Holiday Gift Guide For Her 2015

Here it is! A Charm City Mrs Gift Guide for Her! Let’s get to the good stuff....

What They Don’t Tell You Before and After The Baby is Born

The hospital waiting game...

I wanted to hopefully help someone by listing some things that I felt I didn’t know, or didn’t know enough about, before having my baby...

Don’t bring a lot of things to the hospital - We’ve all done it. Go onto Pinterest, see dozens of pins about what people brought with them to the hospital. From cute nursing gowns, the perfect nursing pillow and personal hygiene products. I’m here to tell you the hospital will have 90% of the things you’ll need. I won’t lie, I brought the cute nursing gown. Didn’t wear it (I had my reasons). I wouldn’t bring a boppy (you’ll have a plethora of hospital pillows at your disposal). And as far as personal hygiene products, I bought a small bag that had travel essentials already in it. From deodorant, to shampoo and conditioner...even tissue! Bring your personal items (wallet etc.), laptop and/or iPad and a change of clothes to go home in. For the baby? Just a going home outfit and pacifier--see later point on this one. The carseat can stay in the car until it’s time to go home. The worst is when you bring too much and have to have your family or significant other make multiple trips to the car to bring things out before wheeling you out. If your significant other is staying overnight, they will need a change of clothes and minimal personal items. My husband went for a few runs so workout gear was essential for him.

Charm City Mrs A.M Skincare Routine for Dry/Combo Skin

Step 1:

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Face Wash - By far my all time favorite face wash. It is oh so gentle but still strong enough to remove makeup (even waterproof mascara). My skin feels clean, but not overly dry. Its is imperative in the morning to wash your face. It eliminates oils produced throughout the night, skin pollutants and preps your skin for your skincare regimen.

Step 2:

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - I have had 4 or 5 samples of this amazing eye cream. Each sample lasts a few weeks...it’s about time to invest in the full size. This is by far my favorite morning eye cream. It’s brightening and gives my eyes the pick up they need every morning.

Step 3:

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster - My morning serum. I have some redness on my cheeks. Nothing too extreme but something I want to try and keep under control. This is rather sticky and I find it doesn’t spread very easily. But one pump works for my concern areas. It absorbs extremely quickly so there is virtually no wait time between this and applying moisturizer.

Step 4:

L’Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Day/Night Cream - They have recently discontinued this product. So of course, I stocked up when they went on clearance. They have a similar day/night cream under the Youth Code umbrella now that is meant to be similar. Any type of moisturizer would work! Now, there isn’t any spf in this moisturizer. I usually rely on my everyday CC Cream which has an spf 50 to give me that protection.

Step 5:

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herb and Rosewater - And the final step is just a spritz of my favorite skin boosting spray! I also use this as a pick me up throughout the day. You can also use it to settle down powders after applying makeup. 

The whole routine takes me less than five minutes. I hop out of bed before the baby wakes up and get my routine out of the way before I get her up for the day. This little regimen makes a huge difference and after having whacky skin during my pregnancy, I’m finally finding a routine to get my skin back to where it used to be....maybe even a little better!

Watch out for my upcoming P.M skincare routine...

A Charm City Mrs. (short) Birth Story

Because I’m pretty sure I read through dozens of blogs describing birth stories...here’s another one for you expectant mothers or curious creatures...(don’t worry, I’ll keep it short)

Ok first, a backstory. I was told during my entire pregnancy that Charlotte was basically going to be toddler size at birth. It made sense. My husband and I were close to 10lbs each and large babies run in both of our families. So I was induced a week after my due date. The doctors at the hospital warned me of potential shoulder dystocia or even a broken clavicle. Two weeks before I gave birth I had an ultrasound that placed her at about the 8lb 14oz mark. At this point, my doctor and midwife were concerned about her size and needed to get her out. I wanted to wait it out to see if she would come on her own...she didn’t.

....fast forward two weeks later and 21 hours of labor...and I have a beautiful baby girl. Who only weighed 8lb 1 oz!! Needless to say we were very surprised. So lesson #1... never trust the ultrasound!

