thebeautyblender

[thebeautyblender]

Toby, My Love

Friends,

This weekend I said goodbye to my best friend, my pug of 12 years, Toby.  Man, it hurts.  Like a lot.

He was my best friend and I made a whole Instagram video dedicated to him and our life together, because that's how I cope.  The bond we had was extremely special.  He was not just a dog. He was my companion.  I had him when I had first Tyler, my now husband.  He made me laugh every day.  Went through so much… building my business, 3 homes, marriage, 2 kids (licked Easton's face when he brought him home from the hospital and also became his bodyguard. Hey, pugs make for really affordable babysitters!).  He wagged his tail while I did yoga (photo above).  Slept next to me for 12 years - watched so many shows in my lap. We did a lot together. I would leave my house every day and see his silly face. My every thing, that dog.  So naughty, hysterical, adorable.  My perfect little guy.  I feel extremely lucky I was able to connect with him and have a bond like this in my lifetime.

The last few months have been extremely hard on me. He had many health issues from a collapsed trachea to becoming completely paralyzed… I did all the things I could.  From rehab to medications every 8 hours on the dot. Taking him out to go to the bathroom was impossible most days because he couldn't walk so I'd wait hours (yes sometimes hours) to have success.  I hated going on vacations because I simply didn't think anyone could care for him.  It definitely took a toll on me, but that's love for you friends.  I did it every day and every other thought in my brain was revolved around him.

I went to go teach my dance class this weekend and I knew that right after I'd have to put my best friend to sleep. Gosh, pretty brutal guys.  Hardest thing. But I showed up to that class and danced my heart out.  I cried at the end and some of my sweet friends and students saw.  

Our theme for class was “Dance”.  As cliché as it was (because it's a dance class), it came to me that night when I couldn't sleep because dreaded the brutal day ahead of me.  And honestly, as much as I love teaching my class, it was going to be painful to put on a happy face.  (Even though it was actually therapeutic and seeing my students and friends cheered me up).

So much of life is a dance and how you move through it.  Life is BEAUTIFUL and it's also really really hard.  Sometimes gut wrenching hard.  Life is light and it's also dark.  But the real heart of life is how you move dance and move through it all.  Do you move with grace and ease?  Not saying it's always easy…. Do you make it extra difficult when it doesn't have to be? Do you laugh and get silly?  Do you evolve and change?  

Dance is also extremely therapeutic. It's been proven and it's why I dance and teach classes for 12 years.

In all of life's moments, we can choose to dance through life in whatever way we want.  We can make the movements super rigid, or rather smooth.  You have to of course feel all the emotions, but we can all be our best version of ourself and show up in our best possible way.  

Chin up, move through it… with strength, light, positivity and hope.

Toby, my love, I love you forever.

[thebeautyblender]

Easton's New Big Boy Room

Hello friends!

I am so excited to share Easton's big boy room with all of you. We have been through A LOT of room reveals on the blog and it's crazy to think I now have a toddler's room to share. Where does time go...?!

So if you don't follow me on Instagram, then you might have missed this announcement. WE'RE HAVING BABY #2!!! And he is arriving in 5 weeks!!!!

We are nervous, excited and already tired just thinking about the lack of sleep we will be getting all over again, haha.

But with a new baby coming, comes Easton's very own big boy room!

When we moved into this house, one of my favorite things about the house was that it had 3 bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom and 2 rooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom with this really awesome vintage/old Hollywood looking green & black tiles. Kind of masculine, but super cool and I love it. Funny enough, we didn't know we would be having 2 boys. It's perfect and I love when things kind of unravel the way they do.

I have been using E's new room as an office for the past year and a half, so when we found out we were having baby #2, it was time for me to move my office downstairs to the guest room.l We thought the nursery was already set up for Easton (very nursery like with cutesy wallpaper), so why not move E to a new COOL room and give the baby the smaller, cozier room already set up for a baby. It just made the most sense to us.

So here we are! I'm kind of obsessed with how it came out. I really did it on a budget too and well, that always makes me extra proud.

All links shared below.

Crib: Mid Century Wood Crib

Rug: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Rug

Light: IKEA Sinnerlig Pendant (this is a favorite - the best touch, especially for the price!)

Giraffe: Giant Giraffe

Chair: Restoration Hardware

. . .

Eek, not to prepare the baby's nursery with all of E's old clothes. Also, I need to buy those teeeeeny tiny newborn diapers!

Here. We. Go. Again! :D

Talk soon! <3

-Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

Laundry Room Makeover Reveal!

Hi friends!

Oh how have I missed you! I have been on "the 'gram" every single day, if you don't follow me, be sure to follow me here (@daniellecuccio). I documented our Laundry Room Remodel and it's been a little project, but as you know, little project always become bigger projects than you originally plan.

This project was one I was putting off because we could NOT pick out a color for the life of us. I had pinned every single thing on Pinterest but when we tried the colors in the space, it looked completely different. No joke, we probably tried 10-15 different samples/colors. I probably spent over $100 on samples(!!!). Paint is tough!

There was really nothing "wrong" with the Laundry Room before but it just felt unorganized and not a place where I would enjoy doing or folding laundry. And if you know, our last house's Laundry Room was such a fun remodel for us. Check it out here.

BEFORE

The process started with trying to find some colors that would make the space feel brighter with some warmth. The previous black killed me!! It didn't look "bad", it just is so not me.

Visit #3 the paint store. (Hi Easton! Where are your eyes?! Lol).

AFTER

Ta... Da...!

PAINT

For color, we finally went with Collingwood by Benjamin Moore for the cabinetry inside the laundry space/above the washer & dryer and then Weekend Getaway by Benjamin Moore for the pantry cabinets and laundry doors.

We went with a natural marble countertop to keep it feeling clean and fresh.

WASHER & DRYER

We went with the Samsung Energy Star Front Loading Washer and Dryer so we could fold laundry on top (Linked here).

HARDWARE

We love these! Very affordable too!

. . .

Overall, we are SO happy with how it turned out. Maybe missing a little art or some personal touch, but slowly but surely, we're finding art for this home. With more space, it's hard to fill it up and find meaningful pieces that we want to fill the home with.

I'm so happy it's done before baby #2's arrival. Eek, just a few more months. Now debating if we should move on to the kitchen... LOL. Will keep you posted! :)

Until then, stay well and keep in touch on the gram! <3

[thebeautyblender]

Eco-friendly Swaps For Your Kitchen

Hello friends!

Being that I (and all of us) have spent so much more time at home this past year, I started to re-think the way I lived and the products I used.  I suddenly became a lot more aware of our home and how we lived.  What worked, what didn’t...

One thing I noticed was that I was using a ton of non eco-friendly products and I was super aware of the over use of one time use products.  I hated every time I would pull out a sandwich storage bag, used a paper napkin (I’m still sometimes guilty of this one), used another sponge, or wrapped our leftovers in tin foil.  I wanted to look at the products we were using and come up with better, more eco-friendly solutions.  It just took a little bit of research, but I’m so happy I found these and so happy to be sharing them with you!

Let’s begin...

1. Beeswax Wrap - At first I thought I’d never use this, but we have been using it a ton. We wrap it around opened sourdough bread, use it as a covering for leftovers... It’s so much better than tin foil that you will just throw away after.  These are easily washable and reusable!  And I swear they keep your food stay fresh longer.  Shop it here.

2. Stasher Reusable Storage Bags - I am OBSESSED with these!  First of all, they have fun colors that make your pantry and refrigerator look cute.  And second of all, we are reducing single use plastic sandwich bags.  Win-win!!!  They can be thrown in the dish washer and are really easy to clean, unlike other brands I have tried.  Shop it here.

3. Wooden Dish Brush - We use a ton of sponges while we have been eating home and washing dishes a whole lot more this year.  I have Eczema and washing dishes does not help!  I love that this dish brush has a long handle and cleans effectively and quickly.  Zero plastic waste, natural materials and easy to wash/clean.  Comes with replacements so you can throw the dirty ones in the dish washer.  I also love seeing it at the sink for some reason... It’s oddly pretty!  Shop it here.

4. Reusable Napkins - Every single time I go to pull out a paper napkin, I seriously hate myself! Lol.  No seriously, it’s like a little punch in the stomach and I tell myself, “Really Danielle?”.  If you’re like me, it’s so easy to use reusable napkins.  I love the earthy tones of these too.  Shop it here.

