Events – Page 21 – Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic

Baby July 22, 2014

Isla Loves: Wink Shapewear

As mentioned here, I’m starting a series in which I review baby and post-pregnancy products that both Isla and I love. Today is the first post, and I’m reviewing Wink Shapewear.

In order to get my body back to its pre-pregnancy size quickly, I knew I would need the help of a postpartum girdle/shapewear. I did research online, and ended up ordering two different brands – Wink Shapewear and Belly Bandit. While I definitely liked both, I found the Wink Shapewear much more effective. I ordered the Ultimate Postpartum Bikini in nude (see below left). I ordered a medium, which looked tiny while pregnant and definitely fitted very snuggly when I first put it on four days after delivery. Over the following weeks, it became less tight (and more comfortable!). I saw results pretty quickly – see the difference in 10 days in the photos below. I was back in my regular clothes on day 8, which felt like having an entirely new closet after wearing maternity clothes for months!

Wink Shapewear kindly sent me another product to try – the Waist and Hip Blaster Shorts in Black (see above right). I wanted something to help narrow my hips as they had expanded significantly during pregnancy – probably the reason Isla popped out after 18 minutes of pushing! I received these shorts in a medium, which seemed much larger than the bikini medium. In retrospect, I would have ordered a small in this item. I really like these shorts and wear them 2-3 days a week. The only thing I preferred about the bikini versus the shorts is that the bikini has a clamp at the bottom which makes it easy to go to the restroom, while the shorts unclamp on the side, so you have to undo them them pull them down which takes a little longer. Overall, both products are very effective and I highly recommend both.

40 weeks pregnant (before heading to the hospital at 2am!) // 8 days postpartum (first day back in regular clothes)

10 days postpartum (in my Anthro PJs which I love!) // 14 days postpartum

Follow Wink Shapewear on Twitter and Facebook and check out their website here

Baby July 21, 2014

Nikkor 50mm f/1.8g Lens

I recently signed up for the Photo 101 class with Nicole’s Classes, and my first homework assignment was due yesterday. I absolutely love taking pictures and I have a nice camera (Nikon D5000) that I’ve used on Auto for far too long (i.e. 7 years), and recently decided that I need to learn about all of the features. My friend, Danielle, pointed me to these 4-week online courses and I’m already obsessed. I start my next set of classes in one week – Illustrator 101 – and then will begin Floral Arranging 101 two weeks after that. I can’t wait!

As of last Monday, I only had two lenses, but quickly after starting the courses, I decided that I needed a 50mm lens with a low f-stop number. I did online research, and ended up ordering the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8g lens on Amazon. I am obsessed. Seriously – I don’t know how I’ve been taking pictures without this portrait lens!

I’ve included some of the photos from my homework – which included changing ISO, f stop numbers and doing a ‘day in the life.’ I chose to make Isla my model (no arguments from her) – the day included three outfit changes. She’s a puker!

ASP Wedding July 19, 2014

One Year Anniversary

Today is our one year wedding anniversary, and what a year it has been! Since getting married last July 19 at The Carneros Inn in Napa, California, we have gone to Durango twice (still here), went to the Justin Timberlake/Jay Z concert in Miami, visited friends in Minneapolis, went to Bali and Japan (briefly!) for our honeymoon, celebrated two of our best friend’s engagements and two of our closest friend’s weddings, welcomed multiple sweet babies into the world, and last, but definitely not least, had a baby girl of our own! We are very excited about what year two has in store for us.

For more about our wedding, click here.

Photos by Ryan Ray

Decor July 15, 2014

Dream Living Rooms

Perhaps because Isla’s nursery is complete, I am super itchy to redo our living room. I have been scouring the internet for inspiration… probably much to Sasha’s dismay! We’ve only been in our house for a year, but there are many things I would like to change. In a few years, we plan to do a custom build, and I want to have every single room mapped out before we design anything. The living room is where we spend most time (second to the kitchen, which might be surpassed by Isla’s nursery right now!), so that would be where I focused most of my attention. I also want to build a toy room, as I am a freak about baby ‘stuff’ cluttering up the house. Our good friends are turning their office into a nursery – super jealous (although I love our study!!). Some of my favorite living rooms are posted below – including my sister’s newly renovated home. What do you think? Are these your style? Sasha finds it a tad girly, but he’s generally okay with letting me make design decisions (not so much with art!).

PS We are headed to Durango today! So excited for this new chapter in our lives.

Caitlin Moran via Glitter Guide

Michele Lee via Glitter Guide

Devon Dyer via Glitter Guide

Julia Engel via Rue Magazine

Houzz

My Sister’s House

Have you seen a living room you love? Please share if you have!

Baby July 14, 2014

New Series: Isla Loves

I am excited to introduce a new series to Snapshots and My Thoughts called ‘Isla Loves.’ One of Sasha’s best friends asked if we were going to name her Isla Lucy, which made me chuckle (get it?).

For this series, I’m partnering up with some of my favorite brands to share my thoughts on their products. I’ll even be sneaking in a few items I love (obviously, as Isla doesn’t have that much say yet!), including two items from Wink Shapewear. Not only will there be product reviews, but we’ll also have giveaways and discounts – I can’t wait to get started!

The first post will be next week, after we get settled in Colorado (our mini-sabbatical). Stay tuned for these reviews. I’ll be excited to hear what others think about these products too and to get recommendations on new items to try.

Sleeping in her Fisher-Price Rock & Play in her J. Crew Onesie | With her Cloud B Sleep Sheep, Carter’s Onesie (Similar) and Trumpette Socks

Another day, more Trumpette Socks with a Gap onesie (similar) | Slowing moving into 0-3 month clothes in a Tigger-esque Gap footed onesie