Review: Sleep Number x12 Bed with Sleep IQ Technology

I'm on a little house hunting trip here in Atlanta, and you know what? I miss my bed.

Don't get me wrong, I love staying at my mother-in-law's, but I, literally, have the best bed in the world back home in Austin.

Something that I don't think I've mentioned here is the fact that I don't sleep well. If you've ever gotten an email or Facebook message from me at 2 a.m. you'll know it's because I have trouble sleeping. I've talked a little about my struggle with sleeplessness at church and with my girlfriends before, but not much on here because honestly, it's sad! It's sad that I had just resigned myself to living a life with very little rest. But all that's starting to change!

Do you follow the Consumer Electronics Show news at all? I do, because I'm a nerd like that. I always get excited to see what debuts, and this year, CES was all abuzz with the introduction of the Sleep Number x12 Bed. I saw it, and I, too, was mesmerized. I wanted that bed! I needed that bed!

So when the chance to try the Sleep Number x12 Bed with Sleep IQ Technology became available to me, I leapt at the chance. It sounded too good to be true: a bed that tracks how well you sleep, gives you suggestions on how to improve, and even gets your partner to stop snoring? No freaking way.

I was skeptical, so I kept my old bed unsure that I would like the new one (not that I loved my old bed, but I was hesitant, you know?). Long story short: I slept that very first night. I really could not believe it. We got the bed at the beginning of March, before I had Lucy, so I've had over three months with this thing, and I'm still gaga for it. Our old bed will be banished to the guest room forever now!

Sleep Number came out to my house last month to ask me what I thought about the x12 and the Sleep IQ Technology, and I was able to share just why it is so special (featuring cameos of my kids and husband and our colorful house!):

I know this all reads and sounds like a commercial, but y'all, it's really that brilliant. I recognize that the x12 is a bit of a stretch cost-wise, but what's really great is that the Sleep IQ Technology is available for Sleep Number beds starting at $999.00. No matter if you're pregnant, an insomniac, nursing, married to a snorer or not, it's not a bad investment at all. I mean, seriously, this bed has a stop partner from snoring feature, has in-bed massage, and turns on your nightstand lights all by remote or voice command. On top of that it tracks your sleep quality and makes suggestions for better sleep? Man, it's like we're living in Jetsons time, right?

This is not recommended or suggested, but I half wonder if I could plug a coffee maker into the nightstand light outlet and my bed could even make me a cup of coffee in the morning, too...

The future! We have arrived! Now goodnight!

Disclosure: My family received the Sleep Number x12 bed for review. This is not a sponsored post nor we were compensated beyond the bed. Honest, unscripted opinions on the product were given with permission to be featured. 

The breeze really is a breeze + a giveaway!

Chris and I are in the middle of decluttering our house. It is a massive undertaking, but it's been a long time coming and is much needed!

As you might imagine (or can attest to), it ain't easy cleaning house with three little ones underfoot. I try to put in an hour of serious dcluttering a day. Usually I knock it out during their nap time, but if for some reason all three monkeys aren't catching zzzz's at the same time, I need to go to plan B. Jude, thankfully, can be contained via the power of a sticker book or the movie Turbo. Caroline, however, gets into everything. If I need just a few more minutes to finish up what I'm doing (nursing or cleaning up teeny tiny things Caroline would undoubtedly try to eat otherwise) I need to keep that girl contained. Enter: the 4moms breeze-
I love 4moms products. My friends and I have passed around a mamaRoo between us for the last three years, and if you follow me on Instagram, you no doubt were awed by my origami stroller (more on that at a later date).

True story: pack and plays are notoriously difficult to collapse. I don't know if she'd want me sharing this, but the one we had at my mother-in-law's house was so infernal that my sweet MIL ended up breaking it while attempting to collapse it and had to go get a new one.

I don't have time to wrestle with a play yard, and the one that I currently have is collecting dust in Caroline's closet because it's rarely worth the effort of setting it up.

