$47 Amazon lash booster + 15 of my favorite products for Prime Day & beyond

I don't know much about the Nordstrom sale but I do love Amazon Prime and rely on it for SO many of our purchases!  The 2 day shipping and free returns are lifesavers for this mama of 3, and since we've never had cable, Amazon Video is how they watch most of their favorite shows.  We also shop at Whole Foods and getting free money through using the Whole Foods app for in store coupons is my absolute jam!  I love consolidation and efficiency so this post rounds up some of my absolute favorite purchases that I make through Amazon!  Leave me a comment with a purchase from Amazon that you can't live without!

1.  //THIS LASH BOOST// Ok so everyone has been asking me about what I'm using on my lashes.  Thanks to my sweet friend Julie who got me started on this stuff last year (thanks Jules), I have been using it about every other night on my lashes to keep them full and long.  Give it about 6 weeks of nightly use and you will be shocked at the results!

2.  //MASCARA HEAVEN//

Can't live without my bulk order of Lash Paradise thanks to my amazing sister in love Mindy! The lash boost and mascara are a dynamic duo!!!

3.  //Spin Pins//

We all know how I can't live without these things.  I can do a cute messy top knot every day of the week and my head not hurt!  I carry a couple around every where I go and they always save me from the heat or if I just need to quickly do an updo!  Also, in case you're curious I have a whole blog post dedicated to my love for spin pins with a little tutorial on how I quickly put my hair up, read it here.

4.  //Million Dollar Swim Suit//

Turn heads at the pool with this FABULOUS swim suit!  Put on the suit, get in the pool, and be fabulous! I get 400 compliments every time I wear it, and I always shout out that it was $25 from Amazon because I'm a boujie on a budget hah!

5.  This ChicWish skirt is one of my favorite purchases this summer!  It is so beautiful and breezy and light weight and I can wear it with a million different tops and no one knows when there is sweat running down my legs!

6.  //Waist Trainer//
One of my biggest fitness goals this year is to close my distasis recti.  This works both as a back and core support as recommended by my trainer Devon (@devon.fit, follow her and you will be amazed!).  I have bound my stomach ever since we birthed Ari Love so getting to a waist trainer in this stage of my fitness journey has been amazing!

 

7.  //My trusty velvety milk Frother//

This is the reason not only did we survive Whole30 with no coffee creamer but the reason we thrived cutting sugar out and I finally acquired the taste for delicious black coffee with velvet almond milk froth on top and a sprinkle of cinnamon! It is so beautiful for having guests over and impressing them with your barista skills by treating them not only to a beautiful drink, but healthy too!  I use it for everything, including my new favorite matcha tea lattes!  Best $32 we ever spent!

8.  Nutpods are the Whole30 approved super duper creamy almond milk sugar free non-processed creamer that I use in my frother to give me the deliciously textured velvet topping for my coffee!  If you've been trying to stop you addiction to coffeemate (ahem I'm talking about me) then these are the perfect substitute!

9. //SkinMedica SPF46 tinted moisturizing sunscreen//

I have this on recurring order because I can't live without it!  Thanks to my other amazing sister in love who turned me on to it!  I have been using it daily for about 2 years and I immediately feel like the sun is wrinkling my face if I don't have it on.  If you're curious about my skin care routine, I have this whole blog post on it!

10.  //Clarisonic//

I'm coming to terms with my good addictions, and my clarisonic brush is definitely one of them.  It's like, I haven't even really washed my face if I don't use my brush.  I've been using it twice a day, every day since I turned 30!  Thanks again to my LL who turned me onto this too!

11.  //Magnesium Sulfate supplement//

I also have this on recurring order and don't feel normal if I don't take my nightly Magnesium y'all.  Who am I?!  It's like the secret sauce for feeling good the next day, helps my sore muscles after a hard work out, keeps you regular (ya, that kind of regular cuz we ain't 21 no more boos hahah) among a variety of other health benefits!

