Disco Birthday Babe

How I created a third birthday fit for a disco queen

My baby girl turned three this year and in usual form we threw a party fit for a queen… a disco queen that is. Girlfriend loves to bake and has a sweet tooth like no other, so I decided on a cake truffle making party at the new Milkbar Flagship location in Flatiron. But any event for Isla needs lots of glitter and shine so disco theme was the perfect vibe. Milkbar must have been feeling our vibe because coincidentally the theme of their private space was disco with lots of disco balls on the ceiling and splashes of hot pink for good measure. I do not work with Amazon, but I’ll be honest… almost every thing that I got for this party was ordered in one click and delivered straight to my door. So that also made this theme pretty easy! Follow along my planning process below to create your own disco babe party!

I used a black crate paper runner because I knew it would be affordable and a good dark backdrop for all of the holographic sparkle and pink. Bamboo utensils are my go to for parties because they’re easy for kids and go with everything! I decided on confetti and mini disco ornaments to run down the center of the table but note that if you have little babies at this party it’s a little tricky because they put everything in their mouths and some pieces are tiny. To finish it off, I placed a disco ball tumbler cup at each child’s seat, and a mini black apron tied with holographic ribbon at each place.

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Since we were on a baking and “dough” type theme, I reached out to my very talented friend Chelsea who founded The Dough Project to have custom play dough made for each party guest. We chose hot pink with sparkles! The gift bag was my favorite part…. I found some DIY inspo on Pinterest and it was SO easy. I made labels with a label maker and neon pink tape that read “Party Like It’s My Birthday” and put them on silver holographic mini bags. It was perfect for also carrying out the kids cake truffles they made and any candy they brought home!

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Because you can never have enough sweets at a birthday party I had to put together a candy and treats bar for the kids to grab a few last minute goodies on the way out! Isla is obsessed with Pez, so I stuffed hot pink packets of Pez in holographic ziplock bags. Not pictured, I laid out Elsa Pez dispensers as well! The Rock candy was a no brainer once I saw it on Etsy. I knew that no one would really eat it, but it was the perfect look for the whole candy bar. Trader Joe’s cake batter popcorn got bling-ed out after I sprinkled edible glitter on it and put it in mini popcorn boxes. Everything was displayed with more disco ornaments and on lucite trays that helped keep everything in place!

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You Know Where You Should Go?…

The Mark Hotel

Chic Storage

For tiny homes with lots of toys

Living in a New York City apartment you have to get creative with storage… especially when you have kids. Since a lot of toys are played with in our living room I wanted a chic option to throw everything in and close it up at the end of the day. Something that went along with my style and decor was a must. Take a look below at some other favorites that are definitely worthy of your grown up decor.

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Girls Trip

A Cheat Sheet for Your Trip Out East

I’m not a Hamptons girl (Jersey girl through and through) but every now and then I like to switch it up and head out east to get a little fresh air with the rest of the New Yorkers. Since I”m usually there for a quick over night-er or 1 day trip I like to hit up the best of the best and not waist any time on anything that is not the place to go (or be seen). As per usual, when planning my annual girls Hamptons weekend , I hit up my go-to cool girl, Shannon for some new spots to add to my running list. If you’re a Hamptons first timer or just anything like me and need a little cheat sheet for your trip out East, look no further, we’ve got you covered below!

Cocktails & Brunch

Aperol Spritz, anyone? Kick your day off right by brunching right on Main Street in Southampton at 75 Main. You won’t be able to miss the location with their iconic yellow awning, and you definitely won’t regret coming in once you see their extensive and delicious brunch and lunch options. Once you finish feasting, step right out to Main Street and Jobs Lane to shop from your choice of the luxury brands and curated boutiques Southampton has to offer!

Wine O’clock

If your vibe is more scenic, check out Wolffer Estates Vineyards for some small bites, and a selection of wines you can sip sitting or strolling through the gorgeous vineyards….including their iconic summer in a bottle. Don’t forget to grab one for the road from The Wine stand on your way out!

