The Gift of Quality Time with JORD

I dedicate this blog to my amazing husband who just celebrated his birthday this month! I couldn't be more grateful for this wonderful man and all that he does to provide for our little family. He works over 60 hours a week working in three different time-zones running two companies, flies back and forth to China every 8-10 weeks as well as travels within the US yet still finds the time to help me at home with Harry and the housework. I admire how great he is at balancing everything and making time for the important people in his life because it is not easy! I have enjoyed watching the metamorphoses of this man over the past year as he evolved into the most amazing father to Harry and supportive husband to me. 

So given all of this, I couldn't help but want to spoil him for his special day. The theme for my gift was 'time'. How important is time? Far greater is the importance of time than of any material thing. Time spent with family, time spent reading, time spent building memories, time alone for yourself, time taking care of your wellbeing, time spent nurturing your body over a family meal. What greater gift is there in life than time. 

For his birthday, while I could not stop the clocks nor could I buy him more time,  I decided to give him something to help better manage the time we have thus allowing him to spend more quality time with Harry. Since part of being a parent to a toddler, we are constantly aware of time to help keep him on schedule, I figured a unique watch would be the way to go! The watch I chose was this fabulous JORD watch; a wooden, unique, timeless piece. Harry's gift to him was the book called 'I love you Daddy' which he now reads to him every night before bed. 

The JORD watch I chose is from the Conway series; Kosso and Midnight Blue  I just loved the shade of the kosso wood and the face in midnight blue was perfect for Jonny as most of his shirts are this blue! As you can see from the photos, I think it looks great on him. It really compliments most of his brown belts, leather man bags and brown leather shoes.

I was so delighted when it arrived on time for his birthday and also happy that I didn't even feel the need to wrap it as the packaging and presentation was so beautiful it seemed a shame to cover it up in birthday paper.

Beautiful wooden packaging!

Includes Excellent quality packaging and presentationBox and Dust cloth

On opening it, his eyes lit up and he was over the moon with the uniqueness and quality of the timepiece. It was simply perfect. He tried it on right away and he immediately mentioned that it was so comfortable and something that he could easily wear every day. He wore it for the rest of the afternoon as he spent time playing with Harry and what is great about the watch is that it can be easily carried over into evening dress wear.

We spent most of his birthday as a family, but I also made sure to book a romantic meal for two on top of the Willis Tower and scheduled a babysitter to take care of Harry so Mammy and Daddy could also have quality time together which is so important to do when you have a little one. 

As you can probably tell from previous posts, I am a huge fan of wood! Being a Montessori teacher, I generally choose all wooden everything from toys, teething toys, furniture and now watches! JORD also have a beautiful collection of women's watches which are equally as fabulous. Check them out here if you are interested. Isn't this turquoise one just fabulous!  I might even get one soon so we can match! I'm all into coordinating these days. I don't know if Jonny shares in my enthusiasm though. Heehehe! 

As a reward for taking time to read my blog, JORD is having a giveaway for my readers to win $100 shop credit to their store for a watch of your choice as well as $25 e-gift code for just entering! How amazing is that! You are already a winner! It's really easy to enter just click here and fill in the quick form and you're done! 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of Jonny's special birthday featuring Harry and wearing his elegant and timeless JORD watch. 

This is sponsored by JORD wood watches. All opinions are my own. 

Watch Gift Ideas

Blushing in Pink with PinkBlush.

Does anyone else out there feel like it has been Winter forever?? Seriously! I was so excited two weeks ago that Spring was finally coming when Chicago decided to surprise us with a warm, sunny weekend. I'm sure I bombarded you all with those beach photos! Well it was obviously just a tease as it is currently snowing outside as I type this. Well Winter, you have overstayed your welcome and I have grown tired of my Winter clothes. Jonny, Harry and I desperately want to get back outdoors and do all the fun stuff that Spring in Chicago has to offer. 

This long Winter and the four walls of our apartment all just leave me feeling like Rapunzel locked up in a tower so to make myself feel better, I decided to doll myself up with a bit of makeup, put on a dress with heels and go on an indoor date with the hubby without having to even leave the building! We snook upstairs for a game of pool, a glass of wine and then ordered some take-out Vietnamese. Loving Pho these days. It's the best! Pho Real! lol

 In the pics I'm wearing this fab, trendy metallic, light pink dress from PinkBlush,  Do you want to know the best part? This dress also doubles up as a maternity dress!! Isn't it cute? It's so comfy to wear and hides the indulgence of a good meal and few glasses of wine too! I felt super relaxed in it, yet dressed-up because of the metallic finish and the spandex in the fabric made it really easy to move about in. I found it a great transitional piece in my wardrobe as just pairing it with black tights, a blazer and thigh-high boots make it really sexy to go out in during the winter spell and I know it will look great all Summer with flats and sandals too. For this date night, I paired it with pearls, a gold clutch and gold, heeled pumps. Check out PinkBlush Maternity for more fab dresses! This floral print maxi is currently on my wish list! It makes me want my second baby already! ''Jonny, are you ready for baby number two yet?''

