White Ink

Love white ink tattoos! 

I Love Shoes! Part 2

Tempted to get these instead:

Or these?:

(Both are from Anthropologie of course)

I Love Shoes!

I'm sure I've already mentioned this somewhere on this Blog: I love shoes! I recently gave away a huge chunk of my wardrobe but still managed to hold onto most of my favourite shoes. The only problem is, of all my pairs, it seems like I don't have proper footwear! I have lots of high heels from my office days, a couple of impractical sandals, an old pair of Keds, nothing super warm or super comfortable. I'm actually considering getting a pair of these:

Not sure if I can justify the price tag though... 

Nap Time?

I mentioned in this post that I'm still recovering from the first few months of Baby's life. One of the main reasons why my body & mind is having trouble to heal is that I'm incapable of napping, like ever. For example, last night I got a total of 2 hours of sleep and Baby and M have been sound asleep for 2 hours. Me? Nap? I tried. I brushed my teeth, closed my eyes, I visualized, and thought of nothing then thought of everything. Why can't I take a nap?! I feel like crap, my head is killing me, I don't want to do anything else but sleep right now... But I can't. It's too late to try again anyways, Baby will be up soon.

Love This Dress

Love this dress from (of course) Anthropologie!

Dos and Don'ts of Dodos

Forget sleep all together for the first 4 months of Baby's life. Dodos have no pattern, usually last between 15 minutes to 2 hours and never leave mommy enough time to fall asleep after rocking, pumping, eating, interruptions, appointments, showering, cleaning, worrying, making phone calls, crying, filling out paper work etc. I was so sleep deprived that now, a year and a half later, I'm honestly still recovering physically and mentally from that time.

After 4 months, dodos started getting a little bit more regular but Baby still woke up every 2 hours during the night to drink milk up until 16 months, when I decided to stop breast feeding. No breast to sleep meant that I had to put Baby in carrier and bounce on the exercise ball to fall asleep. At some point, this got very tiring so I decided to put Baby in the bed instead, and let him fall asleep on me. A few months ago, experts told me I needed to stop this horrific pattern of co-sleeping so I went back to bouncing on the ball with the baby carrier, but this time transferring him to the crib once asleep. Last week (other) experts told me that I was damaging Baby's "elastic hips" (non medical term) with the baby carrier so now we're back to falling asleep on mommy in the bed. I have to eventually get Baby to fall asleep on his own in his own crib but this seems like an impossible task...

The business of dodos is all so exhausting,

Don't Make Your Bed!

I might have a small cleaning obsession. All the cleaning products, bleach, irritants, artificial lemony smells, disinfectant wipes, you name it, I use it (except for that powdered Comet stuff mom used in the 80s). I can't stand dirty dishes in the sink, smudges on mirrors, dust on any type of surface. The bathroom gets cleaned twice a week, the vacuum needs to be passed just as often. The one thing I never do, the only thing I don't care about is making the bed (but I do care that the sheets are clean of course). Turns out that an unmade bed is actually cleaner than a pristine one! When we sleep, we move around, sweat and leave our skin cells all over the place, inadvertently creating a perfect breading ground for (1.5 million!) dust mites! In the morning, airing out the sheets and exposing them to daylight lets the moisture evaporate and the dust mites end up dehydrating and dying. Making the bed traps in the mites in along with a feast of your skin scales. Ewwwww 

Gossip! part 2

My bad... It's now rumoured that Jake Gyllenhaal (34) is dating Dakota Johnson (25)! 

Fingers crossed this rumour is true...

Comfy Pants Please!

After giving away ALL of my comfy warm sweat pants, I'm in the market for some asap! Lulu Lemon's Jet Crop pants seem really versatile:

So do Anthropologie's Lucie Loungers:

Love them both!

Gossip!

Katie Holmes (36) and Jamie Foxx (47) have been secretly dating for about 2 years! Isn't it time they (Jamie) make it official and stop sneaking around?

After dating (short stocky) Benji Madden (36) for only 7 months, and marrying after a 2 week engagement, Cameron Diaz (43) is rumoured to be pregnant with twins!

Jake Gyllenhaal (34) and Charlize Theron (40) are dating! Being previously linked to Reese Witherspoon (39) and Taylor Swift (25), Jake's MO seems to be blonde beauties. For Charlize, this is definitely an upgrade after her recent split with (old) Sean Penn (55). Lets hope that this relationship is going to last!

Johnny Depp (52) last week at the Venice Film Festival:

 

What happened to this sexy man?:

How did this sexy woman, Amber Heard (29), agree to marry him?

Scary Mommy

A friend posted this article on FB with something like must read, I cried. I didn't cry after reading, I got angry. The author writes that she feels bad for intimidating her toddler, making him cry, abusing him. We're supposed to sympathies with this mom because she acknowledges her mistakes, loves her child and promises for a better tomorrow... ??? Isn't this how men who abuse their spouses think? I'm sorry honey for hitting you when you broke the wine glass while you were doing the dishes. I just lost my nerve! I realize you were just trying to help and I love you. 

Those moms who relate to this article, or find comfort in it, need to learn some patience, be grateful for their healthy vibrant child, and start reading about attachment parenting.

