Jordan & Co

Tag: featured

  • Creating a Leveled Library

    Creating a Leveled Library

     

    Creating any sort of “library” at home may seem a little bit daunting, but I promise, it’s doesn’t have to be! You also don’t need to go out and buy hundreds of dollars worth of books and have a full-blown library room in your house either! A few books, some organizational tools, and a small shelf/nook/cabinet are all you need.

    I’m going to help you get started…

     

    Now, being a huge book nerd myself, we’ve always had lots and lots of books at our house. Annnd, because of my teacher background, I have our books organized by genre and category. One of those categories has always been “I Can Read” books. In this bin I’ve always kept a few BOB books and an array of “learning to read”/beginner books. But it wasn’t until I took on this project that I realized my one bin of “I Can Read” books contained 12 (TWELVE!) different levels of texts! No wonder Ardyn was getting frustrated!

    *Linking these white book bins HERE.*  (My chapter books are in the size small and I keep picture books in the size medium)

     

    Then, I was having a conference with Ardyn’s teacher this year and she mentioned the alphabetical “level” that Ardyn should be reading at and I decided to organize our books & create a mini leveled library for her in our home. I asked A’s teacher if there was an easy way to find books according to level these days and she filled me in on something that did NOT exist when I used to teach: book scanning/leveling apps!!! We used to have to use websites and databases and all kinds of old-fashioned things like that! 😉

     

    A NOTE ON BOOK LEVELING:

    • Now let me detour here for a minute and say that I have not studied book leveling extensively in many years and there are over 8 (that I know of)  different systems and rubrics out there used for leveling books. It can get pretty complex! (If you want to dive in, click here) If you want to keep it surface level, then keep reading. Today, in this blog post, I’ll talk about “an A-Z system”. You may have noticed that some of the beginning reader publishing companies like “I Can Read” and “Step into Reading” are starting to denote an alphabetical reading level right on their book covers. (See photo below) Nice, right?! This makes things super easy for parents and teachers to grab books at a glace– HOWEVER, it is important to remember that different publishing companies use different leveling systems. (So, technically not all “Level D” books are equivocally created equal) In the beginning stages, without doing extensive research, it might be smart to pick one publisher and follow along with their leveling system…until you start getting the hang of it yourself. For the purpose of this blog post and for Ardyn’s little Leveled Library, I didn’t do any complex converting and just leveled the books by face value (what they said on the book cover) or what my app scanned them as.

      Above is a chart of a leveling system called Reading A-Z (far left) verses Fountas & Pinnell (far right). You can see that as you move down the alphabet, there is some differentiation in letter-to-level attachment. I just wanted to show you how the same book could easily be leveled two different letters by two different leveling methods. So, it’s just something to take notice of.
    Above you can see that on the “I Can Read” books, they list a Guided Reading Level on the back cover. The “Step Into Reading” books do something similar but specifically state that they level based on the Fountas & Pinnell system. Again, different publishers, different leveling systems.

     

    Getting Started

    STEP 1:

    Search your “app store” for a book-scanning-leveling app.

    I used:

    Scholastic Book Wizard App (Guided Reading Level)

    Level It Books (gives you levels from 4 different leveling systems, which is great!)

     

    I started by scanning and leveling the beginner books we already had at home. I found that most of them were way above the level Ardyn was currently reading at. Oopsie! After assessing what we already had at home, I did some shopping to fill in the gaps!

    Now, sometimes the book I was trying to scan was “not found in the system” (super frustrating!) in which case, I tried my best to look at comparative books and guesstimate a level myself.

     

    STEP 2:

    After putting all of our old and new books into leveled piles, I snagged some colored dot stickers from Amazon and assigned each color to a letter, A-L. (I’ll explain why I stopped at L later.)

     

    STEP THREE:

    I grabbed some cardboard magazine holders and started building our little leveled-library by putting 3 letters worth per box! Since I was only going A-L, four boxes was all I needed.

    *Note, I only leveled A-L, because at level L+, you start moving into beginner chapter books like Mercy Watson, Magic Tree House, Junie B Jones, etc. So I did not do a comprehensive A-Z library (which I used to have in my 3rd grade classroom), but instead just a beginner’s version, figuring that once Ardyn moves on to chapter books, I can help guide her and teach her how to choose books for herself! Obviously, this is way easier to manage when you are only focused on your own child and not a classroom of 25!

     

    STEP 4:

    After I set up the “Library”, Ardyn and I went over it together. I told her which letter would be considered “easy”, which letter is currently “just right” for her and which letter would be her “challenge myself” category. Essentially giving her a span of 3 letters/colors to choose books from. (Not pictured: I used a little colored clip and clipped it onto the box lip, above her “just right” level/color, as an easy visual in case she forgets!)

     

    (Also just noticing that Max ripped my letter “I” off…just pretend it’s there, right after “H” where it should be!)

     

     

    STEP 5:

    I took a little trip to Target and revamped the girls’ book baskets that they keep by their bed. I got them each a new book light, a small timer, a few cute bookmarks and put a cup with a mini pencil, and a chunk of post-it notes in each girls’ basket. I also added some sight word flash cards to Ardyn’s basket. (I don’t love the idea of “timing” your reading, but they are supposed to read for 15 minutes a night for school so Q insists on knowing when she’s hit her “quota.”)

    The girls know to fill their baskets and change out books as often as needed. Q, for the most part, just works through a chapter book at a time, but for Ardyn, I like her to be able to cycle through them at will!

     

    Note: In the great “Science of Reading” debate, I’d like to note that I’m a huge supporter of the importance of phonics in learning to read. This Leveled Library is simply a fun way for me to supplement what my kids are learning at school and become more confident in their reading! 🙂

     

    I hope this was helpful! Feel free to reach out on Instagram if you have any questions!

     

     

    HERE ARE SOME BOOKS/SETS THAT ARDYN HAS BEEN LOVING:

    First Little Readers (I love that you can purchase a box BY level! Makes it so much easier!)

    Guided Science Readers (again, purchase by level! And you know how I feel about mixing in nonfiction! Just keep in mind nonfiction books are usually more difficult that fiction & are sometimes not leveled accordingly, or so I’ve found. )

    The Reading House Set

    BOB Books (always and forever, love these for “learning to read”)

    A Kiss for Little Bear (Level G)

    Step into Reading Books

    Poppleton in Fall (Level J)

    Animal Antics

    I Can Read Books (Look at back cover for Guided Reading Level)

     

     

    IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LEVELING, CHECK OUT THESE SITES:

    Accelerated Reader An AMAZING Book Leveling resource!

    Reading A-Z If you want to go all in and compare 8 different leveling systems, this chart is fantastic!

    Scholastic Book Wizard Type in the book name and get the Scholastic A-Z level!

    Learn About Leveled Reading A great jumping-off point for parents wanting to learn more!

     AtoZ Teacher Stuff Another database for searching for book titles by level

    Or just type “Guided Reading” into google! There are so many amazing charts and visuals to help you get started!

     

    RELATED BLOG POSTS:

    Creating Our Little Home Library Part One

    Creating Our Little Home Library Part Two

    Monthly Book Nooks

    Top 30 Board Books

    Educational Resources

    My Amazon Storefront

     

  • Educational Resources

    Educational Resources

    I get so many question about early education resources, so I figured I’d share my favorite tools in one place. Most of these games and strategies are tools I used in the classroom when I used to teach (pre-k, kinder, 1st and 3rd grades). I’ve continued using some of these tools at home when I feel my kiddos need a bit of a boost in a certain area. I should probably mention that I’m not huge on workbooks or flashcards so you won’t see that kind of stuff on this list- I feel like my kiddos get enough of that stuff at school. Granted, those tools definitely have their place. Now that Q is older she has nightly math fact flashcard practice, and we have some skill-builder books that we use in the summer but in general- I find that my kids learn best by doing, playing, and experiencing.

    Of course, ALL kids learn differently and my best advice to you is something a wise person told me a long time ago- “Reading is a lot like potty training.” Wait, hear me out on this…to paraphrase: Take your child’s lead, sense their interest level and readiness. You can introduce the idea and give adequate exposure (hopefully producing interest). But you’re going to get your best results if you wait until the child shows interest and readiness. Forcing the issue before they are interested/ready may backfire on you and mastery may not only take way longer but you could also create a general dislike for the concept.

     I hope you don’t feel pressured by this list, and I certainly hope you know that, for me, these tools/games do NOT take the place of outside play, laughing, building with blocks, making tents with couch cushions, riding bikes, or any other experience-based, imaginative,  free-play that our kiddos need and, in turn, are actually learning from! Let them be little!…and if you see your kiddo struggling a bit, here’s a list of a few ways you can try to support their learning in a fun & engaging way! 😉

    READING

    71CIYvR59AL._SL1500_

    Word Wheels Ardyn’s teacher introduced these to us this year and my little “reluctant learner” is LOVING them…with a capital L!!!!

     

     

    pocket chart with sight words Q and I used to play this with her sight word cards she’d get in pre-k. We’d use a combination of: this boxed set of common sight words, her school sight words cards that got sent home from school, and then we’d make our own cards with friends & family names, uncommon words, etc. on index cards. Then we’d practice making sentences in the pocket chart with the cards. She loved it!

     

     

    super genius letters | super genius words My girls love this card game- it comes in lots of different subjects and levels!

    71S2E31-OyL._SL1000_sight words bingo classic bingo with common sight words

    917G+9V-QtL._SX679_.jpg

    boggle junior teaches word recognition and spelling!

    61uxAeGuBdL._SL1000_

    BOB books Quin learned to read on these books. It’s just what worked for her. I feel like with Ardyn, we need a little more time with the word wheels and some fun games before moving over to these. She gets immediately turned off my anything that isn’t “fun”.

    61aYUFgJwJL._SL1000_

    Phonics Spelling Game This was/is a favorite for both girls. I’ve shared it on my stories before. Ardyn and I just played it the other day.

     

    WRITING

    Writing Made Simple Letter Kids My girls loved these cards. You basically build the capital letters by placing different shapes (made to look like kids doing acrobatics) onto an overlay on a magnetic tray. (That sounded way more complicated than it actually is!) Since this set is so hard to find, I’ve linked something similar: HERE and HERE (same concept: building letters with shapes)

     

     

    51iplIHrovL

    This book technically is categorized as a learn to read book, but it’s great for writing practice as well. Two birds, one stone. Plus Ardyn thinks it’s fun because the subject matter is unicorns and rainbows! 😉 There’s also a workbook specific to (preschool level) writing and math

     

     

    81HpKaz9BGL._SL1500_

    Handwriting Without Tear Magnetic screen and stamps HWT is my favorite handwriting and letter learning program! Both girls’ preschools and the school I used to teach at used this method! I suggest maybe getting a HWT workbook to go along with this set if you aren’t already familiar with it. Then maybe go download the song “Mat Man” on itunes as well!

