Jordan & Co

Category: shop

  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017

    {Scroll to the bottom for a big SALE items that you have been asking me about… AND some fun blog shares!}

    So I mentioned not wanting to buy a lot of toys this Christmas. Howeverrrrr, call me a softie,  but I still want Christmas morning to be exciting for the girls, with presents to open. (Fine- I’m a glutton for punishment…and for spoiling my kids on holidays!)

    With that being said,we are making an effort to GIVE more this year and I’m also trying very hard to suppress my shopaholic tendencies and buy the kids items for Christmas that:

    A. They actually need

    B. They will actually get good use out of.

    You know what that means? Less of those giant space sucking toys that light up and cry and sing and pee and bark and god only knows what else, that the kids play with for approx three seconds and then get buried in the abyss of “toys never played with”. Yeah, those. I will probably cave and get them each one thing that they really WANT (that I cringe over) but that will not be the majority of the toys under the tree, like in years past. I cleaned out out the playroom pretty seriously recently and only left the girls with 5 “toy” categories:

    1. Blocks/Legos
    2. Barbies
    3. Dolls/Doll accessories
    4. Kitchen Set
    5. Dress Up/Pretend

    These are the things they play with the most, so I basically got rid of everything else. I guess I don’t include books, games, or art in those categories, but I’ve made a drastic change in the items we buy for THOSE categories as well. Only classics games are allowed…no more “Trolls Chutes and Ladders” or “Princess Candy Land”. Nope, it’s classics or bust. I make exceptions for card games and other newer QUALITY games I come across (most are educational).

    Quality is our theme this year; items that will be cherished, will last, and items that already have a need and/or a place they can fit into in our house. There is no space left to create “new homes” for more STUFF!

    So, here you go…some of the quality items I’ll be getting the kids this Christmas!

    (Note: These are ideas and wish lists. The kids will not be getting ALL of this stuff!)

    big gifts
    I like doing one big themed gift for the girls this year. This year its a new bike for Cub and some gymnastics equipment for Q. They are both going to be so surprised and excited!

    1.Public Bike | 2. Rainbow Streamers (I got this cuuuute idea from my friend Lee’s Gift Giving Guide. Her site Do Say Give has SUCH great ideas. Definitely check it out!)| 3. Bike Bell | 4. Helmet |5. Basket | 6. Handstand Practice Mat (goes on the back of the door and then folds out to be a cartwheel mat as well! | 7. Gymnastics Mat | 8. New Leo from Remie Girl | 9. Balance Beam (in case you are wondering, gymnastics equipment will live in the walk-in attic that opens directly from the playroom…perfect placement and storage option!)

    cooperative play
    I like any toys that encourage DOING, especially the DOING of something TOGETHER. These are great items that will encourage your kids (and you!) to spend time together learning and playing!

    1.Julia Child Book (to go with the cooking equipment theme) | 2. Family Scavenger Hunt (how fun?!) | 3.Cooking Kit (my girls LOVE helping in the kitchen!) | 4. Children’s Cook Book | 5. Moulin Roty – Another sweet cooking kit option | 6. Kid’s apron | 7. All Natural Spa Day (how fun to save for a sleepover?) | 8. Time Capsule (I’m excited for this one!) | 9. School Time |10. Fort Building Kit

    educational
    It’s no surprise that as a former teacher, educational gifts rank high on my list. These are a few I love!

    1.Rhyming Sound Sort (I did an IG story on this game, once!)| 2. Me: A Compendium (like an “all about me/baby” book but for older kids!) | 3. City Atlas (a gorgeous giant book- thought it’s be fun to have for all our travels!) |3. (The second number three, since I put it up there twice and was too lazy to fix it -haha!) The First Big Book of Why | 4. And Then, Story Starter Cards | 5. Allowance Game (like Monopoly for littles!) | 6. Domino Set (Q learned to play this summer with her Aunt Britt-Britt so I told Britt these would be a great idea to get for her! | 7. Smarty Blocks (looks like such a fun game that both girls can play!)

    quality toys
    Actual “Toys” that the girls want and that I don’t hate!

    1.Spirit horse and girl figurines (Did you watch the movie Spirit? They now have a show on Netflix and the girls LOVE it!) | 2. Melissa and Doug Horse Mat | 3. Hearth and Hand Dollhouse (I thought Cub would love this in her room since Q has a little Pottery Barn one in hers.) | 4. Q is obsessed with her American Girl Bitty Baby, named Autumn so she wants some cute AG Accessories and | 5. I found an Etsy shop that makes the cutest handmade doll clothes! | 6. Pottery Barn Lock Box (they are obsessed with “hiding and storing their treasures” lately. And, it’s personalized! | 7. Little Cosmetics (fake makeup!) | 8. Rainbow pillow (bc, rainbows!)| 9. New craft box (we get a new one every year- they use it every day!) | 10. New clothes for Cub’s Hazel Village doll | 11. Wooden Wagon Dollhouse (we keep our collection of wooden blocks/toys in a basket downstairs so I thought this would be an adorable addition. This one is sold out, but I linked a similar one! | 12. Some furniture and dollhouse people

    electronics
    We are always looking for great quality toys for travel/restaurants

