Author: jordan

  • Little Home Library- Part ONE

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    So, a few weeks ago my sister organized a little nook in her game room with her old teaching books and totally inspired me to do the same. I also used to teach and knew I had numerous bins up in the attic filled to their brims with books. I also had this wall of shelves in our piano room that was just filled with random decor and stacks of unread magazines. Thus, the plan for our Little Home Library was born! I’m pretty happy with how it turned out…plus the girls are reading more than ever, which is always a plus!

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    SETTING UP THE LIBRARY:

    1. Clearing- The first thing I did was clear the shelves and put aside the (very few) items that I wanted to keep. I couldn’t believe how much of the stuff on those shelves was just “filler junk”! Disclaimer: photo was taken AFTER I started dismantling the shelves…I’m not a complete savage! 😉IMG_7833
    2. Sorting- Next I went into the attic to bring down my book bins. I had completely underestimated how many books I had up there! I sat on the floor and sorted through every single solitary book. It took me days! I made sure to keep age appropriate books, books that were classics and good/clean reads, books that were in good shape, books that were educational, and books I knew my kids could grow into. I made a “toss” pile that included any duplicates, books I didn’t think were age appropriate, books in bad shape, and books that looked dated or had content I wasn’t sure I wanted my kids reading. Then I made a “maybe” pile. The next step was to sort my “keep” books into genre piles. I then looked at each genre I had created and pulled from the “maybe” pile if any piles were looking a bit sparse.IMG_7840
    3. Donating- There is SUCH a great need for books out there, so I made sure that every single book in my “toss” pile was donated. Most went to Human Rights Initiative, a local non-profit that recently had all of their books stolen from their waiting room and “lend a book” library.IMG_7804
    4. Containers- After I had my general “genre” piles made I headed out to my motherland, aka The Container Store. I made sure to measure my shelves before I went so I knew the depth and height of each shelf and most importantly, the length so I could measure how many bins would fit across. I chose a selection of all white, grated metal and straw baskets. I wanted to use mixed materials to give the shelves more dimension. I also found some great labels and book display items at Container Store. I’ve linked them all below.
    5. Setting up Shop- When I got home, I played around with where I wanted all my empty baskets to go. Once I liked the way they were arranged I started filling them with books. I made sure to get all different sized baskets because not all of my genres had the same amount of books. (For example I had a TON of Fantasy and Mystery  books but only a small handful of biographies.)IMG_7844
    6. Decorating- I then went in and filled in some of the empty spaces with decor. I used a book display, a small plant, and a letter board. I wanted to break up all the bins but also keep the shelving unit clean and simple. I also replaced the hardware on the drawers. It was a cheap fix and (I think)gave the unit a huge facelift!

    Ta Da…Here’s the whole finished product:

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    GETTING STARTED

    Don’t have extra wall space or a ton of books? That’s totally fine! You don’t need either to start your own home library! There are some great cubby systems you can purchase like THIS one from Land of Nod that don’t take up much space and can still be easily turned into a library. Also, it’s ok for libraries to take years to build!2017-10-26_0001

    Here are some tips for starting an at-home library from scratch:

    • Start with gathering up books from around your house (I’m sure you have more than you think lying around!)
    • Purchase a few new books at your child’s reading level. There are great places like Half-Priced Books (or any used book store and/or flea market) where you can get books for cheap. Not in the budget? Go to your local library and check out a whole bunch of books, plop them into your at-home library and then cycle them out after you find your child “getting sick” of them.
    • Books are a great gift idea! Especially with the holidays coming up…create a book wish-list with your little ones. Get them excited about books and reading by changing their mindset of how much fun books can be.
    • Think outside your typical wheelhouse. Your kid loves the Fancy Nancy books? Great. But also introduce him/her to some books from drastically different genres. You never know if your kid is interested in something until you expose them to it! Grab them a National Geographic book on animals and maybe a picture book about the 50 states or outer space, or maybe an awesome book of poetry for kids. You might be surprised by which books your child reaches for, given some options!
    • Start with just a few genres, maybe 3-5, and then gauge your child’s interest and build your library up accordingly! A few great starter genres: Fiction Picture Books, Non-Fiction Books, Holiday Books, Chapter Books (for reading aloud together).
    • Cycle Books in-and-out. Always keep some books tucked away so that your kid’s choices aren’t so overwhelming and they never get tired of their selections! This is especially fun with holiday books! My kids only get to look at the Halloween books when I take them out in the Fall and it makes them that much more excited to read them!
    • Swap with a friend! Take on this project with a friend/neighbor and cycle out your books by swapping with each other. When your books need a “time out” from your house, send them on over to your friend’s library and have her give you a bin in return. Viola, brand new books for your kids to borrow! Just make sure you take good care of them and return them in the shape you received them! 😉
    • Have fun with it…make it into a REAL mini-library, complete with a book return bin, some fun signs, a few books out on display (rather than stacked), etc. I’m in love with these super adorable book stickers I had made on Zazzle! There are so many cute options, and an especially good idea if you plan on sharing books with friends!view
    • Remember: An In-Home Library doesn’t have to be extravagant! It can be as simple as any little space dedicated to displaying and storing a few books at your child’s level!

     

     

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    CONTAINERS AND BINS

    All are from The Container Store. I’ve linked them below!

    metal bins |white plastic bins | baskets | book stand  | book drop bin |

    bin labels | acrylic book divider

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    SUBSCRIBE

    Don’t forget to check back in for “Part Two” where I’ll share all the category bins I created, some book/series recommendations for each genre, a fun blog share with a fellow book-nerd mama AND a fun giveaway…stay tuned and make sure you subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss anything I’ve got coming up (including my Thanksgiving book picks)!

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    Girls cute dresses from The Little Spoons

    Letterboard & letters from Hobby Lobby

    Step Stool is a vintage hand-me-down

    Tent from Land of Nod (no longer avail, but similar HERE)

    Halloween shelf decor from Paper Source

     

  • Halloween DIY Ideas

    Halloween DIY Ideas

    So I’ve already purchased costumed for the kids this year, but that didn’t stop me from accepting this “DIY Halloween Challenge”! I love a good challenge…especially when it involves costumes, and this was a great way to get the girl’s involved in some Halloween fun & crafting!

