Free to Be a New Mom

Before I became a new mom, I thought I knew everything. The majority of my days were spent reading parenting websites and learning everything I could about my soon to arrive newborn. I was armed with an arsenal of knowledge and was going to be the best mom ever. Nora would be exclusively breast fed until age 1, we would never co-sleep, every baby product would be clean and sterile before it touched her sensitive skin, and the cry it out method was something I would never try. 

Then, all of a sudden, here she was. I'm pretty sure when we got home from the hospital, Madison and I looked at each other and said "now what?" I learned pretty quickly that all of my "rules" were not going to work, and we completely changed our parenting style. My dreams of breastfeeding were cut short when Nora wasn't getting full at any feeding. We certainly let Nora cry it out a few times because for the first few months of her life, all she did was cry. We also weren't so strict about sterilizing the pacifier every time she dropped it on to the couch. 

And you know what? She turned out okay. Once I let gave up on all of my preconceived notions, I was finally free to be a new mom. I enjoyed motherhood a lot more when I wasn't being so hard on myself. Life got easier and we all smiled more.

One thing I am happy I didn't change my mind on, was our laundry detergent. I knew newborns had sensitive skin, so I wanted to pick a detergent that would be gentle enough that it wouldn't irritate her. We chose all free clear to be our family detergent. It worked wonderfully and Nora never had any issues with it. all free clear is the #1 recommended detergent brand by Dermatologists, Allergists, and Pediatricians for sensitive skin. It's tough on stains yet gentle enough for the whole family. Plus, it's safe for use in standard and HE machines. It rinses clean and has a gentle, hypoallergenic formula. 

Now, instead of worrying about delicate new born skin, we worry about stains. Luckily, all free clear has grown with our family. Their detergent with stainlifters is perfect to get out of all the toddler messes with live with now. 

I am truly glad that out of all of my "mom rules" the one thing I stuck with was hypoallergenic laundry detergent. I was free to be a new mom and know my baby was not being exposed to harsh dyes or synthetic scents. 

What were your new mom rules? Were you worried about your laundry detergent or any other cleaning products? If you have tried all free clear let me know how you like it. Make sure to click the link below to learn more about all and the new hypoallergenic laundry products they offer, including dyer sheets and fabric softener. We can't wait to try them out!

Learn more about all free clear!

I Got Dressed - Hello Apparel

Hello! Ok in case you couldn't tell, I really like the word "hello." I'm friendly, I like other people to know I'm friendly, so what better way to do that than have a "hello" sweatshirt from Hello Apparel? 

I have been a huge fan of this brand for a while. They have the cutest clothes for adults, kids and babies. They offer everything from tank tops to sweatpants to buttons and temporary tattoos. Their kids clothes are some of my favorites. They just get it. 

When I was looking at their website I decided to go with the classic "hello" red champ pullover. It's their signature piece and it totally fits with my personality. I know that you're thinking- "Kelcey, it's summer. It's way too hot for a sweatshirt." Wrong! Well, mostly wrong. I will wear this as much as my thermometer allows me until fall then I will wear it every day. Madison and I are hoping to take a mini beach trip this summer and a nice pullover is perfect for cooler nights on the beach. 

I paired the pullover with some medium wash jeans, a gold necklace and some tan wedges, to dress things up a bit. I like mixing dressier pieces with more casual ones to create a fun visual juxtaposition. 

I love these wedges. They are from Marshall's a few years ago and are so comfy. For someone like myself who is a bit wobbly in heels, these are the perfect option.

When it's too hot to wear a pullover outside, you can find me snuggled up in bed with the A/C blasting. Anything to be comfy and cozy. This sweatshirt is seriously the softest thing ever. It's so comfortable and warm and amazing, and also super great quality. 

I highly suggest you go over to Hello Apparel and snag one of these. Come fall I'm pretty sure I won't be wearing anything else. 

Thanks to Hello Apparel for sponsoring this post. All opinions and obsession over this pullover are my own. 

Shop Love: Trending

When my friend Beverly told me she was opening her own online clothing store, I was so excited. We went to college together and since I have seen her work first hand, you can believe me when I say: it's good stuff. Her goal was to create a store that provided a selection of one of a kind, high quality statement pieces, for a lower price. Trending is just that: on trend. The online boutique specializes in thrifted and reconstructed apparel, as well as handmade clothing and accessories. The items you will find are standout staple pieces that are perfect for today's modern young women. I love the concept, particularly the reconstructed goods. With just a little alteration, something that seems old and dated becomes fashionable and trendy again. It's perfect! Beverly has a great eye for what is on trend right now, a lot of these pieces have a very 90's feel, which is making a huge comeback right now. For all of us that grew up in the 90's it's awesome to see! I can finally break out my over-sized shirts and chunky heels again, right? Ok, maybe not the heels. 