    1.Roll up piano (obviously not for restaurants but cool for the girls to bring to their rooms/playrooms when they “perform shows”, etc.) | 2. Tiggly (a great educational game/app for Cubby’s ipad | 3. Build a Cupcake magnet game | 4. Joke Books |5. Pink Etch-a-sketch | 6. Lego on-the-go case | 7. Osmo (a great educational game/app for Q’s ipad!)

    Babytoys
    Some things for Baby Max this year!

    1.wooden cars | 2. Gathre Car Mat | 3. Shape Puzzle | 4. Tool Work Bench (I know Max is too young for this but I HAD to get it from the Hearth & Hand Collection before it was gone…and I’m sure the girls will play with it in the meantime!) | 5. Skiphop Play house book | 6.Cactus rattle | 7. June and January pom beanie hat

     

    stocking stuffers
    Some fun ideas for the girls stockings

    1.iRig microphone | 2. Rainbow Maker | 3. Magnetic Slime | 4. Kid friendly nail polish | 5. Whatchamadrawit card game | 6. Flashlight projector | 7. Rubix Cube

     

    Other
    Some other ideas that we aren’t getting this year but thought these were great gifts!

    1.Push car | 2. Magnetic alphabet practice | 3. Slime Making Kit | 4. Solve the Mystery Books | 5. Rainbow Blocks | 6. Cutest little poodle plush | 7. Crayon “Rocks” | 8. Science Myths Kit | 9. Instrument Set | 10. Wooden Marble Run

     

     

     

    AND A FEW FUN EXTRAS:

     

    Jump Rope Rhymes Book | Double Dutch Jump Rope

     

    cam
    My girls LOVE these!

    polaroid camera

     

    art
    nothing better than new crayons!

    Art Set

    blanket
    all three of my kids have one! Coziest ever!

    personalized blanket from Highway3

     

    ramp-racer-c
    So adorable…and I love the wood!

    Car and Ramp Set

    walker
    for when Max learns to walk (waaah!)

    cutest walker from Hape

    doll-carrying-backpack-c
    Because Q’s “Baby Autumn” must come with us everywhere!

    Doll Carrying Backpack

    abigail-jewelry-box-collection-gray-o
    Q loves hers and I think it’s time Cub gets her own! We personalize the lid with the girls’ names!

    jewelry box

     

    NEW Additions to the Gift Guide and on SUPER SALE!!!

     

    SB2
    Bought these for the girls’ “tent sleepovers” in the playroom! BONUS: they are originally $189 and are on a ONE day sale today 11/28/17 for $89!!!!

    White Fur Sleeping Bag

    tent
    Super Similar to our “out of stock” tent from Land of Nod. This one is from Anthro and I might like it better than our own!! (unfortunately, not on sale…)

     

    Tent

     

    playhouse
    from my playroom tour, we used this over the closet/playhouse door! 20% OFF Sale!  PROMO CODE: SAVE 20 (today only 11/28/17)

    Land of Nod Play House Door

     

    treehouse-play-set
    From our piano room. Cub loves this and I can’t wait to pass it on to Max! 20% OFF Sale!  PROMO CODE: SAVE 20 (today only 11/28/17)

    Tree House Set

     

    the-smore-the-merrier-campfire-set
    From our playroom tour: we have this in our “Christmas tent”!  20% OFF Sale!  PROMO CODE: SAVE 20 (today only 11/28/17)

    Plush Camp Fire

     

    Spreading the LOVE:

    Since my gift guide is mainly for my own kids, and therefore isn’t all-encompassing, I’m sharing a few other Mama Blogger’s Guides with you! For some more Christmas Gift Guides, check out these fabulous ladies linked below! There are six of us and between us all, we have a total of 13 kids, ages 3 months to 7 years… so I’m sure there’s something for everyone!

    Check them out:

    Hello Tiny Love |Steph Pollock |The Love Designed Life |

    Occasionally Perfect Style |Cultivate Motherhood

     

     

    LoveJordan

  • 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.

    FoodChartbyFood

    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.

    avanchy

    *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

     

    2017-10-01_00072017-10-01_0008

    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!!

    2017-09-16_0005

    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.

    panda-1

    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… 😉

    snack-saver-pedal-power

    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.

    PRD-KPZCA393-GLT

    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! ;))

    sailorwhite-product_large

    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!

    10068959FabricBucketEtc_1200

    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.

    cn13593896

    That’s it for now.

    Happy Weekend (and shopping) friends! 😉

     

  • 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!!!

