9 Months Later

A little bit about our summer… Our amazingly awesome sitter left New York to pursue her Broadway career at the beginning of the summer.  She is so sweet and super talented that while the girls and I (mostly “I”) were beyond sad to see her go, we were very happy for her and totally cheering her on.  Since my hubs and I were planning to start our girls in preschool in September (more on that in a minute), we didn’t want to go into a whole new nanny search for 8 or so weeks.  As many of my fellow Momshells can attest to, finding suitable help is no easy task and if you live in New York, it can easily amount to a monthly mortgage payment.  So, we decided that since I already work from home, it would make sense for me to hold down the fort for a few weeks until school started.  All I’m going to say is, it’s October,  I’m still home with my babes and I can’t restock our wine bar fast enough!  Don’t get me wrong, of course I think they’re two of the most phenomenal human beings on the planet, but, they’re still toddlers with normal, never ending toddler needs.  Raise your hand if you know what I mean!

The reason I’m still home (working/not working) with my girls is because the preschool they’re registered for is brand new, which is exciting but construction on the space isn’t yet complete.  We’re waiting for this particular preschool to open because it’s 5 minutes away from our home, the program is everything that we could want for a 3.5 & 2 year old and it’s not quite a mortgage payment…not quite.  Right now, we’re expecting them to start sometime in November and, in the meantime, we’ve gone ahead and gotten help because…well…mommy’s sanity.

All of that being said, Fall has always been an exciting time for me.  When October shows up, my mind starts racing with thoughts of yummy knits, great coats, knee high boots, my birthday and all of the upcoming holidays.  I’m really looking forward to creating more memories with my girls this season…when they’re not in school *wink*.  What about you guys?  What are some of the things that you’re looking forward to this Fall?

xo,

Baths are wonderful and they go a long way to helping me relax, clear my head and enjoy the quiet.  Here are my 5 suggestions for creating the ultimate bath experience:

1.  PICK ONE DAY OF THE WEEK AND COMMIT TO IT

Choose a day and time when everything’s done (or as done as it’s gonna get for that day), when the kids are asleep and the house is nice and quiet and take a bath.  This is going to be your time.  Carve this time of day out weekly and use it to relax and recharge.  Sunday evenings are the perfect time to indulge in “me” time.  Aside from Sunday signaling the beginning of a new week, it’s also the day I feel gives me the most opportunity to slow down and make time for a soak.  Once you’ve done it a few weeks in a row, it’ll become a part of your regular schedule and you’ll look forward to having this time to yourself.

2.  INDULGE WITH GREAT BATH PRODUCTS  

Want to make your bath feel more luxurious?  Add a few drops of detoxifying bath foam or a scented bath oil.  Personally, I cannot live without aromatherapy bath salts with eucalyptus.  Actually, anything with eucalyptus gets me.  Something about the smell just automatically makes me feel refreshed.  I also use a vanilla based body oil after my bath for an added layer of luxury.

3.  TURN ON THE TUNES

There’s nothing like listening to your favorite playlist to help you unwind. I created a global chill station that I listen to when I’m taking a long soak so, create a playlist of the music you love and lay back and relax. 

4.  LIGHT A CANDLE 

It may seem a little corny, but turning out the lights and melting into that bathtub with the music playing and your scented candle burning will make you feel like you’re in a totally different place.  My all-time favorite is Diptyque’s Verveine / Lemon Verbena.  It smells amazing and is the perfect way to create a soothing atmosphere.

5.  UNPLUG

This is pretty self explanatory.  Close the door, shut the rest of the world out and give yourself a little time to decompress and indulge in you!

I’d love to hear some of your suggestions on how you relax and carve out time for yourself at home.  Share some of your thoughts with me below.

xo,

   My longtime love for Manolo and Jimmy Choo can be traced directly back to Carrie B...    

   These raffia Fendi platforms were everything that summer!

      These are my very first and favorite pair of Christian Louboutins.

          Growing up, my mother and my grandmother were (and still are) the most stylish and put together women in the world to me.  I wanted every single item in their closets and often dreamt of the day when I could hopefully become as effortlessly chic as they were.  My mom used to clean out her closet each season and I remember the excitement that I felt sitting on her bedroom floor waiting for her to make her “edit” pile so that I could rifle through it and pick out the things that I’d loved for so long and could finally repurpose for my own closet.  

