J.Flo Fashion

DiY Mother's Day Gift

2013-05-10T16:17:00.000-05:00

It's not too late! You can still make your Mama a cost efficient gift that won't take a whole lot of time. I was inspired by a project that I saw on Pinterest, or like my cousin likes to call it, "My best friend Pinny." Project "Blooming Monogram." It's so pretty and different, I wanted to give it a shot.

Inspiration Site: Blooming Monogram

So the baby and I set out on a journey to Hobby Lobby where we retrieved the cardboard letters ($2.47 each) and some black cardboard ($2.99). Then we went to Michaels to get a laser cut frame ($4.99). And lastly, we went to Dollar Tree and got a whole bunch of flowers for $1 a piece and flower foam as well. Truth be told we made 2 trips to Dollar Tree because I got this big and beautiful flowers, when I learned that I really needed small ones. I'm actually quite impressed with the quality of flowers from Dollar Tree, they were every bit as nice as the $7 bunches at Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Oh- and I made a second trip back to Hobby Lobby to get this special E600 miracle glue... ($2.43 with coupon)

The blog says to use an exacto knife and cut off the front of the letters. I actually just used it enough to get my fingers under it and then was able to pull it straight up for a clean break, better than with the knife.

I also took the ends off the "I" to make it skinnier

Then I used a hot glue gun to glue the flower foam in. Next I started sticking the flowers into it. The trick is not to get the flowers too big. Also, it's better if there's wire in the plastic to make it extra sturdy. I spray painted the laser cut frame outside moments before it rained- lucky me! And then glued the black cardboard to the back of the frame after the paint dried. Next I glued the letters on to the front using the special E600 magic glue.

In retrospect, I wish that they made the frame larger, or the letter blocks smaller. But unfortunately I don't rule the world (yet) and have to make due with what these crafter peeps make. The letters go onto the frame, but it gives it a popping effect I guess...

Here's the final presentation to the best Lil' Mommie in the whole wide world!!!

Do I Look Like a 1950's Artsy Mom?

2013-05-06T22:29:00.001-05:00

I feel like this is a 1950 Artsy Mom kind of look, not sure why... I really love this look though! I need to find a better way to photograph myself. The crooked bathroom mirror with my fancy iphone cover pic isn't very classy. Hmmmm... I might have to put the tripod to use.

I'm totally into the "scarf in my hair" look. It's cute, but in all reality, it's convenient. I can make my dirty, child proof boppy look like I meant for it to look like that ;)

Featured Top:

$8.60 at Image

This sleeveless coral top came from a store called "Image" and cost $8.60! WooHoo! I love the gold buttons, and the price was a selling point too :) I love how it's not too short in the front and not too long in the back. And obviously it pairs well with my $3 shoes too! I got my scarf a while back at Sam Moon, and my bracelet was $1 at the Dollar Jewelry Store. Oh!!!!! And my bi's and tri's that are looking all swoll in my pic (haha!) are from my FAVORITE Workout at GX Fitness.

Save the world and take a friend to go workout!

$3 Shoes + Sunless Tanning Gone BAD! Like VERY BAD!

2013-04-29T11:10:00.000-05:00

What would an Oompa Loompa crossed with Michael Jackson look like???

Yeah... So a long time ago, I put a note on BFlo's Palm Beach Tanning account stating that he was not allowed to use the bronzing/orange spray tan because he always came out looking like our favorite characters in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. Well, now I look like one...

I've never used sunless tanning lotion in my life, and obviously have no business ever using it again! Apparently you can't just slather it on like after shower lotion. IF I do ever try it again, I will have to work with pea size amounts and concentrate on really smoothing it in.

At least this stuff doesn't have any chemicals in it.

Back to the most important business on the table... SHOES! You probably couldn't look past my diseased looking ankles in that last pic to see my really cute new boat shoes.

I found this at Old Navy last weekend when looking for a new dress for the baby. I thought they were a good deal at $7.49. But when I got up to the register, the cashier said my total and I was like "What???" I said it to myself, of course, because what if he made a mistake in my benefit? Women's clearance shoes were an additional 50% off!!! Woot Woot! $3.74 for these babies! Now I love them even more! I'm naming these girls "Carmen," because everything needs a name, why not?

