First Comes Love

Think Warm Thoughts

2012-02-13T08:55:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I hate winter. Like, hate.

I am so ready for summer. And by "so ready" I mean mentally ready. My quest to transform my body to its previous hotness (I use the word "hotness" very loosely!) has hit a little speed bump. And by "little speed bump" I mean I haven't exercised in two weeks. And that's the whole truth. Nothing but.

Fail.

Luckily, the Mini-Me will be my summertime sidekick, and her cuteness will definitely draw attention away from my thunder thighs. Like last summer, for instance; all eyes were on "Ruffle Butt." Perfectly OK with me.

My tiny baby swimming in the pool.

There's Ruffle Butt!

I know. She's pretty stinkin' cute. And since we spend so much time poolside in the summer, Miss Elena will definitely need a fabulous swimwear wardrobe. Here are some absolutely adorable options...

Old Navy Polka Dot Bow-Tie Swimsuit

Baby GAP eyelet ruffled one-piece

Little Me One-Piece

Circo Stripedot Swimsuit via Target

Kate Mack Stripe Halter

Flower Bow Tankini via Gymboree

Flower Stripe One-Piece via Gymboree

There's nothing cuter than a baby in a bathing suit. Can't wait!

Elena's First Year: Week 38 (Valentine's Day Edition)

2012-02-12T20:18:00.000-05:00

So... the weekly photo sessions with Miss Elena are becoming more and more challenging every week. Since Little Miss is on the go all the time now, she will not lay on her back for a few photos. Who can blame her, really? Crawling all over the place and using every.single.piece.of.furniture to pull herself to a standing position is faaar more entertaining than my silly photoshoots.

This is the best I could do with the standard pose.

She's like "I really don't have time for this, Mother."

I wanted to get at least one cute little Valentine pose. This is as good as it gets. Cute girl.

Our Love Story

2012-02-10T09:06:00.005-05:00

I'm jumping on the lovey dovey bandwagon today. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Becky at From Mrs. to Mama created a sweet little questionnaire for all the love birds out there.

Ready. Set. Go!

1. How long have you been together?
Jonathan and I became "boyfriend and girlfriend" on November 1, 1995. We were in middle school, and I was so, so infatuated with him. Puppy love, for sure!

First photo of us together... 8th grade dance!

2. How did you meet?
I had a huge crush on Jonathan in middle school, and I even asked him to be my boyfriend several times. He rejected me at least twice before he finally "caved in" and agreed to be my beau. I think he was sick and tired of my persistence. But, hey, it worked! More than 16 years later, we're still going strong.

High school seniors.

3. If married, how long have you been married?
We got married on November 1, 2008 (our 13th anniversary). Best. Day. Ever.

4. Where did you get married? Big or small wedding?
Our ceremony was held at a beautiful church in Knoxville, and our reception took place at Gettysvue Country Club. It wasn't a small wedding, but it wasn't huge either. Just right, if ya ask me! It was the perfect day.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!
I refer to Jonathan as "Jonny" all the time. He calls me "Meli." Super creative, huh?

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
Only three??? There is so much I love about Jonathan. First and foremost, he is my very best friend. He "gets" me like nobody else, and allows me to be my authentic self. He's seen the good, the bad and the ugly, and (for some crazy reason) he loves me anyway. Second, he is the very best husband and father. He treats Elena and me so well and works hard to support our family. At the same time, he is present every single day. He works all day, helps cook dinner, plays with Elena and makes time for me, too. He's got a lot on his plate, that guy. And somehow he makes it work. Third, he keeps me in check. When my head is in the clouds, his feet are on the ground. And sometimes I need somebody to bring me back to earth.

7. Tell us how he proposed.
We got engaged in Asheville, North Carolina on a whirlwind trip. It was a whirlwind for me, because it was a surprise! Little did I know, Jonathan had been planning to pop the question for months.

The night we got engaged

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?
None of the above. We don't really celebrate Valentine's Day. I'd rather have roses for no reason on a random Tuesday. It's sweeter, and the flowers are cheaper. I appreciate random acts of flowers and a good bargain.

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?
Both! I would LOVE a beach getaway right now. But movies and couch time is great, too.

10. Tell us something you'd like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?
We would both LOVE to go to Europe for a couple of weeks. It's on the someday/somehow to-do list.

