Review: Old Factory Candles

My husband and I absolutely love candles. We get new ones for every season and love trying out new brands. I recently had an opportunity to try out a new brand called Old Factory Candle. They are made out of natural soy wax and 'burn clean' and have self trimming wicks. I was able to choose one set from all of these great options:
Fall Harvest
Pumpkin Spice
Cranberry
Autumn Leaves

Happy Holidays
Christmas Tree
Candy Cane
Gingerbread

Winter Wonderland
Hot Cocoa
Roasted Chestnut
First Snow

Romance
Rose Petals
Champagne
Dark Chocolate

Fresh & Clean
Lemongrass
Olive Blossom
Fresh Linen

Spa Day
Cucumber
Lemongrass
Green Tea

Vacation
Sea Breeze
Hawaiian Lei
Awapuhi

Coffee Shop
Coffee Bean
Hazelnut
Chai Tea

Man Cave
Straight Razor
Leather
Mahogany

High as a Kite
Cannabis
Incense
Bag O' Cookies

New Born Baby
Baby Powder
Baby Shampoo
First Blanket

50 Shades
Leather
Vanilla ***
Jasmine Bubbles

Since we are in the Christmas season I went with the Happy Holidays set. When I received my candles I was really impressed with the packaging. They were tiny candles but they were in glass containers with metal lids and came in a nice, sturdy cardboard box that separated the candles from one another. When I smelled them cold they all smelled nice but not very strong. I tried the peppermint first because it was my favorite of the 3. I burned it in a rather large room so I couldn't smell it very strong. My husband could smell it when he came home from work though, and he didn't care for it. It had a burn time of about 10 hours or so and did burn clean. I had no problems with smoke at all. Next we tried the gingerbread which, again was not very strong but smelled nice. Sweet and spicy. My husband didn't complain about this one. The Christmas Tree scent was the strongest of the 3 and was very pleasant. Earthy and festive.
Overall I would say this is a good product. I think it would make a nice secret santa gift or stocking stuffer but they would definitely work best in smaller rooms. 

Review: Dr.Song's 50% Lactic Acid Face Peel

Lactic Acid Peels are a gentle way to improve the look of wrinkles, acne scars and dark spots/discoloration on your face. Peels can be rather expensive at the dermatologist but now you can enjoy the benefits of these products at home and at a much better price. I was able to try out Dr. Song's 50% Lactic Acid Face Peel recently. At first I was super nervous that it was going to hurt really bad to use it and that my skin would get red and/or become really dry afterwards. I was also worried that it would be complicated to use. I finally bit the bullet and used the product a few days ago and I'm so glad I did!

I washed my face with a gentle cleanser as I normally do and then using two cotton balls, one for each side of my face, I applied a thin layer of the product, being careful to avoid my eye area. I immediately felt a slight sting but it wasn't terrible at all. On the first use, you are directed to only leave it on for 1 minute. After the one minute was over, I rinsed my face with water, making sure to get off all the product and not miss any spots. As soon as I rinsed the sting went away and my skin felt so so soft. I have rather sensitive skin so I was expecting some redness but I was surprised to find that I didn't have any! Yay! I moisturized afterwards and have had no problem with dryness or flaking.

Results: The overall tone of my face has become more uniform, whereas before I had a problem with splotchy redness. I plan on continuing the use of this product and would recommend it to anyone looking to improve the look of their skin! 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Christmas Style for the Littles

Thanksgiving has come to an end which means it's time to start decking the halls, and decking out the babes in festive Christmas attire! Oh What Fun it is! I had a blast picking out the boys clothes for this season. They had so many cute things that I could hardly decide what to get. I wish I could have gotten them all but, my budget-and my husband wouldn't allow that. Dangit!

Anyway, I've compiled my favorites here for you for both boys and girls! I may not have a little girl, but I sure do know how she would be dressing if I did!

 Everything here came from Carters.com and OKBG with the exception of the 'Chillin With My Snowmies' shirt, which I got at oldnavy.com but I didn't see it listed today so it must be out of stock.

As soon as I saw the Dear Santa shirt, I knew Dakota had to have it. I also got matching 'I ate Santa's cookies' pj's for the boys for Christmas Eve. The ones shown here are the set that I got for Dakota, Levi's are footsie pj's. I also got Levi the onesie shown here that says the same thing as the pj's because he's just such a chunk, it was too perfect to pass up! I also completely fell in love with the Santa Hoodie and have already put it on Koda a few times and it looks absolutely adorable! The little puff on the top of the hood just cracks me up and makes it special.

