Four years ago when I found out I was pregnant with Adelyn, I immediately started researching strollers. I loved reading about all the different features each stroller had, the pro and cons, and how each one could look so different from the other. Two babies, and three strollers later, I have finally found the stroller I have always been looking for. The UPPAbaby CRUZ is a mom’s dream come true when it comes to functionality and style. After using this stroller all summer, I am excited to share with you my full review of the CRUZ.

When I first received the UPPAbaby CRUZ, I was pleasantly surprised how light it was when I pulled it out of the box. I was also expecting a ton of little pieces to put together and already had planned to have my husband put it all together later that night when he got home. Instead I found the stroller already put together with just 4 wheels that just clicked into place. That was it. I think that was the first moment when I truly fell in love with it. I started pushing it around the house and immediately noticed how innovative it was. A quick snap to put Emery in the seat, a little tap on the piggy back attachment to release it for Adelyn to ride on the back, and a little push/pull for the handle bar to come out further–we were quickly cruzin’ in just a matter of moments after receiving. The CRUZ was easy to use and I was excited to put it to the test on our upcoming trip to Charleston.

I shared our trip to Charleston here, and a few of the things I loved about the UPPAbaby CRUZ while we were traveling. It was compact and light enough to take with us on the plane and in a rental car. Adelyn loved to ride on the piggyback attachment because she was able to ride when her legs got tired, but hop off when she wanted to walk. If you haven’t already, head over to read why else I highly recommend the CRUZ for traveling.

After Charleston, I continued using the stroller for our daily walks around lake, a trip to the farm, and our outings to the mall. And every time I use it, I find something else about it that just makes it an even more amazing stroller. The AirGo wheels that mimic the feel of a tire with air, but never go flat, the HUGE basket underneath that can hold a diaper bag, Adelyn’s backpack and what seems like a hundred shopping bags, and even the ability to turn Emery’s seat to face her sister and I.

The UPPAbaby CRUZ is innovative, with a sleek, classic design, and has every function I have ever longed for in a stroller. I believe that the reason I can highly recommend this stroller to any mom, is because the company, UPPAbaby, was founded by parents. When I use this stroller, I know that every little wish that a mom wants in a stroller has been thoughtfully considered when designing this stroller. I believe that you will feel the same from the very first moment of pulling the UPPAbaby CRUZ out of the box.

Side note: My jumpsuit from this post is on sale here!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. The opinions and text are all mine.

Before you read this, please know that I am sharing these tips for taking family photos to ultimately encourage you to do family photos. I am no expert, but we have had them done enough to share some insight for your next session. People may think we are crazy for how many family photo sessions we have done, but in 20 years when I am looking back, I am going to be SO thankful for each and every time we had photos. When we just look back from all the photos we have had taken over our 8 years of marriage, it is amazing how you can reminnance and remember where you were in life at that time, the good and the bad. Photos are important and I hope that through this post, I can encourage you take the leap to schedule photos or help with your upcoming session. Because, we all know that photos with children is no easy task.

Make them Fun!

When it comes to taking photos with children, incorporating things they like to do helps them to just be natural and playful. I know for Adelyn she LOVES to have picnics and if we would let her, should would for every meal. So taking a picnic for our family photos was genius because she just smiled the whole time. And Emery is just happy if she has food in her hands, so it was a win-win. Fishing was another idea we had for photos because she loves to go fishing with her Dad. It made for some great photos of them together doing one of their favorite things. Other ideas would be to fly a kite, take a baseball and mit, go to the park/playground, play in the water at a lake or river, get ice cream, or even just explore somewhere new together.

Let them Go

I mean don’t let your children run away, but give them some space to run and have fun. They make for the best photos when they can just be a kid. My girls love to run and explore, and having these photos of them doing so, will make the best keepsakes. If your child is having a hard time staying in one place and continuing to run away, make it a game. “Red Light, Green Light” anyone?? I think that is what we were playing with Adelyn in the photo below which allows them to run but still have boundaries. “Ring around the Rosy” or “Peekaboo” are also great games to play that look okay in photos as well! If that still does not work, put them on your back or shoulders! (See example below)

Pinterest

I found so many family photos I loved on Pinterest before our family photo session, but also knew that copying an exact photo can only lead to the possibility of a Pinterest fail…SO I took a couple ideas I liked and made them our own. I told our photographer what I was kind of thinking and then we just went for it in our own way that was comfortable for our family. Cue the photo below. I saw a photo on Pinterest with a kiss and a child on the Daddy’s shoulders. I wanted this photo but with both of my girls, so one on the back and one on the shoulders made for a great photo and the opportunity to sneak a kiss.Pinterest is great to look at before you go to give you and the photographer a feel for what you are going for, just remember to make it your own.