    Since the kiddos are doing a theme group costume this year (probably the last year I’ll be able to pull that off, bc…”opinions”) I decided to let them chose their own costumes for this challenge. The only guidelines I gave them was to have it be a character from a book. (I figured since they have “book character” day at school, I could actually use these costumes again. I’m resourceful sometimes.)  So, off they ran to the library and started joyously pouring through books amidst cheerful giggles.

    …just kidding.  They pushed and shoved each other off the library step stool and fought over who had which book first, who “stoled” a book from who, and “who copied whose” idea. After the mayhem, and after explaining numerous times that mommy does not, in fact, SEW… we had two very easy, very different book characters! I then let them choose Max’s…

     

    Q- “Cindy Lou Who” from the book How The Grinch Stole Christmas

    Materials:

    • hot glue (had)
    • hot glue gun (had)
    • light pink felt ($)
    • light pink elastic (had)
    • pink nightgown (had)
    • red bows (had)
    • headband (had)
    • black pipe cleaners ($)
    • large red ornament (had)
    • grinch stuffed animal, for bonus points (had)
    • scissors (had)

    Cost: under $5

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    This one was easy because Q hardly ever takes off her pink nightgown from Plain Jane. We added some elastic around the legs to give it that bubble-look and I cut a little scalloped collar out of pink felt for around her neck. I then grabbed two red bows from our massive collection and popped some black pipe cleaners onto a headband. Then I found this giant red Christmas ornament in the attic. This costume cost approximately however much a sheet of pink felt and a pack of pipe cleaners costs. Perfection!If she were actually trick-or-treating in this costume, I’d probably buy her some cute pink slippers, like these.

     

    Cub- “Mouse” from the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

    Materials:

    • hot glue (had)
    • hot glue gun (had)
    • overalls (had)
    • grey shirt (had)
    • sneakers (had)
    • sheet of grey foam ($)
    • pink felt ($)
    • grey curtain tie back ($)
    • sheets of dark and light brown foam($)
    • scissors (had)

    Cost: under $10

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    Cub really wanted to be an animal and this was was a no brainer because it involves basically overalls and mouse ears! I shopped in her closet for the main part of the outfit and shoes. Then for the ears and the cookie I literally bought sheets of that foam stuff from Hobby Lobby. I cut out two circles from the grey foam for ears and cut out pink centers for the ears from the leftover felt from Q’s collar. I glued the ears right onto a plastic headband. For the tail, I found a grey curtain tie-back at Hobby Lobby and pinned it onto the belt loop on the back of the overalls. For the giant cookie, I used the foam again. A light brown for the cookie and then I cut out sloppy circles for the chocolate chips from a darker brown foam sheet. Voila- we gave the mouse a cookie.

     

    Max- “Max” from the book Where the Wild Things Are

    Materials:

    • hot glue (had)
    • hot glue gun (had)
    • cream hoodie romper from Kickee Pants (had)
    • white socks (had)
    • sheet of yellow foam ($)
    • brown fur trim ($)
    • white fur trim ($)
    • light brown foam (had from Cuc’s costume)
    • black pipe cleaners (had from Q’s costume)
    • scissors (had)

    Cost: under $10

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    The girls picked this solely because they thought it was cool that the character’s name was Max. This was probably the most difficult of the three costumes to put together, but still pretty easy. I started by cutting out the crown in the yellow foam sheet, measured it to Max’s head so it would be a little bit big and then glued the brown fur trim to the bottom. I then gathered up the white fur trim and safety pinned it to the butt. Then since I had extra brown felt from Cub’s costume, I cut out round buttons and pinned them onto the front of the romper. It would’ve been easier (and much safer) to just glue them onto the romper fabric, but I’m trying to salvage the outfit here. Next I wanted to add some claws to the feet of the romper but again, didn’t want to glue them onto the fabric, so I improvised: I grabbed some old white socks, glued the claws on and slipped the socks right over the footie part of the outfit. Lastly for the whiskers, I just folded the pipe cleaner into the hood and used some fabric tape to keep them in place on the inside. If I were going trick-or-treating or using this as his actual costume for any extended period of time aside from a quick picture for an Instagram challenge, I would’ve cut tiny holes in the hood and glued the whiskers in place. Loose parts on a baby are NEVER a good idea, as they can pose a choking hazzard, so please keep that in mind.

     

    If you flip through some books and your kid’s closets it’s easier than I thought it would be to come up with cute costume ideas. Here are a few other book characters I thought of:

    Fern, Charlotte’s Web: overalls, pigtails, converse and a stuffed pig. maybe add a cute spider headband?

    Pete the Cate: blue romper, cat ears, maybe pin some big colorful buttons on, and of course, some converse sneaks!

    Alice the Fairy: Cute dress, wings, wand, some crazy curly hair!

    Angelina Ballerina: neutral leotard, mouse ears, mouse tail, tutu

    Man in the Yellow Hat, Curious George: yellow romper, felt tie, yellow hat, carry stuffed monkey

    Skippy John Jones: neutral romper, giant ears, cute black eye mask, maybe a cape! ay chihuahua!!

    Madeline: blue dress, make white felt color, red ribbon tie, yellow hat, mary janes and knee highs

     

    Happy Crafting!!

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  • Halloween Books

     

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    *UPDATE*

    NEW Picks for Halloween 2018!!

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    The Way Home in the Night | Plume | The Midnight Library | The Soup Bone | Alpha Oops: H is for Halloween | No Kiss for Mother (not exactly “halloween” but that angry little cat just screamed, “Put me on your Halloween shelf!”| Rufus, the Bat Who Loved Colors  | Tomi Ungerer Treasury  (a new discovery for me Tomi is a little bitt off-the beaten path, with just a hint of darkness. Perfect for this time of year!)| They all Saw a Cat | Little Boo | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: The Illustrated Version (illustrated novel- book one is a great starting point to introduce your kiddos to the world of Harry Potter before it gets too dark in later books!)| Hocus Pocus & The All New Sequel (novel- for older readers)

    *Some of my all-time favorites*

    Baby/Board Books

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    B is for Boo

    This entire alphabet series is my favorite ever. Max has the “retro” one in his room and I just ordered the Christmas one as well!