Turquoise and Turtles!

My favourite accessories to wear with anything this season. I know the little black choker is so en vogue right now but I just find it a bit uncomfortable to be honest and way prefer to wear something a little brighter. No matter what colour I wear, one of these always seems to match and give the outfit a lift! These have been collected from various markets around Asia, were super cheap and cheerful and I love to wear them. Harry also likes to grab them, bite them and particularly loves looking into the little glass container with the sand, turtle and shells. It gives him a glimpse of seaside life from the city. This was a chain that I made myself from materials from Michaels craft store. 

What's in my beauty bag?

Keeping it simple....well...kinda.

I'm currently in love with Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty skincare products that I ordered from an infomercial! (Yes...I know, I'm such a sucker!)  Super reasonable though. Whole set cost about 45 USD and it contains cleanser, serums, day and night cream as well as eye and neck cream. I feel it works wonders and I will be ordering it again when I run out! The ingredients in the product are mostly natural and come from a rare melon that grows in south of France. Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh, a Parisian anti-aging guru discovered the secret. This melon apparently takes longer to decay and has defied the normal aging process in melons so I don't see why it shouldn't apply to my own melon! Hence why Cindy looks so good at 50. Let's see how long I can look 30 for...I mean 21 for! hahah-I wish! 

Like shampoos, I like to mix it up and not use the same brand of skincare on my face all the time so I usually alternate and use two different brands at the one time. I am loving the No. 7 Brand and can really see why it is the number 1 best selling serum in the U.K. The texture is so silky and soft. Since it is Winter and I happen to live in the windy city, I feel it is all about protection from the dry air and harsh conditions. I lash loads of serum on and then 10 mins later, add the moisturizer. All moisturizer I use has SPF 20 or more.  

Most days I don't ware make-up, unless it's a work day and I'm called into school. I usually cover up with this Lumi Cushion from Maybelline so that I don't frighten the kids! Maybelline concealer is also my best friend and supper easy to apply! (not pictured above as I have yet again run out) I literally wear that every day to hide the black bags! 

I use a wooden comb for hair as it's supposed to better on the scalp to help stimulate hair growth. I'm really trying to grow my hair and thicken it. If anyone has any advice, please let me know below!! I am back on some prenatal vitamins to help with that and use coconut oil on my ends as a natural conditioner. I also use coconut oil on Harry's hair instead of product to keep his luscious locks in place! 

Spring is in the air!

Time to step out finally and hit the beachfront for walks! Harry was looking super stylish in his little Ralph Lauren shirt and I'm wearing my fav dress from Anthropologie.  I can't believe the weather we are having in Chicago these days! 65 degrees in the middle of February. It is truly amazing for this time of year and it picked us all up out of our Chicago Winter Gloom. I was starting to get claustrophobic and feeling like Rapunzel in her tower (without the fabulous long locks). It was a breath of fresh air to get out and do a family walk in the park and soak up some sun into our Vitamin D deficient bodies!!  

It took Harry a bit of time to get used to the sand. At first he cried to be picked up as the texture felt strange to him, but after a few minutes he soon got used to it and could be heard crawling and giggling to himself as it tickled his little hands. 

Harry is having a mindful moment in the sand!

Matching in Mustard

On our recent trip to California, I was in the mood to wear bright colours in hope the sun would come out. It was the worst rainfall LA had experienced in 20 years. Complete washout! For a few moments on Saturday, the sun shone, so we quickly got out for a walk along Manhattan Beach to soak up the rays. Here are some pics of Harry and I matching in Mustard! 

Co-ordinated in Cobalt

Loving our matching outfits in cobalt from Kin and Kith Inc, an eco-friendly sustainable fashion brand made in U.S.A. The fabric is super soft and comfy to wear and my dress can easily go from casual daywear with flat boots and tights to a going-out dress with heels and accessories. I also loved the fact that they are an environmentally friendly company who has partnered with fair trade producers and manufacturers. 

