AM CURRENTLY LOVING // # 1

i've been thinking it would be fun to do a monthly post based off my favorite products/foods/whatever from that month. i am always really interested in what other people say they are currently loving & what not, so i figured why not do it myself? so here is the start to my little monthly series: am currently loving.
EOS SHAVING CREAM // i now know this has been around for a while, but when we went to target for the first time after moving back i was really, really excited about all of the "new" eos products that i hadn't seen before since they don't carry it in spain. i decided to try the shaving cream & have really liked how rich & creamy it is, it really protects your skin from getting dry from shaving which is exactly what i need since i have dryer skin.

OGX HYDRATE + REPAIR ARGAN OIL OF MOROCCO CREAMY HAIR BUTTER // this stuff makes your hair so silky smooth. i use it once a week & i swear after the first time i used it i could see it working magic on my hair. my hair immidiately felt & looked healthier & softer. it also has strengthened the ends of my hair, which is something i think every girl wants, right? you can also use this stuff as a body butter, so it's basically a two in one beauty product :)

TANGLE TEEZER // when i first saw this brush i was instantly interested & admittedly skeptical, but i wanted to try it anyways because i had seen them around & heart people loved it & let me tell you, it was a good purchase. i thought my hair would be too thick for the brush but it truly does get out all of the tangles i get from washing my hair, sleeping & life. i've got a two & a half year old who loves to put his toys in my hair, so you can imagine the tangles i get from this. the brush works amazingly & my favorite part is that it is so small & compact, it fits in the palm of my hand, that it can easily be thrown into my purse if need be. you should go buy one.

BURTS BEES FACIAL CLEANSING OIL // at first i thought using oil to wash my face was a weird idea, but i've got really dry skin & thought that the oil would help moisturize it, & it has! i don't use it as my daily face wash, but i use it a few times a week to add some more moisture to my skin & my skin has felt less dry. it's also really great for removing eye makeup.

M.A.C. PATENTPOLISH LIP PENCIL // i got two of these while we were in austria in december & have used one of them every. single. day. since. i am obsessed, i truly love them. they go on a bit light but can darken up with more layers which i actually really like because depending on my mood or where i'm going sometimes i want a softer look, but some color on my lips, so this is perfect for me. they are also really moisturizing, which is key for me because i feel like my lips are always chapped, & there is a bit of a sheen to the lip pencils which i wasn't sold on at first, but have grown to like. the colors i have pictured are ruby & spontaneous, if you were wondering :) 

CONAIR BOBBY PINS // k, everyone knows about bobby pins but these bobby pins are on another level than just the average ones. instead of having the little zigzags on the top, they are slightly curved to fit the curve of your head & they are the strongest bobby pins i have ever used. they were an accidental purchase & the best accidental purchase i've made. you don't need to use nearly as many of them as you would the zigzag ones either, so your pack lasts longer. at least it lasts longer if you're like me & are constantly loosing bobby pins. i highly recommend trying these guys out.

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO // dry shampoo is one of those things that i'm convinced everyone needs in their lives. i don't understand how people live without it. i also don't know how i have never tried batiste's dry shampoo before, it is truly amazing. not only is it great for when you don't want to wash your hair, but it adds texture & just a bit of oomph to your hair. it also smells amazing. PLUS! it comes in colors, blonde, brunette, black, pink, so many color options. i have loved this dry shampoo & definitely recommend it to anyone that is in the market for a dry shampoo. or even if you aren't in the market, you should still pick some up.

BURTS BEES FACIAL CLEANSING TOWELETTES- CUCUMBER & SAGE // these are amazing for when you're being lazy & don't want to actually want to wash your face (me almost every single night). i've been keeping these by the side of my bed cause i found that i was going to sleep with my makeup on far more than i should & when i kept them in the bathroom i just would forget to use them, but since i put them by my bed it's a constant reminder for me. i have loved the way they make my skin feel, how great they smell

LIFE'S A BEACH

reason # 1 living in california is great// you can go to the beach in the winter.
since moving here we have gone to the beach at least twice a week, it's been truly great. i love letting cedar just run wild at the beach & he is finally getting over his fear of the ocean, which makes these beach outtings easier. last week we had a full beach day while my cousin was in town & it was such a perfect day. the littles loved being free to roam about the beach, playing in the sand, water & chasing the birds. i love watching kids at the beach, it is the ultimate place for them to just go wild & that is exactly hat they do. plus, it always wears them out which is an added benefit :)

LIFE RIGHT NOW

life is good right now.

somedays life is slow, other days it feels like it's racing at me.

my cousin & her family came to visit last week & i wish they were still here. it was so great to see her after being apart for so long & i love watching our littles play with each other. the last few days cedar has woken up asking "where wrenny? where baby scout?" & i think it is adorable. we went to the beach, disneyland & had a girls afternoon. it was perfect.

we have more friends coming to visit this week & i am so very excited for them to be here.

cedar & i are soaking up all our time with austin before he starts work. i think we're both going to be really sad when reality sets in that dad doesn't get to just hangout & play with us all day long.

even though babys due date isn't till the end of february, i keep having thoughts that he is going to come any day & that my water is going to break in a public location & i'll be totally embarrassed. so i'm crossing my fingers crossed that doesn't happen!


