All posts by Alicia

The Bottle Themed Baby Shower

February 24, 2013Events, Life & Family, Shopping & DealsAngelique Euro Cafe, asos, baby shower, beer, Brighthouse Baubles, champagne, Cupcakes, essie, events, family & friends, home brew, OPIAlicia

Attending my own baby shower was probably one of the most surreal experiences I’ve had in a while. Picking out a crib and registering for baby essentials really only hit me as shopping. Watching my belly grow and become heavy enough to make me shun my heels hardly phased me. But I caught myself staring a little too long at that pink banner hung over our place settings and it smacked me in the face: I’m having a baby. Soon.

Luckily, this was probably a little on the milder side in terms of actual baby-type stuff when it comes to the admittedly foreign realm of baby showers. Having a husband who can illustrate helped string our bottle-themed shower together into a low key, friendly affair for both guys and girls. Not to mention making it feel much more us. I think the fact that we were able to weave beer and champagne into our central theme made us feel much more comfortable with the event.

I’m excited to share some of our details, including: special home brew favors for the guys (crafted with care by the dad-to-be and home brew master & uncle-to-be MP), milk bottle mimosas for the ladies, a Polaroid sign-in book, story books in place of cards to build our baby’s library, and guava cupcakes (for the Cuban mom-to-be, yours truly). I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Check out specific event details after the jump.

Event details:

Event Setup Assistance: Events by Francesca, Location & Catering: Angelique Euro Cafe, Cupcakes: Not Just Cakes by Patty, Milk Jar Favors: Beau-Coup.com, Centerpieces: Hydrangeas & Spider Mums from Berkeley Florist Supply in Miami set in Ball jars, Heart Manicure by Miya at Portfolio Salon, Chunky Pave Link Bracelet from Brighthouse Baubles, Flowy Top by ASOS Petite.

All photos and graphic design details courtesy of dad-to-be Tony Espinoza.

Big City Moms Miami Recap

February 7, 2013Events, Life & FamilyBaby Products, baby shower, Big City Moms, Maternity Chic, motherhoodAlicia

As if my recent waddling or growing belly weren’t already driving the point home, attending the Big City Moms Biggest Baby Shower: Miami event made it overwhelmingly clear that I am, indeed, incredibly pregnant. I’m no longer in that in-between maybe-she’s-just-packed-on-a-few-extra-pounds stage. I am fully, recognizably preggo with the hormone surges to prove it. But so were all the other attendees at this event and it made me feel slightly normal for a short while.

But attending this event as a first-time mom-to-be was also incredibly educational. I thought I knew what my baby needed until I took a stroll through the seemingly endless rows of vendors and discovered there’s a whole world of new essentials our parents didn’t need but certainly could have used to make their initial parenting years a whole lot easier (Zippyz and Bibbitec, anyone?). Below, I give you some of my standout products (and maybe some gifting ideas for yours truly!). Have you tried any of these products? I’d love to hear what you think.

SOME FAVORITES:

1) Tutti Bambini: A one-stop shop for all things baby, including classes, baby planning, and maternity concierge services.

2) Sweet Dough: Custom cookies, pastries and sweets.

3) “O” Pops by Angie: Custom (and really delicious) cake pops.

4) Project Nursery: Inspiring style for baby’s first room and beyond.

5) Daddy Scrubs: Scrubs and gifts for the expectant dad.

6) Zippyz: Onesies that zip (instead of snap) from foot to belly, keeping your baby warm and comfy through diaper changes.

7) H.O.L.D. Couture: Maternity and post-maternity shapewear. (Not pictured)

8) Give Wink: Baby needs and customizable gifts.

P.S. I had to include my preggo Mad Men alter-ego image, created by none other than my baby-daddy. Totally irrelevant but still kinda cute; especially the way she’s still wearing full pumps when I clearly slid across the room last night in nothing more than a glorified kitten heel. Ah, the joys of pregnancy.

Big City Moms: Miami

January 18, 2013Travel & Miamibaby shower, Big City Moms, events, Miami, moms, motherhoodAlicia

Hey, moms and moms-to-be! For the second year in a row, BCM Biggest Baby Shower is heading to Miami for all the latest and greatest in baby essentials. This will be my first time attending but I have to admit I’m pretty excited. (I keep hearing about their amazing goodie bags!)

If you’re planning to attend, be sure to take advantage of the special discount code for readers of Bubbles & Ink: Use BUBBLES at checkout to receive $10 OFF the price of admission. Hope to see you there!

