September 29, 2012

Hi lovelies! Since having my baby, I've been a bit obsessed with sleep. It's probably because I wasn't getting any. Hubby and I had a couple of rough weeks but we made some changes (bought a co-sleeper, went to bed earlier) and also Sofia started her own and better night time routine so now things are MUCH better.

In the spirit of infant sleep schedule, I though it would be fitting to share this post from Katie Moore who blogs about healthy living, baking, fashion and....BABIES :)


Having a new infant in the home introduces many changes to established routines. After months of preparing for post-delivery options like breastfeeding, cord blood banking, or circumcision, mothers need to prepare for new everyday routines like feedings and diaper changings. Few of these changes affect mom more than disruptions in the sleep schedule. Getting less than the optimum 7-9 hours of sleep each night reduces tolerance to all manner of stressful situations. A cranky mom is less likely to correctly interpret her infant's non-verbal communication.

Even though this is understood, sleep disruptions are an accepted sacrifice during infancy. Mom will benefit by learning the sleep schedules associated with different stages of development. Mom also benefits by using exercise, meditation and nutrition to support her healthy sleeping habits. Even without a set routine, it is possible for mom to stay well rested and ready to respond to baby's needs during the first month.

What is the Infant Sleep Schedule?
After coming home infants usually sleep 16 or more of every 24 hour period. Their digestive systems hold very little, they have not developed Circadian rhythms for distinguishing day and night. Unfortunately for mom's schedule, these 16 hours of sleep is broken into periods of 3-4 hours punctuated by the need for food. Formula feeding may result in longer periods of sleep, but this is only due to the difficulty of digesting formula. Babies on formula tend to eat more at a time and burn more calories during sleep.


Is Co-sleeping Helpful?
Some moms’ response to the frequent feeding needs at night by bringing baby into the bed. Co-sleeping does make it easier to respond to baby’s needs and it is a well-documented practice in many modern cultures stretching back to pre-history. Experts have mixed opinions on the topic with some suggesting mom simply bring the crib into the room. All agree on the need to provide safety by following a few rules with co-sleeping.

* Baby should sleep on his back.
* The mattress and bedding should be firm to discourage rolling or smothering hazards.
* No other small children should be in the bed.
* There should be no gaps in the headboard that could trap baby.
* Babies should never be left in the bed alone.

Are There Ways to Encourage a Tired, Restless Baby to Sleep?
A most frustrating experience is a tired infant who nevertheless refuses to sleep. These tactics for promoting sleep should be learned early. They will continue benefiting mom and baby in the years ahead.

The environment is extremely important. Darkness and a cool temperature are most conducive to rest. Some babies enjoy a very peaceful sound, such as a meditation CD with night sounds at low volume. Eliminating light sources is a way to encourage production of melatonin. Consistency is another factor often overlooked. Babies thrive on consistency, as it is the first sign of safety. Perform the same routine for each naptime for the best results.

The best way to encourage healthy sleep is learning to recognize the signs of tiredness. Droopy eyes and crankiness are your cues to begin the nap ritual. With awareness of baby's needs, moms can prevent most sleep problems.

September 28, 2012

Hi beauties! I have for you today my top 6 nail polishes. Every year, I add a few more bottles to my already gigantic stash of fall shades (I think there are 100+ bottles there I would call fall appropriate). But I can't help it, dark polishes just like red lipsticks are my weakness!

I tried to refrain from only showing you red and burgundy shades as that's kinda predictable. Here's a wider assortment of dark fall shades, all been loved by me for over 2 years :)


Left to right: Zoya Casey, Chanel Paradoxal, Misa Toxic Seduction, OPI Malaga Wine, China Glaze Rodeso Fanatic, Orly Goth

Closer look:





Zoya Casey - is a dark maroon and by far my most used nail polish of all time. Creamy and smooth texture and looks so delicious on!

Chanel Paradoxal - is a grayed purple, one of those unique colours you don't see all the time. Flawless application!