Babymoon in Antigua... such a fun trip!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.
Snuggle on the couch with my husband and my daughter. Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Perfect V-Day dress... IF I were going on a fancy date.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Not a thing. The best things in life really are FREE.

13. One piece of advice for keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
Communication! It's so important to talk to each other about anything and everything. Even when it isn't easy... communicate!!!

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

My whole wide world.

(Doggie) Mom Guilt

2012-02-09T09:23:00.000-05:00

Alfie is on Craigslist.

And I hate myself for it.

He's my baby. And I love him. But now I have a human baby. And I love her more. Taking care of both of babies is quite a challenge.

I've received at least a dozen calls from people who want to adopt Alfie.

I've also received a few text messages, which angers me to no end. (I will NOT give my dog to anyone who doesn't have the energy to pick up a telephone.)

My favorite text went something like this:

Lady: Do you still have the Yorkie?

(Great introduction, lady.)

Me: Yes. However, someone wants to meet him tomorrow to determine if he would be a good fit for her family. I will be happy to let you know if it does not work out.

Lady: K. Where in Knoxville are r u located?

(Huge pet peeve: people who don't text in complete sentences. "r" and "u" are not appropriate. Ever. Especially if I don't even know you. NOT a good first impression.)

Me: (responding reluctantly) Farragut

Lady: Is that close to Magnolia Avenue? I am new to the area, so I am trying to figure out how far Farragut is from Magnolia Avenue.

And that is where the conversation ended. I will not send my sweet Yorkie baby to live anywhere near Magnolia Avenue. Now, now K-town friends; don't get your panties in a twist. As a gal who grew up in the ghetto (not too far from Magnolia Avenue, actually), I am allowed to have an opinion about it. There's a reason my family moved out of the area.

Oh, annnd her texts were signed "$*LILBIT*$" I'm not even kidding. Does this chick honestly think I would let her be Alfie's new mommy?

Geeze.

Obviously, I am not impressed with the potential adoptive parents. Nobody makes me jump up and exclaim "YES! You can have my first born baby!"

Plus, I am feeling incredibly guilty about the whole situation. "Just because something is hard doesn't mean you should quit," says the little voice in my head.

And if I wasn't feeling terrible enough, I see this story on the news about an animal hoarding situation.

"...the officers found between 40 and 50 live cats, between 30 and 40 dead cats, six live dogs, and a dead lizard. Officers were also searching for a missing bird and a missing hedgehog. The animals displayed several signs of distress."

Good Lord. What if I send Alfie to live with animal hoarders? Or abusers?

My first baby

Now, I am back to feeling torn about the whole situation. I love Alfie. I don't want to send him to live with strangers. At the same time, I need my sanity back.

Me (sans coffee)

2012-02-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

I was planning to post "Our Love Story" this morning (a blog-land linky party hosted by Becky at From Mrs. to Mama). But, honestly, I am not in a lovey dovey mood today. I desperately need to go to the grocery store (like, must happen today, because we are completely out of food). Anyway, my dear, sweet, hard-working husband used ALL of the remaining milk last night for his effing protein shake. Know what that means? NO COFFEE for moi today. Know what that means? I am ONE CRANKY WOMAN.

(And, NO, I don't have any creamer. I've been out creamer for days now. Like I said: we are in desperate need of groceries.)

Via

Moving on...

I had a text conversation with a good friend last night. Went a little something like this:

Me: It's a good thing I "married up." Otherwise, I would be a TV reporter on welfare. But "famous" nonetheless.

Friend: Speaking of, are TV reporters date-able?

Me: Sure. TV reporters are date-able. They just have ridiculously abnormal schedules. And journalists are sociopathic, narcissistic, ego-maniacs. If you date one, I will be a great resource for you.

You can't make this stuff up.

Via

Speaking of ego-maniacs (kidding, y'all... just needed a transition). Have you seen Beyonce's post-baby body? She look amazing. Sure, she's booby. And hippy. But so am I, and there's no way in hell I'd be seen in a dress that tight.

Via

Finally: I know y'all are on Pinterest. (Who isn't these days?) Well, I'm pissed at Pinterest. Mostly, I'm pissed at Pinterest's search function. IT IS GOD AWFUL. It doesn't matter what I am searching for, every search garners, like, three results. It's so annoying. (Does anyone else have this problem?) Annnd, I'm also sick and tired of their server errors. Hey, Pinterest: you're a big, fat, popular website now. Get a better server.

