Marin Jane

Wednesday, May 31, 2017




Our family welcomed little miss Marin Jane on Thursday, May 18th at 9:05 pm.

She finally arrived after 29 hours of (induced) labor, weighing 7 lbs and 13 oz, measuring 21 inches long...and looking just like her Daddy! 

Everyone is home, healthy, and so very happy <3 







The Swimsuit Struggle

Tuesday, May 30, 2017


As a new mom, one thing I haven't really been looking forward to this upcoming summer is bathing suit season. After 39 weeks of pregnancy, I still have some work to do to get back into pre-pregnancy shape. However, I've found out that there are some great options out there for swimsuits that are mommy-friendly and still super cute and fashionable! 




I'm sure many of you have heard of AdoreMe and their great bras, panties, and lingerie...but did you know they also have swimsuits now? I'm loving so many of their styles, and they have so many choices for those of us that might not be comfortable jumping into teeny bikinis this summer. 

// I love this black one piece - Kallah - that also comes in a plus size option, that looks comfortable and sliming.

// My favorite two pieces both have high waists bottoms (perfect for new moms!) including this floral set with supportive tank style top and this adorable retro set! I love the polka dots and ruched sides. 

// Some of the other one pieces that stood out to me as great options were this plus sized suit with mesh detailing and this pink color-block suit that creates the illusion of a slimmer middle. 

AdoreMe has an amazing range of sizes - from XS through 4X and 30A through 46DDD! I have never seen a brand with such a wide range of sizing options...usually you just get your standard 3-4 sizes! You are also able to customize specific top and bottom sizes when you buy two pieces, so you are sure to get the perfect fit. 

The prices are also great, and much more affordable than a lot of swimwear these days! You can currently use the discount code SWIMSET10 for $10 off AdoreMe's swimwear category through 12/31/2017 (valid with VIP and PAYG orders).

Which swimsuit is your favorite?? 
Other mommas - let me know what styles of swimsuits you love for the summer! xx  

This post was sponsored by AdoreMe, but all opinions are my own.

Things I'm Loving

Wednesday, May 17, 2017



Picked up this makeup mist and the lower lash mascara from Pixi and they are both now must-have makeup items in my daily routine. 

Grabbed this Free People cardigan on sale after loving it many times on The House of Sequins Instagram page. 


Love this blush dress that was featured on Somewhere, Lately - and it is only $55!

I got this awesome brass mid-century inspired lamp for my nightstand recently. I also love this one, but we don't really have anywhere to put it right now!

Eyeing this BIDKhome square glass perfume tray for my dresser - think it would go so well with the new brass lamp!


Life Lately



Still here...still {very} pregnant.

Baby girl is officially due a week from tomorrow, so we will see if she hangs on until then, decides to show up early, or keeps us waiting past 40 weeks! Somehow I have a feeling it is going to be the latter...

Popping on here today to share happenings from the weekend and a quick Mother's Day recap!





Mother's Day was awesome this year. I slept in and woke up to a beautiful bouquet of flowers, the loveliest card, and a gift card for a full-blown spa day (which I am saving for after the baby is born). My sweet husband made it such a special day and I got the best phone call from Aubrey later that morning too. 

Mother's Day can be bittersweet when you are part of a blended family and have step children. However, I am lucky to have a family that has always made me feel included and appreciated, taking time to recognize me every Mother's Day. This one was extra special though, since I am 9 months pregnant with our newest family member!  



Later that night, Aaron and I had tickets for the RHCP concert. We had bought them before we knew I was pregnant, and I was hoping baby girl would hold on long enough for us to still go! ;)

The show was awesome, and I saw at least four other pregnant ladies there. Even got high-fived by one of them and her husband (she was due in 4 days!)...so happy we were able to get one last special date night in! xx

Blush Love

Sunday, May 7, 2017


blush fashion items

I just love this shade of light pink, and I'm extremely happy that it is so popular right now. Being a trendy color means lots of lovely, girly items available in so many different stores! I have pulled together some of my favorite blush items from H&M to share with you in this post...


// Lace & Satin Camisole Top - $17.99
There are multiple great option on the H&M website right now if you are looking for a little lace cami - and many of them are in different shades of blush pink! I like this one though because it is the only one that has lace around the neckline, and also around the bottom hemline :)

// Platform Mules - $24.99 (on sale!)
If I could only have one thing on this list, it would probably be these killer mules. They are faux suede and so cute for spring and summer! I imagine pairing them with a little white sun dress or white jeans.

