Friday, July 3, 2015

Newborn Essentials


Newborn Essentials

I just recently gave birth to a baby girl on April 24, 2015. She's healthy and very much look like her dad :) I must say having a newborn is not easy and you need all the help you can get. Besides family members, I have some products and tools that help me care for my newborn. The products I mention is what had help me and I hope it might help you too. Please keep in mind what works for my baby might not work for you and these products are just a suggestions.

My baby 1 month old
1. Play yard-Safety 1st Sweet Wonder Play Yard


One of our most use item in the house. I have a two story house and we keep this one downstairs. Great for changing and sleeping during the day. It saves me from going up and down the stairs. The storage space we use for diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, hand sanitizer, clothes, burp cloths and other items. 


2. Bathtub-4moms Infant Tub



Another most use item in the house. My baby loves bath and this bath tub is great. It shows the perfect temperature for a bath so you don't have to worry if the water is too hot or cold for the little one. It is also big enough so that your little one can bathe comfortably. I use a sponge cushion to give my little one more support (this sold separately). 



3. Wipe Warmer-Prince Lionheart Premium Wipe Warmer 

I didn't think that this item was a necessity at first but my mom convince me to get it; and I am glad I did. My little girl doesn't care for a cold wipe in the middle of the night. This warmer made midnight diaper change a bit more enjoyable. 


4. Swaddle Blanket-Aden & Anais Swaddling Cloths

Moonlight

Swaddling blankets are a must for my little girl because she loves to be swaddle. Any brand will work however I love this particular brand because the material is very nice and thin (muslin) but warm enough for her. It's also very large which make swaddling easier. 
(Target also carry this brand and sometime you can find them at Marshalls for less)


5. Mittens-Gerber Girls Light Purple and White Texture Mittens


We all know that newborn baby has long and sharp finger nails and they like to scratch their face. My little girl born with long fingers and this particular style of mittens are the only ones that can fit her hands and stay on her; other mittens comes off. This mittens only come in pink and white (for girls) and blue and white (for boys). I bought 2 sets of them. 


6. Nursing cover-Udder Covers

                           Natalie

I love these covers because it gives you privacy while you are nursing in public. They look very cute as well. 

7. Swing/Rocker-4moms MamaRoo

4moms MamaRoo infant Seat - Multi-Plush

This is ours with infant insert

My little girl loves to be in motion and she loves the mamaroo. It supposed to mimic mother movements so that it will comfort baby just like when she/he was in the womb. 

8. Diaper Pails-Playtex Diaper Genie

Diaper Genie Elite

Diaper Genie Elite: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=32647756&cp=2255957.2273443.3242082.46238796.46239176&parentPage=family

Diaper Genie Essentials

Diaper Genie Essentials: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2437622&cp=2255957.2273443.3242082.46238796.46239176&parentPage=family

My husband was not convinced that we need a diaper pail but he soon change his mind after the first week. These pail keep the odor in and keep our house from smelling like dirty diapers. We have both pails; one for upstairs and one downstairs. Personally I like the Elite better because it's bigger and you don't have to touch the pail in order to put in the dirty diaper. 

10. Baby Carrier- Ergobaby 360 Carrier


This is another thing that my husband was skeptical about getting because it's expensive. I decided to get it anyway because I know I want to carry my baby around. However the first week my husband change his mind because his little girl loves to be carry around in it. My daughter loves to be carried around and often fell asleep. I use it with the infant insert. 



11. Burp Cloths


I underestimated the importance of burp cloths. I didn't think that this will be use as much as it did. My baby girl spit up and drool a lot and I honestly almost ran out of burp cloths. So, my advice is to stock up on these as well; you don't have to get an expensive one. 



12. Stain Remover-Dreft Laundry Stain Remover


This has been a life saver. Those blow outs can be very messy and it can destroyed that nice outfit that you put on.  



13. Waterproof changing pad liners-Munchkin changing pad liners

Changing pad liners is a must with babies. These liners have save me from washing bed sheets and changing pad covers. I really like this particular brand because it's light weight, doesn't stain easily, and it sure is waterproof. 



14. Wet & Dry bag


Another great item for on the go. When you baby has a blow out, you want to have something to store you baby's dirty clothes; this bag is great for that. Unlike a ziploc bag, this bag will not only seal off the smell but it also seal of any wetness. This item is definitely a must for me. 