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    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 Yachts &  Ocean 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 Indians,  Norman 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

  • Tips for a Beach Vacation

    Tips for a Beach Vacation

    IMG_9591.JPG

    Brave.

    Crazy.

    Insane.

    These are all things I’ve been called after telling people that we are headed to Virgin Gorda next week with our three children- yes, newborn included. I guess they’re all probably pretty true, but here’s the thing: This isn’t our first rodeo! Ryan and I have always loved traveling and after having Q, we took the 8 hour flight over to Hawaii when she was only two months old and we never looked back. We figured out the best and worst ways to travel with a baby (some major bumps and “learning experiences” along the way)! Fast forward a few years to Cubby being born and we were cruising around the Caribbean with another 2 month old in tow. So yeah, we might be totally crazy- but we’re doing it again.  Why? Because we feel like we kind of have this “traveling with kids” thing down pat by now, but mostly because mama needs to have her toes in the water, ass in the sand….and a cold rum punch in her hand! 😉

    Anyways, I’ve been sharing some of my packing over on my Instagram stories and I’ve gotten lots of requests for more info so I figured I’d share a little bit about how we travel with the kiddos, and the products that make it a little bit easier!

    1.  Lists and Schedule: I’m an OCD nut so when we plan a trip the first thing Ryan and I do is sit down and write out a loose day-by-day itinerary. Sure, plans change once we are there, but knowing vaguely what we’ll be doing each day helps me with packing. Then I make a list, and then a list of my list and then a master list of all my lists. 😉 (Lists are your friend.) I make a page for each family member, Ryan excluded (cause he’s a big boy and can pack for himself) and I write down everything I need to pack for that person- even the most obvious things like “underwear” and “toothbrush” make the list, because you KNOW those are the things that always get forgotten!
    2. Pack in advance: Life is pretty damn crazy with three kids, I’m not going to lie. I get little pockets of “free” time each day when I can actually get things done before getting interrupted. So I start shopping/packing weeks in advance. I take out each family member’s suitcase and lay it in the hallway with their list on top. As I do laundry or shop or see an item I know we won’t be needing to use before the trip, I lay it in the suitcase. Then when the time comes to actually pack, most of what I need is already there, and I can use the list to quickly figure out what still needs to be packed. Packing in advance is key!! I’ve had so many people message me about the packing cubes I use to pack for the kids, so I’ve linked them HERE. They really are game-changers!!!