Kid's Shoe Dept

2013-04-19T10:30:00.000-05:00

Do you wear women's size 8 shoe or smaller???

If the answer is YES, then I have a secret for you! :)

While walking through WalMart the other day, I saw some really cute shoes and ~~quickly~~ went to check them out (yeah right, nothing in WalMart is quick...) I realized that they were little girl's shoes... While looking at them, I noticed that they looked kinda big, so I was like "why not try them on?" Low and behold the 6 was too big, but the 5 fit! What? I wear size 6.5/7 in women's shoes. This is crazy!!!

I didn't end up getting any shoes at WalMart, of course they didn't have the one size that was mine... However, this opened up an entirely new dimension in my view of the wonderful land of shoes. And they're cheaper too! When I was a Target, I remembered this best kept secret and headed over to the kid's shoes.

Check out these awesome finds....

My little girl "Boat Shoes"

$12.99 @Target

Next up- because my nickname wouldn't be "PiNKy" without PiNK shoes...

My little girl "fake Tom's Shoes"

$9.99 @Target

WalMart had some incredibly cute sandals! If these would have had PiNK flowers, I would've gotten them immediately:

$9.97 @WalMart

Next time you're at the store, don't forget to check out the kid's shoe dept! You never know what you might be able to find for an awesome price and premium level of cuteness!

Best AB Workout

2013-04-11T22:41:00.001-05:00

Getting back to my pre-baby shape...

It hasn't been easy, nor very fun. I really do miss the days of working out whenever I want. Obviously lots of things revolve around the baby now, and hitting the good 'ol workout is one of them. I still think about my favorite gym in the whole wide world closing, and it literally brings tears to my eyes. It might sound lame, but I truly loved that place! It would have been such a great place for the baby to get used to hanging out. ):

One of our instructors from the gym is still teaching some of the best classes EVER. Check it out: www.GXfitn.com. I never thought I could handle exercising outside with my allergies and whatnot, but so far I've enjoyed it. The only problem is that our girl has to hang out in her stroller, and we're constantly having to check on her and make sure she's entertained. I LOVE Tony's classes and will do them whenever I can, but I need to find a gym for cold weather, windy and non-baby conducive days. Plus, my goal is to do two-a-days if/when possible. Gym in the morning, outdoors in the evenings. I'm convinced that it's the only way I'll be able to get everything back to what it used to look like.

In the meantime, I recently purchased Tracy Anderson's Post-Pregnancy DVD. Exercising at home is sometimes the only option... OMG- it's the BEST AB workout E-V-E-R!!!

Even if you didn't just have a baby, you would benefit from this workout. It's not just abs, but mostly abs and icarumba- it's fantastic! It's my new favorite go-to workout when our girl has left me with no choice. Some people complain about the classical music, but it's very soothing and peaceful to me. And I love that she truly works out every single part of your abs! I got it on Amazon a few weeks back for like $8. It's currently $9.99, but still a great deal. I mean, how much would you pay for abs??? Check it out on Amazon.

I don't have a glory-story yet about how I got my muscle def back in 5 days. But I definitely can feel my abs screaming, and I love every minute of it!

Devastating News!

2013-03-21T23:41:00.000-05:00

This last week our sweet baby girl has turned into a crazy, no-nap lady... Growth spurts, teething, you name it- it's been AWESOME (insert sarcastic font here!)

I finally have a moment to myself. Baby's asleep, BFlo is passed out after his single glass of sangria, Sofia is sleeping on Sebastian's blanket- a fight is about to break out, and I'm doing what all mom's of the year do- watching Snooki and JWoww while blogging.... :)

Most of my Facebook friends know this, but not my blogger buddies...
The devastating news???
A couple of weeks ago our gym, like my favorite gym in the whole wide world, shut down!!! No warning, no reason, no nothing... I guess rent was too high and they were terrible at advertising. Not warning your staff or members was totally uncool :( So I've been in a state of depression- not really, but I have been feeling lost. So you ask- what am I doing to workout? Well, workout videos, free passes to gyms- aka being a Gym Gypsy and Baby Bootcamp...