.  .  . 

So happy to share these with you and feel free to share which ones you have found that you love as well.  I’m also on an organizing kick so if have any tips on that as well, I’m all ears!  

Happy Tuesday you guys - Can’t wait to share what else I’m finding to share with you! xo

Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

Hi!  It’s Been A While/Powder Room Remodel With PhotoWall

Hi guys!

OH MY, has it been a minute?!  First of all I’m sorry.  I’m sorry I have fallen off the blogging face of the earth.  I have to be honest, between a global pandemic, running an entire business, having a toddler running around, teaching my yoga clients via Zoom and a move, I’ve been pretty busy.  There are really no excuses but this is where I’ve been and while I’ve been keeping very active on Instagram, since many of you follow me there, it’s been an easier way to stay in touch.

I have to admit, I forgot my blog login when signing in to create this post and... I may be a little shaky with the writing because the last post I wrote was when Easton was 5 months old and we were traveling to the East Coast (man, what I would do to travel to see family right now!).  To give you some time reference, Easton is now 14 months old!

A goal of mine is to continue to create content and inspiration for you and sometimes it is just easier through 1. simple. photo and to write below it... INSTAGRAM IS SIMPLICITY AT IT’S FINEST, but again, I am back to my roots.  Hello my blog friends. :)

SO YES, we moved!  We loved our old home so much.  I miss it dearly.  But I know with a baby running around, we needed a more toddler friendly home and something we could grow more comfortably into.  I feel so grateful to be able to have done that and now that we are in, we are making it our own slowly but surely.  

One of the first projects on our list was to wallpaper the powder room on the main floor in the house.

I looked and looked for the perfect wallpaper and finally found it!

We went with PHOTOWALL’S Mostly Coral.  Tyler put it up within 2-3 hours and although wallpaper is not the easiest to put up, Photowall makes it more manageable.  They also have this great Wallpaper Kit we got that helped.  

When you check out on their site, you can add the option to add it to your cart. I highly recommend it since they can give you everything you need.  

ALSO, PhotoWall is offering 25%(!) off to all Beauty Blender readers...use code: thebeautyblender2020 for your discount.

OK, are you ready for it...?

We will start with the before, because who doesn’t love a good BEFORE & AFTER?!

BEFORE

AFTER

We are so happy with how it came out and all those hours (yes, hours! lol) spent looking for wallpaper was well worth it!  And BIG THANK YOU TO TYLER for putting this up!  He did such a great job... so good I may ask him to do another room?!  Lol.  Just kidding Ty, you’re off the hook for a bit.

Thank you to Photowall for making such beautiful wallpaper that is perfect for any space... I think Easton’s room may be next!  They literally have hundreds of options to choose from so I’m sure you will find one you love.

Can’t wait to keep you guys posted as we continue to make our home feel “more like home” for us.

In the meantime, wishing you all health & happiness wherever you are! xo

Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

TRAVELING WITH BABY

Traveling with a 4 month old can seem daunting. Traveling has always been anxiety inducing for me so adding a baby to the mix, well, just kind of seemed like a nightmare.

Since our family is spread out all over the East Coast and most of our family had not met Easton yet, we knew we would have to fly with him at some point, so we kind of ripped the bandaid off and just did it in the Fall.  Also, Vermont is absolutely gorgeous in the fall so I was excited to finally see the Fall foliage.

We left on a Wednesday night.  We decided to take an Uber since my parents were out of town and we usually just find Ubers to be the most convenient form of transportation when traveling in general.  Let’s just say that ride was fun... Easton cried for half of the 45 minute drive there.  Our poor Uber driver.  Tyler and I kind of looked at each other and said, “this is going to be fun.” Lol. 

There are no direct flights to Vermont so we had to do a stopover in Newark.  So a 4.5 hour flight (mind you it was a redeye) and then a 1 hour layover... then another 45 minute flight. 

We got to the airport and the amount of bags we had was kind of a joke. But luckily we knew we wouldn’t have to check a thing and had planned to just use our stroller so we put most of our bags underneath/push that to the gate and check it there.

Security in general isn’t the most fun and I personally think is very stressful.  Add a baby to the mix, and it gets a bit more complicated.  You will have to take baby out of the car seat and walk with him/her through security.  His stroller will have to go through and if you’re pumping like I was, then they will have to pull out your milk and inspect each bottle.  They had gloves on but still, it seemed unsanitary to me.

Easton slept for some of the flight, which was great, but when he was awake, I’ll admit it wasn’t easy.   Now that we are back from our trip we are so happy we did it and seeing family was 100% worth it.

I feel like I now know what to take vs. what seems unnecessary.  Hope this helps you on your next trip with baby!

What to take:

-Stroller - we have the Uppababy Cruz Stroller - We debated not taking our stroller, BUT since you need to take a carseat if you will be going in any vehicle, you might as well take your stroller instead of awkwardly lagging around the carseat.

-Carseat + Adaptor - You will NEED a carseat that can travel without the base.  The carseat we have can’t travel without it’s base!!!!  So we had to get an extra for this trip/figured Tyler could keep the extra one in his car so we don’t have to move mine from my car all the time.  We got this one for the trip and bought the adaptor to our stroller since they are different brands.  We love the Nuna Carseat.

-Stroller/Carseat Bag for checking as baggage or at the gate - We checked our stroller at the gate and got a seat on the plane (so we took the carseat on the plane).  NOTE: Easton on the flight there would only let us hold him so buying a seat was kind of pointless; however, it was nice to not have someone next to us while he was crying and also be able to have extra room for his diaper bag and our bags too.  For the stroller, you will need to put it in a bag if you don’t want it to get thrown around and ruined.  We bought this really inexpensive one on Amazon.  If you don’t buy a seat, it is FREE for infants to sit on your lap.

-Diaper Bag - You’ll want a convenient diaper bag that is easy to carry. 

-Extra outfit for baby - Also add a sweater just in case baby gets cold!  Also something short sleeved underneath, in case baby gets hot.  You know airplane temps...!

-Extra outfit for you

-Extra socks for baby (we somehow kept losing Easton’s socks - we found one 10 rows down from us while we were walking off the plane - don’t ask! haha)

-Baggies (For soiled clothes and diapers)

-Diapers (pack enough for the length of your flight) - we love these diapers especially for overnight or longer flights!

-Water Wipes - We love this brand of baby wipes!

-Changing Pad - You will want an easy (and small) changing pad you can bring with you to that TINY airplane bathroom.

-Gripe water: Didn’t think we would use this one but honestly when Easton would lose it and we tried everything(!) we would resort to the gripe water and I think it just tastes good/distracts them for a moment and made him stop crying.  You don’t even have to give them a lot or the full suggested amount, just slowly give them a little and have them suck on the dropper.  I quickly would replace it with the pacifier and he seemed to be better in just a minute.  You have to get creative with a baby!!! :D

-Baby Tylenol: Didn’t need it but had it just in case.

-Blanket - I brought a blanket for Easton for the flight.  We used it to block out light for when he was trying to sleep and then also when it got a bit colder on the plane.  ALSO was useful when I was holding him so my arm didn’t get sweaty/sticky on his skin... Seems odd but a friend told me this might happen, and it did!  The blanket can also be great to cover up while feeding baby or pumping.

-Breast pump - I took my fully charged pump.  I love this one!

-Breast pump attachments (1 set)

-Breat pump bra - I love this one!

-Breast pump charger

-Soap - I took dish washing soap from home in a little tupperware so I could wash bottles at the airport and on the plane.  It’s not ideal but much better than 1. not sanitizing and 2. using hand soap!

-3 baby bottles - OK, I was debating how many bottles to bring and 3 seemed like a good number.  If you have room take 4 or 5 so you do less washing, but you can totally get away with 3.

-Ice pack -  You’ll want an ice pack to keep your milk cold.  I took some frozen milk with me in my pump bag and kept all of the bottles in there too.  TSA will run it through security it as I mentioned before, but you are allowed to bring breastmilk and sanitized water for baby through security and on the plane!

-Frozen Milk - DO NOT put your frozen milk in a bag.  I use frozen bags of milk in our freezer and I thought I could just bring 1 or 2 of those in my pump bag.  WELL, the bag leaked and it was a nightmare.  Just unthaw the milk and put it in a bottle with the ice pack to keep it cold! (Can’t stress this one enough!  Don’t let my oops be your oops!).