Check out more about the brand here: https://kinandkith.ca/about/

Follow me on instagram @irishmomusa. They are offering 10% discount for my followers using the discount code EGAN1

In Harry's Shoes

We are totally in love with Harry's new Moccasins from BirdRock Baby. They are super cute, great quality but most importantly, they actually stay on his feet!! We have been having bad luck up until now to find shoes that actually stay on. I usually am half a mile up the road when I notice one shoe missing and have to turn back which is a nightmare on these cold, snowy winter days in Chicago. Harry is now the proud owner of three pairs; mustard, navy and dark brown. The mustard ones are my fav as they just brighten up the whole outfit. He also loves to play with the tassels and this can keep him entertained for several minutes!

Why not shop with small businesses this holiday season. These would make an ideal Christmas gift for a baby!

Check out BirdRock Baby from San Diego for the entire collection: https://birdrockbaby.com/ 

If you follow me on instagram @irishmomusa they are giving 15% discount to my followers until the end of the year using discount code ALISON15

Fall Fashion Fixes

Cannot leave the house without these fashion essentials. You could call this my fall uniform! This blush pink blazer from Topshop instantly transforms my casual, lounge-around-the-house-with-baby outfit of jeans and black top into a stylishly groomed look. Loving my plain black choker too from Urban Outfitters. It seems to be an iconic look these days! My faux fur collar was gifted to me by one of my Irish besties Aisling Minnock as part of my birthday gift! I believe she picked it up in Penney's, also known as Primark, one of our favorite fashion houses of all times!  It is starting to get chilly here in Chicago right about now so loving my blush pink fur-ball hat also from Topshop. I also use it as a helmet to protect my hair from the aggressive grasps and pulls of my loving son Harry! 

Wearing boho in Soho

On our recent visit to NYC I couldn't resist purchasing this new boho dress in blush pink in Anthropology. It went perfectly with my suede ankle boots from Zara. Super comfy outfit for strolling around with baby in those not-yet-Autumn but not-still-Summer days.

Bit of sneaky shopping time while Harry is sleeping soundly in his Chicco Bravo Travel stroller. Perfectly compact and easy to collapse to jump in UBER.

Couldn't resist. Perfect to dress up an outfit and transform it from day to evening. 

It's a Wrap!

Loving my new wrap from H&M for just $24.50! It's perfect as a wrap with a belt or just as a scarf for these breezy Chicago days.  It reminds me of the Dolly Mixture sweets from my childhood! The different colors on it means that I can wear it with almost any outfit! It's soft too so it also doubles up as a baby blanket if you're like me and sometimes forget to pack one! Ooops...Sorry Harry. 

Ideal pamper morning to-do list.

For those mornings that I feel like I wanna be like Audrey and pour myself a mimosa or spike my hot chocolate with a baileys, here is what I try to do instead;

  I don't have many of these kind of free days in Chicago but the odd time that I do, I would start my day with a walk or gentle run along the lakefront (weather permitting). I usually run in the opposite direction to the city, north. There is something refreshing about that. Like I am escaping city-life and running away into the wild. I would inhale the fresh air as I listen to my audio book and forget about the sleepless night that I had the night before. 

When I get bored of running, which is usually after abut ten minutes, I find the nearest green area and practice some yoga instead. 

After that, I would head home for a hot bath with epsom salts, apparently they help rid the body of toxins and help release any tension build-up. Lavender scented epsom salts are my favourite. 

Next, I would do a thorough face, neck and body cleanse using my Mary Kay cleanser that has the little beads in it for gentle exfoliation. I sometimes use my exfoliating gloves for this one.

After cleansing, I usually apply a sea-weed face mask or once a week, I apply the Mary Kay skin peel. Leave it on for ten minutes then rinse. While the mask is on, I wash my hair with shampoo and then leave in the conditioner while I wait for my face mask to dry. I usually end my bath with a shower, then apply the Mary Kay daily moisturizer with SPF 25 before leaving the house.

Harry's Photoshoot

Harry did a newborn photo shoot at Monica and Andy's at 11 weeks old. Most of the baby models fit perfectly inside the basket but not our Harry. His little legs were hanging over the edge! He is now in the 99th percentile for height! We had such a fun afternoon dressing up at the store and Harry loves it here as this is where he does his Yoga and Music classes every week. The team at Monica and Andy have done a great job in creating such a warm and wonderful environment for both mums and babies not only to shop but also to take part in many wonderful events and classes. When I have had a rough night with Harry, I really look forward to going to Monica and Andy for a class and a chat with other mums. It get's me through those tough days.