Beach-y Shopping

The Hotel

Some Relaxation

by Shannon Sweeney

Yes, just about every store you have always loved has a pop up version out east but a must see is Serena & Lily. Just off Montauk Highway in East Hampton, this store with literally jump out at you in your car it is so chic. Everything from pillows to the cutest raffia coasters will have you wanting to decorate or at least be a guest at the Hamptons house of your dreams!

Ok…. not really the only hotel but The Surf Lodge definitely THE hotel when it comes to the buzz in Montauk. The surf-y vibe fills you with all the chill feels throughout the day while giving you plenty of reasons to party at night with their live music line up every weekend. Oh… and not to mention the Surf Bazaar pop up shop in the lobby will make you want to move there and change your wardrobe to bikini’s and neons.

Last but certainly not least, watch the sunset over beautiful Cooper’s Beach. Admission to Coopers Beach is typically $50 during the day, however those who are just coming to catch the sunset after the daytime hours are not charged to park. What more relaxing way is there to end your perfect day than by catching sunset at the beach?! (Bonus Points: Stop at World Pie in Sag Harbor on your way back into Southampton to pick up the perfect sunset watching treat to fill you up before heading back to the city!)

Chic Chef

Farmer’s Market Bowl

In an effort to whip up something healthy, fresh and most importantly satisfying I decided to do some pinterest research and come up with something quick and easy. All it takes are a few fresh ingredients of your choice, about 15-20 minutes, and if you’re lucky a baby sitter to entertain your kids while you cook! Check it out below.

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Recipe

Ingredients: Farm Fresh Veggies (whatever looks good!) | Near East Red Pepper & Basil Quinoa | 1 lemon | 1/4 C. EVOO | Feta Cheese to taste | 5-6 Fresh Basil Leaves | Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Slice & Grill Fresh Veggies and get quinoa Started on the stove according to directions on the box

2. While all of that is happening slice any non grilling veggies (tomatoes or peppers) and the fresh basil leaves. Set aside.

3. Make the dressing: Squeeze one fresh lemon into bowl and combine with EVOO and salt and pepper.

   ** I love using the magic bullet for any homemade dressings. It blends perfectly!

4. Take Veggies off the grill and combine with all other ingredients in a bowl. Top off with a sprinkle of feta cheese and salt and pepper.

   Enjoy hot or put in fridge and Enjoy cold mixed into a leafy salad!

From The Cool Aunt….

We adore her when she babysits (and then leaves to go out just as you get home… ahhh that life). Live vicariously through her and her hot 20-something dating life. And love her the most, when she gives you the good scoop on the best new products keeping her fresh faced and dewy. Yes, she’s the cool aunt. We all know her and we all love her. I don’t know about you but I thought some cool aunt freshness can always be used here at TBB, so I asked Shannon (a very cool aunt herself) and little beauty guru if she’d round up some sunblock options for summer that are just as fun to put on as they are protective. Obviously, she didn’t disappoint. More Below…

by: Shannon Sweeney

Tis’ the season to spend long days soaking in the sunshine with your family, making memories that will last a lifetime. However, with great family fun comes great responsibility.  It’s no secret that every member of the family needs to be protected from the sun’s harmful rays and while we know we need SPF in our lives, actually getting it on can be a total battle. But here’s the catch…SPF can be exciting for you and the family (crazy, right?). In an effort to combat the sunscreen battles, I found some fun products to protect your skin and your babes without the headache.

For The Mamas

Although no one has to wrestle us to apply our SPF, it can be difficult to find sun protection that doesn’t alter our beloved beauty routines. As a result, we often skip our routines or use products that don’t serve our skin. Below is everything from full face beauty packed with sun protection to skin care products that nourish your skin while protecting it from the sun’s harmful rays.

For The Babes

Before you can truly start a summer day you must first partake in the battle that is putting on sunscreen. But what if, by some miracle, you were able to actually get your kids excited to put on sunscreen? Below are some products that will make the SPF struggle a little easier for mamas!