    packing cubes

    1. Planning Outfits: So I’m a bit of a nut with dressing the kids. As in, I enjoy it and I like them to coordinate and look put together (most of the time). The only way this is possible for me is if I literally lay out every outfit- bow to shoes. Once I lay out coordinating outfits and suits, I stack them up together (meaning both of the girls’ “Monday” outfits are in a pile together) Since Max is so young and will mostly be wearing onesies and pjs, he’s excluded from the daily outfit piles…for now! 😉 This helps SO much when we are there and the kids are sandy or dripping water everywhere from the bath, and the baby needs to be fed and we are late for dinner reservations- I can literally hand Ryan the “Monday” pile and he can get the kids ready without them winding up wearing two left shoes (which, let’s be honest- is Cubby’s favorite thing to do!)IMG_4369
    2. Plane Entertainment: We reserve ipad time for special occasions so that once on the plane, the kids are actually excited to use them. Before we travel, Ryan let’s the girls pick out a few new movies/tv shows/apps to download onto their ipads. They get really excited about this! Then I let each girl have a backpack. Here are some packs we love!  These are from Herschel and I LOVE them, except they were a bit too small for this trip. I linked them here: Herschel Survey Packsimage3Since this is a longer trip, I grabbed these bigger packs from Pottery Barn Kids. They were on sale for $12…TWELVE!! I don’t believe they are on sale anymore but I linked them HERE for you just in case you want to keep you eye out! Since they were “the same” I let the girls pick out their own key chains to individualize them- they like to feel special like that. Aside from being cute and cheap- these backpacks are the perfect size and have cupholder slots on the sides for the girls water bottles (aka one less thing I have to carry!)image2
      I keep a cabinet in the house that I stock with small toys, books, magnet tin games, etc. that are specifically for travel/restaurant use. Target dollar section is my best friend for this! I let the girls “shop” the closet and decide what they want to pack in their bags. They LOVE doing this and again, it keeps them excited to play once they board the plane. Here’s a peek at some of the things the girls chose for their bags: ipad (obvi!), kleen kanteen water bottle (our fav brand), a school workbook for Q, sticker/coloring books, “Grab & Go” coloring Play Packs (Thanks Target Dollar Section!), Some marshmallow clay (this stuff is awesome), a plain notebook & fresh crayons (always a kiddo favorite!), a small pouch of figurines (Cubby especially loves to play figurines! Q packed some shopkins & Cub packed My Little Ponies), a mini Buddha Board (check this out- you paint with water & it dries and erases!), wiki sticks  (so awesome for travel!) and of course, some of the dreaded “surprise packs” (LOL Dolls anyone?!).  Most of these toys have passed the test of time- meaning they keep the girls occupied for longer than 30 seconds. Anything they get easily board with, doesn’t make the cut!image1
    3. Secret Weapons: Aside from their “quiet bags”, as we call them, here are the secret weapons for traveling with kids: snack, snack, and SNACKS. Seriously, imagine that you are going to be stranded on a deserted island for a month and then pack that much food for your several hour plane ride- trust me. I pack lots of different snacks in small amounts because it’s all about the novelty of “trying a new snack”…with my kids at least. I love using THESE plastic organizers to fill will all different small sized snacks: granola, almonds, m&ms, fruit snacks, goldfish, etc. And don’t forget lollipops or something chewy to help pop those ears during descent!  I also ALWAYS pack a giant gallon sized ziplock (or five) to use as my “trash bag” during the flight. It makes keeping our row not look like a stage-5 disaster zone a little easier.
    4. Travel Clothes: We usually fly super early in the morning so the key to getting out the door is dressing the kids in their travel clothes the night before. Crazy, you say? Not with Plain Jane Play Gowns! These adorable and cozy dresses function as a nightgown BUT are cute enough to pass for a dress! I put these on the girls the night before and lay out a pair of sandals and a jean jacket or cardigan to throw on in the morning. Then I pack an outfit in one of the zip pouches from my packing cube set above that into my carry on. At some point during the flight I get the girls changed into their real clothes and do their hair. Sounds like a lot of work, but in all reality- it kills a good 15 -20 minutes of flight time! 🙂 If you have little girls and you don’t know about Plain Jane…do me a favor and click that link right there!!! IMG_4792
    5. Sunscreen: I linked a few of my favorite organic/mineral based sunscreen brands to use on the kids. I’ve used them all and find these brands are the cleanest (chemically speaking), the easiest to use, and work the best. Babo Botanicals, Babyganics, Blue Lizard, Alba  All of these brands have  a spray option (besides Blue Lizard) and I know we are supposed to “stay away from the spray cans”, but let’s be honest- practicality trumps all when dealing with wet, sandy kiddos! What I usually do is apply a thick coat of a lotion sunscreen in the morning and once again mid-day, then I use the spray can for all the in-between coverage! 😉
    6. Items for the Trip:  I’ve been known to ship an item or two to our location in advance…especially when we have a teeny tiny baby. This time, since we are staying at a house, I went ahead and shipped a rock n’ play. It’s Max’s current favorite sleeping apparatus & the pack n’ play they had available just wasn’t going to cut it since it’s not what he’s used to. Plus, I figured the rock n’ play is so light and easy to carry, we can easily cart it down to the beach and then back up the house for naps/bedtime every day! Amazon Prime is my BFF, people. Here are some other items we are bringing. (Sidebar: Most of the time we like to pack any “extra items” (that we know won’t be coming home with us) in a box- this way we aren’t traveling home with extra EMPTY luggage- cause that’s just annoying.

    Monkey Mat

    I haven’t used it yet- but look how small it is?! I think it’ll be a perfect beach mat!

    monkeymat1

    Kids Snorkel Masks

    Ok, if you do beach trips and like to snorkel these are a MUST!!!

    The girls absolutely LOVE these!

    snorkel mask

    MiFold Travel Booster Seats

    Again, I haven’t used these yet but since we are going to be in the Caribbean and our “car time” will be limited, I thought these would be perfect for the girls in a pinch. Look how tiny they are!! (Although I have to say- they are pretty heavy!)

    mifold

    Netting and Foam Fan for Baby

    Mosquitos, Zika, Heat…you know.

    Mesh waterproof baby carrier

    Max insists upon being carried at all times so  although I love my Solly Baby, I thought this one would be much better suited for a beach trip!

    carrier

    Cute floaties: Flamingo float, arm floaties

    Because, hello photo opps!

    Aqua Heat

    The only travel bottle warmer I found that didn’t require you to boil water on a stove first or be plugged in for it to work. This one has a warming packet that you add to the water in the base cup. It heats the water and the stainless steel bottle that goes into it. Takes up to 2 minutes to warm the bottle. I am breastfeeding but I’m still not fully comfortable breastfeeding in public (or when sitting next to a stranger) and sometimes when Max is really sleepy he does better with the bottle anyways. So we will be bringing a few packs of breastmilk in a little cooler bag and this warmer will be perfect for on the plane/ on the go! But here’s a little warning: there are “hot” packets which will boil the water and “warm” packets- make sure if you get this for bottles that you ONLY use the “warm” pouches!

    warmer

    Yeti Rambler Bottle

    Two Words: Rum. Punch.

    yeti

    Polaroid Camera

    For my little budding photographer. But really, we all have fun snapping polaroids when we are away. I bought some cute little polaroid albums and Q loves collecting all of our snaps. 🙂

    camera

    That’s about it, I think! What’d I forget? Let me know and I’ll add it!