Baby Bootcamp= An Awesome Mistake. Wha? Is she crazy? Yeah- it's bootcamp in the MALL!!! So here I am jogging while pushing my baby in her stroller and I see this dress in the window of Forever21 that I HAD to try on. This bootcamp is NOT a good idea for a professional shopper like me.

Imagine this dress over dark skinny jeans and bright flats-

Tropical Dress- $14.80 @Forever21

This picture does not do this dress justice, actually it makes it look kinda ugly. It's totally cute in person and has POCKETS- Yay!!! So as soon as I find these flats, I'll take my own pic-

Canvas Espadrilles- $10 @Forever21

So back to my Baby Bootcamp workout story... Instead of leaving the mall, I went and tried on the dress, fed my baby in the dressing room, and then bought the dress. I've got problems people! Haha!

Chevron Wedges! Obsessed.

2013-03-13T20:34:00.004-05:00

OMG! I cannot tell you how excited I am about my new wedges!!! Literally, shoes (especially wedges) make me so incredibly happy that it should totally be iLLEGAL! My goal in life is to live in a place where I can wear wedges year round- I mean seriously, it's my mission life!

Let me prep you. I got them at Payless aka PayPay. Regularly priced at $26.99, on sale for $19.99, and then I had a 30% coupon, which made these cost a whole... $13.99!!!!!!!!!!!!! $15.14 with tax. The price tag, makes these wedges even BETTER! The adrenaline rush this savings gives me is AMAZING!

So are you ready to see these beauties???
Here are the Sophie High Wedges in all of their Glory:

Love the bright colors of this wedge! It's so versatile- I can wear it with a dress, jeans, leggings, etc. The bright colors and chevron are totally what's in right now!!! I'm in the process of looking for an Easter dress to go with these babies!

Unfortunately the price online has gone back to the original price. Be sure to check out the stores to see if they might be on sale. Also, if you sign up for Payless Rewards, they will email you a 20% off coupon. Check out my precious Sophie's HERE.

What Makes Me Want to Buy a Protein Bar...

2013-03-11T18:18:00.000-05:00

If the wrapper of a protein bar is Hot PiNK, brightly colored, coconut or has a surfer dude on the front of it- it's guaranteed that J.Flo will buy it :) Well, as long as it's gluten-free, doesn't have a bunch of artificial nasty in it, has decent nutrition facts and sounds like a tasty flavor. As I was doing my weekly grocery shopping at Sprouts with my child strapped on me, I came across this beauty-

Source: RiseBar.com

Brightly colored? Check

Coconut? Check

Surfer dude? Check

GF? Yep

17 grams of protein? What? WooHoo!

Source: RiseBar.com

This bar was pretty darn good! I didn't really taste the coconut, but the flavor was still good. So what's really bizarre is that I'm allergic to milk, not lactose, actual milk. Therefore I cannot do whey protein in smoothies. However, the way in this bar didn't bother me... Any idea why if I drink whey it, it affects me, but if I eat it, I'm fine????

While we're on this bright turquoise topic... Check out my new turquoise tank-

Turquoise scalloped tank from Love Culture- $10.70.

Light tan cardigan from TJ Maxx- $14.99

Accessories from Sam Moon:

Necklace & Earrings: $10.50

Bracelet: $5.50

Stayed tuned for my new favorite wedge purchase! :)

Ok, headed over to update the baby's blog... LuLuBabyFashion.com

Cuppy Cake Paradise

2013-02-25T22:19:00.003-06:00

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 was the day that I had the BEST cupcake EVER! On this day, I discovered Pure DeLite Cupcakes. I noticed this place while driving by and saw that it said "guilt-free cupcakery" under the sign. I laughed about it and made a comment to my husband that maybe the place was calorie free because it just smelled like cupcakes :) I later googled the place and discovered that they had regular cupcakes, vegan cupcakes and GLUTEN-FREE cupcakes! So obviously I had to try out a GF cupcake! I totally have to support business that go out of their way to cater to people like me.

Here it is....

