Brunch at Benny's (Baby Shower)

Last weekend I threw my baby shower and it was fun and tiring to say the least lol. My theme was inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's-with a beau twist. 

I found a free template of these Wishes for Baby Cards online.

Walmart luckily had a bevy of mustache accented decorations.

Shrimp Pasta Salad with Cucumber and Dill

Arugula Salad with Strawberries 

Chicken and Marinated Cucumber Sandwich

All the food was Martha Stewart inspired.

Desserts catered by Delicious Desserts by Dalissa

5 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Dark Circles for Sleepless Mommies

The remedy for getting rid of dark circles under your eyes is always get more beauty sleep. However, I haven't been able to do so since the pressure from my LO on my bladder makes me have to use the bathroom at least every 30 minutes. At one point, I thought, " I can't wait until I deliver so I can sleep and get rid of these circles". Then reality struck--and I realized, I will be resting a lot less once he makes his arrival! So, needless to say, I went on a hunt for the best ways to treat this less than flattering issue. Here are 5 natural ways to keep a fresh face even when you're running on a few hours of rest.

1. Use cucumber slices.  Cucumber slices have long been used to reduce puffiness and refresh the appearance of skin around the eyes, providing a fast pick-me-up for tired and puffy eyes. While your LO is in slumber, place a slice over each eye, extending over the darkened area. Do this daily for 10-15 minutes.

2. Use a potato.  Liquidize a whole uncooked potato in a liquidizer. Scoop out and place the pureed potato on your eyes. Lying on your back, keep it there for 30 minutes. Wash with warm water and voila! Some spas in the good ol' US of A, charge $60 for this method!

3. Use a frozen spoon.  Put a spoon in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Take it out and place it over your dark circles and keep it there until it becomes warm again.

4. Apply cool tea bags to your eyes daily.  Lie down, preferably in the morning, and leave the cool and damp caffeinated tea bags over your eyes for 10-15 minutes. Keep your eyes closed. The tannin in tea bags reduces swelling and discoloration. You can refrigerate them overnight so they will be ready in the morning.

5. Eat well.  Eat a healthy, balanced diet, drink lots of water and take vitamins daily. Pack your meals full of healthy fruits and vegetables, like blueberries, green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains and fish etc. that are loaded with essential minerals and enzymes. Also, cut out salty, carbo-loaded food and processed foods as much as possible.

Coconut Oil's Beauty Benefits

Though I'm on a maternity wear hiatus, I have been exploring new beauty regimens to see what will work for me after the arrival of my LO. Besides my weekly facial masks, scrubs and nail care routine, Coconut oil is my new go-to beauty product. I know, I know, I'm the last person to discover this amazing product. I started using it as a basic skin lotion and of course became curious of its other uses. There are plenty, but here are the 10 ways I have been using this super ingredient. 

1. As an eye makeup remover. I have used many other marketed products to remove my eye makeup but they either burned or left my eyes feeling dry-not to mention I always had to tug away at the sensitive skin around my eyes to truly remove my makeup. Coconut oil is the total opposite. Everything came off smoothly and left my skin dewy and nourished. Unlike olive oil, it didn't leave my skin feeling greasy-my skin absorbed the coconut oil giving it a healthy feeling.

2. It also works as a great stretch mark cream which I undoubtedly found intriguing in my pregnant state. Massage into the skin to help prevent and diminish stretch marks. It's best absorbed while the skin is slightly wet-so slather it on after you get out the shower. I leave my jar in the bathroom so the heat from my shower helps soften and melts the oil.

3. Rubbed on lips as a natural chap stick. It leaves my lips kissably soft.

4. As an intensive nigh-time facial facial moisturizer. It also lightens age spots.

5. Coconut oil works well as a massage oil. 

6. Ditch the high-dollar face cream and use coconut oil as a daily moisturizer. My skin has never felt better.

7. Massage the oil into your scalp to treat dry, damaged hair. Rub into hair, put a shower cap on and leave for several hours. It also helps to de-frizz split ends.

8. Use it to soften hands and feet. I apply a generous amount, rubbing it into my cuticles and throw on some socks for an intensive over night treatment. 

9. As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion. 

10. When mixed with equal parts of sugar, coconut oil makes a great smoothing body scrub. 

There are other ways I will find coconut oil beneficial after the arrival of my LO. Coconut oil treats cradle cap, can be used as a natural lotion for baby, a great substitute for Lanolin nipple cream and much more. 