So, wouldn't you know it, 4moms has what I'd say, without hesitation, the best play yard on the market. I mean, seriously. It was so easy to set up that I thought for sure I had done something wrong. Nothing is that simple, right? Hmmm:

No, really. It is that simple. And unlike my current pack and play, the 4moms breeze comes with a bassinet topper (also insanely easy to install) for Lu:
4moms is giving one breeze away to a very lucky Adored Austin reader (below), and they're also giving one away every day in June on their Facebook page, so up your chances and enter over there (daily!), too. Leave a comment to enter to win below: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Speaking of decluttering, now that we have a breeze at our place and my mother-in-law's, we'll be getting rid of our old one ASAP. To which I say good riddance!

Introducing North Austin Style Encore

I have always maintained that I am not into fashion. I'm into shopping, which is something entirely different. Specifically, since childhood, I've been into second hand shopping. My grandma used to own a resale shop, I grew up going to yard sales every weekend, and I even did a stint as a buyer at Buffalo Exchange when we first moved to Texas. I'm always excited to learn about new resale and consignment stores in Austin.

Plato's Closet is one resale shop that I'm familiar with, but have only been to twice. It's a national chain of resale shops that buys and carries a lot of on-trend clothing for the high school and college set; For example, when I went in I saw a lot of Abercrombie, American Eagle, and Forever 21.

But did you know Plato's Closet has a more sophisticated older sister? Style Encore is a part of the same company, but it caters to an older crowd. They recently had their grand opening here in Austin, and last week I went in to check it out.
Some of the more popular brands in stock were J. Crew, Banana Republic, and Michael Kors. There was also a fair amount of Antropologie clothing and designer denim. For those who are looking for high end luxury brands, there's a rack filled with DVF wrap dresses, Marc Jacobs frocks, and others of that ilk.
The store was organized well, which makes shopping easier. Shoes and clothes were grouped by type, size, and color. For instance all the size medium knit tops clearly marked and were hung together with all the white shirts together, all the pink, all the black, etc. For those of you who feel overwhelmed by traditional thrift store shopping, stepping into this upscale resale shop instead will be a welcome relief.
Like Plato's Closet, Style Encore has a buyer in store available at all times, which means you can sell your clothing and accessories to them. Here's a list of what they're currently buying. I took in four items and they bought two: a NWT Banana Republic blazer I had scored at a thrift store in Seymour, Indiana, as well as a pair of Cynthia Rowley ankle pants that I originally purchased at Marshalls, that I had only worn once. They priced the blazer at $14 and the pants for $16.
When you want to sell, the buyer will look through your offerings and you can choose to stay at the counter to see what they accept or shop around while they sort through your items. They'll offer you 30% - 40% (depending on the item) of what they plan to sell the item for in the shop. They try to price items around 70% of original retail prices. Unlike Buffalo Exchange, where you're at the mercy of the buyer's expertise, Style Encore uses a computer system that will help price the item. When the buyer is done going through your stuff, they'll give you an offer. You can choose to take the offer as "trade", which equates to store credit (untaxed) or walk with cash (taxed). Vexed? Here's a helpful video that explains the process.
I took the trade and ended up buying a striped dress originally from The Limited for $20 and a pristine Banana Republic trench coat for $35, that I just know I'll have for the rest of my life, it's such a classic piece. My aunt scored a gorgeous black lace Leifdottir dress for $40 (originally $288 from Anthropologie) that she's going to wear to Austin Fashion Week this weekend. 
All in all, I recommend Style Encore, especially for women who work outside the home and get to dress professionally. There is quite a bit of career wear. I'd also recommend Style Encore for party dresses-- it's the ideal place to get that perfect dress to wear to a summer wedding. Be sure to check out the local Austin Style Encore on Facebook to get a sneak peek of their current stock. Style Encore North Austin is located at  2929 W. Anderson Lane Austin TX 78757

Review: Mama Mio Tummy Oil via BeautyStoreDepot.com

I've spent most of my adult life avoiding oil. I have acne- prone, oily skin, and I have oily hair. Too much of my teenage years were spent blotting my slick face with oil absorbing sheets, which would turn an embarrassing clear when I'd use them. Until a few years ago, all of my beauty products were oil-free, and the very notion of selling me a bottle of oil to use anywhere on my face, skin, or hair was laughable.

