Friday, August 26, 2016

Rachel 6:08:00 PM 0

38 WEEKS PREGNANT!

I've made it to 38 weeks! WOOHOO!

I was most likely yelling at Alex to try and make me look "skinny" Impossible!

Today it's August 26, 2016 on a Friday and I've reached 38 weeks into my pregnancy. I can not believe how fast time has flown by. From the beginning of my pregnancy, every woman would tell me that pregnancy would just drag on and on, especially during the last month. I definitely don't think that's true at all! I feel like this journey went by too fast and these last couple of weeks waiting for my daughter are going by even quicker. Maybe I just love being pregnant? Don't get me wrong, being pregnant had it's hard times too, but I truly loved every moment of it. I could never imagine my body creating a little human being. I felt like that idea would be too far fetched and somehow impossible for me and my body to do. I was completely wrong. I love my body for growing the love of my life & I am so blessed to have reached 38 weeks into my pregnancy without any complications.

Symptoms this week:
Swollen Feet
Heartburn
Tiredness
Itchy

Highlight of my week:
3D ultrasound
Impromptu photoshoo

Here are some of my 37/38 week photos (:

3D Ultrasound Pictures of my sweet little P

At the beginning of 37 weeks, Penelope weight approximately 6.6lbs. I wonder how much she'll weigh at birth! (:

So far, who does she resemble more? Mommy or Daddy?

❤

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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Rachel 6:03:00 PM 0

ISA Professional Victorya Flat Iron - Review

ISA Victorya Hair Straightener

I received this flat iron for free in exchanged for my honest review. After ordering this product, I was emailed that once my product was shipping that I'd get a conformation email. The bad news is that I never got an email stating that my order had shipped. The great news is, I did receive my order in just a few days which surprised me! It came so fast! YAY!

Upon opening the package, I was happy to see that everything was was safely sealed to prevent damage during its delivery. The hair straightener itself came closed with a piece of plastic around the two plates and in between them a sheet of foam to prevent the heated plates from cracking.

The box included instructions and a free two year warranty.

Now it was time to test this product! This product states that there is no need for a temperature dial since the straightener itself changes temperature for different sections of your hair. When I started to straighten my hair, I found out that this was actually true! It was really nice not having to mess with a temperature dial for once. As I was straightening my hair, I also noticed that the plates were so easy to pass through my hair. The outcome of my hair was straight but my hair looked a little frizzy, which I found odd. When I woke the next morning, my hair looked so smooth and silky which made me fall in love with this product! My final verdict is that this is a great hair straightener for someone who is just getting into hair styling tools. My honest rating is 4 stars out of 5!

If you're interested in the Straightener, here is their site:

ISA Victorya Iron

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Saturday, August 6, 2016

Rachel 12:54:00 PM 0

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Best Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

My yummy ingredients

Today on my blog I am going to share with you one of my many recipes for Chocolate Chip Cookies! Who doesn't love a classic chocolate chip cookie? Especially one that's crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle! Yum! I've made these cookies on many occasions and for many different types of crowds & I always get the same response, "Woah! These are the best! Are they really homemade?" Make them for yourself and see if you get the same response as I do! (:

Ingredients

2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups MELTED butter
1 cup PACKED brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 whole egg
1 cup of chocolate chips of your choice (I used milk chocolate)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325 F
Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
Stir butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until well combined.
Add in egg, vanilla extract to butter and sugar mixture, and stir to to combine.
Slowly add dry ingredients.
Add in chocolate chips and mix in until evenly distributed.
Scoop out 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie and roll cookie dough into balls and slightly flattened. Place on a buttered baking-sheet.
Bake cookies for 10-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

My dry ingredients mixed together

In bowl: Melted Butter and white sugar mixed

The cooling and eating process :D

Despite their looks, they are the most delicious cookies ever!

ENJOY!

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Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Rachel 9:19:00 PM 0

Stretch Marks & Loving My Ever Changing Body Throughout Pregnancy

Getting Stretch Marks . . . & Loving them?

