This post was not sponsored (all items were gifted by family or friends) but does include affiliate links to Etsy, a brand that I believe in, work for, and love. To read our full disclosure policy, please click here. It's hard to believe that just three short months ago, we were bringing our little Aveline home for the very first time. So much has happened over the past twelve weeks and looking back, it all feels a bit surreal. Living in Brooklyn, pre-baby and pre-pandemic, Tim and I opted not to have a baby shower. We were one of the last of our friends to have a child and graciously received a number of beautiful hand-me-downs and loaners. When we glanced over the typical baby gift registry we felt we were pretty well prepared and ...
Our Birth Story
In the last few weeks of my pregnancy I started experiencing intense itchiness in the palms of my hands. Naturally, I Googled ‘itchy hands during pregnancy’ but the results all seemed to point to a rather rare and serious liver condition known as Cholestasis. Since I didn’t have all of the symptoms associated with this condition and the itchiness seemed to come and go, I figured it must be attributed to something else and didn’t think much more of it. I was going to my doctor on a weekly basis by this point, and it wasn’t until the third week in a row of this happening (week 39) that I finally mentioned it to my OB. She immediately called out Cholestasis as a possible culprit and ordered my blood be drawn that day. Cholestasis ...
Whole30 BLT’s
Some of my favorite Whole30 meals are the simplest to make, and Whole30 BLT's are about as simple as it gets. Literally, in the time it takes to cook the bacon, these bad boys are done and with a newborn around, I'll take it! I love making these with Applegate Organics No Sugar Bacon but if you don't eat pork or just want a tasty alternative, their Uncured Turkey Bacon works great too. Both are made with high-quality, humanely raised protein and don't have any added sugars, hormones, grains or dairy that you might find in other brands. Even if you're not on Whole30, but just looking for a 'cleaner' bacon option, Applegate has you covered! Whole30 BLTs 4 pieces Applegate Organic No Sugar Bacon1 tbsp Whole30 ...
Our Brooklyn Apartment
As I mentioned in this post, self-care comes in many different forms. It may be a spa day or a run through the park, or it could be maintaining an organized and clean living space. The latter of which is definitely true for Tim and me. Having lived in New York for over 10 years now (crazy, I know), we've become accustomed to small(er) dwellings. We have learned the value of less is more and know the importance of staying decluttered. It makes such a big difference coming home to and living in an organized space, especially given that our one bedroom apartment is only 750 sq ft. We've lived in 4 different apartments throughout our time here, with our current place feeling the most like 'home'. When we first moved in together our ...
Pregnancy Diet
26 week bumpDisclaimer: While this worked for me, I'm not a certified nutritionist, so would always encourage you to talk to your doctor or seek a professional opinion if you're looking for more in-depth advice. Over the past few years, I’ve become much more conscious about eating real, whole foods; so when I began my research on preparing for pregnancy and a well-balanced, healthy diet kept popping up, I already felt somewhat prepared. I still listened to podcasts and read more on what exact nutrients I needed to ensure I was incorporating them into my day to day regimen, because diet is SO critical to fetal development. I focused on including good fats, lean proteins, and carbohydrates low on the glycemic index, along with foods ...
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats
Every year since Summit was a pup, we make homemade dog treats at the Holidays to give to his park friends. Just a little something to say ‘thank you’ for all the chasing, wrestling, and frisbee sharing over the past year. Since I know some dogs experience food allergies, I always try to make these treats as simple as possible, using ingredients that aren’t generally common in triggering sensitivities. For this recipe, I also incorporated oats into the mix, to add a layer of additional fiber and promote that good gut health. While I haven’t decided on the final recipe to give out this year, I have been busy experimenting and Summit’s been hard at work taste testing. You can whip these up in less ...
