Tag Archives: new mum

The Products That Saved Mummy

31 Dec

a.k.a. When Mummy Took To The Bottle

For a person who has frequently scrambled her Tuesdays and Thursdays this year, even I am aware it is the last few minutes of 2015. So why am I not doing the usual end-of-year review? Because that would be predictable. Because I now dwell on Planet Baby and tomorrow will be the same as two days ago, give or take a few milestones. Because I want to talk to you guys about something other than parenthood, given that I live, breathe and unsleep it every moment of every day. (And also because we’ll be doing that in future posts.) Because I’m excited to share with you the products that made me look human through this first year in bebe wilderness.

At the very beginning of 2015, my skin was a minefield of postpartum hormones with at least one zit the size of Jupiter at any given time, and it took several weeks for everything to calm down. I have combination skin that now veers toward some dryness in the California winters, tends to freckle and burn easily, and will still throw up a zit or few to announce that my period is on its merry way. Brightening, reduction of sun spots, degunking, and deep hydration without greasiness were all primary needs. And, with lots of research, trial, and consistent use of these magic bottles and the odd kitchen aid, I’m very happy to report that at the end of 12 months, my skin looks better than it has for a long while. *GIANT JINX BLOCKER*

Beauty

See my glow? My fabulous cheekbones? My blue eyes and blond hair? What, you don’t believe that’s me?! Man, you guys are so sharp.

 

My hair is typically low maintenance, but when washing it once a week becomes the highlight of my social calendar, you can understand it gets grumpy, greasy and flaky every so often. Okay, more often than not. Which is when three basic products came to my rescue and ensured I didn’t have to don a hijab to avoid recognition.

So, with all disclaimers about not being a dermatologist/trichologist/product expert and knowing one’s allergies, skin/hair type, and lifestyle choices in place, here are the products that were lifesavers, time-savers and face-savers this year.

SKIN:

Cleanser: Shea Terra Organics’ Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Wash

rosehipsblacksoap

Serum: PCA Skin C-Quench Antioxidant Serum

pca

Moisturizer: Boscia Sake Balm

boscia

Night cream: Korres Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial, Wild Rose

korres

Odd kitchen aid mentioned above: Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey Active 16+ (I just spread a thin layer on freshly cleaned skin and washed off after 20 minutes. I probably did this thrice in the whole year, so not sure it counts!)

honey

 

Sunscreen: Coola Mineral Sunscreen Matte Tint (this doubled as a BB cream/any semblance of everyday makeup)

coola

HAIR:

Shampoo: Aveda Scalp Benefits Balancing ShampooAveda_Scalp_Benefits_balancing_shampoo_1000ml

Conditioner: Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle Spray 

beautyprotector_protect_detangle_new_900x900

Dry shampoo (a new mother’s knight in shining armor, superhero, messiah!): Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, Tinted for Brown to Dark Brown Hair

klorane

 

And with that, my sweets, I will love you and leave you to go hug a sniffly, snotty Boy and together stand at the foot of our baby’s crib and welcome in another splendid year in this, our life as a little family.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! *toot toot!*

Tags: , , , , ,

For Unto Us A Child Is Born

25 Dec

…Unto us a Son is given

~Isaiah 9:6-7

…

Nope, not referring to Jesus.

Tunneling through me in record time in a determined bid to flag off the holiday season, our wee Liebling made his entrance into the world last month. Specifically, into a room full of cheering nurses, an ecstatic daddy, a relieved doula,  and our darling gynecologist, who I am convinced is the planet’s most amazing doctor.

it's a boy

Was I in the room too? I suppose so. But somewhere halfway through that first wail, as he was lifted out of my body and I lay back relieved and thankful for not pooping after all, I suspect I ceased to exist in the way I had for 36 years. Without moving a muscle, my sense of self took a quiet step back, and I watched my heart float outside of me and lodge itself firmly into that tiny, wriggling body. This feeling, it isn’t love. It’s unadulterated biology. And us, we’re the mere puppets of a flipped switch.

I’d have burst into song, had I the energy and wherewithal after an intense labor sans pain medication, but this played in my head instead, and since I’m doing such a botched-up job of this birth announcement, I’m going to rely on good old Disney to convey my emotions:

Over the past month, I’ve been high on happy-making hormones. (Clearly, birthing a human does nothing to change pre-existing alliteration allergies.) Except for the day he turned a week old and I wept that he’d head off to college soon and leave us. Apparently, there are parents who stand outside their kids’ dorm windows and secretly follow them on their honeymoon and I don’t know why you’re looking at me that way, I’m only educating you about the world, really. I’d just watch over him from a safe distance. Of 3 inches.

In other news, these lines will never mean the same thing again:

  • Our father in heaven (He’s been turning cartwheels between burping sessions.)
  • Blood on the dance floor (Before the poop came the goop. Bleedin’ bucketloads of it.)
  • Ice ice baby (The nicest present the Boy has ever given me is a handmade icepack on our wedding anniversary, three days later. Heaven, heaven!!)

 

So there we have it. Seven years since the day we met and knew this was to be, we’ve been married four, moved continents, made a home and a life together in a gorgeous corner of the world, and created a person we hope will share our love of bacon and potty jokes. (What? Everybody has their dreams!)

Now excuse me while I take off to get my fix of milk-and-skin-and-mewling-and-spit-up. We hope you’ll wish us well and pardon erratic blogging behavior. There’s a little babe-on-a-nose that needs all our besottedness.

Merry Christmas! Joy to the world! Earth today rejoices!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,