The high chair of my dreams!

Baby #2 is coming any day now, and the past few weeks have been the most exciting! I mean sitting hurts, standing hurts, everything kinda hurts, but the most fun part has been picking out all the essentials he’ll need! I have been on the hunt for the perfect high chair for my baby boy on the way and had a list of “non-negotiables” like: easy to take him in and out, functional and not a total eyesore. I almost gave up on my hunt, and then I found Lalo’s high chair (which I’ve actually had my eye on for a while!).

The Chair comes in 4 different stunning colors, I opted for Coconut/white. Lalo somehow designed a really, really good looking high chair that is extremely functional and hits everything on my list. Also, Poppy is kinda obsessed with it too… she feeds her dolls in it every day and says she’s practicing for her brother (my heart is melting)!

Why I think my baby boy will have the best seat in the house:

1. Easy to take him in and out

1. You don’t have to remove the tray to remove your baby! This is HUGE because all parents know how crazy mealtime can get… but also, I love how you can remove the tray and pull the high chair up to the table for family meals. You can also put the tray in the dishwasher if you ever need a deep clean, which I already know I’ll be doing!

2. Functional

1. The fact that The Chair is something my family can keep for 6+ years is a HUGE. The full kit (this is what I have) and 2-in-1 kit come with a set of shorter legs so you can turn the chair into a play chair once they outgrow the high chair phase. 

3. Chic design

1. The Chair’s smooth edges and beechwood legs are insanely gorgeous. It fits right in with our minimal aesthetic. 

Side note: leave it Lalo to also make kids’ tableware that is as aesthetically pleasing as their stunning high chair! Poppy won’t take the bibs off, but I’m SO excited to use these.

I can’t wait to be sitting around the table with my whole fam soon enough! Check out The Chair and for all my expecting mommas, you can easily add it to your registry on Babylist.

Kauai with an Adventerous Toddler

We have always wanted to go to Hawaii, but living in NYC, that flight just did NOT seem realistic.  Now that we live in LA, we decided it was time to finally check out the Hawaii Magic!  We decided on Kauai as our destination and decided against island hopping, to keep it as stress free as possible with our 16 month old.  I spent WEEKS researching and planning this trip, and I wanna share all my finds with YOU!

We divided up the trip and did half in Princeville (north shore) and half at the Grand Hyatt in Poipu (south shore).  The entire trip was cloudy and rainy, so some of the things we had planned didn't work out.  But we were still able to do SO MUCH despite the weather.

First off, I highly recommend renting a car.  We were not planning to, and OMG I am so glad we did.  There is no way we could have survived without one.  We used TURO, which i am obsessed with.  You rent right from the owner, it's awesome - and you can get the car delivered right to the airport, win!

When on the North Shore, there are SO many little hidden beaches.  The waves crash pretty far out, so these spots are fun and safe for little ones (note there are no lifeguards, so stay safe and aware).  We LOVED Anini Beach, and I hear it's a great place to snorkel.  We only got to walk along the beach since it was raining, but it was so beautiful!

Another must see is Hanalei Town, Pier and Bay.  The little town of Hanalei has tons of shops and restaurants.   I ate all of the burritos & tacos from every mexican place around - YUM.  The pier and bay are STUNNING.  Even in the rain it was amazing, I can only imagine how awesome it would be to layout and swim there.  The water was calm - and I'm told there are usually snorkel rentals all over the area.

Another AWESOME spot we loved was Lydgate State Park and Beach.  This was Poppy's FAVE! It is an ENORMOUS playground made of wood.  Caves, slides, climbing galore! And it was right off the beach, so of course we ran around there after.

One thing I did NOT know about Kauai was the wild chickens that are EVERYWHERE.  I mean it was pretty hilarious.  On our first day we ate at the CUTEST little spot that is perfectly on the way to Princeville from Lihue airport.  It's called EAT HEALTHY and it was PERFECT! Poppy fed her quesadilla accidently to some chickens and then the chickens decided to jump on the table and eat all our food - this seemed to be a recurring theme of our entire trip.  So yeah, BEWARE OF CHICKENS!

Despite the rain, we explored SO much of Kauai's amazing north shore.  We spent hours and hours in the car, driving around, jumping in and out of the car to snap pics, walk on empty beaches and explore.  After a few days of exploration we drove down to the south shore to stay at the amazing Grand Hyatt Kauai.  We were hoping for a few days of relaxing at the pool and beach, but the sun still didn't come out for us.  Even without the sun, we still got to experience this incredible resort.