I know, I know... stretch marks are hereditary, right? Yeah, well that didn't stop me from applying every lotion I had owned and recently bought that promoted "PREVENTS STRETCH MARKS!" on the bottle. From the moment that positive pink two lines showed up on my pee-stick, I started to heavily apply lotions and oils onto my skin to prevent what my mother had been blessed with, stretch marks; and let me tell you, no amount of moisture could have saved my once mark free stomach, hips, and legs. I had gone 26 weeks into my pregnancy without a single scar. At the time, I thought "Woah! maybe I'll get lucky and not get a stretch mark at all!" HA! Boy was I mistaken. The next morning after jinxing myself, I woke to discover not one, nor two stretch marks, but maybe about ten. Not only did I feel like my self esteem had plummeted down, but I felt as if my body had betrayed me. Again, that was another thing I was dead wrong about.

Shortly after, my stretch marks started to multiply and spread to my hips, legs, and were accompanied with cellulite and a pretty little consolation of acne on my face. I still didn't feel pretty even though I knew my body was altering because of the precious little human I was growing. It wasn't until I was 30 weeks pregnant that my views on my new body made sense and became a body I loved and appreciated.

At 30 weeks pregnant I had turned 22 years old and wanted nothing but to see what my cute little baby looked like. I had wondered if she had her fathers lips and eyes, or if she resembled me with pinchable chubby cheeks. I kid you not, the moment I first laid eyes on my gorgeous daughter through a 3D ultrasound, the disappointment I had about my body, the worries, and the collection of lotion bottles I had accumulated did not matter anymore. I began to realize that this body that was covered in stripes was because of the healthy baby I had created.

Now, at 35 weeks pregnant and nearly ready to pop, I promote the beauty of stretch marks. Yes, they do take some time getting used to and they can be a little embarrassing to show, but when you realize how they came about, those worries will perish because of the beautiful bundle of joy you and that amazing body have created.

Penelope at 30 weeks

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Rachel 2:18:00 PM 0

Product Review: Parabo Press

Parabo Press

Parabo Press: A review on a printing company

I found Parabo Press through Instagram. The day I found their page, they were offering a Mothers Day sale which was $8.00 flat for 25 4x4 square prints from your phones camera roll. I immediately caved into this offer since the site claimed that their original 4x4 prints of 25 were originally $16.00 plus shipping. When I downloaded the app, the process of uploading and cropping your photos was very easy to do. What the cons were for me were the shipping. I knew the $8.00 total was too good to be true. Where they get you is not the cost of shipping but how long the shipping will take to arrive to you. If you went with the coupon deal, shipping is two weeks or longer without tracking info. If you want tracking info and faster shipping then you have to pay extra. Other than that, when my pictures did arrive (finally) they came packaged very nicely with a cardboard square cutout behind my prints so they wouldn't bend during the shipping process. The prints also came in this nice clear zip bag which I liked and now use for hair-ties in my purse. Overall I did enjoy this product and if I needed or just simply wanted this style of print, I would consider going back to paraboo.

I rate them 8 stars out of 10.

Parabo Prints is a cute accessory to making cute and creative Instagram pictures!
(Instagram: modcatt)

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Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Rachel 11:35:00 PM 0

Meet the Blogger & Her Family

About me

Hi Guys, welcome to my blog Letters to Penelope Emily! My name is Rachel, I live in socal, I am 22 years young, a full time college student, and have a precious daughter named Penelope Emily who is my absolute world! I am currently in my third trimester with Penelope (woohoo!) This blog is mainly a keepsake for my journey into motherhood. On here you will see some of my interests like cooking, personal recipes, fashion for moms and babies, product reviews, my youtube channel where I vlog my life, and of course personal letters to my growing daughter Penny. I hope you enjoy my blog and find a common interest!

Our Story

Alex and I met a few years back in the month of April. Not only did we connect instantly, we even shared our first official date at Disneyland! Talk about prince charming! I am 22 years old, a full time college student studying education, and mommy to our precious Penelope. Alex is a business man, 26 years old, car lover, animal obsessed, daddy to Penelope. Together we live in Southern California, the oh so sunny state.

Penelope Emily

Our daughter Penelope is yet to be born, but our whole world already revolves around her precious smile. She is Due September 9, 2016.

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