Month: June 2022

Don’t fret, Kendall and I will DEFINITELY be returning to the Salty Exchange! Our plan is to make our comeback debut in late summer/early fall. We will keep you in-the-know, most likely through our Instagram account. In the meantime we may highlight some of our past blogs for your viewing pleasure. We’ve written a lot. We have things to say. We will have more to say after this summer full of babies and adjusting to a ‘new normal’. I can hardly wait for us to share our thoughts with you, our faithful friends & family readers!

Until then this is where I am at… I am 39 weeks pregnant (7/1). My pre-pregnancy clothing still mostly fitting me, thank goodness for stretchy pants and loose shirts! I am 1 centimeter dilated, 30% effaced, and at a negative 2 station for those who like the pregnancy statistics. Currently craving an Oreo McFlurry (and I rarely eat McDonalds so that is a weird craving for me), aka baby wants sweets! People keep asking how I am feeling. That is a great question but a loaded question to ask a first time mom on the brink of the unknown. I am about to experience a primal, natural, and uncontrollable event performed by my own body. I’m about to meet another person who I am solely responsible for taking care of, nurturing, and loving for the rest of my life. I am overwhelmed by the amount of ways in which my mind and heart will grow in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. I am excited to experience it all with my best friend, support, and husband, Alex. I cannot wait to go through this process with him by my side. It’s safe to say I am a mix of emotions and feeling physically like my body is preparing.

It’s a strange waiting game, the last few weeks or days of pregnancy. I literally feel like a human ticking time bomb and that is freaky to say the least. Regardless, birth stories, baby announcements, and more will come. Until then… have a fabulous summer. To be continued 🙂

If you don’t know yet, you will now… Kendall and Issy welcomed their baby boy to the world on June 1st and are in a state of pure newborn baby bliss. One thing that Kendall and I have talked about on repeat is the awesome smoothie that Issy made her throughout her pregnancy and now while she is in the fourth trimester. A smoothie is a great way to get calories and nutrients all in one cup. You can pack it full of protein, healthy fats, vegetables, I’ve asked Issy for his recipe and he is graciously sharing it with us. Thanks Issy (and Kendall)! I cannot wait to test this out in the upcoming weeks and as a soon-to-be fourth trimester mama!

Issy’s Smoothie Recipe

8 oz of almond milk

1-2 scoops of vanilla protein (any type, it’s up to you)

1 banana

2 spoons of peanut butter

2 tablespoons of raw oatmeal

1 cup of frozen berry mix

1 cup of ice

(add more Almond milk as needed)

*makes 1 -2 smoothies

Add more of what you like to this recipe. Kendall loves more berry mix to balance out the banana. You can also add brewers yeast if you are breastfeeding to help with milk production. Or you can throw in chia seeds or flax seeds for more nutrients as well.

Let us know if you try out this recipe and what your go-to summer smoothie recipe is?

Summer is hot on our heels, a matter of weeks away and I couldn’t be more excited for this new season and hopefully the warmth it will bring. Which got me thinking about the products that I tend to reach for during the hot and sunny summer months. I have rounded up my TOP 5 must-have summer items for you to enjoy and maybe even get for yourself. I mean, who doesn’t need sunscreen and a personal fan? Enjoy!

1. Favorite Stanley Tumbler – Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler 40 oz is usually sold out, just sign up to get notified when it is back in stock and trust me, they are worth every penny! If you really want one now, here are a few that aren’t sold out on William-Sonoma. Also I just found these cute glass straws on Esty, order the size 12 inch length to fit the 40 oz tumbler. Perfect way to stay hydrated in these hot summer months!
2. Face Sunscreen Wonder Sunscreen from Dime Beauty – I used this for the first time during my recent trip to Arizona and I appreciated the fact that it blended into my skin well and didn’t feel oily. My face was definitely protected and that is what I cared the most about. Plus totally clean ingredients made me feel really good about my purchase and what I was putting on my face!
3. Knotted Headbands – These headbands are colorful, cute, price effective, and they keep your hair out of your face… these are my favorite right now! Bonus, they don’t cut into your head either (IKYK). They are comfortable and fashionable and I’ve received so many compliments – I had to add them to this list.
4. Personal Fan – Perfect for multiple purposes, this fan has flexible tripod legs and can go anywhere with you since it is battery operated. I plan on using it on the stroller and even in the house when I have a baby heater laying on me. It is my most recent must-have and I have to say, I really like it.
5. Breathable Footwear OluKai – Pehuea – These women’s slip on sneakers have been a must-have for me for years, like over 6 years, they are made out of a mesh material that allows airflow to your feet and they’re comfortably lightweight! I love the OluKai flip flops too but these shoes have been a constant favorite of mine and I highly recommend!

Please keep in mind that none of these items are sponsored. These are all my favorite items that have been field tested by me and bought with my own money. I simply love letting my friends know of awesome products worth purchasing and I hope this little list of must-haves for the summer has been helpful. Let me know if you try any of these items and/or what would you add to your summer must-haves list?