Tropical Paradise
coconut-pineapple cake, orange pineapple filling, orange frosting
Calories:	229
Fat:	7.4 g
Cholesterol:	50.9 g
Carb:	35.2 g
Sugar:	24.9 g
Protein:	3 g

The description just doesn't do this cuppy cake justice. It was so magnificent that I had to go back the next day to get my husband one to try! It was moist, tasty and light. I ate it on a cold rainy day with my Lil' Mommie after I picked her up from the airport, and it brought a little piece of paradise into our world :)

These guys totally need to be on Cupcake Wars- check out all of their flavors: http://www.puredelitecupcakes.com/menu-everyday-flavors.html It's incredible and I can't wait to try out more!

In honor of my Tropical Paradise Cupcake, I had an outfit inspiration.

I love this polyester tank from Image! It was a whopping $11.70. When combined with skinny jeans and flats from Ross, a $7 scarf from Sam Moon and my $1.50 flower from Forever21- summer is in the air!

~ Thank you Pure Delite Guilt-Free Cupcakery! ~

I will be back

The Complete Look

2013-02-13T14:55:00.004-06:00

Last time we talked about the statement necklace, and this time, we'll complete the look :) I got this veil-y yellow tank and cardigan at a store called Image. Both were around $12 a piece. Skinny jeans and then my UrbanOG boots are the last necessary items to pull this outfit together. I believe that the boots have gone up in price, because I know that I paid less than $40 for them (click here). But they're still a great deal at $42. Can I tell you how much I love the loose fitting, blousey look that's totally in now? It's so perfect for post pregnancy!

Let's transition to my new favorite dessert... I love you Pinterest!

Introducing- Frozen Banana Bites!

Recipe found here

What you'll need . . .

2 large bananas
1/4 to 1/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Method . . .
1. Set out a large plate or bowl with a piece of parchment or wax paper on it.
2. Cut up the bananas into good-sized chunks. Each banana should give you around 5 to 6 pieces.
3. Heat the peanut butter and chocolate chips in the microwave on high for about a minute. Then stir until smooth.
4. Dip the banana pieces in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Lay them out leaving some space between them on the parchment/wax paper. Then when you've "covered" them all, use the remaining mixture to spoon over the tops (for even more chocolate-y goodness).
5. Then sprinkle the unsweetened coconut flakes on top. Transfer to the freezer for about an hour until hardened.
6. You can enjoy them like this (but they really aren't frozen yet -- and when they're frozen, the banana tastes like vanilla ice cream) . . . I suggest then covering with some plastic wrap (or really you can do all of this in some kind of Rubbermaid container) and let freeze overnight.

I use Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips, but that's the only thing that I do different. And they sure are healthy and Yummy!!!

Do you have any good, healthy dessert recipes to share?

Statement Necklace

2013-01-31T22:33:00.001-06:00

Statement necklaces have been very popular lately, especially colorful ones. I didn't want to give into the "bauble necklace trend" UNTIL I found this beauty....

A necklace and earrings for $9.50??? Heck yeah! Sam Moon never ceases to amaze me, seriously! I can't wait to show you guys the whole 'look.'

Check out this similar necklace. It's by Kate Spade and you can find it at Neiman's for only.... $125! Marked down from $278. Hey- it's only 13 times more expensive, and no earrings :)

Kate Spade NY Baublebox Bib Necklace

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE being frugal?!

Forever21 vs. Victoria's Secret

2013-01-17T23:22:00.000-06:00

For those of you who may not know BFlo, he's from New Orleans and is an LSU grad. So in this household, it's all about the Tigers and the Saints. I'm a converted fan and like to sport his favorite teams' gear because it makes him happy. I used to find a lot of my apparel at Victoria's Secret. Their PINK brand has Collegiate and NFL Collections (and most recently MLB as well). However, the cheapest I've ever purchased a t-shirt for was like $22 on sale. That's not a very good sale in my opinion.. I take that back, when I was in New Orleans, I think I found a LSU tee in a VS store for $10, but that was a very lucky day...

