Sneakers

Cuz if I get cute sneakers… I’ll totally find the time to work out.

Lou's Favorites

They aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing toys around but they have been LIFE SAVERS for this teething, grumpy phase of Lou’s life!

GIFT GUIDE for The HOME

GIFT GUIDE for HIM

GIFT GUIDE for The Kiddos

GIFT GUIDE for HER

Rounded up a few favorites for a gift guide for the ladies in your life… Hell, snag something for yourself, you’ve been damn good this year TREAT YO-SELF.

H&M Home Refresh

I was super surprised the first time I discovered H&M home products, they are sleek, simple and affordable. With the holidays approaching, family visiting and dinners to be held at home we are in desperate need of a few new items…here are a few of my current favorites.

FALL

Rounded up some favorites for fall... yes FALL.

Hospital Bag

Hey everyone! 

Totally wanted to get this post up BEFORE baby Lou came, but alas, he came 8 days early and here we are. Probably better since the experience is fresh in my mind and I have some pretty strong feelings about what you do and don't need to bring to the hospital.

First off here are some things that don't need links, you've got them at home, and you should definitely bring them with you to the hospital.

  • SNACKS - Try to eat something substantial before you go to the hospital but also bring some of your favorite, energy boosting snacks with you for before, during and after birth. I can't tell you how many Milano cookies I ate during our 2 days at the hospital.
  • Your own pillow - Hospital pillows are terrible. And anything you can bring to make yourself feel more at home, bring it! 
  • Your favorite can or little bottle of wine/beer/champage - Most rooms have refrigerators, most hospitals don't allow alcohol. Be sneaky, you damn well deserve it Mama. CHEERS.
  • Chapstick - BRING IT.
  • CAMERA - DUH.

OK, now onto some of the things I bought specifically for the hospital. Descriptions Below!

  • Anything and everything that is going to make MAMA feel pampered. Those first few days are ROUGH on your body (Let's be honest, first few weeks). This time around I splurged on some face and body items that really made me feel like a whole new woman after giving birth. I've linked some of my favorite body scrubs, oils, face mists etc. 
  • Nursing Pillow - If you are planning on using a nursing pillow at home (PLEASE DO, you need all the help you can get in this area) bring it to the hospital. Those first days of nursing are crucial and you can easily meet with a lactation consulting while you are at the hospital and they can go over different holds and positions and show you how to best use your pillow. Even if you think things are going amazing with breast feeding, please see a consultant while you are there, they are PRO's and are only there to help.
  • Earth Mama Nipple Butter - Don't ask questions, buy it. You will thank me later.
  • I'm obsessed with these Baggu Pouches, perfect for keeping this massive list organized. 
  • Cozy (stylish) Sweats - I'm obsessed with these from Free People, have lived in them since they arrived.
  • ROBES - splurge on cozy robes, nursing friendly, skin to skin friendly, oh so comfortable. A must.
  • Going home outfit for baby - Be sure to get something extremely soft and cozy as well as easy to put on. It doesn't get any softer than Hanna Andersson's pima cotton, They have blankets and hats as well, snag some socks while you're at it. PRO TIP, no one knows how big or small your baby is going to be...people will guess, people will be wrong. Bring a few sizes so you're prepared!

Ok guys, I know this sounds crazy, but that's it. That's all you need. The hospital provides everything else, don't bog yourself down with things like diapers and wipes and swaddles, you're paying the hospital A LOT of money to provide you with all of that stuff and everything else you need.

Bump Friendly Dresses

Decided to do a quick round up of my current favorite bump friendly dresses! Roomy, Cozy and Breezy for summer. None of them are technically "maternity" clothes so they all can be work after baby as well... I'll be sure to add more as I find em'... Enjoy!

Current Shoe Favorites

All comfy, all cozy, all super cute for summer.

Sunscreen

I don't know about you but I'm extremely guilty of not having any sunscreen around and then running to the grocery store to buy whatever they have to put on myself and Crosby. This year I wanted to be a bit more prepared and also more conscious about the chemicals I was putting into our bodies... Here's where my research took me, I hope it's helpful for you as well! 