12. //Cutter Natural insect repellant//

We have tried every single one of the other natural bug repellant products because I am 100% about crunchy mom life and this is the only one that ACTUALLY works for the mutant Arkansas bugs!

13. //More tops (on LEFT) that I'm obsessed with (on RIGHT) perfect for the Fall Transition//

14. //Hydroflask//

Do I need to say more than this is the only way we drink enough water.  

15. //Batiste tinted dry shampoo aka a necessity in life if you're a mother//

This was on day 8 of no hair washing and only using this dry shampoo.  um ok haha sign me up!!

 

I can think of a lot more things but I rounded up my absolute favorite things that make our life better!  Happy Prime Day!!

xx,

Madina

Summer Nursing Style // Date Night in NOLA

Not only have I realized that I really REALLY love doing these nursing style features, but so many of you wonderful readers and friends have told me how much you love/want/need them as well!  That makes me so happy!  You have no idea how much I appreciate each and every single one of you for following along and being so genuine with me and not only that, but it has given me great purpose to provide you with inspiration. I can't wait to share with you all of the wonderful transitions that are coming and update you on what my family and I have been up to!  But first, let me tell you a little bit about my obsession...all that is floral print..

Last week, we took an impromptu trip to New Orleans and we had the absolute best time!  Yes, you can still be spontaneous with 3 young children (post on that soon but I digress haha).  I made sure to pack this plum colored floral dress to surprise my sweetheart with on a date night.  I love dressing up for myself, and for him.  I knew the weather would be super H&H, HOT and HUMID haha so I needed something lightweight but also elegant and that I could wear with comfortable shoes because we would be walking everywhere.  It actually didn't fit me for a while post-partum but now that I've lost most of my baby weight, I was so excited when I tried it on and it fit!  It has feminine flutter sleeves and a deep V that is perfect for that emergency nursing session while out on a date with you gorgeous beau (because how many of us non-pumpers have had to run home real quick!)  The lower part is lined only until about mid-thigh and it has a sexy slit that kept my legs nice and breezy (because here in the humid south we need breezy).  I got it from the sweetest blogger turned boutique owner local to me in Little Rock.  I paired it with my absolute favorite Kendra Scott statement earrings and my heavenly comfortable mom hack clogs- because wooden clogs were cute for about a minute before they murdered my feet and I had to find an alternative. 

And lastly, my baby bag/backpack purse is what dreams are made of!  With 3 girls, I could literally pack the house in one small outing, so I have become as minimal as it gets when we go out.  This bag is perfect for that, and since I have to have both hands free most of the time, I absolutely needed a backpack.  It's my first ever Tory Burch purchase and my favorite thing is that it has those outer pockets to function as drink holders.  I'm pretty sure I bought the last one of her site though but I'll link up some similar ones.  I've got some super sexy and functional outfits coming soon so stay tuned!

Dress // Brand is Everly & I'm wearing a Medium, sold out at I Do Declare Boutique but this one is similar and I'm obsessed with it!  Check out their Instagram here.  I found an S and an M available at this Australian boutique. Also similar here and here on Amazon.

Earrings // Kendra Scott - similar ones here and they are ON SALE!!  I found the exact ones on Poshmark (obsessed with this site by the way!) and if you use the code JSISY, you get $5 off your first order!

Shoes // Dansko - the most comfortable shoes known to man and so cute, here

Backpack/Diaper bag // Tory Burch - similar one here but the exact one here on Poshmark, if you use the code JSISY, you get $5 off your first order!

Happy shopping darlings <3  Let me know if you need help with sizing or styles.

xx,

Madina

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase, at no cost to you.  Thank you so much for keeping my little side hustle alive, I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well.*

Spring Nursing Style- Mom Hack Edition + Giveaway!

I wanted to start off this post by saying happy WednesYAY but then I was like wait do people even get excited about Wednesday and then I didn't want to seem like a total dork haha I mean, I get excited about any day of the week when there's free stuff involved!

