Babblings of a Mommy

My Week In {Instagram} Photos.

2012-06-01T09:51:00.001-04:00

WHAT! It's June??? How did that happen?!!! May came and went WAY too fast. I guess cause it's my birthday month (and mother's day, and Jason's birthday) I feel sad that it came to an end.

But now I have June to look forward to and Arianna will FINALLY be out of school!!! Yay!!! Poor thing has been in school a whole extra month because she started school August in Florida and ending it in New York. Ugh. I SO want this school year to be over with! Anyone else feel that way?

Anyway, I'd thought I share with you some Instagram pics I've taken over the last few days. I'm a new user so I would love for you to follow me and I'll of course follow you back. ;)

Starbucks & new summer espadrilles from Old Navy.

Don't you love spring?

Cool playground we found.


My beautiful grandmother came for a visit.

New O.P.I. polishes (Do you lilac it? / Sweetheart)


Like mother, like daughter.

S'mores time!

Love my baby girl.

Have a great weekend!

10 Beach-Worthy Totes. {Under $50}

2012-05-31T10:36:00.000-04:00

The summer beach season is officially upon us lovelies! Time to grab our sunblock, our sunnies, and a killer beach bag!

Here are ten wallet friendly options:

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

(1. Forever 21 2. The Limited 3. Juicy Couture 4. ModCloth 5. O'Neill 6. Vans 7. J.Crew 8. Debenhams 9. Victoria's Secret 10. Kelly & Katie )

Which one is your fave?

Marisota: Designed With You In Mind.

2012-05-31T07:15:00.000-04:00

Fashion shouldn't be about age or size - it should be about celebrating your own sense of style and embracing your womanly figure. That's why stores like Marisota specialize in offering fashion solutions to enhance your shape.

Marisota is a UK brand that offers a huge selection of clothing and other products for all ages and sizes. In fact, they recently won The Yours 50+ Fashion Awards for the Best Plus Size category!

With summer right around the corner, the women's jeans by Marisota are the perfect wardrobe essential to have in your closet, with a large variety of styles including - elasticated waists, flared, boot leg, straight leg, wide leg and slim leg, plus your choice of leg length to choose from - there's no wonder they're a UK favorite!

{Disclosure: This a featured post by Marisota. See Disclaimer/Disclosure for more info.}

Banana Republic & Trina Turk: The Perfect Summer Collection. {Lookbook}

2012-05-30T09:24:00.000-04:00

Get ready to soak up some major fashion ladies - Banana Republic has teamed up with Trina Turk to bring us a fun, bold, sun-loving collection just in time for summer!

This capsule collection consists of swimwear, towels, dresses, shorts, sunglasses and accessories and hits stores June 7th, but if you want to get your hands on these items a little early - Gilt Groupe is having a pre-sale starting noon (est.) TODAY!

(Prices range from $34.50 to $150)

Are you loving this collection as much as I am?

source: via

Picture Perfect Weekend.

2012-05-29T10:37:00.000-04:00

If there was such a thing as a perfect weekend, I think this past Memorial Day weekend might be it. My mother who I haven't seen since moving up to New York, and my grandmother who I haven't seen in almost 8 YEARS (!!!!!) came into town. I was so excited to see them, especially my grandmother - can you imagine - eight years?!!! She's never even met Arianna!

Ugh. I know, that's horrible. But in my defense, she lives in Honduras and while I used to vacation there a lot when I was younger - I haven't been back since Arianna was born. (Traveling with a kids isn't the easiest, especially when they are as finicky as mine is, but now that she's older we definitely have to make plans to go.)

Aside from having my family here, it was also Jason's birthday weekend so we celebrated with a family BBQ. He was DYING to show off his mean grilling skillz on his new grill, but I think we might have overdone it - steaks, burgers, hot dogs, sausages - we were all ripping at the seams!!

I literally couldn't have asked for a better weekend! Great food, long weekend and surrounded by the people I love. It doesn't get better than that. :)

Here are a few pics from our weekend.

How did you spend your weekend?

Style Inspiration: J.LO'S Idol Looks.

2012-05-25T10:21:00.001-04:00

I'm not an Idol fan, but every now in then I tuned in to see what Jennifer Lopez was wearing. This flashy Lanvin maxi skirt and jersey tee was one of my favorite looks this season. I loved the contrast between the casual top and the fancy skirt.

This green Milly trouser ensemble was another highlight for me. I loved the color blocking and the simplicity of it.

And finally, la Lopez KILLED it in this hot-pink Michael Kors number!

The color? Amazing. The slit? Fierce.

What's not to love?