You walk in to the lobby and the ocean is PERFECTLY framed by their open layout.  Our room had an OCEAN VIEW and a balcony that was to die for.

The weather didn't stop us from enjoying the MANY pools, the multitude of restaurants, direct beach access and even a few little hikes right off the property.

On our last night at the Grand Hyatt we were able to attend their Luau.  It was absolutely AMAZING! It was held indoors due to weather, but the entire spectacle was still not to miss.  The food was so good.  The standout was the pork - I am still craving it!  The dancers and the show was spot on.  Poppy was totally glued! She kept running up to the stage to watch closer.  Definitely something you do not wanna miss!

ROUND UP! Here is a quick guide to all the things WE think you can't miss in Kauai.

Food:
Eat Healthy Kauai - get the acai bowl. watch out for chickens. VERY kid friendly.
La Spezia Kauai - don't miss the banana pancakes.  kid friendly
Aloha Roastery - DELISH coffee
Little Fish Coffee- acai bowls and coffee.  watch out for chickens. outdoor eating
Anuenue Cafe - amazing breakfast!
Keokis Paradise - great place to go for Dinner - kid friendly - yummy fresh local seafood

Sights:
Lydgate Beach Park - wooden playground - lots of fun! Pretty beaches/picnic tables
Lighthouse at Kilauea Point
Hanalei Pier/town/beach
Anini Beach
Jack Harter Helicopter tour - not for babies. Epic views.
Queens Bath - advanced/scary hike - not for the faint of heart.
Secret Beach
Tunnel Beach

Stay:
Grand Hyatt Kauai.  amazing views. amazing resort extra kid friendly!

Mahalo!

my baby must haves

You may remember when I was pregnant i made a list of my baby must haves.  Now that I have had Poppy, my list has surely changed and expanded.  Before she was here, I had no idea what I was getting into.  I am still learning everyday but here is a little peek into some things we can NOT live without!

1. BUMBLERIDE Stroller: Can you be in love with a stroller? Because I think I am.  The bumbleride is AWESOME.  Poppy LOVES it.  Like I said in my earlier post, I wanted a stroller that would last from infancy to toddlerhood and this is IT.  We still use it on the farthest recline, so Poppy is laying basically flat.  It opens and closes with one movement, which is SO helpful and easy.  Its SO easy to navigate and push and Poppy loves peeking back at me through the opening!  I also love that the top canopy completely covers the stroller so we can go for walks around NYC when its windy or cold and she stays nice and snuggly!

2. DOONA Car seat/Stroller:  NYC is tough.  We don't have cars here - so it was essential we found a carseat that was practical for us.  The Doona is a carseat.  It is also a stroller. The wheels pop out and it instantly becomes a stroller!  This is what we used to take Poppy home from the hospital. We LOVE the Doona because we take it around and can easily put it in a cab or uber!  Its SO easy for me to secure it in the cabs, too! It doesn't need a base - so its crazy easy! The DOONA has literally saved us!!

3. DockATot:  The DockATot is so worth the hype! This little magical baby pod is PERFECT for naps and cuddles.  The entire thing is breathable so its totally safe.  It helps Poppy nap longer and sleep better.  She also loves to hangout in it and play with her toys in it!

4. 4Moms mamaRoo:  The 4moms mamaRoo infant seat extraordinaire bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like we do when we hold Poppy.  I hold Poppy ALL day, and while that is awesome for my arms, it's also SUPER tiring.  I have become a stealth ninja and I can quickly transfer her from my arms into the mamaRoo and she barely notices the difference!  The Toys on it are also super stimulating for her to look at!

5. Owlet Baby Monitor: Poppy has been sleeping through the night for sometime now, however I spent the first 2 months WIDE awake staring at her belly making sure it was going up and down.  My friend told me about the OWLET Baby monitor and I sure wish I knew about it earlier! This little sock goes on your baby when they get put down for sleep - naps etc and it tracks their heart-rate and oxygen levels.  It is designed to notify you if their heart-rate drops or oxygen drops outside of the preset zone.   It is a little pricey, but I am telling you, IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY.