That's all for now.

(And, yea, this is me sans coffee.)

Woo-Hoo for Jason Wu

2012-02-06T09:14:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I spend millions of dollars at Target every year. Well, maybe not millions. More like thousands. But if I had millions of dollars, I would definitely spend it at my favorite anything/everything retailer.

Remember a few months ago when e'rybody went bonkers because Target teamed up with Missoni to offer ~~hideous~~ "high-fashion" clothes and home accessories the average person (like moi) could afford? Well (in my opinion), Missoni was a big fat MISS for Target. Every product (again, my opinion) was super EW.

For example:

Really, Target? Does anyone want to look like that?
Unless it's Halloween and you're dressing up like Austin Powers' girlfriend, the answer is no.
Via

Target has redeemed itself though. The Jason Wu for Target collection is fabulous! Pretty, preppy and priced right, this high-fashion-on-a-budget collection is a much better fit for Target shoppers. (Missoni WHO?)

A few examples:

Via

So cute, right?

I haven't seen any of these styles in person yet, but since I visit my local Super Target at least once a week, I'm sure I'll get to see, touch and try on very, very soon. Woo-Hoo!

Elena's First Year: Week 37

2012-02-04T21:56:00.000-05:00

When I bought more fabric for Elena's weekly photo project this week, I realized that time is inching closer and closer to the big 52 (weeks). The big 365 (days). The big ONE (year). Only 15 weeks 'til my baby girl is ONE YEAR OLD. Whoa. Guess I need to start planning her big birthday bash, huh?

Kidding. (Kind of.)

I love this mid-laugh face. So cute!

Super (Weather, Bowl, Baby)

2012-02-03T09:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday, blog buds!

Via

Did ya miss me yesterday? The weather was amazing in East Tennessee (60 degrees and sunny), so Miss Elena and I were up, at it and outta the house with the sunrise. Well, not with the sunrise. That's a slight exaggeration. We had a great day though. Ran errands and drove around aimlessly. It was nice to feel the sun shine on my face through the sunroof. It felt goooood. I hope the stupid groundhog was very, very wrong in his prediction. 'Cause winter is just awful. And warm, happy sunshine is just terrific.

Sitting in a big kid highchair at lunch yesterday.

I assume you'll watch the Super Bowl this weekend. (Is it just me, or does it feel mandatory? Like, if you don't watch you're going to FAIL the big test on Monday morning.)

Honestly, I'm not excited about either team, but I suppose I'll cheer for the Giants since Eli is Peyton's brother, and Peyton went to UT, and UT is my alma-mater. Makes total sense, right?

Via

I won't lie: cute pictures like that make me want a baby boy right now. Is it too soon to want a newborn again? Have I lost my mind? Am I delirious since I was up at 12:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. with my eight-month-old angel who refuses to sleep? The answer to all of those questions is YES.

Elena not only refuses to sleep, she also refuses to eat. And apparently she knows how to say no.

She does this "no" thing all the time, but I finally caught it on video the other day during breakfast. I have no idea where she learned to shake her head like that. Yea, it's funny/cute. But it also makes me want to ground her for sassing me.

Yea, I just said "sassing me." Officially a mom.

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

2012-02-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Wednesday, and happy February! Lots to love this week...

I am loving the red chevron pillow I won through Darci's blog giveaway! Perfect for Valentine's Day, huh? (Visit The Fabricate on Etsy to see all of Tara's lovely designs.)

Via

I am loving that I enjoyed some much-needed ME time last week. I even bought a couple of things for myself.

Via

Finally, I am loving my happy little girl. She is so fun these days and SO full of personality.

I love that sweet face! And that little shirt. She still wears some three-month clothes!

What are you loving this week? Link up, here.

Introducing... Shabby Apple

2012-01-31T10:31:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed a couple of new ads on my sidebar.

Over there ----------------------->

Just below your beautiful faces.

Welcome to the blog, Shabby Apple!

There are two reasons their products are perfect fit for my little ol' blog.

1. Maternity dresses

WHY didn't I know about this cute little number when I was a working prego lady?
Would have been perfect for the office.
Via

2. Dresses for little ladies

So cute!

Love this too! Fun spring colors.

A BIG percentage of my blog traffic comes from folks looking for pregnancy info and folks looking for baby info. (Surprise, surprise.) That's exactly why I became a Shabby Apple affiliate. (Wish I had known about their maternity line when I was prego!)

