polyvore – the Whitney Michaels blog

Workout Essentials

September 4, 2017essentials, life's essentials, style, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

You heard it here first. Somehow from somewhere, I have found some motivation to get moving! I’ve been either pregnant or nursing for over 3 years now and a ‘fit pregnancy’ was never really my thing, unfortunately. I’ve always been an active person and I enjoy feeling strong and fit, it just hasn’t been my priority. It should be though. In the words of Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy! Happy people don’t go shoot their husbands [or yell at their kids so much]”.

As difficult as it is to start, once I’m going I know I’ll feel so good! I’ve invested in a few supportive, comfortable, and totally cute pieces that I know will up my workout game. If its good enough for Carrie Underwood to workout in, its good enough for me, right?!

I’ve been eyeing the CALIA by Carrie Underwood collection via Instagram and on occasion at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and finally jumped in. I got a couple different styles of sports bras, as well as a pair of leggings, and some shirts. The shirts so far have felt soft, and cool and the bras are supportive but comfortable! There are some new releases for fall so a few of the older items are on SALE!

I’ve had the Fit Bit Blaze for a couple of years but haven’t used it to its full capacity yet because, well I haven’t been working out! I’ll keep you posted on how it works out.

Water has been essential for me for a long time because I’ve been growing and feeding little humans and they require a lot from my body. I love using a glass bottle because I add essential oils to it to change things up and be more motivated to drink more! It also tastes so refreshing to have some citrus flavor!

Cool Azul will also be a new addition. I’ve made my own balms with essential oils and coconut oil for muscle support and relief, but I can’t wait to try this sports gel formulated especially for physical support.

Do you have any workout favorites that keep you motivated? I can’t wait to share my progress along the way! You can follow along with me on my Instagram and Facebook Page!

xoxo

Whitney

Favorites {battling the baby bug}

October 13, 2015June 29, 2017favorites, kids, Uncategorized2 Comments

since Friday, Aubrey has been fighting her first cold…so so sad for my mama heart! she has been surprisingly happy but overall a little more tired and clingy. I’ve been trying to stay away from any medicines right off the bat and have found a few must haves to get her through these snotty days!

one. {humidifier} I’ve basically had this going in her room every time I put her in there to sleep. I definitely noticed a difference when we were out yesterday and she napped without it twice! I think it just overall helps with her congestion.

two. {essential oil diffuser} yup, I jumped on that train! I didn’t go all in, but I borrowed my sister’s diffuser to see what it was all about and I’m definitely going to invest in my own! she recommended the breathe and lavender oils and I really think they’re doing the trick!

three. {NoseFrida} definitely not Aubrey’s favorite item and maybe one of the grosser things I can add to the “things I do as a mom” list, but I swear this snotsucker is easily just as addictive as it is disgusting! the satisfaction that comes from clearing out that goop from her poor little nose is disturbing. it truly pulls out so much and helps her breathe so much better!

along with these few items, I’ve done a few other things to hopefully help.

four. we put a few magazines under one side of her crib to elevate it a bit to hopefully keep any fluid out of her ears!

five. {extra sleep} we are definitely not on any type of regimented schedule around here, but I have noticed she’s been wanting to sleep much more. some days more often and some days for longer periods of time, but its definitely taken a toll on her energy levels.

six. {mama time} just in case she wasn’t clingy enough, we’ve spent lots of time nursing, cuddling, standing in the steamy bathroom, and sleeping {well she is sleeping while I awkwardly try not to let my arms fall asleep}. I’m soaking in the extra squeezes and kisses but hope she get a little bit of independence back soon!

it has been so hard to see her not feeling well, but I’m also kind of glad to get our first germ session out of the way {I’ve been overly protective and worried about it since she was born!}.

do you have any tried and true products or tips to help heal a sick baby?