6. Wildbird Ring Sling: I was always so obsessed with the idea of baby wearing.  Once Poppy arrived I found myself fiddling with every sort of wrap I could find - only to get frustrated because of how hard they were to maneuver.  A few friends recommended I try out a RING SLING.  I found these AMAZING slings from Wildbird and WOW - EASY EASY.  Its literally one piece of fabric that makes a little seat for the baby's tushy and voila, they're in in ONE step.  Another thing I wish I had when she was newborn, for sure.

7. Rags to Raches: THE MOST COMFY ROMPERS EVER.  Super convenient because you don't have to worry about snaps and buttons galore, these stretchy masterpieces slide right off the baby. Im anxiously awaiting them to be made in my size. (hint hint)

http://ragstoraches.com/

8. Lalabu Soothe Shirt: This was one thing I was SO excited to try when Poppy was born.  I knew I wanted to babywear, but I didn't realize how hard it was going to be.  Poppy was born pretty big - and she was so heavy for me to carry, so wraps and structured carriers were too difficult for me to get her into on my own.  The lalabu shirt was SO easy for me to get Poppy into and she loved being close to me.  The only downside is that Poppy couldn't fit in it for as long as I would have hoped! (The Lalabu fits babies up to 15lbs, and Poppy is a chunk!) This is a must have for newborn babies!

9. Nose Frida:  Whoever would have thought that sucking snot out of your baby's nose would be SO SATISFYING?! The Nose Frida is a little tube you put on babys nose and then there is a tiny hose that goes in your mouth and then you suck. YEP.  That's it. Seriously you have to try this.  I AM OBSESSED. Total game changer.

10. Lorena Canals Washable Rugs: Living in NYC our apartment is wall to wall hardwood floors.  I never knew how badly I would wish for plush fluffy carpets until I had Poppy!  With our Lorena Canals ruh, we instantly have a soft surface to play on.  Without it, we would be sitting on the bed all day! These rugs are SO fluffy and so cute.  And best of all, machine washable!! Pop it in the wash and it is as good as new.  Seriously, SO convenient.  I have a pink one, but they have SO many different shapes, designs, sizes etc perfect for any nursery or home.

So that's my little list of my top 10 must haves - there are so many more things I want to add - but I wanted to keep it to my top 10 FAVES.  Now that Poppy is getting bigger, I would love to hear what you guys love for 3-6 months that I TOTALLY need.  Leave a comment below with your tips!

xxx

in soho

I don't think I could have gotten through the last 9 months without ASOS Maternity.  Seriously, it feels so good to be in 'normal' clothing and feel somewhat like myself!  With my new pink hair, ive been LOVING wearing denim, so this little denim dress from ASOS has been perfect.  I paired it with some awesome little booties from CAT FOOTWEAR, and a clutch to keep everything together. I think I'll be holding on to this dress after the baby - it will transition right back into my fall wardrobe!

dress ASOS MATERNITY

shoes CAT FOOTWEAR c/o AMP3 PR

clutch CUORE & PELLE

photos by SVETLANA

My list (so far) of Baby MUST-HAVES

My list (so far) of Baby MUST-HAVES

I know I am still a short month away from popping out this baby, BUT I have had 8 long months to research and obsess over EVERY baby item there is.  This is my short list so far of things I consider MUST HAVES for you & your baby.

1. Lalabu Soothe Shirt: this bad boy is a nursing top/bra and baby carrier ALL IN ONE. I bought a few nursing bras and let me tell you, they're already lost in my clothing drawer abyss.  I will likely never see them again.  But this one, its also a baby carrier, so it makes you feel more responsible. It will never get lost, guarantee.  Also, its pretty damn cute.  I got it in black and im super excited to wear it (and my baby).

2. ASOS Maternity: When I first got pregnant I was like, ok NO maternity clothes for me. I will make it work. I won't dress frumpy.  The more I searched and searched for maternity clothing, the more i realized i hated it.  Until i discovered ASOS had a whole maternity section, which is basically just their amazing clothing but with some extra belly room.  SCORE.

3. FINN + EMMA: I remember having no idea what a swaddle was, but I KNEW i needed one, or 5, or however many you need.  I got an awesome set from Finn + Emma and theyre SUPER cute, soft, bright, comfy.  I may have also got a ton of clothes for the baby there too, because, WHY NOT? They had baby HAREM PANTS yall!