    Now, all that’s left after alllllll that hard work and planning is to sit back in the sun and enjoy a frosty beverage uninterrupted.

    Bahahah! Well, a girl can dream…

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    Happy Travels, friends! xo

  • My 20 Newborn Essentials

    I can’t even believe I’m sitting here typing this…with sweet Baby Max right next to me! I’m still in complete shock that he is actually here and that my list-making and planning  for his arrival are now over. Of course, with his birth comes a whole new set of lists and must-haves- that’s right: Newborn Essentials!

    Now that I’ve had two weeks to adjust to having a newborn back in the house, I thought I’d share the MOST important items that have made the transition easier and let’s be honest- have kept me from losing my sanity!

    1. Hospital List: I know this isn’t technically a “newborn” item but, I have to say, my OCD planning wound up coming in very handy, when, two weeks before my due date, my water broke unexpectedly late at night. It was a mad rush to get to the hospital and I was SO glad that my bags were basically packed and that my list was laying on top of my bag so I could see which “last minute” items needed to be thrown in. I highly suggest doing this…”just in case”. If you’re interested in my list, just click the link above!
    2. Care Baskets: Again, I was SO appreciative of my OCD planning when I got home from the hospital and had newborn care baskets planted all over the house and I was even more excited about my postpartum bathroom care basket that was waiting for me. My hospital was kind of stingy with postpartum care products so I honestly could not wait to get home & get my hands on the products I had waiting for me! I’ve linked both baskets here: Newborn Care, Postpartum Care.  (for postpartum basket- click link & scroll to bottom of post.)
    3. Car seat: This Cybex Cloud Q car seat is AMAZING!! My absolute favorite feature is that it reclines flat when taken out of the car. Max has fallen asleep every time we’ve taken a car ride and taking the car seat out when we get home and reclining it flat has let him continue his (very precious) naps, uninterrupted. manhattan-grey
    4. This carseat swaddle from Hooray Littles has also been a lifesaver. Max loves to be swaddled and this allows me to swaddle him safely in the car seat without having to lift or unbuckle him! web_MG_1998_large
    5. Multi-Use Covers: perfect for breast-feeding & car seat covering. I LOVE mine from Copper Pearl, not only because they are adorable, but because they cover sweet Max from the tiny germ-breeding humans who want nothing more than to touch and smother your baby with their sticky little fingers. Yes, I’m talking about siblings and other toddler and school-aged children. Get several of these so you have one handy when the others are in the wash…it’s basically a cloth germ-shield for your baby! 😉IMG_9749_grande
    6. Swaddle Blankets: We use baby blankets around here for just about everything: swaddles, burp cloths, breast-feeding covers, dish towels… you name it! Ok, so maybe not the last one, but we seriously cannot get enough blankets and my absolute FAVORITE brands have been Copper Pearl and Max+Moose. They are so big and stretchy and make little Max snug as a bug. They are seriously SO good! blue_draped_grande
    7. Foam Fan: Summer is here (well, in Texas at least) and you will want one of these suckers to clip onto strollers and car seats when you are out and about! 719q-7HSGmL._SX522_
    8. Carriers: I’ve been “wearing” Max way more than I ever did with the girls. Probably because we are on-the-go and out-and-about so much more with 3 kiddos (Q had a school function I had to be at FOUR days after Max was born!!!)  I like having him up high, close to me, and all covered up. It really prevents a lot of the touching and requests from others to hold him. Plus, it’s basically like skin-to-skin and Max is so much more content when I wear him than he is just sitting in his car seat- which means I can get SO much more done, whether at the house, or out at a store or school event.  I’m LOVING my Solly Baby wrap and my awesome Lalabu shirt! Sky_06_largea-Lalabu-Soothe-Shirt-Black-Natural-Mom-2_700x
    9. Binkies and Clips: If you are using pacifiers, clips are a must. I can’t tell you how many time we lost or dropped binkies in the past…and those suckers are bouncy! I’ve been using my binky clip from NomiLu almost daily- and I love how I can just clip it right onto my wrap when I’m wearing him, too! il_570xN.857902280_2pqa
    10. Vibrating Mat: So my father-in-law saw this Tranquilo Vibrating Mat on Shark Tank and bought us one. I have to say- it fits in our bassinet perfectly and calms Max down almost instantly. This was a total score!tranquilo-619x375
    11. Changing Mats: These Gathre mats are amazing. I’ve got one stashed in every room of the house (in the newborn baskets!) and in my diaper bag. They’ve already saved many a couch cushion & comforter- plus those public bathroom changing tables are SO. GROSS!starlight_micro_1_1024x1024
    12. Bamboobies– Whether or not you plan to breastfeed, you WILL leak in the beginning and these pads are SO much better than the disposable ones. They are so much softer and more comfortable- and so easy to wash! I have a few pairs that I cycle through. I love them!41vi1NbdEHL
    13. Pjs: I am doing laundry ’round the clock, so I can’t say how helpful it has been having lots of comfy newborn pjs on hand. Our favorite brands to put Max in are Kickee Pants & KB Cute Designs. The footies are just SO cozy and the gowns couldn’t be more convenient! Seriously, stock up! PRD-KPLGKN126-P
    14. Feeding App: There are so many, but I’m loving this Baby Feed Timer tracking app. Its so easy to use and helps me track Baby Boy’s breast feedings, bottles, diapers, sleep, my pumping and several other things. Plus, I love the “analyze” button. You know how when you go to the baby’s doctor and they ask you questions like, “How often and how much is he eating?” and you’re sitting there just trying to remember what day of the week it is? Yeah- then you’re also going to love the “analyze” button on this app. I literally opened this app and handed my phone to the doctor when she started asking me these questions…Screen Shot 2017-05-09 at 11.11.56 AM
    15. Baby Acne Cure: This next one I can’t take credit for, but I want to thank everyone on instagram who reached out and told me about these amazing Mustela products for baby acne. After having two girls, I have to say the “boy baby acne” took me by surprise. It arrived out of nowhere one morning, JUST in time for newborn pictures. I posted about it on my Instagram stories and the feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of these two products: PhysioBebe cleaning water and HydraBebe lotion. I’ve only been using them for a day, but I definitely see an improvement in Little Man’s face. Bonus points for my photographer not wanting to kill me for having to work overtime in photoshop! 😉 Even if you are lucky enough to not have to deal with newborn acne- the physiobebe is great for between-bath-cleaning and the lotion smells so fresh & clean!
    16. Ok, this little night light contraption might be the best thing on the planet. It’s called VAVA and it’s this little egg that gets charged via cord and then is completely portable. It has adjustable brightness and color (cool & warm) and functions completely by tapping the top of the egg. This thing is GENIUS for middle of the night feedings and diaper changings when you are exhausted and you’re flailing in the dark to Make.The.Crying.STOP!! No fumbling around for power buttons and switches- I literally just reach out from my bed, and tap the crap out of this little egg. Voila- perfect night-lighting without waking up your hubby- or vice versa when it’s “his turn” to get the baby. Plus, it has 80 hours run time! We’ve used it every night since Max was born and I just re-charged it for the first time yesterday.51aDpfBB95L._SL1000_And Lastly,
    17. UberEats
    18. Coffee
    19. Wine
    20. My Mom