Of course, you can find tons of products on their website. Aside from maternity wear and kiddo clothes, you can find dresses, skirts, swimwear, workout gear, accessories, shoes and even gifts for the home. Right now, they are offering 20% off. Just use code NEWYEAR at checkout.

Happy shopping!

As a Shabby Apple affiliate, I receive compensation for products purchased through links provided on my site. I am not compensated, however, for my opinions. The opinions expressed this post are mine, all mine.

Monday. FUNday?

2012-01-30T11:28:00.001-05:00

It's a brand new week, y'all! My baby girl let me sleep a little later than usual on this fabulous Monday, so I'm feeling pretty optimistic about the week ahead.

Via

Did y'all watch the season finale of Kourtney and Kim Take New York? I didn't watch last night, so don't tell me what happened!

Via

Will Kim and Kris reconcile their differences? Will Kourtney and Scott ever sleep in the same room again? I am on the edge of my seat.

Oh... Wait...

SPOILER ALERT: Kim's already divorced, and Kourtney is prego.

Why am I watching this train wreck?

(And, yea, I am still ashamed of my weird Kardashian-watching ways. Embarrassing!)

I know y'all seen the sh!t people say series on YouTube. E'rybody is doing it these days, and some are definitely funnier than others. The "Sh!t Nashville People DON'T Say" is pretty dang hilarious.

You should also watch Sh!t Sorority Girls Say. Oh.Em.Gee. Prepare to LOL.

Happy Monday, Friends! Hope it's FABULOUS!

Elena's First Year: Week 36

2012-01-29T09:51:00.000-05:00

Growing up waaay too fast!

Friday = Happiness

2012-01-27T12:09:00.000-05:00

The sun is shining, and it's Friday. What more could a girl ask for?

Via

I definitely suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). When it's cold, rainy and dreary outside, I turn into a hot mess of a human. (A-dirty-hair-pajamas-all-day-may-or-may-not-shower-kind-of-person. Not cute.)

Who's ready for spring???

In other news...

My mom is watching Elena today. I slept until 10:15 this a.m.

10:15.

And I don't even feel guilty about it.

I desperately needed to re-charge my mommy batteries.

I think I may go to a store this afternoon and try on clothes. In a fitting room. All by myself.

I probably won't buy anything, but it will feel so good to go into a normal fitting room (not the handicap fitting room) ALL ALONE.

And -OH YEA- I wore another pair of pre-prego jeans yesterday. A whole size smaller than the last pair that fit. (If you follow me on Twitter, you already know.)

Yea, that was a shameless Twitter plug. (Follow me! And help me figure out what the heck I am doing!) I swear, every time I try to compose a tweet, I feel so stupid.

"Am I doing this right? Will anyone care what I have to say? What is a hashtag? Who am I to think I can create a trending topic? Why am I even doing this?"

Over-thinking it? Probably.

Speaking of Twitter, I really want to follow ALL of the Kardashians. And y'all already know how I feel about the Kardashians.

Good Lord. I should probably read a book.

Welcome to 2007

2012-01-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

My friend Will knows how to keep it real.

I joined Twitter yesterday.

Via

When I "announced" my Twitter handle on Facebook, my dear friend William replied, "Oh Lord. Welcome to 2007."

It's true. I'm a little late to the game.

And not the fashionably late kind of late.

It's the kind of late that proves I am super lame. And a total bandwagon-jumper-onner.

Eh.

Anyway, I'm still figuring out the whole Twitter thing. If you want to follow along: @MelindaSCollins.

So far, Twitter is yet another distraction from laundry, cleaning, cooking and all the other things I'm supposed to do as a stay-at-home mom.

(And, yes, every single time I mention Will on the blog, I will always, always, always link back to this post.)

Happy Feet

2012-01-24T10:22:00.002-05:00

Attention mother-bears: After searching high and low, I finally found a pair of boots that will stay on Baby Girl's feet! If you have a small baby (pre-walker), and you live somewhere that gets cold in the winter, you need to add these little boots to your baby's wardrobe.

Ministar Fur Bootz via Target

These boots don't look very cute in the above photo, but they're actually pretty adorable in "real life." They're made of a very soft leathery material and super furry inside. Perfect for winter. The best part: they stay on Elena's feet! (It's nearly impossible to find shoes that actually stay put!)