So way back when (click here to see), I found a very random LSU tank in Forever21 (in Texas) for $14.80. I still can't believe that it was labeled as a PJ tank, whatev. And then I sported it again when I was pregnant, oh the memories :)

Click to read about the old times

So when I stopped by Forever21 after our playdate- (Mall Walks are Genius!- especially when it's cold out)

Take note that the only babe awake is our Girlfriend. Learning the sport of shopping early :)

I couldn't believe I found this:

Like my mirror pic?

This tank was $15.80 at Forever21! Who needs Victoria's Secret's sports collections with prices like these? Thank you Forever21! I wore it to the gym over a white sports bra and workout capris. I also wore it to a playdate over this long-sleeved tee and black leggings. The tank is a great cut for me right now, as it hides this baby pooch. It would also work well for all body types, especially when you just want that comfy feel- super versatile!

And Who's this cute girl??? Follow her at: LuLuBabyFashion.com

# Poundage #

2013-01-15T22:05:00.000-06:00

We all know that I'm a fitness fanatic and a health-nut. I remember my mom telling me to appreciate my body because one day I'll look back and wish that I looked that good. Well... today's that day. I still have 10lbs to lose and our Girlfriend is almost 4 months. I'm pretty sure that I had some unrealistic expectations, but I also can't lay off the sweets- UGH! I've given myself a pep-talk and am going to have to run some of this blub off at the gimnasio. As much as I love fitness- I HATE running!!! Like passionately despise it. I could play indoor soccer all day long, but running on a treadmill- no way Jose! And running outside is not an option either considering that I'm allergic to Texas air. If only I could run marathons every weekend like my SkinnyRunner friend... Since that will never happen, let's talk about how I'm going to get rid of this weight!

Quick question- is it possible to lose all of my weight while breastfeeding? I've heard mixed reviews.

Below are a few recipes that I've tried out this week that are pretty healthy and very tasty, (at least better than a Double Double, Animal-style (minus the cheese), protein-style burger + Chocolate shake from In-N-Out Burger. Yum-O!)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Instead of tortillas, I used corn tortilla chips. I also used 7oz of green chilies rather than 4.

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies, drained (hot or mild, depending on preference)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
2 15-ounce cans of diced tomatoes, including juice
1/2 - 1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
Kosher salt and pepper
4 corn tortillas, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 avocado diced and tossed with lime juice to prevent browning
1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions:
Place chicken in Crock-Pot® slow cooker.
In a separate bowl, combine chilies, garlic, onion, tomatoes, 1/2 c chicken broth and cumin. Blend and pour over chicken.
Cook on high for 3 hours. When chicken is tender, use the tines of 2 forks to shred. Adjust seasoning and add additional chicken broth if necessary.
Just before serving, add tortillas and cilantro to Crock-Pot® slow cooker. Stir to incorporate. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve in soup bowls, topping each with shredded cheese, diced avocado and a squeeze of lime.

For Dessert- this recipe is AH-Mazing!!!

Chocolate-Avocado Mousse

Ingredients:1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, such as Ghirardelli
4 very ripe (8 ounce) avocados, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup agave
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Fresh raspberries, for garnish

Directions:Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Place over a small saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
Place the melted chocolate, avocados, agave, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Spoon into glasses and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (can be prepared 1 day in advance). Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve.

This is a Giada de Laurentiis recipe. I know what you're thinking- avocados??? No, this is not chocolate guacamole and avocados have some serious health benefits. Just try it! I dare you! ;)

And tell me how much you love chocolate and avocados together- who would've thought?! :)

Our BiG Announcement!

2013-01-07T17:39:00.001-06:00

Are you ready to hear the News??? Got some good guesses- some were right, some weren't and others already knew.

Good news- I'm definitely NOT pregnant! Don't want to pull a Jessica Simpson... Weight Watchers should have paid me dang it, I would've done it for a Mil, heck, I would have done it for $100k :)

So here it is: I QUiT my J-O-B!!! I'm pursuing the career of a full-time wife, mom, cook, housekeeper, blogger, beginner at sewing, GymRat, Pinterest addict etc.

