products

Life’s Essentials | Newborn Favorites

Categories favorites, kids, life's essentials, motherhood, products, Uncategorized1 Comment on Life’s Essentials | Newborn Favorites

Although its been a minute since I’ve had a newborn in the house, I’m currently going through a purging phase. I have SO MUCH STUFF I’ve hidden away, or that was stored after Aubrey grew out of it and then brought back out for Blake.  Blake is now on to toddlerhood (cue the proud Mama/yet wants to keep her a baby forever tears) and it’s time to pass along the baby items. I did a couple posts a long time ago about the key things we registered for with Aubrey and our newborn faves, but now that I’ve gone through it twice, I’d love to share another perspective!

 

Newborn Favorites

 

When I was registering and looking for baby gear during my first pregnancy, I felt like I was focusing on what was new, trendy, and looked nice. Looking back, there was a few things that really ended up being worth it – but for the most part, just because its new or fancy does not mean functional! By baby #2, function wins every time!
Diaper bag | a backpack style diaper bag is just so helpful! Carrying a shoulder bag, and an infant car seat, and probably and bag or two of groceries is just a set up for disaster. My bag was constantly falling off my shoulder. I felt like I was always leaning to one side to keep it up which made carrying an awkward newborn even more uncomfortable! I invested in a Skip Hop backpack when I was pregnant with our second and I’ll never go back! Super comfortable and frees up your hands for the other 10 million things you need to carry! There are so many cute options now too!
Things for baby to go in | Lets face it, most of the time babies want to be held. But when you do get that time they’ll sleep or hang out somewhere else besides in your arms, you need somewhere to put them! We had quite a few “things for our babies to go in”, but we had the best luck with the Rock n’ Play for napping or just hanging out when they were little little! As for bed time, I loved the Halo Bassinest. I could adjust it so they were the perfect height for me to see them even while I was laying in bed! I could swivel it over when I needed to get them out, and even rock it a bit if they were fussing.
Carriers | For the times they don’t want to be put down (basically always) baby carriers saved me – especially with my second! I found that the Baby K’tan had the feeling of a wrap, but was super simple to use and I loved it when Blake was a newborn!! Once she got big enough to support herself a little better, I moved into my Beco Gemini and haven’t looked back (we are still using it at 14 months)!
Nursing | I literally felt like I was nursing the majority of the hours of my day. Along with a good Netflix series, a super long phone charger cable, and plenty of snacks I recommend a water bottle you love and an awesome nursing pillow. I tried a few, but the My Breast Friend Pillow was always the sturdiest and most helpful for me! I also loved the little pocket on the front to store my phone/water/snacks when I would get up and move.
Sleeping | Sleep is like a four letter word for my babies, but if I did have any luck it was because of swaddling and sound. We still use these sound machines to this day anywhere that they’re napping! And the Halo Sleepsack Swaddles have always been our favorites! Once they grew out of wanting to be swaddled we used the sacks without the velcro arms. Perfect to act as a blanket for them!
Newborns don’t need much – but these items definitely saved us during those crazy weeks of feeling like a mombie.  I wish you luck with your new babe if you’ve got one on the way!!
xoxo
Whitney

Brushing with Plaque HD

Categories products, UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Brushing with Plaque HD

Getting ready each day can be a chore with two young girls! As much as I hate to admit it, I cut some corners to save time some days!  I use my fair share of dry shampoo, do an extra deodorant application here and there, and have done a quick wipe down with a baby wipe a time or two.  One thing I cannot ever skip is brushing my teeth! Not only is the idea of oral health important, but who doesn’t love the fresh minty feeling afterwards?!

I’ve had a chance to experience Plaque HD toothpaste and I’m excited to share it with you!

img_7095

Plaque HD toothpaste uses Targetol Technology to highlight the plaque on teeth in a vibrant green.  Nothing like a visual guide to get you to brush more thoroughly, right?! I love knowing which areas of my mouth needed some extra attention that I may have been neglecting before!

My least favorite part of going to the dentist is when they scrape the plaque and I’ll be less anxious to go knowing I’m doing a better job cleaning myself!

img_7096img_7092

I’ve been brushing with confidence knowing that Plaque HD is a natural way to clean my teeth and remove plaque without using harsh chemicals. You can get a healthy mouth too by visiting the Plaque HD website.

xoxo

Whitney

|products used for this post were provided to me, but all opinions are my own|

Color Inspiration | August 2017

Categories products, Uncategorized1 Comment on Color Inspiration | August 2017

One of my good friends Sharon is also a lifestyle blogger over at Mama Chit Chat. We met in a mommy and me class for my oldest and her youngest and have stuck with our friendship beyond class since then! We both participate in other link ups we love and decided, “Hey…why don’t we host one?”. And here we are! Our first monthly link up sharing things that inspire us in a pretty way – by color. We would love to have you join us! This month – Red!

img_5475

RED| There is still over a month left of summer and we are taking advantage of the sweet berries right now! My dad brought us a flat fresh from Oxnard the other day and I’m pretty sure my girls would eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if they could! I love using my Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray to make sure they’re squeaky clean for the girls!

