Photographer Collab: Orange Sunshine Photo

Blogging has really been a true adventure the last two months. I have had a couple collaborations thus far that I have been so excited about and so grateful for. This collaboration has definitely been the most fun and most unique of them so far. 

Cristina reached out to me only a couple weeks after I started my Instagram page asking to do a collaboration with me. After talking with her and looking through her work I knew this was going to be an amazing opportunity. Her work and editing is TRULY unique and incredible!! She also models and designs herself!! I was super excited to work with her. 

A few weeks after our initial discussion we finally picked a date and met. She took me to an AMAZING spot in Edgewater by the George Washington Bridge and Hudson River. I am not going to disclose exact location as I will leave that up to her to reveal to her clients. (It's that beautiful). She brought two of her own dresses with her (the one I am wearing in the two photo's above) and I also brought my own outfits with me as well. She made me feel SOOOOOO comfortable guys. She directed me and posed me perfectly. She chose beautiful spots to take shots and made sure it looked perfect. You can tell she takes a lot of pride in her work.

Cristina's editing is honestly to die for. I mean, I don't think I need to explain it because you can just see it in her work. It really looks like it should be in a magazine. I wish I could just bring her a lot with me for every blog post! lol. 

I highly recommend checking her work out. I promise you it will be some of the most unique set of photos you will take!! Below I will link her website and social media platforms.

THANK YOU CRISTINA for collabing with me. It was truly such an honor. 

Thank you for reading!! 

Alexi xo. 

CRISTINA'S PAGES!

-Website: CLICK HERE 

-Instagram: @Cristinaskyler CLICK HERE 

- Photography Instagram: @OrangeSunshinePhoto CLICK HERE 

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Orangesunshinephoto/

Pink Blush Collab!!

Finally, I am able to show you guys my Collaboration and Brand Ambassadorship with Pink Blush (Click Here For Pink Blush Site)!!! Guys, this was a dream brand to be able to collab with and I wanted to give their brand justice by getting great pictures. I happened to collab with an AMAZING photographer to give me the best pictures of what Pink Blush sent me (There will be a separate blog ALL about the photographer I used for this shoot as well.) SO let me go ahead and share the two items they sent me :) 

The first item I received from Pink Blush is this adorable black striped colorblock ruffle sleeve top. This top is a fall ESSENTIAL GUYS!!! Black and white stripes during the fall is a personal favorite. I really love how the entire neckline is completely black and the little ruffles at the end of the sleeves just makes this top so sweet. I also have to add how incredibly soft and comfortable this top is. I decided to pair this top with black ripped maternity jeans ALSO by Pink Blush (purchased myself), thigh high heeled boots, and a black hat. Slap on a bold lip color and you are fall ready!! Go ahead and put on a cute pair of black booties or black over the knee boots for some extra comfort. :) 

-This top is also available in navy blue and grey. 

Pink Blush also sent me this gorgeous blue pinstripe off the shoulder top. Besides the adorable bell sleeves and the off the shoulder look....what's so great about this top is it could be worn in ANY season. I paired this top with the same black ripped jeans and a pair of black booties... but throw on a pair of white jeans with sandals or wedges and you have yourself a spring/summer look! 

I can't say enough good things about how cute Pink Blush clothes are!!! These tops are SUCH good quality and they are such an amazing brand!! They are super quick with shipping, CONSTANTLY have great sales, and you KNOW their customer service is amazing when they offer free return shipping. You can tell this company takes great pride in their products. Let me just add as well....BEST MATERNITY JEANS EVER!!!! I seriously think I am going to bring them to my seamstress to make these into NON-maternity jeans once I'm no longer pregnant...that's how much I love them lol. (Can you even do that?).

I will have links to both tops and maternity jeans linked below!! Thank you so much for reading.

Love,

Alexi x0

Photographer: Follow @CristinaSkyler @Orangesunshinephoto 

DIRECT LINKS:

-Black Striped Color Block Ruffle Sleeve Top: CLICK HERE

-Blue Pinstripe Off the Shoulder Top: CLICK HERE

-Maternity Jeans (purchased these myself). They don't have them in black anymore but they have them other amazing colors : CLICK HERE

-Another option for the black jeans : CLICK HERE

Product Review: Luli Bebe Diaper Bag!

The Luli Bebe Diaper bag aka THE HOLY GRAIL diaper backpack. Let me just tell you guys, this product right here is what really inspired me to start blogging. Let me give you a tiny back story: So I was on my personal Instagram account one night when I saw one of my favorite mommy's on Instagram. @Zi.__ ( if you don't already follow her you should!) post about a giveaway she was doing with Luli Bebe. Figuring I would give it a shot, I entered as I have been DYING for this diaper bag forever. Turns out I ended up winning the giveaway!! (Yes guys, real people actually win these giveaways. You won't win if you don't enter!) I was literally crying!! lol. Luli Bebe and Zi were SOOO sweet. When I received this baby in the mail, I almost fell to the floor and KNEW this needed to be a product review post for my blog. Anyway, let's get to it. 

