Hello Fabulous Ladies!
As my little one grows inside me, I've noticed that my shirts don't quite cover her living space as much as they used to. I 'm not sure if you ladies have experienced the same dilemma but I want to give a few tips to combat giving an unwanted peep show to the world.
First invest in a belly band. They extend the life of your pre pregnancy pants (great if you are having a fall pregnancy) and look like a shirt. Placing a belly band on gives you the confidence that your belly is fully covered.
Second, invest in spaghetti strap tanks. You can get them for fairly cheap at Old Navy, Target, and Forever21 plus. Get all the basic colors. I've been able to manage with a white one and a black one. I wear them under my shirts and they cover up my belly and compliment my shirts.
Finally I do a bit of camouflage by wearing cardigans,jackets, blazers, shawls, and boleros. Depending on the length I can button a few buttons near the base of my belly. Also if it is a shorter jacket, it can bring the attention upward to your beautiful face. To avoid an embarrassing show of flesh, be sure to adjust your clothing with every bathroom trip and when you stand up after sitting for a while.
Keep those goodies in the jar ladies. TTYL!!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Spotts are not Just on Dalamations!
What's up Ladies!
Ok, so the other night I was doing my normal after shower routine and noticed some invaders on my breasts! Moles! They shocked me so much that I said aloud "What in the world?!" After a call to my resident advice nurse (my wonderful mom) I calmed down. She explained that the new spot are normal and much to my delight they should fade away.
I have more spots on my face then the puppies from 101 Dalmatians! I've been using concealer and a green stick (green neutralizes the color red) to cut down on their appearances while in public. If you are experiencing the same dilemma, try using a gentle scrub at least twice a week and cleaning your makeup before you got to bed. I have also been experiencing some discoloration on my forehead. Just a general redness that resembles acne but without the bumps. The green stick helps with that too.
When I thought a nasty pimple was leasing space on my face I went to the bathroom mirror to investigate the situation. There was a dark line in it that resembled a hair. Turns out that's what it was and it was a stubborn one. I enlisted my sweety to help me remove the ingrown hair on my cheek.
I’m trying to be proactive about the possibility of bags and lines from sleepless nights so I "borrowed" (swiped from my mom's house) some samples of Estee Lauder and Mary Kay samples for eye cream. I have been putting it under my eyes on the nights I can remember. So far there are no lines so I 'm happy. I also swindled some dark spot treatment from my mom's house and have been using it on acne marks. I have had some dryness around my nose so I cut down on how much water I use on my face and ensure that I slather on a great moisturizer every morning and night.
Until next time, stay fabulous!
Ok, so the other night I was doing my normal after shower routine and noticed some invaders on my breasts! Moles! They shocked me so much that I said aloud "What in the world?!" After a call to my resident advice nurse (my wonderful mom) I calmed down. She explained that the new spot are normal and much to my delight they should fade away.
I have more spots on my face then the puppies from 101 Dalmatians! I've been using concealer and a green stick (green neutralizes the color red) to cut down on their appearances while in public. If you are experiencing the same dilemma, try using a gentle scrub at least twice a week and cleaning your makeup before you got to bed. I have also been experiencing some discoloration on my forehead. Just a general redness that resembles acne but without the bumps. The green stick helps with that too.
When I thought a nasty pimple was leasing space on my face I went to the bathroom mirror to investigate the situation. There was a dark line in it that resembled a hair. Turns out that's what it was and it was a stubborn one. I enlisted my sweety to help me remove the ingrown hair on my cheek.
I’m trying to be proactive about the possibility of bags and lines from sleepless nights so I "borrowed" (swiped from my mom's house) some samples of Estee Lauder and Mary Kay samples for eye cream. I have been putting it under my eyes on the nights I can remember. So far there are no lines so I 'm happy. I also swindled some dark spot treatment from my mom's house and have been using it on acne marks. I have had some dryness around my nose so I cut down on how much water I use on my face and ensure that I slather on a great moisturizer every morning and night.
Until next time, stay fabulous!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Fallin' for Cozy
Hey Ladies!
What says fall like crisp mornings, mild temperature days, and cozy sweaters? If you're like me the thought of a new wardrobe warms your blood and excites your senses. The trouble with fall maternity is the season's weather requires layering and in our physical state we don't want to add too much bulk. So I have been on the hunt for clothes that keep my tummy warm and fulfill my need for style.
