Last weekend, at the last minute, I texted my friend Liz from Liz Osban Photography and asked her to meet me and the girls at a Christmas tree nursery for a few photos. I found this nursery a couple miles from our home and it truly is a little gem. I can’t wait to go back this summer when it is filled with flowers.

My sister also arrived for Christmas the day these were taken, so I pleaded for her to come take a nice photo with the girls and I. My sister is my best friend and I hate that she lives so far away, so a photo of us was in order! Love you Natalie!

Here are a few Friday Favorites as well!

I have been getting excited about hosting our annual New Year’s party next weekend and I found these fun after dinner fortunes. We always do Chinese food, so these will be a fun addition to the party. Also, if you haven’t stopped by Target’s $1 spot for other fun New Year’s goodies, you need to! I found the cutest tiaras for the girls!

There were a few fun things that I recently purchased with all the amazing before Christmas sales. I have been drooling over the rose gold flatware from Anthropologie but couldn’t justify $98 for one set, so I found these similar ones at Target that are just $19.99 and I got them on sale too!

I am beanie obsessed and Gigi Pip recently sent me one from their new line! I have been wearing it non-stop and wanted to share them with you! I’ve been eyeing this Bon Bon Pink one too! It’s just the perfect shade!

Another favorite find has been this Open Market Throw. We are making some changes in the new year to our master bedroom and this piece has me excited to start adding some different pieces in our room!

Last, I starting pining some fun ideas for New Year’s over on my Pinterest! Follow me over there if you are needing some fun inspiration!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

xoxo

With New Year’s right around the corner, I have been thinking more about what my resolutions are going to be for the coming year. I am over losing weight goal because the last time I checked, my goal was 10 pounds and I still have 15 to go…So instead of trying to make unrealistic goals for 2017, I decided to make some changes that will have more a long-term affect on my family and myself.

Some of these changes include making healthier decisions when it comes to food in our house, trying to only eat out once a week, and being more conscious about the products that we use as a family. This includes items like toothpaste, lotions, shampoo/body wash, and deodorant – which is the reason I’m writing this blog post today, to share why I’ve decided to make the switch.

Over time, I have slowly started to make changes to the products we use. When I had Adelyn, I did lots of research on baby products and those that were natural or organic had some really scary ingredients and warnings. I know the products may cost more than those without natural ingredients but I feel good about spending more on product that I know will have a positive lifetime affect on my girls.

It was easy to decide to only buy natural ingredient products for my girls, so why was it so hard to make the switch for myself? To be honest I have tried some natural shampoos and conditioners and they didn’t always work the same on my hair as those that weren’t natural. So when it came to deodorant, I didn’t want to make the switch and end up smelling like body odor for the whole day because it didn’t work. However, I recently was sent Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Natural Deodorant to try and I want to share with you my absolutely, completely honest opinion of why I am SO glad I made the switch.

Here are some reasons I was excited try TOM’s deodorant:

• It contains no aluminum, petrochemicals, parabens or artificial fragrances or preservatives.
• They have a rating of “1” on the Skin Deep Database
• Tom’s deodorant offers 24 hour protection using natural odor-trapping zinc.
• They give back 10% of their profits to helping people and the plane and the packaging is fully recyclable.
• It’s also cruelty free.

I have been using Tom’s of Maine deodorant for about a month now and there are a few things that I absolutely love about it.

• It does not leave any stains on my shirts or gross white residue like most deodorants.
• It 100% lasts all day
• Finally, I love the lavender scent deodorants. I tried all of them and this one by far is my favorite. It smells amazing!

I am so glad that I made the switch to natural deodorants and I hope this post persuades you to do the same! One tip I do have if you try it, give a good month of testing it out. Sometimes your body needs time to adjust!

To learn more about Tom’s of Maine deodorant formulations and scents you can find all of that information here.

What are some changes you are considering in the New Year?

This post was developed in partnership with Tom’s of Maine. All opinions are my own.