So besides this bag being gorgeous, there are so many other great things about it. First of all it is made of vegan leather and is stain resistant. It features two hooks at the top where you can hook a large strap they include to give you the option to wear it over the shoulder AND they also provide you with stroller straps! It doesn't stop there as they also include a changing pad!  There are so many compartments on the inside for diapers, snacks, bottles, and whatever else you need. The backpack straps are also adjustable! It features two pockets on the side for sippy cups and bottles as well as front pocket with a zipper and magnet button. 

Before this diaper backpack I owned a JuJu Bee diaper bag and an Itzy Ritzy diaper bag. This bag, in my opinion, blew them out of the water. Juju Bee diaper backpacks are absolutely adorable, but there is not enough space inside. By the time my son was 5 months I ran out of room to put stuff in there! I then turned to the Itzy Ritzy diaper backpack which was also very cute but not really my style. I liked the features it had and how big it was, but I hated the way the bag opened up. Everything would spill out if I opened it too wide which drove me nuts. The Luli Bebe diaper backpack in the style Monaco  is the perfect mix of the things I liked about my past two bags...and even better!! 

This bag comes in 5 different beautiful colors: Black, Latte (a nude color), Pastel Pink, Pearl White, and my personal favorite, Stone Grey. Luli Bebe also sells two other different style diaper bags that are just as gorgeous!!! 

It's an honor to be a brand ambassador for this amazing company. They are seriously one of the sweetest companies ever and have excellent customer service!! You can use my discount code Alexi25 for 25% percent off your orders!! (Be aware the code is case sensitive.) I hope you guys check this bag out and love it as much as I do!! Check them out at https://www.lulibebe.com/

Thank you for reading!!

Love,

Alexi xo

Direct link to my exact bag: https://www.lulibebe.com/product-page/monaco-diaper-bag-stone-grey

To the other mamas....

The other mamas. The angels. MY angels. My support. The reason why I have made it this far. The reason for my sanity. Guys....This saying is everything and more. No truer words honestly. 

While motherhood is the greatest blessing, MOTHERHOOD. IS. HARD. Not one book or anyone's advice can prepare you for this lifestyle change. Becoming a mother is taking on an entire new identity....even if you think you're ready you really have no idea how TRULY challenging it is to take on this new role. As much joy that it comes with it also comes with guilt, fear, doubt, loneliness, isolation, uneasiness, and anxiety.

Those feelings can really make you feel so alone. It will make you feel that no one understands. It will make you feel so ashamed. It makes you question if you are fit for this role and if you are good enough. Let me reassure you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE...your mama angels understand.  They understand you in a way no one has. As much as we all love our husbands...as much as I LOVE my husband, and as much of a help he is, even he does not understand. It's truly not possible for him to comprehend how I feel and I do not expect him to. But my mama friends do. 

They get me when I text them to tell them how much of a bad mood I'm in because Jaxon took a shorter nap than usual. They get it when I tell my patience is running low because he's been crying and pulling on me all day to be picked up and I'm just too damn tired. They understand the utter joy when he sleeps in late. They get the anxiety I have when I bring him out in public and all he does is scream in the stroller while I'm trying to just get out of the house for an hour or so for my own sanity. They know the fear I feel when I become concerned about his development. They feel the anger I feel when I tell them someone was mean to him at the park. THEY. JUST. GET. IT. And I get them. 

Then there are the mamas that you DON'T know personally and probably have never met....but damn you are thankful for those women. When you post a story on your Instagram account that your son took an hour nap, and you get that message from a woman you don't even know saying the same thing happened to them. They tell you how frustrating it is. And you GET it and they get you. 

And probably the most amazing part of all of this....to the mamas who have reached out to me and tell me how much of a support I have been to them. To the ones who say they trust and look up to my advice. To the ones who say they couldn't do it without me..... ME!!? Are you sure you mean ME? I have been given many compliments in my life....but those compliments are BY FAR the best compliments I have every received in my entire life. It gives me the greatest joy to know that I'M able to help other moms. 

Being a mom is hard. I can say that a million times. Being. A. MOM. IS. HARD. But here I am, KILLING it....because of the amazing women who have supported me through this amazing journey. I thank you and love you all. Even to the moms that I don't even know who have touched my heart. I am so thankful for you all. 

Thank you for reading...