    Dracula, Edgar, Frankenstein

    Hello, BabyLit books…need I say more? These books introduce even the youngest of babies to the classics with simple word/illustration associations!

    Five Little Ghosts

    Cutest little rhyming book…and there other books for other seasons!

    If You’re Spooky and You Know It

    I think you know how this one goes….super fun to sing along with little ones!

    Five Little Pumpkins

    Our FAV Halloween song!!! My girls LOVE to sing this…and we even act it out! So super cute. Used to do this one with my class!

    EEK! Halloween!

    Ardyn is 100% OBsessed with the Sandra Boynton books! Like, she sleeps with them. This one is short, sweet, and funny…just like the rest.

    Favorite Picture Books

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    Spookly the Square Pumpkin-Another from my teaching days…BEFORE it was a movie! This book is so good for teaching tolerance and differences! It’s a MUST!

    Vampirina Ballerina-I know you’ve seen this book all over the blogs, BUT did you know it is a series…AND a new cartoon on Disney!?

    The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything-This is a staple in our house- a fun “spooky” book of repetition. My girls LOVE this and have it memorized! A Halloween staple!

    The Bad Seed-Maybe it’s because I used to be in love with this movie, but when I saw this title, I knew I HAD to have it! “RHO-DA! You kill that little boy with your tap shoes?!!” Anyone, anyone?? Don’t worry, this book is just a play on words and not dark like the film or scary at all! Tells the story of a little seed who had a rough start and turned “baaaad”…but is he really that bad after all? People (and seeds) can change, you know!  😉

    No Such Thing-Super cute story…and it’s also a “look and find” book which my girls LOVE!

    How to Make Friends with a Ghost-Gorgeous illustrations! This book does read more like a “how to manual” than a story though. Some of the annotations and jokes might go right over smaller children’s heads. And, just a heads up, this book follows the little girl in her quest to befriend this ghost as she grow into adulthood. At the end, she does pass away (as an old woman) and the last illustration shows her becoming a ghost and floating away with her ghost friend. Just a heads up in case you’d rather not broach that topic with your children. I certainly had no idea.

    Leo: A Ghost StoryOne of our very favs!

    Cat’s Night Out-Super sweet rhyming book! Plus the cover made me think of the cell block tango from Chicago! 😉

    The Scariest Book Ever-Super cute interactive book. Ardyn thought it was super funny!

    Shadow   and Flashlight-Two gorgeous “picture books”…all you need is your imagination. Ardyn loves these because the pictures tell the stories all by themselves.

    Creepy Pair of Underwear-Little bit of a longer read, but funny for kids a tiny bit older and for those “potty humor” loving kiddos! 😉

    Bonaparte Falls Apart…and needs his friends to help put him back together! Super cute friendship story!

    Room on the Broom-We read it last night for our bedtime book and I forgot how fun it was. Definitely a holiday favorite!

    The Night World-Gorgeously illustrated story about how the world looks in the darkest, very earliest hours of the morning…

    Humbug Witch-This book is a new find for us and we are all obsessed. Such a fun read…with a little surprise ending!

    Go Away Big Green Monster-A Classic for Halloween, and ANYTIME. This is such a fun book to read aloud..especially with those kiddos who may have monster fears. bonus points for there being an interactive puppet! I linked it HERE.

    And a few other sweet picture books that will certainly liven up your Halloween “book shelfie” game! 😉

    Gilbert the Ghost

    Ghosts

    Little Owl Lost

    Ghosts in the House

    Happy Reading!

     

  • First Foods & A Giveaway

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    Disclaimer: I want to start by saying that I am fully aware that there are many people/organizations out there who believe breast milk is and should be the only source of nutrition a child needs/receives until 6-12 months of age.  I completely value and respect those opinions. What I’m going to talk about on my little blog here is what has worked best for me and my family, and may not be what works best for you.  Always be sure to check with your pediatrician before introducing any new foods and/or routines to your baby.

    It’s kinda of surreal to me that it’s time to give Max his first taste of real food. Mostly because I remember sitting both Quinlin and Cubby in the very same high chair, entire extended family gathered around to have their first spoonfuls.

    But Max is supposed to be my newborn…like, forever. How can he be eating solids already? I guess a tiny sliver of me is hoping that by introducing some foods, maybe he’ll be up less throughout the night to nurse. Here’s hoping…

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    When starting Q on baby foods I just did exactly what my pediatrician advised and introduced rice cereal. This immediately caused constipation issues. So with Cub, I did a bit of research and found this amazing site www.wholesomebabyfood.com. It has such great advice and ideas…and I particularly love the little charts you can print out. I printed them all and made a little binder. I’ve added tabs and notes for each kid, so it’s really nice to go back and see which foods I gave to the girls, what type of reaction they had, the dates I introduced new things, etc.

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    When to Start: My pediatrician told me to start introducing food between 4-6 months. I decided to split the difference and start right around five months. Everyone and every baby is different so, of course, do what works for you and what your doctor recommends!  Five months has worked for us in the past and Max seems ready (aka, he tried to swat the pizza slice out of my hand at dinner last night) so we’re going to give it a go!

    What to Start With: While pizza may not be the best first food (doctors, phssssh.) I decided for Max, to go the same route I did with Cubby: to skip the cereals and go straight to veggies. I’ve like starting with the veggies first to get my kiddos used to the taste before introducing the yummy sweet fruits. I mean, if someone fed you chocolate cake for a month and then decided to switch you over to strained string beans I think you’d be pretty pissed, too! 😉 Since they are easy, don’t require cooking, and are full of nutrients and fats, I decided to introduce avocados first.

    How Much: Again, every baby is going to be different. I think Q hated her first taste of food and hardly ate one spoonful. Cubby, obviously, gobbled hers right up. The very first time you feed, “they” suggest offering just 1/2-1 tablespoon. After they get the hang of the whole eating thing, I usually give the regular dose of breast milk/formula plus 1-3 tablespoons of food 1-2 times a day. Of course, I start slowly and then work up to that amount. I’ve always done breakfast and dinner to start and then added a “lunch” at a  later date! Gotta fill that belly before bedtime! 😉

    Feeding Tools: I’ve recently been trying to clear out the older, toxin-filled plastics in our house and replace them with wood, glass, and stainless steel for our dishes, cups, and utensils. I’ve partnered up with the fabulous brand Avanchy for Max’s first foray into foods. I love this brand SO much, not only because the materials are safe and non-toxic but because the bowls and plates come with removable plastic suction cups to keep the dishes in place as you feed. Hellooo, less messes! I love that I can suction the bowl onto Max’s highchair tray, but then remove the suction cup when I’m washing or when the girls are using them.