This year for Christmas, I had so much fun buying stocking stuffers for the girls. (I think more than their actual gifts!) Adelyn is at the age where she likes to play with so many more things and Emery is at the age (finally) where she’s not putting everything little thing in her mouth. So here are just a few fun things I found this year to fill the girl’s stockings.

1957 Corvette toy car || tooth fairy mouse || grow dinos || The Swing || cat purse || kaleidoscope || hi-bounce pinky ball || animal nesting dolls || wind-up scooter || animal tattoos || stuffed sloth || stuffed puppy || etch a sketch || wind-up school bus || chunks paint sticks || old maid || slinky || owl lip gloss || star wand || magic jellyfish || rubber duckies || bubble wands

You can find the stockings shown above here! And if you follow me on Instagram, I posted a photo of our advent calendar so you can find it over here! Happy Shopping!

Tis’ the season to be wrapping! I am shocked to even share that I have even wrapped a gift before the 24th of December because I usually am a last minute shopper/wrapper. After scrolling Pinterest, I collected a few of my favorite ideas, bought the supplies, and added a little “festive flair” to each gift. It actually was so fun to be a crafty and add extra love to each present this year. I thought I would share a few of my favorite wrapped gifts, so that you may find a little inspiration for this gift-giving season.

gift wrap/twine

 square photo print/twine/kraft paper

tags/label maker/kraft paper/twine

To make the wreath I used this wire and twisted two pieces in a circle. I then took this floral tape and wrapped pieces of a live garland around the wire.

kraft paper/twine/black tag – similar tags here/scissors/card

kraft paper/twine/ wooden tags (I drilled a hole to make it into a tag)/photo print

gift wrap/green twine/bells/tags

white tag/wooden tag/black tag (similar here)/label maker

scissors/kraft paper/twine/washi tape/ card

gift wrap

I had so much fun incorporating these Artifact Uprising square prints into my gift wrapping. (Especially for grandparents who will love getting photos of the girls). We also used Artifact Uprising for our Christmas cards this year and I couldn’t have been happier with the way they turned out. I actually ordered two different Christmas cards because I couldn’t just decide on one! I plan on sticking a square print of the girls in with each card as a special keepsake for our friends and family. If you follow me over on my Instagram, I am giving away $50 shop credit to Artifact Uprising to use on your Christmas cards, photo gifts, or even just for a couples sets of square photo prints! There is still time to order your Artifact Uprising Christmas cards by selecting FedEx economy shipping!

Happy weekend! I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! Yesterday, I spent most of the day online shopping and I am so excited to say that I actually got all of my Christmas shopping done and I didn’t even have to leave the house! As I was shopping, I rounded up a few of my favorite gifts I found and bonus!–everything is currently on sale. I decided to share my finds because most are on sale through the weekend and maybe even more for Cyber Monday. If I find any better deals, I will update them here. Happy Shopping!

Land of Nod: 20% off + free shipping (no code needed)

cooking set/play food/campfire/tree house/llama ride-on/activity gym/

vintage woodie wagon/high chair/moses basket

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Pottery Barn Kids: 20% off + free shipping (code: OHWHATFUN)

puppy towel/craft table/silver race car/metallic abc blocks/tea set/elephant wooden puzzle/train track/doll house/farmhouse kitchen

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Nordstroms: Extra 20% select items

Mini Boden hooded knit jacket/hunter boots (women’s)/Guess coat/breakfast served all day tee/ tassel scarf/North Face shell jacket/Cole Haan boot/Clarisonic/hunter boots (children’s)

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Rifle Paper Co: up to 30% off

swimmers print/weekly calendar/iPhone case/leaf print/mermaid wrapping paper/ recipe card box/2017 calendar/travel journal/ostrich notepad

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J Crew: 40% off with code HOLIDAY

cable v-neck sweater/breakfast pjs/sequin dress/flannel pjs/womens moccasins/girls undies/mens hoodie/camp socks/plaid vest

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Anthropologie: 30% off everything with code: LETSGO

east berry dress/tumblers/scarf/candle/pom pom keychain/play pram/unicorn/coat/peplum sweater

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Another deal I found was on Sorel boots – all 25% off + free shipping. I stocked up on boots for the whole fam!