     

     

    71Xwsov6wDL._AC_SL1000_

    I love this notebook for journaling because it has a space for drawing and writing on each page. My girls both use these for summer journaling!

     

     

    Motor Skills: I was recently told that Ardyn needs some help with her motor skills: pencil grip, letter formation, cutting with scissors, etc. These magnetic tracing boards are some of my very favorite tools for practicing motor skills. I LOVE the letter (uppercase | lowercase) and number tracing ones, but also love the free form board, because any form of utensil holding while drawing/writing is great for strengthening those fine motor skills! They even have cursive (uppercase | lowercase) ones that Quinlin loves!!

     

     

    81+lMnIOsbL._SL1500_

    Wooden Puzzles Seems obvious, but these wooden puzzles were household favorites for learning ABCs & 123s as toddlers…plus, in my opinion so much better than a flashcard because it also teacher motor skills and hand-eye coordination

     

     

    MATH:

    818JzUZ2lNL._SL1500_

    MagnaTiles Teaches early Geometry skills…kids will have NO idea they’re learning. All three of my kids love their magnatiles. 😉

     

     

    516EuJ7TloL

    Zingo 1-2-3 A fun number bingo game- teaches counting, number sense, patterns, relationships. (Ardyn also loves the WORD builder version of this game)

     

     

    Allowance Board Game & Monopoly Jr.  Both great games that teach money, making change, adding, subtracting, etc.

     

     

    61-EQ5w8Y6L._SL1024_Go Fish You’d be surprised how early you can play Go Fish with little ones. It’s the perfect game to introduce numbers. We used to play with our wooden puzzle numbers nearby as manipulatives in case we got stuck on a number!

    71G5hDdIYwL._SL1500_

    Super Genius Addition For kiddos starting addition, such a fun game! Q loves it!

     

     

    81R+NRV4PzL._SL1500_

    Motor Math Game Ages 4+, teaches +/- in a fun, fast-paced car race game

     

     

    919BXcb6tpL._SL1500_

    Pizza Math Several games in one- teaches early math skills, patterns, grouping, critical thinking, hand-eye coordination

     

     

    71Vv9-Ao0LL._SL1000_

    Super Sorting Set Helps with matching, patterning, classifying, sorting, counting.

     

     

    Rainbow Fraction Tiles OR Fraction Tower Cubes (for those little lego lovers!) These tools are great for younger kids just to play with (they’ll be inadvertently learning) and great for older kids who may need some visual/hands-on help with fractions! I bought these for Q recently who is in the middle of a “parts & whole” unit at school and she loves using these to help with her homework.

     

    81+lMnIOsbL._SL1500_

    Wooden Puzzles Like I mentioned above- we LOVE these puzzles. And we took the numbers off the puzzle and used them in so many different ways. I found it so helpful for the kids to have a 3-D number they could hold, trace, examine and manipulate in their hands. Really cements learning for those visual/tactile learners. (Same goes for the letters)

     

     

    Telling Time: I love this fun “What Time is it?” Game for ages 5-9, a fun way for kiddos who are learning time telling to practice. Also, I’ve had one of these Big Time learning clocks in my classroom for as long as I can remember. I LOVE that the hour hand moves AS you move the minute hand, to show true-to-life clock settings, I do wish however that the hour marker said “00” instead of “60”. If you want a two-for-one deal, I LOVE this Time Telling kit which includes a smaller version of the Big Time learning clock plus interactive tools for playing time-telling games!

     

     

    EDUCATIONAL “SCREEN TIME” TOOLS:

    Osmo Genius Kit for ipad |Tiggly for ipad We aren’t huge on screen time in our house, but when they kids are on ipads, it needs to be educational. We got these sets for the girls for Christmas last year and they are great!

     

     

    “FREE” RESOURCES:

    You don’t NEED all the fancy expensive games to help your child get a jump start on learning. Here are some totally free ideas that you can do with things you probably already have lying around the house.

    Screen Shot 2019-03-23 at 6.30.37 PM copy
    images via pinterest
    • Get a baking sheet and some magnetic letters- boom a homemade magnetic learning game
    • Draw out the letters of the alphabet on some paper. Give your kids some play dough and have them “roll the dough” and then place it over the letters you’ve drawn out to form the letters and/or numbers
    • Get kitchen tongs, a muffin/cupcake pan or an ice tray and a bowl of colored pom poms. Have your kid use the tongs to sort the poms by color or number or size. Fine motor skills, counting, and sorting/categorizing skills!
    • Get a baking sheet with a taller lip around the edge. Pour some kinetic sand or shaving cream inside. Have your child draw the letters in the sand/cream.
    • Fill a giant ziplock with several colors of paint. Tape it shut, then tape it to the counter/table. Have kids mix the paint colors and “draw” out letters/numbers inside.
    • Get your wooden puzzle (linked above). Dump all the letters or numbers into a plastic bin filled with sand, water beads or any other sensory material. Have your child go fishing for letters/numbers. Once they dig one out, they need to place it in it’s correct spot on the puzzle.
    • Go on a nature walk: talk about the animals, people, trees and cars you see. Talk about sounds, colors, shapes, and letter sounds
    • Get a piece of cardboard and write all the capital letters around the sides. Then get large clothespins and write the lower case letters on them. Have you child match upper and lowercase letters by clipping the clothes pin onto the correct letter.
    • Grab some letter cookies (Trader Joes has them) and print out (or just write) the ABCs on a piece of paper and have your kids match the letters. If they match correctly, or better yet- can name the letter sound, they get to eat the cookie!

    Pinterest is FILLED with great ideas. Just search “Early Learning Activities”

     

     

    EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES:

    (some may require membership and/or school registration so contact your school and ask if they have a log-in you can use!)

    ABCya

    ABC Mouse

    Starfall

    Spelling City

    Reflex Math

    IXL

    PBS Kids

    Brain Pop

    FunBrain

    Curious World

    NatGeo Kids

    Kiddle (kid safe search engine)

    Happy Learning, Friends! Let me know if you have any questions!

     

     

    *Updated Section*

    QUARANTINE ACTIVITIES:

    For a full list of creative games and free activities to keep your kids busy during this crazy time, see THIS POST!

    activities

     

    LoveJordan

    pin me

    edresources

  • Easter Pajamas

    Easter Pajamas

    A round up of a few of my favorite Easter/Spring pjs for kiddos!

    Easter Pjs.jpg

    1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16

     

    And don’t forget your slippers….gingham-sherpa-slippers-o

    Happy Egg Hunting, friends!

    LoveJordan

  • Easter Baskets

    Easter Baskets

    It’s that time again– Spring is only a few short months away and it’s time to start thinking about what to fill those Easter Baskets with! Easter Baskets can be tricky, especially right on the heels of Christmas and Valentine’s Day- so I put together a few ideas based on what we used to get growing up!

     

    Our “Easter Bunny” used to always bring us the same few things:

    -New Pjs (or something cozy)

    -Something fun for the upcoming summer months (think: sandals, bathing suits, a fun towel, new goggles, etc.)

    -Toys that encouraged outdoor play (jump ropes, chalk, bubbles, sprinklers, etc.)

    -New Art supplies or a game

    -And of course, our baskets were always topped off with some fun knick-knacks and a big old Chocolate Bunny!

    I try to stick to those same categories when planning out my own kids’ baskets and I came up the following lists based on them as well!

    Hoppy Shopping!

     

    baby
    Zozu Baby Headband| bath toy| personalized blanket |Good Night You book|yogurt melts|dimpl|girls pjs |boys pjs |sophie |shark rashguard|wooden beads |Tubby Todd bath stuff|boys  swim set|jelly tails book|girls swim|sunscreen|Jellycat bunny| girl bib|boy bib

    toddlergirlEllia May Bow|princess book|rainbow bag |unicorn bracelet|goggles| breakfast pjs |non toxic dough|slippers|mermaid coloring book|crayons|rainbow sprinkler|What Do I Do? Conversation Cards|unicorn chalk|swim suit|Cinderella sound book |dress a bunny coloring book

    older girlwords to live by coloring book |rainbow float|sunnies|shark pjs|tennis gumballs|fine markers|polaroid|Lol Hair Goals|rainbow tote|Natural Organic Bathbombs|jump rope|candy tackle box|swimsuit |eeboo puzzle |nailmatic nailpolish|hair poms|stitch up book|5,000 Awesome Facts book|glitter backpack|non toxic makeup |fuzzy slippers|memory game|VanGogh on-the-go|picture book|magnashapes

    toddler boytide pool bath set|outerspace coloring book|non toxic crayons|non toxic dough|shark pjs|dino roll mat|baby lit book |stackable blocks|3-2-1 blast off book|magnifying glass|foam bat and ball|pirate ship pool & sprinkler

    olderboydodge/tag game|mini air hockey|goggles|hat|swim trunks|chalk tagging|pizza party game|5,000 Awesome Facts Book|shark float|marvel magnet tin|shark flops |pocket microscope|slippers|mash’ems|nightball

    baskets

    Lastly, I’m a big fan of traditional Easter baskets, however I also like the idea of re-purposing a container you’ve got laying around, or buying one you’d like to use again after Easter- whether it be a toy, a suitcase, or a cute crate for storage. Here are a few ideas  for alternative Easter baskets!

    traditional Easter Basket|Olli Ella Suitcase|crate|Pillowfort Rope Basket|animal baskets|Luggy Basket

     

    And, for Last Year’s Ideas, click HERE!

    pin me

    Easter

  • Greece

    Greece

    We’re baaaaack! And, Holy Moly, you guys- Greece was everything I thought it would be…and MORE.

    Don’t get me wrong, leaving the kids was BRUTAL and I was so upset saying goodbye to them. This was the first time we’ve ever left them longer than one night and the only thing that made it easier was knowing my mom was with them. I did a full post of all the info I left behind for her HERE.

    This 10 Year Anniversary trip [one year delayed…thanks Max! ;)] to Greece may have been better than our honeymoon (in Italy) which I was sure was going to be “THE Trip to Beat” for the rest of eternity. Maybe it’s because we appreciated the alone time alllll these 11 years and three babies later or maybe it was because we had more to miss waiting back at home this time around.  Either way, we had the most incredible time and I’m finally able to sit down and share some of the details with you!

    ATHENS

    We stopped in Athens first because I’m a huge history nerd ( I’m specifically obsessed with Greek mythology!) and I just HAD to see the ruins of Ancient Athens.