Now that I’m a mom, I approach cleaning out my closets with a slightly different perspective than I used to.  My sister Ayanna was usually the sole beneficiary of anything in my wardrobe that didn’t get much attention.  However, even though my girls are still small, the idea of them being excited to discover mom’s “vintage” Tom Ford YSL lucite heels with the enamel lips circa 2003...in 2 colors (yes, gratuitous shoe porn for all of my shoe fiends) in the back of my storage closet just makes me giddy, and all I want to do is save everything for them...sorry sis!

This spring, I decided that there were definitely quite a few pairs of shoes that I could retire.  These days I mostly live in flats or sneakers so, it just made sense to edit and store the shoes that don’t get as much love as they used to, to make room for - you guessed it, new additions.  With each pair of heels that I put in their dustbag, I reminisced over the happy, happy day that they were purchased, the exact outfits I’d worn them with and why I loved them so much and I hope that one day, when my two babes are old enough and we’re going through my things together, they'll have the same excitement that I used to all of those years ago on my mother’s bedroom floor.

                                      Strapless looks have always been my fave but having two babies has definitely changed the way my boobs look in a push up bra, so, off the shoulder tops offer me an amazing alternative to totally strapless.  The other plus is that some styles are very forgiving so, if you’re still working on losing baby weight especially around your mid-section [raises hand 2 years later], the loose fit will do a great job of helping you feel more confident.

The OTS look is super cute and incredibly versatile.  Nordstrom.com has a great selection (I’m waiting on two styles that I ordered by Tibi & Topshop) and there are tons of other options and price points in the market.  The one that I’m wearing here, I designed and had made for myself.  There was some leftover fabric in my studio from a style that we cut for my children’s line and decided to design one while I wait for my online order to arrive.  Random, I know!

I paired my top with super skinny jeans and heels.  I’ve had the jeans for ages, but I shortened them and frayed the edges a little to make them feel fresher for spring.  Pairing volume on top with something a little more fitted on the bottom is a great recipe for balance with this type of look.

OTS works for day or evening.  I test drove the top on the playground with my girls and it was great.  Of course I ended up changing out of the stilettos and into more comfortable wedges because I’m not totally psychotic and the slightly dressed down shoe went just as well with the whole look.

The bare shoulder is something that I’m crazy over so, don’t be surprised if you see this top and many others like it on serious repeat this summer!

xo, K

Top: Mine | Jeans: Gap | Shoes: Christian Louboutin (both) | Shades: Chanel

When I started blogging, very little of my content included photos of myself.  All I wanted to do was talk about fashion, beauty and other things that were helping me cope with my new role (and limited schedule) as a mommy.  However, you guys often email and ask me to include myself in my posts more because you want to get to know me better and see a lot of what I talk about in motion, which, makes me happy and nervous all at the same time.   

I’ve always hoped that 9 Months Later inspired other Momshells so, after a good pep talk with myself, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and work on overcoming my awkwardness in front of the camera because I love hearing from you all and I want to get to know you all better.  

I decided to do my first shoot with my two beautiful little babies because they make me happy and would definitely get me to focus on something other than being in front of the camera.  Delilah is a natural (read: ham) in front of the camera but, Scarlett is my wild child and is quite unpredictable.  So, as you can imagine, the shoot was a circus but at the end of it all, I have to say that I’m so happy with the photos.  They totally capture the love, the craziness and the imperfection that is my new life with these two, which, I’m sure you guys can understand!

I’m totally not a fashion and beauty expert, but I do have lots of goodies to share with you in the coming weeks, so, as requested, get ready to see lots of fun stuff that I hope continues to inspire and motivate you paired with a little bit of moi!

I’ve always been one to play it safe when it came to nail color, not wanting to go too far out on a limb which, is very weird considering: 1) It’s nail color for goodness sake and 2) I’m a creative having worked in fashion the majority of my adult life where trying new things is what it’s all about (go figure).  These colors however have me hooked!  

If you’ve been following me on Insta, you’ve know that I have a specific (and probably slightly unhealthy) obsession with longer wear nail color.  With 2 toddlers, longer wear nail color is a must and between the playground, opening endless (and I mean endlessss) snack packages, bath time and getting things done around the house, my nails definitely take a beating.  

