Irish Baby Boy Names...

Photo from  here.

In honor of Saint Patricks day being right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to do some Irish themed posts over the next week. Lets kick it off with some Irish baby boy names! I picked my top 5 irish baby boy names. What are yours?

1. Ardan 
   Pronounced as are+dawn. Comes from the word ardenach meaning high aspiration.

2. Lorcan
  Means silent or fierce.

3. Niall
  Prounounced as nye+al. Thought to mean passionate or vehement.

4. Quinlan
   A surname that is now used as a first name and means athletic or gentle shaped.

5. Ronan
   I couldn't find an exact meaning on this name but did learn it comes from an old legend about a seal.

Hope you all are having a lovely day! Girls names to come tomorrow. XoXo

~Saint Patricks Day 2013 Posts!~

Irish Baby Girl Names!

Take My Hand...

Baby Z loves to tell me "hand hand hand". Even though she says it in the most bossy way ever, its still super sweet. She stretches out that chubby little arm..."hand hand hand".

If I don't give her my hand fast enough she will come running over and demand it...immediately...no patience.  She wants to hold my hand for confidence, support and i'd like to think because she just loves me.

As a mom I hope she always wants to take my hand for confidence, support and because she loves me.

XoXo.

Whats In Our Pantry: Baby Snacks

We try to only give Baby Z fresh fruits and veggies for snacks but of course this isn't always feasible. Its also not always practical. We have found some yummy snack items that she loves and that are not too bad for her little self either. She absolutely loves these Plum Organics fruit and veggie pouches. She loves their sweet flavors and I love the fact that I am getting some more fruits and veggies in her palate. I mean when else is she going to eat pumpkin or sweet potato mixed with corn? I know they are sometimes aimed at younger babies but honestly they are great for 1 year olds like Baby Z when we are on the go or she needs something pronto.

These Plum Organics for tots Fiddlesticks are also a super easy and nutritious snack to grab for Baby Z.  They are a semi-soft fruit and grain stick that fits easily into tiny hands and satisfy their snack cravings. We have tried out the banana flavor but I know they come in multiple other flavors as well.

Baby Mum-Mums are pretty plain but Baby Z has liked them for as long as I can remember. They are like a plain rice rusk and are excellent for babies with or without teeth. Baby Z has only liked them in the vegetable flavor.

Thats whats in our pantry as far as baby snacks go with a 1 year old. As it changes and as I find other products that we like I will update you all!

OOTD Baby Style : Picnic In the Park

Baby Z attended her first picnic last Sunday. It was a wonderfully sunny day with just the right amount of light breeze and cool shade thrown in. Baby Z decided to rock some baggy white capris which are currently at Target, a neon hot pink t-shirt also currently at target and some Robeez soft soled shoes. 

Exploring the grass was so much fun and made mommy realize how silly she was for dressing her in white pants of all things for a grassy picnic. Surprisingly enough no grass stains were found on her pants but that watermelon juice....thats another story.

I look forward to more sunny picnics and days out this coming spring and summer. Oh and Baby Z is proudly showcasing her teething necklace that we ordered off of Amazon a while back. Not sure if it actually works or not but it sure does look cute.

Happy spring days and picnics to you!

Every Mommy Needs a Mint Mani...

I hardly find the time to do my nails these days. I love nail polish and have my own little mini collection but finding the time to cut, file, buff, base coat, polish and top coat my nails just isn't happening. I would love to take a little trip over to a salon to get them done but that again takes up some of my non existent time. However, I am literally dying over mint shades for this spring season. Every mint colored accessory or clothing item catches my eye and then some. Now I have discovered a love for mint colored manicures and I must have this shade on my nails by the end of this week!

Essie's Mint Candy Apple

Mommy Makeover : Freeman Clay Facial Mask

Okay ladies get ready for this. My favorite facial mask as of late is Freeman Mega 8 Complex Superfruits Detoxifying Clay Facial Mask. Whew! That is quite the mouthful. Although the name may be a little on the complicated and jumbled side, the mask itself is simplistically wonderful.

This "natural antioxidant skincare" mask claims that it is good for combating signs of stress, purifying and detoxifying your skin.  It is supposed to unclog those darned pesky pores and replace dull skin with a more awakened and refreshed skin. The ingredient list seems friendly enough with goji berries, acai, pomegranate, mango, mangosteen, cranberry, noni and blueberries.

