Just for Mama
Had to share something else that I got to try out recently and fell in love with. Eshakti! They are an online women’s clothing store. They specialize in customize clothes to your specifications and size. And let me tell you, their dress selection is almost overwhelming! 😍
I was on the hunt for a dress to wear to my cousin’s wedding and found Eshakti just in time.
I was not only able to make sure my dress would fit my size and shape exactly, but I also chose to make a dress they showed as long sleeved into a sleeveless one. You even get to see immediately online what it will look like! Wow! And it came out perfect!!
I absolutely loved the casual vibe of this dress with an almost denim look to it and the white stitching. The dupioni silk and long length dress it up just enough.
But the point isn’t the dress. It’s that you can design whatever you want! And the perfect fit! Plus, they had it to me in under two weeks. I’m going back. For all kinds of clothes. I love them all!!
One last tid bit. You get all of this, without an exorbitant cost! It was totally affordable! I mean it. We are looking for the step-daughter’s prom dress there too.
Right now, use cose JESSI10 on your purchase too!! 😘
Xx
Jess
Favorite Mom Beauty Products
Pregnant, post-partum, sleep deprived, hormonal, in a rush. Mama needs are constantly changing, especially when it comes to beauty products and routines. Add to that the struggle with trying to find natural, healthy products. So after trying it all (or what feels like it) here is a look at some things I am loving right now!
I try to use natural products when I can, especially while breastfeeding. However, not everyone of these products is. I try to research the products the best I can to make informed decisions on what is safe. Also, every one of the products I’ve listed is linked HERE on my Amazon page in my Beauty Products tab!
Hair.
Thick and lustrous while pregnant. Scarily thin afterwards. I am totally in the struggle currently of losing my hair post-partum and hating it. So, I have tried numerous products to not only make my hair feel more full, but to also actually help regrow it. First, Regenepure has seemed to be helping me so far in the re-grow department. I like the refreshing smell and feel, and see some baby hairs starting already. I also love a good volume shampoo and conditioner, so this new Love Beauty and Planet was an immediate tester for me. I loved it so much that I bought full sized bottles before my sample sizes were gone. This is the best lathering shampoo I’ve found in a long time, it leaves me with an amazing smell, and I do feel soft and bouncy after. I use the St. Tropica coconut oil mask every now and again for a deep condition and love how silky my hair comes out, because let’s face it, not only do you lose your hair after baby, but it, along with skin and nails, seems to get dry and brittle as well from all the hormones. Fun. Styling? Who has time for that with little ones. At least not on the daily. So for a boost in style along with speed, I have two go-two products. One is Coconut Water Sea Salt Spray. After my shower I spritz on and let dry. Nice waves. The other is Living Proof In Shower Styler. You apply in the shower after you shampoo and condition and then lightly rinse out. I also air dry after this one and scrunch a bit. Again, nice waves. My go to style. Up or down, the waves helps hide the fact that I didn’t have time for am actual style and also the fact that I’m balding. Which brings me to the Wet Brush. I don’t want to pull out any more hair than necessary, and this amazing brush gently combs out anything. If you’ve never tried one, they are life changing. Lastly, every mama needs a good dry shampoo. Some days thats all that make me look like I’ve showered. Right now mine is this one by Rusk. Light and doesn’t make a horrible mess of dark hair.
Body.
First you try to combat stretch marks. Then you are trying to tighten, hydrate, and fight acne. Everywhere. Also fun times. During pregnancy, and even now after, Belli Elasticity Belly Oil has been wonderful. I am prone to stretch marks, but this has minimized them and helped keep the tight itching skin soft. Glow 9 Organics makes several amazing scrubs like this foot and hand one. This is for a little extra pampering that every mom needs. Bean Body Coffee Scrub not only invigorates through smell, it is supposed to help reduce stretch marks and cellulite. I’m not sure I see a huge difference, but I love feeling awakened by coffee in the shower, and the scrub makes your skin so smooth. I love Nivea’s new mousse body wash too. Its smells great and goes on and rinses off so silky yet clean.
Face.
Dark circles, bags, dry skin and more acne. I didn’t include my whole makeup routine here (I hardly ever have time for all that anyway!) but I did add a few essentials. Miss Spa coconut sheet mask, to pamper yourself every now and again. Seeing a coconut trend? Yes, give me ANYTHING coconut. The Anna Lisa cotton pads are awesome for anything, but I especially use them with Green and Lovely toner. I use this anywhere on my body I might get a little breakout too. All natural and helps with acne. Grown Alchemist face polish is one of my favorite fave washes right now. I feel moisturized without being greasy. This eye cream from Farmacy is also a current favorite. I am always using eye creams. Blast those dark circles and bags. They are never ending for me. Banana setting powder helps me keep everything from getting too oily. Those extra hormones make my skin do big rollercoasters, and oily is where I’m at post-partum. Neutrogena is what I’m using for a makeup right now. This one is like a tinted moisturizer, light and sheer, but buildable, plus it has the things you need, like sunscreen. Adding all the benefits in one makes for a quick prep in the morning. My eyelashes were getting brittle also, so I treat them with the SOS lash booster first, which actually makes an awesome primer, and then use Lash Princess mascara. This makes for an easy, quick, healthy duo and long, full looking lashes. Last, I love this lip balm. It’s so smooth and feels great on my lips.