Crying Kids

Yep, we have all been there. Actually, I don’t think we have ever had our photos done without a crying or whining kid. I have found two things that work for us. A little toss in the air turns that frown upside down and snacks. Don’t forget the snacks. Garth and I will always go into photos with our pockets full of fruit snacks or something that they will cooperate for.

Bloopers

Some of my photos are the outtakes. I believe Adelyn was pretending to bite my arm in the photo above and below Emery did not want me to hold her. Laugh and have fun with whatever happens because the outtakes may be a few favorites for you as well.

Kisses

Kissing our kids make for the sweetest photos as well. I think at times we get to our family photo sessions and aren’t quite sure where to stand, how to act/pose, but stealing a kiss always photographs so well. It makes things more comfortable and less awkward.

And of course don’t forget to get photos of just the two of you. The photo below is one of my absolute favorites of Garth and I. You can’t see, but we have kids crying and whining at our feet. It’s easy to just worry about getting nice photos of your kids the whole time, and forget to get one of just the two of you. It’s important and I guarantee it will be one of your favorites from your session.

I hope some of these tips can help ease any nerves or encourage you for your next family photo session. I have learned to go into photos as relaxed as you can be. The less anxious you are, the less your kids will be. They can pick up how you are feeling so go into them with an open mind, positivity, and joy. “Life is short, time is fast. No replay, no rewind. So enjoy every moment as it comes…”

Photos by: Griffith Imaging & Liz Osban Photography

A couple posts back I shared the video we had done for Adelyn’s third birthday in a fall themed, family picnic style. Liz Osban Photography is incredibly talented because as she films, she also can capture moments through photos as well. I wanted to share just a few of my favorites and how to pack an easy picnic for the upcoming cooler fall days. Picnics have become our favorite way to eat with the girls because we have found that because they love the idea of it, they eat more than they would at home, and eating outside makes the clean up SO easy.

To pack a perfect, easy picnic:

1. Look at what you already have in the fridge. I had fruit and veggies that were getting close to going bad, some bread, and lunch meat. Picnic Packed.

2. To hold your fruit or veggies/any other side dish, I used these disposable wood cartons.

3. I made turkey sandwiches and wrapped them in kraft paper & twine.

4. The Perfect Picnic Basket

5. A Gathre mat and a Sonoran blanket are the best picnic essentials. A mat to sit on and a blanket  to wrap up in when the sun goes down.

6. Jazz up your picnic with fresh flowers in a basket.

7. Don’t forget music

8. Don’t bother with the clean up of plates. We just used a few wooden containers for all the food from Target and let the girls dig in. We used this one and these.

9. Here are some easy ideas for your picnic food and drink: Sandwiches, berries, pears, avocados, clementines, specialty cheeses & crackers, grapes, carrots & celery with dip, pre sliced watermelon, individual bags of chips, and for dessert we take brownies!

10. For clean up, I brought zip lock bags for the left overs and an extra baggie for the trash. Don’t forget to take wipes for messy hands/faces. The best part of a picnic is that with the shake of the mat or blanket– clean up was done!

My favorite shoes from the summer are my Sandgren Clogs that I’m wearing in the photo above! They were so comfortable to wear and I can’t get over the style of the shoe. I love the chunky heel with the cross straps–and the natural color goes with EVERYTHING I wear! They are some of the most well-made pair of shoes I own. I begged Sandgren Clogs to offer my readers a discount for their own pair and they are generously offering an exclusive discount of 20% off any pair of clogs with code: swedishclogs20.