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    *Don’t forget to enter the giveaway on my Instagram feed. They are giving away an essentials collection to TWO lucky winners!!

    “Made from organic bamboo and silicone, they are non-toxic, earth-friendly, BPA, BPS, PVC, Lead, and Phthalate free.”  – https://avanchy.com

    “Go Time!”: I usually give the first taste of a new food in the morning so that I can watch for any potential allergic reactions during the day (as opposed to at dinner time when they are about to go to bed for the night.) I make sure that I always give my kiddos their regular full milk feeding first (breast milk, or bottle); whatever they normally eat, whenever they normally eat it. I want them to get the full nutrients from the milk before potentially filling up on food. (For example, Max breastfeeds at 11:00 so I made sure to nurse him before we gave him a taste of food!) I chopped the avocado up super small and then mashed it with a fork. It still looked pretty thick so I mixed in some breast milk to make it a little more soupy. The next step is to get a teeny tiny bit on the spoon, introduce it slowly and make sure there is a giant plastic barrier between you and your baby…you never know what might happen!! kidding, kidding. And of course, don’t force it. If baby doesn’t seem interested he/she may not be ready. For us, I tried another small taste at dinner time with the same reaction. I’ll try giving him tiny tastes over the next 3-4 days while I wait to introduce the next food: sweet potatoes. It’s important not to force anything so that you don’t develop any sort of negative association with your baby and food/his highchair, etc.

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    Max’s First Taste: I’m pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves…

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    Safe to say, he’s not a fan…yet. 😉

     

    Me Being All PC & Stuff: In an effort to present all points of view, here are a few other websites I’ve perused in making my baby-feeding decisions. I don’t necessarily agree with everything on these pages, just thought I’d offer them for those like to read “all sides” before making a decision, like I do. And once more, for good measure: My #1 source of information and advice always comes from my pediatrician and my own mother’s intuition! 😉

    www.foodrenegade.com/why-ditch-infant-cereals

    www.breastfeedingmamatalk.com

    www.parenting.com/babys-first-foods

     

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    While The Wholesome Baby website has all kinds of great info regarding feeding schedules, foods to avoid, allergens, and my favorite: handy printable charts, I want to note- this post is in no way, shape, or form sponsored by The Wholesome Baby. It just happens to be my favorite source that I’ve used for all my children and I wanted to share it with you! While the Avanchy post is sponsored, they are products that I have been using for a while now & sincerely love! I am NOT receiving  commission off any purchases made to Avanchy and this blog post contains zero affiliate links. I just like to be honest with y’all! Happy Feeding. xo -J

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  • Tea Discount!

    2017-09-16_0006You guys, I’m going to keep this one short and sweet:

    The folks over at Tea Collection are giving all of YOU

    $25 off on all orders over $50 using code: Jordan25 !!!

    So awesome right?!

    Here’s the catch…

    The code and the deal are active TODAY ONLY!! and in case you’re a little late to the party, that’s Sunday, September 17 until 11:59pm (PST)!

    So HURRY on over, click here:  Tea Collection and start shopping!!

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    And since y’all know how much I LOVE shopping, I even put together a “Girls” and “Boys” Board of my favorite Fall pieces for you. I’m totally stocking up! What about you? What’s your fav piece? I think I’m going to grab some outwear for the kids…or maybe some of those super cute cable knit sweaters…and those brown boots!! ahhh I want all of it!

    GirlsTea

    Shop these looks HERE

    BoysTea

    Shop these looks HERE

    Happy Sunday, and Happy Shopping, friends!

     

     

    And now, more Q + A spam…

    (cutest little outfits by, of course, Tea!)

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  • Friday Favorites!

    It’s been a while…and I finally have a few hours of “free (plus an infant) time” now that Cub is in school 3 days a week. It’s only 3 hours, but hey- I’ll take it!

    Here are some of my current FAVORITE products for ya!

    (Links are in the the titles!)

    For The Girls

     

    Plain Jane Play Gowns:

    My girls are OBSESSED with their gowns and would wear them 24/7 if I’d let them. Plus, Sarah, the owner, is the sweetest person in the universe AND they just launched all new patterns and styles for fall. I left a few for you to buy…but only a few. 😉

     

     

    Hazel Village Dolls:

    I’ve had my eye on these forever and recently ordered the girls each their own blonde/brunette doll. Annnnd- ready to have your mind blown? The company collabs with cute clothing brands & makes the cutest MINI clothes so the dolls can match your kiddos. Latest collab?? Plain Jane Play Gowns! I meannnnnnn.

     

     

     

    Petunia Pickle Bottom Backpack:

    It’s basically the cutest backpack ever. The end.

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    The Love Bags:

    Q needs to bring a lunch AND a snack to school this year. I bought her a big zipper pouch from this brand to use as a lunchbox and these little snack packs for snack time. They are so cute and I love that I’m not flying through ziplocs every week! Plus, I love that I can throw a tiny freezer pack inside & I know it will make it back home again. With plastic baggies it’s a “baby with the bathwater” situation… 😉

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    Pink Chicken:

    This brand is killing it with their Fall line. SOOOO many cute dresses for school…I want them all!!

     

     

    FOR BABY

     

    Kickee Pants:

    My fav baby jammie brand has replaced their snaps with zippers and guess who is the most excited person on the planet about it? This girl.

