Isn’t it a wonderful feeling as a mother when you find a company that you love AND you can stand behind? Apple Park’s motto is “Our products are not only safe for small ones, they are good for the whole Earth”. It truly doesn’t get better than that. Their entire collection, from plush toys to towels, is not only beautiful but organic and environmentally friendly.
I’m honored to share with you the debut of their layette collection. When I first received the collection I was floored by the textures and how soft each piece was. As I washed (and washed and washed..) the layette, the colors remained vibrant and just got softer. The delicate color palette and patterns are just gorgeous. I think Lillie Sol loves them too 😉
Although I am partial to the entire collection my absolute favorite are the sleeping gowns. I used to put Lucas in gowns and now they are a favorite of mine for Lillie. There’s something so sweet and innocent about a baby in a sleeping gown! From now until April 17th receive 15% your entire order by using the code ‘LL15’!
This post is in collaboration with Apple Park. Thank you for supporting the brands I love and trust!
A little late, I know, but I wanted to share these photos of our Easter Sunday. We spent the morning sipping on coffee in our pjs and watching Lucas delight over his Easter basket. He had been asking for a chocolate bunny for weeks and I think he was pretty pleased. After a slow and lovely morning we headed to Brooklyn for a family dinner. Shortly after we arrived we set up an egg hunt for Lucas (which he LOVED) and Lillie was thrilled to chew on his eggs after he collected all his loot. The holidays are just so special when you have kids and it just makes you take a step back and reflect. All the work and love my mother put into creating special memories that I will cherish forever and now it has come full circle. Here I am prepping and creating baskets, planning an egg hunt, making sure we have a specific chocolate bunny, all to see my child smile. I hope they both remember these days forever.
I hope you all had a blessed holiday with your loved ones and from my family to yours we are wishing you so much love!
You know when there’s a brand that just suits your children’s personality? Whether it be the colors, designs, or fabric – it’s just a perfect fit and becomes your go to. That’s how I feel about Children of the Tribe. With a bohemian feel and amazing shapes that allow your kids to move and feel like KIDS. Yeah. I’m in love.
Spring in NYC. Pretty much the best (after Fall of course ;). As soon as that warm breeze hits the air, I am itching to be out of the house every day. My very favorite place to go with the kids is Central Park. The Conservatory in particular is absolutely stunning with it’s fountains, gardens, and maze-like pathways which Lucas loves to run through. I got to have a play date there last week with H&M, Heymama, and one of my very best friends in the world (since we were 11 you guys!). Pretty sweet! Viviana, the babies, and I all wore H&M and just walked around the park. It was perfect. I’m obsessed with this seasons selects at H&M (that red dress is my absolute fave and it was only $20. I mean…) and they have always been my go-to for staples for the entire family.
The best part of the afternoon was watching our little girls kiss and interact and of course seeing all the beautiful blossoms popping up. There is nothing better than beautiful, pink covered trees. Trust me on this!
Heymama asked Viviana and I to take a little friendship quiz and it was so much fun. You can read our answers below:
Nicole
+ What do you love most about your friend?
She’s incredibly loyal and the most amazing mother to her three girls.
+ What do you think she appreciates most about you?
Our ability to get together at any point and pick up right where we left off.
+ Her favorite thing about you is?
My honesty and our trust in each other.
+ Best memory of you and your kids together?
The day she came with her daughters to visit me the day Lucas was born. To see her children hold my baby was a surreal, perfect moment.
+ How are your parenting styles different?
I actually think we are pretty similar in that we both have similar approaches and are pretty traditional. I think she might have the disciplining thing down to a science and I’m still learning!
+ Best piece of parenting advice she’s ever given you?
Patience and how to discipline with love.
+ How would she describe herself in three words?
Funny, strong, loving
+ How does she react to her kids tantrums?
Viviana has the patience of a saint and is able to be firm yet remain incredibly calm.
+ Name her favorite tv show? Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?
Sex and the City. Any of the Housewives.
+ Funniest thing she’s ever done?
We have so many hilarious moments that we’ve shared. We’ve been friends for 20 years (crazy!) so we have been through it all together.
+ If you spend a date together with your kids, what would she want to do most?
Take the kids out to explore NYC. We’d go to the Central Park Zoo and then eat authentic Chinese food.
+ If your friend could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Fiji!
+ Most perfect day for your friend “sans kids”?
A day at the spa then out for dinner, dancing, and drink with her girlfriends. A mama can dream!
+ What’s a guilty pleasure she wouldn’t want to admit?
Lots of wine!
+ Who is your friends style icon?
Kate Moss
+ If she could be anyone for a day who would it be?
Sofia Vergara
Viviana
+ What do you love most about your friend?
Her ability to stop and take a second to capture all the beautiful moments life has to offer, because lets face it how many of us value the little details of every day life.