Home Design: Master Bedroom

July 24, 2015June 29, 2017house to home, Uncategorized1 Comment

happy Friday! this week has just flown by {when do they not?} and I’m so excited for a weekend with the hubby home! although I’ve primarily documented my pregnancy and little one on this blog, I wanted to expand a bit into the realm of home renovation and decor over the next few months since we will be starting a complete renovation of our house! with a project this big, the design and decor aspects are both exciting and intimidating! since the project is still in planning mode {we are about 4-6 weeks out}, I’m excited to take you with me through the process of brainstorming, construction and final design! I’m sure a lot of the decor will be a slow process transitioning from our current furniture to new pieces once the house is finished, but a girl can dream! Am I right?!

first up, is our master bedroom. I really want to create a unified feeling throughout the whole house using mostly neutrals but I’ve also been obsessing over blues lately, especially navy so I want to incorporate that! I found this article on Pinterest about how to create a “whole home color palette” so I’ve been exploring that idea and using these inspiration boards that I’m creating as my plan! Stephanie, over on Olive & Tate just went through a huge home project {with a one year old and an amazing sense of humor} and I’ve been so excited for her “after” reveals and cannot wait for our own!

although I haven’t purchased any of this new furniture, I’ll link it all below just in case you love it as much as I do! clearly I’m obsessed with Pottery Barn, who isn’t?!

hope everyone enjoys FRIYAY and your weekend is full of sunshine and laughter!

Newborn Favorites

July 1, 2015June 29, 2017favorites, kids, products, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

now that Aubrey is past the newborn stage and we are finally getting into a groove, I wanted to share some of the things that we {mostly I} loved when she was a bitty {and still do}!

nipple balm. it took me over a month to try this cream. I had been using ‘boobease’, and lanolin in the beginning and they were no match for the not so good latch that Aubrey had. this stuff was a lifesaver!

maternity tank. I totally have a mom uniform, and these are apart of it! these Liz Lange tanks from Target are awesome! so soft, long and stretchy! perfect for nursing {I always like to pull the neck down instead of the whole shirt up}, can be worn on their own or under a sweater or button up.

leggings. also apart of the uniform! I’ve been wearing these Gap leggings throughout by pregnancy. they’re super soft, don’t fall down and I just love them!

bassinet. up until last night, literally, Aubrey has slept in the Halo Bassinest. I originally planned on using the rock n’ play for night time, but I was nervous about her preferring sleeping so cozy in there and on an incline. the bassinest has been great! I loved that I could roll over and see her right there, even reach over and touch her 100 times a night without getting up! #lazymomproblems one of the big things they advertise about this is the side that lowers so you can easily get out the baby from bed. I felt that it was a little awkward/difficult to push down, but I guess it helped out nonetheless! also, it has a wide base that sits on the floor. super stable, but for people with itty bitty bedrooms like me, it BARELY fit on the side of my bed!

nursing pillow. I have loved having the My Breast Friend pillow. I didn’t realize how much I took it for granted until I got a Boppy as a back up. the MBF pillow latches on, so it doesn’t scoot away from your stomach when the baby is laying there and it is also ridiculous looking but awesome that I could walk around the house and it would just help support her enough that I didn’t have to put her full weight on my arms! again… #lazymomproblems I do wish it wasn’t so difficult to get the cover on and off and that the pillow itself could be washed, but its foam so you can’t. also, the pocket is super convenient…phone, nursing bra pads, etc.

rock n play. even though I didn’t use the rock n play for bedtime, in the early weeks Aubrey napped in this all the time with me out in the living room! now, we use it for her to play in while I’m in the kitchen, when we are eating dinner, when I’m doing laundry and want to move her around the house! basically anytime she is over being on the floor and I can’t hold her that moment, this will buy us some extra time! I’ve always wished it had an attaching bar so she could have toys overhead! then when I bought one for our friends for their baby shower, the one they registered for had it!! its a bit late now, but I wish they had sold it separately!

swaddle. after one of our prep classes at Kaiser where they talked about the Halo Sleepsack, I had it in my head that it was the only one we should use because it was ‘Kaiser approved’. it ended up being great {even though I’ve tried other ones and am not so neurotic about it anymore}! she can still get her arms out sometimes, even when she was a few weeks she could, but I really like it!

water bottle. just like pregnancy, I am eating and drinking ALL. THE. TIME! a water bottle you love to carry around from room to room, or multiple to keep around the house, was essential. I noticed myself not having enough hands to carefully carry a cup, so a bottle has been perfect!

pacifier. even though Aubrey only used a pacifier correctly for like 2 weeks around 2.5 months, she still loves her Wubbanub pacifier! she chews on the side of it and cuddles geoffrey the giraffe all the time!

netflix. this is totally just for mom, but I’ve spent countless hours on the couch feeding, burping, and napping with the baby! I don’t think I could have made it through if I didn’t have 11 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy to get me to that 3 month mark!