If you missed the video, here is the link to go see it! It was so fun to create with some of my most favorite people!

details:

Photos by: Liz Osban Photography

My Dress / Shoes / Watch / Necklace

Adelyn’s Dress / Bows

Emery’s Romper/ Shoes / Bow

Gathre Mat

Blanket

Palm Leaf Shopper

As a mother, and a first-grade teacher, I have developed a strong love for children’s books. Actually growing up, I always wanted to be a children’s book author and illustrator. As much as I loved finding books with beautiful illustrations and an instructing story line when I was a child, that love has only grown as I became a teacher and then a mother. I am always searching for new books to read with my students and my girls that have an inspiring message and illustrations. I can’t describe the feeling of finding a book that is beautiful from the inside and out. A book that encourages, motivates, and teaches with a positive message, and has illustrations that can be displayed as a piece of art. Today, I am sharing 20 (even though I could have share SO many more) of my current favorite children’s “inspiring reads”.

inspiring reads:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10

11  / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16/ 17 / 18 / 19 / 20

garland

As I shared above, I love finding and sharing new favorite children’s books so I have created a Pinterest board that you can follow here that I will always be adding my favorite “inspiring reads” to. I would love it if you shared you favorites below as well for me to check out! Last, if you head over to my Instagram, I am giving away a book of choice from my picks AND $25 shop credit to Apricot Polka Dot to score your own gorgeous pom garland that I hung on our shelves (shown above).

This has been one of our best summer’s yet and I love how this video just radiates how good it was. To celebrate Adelyn turning three, I wanted to document her at such a fun age in her happy place, the great outdoors. Thank you so much to Liz Osban Photography for capturing our family in this stage of our life together. Even a video with no words, just music, can tell our current story. For this, I am so incredibly grateful for the memories I will have forever in this 2 minute video.

Enjoy!

 

Details:

Video by: Liz Osban Photography

My Dress / Watch / Necklace

Adelyn’s Dress / Bows

Emery’s Romper/ Shoes / Bow

Gathre Mat

Blanket

Palm Leaf Shopper

 

After a summer of traveling to the Caribbean, Denver, Santa Fe, and Charleston, I have found my absolute travel must-haves. It was tough to narrow it down, but today I am sharing my top 5 items that made traveling so much easier, especially with kids

1. UPPAbaby CRUZ Stroller

As a baby blogger, who loves to travel, the most frequent asked question I get is, “What is the best stroller to take with you while traveling?” Friends, you can look no further because the UPPAbaby CRUZ stroller is my highest recommendation. Our recent trip to Charleston involved a ton of loading and unloading from planes to rental cars. I loved that the CRUZ was so lightweight and easy to fold and unfold in a matter of seconds. It is built so that it can easily stand up on it’s wheels while folded and with the lift of a lever, it’s ready to push.

UPPAbaby also makes a stroller travel bag made to carry each stroller. AND even better the bag comes with wheels so you can pack it up before you board your flight and then pull it with you after your flight until you need to use the stroller. Charleston was full of cobblestone streets and unleveled sidewalks and the CRUZ stroller could easily be pushed over it without any hesitation or trouble. Also when we travel, we have a backpack for Adelyn, a diaper bag, my purse, a camera bag, the list can really go on, but that’s where the UPPAbaby comes in handy. It has an amazingly huge storage underneath the seat to help carry anything with you on your trips. We all know how important feature this is with kids because when it comes time to go places everything but the kitchen sink comes with…

Last, I absolutely loved the piggyback attachment so that we could push both girls. Adelyn is now three and is a busy little bee, so getting her to sit in a stroller is impossible. During our trip, if she wanted to get off to go do or see something, all she had to do was hop off the piggyback board. When she was ready to ride again, or tired of walking, she could just easily step back on and ride with the stroller. It’s such a great addition to the stroller we already love so much. If you have been in the market for a stroller, I know you will love UPPAbaby as much as I do. I will be sharing my entire full review of the CRUZ soon!

2. Alice + Ames Dresses

A dress that causes twirling instantly after getting dressed, is a dress that every little girl should wear. And the opportunity to twirl in the ocean is just an added bonus. Every single trip that we took this summer I always packed A+A dresses for the girls. For so many reasons: Lightweight and easy to pack, they were never wrinkled after packing, perfect for the warmer weather travels, they could be worn for a casual day of exploring or for our nice dinners out, and need I even say that they are the absolute most adorable style of dresses?!?! I have never received so many compliments on the girls clothing while we are out and about. When someone says to Adelyn, “I like your dress”, instead of just saying “thank you”, she gives them a twirl. Again, with the twirling and the perfect way to show an Alice and Ames dress off.

