Fish LINK,

Fab printed tees and cool wide-leg pants from Nonchalant Mom: LINK

Love the bold colors and great prints at Plastisock, and that the pieces are so versatile and can be mixed and matched. And I think the $28 bodysuits make great, inexpensive gifts! LINK

Love this hoodie and striped top combo! LINK

I think personalization makes kids feel special, and this sweater is so preppy and cute. LINK

I'm obsessed with sweater knits for babies (and mommies), and Eye Spy makes the most amazing, colorful knits for girls and boys. This jumpsuit is adorable! LINK

TEA collection offers very hip, worldly clothes inspired by other cultures. This Dragon Camo one piece has to be the coolest onesie ever. LINK

Pepper Toes makes the coolest baby boy sweaters ever. With the matching pants, they're a perfect gift! I can't decide which is my favorite, but for this season, I'll pick the pumpkin. LINK

I love this striped, long sleeved polo. It's so classic and perfect, and Ralph Lauren baby clothes are always the best quality. LINK

I love little one piece shorts outfits for little boys. My friend Paige, who has one of the best dressed toddlers I've seen, calls them john-johns, and they have that crisp, classic, just-in-from-Nantucket look. This one is adorable, and very reasonably priced. LINK

This kimono set is chic yet comfy - a perfect combo for a baby. LINK

Love the appliques on these tees from 2 Lulas! LINK

Cool shoes are essential! LINK

Love this updated take on the popular sailor motif for little boys. Wish they had this for girls! LINK

This is reminiscent of the adorable ensemble I bought in Italy.

Classic and flawless. Love this little corduroy romper. LINK

Anavini is a codeword for classic in babywear, and these shortalls are no exception. LINK

These Burberry baby shoes just kill me. I almost bought a pair for "Luke" at Harrod's, but my husband talked me out of it. I still want them. LINK

I think Trumpette baby socks are an everday essential, and these are just too cute! LINK

Botox - at last

I've been wanting to do Botox for years, since my early 30s when considering it seemed cute and kind of precocious. Now I'm 38, and it's not cute anymore. It's essential.
I went in on Thursday, the first thing I did was indulge in a facial, my first since Eva was born. It began with a thorough cleansing, extractions (I had developed a couple of milia due to using moisturizers that were simply too heavy for my skin - an occupational hazard as I'm always testing products), and then concluded with microdermabrasion and a lactic acid peel. This peel was unlike any other I've tried. It is designed to be left on. For about an hour, your skin feels tacky, but after that your face looks glowy and feels amazingly soft. As with most peels, the second day your skin starts to feel a little dry as it prepares to shed those unsightly dead layers, and today the shedding began in earnest. Most people dread this part, but I find it encouraging, because I know the healthier, fresher skin is underneath, waiting to emerge.

After my facial, I stepped into the doctor's office, where my dear friend and Botox veteran Kari Boatner held my hand through my first-ever procedure. Since I was doing only a small area - around my eyes - the doctor administered 3 shots on either side of my eyes - 6 total. I'm told it feels like a bee sting, and although I've never been stung, I'd say that sounds right. It stung, but only for a second. One one side, you couldn't see that anything had happened, but on the other side, it bruised very very slightly. It's almost imperceptible. I've seen my mom and my sister a few times since then and they never even noticed it. So, I was told that it takes 3 days to begin to see results, and the full effect sets in at 2 weeks. Tomorrow it will be the third day since the procedure, and I can't wait to see the results. I will be posting pictures, so check back soon!

Loving Lingerie...

I'm always been obsessed with lingerie. At one point, I had 25 pink bras. PINK BRAS. But now that my breast size fluctuates acording to how much Eva has eaten that day, I am holding off on my La Perla purchases until my boobs decide which size they're going to be. Or until I decide to get surgery. Instead, I'm focusing on cute underwear, loungewear, and nightgowns. And, since my babies see me in my sleepwear every morning, they can't be too sexy. Cute, comfy, and girly. That's my lingerie style these days. These are my current obsessions:

Undrest: When we were in Chicago this summer, I discovered this line at Anthropologie. SO femme, with sweet unexpected touches, and all in cotton. LOVE. www.undrest.com

PJ Salvage Wild Dream Tank and Lounge Pants: Love the print, and the fabric feels amazing. LINK

Honeydew knickers: In my quest for a nice word to call underwear, I've settled on the British knickers. No, I'm not being pretentious. I just hate the word "panty." Doesn't everyone? Love these mesh ones. They are sexy and flattering and comfy. They really enhance the bottom, and the ruffled mesh knickers are the cutest! LINK

Anne Pinkerton lingerie at Anthropologie: So cute and so girly, like everything at one of my favorite stores. I've never gotten excited about silk pajama pants before, but these have me dreaming of long, lazy weekend mornings. Not that I have those anymore. Love the fabric, print, and smocked waist! LINK

Cosabella makes my favorite knickers ever, and their sleepwear is also amazing. The fabrics are so soft and yummy, and the quality is unbeatable. Love this cute babydoll nightgown. LINK