-Formula - If you use formula, take more than enough formula for the trip.  Plan it out beforehand based off of how much your baby drinks a day.  Then add a few more scoops! :)  

-Sanitized water (for formula) - Take sanitized water with you on the plane.  The plane water is not sanitary and I would not give this to baby!

- Toys and teething toy - You kind of have to play circus to entertain baby on the plane... We took 3 toys for Easton and he seemed to be entertained with them in the car and plane.

-Extra pacifiers! - Bring extra!  We also love these pacifier clips so that way they don’t all fall/you don’t lose them!

Optional:

-Baby Bjorne Carrier - We ended up using this once we got to our destination - had daytime activities with family/didn’t want to bring the stroller.  Glad we took it but not 100% necessary.

Other tips:

-If you’re going somewhere you can do laundry - pack light and just wash/reuse the same clothes. It’s hard enough packing for 1 person, let alone 2 or 3, depending on how many people you’re traveling with + baby.

-Have baby drink milk while descending and ascending OR have baby’s pacifier in mouth.  Helps with ear pressure.

-We tried to have E nap right before we got on the plane if possible... or at least sleepy.  He hated when the plane wasn’t moving and we had to sit down (before take off).  On the way home we kind of planned his nap and he actually was sleeping when we got on the plane until we were in the air.

-Wet wipes - Planes are full of germs.  ENOUGH SAID!  Great for baby’s hands too - they’re touching all sorts of things and then putting their hands in their mouth(!).

-Get up and walk around with them.  No one wants to be sitting still for hours.  Get up and walk around with baby.  

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - DON’T STRESS IF BABY CRIES.  People are surprisingly so sweet and compassionate.  They will even offer to take your baby and hold him/her if you’re down for that kind of thing.  Our flight attendant on the way to Vermont took Easton with her for a while actually.  She has twins so we thought, 1. she’s not going anywhere/can’t steal him/we’re on a plane! lol and 2. sure, give us a break! ;)

Be sure to ask your flight attendant for a set of wings if it’s his/her first flight!  Cute little memento.

(See Easton had fun too...!)

Hope this helps and I will add anything if I think of anything else.  

Happy travels! <3

-Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

MY GO-TO SKINCARE ROUTINE AND PRODUCT MUST HAVES

Some of these products may be affiliate links and/or sponsored, but they are all 100% my own thoughts, opinions and products I actually use.  I have used all of these products for longer than 3 months to make sure that the products actually work and have results.

So many have you been asking about my skincare routine on Instagram so I am finally getting to it and sharing!  

My skin has not always been so easy.  In high school I had pretty terrible acne.  I remember my boyfriend’s Dad said something to him like, “What happened to Danielle’s skin?”  UGH.  That killed me.  I remember crying to my Mom about not wanting to go to school some days because of how bad it was.  I would pick at it.  I even have a scar on my jawline from it.  I was fortunate enough to be able to go for routine facials every month which would help majorly.  

When I turned 17, I went on birth control and that cleared up a lot it.  My skin was then pretty amazing.  I would get compliments on it and I was so happy.  When I started trying for a baby 2 years ago, I was so scared to go off birth control because I didn’t want my skin to go back to how it was.  Luckily, it didn’t, but it still wasn’t as clear as it was on birth control.   I also was approaching my 30s and I could tell the normal Cetaphil from CVS wasn’t going to cut it anymore.  I had to up my skincare game.  ALSO, DID I MENTION I USED TO BE AN ESTHETICIAN???  I love skincare, and didn’t even think I had to spend $$$$ on expensive skincare products (until NOW).  Yes, even when I was an Esthetician I didn’t spend a ton of $$$$ on products believe it or not.  I was also 22.

I do believe that you sometimes have to spend on skincare products that really make a difference to your skin.  It’s also all about  ROUTINE.  Making sure to have a morning and night skincare routine and not skipping it is KEY.  Oh and sunscreen, sunscreen like this MDSOLARSCIENCES Mineral Creme is KEY in helping to prevent any extra damage.

OK, so here we go.  Here is my skincare routine and product guide in order of what I use!

AM

1. CLEANSE - ELEMIS SUPERFOOD FACIAL WASH ($25) 

For so long I used cetaphil and then some other $6 drugstore cleanser that probably had parabens (actually not probably... it did!).  I was scared to switch it up.  If it worked, why would I switch it out?!  I found this cleanser from someone I follow on Instagram and I thought why not give it a shot?  I LOVE IT.  I’ve been using it for the past 6 months and love how it cleanses my skin without leaving it feel dry.

2. TONE - Ole Henriksen Pick Me Up Face Mist

Soooo hate to say this, for you and me both, but this has been discontinued!  Luckily, I purchased an extra bottle a few months ago, but I don’t know what I’m going to do after I use it.  SO if any of you have any great hydrating skin toners, LET ME KNOW! 

3. OIL - Herbivore Botanicals Orchid Face Oil ($64)

This one may seem a big pricey, but it really lasts a longgg time.  I love this oil and pretty much all their oils if you ask me.  I never used to be believe in applying oils since I was nervous it would break me out, but once I started in my 30s, I realized it was one way to prevent wrinkles and keep my skin hydrated.  If you find the right oil, you won’t break out.  And this one is exactly that.  ALSO, if you want to try all of Herbivore’s oils like I did, this is a great  (and a great deal!) place to start! (Mini Facial Oil Trio, $28)

4.  MOISTURIZE - Dr. Grandel Vita Day Protect Cream ($49)

I have been using this for years.  Like for over 15 years!  It’s one of my favorite moisturizers of all time.  Dr. Grandel has been around for years in the beauty world and it’s a brand I can trust.  Love this cream to keep my extra dry skin hydrated all day long, without feeling super sticky or super thick.

5. SUNSCREEN - MDSolarSciences Mineral Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen

Okay, I’m guilty on this one..  For so long, I was scared to wear sunscreen because I thought it would break me out.  And most of the time it would.  But then I found this magical product and then sunscreen became something I was actually excited to put on daily.  The consistency is silky smooth, almost like butter.  AND it’s SPF 50, non toxic, doesn’t contain oxytoxinate, paraben free and it’s non-comedogenic (so it won’t clog your pores!).  Kind of like the DREAM sunscreen right here.  I’ve recommended it many times on Instagram and to all my friends who are now fans too.  I’m prone to getting freckles... and I already have a ton, so applying a UVA-UVB sunscreen daily is super important to me (and for all of us, freckle prone skin or not!).  I’m kind of obsessed with MDSOLARSCIENCES sunscreen as you can see!  ALSO you can use it on babies 6 months or older... YAY E and I can share sunscreen soon!

PM

CLEANSE - Same cleanser as above. Only thing that changes is double washing!  I absolutely believe in cleansing 2x at night.  I read about this somewhere a while ago when my skin was breaking out.  After a long day and removing makeup, it’s key to wash your face 2x at night before bed.  Make sure you’re using a clean towel to dry the skin.

OIL - Herbivore Botanicals - All Natural Phoenix Facial Oil ($28-$88)

Just as I see it super important to hydrate the skin during the day, I see it even more important to hydrate at night.  When sleeping, our skin cells go into makeover mode.  According to Dr. Dennis Gross, cell division that renews and repairs skin—is at its peak at night.  “This is when cells need nutrients the most, and when their anti-aging benefits have maximum impact.”

HYDRATE - ELEMIS Superfood Night Cream - Pre-Biotic Night Cream ($55)

I looove the smell of this and the consistency of this product.  It is called superfoods and kind of makes me feel like I’m giving my skin the healthiest nutrients before bed.  I got this product in a trial kit and haven’t stopped buying it since.  It leaves me with that extra glowy, “I slept so well” look in the morning.  OKAY, maybe not as much now that I have a newborn, but I think it’s helping me look less zombie like!  :)

.   .   . 

So this is my AM/PM skincare routine and 1-2x a week I exfoliate my skin with either some kind of light peel/mask or a microdermabrasion exfoliant.  EXFOLIATION IS A HUGE PART OF MY ROUTINE AND WHAT HELPS REMOVE DEAD SKIN CELLS.