    Where We Stayed in Athens:

    • The New Hotel – This is a, well…”newer” hotel, which was kind of funky & modern. Since we were only going for one night, Ryan surprised me and splurged on the top floor room. The balcony off our room was INSANE, with the most ridiculous view of the Acropolis and a bed for sleeping under the stars (There is also a regular bedroom inside.) When we first arrived, I walked out onto the terrace, took one look at the Acropolis standing up on the hill right above me and teared up. I’ve never had that sort of reaction to a place before in my life. It was incredible. If you do decide to stay at The New Hotel, definitely ask for a room with a view of the Acropolis…or try the Grande Bretagne Hotel & ask for the same!

    Things to Do/See in Athens:

    • The Acropolis (get there EARLY & make this your first stop) the crowds and lines get cray-cray later in the day. Also, bonus of hiring a tour guide: they’ll purchase your entrance tix in advance so you can skip the lines!
    • Ancient Agora
    • Plato’s Academy (we just viewed this from the street through the fence and our tour guide told us all about it from there. They actually just recently discovered this site in the 1990s! How crazy is that?!)
    • Temple of Olympian Zeus
    • Arch of Hadrian (built in 131AD, it marks where emperor Hadrian divided the city between ancient Greek city and his new “Roman” city)
    • Roman Forum & Tower of the Winds
    • The Acropolis Museum
    • Syntagma Square – watch the changing of the guards 5 minutes before the top of each hour! It’s pretty intense!

    Where We Ate in Athens:

    • GB Roof Garden– the rooftop restaurant at the Grande Bretagne Hotel with the most amazing view of the Acropolis!

    Tips for Athens:

    1. Hire a guide. There are lots of reasonable group tours but if you have group anxiety and claustrophobia like me, hire a private guide. We used Micheal’s Amazing Tours. Our guide was Matina and she was great! It was about 330 euro for a full day (about 5 hours) AND that price included a driver who brought us to all the “hot spots”, waited for us to finish touring with the guide, and then drove us by some other popular tourist attractions and gave us “drive by tours” PLUS a lift to the airport afterward!
    2. Research the history before you go. Your eyes won’t appreciate what they are seeing unless they know the story that goes along with it. I purchased the following guide book: Rick Steves Pocket Athens. It was super helpful!  If you love to read, I also suggest picking up a great novel to get you in the spirit of the country. I loved Helen of Troy by Margaret George as well as Circe by Madeline Miller! And since I’m such a nerd, I also reviewed The Mythology Handbook, from the children’s section as a quick refresher guide on my Greek mythology. I can’t even tell you how helpful it was to go into this trip with such a great understanding of the rich history. Made me appreciate it, ten-fold!
    3. I really don’t think you need more than one day in Athens. If you are a HUGE history buff, maybe give yourself two days so you can see all the museums, etc. Otherwise, one night at a hotel with an Acropolis view, and one day touring is all you need! 😉

    MYKONOS

    Next, we took a short flight over to Mykonos where all of my Athens-born Greek obsessions became completely cemented in stone…or should I say, pentelic marble! 😉  This place was UN-Real! They say Mykonos is “where you go to party”, but coming from me (grandma, party-of-one) believe me, you do NOT have to be a big party person to enjoy Mykonos! In fact, it might have been our favorite stop in Greece!

    Where we stayed in Mykonos:

    • Mykonos Blu– This place was gorgeous and right ON the beach, There was a main pool, a beautiful restaurant and bar, and we also had a private pool & grass area attached to our room. It was about a 10-15 minute drive into the town, but we preferred to stay on the beach and drive into town at night as opposed to staying on the other side of the island and having to cart beach stuff back and forth to get to the best beaches every day. Picture everything you’d imagine in a Greece resort: white buildings, bright pink bougainvillea climbing up every wall, and blue ocean views around every turn! And can I just say- the service everywhere we went was IMPECCABLE! Ah- take me back!

    Things to do/see in Mykonos:

    • Boat Day- we chartered a boat one day and it was incredible! They toured us around some of the other nearby islands, parked us in a gorgeous cove to swim & snorkle, and fed us an amazing home-cooked Greek lunch on board. It was SUCH a fun day & an incredible way to see the tiny surrounding islands. We booked through Mykonos Luxury Motor.
    • Mykonos Town– Mykonos town is completely and utterly charming. Everything is white…even the cobblestone ground! There are gorgeous flowers everywhere and some of the most incredible shops every.
    • Island of Delos– I had NEVER heard of this Island until we cruised past it on our boat day. We immediately asked to be dropped off and I’m SO glad we did. Delos is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in all of Greece. Guys, this place was MIND. BLOWING. The ancient remains of an entire city- covering the whole tiny island, with no crowds, no ropes, no one “policing” what you touch or do. It was literally like stepping back in time. Ryan and I walked the island (in a rush) and took 1.5 hours. I could’ve stayed all day- the only thing I didn’t like was that I hadn’t done my research and without a tour guide (the map was difficult to navigate) I sort of had no idea what I was looking at. I wished, so badly that I knew all the history so I could’ve really appreciated the raw, ancient ruins we were viewing, touching and walking over…because they were pretty damn incredible! Probably one of my top-five favorite things we did in Greece!
    • Little Venice (home to the infamous & adorable “Petros the Pelican”) Little Venice is on the opposite side of Mykonos town from the shops, on the same side as the windmills. It is right on the water and has the quaintest little cafes where you can sit, have a coffee and watch the little waves splash right at your feet. Also, you might catch a glimpse of Petros. This famous pink pelican roams the cobblestone streets of Little Venice, and he is pink and damn proud of it!
    • Windmills- Ask your driver to drop you off here, have a quick photo stop in front of them and then, when facing the ocean, turn right and make your way down into Little Venice.
    • Anna Maria Mazaraki – This was my favorite little jewelry shop in Mykonos! It’s trendy and cute, but also amazing quality (so it can get a bit pricey!) I bought my “evil eye” bracelet here and have not taken it off since we returned. I also bought one for my mom as a “thank you” present for watching our babes!
    • Nammos Village & Beach Club – So let’s just say you DO like to party…this would be the place to go. They have a brand new village with super high-end shopping and the beach club is very reminiscent of the famous Nikki Beach clubs. There’s loud music, bottle service at your beach chair, scantily clad humans dancing, drinking…and probably making out right next to you! Ha! We ran into a work friend of Ryan’s here so we had some rosè and hung out for a few hours, but let’s just say…me and my mom-bod-one-piece didn’t quite fit in! 😉

    Where we ate in Mykonos:

    • M.eating– This place was highly recommended so we went here first. The menu looked great but we got shoved in an awkward table: inside, in the back, right next to the waiter’s station… and I just wasn’t feeling it, not with so many other gorgeous options out there! So, we left. If you go here, be sure to ask for an outdoor “street-side” table! (Keep in mind, by “street” I mean “sidewalk”…there are no cars in this tiny, gorgeous village.
    • Familia– a cute little Italian joint. We ate here after we left m.eating, mainly because it looked so pretty and we were able to get a good table right on the sidewalk. The food was good, nothing crazy- but then again, I’m pretty much the most basic eater ever!
    • Interni– This place was INSANE! Be sure to get a reservation…the food, drinks, and atmosphere were so good!
    • Remezzo– We went here on our last night and it was just gorgeous. Ask to sit outside on the patio, on the edge, nearest to the water. From here you can watch the sunset and the food is absolutely delicious!

    Tips for Mykonos:

    1. Mykonos town has two main sections: the souvenir street and the high-end street. We didn’t discover that we had missed all the high-end shops until night two and my joy was about as great as ryan’s anxiety at this discovery. Haha…just kidding. I think he loved window shopping as much as I did!
    2. There are like 30 taxis on the whole island. Ask your concierge to use the house car if possible. If they don’t have a house car or it isn’t available, ask them to book you a private driver.  It sounds expensive, but they have a a flat rate and they only run a few euro above what the taxi costs. (it’s basically like an uber)
    3. Make sure you come with Euros! You’ll need to tip your drivers and a few of the little shops only take cash. Most of the big stores take credit cards and will give you the option of being charged in Euro or USD. (We always chose to charge in Euro to get the best exchange rate!)
    4. Be sure to stop for some crepes or gelato in town!

    SANTORINI

    We were gutted to leave Mykonos but so excited to see what everyone was dubbing “The Best Place in Greece”: Santorini. We took the Minoan Line Ferry (The High Speed 7/ The Santorini Palace). We heard rumors while we were there about “the other ferry” (can’t remember its name) and heard it was a nightmare experience so we were glad our tickets happened to be for the other one…because we knew no different when booking! Ha! Santorini, in a nutshell was gorgeous and we had a blast. It took us a bit to come around to it I think- mainly because we were expecting it to blow Mykonos out of the water right off the bat. Don’t get me wrong- by the end of the trip we fell in absolute LOVE with Santorini and would go back in a heartbeat. However, I wouldn’t say it was better than Mykonos…just different. People say you “go to Mykonos to party and Santorini to relax” but we had a very relaxing stay in Mykonos and were pretty busy in Santorini! I guess each city is just what you make of it! Love, love, love them both!

    Where we stayed:

    • Katakies  -Fist off you should note there are three main areas to stay in Santorinini:
    1. Fira- the capital; lots of night life, shopping, restaurant, night clubs
    2. Akrotiri- off the beaten path and pretty much far away from everything
    3. Oia- known for it’s picturesque views, famous sunsets, and quaint village

    We chose Oia (pronounced “ee-yah”) and I’m so glad we did. The village did get crowded- especially when the cruise ships came in- but if we wanted peace and quiet, we just retreated to our hotel pool! Each hotel on the main strip in Oia has guards standing at the entrance of the downward staircases, so unless you are staying there, you can’t get in. It keeps all the hotels nice and peaceful and quiet even when the main strip above is jam-packed. I highly recommend staying in Oia. It was the village where we spent most of our time (so it saved on many cab rides!) and I found it to be much more picturesque than Fira. I can’t speak about Akrotiri…because we never had any reason to go there, although I hear it’s peaceful and beautiful!