Maternity Chic: The Diaper Bag Dilemma

December 17, 2012Fashion & Beauty, Life & FamilyMaternity, Maternity Chic, moms, pregnancyAlicia

So, the diaper bag. That vinyl thing we’re all supposed to carry around with some sort of overzealous duck print just because we’ve recently bred a munchkin who’ll likely adore that sort of stuff. And that’s just fine for him/her. But why would a 32-year-old woman voluntarily tote one of those things around? I mean, if that’s your thing and you’ve been secretly dying to find an excuse to sport some nursery rhyme-type fashion, then go ahead and rock that duck unapologetically. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’d be cringing for you just a little on the inside.

I’ve both been dreading and anticipating the hunt for a more fashion-forward solution to this diaper bag dilemma. Before getting pregnant, I wasn’t really the type of gal who’d linger around the kinds of shops that would impart this sort of information. But here I am and my search has led me to some admittedly chic options. Bags with nary a nursery print in sight.

Though I’ll admit that two of the six bags in this post are not officially diaper bags per se, my search did lead me to the “diaper bag insert” solution that can pretty much turn any good-sized tote into a baby-suitable carry-all. Hence, the L.A.M.B. and See by Chloe are still perfectly legitimate choices (insert silly grin on mom-to-be here). The other four are by Timi and Leslie, my new mommy-friendly favorites.

But I’d love to hear from other chic moms out there. What did you wear as a diaper bag? Any designers I overlooked? Please share your wisdom with me! If you know me, you don’t even want to think about the perma-scowl I’d be rocking with a duck print bag.

Click on the pics to visit the retailer’s site.

Wanderlust: Clearwater, FL

December 13, 2012Travel & MiamiBeaches, Breweries, Central Florida, Clearwater, Dunedin, Dunedin Brewery, Gulf Coast, restaurants, Sand Key, Sheraton Sand Key Resort, St. Petersberg, Tampa, travel, Travel & Miami, wanderlustAlicia

The thing about living in Florida is that, despite all the complaining I do about the weather and lack of seasons when the holidays hit, there’s still something remarkable about being able to jump in your car and settle into a last-minute road trip to the beach in December.

Tony and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary recently, which led to a bit of an early “babymoon” we both seriously needed. One iPod and five hours later, we arrived in Clearwater, 26 square miles of beautiful beaches, breathtaking sunsets, and really nice people. (Not gonna lie – that’s probably what took the most getting used to.)

We stayed at the Sheraton Sand Key, a newly renovated resort which overlooks the quiet little beach town in all its unassuming splendor. And though this city girl would usually be crawling out of her skin in a place with nary a sound after dark, pregnancy has given me a new kind of appreciation for peace and simplicity – things I probably should have appreciated way earlier in my adult life. But above all, Clearwater and Sand Key have the luxury of choice with Tampa and St. Petersburg only a few minutes away. And that’s something I’m still missing down here.

Here are a few of our favorites in St. Pete, Dunedin, and Sand Key. If you’ve never been, the drive itself will do you wonders. But those unfiltered sunsets have all the makings of a cheesy romantic comedy. And it seems my hormones have made me a sucker for those as well. Enjoy.

All photos were taken by myself on Instagram or Tony on his Canon EOS 60D.

JackThreads: Smart Fashion for Guys

November 23, 2012Fashion & Beauty, Shopping & Dealsfashion, Guys, JackThreads, Men, Mens Fashion, online shopping, sales, styleAlicia

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of JackThreads. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here’s one for the men in your life, the ones who have a style of their own…or the ones who can use some help putting a look together. JackThreads is a curated, members-only site for men’s fashion and accessories featuring designer styles at friendly prices. The online community sells men’s clothes from tons of well known brands like Kenneth Cole and Penguin, as well as men’s footwear from favorite names like Vans and Converse.

Here’s how it works: Each day at noon (ET), three to four new sales come up, combining brands you already know with names you want to get to know. Most sales last for 72 hours and then are gone, so you really want to get in right at the beginning to get your pick. If you get your friends to sign up and make a purchase, you’ll earn $10 for yourself for each one, which will get you a few cool things on here based on their pricing of up to 80% off daily.

I took a look around and found more than a few styles for each type of guy I know, so finding gifts won’t be an issue. There are some pretty great Seasonal Sales going on now, so you might want to check out these shops before they’re gone. My favorites were the Watches under $50, Hoodies & Sweatshirts, and Casual Shoes & Sneaks (some pics below).

I asked my husband which look he’d be into and he picked the one below. I’m a fan of the grey tones and easy to layer pieces. I’m pretty sure he’d wear this all the time.