See...

So cute, right?

These little boots will set ya back $20, which (in my opinion), is a great deal for a pair of baby shoes that your baby will actually wear.

And, these little boots come in dark brown and tan, too. So, they're also great for baby boys.

You're welcome.

For spring, I have my eyes on these little cuties...

Sperry Top-Sider for Baby via Bloomingdale's

I have no idea whether the baby Sperrys are worth the $30 price. But, oh my gosh, they're so stinkin' cute. (And I am sooo ready for spring!)

I assure you, the folks at Target don't know who I am (despite the fact that I spend a pretty large chunk of our annual income at their fine retail stores), and I was not compensated to say nice things about their products. I found the Ministar boots on a whim one day, and decided to give them a try. They're fabulous, so I thought I'd let you know!

Elena's First Year: Week 35

2012-01-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

Elena is eight months old!

Barre Class: My New Favorite Workout

2012-01-20T10:17:00.002-05:00

The other day, I mentioned I was planning to try one of the latest and greatest exercise trends: the barre workout (barre combines yoga, pilates and ballet).

Well, I attended my first class yesterday. I stretched. I posed. And I demi-pliéd my little heart out.

I totally looked like this... Totally. Hair, thighs and all. Pretty fabulous.
Via

It was harrrrrd.

But it was so much fun!

I was sweating within the first five minutes, and by the end of the hour-long class, I was drenched.

It felt goooood.

In fact, I am still feeling the "goodness" today.

Big time.

Like, everywhere.

My arms, legs, abs, fingers, ears toes. Yea, I'm a bit sore. Apparently, it was a pretty good work out.

I'm going back tomorrow.

And the day after that, and the day after that, and the day after that.

Well, I probably won't go that frequently. (It's kind of expensive. Like $18-$20 per class, depending on the package you purchase. So I don't think I'll be able to do barre class three times every week. Boo.) But I will incorporate barre into my regular exercise routine. Maybe two days of running, combined with one day of barre. We'll see.

If you're looking for a fun way to exercise, I recommend it! There are are many barre-inspired exercise programs out there. Just Google "barre, your city" to find something in your hood.

And, as usual, the opinions in this post are my own. I was not compensated in any way to say positive things about barre class. Tried a free class. Loved it. Wanted to share my experience with you fine folks. That's all.

Happy Friday!!!

Trend Watch: Polka on Polka

2012-01-19T08:37:00.004-05:00

Polka dots, that is.

Been seeing them everywhere lately, and apparently the coolest way to rock dots these days is to layer them. Like, little dots on your shirt, big dots on your skirt. Or, a big dot top with a little dot scarf.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You get the idea. (And, yes, I watch KLG and Hoda. Don't hate.)

I don't know if I'll wear any dot-on-dot ensembles anytime soon, but here are a few polka pieces I could easily add to my wardrobe.

ModCloth "Afternoon Bubble Tea" Dress

ModCloth "Dots Amore" Dress

Old Navy's Pintucked Top

J. Crew "Natasha" Top

NY & Co. Polka Dot Scarf

Banana Republic Dotted Wool Scarf

Loft "Ink Dot" Cardigan

Nine West "Ambitious" Pump

Banana Republic Dot Pencil Skirt

White House Black Market Dot Ruffle Shell

Aren't polka dots so fun? My friend Ashley is obsessed with all things dot, so this trend is perfect for her!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

2012-01-18T09:06:00.001-05:00

Happy Wednesday, friends! Hope you're having a great day so far...

I'm loving that a fellow mommy blogger has made her fun hobby into a book! (You go girrrrl!!!) Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've seen Mila's Daydreams. It's one of the most creative mommy blogs in the blogosphere (not to mention one of the coolest ways to photograph a baby). Now her super fun photography is a bedtime book.

Via

And, P.S., Adele says she used a cheap-o point-and-shoot digi-cam to capture the amazing photos of her daughter. Not a fancy-schmancy SLR. How's that for inspiration?!

I am loving New Girl on Fox. Zooey Deschanel is so cute and funny. (And, yes, that's how she spells her name. I Googled it to make sure I spelled it correctly! Who knew?) Not to mention, the script writing is punchy and awesome. Makes me feel like I'm in on the most hilarious inside joke ever.

Via

I am loving the "Aunt Carol" dance video on YouTube. I originally saw this on Ellen, and it totally made my day! Prepare to smile...

