{Newborn Bottle Feeding: I Recommend...}

I feel like through the course of having two children who have been almost exclusively bottle-fed that I have become pretty well-versed on formula feeding. They have both had various digestive issues (reflux, possible milk allergies) so I have tried every formula and bottle on the market. Luckily, the world of formula-feeding is advanced and there are plenty of options to fit your lifestyle and baby's preferences.

Mothers complain that formula feeding is such a hassle, but it simply doesn't have to be. Here are a few tips and tricks that I use that make formula feeding a piece of cake.

~ Get your baby used to room temperature water in their formula as soon as you can. If you are doing both nursing and formula, that's a little tricky because your milk is warm, and they would be used to it. I have used room temperature water with both my babies, and have never had to warm up a bottle. They don't want to drink it if it's actually cold, but room temperature is just fine. One of the nurses in the maternity ward told me that lots of times the baby will reject a cold bottle not because the formula is cold, but because the nipple is cold. You can try warming up just the nipple if it's still an issue.

~ The best part about getting them to think room temperature formula is the norm is that middle of the night feedings are a BREEZE. At night before I go to bed, I put bottles pre-filled with water on their nightstand, with a formula dispenser filled with formula. When they wake up and want to eat, I grab a bottle and dump the formula in and have them eating in less than 30 seconds. The complaint I hear a lot is that mothers hate going down to the kitchen in the middle of the night and warming up a bottle, etc, etc, but there are definitely ways around this. Leaving it in their room is my favorite thing. Ever.

~ For outings, pack bottles pre-filled with water, a formula dispenser (like the Avent one listed here), and a bib (I like the Aden + Anais burpy bib), in a wet bag. That way if something spills, it's not all over your diaper bag. You can also put the used bottles back in the bag. Feeding them on the go is as easy and zipping open your wet bag.

I'm no expert by any means, but I have been around the block with formula feeding. Below is an Amazon recommended list of formula-feeding supplies! Please feel free to add comments and suggestions!!

{Favorite Babies and Kiddos Gadgets}

I am a gadget junkie. There, I said it. I realized this when I bought every little thing that may have some tiny purpose with babies. My hubby says that I buy "anything with a marginal use." Yup. Totally right. But I constantly have people saying, "Where did you get that?? That is so neat!!" or "They didn't have anything like that when I was raising my kids!" I think the reason I buy all these little gadgets is that I am secretly hoping I will make it through raising MY kids a little easier if I have more STUFF (much to my husband's dismay...) So here are a few of my tried and true favorites that make my life a little easier with a baby/toddler, and have passed the "Second Time Mom Usefulness" test.



Boon Spoon

 Best. Baby. Tool. Ever. Fill it up with your pureed baby food, screw on the spoon lid, and put on the cap. There is a little hole at the base of the spoon that the food comes out when you squeeze the spoon. Instead of fumbling with a baby food container, taking the foil lid off, taking the top off, holding a spoon, etc, etc, you have a one-handed way of feeding on the go. I can't say enough about how great this is.




Smocket Pocket

 This is probably the most-commented-on piece of baby paraphernalia I have. It's ridiculous and GENIUS at the same time. It's basically a long-sleeved apron that has elastic that pulls the front over the high chair tray. My first baby was a MESSY eater and got food down the front of her, on her lap, in her diaper...everywhere. This keeps everything off her. All it's missing is a rain hat. You'd have to google it to find one of these anymore...


Snack Catcher
These cups have rubber tops that let little hands get inside to grab snacks, but if dropped, you don't end up with 268 Cheerios on the floor of your car.



Formula Dispenser

This is my most-used item. Couldn't live without it. I have one for the diaper bag for outings, and one in the nursery on the nightstand with pre-filled bottles of water at night. It saves me from having to go down to the kitchen in the middle of the night and mix up a bottle. (I train my kids to think room temperature formula is awesome). I got it for going out when I have to fill bottles at the zoo, church, you name it, and love it for both functions.


OiOi diaper bag


With my first, I insisted on a Petunia Picklebottom Boxy Backpack for my diaper bag. It had a cool fold-out diaper changing pad, and I loved the idea of a backpack because you always have a car seat on one arm and it's hard to keep a diaper bag on the other. BUT after a few months with it, I found it too small inside and got annoyed with the stiffness of the whole thing. Enter the OiOi diaper bag. It has TONS of room and it has two handles, plus a long strap. It also comes witha changing mat, bottle insulator, and wipes holder. And it looks like a big yellow purse. I use it even when I don't have to!!

{Best of 2011: Beauty}

As 2011 comes to an end, I thought I would post some of my favorite products from this year. These are my favorite beauty products I use-- Hair, nails, skin, makeup...all the good stuff.