So I've had so many people ask me about this dress and my answer is always an enthusiastic "Target!'  Pronounced with a fancy French accent and everything.  Ain't no shame in my game because we all know that Target is my happy place.  But here's the thing about being a nursing mama who loves fashion, you learn little hacks that make spending money on an otherwise non-nursing friendly dress worth it.  Are you ready for this?

 

I'm wearing this dress BACKWARDS...!!!  Yes.  If you scroll down my photos, you'll see me proudly showing off the tag in the front haha!

And honestly, I think it looks so much cuter this way!  I wore Florence in my sling, nursed her, danced, and had a wonderful time with my family all while feeling fabulous keeping my very functional little secret in my backwards Target dress.  

So here's your chance to win this perfect for Spring and Summer gingham dress and carry the same little secret with you as I do every time I wear it.  

All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave me a comment that you've done so and you're entered in the giveaway.  For more chances to win, head over to my Instagram @city_of_hearts and Facebook page found here and enter there as well.  You do NOT have to be a nursing mom to win! If you are, then Happy nursing!

The giveaway ends Sunday, June 11th at midnight.

 

I added our future little fashionista photobomber in here for good measure.  I love our sweet girls so much.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase.  I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well.  XX, Madina*

Post-partum and nursing friendly Fall Chic

I started the draft to this post a few days ago, feeling amazing that I had the audacity to get dressed and be photographed and it all left me feeling so confident and fabulous.  My family was here helping me with the girls while my love was away at a conference so I ventured out by myself to the mall to shop for a new pair of boots for the season.  That's when it happened.

I complimented this beautiful mama on her equally beautiful baby because I was missing our babies and she sweetly asked me how many weeks pregnant I was.  The weird thing is that it didn't really catch me so off guard initially, because my response to her was that I was 8 weeks post-partum, you know, in the fourth trimester.  She kept apologizing over and over and I told her that it was ok and that if I wasn't confident in myself and my body then I wouldn't be wearing a form fitting dress after all.

I believed that about myself, I really did.  I really do.  But the minutes after that encounter somehow started shifting and my emotions became strong and I lost grip on myself and I started feeling faint and my eyes became foggy and my brain disoriented and I embarrassed myself by blindly attempting to go up the wrong way on the escalators and almost falling (like not in the fun way that we used to do when we were younger haha)  I just looked like a weirdo lady who was confused and had no idea what was going on.  I pretended like I meant to do that and walked out to my car and called my husband and cried. 

Dang it honey, I was feeling so good about myself, and I had just started this style post that was going to be about how even though I still have a lot of weight to lose to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, I want to celebrate the body that I have, now.  Treat it like a temple, now.  Appreciate it, now.  Dress it up, now.  Love, it now.  But now all I feel is like God is giving me a huge dose of humility and maybe I just need to stop.  My sweet husband was watching the Cowboys game at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Tennessee (pray for them this season..every season haha) and he says no honey, you're wrong, that's not from God.  He tells me that he's sorry that it happened and that I'm beautiful but that after my emotions wear away that I need to come back here and finish what I started.  So here I am my love, and you were right.

This is the post that I started initially: 