Welcoming Teddy

My Birth Day Video Diary

Bringing our baby boy, and my second child into the world was the most amazing experience and completely different than my birth with Isla. We had two false alarms, (you’d think I would know by the 2nd if my water had really broken or not by the second time!) and an induction in the end. I was nervous about being induced because I’ve read and heard horror stories but it really went so smooth. I couldn’t have asked for a better team and support system to help me to bring this sweet boy to the world. It’s so hard to put into words the feeling of that day, and even better, the feeling of seeing your two children meet for the first time. So instead, I’m sharing my video diary of us welcoming Teddy into our world!

Our Morning Routine

When is the last time you showered without an audience? I didn’t realize my answer to that question until I was asked by Little Spoon to talk about my new normal as a mommy for their #ThisIsNormal campaign. I don’t know about anyone else but mornings in our home are chaotic since having baby no. 2 and I realized that aside from it taking hours to get out of the house, it really is a miracle that I or any mama for that matter can actually shower and get dressed in the morning.

I always love to know how other moms are getting it all done. Maybe there’s some kind of magic green juice they drink to make them not tired. Maybe Charlotte Tilbury is making some kind of under eye potion that wipes away the dark circles, or a sticker chart that prevents toddler meltdowns when you try to get them dressed? OR maybe really I’m just secretly searching to find that other moms are just like me and I want to hear all about their chaos routine to make me feel better about mine. I figured filming a video of a very pregnant me and a very rambunctious Isla during our morning routine would serve the same “we’re in the same boat” feels that those videos and posts serve me. So join me and my mini in the early AM to see how it all goes down…. bed head and mismatched Christmas jammies included.

My NON Nursing Essentials

During my first pregnancy, it never occurred to me that I would received any kind of push back on what or how I would be feeding my baby. Yes, if I started a conversation about breast feeding vs. bottle feeding I imagined I would get into some opinions but unless it was brought up it didn’t enter my mind that it would be a question I’d be asked. I mean still to this day I think it’s a strange thing for people to inquire about. Like, are you concerned about what I had for lunch today? Why are you concerned about what my baby will be having 6 months from now? Needless to say, it was something that I definitely got some push back and pressure on from strangers, close friends and even my own husband at one point. Bottom line, it was the choice that I made for the reasons I made it and once I had my baby I knew even more so that it was the right choice for us.

All of that said, I truly feel like there is so much support and info about what and how you should nurse when you have a baby (best pumps, nursing covers, nipple pads, pro tips), but I never found any must haves and advice for moms that do not breast feed that were as useful to me. I support all ways to feed and be the best mommy you can be but of course I can only share what I know which is bottle feeding. So enjoy these must have essentials that I loved for feeding my babe and leave feedback in the comments if there are other products that you loved that I should share or try as well with baby number 2!

1. Cabbage Leaves/OR Cabo Cream: I smelled like a restaurant cooking cabbage in my bra for a week but they totally work! Put a head of cabbage in the fridge to keep it nice and cold and then keep switching out the leaves in your bra on each boob. Basically once they’re wilted and cooked (I know… so gross) it’s time to change leaves! The Cabo cream is a little less smelly but has the same effect.

2. Non Lactation Tea: Just like all of the other teas for helping in milk production, this one has the opposite effect. I happen to love the Pink Stork brand, and also the packaging is just super cute sitting on the counter so it’s a win win.

3. Nursing Pads: Even thought you’re not nursing you’ll still be leaking before your milk dries up. These are great. I would buy a small box because you won’t be going through that many of them (only about a week or two’s worth) and once your milk dries up you will no longer need them.

4. Baby Brezza Formula Maker: This is the most amazing invention. It’s basically like a coffee machine but for formula. In the press of 1 button it will measure the exact amount of formula, mix it with the perfect temperature of warm water and dispense it into a bottle. No more fumbling or bottle warming with a screaming baby in the middle of the night. Genius.

5. Hands Free Feeding: Ok I realize how this seems… like you’re a mom that could care less about bonding while you feed your child because you’re too preoccupied. BUT there are definitely those times when multi tasking is not an option and you don’t have enough hands. When that occurs this thing is amazing. I’m assuming it will be even more helpful now that I have a toddler that will most likely need my attention at the same time!

6. Nursing Pillow: Although you’re not nursing, it doesn’t mean you won’t need the extra support. A nursing pillow serves all of the same great purposes as it does for a mom who is nursing.