 If I had a little girl, this is what she'd be rocking this season. The glitter flats caught my eye the second that I saw them, as did the reindeer sweater. The lace top is so girly and soft and would be perfect for photos. I love the bow sweater as well. The bow itself is made out of a sparkly silver thread to add just a touch of glitz, which I love. The red peacoat is so cute! I would totally rock it in a woman's size. The pink patterned pj's are simple and adorable. I love that with the exception of the rudolph sweater, these items can be worn all winter season, not just at Christmas time. Everything shown here is available at oldnavy.com and The Gap.

Even better, you can get great deals on all of this stuff! They are having Black Friday sales and best of all, you can get the deals in the comfort of your own home.

gap.com has a coupon code for 50% off- code is BLKFRIDAY

oldnavy.com is having a 50% off sale, no code needed

you can also take an additional 50% off with the code GRAVY

carters.com is having a 50% off everything sale and until 6pm EST you can get an additional 10% off!

Go get those deals!
Will you be black friday shopping tonight? What is on your list? 

Our (Untraditional) Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
This year, Thanksgiving is quite different for us. We were expecting to be in our own house by now but, unfortunately that just didn't happen and we are still waiting to close. So where does that leave us? In a hotel.
We would have loved to just go back to our home town to be with our families but Zach has to work and is also on call so, that wasn't possible.
This is all sounding really whiny so far but, I do not want it to come across that way!
I am so very grateful that we have a place to stay at all and I am especially grateful that, even though this Thanksgiving isn't what we had hoped it would be, we are still going to be able to be together this evening which is what matters most. This is the 4th Thanksgiving since Zach and I have been married but it will only be our 2nd of actually getting to be together. I would trade the turkey, stuffing, and trimmings every year if it meant that we could all be together.
Tonight, after Zach gets home from work, we will all head out and get some dinner at Applebees (the only place around here that is open on Thanksgiving besides McDonald's). When we are finally able to get into our own house, I plan on having our friends over and making a big traditional Turkey Day dinner because, I'll be honest, I want the amazing side dishes and pies! Haha! I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving!

Have you ever spent a holiday doing something untraditional? Leave a comment telling me about it!

Product Review: Sieva Stretch Mark and Cellulite Creams

Stretch marks.
A mother's 'Tiger Stripes', marks of growth, etc.
That's all fine and good but....I'll be honest. I don't like mine. I had some that I got growing up on my inner thighs but, up until the birth of my second son, that was all I had. I thought that since I hadn't gotten any with Koda that I would get away without any while pregnant with Levi. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I got several on my lower abdomen and on my sides an I.Don't.Like.Them.
When I got the opportunity to review the Sieva Stretch Mark Cream I jumped at it! I will try anything to get rid of these things. I know they won't ever disappear forever, but if I can do anything to make them less noticeable, I will. I've been using the Stretch Mark Cream for about a month now and I love it! It's extremely thick. It has a consistency that is comparable to a body butter. When applying I don't need to use much product and after massaging it into the skin it leaves a very silky finish. Not greasy or sticky in the least. I give this one two thumbs up!

Moving on to Cellulite.
Simply put, it's unattractive and almost unavoidable.
I know some very fit and active people who have cellulite. I don't have very much, thankfully, but with age, I'm sure more is on it's way. I like to use this product on my legs for the most part and have been pleasantly surprised. It makes my skin feel firmer and smoother and nicely moisturized. This product has a slightly thinner consistency than the stretch mark cream but still feels very nice on my skin and leaves it feeling silky and not sticky or greasy.
Another great product from Sieva.

You can find both of these products on Amazon if you'd like to give them a try!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Influenster

If you've been reading my blog then you already know, but if not, let me just tell you. I LOVE free stuff. I I love to be the first one to find out about new products, try them out and let others know what I think about them, good or bad.