Alexi xo 

Mommy Glam: It's all about the lashes

Who the hell has time for full glam as a mom?! Am I right ladies?? If you know me, you guys know I have been into makeup for a long time. I used to go absolutely CRAZY buying make up pre-mommy days. I followed so many beauty gurus to keep up with the latest trends and products. Well, obviously this all changed once Jaxon came into my world. Even though I do miss sitting in front of my mirror for a good 45 minutes (no joke) doing my makeup, I have figured out a way to get a full glam look in less than 15 minutes with my all time favorite products. And I'm here to share it with ya'll!!! 

So, the VERY first way to make a less than 15 minute make up look, look like you've spent more than 15 minutes on that gorgeous face of yours is a great pair of lashes. With a great pair of dramatic lashes, you literally need ZERO eye shadow on your lid. You want to look for a dramatic, FULL, and LONG set of lashes. Ardell lashes are usually my go to for a night out with a full eye shadow look because they give you just enough lash without covering up that gorgeous eye makeup. With less eyeshadow or no eyeshadow I feel more dramatic lashes can kind of hide the fact that you don't have any shadow on AND make your eyes look amazing at the same time. 

Above are the Velour Lashes in style Doll Me Up which is the style I am wearing. I LOVEEE Velour lashes. They are pricey, however you can wear them multiple times as long as you take care of them and they are such great quality. These do have a thicker and longer lash band. This means these might be a little more difficult to apply as the band isn't as flexible as an Ardell lashes would be. As far as it being a longer lash band, you will most likely have to fit and trim the lash to fit your eyes correctly. These lashes are worth EVERY PENNY in my opinion. I will link these AND other lashes that I love that may be more affordable to you. 

Since the secret to this glam is seriously all about the lashes, I will quickly run through the rest of my face. For my bottom lashes all I did was use a dark brown eye liner with dark purple and dark brown eye shadow to buff out my lower lash line to give a little bit of smokey eye look. My favorite pencil liners of all time are the Marc Jacobs Gel Eye Crayons. These liners do not budge and they go on sooo smoothly!!If you swatch them on your hand in the store and rub your finger over the mark, it will NOT move. See for yourself.  I will link it below for you guys. 

For my lips, I used NYX cosmetics soft matte lip cream in the color Ibiza and over-lined my lips with a pinkish liner. While the Soft Matte Lip Creams aren't super long lasting, they have an amazing matte finish and feel sooooo soft on your lips. They are literally what they say they are. Soft and matte LOL. I have a ton of colors and they are so affordable!! 

As for the rest of my face, I personally have normal to dry skin so anything that has the word "dewy" or "illuminating" I'm pretty much sold on. If you have combination skin or oily skin, anything dewy won't be as appealing to you as it will only further enhance the excess oil on your skin. But since I tend to be on the dryer side...give me all the dew and glow!! I've REALLY been into the L'oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in the color medium. This is NOT a BB cream. This is really meant to either be worn alone as a "lotion", under BB creams/ foundations/ concealer, or as a spot liquid highlighter. I personally put it all over my face before applying my concealer. (Don't kill me guys but I do not wear foundation at all.)

After I apply my Lumi Glotion, I apply my favorite concealer which is the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser. GUYS....I AM A CONCEALER JUNKY!!!! NO joke. I don't know what it is but I am obsessed with them. I have tried soooo many and this one is by far my favorite. I apply my concealer under my eyes, center of forehead, down my nose, and on my chin.  Again, I do not have many problem areas but I feel like it gives amazing coverage while feeling pretty much weightless and not cakey at all. For a thicker concealer for a long night out I do enjoy Tarte concealers as well as the Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer but honestly, I find myself reaching for my Age Rewind concealer. It's an oldie but a GOODIE. 

Lastly, to set and contour I love the Kat Von D Shade And Light palette. I use the pinkish nude and yellow shades to set and brighten my under eyes and everywhere else I only use the pinkish nude shade. If I'm tanner, I use the peach color mixed with the pinkish nude color to set and brighten under my eyes. The contour shades in this palette are amazing. I have used the Anastasia Beverly Hills contour palette in the past and in my opinion, the shades aren't nearly as good, not to mention these blend out way better. I found ABH contour palette to blend out blotchy. The shades in the KVD palette are PERFECT and blend out amazingly. 

So that's it guys!! Just apply full dramatic lashes, put some liner on those lower lashes, do your regular face routine, a bold lip and THAT IS IT!! Simple as that!! I will link everything and MORE below for you guys!! I hope this helped a bit!! Let me know what you think :) 

Thank you for reading!!

Love, 

Alexi. xo 

LINKS!