I’m sure there are many more favorites, some being super obvious {what would I have done with out Scary Mommy and mom.me articles on Facebook at 1, 3 and 5 am}, but those are the ones that stood out in my forgetful mind! Aubrey is already approaching the 6 month mark and there are SO many new things about to happen and I’m so excited! eating, crawling, more interest in toys…anyone have any good recommendations for this stage? happy Monday friends!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things {stocking stuffers}

November 25, 2014June 29, 2017favorites, Uncategorized2 Comments

we are one week closer to Christmas and its Thanksgiving in 2 days! the time is flying and I’ve already done some shopping! what’s next on the list? filling my hubby’s stocking! he always does such a good job finding my favorite little things at target and even sneaks in some awesome gifts! I’m already excited to buy a new stocking for our little miss for next year and fill it with goodies, so I’m trying to put some extra thought into Todd’s this year before the little girl take-over in 2015!

this is week 2 of {My Favorite Things}, a linkup with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle.

Start {here} if you missed week 1: My Favorite Things {my list}

{for her}

one. state wine bottle stopper

I’m really loving the apparel and items geared towards your home state! this would go perfect with a state shaped cutting board for the hostess or a shirt from the Home T!

two. monogram necklace

monograms are everywhere. gold is everywhere. and what girl doesn’t love Kate Spade?! this necklace is cute on its own, or layered with longer ones!

three. iPhone case

although I didn’t jump on the iPhone 6 bandwagon just yet, I’m sure there are many many people that have and a new case {especially an adorable one with gold polka dots} is sure to

four. lipgloss

holiday lipgloss sets are so fun and useful for all those holiday parties! this Smashbox “on the rocks” set is even on sale at Nordstrom!

not pictured. the favorites

like chapstick, yummy candy, nail polish, bobby pins and small amount gift cards! it’s always fun to know that special person notices all the everyday items that you use and love! I can never have too much chapstick or too many bobby pins! a $5 Starbucks gift card never hurts either to buy your fave holiday drink!

{for him}

one. whiskey cubes

something to add to the bar collection of a whiskey drinker! I know my dad would be all over these!

two. iPhone case

same as for her. new. phones. everywhere.

three. bottle opener

fun for the guy with a man cave, backyard patio or just enjoys a cold beer on the weekends! Williams-Sonoma has a few cute novelty mounted bottle openers like the mustache {pictured}, a bulldog, a skull or an anchor.

four. cologne

cologne is something my husband wouldn’t go out on his own and buy himself. we’ve shopped the counters before and he’s given opinions, but I typically try to make notes and buy it for him later! a new scent is appropriate for the holiday parties and a fresh start to the new year!

not pictured. the favorites

again, just like us gals, guys have those fun little things that make it easy to personalize and fill the empty spaces in their stocking! chapstick, scratchers or lotto tickets, a cigar or my husband’s addiction, gum!

head over to one of these gal’s blogs to join the link-up!

week 2 of the linkup series with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle!

First & Second Trimester Favorites

November 19, 2014June 29, 2017favorites, pregnancy, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

the first 27 weeks of pregnancy have flown by! as quickly as it has come and gone, there are a few things that have gotten me through the uncomfortable, yucky feeling moments of pregnancy {so far}! I know I’m not the only one to experience these things, so I figured I’d share my favorites {even though they are pretty predictable}.

1 {Contigo water bottle}

I always have a bottle of water with me, and these 24 oz bottles by Contigo are awesome! refillable, dishwasher safe and the perfect size {not too heavy but you don’t have to fill it up every 5 minutes}!

2 {Bumpnest pregnancy pillow}

I will admit, it was a love hate relationship with the bump nest at first! I’m used to sleeping on a very flat pillow, so for me it was a little too much cushion to have under my head! I spent the first couple weeks figuring out where my neck pain was coming from…but once I realized that was the only thing that changed, I flipped it over {so the curve where you would normally put your head is at the bottom of the bed} and it was AMAZING! I still use my regular pillow under my head, but I have the bump next curved around my front and back and it is wonderful! it makes it so much easier for this tummy sleeper to get used to sleeping on my sides!

3 {Mustela stretch mark creme}

I bought this after reading the pregnancy recommendations of Jessica from Little Baby Garvin and so far I really like it! I’ll notice some itching in the afternoons and evenings and a quick shower and a layer of this cream feels so good on my stretching tummy! I know they say its hereditary, but let’s hope this keeps the stretch marks away!

