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PREGNANCY & BABY

The 4th Trimester: Lessons from the first three months raising a newborn

January 28, 2019
HANNAH SHELBY: Lessons from the 4th Trimester

The first three months after having your baby can feel like a blur—major sleep deprivation, a huge life change, lots of emotion, learning, crying, laughing, loving, diaper changes and watching your baby go from teeny tiny newborn to a pudgy baby ball in 90 or so days. It’s definitely a wild ride.

So for all the mamas-to-be or anyone curious what those first few months are like, I’ve put together a few take-aways I learned in the “4th trimester” with my baby girl.

Emotions run at an all time high.

Bringing a new life into this world is incredible. It’s miraculous. It’s like a million shooting stars bouncing around your entire body at once. So it’s not surprising to know you will cry many, many tears as you stare in awe at your new baby. Combined that with hormones and you have yourself a recipe for emotion! So don’t be surprised if you start crying out of the blue too—while you make your breakfast, brush your teeth, open the mail…you get the idea.

Unexpectedly I also became very emotional about my pregnancy. I never imagined “missing” being pregnant, but as soon as Vivienne arrived, I suddenly felt so nostalgic about it all. How was it already over? I didn’t even get to say goodbye to my pregnant belly! Even with the morning sickness and the difficulties sleeping and always needing to pee, it all happens so fast. In a blink it seems it’s over. One day you have strangers holding doors open for you and asking how you are, and then next you are back to being treated like a normal person. It was a weird shift. Pregnancy is such an incredible, transformative experience. The female body is AMAZING!

The days are hard and the nights are long.

There’s a reason it’s called the 4th trimester. The first few weeks especially are very challenging. Newborn babies don’t operate even remotely on a similar schedule as the rest of us. They need to eat every couple of hours, around the clock. They need a new diaper every time they eat. And their preferred place is in your arms 24 hours a day. Finding time to do simple things like eating and drinking can be hard. Just as one cycle ends, another one begins. You learn to live on less sleep than you ever realized possible. And it will be REALLY hard. But you will do it. You will think you can’t possibly do it another minute. And then you will. That is why mothers are superheros!

First day of life being swaddled at the hospital…was cute while it lasted :)

Not every baby likes baby things.

I always thought swaddling and pacifiers were all baby’s best friend. Not the case. Vivienne had absolutely no interest in either. After we got home from the hospital, we tried every type of swaddle and our baby would not have it. Instead of making her sleep better, she would scream bloody murder until we took her out. And a pacifier? She seems offended at the idea. When you’re pregnant and especially when it’s your first baby, it’s hard not to stock up on every little cute thing you see before little one arrives (guilty!) but it’s wise to hold off on some things until you know what does and doesn’t work for your baby.

Your baby may love something one day, and hate it the next.

And vice versa, so keep trying if something doesn’t seem to be working. Vivienne didn’t take to a baby swing, bouncy chair, or baby carrier until she was about 2 months old and was more willing to be set down. But then don’t be surprised if the next week it no longer seems to be working. Babies are finicky little things.

Some babies don’t like to be set down AT ALL in the first couple of months.

And that includes when they sleep. I always imagined my newborn sleeping next to me peacefully in a baby lounger or a transportable bassinet, giving me plenty of time to get a few things done each day. HA. Boy was that as far from the truth as it gets. Finally at about two months I found my baby was more willing to be set down. At that point items like a swing, bouncer and baby carrier are your best friend! Even 5 or 10 minutes of free hands makes a big difference!

The most important thing you need to be doing is taking care of your baby. Anything else is a bonus.

It can take some time to get used to letting go of everything else in your life for awhile, but really there isn’t anything more important than simply being there for your newborn. The sooner you come to peace with this, the happier you’ll be. It’s a temporary state, and one you will look back on with a pang in your heart when your baby is all grown up. So try to enjoy the slow pace while you have it….because it won’t be slow for long :)

Celebrate the small victories.