So here's the thing.  I gave birth 8 weeks ago.  And in many ways, I am still pregnant and (most of the time) I am completely ok with that.  My organs are still slowly finding their way back to their old homes and my milk is stabilizing mostly and my hormones are not as raging and I have 35 pounds to lose to get to my pre-pre-pregnancy weight.  I say pre-pre because I've been pregnant for 3 years basically and while I got really really close, I never made it completely back to my pre-pregnancy weight after giving birth to Gwendolyn before becoming pregnant again with Florence.  My body is all about the whole 9 months on 9 months off thing (more like 10 but who's counting!), and I didn't get my full 9 months this time and you know what, I'm going to stop here.  I feel like I'm rambling and somewhat like I'm apologizing or giving some sort of disclaimer for what my body looks like or something.  The only one that I should be apologizing to right now is to myself, and to you, for thinking that I have to justify or validate why I look the way I do and not just tell you about this outfit that makes me feel absolutely fabulous.  When I was younger, I remember buying clothes that would be 2 sizes too small because surely I was going to shed some pounds and fit into them in a few months.  I yoyo'd a lot so many times I never got the chance to enjoy an outfit like I could have if only I would have bought the correct size and love and accepted myself as I was at that moment.  I know better now.  And as Maya Angelou has said, "when you know better, you do better."  So anyhow, my post birth brain is on a hormonal high and has been pushing me to get consistent with my nursing style features because someone somewhere out there needs to hear this.  You were beautiful then, and you are beautiful now.

Reading that makes me pretty proud to be honest.  If you're waiting to "bounce back," there's no better time than to do it now.  Choose to proclaim that you've already bounced back, no matter where you are in that journey.  Choose to love you.  Go out, strap a baby on your chest, put the bigger babies in the stroller and do something that makes you feel like a queen.  Even if it's some grocery store lipstick or a necklace or new socks or a book or music or cuddle time with your husband or coffee that someone else makes for you.  Don't apologize, and remember to say thank you.  Most importantly, to your body for growing amazing humans.

I love this outfit because for starters, you could wear your pajamas under the trench and no one would ever know!  I opted for a black nursing friendly tank and black leggings for the warmer fall day.  It's also perfect for the cooler days, just pair it with a sweater or long sleeve thermal.  I felt comfortable wearing this to the coffee shop, and I can't wait to wear it again for a dinner date with my family.

Details//
Suede Trench Vest: WhoWhatWear 
Hat: Target (similar here or here)
Booties:  Aldo (similar here)

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase.  I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well.  XX, Madina*
Bag:  old thrifted Louis Vuitton

Nursing (and pregnant) in style

After moving from an island way out in the pacific ocean to the middle of America, settling into our new home, then finding out we were expecting our third child, I FINALLY had the chance to resume my nursing in style features!  

The tricky part now is that not only does my wardrobe have to be baby belly friendly, it also has to be nursing friendly because I'm still breastfeeding both our girls (yes you read that right, I've been tandem nursing for over a year now!).  I have been continuously nursing, through pregnancies and all, for 2.5 years and have essentially been pregnant for 3 years, so I've gotten really good at picking out exactly what I can and cannot wear.  Not everything that I wear is always specifically maternity or for nursing because I don't like the limitation of spending money on something and only being able to wear it for 9 months, but I am all about having different pieces that work together for a variety of looks.  I wear a lot of dresses so I'm always looking for V-necks and stretchy necks for easy nursing accessibility, then I look for stretchy materials or flowy tops and dresses for room for our growing baby.  

Today, I am so excited to feature this perfect Spring dress from Pink Blush, you can find it here.  I am loving flowy dresses this season, they are so comfortable and keep me cool (because pregnancy hot flashes am I right?), and this one also has a V-neck, so it's nursing friendly too!  This dress comes in 12 different colors and Pink Blush practically always has some type of discount code so make sure you look at the top of their website to see if they are running any deals that day.  It's sleeveless so I paired it with a lace kimono that doesn't add any warmth.  I got this particular one about 2 years ago from The Blue Door Boutique, but really any color kimono would work and would look absolutely amazing.  Add jewelry, and of course, a flower in my hair and I'm ready to go on a date with my love next week to see my favorite band of all time, Mumford and Sons!

I would love to hear about all of your favorite styles this season and if you have any ideas for me that you would like to see featured, I would love to hear from you too!  Have a glorious week lovelies.

XO,
Madina

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click and shop through my blog, I receive a commission from your purchase.  I only post about things that I truly and confidently believe in so that you can do your shopping confidently as well.  XX, Madina*