I started induction at 8am on a Friday. I was put on cytotec (to soften the cervix) first, then pitocin. I knew going the ‘natural way’ just wasn’t for me (no hate). Note: it is true, pitocin contractions are more intense than without. And then it was epidural time. I still wasn’t dilated enough so the waiting game began (tip: bring things to keep you occupied). All I can say is thank goodness I have an amazing husband who kept me entertained...and also that there was a Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family. 

At one point, the epidural was just not cutting it, so I had the anesthesiologist whack it up a bit more --- do not be afraid to be honest with them about your level of pain! I could still feel the contractions, but they were just dulled down. You want to be able to feel the contraction so you know when to push.

 It wasn’t time to push until 5am Saturday morning. I had zero sleep...because who can sleep with all of that anticipation? Also because I developed an infection so was on oxygen and having my blood pressure taken every 10 minutes, who can sleep? So after 21 hours...I pushed for 10 minutes. And thank goodness. Of course the nurses tell me some women push for hours! ...hours? Really? Anyway, cue the waterworks. Without a doubt, it is the most amazing moment you will ever experience. To see this beautiful being for the first time and holding her in your arms. It is absolute heaven. 

Stay tuned for my list of things they don’t tell you about at the hospital or when you get home with your new bundle of joy!

Current Favorites November 2015

Being the mother of a 5 month old...my beauty routine has seriously been edited. I no longer have the luxury of taking however much time I need!

I’ve really begun focusing more on skincare and investing in amazing products that really pack a punch. With makeup, I look for lightweight, quick to apply products that will last all day and don’t require a lot of maintenance.


1 - Clinique Acne Solutions BB Cream ($38, Sephora) 

      This BB Cream is super watery but the coverage is amazing! The best coverage of any BB or CC cream I have ever tried! Tip: blend with fingers (and quickly!)

2- Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($105, Sephora)

Quite the investment, but after using this for a few weeks, my skin has never looked better! You wake up to super supple and hydrated skin. The scent takes getting used to, and yes, it does apply blue but absorbs quickly. 

3- Tony Moly Coconut Face Mask ($7.50/2, Sephora)

The most amazing sheet mask....ever! I love this line from Tony Moly. If you have dry skin, you need this mask in your life! Plus, the coconut smell is out of this world. And for the price, maybe grab 4 or 5!

4- Sephora Total Age Defy Cream for Eyes & Lips ($26, Sephora)

A great all around eye cream. I typically use this at night as I’m testing out a n A.M eye cream. Eye area always feels plumped and hydrated in the morning. I think Sephora’s in-house skincare brand is way underrated!

5- YSL Babydoll mascara ($32, Sephora)

I’m not usually a fan of plastic bristle brushes...but this completely changes my mind. Amazing volume, staying power and holds a curl!

6- Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rose ($22.50, Sephora)

The best mess free wash of color and amazing hydration. The entire line of colors is outstanding...but Rose is the best everyday ‘your lips but better’ color.

7- Tarte Stroke of Midnight Brush Set ($44, Sephora)

Tarte’s Holiday 2015 brush set...an amazing value and also contains my new favorite foundation brush! For reference, the airbrush finish foundation brush on it’s own is $34.

Where Have I Been?

I had a baby!

Welcome Charlotte Grace Elizabeth...

As of the end of October she is 5 months old! 

Needless to say the last year has been a whirlwind of life changes with our big move back to Charm City and quickly finding out we were expecting!

Thank you for bearing with me as I start to, let’s say, re-launch CharmCityMrs. I’m so excited to get back into my blog...but with one change. I’d like to shift it’s focus to more of a lifestyle blog. Instead of focusing (almost) solely on beauty products...I’m going to start writing a lot more about things going on in my life at the moment ... such as building our new house and raising my precious babe.

 Look out for new and interesting posts to give you insight into the life of a new mom trying to do it all! (hint: caffeine is a big part of this success story...)

Stila in the Light -- Quick Neutral Eye

Kitten (second from top left) on inner third of lid, Bubbly (first on bottom row) on outer two thirds. Mix of Bliss and Sunset (third and fourth on top row) on outer v and into the crease. Kitten and Bubbly smudged on lower lash line.

Such a simple but eye catching look because of the gorgeous shimmer in Stila’s Kitten. Deepen the outer v with the bronzy copper of Sunset to really makes light eyes pop!