I’ve recently been test driving Chanel’s new long wear nail colors and I love!  Meanwhile, note to Chanel: more colors please!  Zoya however, is a brand that I’ve raved about many times before because of their toxin free formula.  I started using the brand when I was pregnant with Delilah and it still remains my holy grail for longer wear nail color but, your mani will only last longer if you use the Zoya base + top coats along with the nail color.  I tried to use another regular base coat once when I ran out of the Zoya base and the next day my nails looked disastrous!

Above and below are a few of the colors that I’m trying out this season. A couple of the colors are new and some have been in the line - one is actually a staple that I use all of the time (which you can see from the half used bottle on the right).  I’m a serious fan of Zoya and these colors are a welcome change from my weekly basics, but, no matter the brand, you should totally try out a few pastel or sorbet colors this season.  I promise looking down at your newly manicured nails will definitely put a smile on your face - especially when you’re in the middle of a toddler tantrum.

(mwah), K

(From left: Robyn, Tiana, Tulip, Laurie, Show White)

(Color: Snow White)

Realizing that our beautiful brownstone could probably use a few more happy places now that our girls are getting bigger, my husband & I decided to re-embark upon a home renovation project.  I say re-embark because we’d started the project a few years back when I was pregnant with my first daughter and it was a nightmare!  Needless to say, we’ve been living with an unfinished kitchen since then.

While our reno to-do list is pretty long, we’ve decided to take things one step at a time beginning with creating a new happy place for Mommy - a calm, modern, organized and updated work studio space (with a door) where I can disappear for hours designing and blogging, which, I’m super excited about.  

My studio space is right off of our backyard, so it provides me with tons of light and an amazing view of my garden, especially in the summertime - the perfect blank slate for a redesign.  It’s a disaster area right now with sewing machines, boxes of samples and fabric everywhere, and I’ll be sharing updates as we go along, but in the meantime, here are a few photos that are serving as some major inspiration.

xo, K

Before les bebes and before I started working from home, my makeup routine was probably a “9″ and happily took the better portion of the morning to perfect.  Once I started working from home however, my morning beauty routine went down to about a “4-ish”.  With the littles’ demands for yogurt, tutus and the iPad for morning ABC Mouse lessons before our godsend of a sitter arrives, 2 minutes is pretty much all I get to make myself presentable to the world.

Enter: the new NARS Matte Velvet Skin Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen.  This product has changed my mornings.  Now when I wake up, after I cleanse and moisturize, I apply a light coat of NARS skin tint, some highlighter (maybe a little contour if the girls are submersed in tech land and I’m feeling adventurous), mascara, lip color and I’m ready to go.

This is the perfect everyday, lightweight product.  I’m especially excited to use it during the warm weather months because I really don’t love wearing too much product when it’s super hot.  There are 12 shades to choose from and those of you familiar with NARS products know that NARS has one of best palettes in the market for all skin tones. 

The first time I used them was for a last minute getaway to Miami with the hubs a few weeks back.  Between making arrangements for the kids with the Grands, packing everyone up, and freaking out over last minute “my body’s not ready” swimsuit options, there was zero time to get nails done and I happened upon Kiss Press On Nails in the cosmetics aisle at CVS.  Sidenote: CVS…. I mean… is there a more perfect place on earth to buy fun, inexpensive beauty products?  Anyways, I was excited to try press ons again because who doesn’t like options?  That night, once the girls went to bed, I glued, filed and painted my way to glam nails all in under an hour.  

Then last week for my birthday, I decided to get fancy and try some that were already colored and decorated with nail art.  

These things are great!  They last for about a week and a half, don’t pop off and when you’re ready they soak off in nail polish remover in no time.  While I love, love, love adding them to my list of possibilities, press ons are definitely not something that I would recommend for long term wear and my nail tech would kill me if she knew, so let’s just keep this amongst girlfriends, shall we?

Xo,

Beauty goddess Bobbi Brown once told my best friend that if she didn't have time to properly apply her makeup, it was better to go without anything.  I totally agree and have come to believe that even if I (gasp!) don’t have time to apply any kind of product in the mornings, a well groomed eyebrow can go a long way.  Enter Smashbox’s Brow Tech To Go.

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I love this product because it’s a multi-tasker.  One end of the stick allows you to fill in and define your eyebrows and the other has a gel brush that helps them to stay put.  Quick and efficient.  Check and check.  Using this product, has forever changed the face of my mornings (no pun intended).  Daily casualties are at a minimum and good times are being had by all.  Now, I if I can just figure out the rest of this “mommy” thing.

xo,

I’m not ashamed to admit, the transition from Mommy of 1 pretty little one to Mommy of 2 pretty little ones semi-rocked my world.  Between being home with the girls, building two businesses, overseeing home renos (the list goes on), I was running on fumes.  So, the hubs and I decided that I needed a break (READ: Happy Wife.  Happy Life.) and we all headed to my Parents’ house in the dirty south (a.k.a. sunny Florida).  