Of course, I am loving my sweet girl (even though she woke up at 12:15 a.m., 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. today... Mama is tiiired).

Yea, I posted this photo already. But she's just sooo cute!

What are you loving today? Link up, here.

Prima ballerina (or something like that)

2012-01-17T17:46:00.001-05:00

A pretty big chunk of my childhood and teen years took place at dance class. From the time I was four until I was 18, at least three nights a week were spent tip-toeing at ballet, jazz, modern or tap classes. Dancing was by far my favorite hobby as a kid, and my days as a "serious" dance student are some of my fondest childhood memories.

May 1987. Yea, pretty adorable.

I'm going back to ballet class this week. Well, sort of.

A studio in Knoxville is finally offering barre classes for adults (one of the biggest exercise trends in the country right now). The best part: Barre 3 classes are FREE for the first week! (Click here to see the schedule and register for free classes. And check them out on Facebook to sign up for their email list.) The concept is very cool: ballet barre, meets yoga and pilates. This is SO up my alley.

Via

It's is going to be amazing.

Right?

Well, at least I hope it will be amazing. (My thighs may be in for a huge reality check!)

I have been lonnnging for an exercise regimen that's fun, creative and relaxing. Sure, I've been running at least three times per week lately (yay for 2012 goals), but running only gets ya so far. Unless you're a great runner. Then it gets ya kind of far. I am not a great runner. Not to mention I hate, hate, hate the atmosphere of a typical gym. All that meatiness in one building is just too much for me.

Anyway... Did I mention the first week is FREE? Sooo excited! I'll definitely let y'all know how it goes.

Wrinkle Remedy

2012-01-17T09:20:00.001-05:00

Remember that time I suddenly noticed that my face was covered with lines, wrinkles and sunspots?

Embarrassing, right? I mean, WHO KNEW the importance of wearing anti-aging cream at a young age?! Not this girl.

Via

Since I am not (yet) brave enough to try botox (several readers and friends suggested it after I wrote about the topic), I decided to try a topical cream. After doing a little research, I purchased Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer.

I based my purchase decision on:

Ingredients
- Must have retinol! Apparently, if a moisturizer doesn't include retinol, it's just fancy face lotion. Retinol is essential for wrinkle repair. (I'm no scientist, this is just what I've read on numerous websites.)
- Must have sunscreen! Sun damage causes skin problems. It's a fact. That's why it's so, so important to lather on the sunscreen year-round. (Yes, I am guilty of tanning myself to leather in my younger years. Lesson learned.)
Price
- I am kind of ~~cheap~~ frugal when it comes to beauty products since you never know what really works. I wanted something in the $20-$30 range. Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Moisturizer sells for about $15 on Amazon. I paid $20 for mine at Target.
Brand
- Brand loyalty runs deep with me, especially when it comes to beauty products. I am always afraid to try new brands due to skin sensitivity. (Breakouts? No Thank you!) I have used Neutrogena's basic oil-free moisturizer since I was a teenager, so I felt pretty confident that I wouldn't have a crazy skin reaction with the Ageless Intensive product.
Product Reviews
- I dug deep into product reviews (in my price range) to ensure I was getting something that would garner results. The Ageless Intensive moisturizer had great reviews. It's rated 3.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Not too shabby for an inexpensive wrinkle cream!

The result: satisfied customer. I've been using the moisturizer for almost four months, and I've definitely noticed a difference in my skin.

Before:

After:

Annnd, one more:

Can you see the difference around my eyes? I've definitely noticed a difference.

Pros:

My skin feels smoother and less blotchy.
Noticeable difference, particularly in the "crow's feet" area.
Wearing SPF 20 everyday! Woo-hoo!
Price ($15-$20, depending on the retailer)

Cons:

No real difference with deep forehead lines (but the results in other areas make up for it). Honestly, I'm not sure there's any topical treatment that can make forehead lines disappear. Boo.
The product gets kind of gunky around the cap. I often have to wipe it clean with a tissue before using.

Overall, I'm a pretty happy camper.

However, my next purchase will be different...

Via

Currently listed for less than $20, Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair Daily Moisturizer promises even faster results with its accelerated retinol formula. It also ups the SPF factor to 30, instead of 20. Annnd, it was rated a 2011 "Best Buy" by the Today show.