    Things to do/see in Santorini:

    • Sunset Cruise- we booked what we thought was a sunset CATAMARAN cruise but when we showed up it was a beautiful boat, instead. Ummm…SCORE! The crew was incredible and so knowledgeable! The toured us around the entire island/caldera of Santorini and gave us the most interesting history tid-bits along the way! They parked us near the sulfur hot springs at the volcano but we opted out of going for a dip. It stunk pretty bad and the water was bright orange….and hello, white bathing suit! They also cooked us an amazing dinner on board and then parked the boat for a front-and-center view of the sunset on the water. Absolutely insane! One of my favorite days in Santorini! We booked through Sunset Oia.
    • Hike from Fira to Oia– This day was SO. MUCH. FUN! We took a cab from Oia to Fira, did some carb-loading at a nearby bakery and then started the 6+ mile hike over the mountains back home to Oia! We stopped to climb to the top of Skaros Rock along the way (which took a little over an hour), stopped at a little snack shack on the side of the mountain for a water and beer break, and even rode some donkeys up one of the mountains. We didn’t think we would make it and discussed getting a taxi at certain points but I think we were both determined to say we did it. It was such a amazing, gorgeous, bonding experience. I’d do it again in a heart beat…maybe just bring better hiking shoes next time! (aka NOT converse!) 😉
    • Spa– We booked a couples massage at our hotel after our hike and- Honey, did it feel GOOOOD after that day of climbing and sweating!
    • Pool/Lounge– Santorini is known for being relaxing so don’t forget to do just that! Our hotel’s infinity pool overlooking the cliffs of Oia was insane! We came here anytime we had some downtime to relax. The service was impeccable and the food, drinks, and view were out of this world!
    • Oia Shopping/Photo Opps– Get up early and go explore the village of Oia before the crowds hit! It’s so beautiful- and just keep walking, it gets better the further down you go! The first night we only walked a tiny bit down the main strip and thought it was too “new and modern” and made us miss the quaintness of Mykonos Town, but the next day we pushed further into Oia and came to love it the further down the main strip we walked!
    • The Blue Domed Cathedral– The famous three-domed blue cathedral of Santorini is pretty tricky to get to so let me help you out. First of all, there are blue domed cathedrals EVERYWHERE, but “THE” famous one is in Oia. When you get dropped off at the entrance of Oia (it just looks like a giant sidewalk with shops and hotels on either side. No cars- all pedestrian traffic) walk straight down the strip until you hit the Main Square. You’ll know it’s the main square because the narrow sidewalk will open up to a courtyard on your right with a big cathedral and lots of people stopping to take pictures. Keep walking! Right after the main square you’ll see a sign on your left for a shop called “Alexandros” (if you hit our little lunch spot, Melenio [see below], then you’ve gone too far). At the “Alexandros” sign, turn left down the narrow path. Go down the stairs. You’ll see a “fork in the road” at the bottom of the stairs, turn right and there, in front of you, is the picture perfect postcard view of the famous three domed cathedral!
    • Atlantis Bookshop- Ranked one of the best book stores in the world. It’s so quaint and filled with treasures! The CC machine was broken while we were there…which was probably a good thing because we (…I!) would’ve spent waaaay too much on antique collector books!
    • Fish Pedicures– We skipped this, but they are all over town! Get one…if you like that sort of thing! 😉

    Where we ate:

    • Lefkes– An old winery from the 1800s that was converted to a restaurant, great food and ambiance! Make sure to sit outside, up on the second floor if possible for the best sunset views!
    • Canaves Oia Hotel (Infinity Pool Restaurant) – not sure why this was recommended. While the rooftop sunset views were pretty spectacular and the food was good- we were literally the ONLY ones there…which is a big turn-off for me when it comes to restaurants.
    • Melenio– We ate here for lunch- just a little tapas cafe, but it had gorgeous views of the famous three domed cathedral and the ocean! It’s right off the main strip in Oia, right after the main square, on your left!
    • Boat- We took a sunset cruise on our last night (see above) and they fed us a delicious Greek meal on board!img_0891-1

    Tips:

    1. For the Ferry you can actually purchase different level tickets. The highest level will get you access to the top floor of the ferry, with big cozy chairs, tables, and full food/drink waiter service. The ferry ride is a little over 2 hours- with stops, so it’s worth it if you want to avoid the big crowds and really relax for the ride! Also, PRINT your ferry tickets in advance!
    2. Most of the nice restaurants give you a shot of Ouzo after dinner. I’m not a huge fan of hard liquor or shots, but didn’t want to insult the waiters so I wound up pouring mine into my water glass most nights! Ha…just be prepared!
    3. Again, bring Euros! We had issues with the “ATM” machines and you’ll need lots of cash for tipping and for the smaller shops that don’t take credit cards!
    4. If you do the Fira to Oia hike, here are some tips try to follow along with the names/directions, it sounds kinda tricky, but I swear it’s not! So, the road starting in Fira and ending in Oia (the direction we took) is more downhill than going the opposite direction (starting in Oia, ending in Fira). So, if you’re staying in Oia, I suggest taking a taxi to Fira and hiking home. If you’re staying in Fira, hike to Oia then take a taxi back home! Also, start early so you don’t get stuck in the mid-day heat, wear comfortable hiking shoes (not CONVERSE, like me!) and bring a backpack with cell phone, CASH, backup cell charger, snacks, and water!

    I think that’s about it! It was seriously the best vacation of my lifetime (totally worth the wait!) and writing this post has me daydreaming about going back! Please let me know if you have any questions…happy to answer them if I can!

    img_1390-1

  • Ballet Favorites

    Ballet Favorites

    balletfavs

    pin me

     Ballet starts today for the girls and I wanted to share a few of my tried and trusted favorite dance supplies with you!

    EDIT: Q has been dancing several years since this post and I’ve learned a few things along the way that I’ve updated with and asterisk! (*)

    enjoy

    Dance Bags

    2018-08-22_0005

    Splurge:

    Steal:

    • Target Pink Mini Parachute Satchel (we got these this year and had the girls names monogrammed in white! They’re SO cute!!)
    • Personalized Totes (We used these last year and they were perfect for smaller girls who don’t have much to carry into dance class. We needed something bigger this year.)

    Update:

    • *We’ve learned along the way that these sweet mini bags just don’t cut it as you get more serious about dance. Dancers joining a team or company where they are required to go from one genre class to the next will need a larger bag. Q upgraded to her company-issed black dance backpack, but here is a cheaper option. Water bottle slots are key! 😉

    Dance Shoes

    2018-08-22_0003

    Splurge:

    • Ballet- Bloch  They’ve come out with “string/tie” free ballet slippers.  We purchased some this year and if you hate tying those tiny little strings into knots or bows like I do, these are totally worth the extra $9!
    • Tap- Capezio   We are lucky enough to have a Capezio store right by us so we always run in to get new dance shoes every year. It’s kind of a fun tradition for my girls to get fitted together.

    Steal:

    • Ballet- Target ballet shoes ( I grabbed Cub some of these last year last minute and they lasted the whole season!)
    • Tap- Target Tap Shoes (Ok I just totally dropped the ball last year when none of Q’s hand-me-downs fit Cub and I ran to Target to get all of her shoes. These were fine for the year. But they aren’t THAT much cheaper than the Capezio and the velcro strap kept putting pulls in her tights!)

    Update:

    • *I’m not sure if this is for every studio, but at ours, we learned last year that the  ballet shoes  required for higher level ballet dancers are the canvas ones, not the leather. Like the Bloch ones linked above! Also available HERE .

    Transition Shoes

    2018-08-22_0004

    BLCIM009_1_LRG

    Splurge:

    • Mini Melissa– We’ve been buying MMs for years now and they are our FAVORITE shoes to wear into and out of dance class…can’t be scuffing up those tap shoes and slippers, now!

    Steal:

    • Old Navy Pink Jelly Mary Janes – They may not be as soft or durable as Mini Melissa, but these bad boys are sweet and CHEAP…not to mention bringing back some totally 80s vibes.

    “Pro”:

    • These Dance warm-up booties are great transition shoes! I love them for when Q has multiple classes to go to and she can slip these on OVER her dance shoes in between classes. They are designed to fit over ballet & jazz shoes so that you can get your kiddos fully dressed for dance (dance shoes included) and then run in/out of the studio (while keeping your dance shoe soles protected), and then just slip them off right before class. We’ve recently changed over to these booties and the “no more changing in/out of dance shoes in the lobby” has been a game changer! They come in lots of colors. The sizing can be tricky though. Q is in a shoe size 1, and wears the XL (but I think she could’ve gotten away with the L). Ardyn is a shoe size 11 and she wears a M.

    When in doubt…my girls throw on their rain boots when we are headed to dance class! Favorites here: one | two | three

    Tights

    2018-08-22_0007

    Splurge:

    • Capezio– I’ve found with dance tights, more is MORE! The more expensive, the better the quality, the longer they last! I splurge for a few nice thick pairs and they last SO much longer than the thin cheapies!

    Steal:

    • Target Tights – Use in a pinch and be warned…they’ll rip after one wear and I can’t stand the seams that show.
    • Dipug Tights – Found these on Amazon & giving them a try…stay posted!

    Update:

    • *If your little one dances multiple genres, invest in nice transition tights. Q pulls the foot down for ballet, then folds it up for contemporary and acro when she dances barefoot. The capezio “ballet pink” transition tight are my favorite.

    Leotards

    2018-08-22_0006

    *I used to do all the fun leotards from my fav small IG shops, but Q’s dance studio has a strict dress code/uniform by class/level so we have to stick to the basics now. I’ll tag some of my fun IG leotard shops below for you!

    Splurge:

    • Capezio is my go-to for quality/basic dance clothes, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay full price! I find capezio deals on zappos and amazon!

    Steal:

    • Zulily always has the BEST deals on dance clothes!
    • Target their “less blingy” leotards are pretty cute! These skirted ones are sweet for tiny dancers!

    IG Shops:

    Extras

    2018-08-22_0002

    *EDIT: Our studio does NOT support the bun maker, OR any fun accessories. Haha! I was very sad to learn this…especially after perfecting the donut-bun on my girls’ hair! Q is required to wear a low, flat ballet bun–NO bows or accessories. But I’m including some for you just in case!

    Dance Books

    2018-08-22_0001

    Ivy & Bean  | Tallulah’s Tutu | Miss Lina’s Ballerinas |Ella Bella Ballerina | The Ballet Book (Q loves “big girl” books like this!) | We Love Ballet | The Yellow Tutu

    Happy Dancing!

    2018-03-10_0012

    For ideas on a fun Ballet-themed birthday party, click HERE!

    LoveJordan

  • THE Baby Favorites Post

    THE Baby Favorites Post

    Here it is- finally! The Big Baby Favorites Post I’ve been promising!! I get asked lots of questions on Instagram about my favorite “this” or “that” or get asked to link an item Max is using. SO, I figured it’d just be easier to compile one, big, easy-to-navigate blog post with ALL the information I could think of! Now you can come back and reference it, or shop anytime you want!