So happy I could finally get this to you guys while baby is sleeping!  Yes, I barely have time to wash my face some days, but I still find time no matter what because I know I’ll see the difference in my skin if not.

Hope you guys enjoyed!  Leave a comment below if you try any of these or have any of your own favorite skincare products & tips!  I’d love to hear from you!

[thebeautyblender]

Baby Products Every Mama Needs

Note: This post took me about a week to write - Mom life is REAL.  The second I’d sit down to write, baby would start crying, I’d be pumping to get him his bottle ready and then I’d have to stop writing to feed him.  Happy to finally bring you this post with all my favorite baby products even if it took me forever to get to you...!

As a new Mom, I’m learning the ropes, and learning quickly!  I think when you become a Mom for the first time, you kind of just dive in and have to learn as you go.  I will say it’s amazing how much your maternal instincts just kick in instantly - I took on being “Mom” to Easton real fast! 

The past 2 weeks with Easton has been amazing.  I’m been cozying up at home, barely leaving the house, let alone wash my face or brush my hair.  It’s all on his clock and if I can squeeze in any “me time” (like writing this blog post or get to some Cuccio Somatology work e-mails) I do my best.  I have 25 minutes until his next feed so let’s get this blog post OUT! :)

I have learned that some products help make E a happier baby, while some are just totally unnecessary.  Every baby is different but after doing a ton of research and using them myself, these are the products I feel I can’t live without.  

ALSO, SLEEP.  The lack of sleep is A REAL THING!  We have tried different things and found that the TAKING CARA BABIES course (link here: https://takingcarabbies.samcart.com/referral/homepage/kVaadAiqvgevhqvq) has really helped us.  Also, we ordered the SNOO.  We haven’t used it yet because we’re trying to see if we can keep going with his normal bassinet and get in some good hours of sleep without adding in a moving bassinet, but I will keep you updated on that one!

Here is my full list of products we’re loving and help us with Baby E around the house.

Diapers & Changing

Keekaroo Peanut Changer ($129) - Many moms told me about this one.  No changing pad needed. Change your baby’s diaper - get pee or poop on it, no big deal - just wipe it down.  Makes changing so much easier!  One less thing to clean, because really, who has time for cleaning when you have a baby around?!

Swaddlers Newborn Diapers - These are our favorite diapers we have tried by far.  They are soft and do the job.  No diaper rash or irritation involved.

WaterWipes - The best wipes without fragrance and good for baby’s sensitive skin.  We go through so many of these and love them!

Sleeping

Baby Shusher ($34) - This one my friend told me about and I saw a Mom using it recently while out at a restaurant.  We recently took the Taking Cara Babies Newborn class (highly recommend!) and “Shushing” your baby to sleep is one of the tips.  This product saves your energy and breath; it does the shushing for you!  The Shusher has a 15 minute and 30 minute timer; we usually put it on the 30 minute timer and often play it again throughout a nap or at night when putting him to bed.

Soothies Pacifiers - Pacifiers are a life savior when it comes to babies and crying.  They help soothe them almost instantly.  We love these pacifiers!  Honestly, I wasn’t sure if we were going to give him a pacifier, but when we were at the hospital he came back from the nursery with one and well, that was that!  They help majorly so I’m not mad at it.

Halo Sleep Sack ($25) - Swaddling is a non negotiable when it comes to sleeping for babies!  Even though some babies act like they don’t like it at first; they do and it helps them sleep.  They like to feel snug and cozy like they did in the womb.  We love this sleep sack since it’s easy to use with velcro and keeps E snug all night without his little chubby arms coming out of it.  

Feeding

Dr. Brown’s Bottles - We tried a few different bottles and like these the best.  We got the smaller ones because he’s a newborn and we don’t do huge feedings.  We usually feed him 2-3oz. per feeding.  You’re supposed to feed newborns 24-30oz a day.  E is definitely closer to 30oz or more.... He loves to eat!

Dr. Brown’s Preemie Nipple -  Something I didn’t know enough about before Baby E was here was bottle feeding.  I am breastfeeding, but also bottle feeding as it makes it so much easier - especially in the middle of the night so Ty can feed E too and I can get some extra sleep.  One thing I didn’t know is that newborns can’t just have any bottle!  You need to get a slow feed nipple bottle.  We love Dr. Brown’s Preemie Nipples.  Even the level “1″ nipples are good too, as he drinks those a bit quicker and doesn’t have to work as hard for the milk/which can put your baby to sleep before they finish (which you don’t want!).

Kiinde Kozii Bottle Warmer and Breast Milk Warmer ($40) - We didn’t think we would need one of these and I kind of just put it on my registry thinking why not, but we actually use it for every feeding.  Since we store a lot of our milk in the refrigerator, we like to warm it up before we give it to him.

Playtime

Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing, Abbington ($90) - Whenever E is awake, we try to engage him a bit and this swing does the trick.  It rocks side to side and plays music (optional).  There’s also an option to add vibration.  He seems to really like it and it calms him before we put him down for a nap again.

Skip Hop Baby Treetop Friends Activity Gym/Playmat ($64) - E is a bit young for this one, but we have put him on it a few times.  He seems to like it and I know it’ll be a great place for him to play in the next upcoming weeks (when he can see a bit further!).  

Boppy Original Pillow ($32) - This pillow is great for when just hanging with E or having him sit next to me while I work.  It’s super soft and he seems to like just hanging on it when next to Mama.

Bathtime

Boon Soak 3-Stage Bathtub ($29) - Honestly, E hates bathtime so Ty is amazing and does it.  E’s belly button still hasn’t fully fallen off yet so we’re bathing in every 2-3 days.  We love this bathtub as it fits in our kitchen sink.  We place a warm cloth over his chest so he doesn’t get too cold... Seems to help him from crying a bit too!

Blooming Bath Lotus ($39) - The bathtub alone is a bit hard to just put baby in alone, so we got this soft padded lotus that you place baby on so it’s soft and makes bath time a bit more comfortable for him.

Breastfeeding

Spectra Baby USA - S1 Plus Premier Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump, Double/Single, Hospital Strength ($199) - I love this breast pump because you can travel with it if need be.  I knew I would be going back to the office after a few months so I wanted something I wouldn’t have to plug in if I didn’t have to.  You can get this on Amazon or see if your insurance covers some of it, as mine did!

My Brest Friend Original Nursing Pillow ($36) - If you are breastfeeding/nursing, it can get extremely uncomfortable and quite a hassle.  You should have seen me the week I got home from the hospital.  The amount of pillows surrounding me to get E in the perfect position to feed.  It was a nightmare!  My friend recommended this pillow that straps to your body.  1 PILLOW, WHAT?!  This is a game changer for nursing!

.   .   . 

These are just SOME of the products we’re loving, but I know there will be more soon as his needs will change.  AND I’ll definitely let you guys know about what we think about the Snoo if we decide to open up the box and use it/not return it!  

Hope this list helps you or a friend who is a new Mama or Dad!  I know it’s such a learning process and every baby is different, but hopefully this will help!

Okay, back to Easton as it’s time for his afternoon feed!  Look at those cheeks...!

See you guys on the blog again soon! <3</p>

-Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

Baby is here!  Meet Easton Kasupski

Hi guys!

I am so happy to announce the birth of our son, Easton Anthony Kasupski born on 6/7/19 at 5:51pm weighing 8lbs 5oz.  You guys have watched me go from single and ready to mingle, to MOM!  

Easton is perfect in every way and treating Mommy and Daddy (and Toby and Bea!) very well.  Yes, the sleep is lacking, but he is 100% worth it.

My pregnancy over all was really great.  I don’t think most people say that but I really did have a great pregnancy.  I felt great most of the time and even up until the last week, didn’t feel that bad, heavy or “over it”.  Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely ready for baby to come and starting to feel pretty over it since he was 22 inches and my torso is well, not long.

The birth always made me nervous.  Ever since I was little, I would hear giving birth is the hardest thing a woman will go through.  The pain scared me.  But I knew I wanted to be a Mom.  Going into my labor with Easton had a lot of unknowns and that made me extremely nervous.  

Here’s my full birth story... 

