My Favorite Things - Drugstore Edition

I thought I would share a few of my favorite products from the drugstore. Actually, I probably buy them at Target, but you get my drift!

First is L'Oreal's EverPure shampoo and condition. I just discovered it not too long ago, and for an inexpensive shampoo, I love it. It has a thick, creamy texture and leaves my hair super soft. I like the minty smell too, kind of reminds me of Aveda. Plus, it's sulfate-free. I think it's a knock-off of the expensive Pureology products, which makes this choice even better!


A facial moisturizer that I use daily, Garnier's Nutritioniste Skin Renew moisture lotion, Anti-Sun-Damage. There are a few reasons why I like it. First, it's oil-free and not greasy at all. It has SPF 28, but doesn't smell like sunscreen. And, it's supposed to reverse signs of sun damage. Wha-la! What more could you want?


Okay, not a drugstore product, but I love this foundation so I have to mention it. It's bareMinerals foundation. Absolutely the best I've used - very natural-looking, you can use more or less depending on the look you want, and most importantly, it doesn't make my face break-out, ever. I think just about everyone I know already uses it, but I thought I would mention this foundation because it really is the best. The one drawback? It leaves your bathroom counter, and make-up bag, pretty messy.

I've been using the Olay's Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System twice a week for over a year now. This has got to be one of my favorite products, ever. It's a little expensive, but totally worth it (and lasts quite awhile). Two products make an at-home "microdermabrasion" (like a sugar scrub), then you put this serum on top for the chemical peel. It leaves your face feeling super, super soft and smooth. The texture of my skin has probably never looked better since I've been using it. I definitely recommend it.

Last but not least is my favorite facial cleanser, Cetaphil. I seriously converted my whole entire family and they all use this stuff (not a small family). I don't even quite know why I like it except that it works, it seems to prevent breakouts, and it's gentle and non-drying without containing oil (many facial products do). It also leaves your skin super soft. I'm addicted. Make sure to get the facial cleanser, not the regular one.

Hope you enjoyed this post. What are your favorite drugstore products?

Tutus and Childhood Photos

I just can't stop taking pictures. Of Callie. I think it's the typical "first-time-parent first-born-child" syndrome. The other poor children don't get as many photos. Like my sister Kiley. She could hardly find any pictures of just her for her wedding slide show; I was in all of her childhood pictures. So I probably showed up in her slide show a little more than she wanted me to!

Anyway, I tried making a tutu for Callie yesterday. It was pretty easy - just tie strips of tulle to an elastic band. I made a white one. Maybe I'll make one with fun colors next time. She sure liked to play with it though!

Best Birthday Gift

Callie decided to give me a great present for my birthday today...she slept through the night last night!

I'll say it again. She slept through the night last night!!! In her crib!

I put her to bed at 8:45pm, then woke her up for a feeding at 10:30 just before I went to bed (called a dream feeding - thanks for the tip, Kristy). Then I didn't hear her again until 6:30am, when I heard her talking to herself in her crib.

What a great way to wake-up, to the sound of your cute little baby's voice. After sleeping 7 hours straight!!!

I guess I'm not one of those lucky moms whose baby sleeps ten hours straight, right away. I've been tired. We've tried everything. Putting her on a schedule. Not nursing her to sleep. Having wake-time after a feeding. Feeding solid food. Feeding solid food right before bedtime. Swaddling her. Not swaddling her. Swaddling only her body and not her arms. Using a pacifier. Putting her down and letting her cry for naps (disclaimer: we didn't try this until 4 months, which I think is when they are old enough to console themselves supposedly). Putting her down and letting her cry at night. Letting her cry at night so she would learn to fall back asleep on her own (not too long though, and I usually would go in and check on her). This has been fairly recently, and it might have helped to do the trick).

Let's hope this becomes more than just a one-night fluke and an every night occurrence!

Pretty in Pink

Baby Food - Our Experience

A fellow blogger and friend asked about first baby food experiences. Since baby food has been on my mind recently, I'll give my two cents. But keep in mind, I'm definitely not an expert or anything. Gosh, I really don't know what I'm talking about, I'm a very new mama. =)

So I had all intentions of waiting until Callie was 6 months to start solids; she had been exclusively breastfed before that, but she just seemed...well, hungry, among other things, so we decided to try feeding her at 5 months (and our pediatrician suggested we could start any time between 4 and 6 months - since it can sometimes help her to sleep through the night. No such luck). We started w/ bananas, avocado, and rice cereal (banana and avocado first, no reason really except I thought it seemed a little healthier than plain rice?).

I also have Super Baby Foods...I like the book. It kind of matches my would-be philosophy (making your own fresh baby food instead of canned, using organic and whole grain when possible, etc). The book says to start w/ cereal, banana, sweet potato, or avocado, so that's pretty much what we've done. It's funny to me how really little she actually eats! All this big fuss for like a teaspoon!

I was planning to feed her avocado the majority of the time (it has omega-3's and is considered a super food). However, she really didn't love it. So, I mixed it with some breastmilk to make it thinner and sweeter, it looked like whipped guacamole (I told Kyle I would give him $10 if he would try a bite. He refused. Just kidding. Not really.). =) Anyway, she made the funniest "gag" face, opened her mouth up and put her chin forward. So, I don't think it was her favorite thing ever.

Honestly, sometimes I feel like Callie is my little experiment - I don't really know what I'm doing! And after feeding her for the first time, I felt guilty, like maybe I should have waited? Maybe I should have tried vegetables first instead of fruit? Maybe I should have started with cereal? Maybe I'm thinking about it too hard?

Anyway...there it was, my two cents. Your comments are appreciated.

What's Sooooo Funny?

One Happy Baby

Callie is one happy baby! She has not only one, but two, aunts moving to town. Her aunt Elyse (aka Aunt Rit) is moving here at the end of the summer. What a lucky baby. She's just too hard to resist!

Aunt Rit, we can't wait for you to get here!

Week of the 4th

Tuesday, Kiley and Matt move into their new house. A charming 1940’s three-bedroom near the state fairgrounds.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…mass moving chaos at the Waite household! I think at one point I was painting the bathroom, my mom was painting the kitchen, Kiley was painting her office downstairs, and my dad was working on assembling furniture. Jasey was watcing Callie (she’s such a great little aunt). And a million trips to Target and Home Depot. Phew!

Thursday night…went to the lake. Beautiful night. I stuck Callie on a blanket on the beach and took some snapshots while the boys went wakeboarding. Still didn’t get a smile, but maybe a half-smile. What a munchkin!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday…lounging around Clear Lake. Went for quite a few boat rides, ran to Super Target, got a little sun when it wasn't raining, lots of cooking and some family games. Made Amanda’s Cowboy Salsa…it was a hit, as always. Watched fireworks from the boat.

Sunday night, we’re home. The house seems quiet with just the three of us. Home sweet home!