I can't quite pinpoint when things changed, but a couple years back, I recall getting a facial from my friend Rita, and she used an oil cleanser on my face and spoke about how oily skin responds well to treatments with oil because, well, oil binds to oil. Or something like that (I'm sure she was much more eloquent and factual). Since that little pep talk and since noting that my mom, who looks way young for her age, has always used baby oil as a body moisturizer, I've become an oil lover! Daily, I now use a coconut oil on my hair, an argan oil on my face, and an oil-based face cleanser. Is it any wonder that I sought out a stretch mark prevention oil during this pregnancy?

When I get pregnant, I gain a lot of weight. I am not one of those dainty women who gets to brag about how she can still fit into her regular yoga pants despite the baby bump. My regular clothing hasn't seen the light of day in months. With Caroline, I gained 70 pounds. With this one, I'm up 50 pounds (with four weeks to go, still). I wear a size large in maternity clothing. I get huge, so stretch marks are something that I've always been a little cognizant of.

When Austin-based company Beauty Store Depot sent me info about the Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil they carry, I had to learn more. The body butter I used before was great, but with my new oil admiration, I jumped at the chance to try out Mama Mio Tummy Rub Oil. They sent me a bottle before Christmas, and now with just a few short weeks to go, I'm happy to report that I have no new stretch marks!
Straight up: I use this after every shower and I also slather it on whenever my midsection feels itchy. Since December 12, I have used this almost daily (and took it with me over the holidays), and I still have about half a bottle (one bottle would easily make it through one pregnancy). It absorbs fast, smells great, and man... I wish I would have used this last time. I am currently 36 weeks along and the only stretch marks I have are light, residual ones, low, low down from my time carrying Caroline. Since no tummy oil review would be worth its salt without a bare tummy photo, here's a belly pic that I had Chris snap right before I posted this post (my modesty is making me cringe, but I had to put some kind of photographic evidence out there, didn't I?): If, for whatever reason, you're not an oil convert like me, I hear the Mama Mio Tummy Butter is good stuff, too (in my experience, body oils go a lot further than body butters). Mama Mio recommends using their tummy products for up to four months postpartum, too, as the omega oils are said to help skin shrink down to pre-pregnancy size. I'll be sure to report back if that's the case! Not pregnant? No worries. Mama Mio makes a bevy of beauty products worth checking out. The granola girl that I've seemingly become appreciates that their entire line is free of parabens, petrolatum, sodium laureth, sodium laurel sulphate, xenoestrogen, phtalates, colorants, and synthetic fragrances.
The reviews on the tummy oil on Amazon are outstanding, but the price is way cheaper at BeautyStoreDepot.com, plus right now you can enjoy 15% off with code PRESIDENTS as well as these exclusive Adored Austin promos: 

• With Mama Mio orders $100+, you can receive a free Shrink to Fit Cream OR Skin Tight Toning Serum ($56 value each). 
• With Mama Mio orders $200+, you can receive a free Bootcamp for Arms Kit ($75 value). 
• Use code ADORED in the shopping cart to receive your free gift. The free gift won't display in the shopping cart but will be added to your order before shipping. If you have a preference between the Shrink to Fit Cream or Skin Tight Toning Serum, note the preference in the Order Notes section of checkout.

Know a pregnant lady? I think this Mama Mio Pregnancy Essentials Kit would make a really thoughtful gift.

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Financial compensation was not received for this post. A sample product was generously gifted from my friends at BeautyStoreDepot.com. Opinions expressed here are my own. For more info on the reviews I do, see Adored Austin's full disclosure policy.

22 weeks // leggings + tall boots

Can you believe that this pregnancy is already more than half over? I suppose that's what happens when you don't find out you're pregnant until you're seventeen weeks along!

