Cori Ingrassia – NJ Mom Blogger & Lifestyle Expert

Dressing Your Post-baby bod: Tunics and Leggings

December 2, 2013 By Cori

Styling a baby bump can be a lot of fun, but what that cute baby bump leaves behind is anything BUT cute and not so easy to style. That is the predicament I’m in right now.

Call it selective memory, but I totally forgot what it was like trying to dress a postpartum figure– how after you give birth, your bump (at least in my case) seems to deflate into your ass, hips and thighs and that shirts that fit loosely up top, would now pull and hug my post baby spare tire on bottom.

I’ve always believed when you look good you feel good, but that mantra is hard to live by when all I had that fits is yoga pants and sweat shirts. I was tempted to buy a few new things in bigger sizes, but stopped myself because no one size seems to fit me perfectly and I’m hoping to go down a few sizes over the next few months (*fingers crossed*).

So instead of investing in new things, I decided to try out a 30 day trial of Gwynnie Bee’s subscription clothing rental service that I had learned about from my friend Erica.

From the Gwynnie Bee website:

Gwynnie Bee is a monthly subscription service for size 10-32. You pay a flat monthly subscription fee for access to a collection of over 1000 styles. The subscription also covers unlimited free shipping and exchanges.

The way their service works is you pick out 12 of your favorite items and they send you 3-5 at a time (depending on the plan you sign up for). If you love it, you can buy it but if you wear it once (or never) and want to try something else, you can send it back in their prepaid postage envelope and they will send you another item you picked out in its place.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received and loved this Thread and Butter tunic top that I was able to wear for Thanksgiving. It was a little big on top, so I belted it to make it look less boxy and wore it with the most comfortable leggings I own.

On Thanksgiving I dressed it up with some heeled booties and today, I made it a little more casual with my congac Bear Trap wedge sneakers.

|Bear Trap Wedge Sneakers, Macy’s $69|

Super comfy & stylish outfits like this are double score for post-baby-bods!

And while I’m not sure how long it will take for me to shed these pounds and inches, being able to play around with different styles without a commitment or spending a lot of money is perfect for postpartum style.

Celebrating Your Pregnancy and Your Bump Style

October 26, 2013 By Cori

The experience of being pregnant is not only different for every woman, it’s also very different from one child to the next. Some women will say they feel more gorgeous than they ever have, while others will tell you they felt miserable and bloated.

With just 6 days left of my 3rd (and no doubt, final) pregnancy, I can tell you I have experienced all ends of that pregnancy spectrum.

With my first, I was retaining more water than the Hoover Dam… Which may or may not have had to do with my living on bread and Caesar dressing.

My second, pregnancy was better. I wasn’t retaining water at the rapid rate I was with the first – which was good enough for me! But I still spent 9 months feeling envious of the “cute pregnant women” and just over all frump-tastic.

Feeling self-concious about your growing pregnancy curves can really put a damper on the over all experience.

This time around I had a goal –to embrace the bump for better or for worse and allow myself to celebrate not only the anticipation of the baby, but living with the baby inside.

I wanted to be one of “those” women who I never understood, who felt radiant– and more importantly, I wanted to have documentation of it all, to remember waiting for that first kick, hormonal crying without a valid reason, as well as pictures of the growing curves.

Learning to love the bump

The thing I think we need to understand here, ladies is this…..

These 9 months are possibly the only time we’re encouraged to show off a big belly instead of trying to hide love handles. Instead of “Suck it in” people are saying “stick that belly out! “. Seriously. Think about that for a minute. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing, my expecting friends.

So I did everything opposite. I kept active, ate healthier and celebrated this last pregnancy the way I wish I had with my previous two.

I had fun seeking out cute maternity styles, hiked in the gorgeous Red Wood Forest in San Francisco, accepted an opportunity to walk the cat walk at Lincoln Center… in a non-maternity dress and heels, had professional maternity pictures taken and I journaled along the way.

None of it came naturally at first…. but it quickly became a beautiful journey that I am so very thankful I had the chance to experience again– The funny thing? I gained 1/2 the weight I did with my first (Steering clear of italian bread drenched in Caesar dressing probably helped).

And while I’ve been spending the last 3 wks living in that inevitable land of back pain, hot flashes and Fred Flintstone toes– eagerly nesting and waiting to see this little one’s face and find out if it truly has the height of the basketball player I feel has taken over the entire length of my stomach…

For the first time, I think a small part of me may actually miss this bump when its gone.

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Celebrate Your Bump For A Chance to Win!

Beginning this week, Pampers and Target are asking expecting Mama’s to celebrate their pregnancy by uploading a photo to the official Pampers Facebook page for a chance to win some truly great prizes–

$500 in FREE diapers from Pampers
$300 in FREE diapers from Pampers
$150 in FREE diapers from Pampers

So don’t be shy, upload that favorite pregnancy pic or snap a bump-selfie and enter!