The color of the clay mask is a light minty green color. Its thick but easy to work with. It has a really nice fruity smell but its not overpowering. The smell reminds me of a lightly blended fruit smoothie. You squeeze some of the contents into your hands, rub over your entire face (I avoid getting to close to the hairline and too close to my eyes) and let it dry for about 10 minutes. If you are a avid bath taker like myself, you can let it soak into your skin while you bathe. Once it is dry you wash it off your face with a warm cloth. It left my skin feeling extremely smooth. I would definitely say it does detoxify. As for combating stress, I think its the soothing scent and the fact that your taking time out of your busy day to give yourself a mini facial, that combats any anxiety at least momentarily.

I purchased mine from CVS for just under 5 dollars so its easy on the budget.

This mommy gives it 2 thumbs up!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Happy Valentines Day from Baby Z and me! We put together little gift bags to give out to her aunties. Xoxo.

Baby Stains...

I just love dressing up Baby Z in all her cute little outfits. Im actually a little bit addicted to baby clothing. So its a little depressing that some of her cute clothing items are getting stained sometimes after just one use. I plan on saving everything that she has in case we ever have a little girl again. I am big on reusing baby clothing and items but I would not want to save stained outfits. This staining problem has only been as of recent since she has started eating more and more solid foods. I discoverd that Dreft, which is the baby deteregent brand that I have been using does not work on stains of any sort. I recently picked up a Dreft baby stain prevention pen. Its like a Tide stain removing pen but for babies. It has not made any noticiable difference with removing/preventing stains. So in the quest for stain removal I picked up All Free Clear which is supposed to be safe on baby skin and stronger than Dreft. Nope, not really any luck their either. Am I just doomed to loose half her wardrobe to stains? I do utilize bibs but she still swipes her arms over her mouth quicker than I can clean her mouth off.
So, do I switch over to regular strength detergents or would those even work? Do I just suck it up and realize I wont be able to save everything she wears? Or gasp...do I have to do laundry more often than my once a week to prevent stains from "soaking" in? Do you have a baby laundry detergent that works wonders for you? What is your baby laundry routine? Please share as I would love to know!

Be My Valentine Baby Photo Shoot: The Outfit

I am super excited about the owl + valentine day themed outfit I got for Baby Z's Valentine photos. When I spotted it on Etsy I knew instantly I just had to have it. I can't reinforce enough just how much I adore Etsy. Its the cutest 2 piece hot pink set that features owls that say "Owl Be Yours" and "Whooo Do You Love". Its trimmed in a heart patterned ruffle fabric and the shoulder ties are the sweetest ruffly ribbons.

Get a load of that pink mesh of cuteness. The awesome thing is that when I stumbled upon this dress, it was just a dress. However, if you have ever used Etsy you know that most all sellers love working with you on unique ideas and give you total creative freedom. I asked the seller whose shop is HairBowsForPrincesses if she could make a matching ruffle pant and a hairpiece. Voila!

So yes this is the outfit and I can't wait to put it on Baby Z. All these lovely photos were taken by the seller to show me what the outfit looked like when she was finished making it. Etsy has some of the best customer service ever!

Pink Hearts & Owls,

Lily

Mommy Fails...Baths & Boots

So I had some interesting mommy fail moments in the last couple of days. I could blame it on lack of sleep or I could just own up to the fact that this mommy makes fails! (If that makes any sense at all).

Mommy Fail #1: Poor baby Z was getting her chubby little baby feet pushed, prodded and literally shoved unsuccessfully into an adorable pair of purple furry boots I scored off of Zulily. I incessantly kept at it only to throw up my hands in despair and swear off these boots as a waste of time and money. I threw them on the ground and told her she would have to do with her little socks instead. The next morning I spied the despicable boots laying on the floor, whisked them up to throw to the back of her closet only to realize that the boots were stuffed with tissue. Poor baby Z, no wonder she had been whimpering at my attempts to make her feet stylish.

Mommy Fail #2: It was time for Baby Z's bath. I stuck her in the tub with her favorite pink sparkly light up rubber ducky that she is obsessed with from Bath & Body Works. I always keep a watchful eye and arm on her (literally) as the bath fills up to just below waist level. She loves to sit and watch the tub fill up. However, on this particular evening my stomach was rumbling, quite loudly. I called for my husband and told him to keep his eye and arm on her so I could grab a quick bite from the kitchen. I pointed to the spot in the tub that he shoudl turn the water off when it gets to that level. I satisfied my stomach, came back into the bathroom where his watchful eye and arm were still upon her. However, the water was right below her chin. Literally. Poor Baby Z could't look down without water going into her mouth or nose. She didn't seem to mind as she was licking the water like a little puppy. Leaving daddy to bathe Baby Z = mommy fail.