    A few things to note: this list is not a comprehensive registry check list, but instead a list of my personal favorite baby gear and products that I’ve discovered or used along the way! If I’ve left anything off, that you were really hoping for, please let me know! I did have some requests for favorite clothing shops and for baby toys/activities but I think for clothing just check out my instagram posts, I usually tag the shops I buy from! And I think “activities” apply more to older babies/toddlers and that’s going to have to be a separate post, seeing as how this one is already a full encyclopedia!

    I’ve divided everything in categories below and you can shop/explore one of two ways:

    1. By clicking the corresponding numbers under each collage    OR

    2. By reading the “details” section under each collage and clicking the links found there!

    I hope you find this post helpful!

    enjoy

    2018-05-08_0002

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

    Feeding Details:

    Boppy Covers- I love these beautiful linen covers by Madly Wish. The colors are so pretty and I never felt like my boppy was an eyesore when I left it out on the couch after nursing (which was always). They are soft and easy to clean. Max still uses his to drink his bottles! And guess what? They have so graciously offered to give you 20% off with code: JORDAN!!

    Oxo Bibs- There are SO many cute bib options out there so let me tell you why I love these: The top is soft (so it’s not a big ring-o-rubber around babies neck) but the bottom (where the food falls) is the durable silicone, so it’s easy to wipe clean. Also, there is a little pocket down at the bottom of the bib to catch spills and crumbs. For the life of me, I can’t understand why all bibs don’t have these little pockets! Of course, I’m talking about bibs for when your baby starts eating food- not for just “milk bibs”. My fav cloth “milk bibs” are from Copper Pearl! Use code PEARL10 for 10% off Copper Pearl goodies!!

    Spoons & bowls- Love Avanchy. I also love that they now have stainless steel options!

    Bottles- I LOVE Como Tomo so much! We tried every brand of bottle for our fussy/colic babies and this brand has been our favorite we’ve found in 7 years! I love that they are silicone and squishy. They are super easy for baby to hold/squeeze and super easy to clean (the mouth is so wide, you can literally stick your whole hand in there to clean them!) I also appreciate that these bottles are only TWO pieces to clean as opposed to a million pieces, like many of the other “colic preventing” bottles on the market! (Stay tuned for a fun giveaway with Como Tomo coming soon!)

    Bottle Drying Rack– We found this one was small and sleek enough for the kitchen counter and still had lots of room for several bottles and tops to dry at one time. Bonus points- if you use como tomo, your bottles only have two pieces that you need to hang! 😉

    Formula- I don’t want to start a debate or go into detail here but let’s just say- I’ve done my fair share of research on baby formulas. I had grand plans to breastfeed all my babes for a long period of time, but my cards played out differently for each baby and I had to learn to go with the flow & remember that “Fed is best”! We’re all just doing the best we can! That being said, when I had to go the formula route pretty early on with Ardyn, I did extensive research. I looked into ingredients in mass marketed formulas and made lists and spreadsheets. No formula is perfect, but these are the ones I have used. Baby’s Only is my favorite, but it is marketed as a “Toddler Formula” so it apparently has extra macro & micro nutrients in it. Be sure to check with your pediatrician before using.

    • First Choice: Baby’s Only Organic (I buy mine at Whole Foods. They have several options so please look at the ingredients in each and determine which specific formula of theirs is right for your baby. I linked the one I used.)
    • Second Choice: Happy Baby Organic (they have different stages for different ages, so make sure you buy the correct one!)

    Food- I made all the kids’ baby food for the first few months. But, then I switched over to pre-packaged when good ol’ life got in the way of whipping up batches of pureed carrots every week. Here are some brands that I like:

    • Happy Baby Pouches I love that the packages are clear and that the ingredients are organic and minimal. Certified USDA Organic; Non-GMO Project Verified; Gluten Free; Kosher; No added sugars or artificial flavors!
    • Nurture Life is a weekly meal delivery service that sends you fresh, wholesome, organic baby foods with several different “stages” to choose from. Use code JORDAN for $30 off your first order!

    High Chair – Bloom Fresco I know it’s (very!) pricey but we’ve had this same highchair for SEVEN years and it still looks good as new! The best part is- you can change out the seat cover color & buy spare parts off their website as things start looking like they need to be refreshed over the years. Plus it reclines & acts as a sort of “baby cradle” for those early months and then transforms with the baby as they grow. If this is your last babe, you may not want to make the investment, but if you are just getting started having babies- this high chair is highly recommended to last you through the years!

    sleeping

    Shop 1 | 2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

    Sleeping Details:

    Binkies – I loved this brand so much, even though Max decided early on that he wasn’t a binky-boy. 😦

    Gowns & Footed Pjs – Kickeepants will forever hold a special place in my heart and JUST when I thought it wasn’t possible to love them anymore, they went and came out with zippered pjs. Also, their newborn gowns are ESSENTIAL for those first few months. They make those middle of the night diaper changes SO much easier!

    Sound Machine – My kids have always loved the “ocean” sound for their white noise at night and I love how compact this one is for travel.

    Baby Shusher– This thing is AWESOME! We used it mostly as an on-the-go sound machine- on airplanes, in his stroller, carseat, etc.

    Monitor– The Nanit is my favorite monitor we’ve ever used. It comes with your choice of a stand or a wall mount and it watches your baby from above. It connects with your phone and can alert you when there is sound/movement or when the temperature in the room is out of range. It tracks your baby’s sleep patterns and how many times you go in to soothe at night. It gives you a live feed as well as “recap” videos, insights, and activity summaries. You can sign up for a $10/month plan and get emails with full breakdowns of your child’s sleep habits and it gives you sleep training tips based on the activity it has gathered from the month. This thing is BOMB! My favorite part is when Ryan and I are out on a date night, I can open the app in my phone and watch a live feed of Max snoozing away! Also, the other night, our NEST thermostat went a little haywire and the Nanit alerted me immediately that the temperature in Max’s room had dropped below optimal temperature. We went in to check and his little fingers were so chilly! No wonder he wasn’t sleeping well!

    Swaddles: Ok, I’m breaking this up into two categories, muslin swaddles and non-muslin swaddles. MY muslin favs are the “deluxe” ones from Little Unicorn Official. The “deluxe or bamboo” ones are the softest of the bunch and are SUPER lightweight- and the designs are SO cute! Max loves to snuggle with these and Ardyn still sleeps with all 500 of hers.|My non-muslin favorites, hands-down are the stretchy blankets from Copper Pearl. They are soft like butter and are SO good for getting a nice snug swaddle! We have quite the collection of these! Don’t forget to use code PEARL10 for 10% off Copper Pearl goodies!!

    Sleep Sack- I’ve tried them all. These are my absolute favorite and I shouldn’t be surprised because they are by my fav pj brand, Kickee Pants. Max uses his every night and literally cuddles right into it the second we put it on him. It’s the softest thing I’ve ever felt and I’m working on getting them to make one in my size…

    Bassinet – I loved this Monte Design Bassinet because it was sleek looking and was going in our bedroom. (Call me crazy but I’m not a huge fan of big plastic/brightly colored baby gear all over my house.) Also, the small Dock-a-tot fit perfectly inside and so did our Plum and Sparrow Moses basket. (I also always loved the Moba Baskets too!) Anyways, this bassinet was so great for those early months. I’ve passed it down to my sister because it’s just so beautiful and I NEED to see another baby in it! If you’re looking for a cheaper option- this Halo Bedside Bassinet is pretty awesome too! Or if you love the look of the rocker bassinet- THIS one is a really nice cheaper option!

    Pack & Play – Loved this Nuna Sena play yard. We kept Max in our room beyond the point of him outgrowing his bassinet. This was a great transition crib. It has an higher insert for smaller babies and was super easy to fold up and put down. We still have it and use it if we are traveling to a friend’s house for dinner, or a day at the pool and we need a place for him to nap or play safely.

    Air Sense Air Purifier This allows you to monitor and purify the air in baby’s room. “By detecting temperature, humidity, and harmful elements in the air—such as carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia—this smart air purifier releases negative ions and alerts you of indoor air quality using a free app. Two-way audio speakers connect to your Wi-Fi to play music or a recording of your voice to help soothe baby, while customizable light colors provide entertainment and sleep therapy.” This is by no means a “must-have” unless you are up all night worrying about baby like me. If so, this thing just gives you extra peace of mind.

     

     

    onthego

    Shop 1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

    On-The-Go Details:

    Cybex Carseat & Stroller System- I can’t say enough about this car seat! My only complaint was that it was heavy- but in my experience most of the car seats with the highest safety ratings tend to be a bit heavier. My favorite feature of this car seat was that it can fully recline when hooked onto the stroller base or out of the car. Perfect for turning your upright car seat stroller into more of a bassinet stroller and I loved it for when Max fell asleep in the car; I could transfer him into the house, recline the seat and not worry about him being all scrunched up! Go check it out and read up on it yourself!

    Side Note: Can I just say, even though we didn’t buy it, I’m slightly obsessed with the idea of the Doona carseat/stroller. It’s a carseat that transforms into a little stroller- it’s one piece, you guys. ONE!

    Diaper Bag & Organizer – If you saw my IG stories you will know that this duo is a match made in “diaper bag” heaven!

    Travel Stroller | cheaper version – I LOVE the Pockit for travel because it is so light & folds up so small you can put it in the overhead compartment of the airplane! They just came out with a new version that reclines and has a rounded hood! I’ve linked them both!

    Nursing cover/ Carseat cover/ Shopping Cart Cover – Copper Pearl is my Favorite!  I still use my covers for high chairs and shopping carts for Max ! Use code PEARL10 for 10% off any Copper Pearl goodies!!

    Binxy Baby– Shopping Cart Hammock. Takes up so much less room than the huge carseats in the back of the cart..so you can actually fit, you know- groceries! I LOVED this, but unfortunately Max is too big for it now. I’d say this really only lasts until your baby can sit up and/or roll over.

    Wagon- Carting around a whole family? Heading to the zoo, beach, or a million soccer games?! This Keenz wagon is LIFE! It folds up, has a fold down storage compartment that fits it’s very own insulated mini cooler, it has an attachable canopy that has fold down panels on each side, and even cup holders and phone storage! If you need to see more, go check out my “shop” highlight reel on IG. This wagon is life-changing! Totally replaces any “double stroller” needs for us! BONUS: Use code JORDAN18 for a discount! (They are restocking more colors next week!)

    Baby Carriers-

    • Favorite Sling- Sakura Bloom super comfy & easy to get baby in & out!
    • Favorite Wrap- Solly Baby (takes a minute to learn to tie but then its super easy!)
    • Favorite heavy duty carrier- Ergo Baby wore this one for hikes or long hauls!