According to Today:

"This product came out in January of this year and contains a fast-acting version of retinol, a powerful wrinkle erasing ingredient. You'll see visible results after a week."

A week??? Yes, please. You can read the full article here.

So, there ya have it, friends; what worked for me (so far), and the next step in my quest to restore my face. Fun, fun.

I must also mention that I was in no way compensated for this post. I purchased the Neutrogena product all by myself, with my very own cash-money. All of the opinions in this post are mine, all mine. In other words: The fine folks at Neutrogena do not know me or compensate me to say nice things about them. I just happen to like their products and wanted to share my experience with you.

Baby Bundle

2012-01-16T09:01:00.000-05:00

My fabulous new(ish) iPhone has made me super lazy when it comes to taking photos. It's just sooo much more convenient than the ol' camera!

The temperatures have dropped around here, so it definitely feels like winter these days. And, while I'm so very ready for spring, I can't help but love how absolutely adorable my Baby Bug looks when she's all bundled up for cold weather.

Here are a few iPhone photos of my cutie pie...

A little editing help from Instagram (one of my most favorite iPhone apps).

Hope your Monday is fabulous! We're still "weekending" around here, since Jonathan is off for the MLK holiday today!

Elena's First Year: Week 34

2012-01-13T14:41:00.000-05:00

Baby Girl is 34 weeks old!

She's such a big girl these days...

Along for the ride at Target...

Holding her own bottle with confidence...

Trying to figure out the sippy cup...

Eating bread like a big kid...

And standing up!

Still not crawling. Or walking. Just standing still for now, which is A-OK with me!

Just a few rants

2012-01-13T09:47:00.000-05:00

Friday! Friday!!! Ohhh yea!!!

Hope y'all are having a lovely day so far. I am.

There have been some things on my mind lately. Been keeping a little mental list of "stuff to blog about." None of these topics are significant enough to get their own post, though, so I've made a neat little list of stupid stuff I'm dying to get off my chest.

Here goes...

I love the Today show, but Ann Curry is driving me batshit crazy. There is absolutely no doubt she's a legit journalist. She's an excellent reporter and definitely earned her spot at the anchor desk. But her deep man voice makes me bonkers. Not to mention she tries way too hard to be funny/cute/likeable. Somewhere out there in TV land, there's a (dum, dum, dum) media consultant telling her to talk like that/act like that. Just be yourself, Ann. The real you is probably very likeable.

Via

Why are there so many toilet paper commercials on TV? Every single time one comes on I must stop what I'm doing and watch. They're ridiculous. Particularly the Charmin bears. Trying to be all sexy-like. While advertising toilet paper. Ew.
I can't stop watching Kardashian marathons. I can't say I'm a fan of these crazy women, but I cannot bring myself turn away from the train wreck (and, yea, I know that's exactly what E! wants - idiots like me tuning in because we can't not watch). Kim is ridiculous. She may actually believe the world revolves around her. Khloe is the only one with any sense. (And now I've said too much. I can't believe I watch these stupid shows. Shame on me.)

Via

Speaking of TV show train wrecks... Toddlers and Tiaras makes me feel like I'm the best mom on earth. Really. I am. The best.

So, there ya have it... All the things that make me nuts lately. What's driving you mad these days?

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

2012-01-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

The baby is napping, and I should be showering/getting ready for the day. BUT it's rainy and gross outside, so my motivation to get moving is seriously lacking. Think I'll blog instead!

It's Wednesday!!!

I am loving the movie Crazy, Stupid Love. Have y'all seen it? (You probably have. I am waaay behind.) Anyway - it's sooo good. Funny. Romantic. Sad. Sweet. Sexy (Hello, Ryan Gosling!). If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend doing so.

Via

I am loving my motivation to get things accomplished lately! (Except today, of course.) Not sure if it's the new year, or what. But I am a woman on a mission.

Via

Speaking of motivation, I am loving that I have starting exercising again. So far, just running. But it's a start. And, apparently (even after being pregnant, having a baby and basically not moving or sweating for over a year), my body isn't broken! Ready to get back to my old, fabulous self!

Via

I am loving that spring is right around the corner (I hate winter!). And by "right around the corner," I really mean forever away, but close enough to get super excited!

My pretty tulips in bloom at our Nashville townhouse. I miss my little garden!

And, of course, I am loving my sweet little baby bug.

What are you loving this week? Link up, here.