3. Briar Brimmed Bonnets

Ever since Emery was born, I have had so much fun putting her in bonnets. Mainly because they were so darn cute on her BUT the brimmed bonnets, not only are cute but they also serve the purpose of keeping the sun off of her face and out of her eyes. Made out of the sweetest, highest quality of fabrics, Briar Bonnets will always be a favorite. I have also learned that it is silly to ever think that a one-year-old would ever keep a hat on their head, but with a simple tie, you don’t have to worry about trying to keep it on their head. Also, the Briar’s fall line is looking so good that Emery just might have to wear a bonnet for as long as I have the choice of what she wears.

4. Bodomint Diaper Bag

I loved taking this bag with me on our trips. It made the perfect diaper bag/purse/carry-on/ beach bag, so basically a bag that can be used for anything. I loved that at the beach I could zip it closed so it didn’t get sand in it. It is just a classic bag and I love the leather against the black canvas. It went with everything I wore this summer. It is so versatile because it will now make the perfect bag for fall. It has everything you need in a diaper bag, pockets, strap/backpack carry, and wipeable material on the outside and inside. My Bodomint bag will continue to be my “everything” bag, making the transition through every season.

5. Wild Bird Sling

My last favorite item was my Wild Bird Sling. I used this to wrap Emery on every trip this summer. It was so convenient for times that the stroller was not accessible, such as walking on the beach in the evening. Some of my best memories will be wrapping her for our walks on the beach. Just holding her close and the sound of the waves would calm her and put her to sleep. Nothing better than walking barefoot in the ocean, watching the sunset, with a sleeping baby on my chest. There were so many times that the sling came in handy while traveling. Getting on and off the plane, going for walks, if she needed to take a quick nap, or even just being able to be hands free while we went shopping. I have the double layer chambray wrap in Wren and love it because with it being a thicker sling, I feel like it has a little more support. With more support I was able to wear her for longer periods of time without ever feeling the pressure on my neck, shoulders, or back. The added bonus is how pretty it is!

I hope you find my top 5 travel favorites helpful for your next journey! What are some of your travel must-haves?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of UPPAbaby. The opinions and text are all mine.

I am so excited to share this post with you! I have loved sharing all of our travels with you this summer but this trip takes the cake! If you have been tossing around the idea of visiting Charleston or wondering where to take your next family vacation, I can promise that you will not regret a visit to this charming city. Voted the #1 city in the U.S and World in Travel and Leisure’s 2016 World’s Best Awards, we have now decided to make Charleston a yearly vacation spot for our family. After spending an entire week there we left feeling like there would still be more to do and see. We would honestly love to repeat the entire week again.

I hope you enjoy my guide to Charleston!

swimsuit

The Beaches

The beaches in Charleston were definitely some of the best we have ever visited in the U.S. The water is so warm–like bath water. We never once used a towel to dry off–the moment we would get out of the water we would be dry within minutes due to the heat.

aqua & yellow swimsuit // beach towel

Our favorite beach was the Isle of Palms. Very family friendly with bathrooms and showers to rinse the sand off. Our perfect day was going to the Isle of Palms (make sure to go early to find parking), swimming in the ocean, making sand castles, and then walking the beach to find seashells. We always ate lunch at Coconut Joes which was perfect for delicious cheeseburgers, fries, and shake. One little tip about the Isle of Palms beach is to call before you head to the beach for chairs and umbrellas. It was so incredibly nice to get the beach and already have chairs and shade waiting for us. We also were able to find starfish, see crabs & stingrays on the beach as well!

striped & blush swimsuit

Folly Beach was another we visited. It wasn’t busy which we loved but the sand is more sticky at this beach–not at fun with kids. **I did learn though that baby powder helps remove any sand from their skin! I loved experiencing a different beach but Isle of Palms remained a favorite. We ate at Rita’s Cafe for lunch and was SO good. Highly recommended and is just a short walk from the beach.

baby sling

The last beach we went to was Sullivan’s Island. We only went here in the evening as it does not have restrooms and showers to rinse off sand but it is the most beautiful beach for an evening stroll at sunset.