What awesome deals have you found this weekend?!

While creating this post of my top items I would recommend to any expecting mother, I had many memories of creating a registry for my first baby, Adelyn. I spent months (no joke) researching the best products and trying to find out what I needed to have on hand for a new baby. At the time, many of my friends were not mothers yet, so I used Amazon reviews, listened to many of my co-workers advice, and honestly just winged my registry list. Now, after having two babies, I feel like I am a little more informed on what is truly necessary, and if I had to create a registry again, it would probably be half of what I registered for orginally.

Four years after creating my registry, I am excited about all the amazing new resources for moms-to-be. One of these resources that every new mama or really any mama should know about is, The Baby Cubby–an online store that contains a curated collection of everything you need for baby.This website is full of all of my favorite brands which makes shopping for a new baby, or buying a gift for someone expecting so easy and enjoyable. Remember when I mentioned that I spent hours searching for the best baby items when I was registering? Oh how I just wish something like The Baby Cubby was around then to save me time and hours of frustration/confusion. The Baby Cubby’s team is made up of actual parents who have spent hours researching the best and safest baby gear.

Not only does this website save you time, it saves you money. The Baby Cubby price matches any price–even Amazon, so you know that you are getting the absolute best price. AND free shipping is offered on any order over $49. As an expecting mother, you have the ability to create a registry on their website adding all of the absolute best products, eliminating the need to have to create multiple registries at different stores just to get the items you need–I can guarantee, everything you need as a new mama is in this shop.

If  I could recommend a few of my favorite baby items from The Baby Cubby, these would be at the top of my list! I hope these can help you in purchasing for an upcoming arrival, creating a baby registry, or needing an idea for a baby shower gift!

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1. We tried 3 other strollers since we have become parents, but our favorite so far has been the UPPAbaby double stroller/single with piggy back attachment. You can read my full review of the UPPAbaby CRUZ here.

2. I found Little Unicorn after having Emery and instantly fell in love with their beautiful printed swaddles and quilts. Most are created with bamboo which makes them incredibly soft and contain the ability to become softer with each wash. The buffalo print pictured above has to be my absolute favorite.

3. The Dockatot has been such a lifesaver in so many ways. I swear that it instantly puts Emery to sleep for every nap and was so nice to have a place to lay her around the house in different places–it was like a mobile crib.

4. I recently found this diaper bag and have loved having the option to carry it as a backpack. I can guarantee that the bag you will use the most as a mother, will be a backpack. Especially if you are a mother to more than one. I also love the simplicity of this bag and the perfect gray color that goes with anything you wear, regardless of the season. It also contains an amazing on-the-go changing station and many pockets that are intentionally placed for the convenience of any mama.

5. I use, and have used since Emery was born, Tubby Todd bath products on the girls. I love the natural ingredient list and the smell–oh the heavenly lavender smell of these products makes me absolutely obsessed.

6. The Owlet Baby Vitals Monitor is an item that I did not know about until Emery was almost one, but if we were to have another baby, I would definitely invest in one of these. You can read all about the neat things this monitor does here.

7. The Euro baby carrier is a great option as it can hold babies from newborn to toddler. The weight limit is 45 pounds and is designed to keep all of the weight off of the shoulders.

8. The MamaRoo mimics the movement of the mother with a sway or gentle rock. It would instantly put Emery to sleep and was so easy to move to different areas of the house.

9. Both of my girls loved these wooden toys and worked great as a teether too!

I hope you will remember The Baby Cubby for your next baby shopping experience.