7. Extra Support Sports Bra: While your milk is drying up you’ll need some serious support for those crazy big boobs. Keep them tightly locked up with their cabbage leaves and then leave them alone! I love this one that zips up the front so there’s no struggling to get something super tight over your head and then shimmy it down over your boobs.

8. Ready to Feed Bottles: I quickly became obsessed with ready to feed bottles. Each formula brand makes their own version but we used the Similac. It’s pricer than just buying the large bottle of ready-to-feed and pouring into your own bottles, but I found it really helpful to throw into the diaper bag for outings. Making a bottle, and then throwing a dirty empty bottle back into my diaper bag while we were out and feeding on the fly, was just not clean or convenient to me. This way I could screw on a nipple, feed my baby and toss it when she was done.

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Inside Baby Sprinkle Tea

Recently I was showered… ahem I mean sprinkled with love in celebration of my second baby to be. I had a few conversations with my mom and with a couple of my closest friends and I truly felt like I just wanted to just have lunch with a couple of my girlfriends and toast to the new arrival. I really don’t need much as far as a registry and big gifts are concerned, and it just all felt so over the top to have some big party again. So trusting my NYC girls heard me, I let them put together a small sprinkle for baby G. The outcome was a beautiful afternoon tea at The Crosby Hotel. Again, not crazy fancy, but just enough to have an excuse to put on a pretty dress and maybe get a blowout. We had personalized honey straws, loose leaf tea and some pretty delicious cookies. And that was before the actual tea snacks started to arrive! Take a look at more below on our table full of fancy treats and lots of tea.

I’m so happy I could have this small celebratory afternoon to feel loved and special with my girls. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!

Beauty on a Budget

At home treatments for pampering when Your Wallet and Your Schedule is tight

Long gone are the days of expensive spas and hours at the gym with a trainer in order to achieve some pampering and self care. These days it’s all about the quick at home treatments that can make you (and the rest of the fam!) feel like your’e glowing without the time suck or the wallet draining.

A few weeks ago I did a segment on New York Live about the best at home treatments that are affordable and quick for the entire family. I’m not always a go to beauty girl (fashion has always been my thing) so after I jotted down my favorites, I enlisted my new and very beauty savvy intern, Shannon to give me her tips and tricks for at home pampering. We came up with an amazing list together that you can check out below OR the full run down on the NY Live Segment. I wanted to get her input on the perfect regimen for tired run down skin… on a budget! Take a look at her full routine and shop all products for budget and family below!

Full Nightly Regimen Under $50

Contributed by: Shannon Sweeney

The stress of midterms paired with the brutal winter weather has finally caught up to me… especially my skin. I have found myself cycling through beauty products all winter trying to find the best combination in order to have a complete and effective PM skin care routine and I have finally nailed it with these four products (which are conveniently all available on amazon.com).

 A bonus about this regimen is that when generic drug store items just don’t seem to cut it, and luxury beauty is simply not within your budget…  these are the number one high quality but affordable products you can go for.

1. Remove

Remove your game face (or makeup) with the yes to grapefruit brightening makeup wipe. This is the number one and probably the most unforgettable steps for any skincare regimen. If you don’t start your skincare routine with a clean canvas, then it is all for nothing! These wipes will dissolve the makeup on your face, all while brightening your complexion with the added bonus of grape fruit extract. These wipes are available on amazon for only $3.29 so don’t be afraid to stock up!

2. Cleanse

Cleanse your face with this gentle Mario Badescu Cleansing Milk. While we all love a good exfoliator, it’s not practical or healthy to exfoliate your skin every night...especially during cold winter months where your skin in its driest and most irritable state. Instead, use this cleanser which notably includes rice oil and vitamin E which will work together to soften and plump your skin while cleansing, leaving you with a healthy glow rather than any unwanted redness and irritation. This cleanser is available on amazon for only $12.00… making our skincare routine thus far $15.29!