+ What do you think she appreciates most about you?
The fact that I am always honest with her, no matter how big or small the situation is, I will always give her an honest response.
+ Her favorite thing about you is?
Being able to text me at any time for an on the spot recipe!!
+ Best memory of you and your kids together?
The best memory of the kids together has to be when we surprised Lucas and picked him up from school one day. He was so happy to see us and the girls were so excited they were able to visit his school.
+ How are you parenting styles different?
It all sums up to city life vs the suburbs.
+ Best piece of parenting advice she’s given you?
Telling me not to give up on breastfeeding and encouraging me to keep going even when I felt i couldn’t continue.
+ How would she describe herself in three words?
Funny, Classy, Trendy
+ How does she react to her kids tantrums?
Even if she wanted to scream her head off you would never know, she is always super calm with them and some how seems to talk them into realizing they made a wrong choice.
+ Name her favorite tv show? Favorite guilty pleasure tv show?
Sex and the City. Love and Hip Hop.
+ Funniest thing she’s ever done?
We were at one of the saddest get togethers imaginable but you can always count on your bestie for a good laugh. Nicole was pumping and her milk was spilling out everywhere. She peeked out of the bedroom desperately looking for the first female in the room to come help her. She was soaked!
+ If you spend a date together with your kids, what would she want to do most?
Have a picnic in Central Park.
+ If your friend could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Dubai
+ Most perfect day for your friend “sans kids”?
Sleep in, wake up to fresh iced coffee in bed, followed by a lunch date with her closest girlfriends. Return home, take a nap, wake up and get ready for a low key dinner date with the hubs.
+ What’s a guilty pleasure that she wouldn’t want to admit?
One word: chocolate! Hahaha!
+ If your friend could have one wish what would it be?
To one day own a brownstone on the upper east side.
+ Who is your friend’s style icon?
Audrey Hepburn
+ If she could be anyone for a day who would it be?
The Spring cleaning itch hit me hard this year. And not just the sorting out clothes and organizing bug, but the “let’s brighten this house up!” kind of itch. I wanted more feminine touches and lighter, airier feel and I really think I succeeded. Sometimes all it takes is a new piece of art and few key pieces to really change things up.
One of the many, many perks of living in NYC – absolutely amazing parties in the best parks. Seriously. It does not get better than this. Last weekend we headed down to the East Village to celebrate sweet Lucien’s 3rd birthday party. It was super hero themed and Lucas was pretty stoked to be Kid Flash. There was pizza, cake, and in true NYC fashion – live guitar playing right in the middle of the playground. The weather was perfect and it was a sweet taste of the magical Spring weekends to come.
On a side note, that black book bag in the photos? It’s our new XLR8 Diaper Bag. I wanted to mention it here because I’m obsessed. Ready for this? Besides the standard diaper bag features (changing mat, tons of storage, insulated pockets) it has a CHARGING STATION. AND A SPEAKER. Say what?! So you can be our of the house all day and charge your phones on the go (when your battery dies after taking 1000 pics of the kids ;). The speaker has been amazing for our family picnics. Who doesn’t love music in the park?
I have always dreamed of the day when I would match my little girl. I have absolutely no shame and have certainly tried to pull this off with Lucas but there’s something so sweet about sharing my style with Lillie. So here we are, my very first mami + mini post! Our very first pair of matching shoes! These are from Avarcas and I’m obsessed! I have always been a high fan of Pons, they are beautiful AND comfortable and our matching pair is perfect for Spring and Summer. Excuse my while I go peruse the internets for more matchy matchy attire. I’m thinking denim skirts!
My family just had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with Guess Factory…I have been a Guess girl since I was a teenager frolicking around NYC with my girlfriends. Guess has always made me feel feminine and beautiful and I might have freaked out a little at the chance to work together!
It’s officially March and I’m dreaming of Spring. Who’s with me? I can close my eyes and smell the grass, the warm breeze, and hear Lucas’s squeals as he runs through the park. I miss the beautiful flowers blooming in Central Park and our family picnics. Lillie was born in August and we had a short but sweet taste of what life would be like as a family of four come the warmer days. No bulky jackets and layers upon layers, missing mittens, and kids who want to rip off hats even when it’s 10 degrees outside. I’m pretty over running home to avoid the cold after school pick up is done and anxiously awaiting Ivan to get home. I love being active with the kids and there are so many adventures awaiting us – museum dates, exploring Central Park (because even though I have lived in NYC my entire life there are always new pockets to be discovered), Lillie experiencing the feeling of grass between her bitty toes, and lots and lots of pop-pops (as Lucas calls them) from the ice cream truck. I am waiting for our little apartment to be flooded with delicious light and for the windows to be cracked open letting in that glorious Spring breeze. I want the sun to hit our cheeks. I want my freckles to come back. Spring, we are ready.