MY PREGNANCY ESSENTIALS

with the end of my pregnancy is quickly approaching i thought it was about time to share a few of my pregnancy essentials. there have been a lot of different items that have helped me along in my pregnancy but these have been the items i have loved & used the absolute most & found to be the most essential to me.

1. leggings- i like to be comfortable in what i'm wearing, if i'm not comfortable i truly am not happy, so i tend to wear leggings quite a lot but, i take it to a whole new level when pregnant. with my constant changing body i have found leggings to be the most comfortable pant for me to wear & with my ever growing baby bump i like to get leggings on the cheaper side since i will be ditching them for bigger sizes every so often. i've found h&m pregnancy leggings to be really great & extra cheap. i like how the band goes over the baby bump, for me its uncomfortable to wear tight things around my waist/below the bump, especially when i'm near the end of my pregnancy, so these ones are really great.

2. water bottle- my whole pregnancy i have been constantly thirsty & always have a water bottle on hand. i got my hydro flask water bottle about 6 months ago & have absolutely looooved it. i'm a picky water drinker & don't like it when my water is at room temperature, i notice that i don't drink it as much, but i don't like when i put ice in a water bottle & it sweats & gets water everywhere. enter the hydro flask. this water bottle is insulated & will keep ice or a hot drink for up to 6+ hours & it does not sweat at all, or even really change temperature on the outside of the bottle. it's really cool & i am obsessed with mine, i think everyone needs one, so you should buy one. even if you're not pregnant.

3. argan oil- i like to use 100% pure argan oil as a moisturizer on my belly & all body parts that are stretching because it is so, so moisturizing. it's also known to prevent stretch marks & even get rid of previous stretch marks, i read that if you notice a new-ish stretch mark &  rub argan oil over it, the oil will help to dissolve the mark. i don't have first hand experience with this yet (luckily i haven't gotten stretchmarks in my pregnancies... here's hoping i never do) BUT, i think it's definitely worth a shot to try. right? i also use the remaining argan oil from rubbing my belly on my face after i shower because i have such dry skin & i think it gets worse when i'm pregnant, but the oil totally helps it & has also helped with acne. it's also really great for your hair. basically argan oil should be every girls bff, so go buy some.

4. prenatal yoga book- i won't lie, i actually do not have this book.. but i have practiced yoga/prenatal yoga moves throughout my pregnancy that my cousin taught me & if i were going to buy a book, it would be this one. basically i just think it's important to stretch your body a lot while pregnant because it can get so stiff! & near the end of your pregnancy when your pelvic bone starts getting ready for the baby to come there are some some yoga moves that can help relieve pain or pressure which have been a true life saver for me, that & lower back yoga positions that help stretch it out cause your back may start to hurt.

5. ginger essential oil- i honestly think ginger essential oil smells horrible, but it helps so much with any nausea you may experience. i used to carry a little bottle of ginger oil with me everywhere to smell throughout the day & it would instantly make me feel better & perk me up a little bit. it was incredibly helpful so i definitely do recommend it, but just know that it smells terrible.

6. tummy drops- another option to ginger is to use tummy drops! getting these was really great. they are little candies made from ginger to help nausea & motion sickness. i used these things a lot when we would take the metro around madrid & they made such a difference for me.

7. san pellegrino- pre pregnancy i did not like sparkling water in the slightest. then all of a sudden i got pregnant, was feeling sickly, constantly thirsty & san pellegrino became my jam. i cannot get enough of this sparkling water now. the bubbles helped calm any nausea, i keep a bottle of it next to our bed now & drink it before i sleep & when i wake up & it really does make me feel better if i'm feeling a little sick.

8. boppy- the boppy pillow is most commonly used for breastfeeding, so a lot of first time moms may not have one during their pregnancy but i really think you should get one. i got mine out when we went to utah a few weeks ago, so i was in the beginning of my third trimester & it has been so wonderful. my current sleep situation is that i have to stuff something (like my hand or blanket) under my belly when i sleep on my side, otherwise it's really uncomfortable so when i discovered that the boppy fits perfectly around this bump of mine i was so excited. it has made sleeping much more comfrotable. PLUS! my favorite thing about using the boppy while pregnant is you can totally lay it on the ground, put your belly in the hole & be able to lay comfortable (& safely!) on your stomach. which is something i really miss doing when i am pregnant.

9. pregnancy tee- because you want to feel comfortable & pregnancy tees are comfortable & handy to have cause you can just throw a jacket or sweater on & not have to worry about whether or not your normal shirts will cover your bump. they are also great when you are in the end of your pregnancy because they go down & around your bump making sure it is fully covered. no one wants to be the pregnant girl thats lower belly is showing but you don't know it cause you personally cannot see your lower belly. trust me. there are a ton of great places to get pregnancy shirts, i personally like to go for the cheaper options of targer, asos or h&m. all have great selections for really good prices, but the one showing just happens to be from h&m.