Although I'll miss my customers and the extra moolah, raising our child is priceless. I want to pour as much as I can into our little Girlfriend so that she can be the most God-fearing child that's full of grace, mercy and compassion for others. We have so much to teach her and are so blessed that God has allowed BFlo and I the opportunity to pour our hearts and souls into this lil' Princess.

I don't want to miss her first song, words, crawling, steps, kisses... I love this girl so much and don't want to miss a moment with her. I can't thank my amazing husband enough for embracing this opportunity and supporting Luciana and I 100%. This time with her will be invaluable to us both.

She wrote and sang this song for me today, well, Sofia co-wrote and sang...

Who wants to have a PlayDate???

P is for Peplum

2013-01-06T22:55:00.001-06:00

Peplum- short overskirt that is usually attached to a fitted jacket, blouse or dress (source)

Revisiting a topic that I tweeted about several weeks ago, the Peplum skirt... I made a comment about the peplum skirt that a large woman should not have been wearing because it was very unflattering and made her appear larger than she was. I'm not a fan of peplum personally, and feel that it tends to look better on incredibly slender women, but that's just my opinion. I know it would not flatter my figure, therefore I would never wear it.

Need a visual?

Source

Yep- the peplum skirt isn't even flattering on Kim Kardashian...

Thank you 1980's for leggings, stir-ups and oversized sweatshirts. Can't say I want to thank you for the peplum skirt... However, my feelings differ with a peplum shirt or jacket. I think those are more manageable than the skirt.

Ugly Christmas...

2012-12-25T00:29:00.002-06:00

Forget about Ugly Christmas Sweater parties, I'm having an Ugly Christmas Earring Par-tay next year at Mi Casa!!! Haha! Can you imagine the level of fabulousness???

How I got inspired??? My "wanna-be a cool mom" boss came to work last week with some awesomely janky bright green Christmas trees inside of a hoop earrings. It totally turned my dull Monday morning meeting into a Holiday LaughFest for myself! I wish I could have stolen a picture... It was pretty much like this, but instead of this ridiculous sweater, just imagine gaudy earrings :)

Google Images

I'm so stoked about this new party idea that I came up with- I'm going to find some pretty rad earrings- can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I'll get Christmas light ones that have their own battery pack and light up! Or perhaps I can find the largest earrings EVER like these-

Credit

Or I could just save myself some money and make ones out of my Christmas lights that have gone out on my string of lights...

Credit

Best idea EVA! Can't wait for next year!!!

PiNK Bows Make Anything Look Cute!

2012-12-12T22:29:00.002-06:00

My new favorite shoes of all time--->

Babydoll Wedge Booties- $22.80

I made my first purchase from UrbanOG.com the other day and got these cute lil' booties! I'm so in love with them! They're like a black faux suede with a silky PiNK bow. The PiNK is actually a bit darker than it appears in the picture. They are surprisingly pretty comfortable for 4.75" heels.

I need to have BFlo take a pic of me in these with a cute outfit on :)

Old Berries?

2012-12-11T22:25:00.000-06:00

Elderberry Concentrate = The miracle liquid!

Elderberry is not a bunch of older berries, according to Wikipedia "Black elderberry has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Some preliminary studies demonstrate that elderberry may have a measurable effect in treating the flu, alleviating allergies, and boosting overall respiratory health."

Source

During my search to cure my allergies, I was reminded of something- my holistic doctor had recommended elderberry concentrate for my cousin's son's allergies about a year back. I was at my wit's end a few months back because when you're pregnant or nursing, you can't take anything!!! So the natural route is the only option. I researched this "old folk berry" and was amazed at all of the health benefits that people were sharing. So I started taking it. I put about a teaspoon in a glass of water and drink it once a day. My allergies lifted almost immediately- it was amazing! I've given out several bottles to neighbors, friends and customers and they all agree that it works!