3. De-Puff and De-Stress

Get rid of any and all signs of wear, stress, lack of sleep and all with The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution. I have tried everything to get rid of under-eye bags and puffiness, from under eye patches, to night masks and cooling sticks, but I have yet to find anything that truly soothes puffy under eyes like this solution. Apply the serum to your under eyes before bed and wake up looking like you’ve been getting a full eight hours of sleep all week. Find this solution on amazon for $12.85 and add it to the previous two steps for a total of $28.14.

4. Hydrate

Finally, save the best step for last and hydrate and nourish  your face back to life with a personal favorite of mine: The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Night Cream. This thing is a hidden gem and absolute miracle worker. The vitamin E in the formula works while you sleep to brighten and plump your skin and leaves your skin feeling noticeably softer in the morning. I have been putting this on every night for two years and continue to wake up with completely hydrated and refreshed skin. This moisturizer is available on amazon as well for $17.60 add this to your routine and you are completely ready for bed at the total price of $45.74!

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Shop For the Whole Family

Easy & Homemade Chicken Soup

I kind of made up this recipe a while ago when my husband was sick and I wanted to make a fresh, hearty and delicious chicken soup without having too many steps. I knew that fresh herbs always bring on so much flavor so that’s pretty much the basis for the soup and a few other secret ingredients! I wrote out below a general idea of the ingredients. Watch the video to see how I put them all together!

Ingredients

1 package of pre-chopped celery | 1 Package of pre-chopped carrots | 1 Package of pre-chopped white onions | 1 Pre- cooked Rotisserie Chicken | 2-3 branches of fresh Rosemary chopped + 2-3 branches not Chopped|2-3 branches of fresh thyme chopped, Plus 2-3 branches not chopped| 2 boxed containers of Chicken Broth (your choice!) | 2 TBSP butter | 2 TBSP Olive Oil | Salt & Pepper to taste

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Nesting Mode

Pregnancy brain is the real deal and thoughts pop into my head and 1 minute later fly right back out. The 1st time around I tried to write things down quickly before I forgot, and most of those things had to do with nesting, to getting last minute things done before the baby arrived, what to register for, baby names and everything in between (new clothes I wanted to buy post bump!). I’ve shared a few of my most helpful lists below from both pregnancies and my notebook that I’m still using to this day. There are a few other cute ones too that I love!

The One that I Used Last Time

The One that Tamed My Nesting

The One that Helped Decorate

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Valentine’s Date Ideas Downtown Chic Moms

Last week I finally had the chance to get together and catch up with my new friend and all around cool NYC mama Mary, of Downtown Chic Moms. Now when I say “catch up” I of course mean a very quick chat between gymnastics, work meetings, school drop off, school pick up and the chaos of a typical morning. Considering she’s the new up and coming go to on all things for moms in downtown New York City, I was curious to see what she had planned for Valentine’s day with her husband of 13 years (!). We quickly realized she is a planner and I am not… hahaha! Paul and I like to do things last minute when it comes to dates. Usually, we book a sitter and run out to wherever comes to mind. We’re not big on reservations and we love the action of sitting at a bar to eat. Below are a few of my favorites for a last minute date with no reservations but delicious food. And if you find you can’t quite fly by the seat of your pants you have to check out Mary’s amazing (3 day!) date she has planned for her man here.

Be sure to check out our video discussing Mary’s very planned romantic V-day celebration vs. my very unplanned date thoughts on IGTV.

Favorite Restaurant Bars for Date Night

L’Artusi, Amazing food and open kitchen for entertainment. Be sure to go earlier than you plan to eat (aka not starving) so you can put your name in at the bar and wander around to another cozy West Village bar for a fun drink while you wait. It will probably be about 45min wait but so worth it!

The Clam, Our favorite neighborhood cozy spot. The bar has a full menu and the most delicious seafood. If you’re lucky you may get a beautiful snowstorm that makes for the perfect New York City backdrop through the all glass windows surrounding the restaurant.

Morandi, The Bar is fairly large so it’s never a long wait to find a seat and the meatballs are worth treking through a snowstorm for!

ABC Kitchen, What I love about this place is that there are two bars, so you can almost always find a quick seat with a full menu and not have to wait too long.