If you're, i dunno....human, then I'd be willing to bet money that you like free stuff too.
If you're wondering how I get to try out new products, here it is.
www.influenster.com
Influenster is a site for people like me (and possibly you!) who love to be in the know about new products, and share their personal experiences with them, and yes, it is completely free. Influenster is especially fun because you get to try out products that are actually interesting! Things like, soaps, lip balms/lipsticks/glosses, nail products, and most recently for me, a brand new Venus Razor.
The only thing that Influenster asks in return are probably things you are already doing without even realizing it. Telling your friends/family about your new favorite product. You can share with your followers on social media, or do what I do and write a blog post about it. How easy is that?  It doesn't take much to get me talking, especially about something that I genuinely enjoy so writing/talking about the products I get to try is a breeze.
To make things even more fun, and to give Influenster more of an idea of who you are, you can earn badges in the subjects which you are most interested in. For instance, I have a MegaMom badge, as well as a Sweet Tooth and Bookworm badge, among many others and through them, Influenster is able to see the many facets of who I am as a person and thereby, send me products that they know I will really enjoy and spread the word about. You can earn badges by reviewing or answering questions from other members on their page about products that you have tried in the past.
Another great feature on Influenster is called VoxPerks. By participating in campaigns and being an active member of the Influenster community, you can earn VoxPerks which are huge discounts on products or services. For instance, right now I have 5 different VoxPerks. A couple of them being 90% off a Oneplay premium membership and a free bottle of wine from ClubW.
Another great thing about Influenster is that now, you don't have to get on your computer to participate. You can get on their new InfluensterApp on your smartphone or tablet! Let's be honest, you're on them several times a day anyway, why not get some free stuff while you're at it?!
So what are you waiting for? Join Influenster today and start reviewing. You might be chosen for the next Campaign and have some goodies show up right at your doorstep.
Happy Reviewing!

Tips for Healthy, Youthful Skin

Have you started to see some fine lines, wrinkles, or bagginess in your skin? According to an article on www.dailymail.co.uk, your skin can start aging as early as your mid-twenties! NOT good news.

The skin starts to age naturally in your mid-20s. 

According to Dr Andrew Wright, a consultant dermatologist with Bradford NHS Trust, as we get older production of collagen  -  the protein which acts as scaffolding to the skin  -  slows, and elastin, the substance that enables skin to snap back into place, has less spring and can even break.

Dead skin cells don't shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. 

This causes fine wrinkles and thin, transparent skin  -  even if the first signs may not appear until our mid-30s (unless accelerated by smoking or sun damage).

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1035037/Old-time-When-body-really-starts-going-downhill.html#ixzz3Jcio4Nzs 

I'm in my mid-twenties and I want to keep my skin looking as youthful as possible for as long as possible. So what can we do to combat the aging of our skin? Thankfully, several things!

1. Drink water. There is a reason you see and hear it everywhere. It's not just important for hydration, it's important in every aspect of keeping yourself not only healthy, but beautiful. If you have trouble consuming the amount of water you should daily, get a large water bottle and finish the water that it holds before a certain time of day. I use a Camelback water bottle and love it!

2. Take your vitamins. Your skin loves vitamin c and biotin as well as others that you might not be getting enough of through diet alone.

3.Wear sunscreen. Everyone knows exposure to the sun causes aging and can even cause cancer. Stay out of tanning beds, wear sunscreen and/or makeup that contains SPF (even in the winter and on overcast days), and wear hats and protective layers in direct sunlight.

4. Rid your body of impurities. Smoking, junk food, even caffeine. All of these things can be detrimental to your overall health and have a negative effect on your skin.

5. Get some rest. Lack of sleep makes for dull, lifeless skin.

6. Get moving. Exercise promotes healthy skin. Just make sure to wash your face afterwards to avoid breakouts.

7. Follow a daily skin regimen. Wash your face at least once, but maybe twice a day, depending on your needs and make sure you are using the right cleanser. For instance, you don't want to use a harsh cleanser, such as a daily blackhead scrub, if you have dry skin. A good way to know which kind to use is to see a dermatologist. I was surprised by what mine had to say and had to switch to a gentler, more moisturizing cleanser. It's also a good idea to use an exfoliating cleanser once or twice a week. If you're like me, after about 3 days I will begin to notice flakes on my skin. This tells me that it's time to exfoliate and slough off all of that dead skin. If you do this, you will notice that your make up goes on smoother and your skin will have an overall brighter appearance. Follow up your cleanser with a moisturizer to replenish your skin. Coconut oil is my favorite moisturizer.

8. Use anti-aging products. Things like Retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Hyaluronic acid (learn more about it here), Green Tea, and eye creams can all help your skin stay youthful and healthy. I've recently had the opportunity to try out some products containing these ingredients and have enjoyed the benefits of using them, as well as using the rest of the tips I've listed. My skin looks brighter and healthier and feels moisturized and nourished.

I've been using Body Merry's  Pro A Serum and Hyaluronic Dew Serum. I apply the Dew Serum for during the day and I use the Pro-A Serum at night.