I have endeavored to get off my bum and document what I've been wearing this time around. I have never been pregnant in the fall and winter, so when I began thinking about how I was going to dress the bump, at the tip top of my wants list was a pair of really great, basic black maternity leggings and a pair of brown, flat over the knee boots. I imagine that these two items will become my go-to's when it starts getting colder.
  date: 20 Nov 2013 // occasion: city seminary for women  shirt: Gap (maternity) // leggings: c/o Boden (maternity) // vest / jacket: PJK x Man Repeller // boots: c/o Duo // necklace: Jen Loves Kev (handmade) // hat: c/o America Apparel // wallet: Kate Spade // wire bag: some online craft store... can't remember! // lip color: Quince by Bite
If my mom were here, I'm sure she'd tell me I look like I'm going fishing. Am I right or am I right?   The bump finally appeared a couple weeks ago. I think every pregnant woman can agree that it's nice going to the "clearly I'm pregnant" stage versus the "is this thing from a large lunch or from gestating?" phase.   Duo Boots are the bomb dot com. Why? Because each boot is made to fit your own foot and calf. When I placed my order, I had to give them my calf measurements, ensuring a perfect fit!   I love Jen Loves Kev. When I first started reading her blog, I bought a brooch she made and sold via her Etsy shop. I love that four years later, we've become friends and I'm still snatching up her handicrafts. I love this hand painted necklace of hers. It goes with everything!
My friend Joanie and I have three giant bins of maternity clothes that we pass back and forth to each other, because between the two of us (or four of us if you count our husbands) we've managed to make six kids in under six years (!!!). Because all of our kids have been born in October, the giant maternity boxes contain mainly sundresses, shorts, and t-shirts -- no leggings or boots or coats or anything cool weather appropriate. Needless to say, this mama has been burning the midnight oil scoping out the online maternity clothing sales.

I've decided to think outside the box (both literally and figuratively) in the next few months. Watch for some not so basic maternity outfits coming up here in the next few months... including things from my what- not- to wear list! You ready? I am!

Indi Indi Quite Contrendy... plus a giveaway from Duluth Trading Company! [closed]

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While I've been away, Chris has been hard at work in our garden. One of our first major projects as new homeowners was having seven raised garden beds put in. When I was doing more outfit posts, I'd often use the garden as a backdrop, so over the years, you've gotten glimpses at some of our backyard bounty:

Chris and I don't claim to be master gardeners (our friend Jenni takes the cake on that one), but over time we've learned some great tricks of the trade. When we first started our garden, we would simply mark what we had planted with large popsicle sticks, labeled in Sharpie. This method was lacking because the Sharpie bleeds on the wood, and the sticks are small and sometimes disappear among the plants. Sure, there are a lot of fancy garden markers out there, but it seems silly to drop a lot of money on something that is literally going to go into the dirt. This weekend, I was thinking about our garden, and I came up with what I'm now calling "crazy convenient garden markers". These are awesome because the clothespins act as labels, and they can be shuffled or several can fit on one dowel. Best of all, not including the seeds, I spent a mere $4.00.

Supplies:

• Outdoor acrylic paint (any color) 
• Paint marker (contrasting color) 
• Paint brush or sponge 
• Standard sized wooden clothes pins 
• 1/4'' thick 12'' long bamboo dowel rods (check in bakery supplies) 
• Names of seeds
• Not pictured: plastic cup, paper plate, and paper towels

Instructions:

1. Place clothes pins around a plastic cup so that they can be painted on both sides in one go and can dry easily, without laying flat.
2. Using several thin layers, paint the clothes pins.
3. Paint the dowels (optional- I skipped this part for now).
4. Label clothes pins with the names of the seeds.
5. Label additional clothes pins with notes or planting or harvest dates.

I think these could be super cute if one were to be very methodical in their painting and labeling, but they're still pretty cute when they're imperfect.

Some of you might wonder how Chris and I have a successful garden in Austin when the temperatures are consistently over 100º for most of the summer. The answer is consume lots of water, work in the morning, wear a big hat, and dress cool.