Contest details:

Entry period – Oct 22 – Nov 9. Finalists will be announced – Nov 12. Voting period Nov 12 – 30. Winner announced December 2

Need A Good Diaper Sale? –We do!

Pamper Swaddlers is a hospital favorite. We always use them for our newborns, and I am a little ashamed to admit that with just 6 days til’ our little one arrives- we’ve only purchased 1 package! We were waiting for a sale and… well– ok. We slacked. Which is why I’m super excited to have found out about the Pampers sale going on at Target this week!

Last call! (ends 10/26): Free $15 Gift Card with purchase of 2 Pampers Giant Packs
Starting Sunday: 10/27 – 11/2: Free $10 Gift Card with purchase of 2 Pampers Super Packs

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Baby Center and Pampers.

What To Pack For The Hospital When Having A C-Section

October 25, 2013 By Cori

OMG, you guys!!!!! My C-section is officially one week from today!

Next Friday, this time I will be holding our newest little person in my arms. The whole thing seems so crazy. Where did my pregnancy go?

I realized today that not only did the pregnancy seem to fly by because we have 2 children to keep up with this time around but also because of our move. While our household is as chaotic as any other family’s, I still like to feel like I have some sort of “organization to the chaos” if that makes any sense. But instead, we’ve been living out of boxes for 6 months not really knowing when we will be able to move into our permanent residence.

So I’ve spent 9 months, trying to remain sane with the “we have time” mentality, well at now 38 weeks we don’t have time, and I need to start washing baby clothes.

Last week, I finally got around to tackling packing my hospital bag for my c-section (Did I mention it’s NEXT Friday? …oh ok.), and while you would think I’d be a pro (being that it IS my 3rd time around), I totally wasn’t. That being said… I managed to pull it together and get it done because if there is one thing, my prior birthing and parenting experience has taught me, it is this:

[Tweet “When it comes to pregnancy and parenthood, its always best to have a plan and expect the opposite.”]

Video & List For Packing Your Hospital Bag

{Click here to view video on my YouTube Channel}

Ok, What’s in my bag?

– Large bag– preferably with wheels
– Cord Blood kit – We chose Viacord, but CBR is also an excellent choice.

Side note: My Dr advised against investing in Tissue banking by the way. So if you are thinking about storage, you may want to ask your doc’s opinion before picking a plan.

– Baby’s “take me home outfit” Instead of gender neutral we went with buying two outfits just for fun. One will inevitably be going back…but will it be the pink or the blue??
– Soft cotton pajamas I don’t like ANYTHING touching my c-section area, so I always opt for a nightgown. The one in my video is the before and after ruffle dress by Belabumbum.
– Robe Some people like to opt for a zip up sweatshirt, either way think layers! It can get quite chilly in the hospital. The Robe in my video is the Queen Bee Robe by Belabumbum.
– Warm Socks
– Comfy Bra Comfort is key. The nursing bra in my video is the Bravado Embrace Bra which is made of this magical material that fits like a glove. I’m hoping the Bamboo sleep bra arrives in time too, because I always sleep in sports bra and had no idea “sleep bras” even existed! 🙂
– Underwear If we are being honest here… the underwear after you deliver gets trashed no matter how you deliver. With a C-section, I highly recommend asking the hospital for a few extras of those mesh undies they provide. They’re disposable and by far the most comfortable for your incision.
– Phone charger
– Real deal camera We are bringing our Cannon t3i
– Belly Band-it belly support Ok, so like I said I don’t like anything touching my incision area, but I’ve heard great things about this product and so I am going to bring it with me to see how it goes. I may decided not to use it right away- we’ll see.
– Toiletries
- – Facial Wipes The ones in my video are Olay’s Fresh Effects Swipe Out. I also love the Neutrogena cleansing wipes. They’re thicker, softer and have more to a package.
- – Lotion The one in my video is Olay Fresh Effects– Long live moisture satin lotion (Whew! That’s a mouth full, huh?)
- – Contact Lenses & Case
- – Contact Solution
- – Body wash
- – Tooth brush & tooth paste
- – Hair ties and bobby pins
– Cosmetic-y things
- – Lip Balm The one in my video that I highly recommend EOS. BEST lip balm EVA, you guys!
- – BB Cream The one in my video is Garnier Skin Renewal.
- – Basic blush The one in my video is “The One Sweep” by L’oreal.
- – Mascara The one in my video is Benefit’s “They’re Real” mascara.
– Sibling and Daddy Gift It’s nice to make the siblings feel special. This is a big day for them! So we got gifts “from the baby” to the kids.

In my video, Laina’s gift is Molly Brown London’s pink bean necklace. It’s super cute and like Tiffany for girls. [My review here] Ry’s gift is a Miami Heat Jersey… hard to find something sentimental and exciting for an 8 yr old boy… but he’s going to love this!