A week ago I started having some contractions. Nothing crazy and they would come and go. I went to bed and they kind of went away. I went to my 40 week, 3 day Dr. Appt. We noticed with every contraction, Easton’s heart would drop and not react great. My Dr. wanted me to head to the hospital just so they could monitor it. Turns out the hospital thought it would be best I stayed and start inducing labor. Ty rushed home to get our things and there we were, ready to have our baby. That night my contractions got bigger, the next day, even bigger and so unbelievably painful. I cried and tried to use every breath from yoga I know. I tried my best to stay calm, but it was really hard. ITS CALLED LABOR FOR A REASON. 😳 Once I got the epidural (which didn’t hurt), it was so much better. Easton wasn’t responding well to my contractions still and I wasn’t even fully dilated yet. After 30 hours in labor, they decided to get me in for an emergency c section and it was frightening. They wheeled me in and as soon as we got into the OR, my blood pressure dropped and Easton’s heart rate dropped. They had to get him out and get him out NOW. I was shaking uncontrollably and so nervous. Tyler wasn’t even in the room yet because they needed to prep before he could come in. It’s all a scary blur, but I remember them saying they had to move FAST. . Easton was here in 30 seconds. I met him and it was the craziest experience of my life. I was totally in LOVE. ALSO, 8lbs 5oz?! HOW?!

RECOVERY has been intense. I wanted to take care of him but could barely walk. Tyler has been my everything (seeing him as a daddy is also super sexy!). My sister (Who is an OBGYN was amazing/my birth master). I’m in pain, but I will heal and it’s physical. My heart, my heart is so content and I’m obsessed with him. 

We love you so much Easton - thanks for completing our little family and making us so happy!!! Welcome home. 👪

[thebeautyblender]

BEING 39 WEEKS PREGNANT: FEELINGS

Good morning beauties!

Wow, what a whirlwind it has been!  I can’t even believe I am 39 weeks pregnant.  Last night I looked back at my blog post about trying to get pregnant and struggling with infertility.  It took us over a year to get pregnant and it was not easy.  I can’t believe I am finally at this point - baby boy is so REAL and about to change our lives so much.  If you have been following me on Instagram, you have been following my bump grow and grow and grow...

I have made it to 39 weeks... and here’s how I’m feeling.

Well I have a lot right now.  The fact that baby boy could be here at any point is insane.  I’ve been working from home for the past week and a half and going to my weekly Doctor appointments.  Knowing that my water could break at any point is so CRAZY.  The pain that I will endure to bring baby boy into this world will be insane, but SO WORTH IT.

Anxious, excited, ready, calm, nervous, excited (oh, did I already say that?).  Yes, we are very very EXCITED to meet this little guy.  WHAT WILL HE LOOK LIKE?  WHO WILL HE LOOK LIKE?  WHO WILL HE ACT LIKE?  WILL HE SLEEP?  WILL I SLEEP...?  Lol.

On another note, we had a little family emergency this week with our dog Beatrice.  She had a growth on her toes we found about a month ago and after multiple tests, they had to do an emergency surgery and had to amputate 2 of her toes to remove the cancer...  We have been staying home with our baby girl and helping her heal and get used to her cast, which she has to keep on for about 2 weeks.  :(  Yes, to think we have a baby that will be here any minute and have our baby Beatrice to take care of has put a ton of stress on me and Ty.  We just want all of our babies to be happy and healthy.  Look at us, already super parents!  :)  We know it makes us stronger though and we know we will get through it.  Beatrice will heal and we will always take care of her... and Baby Boy will be here before we know it.  We have enough love for them all so no worries there, but still, it’s a lot.  Trying to keep Toby from getting Bea too excited has been hard too... and NOT LETTING HIM EAT HER FOOD AND MEDS.  UGH, HE’S TROUBLE THAT MONKEY! Lol.

But yes, baby is on his way...

Being that I am 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant, my Doctor has me scheduled to come in at 40 weeks (Monday) if nothing has happened by then.  I’m hoping he comes naturally, but I have no plan as you can’t with these things.  I will continue working from home and trying to stay calm, relaxed and not get too stressed about anything.  Trying to embrace the last few days of being “alone” and having time to myself, where as that will be very limited once he’s here.  

Taking more moments in the backyard...

Going on walks... 

Just a little more quiet, me time.  

Yes, I am still working (another thing I am questioning how I will make work - but know I will figure it out), but really trying to take these moments to be as present as possible.  Feeling his kicks are crazy, especially when I HAVE SUGAR!!! Someone likes sugar as much as his mama...

It’s been quite a journey you guys.  I can’t believe I’M HAVING A BABY!!!!  You guys have been on the entire ride with me.  I started this blog 8 years ago (it was before I even met Tyler)!  It’s been a sweeeeet journey and I am so excited to share more sweetness with you very soon.  Thank you for always being with me, giving me tips, guidance and advice as I always want to be that source for you as well.

Sending you all so much love... always. <3

-Danielle 

[thebeautyblender]

Baby Boy’s Nursery Reveal!

I always dreamed about having about having a baby and decorating his/her nursery one day.  When we found out we were pregnant, I instantly got excited about decorating his room!!!

Being that he is a boy, I didn’t want to do anything feminine.  Of course my Pinterest had a bunch of girly rooms picked out with floral wallpapered walls (these were from pins from before I found out what gender I was having...) because I just think it’s so much easier to decorate a girl’s room vs. a boys.  Same thing for clothing!!!

Since we were having a little dude, I wanted something soft, neutral, but also cool.  This boy wasn’t going to have just any room - Hell no!  He needed something a little edgy, but also super comforting and somewhere he felt like he had room to play and be whoever he wants to be.

We went with a very neutral light tan color for the room.  We had stayed at a really beautiful hotel in Charleston, South Carolina for our babymoon called The  Dewberry and got really inspired by the decor.  Lots of neutrals, brass, woods....

I’m SO happy with how the room turned out and I can’t wait for little guy to arrive in just about 7 weeks (oh my gawwwd.... that is so soon!).

Some of my favorites about this room....

Crib - West Elm X Pottery Barn Wood Crib

Rocking Chair - Pottery Barn

Light - CB2 or this one is a great deal too and looks exactly the same!

Photography - Judith Gigliotti has some great prints you can’t go wrong with - We have a few of her photography pieces around the house.

Giraffe - Such a great accent piece for any nursery/any gender.  Hope it doesn’t scare the little guy - It definitely scared Toby when we brought it home! Lol.  (Amazon)

Rug -  For a baby’s room, it’s probably not the best idea to spend a ton as it will most likely get RUINED quickly!  We went for this NuLoom rug and love it!

I’m not sure how Toby or Bea feel about baby brother coming to town... but they will be excited once he gets here! 

We hope....... :)

Thanks for coming to baby’s nursery!  Can’t wait to have little guy here to play and cuddle with/share all my first time new mommy tips with you all!

See you soon. 

-Danielle

[thebeautyblender]

Getting The Kitchen & House Ready For Baby!  ...And Our New Cool Refrigerator

This post has been sponsored by Samsung; however, every opinion is my own and my genuine real interest and use of the products.  

We’re just about 7 weeks away from Baby Boy’s due date... We are getting things ready and nesting heavily to say the least.  

For a few weeks, Tyler and I were considering re-doing our master bathroom and after realizing how long the project would take and the bathroom being connected to baby’s soon to be room, we realized it probably wasn’t the best idea to put that kind of stress on us or dust near his room.  So instead, we chose to go with a minor remodel in the kitchen.  We realized that if things took longer or something didn’t go as planned, the dust and everything was downstairs, and it would be a less stressful/safer bet.

First things first: A New Refrigerator!

When we moved into our house 3 years ago, the previous owners left a tiny refrigerator.  

We decided to just keep it because we didn’t think much about it.  Every Sunday when we would go food shopping, the refrigerator would get filled up quicklyyy, barely leaving room for much.  it would drive me crazzzy!  I always envied anyone on Instagram posting photos of their organized refrigerators or when I would go to my friends’ houses... “Man, major refrigerator goals - I want a huge (okay maybe not huge) refrigerator one day!”  The way their water bottles were lined up; everything perfectly organized.   It was fancy!   When we started looking into refrigerators, we had no idea which one we wanted and somehow bought a new washer and dryer instead (don’t ask - somehow we redid the laundry room too!).  We went for the  Samsung Energy Star Front Loading Washer & Dryer.  We were so happy with it that we knew we also wanted to go with a Samsung Refrigerator.