Duluth Trading Company recently hooked me up with some sweet outdoor work clothes that I can't wait to use in the garden once I get back to Texas. I've been wearing the heck out of my Armachillo shirt here in Indiana; I honestly can't believe how lightweight and comfortable it is. It's the kind of shirt that a person could wear year long. Can you imagine? Long sleeves in Austin in August? This shirt makes it possible.
I wasn't actually expecting these clothes to be cute enough to wear outside the garden, but I think I can make it work:
And best of all, they're certainly durable enough and designed to get me through a summer in our garden, which I can't wait to get back to. If you'd like to try something out from Duluth Trading Co. yourself, feel free to enter below to win a $50 gift card. I'll choose the winner tonight, so be sure to enter right away! As always on Adored Austin, no need to follow a bazillionty links or Pin or Tweet or repost anything for a gazzillion additional entries:

EDIT: Form removed. Winner was Chrissy B.! 

Bonus: Enjoy free standard domestic shipping until June 30th with a $50 purchase using code T13PRCG.
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

One last hurrah at Barton Creek Resort & Spa

Last weekend, Chris and Jude and I did our last hurrah as a family of three at Barton Creek Resort & Spa. Have you been there before? I went to the country club part last winter for Chris' holiday work party, but truth be told, I didn't actually know that there was a big, all-inclusive resort there that was open to the public. Having lived here in Austin for six years, I feel like I know my city pretty well, so it's always a surprise when I find something new that I love.
With four renowned courses, Barton Creek is a golfer's oasis. Much to our families' disappointment, Chris and I are not golfers, but nonetheless, we did appreciate the view from our room of the green, rolling hills and golf course.
Our room amenities were great! His and her bathrobes, chocolates on our pillow, and a giant, comfortable bed. Jude even got fresh baked cookies and milk at night and in the morning. Way to spoil us all! It was almost enough to make me want to stay in the room and never venture out!
Almost. Beside all the golf and tennis stuff, there was so much to see and do! For guests staying longer than a night, there were books to borrow, several dining options to discover, and even a theater open on the weekends that served meals while showing family-friendly movies! There were three really great boutiques on site, and I was pleasantly surprised to see each boutique bustling with lady shoppers, oohing and ahhing over the pretty clothes and accessories (name brands included Burberry, Tory Burch, Lily Pultizer, and Marc Jacobs). One lady in the spa shop bought over $500 worth of silky pajamas!

The resort was sold out last weekend, which was incredible considering there wasn't a major convention, tv show filming, or a giant celebrity wedding happening. April, who gave me a quick property tour guide, said a lot of families get away to Barton Creek Resort as a last hurrah before school starts up again. Even though every room was booked, the resort didn't feel crowded or noisy at all. What I did notice is that there were all sorts of people there: families with little kids, families with teenagers, groups of guys, groups of women, older couples, younger couples, etc.

Although there were plenty of dining options on site, I had my heart set on trying The County Line for the first time:
This is the original County Line location and only 1.5 miles away from the resort. It was definitely worth the little trip for the macaroni and peppered turkey alone, but Jude was anxious to get back for swimming, which we had been promising him all week:
The pool was amazing! We ended up staying in the pool past dark, and by the time we got back to our room, we were all ready to sleep. Needless to say, all that night swimming made us ravenous the next morning. Since we enjoyed the Autumn in Austin package, a giant breakfast buffet was included:
Every single one of my favorite breakfast foods were there: an omelet bar, puffy bagels with lox and capers, pastries and fresh fruit galore... I wanted to gorge myself but I had a prenatal massage scheduled for 11 a.m. (my first prenatal massage this pregnancy!), so I used a bit of restraint.
Jude and Chris headed back out to the pool (and the giant chessboard) while I prepared to get pampered. For my prenatal massage I saw a massage therapist named Saffron, who has worked at the resort for over 10 years. Nearly all the employees we met had worked there a long time, and I think that's a really great sign. My massage with Saffron was out of this world. Let me tell you, it was the most blissful 50 minutes I've had in a long, long time; the treatment room had a special cushion for pregnant ladies with a dip for big tummies. It was so nice to be able to lay on my stomach for a while!

