Can't believe I'm even writing this blog post. It feels like Madelyn and Kai were born just yesterday, and now we have Banks! Crazy how fast time flies, and how quickly your little ones start school. If you're reading this because you've got young children, or even kids in middle and high school, I'm sure we can all relate to that back to school feeling. It's bittersweet! Madelyn started Kindergarten this year, which was huge for us. She's doing incredible and has the most amazing teachers. We were truly gifted with the best possible situation. Her teacher adores her, and she's made so many great friends already. Kai is still in pre-school, and always enjoys picking out his supplies to pack up in his little backpack! Today, I'm partnering with Walmart to share with you all how easy it is to shop for everything you need on your lists!
First of all, Walmart's next day shipping and free same day pickup is what really saved me as a mother of two toddlers and newborn baby. We honestly didn't even need to leave the house! Every single item on their lists and more, were picked up that same day. The kids loved being able to help me choose everything!
Hey, friends! I'm excited to share that Victoria Emerson is having their Xmas in July sale right now until the 29th! Wraps are $19.99, and boho cuffs are $24.99! Perfect time to grab something for yourself and go ahead and knock out a few gifts. Y'all know I love my wrap bracelets that I first shared when I bought them back in May. Since then, Victoria Emerson was so kind to partner with me so that I can share more fun stuff with all of you!
My favorite thing about these wraps and cuffs is that they make layering so simple. You just need one piece to create a stunning illusion of a perfectly layered look. They're really comfortable to wear, and easy to put on.
I have worn my wraps all summer, and can't wait to carry these beauties into the Fall. Gift Tip: My plan is to gift some to the kids teachers this Christmas!
- A few styled outfits from the summer with my wraps below! -
Thank you to Victoria Emerson for sponsoring this post!
Hello, and welcome to part 2 of my baby registry posts! I recently talked about Walmarts' new baby registry and how impressed I was with it, you can read part 1 post here. In that post, I shared recommendations on items to help get your registry started, and today I'm really narrowing things down to 5 top items for your registry.
Two. High Chair. You won't need this right away however, you will need to have this on hand for when your little one starts sitting up and trying solids. It's best to make life less complicated and already have one at home! This 4moms highchair is the one we will be using for our new baby. I'm so excited for the magnetic tray feature. I'll always vividly remember the struggles with those darn high chair trays!!
Three. Swing! This is something that will come in handy right away. You can safely let your little one relax and sleep in a swing like the 4moms Mamaroo. You can select from 5 different motions, and connect for smartphone via bluetooth to control all motion and sound features remotely! We'll also be personally using this item for our baby #3 soon! (I got the classic black!)
Four. Activity Mat. This is an item you'll randomly think of one day, and wish you had it on hand! One important thing about babies? They don't keep. Your little one will be growing rapidly. I typically introduce play and activity mats as soon as 3-4 weeks old. Once baby starts "waking up", and staying awake for longer periods of time, it's wonderful to place them under activity mats and practice tummy time to build their strength and development. (Maddy pictured above with this mat!)
Five. BabyBjorn bouncer. I'm adding this bouncer to the list after having hundreds of people reach out telling me to get this. The incredible online reviews sealed the deal for me. It's lightweight and incredibly easy to use, take with you, move throughout the house. I'm thinking of how great it will be to take into the bathroom, so I can grab a quick shower. Or, place in the kitchen while I'm cooking, take outside to watch the kids play and get some fresh air.. the list goes on. I also like that it won't be overstimulating for baby. Most bouncers I see have too much going on.
I'm using my rose gold rolling carry on this time around, a duffel bag will work just fine though! I personally felt this to be easier to organize everything and roll, rather than lug on your shoulder. Just my two cents :)
Pro Tip - [[ Your hospital will provide you with postpartum underwear, pads, diapers, wipes, tucks, dermoplast, and a peri bottle. If you want to purchase extra of these to bring and/or for when you get home, thats totally fine, but you won't absolutely need to bring to hospital! ]]
Cosmetics/Toiletries
Face cleanser, moisturizer and face oil, toner (The necessities) Makeup bag including - foundation or CC cream, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, mascara, brow pencil, lip balm
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Hairbrush Dry Shampoo
Travel size Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Lotion Flip Flops for the shower (I know they sanitize and clean the showers, but still I'm grossed out by it)
Miscellaneous
Health Insurance cards
Gum
Snacks (Granola bars, Protein bars, nursing cookies, etc. This will come in handy after birth, and for your husband/SO during labor. You personally will not be allowed to eat during labor depending upon your hospital policy)
Cash for vending machines
1 regular phone charger & 1 portable phone charger
Camera + extra battery + memory card
1 file folder for all of the hospital paperwork you will receive
Letterboard for announcement photo
Husband/ Significant Other
Deodorant, toothbrush, hairbrush, a change of clothes, and a cozy blanket/pillow depending on their personal preference! For example, Chris is extremely low maintenance so I won't bring him a pillow or a blanket, but I will bring him a book or two that he likes. This really depends on your labor, my daughters labor we had some downtime while I progressed after receiving my epidural. My son was an emergency C-section, so there wasn't much time.
PS: If overpacking makes you happy and feel better, please do what you need to do. If packing less makes you feel better, again please do what you know is best for yourself. This is your labor, your delivery, your baby, and you need to only worry about making sure you feel confident and secure. If someone wants to judge you for what you're bringing or not bringing, let them! With that said, I am an over-packer and not having enough options brings me anxiety. This is my third delivery, my daughter was a vaginal delivery and my son was an emergency caesarean section. After going through two drastically different deliveries, I'm confident in what I need to pack this time around for baby #3!
YAY! Public Access for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is finally here! Now, until August 4th. There are still plenty of items that are in stock. Below, I'm sharing my recommendations from each category.
My top recommendations to grab before it's out of stock! Pro Tip: Items placed in your cart are not held for you before checking out, If you need to check out one-two items at a time before they sell out, do it. Shipping is free, and you won't pay more for having multiple orders :)
Designer denim - If you need to update your denim selection in your wardrobe for the new season, now is the time to do it.
Tops, Sweaters, Coats -
Shoes - Still a lot of really great shoe options available!
To be honest, there wasn't a huge amount of options this year for baby and kids. However, I found a few really great deals. For example, the convertible car seats that I bought a few years ago during this sale are in the sale this year. I constantly rave about these, and hands down are the best seats. There's a few North Face and Patagonia options that are good deals as well, and this is a great time to buy these items on sale as they rarely get marked down until after/later during the cold season.
Click on any icon in the photo above to shop each piece!