Adelyn’s Dress

The Eats

One thing is for sure, some of the best restaurants can be found in Charleston. We experienced quite a few different restaurants with the help of Yelp.

Here are the best restaurants we ate at during our visit that I would highly recommend:

Husk – This is a must if you are in Charleston. It had the most amazing food and surroundings. However, if you have little ones I would just recommend going for lunch as it becomes more of a nicer sit down restaurant for adults at night.

Rita’s Cafe – Sullivan’s Island – Perfect for lunch

Orlandos Pizza – Fabulous pizza but it is a “seat yourself” restaurant which made it hard for us to find enough seating for a group of 8.

Vickery’s – The food was okay but it was neat to eat outside. Dolphins have been spotted at this restaurant as you eat right on the water. We didn’t see any but loved the gorgeous walk on the pier after dinner.

dress  // shoes

Poogan’s Smokehouse – This was a favorite of the entire group. A fun, trendy atmosphere with great BBQ.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit – Perfect for breakfast/brunch! I begged to go to this restaurant because of the reviews I read. It definitely lived up to the reviews and was such a fun restaurant to visit with it’s fun farmhouse feel. There is limited seating so it is more of a take on-the-go type of restaurant.

Five Loaves Bread – Awesome for a “lady’s who lunch” type of meal. It was great for unique salads, soups, and sandwiches.

Blondies Bagels – The best bagels I have ever eaten

Page’s Okra Grill – If you want a authentic southern meal, this is where it is at!

Tropical Smoothie Cafe – We did a ton of eating so for a few meals, (0r snacks) we loved going to get these smoothies. The bahama mama and mocha madness was my favorite.

Poe’s Tavern – A perfect place for a great burger. Wasn’t one of my favorites but the hubby loved it. We went for ice cream at The BeardCats after and then a walk on the beach on Sullivan’s Island. All within walking distance which was great!

Desserts…

dress // shoes

BeardCat Sweet Shop – Amazing gelato with a “hip” atmosphere.

Jenis Ice Cream – This is an absolute must if you visit Charleston. Some of the best ice cream I have ever eaten. They have tons of very unique flavors. I had the salted peanut butter chocolate chip and the buttered popcorn.

The Sights

Charleston is one of the most photogenic cities I have ever visited. Everywhere you look there is something pretty to look at and see. Even the little alley ways have the most beautiful ivy climbing up old historic brick.

dress / bloomers / shoes

Rainbow Row – Located on Easy Bay St, this is such a must see filled with most charming and historic houses.

King Street- Such a fun place to shop and eat with modern stores/boutiques in beautiful historic buildings

Fishing – All the guys in our group chartered a boat one day for some deep-sea fishing and had blast.

romper

jumpsuit/ Adelyn’s dress

Parks – So many beautiful parks in Charleston and most are just filled with oak trees making for a gorgeous photo background.

Shem’s Creek – A perfect boardwalk for an evening stroll

Next Time…

We have already begun to plan our next trip to Charleston. I think we will repeat everything I listed above with a trip to a plantation– Magnolias Plantation and Gardens or Middleton Place.

We would also love to take a scenic boat tour on our next vacation.

And last, I would love to try the following restaurants next time. These all had great food reviews:

Persimmon Cafe

Cru Cafe

Magnolias

Palmetto Cafe

I hope this guide can help you on your trip to Charleston or persuade you to take a visit!

Have you been to Charleston before? What are some of your recommendations?

I am so excited to finally share our summer session family photos we had taken with Griffith Imaging. It is always a dream to work with Jen as she always makes my visions come to life through photography.