What was your favorite look this season?

photos: via

How To Wear Colored Eye Liner And Not Look Crazy! {Video}

2012-05-23T10:06:00.001-04:00

Call me boring, but I like to keep my eyeliner pretty simple and basic. The most I'll do is attempt a cat-eye once in awhile and I'm thinking I'm being "adventurous".

I just feel that most make-up trends I think are reserved for teenagers or people who aren't afraid to take a few beauty risks - (which I'm not). But after viewing this quick tutorial from Refinery29 I'm starting to reconsider this whole colored eyeliner thing.

Make-up artist Raychel Wade show us two fun ways to dress up your eyes with colored liner and I'm seriously considering on trying the first one.

What do you think?

photo & video: refinery29

Kids Fashion Haul: Summer Sandals @Marshalls!

2012-05-22T10:14:00.001-04:00

I gotta start making a Marshalls run every week, because every time I go - I always find something good. This time around, I found these amazing designer sandals for Arianna!

Are you kidding me? I didn't even know that half of these designers even made kids footwear!! I was shocked just to see them there, but even more shocked at the prices - nothing over $20!!

What!!!!!!!!!

That's what I'm talkin' about!!

I don't know why I hadn't bothered to look at their kids shoe section before! Needless to say, I'm DEFINITELY going to be on the lookout for some more great shoes!

Here's what I got her....

Michael Kors-$19.99

Kenneth Cole Reaction- $14.99

Cynthia Rowley -$19.99

Do you buy your kids footwear at Marshalls?

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Review & Giveaway!! {10 WINNERS!!!}

2012-05-21T10:46:00.000-04:00

Ladies, let me introduce you to a new brand that has taken the beauty world by storm! Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy is a breakthrough approach to haircare that starts with scalp nourishment and creates the right foundation for strong, beautiful hair for women in 7 days!

They say that 99% of hair’s natural strength and beauty comes from the scalp, and for years women have been treating the ends of their hair, rather than the source – the scalp, so Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy's motto is: "Feed Scalp. Feed Beauty."

My Thoughts:

I was gifted with the Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner a few weeks ago and I haven't looked back since! I fell in love with this product because it leaves my hair super shiny & soft and I've noticed it's become much more manageable and healthy. Not to mention it also smells pretty amazing too!

The Total Care Set gently cleanses & nourishes scalp and hair. It's formulated with Nutrium 10™, an advanced moisture complex of vitamins and nutrients including vitamins B5, C & E, sunflower, almond, soybean & coconut oils and aloe vera.

Giveaway:
If you're dying to try this hair care revolution - you're in luck! Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy is graciously giving away 10 SETS of their shampoo and conditioners to 10 LUCKY BABBLING READERS!!!!!

(Sorry, US ONLY)

How To Enter:
You must follow Babblings of a Mommy in at least one of the following ways:

Become a new GFC Follower (If you're already a follower let me know you are)

Become a Facebook Fan.

Subscribe to my feed HERE

Follow me on Twitter and tweet this: I entered to win the Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy #giveaway from @clearhair and @babblingofmommy http://t.co/zB0jcTQC

Follow me on Pinterest

Add my button to your site

If you're on Klout, +K my influence in Beauty or Fashion (not "New York Fashion Week" please!)

*Please don't forget to leave your email address! Winners will be contacted via email only.*

Remember each one counts as a different entry so be sure to enter them separately. You may tweet once a day if you'd like, but be sure to leave comment on post about your re-tweets. Giveaway ends June 4th . A winner will be selected by random.org and will be notified via email.

{Disclosure: Editorial Sample was provided to determine opinions of product. All opinions expressed herein are my own. See disclaimer/disclosure for more info.}

Spring Style Trends: Bright White.

2012-05-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

Now that Spring is here, it’s time to replace our heavy winter wear with bright prints and lighter hues. White has always been a fashion favorite, so it’s no surprise that it was all over the runway for spring/summer 2012 too.

Always crisp and cool, this trend is the perfect way to transition into your spring wardrobe. I like to use it as a layering piece such as a blazer or jacket, like this cropped one from Sonoma. Then for a pop of color I paired it with a Daisy Fuentes floral tiered top, dark denim jeans, and super cute (and comfortable) Jennifer Lopez toe cap flats, all from Kohl’s!

By now you should know that Kohl’s is one of my favorite go-to places to find hot trends, and fabulous brands at affordable prices. In fact, everything here cost under $100!! What a steal, right?! There’s nothing like starting a new season with some savings in the bank!

Visit the Kohl’s Style File to learn more about the hottest trends for this Spring and Summer!