// Makeup Bag - $12.99
Love this little imitation leather cosmetic bag. It seems like the perfect size to throw in your purse... full of your "must-have" items when you are on the go!

// Pajama Shorts - 2 pack for $17.99
These pajama shorts actually come in a 2-pack with a little heather grey pair too! They are adorable - dainty and feminine, with the little pink stripes and ruffles along the bottom. And perfect for warmer weather PJ attire! 

// Bracelets - 5 pack for $12.99
Such a great combo of bracelets, and perfect for if you want to layer, but don't know where to start! This set comes with a mix of metal and threaded options with cute charms and little jewels.

Korres - The Best Of Gift Set

Thursday, May 4, 2017


Cruelty free skin care

I received this Korres gift set for Christmas and haven't had a chance to start using it until recently! I wanted to use up some other skincare items first, so that I could use all the products in this gift set at the same time.

I have been using everything for about two weeks now. I am really enjoying the products and like the results that my skin is getting from them! I don't think this specific gift set is still available, but there are similar ones and I've linked to each individual product below too. 



Cruelty free skin care

// Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Oil
This product smells AMAZING and feels so nice on the skin. It is a light-weight, silky oil - not greasy at all. I have been using it at night, putting a few drops on my face and neck and pressing it into my skin. The website says you can use it in your daytime routine too, for a dewy and glowy look - so I might try adding it in before my makeup to see if it makes a difference!

// Pomegranate Moisturizing & Balancing Cream-Gel
I love the light, fruity scent that this cream has. It does feel a bit gel-like, but is still a moisturizer in my book. I have been using this on its own some nights (pairing the wild rose products together other nights) and it applies so nicely - going on smoothly and doesn't feel oily or heavy. 

// Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial
They describe this product as an overnight facial in a jar - providing the benefits of a mask and a night cream, and promising brighter skin by morning. I think it is a great product, and although I have only been using it on and off for a couple weeks, I can definitely see my skin start to brighten up after looking dull over the colder months. I layer this over the wild rose oil for a lovely feeling nighttime combo. 

// Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser
I love this cleanser. It has a very rich texture, and the tiniest amount goes a long way - cleaning your entire face. It has a very pleasant and light scent, and is soothing for my sensitive skin...giving it a deep clean without irritating it in any way. 

Although this particular gift set isn't available anymore, here are some similar ones that feature some of the same great products! 

April Empties

Monday, May 1, 2017



I can't believe it is already May! April went by so quickly - and throughout the month I held on to all the products that I finished up so I could share them with you. Some of them were awesome, and I plan to repurchase (or already have repurchased) and some were, well pretty "meh"...so I'll be trying out other things this month.


// Yes to Coconuts - Ultra Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner
While I like some of the items in the Yes To line, this duo wasn't my favorite. They worked well enough, but I wasn't a huge fan of the smell, and there have been plenty shampoos and conditioners that I have liked equally or even more. Needless to say, I won't be repurchasing.

// Pixi + Caroline Hirons Double Cleanse
I gave this cleanser a full review recently, and to summarize...I LOVE IT. It is one of the best cleansers I have ever used, and I really hope it becomes part of the Pixi permanent line. It is gentle, effective, and all-around very high quality. I have already bought a few backups, just in case. 

// Kiss My Face Moisture Shave
I've used this product for awhile now, and I really like it. It is extremely effective for the price, and a tiny bit goes a long way...so it ends up lasting a very long time before needing to be replaced! I would like to try out the Pacifica shave whip, but I have a feeling that for the price and the fact that this product is so nice on my sensitive skin...I'll keep coming back to it ;)

// Dr. Bronner's Unscented Pure Castille Liquid Soap
I grabbed a small bottle of this product out of the baby section in Target one day, just to try it out - and I ended up really liking it! I have already repurchased another small bottle (they also make huge bottles - up to a gallon!) and I think it will be a great baby soap, as well as a soap I will use. Sometimes it is just nice to use something free of any scents or fragrances...just basic body soap. 

// Yes to Tea Tree & Sage Oil Shampoo & Conditioner
I originally purchased this product for Aaron, as he has a sensitive scalp that tends to get dry and itchy. He really likes it, and I ended up using it quite a few times too because the smell is SO nice. It has a very bright, refreshing, unisex scent that I ended up loving...so we will probably be repurchasing these!
emily kay