.product review: luxe Box from loose button.

Today I wanted to share this super cool product "club" of sorts called Loose Button. 

It's this cool company that Quarterly [that's 4 x a year people!] ships a pretty box [perfectly named The Luxe Box] plump full of beauty products right to your door for you to keep and try out [you can also choose Annual or Semi-annual options]. What a fun treat! 

I just received my first luxe box and was immediately impressed with the products that they sent me. First of all, in my opinion, you can usually tell quality by the packing....and I have to report that I was very impressed! My items came all wrapped up in this gorgeous white box, with each product wrapped in cloth! CLOTH! Seriously, because of the packaging alone, I immediately thought what a cute gift this would be to send someone for the year......

I was also impressed with the actual products inside. Some are small tester sized, but most [and I'm not kidding here] are full to medium sized products! And these aren't your crap o' products. Nope, they are from some major brand names.....Moroccan Oil, Benefit, Stila, Cargo, Lancome, Philosophy, KMS, Laura Mercier, and Purminerals just to name a few! I also thought it was a very cool way to try out products that I've never heard of before, like the black skinny liquid eyeliner I received in my box by Eyeko.

You can watch a little video review I did showcasing each individual product below :)

**Also in my fall luxe box along with the full sized Eyeko liquid eyeliner, was a full sized China Glaze Nail polish, Benefit Stay Don't Stray eye primer, a Bamboo exfoliating pad, Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray, Vichy Dark Spot Corrector lotion samples and Madonna Truth or Dare perfume. 

The luxe box costs $24 per season [so 4 times a year, as you get 4 luxe boxes a year], which includes all the products and shipping costs. Personally I think this is a great deal, because if I added up the full sized products alone, it would have cost me approx. $40!

So how do you get your hands on this? Well, first you need to request an invitation. You can do that by singing up here [trust me, it doesn't take very long to receive the invite]. Then you simply walk through all the steps and viola! Come winter [which is the next available seasonal box], your Luxe Box will be on it's way to your front door! What a fun treat! And just what this pregnant momma needed!

*Originally only offered to Canadian gals, I am happy to report that you US girls can sign up now too!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

.baby things: gap dorchester | girl.

While I have been super hesitant to buy any girl items as I know you can't really 'boy up' a dress, these particular pieces are to die for cute. And come October, if this little babe of ours is a girl, you'd better believe the little miss and her momma will have a date to Gap.

Here's a round up of my favorite pieces from Gap's Dorchester fall girl collection:

PURCHASE:
1| Bow A-line Jacket | Probably my most favorite piece in this line and I absolutely MUST get this is we have a little girl. It's the most perfect party-ready jacket and in the most adorable blush color. LOVE.
2| Garter-Stitch Pom Pom Hat | I just simply love this color mixed with the grey fur pom. Super cute.
3| Intarsia Dog Graphic Sweater | This sweater is pretty simple to love. Dogs. Plum Purple. A little Bow at the collar. Done.
4| Legging Cords | Isn't this the most perfect color ever? And legging cords? Thumbs up for comfort!
5| Ruffle One-Piece | Just awesome in every way.
6| Big Bow Ballet Flats | Because every little miss needs a great pair of black ballet shoes [especially with a great big bow on the front].
7| Raglan Dot Dress | I can just imagine this with a little braided belt, leggings and some ankle booties. Adorable!
8| 2-in-1 Pleated Shorts with Tights | Polka dots, shorts and tights. In winter? Hell, yes! I promise you, this will be my little girls outfit [and secretly makes me want a little miss so badly. Simply for shorts with tights. In winter.]
9| Big Bow Headband | Comes in 4 awesome prints and could easily be added to any of those 'boy' pieces I spoke about yesterday [check out my fav boy picks here!]

.baby things: gap dorchester | boy.

Yesterday, I strolled into Gap Kids in search of a gift for our friends with a new baby boy. And I have to tell you, I was pleasantly surprised with one of their new fall lines, called Dorchester.

It has a mix of cozy and cute, with a pop of bright colors throughout. Lime green and plum purple - Yeah! I even felt a little "halloween-ish" and I loved it all. My simple purchase of a baby gift turned into a mini treb shopping trip as well. I just couldn't help it!

Here is a run down of my favorites in the "boy" section [although I really think a girl could wear a little of this too!].

1| Handsome Fella Body Suit | Loved this one, but also have my eye of the King of the Castle onesie. If this baby turns into a little boy, each will be bought. I promise you that.

2| Elbow Patch Cardigan | Pretty darn cute, no? And I think a boy or girl could both rock this sweater. Under a cute little dress or over a simple tee and jeans, cute cute cute!

3| Twill Toggle Vest | Perfect for boy or girl. And I just had to have it, so I bought it. And it's pretty awesome.

4| Ribbed Pom-Pom Hat | Even though mini treb has enough toques to last it through the next 5 winters, I couldn't help myself and this was instantly put into my basket. So adorable!

5| Ombre Sweater | Purchased and love it! Perfect for fall and if you add a cute collared shirt underneath, you will have one stylish babe.

6| Knit-Waist Lined Jeans Black Wash | Great quality and warm. Comfy and Cute. What more could you want in a baby jean?

7| Slub Terry Hoodie | Purchased and one of my fav new hoodies.

8| Lace-up Sherpa Boots | Even though these are super similar to the moccasin booties [which gap brought back into this line as well] that I bought baby treb a little while ago, I adore these and am considering if I should just buy them in a different size.

9| Striped Knit Pants | Just an all around great pant for boy or a girl. And yes, these came home with me as well.

10| Long Sleeved Chambray Shirt | Love this shirt a little too much. Wondering if this would work for a girl too? If so, then yes this will be next on my purchase list. 

So as you can see, I simply adored this line and after buying #3, 4, 5, 7, & 9 [and seriously considering #1, #8 and #10] my little babe [girl or boy] may just be looking like the next Gap mannequin. 

.happy six.

cute handmade orders for the nursery, both from etsy.

Last week I had a pretty hard week at work. It was technically my last couple days in the office before a little vacation time and then maternity leave and well, it was busy, busy, busy. That, and the combo of really starting to feel the pains of pregnancy, I thought I should remind myself of some things that are currently making me happy.

husband's breakfast special. greek yog + strawberries + blueberries + raw almonds + maple syrup. yum.

homemade apple pie, made from delicious apples from our apple tree [and my mom and my dad's too].

while i'm not one to show you the typical bare belly shot, having our hot tub running hot again [we drained it for the summer & while i am pregnant] has certainly been a pleasure. even if i still can't go in all the way...

my favorite soup [zuppa toscana] boiling on the stove.

knowing that we are going to be meeting this little person of ours any day now
[and i can finally fill these adorable little person shoes]

.it's my momma's birthday.

Happy birthday pretty lady! 

I hope you know how very much you are loved.

You bring warmth and sunshine to every one around you and you continually remind me what it means to be a better person. To be a better momma. 

I know you're going to make an amazing grandma [amazing!!] and I can only hope I raise my child like you raised us. Surrounded with unconditional love and support.

Anyways, today is all about celebrating you and I just wanted to let you know that you are so very very loved. now and forever. xo.