I found many of these new products through Bump Boxes. I adored getting these. Definitely worth a try if you are expecting or just had a baby! The trimester box is also in my Amazon link, along with all of the other products here.
There you have it, my lists of go-tos currently. What are some products you love? What else would you like me to share?
What’s In My Pump Bag
Well, no house projects finished recently. No fun ones at least 😂. I’ve been mom level busy lately. But, this post is for all of you other busy moms out there. I wanted to stop by and show you all what’s in my pump bag. I will also have a what’s in the diaper bag post coming soon. Hopefully sharing what works for me will help you all out too!
To start, I am using a Medela Pump In Style pump again with this baby. It’s not the best out there, but it works. Unfortunately, my favorite part with my first baby was that it came in a handy little backpack. This time, insurance decided that they no longer pay for the bag. Had I know that insurance will cover all or most of almost any brand pump, I would have chosen differently this time. But, I did not know this.
So, this brings me to choosing a bag to carry my pump and supplies in. I have to pump a lot now that I am back to work, so I need space for quite an array of things to come with me. I love the gorgeous Sara Wells pump bags. But, I initially grabbed what I had, and it has worked, so here I am. This is a Mary Kay bag I had. Big enough for everything, sturdy, straps that are long enough to sling onto my shoulder with one arm, and a zipper, for just in case. It’s also best suited to be a pump bag if the bottom is flat like this one. It would be even better if the inside were a wipeable plastic material, but the silky inside of this one cleans out ok when needed.
I keep a car plug adapter in my car at all times. I pump while I drive. A lot. Why not multitask during that time available? You can get these at Walmart.
So that brings me to my hands free pumping bra. I never used one of these last time, but it is super handy this time. This one is from Simple Wishes. I only use it when I dont have a stretchy bra on, so I didn’t need something super expensive or fancy. This one fit the bill with its low price and strapless zip-on design.
Water and snacks are a must have. These Coconut Butter Biscuits from Nature Valley are a big favorite right now. I also love my lactation bars from Oat Mama.
Nipple cream is also a must, especially at first. Now, I just carry a little packet for just in case.
The La Vie massager has been a huge help to me with this baby. It massages out clogged ducts, whclich I’ve had a bunch of, so it stays with me at all times
As do my Lactalite pump lights. I was using my cell phone to light up the flanges and make sure I had everything on straight at night. But when I saw these I knew they would be a life saver. Anything that helps me keep the room dark and quiet to not wake the babe is a win for me!
When I started pumping, I was barely keeping up with how much milk baby wanted. So I started trying lactation bars and supplements. Ask me anytime if you want more info on what I use. I am Hypothyroid, so I can’t take supplements with fenugreek in them. It limits my options a bit. But one thing that helped a lot is this oil roller all from Harper Apothecary called Mama Milk Boost.
I also started carrying this rose water Soothing Facial Mist from Garnier. Like all moms, I am exhausted right now and sometimes I feel even more drowsy when I pump. A little refresh with this spray helps perk me up!
I have this mini lavender hand lotion from Tree to Tub in there too. Not because you need it to pump, but because sometime it’s nice to have a little relaxing treat while you work so hard!
I carry a burp cloth because it is the perfect size to throw in and I need something to dry off or even wipe up any spills (gah!).
I also carry a notebook. This is not a necessity, but so handy. Your phone would also work. I jot notes while I’m tied down to the pump, and I also note how much I pump so that I can see progress and try to figure out what affects my supply.
Since my pump bag goes pretty much everywhere with me, even up to bed at night, I also throw in things I might need. Almost like a little diaper bag to go. For a while it was the aspirator, then it was a thermometer and tylenol, etc.
I dont carry spare pump parts, although it’s sometimes wise. I keep a few things like new membranes at home. When I am out for work I know that fortunately Medela stuff is carried at stores around me if an emergency ever arises. I used to carry a Haakaa pump for use while feeding on the other side when I was first starting out and often engorged. A manual pump is often also a good idea to carry or at least own in case of electricity outages and such. We did lose power one night in a storm and I had gotten rid of my manual, thinking I never used it. I ended up pumping out in the car in the storm. 
I do carry 2 Avent bottles to fill and if I am going to be gone for a while or it is hot out I bring a soft cooler bag (Dr. Brown’s) with ice packs. The other times, I leave my milk in the bottles in the bag. Milk can sit out fresh for up to 6 hours. I then feed it or refrigerate it. Makes things simple.
There you have it. I try not to get too weighed down with lots of stuff, but I have to have a few necessities.
What else would you add? And don’t hesitate to ask questions!
Make Mine Eclectic 