Did you shower for the first time this week? WOO HOO! Wore something other than pajamas? YOU GO MAMA! It’s easy to feel frustrated when you look at your list of things you’d like to accomplish and you maaaaybe get one thing done a day, but you should be proud of what you are doing—keeping a human being alive and well!

Don’t forget to eat and drink.

Without any hands and very little time, I found it easiest to eat pre made food I could gobble down in a minute or two. Fill a big travel mug of water so you’ll have a bigger supply during the day. Anything you can prep in the morning before you are alone for the day helps tremendously.

Who knew a baby could be such a great workout!

Carrying around a baby all day long does wonders for your arm muscles. And don’t even get me started on all the deep knee lunges required to keep a baby calm when they are fussing. You will most definitely feel the burn.

Netflix will get you through.

One thing you can do while you spend every waking moment feeding and holding your baby? NETFLIX! All the shows you thought you might watch one day? Every season of The Great British Baking Show? Yep! There likely won’t be any other time in your life you can marathon watch Netflix for days on end so enjoy it while it lasts.

^^one month
^^two months
^^three months! What happened to my baby? She’s so big already.

Joining the ‘Mom Club’ is really fun.

Motherhood is hard. With all it’s joys, can also be shockingly lonely and isolating in the beginning. Until you become a mother, there are so many aspects that are hard to understand. But once you do, you have officially joined the ‘Mom Club’ and there is an automatic bond with other women who have gone through/are going through the same struggles and joys. I have had so much fun connecting deeper with many of my mama friends, and am very much looking forward to that bond continuing to deepen as the journey of motherhood unfolds.

You have to do what’s best for you and your baby.

Maybe you breast feed, maybe you formula feed, maybe a little of both. Maybe you strictly use a bassinet, maybe you co-sleep, maybe your baby sleeps in their crib from day one. You know your baby best and what does and doesn’t work. Don’t get too caught up in what “everyone else is doing” and feel like you doing things wrong. Every baby is different, every family is different, and there is no one right way.

Your baby’s gas will be your worst enemy.

Newborns have immature digestive systems and are very gassy. And a gassy baby is a crying baby. The first 6-8 weeks are really tough in this regard. We tried everything under the sun—Gas Drops, Gripe Water, The Windy, removing foods from my diet, etc. Sometimes they worked, most of the time they didn’t. Finally at around 8 weeks Vivienne’s digestive system noticeably matured and she was much less gassy. This made such a huge difference! By all means try everything you can, but also try to remember that newborns by nature are just gassy. It will get better eventually and just because your baby has some gas it doesn’t mean you are doing everything wrong!

A small break goes a long way.

As soon as it felt manageable, I started walking our dog Louis in the evenings while my husband watched Vivienne. Those 30 minutes away were just the refresh needed after a full day taking care of a tiny baby. Letting someone else take over every once in awhile so you don’t burn out is so important.

Try to go easy on yourself.

You will inevitably worry about every little thing, especially if it is your first baby. And you will watch your baby cry and feel like you must be doing everything wrong. You aren’t. Babies don’t come with user manuals. It takes time to get the hang of being a new mom and learning all your baby’s likes and dislikes. Give yourself some grace, you are doing a great job!

Raising a newborn is really, really hard. But guess what, it’s also better than the best.

Nothing can prepare you for what it’s like to bring a life into this world. The immense responsibility, the fatigue, the utter and overwhelming love that rips out of your soul for the tiny human you get to call your own. How do you prepare for something so big? You can’t really. You will learn day by day, and often hour by hour. There’s a saying, “When a baby is born, so too is a mother.” I love this because it’s absolutely true. I have only just started down the path of motherhood and am still learning so, so much. The depth of love, the sacrifice. But what I do know is that pregnancy and labor and birth, hard as they may be, are more just a warm up for the lifelong journey of being a mother. As a mom, you will find yourself time and time again exceeding what you thought were your limitations, expanding your heart endlessly, and growing and learning every day.

It really does get better. And it really does go fast.