4. BUMBLERIDE Stroller:  Ok, probably the most stressful thing about getting ready for your baby to arrive (aside from googling what ACTUALLY happens during birth, and watching yourself magically grow like a balloon) is trying to figure out what in the world to make of all these stroller options!! I must have researched for MONTHS, and was so overwhelmed and terrified.  I wanted a stroller that could take us from infancy to toddler-hood without 1000 different add-ons and adapters and gadgets and gizmos.  The bumbleride INDIE is what we landed on.   This baby will hold your infant without any special add ons, or click ins, and you can have it FOREVS. Other bonus, IT IS LIGHT.  It weighs in at 20lbs, and that's about all I can probably lift anyway.

5. DOONA Car seat/Stroller: Ok, this may be my proudest find of all.  Living in NYC I was having severe anxiety over the car seat issue.  After all, the hospital says we have to leave with one, but here in NYC, WHO HAS A CAR!? so WHY do we need a carseat!? I was panicking about having to lug a car seat and a stroller around any time I wanted to take a cab to the store, or the doctor.  Then the heavens opened and out came the DOONA.  This is a car seat WITH WHEELS. Yes, the wheels pop down, and it goes from a car seat to a stroller in literally 3 seconds.  Not only that, this baby is SAFE.  SUPER SAFE, and..get this...DOESNT NEED A BASE (it does come with one though if you do have a car!)  Anyone that live in a big city where they don't have a car, this will be your saving grace.  I am serious.  The stroller google search god did me well when I stumbled across this baby.

6. DockATot: When I found out I was pregnant, of course at first I was having daydreams of all these epic cuddle sessions I was going to have with my soft new baby rolling around in fluffy blankets and smelling her newborn skin.  Then I was hit with the sad truth that you in fact are NOT supposed to sleep and/or nap with your baby because you could yes SMUSH THEM.  I mean, not on purpose but...smush them nonetheless.  I came across DockATot when looking for an alternative, and its pretty damn perfect.  Its like a soft comfy pillow that the baby lays in (wherever you want!! but I know Ill have this in the bed with me) and you can snuggle the baby without chance of rolling on them.

7. 4Moms mamaRoo:  The constant debate that went on in my head was "Do I need a swing? Do I need a chair? Do I need a bouncer? WHERE DO I PUT THE BABY?!" After much research (thanks google) and many trips to various baby stores, I decided I needed NONE OF THEM, I needed a mamaRoo.  The 4moms mamaRoo infant seat extraordinaire bounces up and down and sways from side to side, just like parents do when comforting their baby. You can select from five unique motions, like car ride and tree swing, and five different speeds.  (I watched THEM ALL in the store and they were pretty boss) You can also choose from four built-in sounds or connect it to any MP3 player. The seat reclines to multiple positions to allow baby to lie back and relax or sit up and play.Can they make one in adult size too? Because I think I need one.

8.SONY A6000 Camera: Ok, because who doesn't want/need 100000 photos of their new babies in these amazing gadgets? I found this camera to be super easy to get the hang of.  Its also LIGHT so you don't have to worry about juggling a 10lb baby and a 30lb camera with 100 lenses that also equal the weight of a newborn.  The image quality is pretty awesome and you can send your pics right to your phone to upload to instagram because, lets be real, you'll wanna show that cutie off.

What's on YOUR must have list? I still have 4 weeks to buy all the things I need (and don't need) for the baby, so get at me!

xx

no diapers no problem

When I found out I was pregnant, one of the FIRST things I sought out was a diaper bag.  I was NOT going to be that person carrying a hideous multicolored plastic feeling awful diaper bag I had seen in the past.  I knew there had to be something that I would actually use BEFORE the baby came, that would not even look like a diaper bag.   My search halted at FAWN DESIGN.  They have these AMAZING bags that can be worn as backpacks or messenger bags, that look like totally normal everyday bags. I mean clearly, i wear mine ALL THE TIME and i have no diapers in there yet, just my day to day (Which it fits EVERYTHING!) I'm so excited to have found the perfect diaper bag that makes me still feel, NORMAL. (which is hard these days with a big huge belly!)  Stay tuned for another post where I'll pack my Fawn Design bag for the hospital, EEEK!

dress PRESS FASHIONS

bag FAWN DESIGN

shoes ADIDAS

shades ZERO UV

photos by ROON