I just wanted to give a nod to all the moms out there for the amazing work you do. If you’ve managed to keep your child alive and healthy while maintaining some shred of sanity, I curtsy to you. Today marks four weeks since I began my journey as a new mom and while there have certainly been immeasurable joys to outweigh any and all inconveniences, there’s also this absurd reality that has indefinitely become everyday life.

Like rarely having a moment to sit down to a proper meal. Or rushing through bathroom trips with an open door and a prayer on your lips that she won’t roll off the couch and become your Pomeranian’s afternoon snack just because you had to pee. Or even the half-lucid state that’s now become your “sleep” pattern in forty-minute increments, making you sport permanent luggage under your eyes. Nobody tells you what a luxury it will be to sit down to a meal with your husband rather than taking turns handing her off. Or how you’ll probably smell faintly of milk and poop even after you’ve showered.

But it’s also hard for anyone to prepare you for the fulfillment you’ll enjoy the minute she’s born and placed in your arms. Or how watching her smile for the first time will feel like you’re witnessing a miracle. It would’ve been hard for me to imagine a day when my own basic needs wouldn’t really matter because it’s all about her. Every little bit. But that’s the truth of it and nothing could be sweeter.

So I’m sleep deprived, a little disheveled, and mostly unsure of what day it is. And caffeine and wine are interchangeably my essential methods of hydration. But I’ve somehow managed to create a tiny person that’s half me and half the love of my life. And that has been the most amazing thing.

Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly love Target any more, they announced this morning that their next designer collaboration is with none other than accessory great Phillip Lim. The it-bag designer will be debuting a collection featuring more than 100 items ranging in price from $19.99 to $299.99 for apparel and $19.99 to $59.99 for accessories. Coveted pieces include bags, dresses and a trench coat for women, and shoes and a leather moto jacket for men. Travel accessories, such as a duffle bag and multipurpose pouches for women and men, round out the collection. Items hit stores September 15th, so be sure to mark your calendars. I have a feeling this is going to be another Wu/Mossimo-type situation.

Here’s a quick, no-brainer deal for your Sunday. BA STAR is giving readers of Bubbles & Ink the chance to freshen up their makeup kits with HALF OFF their sparkly eye shadow palettes. These palettes are already incredibly affordable, so this is a great chance to stock up on different colors (the Natural and Smoky sets are my favorites). You can check out all their options here.

To get 50% off your order, use discount code BBSMOKY. Enjoy!

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Target’s next design collaboration lands in stores and online this Sunday, April 14th with a collection of women’s apparel and accessories from celebrity stylist Kate Young. The limited-edition collection features an assortment of special occasion dresses from the woman who’s styled countless celebrities and runway shows as well as worked on other famous Target campaigns – Jason Wu, anyone? Pieces range in price from $29.99 to $89.99 for apparel and $14.99 to $49.99 for jewelry, handbags and shoes. I’ve posted some of my favorite looks here but you can get a full view with prices on Target’s look book.

Truth be told, I’ve probably been nesting for quite some time now – probably, some would argue, well before I even thought about getting pregnant. But once the hormones kicked in, I went into overdrive hitting up HomeGoods in an embarrassingly cliched way.

Once I’d tackled the rest of the house (pics coming soon), I found myself dealing with the very interesting reality of having to make the spare bedroom in our two-bedroom condo (a room we’d been using as an office/closet/dressing area) spacious enough for our own needs and a new baby with an expanding wardrobe that rivals my own – on a budget.

After a little planning and some serious bargain hunting/comparison shopping, here are some pics of the end result. Check out the details and stores I shopped here.

Details: After painting the room a warm shade of grey (and letting it air out a few days), we applied vinyl decals from Blik in a pattern we liked. We saved $200 on the convertible crib by buying it at Burlington rather than a big name baby store. Thanks to IKEA, we scored a clearance-priced wardrobe with adjustable shelves and roomy drawers, which allowed us to keep using the existing closet as our own. The area rug was picked up on a great daily sale by Joss & Main. The rocking chair was graciously donated by a friend who no longer needed it, so ask around and you might be able to save on some big-ticket items. Bedding came from our registry at buybuyBaby by CoCalo, one of the more design-influenced lines I came across. And the hanging bird cages came from Michael’s as part of the decor we used for the garden-themed baby shower. 

For more nursery inspiration, check out Project Nursery.

All images taken by me on an iPhone and dad-to-be Tony Espinoza on a Canon 60D.