Misa Toxic Seduction - is a dark forest green laced with some shimmer and glimmer. This polish was my first Misa and made me go back for more.

OPI Malaga Wine - this wine shade is an OPI fall classic and needs no praises from me ;)

China Glaze Rodeo Fanatic - beautiful shimmering teal. More unexpected for fall but totally wearable.

Orly Goth - Awesome black with lotsa silver shimmer. I wore black nails all the time as a teen. This is my upgraded adult version.

Some swatches for you guys, same order as above:

What are some of your favourite fall nail polish shades?

September 26, 2012

Hi guys! I did my face for a family gathering we attended with our baby this past Sunday. I went for my fave look of retro red lips with MUFE Moulin Rouge lipstick and neutral eyes. But I kicked it off a notch by adding a pop of yellow gold on the inner corners of my eyes. I always love adding bits of colour to otherwise plain eyes; either on the lower lashline or the inner corner.

Hope you enjoy this look.

Face
Marcelle BB cream in light to medium - review coming soon
MUFE HD - 118 (Flesh)
Ben Nye powder
Sculpt (Pro)
Cantaloupe blush (Pro)

Eyes
Painterly p/p - base
Your Ladyship p/m - all over lid
Wedge e/s - crease and above
Cork e/s - outer v
Rated R e/s (LE) - inner corner
EL Blackened Cocoa e/k - lower lashline
Added Goodness f/l (LE) - to line
Lancome Hypnose mascara

Lips
Annabelle Flame l/l
MUFE Moulin Rouge l/s
Chanel Jupiter glossimer (DC)





Me and my bebe - I'm wearing a black Tristan dress, Aldo necklace and Jessica Simpson red pumps. Sofia's wearing head to toe Mexx :)



With my loves :) Hubby, Sofia and my little sister:

September 25, 2012

Hi loves! I am loving my nails today. I'm sporting Zoya Daul from their fall 2012 collection and it's every bit as gorgeous on the nails as it is in the bottle:



Daul is a shimmering medium purple with multicoloured sparkles. I love how it looks under the sunlight. The only issue is that it's a bit sheer. Though not too sheer to put me off. I was still able to get opaque colour after two coats. Here are some more pictures, different lighting:

What is on your nails today?

September 23, 2012

Happy Sunday guys! This look is from last week when Sofia and I went for her 4-week midwife appointment. It was so nice being my old self again and doing my hair and makeup! I did smokey eyes with Satin Taupe as the main colour and used Artifact as a base to make it more red toned.

I also used one of my all time fave Chanel lipsticks, Precious Rouge Allure. The entire rouge allure line is now DC'd so not sure what the dupe for this is. I yet have to check out the new line of lipsticks Chanel is introducing instead of the Rouge Allures. Taking care of baby leaves me no time!

Face
Nars TM in Alaska
Ben Nye powder
Nars Sin blush

Eyes
Artifact p/p (DC) - base
Satin Taupe e/s - lid
Smut e/s - crease and outer v
Cranberry e/s - above crease
Pink Opal p/m - highlight
NYX Black e/s - outer v
Lise Watier Black e/k - to line and smudge
GA Eyes to Kill Mascara

Lips
Nars Train Bleu mvp - as a tick liner, blended inward
Chanel Precious RA







And here's the outfit of the day - Top by Zara (old), skirt and furry vest both by BCBG. It's nice and cool here now and I'm loving the fact that I can bust out all my fall outfits again :)



Hope you all start a great week!

September 21, 2012

Hi guys! I was going through my makeup stash yesterday during one of Sofia's naps when I realized I have some vintage MAC items still hanging in there from 5 years back. I regularly purge my stash and get rid of things I don't use (either donate or pass down to my sisters/friends) but some of these items I seem to still love or have some kind of attachments to.

I would say doing this exercise has made me realize how much products I have and confirm my decision on staying on a no-buy. I mean look some of these LE items are over 6 years old!!!