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    Finn + Emma Play gym:

    It’s organic, non-toxic, was featured in Vogue, AND my kid loves it. Sold! I can leave this bad boy out in Max’s room and it looks like part of the decor instead of the neon colored plastic eyesore that my girls played with. (Ha! Sorry girls, there are a few perks to being the third child! ;))

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    For Both

     

    Tubby Todd Bath Products:

    Tubby Todd is one of our favorite brands to use on the kiddos. We love the soaps and shampoos and lotions but they JUST came out with conditioner and hair detangler. I know it sounds weird, but lots of the all-natural product lines for kids don’t do conditioners. We’ve been buying conditioner and leave-in spray from other brands, so it’s nice that now we can use one brand for all the kiddos bath needs. Plus, their new Fall limited release is “NYC themed” and is releasing TODAY!!!!! Go, run…

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    Letterfolk Boards:

    Ya’ll know my love for letter boards run deep, and Letterfolk just came out with these sweet new colors. You know I need both! You do, too.

     

     

    Gifties

     

    Maileg Dino & Little Unicorn Dino Swaddle

    Ok, I recently ordered these for a baby gift and I want to order 10 more for every baby boy I know being born in the next 5 years. The Maileg dino is the softest stuffed animal EVER- so soft I even bought one for Max. It’s like a mini down pillow, for real! Bonus points for it coming packaged in a little cardboard dino egg! Together with the dino swaddle, it’s pretty much the cutest baby gift combo ever. Plus, if it’s a girl gift you are looking for, there are so many other Maileg stuffies that I’m sure would coordinate with the more “girly” swaddle sets!

     

     

    Jellycat Bat & I Am Bat Book

    Such a cute little combo. I recently bought this as a “big brother” gift (you know how new babies get ALLLLL the attention ::cue dramatic sibling eye roll::) but it would also be so cute for all those little Fall birthdays coming up!

     

    For Mama

     

    Ect. Bins:

    You all know I went on an organization kick recently and these were my favorite purchase! It’s organized and cute on the outside, hot mess of junk on the inside. Perfecto! I’ll take one for every room, please!

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    Old Navy Cardi:

    I’m pretty much obsessed with this sweater & bought it in both the tan and the grey colors. Its so cute with those little tassels and is light enough to withstand “Texas Fall”, which is pretty much just an extension of summer but with pumpkin everything.

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    That’s it for now.

    Happy Weekend (and shopping) friends! 😉

     

  • Q Turns Six!

    Q Turns Six!

    2017-08-28_0013So Q wanted two things for her birthday party this year:

    1. A big “rainbow unicorn party” at the house
    2. Mermaids in the pool-doing tricks

    Soooo, instead I offered her option #3: A rainbow party at a local kids gym. Free of mermaids AND messy post-party house. Winning all around.

    The place was perfectly “rainbow” themed as is, so all we had to do was add some fun decor, and of course, we can’t forget themed birthday attire!

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    Q’s adorable rainbow leotard was custom made from The Leotard Shop and the gorgeous rainbow layered cake (which was pretty much the hit of the party) was from Society Bakery. I mean, it was either the cake or the mountain of candy I had laid out on the kids’ tables…not sure which one was the clear winner. You’re welcome, parents. 😉 Since Society Bakery doesn’t do fondant, I ordered this custom cake topper from Sugar Decor by Letty. It was the perfect addition to the cake! I think my favorite details of the day were the adorable sunshine paper plates and cloud napkins from Meri Meri. I just love all of their stuff so much! (They also made the party hats and goodie bags!)2017-08-28_00052017-08-28_0001

    For the main table, I made gumball filled “6” centerpieces and then decorated the tables with jars filled with all sorts of rainbow colored treats and candies. Each kid got a takeaway carton with little tags that said either “fill me up, buttercup” or “taste the rainbow”. They filled these up with the treats on the table and brought them home as favors. Again, parents- you’re welcome!2017-08-28_0007

    I also scattered rainbow colored glass jars from Hobby Lobby all over the tables and filled them with crayons. I then had coloring sheets and stickers scattered about. Once the kids hit the table, they had plenty to occupy their time and attention while they ate lunch.2017-08-28_0008

    For goodie bags, I stuffed each bag with a rainbow lollipop, a slinky, a rainbow crayon, bubbles, and my favorite favor: these adorable tins of scented play dough from ZDough. Working with Kira to create custom doughs was so much fun! We went with rainbow colors and she stamped them all with different sayings like, “Happy Birthday!”, “Thank You!”, “Q”, and “6”. Each dough came with a packet of glitter to be mixed into the dough for extra fun play and they came packed in a super cute paper sack. These favors were a HIT at the party…some of the kids even tore into them at the table before they left the party! I highly recommend these as a fun & different favor idea!!2017-08-28_00062017-08-28_0011

    Next,  I worked with the talented A Dancing Baker to create these absolutely adorable rainbow cookies. Quin just about flipped her lid when she saw that the clouds had edible glitter on them!! They were so pretty, I almost didn’t want to eat them. Almost. But good thing I caved, because holy cow…they were DELICIOUS!!2017-08-28_0012

    The party room was pretty “colorful” as is, but I ordered this awesome rainbow balloon arch and some other filler balloons from Balloons Everyday! They are in the DFW area and were so amazing to work with…they’ll be my party balloon go-to for all future party needs for sure!!2017-08-28_00102017-08-28_0004

    The kids had a blast running around the gym and Q was on cloud nine, so I think it’s safe to say that the party was a sucess…and Q didn’t even miss the performing mermaids in the end! 😉2017-08-28_0009

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    Q’s Rainbow Outfit Shop Links: Dress (last summer), Boots, Socks, Headband

    Cubby’s Yellow Leotard: Alice & Ames

    Rainbow Canvas: Home Goods

    Paper Umbrella, Letter Q, Glass conatiners, fun letterboard letters, and random decor: Hobby Lobby

    White Letterboard: Letterfolk

    Pink “Party” Balloon: Pretty Little Social

    Happy 6, my sweet Rainbow girl! Let’s take this next year nice & slow!

  • Newborn Session

    2017-08-23_0005

    So, it seemed fitting that since he is about to turn four months…

    FOUR! (HOW in the world?!)

    …that it was due time to finally post Max’s newborn photos. Don’t judge. Life is crazy, you guys. Mothers of three or more…How. Do. You. Do. It?!?!? Like, besides hiring a personal chef, full-time nanny, glam squad, and a round-the-clock housekeeper…how? Just, how? I need all the answers!