15. Nail Clipper

As many of you know that newborn baby most likely to have long and sharp nails when they are born. It is very important to have nail clippers to trim their nails. My little girl scratch herself many times and having nail clippers to trim her nail is a must. 



16. Nursing App-BabyNursing for iphone


I use this app to keep track of my baby's feeding and wet/dirty diapers because it is important to keep track in order to know weather the baby eat enough. By keeping track you can also have easy access in case your doctor ask you during visit. I particularly like this app because it's easy to use and it can keep track of her vaccinations and activity as well. 


Xoxo, 

Fay Ming 












Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Pregnancy must have



My Pregnancy Must Have
These are items and products that help me through out my pregnancy

It is very exciting when you find out that you are pregnant. You told your spouse and the both of you started to dance around the room; then it hit you...your life is going to change. You also need to change your life style, your eating habits, and you need some gear to help you through your pregnancy. I you are a first time mom like me you probably wonder what is there out there to help you through your pregnancy. What do I need? What I don't need? What works? What doesn't? 
I know I spend hours on the internet looking and now that I'm at my third trimester, I want to share some things that help me through my pregnancy. 

  1. Pregnancy book 

If you are a newbie like me you probably wonder what is going to happen with your body, what are the changes to be expected and when do you need to call your doctor. I find that grabbing a pregnancy book is a great idea. My favorite one is What to expect when your expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel. I believe a lot of pregnant women grab this book as soon as they found out that they are pregnant. I found it to be very informative and it does put me at ease. As you read you will start  notice some changes the book mention and you go "aahhh...that's what the book talk about." Off course you also have to keep an open mind that sometimes the symptoms doesn't always happen at that exact time or you might now experience it at all. Remember every pregnancy is different. This book is a good guide for the basic of pregnancy. 

You can get the book here: 

Here are other books that might help as well: 



    2.  Prenatal Vitamins 

After you grab your pregnancy book at your local bookstore, make a stop at a vitamin shop. If you plan your pregnancy you probably already on prenatal vitamins. If your pregnancy come as a surprise you probably are not on a prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins are a must have. You are growing another human being inside and you need all the vitamins and minerals and pre-natal vitamins will help. Pre-natal vitamins will act as a boost to the food that you are eating that way the baby won't deplete your storage of vitamins and minerals; and you need that storage through out your pregnancy. Pre-natal vitamins come in pills and gummy forms. Those who has trouble with morning sickness preferred the gummy to the pills because it won't make them sick. Also remember you need DHA with your pre-natal vitamins; DHA is use for brain, eyes and nervous system development. Some pre-natal vitamins already have DHA in and some don't so make sure you read the label. Which is a good pre-natal vitamins? They are all good it's all depend on you and you body needs. If in doubt bring your pre-natal vitamins to your first doctor visit and ask him/her if the one  you taking is enough. I'm sure your doctor can guide you or even prescribe  you one. 

    3.  Body Cream and oil/Cocoa Butter 

Another perk about being pregnant is that you are prone to having stretch marks. There are many products out there to prevent stretch mark, but my favorite one is Basq stretch mark butter and resilient body oil. Both smell good and doesn't make me nauseated. These are the ones I use: 



I combine both and so far no stretch mark. The oil is great as well...I applied it to my thigh where there were already some stretch mark there and my stretch marks are fading :) I got mine at a local maternity store called Destination Maternity but it's available online as well; amazon.com, buybuybaby.com They do come in other fragrance as well...this one works best for me. 

Here is their official website: http://www.basqnyc.com/stretch-marks/

    4.  Maternity clothes 



Some people find that buying maternity clothes is a waste of money but to some, like me, is a great investment. At first I was able to wear my pre-pregnancy clothes just fine, even my jeans still fit ok, I just have to unbutton it is all. However as my pregnancy progress, my jeans doesn't fit me any more because my hip and belly are getting bigger. My shirt doesn't fit me any more because of my growing belly. My mom took me shopping one day to get some maternity clothes. I must say they are the most comfortable thing EVER!!! My biggest favorite are the pants...they are so comfortable and they support your growing belly. Some of my loose shirt still fit so I don't but many shirt but I have to buy a few pair of pants. If you are debating whether or not you should get maternity clothes, my suggestion is to go try some on first. If they fit the same as your pre-pregnancy clothes then it's fine but if they are more comfortable...I suggest you get some. Remember you will feel some discomfort as your pregnancy progress, so you want to wear something comfortable. You can find maternity clothes at your local department store like Target, Kohls, Macys, Nordstrom, etc. 

