I’ll be the first to tell you I’m an avid reader who has fallen off the wagon in recent years. I used to devour books as a child and young adult, but motherhood pushed reading anything long-form to the back burner unless it was a book about sleep training, potty training, or something so very practical that I needed to know to move forward in my parenting journey. A couple months ago I started reading The Miracle Morning by Hal … Read More
Baby Sleep // Independent Crib Sleep
I’ve been really hesitant to talk about the topic of baby sleep, despite the large number of requests I’ve gotten on the topic, because I’m afraid the second I talk about sleep my baby will decide she hates sleeping. That’s the way these type of things usually work, right? So I’ll preface this by saying that there are plenty of aspects on baby sleep that I don’t have mastered, but both Ainsley and Collins were/are babies who loved to sleep … Read More
Volumizing Hair Tutorial
I’ve been asked time and time again to do a tutorial on how I get volume in my hair. I guess it seems second nature to me at this point, since I’ve been faking voluminous hair for years now. If you’re in the same boat as I am – where you love the look of voluminous hair but aren’t blessed with naturally thick, beautiful hair, or maybe you had a baby and you used to have beautiful hair but feel … Read More
Formula Feeding // Your Questions Answered
The number of questions I’ve gotten on Instagram about formula feeding have been too many to count. It appears that when you talk openly and honestly about your decision to stop breastfeeding and switching to formula, people send their questions in large quantities. I’m so thankful to be able to help moms who are struggling with the decision, wanting to know it’s OK to formula feed, and help squash any of the mom guilt associated with formula feeding these days. … Read More
Let’s talk safer skincare (and why it matters)
Friends, if you follow me over on Instagram, chances are you’ve seen snippets of my recent trip to Santa Monica with Beautycounter. I’ve worked with Beautycounter for nearly two years and over that time the issue of safer skincare choices has become something I’m increasingly passionate about. We evaluate our diets with precision, reading labels and books about how what we eat impacts our health, workout on the regular and take vitamins. But if we don’t take the time to … Read More
Mom Wardrobe 2.0 // Capsule Edition
I’ve been going through a little bit of what you might call a “style crisis” lately. Maybe other moms out there can relate? When your body is growing, changing, shrinking, expanding, it’s really hard to find a style that works and stick with it. While I don’t follow a strict capsule wardrobe, I have a very curated wardrobe that is free of excess and things I don’t absolutely love. A few readers messaged me, asking if I would be willing … Read More
Espresso and Cream Home // Master Bedroom + Bathroom
What has become incredibly clear to me while taking photos of our home is that I’m really bad at taking photos of our home. Home photos are not the same as food photos! BUT I’ve gotten a lot of requests for a house tour. I’ve been meaning to blog our home for the longest time, not because I think it’s something amazing (and certainly not because it’s “complete”) but it’s been so much fun to take an older home (1973 … Read More
Trust me, new momma, it gets better.
I got a text last night from a friend who had just had her first baby last week. “Tell me it gets better! This is harder than I thought it would be.” I got a phone call two weeks ago from a friend who just had her first baby. “I just don’t know what to do! This is kicking my butt.” I got a Voxer from a new mom friend. “Will I ever have time to myself again? Am I selfish … Read More
On Growing + Changing
For most of my life I’ve been an only child. Yes, I have sisters (a half-sister and step-sister if you’re into to labels, which we are not) but they grew up a thousand miles away from me for most of my childhood and theirs. So, practically speaking, I’m an only child. I didn’t have to share my toys on the regular, I got my mom’s undivided attention, and I lived in a house that was quiet and peaceful. Growing up … Read More
Mind and Body After Baby (the second time around) // 3 Months
I’m back today to talk about mind and body after baby #2 at the three month mark! Collins is actually closer to four months than three months at this point, but that’s close enough, right? The last post I did about the postpartum recovery period was 3-6 weeks, and a LOT has changed since then. ————————– Mind Update :: Let me say first that now, looking back, I can see that I was trying really hard to pull myself together during … Read More
The 5-Minute Face // My Makeup Routine
Happy Friday, friends! I’ve been thinking a lot about the things that I want to devote my time to as the school year rolls around. I know that many people make resolutions around the first of the year, but I really appreciate back-to-school goal setting and planning. Something about the school year starting feels like a great time for a re-set. All that to say, I’m hoping to spend more time here at Espresso & Cream. I love this little … Read More
Thoughtful {Unique} Baby Gifts
Let’s talk baby gifts, shall we? I want to be a better gift giver, and slowly but surely I’m learning how to be thanks to my mom friends who are great gift-givers themselves. A few of my close friends come to mind, the ones who always have the most unique, pretty and fun gift ideas. Not necessarily extravagant, per se, just spot-on and thoughtful. After having a second baby, and having a ton of friends and family having babies, gift … Read More