Velour Lashes in Doll Me UP : CLICK HERE

Koko Lashes (SO AFFORDABLE): CLICK HERE

Koko Lashes (option 2): CLICK HERE

Ardell Wispies (more "natural"): CLICK HERE

Ardell Double Up Wispies : CLICK HERE

Ardell lashes ( A Favorite): CLICK HERE

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams: CLICK HERE

Maybelline Concealer: CLICK HERE

Tarte Concealer: CLICK HERE

Urban Decay Concealer: CLICK HERE

Marc Jacobs Matte Gel Eyeliner: CLICK HERE

L'Oréal Lumi Glotion: CLICK HERE

Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette: CLICK HERE

Preggo Leggings Collab & DISCOUNT CODE

Hey guys! I wanted to do a quick blog post on my collab with Preggo Leggings!! These are seriously the most comfortable maternity leggings I own and not mention they are incredibly cute!! They have this moto style in tons of colors!! Below you will see an animal print they sent me which would be perfect to spice up any plain top. You'll be sure to make a statement in them!!  I will give direct links below of both styles. 

Please use my discount code: ALEXI15 for 15% off your purchase!! 

White Moto Leggings CLICK HERE 

Python Bae Leggings CLICK HERE

Don't forget to use my discount code: ALEXI15

Love, 

Alexi xo 

You! Lingerie, My First Collab!!

MY FIRST EVER BRAND AMBASSADORSHIP/ COLLABORATION! Guys, I am so THRILLED and thankful that this company took a chance on me to represent their brand. I have teamed up with Preggo Leggings and You! Lingerie to show you their awesome leggings (that will be my next blog post) and their awesome maternity/nursing bras. So, let's talk about some lingerie! 

First let me start by saying with Jaxon, my cousin was nice enough to let me borrow three of her sleeping nursing bras. They were just very simple and did the job. I had purchased a more supportive bra from target when I was out and about but I didn't find it comfortable and to nurse Jaxon with it was a pain in the butt the way the cup folded down. I never really found a brand that I loved. 

What you see above are the two sets that they sent me. A plain black set and a polka dot set. Both are extremely comfortable. I am a 34 D and went with a size medium and they fit PERFECT. If you have ever nursed before you know that throughout the nursing process, your boobs will become engorged and shrink back down over and over again. This can make finding a bra difficult because your bra size basically will change CONSTANTLY. What is great about this bra is the back strap has 6 rows of hooks to help adjust the fit perfectly throughout all those changes.  It has the clips at the front of  the so that it can be easily pulled down to nurse. The bras do not have underwire but provide GREAT support and even gave me a little lift. I REALLY appreciated that. The underwear are actually very, very comfortable. Both are very soft, even with lace details. The back of both have a scrunching effect to make your booty look extra cute.

These sets are not just practical and comfortable, but they are also extremely cute and sexy. After having a baby, you feel FAR FROM cute and sexy. I mean... WAY far lol. But these little sets will give you that bit of confidence you need to make you feel a little better about yourself. After all, don't cute and sexy things bring a little smile to your face? I know they do for me. ;)

Getting a little off topic...let me talk about being sexy, being a mom, and being pregnant. I once came across a picture of this drop dead gorgeous pregnant woman, sporting a really sexy outfit. She looked absolutely stunning.  I was appalled to see a woman shaming her. She literally said "When you are pregnant or a mom, you should not be wearing sexy clothes like that. It's just not a cute look no matter how pretty you are." Um EXCUSE ME LADY?! I'm sorry but this mindset HAS to go. Why can't I be pregnant a post a picture in bra and underwear? Or in a bikini? Or in a tight low cut dress? Why can't I be a mom and wear sexy clothes or WANT to look sexy? Being pregnant or mom shouldn't change my personal look or style. I have ALWAYS loved to wear low cut shirts and tight fitting dresses. Why should that change now? Because I'm a mom? You cannot tell me to stop being sexy because I am now a mom. Dressing sexy makes me happy. It makes me feel good. It empowers me. It makes me proud that my husband is proud of the way I look. Yes, being a mom and now being pregnant has definitely made it harder for the simple fact that it's hard to find the time to get myself done up, but I'll never stop trying. I think we need to stop thinking that when a woman becomes a mother she must become modest and cover up. It's simply not fair. 

So for you mommies who feel like you should cover up now because your a mom, go on with you bad self and show off that gorgeous figure!! " If you believe you are sexy, then you are." - Sophia Vergara.

I'll have the direct links below for both bras and undies! They are actually on sale so check them out for sure!! 

Thanks for reading!! 

Love,

Alexi xo 

Follow me : @Ooh.LA_Alexi 

Links: 

Black Bra:Click Here

Matching Black panties: Click Here

Polka Dot Bra: Click Here

Matching Polka Dot Panties: Click Here