BAM | + | BOO KIDS CLOTHING & MORE

Bam | + | Boo

     What is Bam | + | Boo? A Eczema and sensitive skin clothing line based in New Zealand. They use bamboo viscose and organic cotton to make breathable and hypo-allergenic clothes and more that wick away sweat. By using these materials, this means less irritation for those eczema flare-ups. Their line ranges from bed & bath time comforts, to clothes and skin care products.

     We recently became brand representatives for Bam | + | Boo and we love their clothes! My husband and I love the material so much that we want clothes for ourselves. We have never felt such a soft and cozy material before. There is a little rumor that they will be making bottoms for ladies! I will keep you all posted on a cute pair of lounge pants to wear out and about or around the house. 

     We put Riley in this black dress and paired it with their shorts on one of the hottest days to test their 'wick away sweat' promise and what they said is true! Riley stayed cool and comfortable in this black get up at the park on our sunniest day yet in New York and played like a champ. 

     Follow them on Instagram and check out their line for yourself! I would love to hear your response their products, so please message me and share your thoughts once your new goodies arrive. 

OFFICIALLY PASSED MY DUE DATE

*Follow me on Instagram*

     Okay friends, I am past my due date and I bawled my eyes out for a good 20 minutes yesterday. I feel so emotional and on the verge of crying at any moment. I assumed that my second would come early especially with how active I have been, but I am utterly and completely wrong. This has been really hard for me and God is teaching me patience like no other. Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take". I have definitely found myself praying and seeking the Lord more in this season of waiting. 

     I think the hardest part for me has been the transition of moving and getting established at our new duty station. With all that has been going on, I kind of marked the coming of our son as a fresh start to a new chapter in our lives. I don't know exactly what it is that God wants me to see, but I am starting to keep my eyes open so I can gain new understanding and wisdom from this experience.

     These will be the last pictures I take with my baby bump. I am scheduled to be induced this week and will keep you all posted with pictures as soon as our little baby boy makes his appearance in this world as a disciple for the Lord.

BLACK KITTY DRESS: SHOP KAILEE'S KLOSET

     We love sunny days in New York and we especially love our 'black kitten' dress from Kailee's Kloset! This kitty dress is the perfect piece in our little one's wardrobe and we received lots of compliments on this dress from many by-passers.

     The great thing about this dress is the halter top, which gives you the ability to style it however you want. You can tie it around your little ones neck or button the straps to the back of the attached skirt. It is a little cooler here in New York, so we paired our kitty dress with a shirt and cardigan to keep us warm.

     We feel honored and so thankful to be brand enthusiasts for Kailee Elise's Kloset and can't wait to show you all more of their cute outfits this summer. Keep a look out and follow them on Instagram.

CHEWY GOOEY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Chewy Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups minus 2 tbsp. CAKE FLOUR

1 2/3 cups BREAD FLOUR

1 ¼ tsp. BAKING SODA

1 ½ tsp. BAKING POWDER

1 ½ tsp. SALT

1/8 tsp. CINNAMON (optional)

2 ½ sticks UNSALTED BUTTER

1 ¼ cups LIGHT BROWN SUGAR

1 cup plus 2 tbsp. GRANULATED SUGAR

2 LARGE EGGS

2 tsp. VANILLA EXTRACT

1 ¼ pounds BITTER SWEET CHOCOLATE CHIPS or DARK CHOCALTE CHIPS (20 oz.)

SEA SALT

Directions:

1.) Combine FLOURS, SALT, BAKING SODA, CINNAMON, & BAKING POWDER in bowl (set aside)

2.) Use mixer w/paddle & cream BUTTER & SUGARS until very light & fluffy (3-5 minutes).

• Add EGGS one at a time, mix well
• Add VANILLA EXTRACT
• Put on low & add dry ingredients
• Add CHOCOLATE CHIPS & mix briefly

3.) Let cookie dough batter sit in fridge for 24-36 hours before baking (I have baked right after mixing the dough & find the cookies to be of desirable taste).

4.) Use a STANDARD ICE CREAM SCOOPER to scoop cookies on to baking tray.

5.) Sprinkle SEA SALT on to each cookie before placing in oven

Bake @ 350 for 12-13 minutes

*Let cookies sit on pan outside oven for 5 minutes to finish cooking, and then transfer to a plate or cooling rack.

BENEFITS OF COCONUT OIL

     

     Coconut oil has many benefits that include health care, hair care, skin care, weight loss, memory benefits, metabolism benefits, boosts your immune system, and much more. Lauric acid is in coconut oil and is said to contain antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and soothing qualities. 

Health care:

     Coconut oil prevents high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels because of the amount of lauric acid it contains. It is also used to prevent memory loss

*Consumption

• I apply to my toast instead of using butter and sprinkle cinnamon on top of the coconut oil. 

Hair care: 

     Coconut oil can be used to repair damaged hair by depositing proteins required for nourishing and healing strands. It is also used as a conditioner to keep hair from drying out and locks in moisture. By massaging coconut oil in to your scalp, you can also prevent lice from burrowing in your strands due to its antibacterial/ anti-fungal properties.

*Topical application

• I apply a small amount to my ends.

Skin care:

     Coconut oil can be used as a moisturizer for your skin and will keep bacteria and fungus away. You can use it to kill bacteria on your skin like herpes, diaper rashes, and athlete's foot by rubbing infected area. You can also apply it to eczema and other skin infections.