Eminence Sun Defense Minerals

This Eminence powder sunscreen is my favorite skin product ever. Before I became an esthetician, I thought sunscreen only came in the greasy Banana Boat or Bull Frog varieties. Not only are there tons of non-greasy daily sunscreens, there are also powder sunscreens that can be applied over full makeup. You can get them in shades to match your skin tone, but you can also get them in translucent, which is invisible on your skin. The best usage of these, for me, is when I am on vacation, and have done my makeup for the day, and midway through the day need to reapply sunscreen. I definitely don't want to slather on cream sunscreen, and then have to re-powder for all those vacation pictures, so this does both. You can just apply it over your whole face. I bought this before we went to Peru, and used it there as well as our most recent trips to Cancun and Brazil. It's a staple in my little day pack I carry with me. My husband even asks me if he can use it while we are travelling. And since it's translucent, he's not actually wearing makeup and can keep his manliness. I have also tried the Jane Iredale version of powder sunscreen, but it dispenses from a sponge and when you are sweating your guts out at Machu Picchu, you don't want the sponge to just absorb all your sweat. Because it's not removable and washable. Sick. But this one has a brush that dispenses the powder and can be cleaned with brush cleanser (see the bottom entry in this post). So this is my little plug to those of you who don't wear sunscreen daily. Do it.

Creative Nail Design Super Shiney High Gloss Top Coat
This is exactly what it sounds like. An awesome top coat that is really shiny.



It's a 10 Miracle Hair MaskI wish I could bathe in this stuff. If I could recommend on product of any kind on the entire earth to everybody, it would be this. It's seriously that good. It is used a couple times a week as a hair mask, and can be left on for as long as you want. I do it every other day in the shower for about 5 minutes (longer if I have the time in there). Before I chopped my hair, this mask was incredible for detangling. I used to dread getting out of the shower and trying to pull a wide-toothed comb through my hair. With this, I can run a comb through once, and it's as easy as pie. I do have one warning, though: Once you use this, you will NOT be able to stop playing with your hair throughout the day because it is so silky and luscious. Also try their Miracle Leave-in Product. Awesome.


Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15
If you have oily skin, this moisturizer/sunscreen is a miracle. I get quite oily in the summer when it's hot, and this is the best thing ever. It actually eliminates shine on contact. I took this with me to Brazil, and in the hottest, most humid weather I have ever experienced in the Amazon jungle, this helped a TON. This is my new staple moisturizer. As an esthetician, I love it because it has an SPF of 15, so I'm protected throughout the day! Layer on a mineral powder, like the one listed just below, and you have great coverage for daily activities!


GloMinerals Loose Powder
If you have not switched to mineral powder, do it NOW. With the amazing benefits of mineral makeup, there's no reason to be using basic powder any longer. For me, I love the fact that it is made of minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, because those are the two main physical sunscreen ingredients. So your powder acts as a sunscreen. I also love that it has antioxidants, which are very beneficial to the skin. But the thing that REALLY sold me was the fact that it is noncomedogenic and hypoallergenic. It won't cause acne or inflammation. It actually HELPS with inflammation (both general and caused by acne). True story: I gave myself a chemical peel one day and, as usual, my light complexion turned dark red from the immediate inflammation. I applied my GloMinerals pressed base right after and the redness nearly disappeared. It was incredible, and I was sold from that moment. My favorite that I have tried (and as an esthetician/instructor/esthetics school product purchaser I have tried a LOT) is GloMinerals. The pressed base gives you a matte (read: not shiny or shimmery) finish, and the loose powder gives you a more dewy (read: shimmery) finish. I use the pressed in the summer when I am already dewy enough, and the loose in the winter to give my skin a little glow. Gorgeous powders!


Jane Iredale POMMIST Hydration Spray


No mineral foundation is complete without a setting spray (or toner) to set the minerals. I use this every day with my powder and love it beacuse it sets the makeup and takes away any powder-y looking finish. This one from Jane Iredale is great because it has pomegranate extract, which has antioxidant and UV properties. Just mist over your face after you apply your mineral powder, and you're done!!


MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35
This is the best concealer ever. It is very pigmented, so it covers well, unlike some other concealers that don't actually camouflage anything. And it has an SPF of 35, so it protects your already-pigmented spot from getting sun and being more pigmented.


Smashbox Cosmetics Brow Tech Trio

Two shades of brow powder (Taupe and Soft Brown) and brow wax all in one. I use it with a thin angled eyeliner brush to apply. It's amazing how much more finished a face can look when the brows are filled in!


Bobbi Brown Ultrafine Eyeliner Brush

Bobbi Brown's Ultrafine eyeliner brush is perfect for using an eyeshadow as eyeliner. I haven't used an eyeliner pencil for 11 years. It's a tiny brush, and ideal for applying eyeshadow along the lashline. You can wet the brush before you put it in the eyeshadow for a more intense effect. I use a dark brown Bobbi Brown eyeshadow for my liner. And this same brush has lasted me using it everyday for 11 years!


Jane Iredale Botanical Brush Cleanser

If you don't get around to washing your makeup brushes as frequently as you should (umm...like me...) this brush cleanser spray works great for the in-between times. You can just spray it on a paper towel (or old hand towel you don't mind ruining) and wipe your brushes on it to clean them. No more grimy makeup and oil. And it smells AWESOME.

{Best of 2011: Baking and Decorating}

I have really gotten into baking cakes and cupcakes this year, so, inevitably I have purchased a lot of baking and decorating supplies :) Here are some of my favorites!! You can click the images to link to where to buy them!

Wilton Disposable Decorating Bags



Flirty Aprons



Half-size bun pan

Kitchenaid Artisan 5-qt. Mixer

Wilton Decorating Bag Holder



EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale

Baker's Edge Brownie Pan

Progressive International Collapsible Cupcake Carrier


Mini Measure Measuring Glass


Williams-Sonoma cookbook holder