     

    Well, there you have it- my list of Newborn Essentials. I have so many more little favorites but these are the items that are currently saving my life. If you have a newborn or are expecting- I hope this helps you out, even just a tiny bit! 🙂

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  • An OCD’s Guide to Packing your Hospital Bag

    An OCD’s Guide to Packing your Hospital Bag

    I just wanted to take a second to say thank you SO much for all of the sweet comments & messages on my Instagram post yesterday regarding our last check-in with Baby Boy. It was a hard day. Our check-ins with the high-risk specialist are never fun, mostly because we know there isn’t going to be a miraculous change and we’re basically just praying and hoping each time that things have stayed the same vs. gotten worse. (Sidenote: If you are reading this and are completely confused…here is my original post explaining our situation.) 

    I think we went into yesterday a little jaded since our previous check-in was a pretty positive one (in the sense that not much had changed that time, and the change that did occur was pretty minor). But, yesterday we didn’t have the greatest visit. I won’t go into detail aside from saying that we didn’t get a very positive update on Baby’s left kidney and we were told that there is a possibility that the right kidney is now also compromised.  Unfortunately, “guesses” are all we are being given right now due to the fact that the doctors need to run allthetests on Baby Boy once he is born in order to give us exact answers. Talk about frustrating!

    I’m trying my best not to get too upset until I hear back from our pediatric urology specialist next week to hear his take on the scans. I think now, more than ever, we are ready for this babe to be here. Even if that’s a complete lie and I’m not really ready at all…one thing’s for sure: I’m ready for some answers and plans. This waiting and the anxiety of the unknown is definitely the hardest part…especially at a time when things are supposed to be all unicorns and rainbows. The good news is, we are in the homestretch. We only have about 11 days (or less) until we get to hold our sweet boy.