I had seen a ton of posts on “the cool refrigerator” with the screen on it.  You know the one I’m talking about.  I thought it was the coolest thing ever.  You could make your grocery lists, play music, go on Pinterest, order groceries and leave notes on it?!  SO cool! 

 Samsung 4-Door French Door with 21.5 in. Connected Touch Screen Family Hub™ Refrigerator 

Being that I knew we were going to be be home a lot more with baby, making him homemade food and well, being that I’m not one to spend that much time in the kitchen to begin with (especially if it’s not a pretty one), I wanted to be EXCITED about our kitchen.  AND THIS WAS GOING TO DO IT FOR ME.

We are pretty much obsessed with our new refrigerator...

I play music while Ty is cooking and yes, I do the cleaning if he’s cooking... (and dancing...lol)

Even my morning 3 Ingredient Pancakes, Avocado Toast and Banana Oatmeal has become more of a treat.  I swear I make prettier food now too because of it... :)

This refrigerator upgrade was a game changer and having the “Family Hub” where Ty and I can share a calendar and leave notes & reminders for each other seems so perfect as we are about to add a little one to our family.

Other changes we made...

The Floors 

The floors in the kitchen had been bothering me for so long, so we replaced the old 1930′s floors with a light natural wood.  

So much brighter and cleaner/you don’t see Toby and Bea’s dog hair all the time!!!

The Laundry Room

The laundry room was so ridiculous - The smallest room I’ve ever seen with 5 doors!!!!!  WHY SO MANY DOORS?!  I don’t know, but I do know I had to do something about this room from the day we moved into this house.  The stackable washer and dryer, the new pantry and new floors were a game changer.  

Before & Afters below!

.  .  . 

We are going to be home so much more once our little dude gets here so I know that this new clean space is going to make me feel so much better and more excited about cleaning his bottles, storing all that milk (oh man breastfeeding is going to be fun) and then making him yummy organic & clean baby food.  

Having a clean, beautiful kitchen really makes a difference and can get you excited about simple things like making your daily breakfast or thinking about what you want to make for dinner.  It’s a game changer.  And that extra room in that refrigerator to help it stay organized and having the family hub on the front - it really makes me feel so much better and allows me to feel calmer and happier when home.  

I know it sounds silly, but it’s really the small things in life that make you feel better and I say if it makes you feel good, it’s 100% worth it.

See you guys soon! 

PS. Keep an eye out for Baby Boy’s nursery on the blog very soon!!

<3

[thebeautyblender]

PREGNANCY PRODUCTS EVERY MOM-TO-BE NEEDS

This post has been sponsored by PALMER’S and PURE ESSENCE; however, every opinion is my own and my genuine real interest and use of the products.  

When I first got pregnant, I had no idea how much the products I used would change.  Like really change.  Or more than that, how many new products I would have to buy for my changing body, skin, sleep, etc.

Being that I’m now 6 months pregnant, my belly is pretty big and still growing.  And when that belly grows, it grows fast, and you have to change with it.  I remember Christmas shopping with my sister and mom in December and having to unbutton my pants and walk around covering up with my purse in front of me.  It was 1. totally embarrassing and 2. extremely uncomfortable having your jeans that you totally could fit into no problem 1 week ago (some days easier than others depending on my fonut intake - yes, that’s a baked donut that is freaking amazing/has been my #1 pregnancy craving :) ).  It felt like my jeans were shrinking, but no, that was just baby boy growing!  It was time for maternity jeans and I needed them NOW otherwise it was yoga leggings for days....

I started researching so many products from maternity jeans to pregnancy pillows to the best stretch mark belly cream...  After work, I’d get home and just research the internet and Instagram, asking every Mom I knew and I started buying and trying.  Let’s just say some of the products weren’t great, but I did find my go-tos after some trial and error.

Here’s what I found and am loving...

1. PREGNANCY PILLOW:  Wamsutta® Quilted Body Pillow in White

Sleeping has been interesting to say the least.  Let’s just say I get up to pee every few hours and the leg cramps that I jump out of bed with that make me feel like Frankenstein, are NOT FUN!  I’m a belly sleeper (anyone else?!), so the side sleeping thing is really new and difficult for me.  I tried a ton of pregnancy pillows, the Snoogle, the Boppy... I tried THEM ALL.  I hated having the pillow under my head since I’m picky about pillows and felt my neck was too elevated with most pregnancy pillows I tried.  Toby (my pug) tried to get in every single one of them with me, which just defeated the whole purpose.  I almost gave up until I went to Bed Bath & Beyond to try a body pillow instead.  And I LOVE MY BODY PILLOW!  You don’t need anything fancy - It’s so inexpensive and comfortable.  They come in different firmness levels so give it a try!  I wrap one leg on top and really cuddle with it.  Toby can then sleep on my other side.  I sometime prop a pillow on my other side to avoid laying on my back, but Toby usually keeps me propped up.  Thanks Toby! :)

2. NO STRETCH MARKS!:  Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula 4.4-ounce Tummy Butter

OKAY SO I DIDN’T KNOW THIS WAS A THING!  But obviously you can get stretch marks when your belly and body is growing rapidly!  I started using an oil based stretch mark product, and then realized the ingredients weren’t as good as I wanted them to be.  I noticed that I was getting stretch marks on my boobs already and it FREAKED me out.  LADIES, BE SURE TO MOISTURIZE EVERYTHING... YOUR BELLY, YOUR BOOBS, YOUR BUM, YOUR BACK.... Sorry to get graphic here, but I mean it!  Start the moment*** you find out you’re pregnant - it’s never too early.  I was a little too late to the game, but luckily I haven’t got another stretch mark since!   I started using Palmer’s Tummy Butter and I seriously looked forward to it every day.  

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Tummy Butter is an easy, effective way to heal* and avoid* stretch marks (double whammy!).  Whether you've recently lost a lot of weight, or are a new mother, this butter formula works to help your skin smooth and avoid the stretch marks that will last way longer than you would like!  

3. THE BEST MATERNITY JEANS: 7 FOR ALL MANKIND Maternity b(air) Denim Ankle Skinny in Black

Okay, another item I had to trial and error with.  I first found some that went below the belly and they well, were falling off of me!  I then started looking for jeans that went above the belly and would stay up all day.  I LOVE these 7 FOR ALL MANKIND jeans.  I seriously wear them almost every day...  and probably will continue once bub arrives.

4. THE BEST PRENATAL VITAMIN! Pure Essence Labs One N Only Prenatal Vitamins

I tried a few different prenatal vitamins, most gave me headaches or made me incredibly nauseous.  I also hated having to take more than 1 a day as I would tend to forget.  I found PURE ESSENCE and love that it’s just 1 a day.  My headaches stopped right away once I started taking them.  I love that they are vegan, soy free and contains a bunch of superfoods to help both me and baby. I also haven’t got sick my entire pregnancy (they sometimes say that you are more susceptible to getting sick while pregnant), and I want to owe it to the extra immune support this vitamin gives.  

Also it has a NATURAL FORM OF FOLATE, which was super important to me.  Most supplements use folic acid, which the body must convert to folate.  Many people lack the enzyme required for this conversion and thereby get no benefit from folic acid.  Pure Essence’s folate is Methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF).  MTHF is already in the active form so that even those with the enzyme deficiency can use it.  Pretty obsessed with this vitamin!!!

5. BEST PRODUCT FOR CALM - Pure Essence Labs Ionic Fizz Magnesium Plus - Calm Sleep Aid and Natural Anti Stress Supplement Powder - Raspberry Lemonade

I MISS WINE!!!!!  Lol.  No but really, I was use to coming home after a long day of work (I run my own wellness brand/company and teach yoga), and would pour myself a glass of wine.  It wasn’t even a glass most of the time, but even a few sips would help me unwind and relax.  Being pregnant is great, but the no wine and no sushi thing, is well, A THING!  I needed to find something that I could take before bed that would help me unwind and was still safe for me and baby.  I love having a warm cup of tea with this Magnesium powder.  I swear it helps to avoid leg cramps in the middle of the night.  AND IT 100% helps me sleep better throughout the night.  If you were a back or belly sleeper, get ready to learn to be a side sleeper (it takes a while and magnesium helps me fall asleep while on my side).