{Disclosure: Bloggers received a gift card on behalf of Kohl’s via Glam Media to complete the trend look. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Kohl’s. All trademarks and service marks are owned or licensed by Kohl’s Illinois, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc.}

Spring Cleaning: Make-up Edition.

2012-05-17T10:39:00.000-04:00

My make-up stash is OUT. OF. CONTROL!!! It's taken over my bathroom, my bedroom, and the corner next to the window. Ugh! I'm sick of seeing piles of beauty products everywhere so I'm determined to do a little spring cleaning and getting everything organized.

I took to my favorite search tool - Pinterest, to find some inspiration on what to do and here are just a few of what I found.

I think I'm going to get myself a vanity and some glass or acrylic containers to keep everything neat and organized. I'll be sure to take a pic once my project is completed. In the meantime-

Do you have any organizing tips for me?

photos: via

Summer Stripes!

2012-05-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats a classic. Sure, neon and other hot trends are fun for summer but why not go back to basics? This timeless trend is sweet and sophisticated and is sure to set to give you a visual boost this season!

(left to right: striped skater dress, invitation clutch, blue stripe straw hat, gianna striped flats, bungalow stripe panoroma shorts, stripe sleeveless top, dior stripe sunglasses, woven stripes cuff)

Vaseline Total Moisture Review & Prize Pack Giveaway!!!

2012-05-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Vaseline is a company that needs no introduction, it's been a household product for over 100 years and just keeps getting better!

About:
Their new Vaseline Total Moisture lotion is designed to solve a problem that many women have run into – feeling they have to make a tradeoff between a lotion that feels good, and one that works well. The new lotion is non-greasy, fast absorbing and offers Stratys-3 TM multi-layer moisture complex, infusing moisture at the top, core, and deep down layers of skin.

My Thoughts:
What I like about it was the consistency - not too thick, not too watery. It also smells nice & fresh and is not overpowering at all. I tried it when I noticed that my hands were extremely dry and immediately noticed a difference. It made my hands nice and soft and lasted until I went to bed.

The Total Moisture collection is available in three variants to meet a variety of skincare needs:

Vaseline® Total Moisture® – Clean feeling lotion for healthy soft skin.
Vaseline® Total Moisture® Aloe Fresh – Light feeling lotion for healthy fresh skin.
Vaseline® Total Moisture® Cocoa Radiant™ – Rich feeling lotion for healthy glowing skin.

And I'm giving away ALL THREE to one lucky reader!! Be sure to check out my facebook page to enter to win! Giveaway ends 5/25/12.

In the meantime, check out these moisturizing tips from Vaseline!

Top Moisturization Tips for Radiant Skin from Vaseline®

1. Exfoliating is a good way to prepare skin for moisturization – it helps to remove dead skin cells from the outer most layer of your skin.

2. Moisturize after your shower or bath to seal in hydration and help prevent dry skin.

3. Moisturize every day. Daily moisturization helps to create and maintain healthy- looking, radiant skin – just make sure to choose the right lotion for your skin type and the season. There are three variants of Vaseline® Total Moisture® to choose from:

• Vaseline® Total Moisture® – Clean feeling lotion for healthy soft skin.
• Vaseline® Aloe Fresh – Light feeling lotion for healthy fresh skin.
• Vaseline® Cocoa Radiant™ – Rich feeling lotion for healthy glowing skin.

4. Look for unique ingredients, which are known for their skin benefits, in your lotion. Vaseline® Total Moisture® has pure oat extract, Aloe Fresh has pure aloe, and Cocoa Radiant™ has pure cocoa butter – each of these natural ingredients has been used extensively in skin care products due to their soothing and moisturizing benefits.

• Oat is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties. It is an effective moisturizer, which can soothe dry skin.
• Aloe is a known effective skin conditioning agent, which is also known for its soothing properties. It can help hydrate skin, leaving it feeling refreshed.
• Cocoa butter is a known effective emollient. It helps hydrate the skin and lock in that moisture to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing.

5. And don’t forget the recommended shelf life of your products, which for most lotions is two years after they are purchased.

{Disclosure: Editorial samples were provided by RocketXL to to determine opinions of product. All opinions expressed herein are my own. See disclaimer/disclosure for more info.}

Queen For A Day!

2012-05-14T10:51:00.000-04:00

I hope all you fabulous moms out there had a wonderful Mother's Day and got to spend some time with your loved ones. I spent the first half of my day being showered with handmade cards, flowers, and a new bag (holla!)

But despite receiving a balloon that said "Queen for the Day", Arianna refused to relinquish her title without a fight. :)

She decided to put on this crown ALL DAY in protest! Haha. (At least that's what it felt like to me!!)