Gramercy Tavern, Fancy Schmancy (but delicious food) but without the white table cloth and stuffy dining room. The bar serves the full (critically acclaimed) fine dining menu so you can have an amazing meal but a more low key vibe if super fancy isn’t your thing.

What I’m Packing in My Hospital Bag

Packing a Hospital bag for you and baby is a bit daunting… lucky for you I learned what I didn’t need, and what I absolutely loved having while I was there and kept notes! A lot of people forget you’re not just packing for yourself but there’s a new little person you’ll be taking home so you’re packing for them too. Plus the few key items you’ll want to have for your husband, because we all know he’s definitely not thinking about packing a bag for himself! Take a look at what and how I’m packing for the hospital for baby No. 2 and shop my absolute essentials below!

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Shop My Essentials

The Making of The Black Bib

The Black Bib

… In Real Life

I can’t remember which came first, The Black Bib the site or The Black Bib… the bib. Either way, I am so beyond thrilled to be writing this post that The Black Bib, product has finally launched! When I started this site not only was it a place that I wanted to create beautiful content to share but always knew that I wanted to have a piece of it that all of you could actually hold in your hands. I’ve been simultaneously working on both for the past year and a half.

When I had Isla, I found it so difficult to find cool pieces that were either black, or leather or other lux materials, that I love to mix into my own wardrobe. While I understand it’s totally impractical, I still wanted it for those impractical dressing moments. The fancy brunch, or going out with friends and having a bite. I wished I could put a bib on her that was as cute as the outfit she had on underneath. I had my own black leather bomber that I lived in, why couldn’t she have the same…

My inspiration from design, to packaging all came from the amazingly chic New York City moms I encounter every day. The designers, the editors, the bloggers, the stay at home rockstars… all of them that understand even though having children is almost always a literal mess, there is no reason to not look good while living it.

I hope you love The Black Bib as much as I have loved designing it for you!

xo, Jas

The Kitchen

Lemon Rosemary Parmesan Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

1 Package of Pillsbury Grands Biscuits | 3 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Rosemary |1 Whole Lemon |

1 Package of shredded parmesan cheese | 1 Stick of Butter, melted

Directions

• Chop Rosemary and combine with melted butter in a bowl. Place to the side.

• Cut Biscuits into quarters and place in large bowl.

• Pour Rosemary butter mixture, Parmesan Cheese and the juice of 1 lemon into large bowl with biscuit dough

• Toss with hands to mix all together

• Pour mixture into well greased bundt pan and bake at 250 degrees for about 15 minutes and then at 350 degrees for another 20 minutes until golden brown and cooked all the way through.

** This recipe is for a small bundt pan for that serves about 6 people. Double recipe for larger regular size pan and larger party. **

Make Your Own Bow Frame

I knew I could probably buy a really cute bow frame to clip all of Isla’s new bows from Etsy or something but I was in one of those moods that I just needed it right that second and did not want to wait. So I decided to quickly make one of my own. I just made up how I thought it should be done and voila! It took me less than 20 minutes and turned out so cute!

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Recipe:

Breakfast in 1 Minute: Easy On the Go Muffins for Slow Moving Mornings

I am not a morning person. So when my toddler wakes up screaming “EAT!” while I’m still trying to open my eyes it’s not easy. These breakfast muffin recipes have saved me in the mornings and all it takes is a little extra prep time in the beginning of the week. There are so many recipes on Pinterest but these few are my favorites. Check out how I prep them (screaming toddler included) and just how easy it is to make. Your welcome.

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RECIPES

French Toast Muffin Recipe | Omelette Muffin Recipe | Oatmeal Muffin Recipe

My Ultimate Travel Essentials

I’ve been traveling quite a lot lately, and traveling alone with a toddler is no joke. I’ve got it down to a science now but only with the help of some pretty amazing travel gear. Below are my favorite pieces to shop (plus a few extras) but first let me tell you why each one is so great…