    Anyways, without further chatter …(cause I know you’re all just scrolling right past these words to the pics…don’t think I don’t see you.) here are the photos from little Man-Man’s newborn session:

    2017-08-23_0004

    Note: My poor Q came home from school not feeling so great the day of pictures, with our photographer (the amazing Leah Cook) already there. So, we just went with it. If you think she looks a little less-chipper than usual or is missing from some of the pics, that’s why. Poor babe!

    2017-08-23_00022017-08-23_00032017-08-23_00062017-08-23_0007

    Gah, look at how tiny he was! He hardly looks like the same baby. These pics make me so sad…sad that he’s already no longer considered a “newborn” and is now an infant.

    2017-08-23_00082017-08-23_00092017-08-23_00102017-08-23_00112017-08-23_00122017-08-23_00132017-08-23_00142017-08-23_00152017-08-23_0016

    Ugh. I struggled so much with these early days. I knew he was our last babe and I wanted so desperately to keep him teeny teeny tiny. But at the same time, I longed for the days when he was just a few months older, a bit less fragile and a bit less fussy. I’ve never had easy babies (not ONE!) so I guess I wasn’t too surprised to learn that Max fell into the same “difficult” category. He’s getting a little better every day, but let’s be honest, he’s still up alllllll night long wanting to snuggle and nurse. Such a Mama’s Boy! 😉

    2017-08-23_00402017-08-23_00412017-08-23_00422017-08-23_00432017-08-23_00442017-08-23_00182017-08-23_00202017-08-23_00212017-08-23_00222017-08-23_00232017-08-23_00242017-08-23_00252017-08-23_00262017-08-23_0027Watching “Mac” with his little Max has to be the sweetest thing ever. It’s funny how relationships form differently right off the bat. There’s no denying the way Ryan looks at his son…(not to be confused with the “I’m completely wrapped and twisted and tangled and super-glued around your tiny finger” look he gave to his girls!) 😉

    2017-08-23_00322017-08-23_00282017-08-23_00292017-08-23_00302017-08-23_00312017-08-23_00332017-08-23_00342017-08-23_0039Max’s room was such a labor of love- designed with a beach/surf theme for his Californian daddy. If you want to read and see more about Max’s room with clickable links check out THIS post! 😉

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    Poor, sweet Q. We all know she would’ve been hammin’ it up for the camera if she was feeling better! Such a bummer…

    2017-08-23_00452017-08-23_00462017-08-23_00482017-08-23_00522017-08-23_00492017-08-23_00532017-08-23_0050Sweetest Max, baby. We sure do love you a whole lot. You can go right ahead and stop growing now, ok? 2017-08-23_00472017-08-23_0051

    All photos by my sweet friend: the incredible Leah Cook Photography

  • Back-to-School with Boden- GIVEAWAY

    Back-to-School with Boden- GIVEAWAY

    ***UPDATE: Scroll to the bottom to see the WINNER of the BODEN GIVEAWAY!!!)***


    I’m pretty much in denial about the fact that

    A., #1: My baby turns SIX in a few days and

    B.,#2: She’s off to kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN, you guys.

    And not like Pre-K or TK, or Early K, or day camp…or whatever else I pretended it was last year. I’m talking REAL kinder. Like, at an elementary school! Her day will start at the time I was just waking her up for breakfast last year. And guys, get ready cause I’m about to drop a bomb on you…she has a UNIFORM! I know, I’m dying. Dying over the cuteness of the tiny plaid rompers and saddle shoes but also dying over the fact that I need to purchase moth balls and lay to rest her extensive collection of apple smocked dresses. Say it ain’t so!!!!


    The good news is, there’s always the weekend and play dates and after-school for me to dress her up to my heart’s content. And let’s be honest, my years of dressing her head-to-toe are dwindling before my very eyes! Luckily, there are super cute places to shop where I can give her free reign and know that everything will mix and match perfectly- like one of my favs, Mini Boden.

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    This year, to prep for “Back-to-School” the girls got to pick brand new jammies and slippers. Cubby prefers to go pantless at bedtime. And really, can we blame her? To prep for the first day, we’ll be reading ALL the “night before” books and making a big deal about packing a special lunch (that bento box is my nemesis). In the morning I’ll make them a big special breakfast as I funnel coffee down my gullet and the whole family will walk her into school and take a million pictures (obvi.) and then we’ll come home and watch the sun rise. Ok, kidding. Maybe it’s not THAT early…but. No, it really is that freakin early. Wah!!

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    I know this year is going to be filled with so much goodness and cuteness and new friends and new experiences but I just can’t help but think that this is the beginning of that period of life that just flies by. Like, I’m going to blink and she’ll be going off to college. And damn-straight I’ll still be buying her special pjs and furry slippers as I pack her up and ship her off…

    For now, I’ll just enjoy the fact that she still loves to cuddle and doesn’t complain that my pancakes taste like charcoal. Stay little, my loves!!!

    2017-08-05_00092017-08-05_0010

    Q’s nightie | Cubby’s pjs | Cubby’s undies | slippers

    OK, Now for the big GIVEAWAY:

    I’ve teamed up with 6 other bloggers to give away a $1,000 Boden shopping spree! YES, $1,000!!!! Enter using the Rafflecopter link below. Also, be sure to visit their posts for more Back to School styles, tips and fun ideas. Here’s where to visit: The Chirping Moms, Hello Erin, Seven Graces, Sweet Southern Prep, Girl in the Red Shoes and Being Brickner. You’ll love the outfits and fun photos they’ve all come up with! Plus, they’re just pretty awesome. 🙂

    Good luck and we can’t wait to announce the winner of the $1,000 Boden giveaway!

    Click Here:

    a Rafflecopter Giveaway

    *****UPDATE: The WINNER is Meghan of @charlie.and.co!!! Congrats Meghan! Enjoy your back yo school shopping spree!!*****



    For your pinning pleasure:

    BTSMiniBoden

  • Virgin Gorda

    *Scroll to the bottom for a 2019 post update!*


    June 2017:

    Well, friends- we’re back! Crazy to think that after all that planning and packing and prepping…the trip is already over. BUT- I will tell you, it was worth every second and every penny! Virgin Gorda *might* be my new favorite Caribbean destination!I received so many questions via Instagram while we were away and with data roaming charges being so high and the internet connection being less than stellar, I figured I’d answer some of them here!