I took a trip to the Thrift and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Whole maternity suits, cute sweaters, nice slacks, fabulous winter coats and adorable dresses! The great thing about the Thrift is that a lot of them have discount days and membership benefits. I bought a great velvet blazer, spicy blouse, and a cute laid back sweater for less than $10! The thrift is a great place for basics and will help you transition from maternity clothing to your regular wardrobe. Oh and the baby clothes! My mom bought the little one six outfits and spent $5!
Motherhood Maternity is one of the least expensive maternity clothing designers and if you sign up for their email they have great benefits. They'll send you coupons for you and baby, hold items in your shopping basket, and tell you when they get new merchandise in. I checked out their fall line of dresses and they are soo cute. Can't wait to see them paired with colored tights and booties. By the way check out Gap.com and oldnavy.com for convenient outfit ideas.
Spanx has great panty hose and smooth out any lumps and bumps. Peruse around their website and you will find great ways to accentuate your figure and make every outfit fit well.
Tarjay (Target) has some nice outerwear designed by Liz Lange. She is a great designer who was gracious enough to create a more affordable line of maternity clothing for us fashionistas.
So grab a cup of hot coco and get to shopping ladies!
What says fall like crisp mornings, mild temperature days, and cozy sweaters? If you're like me the thought of a new wardrobe warms your blood and excites your senses. The trouble with fall maternity is the season's weather requires layering and in our physical state we don't want to add too much bulk. So I have been on the hunt for clothes that keep my tummy warm and fulfill my need for style.
I took a trip to the Thrift and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Whole maternity suits, cute sweaters, nice slacks, fabulous winter coats and adorable dresses! The great thing about the Thrift is that a lot of them have discount days and membership benefits. I bought a great velvet blazer, spicy blouse, and a cute laid back sweater for less than $10! The thrift is a great place for basics and will help you transition from maternity clothing to your regular wardrobe. Oh and the baby clothes! My mom bought the little one six outfits and spent $5!
Motherhood Maternity is one of the least expensive maternity clothing designers and if you sign up for their email they have great benefits. They'll send you coupons for you and baby, hold items in your shopping basket, and tell you when they get new merchandise in. I checked out their fall line of dresses and they are soo cute. Can't wait to see them paired with colored tights and booties. By the way check out Gap.com and oldnavy.com for convenient outfit ideas.
Spanx has great panty hose and smooth out any lumps and bumps. Peruse around their website and you will find great ways to accentuate your figure and make every outfit fit well.
Tarjay (Target) has some nice outerwear designed by Liz Lange. She is a great designer who was gracious enough to create a more affordable line of maternity clothing for us fashionistas.
So grab a cup of hot coco and get to shopping ladies!
Shower Me
Hello Ladies!
Just wanted to chat a little about your baby shower ensemble. This will take some planning so start early. I purchased my outfit, a dress, from Forever 21's maternity line. I spent less than $30 and was pleased with the fit. I purchased one size up from their line as they run small. Because my chest isn’t as big as most pregnant women's I had to use a safety pin to keep the top closed. So if you have a couple of dollars to spare, I suggest ordering your outfit early and taking it to a seamstress to customize the fit. Most dry cleaners will have a seamstress on staff.
Onto foot jewelry, heels! I love the way they can quickly boost your confidence and make you figure gorgeous. In order for me to pull off this oh so sexy look I had to enact a plan of action. I practiced in my heels around the house. Now a fair warning, if your tootsies are swollen the shoes will be uncomfortable for a little while, but hang in there they do loosen up. As a precautionary measure I wore sandals out of the house and put my heels on once I got to the shower.
Jewelry, hair, and makeup...oh how I love to be a girl! Going minimal on your jewelry allows your face to take center stage. Indulge yourself and take a trip to the hair salon. Allow your tresses to be pampered and just relax. As far as makeup goes, I searched YouTube and found great tutorials. I suggest picking a celebrity or a makeup look you like and seeing if there is a tutorial on it. There are plenty of different interpretations so you'll be sure to find one that compliments your personality, outfit, and the occasion. You can usually use the make-up you already have, but most people post where they purchased their make-up. I found one on Jennifer Lopez's make-up and practiced the look a week before the shower. The trial run really helped as I could see how to better apply it on the day of the shower.