6. BEST PREGNANCY TOP - Women's Ingrid & Isabel Rib Knit Maternity Tank

So I didn’t expect I would have maternity wear go-tos, but I do and lets just say my outfits are LIMITED.  I basically wear this tank under everything because I love the way it holds the belly in.  I bought at least 3 of these so I can wear it every day.

7. BEST PREGNANCY APP - PREGNANCY PLUS

The best pregnancy app I found.  I love the weekly updates, what size fruit baby is, common symptoms I might have and even Dr. Appointment reminders/what they will usually test for when.  I also like the “What To Expect” App and the book is also extremely helpful!

8. HYDRATION IS KEY!: S’well Water Bottle

I started getting pretty gnarly headaches around week 8.  They were almost daily and would start early in the AM and not going away until around 6pm.  I tried my best to not take anything, but sometimes would take Tylenol.  I found that drinking water early in the AM and before bed was key.  HYDRATE MY PREGNANT MAMA FRIENDS!!!!  Your body is working a ton right now and it’s key to stay hydrated.  I take my S’well Water Bottle with me everywhere to remind me to drink up.

.   .   . 

(Here’s bump at 26 weeks!)

Hopefully this post helped all of you mama-to-bes.  These are my main go-to products I’m using right now and that have been helping me majorly get through this pregnancy.  Overall, I’ve been feeling great and can’t complain, but of course there are modifications we need to take and products we need to buy.  Have fun with it!  I’m now in the stage of obsessing over baby’s room, and let’s just say, that post will be fun of goodies too!

[thebeautyblender]

ROSE MILK ICED TEA: RECIPE

Hi guys!

So if you follow me on Instagram, you know I am somewhat obsessed with Rose Milk Teas (with or without Boba!).  There was a local breakfast/coffee spot near our house in Los Feliz that I would go to every single Sunday just to get this tea, and then one weekend, we pulled up to a sign that had said THEY CLOSED!!!!!  I was somewhat devastated (yes, I am very dramatic and just a creature of habit).  So after searching all of L.A. for more Rose Milk Teas and couldn’t find anything comparable or in our area so I decided: I’M GOING TO MAKE MY OWN.

I haven’t mastered the boba part yet, just because I don’t know where to get boba, but I will get to that soon! :)

ROSE MILK TEA

Ingredients:

Rose Petals (Dried) - I would recommend getting them online or from a tea shop

Black Tea (or any tea of your choice!) - 1/2 cup

Almond Milk, Soy Milk or Oat Milk - 1/2 cup

Honey

How To:

Boil 1 cup of water - add about a handful of rose petals once water is boiled.

Turn to Medium Heat and boil the rose petals until the petals turn a light pink/water turns a light pink.

Turn off heat and add just the rose water to mix with the black tea, almond milk, honey and top with dried rose petals. 

Add ice to make for a more refreshing iced tea/latte option!

.   .   . 

It’s been a big hit in our house, even Toby wants some...

:)

Happy rose milk tea weekends you guys!  Enjoy! <3

[thebeautyblender]

BABYMOONING IN CHARLESTON, SC : Your Go-To Guide

We just got back from the dreamiest babymoon I could ever dream of.  When we found out we were expecting, I immediately thought, I’m not going to be able to travel for a while, let’s plan a trip!  I also thought, who knows when the next time Tyler and I will be alone, babyless, so I thought we needed to book something quickly to have some time for just us.

We initially booked PARIS.  I know... so dreamy.  I thought, what could be better than walking around romantic París with Tyler, eating baguettes, croissants and exploring the city with him while expecting our wittle one’s arrival.  As we got closer to our trip, I started getting nervous about traveling at 22 weeks pregnant on an 11+ hour flight.  They had some riots going on and I just was getting some major anxiety about the whole thing, when it should be about relaxation, enjoyment and having fun.  So we ended up canceling our trip.  I thought, what’s closer and somewhere I’ve been wanting to go?

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA!!! ...Yes, the show Southern Charm may have had something to do with it! ;)

Ty’s grandma lives near Greenville, SC and we had been meaning to visit her, so we thought PERFECT!!!  We get to visit Grandma and then drive to Charleston!  It’s about a 3 hour drives from Greenville so not that bad.

Ty’s Grandma was super happy to see us.... I didn’t capture most of the trip, but it was sweet to see her and spend some good quality time together.

We were then off to Charleston!

We arrived around noon to our hotel.

HOTEL: THE DEWBERRY CHARLESTON

I did my research on this one.  The reviews were pretty amazing and had 4.9/5 stars on most sites.  So we went with it.

AND I’M GLAD WE DID.

The staff, the decor, the ambiance, the rooms... Just overall perfection.  I was obsessed with the woods and brass in the hotel - We actually were inspired by it so much that we might have it be our inspiration for the baby’s nursery!

OK back to our trip... Our room wasn’t ready yet when we got there so we wanted to go right out and explore.

We just started walking...

And got hungry and stopped at BLIND TIGER which is a historical pub that was built in the 1800s.  To be honest, I had a list of places to eat and just stumbled upon this one because we were HUNGRY...

No joke, it was the best “bar food” I’ve ever had!  We had the Chicken Ceasar, French Fries and Avocado Toast with Shrimp.  It was really good.  I wouldn’t have thought this was food from a bar...  The Ceasar Salad was cooked and something different (in a good way).  The fries.....oh my YUM.

We continued to walk around after lunch until we got a call that our room was ready.

Got our keys and went up to our room....

AND IT WAS PERFECT.  

My handsome hubby ready to babymoon with me!

We then showered  and got ready to walk around some more/head to dinner.

DINNER: CHEZ NOIS

(About a 15 minute walk from our hotel - we didn’t UBER once the entire trip!).

This quaint little restaurant is in a old little house off a hidden alley.  IT’S SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE.  The menu is HANDWRITTEN.  Need I say more???  I couldn’t drink wine, but their wine menu looked amazing.  The menu changes daily - we had some of the best food we have had in a while.  The overall experience was A++.  I would highly recommend this, especially for a little cozy dinner with a friend or significant other.  It’s fancy but not stuffy at all.  

We came back to our hotel and went to the rooftop bar where the bartender made me a MOCKTAIL (oh how I miss my cocktails and wine).  Let’s just say every Mocktail I’ve had in the past 5 months has been pretty awful - THIS ONE WAS SO GOOD.  Still thinking about it... Yum.  Thank you to the bartender at The Dewberry!!!

The next day we slept in and then got up to explore some more.

We had ONE place we haddd to go while in Charleston and that was....

BREAKFAST: CALLIE’S BISCUITS

I found this place on Instagram and HAD TO GO... and I’m so glad we did!  Holy moly.

They were so good:  GET THE CINNAMON AND BLACKBERRY JAM BISCUITS!  Tyler got the one on the right - I think it was with ham??  I went with the sweeter options!

We then had to walk...because after THOSE you have to walk, lol.

The great thing about Charleston is you can WALK EVERYWHERE.  We walked 4-5 miles a day which I loved because being pregnant, there is nothing better than walking for exercise.  It just feels good.  Take some comfortable shoes, you will do a ton of walking!

So we walked....

And walked...

And stopped in front of so many beautiful homes to just stand in awe at how pretty they were.

Ugh, everything is so pretty in Charleston, that you will want to keep walking and exploring.

And maybe stop and take some bump photos.... :)

MUST SEE: RAINBOW ROW

Definitely go to Rainbow Row.

It’s gorgeous.  If you keep walking straight down, you will eventually hit the water and the homes are even more gorgeous down there.  17,000 sq. foot homes from the 1600s!!!!

I seriously felt like we were on some movie set.  I couldn’t believe it was real.

We finally walked home because it was a little chilly (end of January about hight 40s/low 50s).  Cold for this LA girl!  

This lobby area on our hotel floor was so cute, I had to get a few photos!  Also, my floral print dress with the floral print background... Couldn’t resist!

Also, still figuring out how to pose with baby... lol.  It’s still new to me!

We hung out in our hotel room for a bit and then headed to dinner (we hadn’t had lunch - oops!).

DINNER: THE DARLING OYSTER BAR

OKAY, yes, I couldn’t eat oysters OR have wine, but the food looked pretty good and they had fried oysters so SURE!

It was really really good.  I would highly recommend the Fried Chicken, Fried Oysters (oy, did I just type “Fried” twice...:/ ) and the Green Salad was delicious (yes, we ate some greens on this trip!).