Don'tworry guys, I assure you Baby Z is in good loving hands and im sure she will survive my mommy fail moments but I definitely need to keep track of these if for anything to have a good laugh one day in the future and to save any future children from my mommy brain.

Buy Buy Baby Shopping Haul...

I went to Buy Buy Baby a week ago and thought I would share with you all the stuff I picked up. I love watching baby hauls, let me know if you like these types of videos and/or if you make these.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Pottery Barn for Kids mini haul...

I picked up this Zebra Bath Wrap at Pottery Barn for kids last weekend. Its almost to cute to use. This is definitely a baby splurge so we will see if it is worth it. These cute animal themed towels don't come cheap. I justified my purchase by reminding myself that all the bath towels we currently own are getting that ratty look and are way to small for Baby Z. A few of my friends swear by these towels, stating they are the best out there. We will see. I really want the pink and purple owl one but don't know how to justify another one of these just yet.

I also picked up from Pottery Barn for Kids this cute little wooden colored caterpillar. This purchase is to aid me and Baby Z on our quest for wooden toys instead of plastic. You can flip the little wooden parts around to see different colors and its attached to some sort of strong yet flexible rope. So far its a hit. That makes this my all natural wooden toy hit number 2. Yay!

Here it is in action. It was on sale for $4.99 from $9.99.

This picture is from inside Pottery Barn for Kids...got to love the opportunity for an impromptu photo session.!

Be My Valentine: Baby Photo Shoot Ideas Part 2

                                                 Photo found here.
                                           

The Valentine's themed outfit that I ordered off of Etsy arrived yesterday. I'm in love with it! It came out better than I expected. Soon as I am able to take some pictures of it I will post them on here for you guys to see. In the meantime I have still be scouring different sources to come up with ideas for little photo session. I have so much fun planning out these little photo shoots. Here are some more pictures that I have found inspiring.

I love the look and concept of this photo. It could easily be adapted by a mom of 2 little ones or for two little friend, cousins, daddy and daughter etc... Don't know if this one will work for me but I wanted to share regardless because I found it to be so charming.

I'm a sucker for balloons. Make them red shiny heart balloons and i'm sold.

Massively puffy tutu....Valentines perfection for a little girl.

This concept would be cute for a little boy or girl. Put them in a cute neutral outfit and hand them bright colored sweets. Voila.

xoxo.

1st photo from here.
2nd photo from here.
3rd photo from here.
4th photo from here.

Mommy Makeover Tip: Banish Mommy Circles

Okay I know that it isn't just mommies who struggle with dark circles underneath their eyes but I thought it was funny to call them mommy circles. Please forgive my nerdy ways. In any case I absolutley had to share my love for Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Roller. I am a hater of concealers. On my skin they always settle, crease and make me look old. But then I discovered this little magic concealing roller and Voila!

• Doesn't crease, smudge or settle.
• Covers up about 90% of my sleep deprived under eye skin.
• Produces a nice cooling effect upon contact with skin.
• A noticeable brightening effect.
• Thin consistency, which I love.

Those are the effects I have noticed on my skin from using this roller for about 5 months now. It contains caffeine, lemon essence and natural pigments.

This mommy gives it 2 thumbs up. But we all are different so please do tell what under eye concealer works for you?

First photo from here. Second photo from here.

Be My Valentine: Baby Photo Shoot Ideas...

I've already got my thinking cap on in regards to Valentine's Day photo shoot ideas for my little one. I'll admit I also already ordered her overly ruffled and pink Valentines day outfit as well. Oh yeah, it is coming with a matching hair bow. It could be worse...I could have ordered multiple outfits in order to have numerous outfit changes for the Valentines Day photo shoot I am dreaming of. Hmmm, that's not a bad idea...I may have to look into it. Here for now are my inspirations....

I love the simplicity of this photo. Would be easy, budget friendly and fun. You could go all out with the onsie, perhaps add a tutu or some cute baby legs or you could do like the photo and keep it simple yet festive.

The two above photos are so sweet, literally. Its conjuring up candy striped images in my head. The possibilities here are endless and all equally adorable. Especially if you have more than one little cutie on hand.