     

     

    play

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

    Playtime Details:

    Play Gym- This is a fun little toy for when baby is still laying down but is grabbing and chewing on toys. It’s great for when you need a few minutes to shower, do laundry, etc. Max even played with it once he learned to sit up. I liked how it wasn’t an eyesore to have around the house and that you could strap different toys onto it! Max lost interest in this around the time that he started crawling.

    Jumper- This was a big hit once Max could sit up on his own. It’s great for leg muscle strengthening . I prefer this kind, where the baby’s feet touch the actual floor, as opposed to the jumpers with the plastic tray bottoms. I think it gives the baby more control over the bounce & movement.

    Bounce Chair- Max loved this chair in his early months. I loved the sleek design and how it bounced itself with the slightest movement from Max.

    Stuffed Animals- BlaBla & Jelly Cat ! All of my kids have loved these two brands. My girls still sleep with theirs from when they were babies to this day! And I’m SO excited to share that BlaBla has offered you guys a 15% off code!!!! Just use JORDANCO15 at checkout! K, bye…I’m off to shop!

    Books – Even the smallest babies can be read to and BabyLit books are my fav because the pictures are bright and colorful and the text is so simple and direct. Max still loves to look through these books together!

    Toys/Rattles Babies don’t really need a ton of “toys” but as they start gripping and chewing, I do prefer toys made of natural/organic materials for them to have in their mouths 24/7. The Tot and Banner Toys are two of my fav shops for finding  fabulous and safe chew toys and rattles! Great News: Bannor Toys is giving you guys an exclusive discount! Use code JORDAN10 until 5/31 for 10% off! (excludes bannor boxes, limited toys, and furniture)

     

     

    diapering

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

    Diapering Details:

    Wipes- I’ve been using these Water Wipes since the day they came out and I’ve never looked back! They are 99.9% water with a drop of fruit extract. Can’t get purer than that!

    Babyganics Diapers- I’m all about the organic diapers. Diapers actually contain lots of junky chemicals and they are the one product that is touching your baby’s most sensitive skin 24/7. So, I go organic- just a personal preference. Another fav are the Seventh Generation brand. I waver between the two when I’m out shopping!

    Diaper Cream- Honest brand is my fave because of the low EWG rating (1) and because it actually works. In “tough” rash cases, we use Baby Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Maximum Strength because of the high level of zinc oxide. I also love mixing coconut oil with a few drops of frankincense essential oil for a homemade rash salve.

    Bum Spatula- If you don’t own one of these, click this link and buy 50 right now. Ok, maybe not 50, but enough for every diaper change station in your house. And one for your car and one for your diaper bag! These are diaper cream applicators. No more messy fingers…in places they don’t need to be! This little tool is washable and has a suction cup bottom so you can secure it in place without making a huge mess between applying cream and finishing the diaper change!

    Hatch Baby Changing Pad AND Scale! I wanted this SO badly for Max but we just didn’t spring for it. How cool would it be to be able to track your baby’s growth at home!? This is from the website: “the smart scale records baby’s weight and sends the results to your smartphone app. The app also tracks how many diaper changes baby is getting, so you can share with your pediatrician and see if baby is getting enough to eat at each feeding!”

    Dekor Hands Free Diaper Pail – I forget what we had before this one, but I felt like it always stunk! I’ve never had that issue with this one. So it gets a thumbs up from me! Don’t forget your biodegradable pail refills!

    Gathre Changing Pad– We have one of these sweet little leather mats in the living room and in my diaper bag! I also keep one in the back of my car for emergency changes!

     

     

    bath

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

    Bathing Details:

    Baby Shampoo & Lotions – I’m a bit of a nut about safe ingredients in products- both mine and my kids! Tubby Todd has been my favorite for years now. The shampoos and bubble baths are gentle enough for the newest skin and they smell amazing as well! Their line has expanded so much since I first started using them, and now they have conditioner and detangler which I still use on my girls!

    Bath support – I’ve tried all the bath supports- from the puj tub to the big flower cushion thing…and this one is my fav! I love it because it fit in my sink, was easy to clean (and dry!) AND once Max got bigger, I could also use it in our big bath tub!

    For babies who are sitting up, but still slipping and sliding around a big bath tub, this Summer Infant anchored bath seat is pretty cool!

    Baby Bath Towels- Can I just say, as a mom who has done this three times…skip the fancy hooded baby towels (or get one or two if you must), the regular towels you already own work just as good. Excess “baby specific” towels are just a waste of money. If you really want to get one for those early newborn days, I loved this Hands free Puj Infant Towel.

    Bath Caddy– I used this one from Amazon to keep my Tubby Todd products, a few washcloths, and 1-2 baby bath toys in. I kept it stocked and ready for bath time.

    Bath Toys for Baby- They don’t need much when they are tiny, just a few things to grab and chew on. Toys for older kids will need to wait for another post. But in general I stick with simple, mold/mildew free bath toys. Here are a few of my favorites for babies: ducks | color changing bath book |boats

    Drain Cover- I’ve used this Boon Starfish since Q was a baby. Works in the sink & tub.

     

     

     

    sunscreen

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5| 6 | 7

    Sunscreen Details:

    Ok, this one’s a doozy. But, summer is upon us and there’ve been multiple requests for my favorite, most trusted sunscreens, so here’s my two cents:

    There is such a great debate about sunscreen danger vs UV danger. I get both sides and am aware and have a healthy, respectful fear of the dangers of both. I guess it boils down to this- I try to use barrier protection (hats, UV rashguard swim suits, sunglasses, and shade) as my first method of protecting my kids from the sun. But of course, they also need sunscreen. So, by now we all know that I’m super picky about safe ingredients when it comes to the products I buy and put on my family. Amplify that pickiness by 100 when it comes to sunscreen. Sunscreen has some of the MOST dangerous and most toxic ingredients and reading about it makes my skin crawl.  I try to follow EWG guidelines as often as possible with all products, but especially sunscreen. EWG (Environmental Working Group) rates each product on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the safest and 10 being the most toxic. It also gives you a list of each ingredient in the product, rates each ingredient, and tells you why it could be a potential toxin OR why it is safe. I love this site and actually have the app on my phone for easy access and for scanning products when I’m out shopping! I also always try to read up on the “Best Sunscreens of the Year” lists they put out annually. If you want to read a bit more about sunscreen safety, HERE is another article for you. But if you just want to know my favorites (based on the guidelines of both articles), here they are:

    And here’s the deal, we’re “not supposed to use sprays”. But let’s be honest…it happens. (With me anyways-especially on busy beach trips!). So here’s what I do. I look for the spray cans made by any of the above brands. Most of them are rated a “3” Which, in my opinion isn’t terrible for something you aren’t planning on using every single solitary day. A few of my fav spray brands with the best ratings that I’ve used are:

    Note: When using these more “natural” sunscreens it is KEY to apply generously and frequently- especially when you are out in the sun all day and/or swimming!

    *And since this post is all about BABIES- Please make sure you check with your pediatrician to see when you are allowed to start applying sunscreen on your baby. Most doctors don’t advise slathering on sunscreen before 6 months of age. More on that HERE.

     

     

     

    monthly

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3

    Monthly Marker Details:

    • You ALL know my absolute number one favorite are the numbered onesies by my girl Jen at Swanky Shank. She does SUCH a good job and they are customizable so you can get them in basically any color felt/onesie you want! And Woo-Hoo, use code FRIEND10 for 10% off!!
    • Another Fun option for monthly pics are these cool monthly milestone chalkboards  by Chalk Designs by Me. Use the code JORDAN10 for 10% off!
    • And I’ve always loved these milestone blankets from Batz Kids. They have so many different styles to choose from and they are just the sweetest! Use code JORDAN15 for 15% off- but HURRY code is only active for 48 hours!

     

     

    BabySafety

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |6 |7 |8

    Baby Safety Details:

    Can I just start by saying that if it’s in the budget, I HIGHLY recommend hiring a professional baby-proofer to come do this job. I thought it was going to be insanely expensive but you can have them do as much or as little as you want. For us, we had him lock all the cabinets/drawers downstairs, secure a few pieces of furniture to the walls, and cover the fire place. (We already had baby gates on the stairs!) It took all the worry out of wondering if we had done it right or covered all of our bases! If you or your hubby are extra handy & want to do it yourself, here are some products we love & use!!

    Cabinet/Drawer locks: Magnet Key | Push Latch Both have pros/cons. We wound up mixing it up in our house. Super “dangerous” cabinets (i.e. cabinets with cleaners or lots of products or medicines, etc.) and cabinets we don’t go into very often (aka the tv boxes and electrical av gear) all got the magnet locks. I thought I would HATE these and lose the magnet keys day one- but I actually love them so much- they were SO easy to install (I installed all of these myself!)…and here’s a little tip for storing your key….they stick right to your metal outlet covers! We keep our “kitchen key” right on one of the outlets on the kitchen counter! The push latches are great for drawers and cabinets that don’t have dangerous items and are places you need to get into 25 million times a day & don’t have time to grab a key to open (like kids dishes, cups, pots/pans, etc.) I call these the “annoyance factor” locks as opposed to “safety factory” locks! 😉

    Furniture & TV securing belts: super important and something I think often gets overlooked in baby proofing! We secured any tvs that weren’t on wall mounts and extra tall or heavy furniture (think dressers and bookshelves…which kids see as ladders!)

    Outlet covers : Love that these work OVER anything you have plugged in! And don’t forget your standard plug in covers for those unused outlets.

    Fireplace Cover: This was “the beaut” that our baby-proofer put over our fireplace. It’s ugly as sin but it keeps Max from grabbing the tiny (choking hazard) stones that are in there & it’s pressure mounted so super easy to remove if you have guests over or want to light a fire! Be sure to measure your fireplace opening first!

    Toilet Seat Locks: I like these because they don’t require adhesive.

    Stair Baby Gates: I think this is SUCH a case-by-case situation. For our house, we have dark wood floors and wrought iron spindles so I wanted a gate that was dark & would blend in. I suggest matching your spindles when selecting a baby gate for your stairs. Also, consider your stair opening. The top of our stairs is pretty standard, but the base of our steps is super wide. We actually found this gate: North States Super Gate that worked perfectly for the bottom of our steps. It comes in white as well. For the top we used a standard sized baby gate. Both are screw in…because you don’t want to mess around with stairs. Especially tall, hardwood stairs like ours! But if you’d rather not screw into your nice banisters, they sell these awesome ADAPTERS now! So cool!!

    Here’s another tip: on the top of your stairs avoid the gates that have the bar at the bottom. These are SO dangerous and are such tripping hazards- both for kiddos and for anyone who may be carrying babies down the stairs. Instead, get a SWING GATE like THIS ONE that bolts to your walls/beams and swings open…no bar at the base!