Luckily we convinced her to put it down when we made our way to my in-laws and then headed over to Don Coqui's. After a loooooong wait, we finally got down to business!

The food was delicious but we had to cut our night short because my poor baby got sick. She wasn't feeling well and she had a really bad earache. We called it an early night and got her to bed, but thanks to the hubz, my in-laws, and my baby girl I had an amazing mother's day!!

What did you do for Mother's Day?

Style Inspiration: Coral Decor

2012-05-10T11:04:00.003-04:00

I had no idea how much I was visually attracted to coral until I saw my pinterest boards and realized that 90% of my design inspirations have some type of coral in them! That's crazy!

I guess I really love coral! But how can you not? It's so fresh & modern and pairs beautifully with so many different colors.

Are you a coral fan?

2012 Met Gala: The Woos and Boos.

2012-05-08T13:16:00.000-04:00

I wasn't going to do a Met Ball recap this year, but who am I kidding -- how can I NOT talk about the biggest night in fashion?? Let's get to it, shall we?

The Woos

Hands down. The Belle of the Ball was Camilla Belle! I mean, seriously. She looked BEYOND in this silver Ralph Lauren gown. The make-up. The hair. It's perfection!

Another look I was dying over was Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe. I know it's a little cray cray, but it's the Met Ball!!! Over the top fashion is expected here, and there is no denying homegirl was WURKING this dress!

Solange Knowles was also one of my favorites in this yellow Rachel Roy peplum dress. So simple, but so chic!

Jessica Alba in a gold metallic grecian gown by Michael Kors. I mean, what's not to love?

This Atelier Versace on January Jones is BA-NANAS! I could do without the necklace (or the actress for that matter.) But the dress is stunning.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley gave me a girl crush of epic proportions in this top bun and gorgeous Burberry gown. I mean, really. Absolutely flawless.

The Boos

I hate to say it - but Emma Stone really let me down yesterday! She's always so fabulously fierce on the red carpet, but this short plastic flower-covered Lanvin dress is anything but cute.

Gwyneth. We get it. You got a banging body. Now go home and put some clothes on already! This skimpy Prada does not do you justice.

And finally, these two looks are just down right hideous! Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen and Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou.

Who were best and worst of the night?

photo source via

Best Of Spring/Summer 2012 Nail Polish Collections.

2012-05-08T10:31:00.000-04:00

Is it just me, or do these collections cause a serious case of vacation cravings? Here are my top picks for spring and summer 2012!

Thakoon for NARS
Price: $18 each
Where to buy: Nordstrom

Essie Summer 2012
Price: $8 each
Where to buy: Essie (available in June)

Dolce & Gabbana Bouquet
Price: $20 each
Where to buy: Saks

Zoya Beach & Surf
Price: $8 each
Where to buy: Zoya

Butter London Spring/Summer
Price: $14 each
Where to buy: Butter London

Which collection are you feeling?

A Neutral Summer.

2012-05-07T11:43:00.000-04:00

Warmer months usually translate to bold prints and hot neon trends, but I'm loving this subtle neutral approach from Banana Republic.

Classic styles in soft linens and browns can add just the right amount of seasonal freshness to your wardrobe as well.

Are you a fan of an all neutral palette?

Nate Berkus Target Home Collection Coming Soon!! {VIDEO}

2012-05-04T09:20:00.000-04:00

Designer and TV show host Nate Berkus will be debuting an exclusive new line of home products at Target this fall! I'm a huge fan of his style so I'm thrilled to hear that the collection will include more than 150 home goods and accessories —including bedding, bath, lighting, accessories, rugs and more. All ranging between $5.99 to $149.99, and available October 21st.

“I created this collection for Target with my philosophy that homes should evoke a feeling, not a theme. There is something for everyone in this line, so I’m thrilled to offer Target guests’ patterns, colors and objects that represent what I love most for the home.” -Nate Berkus

The collection includes pieces such as a chevron patterned duvet, ikat-link towels, herringbone window panels, braided jute rugs and a metal lamp. The decorative accessories include lacquered tortoise shells, ceramic urns, hammered metal bowls in gold, a fabric covered tray, toss pillows with stud accents and decorative objects with snakeskin finishes.

Can't wait to see more pics of his collection! What do you think, will you be picking up a few Nate Berkus items at Target?

source & photos: via

To Mom, With Love. {Mother's Day Gift Guide}

2012-05-03T12:31:00.000-04:00

Admit it, you owe her. Without her you wouldn't be the person you are today. Good or bad - she's always there. Even if it's with tough criticism and a bit of nagging, in the end she's the one person you can rely on to tell it to you straight.