When I’m alone I have to be as minimal as possible so my diaper bag turns into my carry on. I love using a chic one like this Jem & Bea below. Keeping organized is crucial for storing toys, plane tickets and a wallet. This silk pouch not only keeps it all separate and safe but it has a strap that turns into a cross body evening bag once I’m at my destination. It’s 1 less thing to pack. The BabyZen Yoyo Stroller is my life saver. I can fold it with one hand and put it on the belt through security and then quickly pop Isla back in to stroll to our gate. Best of all, I fold it up right before we board and I can store it with my bags in the overhead bins. It’s my absolute favorite travel piece and probably my number 1 recommended registry item! I love a cute but leak proof sippie cup, and cannot live without the mommy hook for any extra bags that I don’t have a hand for. A light blanket if the plane gets chilly and a book of stickers for easy entertainment really take up minimal space so they’re must haves. The final touch is a chic but comfortable airport look. Sneakers and Cashmere joggers are current favs right now.

Traveling with kids can be daunting but I promise even with 1 or 2 of these essentials and a good game plan it’s not only doable but can be enjoyable! Safe Travels!

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1. Pouch, Gold No. 8 | 2. Light Blanket, Aden & Anais | 3. Travel Pack Wipes, Parasol | 5. Sticker Book, Target |4. Sippy Cup, Smilo| 6. Carry On Diaper Bag, Jem & Bea | 7. Stroller, Baby Zen Yoyo

How I Turned a Guest Room into a Playroom..... in One Afternoon

I love that our beach house gives us so much free space that we don't have in New York. I felt like we weren't using it the best when we had an extra guest room so I decided to turn it into a playroom for Isla and her friends. I didn't want to spend a ton of money and wanted to use big furniture pieces that we already had. Watch our transformation in just one after noon and shop below to get the look!

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The Perfect Way To Welcome

Your House Guests

I have so much fun when it comes to preparing to host some house guests. I like to put together a little "Welcome Amenity" for when they arrive. It usually includes a local snack and maybe another small treat of some sort. Take a look at how I put it all together and what I always include to make it just perfect!

Hi! My name is Jasmine. I’m a New Yorker and a new(ish) mom to my 16 month old daughter, Isla. Given my obsession with glasses, braces and a pink cast full of signatures in elementary school… I think my 10 year old self always knew I’d become an Accessories Editor way before anyone. Now, I’m a Fashion Editor by day, and mommy by... well all around the clock. My life is a crazy mix of high/low, glamorous and sometimes pretty gross.  I’m just starting to go on first Mommy dates, and still love dancing on a banquette as much as I did in when I moved here. There are times I find 10 outfits that are the same price as the irresistible pair of MaryJane’s I have to save like 3 Barney’s gift cards to buy. 

The Black Bib is all about that mix. The perfect pair of heels, mastering a weekend getaway with your friends, a one of a kind stroller canopy, and finding all of those gems in between. Here, you can binge away on styling videos, shoppable shoots, curated pieces, and endless inspiration.

I hope you relate, I hope you laugh and I hope you shop your little heart out….  because even if you get barfed on everyday or you may just be a little terror yourself, you still need to have fun and look good while doing it! 

Just Wear a Bib. 

xx

WATCH

Recipe

Combine in a Large Bowl: 2 3/4 Cups of Oats, 1 Cup Raw Almonds,1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes, 1/3 Cup Raw Pepitas, 1 Tbsp Salt 

Melt in a Small Saucepan on the Stovetop Until Dissolved:1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup, 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil

         Pour Wet Ingredients into Dry Ingredients and toss all together. Bake at 300 Degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Seven Steps to Be The Perfect Hostess

I love entertaining. Going on Pinterest and pulling out my inner Martha Stewart somehow soothes me. I prefer small gatherings over big ragers. Mostly because it's way more manageable but also because I won't be nervous about our place getting trashed. When I have people over I try to make it special, fun, and memorable.

Whether you love entertaining or it's just not your thing, here are a few of my easy tricks to look like you have it all together!

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Recipe

The Easiest Chocolate Avocado Pops

Combine in a Blender: 2 Ripe Avocados, 3/4 Cup non dairy unsweetened milk, 1/2 Cup Maple Syrup,1/2 Cup Cacao Powder, 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, A Pinch of Salt 

Pour: all ingredients into popsicle molds and place in freezer until completely frozen

Recipe Courtesy of Eating By Elaine via Pinterest