*Topical application

• I use it as my lotion.

Weight loss:

     Coconut oil increases the body’s metabolic rate by removing stress on the pancreas, so your body can burn more energy. A lot of people use coconut oil to cook with instead of vegetable oil.
*Consumption

• I add a tablespoon to my coffee.

Immune system:     
     Coconut oil boosts your immune system by keeping dangerous bacteria like listeria from growing in your body. It's anti-fungal and antibacterial properties keep your body healthier and therefore boosts your immune system.
*Consumption

• I blend coconut oil with peanut butter and apply to my toast and bananas. 

BARELY THERE, BEAUTIFUL YOU; MY DAILY FOUNDATION ROUTINE

My Daily Foundation Routine

bareMinerals:

• Precision Face Brush: medium to full coverage of bare minerals READY foundation.
• READY Foundation SPF 20: keeps my skin smooth and feels like I am wearing nothing on my face.
• bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation SPF 20: ultra thin tone-correcting coverage. Gives the skin a bright glow and adds a polished touch

Application:

• Apply aloe to skin as my primer & wait to dry
• Apply bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation with hands
• Lightly brush on READY Foundation with Precision face brush

     

     I like having a natural look, but making sure my skin looks polished is a nice touch, so I add my bareMinerals to give me the glow I desire without creating a caked on appearance. Most days I only brush on my READY Foundation and skip my bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation application, because it does such a great job covering up any imperfections on my face. I have old acne scars that I am trying to get rid of and some freckles that I like to show, so I try to avoid wearing too heavy of a foundation. 

COZY ACTIVEWEAR LOOK

     Let's be real; New York is freezing! My face was practically numb from the cool breeze whipping around the corner and my legs were tingly from being so cold. I am very much looking forward to spring actually arriving. My mother in law and her friends came up with a name to label this time in between Winter and Spring. They call it 'Sprinter' except I don't feel like Spring is sprinting to get here. 

     Staying in shape towards the end of my pregnancy is proving to be difficult with my 1 year old since it is so cold outside! I now know why and how mommies with children while pregnant, tend to keep some extra pounds on in this weather. I need to figure out a way to keep the pounds off. Advice is much appreciated. 

What I wore:

• Top (Motherhood Maternity)
• Sweater (Loft)
• Vest (Gap outlet)
• Bottoms (Motherhood Maternity)
• Shoes (Footlocker)
• Bag (Kate Spade)
• Scarf (handmade)

PASTELS & BOOTIES

     With four weeks left until Matthew arrives, we are trying to take as many family photos as possible to document our family of three. It has been quite a ride with our sassy little 1 year old and I wonder what the dynamics will be like with another child in the mix. I can honestly say that I am scared to become a mommy of two. Riley is very demanding and requires all of my attention, which has me wondering how I am going to survive. I pray she will be a good big sister and show her little brother love and affection. 

     I have reached the point in my pregnancy where I want Matthew to be out of my body and in to my arms. It is extremely difficult for me to constantly hold Riley with my big belly, but she is always craving my attention. I feel like I can't keep up with her ever demanding ways and quick movements. I feel like having Matthew here will make it easier for me to hold her and chase after her. 

     It is crazy to think that Spring is here and all I want to do is stay bundled up in my oversized sweaters, but I must embrace the season and pastel colors. I am however going to hang on to my booties until my toes can handle popping out in the cool weather. 

What I wore:

• Top
• Sweater
• Bottoms
• Shoes (similar)
• Bag (similar)

STAYING WARM IN NEW YORK; 36 WEEKS PREGNANT

     Today is a day to celebrate because baby Matthew is 36 weeks and that means he can survive outside of the womb if anything crazy were to happen. I am getting more and more excited to have Matthew here with us to share in all of our family fun. It has been a little hectic around here with all of the changes due to our move from Hawaii to New York. We finally secured a house and will be moving in to it in the next few weeks. There is still a chance we could be without our stuff before Matthew arrives, but we are hoping our shipment will arrive in time.

     

     Today is also my first appointment with my new OB and I am beyond nervous, because I have to have a little inspection in my lower female region. I am a very open person, but I am not excited to have a new OB look down there. It is extremely uncomfortable for me!

     In the above pictures, my husband and I had some fun checking out the area for some new spots to take my photos for the blog. It was extremely windy, but a lot of fun getting a more rustic background with all of the brick and muted colors. 

What I wore:

• Top
• Sweater (similar) or this option; Sweater
• Bottoms
• Shoes (similar; same brand)
• Bag

EASTER OUTFITS I LOVE

                                  

Outfit 1                          Outfit 2                         Outfit 3

Outfit 1:

• Sweater
• Top
• Skirt
• Shoes

Outfit 2:

• Blazer
• Top
• Skirt
• Shoes

Outfit 3:

• Sweater
• Top
• Skirt
• Shoes

     I am very much looking forward to being able to wear non maternity clothes again! I like wearing bottoms that sit around my waist and shirts that cinch in at the waist and then continue to flare out a little. I feel like I have been pregnant much too long and want nothing more than to go on a shopping spree at Jcrew. All of the above outfits can be found at Jcrew factory online and in stores. Happy shopping!