Pregnancy Update: 35 Weeks

Hey guys I know it's been a minute since my last post but as you know, being preggo means being sleepy, achy, lazy which sometimes leads to pj day.  Lately, I've been wearing Juicy Couture velour pants in every color possible. I can't help it, they're comfortable and keeping  me warm in this cooling Fall weather.  I'm 35 weeks into my pregnancy and I can't control my emotions every time I think "I'm one day closer to meeting my little guy". I love feeling his rapid movements, his "shimmies" from side to side and his hiccups! My cravings have been rampant, and have me feeling like the chubby kid on the block for sure lol. I've been drinking a large amount of my home-made fruit smoothies- which my LO loves. As well as some not-so-healthy fast foods I dare not mention.

It's the week of my baby shower, so I've also been busy planning my menu as well as attacking many DIY projects to create my party favors. I'm going to share those photos on a separate post--but I did want to share this DIY baby wipes case I made today. The step-by-step tutorial can be found here.

Mint To Be

Forgive me for my tensed faces, my little one was doing cart wheels in my tum tum.

Francesca's Mint Tribal Shift Dress

Michael Kors Women's Rose-Gold Tone Watch, 43mm

Loft Marbled Square Sunglasses

Forever 21 Skinny Belt

Steve Madden Beyyond Spiked Thong Sandal

Drew Barrymore's Makeup Tips for New Moms

Pic courtesy of Flowerbeauty.com

Drew Barrymore has come a long way since playing the adorable Gertie in E.T.-Extra Terrestrial, over 30 years ago. Now, an admired businesswoman and a mom to 11 month old daughter, Olive, she is inspiring mothers all over the world with her beauty line FLOWER. Growing up in a makeup chair, she had not only began to grow a passion for the art but also learned many techniques which she shares on her weekly Tip Tuesday Tutorials. These tips are empowering to any woman but she makes sure she caters to new moms as well. Barrymore wants to give women a quality product, with the finest ingredients at an affordable price. Flower is available at Walmart and Walmart.com. Below, Drew shares a 2 minute makeup routine that will make any sleep-deprived mother not only feel empowered but beautiful.






TheBump.com has even more of Barrymore's makeup tips, her favorite thing about being a new mom as well as the beauty items she cannot live without. Here's a snippet:

The Bump: What is your favorite thing about being a new mom?

Drew Barrymore: Being a mom makes me think so much about my reactions to things. With kids, your reactions to everything are so utterly important and its made me rethink other parts of my life as well. In a nutshell, how you handle everything comes into the sharpest focus of your life when you become a parent.

The Bump: Any tricks or shortcuts for new moms who have less time to get ready-- if they could apply 2 or 3 things tops, what would you recommend?

Drew Barrymore: I do these short videos called "Tip Tuesdays" on Flowerbeauty.com and I talk about my "Two Minute" makeup routine. It's amazing what you can get done in two minutes!

The Bump: What's in your makeup bag?

Drew Barrymore: Our new FLOWER Glisten Up! Highlighter Chubby that is coming out in January. I put it on my cheekbone, brow bone, a tiny bit down the slope of my nose and a dab on the bow  of my lips. It has literally changed the way I do makeup. I love it and I can't wait for people to try the new product.

The Bump: What's the one beauty item you cannot live without?

Drew Barrymore: Concealer. I never leave home without it. I lobe our Skincognito Stick Foundation, or for something lighter, our Lighten Up! Illuminating Concealer click pen. They're my go to!

Visit TheBump for the full interview.

Tie It Together

Top: Arden B

Skirt: Black Tie Oleg Cassini

Clutch: Aldo

Jewlery: Vintage 

Shoes: Yosi Samra 

Bowtie: Handmade by me

Eva Marcille Pigford Maternity Wear Watch

Images by Try CW/WENN

Merely a week after announcing their pregnancy, Eva and Kevin were able to share their blessing and a few cliched hands on belly pictures with the world, when they arrived at The Reed For Hope Foundation's 11th Annual "Sunshine Beyond" Summer Celebration in Westlake Village this past weekend.  The couple glowed as they posed on the red carpet for the casual affair. Kevin kept it casual in a graphic tank top and cargo pants, while Eva fashionably mastered maternity wear in a care free white dress, nude-colored sun hat and a bevy of gold and white accessories. 

The model admitted to People magazine that her pregnancy is "more than just a dream":

"It's bulls––––," Marcille said while lovingly rubbing her belly. "There is no glow! Your skin changes. It gets horrible. … My hair is already oily, so I don't need it to get any oilier, but it is. And I don't need it to grow faster. I like my hair short." 

Luckily, she has a strong supporter in boyfriend and songwriter Kevin McCall who was quoted saying:

"Just being everything that I can be, and just making sure that I'm there at her beck and call whenever she needs me," he says. "If she needs popsicles in the middle of the night, then I'm going to 7-Eleven."