Click here to sign up for JackThreads (it’s free) and start receiving their new sale info every day. You can check out their Winter Deals here to stock up for the season. This is definitely one of the best ways to take advantage of Black Friday without having to deal with the crazy lines (you all know how I feel about that).

Black Friday Online Codes

November 23, 2012Fashion & Beauty, Shopping & DealsBlack Friday, coupon codes, coupons, fashion, Holiday Shopping, holidays, online shopping, online shopping guide, shoppingAlicia

You definitely won’t catch this preggo standing in any Black Friday lines, but there’s certainly a special place in my heart for deals I can enjoy from the comfort of my couch and mommy pants. I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite brands and retailers with coupon codes you can use online today. Best of luck to those of you braving the stores. Happy shopping to those of you sharing my online mentality. Here’s what you need to get going:

ASOS: 11/23 ONLY – 20% off everything when you use code BLACKFRIDAYBONUS

BaubleBar: 11/23 ONLY – Buy 2 Baubles, Get 15% Off (code: FRIDAY15) Buy 3 Baubles, Get 25% Off (code:FRIDAY25) Buy 4 Baubles, Get 35% Off (code: FRIDAY35)

DVF: 11/23-11/26 – additional 30% off sale items + free shipping with code HOLIDAYSALE

Gorjana: 11/23 ONLY – Win up to 100% off your purchase (enter code BLKFRIDAY to see what % off you will get)!

Nicole Miller: 11/23 – New styles up to 70% off. 11/23-12/31- receive a $50 gift card with any purchase.

Pink Mascara: 11/23-11/30- save 25% off site wide with code CYBER

Steve Madden: 25% off and free shipping with code GIVE25!

Theory: 11/23-11/26 – enjoy 30% off sitewide when you enter code THANKS2012

Tory Burch: From 11/23 on – Spend $300 get 20% off, spend $500 get 25% off, spend $750 get 30% off AND get a limited edition notecard set with any purchase of $150 or more when you enter code GIFTFORYOU

Victoria’s Secret: 11/23- free limited edition tote including four beauty must-haves with $65 purchase. Code: FRIDAY65

Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura

November 22, 2012Fashion & Beauty, Shopping & DealsGifts & Pretty Things, Holiday Collections, Karl for Shu, Karl Lagerfeld, Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura, Makeup, Mon Shu, Shu UemuraAlicia

When Karl Lagerfeld teams up with one of the world’s most innovative makeup creators, nothing less than a “miracle of color and beauty” can be expected. Born of a longtime mutual admiration, The Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura collection is fashion meets art in a colorful juxtaposition of classic edge. This is basically wearable art for your face (just take a look at those lashes!).

Get a look at some of my favorites from the collection in the pics below. While you’re shopping the collection, be sure to take advantage of the special code available to readers of Bubbles & Ink:

Code: WISH2012
Valid: Thurs. Nov. 22nd through Tues. Nov. 27th
Offer: 20% Off plus Free Shipping on All Orders of $50 or more

Rediscovering Vizcaya

November 19, 2012Travel & MiamiHistory, Photography, things to do in miami, tony espinoza, Travel & Miami, VizcayaAlicia

What my first trimester lacked in enthusiasm, my second trimester has made up for in abundant energy and a desire to wake up at the crack of dawn to seize the city. I’m not entirely sure what’s sparked this new love affair with a city I’ve admittedly admonished for its laundry list of faults (anyone who commutes more than a one-block radius can certainly understand), but I’ll chalk it up to hormonal nesting and the ever-present optimism its brought with it – a trait that’s been rather unnatural in the past for this self-proclaimed and proudly snarky Cuban girl.

Still, if the baby wants to get out into the city, my body shall direct him/her there. So it was that we found ourselves at Vizcaya, rediscovering one of those magical places that hasn’t lost its charm on me. This was Tony’s first time visiting the museum that used to be home to agricultural industrialist James Deering – and quite a home it was. Talk about satisfying that urge to nest.

We spent the day wandering the gardens, trying to imagine what it’s like to have ten acres of land upon which to build a life. We’re a far cry from that in a barely 900 sq ft apartment a little too close to Kendall for my liking. But there’s something to be said for inspiration. Maybe Baby E will enjoy a baroque-inspired nursery… In any case, here are a few shots of our favorite spots, of which there were quite a few. Well done, Mr. Deering. Enjoy.

Thanks to my hubby for taking these amazing pics. I got a few shots in with my iPhone but he’s the one with the serious camera skills.