I also saved money by purchasing eye shadow from CVS. Drugstore eye shadow has a tendency to crease so invest in a good shadow base. I used MallyBeauty's eye shadow base on my lids then applied foundation on top. To add an extra layer of defense I used Too Faced's Shadow Insurance. I feel asleep with my make-up on (a big no no!) and the next morning my shadows looked as fresh as before! If you can splurge on a trip to the make-up counter for a professional make-over, go for it! Cameras will be flashing and you want to be sure that you feel confident to take each picture.
Posing. I know that there aren’t many ways a preggo woman can pose without looking large and in charge but I suggest sometime in the mirror before your shower. Try out some poses that you feel most comfortable in. Try some sitting and others standing. You'll notice if your outfit does funny things with different poses. You don’t want to look bunched up if at all possible.
Well trendy mommas, I'll catch up with you later! Stay haute!
Just wanted to chat a little about your baby shower ensemble. This will take some planning so start early. I purchased my outfit, a dress, from Forever 21's maternity line. I spent less than $30 and was pleased with the fit. I purchased one size up from their line as they run small. Because my chest isn’t as big as most pregnant women's I had to use a safety pin to keep the top closed. So if you have a couple of dollars to spare, I suggest ordering your outfit early and taking it to a seamstress to customize the fit. Most dry cleaners will have a seamstress on staff.
Onto foot jewelry, heels! I love the way they can quickly boost your confidence and make you figure gorgeous. In order for me to pull off this oh so sexy look I had to enact a plan of action. I practiced in my heels around the house. Now a fair warning, if your tootsies are swollen the shoes will be uncomfortable for a little while, but hang in there they do loosen up. As a precautionary measure I wore sandals out of the house and put my heels on once I got to the shower.
Jewelry, hair, and makeup...oh how I love to be a girl! Going minimal on your jewelry allows your face to take center stage. Indulge yourself and take a trip to the hair salon. Allow your tresses to be pampered and just relax. As far as makeup goes, I searched YouTube and found great tutorials. I suggest picking a celebrity or a makeup look you like and seeing if there is a tutorial on it. There are plenty of different interpretations so you'll be sure to find one that compliments your personality, outfit, and the occasion. You can usually use the make-up you already have, but most people post where they purchased their make-up. I found one on Jennifer Lopez's make-up and practiced the look a week before the shower. The trial run really helped as I could see how to better apply it on the day of the shower.
I also saved money by purchasing eye shadow from CVS. Drugstore eye shadow has a tendency to crease so invest in a good shadow base. I used MallyBeauty's eye shadow base on my lids then applied foundation on top. To add an extra layer of defense I used Too Faced's Shadow Insurance. I feel asleep with my make-up on (a big no no!) and the next morning my shadows looked as fresh as before! If you can splurge on a trip to the make-up counter for a professional make-over, go for it! Cameras will be flashing and you want to be sure that you feel confident to take each picture.
Posing. I know that there aren’t many ways a preggo woman can pose without looking large and in charge but I suggest sometime in the mirror before your shower. Try out some poses that you feel most comfortable in. Try some sitting and others standing. You'll notice if your outfit does funny things with different poses. You don’t want to look bunched up if at all possible.
Well trendy mommas, I'll catch up with you later! Stay haute!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Arr She Blows!!
Hi Mommies-to-be!
Today's blog is taking a step back on fashion and honing in on health instead. Two nights ago, my sweetheart and I were actively participating in our childbirth classes and I sprung a leak! I had gone to the ladies room just before it happened but I guess my body and mind were not on the same wave length. When I told my honey what happened he immediately said we should mention it to the instructor as I had also been experiencing horrible back pain for almost 24 hours.
After explaining my awkward and embarrassing predicament, the instructor suggested that I get evaluated. Since we were already at the hospital, I headed upstairs to get checked out. Oh and by the way if you have to got to the hospital for any reason, get food! We learned that lesson and my love went for a Mc Donald's run (I know, soo not healthy, but I was having a fat girl moment and he wanted to indulge me).
So after being hooked up to monitors and being asked a gazillion questions a test was administered on me. The nurse used a q-tip to test if the fluid was amniotic fluid. She explained that if my water had been broken I would have to stay in the hospital until I delivered! Not just day but weeks! I was already mentally planning my break out. Lol! Less than an hour later it was determined that all was well and I was given a clean bill of health.