Strawberries
img_1636
raspberry

(strawberry close up and raspberry images via Google)

RED| If ya’ll know me, you’d know I’m not a lipstick gal.  I’ve always been chapstick obsessed but never made the effort to wear lipstick.  Between having to re apply it all the time, worrying about it on my teeth, or smudging when I ate…I just decided it wasn’t worth it. Enter LipSense – the lipcolor taking the mom groups by storm.  I swiped on this everlasting, smudge-proof lip color at a friends house for the first time and knew I could get on board. All the things I disliked about traditional lipstick were a non issue! Now I’m not saying I wear it all the time (heck, my daily routine is a layer of mascara if I’m lucky) but if I’m making the effort to put on a full face of makeup and get dressed, I love adding it to complete my look! The most daring color of all…RED! Try it. You won’t regret it. My girl Melanie can answer all of your burning questions and get it in your hands ASAP!

blu red

RED| I can’t have a post all about red without bringing up Ningxia Red! If you follow me on any other social media platforms, you’ll know that we are a Young Living family! I love to incorporate essential oils into our daily routines and have made a few changes with our household products (nothing crazy…I still shop at Target and wear deodorant – don’t worry!).  One of my favorite additions to enhance my health has been drinking Ningxia Red, Young Living’s antioxidant rich drink. I love the support for my energy levels, and knowing it’s benefiting my body down to the cellular level!

IMG_6760
IMG_6776
IMG_6784

That’s my RED inspiration for the month! What is inspiring you? Are you seeing red everywhere reminding you of back to school? Or that infamous bullseye that we can’t stay away from and love to give all of our money to? (side note: I’ve heard Target is changing brands/layout and so much more! I’ve been steering clear if I don’t truly “need” anything but I’m excited to see the changes!)

I cannot wait to come together next month with all the BLUE things! Want to link up? Look below!

Add this graphic to your post and link up below! We would love to share your post with others!

img_5488

LINK UP!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…its a great way to find new blogs and be found!

xoxo

Whitney

Summer Essentials

Categories essentials, kids, motherhood, products, Uncategorized1 Comment on Summer Essentials

Summer in So Cal brings longer days and so much sunshine! It used to mean spending weekends floating on a raft with a cocktail in hand, BBQing with friends and family every week, and staying up late to enjoy the warm summer nights. Fast forward a couple of years and adding 2 young kids to the mix, and our ideas of a summer day and night have changed a bit! We spend more time figuring out how to avoid the direct sun as we used to preparing cocktails and even though its still light out, our bedtime routine must stay consistent because tired kids are cranky kids!

Here’s a few things that are getting us through the summer!

Summer Essentials

pool float | after sun spray | kid’s sun hat | striped bag | water table | water shoes | tumbler |

Going to Grandma’s pool has been a favorite activity this summer! Pool time tip: wait until the afternoon! We’ve been going after nap time to help us get through those last couple of hours before dad gets home, and also to avoid that prime time sun! Even so, I love that the float we have has a shade and we also use UV protecting bucket hats for the girls.  They don’t always keep them on, but we try! Aubrey LOVES to get out and go to the side to jump to us! But the 100 degree heat gets any type of floor way hot! Having on these non slip water shoes makes it so easy to transition from concrete to pool without worrying about burnt toes! They’re great at the splash pad or in our own yard when playing with the water table too! Speaking of – the water table is a genius idea! Small enough for it not to be such an ordeal to set up, but fun enough to provide hours of entertainment! We keep ours under the patio by a drain because this just screams “splash in me!” and “scoop it up and dump it out!” to our toddler apparently. But we love it! So easy to add sand toys, cups, rubber ducks, paint brushes (to “paint” the concrete with water) and the girls both have so much fun.