    First off:

    Q & A’s clothes & bathing suits: I almost ALWAYS tag the shops their outfits are from. Just tap the picture on instagram to see the shop names (I know this seems kind of obvious, but I still get lots of  “Where is that dress from?” type questions over in Insta-land. So, yeah click the picture for shop names.) If it’s NOT tagged its most likely an old piece or something that is no longer available. OR my shopaholic brain simply forgot where I got it! 😉


    (Ex: These blue rompers got lots of questions and I didn’t tag them because they were purchased at Old Navy last summer- or even the summer before, maybe! I loved it when I bought it and went back and got one in every size- thus the reason Q & A both fit into one this summer! Yaaaay for being a shopaholic!)


    Travel Items: Ok, so I definitely over-packed for this trip (See Travel Tips post!) and I wanted to share a quick list of things I did NOT use while on vaca, things I definitely NEEDED and things I totally forgot to bring!

    Did NOT use:

    • The MiFold carseat boosters. Most travel in the Caribbean is done by way of boat or open air taxis so these seats stayed in the luggage the whole time. Boo!
    • Polaroid Camera. The charger got lost early on, the battery kept dying on us, and honestly Q just had no interest. Waste of luggage space.
    • So many outfits! We had a chef come in & we ate at the house a bunch on this trip, so the girls went from bathing suits & coverups straight into pjs most nights. I think we went out to dinner twice. So basically aside from travel clothes, I used TWO outfits for the girls. T-W-O. I will not even tell you how many I actually brought!
    • So many SHOES! I bought the girls THESE slip on sandals by Igor and they wore them every single day. On the two nights they dressed up to go out to restaurants they wore their brown salt water sandals. I literally only needed two pairs of shoes for them. Same for me. I needed flip flops. The end.
    • All those airplane toys. I’m on the fence with this one because the girls mostly watched their ipads on the plane BUT they did play with their toys during down time at the house. So I guess they did come in handy.
    • The Monkey Mat. The kids played IN the sand and Max, wellll- never let me put him down. Never needed it or opened it once!
    • Water shoes for the girls. We brought them for The Baths but the shoes were actually slippery on the rocks and it was easier/safer to go barefoot!

    Definitely USED:

    • snorkel masks
    • life jackets
    • alllll that food!
    • lots of bathing suit options…and lots of rashguards!
    • alllll that sunscreen
    • 6 packages of wipes! Thought I was over-packing here but, nope!
    • Boppy- for feeding, naps, airplane ride, etc. Used this every single day.
    • Breast pump, lots of breast milk storage baggies, and a small insulated cooler and freezer packs for toting that milk to dinners and on our travel days!
    • Extra bottles! We use glass and one shattered upon arrival…thank God for extras!
    • First Aid kit: children’s tylenol and thermometer were needed and definitely USED!
    • That Aqua Heat travel bottle warmer. That this is Pure GOLD, I tell you!
    • The mosquito net for baby boy. We put this over his rock n’ play every night and every time he was outside!
    • Mesh baby carrier! This thing was awesome for carrying Max out in the sun & water
    • Giant hat for myself. This served as protection for me as well as a tiny umbrella for Max while I was carrying him in the sun!

    NEEDED but forgot:

    • More diapers- we brought 50 diapers and were running very low towards the end of the 8 day trip. Ohhhh newborn life.
    • Beach toys. We thought there would be a basket of sand toys left behind from the previous house guests (usually the case) but there was not. totally should’ve brought a small package of sand toys.
    • Meds- I always pack a first aid kit but I cleaned out some expired meds before the trip and totally forgot to replace them. Luckily I had children’s Tylenol (needed for when Q & A got tummy bug fevers) but I forgot and NEEDED children’s Benedryl and also saline spray and squeeze bulb for baby boy’s congested nose!

    Next up, the trip itself! Here are the details, as promised!

    Location: Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

    House: Villa Aquamare, via a vacation club we are members of.Virgin Gorda was GORGEOUS and the house was equally as stunning. The staff was superb and all around the experience was a five-star one. Not sure how any other house or beach trip is going to compare to this one! Do me a favor, if you ever go…please hire Chef Mimi to come cook for you…and request her Key Lime pie for dessert. (I don’t even like key lime pie!) Trust Me!

    Tourist Spots:

    On Virgin Gorda-

    • Hog Heaven-BBQ joint. This place is located at the top of the island and the view alone is worth the trek. We stopped here for a drink and a snack (french fries) before heading out to lunch. So I can’t speak much of the actual food, but it’s a total tourist dive spot. Aka: showing up in a bathing suit and cover up is totally acceptable!
    • CocoMaya- Asian Fusion. Gorgeous restaurant, beautiful scenery and yummy food! The girls loved the “back yard” (beach with corn hole, giant jenga, and fire pit) they could play on while we waited for food at our table.
    • Saba Rock. Tiny little rock island off the coast of Virgin Gorda. Good food, cute gift shop, and you can walk the whole island in about 10 minutes. Only negative- no walk-in beach access, since the island is basically a big rock. (Water taxi to get there)
    • The Bitter End Resort. Kind of dated, cute shops, good if you’re looking for some fun water sports. (Can get there by land taxi or boat)
    • Chez Bamboo– a local restaurant. We ordered take-out from here one night and were very underwhelmed by the food. I’d maybe skip it.
    • Rock Cafe– italian restaurant. Cute place, piano bar inside, we ate outside among boulders (thus the name). Food was just ok, but the atmosphere was pretty cool!
    • The Baths! This place was phenomenal! Probably wouldn’t recommend doing it with a baby… but it was worth all the “You guys are crazy” looks we got from everyone! The girls had SO much fun climbing through all the rocks and tunnels and the water and views were just beautiful. Plus, I’m convinced we spotted the Goonies…Sailing Around the BVIs-
    • We did two boat days with our favorite boat captain, Dana Paradise on the Take it Easy 2. We sailed all over the BVIs, stopping to snorkle at The Caves, The Indians and several other hot spots. We hit up Norman Island to eat at Pirate’s Bight, Saba Rock, and Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke. Boat days are kind of our favorite…and not just because of the rum punch! 😉
    • Side Note: On our first day at sea, one of the boat crew heard the girls talking about their love for Moana. The second day we chartered the boat, she went out into the caves she knew we’d be snorkeling in and planted a special gift for the girls to find. When the girls went out snorkeling in the caves they found plastic bags with their names on them. Inside was a note “from Moana” along with handmade  island skirts and flowers for their hair. The girls were completely awe-struck and wore their custom made outfits from Moana for the rest of the day. THAT, my friends, is called quality crew! Miss Alicia, if you ever read this…YOU are the bestest ever! Thank you for making my girls’ day!!!