Apparently I had a virus and the liquid was discharge. The first signs would have been an unusual odor, when asked I said I hadn't noticed one. Later my love told me he had, wonderful partner. The virus will be easily treated with antibiotics.Ok so background story done, lets get done to the moral of it. Pay attention to the scents your body emits, be knowledgeable about pre term labor signs, and always air on the side of caution. Its better to have the doctor tell you there is nothing wrong then to ignore signs and complicate your pregnancy.
Until next time moms, stay healthy!
Today's blog is taking a step back on fashion and honing in on health instead. Two nights ago, my sweetheart and I were actively participating in our childbirth classes and I sprung a leak! I had gone to the ladies room just before it happened but I guess my body and mind were not on the same wave length. When I told my honey what happened he immediately said we should mention it to the instructor as I had also been experiencing horrible back pain for almost 24 hours.
After explaining my awkward and embarrassing predicament, the instructor suggested that I get evaluated. Since we were already at the hospital, I headed upstairs to get checked out. Oh and by the way if you have to got to the hospital for any reason, get food! We learned that lesson and my love went for a Mc Donald's run (I know, soo not healthy, but I was having a fat girl moment and he wanted to indulge me).
So after being hooked up to monitors and being asked a gazillion questions a test was administered on me. The nurse used a q-tip to test if the fluid was amniotic fluid. She explained that if my water had been broken I would have to stay in the hospital until I delivered! Not just day but weeks! I was already mentally planning my break out. Lol! Less than an hour later it was determined that all was well and I was given a clean bill of health.
Apparently I had a virus and the liquid was discharge. The first signs would have been an unusual odor, when asked I said I hadn't noticed one. Later my love told me he had, wonderful partner. The virus will be easily treated with antibiotics.Ok so background story done, lets get done to the moral of it. Pay attention to the scents your body emits, be knowledgeable about pre term labor signs, and always air on the side of caution. Its better to have the doctor tell you there is nothing wrong then to ignore signs and complicate your pregnancy.
Until next time moms, stay healthy!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Hair of the Matter
Hello Cuties!
Are you realizing that your hair texture has changed? Are you tresses longer than before? Pregnancy affects your whole body in so many ways. How do you combat the newly found characteristics? The right hair, skin, and body care line up.
I was introduced to the Taliah Wajid Black Earth Products line a little over 3 years ago. I was experiencing dry scalp, rough hair, and my hair stopped growing. I began using her products and was amazed by the results. My hair was softer, easier to manage, had beautiful shine. The scent is awesome and the texture of the products lets you know you are using quality. As far as price goes, its inexpensive. You'll spend between $7-$13 for any of the items in the line. You can order her products online or find a local carrier on her website. www.naturalhair.org
The other day I scratched my head and it looked like a snow storm was happening in my little cubicle. Dry flakes! I was distraught because I knew I kept my hair well moisturized. I changed my facial wash and the flaking around my face calmed down. The old face wash left a residue that did not agree with my pregnancy hair line.
What's happens internally will definitely show up on you physically. It's important to focus on what you put in your body. So, you have to treat yourself well. Vitamins, water, and green tea with lemon, are a three pronged attack against lack luster hair. You can purchase decaffeinated green tea so that it is safe.
Roots showing? Is your hair looking multicolored? I know a lot of moms are concerned about if dying their hair will be harmful to the baby. After researching, the general consensus is to stay away from the dye in your first trimester. I've touched up my hair only once during my pregnancy and don't plan on doing it again until a month after my precious one's arrival. My suggestion is to ensure that you oil your hair as its texture may change form the dye and the additional hormones.
Take care of those beautiful tresses!
Are you realizing that your hair texture has changed? Are you tresses longer than before? Pregnancy affects your whole body in so many ways. How do you combat the newly found characteristics? The right hair, skin, and body care line up.
I was introduced to the Taliah Wajid Black Earth Products line a little over 3 years ago. I was experiencing dry scalp, rough hair, and my hair stopped growing. I began using her products and was amazed by the results. My hair was softer, easier to manage, had beautiful shine. The scent is awesome and the texture of the products lets you know you are using quality. As far as price goes, its inexpensive. You'll spend between $7-$13 for any of the items in the line. You can order her products online or find a local carrier on her website. www.naturalhair.org
The other day I scratched my head and it looked like a snow storm was happening in my little cubicle. Dry flakes! I was distraught because I knew I kept my hair well moisturized. I changed my facial wash and the flaking around my face calmed down. The old face wash left a residue that did not agree with my pregnancy hair line.
