As a second time nursing mom, I have to say this time around is so much easier! I nursed my first son for 8 months and have been nursing my second for about 5 months now.  I wanted to share my top 10 must haves for nursing moms because they have made nursing so much simpler for me.  Nursing is a lot of work and I’ve spent a lot of time researching products, reading reviews and searching for the must haves for nursing moms.  I hope this list of must haves for nursing moms helps make your nursing experience a rewarding one.

Top 10 Must Haves for Nursing Moms

1. Hands Free Breast Pump Bra – Yes, this is a must have for nursing moms!  It will allow you to multi-task while you are pumping throughout the day.  I love this pumping bra from Simple Wishes.

2. Nursing Tops – Nursing tops make nursing in public so much easier. I love layering nursing tops with cardigans.  That way you can still pull off a trendy look and you can have easy access when your little one is ready to eat!  This is another one of my favorite nursing top cardigans.

3. Breast Pads – My favorite brand of breast pads is Lansinoch.  I tried several types, but found these to be the most comfortable and a great price.

4. Milk Storage Bags – Again, I’ve tried several brands but my favorite milk storage bags are Lansinoch.  *TIP* Store your milk bags flat until they are frozen, then use a box (I like to use my empty Keurig K-Cup boxes) and cut off the top half so that the bags stand up nicely in the box.

5. Nursing Cover – Another must have for nursing moms is a good nursing cover.  I have the Bebe au Lait cover and it works great to keep us covered while nursing in public.

6. Nursing Bras – There are many nursing bras on the market and I’d suggest just trying them on. I purchased my bras from Motherhood Maternity because we have a retail store near us.  I love this daytime nursing bra and this nighttime nursing bra. Remember the key to nursing bras is comfort.*TIP*Wait to purchase your nursing bras until after you’ve had the baby.  You will be a completely different size once your milk comes in…so wait!

7. Boppy Pillow – I use my boppy pillow every time I nurse my son, therefore I think it’s a must have for nursing moms.  It boosts your baby up a little and makes nursing more comfortable.

8. Burp Cloths – This is for sure a must have for nursing moms if your babies are anything like mine!  They loved to spit up.  I go through probably 10 burp cloths a day.  I prefer the cheap, I think they are Babies R Us brand, burp cloths.  Opt for thin ones because they lay well on your shoulder and don’t fall off.

9. Water – And lots of it! Staying hydrated is probably one of the most important things for nursing moms to do.

10. Pump – The last must have for nursing moms is a pump.  I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and used it for my first child and am now using it for my second. I’m sure there are newer models on the market, such as cordless pumps(which would be so nice)…but I didn’t want to spend the money to upgrade since this pump still works perfectly.

I hope these 10 must haves for nursing moms makes your life a little easier.  I’ve done a lot of trial and error with products for my kids and am happy to have found some great ones that I highly recommend to you while nursing.

Sometimes a girl needs a little “pick me up”, especially when it’s a Monday morning!  For a fun way to glam up your day, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a few great fashion quotes.  Here’s to hoping you have a fabulous day!

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”
—Yves Saint Laurent

“I can’t concentrate in flats!”
—Victoria Beckham

“Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”
—Alexander Wang

“The most important thing to remember is that you can wear all the greatest clothes and all the greatest shoes, but you’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside. That’s what’s really going to make you look like you’re ready to rock the world.”
—Alicia Keys

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.”
—Christian Louboutin

“I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet.”
—Carrie Bradshaw

We just celebrated my sister’s 30th birthday and we had so much fun coming up with 30th birthday party ideas. We chose to do a black, white and silver color scheme. Here are some of the 30th birthday party ideas that we decided to use for her party.

1. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Mason Jar Drinks

Creating mason jar drinks is really simple.  First if you don’t already have the mason jars, pick them up at your local grocery store, kmart or amazon.com. Second, buy cupcake liners and punch a hole in the center.  Third, purchase decorative straws for your mason jar drinks…believe me…it adds a lot of style! Lastly, decide on what drink you want to make in your mason jars.  I chose sangria…but you could make anything you’d like.

2. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Picture Story Board

This picture story board turned out to be such a neat idea and the perfect 30th birthday party idea.  You simply pull together as many photos as you’d like and tape them together in the shape of a 30 (or whatever birthday you are celebrating). I decided to turn all the photos black and white, but you certainly do not have to do that.

3. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Wine Bottle Candle Centerpiece

Lining your table with wine bottles and candles makes a dramatic centerpiece and stunning when the candles are lit.  We opted for a white table cloth over the table and a black table runner on top of that.  We also added a few decorative pieces to it.