Mom offered to help out with the girls while I relaxed and Hubs told me to stay as long as I needed and not to worry about anything else.  I have to admit, as a New Yorker, I felt a little guilty about escaping and not toughing out the brutal winter, but I wasn’t crazy - well, I kind of was at that point - but I wasn’t crazy enough to turn down the offer to go south for the winter.

When we all arrived in Florida, the only thing I had planned, was to sleep the entire time.  However as the days went on, I found a few things to lighten the mood, help re-build my confidence and  bring me out of my zombie-like state.  I’m not talking reading a stack of self-help books all day by the pool, I mean these were simple, fun, random things like...

THE WELCOME TO MIAMI SIGN...

No other sign can impart both fear and joy in anyone like this one can.  Joy, because you know that Miami (even in the wintertime) will always make you feel like you’re on someone’s Riviera.  Fear, because that sign, can make the best hard body see Homer Simpson when they look in the mirror.  In the end, I chose Joy over fear, because, let’s face it...I actually did look like Homer Simpson and probably wouldn’t be bikini ready until my little Sissy Boo was headed to college.

GROCERY STORE WINE & JUNK FOOD...

Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than walking into a Publix to buy sun block and randomly finding cheap wine and Chester’s Hot Fries in the same aisle... It had instantly become the Best. Trip. Ever.

PALM TREE LINED WALKS AND ZUMBA...

I would rather have every eyebrow hair plucked out one by one and then have my eyebrows tattooed back on, than exert myself by working out in any way, shape or form.  However, I really wanted to get my body back to something, I’d vaguely recognize when naked.  So, between early morning strolls with the girls and attending the best Zumba classes ever at my mom’s gym, I started to feel very Momshell-ish again.

DISCOUNT DRUG STORE MAKEUP...

This one is self explanatory.  Fave mascara 50% off = WINNING!

GIRL TIME....

Every Momshell needs to spend some time with her girls and being able to spend time with my bestie “L” who lives in Florida with her beautiful and fabulous family was AMAZEBALLS!  We kept it fun and civilized (most nights).  Spending time with her really lifted my mood and reminded me how laughing with a bestie until your stomach hurts can help make everything else seem doable.

As if hanging out with one BFF didn’t already make it feel like Christmas every day, there was the surprise visit from my girlfriend “S” who called as soon as she landed in Miami and told me to pack up the Munchkins and get down to her hotel stat for some 5-Star weekend dress up and poolside fun!  

By the time the girls and I were ready to leave Florida 3 months later, I felt brand new, relaxed, clear and focused.  I don’t know if anyone can ever be fully mentally and physically prepared for motherhood the first, second or even third time around but in the end, I was very blessed to have a hubby that understood what I needed and parents that let us invade their home, dirty diapers and all.  

So, here’s my humble advice to any of you Momshells that might be struggling to find yourselves in the midst of the chaos... Even if it’s not a 3-month stay in Miami, inhaling ridiculous amounts of cheap Chianti and hot fries, or applying your $2.99 mascara score in your mom’s bathroom with your best girlfriend, try to find the small things that make you happy.  If you do, you may just wake up one day and realize how beautiful, utterly amazing and capable you’ve been all along!

xo,

However, when I became a mommy, I was determined to figure out how to have fun with my girls and maintain my right to wear pretty things that make me smile.  For spring, that includes this season's very popular suede. 

On a good day sans the kiddies I would easily consider a cool suede skirt or sleek trench coat "at risk" for unfortunate episodes, so, accessories are the perfect, easier to navigate solution for the slightly faint of heart.  There are lots of options at different price points in the market, but, here are a couple of items to help you stay stylish and kid friendly in suede this spring:

A suede clutch in a rich hue is the perfect accessory for day or night.  I love this Karen Millen Suede Clutch, $175. karenmillen.com.

This chunky heel in natural suede makes me so happy!  Pair this shoe with your wide leg jean for play or a sleek sheath for a great work look.  Gianvito Rossi Suede Pump, $650. netaporter.com

Enjoy and happy suede!

XO,