    Any questions, send them my way!

    Seriously…best trip ever!

    Next up in our summer adventures…New Jersey!

    In the meantime…extra vacation pics: ( Cause there’s always plenty of those! 😜) 

     

    2019 Recap

    So we just got back from what might easily be my favorite Caribbean destination!

    Here are a few updates and answers to some of your questions!

    How we Got there:

    This time around we flew from Dallas>Miami (stayed at The 1 Hotel South Beach for 3 days). We then flew to St. Thomas & chartered a water taxi (there is also a ferry) over to Virgin Gorda. It’s definitely a looong day of travel. Last time we flew Dallas>Puerto Rico>Beef Island and then boated over to Virgin Gorda, which is a shorter boat ride but Beef is a much more expensive airport to fly into. We all agreed, in terms of time and cost, that the way we did it THIS year was more practical.

    What We Packed:

    Aside from the normal stuff, we also packed a cardboard box full of “disposable” (meaning it won’t be coming home with us) items, such as diapers, wipes, some snacks for the kids, a few floats/tubes, some cheap water toys, extra sunscreen, etc. We check the box as luggage (Ryan gets to check bags for free since he travels so much for work). If you don’t want to pay for an extra piece of luggage, check with your destination to see if you can ship your “box of disposable goods” to the location and have them hold it for you until you arrive. A note of warning- ship it FAR in advance…mail to the islands is sloooow! Our rationale behind the box, as opposed to just packing another suitcase, is that we use up the contents of the box while on vacation, and then don’t have a big empty suitcase to cart back home with us. We’ve been doing this for years now!

    Where We Stayed:

    We stayed at the same home- Villa Aquamare (It’s one of the locations available through our vacation club, so we book it by using “days” of our membership- it sort of works like a time share). I believe you can rent for cost it without being a member, but at the price, I’d probably recommend looking into some of the cool AirBnB locations on the island!

     

    Where We Ate:

    We visited some of our favorite restaurants on the island mentioned above like Hog Heaven & CocoMaya but also tried out a new spot called Sugar Cane which had amazing food & atmosphere. We were going to try a brand new place called Nova over on Oil Nut Bay, but we got tired that day and decided to order in from Hog Heaven (again!) instead. The other nights we had our “BFF” from last time, Chef Mimi come & cook for us! There’s nothing  quite like showering after a day in the sun and eating a fancy dinner in your pjs!

     

    What We Did:

    -Necker Island: Through our vacation club we were able to book something called an Eco Tour over on the private island. We thought we’d get to see some of the endangered species Richard Branson keeps on the island, get a tour of the property, and then be able to relax on the beach for a bit. We were WRONG! It was a four hour tour of the property- which, don’t get me wrong, was cool to see, BUT…we were not dressed appropriately, not mentally prepared for such a long day, not offered a single thing besides a water bottle, and had FOUR little kiddos in tow! It was a bit of a tease if you ask me. We were made to feel (by our tour guide) like we should be eternally grateful for being allowed to step foot on the island. Listen, Richard Branson has built a pretty freaking spectacular island for himself…but we were all ready to get back to Virgin Gorda where we were allowed to eat, drink, and relax on the beach! It was definitely a “one and done” experience. If you’ve seen the MTV cribs episode, save yourself the trouble (and the four hour “don’t touch anything” tour!)

    -Boat Days are our FAVORITE days so we booked two this year. The companies we used were Virgin Charter YachtsOcean Bliss Charters . Since our group is expanding, we find that catamarans are the way to go for us! A few of the places we visited in 2017 were unfortunately destroyed in the recent storms (but are being rebuilt, don’t worry!!) so we had to skip Saba Rock and The Bitter End Resort this year but we hit up: snorkling at The Caves & The IndiansNorman Island to eat at Pirate’s Bight, and of course, our favorite (and currently rebuilt after the storms:) Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke. We also checked out a new island this year called Cooper Island. It had a great little beach bar/restaurant and the cutest tables in the ocean to hold your drinks for you! My kind of place! 😉

    -The Baths: The Baths of Virgin Gorda might be one of my very favorite places ever!! If you’ve never been, here are a few tips:
    1. Check with locals about Cruise Ship days. Avoid those days- it’s way too packed! Unless of course, you’re on the cruise ship- then, have at it!

    2. Fun Fact: it’s a national park so it’s technically always “open”. We go VERY early to avoid crowds.

    3. Going early means you skip the admission both which opens around 8:30 (I think it’s $5-10 per person) but you most likely won’t have access to the bar/snack hut (which opens around 10-ish…island time 😉) But we like to go early and then stay and swim/hang out on the beach for the whole morning/early afternoon anyways so we get the best of both worlds!

    4. Bring your own water & towels and find a nook outside the caves to leave them while you explore. Wear a fanny pack or backpack with your valuables. You will want to be hands FREE inside the caves.

    5. We found that water shoes made it the rocks feel more slippery, and we all opted for bare feet instead.

    6. Wear a bathing suit or something you don’t mind getting wet!

    7. There is a gift shop & a good restaurant at the top of the park- it’s a great place to hit up on your way out!

    8. If you find the “secret rock” to jump off of into the ocean, leave a comment below for a virtual high five!

    *The girls suits they were wearing in the Bath pics were from MIKOH

     

    Important:

    Virgin Gorda is in the Britsh Virgin Islands (BVIs) so plan travel documents accordingly. We all needed passports- babies too!! It isn’t a bad idea to travel with a bunch of extra pens as well, since you will need to fill out customs forms, etc. along the way and those places always seem short on pens!

    I think that’s about it! I’m already counting down the days until we go back again! Virgin Gorda truly is magical! If I missed anything feel free to leave a question in the comments below!

    LoveJordan