Destination Maternity: http://www.destinationmaternity.com/

    5. Body Pillow/extra pillows 

I know this one sound so simple and to some of us we already have it, but extra pillow is a must during pregnancy. My hubby bought me a body pillow when he found out I was pregnant because he said his friends told him that it helped their wives during their pregnancy. I'm glad he did because that pillow help me get comfortable at night and I was able to sleep. 

    6. Maternity Belt

As your pregnancy progress, your stomach will become bigger and heavier. This will put some strain on your lower back. One thing that will help with your back pain is maternity belt. One of coworker actually told me about it, if not I wouldn't have known about it lol. The one I use is from Curad and it was inexpensive.  I bought mine from Amazon.com for about $16 (+shipping &handling). There is another popular brand called Bandit but this one is far more expensive. I believe it retail for about $72-$75. The curad has a good review so I thought I give it a try. 





    7. Exercise 

I know you probably thinking...WHAT?! Exercise when your uncomfortable and tired all the time? The answer is YES!!! Believe it or not...exercise is great when your pregnant. It help ease your fatigue, leg cramps, lower back pain and body aches. I bought 3 DVDs that helped me exercise in my pregnancy and I love them. You can also look into some videos on  youtube, there are a lot of people doing some pregnancy exercise. 






That's it...I know it's not a lot but these are things that make my pregnancy more comfortable. These items/products might or might not help you but I want to share what I know helps me and I hope it helps you too. 

And there are a few things you need to remember through out your pregnancy: 
1. Every pregnancy is different; so don't compare yours with your friends and family.
2. Keep an open mind; sometimes things don't happen the way you want it to.
3. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. It's great to ask your family and friends or referred to your book but asking your doctor is better and more accurate. 
4. Trust your instinct and listen to your body. You know your body the best; so listen to it no matter what everyone else said.  
5. It's ok to ask your partner for a massage or for help with house chores. He will be glad that he can ease your fatigue or discomfort. Besides it makes him feel that he's apart of the pregnancy too. 
6. Don't forget to sign-up for child birth class. This will help you and your partner get ready for the baby. 
7.  Enjoy every moment of your pregnancy. 


XOXO, 

Fay Ming 




  

Monday, July 7, 2014

June 2014 Favorites

I am so bad at updating my blog :( I need to do better. I can't believe we are in July already, that means I am behind at posting things already :( It's ok I will try to post more things from now on. Today I am going to talk about my June favorites. I don't have new favorites each month, even if I do usually it's 1 or 2 items. For the month of June however I have a lot; it's because I've been trying new stuff. Since it's a lot...lets get started. 1st I want to apologize if the picture is not very clear I don't have good lighting in my house. ok...here we go...

HAIR 

1.  Macadamia Deep Repair Masque



This is by far the best hair masque in the market for the price. I have tried from drugstore to high end (neutrogena. loreal, pantene, shu uemura, alterna, etc.) and none of them compare to this one. For $30 you definitely get your money's worth and you will be very satisfied. This masque is very hydrating, save for colored hair and smells really good. The other masque unfortunately is not very hydrating; especially for shu-uemura and alterna, whose price is more than this masque, I was expecting it to be more hydrating.  Needless to say I go back to this masque (this is my 2nd tub). 

2. CHI Silk Infusion


I know this product is very popular and I always hear about it but never try it until now. What was I thinking? This product is great, you hair feels soft and silky after you put this on. I used this product for about 3 months now and I love it. It doesn't matter if you have long or short hair this thing is a must have. I usually applied it to a towel dried hair. 

3. Dove Dry Shampoo 


A great drug store dry shampoo. It last all day, smell great and works very well. For $5 this is a steal. 

4. Bumble and Bumble Pret-a-Powder 


A great product from Bumble and Bumble. This powder works great and it does give you volume doesn't matter how many days you haven't wash your hair (my max is 3 days). I never smell anything so I don't think this powder have any fragrance to it.  Even though this powder cost $26, it's worth it. 

5. Bumble and Bumble Sumo Wax 


This wax hold any style you can think off. I love using this on curls because it separates it and give it a nice wave and texture. This product retail for $28.  