MAC Delphic Fluidline - Lure Collection (2006)



Delphic presently the oldest LE item I own (I had some more that I since parted with). It's a beautiful shimmering aqua liner and despite being a bit dried out it is still more or less useable. I store my fluidlines upside down and have been able to preserve this baby. I use it mostly as lower lash liner or as a base for aqua coloured lids

MAC Other Worldly Blush - Moonbathe Collection (2007)



Oh my Lord! I have had this blush for now over 5 years and it still doesn't seem to have a dent in it! Other Worldly is a beautiful rosy gold and just has that amazing glow you need to warm up your cheeks. I find it makes me look a bit orange in fall/winter though I use it in the summer when I'm tanned.

MAC Mothbrown Eyeshadow and Pearl Blossom Beauty Powder - Barbie Collection (2007)



OMG do you guys remember Barbie collection? That was the first MAC collection that caused a frenzy, quite uncommon for the time. It's not like now when every collection seem to make people go crazy. I use both of these items too much to part with them. Pearl Blossom is my go-to highlighter when I wear a pink blush and Mothbrown is a beautiful cool toned charcoal shade. I love wearing Mothbrown with other gray/taupe/silver shades and it makes a beautiful smokey eyes.

MAC Strange Hybrid Lipstick - Strange Hybrid Collection (2007)



This is a light pink shade with silverized pigments and has a frost finish. I don't use for Strange Hybrid often now amongst the sea of my lipsticks. But I did use to wear it a lot when it first came out. I just don't fancy frosted lips these days and am more into sophisticated mattes or luscious creamy lips.

What are some of the oldest LE items kicking around in your stash? What was your favourite MAC collection of all time?

September 20, 2012

Hi guys! I cannot believe time is flying by so quickly. It feels like it was yesterday when I gave birth to my baby girl and already she's almost one month old!!

How I'm doing:

- I'm a totally person than I was before. You guys know when your whole purpose in life changes in matter of days? That's where I am at now. I mean, first I wanted to get my engineering degree, then get my dream career, meet the perfect guy, get married to him, buy our first house....I had done all of that and life for the last few years seemed just....ummm inward and selfish! Now I look at my daughter and think wow, you are the purpose of my life. Raising you to be a strong, intelligent and respected lady is what I'll be aiming for. I still don't know how I deserved to have such beauty as my daughter <3 p="p">

- I have lost most of the 22 lbs I had gained during pregnancy and now only have 4 lbs to lose to be where I was last December. I need to wait for my 6 week appt though before exercising.

Me a couple of days ago

- The baby blues have completely vanished. I'm just enjoying the cuddle with my baby now :)

How Sofia's doing:

- Sofia's still waking up a lot to nurse. Right now she sleeps in a co-sleeper on our bed as she hated her bassinet. She sleeps from 7:30 pm to 12:30 am and then usually every 2.5 hours after that she wakes up to nurse. I'm not in a hurry to sleep train her...she's still so young!



- She's a champion napper. She takes two 2-3 hour naps during day and afternoon and a couple of 20 mins cat naps. She loves to nap in her swing or on a receiving blanket on the couch while her mommy browses the internet.



- She already has a tone of muscle control and mostly holds up her own head!


Sofia and her grandma (my mom)

- She's about 10 lbs now and not fitting into 3 month clothing! Are all babies bigger than the clothes designed for their size? This is crazy!



- People think she's mostly daddy! Though her lips are identical to mine. What do you guys think?


Daddy's girl!

- We are no longer scared of getting the house on our own. I mean Sofia was always fine but her mommy was scared. I wear her in my Moby wrap (I think she's too young for stroller) and go for walks around the neighbourhood. Next is to tackle grocery shopping!


Me and my bubbah!

Hope you guys enjoyed this update. Will keep Sofia updates to once a month and then some at random. Have an awesome Thursday!