Make sure this Mother's Day (May 13) you give her something as wonderful as she is. Here are few gift ideas to get you started.

For the Pampered Mom:

( Calvin Klein Robe / Lollia Breathe Set )

For the Domestic Goddess:


( Rachel Ray EVOO Set / Home Kashmir Dinnerware set)

For The Techie Mom:


( Tory Burch Printed Hardshell Case / E-Tablet Sleeve )

For The Beauty Maven:

( Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb / Clinique Flower in Bloom set )

For The Accessories Queen:

( Stella & Dot Palamino Necklace / McKenna Travel Jewelry Portfolio )

{Beauty Tip Of The Day} Easy Trick To Remove Yellow Tint From Nails.

2012-05-03T10:16:00.001-04:00

Every laquerholic knows that if you overdose on nail polish it might leave behind a yellow tint on your nails. To erase that, try this quick and easy tip I found!

First, let your nails breathe, and go polish-free for at least a week. During that time, take a little bit of toothpaste (whitening formula preferred), and rub it on your nails. Rinse with water, and repeat a few days later. The toothpaste will remove the stain, and add shine too!

source: via

H&M Kids Fashion Haul!

2012-05-02T11:03:00.000-04:00

I've always been a fan of H&M, but now I literally have a store 2 minutes away from my house so I find myself shopping there all the time - especially for kids clothes! They have the cutest stuff and they're always priced extremely well.

I know I don't really do fashion hauls, but I thought I'd show you just a few things I got Arianna.

seersucker dress ($14.95)

chambray embroidered dress ($24.95)

floral patterned blouse ($7.95)

floral patterned blouse ($14.95)

floral tote ($5.95)

Isn't that tote adorable?!! I fell in love with it, and especially after seeing the price! (Well, considering the last purse I bought Arianna was from the Gap and almost cost me $40!! Yikes! I still can't get over that.)

Anyway, I also got her a few long sleeve shirts since it's still chilly here, and some leggings she can use in the summer for just $5 bucks!

I thought I would be done shopping for a bit, but I was just on their website and saw some really cute things I want to get her...

Hopefully they have everything at the store. Do you shop at H&M for your kids?

Currently Coveting: Tory Burch Spring Arrivals.

2012-04-30T10:05:00.000-04:00

I'm not gonna lie, Tory Burch's new spring duds has me lusting for more cheerful colors and charming prints in my closet.

Art Of Shaving Event At Bloomingdale's! {For The Scruffy Guy In Your Life.}

2012-04-27T15:36:00.000-04:00

Ladies, did you know that 90% of men complain that their shaving efforts result in razor burn? Most guys don’t have the slightest clue what adequate shaving entails—its more than just hopping in the shower and scraping an old disposable blade across your face—optimal shaving results require a little bit of effort.

Men can begin renovating their shaving regimen for free by swapping out their generic shaving cream for luxury grooming brand The Art of Shaving’s award-winning, glycerin-based shaving cream at the Bloomingdale’s “Upgrade Your Shave” event on April 28th. Plus, customers who spend $100 or more on The Art of Shaving products will receive a $20 Bloomingdale’s gift card!

Grooming products for him, and gift card for you! Sounds like the perfect event if you ask me. ;)

{Disclosure: An editorial sample were provided to to determine opinions of product. All opinions expressed herein are my own. See disclaimer/disclosure for more info.}

ANTM Goes From Bad To Worse! (If That's Even Possible...)

2012-04-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

America's Next Top Model has been a guilty pleasure of mine for years! I remember watching the first season and thinking it was such a great concept. (Ha!) But that was back in the day when I actually thought Tyra was nice.

Since then, I've watched the show slowly slip away with one ridiculous challenge after the next - none of which will actually help these poor girls in the modeling world mind you ( i.e. singing in a music video called Stop Drop and Tooch.)

But I thought the show had reached a new low this season when they casted British models to compete on the show. Not because I have a problem with brits, but because it defeats the whole purpose of the show - finding an american girl next door and making her into a supermodel.

Am I crazy??

Then this week I got wind of Tyra's new plans for the upcoming season which unfortunately don't include Nigel Barker, Jay, or Miss J!!

WHAT??!! They were the only thing keeping the show alive!! Apparently they've been kicked out of the show's revolving door of judges due to poor ratings

Ugh. This show just keeps going from bad to worse! I think this last move pretty much seals the deal for me and I will be closing the chapter on ANTM.

What do you think, will you be watching?

source: eonline