Everyone will tell you this, but when you are in the throws of it all and you are bone numbingly tired, it’s really hard to believe. But it does get better. Each day your baby develops a little more and you learn a little more and you grow a little more together. And then all of the sudden, you wake up one morning and your tiny baby isn’t a tiny baby anymore. That first smile, the cooing and baby giggles. Their sweet little face as they lay sleeping. The milky breath! And the life you will have together. Of course its not easy, but it’s all so so worth it!

I came across this poem by artist mama.days who so perfectly captured this fleeting newborn phase of motherhood:

Things are different now
I couldn't see past
Those broken nights
Struggles feeding
The burping
The nappies
And just when it's all finished
Starting the cycle all over again

Pinned down a snoozing baby
Not wanting to risk waking her
Everything revolving around naps
Babe on hip
One handed everything

The teething
The tiredness
The doubting
And the worrying
When they can't tell you what's wrong

And now.
Now I watch you dancing around my
living room
Mesmerized by Strictly
Chatting about Santa
So clever
So funny
Excited by so much

Your independence beaming
Your little mind processing everything
And I realize those early days
Weren't going to last forever
I can see it now
Couldn't then

I don't think anyone could've told me
those hard days don't last forever
Had to learn for myself.
My heart aches for days
that have gone by
Yet flutters thinking of what's
coming next
I look forward
to every day with you, my girl.

@mama.days


PREGNANCY & BABY

Labor Day Weekend + Recommended Pregnancy Reads

September 4, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads

Over the long weekend we spent a day at one of our favorite dog-friendly beaches in Michigan: Warren Dune State Park. Our pup Louie turned two and the beach is his favorite place on earth, so it was a nice little birthday present for him and a relaxing day away from the city for us as well. Trying to soak up as much time together as a family of three before we welcome our little babe in only a couple months.

At almost 31 weeks, I’m well in the throws of trying to take in as much information and advise on what’s to come in the last weeks of pregnancy and how to best take care of  a newborn as well as myself post delivery. I’ve had several books highly recommended to me over the last few months and wanted to share links for the other soon to be mamas out there. You’ll find links to each at the end of the post. Xx

HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads HANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach ReadsHANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach ReadsHANNAH SHELBY: Labor Day Weekend + Pregnancy Beach Reads

 

The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality

“This holistic guide offers practical advice to support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels—and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months to a few years.

Kimberly Ann Johnson draws from her vast professional experience as a doula, postpartum consultant, yoga teacher, body worker, and women’s health care advocate, and from the healing traditions of Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbalism—as well as her own personal experience—to cover how you can prepare your body for birth, how you can organize yourself and your household for the best possible transition to motherhood, simple practices and home remedies to facilitate healing and restore energy, how to strengthen relationships and aid the return to sex, learning to exercise safely postpartum, carrying your baby with comfort, exploring the complex and often conflicting emotions that arise postpartum, and more.”

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting (now with Bébé Day by Day: 100 Keys to French Parenting)

“When American journalist Pamela Druckerman had a baby in Paris, she didn’t aspire to become a “French parent.” But she noticed that French children slept through the night by two or three months old. They ate braised leeks. They played by themselves while their parents sipped coffee. And yet French kids were still boisterous, curious, and creative. Why? How?

With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman set out to investigate—and wound up sparking a national debate on parenting. Researched over three years and written in her warm, funny voice, Bringing Up Bébé is deeply wise, charmingly told, and destined to become a classic resource for American parents.”

The Happiest Baby on the Block; Fully Revised and Updated Second Edition: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer

“Thousands of parents, from regular moms and dads to Hollywood superstars, have come to baby expert Dr. Harvey Karp to learn his remarkable techniques for soothing babies and increasing sleep. Now his landmark book—fully revised and updated with the latest insights into infant sleep, bedsharing, breastfeeding, swaddling, and SIDS risk—can teach you too!”

Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year

“Without a doubt, Baby 411 is definitely among the best books ever written for parents and caregivers regarding the appropriate and very logical approach to infant and child care. It is cleverly written, easy to understand, well organized, and often extremely humorous. Parents, grandparents, and anyone responsible for the rearing and day-to-day care of children should have this book available as a ready resource. I do!”