**I'm going to do Bumble and Bumble exclusive review on another post, so look forward to that one**

FACE

1. Skin Care

    A. Hanyul Products

Left to right: white chrysanthemum sun screen spf 50, Rice essential skin softener, Rice essential skin emulsion, white chrysanthemum powder serum, Seo Ri Tae anti-aging cream. 
This is my new favorite skin care line from South Korea; called Hanyul. The mother company for this line is Amore Pacific but this line has more affordable products. My skin is always hydrated and moist with this line but not greasy. I actually just ordered the Seo Ri Tae anti-aging cream in full size because I love it so much. The sun screen is great as well with high SPF 50 and it's non greasy. The serum is very interesting; it's actually a powder serum. You have to mix the powder in the bottle with a solution that it comes with and the serum is good for 3 months. Unfortunately these products can only be purchase online. 

    B. Toner: SK-ll Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 


This is a Japanese brand and I use it as a toner. Ever since I use this as a toner, I noticed that it has been helping out with my breakout. I still breakout but I do notice that it helped. Unfortunately this toner is very expensive at $70 for 5oz ( I think the price went up because I got mine for $60 at Sephora). 

    C. Skin Food Royal Honey Nutrition Massage Cream 


Skin Food is another Korean brand. They are known for natural ingredients in their products. I got this one when my friend went to Korea but you can buy them online as well. I use this product after I wash my face and I massage my face for about 5 minutes then wash it off. You then just go with your night time skin care routine. You will notice in am that your face feels smooth and refresh. This cream is now part of my night time skin care routine; I use it 2-3 times a week :)  

    D. Nature Republic Aloe Vera 


This product has a gel consistency. I use this when I have breakout and my face is red and inflamed. I usually use it during the night and the next morning my face is not swollen anymore and the redness is gone as well. This product also great for sunburn especially now that it's summer time. 

    E. Laneige Sleeping Pack 


I use this at night to give my face an extra moisture especially when I need a little extra boost. 

    F. Clean and Clear Acne Spot Treatment 


This is a great spot treatment for acne. I've been using this since I was a teenager and still great now. 

    G. Koh Gen Do Cleansing SPA Water Cloths


This cloths come in 3 packs with 10 sheets in each pack for a total of 30. It's a great product, removes make-up well including waterproof and it's organic (It's made without: sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs, triclosan). The down side? This cloth retail for $39. 

2. MAKE-UP

    A. BB Cream/Foundation 
        
        1. IOPE BB cushion


My color: C23
I love using BB cushion because it's quick and convenient. It's easy to apply and to re-apply as well. This BB cushion has a dewy finish and great coverage. 

        2. Laneige BB Cushion 


My color: No. 21 Natural Beige 
This BB cushion has a more matte finish compare to the other BB cushion with great coverage as well. 

        3. It Cosmetics CC cream 

My color: Medium 
This CC cream has a great coverage yet feels very light on the skin. 


**I will do a more extensive BB cushion and CC cream review in another post soon!**

    B. Concealer 

        1. TARTE Maracuja Creaseless Concealer

My color: Light Medium 
This is actually not a new favorite, this is my second tube. This concealer is great for under eye because it brightens and cover the dark circle very well. I  know some people don't use it to cover blemishes but I do and it covers it well. This concealer is also waterproof so it's great for summer time.  Retail at $24. 

        2. Giorgio Armani Maestro Eraser Dark Circle Concealer

My color: #4
This concealer is light weight and covers dark circle and blemishes very well. The down side is it's quiet pricey at $42 and it can be very messy due to it's thin consistency. 

        3. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit 


My color: Natural 
This is another great concealer for your under eye. It's a thicker consistency but does not crease if you set it with a powder that comes with it. This concealer retail at $35. 

        4. It cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-aging Concealer 

My color: Neutral medium 
This is a great concealer for under the eye. It's thin, it brightens, waterproof, and covers well. It will make  you look awake and fresh even if you actually not. This concealer retail for $24. 

       5. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness 


I am so glad that I discover this product. This concealer covers any redness like no other. I don't even have to use those green color primer and this concealer covers all kinds of redness. I breakout a lot and my face is red from inflammation and when I use this to cover it up, people compliment me on how good my skin looks :) Little that they know I have a big zits coming out and it's inflamed and red LOL. This concealer retail for $32 but trust me it's worth the money. A little goes a long way and it will last you a long time. I usually apply this with Sigma's Precision flat-P80 brush. 