I Don't Have Time To Poop

As a stay at home mom (yes! I never returned back to work after my maternity leave) I've been asked: So what do you do all day? or I've been told: Staying home must feel like you're on vacation! Offensive right?!? My days are FILLED, jammed packed, I hardly have a moment of peace to myself: cooking, cleaning, stimulating, diaper changes, singing, activities, feedings, comforting, dodos. My son is on a special diet (organic, vegetarian, egg free), can't feed himself yet, and is still on purees which I prepare daily from scratch. I'm constantly making sure proteins are completed, snacks are given, and that he drinks his 5 bottles of special warm milk for my special guy. I have to coordinate his weekly appointments (up to 3 a week) on top of his bi-yearly checkups (4 specialists + paediatrician + blood tests). Days start at 6:00am on the dot and only end after Baby is asleep at 8:00pm... and a good nights sleep is never guaranteed!

Life is going to be getting a little bit more hectic now since I will most likely be starting a part-time job in the fall. Training is a 5 week full time commitment (thank God for grandparents) and I'm dreading the thought of being away from Baby for an entire day, 5 days a week for toooooo long! I think it's going to be hard on everyone, meltdowns will be had by all!

Yummmmm

I'm not a big fan of pies either, except this one! Love that there's no yucky lemon zest in this recipe.

Bones

mister ten below


the difference between us


the healing fields

Hot and Not at the VMAs

HOT

NOT

Lady Crushes

Alexis Bledel  

Lena Dunham  

Ruby Rose

Gillian Jacobs

Want Want Want!

I really want this beautiful silk chiffon kimono from Anthropologie!

Parents jusqu'au bout

I see Melanie from time to time at Baby's rehab centre, swimming with her daughter Leonie whose stiff body looks almost peaceful in the water. Melanie and I have never spoken but I know her story intimately. Leonie is handicapped, a 3 year old currently functioning like a 3 month old, she will never walk, never speak, never eat orally, and will always be dependent on her family. It's this dependence that prompted Melanie, along with 2 other moms of severely handicapped children, to start an organization called Parent jusqu'au bout. Their aim is to get the government to recognize that they are the best caregivers for their children and to get some recognition (in the form of financial assistance) for it! Being forced to quit their jobs to meet the demands of their children (sleepless nights, countless days in hospital, medications, specialist, therapies, doctors), adapting a house and car to be wheelchair friendly, paying for ambulance rides, medications, hospital parking... it all takes a huge financial toll on a family. What other options do these moms have? Institutionalize their child which would cost the government $100 000+/year? What about single moms? What about the best interest of the child? Doesn't make any sense...

What can you do?
You can support Melanie by buying one of her super cute organic cotton bandanas online from La Meraki.

Get your friends, family and coworkers to sign this petition and mail it before Sept 10 to

Actions familles
Att. Pétition Parents jusqu'au bout
164 b St-Joseph
Sainte-Martine, Qc
J0S1V0

I'm Back!!

After taking a long break from Blogging, I'm back!! So much has happened: I went to Hawaii then moved in with M, laboured, delivered, and life changed in so many ways. It's daunting to even think about describing the day Baby was born, a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, the emotions, the pain, the anxiety, a most incredible love. After almost 2 years, I'm still fragile and not ready... But I think if I start light, start writing again, it'll come out slowly.

In the spirit of starting light, let's talk beauty! Though I've changed a lot after becoming a mom, I'm still pretty fancy when it comes to skin care. My current beauty regimen, inspired by the 10 step Korean skin care routine, goes something like this:

Step 1: Cleanse
I'm not really picky when it comes to washing my face, just as long as the product I'm using is not soap. I'm currently alternating between Yves Rocher's Serum Vegetal (with anti-wrinkle action from the Ice Plant!) and Kiel's* Ultra Facial Cleanser.

Step 2: Toner
Essential step for restoring skin's PH balance after washing with water. I use Physiodermie's Stabilizing Lotion. Alcohol free, soothing, and skin is ready to absorb!

Step 3: Essence 
This is where things get exciting! Considered the most important step in Korean beauty, the essence applies a like a serum but feels as light as a toner. Thanks to its Betula-Alba juice, Forever Bright Birch from HolikaHolika makes my skin smooth and clear like promised.

Step 4: Antioxidant Protection
Skin Medica's Vitamin C+E Complex isn't part of the Korean regimen but something I've recently discovered. A bit pricey but it's supposed to fight free radicals, promote cell renewal and increase collagen!

Step 5: Moisturizer
Prime Youth Snail Emulsion is another HolikaHolika Korean product that I love!! It contains ginseng, Canadian Willowherb and 45% snail slime (what snails produce to selfheal and is supposed to help with dullness, scars, and wrinkles). It's light, hydrating and no, it's not slimy.

Step 6: Eye Cream
I use Creme Prodigieuse by Nuxe. With Blue Everlasting Flower Extract is supposed to have anti-aging and anti-puffiness properties... It smells great too!

Step 7: Night Cream
Cremorlab's Smooth Pudding is the best night cream I have ever tried! It's full of vitamins and special Korean ingredients to help fight the signs of aging and the puddingy texture does not disappoint!

With my daily spritz of Caudalie's Beauty Elixir, and the occasional exfoliation, I'm pretty darn close to 10 steps!! It seems like a lot of work but it's mostly a lot of money... It's worth it though! My skin is bright and dewy and yes, I am that superficial. 

*Not buying any new Kiel's products after finding out that they test on animals.