“To create innovative, convenient, and fun shopping experiences for parents.” is The Baby Cubby’s mission and it shows through every page click, product review, and encouraging statement on their Cubby Community Blog.

What were/are some of your registry must-haves?

Last week I shared my “Mama Fall Style Guide“, so this week I had so much fun putting together one for the mini’s! I have each item linked below and short description of a few of our favorites! I am loving everything blush and olive green this season with accents of mustards and browns.

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Childhoods Clothing – My girls live in Childhoods Clothing as they sell the most comfortable clothing for every season that are perfect for play, nap time, and to stay cozy in. American made hoodies, bloomers, rompers, and even dresses, all made with the softest 100% cotton french terry material. I love to mix n’ match as their colors and designs allow you to find different options with all of their items. Childhoods Clothing is restocking this morning, so make sure to go snag a few pieces because everything goes quick!

Alice + Ames – If you have been following me for a while, you know my love for A+A dresses run deep. My girls are continually stopped when we go places to ask where their dresses are from because you can just look at these dresses and see the amazing craftsmanship and design that go into every dress. You can dress A+A dresses up, or down for every season–I like to pair them with a pair of tights, boots, and a sweater for the upcoming chilly days.

Free Babes  – We have been forever Free Babes bow fans. Every single release of bows for the season is magic and is so fun to find different ways to style the bows with the girls outfits. Not only are the designs of every bow outstanding, but the craft of every bow is perfect. I cannot highly recommend a bow company more than Free Babes to anyone that is looking for impeccable quality and style.

Mikoleon Boots – I have been searching for the perfect of pair of boots that will go with anything that Adelyn wears for the fall & winter season, and I found them. I love the beautiful rich brown of these boots and know that they are going to be a timeless piece in her closet. They are handcrafted made with 100% genuine leather and will last her for many months. I am just wishing that they came in my size as well!

Make sure to head over to my Instagram page to find some upcoming giveaway from a few of these companies above! What are some of your fall favorites for your mini?

Last weekend, my husband and I decided to take a much needed, kid-free, trip to Vail, CO. It was just what we needed to rejuvenate and relax to gear up for the coming busy holiday season. I felt like it was the perfect time of year to go to Vail (if you aren’t an avid skier) to see the trees changing colors and to not have to deal with huge crowds of people. The town was quiet, reservations weren’t needed for dinner, and the weather was beautiful.

We stayed at the Sonnenalp hotel which I believe is right in the “heart” of the Vail village as it is just walking distance from anything you would like to do. From renting bikes to taking a ride on the gondola, it’s all just a quick walk from the hotel. The Sonnenalp immediately caught my eye when we were looking for places because of it’s unique atmosphere with a European flair. I knew it would be somewhere different from anywhere we have ever stayed.

Voted #4 in the west and #80 in the world to stay by Travel + Leisure, it definitely lives up to every expectation . The Sonnenalp has been through four generations of family ownership and is one of the few hotels that is family owned in the nation. With it being a family owned hotel, I noticed a more comfortable vibe that the hotel provides becoming almost your “home away from home”. The atmosphere is cozy and warm with some of the most beautiful wood details in every room, restaurant, and spa.

As soon was we got into our room, we decided that really we could have just spent all of our time in the room with a gorgeous patio, fireplace, large spa tub in the bathroom, and room service. However, this was our first trip to Vail so we decided to venture out into the village to take a look around. It was lunchtime, so grabbed a quick bite at the Blue Moose Pizza, and did a little shopping. On the way back, we took a different route and walked along a river.

We returned to the hotel and walked around exploring the different restaurants and pool. That night we went the Swiss Chalet restaurant for dinner and had such an amazing experience. We ordered the full experience of fondue, complete with a cheese fondue (sides of bread & veggies) and a broth fondue (sides of meats & veggies). The service, atmosphere, and food were all exceptional!