I think the most inspiring part of this store launch is that Beverly used it as a way to pull herself out of what could have been a very devastating situation. She was working for a law firm at the time that was going under, which gave her all the more motivation to make her dream a reality. She is now working on Trending full time and loving it. 

Boxy Sweater

If you have ever scoured the racks of a thrift store, then you will know how frustrating it is to dig through the duds and end up with nothing to bring home. As a busy mom, blogger and small business owner I really don't have time for that so I am happy to let someone do it for me. In Beverly's own words:

"I figured I can take the work out of sifting through rack after rack of stained tee shirts and sweaters with holes in them to find the treasures that most people don't know exist. Not only that, but people all over the country don't have access to the thrift stores in Massachusetts and I think these stores have a lot of high end items that you won't find elsewhere."

Reconstructed Tank

Since she has a partial education in Fashion Design, Beverly will also be creating handmade goods for her store. Currently she is offering headbands, but intends to include more items like bandeaus and crop tops very soon. 

Turban Headband

I hope you are all as excited as I am about this new shop launch! And because she is so great, Beverly has generously offered all Hello Kelcey readers 30% off everything at Trending with the code "hellokelcey" until July 31st, as well as free shipping on all orders over $20 (no code, and that does not expire!). 

Red Cropped Jacket

High Waisted Levis 505 - Reconstructed

Take a look around http://shoptrendingg.com/ and let me know which items are your favorite. You can also find Trending on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr to keep up to date on new items and promotions. Happy shopping!

My Quick and Refreshing Morning Bathroom Routine

Good morning! Today I want to talk to you about my morning routine, and how I feel refreshed while still taking care of a 1 year old. It's not always easy, but somehow I manage. I'll take you on a little journey through my morning routine and show you my new favorite bathroom products- Cottonelle® Clean Care TP and Flushable Cleansing Cloths. This post is brought to you by CVS and Cottonelle, and if you think you will like these products as much as I do, there is a CVS Cottonelle coupon at the bottom of this post! 

Step 1: COFFEE. I might have a problem, but I honestly cannot do much of anything before I have my coffee. When Nora wakes up I go into her room and change her diaper, then it's off to coffee land for us. She has breakfast and I get caffeinated. Good to go!

Step 2: Shower? As a stay at home mom, I am lucky if I get a shower in the morning. I usually have to wait until the afternoon when the baby is napping. If I can't get a full shower in, I like to at least cleanse my face to feel refreshed, and also to keep my skin from exploding in mommy-acne. Yes, this is a thing. I just made it up. 

Step 3: Makeup! To cover any of that aforementioned mommy-acne.

I normally do not want (or am able to) take the time to put on a full face of makeup. The products above help to make me feel a little put together, without taking too long to apply. On a regular day, all I use is a foundation primer that has SPF in it (two birds, anything to save time), a full coverage foundation, mattifying powder to keep me shine free, a little blush and mascara! In the picture I also included my eyeshadow primer, which I will dab on before applying a sweep of any shimmery neutral shadow. Looking good all in about 5 minutes. Nice!

Step 4: Get outside! I have been aiming to take more walks with Nora. She loves being outdoors, and a morning walk really gives me energy for the day. We are lucky enough to have a CVS within walking distance, so today I took Nora for a stroll to pick up some things we needed for the house, including the Cottonelle® Clean Care TP and Flushable Cleansing Cloths. 

I have to say, having good toilet paper is super important to me. It's something people never talk about it, but they should! No one wants an uncomfortable bathroom experience, so I am happy to have found the Cottonelle® Clean Care TP and Flushable Cleansing Cloths. Since Cottonelle has cotton in their products, they are super soft and leave you feeling refreshed. The new Flushable Cleansing Cloths are a great new addition to their line, as they leave you feeling extra fresh and clean. I know Nora is not ready to be potty trained yet, but I have a feeling the cleansing cloths will be great for her when she's ready to learn. Also, the refillable container has a modern and sleek design, so it doesn't look out of place on top of your toilet.

So there you have it, an easy way to feel refreshed in the morning! Now, let's talk about bums. Grab the coupon from the link below and let me know how much you love the new products from Cottonelle! For more information check out the Cottonelle and CVS product page here. 

* This post is sponsored by Cottonelle, but the thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this blog possible.