    Until then, I continue packing and planning to keep my mind busy. I’ve gotten a bunch of messages asking me about what I’m packing for the hospital, so here it is, from your favorite “list maker”…

    Hospital Guide2

     

    About my list:

    So, I named it “An OCD’s Guide” because there are about a MILLION “Minimalist’s Guides to Packing a Hospital Bag” out there and that’s just NOT who I am. I am a crazy over-thinker/planner/packer, so why stop at my hospital bag? Yep, I’m fully embracing my crazy and sharing it with you all here…

    For Mom: I don’t think there’s any explanations needed here aside from sharing where I purchased some of my fav robes. I prefer the light kimono-style as opposed to the thick bathrobes. But that’s mostly because I’ve been burning up like a furnace this entire pregnancy and want the lightest, most minimal amount of fabric on my body at all times. I purchased a few kimonos and a cute hospital gown here and I plan on using my favorite robe ever that my sister gave me during her wedding week which is this one from Plum Pretty Sugar! Also, as pictured- I use Kopari coconut oil for just about everything (body lotion, stretch mark cream, carrier oil for essential oil blends & I’ll also be using it in lieu of a lanolin-based nipple cream). This stuff is amazing and one tub lasts forever! Also, the only products I use on my face (aside from actual makeup) are from Clovertree Apothecary. The Triple C Repair Serum is basically heaven in a bottle!

    Bathroom: Although I’ll be delivering at a different hospital this time, I’m still banking on the fact that most things I’ll be needing for postpartum care will be provided for me. That being said, I WILL be bringing my OWN shower towels, face cloth, and shower flip flops…because if I used them in college when I hardly knew (or cared) what a “germ” was, I most certainly will be using them now! I should also point out some very important toiletries to remember, like: face wipes for those exhausting, lazy nights when I don’t feel like getting up to wash my face ( I find the honest brand gets my mascara off the best!) and dry shampoo, because…well, it’s dry shampoo- don’t all moms basically live on this stuff. (Here is one of the better organic brands I’ve found and here is another of my favorites that still has a pretty decent EWG rating.)

    Baby: Here is where the “overpacking” really sets in. I really want to bring his entire closet with me, but am limiting myself to a few (like 1-2) of each: gowns, onesies, swaddles, & pjs. I realize I will most likely not need or use most of these, but I need them on hand for pictures. You know, just in case. 😉 Here are a few of my favorite brands that totally deserve their very own blog post: Kickee Pants, Swanky Shank, Softsie, KBCute Designs, Candy Kirby, Little Unicorn, and Spearmint Love. I’m also a nut about products so I will be bringing my own baby wash/lotion for his first bath (I’m really loving Babo Botanicals these days) as well as my own brand of diapers, wipes, etc. (Yes, I realize this is a little overboard and not for everyone. That’s ok.) Since Baby Boy may require some extra attention, I’m making sure I pack all of my files and the medical notebook I’ve been keeping throughout the pregnancy, as well as our Cord Blood Kit. We’ve done cord blood banking with all three babies, and have used and loved Cord Blood Registry.  Lastly, I’ll be bringing his baby book and journal. In the past, I’ve written to each baby while in the hospital and I really love going back and reading those entries. I know things can always change and get hectic, but I’ll be bringing both just in case. I’m loving this simple & adorable baby book  from Polka Dot Print Shop!   And don’t forget the carseat & base! This time around we went with the Cybex Cloud Q carseat & I’m pretty much in love with it…AND the stroller base that goes with- super light and simple!

    Electronics: I think this list is pretty standard, but something fun you may want to pack if you are into taking pictures but not all about bringing a big heavy camera, is a set of clip-on iphone lenses. These can be really cool to play around with, without having to lug a whole bunch of camera equipment (like I will be doing!) 😉 I also made sure to pick up an extra long phone charger so that I can multitask (aka: charge/breastfeed/instagram browse) all at the same time from the comfort of my hospital bed!

    Extras: I’ve never brought a ton of snacks with me in the past because my hospital snack room has always been pretty good, and my amazing hubby is usually running out to bring in our meals and snacks- but I WILL be bringing my own water bottle along. I use my BKR water bottle and my YETI tumbler on a daily basis, so those will be coming along since I distinctly remember hoarding water after birth like a freaking camel in the desert. I’ll also be bringing the girls’ “Big Sister” Gifts to give to them when they come to meet the baby. I did a whole post about what they are getting here. I also went to Target and bought a bunch of what we call “Quiet Bag” activities (i.e. coloring, stickers, dry erase boards, foil scratch books, surprise packs, etc.). I’m keeping one bag at the hospital to keep the girls busy when they come to visit and I also made a bag for them to keep home and bring to restaurants, etc. with whomever is taking care of them while we are at the hospital. Another “can’t forget” extra is my diffuser/oils. I  brought a diffuser and some relaxing oil blends to the hospital with me when I had Ardyn and I really loved having it (mostly because…hospital smell!) but I DID have to ask permission before using it in my room- so maybe call ahead and ask first if you plan on bringing one too! I get asked a lot about the diffuser I use and it is The Aria from Young Living. I’m obsessed! Bonus points for it having relaxing spa sounds AND a remote!!

