Little Pleasures

The peachy glow that filters through the window each morning

Glam-tastic golden flats with edgy, spiky ankle straps

Fresh flowers to remind me that spring isn't too far away

Baby Bee's sweet little fingers and toes

Pretty stationery with my new favorite symbol on it

Totally Honest

Have you heard of The Honest Company?  It's an online company that Jessica Alba founded in 2012.  They specialize in non-toxic, eco-friendly products for the home, baby, and body care.  I ordered their Diaper Discovery Kit (pictured above) about 4 months ago, and have been hooked ever since. 

You would think that safe, eco-friendly products (especially diapers) would be too expensive to buy on a monthly basis. But, I find that they are absolutely affordable / comparable to conventional diapers for about $80/month. The Diaper Bundle option that we have comes with six 36-count packs of diapers, from which I choose different stylish designs. Their fantastic Honest Wipes* are great for diaper changes, cleaning toys, and freshening Bee up after messy meals. I recently discovered that they are SUPER at removing makeup...

We also get their Essentials Bundle, which allows you to pick and choose five household items (from laundry detergent to fruit and veggie wash) for under $40. I especially love their hand soap which has a lovely tangerine scent, and the body oil is great because it absorbs quickly, and has light and sweet coconut fragrance.

The best part is that shipping is FAST--I'm talking next-day service!   

Give them a try!  You won't be disappointed.   

*For a limited time, you get a month's supply for the life of your membership when you order the Diapers Bundle.

Here's That Rainy Day

(Stormy Clouds Above My Neighborhood)

Falling rain is one of my favorite sounds (Baby Bee's giggle is tops). Somehow, I woke up at 3am yesterday and heard the rapid tap of water against the window. Instead of being annoyed that I was up so early, I relished the sound, pulled the duvet tightly around me, and let the raindrops lull me back to sleep.

This storm system will be in LA until Monday, and I think I can handle the dreary weather for the next few days. Growing up in Southern California has spoiled me... Anything longer than four days of rain is depressing. How about you? Do you love rainy days?

Forget Me Not Necklaces

I have never really been that big on jewelry, especially necklaces.  Yet, over the years, my collection of baubles has grown substantially.  From cheeky faux pearls, to Chanel-inspired chains, there's a lot going on. 

Nailed It!

Sally Hansen "Misbehaved" Nail Polish Strips

As a new mom, I'm learning the art of "the juggle". Truthfully, I don't believe there's a balance... Sometimes you give 100% to your family, and that's it for a week (or month).

Pumped Up Kicks

Shoes: Wanted

I try to keep an open mind when it comes to fashion. Designing clothes, accessories, etc. is an art form. However, art is subjective. To each her own, as it were. So, I have to say that I really can't get behind a current shoe trend: sneaker wedges.  I jumped into the fray, and went to try some on today, but they just didn't work out.

Why? They make no sense to me. We women wear both styles of shoes for comfort, and they do their jobs well. A wedge gives you height, glamour, and some comfort. A sneaker gives you comfort and a cool air. There is no need to combine the two.

I felt the same way about cage heels when they were everywhere about 3 years ago. Today, I don't mind them so much. Yet, I don't think my mind will change on the wedge sneaks... No matter how many years go by. Maybe you have to be 17-at-heart to appreciate them. I'm playing the old lady card.

What do you think?  Are they a "do" or a "don't"?

Update: (5/19: Some vindication for my opposition! Lucky magazine agrees that sneaker wedges are over.)

Bookish

Have you read all of the books in your bookcase?  Although I wish that were true for me, there are several books on my shelves that I haven't read yet. Over the last year, life has gotten so busy (Hello Bee!) that I just haven't had much time to curl up with a good book.  Six months ago, I read the 50 Shades Trilogy, which were fun and easy to get through during nursing and nap time.

Next on my list is J.K. Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, and I really hope to get to it soon.  Reading is truly an indulgent pleasure!  What's next on your reading list?

P.S.  Have you heard of Good Reads?  I learned of it on Elephantine, and I think I'm going to join... It might keep me motivated to read more often.

Freshly Minted

T-Shirt: StyleMint / Jeans: Old Navy

Belt: Gap (previous season)

Shoes: Nicole Miller (previous season)

Jacket: Urban Outfitters (similar) / T-Shirt: StyleMint 

Cords: Old Navy / Shoes: Bandolino (previous season)

Cap: Burberry (previous season) / T-Shirt: StyleMint 

Jeans: Old Navy / Shoes: PF Flyers 

Although I love dressing in a feminine way by wearing lovely dresses and skirts, I'm pretty casual at heart... Nothing beats a jeans and a t-shirt.  

I recently ordered three t-shirts from Stylemint, and pulled together the looks above using the shirts and other pieces from my closet. It's great when you can feel comfortable and look stylish in such classic and basic elements.

Abeille Bakes: Blondies

Do you ever crave caramel-chocolately goodness?  Well, you should try this blondie recipe.  It is incredibly easy, and delicious to boot.  While some blondie purists say that you should never add chocolate to the base, I have to disagree... when in doubt, add chocolate!

Cold Shoulder

Having a cold is the worst. I started feeling symptoms about 10 days ago, and so did my hubby. We kept our fingers crossed that Baby Bee would stay healthy, and she did, for a while.

On Thursday morning, she had a runny nose, and then her symptoms over the next few days grew worse. This was her very first cold, and so you can just imagine how troubling it was to watch our normally energetic, joyful, and happily hungry baby change to a lethargic, feverish, and sad one. She wouldn't eat, and that was rough.

We looked in our parenting book, and online for what to do for her. Hubby went to several stores to find a humidifier and to Walgreens at 5am on Sunday to buy saline drops for her nose. However, I believe that your instincts and guidance from the pediatrician are the best tools at your disposal. Basically, I had to think about how I feel when I have a cold or fever: Food is the furthest thing from my mind, and all I want to do is rest.

So, that's what Bee did. She rested a lot. She nursed when she wanted, and ate a few bites of food. When we took her to the pediatrician, her fever had broken. She got a clean bill of health other than her cold, which should clear up in a few days. We bought her "baby Gatorade" (Pedialyte), and she's doing really well. Her appetite is almost back to normal, and I will breathe a huge sigh of relief once her cough is gone, and her nose stops running.

We are so thankful that she's getting better. So, my only question is, "When do I get to rest up?" I'm still sick too!

My Little Bee

Welcome to Abeille! I dedicate this first post to my baby girl, who inspired me to write this blog.  While learning the ropes as a first-time mom, I looked online for support and encouragement. I discovered some great blogs, most notably  A Cup of Jo, which always gave me a positive place to go for honest discussion about the highs and lows of motherhood.  

Now, I didn't only just want to read about being a mother... I also wanted to find out what was going on in fashion, literature, art, photography, and food.  There are heaps of great blogs out there, and instead of just reading blogs, I thought, why don't I start one? So, after several months of thinking about it, here's my mine, Abeille.