-Jan Drutz, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine

 

 

PREGNANCY & BABY, FASHION

Dressing the Bump

August 21, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump

As soon as I saw that “+” sign on our pregnancy test, the state of my closet and what I’d be able to wear with a baby bump in the upcoming months was among the many thoughts racing through my head. But the great news is, sticking to certain styles or making small sizing tweaks opens up a huge amount of options far beyond your typical maternity clothing. I found I had way more options than I thought already in my closet, especially for early on before the belly gets too big.

Below I’ve put together what I think are the best dress styles for pregnancy that have worked really well for me over the past 7 months.

Wrap Dresses

This is a great style that gives you that little extra room necessary in the first and second trimesters. You can also buy in a few sizes up to fit better over that growing bump once you reach the end of your second trimester and into your third.

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap(14 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(21 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(28 weeks – ASOS)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump (Free People)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Free People or ASOS)


Flowy Fit

Practically made for baby bellies, there are so many non-maternity dresses that fall in this category. A flowy dress will keep you super comfortable along the way and still look great once your pregnancy is over.

HANNAH SHELBY: First Trimester Recap (14 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon (21 weeks – Faithfull the Brand)
HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon(21 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(27 weeks – Knot Sisters)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Knot Sisters)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(ASOS)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Mango)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Ulla Johnson)


Fitted Knit

No better way to show off that baby bump than with a fitted knit dress. The stretch allows for lots of room for that growing belly and keeps things super comfortable.

HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(30 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Reformation)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Enza Costa)HANNAH SHELBY: Dressing the Bump(Mango)

 

PREGNANCY & BABY

Second Trimester Recap

August 8, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap

^^25 weeks

Today marks 27 weeks for me and this little lady growing in my belly, and it’s crazy how the time is flying by and how soon both of our worlds will never be the same :) In just one short week we will officially enter the third trimester—wild!

The second trimester is a very dynamic one, when it begins the baby bump is still pretty small, and a lot of changes happen over the course of those three months! Compared to the first trimester, the second trimester has been a breeze. I guess that’s why they call it the “honeymoon stage.”

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester RecapHANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester RecapRegaining an Appetite and Energy

The first trimester for me came with a lot of fatigue and almost no appetite due to morning sickness. But luckily almost exactly as the second trimester rolled around, my nausea started to go away and my appetite returned. This was a much welcomed change and finally I felt like a normal human again. Being someone who really loves food, I always assumed I’d have some pretty intense pregnancy cravings, but so far I really haven’t had any.

No More Secret!

If you decide to wait until the beginning of the second trimester to make the news public like us, this is also a welcomed change as you no longer have to awkwardly avoid passing up alcoholic drinks in public and can freely chat all things pregnancy and baby with your friends and family.

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap(15 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap(18 weeks)HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap(21 weeks)

Growing Belly

Beginning at week 14, the baby bump was still very small, and not overly noticeable outside of looking like I just consumed a big lunch. Right around week 16 I could feel the growth acceleration pick up a bit and by week 18 there was clearly a little bump present. And then again at week 20 or so the acceleration sped up and by week 24 there was a full fledged baby belly. No more being mistaken for simply not sucking in. Especially while wearing tighter fitting tops, you can expect even the random stranger to ask how far along you are. And between weeks 24 and 28, the baby doubles in size, so at the end of the second trimester you will find yourself with quite the big bump.

Feeling Baby Kick

This is probably the most exciting part of the second trimester outside of the ultrasound. I remember sitting on the couch one night around 16 weeks and feeling what felt like a little bubble popping in my stomach. I had done some reading on what to expect you might feel once those first movements start happening, but even still it begins so faint, it’s hard to say you are really feeling what you think you might be. And then a few days later I felt the same thing, and a few days later…until about week 18 where I started feeling several of them in a row and usually at similar times of the day—in the evening while sitting down. At that point I was sure I was feeling the first kicks and from there they began to progress to be much more noticeable. This is the point in the pregnancy when it really starts to hit you that a real little baby is inside of you growing. It’s absolutely incredible! By week 20, Joe could easily feel her kick as well, which added a whole extra level of excitement to it all.