The last few items make my life so much easier! That striped bag is from Initials, Inc and literally can hold EVERYTHING you could possibly need on a summer day! Changes of clothes, towels, snacks, diapers & wipes, camera…you name it! I had mine personalized with WM because I also am using it when I travel with my essential oils set up, but they have all sorts of fun graphics or fonts to make it a perfect summer bag – and personalization is FREE! Packing up, making sure kids stay safe from the sun and in the water, and fed can be exhausting for this mom and you know what I usually forget? All of those things for myself! A large stainless steel cup is perfect because it will stay cold for so long and I love to add some combo of citrus essential oils, so I avoid plastic.  The other savior this summer has been my Young Living after sun spray! I’ve unfortunately passed on my sensitive skin to my girls and even when taking precautions, the sun and chlorine are not so nice to us! I feel good using this spray on myself and the kids because its so clean and it brings a cool and refreshing relief whether we just feel hot or if the sun kissed us a little too hard! This is a brand new product this year and we are obsessed! (If you have no idea what I’m talking about with my citrus essential oils or Young Living, you can read up here or scroll around on my Instagram!)

img_2983
IMG_6362
img_2620
IMG_6367

Do you have any Summer Essentials that you can’t live without? I’d love for you to share!

Have a wonderful Summer!

Whitney

Newborn Favorites

Categories favorites, kids, products, UncategorizedLeave a Comment on Newborn Favorites

now that Aubrey is past the newborn stage and we are finally getting into a groove, I wanted to share some of the things that we {mostly I} loved when she was a bitty {and still do}!

Newborn Favorites
nipple balm. it took me over a month to try this cream.  I had been using ‘boobease’, and lanolin in the beginning and they were no match for the not so good latch that Aubrey had. this stuff was a lifesaver!
maternity tank. I totally have a mom uniform, and these are apart of it! these Liz Lange tanks from Target are awesome! so soft, long and stretchy! perfect for nursing {I always like to pull the neck down instead of the whole shirt up}, can be worn on their own or under a sweater or button up.
leggings. also apart of the uniform! I’ve been wearing these Gap leggings throughout by pregnancy.  they’re super soft, don’t fall down and I just love them!
bassinet. up until last night, literally, Aubrey has slept in the Halo Bassinest.  I originally planned on using the rock n’ play for night time, but I was nervous about her preferring sleeping so cozy in there and on an incline. the bassinest has been great! I loved that I could roll over and see her right there, even reach over and touch her 100 times a night without getting up! #lazymomproblems one of the big things they advertise about this is the side that lowers so you can easily get out the baby from bed. I felt that it was a little awkward/difficult to push down, but I guess it helped out nonetheless! also, it has a wide base that sits on the floor. super stable, but for people with itty bitty bedrooms like me, it BARELY fit on the side of my bed!
nursing pillow. I have loved having the My Breast Friend pillow. I didn’t realize how much I took it for granted until I got a Boppy as a back up.  the MBF pillow latches on, so it doesn’t scoot away from your stomach when the baby is laying there and it is also ridiculous looking but awesome that I could walk around the house and it would just help support her enough that I didn’t have to put her full weight on my arms! again… #lazymomproblems I do wish it wasn’t so difficult to get the cover on and off and that the pillow itself could be washed, but its foam so you can’t. also, the pocket is super convenient…phone, nursing bra pads, etc.
rock n play. even though I didn’t use the rock n play for bedtime, in the early weeks Aubrey napped in this all the time with me out in the living room! now, we use it for her to play in while I’m in the kitchen, when we are eating dinner, when I’m doing laundry and want to move her around the house! basically anytime she is over being on the floor and I can’t hold her that moment, this will buy us some extra time! I’ve always wished it had an attaching bar so she could have toys overhead! then when I bought one for our friends for their baby shower, the one they registered for had it!! its a bit late now, but I wish they had sold it separately!
swaddle. after one of our prep classes at Kaiser where they talked about the Halo Sleepsack, I had it in my head that it was the only one we should use because it was ‘Kaiser approved’.  it ended up being great {even though I’ve tried other ones and am not so neurotic about it anymore}! she can still get her arms out sometimes, even when she was a few weeks she could, but I really like it!
water bottle. just like pregnancy, I am eating and drinking ALL. THE. TIME! a water bottle you love to carry around from room to room, or multiple to keep around the house, was essential. I noticed myself not having enough hands to carefully carry a cup, so a bottle has been perfect!
pacifier. even though Aubrey only used a pacifier correctly for like 2 weeks around 2.5 months, she still loves her Wubbanub pacifier! she chews on the side of it and cuddles geoffrey the giraffe all the time!
netflix. this is totally just for mom, but I’ve spent countless hours on the couch feeding, burping, and napping with the baby! I don’t think I could have made it through if I didn’t have 11 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy to get me to that 3 month mark!