        6. Cle De Peau Beaute Concealer 

My color: Ocher

I'm sure many of you heard a lot of great thing about this concealer. It is a great concealer because it covers well especially for under eyes dark circle. I wouldn't use it to cover blemishes because of it's thick consistency. I feel it won't let my skin breathe and that's bad for blemish prone skin. For $70, I won't buy this concealer again because I feel it comparable to Bobby Brown for half the price. I feel this is a luxury item that is good if you have the money to spend. The only reason I got this is because I got a gift certificate and I was curious about it. 

    C. Eyes 

        1. Banilla Co. Triple Wonder Auto Gel Liner 


My friend got me this when she went to S. Korea. Great eyeliner, waterproof and does not transfer when I tight line my upper waterline. I actually like this better than Urban Decay 24/7. You can smudge it when before it's dry and once it's dry, it won't budge. It comes with a sponge tip to smudge and a sharpener. I have this pencil in brown and gray; I need to get a black one ;) 

        2. Clinique Chubby Stick  

Color: Biggest Blossom
Stick eyeshadow is very convenient because you don't need a brush to apply it. It's also very creamy so it will last a long time (still use a primer for oily lid). Great for summer time and when you travel. This color is very pretty and natural. It's pink with a little bit of gold shimmer.  

        3. Innisfree Shadow Pencil 

Color: #6 
Another great eye shadow stick, this one is a S. Korean brand. Pretty orange color, great for summer time. I like to use this color on it's own with eyeliner and lipgloss and little bit of blush for a natural look. 


        4. Hypnose Drama Waterpfroof 

Color: Black 
This is my favorite mascara of all time. It gives you volume, hold curl, gives you a bit of length, does not transfer/smudge and it's waterproof. I've use this in non-waterproof formula and it does the same thing except it's not waterproof. Another thing I notice is that this mascara does not clump easily unless it's getting old and it's start to clump really bad. 

        5. Maybelline Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara

Color: Brown Black 
Another great mascara from Maybelline. I really love Maybelline's Falsies and this one is great as well. It holds curl and gives volume but it still looks natural. I use this on a daily basis for a natural look. I really think Maybelline has the greatest mascara selection from the drugstore brand. 
(P.S. I heard that Loreal has a great selection too but I can't use their mascara because it gives me allergies so I can't  use their products. From what I've tried from the drugstore, I like Maybelline mascaras the best.)

    E. LIPS   

        1. Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm 

Color: clear (original) 
The best and affordable lip balm on the market. My lips always dry and this lip balm is the only thing that keep it moist. I've tried other brand but I keep coming back to this one.  It is on the pricier side for a drug store lip balm but it's more affordable than my other favorite lip balm which is $22.50 (Fresh Sugar). 

        2. Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss and Blush 

Color: #7 Corail Affranchi and #5 Rouge Effrontee 

A very pretty matte lip balm. I like these two color at this time because it great for summer. Because of the matte finish it does makes your lips a bit dry so moisturize your lips and don't forget to exfoliate as well because this will make your dry lips obvious. You can use this as a blush as well but I use it mostly for the lips. 

        3.  Hanyul Ja Woon Dan: Moisturizing Curing Balm 


This is a multi purpose balm from S. Korea. I like to use this as a lip balm before a lipstick because it's thin and absorb quickly; leaving your lips soft and moisturize. I believe you can use the spatula it came with to get the product and apply it to other dry areas of your body (elbow, hands, etc. ). 


BODY

1. Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion 

Aloe Vera 
There are a lot of great drug store body lotion but I like this one the best. It's thin and absorb to the skin quickly; smell great too. For $5 it's definitely worth it. 
 
2. Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner
 

I use this on the day I'm a bit lazy. You just put this on in the shower and rinse it off. It has that oily feeling residue but it will go away after you towel dry your body. Your body feels nice afterwards and smell like roses too. Downside? If you don't have Lush close to your house it's hard to get a hold of this item and if you order online  you have to pay for shipping ($8-$10 to ship to my house). This tub is also cost about $30 something...I don't remember the exact price...sorry. 


That's it guys...I hope you find this useful somehow LOL. I know it's a lot of products but I don't do this every month unless I have about 5 products I can talk about. I also need to get better in posting stuff, it's because I've been so busy. I will do better at it :) Thank you for reading this blog and I will be posting some reviews regarding BB cushion and Bumble and Bumble products soon, so stay tuned. 



XOXO, 

Fay Ming