4 {maternity leggings from the Gap}

these are by far the best item of clothing ever! you would think my regular yoga pants or leggings would do just fine – I mean they’re stretchy, right? wrong. when sitting, my pre-pregnancy yoga pants {mostly Pink by VS}, put pressure on my lower belly and were super uncomfortable! these are the softest, coziest leggings and sit perfectly below the belly! I even wore 2 pairs layered the other night when we were going to an outdoor party and they kept me perfectly warm and didn’t bunch up or anything! definitely something I’m going to keep in my closet after this little girl comes for as long as possible!

5 {mini cans of ginger ale}

you guessed it – morning sickness {or all day sickness, really}! especially in my first trimester, getting up to get ready in the morning was a chore. I felt lazy, nauseous and just all around yucky – especially if I started the whole shower/get ready routing without having something in my tummy! these little guys were the perfect pairing to go with my delicious crackers {haha}! crisp and straight from the fridge cold, the smaller size can was the perfect pick-me-up when I couldn’t get going!

6 {saltine crackers}

goes along with the not feeling so great fixes. I had baggies of these crackers everywhere {my night stand, my purse, my car, my desk at work} so they would always be within reach. it was so much better for me to eat a couple crackers before I got up, on my way to work, or between breakfast and lunch instead of waiting until it was too late and feeling sick. these were definitely life savers!

well those were just a couple of things that helped me get through – along with lots of rest, a very hardworking and patient husband, takeout food and other helpful friends and family that were always willing to chip in when I didn’t feel 100%! I am so grateful to have had an easy, healthy pregnancy so far and am looking forward to the excitement of the third trimester {hello nursery plans and baby shower} and bringing this little miss into our world!

{whitney}

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things {my list}

November 18, 2014June 29, 2017favorites, Uncategorized7 Comments

the holidays are coming up fast and I’m welcoming them with open arms {and Jessica Simpson Holiday Pandora already}! I’m so excited to link up with April, Elise, Katie, Zelle these next 3 weeks to share A Few of My Favorite Things for 2014!

This is Todd and I’s last year as a party of 2 and it’s a bittersweet feeling to know our holidays will never be the same {although I’m sure so so much better}! gone will be the focus on the two of us – and we will welcome the first time experience of the holidays through our little girl’s eyes, which I cannot wait for! until then, I’ll be keeping this year’s list about “wifey-Whitney”, not “new-mommy-Whitney” quite yet!

one. michael kors purse

I may be trading my designer bag for a diaper bag very soon, but I’ve loved this Michael Kors satchel for so long and I’m obsessed with this pale gold color!

two. bump nest pillow case

although this is a little mommy-related, this pillow is my life saver right now and my pillow case needs some love after so many washes and the daily wear!

three. monogram coffee mugs

I may be late on the monogram coffee mug band wagon, but I just love these from Anthropologie, or these gold ones from William Sonoma!

four. mac book pro

obviously a big ticket item, but I’m dreaming of the day I have a macbook! my laptop is just not cutting it and I’d love to have this beauty!

five. vince camuto boots

its almost winter, and who doesn’t love a pair of boots {especially when my shoes have been the only reliable item of “clothing” that have consistently fit me lately}. these over the knee boots

head over to one of these gal’s blogs to join the link-up!

week 1 of the linkup series with April, Elise, Katie, & Zelle!

Five on Friday

June 20, 2014June 29, 2017five on friday, Uncategorized2 Comments

today is friday, tomorrow is the official start of summer and I’ve recently added to my summer wardrobe and can’t wait to share my purchases!

one. {floral maxi dress} who doesn’t love a comfortable maxi dress? I’ve worn it casual with sandals and a jean jacket in the evening and I can wait to wear it to the beach with a big floppy hat!

two. {blue dressy romper} love it or hate it, the romper can be dressed up or down! I love the material and ruffles on this romper and think it will be perfect paired with some pumps for an evening at a friend’s bachelorette party in San Diego this summer!

three. {camo shorts} neutral, stretchy and oh so comfortable! I love the way these shorts fit and that {to me} they are basically a neutral and I can add a pop of color or go easy with a black or tan top!

four. {neutral wedges} again…neutral and comfortable! I am obsessed with shoes {even though I hardly wear all the heels I own}. I am more likely to grab these knowing they with be nice to my tootsies even if I wear them all afternoon!

five. {wifey tee} I’m loving the “wifey” trend! my hubby has always referred to me as his wifey {see how it all started below} and this tee is perfect for a casual date night!

have a fabulous weekend!