Additional confirmation-
While at the pediatricians for Luciana's 2 month appt, our doctor asked if I was taking any immune boosters. I asked what she meant by "immune boosters?" Her response, "Do you take elderberry?" What??? Should I just become my own doctor or what? Haha :)

Get yourself a bottle of this stuff at Vitamin Shoppe- they match their online price, which will save you about $6. If you don't have a Vitamin Shoppe nearby, you can find it online HeRe

As a side note- Luciana officially has her own blog www.LuLuBabyFashion.com She will be demonstrating and educating followers on the latest baby girl's fashion :)

Bold & Beautiful Christmas Wreath

2012-12-09T22:45:00.001-06:00

I had a Pinterest fail. I tried to make a very large wreath out of plumbers tubing. I think it 'could' have made it, however, I just felt that it was too flimsy. I didn't feel comfortable with it and gave up on it all together. Thanks to the smartest mama in the world- I headed over to Hobby Lobby just a few hours prior to my party, and bought a 36" grapevine wreath for $11 (Love the 40% off coupon in the iPhone app- WooHoo!) I had already purchased a 100 ornament pack from WalMart for $35. With less than an hour to spare until my party started, I took out my trusty mini hot glue gun and went to town. Check it out:

I'm quite proud of my wreath if I do say so myself :) Now the only thing that's left is to find stocking hangers....

7-11

2012-12-08T23:26:00.001-06:00

I will be announcing Luciana's own Baby Blog tomorrow. She will be promoting the latest newborn styles and trends. In the mean time, I wanted to get back to where we left off the last time.

This girl is growing like CRAZY!!! She's gained 5lbs and 3 inches in a 2 month timeframe ;) She's as happy as can be, and the best baby at that!

Hallelujah!!!

2012-12-06T11:44:00.001-06:00

My Blog is BACK!!! WooHoo!

Dang I've missed my blog, and am so Sorry that it left this world for about a month! Unbeknownst to me, when I started this blog and selected to pay $10 for a domain, the domain was set up with GoDaddy on an automatic renewal. For one, I had no idea it was done through GoDaddy, and two, never authorized an automatic renewal. But regardless, the credit card associated with my blog was lost and cancelled, so my blog did not get renewed. I spent countless hours and $100 to get it back (maybe I should buy their stock since they are so awesome at making easy money from jacking people without notifying them...)

Good News- I'm BACK and we have so much to get caught up on! :)

Not a Grandma Cardigan

2012-11-04T18:19:00.000-06:00

So my best friend texted me a picture of this cardigan over the weekend and asked me what I though. Her lovely friends told her that it looked like a "Grandma Cardi." I told her to get new friends ;) Don't ask non-credible peeps that you call your friends, ask JFloFashion! Hello! That's the reason God created me!

So here's the cardigan. She got it at Kohl's for '20 something' dollars and it's by Elle. I really like the PiNK ruffle!

Here's some ideas that I had to make this go from Gramma to Glama:

Headband, Dress shirt, Boots, Tom's look-a-like shoes, Purse, Black Skinny Jeans

This is a casual look to wear with either the Tom's look-a-like shoes or boots depending on the weather. Click the links under the picture to find out where the items are from. I will call this a 'Cute Preppy look' not Grandma...

Scarf, Booties, Pants

I consider this look a little more of a dressy, 'Going out with your Girlfriends' type of look. I would wear a pink or black tank under the cardigan. Floral and stripes pair well together, that's why I chose that scarf. I bought the black zip pants seen back here, I call them "dress leggings." The zipper in the back would look really cute if you unzipped it a bit to fit over the back of the pink bootie.

Unfortunately if you like the cardigan, it's no longer available on Kohl's website, but perhaps you might be able to find it in the store. If you still think this looks like a Grandma cardigan, well, don't go buy it. I think she can make it look cute!

5 & 6 Weeks

2012-11-02T08:39:00.003-05:00

We officially have a 10 pounder - as of 6wks!!! Check out our lil' Fashionista- here's weeks 5 and 6:

What we've been up to lately....

Reading books

Looking Cute

Staring at the ceiling fan together

Looking Cute Again

Not liking the headband

Looking Cute yet Again

"Thinking" at her first BDay Party

Daddy having fun- BFlo sent this pic to me and said "Too soon?"