10. eos chapstick- like i said earlier, my skin is extra dry feeling so i am constantly putting chapstick on.

11. prenatals- prenatals were a difficult thing for me when i was pregnant with cedar. the smell, size, texture of vitamins really gets me, i just cannot take them. it makes me gag & the whole experience is just bad. the first couple of months with cedars pregnancy i really struggled with taking my prenatal, then my cousin told me about targets chewable prenatals & things really went up. they are chewable, gummy, sugar coated prenatals in delicious fruit flavors similar to a fruit snack. i was thrilled when i heard about them & even more excited when i tried my first one. if anyone hates vitamins like i do, make sure to get the up & up brand of chewable prenatals from target, you will not be disappointed.

12. peppermint essential oil- i used this oil all the time in the first two trimesters of pregnancy to help relieve any stress & headaches i would get. i get a lot of headaches in my second trimester & putting a drop of oil on my temples & wrists was so helpful, it relieved the pain so quickly, i highly recommend using it to everyone. peppermint also helped quite a bit with nausea in the beginning of my pregnancy.

BUMPDATE


my sweet friend shayla snapped these pictures while we wwere at antelope island. check out her blog if you don't know about it already!

how far along are you? i've hit the 33 week mark & it's blowing my mind! this little boy is going to be here so, so soon & i'm feeling slightly unprepared. mostly because we won't have insurance until february 1 & he's due february 28.. the joys of moving mid pregnancy. guess we should have planned a little better! haha

sleep? my sleep is really deteriorating, which is a sad thing. last week we were in utah & i slept soo badly, i don't know if it was the bed, my belly or the combination, but it was not working out for me. i ended up sleeping on the couch & taking a lot of naps to try & catch up on my sleep. luckily austin found my boppy pillow in the garage & it has been a game changer. so here's to hoping my sleep gets a little better!

movement? constant movement. sometimes i think this boy is going to come out with 8 arms at the rate that i'm being kicked & punched. there's no way there are only 4 little ligaments on this guy, i swear.

symptoms? not that i know of. all though, i am starting to think my ankles are swelling up.. so maybe...

cravings? no cravings! when i was pregnant with  cedar the *idea* of desserts was always nice but then the actual dessert never tasted good to me & i have that happening again, so i'm sort of the anti-craving pregnant person.

looking forward to? having this little boy in my arms & seeing him with cedar. it's coming up so soon, i can't believe it. i love the thought of them together. in the meantime i am soaking up all the time i have with just cedar though cause it's never going to be like this again. it's a bittersweet thing.

LINDAU, GERMANY

lindau is a town that is partially on a teeny tiny island near the border of germany & austria. i have absolutely no idea how i found it, but i did & i pushed really hard for us to stop there on our little german roadtrip. most of the towns we stopped in on this trip were all pretty small & each town seemed to get cuter the longer our trip went on. it also got colder the longer our trip went on.. haha. we stayed on the island part of lindau & just wandered up & down the little cobblestone streets. sadly for us the christmas market in lindau is only open on the weekends & it worked that we stopped there midweek, but it as still definitely worth stopping in. 

CEDAR GOES SLEDDING


it's around that time where cedar definitely deserves his own post. that little guy is growing up so fast these days. i love it & i hate it. there is so much that i don't want to forget about this time with him.his personality is so strong right now & it is adorable! cedar is constantly chatting with me, austin, his toys, whoever/whatever is around him & he comes up with funny things to say. he's just the sweetest, for reals.

cedar is getting really obsessed with using "mine" or "my" in reference to anything, which isn't the best trait a mom could ask for, especially when there's a new baby about to make their debut & you would like them to share everything, but some of the things that he uses it with make me laugh. the other day when we pulled into my moms driveway he got so excited & said "my house!" & then austin went to put cedar in the car & he yelled "my black car!" so.... sometimes i think it's cute & funny, probably cause i'm the mom, but other times it's really annoying, haha.

cedar has also been really into making noises, you know those kind when something happens that's cute or sweet & you go "awww" or "mmmm" (i have no better way to explain this)? well he makes those a lot. when he wakes up, randomly throughout the day, when you say something to him, when you give him food, when he's playing.. he is always going "aww" & little high pitched "mmm's" are coming out of him. i don't know where he got it, but it's cute & strange. little kids are so strange.

he has become very affectionate towards what he thinks is his, he saw his carseat after a couple days of not seeing it & hugged it. i gave him his water bottle, which he uses 24/7 & he did a little scream & yelled "my water!" & made some of his cute noises while hugging it, the kid is funny.

cedar's favorite things to say:
"oops daisy" he also likes to say "opps minnie" because he thinks it's about the disney characters
"snowball"
"wopple" for waffle.
"where?" you know how a lot of kids ask "why?" constantly? cedar asks "where?" 24/7.
"soapy sleeping" my mom has a dog named sophie that cedar calls soapy & whenever he can't find her in the house he says she's sleeping because when we lived in spain he always wanted to facetime the dog & i would have to tell him she was sleeping because of the time difference.
"gross dad" in reference to austin dancing
"where's cedar?" when he wants to play peek-a-boo because that's what i always say when we play it.