September 17, 2012

Hi guys! If you read my fall lipstick post, you know that MAC Rebel is one of my favourite fall shades. This look is from last week when I paired it with easy peasy warm eyes using Urban Decay Naked palette.

Oh ya, and it's late September and I still have this stupid burn I got on my chest in Mexico back in April....grrrr!!!

Face
Nars Alaska TM
Ladyblush c/b
Ben Nye powder
BB Apricot Shimmer Brick

Eyes
Painterly p/p - base
UD Toasted e/s - inner lid
UD Half Baked e/s - lid
UD Darkhorse e/s - crease
UD Naked e/s - above crease
UD Virgin e/s - highlight
Dark Diversion f/l (LE) - to line
Cargo 3 in 1 mascara

Lips
MUFE 13C l/l
Rebel l/s

September 13, 2012

Hi guys! I was told once I have a baby, I would have no time for my nails. As a nailpolish addict who changes her nail polish every single day, I find this statement to be partially untrue. I still change my nail polish, but now it's more like every 3 days. I definitely am not the time to totally forget my beauty routines, even with a 3-week old at home :)

OPI Jade is the New Black was released a couple of years ago and I believe it's part of OPI's permanent collection now. Let's just say that I've had this nail polish that long and this is only the second time I wear it :/ This is why I'm on no-buy and using what I have. Just like my makeup drawers, my nail polish boxes are overflowing!!



Jade is the New Black is a gorgeous forest green with creamy finish. I'm actually not a fan of green anything but this is dark enough to read more sophisticated and I'm cool with that. Application is a breeze and as always I love OPI's wide brush for my long nails. You can pretty much get away with one coat but I did two out of habit:

What are you wearing on your nails today?

September 12, 2012

Hello beauties! I'm typing this post with one hand and reassuring my almost 3 week old baby with the other. She seems to be cranky always just when I want to do something fun, lol!

I don't know about where you live, but here in Ottawa fall is at full swing. I'm in a great mood despite my sleep deprivation, just not needing the AC every night and feeling a cool breeze on my skin calls for celebration in my book. It's that special time of the year for glamourous and vampy lips. I have selected my favourite dark lipsticks to show you on this occasion (pictures of me wearing the lipstick is included in each case).

Dark lipsticks are not for everyone, yours truly has been wearing them since she was 15 though so this is familiar territory for me. I believe that all the selected shades can be worn by anyone. Just use a good lip liner and a killer attitude: Chanel La Sensuelle Rouge Allure Velvet, MAC Red Pepper (Pro), MAC Rebel, Make Up Forever Rouge Intense Artist #48, Chanel Rouge Noir Rouge Coco and Nars Train Bleu Matte Velvet Pencil.

MAC Rebel - is one of MAC's best selling dark lipsticks and I can see why. Rebel is a darkened magenta with super creamy texture and looks good on just about anyone!


me wearing MAC Rebel (fall 2011)

Chanel La Sensuelle - is a very sophisticated matte dark blue red. Like all mattes you need to moisturize your lips well before applying. The formula feels slightly satiny and lasts on my lips 6-7 hours.


me wearing Chanel La Senseulle (Fall 2011)

MAC Red Pepper - is another matte texture lipstick but this one is a slightly browned red. This lipstick is fairly unique from what I've seen and definitely one that gets looked over. The matte texture is smooth and none drying.


me wearing MAC Red Pepper (fall 2011)

MUFE #48 - is the most beautiful burgundy red in my possession. I love the texture of the MUFE rouge intense lipstick line, they pull on the lips slightly but are creamy on and last as long as 8 hours for me.


me wearing MUFE #48 (fall 2012)

Chanel Rouge Noir - this is a classic Chanel, a dark plum with strong brown/red undertone. This one is definitely not for the faint of heart but is one of my favourite Chanel lipsticks of all time!


me wearing Chanel Rouge Noir (Fall 2010)

Nars Train Bleu - the darkest shade of this series, Train Bleu is a dark smokey purple. The red undertones make it wearable though (at least for me). I've said it before and will say it again, Nars matte velvet pencil is my favourite lipstick formula in the market.


me wearing Nars Train Bleu (Fall 2011)

All my lovelies:

Do you own any of the listed products? Do you wear dark lips? And what are some of your favourite vampy lipsticks?