Taking photos with kids is no joke and after our session I told my husband we would be lucky to get one nice photo. When Jen sent these over I was just over the moon excited that she was able to capture moments in-between kids crying or running away. I learned a few tips and tricks from our family photo session that I will share in a later post, but for now am excited to share a few of my family photo favorites.

details:

my dress: sold out (similar here)

adelyn’s dress 

adelyn’s shoes

emery’s dress

emery’s shoes

emery’s bow

garth’s shirt: sold out (similar here)

Most days when I put the girls down for an afternoon nap, it is a mad dash to pick-up the house, fold laundry, clean the dishes, get dinner started, and any other little tasks that need to be done for the day. However, some days after a busy morning, I just feel like sitting and doing nothing or doing something for myself. This includes painting my nails, reading a magazine, sneaking in a workout, or even just giving myself a mini spa treatment.

My mini spa treatments usually involve a face-mask, or doing a microdermabrasion, but lately I have been loving the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless face products. After a long day of chasing toddlers, running errands, and playing outside, cleansing my face is something that just sounds heavenly. So once the house is quiet, I will put on a little music, make a blackberry beauty tonic (recipe below), and give myself a “spa-like treatment” using Aveeno Absolutely Ageless.

I always start with the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Nourishing Cleanser because it is by far one of the best cleansers I use to remove dirt, oil, and makeup—it is very evident on my face towel after rinsing compared to other cleaners I have used. I always make sure to follow up with the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Daily Moisturizer because it isn’t greasy and is infused with vitamins, antioxidants, powerful anti-aging ingredients and SPF 30. It feels amazing on my face! Last, I like to use a little of the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Eye Cream as it has been helping so much with my puffy eyes from my summer allergies, and my dark under-eye circles (because mom life).

While getting things done around the house is nice during naptime, so is taking time for myself, and giving myself a “time-out”. I feel like when I do this, I am more rejuvenated and rested to be able to tackle the evening activities of dinner, bath time, and bedtime.

As promised, I wanted to include the recipe for the blackberry beauty tonic recipe. With it being blackberry season, it’s the perfect time to try this out and I know you won’t regret it. An absolutely refreshing, delicious drink—perfect for any summer afternoon.

Blackberry Beauty Tonic

½ cup fresh blackberries (approx. 2 oz)

½ lime cut in 8 pieces

4 small basil leaves

1 teaspoon of sugar in the raw

½ cup sparkling water

1 cup crushed ice

1 fresh blackberry for garnish

fresh dill for garnish

mason jar & muddler

In a shaker, muddle blackberries, basil leaves, dill, and sugar using a muddler or the bottom of the end of a large wooden spoon

Try to dissolve the sugar as you do this

Squeeze and drop in the lime

Add sparkling water and ice

Remember to take time for yourself and know that as mother’s we sometimes need a relaxing afternoon “time-out”.

This post is sponsored by Aveeno®. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I only partner with brands that I truly love. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Our recent trip to Santa Fe was so much fun that I thought I would share a few of the details if you have ever been considering a trip. We took the girls with us, but I think that this is a location that you can do either with or without kids easily. Our trip was a 5 day, 4 night trip and would have loved it to be day or two longer. We stayed at the Buffalo Thunder Hilton Resort (pictured above) and I would highly recommend with kids. A great pool (for them), spa (for me), and casino (for him). It had a few restaurants in it but we LOVED eating around downtown Santa Fe.

Dress / Bag

The Plaza is obviously the highest attraction in Santa Fe and we went a couple times because there were so many merchants and shops to see. Adelyn loved walking the streets with her little bag looking at all the jewelry and Emery loved dancing to live bands. Great food, handmade goods by the locals, and gorgeous cathedrals–the Plaza is definitely the place to go.

The Loretto Chapel 

It was so fun to find different and delicious places to eat. We would highly recommend Pantry Restaurant for finding a meal everyone will love, The Plazuela rated one of the best Mexican restaurants in Santa Fe (it did not disappoint), and last for a great breakfast we went to the French Pastry Shop (see below).

We went with family on this trip and so Saturday night all the ladies of the group went to the Santa Fe Opera to see Roméo et Juliette. It was absolutely fantastic and would highly recommend going to see an opera if you are in Santa Fe.

The views from the opera were breathtaking and was so neat to watch the sun set as the opera began.

Santa Fe was the perfect, easy getaway vacation for our family and would recommend the visit. We have many more travels coming up so I thought I would share a post for each one as a guide for others to read. I know it helps me to have recommendations of what to do or where to go before I visit. You can also read my post on our Caribbean Cruise here.

Adelyn’s Dress