We walked back to our hotel after dinner and had “a drink” in the lobby of our hotel.  And by drink, I had a Chamomile Tea!  Oh how I miss wine... but worth it for baby boy. :)

We got back to our room and was craving dessert.

ROOM SERVICE!!!!

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES & MILK?

Yesssss please!

Haha, we were in heaven.

Seriously, best cookies I’ve (ever?) had!

We watched a movie in bed and then headed out early in the AM to head back home to the doggies and real life.

So yes, it may have not been PARIS, but PARIS SHMARIS!  We had the best time.  I can’t wait to visit Charleston again, just as a family of 3 and we can tell little guy how Mom and Dad came here right before he was born.

So Babymoon or not, I highly highly recommend traveling to Charleston for a fun weekend away.

See you guys on the blog & instagram soon!  I’ll be posting more pregnancy updates - LIKE HIS NURSERY - very soon.  We are just starting the designing process and I can’t wait to share! <3

[thebeautyblender]

THE BEAUTY BLENDER 2018 ANNUAL GIFT GUIDE

The holidays are HERE!  My favorite time of the year. 

Every year I share my favorite go-to holiday gift ideas and this year, won’t disappoint.  Here are some of my favorite gift go-tos and hopefully it’ll help you with your holiday shopping too!

1. SodaStream -  ($99)

FOR YOUR LACROIX LOVERS.  Tyler is a BIG La Croix fan so this was one I couldn’t resist for him this year (good thing he barely reads my blog and already knows I already have one for him!). :P  Want to make your own fizzy water at home and not have to even think twice about what’s in your drink?  Make it at home!

2. Eberjey Gisele Short Sleeve Long Pant Pajama Set ($118)

The comfiest pajamas out there!  I own a few fairs and I LOVE THEM.  I’ve had them for years and I swear they’re my favorite, softest pajamas I own.  LOVE THESE!  Other brands I love: Only Hearts, Hanky Panky

3. Yogahhh! Detox Bath ($32)

For anyone who needs some extra self-care or loves all these wellness.  This Detox Bath is the perfect “me time” product to use over the holidays.  Detox from the stress from the year, calm the mind and also release toxins from the body.  EPSOM SALT, EUCALYTPUS, MASTIHA, GOJI BERRY EXTRACT AND MORE?  Yes, pleaaase!!! A little spahhhh at home. :)

4. Swell Water Bottle 25 oz - Blue - ($45)

My favorite water bottle!!!!  I’m trying to spread the word about FIND TAP and try to get people to use less plastic bottles!!  It’s so bad for our environment and we need to invest in bottles like Swell and more - and then refill using apps like “FIND TAP”.  Swell has so many fun prints to choose from so you can find one that is perfect for your family or friend!

5. UGG Scuffette II Chestnut Slippers - Tan ($120)

I LIVE in these!  I don’t know one person who wouldn’t love a good pair of slippers!  And even if someone has a pair already, who can’t use 2?!  Leave one in the bedroom and one in the living room..!  LOVE THESE COZY SLIPPERS and they make the most perfect holiday gift for anyone.

6. goop Fragrance Scented Candle: Edition 03 - Incense ($72)

One of my favorite candles - AND I AM A CANDLE JUNKIE.  You can burn this candle for a good amount of time and it doesn’t burn quickly.... so it will LAST.  I love the smell and the black contrast makes for a good interior design piece too!

7.  Custom Framed Constellation Map, Star Map, First Anniversary Gift, Star Print, Engagement Gift, New Baby Gift, Celestial Wall Art ($35)

If you want a very custom, sweet and thoughtful gift, this is for you!  I love this gift - Maybe you want to put where you and your significant other met, or someone’s birth date - it will put the exact location and a custom constellation of that date & time.  I think this is a very cool present, for anyone really!

8. Alo Yoga Moto Leggings ($110)

My favorite workout leggings. EVER.  These are the most flattering workout leggings you can find - and fashionable at the same time!  I love ALL THINGS ALO so if you have a workout savvy friend or family member, ALO will be an easy go to.

.  .  . 

ALSO STAY TUNED!  I’m doing a HUGE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY on my INSTAGRAM (@DANIELLECUCCIO) on Dec. 12th!!!  Make sure you’re following me so you can have your chance to win!!! 

Wishing you all the HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS!  <3

[thebeautyblender]

WE’RE PREGNANT!!!!!  BABY BOY DUE JUNE 2019!

I’VE BEEN WAITING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING HUGE!!!!!

....I’M PREGNANT!!!

It’s been incredibly hard holding this from you guys for the past few weeks.  As some of you know, we have been trying for a baby for over a year.  It sometimes seemed like it was never going to happen, but we are officially 12 weeks pregnant!  

I have shared our fertility journey here on the blog as well as on Instagram, and it was extremely frustrating to want a baby, but have to keep trying every month with no success.  I felt like I kept seeing pregnancy announcements but for some reason, it wasn’t happening for me.  With irregular periods and numerous visits to numerous doctors, we are so happy to announce, BABY IS ON THE WAY!

About 9 weeks ago or so, I was taking a pregnancy test at home and there was a very very faint line, but something was there.  I couldn’t believe it.  I had been taking these tests for months and to finally see a line was surreal.

I took another test later that day and it was darker.

I took another one the next day, and the next day, and the next day and the line continued to get darker.  I called my Doctor to schedule an appointment for a blood test to confirm the pregnancy and went in that following Monday.  She called me about 3 hours later saying I was pregnant!!!

(This was the day I found out it was REAL).  We called the baby “Dot” for a few weeks... :)

When you first find out you’re pregnant, you’re nervous and scared.  You hear so many stories of people losing their babies in the early first trimester.  Of course I was so nervous.  Luckily, my Doctor had me come in every 2 weeks to check with ultrasounds and this made me feel SO much better.  I went to so many doctors to find “THE ONE” who I felt was compassionate, caring and spent time with me and my concerns.

ABOVE: WEEK 6 on the left and WEEK 10 on the right...

BELOW: WEEK 12 5 DAYS

Watching this little baby grow has been most likely the most magical experience of my life.  I’ve never been happier or more excited about anything in my entire life.  The first few weeks I was definitely nauseous, my boobs hurt and they grew about a whole cup size bigger(!), I would feel some cramps from time to time but nothing that crazy.  Some days were worse than others - some days I barely felt pregnant.  Also, around 10-12 weeks all the nausea went away completely so I’m grateful for that!

We decided we wanted to find out the gender.  Technology is CRAZY advanced now where you can find out at 10 weeks!  We decided to do the blood test and I got the call last week saying our results were in.

I didn’t want to find out any way.  I didn't want the nurse to tell me over the phone and I didn’t want to open a piece of paper to see what we were having SO I decided a cake or cupcake with the gender color inside would be super cute.  THE DAY I got the phone call I was leaving a yoga client (luckily I wasn’t at the office that day) and I went straight to my Doctor’s office to pick up the paper work.  They gave me a little card in an envelope that I could take to the bakery.  GUYS, it was the HARDEST thing keeping that paperwork next to me for at least 6 hours without looking!!!!  Talk about having PATIENCE!!!!!!

I got the cupcakes done - SUSIECAKES did them in about an hour (this was around noon) - and then Tyler wasn’t coming home from work until 5:30pm.  OYYYY.... THE WAIT WAS TOUGH.

Tyler got home and we were kind of freaking out.  I MEAN FINDING OUT THE GENDER OF YOUR BABY IS NO JOKE!!!!  We were BEYOND nervous!

Check out our reveal video below. :)  

......

...........A BOY!!!!!!

It’s pretty cute how nervous Ty gets... Right?!  I was just as nervous!

We have ALL girls on my side of the family so this was NEWS!   We are excited to introduce a little man to the family who will be I’m sure, quite the character. :)

(You know telling Toby and Beatrice was A THING.  Based off this photo we see Bea is happy, not sure about Toby.... LOL).

We are so beyond excited for this next chapter in our lives.  It’s seriously a moment that can’t be beat.  We are beyond excited for our little man to make us laugh (and probably cry when we won’t be sleeping, lol), find a new kind of love we have never experienced and be able to grow our family.  I’m so excited to welcome you along this journey with me, and hopefully you will be able to share your pregnancy tips, parenting tips, your fertility experiences and maybe I can help in some way too!

<3

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