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester RecapUltrasound!

The 20 week ultrasound is so exciting, as it’s the halfway point and the first time you get to see your little one in miniature human form—little fingers and toes, the cute little nose :) In addition to the kicking, it’s the cherry on top that really solidifies the whole thing (for me at a least). Prior to seeing or feeling your little babe, you know you’re carrying a little one, but it’s all so incredible and hard to really comprehend. Once you see that little face and feel those little feet kick nothing is the same. It’s love at first sight.

HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonBabymoon

The second trimester is dubbed “the sweet spot” of pregnancy and the ideal time to take a babymoon if you plan to do one. We decided to plan ours in the 21/22 week mark and the timing worked well. I hadn’t yet been having too many discomforts, my belly was present but manageable in size, no swelling in the feet and minimal back pain. This helped to make our time much more enjoyable than had I spent the whole time uncomfortable. (Read more on our California babymoon here and here)

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester Recap(24 weeks)

Discomforts: Sore Tailbone, Stuffy Nose, Back Pain, Leg Cramps

Overall the second trimester has been a very easy one, with just a few discomforts along the way. I began having some pain in my tailbone early on if I spent too much time standing/walking or sitting in an uncomfortable chair. Having a stuffy nose was fairly common, and this could be at any time for any reason. The back pain started creeping in around the 24 week mark, as did waking up in the morning to some small leg cramps, but neither have been anything too terrible so far. We will see what the third trimester brings!

Exercise

Exercise has been pretty consistent with the first trimester until around 22 weeks I was less inclined to run and steered more towards 3 miles of daily walking with our dog + aerobic weights 3 times a week. As your belly grows, the pressure on your various organs intensifies and your center of gravity changes. Because of this, I began feeling more comfortable with a lower impact cardio combined with weights to maintain some muscle mass. The most important thing is to listen to your body. Everyone is different and each woman’s body reacts differently to pregnancy. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to hold a conversation and to make sure not to overheat your body.

Sleep

Beginning in the second trimester, you will need to begin sleeping on your side. Laying on your back puts can be dangerous in preventing adequate blood flow to your baby. Either side is okay but left-side is said to best maximize blood flow and help reduce swelling. I’ve yet to buy a special pregnancy pillow but have found it helpful to prop a pillow behind my back and also use one between the legs to be most comfortable.  In the last few weeks, sleep has become noticeably more difficult and I imagine this trend will continue into the third trimester.

HANNAH SHELBY: Second Trimester RecapClothing

For a good portion of the second trimester I was able to still wear some looser non-maternity clothing. There are also a few tricks to stretching some of your non maternity clothes like the rubber band trick on pants. I’m putting together a full post on dressing the bump, so more on this to come!

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CALIFORNIA, PREGNANCY & BABY, TRAVEL

California Babymoon: Palm Springs + Joshua Tree

July 17, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

Our second stop on our babymoon we made our way inland to Palm Springs. Palm Springs has lots to do but its also a great place to simply relax by the pool at your hotel or house rental. We love to explore and be very active on our trips but this time around we wanted to make sure we had plenty of relaxing down time as we know our lives are going to get quite hectic in the months to come.

We stayed at the lovely Holiday House, which was newly renovated just last year. This hotel ticked all the boxes for us: stylish design, a large pool perfect for relaxing, delicious food, central location and very reasonable pricing.

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Fresh watermelon juice served all day long—a pregnant woman’s dream come true!

SHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Super cozy lounge areas around the pool, perfect for doing nothing but relaxing with a cold drink and a good book.HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Original architecture by Herbert W. BurnsHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Really lovely rooms decorated down to the detail casting you straight away into holiday mode.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Lots of original artwork all around the property including works from John Baldassari, David Hockney, Roy Liechtenstein, Herb Ritts, Alex Katz and Mr. Brainwash.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Yesssss. The glorious pool (image credit)HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Hubs doing some very important reading :) + a poolside “bucket of veggie” from The Pantry. We also had the fish tacos, burger, chicken salad and chips and guacamole—all excellent.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Driving around the city admiring all the mid century modern homes, and in particular this little famous gem known for its pink door.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Spent an afternoon at the Palm Springs Yacht Club at The Parker getting massages and enjoying the indoor pool. So many cool bits and bobs around the property, definitely worth a visit if you aren’t staying here to see the beautiful decor. Grab brunch at Norma’s or a drink at Mister Parker’s.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Lovely indoor pool for use while visiting the spaHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Date night with my hubs + our little bambina. Heading out to dinner at Birba, an Italian restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio space.

Dress | Realisation Par

Bag | MangoHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

Joshua Tree

We made our way to Joshua Tree early morning to beat the heat and found the temps to be more than manageable until around mid day, which was the perfect time to head back to our hotel’s pool. The drive from Palm Springs takes about an hour and is well worth it if you’re interested in seeing an otherworldly desert atmosphere of crazy muppet-like trees, huge rocks, and tons of cacti. There are two entrances easily accessed from Palm Springs, the West entrance and the South entrance. The West entrance is nearer to some of the main landmarks in the park so we entered through the West and drove all the way to exit at the South before heading back.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Crazy amazing “Joshua” treesHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon SHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^And of course the must stop fast food when in California :) No trip is complete with a little In-N-Out

WHERE TO STAY:

Holiday House: Originally designed in 1951 by Herbert W. Burns and redone in 2017 by designer Mark D. Sykes, Holiday House has everything you need: delightfully decorated property and rooms, large pool with lovely lounge areas as well as a bocce ball court, complimentary bikes for use, delicious fresh food at The Pantry restaurant, and a central location right off the main strip.

Korakia Pensione: Romantic Mediterranean style resort with individually unique rooms as well as a pool, spa, yoga, complimentary bikes, fire pit, and outdoor movies played at night.

The Amado: Stylish rental home with five rooms accommodating a large family or group, or with the option to rent rooms individually for singles or couples. Large pool, fire pit, and BBQ.

The Parker: Exceptionally stylish hotel with expansive grounds including a large outdoor pool, spa with indoor pool, several restaurants and bars, fitness room, tennis court, Pétanque, croquet, yoga, and bikes.

WHERE TO EAT:

Workshop: A 2015 James Beard Award winner for best restaurant design, the interior isn’t the only thing Workshop is well known for. Featuring a seasonally driven menu focusing on fresh ingredients from local farms, as well as a killer cocktail and wine menu. A must visit in Palm Springs.

Birba: Beautiful outdoor dining and a menu filled with Italian favorites like pizza, meatballs, fresh made pasta and salads.

Farm: Garden-like patio seating with a menu inspired by the south of France.

Cheeky’s: Breakfast served all day as well as lunch options until 2pm. No reservations.

Norma’s: Brightly colored, cheerful atmosphere located at The Parker hotel, with a big menu featuring breakfast all day.

TO DO:

Relax at your hotel or house

Palm Springs is the perfect low key place to simply relax. So while there is lots to do, make sure and set some time aside to do all of nothing but sit by the pool and sip on cold drinks with a good book or your favorite music.

Vintage Shopping

Tons of good vintage shops in the city for designer finds and beyond including The Frippery and The Fine Art of Design.

Architecture Tour

Known for the Mid Century Modern architecture, you can take guided tours of the city or put together your own and drive yourself.

Spa Day

Pamper yourself with a day at one of the many spas including Palm Springs Yacht Club, the spa at Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage, and La Quinta Spa.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The world’s largest rotating tramcar will take you over 1.5 miles up along the cliffs of Chino Canyon and into the pristine wilderness of the mountain top. Once at the top, enjoy two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails.

Day trip to Joshua Tree

About an hours drive from the city, spend a few hours or more exploring the crazy other-planet like environment at Joshua Tree National Park.

Photography: Images shot using the Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Lens and the Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 R Lens, as well as the iPhone 6s.