    Regular Baby Gates: For baby gates around the house (like to keep Max out of a certain hallway of our house) I go pressure mounted gate all the way! No need to put holes in the walls for something that isn’t going to be a permanent fixture! I love THIS ONE because the size is adjustable with extensions and I love the auto close feature!!

    Chokeable Items: Ok, this is a tricky one because it’s two-fold process for us: it’s about controlling new toys/items that come into the house and also trying to sort through old toys/items that you already have lying around! So, for ALL new toys that come into our house, I go through the packaging and remove any choking hazards before giving them to the girls. These tiny pieces get tossed or get put in special storage (more on that below). It’s easy(ish) to control new items that come into your house, but it’s hard to sort through the massive piles & bins of toys that you already have! So here’s what I did: I trained my girls to find “chokeables” and bring them to me. I’m not kidding! Ardyn was doing it the DAY we brought Max home from the hospital! I swear, train your older kiddos and they will be your biggest helpers in finding random chokables around the house. If need be, keep little smarties or m&m candies and tell the bigger kids they get one every time they bring you a chokable they find. You’ll be shocked at what they find, ahem…what you missed! 😉

    Of course, sweeping your house for choking hazard items doesn’t mean your big kids can’t play with their smaller pieced toys anymore- it just means (in our house, anyways) that these toys/games are stored up high and are items that the girls need to get permission before playing with…which isn’t a problem because they can’t reach them anyways! Ha! This applies to small legos, LOL dolls, Barbie shoes & accessories, games with small playing pieces, etc. When the girls come and ask to play one of those things, I take them down, set them up at a table where Max cannot reach and I supervise play. Here are some of our favorite storage bins for chokeable toys! ONE | TWO

     

     

    gifts

    Shop 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

    Extras & Gift Ideas Details:

    KiwiCo Newborn Pack – Such a cute and easy gift idea! All these sweet newborn items delivered right to your (or your recipient’s) door! Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway on my IG coming soon!

    Paci Clips from Madelines’s Box are super cute for keeping those binkies clipped on to your baby! Use code JM25 for a discount, valid until 7/10/18

    Don’t underestimating buying clothes/pjs in a bigger size (for your baby or as a gift item) There’s nothing like getting to six months and realizing your baby no longer fits in any of the newborn stuff you hoarded like a pack rat!

    “First Bows” for baby girls – Zozu Baby and Ellia May Designs are two of my favs and they both have really cute “It’s a Girl” free bow gifting programs! ZoZu Baby even has little man bow ties for those baby boys! AND Discount codes for everyone!!! Use code JORDAN20 (at both ZoZu & Ellia May Designs) for 20%!!

    Miracle Milkookies deliver yummy lactation cookies to new mamas. Right now they are local to Dallas, TX but they have a nationwide launch happening this summer- YAY!     Use code JORDANANDCO for 25% off your first order!

    A beautiful baby book- I ADORE this Birthday Letters journal. I do birthday letters for my babes in generic journals I picked up but I would’ve loved to have had them collected in a beautiful book like this!

    Cute Organic Teethers are always a cute gift topper! Tip: When the sole purpose of an item is for a baby to put it in his/her mouth and chew on it…I always go organic/natural !

    Beautiful Personalized Stationary from Shop Joy Creative. It may seem funny to give a tiny baby stationary, but I promise it will come in handy- for those early thank you cards and as they grow throughout their first year! I LOVE my stationary for Max and use it often! Use code JORDAN20 for a discount!!

    Personalized Wooden Toy from Banner Toys are so beautiful AND last forever! Don’t forget about your discount code: JORDAN10 until 5/31 for 10% off! (excludes bannor boxes, limited toys, and furniture)

    I love gifting a pair of Kickee Pants pjs with a cute stuffed animal or book. Kickee Pants now has their own stuffed animals, books, AND wrapping supplies based on their fabric prints. How cool is that?!!? Use the exclusive code: YAY for 15% off all Kickee Pants Press products- expires 5/13 so hurry, hurry!

    If there are big siblings involved it’s always nice to get them a little something too. I’ll never forget how happy it made the girls when visitors brought even just a tiny something for them to say “congrats on becoming a big sister!” I love THIS Art Set for a gender neutral idea!

    For a few other fun baby gifting ideas see THIS post!

     

     

    no

    Things we didn’t use but others swear by:

    1| The Dock-aTot– As soon as Max could roll over he was a tummy sleeper, so that made the Dock unusable for us…even though we had one! I was SO sad!! Also, we travel a lot and didn’t want Max to develop a sleep dependency and then have to travel with it everywhere we went. That being said, so many of my friends SWEAR by theirs AND travel with them everywhere they go.

    2 |The Owlet– We bought one and tried using it but it set off so many false alarms, I found myself to be a nervous wreck all the time thinking something was terribly wrong. We stopped using it and had Max sleep in his bassinet (and then a pack & play as he grew) next to us, in our bedroom, for probably much longer than we should’ve. But again, I have friends and doctors who absolutely swear by these monitors! 😉

    3 |Baby Brezza- For those of you who don’t know, this thing is like a Keurig for Baby Formula. Ok, here’s the deal with this product: we had a friend sell us hers when Max started transitioning over to formula and it was GENIUS! I was hooked immediately. It mixes your formula one bottle at a time and serves it at room temp all at the touch of a button. Now, if you breastfeed you obviously don’t need this and I didn’t need it until recently. It really was a game changer & made the transition so much easier. BUT. It says to clean it regularly- which I did. However, one day I was trying to fix something that wasn’t working properly and when the insides opened up it was filled with mold. I threw up, I cried, I called the doctor immediately. I was thoroughly disgusted. SO. I’m not sure what went wrong here- because I’m a neat-freak/germaphobe and cleaned it regularly, per the instructions. It could’ve been a fluke, but I was completely turned off from this product so I won’t even link it here.

    4 |The Beebo – We bought one. Don’t ask me why. But never used it once. Maybe you can try it and let me know what I was missing?

    5 |Newborn Mittens and Pee TeePees (for little boys)- bought both, never used either! We opted for the Kickee Pants pjs with the fold over hand mitts instead.

    6| Amber Necklaces for teething. I just never really got into these little guys. I think maybe the potential choking hazard freaked me out? I don’t know. I know LOTS of people who use them and say they are amazing but I guess my kiddos were just never really bad enough teethers to warrant getting one.

  • Max’s First Birthday

    Max’s First Birthday

    “Wild ONE”

    2018-05-02_0024

    Some HOW, Some WAY this tiny newborn of mine turned a full year old. I’m just over here trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve known this sweet boy {on the outside} for 365 days. It’s pretty unbelievable- in the fact that I can’t believe how fast it went, but also in the fact that I can hardly remember life without him.

    Anyways, all sentimental mommy emotions aside…here is what we did to celebrate our little MAX!

    We went with the “Wild ONE” theme because, first of all his name is MAX and this  costume from last Halloween kind of set the whole thing in motion. And secondly- because this kid is pretty much the definition of WILD!image1(1).jpeg

    We decided against a big party this year and just celebrated low-key with family. Of course I went over-the-top with decorations, but that’s just to be expected… 😉

    Max’s birthday started the same way we start all the kids’ birthdays since Q was born: their “Annual Birthday Balloon Wake-up”! We all piled into the Birthday Boy’s room with a ton of balloons and sang him “Happy Birthday!”

    He hated it.

    No literally, he cried.

    2018-05-02_00022018-05-02_0001

    It’s always been a tradition to decorate the mantle for holidays & birthdays. So, of course, Max’s birthday was no exception! I’ll link that cute green “ride-on” bike below with everything else!

    2018-05-02_0003

    We had a normal day and then had all of our family members come over for a casual dinner that night. We ate, drank, open presents, and had cake– simple…like in the olden days. (But with a dining room decorated like the jungle, and goodie bags for the girls, and a million balloons. Ok.  So- NOT simple. But, simpler than a big old party!) 😉

    2018-05-02_00062018-05-02_00122018-05-02_00082018-05-02_00102018-05-02_0007

    2018-05-02_0011One fun idea I (and by “I”, I mean Pinterest) had was for everyone to write a little note to Max in a copy of “Where the Wild Things Are”. I’ll save it along with the birthday cards he received from anyone who couldn’t be here. 2018-05-02_0009

    I decided last minute to give the girls tiny goodie bags. I filled them with fun trinkets like stickers, slime bath bomb (to use in the OUTDOOR water table- NOT in our bathtub), some surprise packs, and a few treats.) I figured it would make the “boring grown up dinner” a little more festive for them….AND keep them occupied for a bit, so that us “boring grown ups” could talk!

    2018-05-02_0004

    Another great idea that just kind of fell into place was the idea of this mini “photo booth”. I still had the piano room set up from Max’s cake smash shoot, so I just took out the high chair, replaced it with a bench and had my family take turns taking pictures there with Max. Turned into a cute idea! I think I’ll print the pics and put them in his “Wild Things” memento book!2018-05-02_0005

    (Sidebar: For the animal party hats. I bought plain party hats and the animal ear headbands separately. I then just glued the animal ears to the party hats!! 🙂 )

    In lieu of a party, (and also because I like to celebrate my kids’ birthdays for more than one day) we spent the next day at the zoo together. We had so much fun!

    2018-05-02_00152018-05-02_00132018-05-02_00172018-05-02_00182018-05-02_00142018-05-02_0016

    And we can’t forget Max’s “cake smash”! I had this sweet little “Wild Thing” cake made by a local bakery called  Fancy Cakes by Lauren and it was perfect…and delicious! (See ya, later snobby old Society Bakery! See HERE for why!) 😉2018-05-02_00202018-05-02_00212018-05-02_00232018-05-02_00222018-05-02_00252018-05-02_00262018-05-02_00272018-05-02_00282018-05-02_00292018-05-02_0030

    Honestly, despite the smiles- Max HATED the cake smash. He was angry when his fingers got dirty and he didn’t get even a little bit happy until we gave him a spoon. He “tasted” the frosting once or twice but mostly just enjoyed hammering the cake with the spoon.2018-05-02_0031

    And just because before and afters are fun….

    Good work, Bud!

    2018-05-02_0032

    And then lastly, I took his final #ayeartotheMax picture. I delayed for a few days because I was NOT ready for these monthly pictures to be over. They were so fun to do and I KNEW how quickly it would all fly by. I may or may not have cried when I took this last one.

    Fastest year of my LIFE!!!

    But, also…the very BEST year with my little family of five!!!

    2018-05-02_0019

    Happy {WILD} O-N-E, sweet Max-a-roo!! We love you, Moose Man!

    Links

    “One Wild Year”, “Wild One” and Animal Print Pendant Banners are all from my favorite, FAVORITE go-to spot for all my party banner & felt ball garland needs –Pearl & Jane!!