    One last thing we always bring is a plain white scrub top for Ryan. Even though the hospital usually gives dads their own scrubs to wear during L&D, we use a plain white one to get baby’s very first footprints on the front pocket. Then, on the back we do monthly footprints. Once the baby is a year old and the last footprint is done, I bring the scrubs to be monogrammed. It just makes for the sweetest keepsake! Here is what Q’s finished product looks like: (Ardyn’s monogramming is still on the “to do” list…2 years later)footprints on scrubs

     

    Pre-Birth Planning: Ok, so I realize I’m not the average bear when it comes to “planning”. But good ol’ nesting really took its toll on me this time around and I couldn’t help myself. Maybe since there was so much that was out of my control with this pregnancy, I felt like I needed something I could control…thus, all the lists! 😉

    Most of these things speak for themselves, but for the Newborn Survival Baskets, I did a whole post on them here. The padsicles that I made I got from pinterest, so I’ll just link them here.  For my postpartum bathroom kit, I stocked up on the following: (organic cotton SUPER pads, tucks pads, colace, dermaplast spray [a more natural option here], the FridaBaby mom washer spray bottle, aloe vera, witch hazel, and a spray bottle of the essential oil concoction I used for the padsicles (See above).

    Another note is to make sure you book your hospital and/or newborn photographer months in advance. Newborn photographers book up quickly, so it’s important to contact your photographer early on in your pregnancy to discuss timing and availability! If your photographer is coming to the hospital to take pictures- don’t forget to bring cash to pay her!

    That’s about it, I think. Now we just wait for baby…

    Ok, now- anybody got a good list on how to deal with not sleeping for the next six months? 😉

     

  • Big Sister Gifts

    When Cubby was born, we were asked what we were giving Q as a “Big Sister Gift”. (Categorize this under: Babymoons and Push Presents. Also known as the “We Were Clueless” Category.  More here.)

    After some blank stares and some quick googling, we ran out to the nearest toy store and surprised Q with her very first tricycle. She was so thrilled…it almost helped her forget that her new baby sister cried bloody murder 24/7. Almost.  (We love you, Cub Scout!!) 😉

    This time around, I wanted to be prepared. I wracked my brain thinking of something the girls don’t already have…something they could save, something that would always bring back the memory of when their baby brother was born. It took a lot of internet…I mean, SOUL searching – but this is what I came up with… (pictures below)

    • I started with two new books about being a Big Sister. I looked through a TON of “big sister” books and found two that I really thought fit each girl’s personality. You can find Q’s here and Cub’s here.
    • Next, I wanted to get the girls a piece of special jewelry. Mostly because they are both currently obsessed with wearing every piece of jewelry they own. I found these precious personalized “I Love My Big Sis” sterling heart necklaces. I figured they would be cute for the girls to wear now but also a sweet piece for them to grow into & save. I might even get them engraved once Baby Boy arrives.
    • But, I also know how their little gypsy hearts are about jewelry and I wanted to give them a piece of “costume” jewelry that they could wear everyday, if they wanted to. I found these adorable beaded bracelets on etsy and had them personalized with each girls’ name, favorite color beads, and a “Big Sister” charm.
    • There is a fun story behind these “Big Sister” shirts I got for them. The smaller white one was actually what Q wore to the hospital when Cub was born! It just so happens that Cub is basically the same age now as Q was back then, so it fits her perfectly. I mean, check out this photo of my tiny girls…I die! archivesI wasn’t really planning on having a brand new shirt made for Q this time around, so I kind of tossed the idea of the “Big Sister” shirts altogether. That is, until I was browsing my favorite consignment shop and found this pink “Big Sister” shirt staring in my face from the racks…it’s the SAME designer, in Q’s exact size…in a consignment store!!! I pretty much knew it was meant to be! Plus, they will go SO perfectly with baby boy’s “Lil’ Bro, Yo” onesie from the fabulous Swanky Shank! I’m already planning the photo shoot in my head! 😉
    • Lastly, (and these are my favorite part of the gift!) I found these precious camera/album sets on Etsy. The girls are obsessed with taking pictures (I have NO idea where they get this 🙂 ) and they are always asking to take pictures with my phone or carrying around their instax polaroid. I thought these disposables (can’t believe they still exist!) would be so fun for the girls to carry around and document the first few days of their baby brother’s life through their own eyes (God, I hope I don’t regret this). After we get the pics developed they can put together their own little scrapbook photo albums…plus, they are (say it with me now:) PERSONALIZED!! How cute is that? I think it’s something they’ll enjoy now, and enjoy looking back on when they are older, as well!

    What do you think? Have any other great ideas of anything I can add to their “Big Sister” packages? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!

    bigsistergiftcollage