4. 30th Birthday Party Idea: Float Balloons with Lights in a Pool

Floating balloons with lights in a pool is absolutely stunning, as you can see. We also added candles around the edge of the pool to create a cozy ambiance.

5. 30th Birthday Party Idea:  Create Food Name Tags

Creating food name tags as a birthday party idea is great because it not only looks awesome, it allows your guests to know exactly what they are eating.  Have fun creating your food name tags, there is endless options when you design them.  I purchased all my supplies at Michael’s.

6. 30th Birthday Party Ideas: Hang Mason Jars

Hanging mason jars with candles in them is also a really fun birthday party idea.  Mason jars can be hung from umbrellas, like we did or they can be hung from trees.

I hope these 30th birthday party ideas help you in planning your party.  If you have any questions, leave us a comment!

This past weekend was spent being surrounded by my amazing friends and family in celebration of my 30th Birthday. My family put together an incredible party all from pins on my Pinterest board. From the food to the decor, everything was simply perfect. It was a wonderful evening that I will never forget. Just to be sure here are just a few of the photos from the evening’s celebrations.

P.S. You can find Jodie’s gorgeous purple bauble necklace here.

Happy New Year from ChiChi Collections!

2012 was an amazing year. There were many personal, professional and family milestones that we accomplished this year. We have loved being able to share many of these moments with our supporters. We are so grateful for all of your support and we are even more excited about even bigger things to come in 2013. Happy New Year from us to you!

New Year’s Eve is today and we haven’t quite nailed down our plans yet. However, whether we decide to get dressed up in festive sparkles or lay low with friends here are a few of my favorite jewelry accessories that are perfect for any type of  celebration! Adding some of these pieces to your collection will prepare you for the next last minute celebration.

Do you have go to celebration jewelry that works for any occasion?

One of my favorite holiday events of the year is the Christmas Boat Parade that we attend. It truly puts me in the Christmas spirit. Every year people decorate their boat and parade around while thousands of people watch on the shore! We have so much fun cruising around, eating great food and enjoying holiday drinks.

Here are a few photos. Enjoy!

We celebrated my dad’s birthday recently which gave us another reason for the entire family to get together! We had so much fun just hanging around my parents house eating pizza, drinking wine and enjoying the celebration. I always love the time I can spend with my little nephew, Cooper. Sometimes it’s fun to just be a kid again. Am I right?

Here are a few pictures of us just having fun.

In these pictures I am wearing one of my favorite ChiChi Collections necklaces which just recently sold out. See here in this post. I am actually just wearing one of the strands in this picture with my new favorite Bordeaux pants and a top from a boutique that is no longer in business.

As I mentioned we are currently sold out of this statement pearl necklace, but I have a new pearly necklace on my radar. This necklace from ChiChi Collections has been one of our #1 sellers and one we have to keep trying to get back in stock. It features five-strings of pearls in copper rose, white and ivory hues. Wear it with everything from sophisticated blouses and pencil skirts to that little black dress with posh pumps.

This pearl necklace is the Perfect gift for the Girly Girl this holiday season!

Taupe Dress = Sheer Excitement!

I was so excited when my good friend and her husband were able to get a babysitter and invited us to a night out for dinner and drinks! My husband and I are one of the few remaining without kids and find it challenging to see our friends as often as we’d like.

We headed out downtown to one of our favorite places to eat, Ford’s Garage. I have mentioned in before, but it is an amazing place to grab a burger and beers with an even more amazing atmosphere. Plus, even though I am a crazy health nut I absolutely love their pork mac and cheese. YUM!

Anyways, I was so excited when my friend showed up in this Sheer Inspiration dress from ChiChi Collections. Not only did she look fabulous, but it just made me feel so blessed to have friends that support me and ChiChi Collections. This Sheer Inspiration dress is elegant yet playful which made it easy for her to wear to her 10 year reunion as well as a night out with us. This taupe dress is flat at the bodice and its pleats flow with flair across the A-line skirt. This taupe dress features an asymmetrical hem and black waist tie. She paired this with cute black wedges and a brought along a black cardi for when the sun went down.

I was bummed to realized I didn’t get a full length picture of her taupe dress, but here is one from the evening!  Please ignore the fact that  I look like I am a little too bundled up for Florida, but it was freezing that night as we had cocktails at the roof top bar.

Who else loves this taupe dress?

This past weekend we headed back to St. Louis to attend a family wedding. It was such a fun weekend full of time spent with family and friends. We had a blast at the wedding and also enjoyed spending time at a local winery, eating my all time favorite – Imo’s Pizza and relaxing by the fireplace.

Here is a picture from the wedding. I wore a ChiChi Collections dress (no longer available) and my all time favorite necklace.  Also worn here and here!