Their is something so whimsical and calling about this photo. It makes me want to incorporate this letters/mailbox theme into a Valentine themed photo shoot for my little one.

Will you be taking any Valentines themed photos of your little one or having them professionally done? What images dance around in your head?

First photo from here.
Second photo from here.
Third & fourth photo from here.
Mailbox photo from here.

Happy 2012...My Wish for You...

Happy New Year! May 2012 bring you happiness and joy. May it bring to the anxious of heart smiles that never fade. May it bring safety and health to all families everywhere. May it calm your storms and strengthen your sails. May it grant you your greatest wish.

Not every day in 2012 will be a good day but may you cherish those that are good and learn from those that are bad.

Here is to a new year, lets make it the best we possibly can.

Photo via here.

Mommy Makeover Tip: Mani Time!

With our tootsies pretty much covered up now thanks to cooler fall and winter weather its time to put our full focus on those finger nails. Yes, I am a mom and I know that sometimes our nails become lost in a sea of jagged edges, overgrown cuticles and general dullness but ladies its time to put that to an end! Its time to mani up! Whether you like colors on your nails or a quick swipe of top coat after a nice buff...you know you hold that head of yours just a wee bit higher when your nails are looking pretty.

Here are some of my favorite looks for this fall/winter.

I love nude polishes and this shimmery nude looks fab for the holiday season.

I really need to get my hands on this Scotch Naturals line of nail polish. Not only are the above 3 colors perfect for this season but they are supposed to be a natural water based paint. Score.

One of my all time favorite shades to wear is anything that is deep/dark purple. I think this is especially perfect for November along with a nice rich cranberry color. Which reminds me im on the look out for a festive cranberry shade. Any suggestions?

A perfect nail polish splurge for this season, Chanel Peridot nail color. 

First photo from here.

Second photo from here.

Third photo from here.

Fourth photo from here.

Fifth photo from here.

Mommy Style: Beauty on a Budget

Being a mom is tough. Looking like a million bucks ( or even like you had a good nights sleep) is even tougher at times.  Keeping beauty on a budget...not all that tough. Thanks to some high quality drug store products, keeping yourself beautified while keeping your pocketbook unharmed is very much possible.

First off, I have to rave to you all about Rimmel mascaras. They are anywhere from $4.00-$9.00 and work just as well for other tubes of mascara that can sell for around $30.00. Rimmel makes so many different types of mascara as well, so you are bound to find one thats works for you. Taking a minute to swipe on a few coats of mascara before you head out the door can help lend a tired mommy a well rested and bright eyed look.

Last week in a quick pinch I reached for my husbands bottle of head and shoulders two in one shampoo and conditioner thinking, "great now my hair will be all messed up today". Wrong. My hair was wonderfully clean, smooth and great smelling. Almost more so than when I use some of my much more expensive shampoos.

These are just under $5.00 at Target. Smell amazing, feel amazing and well are just pretty amazing. I use them to wipe off any makeup before I shower at night.

If you are on a budge, you don't have to sacrifice your beauty regime. Their are plenty of products that feel just as luxurious and work just as effectively as your more expensive brands. What beauty item do you use when you are on a budget?

Makeup picture from here.
All other photos taken from their company website.

The Green Mommy: Charlies Soap Powder

In my quest to be more green and because I have been dabbling in cloth diapering lately I decided I needed to try out a more eco friendly laundry detergent. A quick search on my shopping bible otherwise known as Amazon led me to Charlies Soap Powder. First thing I noticed is the rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 with 315 ratings. This is an instanst plus in my world. Next, I saw the words 'non-toxic' and 'safe for the environment'. Getting closer to the purchase button I saw that I could get 80 loads worth for only a little over 10 bucks with Subscribe and Save. Ok sold.

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly
• Non-Toxic
• Biodegradable
• No fragrance which aids in preventing skin irritations
• Perfect for baby clothes and cloth diapers

Potential Cons:

• No Tide fresh smell here people however dont' worry your clothes are clean! The laundry detergent industry has done an excellent job of making us think that if our clothing doesn't smell like lavender and waterfalls its not clean.
• No softening effect on clothing. I dont' use dryer sheets so I noticed my clothes are a bit stiffer with this soap however this is a small sacrafice one must make in the laundry washing world if you are aiming to be more green.

Charlie's Soap Powder is here to stay for me and my quest to be a green mommy. Do you use any type of green soap?

Todays green picture came from here.
Charlie's Soap Powder picture came from Amazon.