What's happens internally will definitely show up on you physically. It's important to focus on what you put in your body. So, you have to treat yourself well. Vitamins, water, and green tea with lemon, are a three pronged attack against lack luster hair. You can purchase decaffeinated green tea so that it is safe.
Roots showing? Is your hair looking multicolored? I know a lot of moms are concerned about if dying their hair will be harmful to the baby. After researching, the general consensus is to stay away from the dye in your first trimester. I've touched up my hair only once during my pregnancy and don't plan on doing it again until a month after my precious one's arrival. My suggestion is to ensure that you oil your hair as its texture may change form the dye and the additional hormones.
Take care of those beautiful tresses!
Au Natural
Hey Sensational Senoritas!
About a month ago, my big sister posted a video on my facebook wall. The video was of a young woman discussing Chris Rock's film Good Hair. She was reflecting on her own beliefs and discussing what she taught her daughters about the subject. That got my wheels spinning about the lessons I will pass on to my daughter. The debate of good and bad hair has raged on for centuries. From the time of the middle passage until now, African American people have conversed about what the terms really mean.
On the cover of beauty mags, glamorous Africa American women have straight, flowing, and most likely chemically treated hair. I must admit that as a teenager the images made me feel inadequate with my natural hair. I wanted a perm so bad because my aunt said I needed one, boys didn't like girls with natural hair, and my hair was a challenge to groom. Even with the feelings of inadequacy, I have always despised the terms good and bad hair. It bothers me to think that the mentality is passed down from generation to generation.
So having said all of that, what do I tell my daughter? The young woman in the video made a good point that good and bad hair isn't any particular state, be it natural or chemically treated. I think that the message I will give to her is to do to her hair what feels good to her. Ignore the fact mommy has locs and that the girls in school have straight hair. Focus on making your hair healthy and don't give it more importance than it deserves. Keep it clean and well maintained, don't be pressured to wear any hairstyle. I will never tell her that she needs a perm or that natural is the only way to go. We can discuss the benefits of both so that she can make an informed decision when she is old enough. Until then I'll leave her hair in its natural state so that she can have the option later.
In Chris Rock's film girls were getting perms as young as three years old! If you do something to permanently alter your child's hair you limit what they can do when its their decision.
As far as my hair journey goes, locs fit my lifestyle. I only had a perm for three years. Afterward I kept my hair in braids and cornrows. I've never been the kind of girl to get up early to do my hair so locs were a perfect solution. I can put oil in it and go!
However you choose to do your do, rock it to the fullest! TTYL!
About a month ago, my big sister posted a video on my facebook wall. The video was of a young woman discussing Chris Rock's film Good Hair. She was reflecting on her own beliefs and discussing what she taught her daughters about the subject. That got my wheels spinning about the lessons I will pass on to my daughter. The debate of good and bad hair has raged on for centuries. From the time of the middle passage until now, African American people have conversed about what the terms really mean.
On the cover of beauty mags, glamorous Africa American women have straight, flowing, and most likely chemically treated hair. I must admit that as a teenager the images made me feel inadequate with my natural hair. I wanted a perm so bad because my aunt said I needed one, boys didn't like girls with natural hair, and my hair was a challenge to groom. Even with the feelings of inadequacy, I have always despised the terms good and bad hair. It bothers me to think that the mentality is passed down from generation to generation.
So having said all of that, what do I tell my daughter? The young woman in the video made a good point that good and bad hair isn't any particular state, be it natural or chemically treated. I think that the message I will give to her is to do to her hair what feels good to her. Ignore the fact mommy has locs and that the girls in school have straight hair. Focus on making your hair healthy and don't give it more importance than it deserves. Keep it clean and well maintained, don't be pressured to wear any hairstyle. I will never tell her that she needs a perm or that natural is the only way to go. We can discuss the benefits of both so that she can make an informed decision when she is old enough. Until then I'll leave her hair in its natural state so that she can have the option later.
In Chris Rock's film girls were getting perms as young as three years old! If you do something to permanently alter your child's hair you limit what they can do when its their decision.
As far as my hair journey goes, locs fit my lifestyle. I only had a perm for three years. Afterward I kept my hair in braids and cornrows. I've never been the kind of girl to get up early to do my hair so locs were a perfect solution. I can put oil in it and go!
However you choose to do your do, rock it to the fullest! TTYL!
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