September 10, 2012

Hi guys! I'm back with makeup posts again. Sofia's taking most of my awake hours and I don't get a lot of sleep at night as she wakes up every 2-3 hours to feed. But I'm mostly up and running again and have been out of the house too :D

I wore this look to lunch at my parents this past saturday. Like every year, this fall season marks another return of dark lips. I saw the dark lips paired with taupe and silver eyes in most fashion magazines this month so I got inspired as well. The main two products for this look are MUFE Aqua Cream #2 pot (a gorgeous shimmering taupe) and MAC Night Violet Mattene (a vampy purple burgundy shade). I'm still on a no-buy and it's been fun re-discovering these gems in my stash.

Hope you guys like this look:

Face
Nars TM in Alaska
Ben Nye powder
Pink Cult Blush (LE)

Eyes
UDPP - base
MUFE #2 Aqua Cream - base for lid
BB Pewter e/s (LE) - dabbed on lid
Poison Plum e/s (DC'd) - above crease
Smut e/s - crease
Blanc Type e/s - highlight
Lise Watier Black Kohl Liner - to liner and smudge
Lise Watier Silver e/l - lower lashline
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

Lips
MUFE 15C l/l
Night Violet Mattene (LE)







And a picture I took with baby Sofia right after feeding her and before going to my folks. She's wearing a Mexx dress. First time she's not wearing a onesie since she was born :D



Hope you guys had a great start of the week!

September 5, 2012

Hi guys! I'm back with a quick baby update. I'm still too tired from constant night feedings to do a full beauty post but a baby one is fine :D



Sofia is now 12 days old. She breastfeeds very well and is thriving and growing up so fast already. Right now she needs to feed every 2 hours or so and sleep has become a thing of past for me. But I'm a used to it and couldn't be happier in my little nest with my brand new baby and my beloved husband.



Here's what I've learned so far from life with a newborn:

1. Accept help when offered - My mom was here pretty much everyday since Sofia was born. She brought food, helped clean up and didn't let me get up for 3 days.

2. Limit the number of visitors in early days - Only Sofia's grandparents, aunts and aunt in laws were allowed to visit her last week. This week we had some close friends come by too and only next week I'm letting others know to drop by. Don't want her to be overwhelmed.

3. Take turn with sleeping - This is how it's working for me and the hubby during the night right now until Sofia's older. Hubby has her from 9 pm to midnight, I have her from midnight to 6:30 am and she's back to daddy from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. She still won't sleep in her bassinet though, only next to me :( any tips on how to transition her to the bassinet?

4. Smell and kiss them as much as you can, seriously she's already growing up!



5. Swaddling at night time is your best friend. Sofia loves her Woombie!

I'm doing great physically and it looks already that my stomach is back to pre-pregnancy size, though it requires toning to look like the original thing. I'm fitting in 90% of my normal clothes again. Here's a picture from yesterday (wearing an Espirit dress):



I've started to do things around the house again so my husband can focus on his new business (he now works from home). I even started wearing some makeup again. Did this simple look earlier on when my best friend came to visit. It's just some pink blush a la MAC Florida and bright lips featuring Chanel l'Exuberant l/s:



Emotionally, I'm going through a bit of baby blues but I hear that's normal? Have any of you ladies experienced it? Pretty much at random times I start crying because I'm scared...scared that I won't be a good mother and things like that. Usually it doesn't last long though, comes in the evening and I'm back to normal in the morning. I think it's part hormones part exhaustion.

So this was it for this week. Hoping to be back with more beauty posts soon. I have so many ideas lined up just need the energy for it. Hope you all understand.

Have a great Hump Day!