The spa amenities were unbelievable. They have a "tranquility room" where spa patrons can relax before and after their treatments. I padded in there after my massage and took the tiniest snooze while my guys were still splashing about in the pool. There's also a women's only eucalyptus steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi, which I am for sure going to take advantage of the next time I return. Thankfully there is a locals "Spa Splash" deal which includes a 50-minute spa service, a pool pass for the day, a glass of wine, parking and up to 90 minutes of complimentary childcare. Who's with me? How does late October look for you? I'm going to ask for a day at the spa and a big bottle of their Texas Bliss Shampoo and Conditioner (made on site!) for my birthday.
Our family staycation at Barton Creek Resort was amazing. There were so many family friendly activities, and although it's just a quick drive away from our house in east Austin, we felt like we were a million miles away because we were able to completely relax, enjoy the hill country view, and take advantage of a lot of the fun offerings the resort had to offer. I'd love to make a staycation at Barton Creek Resort a family tradition of ours.

I'm on somewhat of a modified bedrest plan from now until I give birth (which is a huge bummer to me), so truly, this was a real treat for me and my little family.

Disclosure: This is an unpaid review. We were not obligated via compensation to provide a positive review, but resort package and spa treatment were comped in exchange for our honest, published, opinion. For more information, please see my complete disclosure policy.

One (almost) two year old + the third trimester + The Four Seasons

When Jessica Simpson was pregnant, didn't it seem like she was pregnant forever? And didn't it seem like just when you thought she couldn't get any bigger, there she was, much, much bigger (evidence A, B)?

That's how I feel. I feel like I've been pregnant forever, and just when I think there's no way I can get any bigger, blammo! I can't reach down to buckle my shoes anymore or I can't get out of my car door when parked next to another vehicle.

For more than obvious reasons, I'm starting to feel really uncomfortable. That's why Chris and I thought it best to hurry and take advantage of the one night stay at Austin's Four Seasons that I had won last September as a partipant in the Four Seasons Austin Scavenger Hunt. Well, that and the prize gift certificate was expiring. We packed a little bag for our family, hoping and praying it'd be family friendly:
What a welcome! Jude got to pick out a toy from a guitar case at check-in (he chose a bendable cowboy), and the room attendent who brought up his crib brought him a stuffed longhorn as well as an assortment of toiletries just for him. We were also upgraded to a lake view room, which was an unexpected and sweet surprise.

First thing, first: the pool. I did an obligatory outfit photo on the way:

date: 11 August 2012 | occasion: relaxing at The Four Seasons
hat: Target | swimsuit: A Pea in the Pod | cover-up: Ella Moss c/o Swimspot 
  With the temperature still over 100º, taking advantage of the lake-side, salt-water (non-chlorinated) pool was the top priority.

  Jude has been asking for "More swimming? Swimming?" ever since we left.

  When we got back to the room, we were greeted by a little plate of chocolates, my own photo on an edible white chocolate bar, and a handwritten note from the general manager. What attention to detail!

  His and hers slippers and robes. Fancy-dancy!

After his bath, Jude even got to pick out a DVD to watch at the concierge desk. There really were a lot of family-friendly options for our little guy.

We grabbed a quick dinner at Whole Foods and came back and settled into our plush beds for a restful night of sleep. We finally had to rouse Jude around 9:15 the next morning to grab some breakfast tacos and to make it to our church gathering in time. It was hard parting from that gorgeous Town Lake view:
  Still a little bleary eyed, we bid adieu to this one night of luxury and the amazing Four Seasons service. As Chris said, "The attention to detail and customer service was impecable. Everybody was mad helpful." By "mad helpful" I think he meant "everyone there went above and beyond".  I have vowed to consider more in-town staycations in the future. I never knew how nice it could be playing tourist in your own town. Chris and I will definitely have to entertain the idea of going back one night when I'm no longer pregnant and when we can leave the little ones with family.