– Mama’s Coming Home Outfit Like I said, I don’t want anything touching my incision area (per me)… so while sweats sound comfy, a dress is my only option. Finding a dress for the fall chill? Kind of challenging.

I found a comfy casual shirt dress on clearance at Motherhood that typically, I’d have paired with boots.

However, after much discussion… I came to the reality of.. boots are going to be impossibly hard to put on after the C-section. So I swapped them out for brown flats like the ones below-

As one person told me, who’s going to be looking at your feet when you have an adorable baby in your arms? 😉

What’s on my day of list

– License and insurance card
– Pillow
– Eye Glasses
– Makeup
– Camera battery
– Hair brush
– Double check for phone cord

** One update to the video… The Boppy. While I personally am not packing it this time, I’ve heard it is helpful for nursing moms. I also have personally found that if your car is a sedan it is excellent for c-section Moms to sit on, on the way home because it helps absorb some of the bumps. So in either of those cases? I say the Boppy is a bring!

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Ok… now to wash those itty bitty clothes.

Easy And Delicious Appetizer Idea: Pull Apart Pepperoni Bread

October 17, 2013 By Cori

The other day when we went to my mother’s house for dinner, she made this super delish Pepperoni Pull Apart Bread that I practically inhaled (read: the baby made me do it!).

I apologize for the lighting in this picture, the lighting in my mother’s house always throws yellow. But even with the yellow hue…. are you not drooling?

I posted about it’s deliciousness on instagram and immediately people were asking for the recipe.

My Mom found the recipe on Facebook, and from what I can tell, I believe it may have originated from one of my blog-friends, Karen at In the Kitchen With K P!

I love when my worlds collide.

Karen, whom I met in San Diego while attending BlogHer 2 years ago (3 years ago?) is always whipping up something drool-worthy. Between her blog and her instagram pics this lady has a way of always making me hungry!

I know we are always looking for fresh, new appetizer ideas when getting together with family and friends and this one is perfect for get togethers, holidays, as well as Sunday Football noshing.

The Recipe And Tips:

You can find Karen’s recipe for the Pull Apart Pepperoni Bread here.

The two things I would add that I know my mom changed up a bit is this–

1. PIZZERIA DOUGH IS THE BEST- If you can get pizza dough from your local pizzeria, do it! It makes it taste even better.

2. ADD A LIGHT COATING OF FLOUR – After spraying the bunt pan, my mom added a light coating of flour to prevent it from sticking. She decided to do this because on her first round with just the spray, it still stuck… not that that got in anyone’s way of gobbling it up right from the pan– but if you are making this to look pretty for company, or to bring to a party, you may want to make sure it doesn’t stick.

Perfect Gift For Moms To Be: Comfy, Chic Work Out Clothes That Expand With Your Bump!

October 9, 2013 By Cori

Fit Bump’s apparel line is something I’ve wanted to share with you for a while now, because I was blown away- not only by the quality and comfort, but the style and hello?? A shirt that zips?? GENIUS. All maternity clothes should be made that way!

Now that I am in my final weeks of pregnancy, this workout outfit is one of the things that I could truly LIVE in. And while I’m not about to begin a new work out routing at 36 wks, when I’m ready to hop into my post-baby boot camp with Nikki, I will definitely be wearing this outfit and popping on one of my Sparkly Soul headbands on the way out– Cute and comfy work out apparel is half the battle when trying to muster up some motivation for work outs is it not?

The below video was shot when I was 33 wks. I feel like a total slacker as it is now 3 weeks later and I am just getting around to editing and sharing! (Oh, Corine!) I apologize you guys, I’m just SO uncomfortable these days. It seems everything is on delay.

In this video I am wearing:
Fit Bump Rhea Top: $59.99
Fit Bump Eos Workout Pants: $72.00

Along with their apparel, Fit Bump also has a great site filled with work out ideas, inspiration and nutrition for expecting Moms. You can check it all out at www.FitBump360.com

Disclosure: Product was provided for editorial consideration. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.

L’Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation {60 Sec Makeup Review}

October 3, 2013 By Cori

Recently I was sent the new L’Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Foundation to try out. Because I know our days are busy and we want our info quick, the above video gives you all the scoop in just 60 seconds!

MSRP $12.99

Not to be confused or compared with full-coverage foundations that are usually a little creamier and heavier, this medium coverage foundation goes on like a liquid and finishes silky smooth like a powder. It is perfect for a light weight “un-makeup”, every day natural look.

Tonight I will be talking more about this foundation and overall beauty routines during the #MagicNude Twitter Party.

Join us at 9pm ET! You can get the deets and RSVP to win prizes here.

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by L’Oreal. Product was provided for review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cori