I’m sure there are many more favorites, some being super obvious {what would I have done with out Scary Mommy and mom.me articles on Facebook at 1, 3 and 5 am}, but those are the ones that stood out in my forgetful mind! Aubrey is already approaching the 6 month mark and there are SO many new things about to happen and I’m so excited! eating, crawling, more interest in toys…anyone have any good recommendations for this stage? happy Monday friends!

Baby Registry {first timers}

Categories pregnancy, products, Uncategorized2 Comments on Baby Registry {first timers}
registering for a baby as first time parents can be the most overwhelming and daunting task! to me, it was an opportunity to make a huge list of things that I got to cross off – so naturally I was so excited to start! to be honest, I had our entire registry done, added to, changed, deleted and done again before I even brought it up to my husband {I think he would have thought I was more crazy than he knows already}! 😉
I referenced my trusty regular blog reads {Little Baby Garvin, A. Liz Adventures, The Small Things Blog, & The Wise Baby}, friends and family, Google and the suggestions on the Babies R Us and BabyList registry sites. I came up with a gigantic list of necessities as well as wants that hopefully blend well to give us the perfect mix of what we need and will love for our little miss in just 2 short months! I’ve picked a few of the items I was most excited to register for to go through. Any other suggestions?
{I plan to be back in a few months with a review of how our registry picks turn out for us!}

baby registry: first timers
this one can be classified as a necessity and a want! obviously a bouncer/swing of some sort is something used often by moms, but I’m hoping the small design, multiple motions and many sound options justify splurging on this item! it was given as a gift and was set up at my baby shower…it was definitely a conversation piece for those who had never heard of it before!
two. My Breast Friend nursing pillow
the Boppy is probably the most common nursing pillow around {I mean there is basically an entire aisle of them in Babies R Us}, but we* chose to go with this one.  it was recommended by a family member and a lactation consultant at our hospital.
three. Baby Jogger City Select stroller
when choosing a stroller, I knew I wanted neutral {preferably black}, one that was easy to fold and unfold, the ability for it to grow with our family and one with plenty of space for a quick trip to the store, or bigger baby bag if we were out for a long period of time.  I have heard nothing but great things about the City Select and after I found the black on black version, I was sold! it has the ability to add a second seat for when we have another bebe and lots of coordinating accessories to hold my “stuff” {which I tend to have a lot of}.  it is a little bit on the pricey side at $499, but I feel like it is reasonable for a higher end stroller {I found some in the $700-$800 range!}.  again with the price, the accessories like the parent console, lap tray, cooler bag and cup holder are all sold separately – but its nice that you can pick and choose the items that you would use most!
my husband sees this as just “another thing for the kid to lay in”, but I’ve heard from so many online reviews {especially from the Wise Baby’s “real life mom favorites” posts} that it was awesome for having a place for the baby to hang out while getting other stuff done around the house.  it is so cozy and a perfect little nest for her to relax in!
five. Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag
I’m sure everyone has heard of, seen, or owned one of these bags! I loved the space and organization, the fact that it has the built in changing station and that it is just beautiful to look at! I’m even getting the Petunia Weekender Bag {in the matching print of course} as a larger alternative for when we go on weekend getaways or are out for long days!
six. the Miracle Blanket swaddle
this swaddle was recommended to my aunt {who owns a daycare} by her friend {who is a newborn sleep trainer}. its so soft, no velcro, secures baby’s arms and {supposedly} swaddles them so they cannot escape. I hope our little miss loves these!
after attending a BabyPalooza event with The Baby Guy {Jamie Grayson}, I was stuck on a mattress by Naturepedic! this was definitely a splurge {around $330}, but I justified it by the fact that I wanted a more simple crib that was less expensive than MANY I had been looking at.  I also shopped around and found it a Kohls! with sales and coupons, it ended up being much less of an investment than the original price.  in reality, the baby isn’t sleeping on the crib, she will be sleeping on the mattress and I wanted her to be on something I could trust to be safe and comfortable! this mattress is organic, hypo-allergenic, has a non-toxic fire prevention system and is even dual sided {firm for an infant, softer for a toddler}.
again, one of those “things for the kid to lay in”, but we are planning to use this by our bed for her to sleep in for those first few weeks.  we have very limited space in our bedroom and this fits perfectly at my bedside.  it’s also awesome for portability – its super light and folds up with the push of two buttons.
obviously there were many more things on our registry, but going through them all would be crazy! after I’ve tested them out and created my own opinions, I’ll be back to discuss my favorites! anything you couldn’t live without?