There's a good deal on kids.Woot today if you're looking to organize a baby closet:

Check it out HERE. They have the set in beige, green, blue and PiNK

I got this for our Girlfriend in PiNK several months ago from WalMart.com: http://www.jflofashion.com/2012/06/24-weeks.html

Halloween Fashion

2012-10-30T22:44:00.001-05:00

Our neighborhood had our 2nd annual Halloween Block Party this past weekend. This was quite the event! Very well put together with catered food, bounce houses, treats, a DJ etc. BFlo won a Zoom whitening session and an Oral B electronic dental grade toothbrush in the drawings (sponsored by local businesses).

Of course we dressed up for the event, but did not get the memo that only kids were dressing up... Oh well, we were the best-dressed, cutest fam in the neighborhood :) I made Luciana's costume and part of BFlo's- all of our costumes cost a total of $34!

Our little Sushi:

I found out how to make this costume on Pinterest (click here). It was very easy, and she was the cutest lil' sushi roll EVER! The felt cost me a total of $6 at Joann's. Hmmm... maybe we should take her to the local sushi place to see if we could get some complimentary rolls because of our girl's cuteness.

My little Kimono deal cost me a whole $6.99 @Forever21

BFlo's costume was the most expensive- $6 for the chef hat and $15 for the white coat that we used as a chef coat. I added the Kikkoman logos with tape- haha! It looked legit, especially when paired with his Japanese style flip-flops.

Here is our happy little Sushi-themed family-

Konnichiwa!

First Month Necessities

2012-10-29T14:05:00.001-05:00

What I needed to get through our first month with our newborn successfully:

Bassinet- I was totally against getting a bassinet (just one more piece of baby furniture to take up space in my room). However, after having to go through an unplanned c-section my mom convinced me that there would really be no other way around it since bending and lifting is not part of a proper recovery plan. This thing is AWESOME!!!!! Best thing ever, in fact! My favorite part- it has wheels :) And we have all of her clothes, blankets and burp clothes in the storage area under the bassinet so I don't have to run up the stairs to her room multiple times a day.

My Breast Friend- I tried to use a Boppy in the hospital, and the lactation consultant was right, the baby kind of slumped down into the middle. This breast friend, not only has a hilarious name, but very good support for me and the baby. I can even walk around the house while holding her on there.

Strappy Sports Bras- These make breastfeeding very accessible as well as comfortable. Some people- which would be me- do not believe that when your milk comes in, your boobs really do become GiNORMOUS!!! At that point I was left thinking "what do I do with these things???" Well, this is the only thing that can contain them. I have several of these bras and in all the colors. They're cheap, come in a 3 pack and can be re-used as a cami look-a-like under low-cut shirts.

Cami- These cami's are cheap, can be worn with the strappy sports bra under them, and are very convenient when breastfeeding. I can't have enough of these.

Dr. Bronner Magic Soap- Because of the incision, my mom wanted me to have a mild soap to wash with and found this lavender soap at our local Sprouts. It is now my absolute favorite soap ever and I'm hooked. I'm pretty sure I'll be using this stuff for a very long time.

Organic Cotton Nursing Pads- My friend started me off with these and I've gotten about 3 more packs. These were and are a God-sent! They are washable, extremely soft and definitely help with leakage.

All Good Goop- This is awesome for anyone and everyone, you can use it on everything from scrapes and cuts to burns, incisions, sore boobies, diaper rash, and the list goes on.... I am still using this on my scar- it's healing really well.

Nap Nanny- So there's no way on Earth that I would ever pay $130 for this thing, but everyone was acting like this is a miracle provider. I ended up finding ours on Craigslist for $50, which included both the green and tan covers. It was literally in brand-new condition. So what would have cost $160, cost us $50. This is really nice for our girlfriend to chill in while I cook, sew, write a blog etc. And it's very portable.

One thing that I totally forgot to mention, and it's very important-

Traumeel is a homeopathic pain reliever. I took the pain meds in the hospital the morning after my surgery, and totally hated the way I felt. Our holistic pediatrician recommended this stuff. It's like a more natural ibuprofen AND it comes with a cream. I did use the cream on my incision and it really helped with the inflammation. I was able to find this at Sprouts.

Hope this helps any first-time mom that needs some references.