So as of now, Supergoop seems to be a clear front running, But I'm also extremely excited for this new release from Tubby Todd, we love all of their non toxic products and they are releasing a sunscreen that begins shipping July 19th! :

Newborn Essentials

I wanted to put together a list of what I consider ESSENTIALS for a newborn. People throw a lot of things at you when your pregnant and it can be very overwhelming trying to figure out what you really need. Everyone is different but for me, if I have these things listed below, I'll be ready to come home with a newborn. (This is assuming you have all of your diaper essentials prepped)!

1. NOISE MACHINE - I swear by using a noise machine. Crosby is a rockstar sleeper and I largely attribute this to the use of one. This time around I'm adding in a portable one as well so I'm able to take it with my and attach it to the car seat when Baby Lou needs some Z's.

2. A Solly Baby Wrap - There are a lot of wraps and carriers out there, but the Solly is the best. Hands down.

3. Pacifiers - (DUH)

4. Thermometer - Buy more than one, have a travel one, have one in the car. Nothing is worse than having a sick baby and wondering if their fever is too high!

5. Aquaphor - Is the treatment and cure for almost any skin ailment.

6. Newborn Hats - Keep those babes warm, and the hospital one quickly ravels (found this out with our first)!

7. Nursing Pillow - Saved my back and helped me be able to work while nursing. Can't recommend this enough. Pro Tip - TAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL, not just for nursing, but a perfect pillow to sit on when you're recovering down there.

9. SWADDLES - Normal blanket swaddles are great, save yourself the trouble and get some velcro baby Houdini proof swaddles. We learned this secret about 6 months in last time, wish we would have known from the beginning!

10. Footed ( and hand covered ) Sleepers. Socks and mittens fall off, all day everyday. Stock up on cozy sleepers that are footed and have hand covers. Nothing beats the Pima Cotton ones linked below.

11. A sleep pod. This is something we never used the first time around and I'm SO excited to have it for Lou. Not only is it an extremely functional co-sleeper but it also just gives me one more safe spot to set Lou down if I need to help our Toddler with something or take a shower!

12. Nose Frida - Nothing is worse than a stuffed up newborn. The nose frida works wonders and be sure to pack it whenever you travel!

13. Baby cotton swabs - Just have them.

14. Baby Monitor - We love our Yi Home!

15. Simple Baby Bathing Chair - We never had this before but have chatted with so many moms that swear by it. 

16. Any sort of infant chair - Again, really needed more safe places to put Baby this time around. We loved this baby bjorn bouncer with Crosby and will definitely be using it again with Lou!

____________________

On a similar note, I'd like to add a little list of things that in my personal opinion, you DO NOT NEED. Again, everyone is different, but here are my two scents. 

  1. SHOES - You're newborn does not need shoes. Your baby will not walk until about a year old. Socks or some sort of bootie will do the job. Please do not spend hundreds of dollars on cute shoes. You have the rest of the kids life to do that!
  2. MITTENS - Yes, it seems like a good idea to buy mittens to keep your newborn from scratching themselves... But guess what happens... THEY FALL OFF. They all fall off, the dog comes and nibbles them off. You have mittens all over your house and a child with scratches all over his face... Save yourself the trouble and get onesies that have hand covers attached to the arms. You can leave them folded up as sleeves or pull them down for coverage on those razor sharp nails.
  3. NAIL CLIPPERS - Speaking of nails. Have you ever tried to clip the nails of a newborn wiggle baby? It's horrifying, especially after you witness your husband clipping skin and it looks like a war zone all over your baby's hands and all over your boob because you quickly breastfed for comfort after the incident... Granted I haven't tried any of the fancy electric nail file type devices, maybe they work great. But newborns have extremely, extremely soft nails, Get in there and nibble them off, I promise you'll never draw blood.
  4. Fancy, expensive, newborn baths... Just don't do it. 

Gender Neutral Babe

As some of you may know, we kept the gender of our first babe, Crosby, a secret until the end. We loved the surprise and anticipation so much that we're doing it this time around again... Listing a few current favorite cozy gender neutral outfits for Baby Lou and any of your babes on the way...enjoy!