We spent the remainder of the night walking around the hotel, warming our feet by the fireplace in the spa, and ordering late night room service root beer floats. The next day, I got up early and headed to the spa for one of the best massages I have ever had. While I waited, there was flavored water and tea available, and when I finished I was able to have full access to the spa with saunas and pools. It was the perfect start to the day.

Garth and I decided to have a slow, lazy start to our morning and go for a late breakfast at Ludwigs. It was a European style buffet with so many options including crepes, waffles, an oatmeal bar, fruit, danishes, really the list could go on. We sat out in the covered terrance that over looked the gorgeous aspen trees and mountains. With full bellies, we walked around the village once more before heading back home.

Our highlights were experiencing the Sonnenalp and walking around the village of Vail. Next time we would love to rent bikes, try paddle boarding, and take a ride on the gondola (it was closed the weekend we visited).

Vail was the perfect town to do a couples getaway to, but also had so many fun activities for children. Next time, I think we would bring the girls as the Sonnenalp has daily activities for kids and even a children’s spa.

So whether you decide to go just the two of you, or bring the kids, I know that you will fall in love with Vail as much as we did.

Fall is my absolute favorite season for so many reasons. Cooler weather, watching the trees change colors, my birthday, and being able to finally make the switch to a fall wardrobe. This year I decided to just find a few classic fall staple pieces to add to my closet instead of spending the money to buy a bunch of new fall clothes. I can’t say enough good things about each of my picks.

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1. Gigi Pip – Makes the most stylish hats for every season. I wore my straw hat all summer, and just recently started wearing the hat shown above for fun weekend trips including our recent one to Vail last weekend. I was so excited to see that they just added women’s baseball caps. I snagged one right away for the weekends that I barely change out of my pjs and don’t wash my hair but need to make my weekend trip to target.

2. Pacapod – This Madison bag is such a beautiful diaper bag from the inside out. I love the rich brown color that goes perfectly with every fall outfit. The bag itself is designed differently than any other bag I have ever owned. First the retro style of it is designed after a classic 1960s bag with the modern top handle and sleek design. Inside it has the most clever storage with a changing station “pod” for diapers, changing pad, and wipes, and another “pod” for feeding that is insulated to keep snacks or drinks cold.

3. Made by Mary  – I am a long time fan of this sweet shop as some of my most treasured pieces are from it with the girls names. Engraved necklaces or bracelets with your children’s name, special dates, just a stylish hammered piece such as the one above, anything can be made to your taste. I love the recent addition of rose gold to the shop that seems to be the current “metal of the season.”

4. Sonnet James – Looking for the perfect dress that can be transitioned into any season? Look no farther because it’s Sonnet James. The perfect dress for any mom as it’s easy to play in with children or dress up for a nice dinner out. Made with the most durable fabric that has held up through a billion washes and still feels new when I put it on. I love the below knee length, the modern style of every dress, and the ability to wear it to every occasion.

5. Swedish Hasbeens – This Swedish fashion brand has quickly become a favorite through the pair of sandals I wore this summer to the pair of boots I have been wearing every day. They are by far the most durable pair of shoes because of materials that go into every shoe: leather and lime/alder wood. I have wore these shoes to work, park, mountains, and just for an outing to the store. Comfortable, stylish, and durable– three words that every mama loves/needs in a pair of shoes.

I hope you can find some new fall favorites from my picks! I will be giving away an item or shop credit from every shop mentioned in the next two weeks over on my Instagram! What are some of your favorite fall staple pieces?

Our family LOVES toast. We have a local bakery down the street that sells homemade bread and jam that we visit weekly, and we honestly go through a couple loafs a week. #ilovecarbs I have been searching for something to store bread in next to the toaster, so we don’t have bags of bread all over the counter, and I came across the bread box you can see below on Amazon.com.  When I put it in my cart, other suggested items I might be interested in related to the bread box popped up, which gave me the idea of this post. Everything farmhouse seems to be trending right now, and the fact that you can buy everything below on Amazon, with free shipping, makes it even more awesome.

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Hope you are having a great week!