    Max’s “Wild One” Tee | Max’s “Wild Thing” Tee | Max’s adorable “1” crown | Max’s adorable Monthly onesies  | Girls’ Zoo Dresses

    Animal Face Plates | Leaf Plates | Striped Plates  | Snake Cups| Party Hats | Animal Ear Headbands | Green Fringe Garland |Small Animal Balloons: Lion , Panda Bear, Monkey, Tiger , Crocodile , Hippo|Flamingo Balloon- Target Dollar spot, similar one HERE | Large Zebra Balloon | Large Crocodile Balloon | Wild One Balloons | Fake Palm & Banana Leaves- Target Dollar spot | Snake Party Blowers | Max’s green “bike” present

     

    LoveJordan

     

     

  • Q’s Room Makeover

    Q’s Room Makeover

    The decision to give Q’s room “a little facelift” started with my ridiculous desire to wallpaper every room in the house. Add in recent discussions we were having about switching out her queen bed for two twins and the decision to redo the ENTIRE room was basically made FOR us.

    Me.

    It was definitely all my fault idea.

    Once I knew I wanted to do twin beds I started wrestling with the idea of which wall to wallpaper, the “window wall” where her queen bed originally sat, OR the big empty wall to the right. I “polled the audience” 😉 and you guys helped me decided to not only wallpaper the big empty wall but also to move the bed/s to that all. I was hesitant at first but I have to say- I love how the room flows now. It actually feels bigger and now Q & A can have their weekly sleepovers in Q’s room without complaining about who picked their nose and who-kicked-who in bed!

    Ok I’ll stop talking now because I know ya’ll just want to see the pictures. BUT, if you’re interested in a “before” picture to compare what we’ve done and changed, here is the link to Q’s Orginal Room.

    Here it is, Q’s “Big Girl” Room Reveal:

    enjoy

    2018-04-23_0001 Notice how many baskets I’ve worked into the room? This allows Q to have (hidden) places to put all of her “stuff” (i.e. books, her prayer rock, mp3 player, giant yellow emoji pillow that doesn’t match the room, baby dolls, stuffed animals, pokemon cards, etc.) I think it’s important for kiddos to have places to store items they love- it also. makes clean-up/hiding things much easier & helps keep the room looking put together.

    2018-04-23_0002I tried to take Quin & her interests into consideration as much as possible when picking out decorations. You can find traces of her love of mermaids, her shell collections, her love of dance, music, and reading, and her dream of one day going to Paris scattered around the room. Look closely…I tried to pick items that hold meaning to Q instead of just things I thought were “pretty”.  Even something as simple as putting reading sconces over the beds have made her little book-loving heart SO happy!2018-04-23_0004Who spotted the monitor camera hidden behind the golden elephant?! Yes, I still spy. 2018-04-23_0005Lots of people thought that door next to the bed was the door to the hallway, but it is actually Q’s bathroom & closet. I wouldn’t have put the beds on that wall if they were up against the main entrance like that. 2018-04-23_00062018-04-23_0007This record player has been one of my favorite purchases for her “big girl room”.  Q listens to stories and music before bed and on “sleepover nights” Q & A put on records and dance and act them out (everything is a “show” with these two!) Plus, collecting old vintage records has been SO. MUCH. FUN! Think The Greatest Showman soundtrack will come out on vinyl?!! (Update: it HAS, and I already ordered it!!!) 😉2018-04-23_00082018-04-23_0009I kept certain items from her “baby” room because she’s still only six- even if her room is a little more sophisticated now. Her little pink dollhouse and baskets of stuffed animals remind me that she’s still my baby. I know one day they’ll be replaced with “bigger girl” items. But not today! 😉 2018-04-23_00102018-04-23_0011This Petal Lane “being yourself” quote is actually a magnet board! I think it will be fun for Q to tack pictures to it as she gets older. And that DREAM sign stayed from her old room (it actually lights up and serves as a night light) and I just repainted the frame around it to pop against the newly white walls. (They used to be grey).2018-04-23_00122018-04-23_00132018-04-23_00142018-04-23_0015This gorgeous fiber art rainbow was the pièce de résistance for the room. It’s my a favorite thing EVER and I now need one for every room in the house! And how pretty is that gold foil Eiffel Tower print? (I love breaking up a book shelf with a pretty piece of framed art!) You should’ve seen Q’s face when she saw this. It’s her “dream” to go see the Eiffel Tower one day! Both items are linked, along with everything else, below.2018-04-23_0016Here’s a little TIP for decorating book shelves: If the highest shelf is out of reach for your kiddos try finding books with pretty covers and then ONLY putting the book covers on display on the highest shelf. Tell your kiddos what you’ve done so they don’t go reaching for them. Here’s why I do this: 1.Kids won’t get hurt trying reach for out-of-reach books (aka no heavy books will come crashing down on their heads) and 2. You can put the actual books in a bin somewhere at their level so they can still enjoy the books without them just being “decorations” up high on a shelf, collecting dust.2018-04-23_00172018-04-23_00182018-04-23_00192018-04-23_0020

    Hope you liked her little room tour! Links and a collage for pinning are below!

    XOXO

    LoveJordan

    

    Links

    | Wallpaper | Beds | Rainbow Fiber Art | Wall Book Shelves |  Hanging Chair |Fiddle- is real 😉 | Fiddle Planter | Pink Gingham Pillow cover | ottoman pouf | Gold rolling basket | Stuffed Mermaids | Floral Pillow Cases | Dalmatian Pillow Cases | All other accent throw pillows were found at Home Goods and Target | Book Shelf |Wicker storage baskets | Golden Elephant | Unicorn ipod speaker (Pottery Barn- No longer available) | Book Ends | Dresser | Pom Garland | Dream Sign | Giant frame found at Hobby Lobby & spray painted (similar one HERE) | Pink Dollhouse (Pottery Barn, not available online- similar one HERE) | “Beautiful” quote art | Mirror from Home Goods, similar one HERE, or HERE is a cheval option! | Big Basket |Pink Pom Throw blanket | wooden monogram | Record Player | Comforters | Gold Foil Eiffel Tower Print |Bulb Sconces | Ceiling Light Fixture |Rug is old PBK but here are two similar options: ONE & TWO | Pink Drapes | White Ruffle Blackout Drapes | Girls Play Gowns | Doll Strollers

    Books

    Julia, Child | Gaston | Flora and the Flamingos |Someday |I Had a Favorite Dress   (w/cover removed)| Madeline | A Little Princess | The Book with No Pictures | Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet

    

    pin meQsRoomCollage

  • Master Makeover

    Master Makeover

    I know I said I’d post this ages ago, but…life. Anyways, when we moved into our house we did the kids’ rooms and the living spaces first and just kinda left our bedroom hanging until recently. We didn’t do much to the bedroom, aside from a few new pieces of furniture, but we did gut the bathroom and redo that com-plete-ly. We finally have a place in the house that feels like our own….that is, until the barbies and sailboats make their way into the bathtub and I find teddy bears and Cub’s “frankies” buried under my bed sheets. Ah, kids.

    Wouldn’t have it any other way.

    bedroom

    2018-03-21_00012018-03-21_00022018-03-21_00042018-03-21_0003

    The pillows on our bed are constantly changing…whenever I find new ones I love I change them out. And this little couch/reading nook is new. It used to be where we kept a mini crib for the babies and a little rocking chair…but times are a’ changin (sob!!) so we made this nook over so that it was a place we could lounge and drink coffee in the morning and read books and the newspaper. BAHAHAHA. Yeah right….three kids, remember? This couch will mostly likely remain un-sat-upon for the next 10 years. But, hey…it looks pretty! 😉

    And yes, I know we need new family pictures…

    Bedroom Links:

    Juju Hat | Bed| Rug|Nesting Tables |Books 1 2 3 | Dragonfly |Knit Wool Blanket |Velvet Couch|White Pouf |Faux Fur Rug- Home Goods (similar one HERE) |Arched Floor Lamp |Grey Ruffle Throw Pillows on Bed- Home Goods (similar HERE) | Couch Throw Pillows – all from Home Goods (similar options Home, Rose, and Faux fur ) | Side Tables- Wisteria (out of stock) |Lamps (can’t remember, but similar style HERE) |Benches

    (I’ve tried to link everything but if something isn’t linked it’s because we’ve had it for ages and I cant remember where we got it.)

     

    bathroom

    2018-03-28_00052018-03-21_00052018-03-28_00022018-03-28_00032018-03-28_0004

    Here are a few before pictures:

    2018-03-29_0001

     

    The tub was my “project” and the shower was Ryan’s baby. He wanted to knock out all that unused space and make it all into one giant enclosed shower space. We installed an aromatherapy steam system so we could do fun things like “take eucalyptus steams after work-outs”. It’s great.  Now all I need to do is start working out….

    The shower also has Bluetooth speakers so we can sync our phones and listen to music, etc. The girls think this is the best part and there have been many “Greatest Showman Dance Parties” in there. It is pretty great for bathing the girls at once, I have to say. There’s a giant rain shower head in the middle (which I think got cut off in the pictures) and then two regular shower heads. So the girls and I can jump in and I don’t need to share my hot water with anyone! 😉 So yeah, I guess I’m kinda happy Ryan was all about creating the ultimate spa shower. Although, the tub is really my happy place.

    Oh, and yes, the Fiddle is fake (most asked question). I’m not a fan of fake plants (despite my black thumb) but the shades are almost always closed (because, privacy) so I needed something that looked pretty but could do without much light. I think this one looks pretty real. Plus, I don’t need to replace it every few months. Win-win!

    As far as the rug goes, I know some of you might be confused because you helped me vote on Instagram between the blue one and the beautiful pink/orange Turkish rug and NEITHER one of those is pictured above. I wound up finding this rug from TARGET you guys!!! But don’t worry, the beautiful Turkish rug found a home in the laundry room…which gets much more action these days anyways. 😉

    Bathroom Links:

    Fiddle Leaf Fig| Rug | Light Fixture| Sinks & Faucets| Towel Basket- Home Goods (similar HERE ) | Dyson Blowdryer (warning: splurge pricing! Got it for Christmas last year!!) | Curling Iron | Pink Turkish Towel | Pink turkish hand towel |Candle and stand – Home Goods finds but similar one HERE! | Bath tray | Acrylic Vanity stool (Cheaper option HERE & HERE )| Acrylic Shower Table/Stools (Cheaper Option HERE !) | Bath Tub and here are some other similar styles: One Two Three | Tub Filler/Faucet| Hair Tools Caddy |Products…now THAT’S a post for another day! 😉