Butter: Free of the Dirty Three

Once you discover Butter, it will become a cosmetic staple - taking up permanent digs in your bathroom credenza. I bought my first bottle when I wanted to paint Freida's nails for the first time, and I've been hooked ever since. As an asthmatic I've come to appreciate when things are really "free" and "clear" (laundry detergents, air fresheners, carpet cleaning etc.), I just never thought I'd actually find a good quality nail laquer that could live up to the tagline of being "free"; painting my nails always involved holding my breathe for extended periods of time! :)

Butter London is free of the "dirty 3": Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP (plus free of all parabens)! And toxic-free nail color may not be a novelty to you; the quality of these varnishes are surely something to write home about - I'd take a bottle of this polish over a Chanel nail laquer any day!!

Great for giving even the littlest of divas manis and pedis - sans all that chemical guilt (I previously blogged about Hopscotch Kids toxin-free polish for little fingers and toes). And even more importantly, for mamas-to-be (DBP has been controversially linked to birth defects in animal testing) who should be steering clear of all hazardous chemicals for at least 9 months, and may not necessarily think of a weekly manicure as hazardous. Or may think there's no alternative... here you have it ladies!

Also, for those of you living in the Los Angeles area, a friend of mine (thanks Dini!!) recently tipped me off about a new toxin-free, baby-friendly wax and nail spa on Santa Monica blvd! Plush Beauty Bar  was created with moms in mind, featuring a children's play area, stroller parking, low-fume products and services, comfy armchairs for nursing in, bathrooms with changing tables, staff to help out on baby-watch, and fast services for those short attention spans! I never brought Freida with me to salons and spas when she was a baby, and I'm sure my girly glamour suffered as a result.  I seriously can't wait to check this place out - so glad to know about this before baby #2 arrives and steals my beauty routine! :)

The Glow

While browsing the www for some chic, new maternity threads (it's time), I happened upon a simplistic photo-themed website called The Glow. While there is nothing particularly extraordinary about this collection of images, to me there is something so intrinsically magically maternal within these shots; everyday motherhood, and the shine that comes with it.

I doubt I'm the only one who feels this way, but somehow I find that our circle of religious mothers seem to perpetually focus on the rigorous aspects of motherhood; from negative body changes, to no-sleep cycles, to loss of social life, to malnutrition due to lack of time etc. Generally speaking, there is plenty of kvetching going on. And while the complaints may all be more than validated, without focusing on the wonder as well - it simply takes away from the essential beauty that comes within the gift of mothering a child.

I know I may very well be one of those people who live in a dream world, and have a la-dee-da attitude about life, but it works for me. Finding the good and beauty and the whit and the whimsy makes me feel good. It makes me function well. And, as a bonus, it makes me happy. It may not always be the easiest thing for me to do, especially when I'm looking at a just-been-cleaned room strewn with toys, or a sensory exploration gone awry all over the subjects clothing and hair, or an early-morning wake up call after a rather sleepless night... but there is always something within all of that that can bring about a smile.

There's always some glory within the mess to wonder about. There is always a cheeky 2 year old smile, a witty and genius kid-sized response to the wrongdoing, a set of pudgy little hands reaching up for an embrace... it's all there within the day-to-day rigor of parenting in general, and mothering in particular.

I may need a grande latte to get to that vantage point, but when I'm there - everything is better. And more beautiful. And when we're looking at beauty, we radiate beauty. If we choose to look at the agony, that's what we'll look like. Our bodies may be warping, but if we choose to keep our self-image intact throughout the many changes, we will in fact be more beautiful than ever before.

I know I'm ranting. More to myself than to you all, but this little collection of glamorous photography has inspired my morning! :)

So weather you are packing up perpetual lunches for your 5 children, whipping up a gourmet breakfast for your one and only, or rubbing your first growing belly, try to find that glow! And capture it.

Well I'm off to the park for the next few hours with my baby girl and my baby bump! Wishing you all a glamorous day in the motherhood! :)

Nix the Nausea

While I'm not quite certain where the term "morning sickness" came from, I genuinely despise the b*tch who came to make us believe that pregnancy nausea is something that dwindles as the noon hour approaches. It should simply be called "sickness" as it can last all day and well into the night! Thought I'd let you ladies in on 8 little things (specifically properties of citrus and ginger) that really seemed to work-it and quell my perpetual nausea:

1. Cranberry Juice Spritzer - Natural cranberry juice + sparkling water = best sunrise to sunset tonic ever. Plus, with no cocktails in long sight, there's no denying what a bright glass of fresh pink sparkle can do for mood swings! :)

2. Tangerines - I must have consumed tress full of these natural sweets! You can always be sure to find one or two of them at the bottom of my day bag; waiting for a their after-meal moment.

3. Diet Hansen's Ginger Ale - a God-sent blessing! This all-natural soda pop features ginger brewed to such an intensity that it actually burns - in the best of ways! Ice cold, with a straw - instant relief.

4. Hubert's Lemonade - this all natural citrus infused refresher is sure to expel the queasiness - specifically the pink raspberry flavor. Plus, it's just another way to stay hydrated.

5. Yogi Ginger Tea - steep one of these glorious bags in a teacup full of hot water, add some honey, and melt away as this intense remedy helps ease your stomach back to pre-pregnancy normalcy.

6. Ice - can't say enough about it's magical prowess. Suck on some to ease an unsettled meal, and add lots of it to everything you drink - the ice-cold factor seems to dispel all feelings of uneasiness.

7. S.Pellegrino Limonata - while this little can of lemony goodness is way too chock-full of sugar to consume on a normal basis, the sheer tartness of this fizzy citrus concoction is extremely helpful in a dire moment on-the-go: you can find this little number in most coffee shops across the country!

8. Grapefruit - nothing helped me more than tearing open and sectioning a mid-morning, perfectly pink citrus fruit!

Hope this little list helps even one of mamas-to-be out there!! Best of luck getting through your next meal! :)

Pickles + Ice Cream

It is with huge excitement that I announce to my very dear cyber-world circle of fellow mamas that Manasseh and I are, God willing, expecting our second child! I'm a little over five months along, and it has been almost impossible to keep this quiet - especially at the beginning when I was feeling exhausted and nauseous and having a hard time keeping up (that also had a lot to do with why I had such a hard time when my husband was MIA this summer). Anyways, being this far in, I seem to be over the difficult start-up and immensely enjoying the great satisfaction that comes along with growing a human being - I'm completely over the moon! While my little kick-boxer is now only about the size of a cantaloupe, the jabs and upper-cuts keep me awake at night smiling myself silly. Plus, there is just nothing as special as waking up to a toddler kissing your growing belly and sharing loving wishes to their growing baby sibling...! We just can't wait to welcome our newest little family member into our home with heaps of hugs, kisses, and baby massages! :)

Thanks for putting up with my insane lack of posts this summer, and sticking with me through it! Since I'm obsessively experiencing serious baby-fever, you can all look forward to plenty of pregnancy posts and newborn baby goodies! Can't wait to share the love! xx

P.S. I have honestly been consuming pints of creamy vanilla ice cream and fresh, crunchy Clausen kosher dills. And that's just the start of foodie weirdness going on in this house....!