I've also been using Foxbrim's Organic Youthful Radiance Eye Cream and have seen a huge improvement in my eye area. My dark circles have faded drastically and the puffiness has diminished as well.

I hope you have found these tips helpful. Try them out and let me know how they work for you! What are your tips to healthy, younger looking skin?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

25 Books of Christmas!

Some of my favorite things to get for Dakota and Levi are books. I loved books when I was little and I still enjoy reading when I get the chance. I think that books are a great escape and a way to enhance your imagination so I want to encourage my children to read and to enjoy books. I recently saw an idea for Christmas that was all about books where you get 25 books, wrap them, and each night in December leading up to Christmas, you unwrap a book at bedtime and read it as a family. These books don't necessarily have to be Christmas themed and it's a great way to build your child's library. I'm including books that are extremely popular (some of my favorite's from my childhood) as well as Christmas themed. The more books, the better because, let's be honest, I don't want to have to read the same book over and over and over. Haha! I've made a list of the books that I am going to consider including in my 25 days of Christmas. Keep in mind that you don't have to get your books brand new. There are several different ways you can get books at a discount or for free, such as library sales, thrift stores, and used book stores. I know I'll be taking advantage of  these options! A well-loved book is just as good as a brand new one! 

1. Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
2. Merry Christmas, Little Critter
3. Corduroy's Christmas Surprise
4. The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever
5. The Christmas Story
6. The Barenstain Bears and The Joy of Giving
7. Harold and the Purple Crayon
8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
9. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
10. Where The Sidewalk Ends
11. Oh! The Places You'll Go
12. The Lorax
13. The Night Before Christmas
14. The Day the Crayons Quit
15. I Hope You Dance
16. The Sweet Smell of Christmas
17. Dear Zoo
18. The Napping House
19. Counting Kisses
20. Dream Snow

21. A Pocket for Corduroy
22. What is Christmas
23. Room For a Little One
24. The Pajama Elves (to open with our traditional Christmas Eve gift, which includes
Pajamas)
25. Happy Birthday Jesus

 There are also a few other books that we read every year at Christmas time but didn't make it onto the list because we already own them.

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas
Elf on the Shelf
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
The Polar Express

I know this post may seem a bit premature, as it is only October, but in order to get 25 books I'm going to need plenty of time! If 25 books seems a bit overwhelming, or just plain overkill, even just a few on the last few days leading up to Christmas would be a lot of fun for the littles (and the big's!).
What Christmas traditions do you have in your house?

Dream Fall Wardrobe

Fall is here, although here in the part of Texas where we live, it certainly doesn't feel like it! Eventually though, it will cool off and I have a few things in mind for the boy's wardrobes! Although there is no way I will be able to get all of this for the boys, a girl can dream! Here's a few items I picked out for my dream fall wardrobe for Dakota and Levi.

Dakota

Obviously, these items would not all be worn together. It seems that I've fallen in love with both the color mustard and corduroy. The boots look like they would go with everything though! I might actually have to get those. They would be so perfect, especially for the holidays when he will need something a little dressier. I am absolutely head over heels for the bomber jacket. I love everything about it! Koda got a pullover sweater for his birthday very similar to this grey one on the bottom right. His is a cream color and I am certain you will be seeing a lot of it in his pictures as we get into the colder weather. As far as pants go, we usually stick to basic jeans. Dakota is very active and needs something that he can move easily in.

long sleeved shirt, corduroy shirt, booties
flannel shirt/hoodie, bomber jacket, sweater

 Levi

With Levi I need stuff that will be super comfy for him, as well as easy for me to get on and off of him. The Chunky onesie would be the perfect shirt for Thanksgiving and would suit him perfectly. I'm loving the varsity one-piece. Dakota had a few outfits in this style and they were so easy,especially when it came to diaper changes. I'm in love with this woodlands themed sleeper and the colors. The coat would be perfect for the holidays and it looks easy enough to get on and off because it only has 3 buttons.

Chunky onesie, one-piece, sleeper

sneakers, coat

Ahhh, if only I could just have a shopping spree in The Gap and Old Navy....

What's in your dream fall wardrobe?

Dakota's Birthday Party

This past Saturday, we had a little party for Dakota. He is completely obsessed with airplanes, so I went with a paper airplane theme. I hand made all of his decorations, as well as his cake and cupcakes, excluding the paper airplane garland that my mom made. I was really happy with the way his bunting banner came out, his cakes on the other hand....ehhh, not so much. But this is real life, and this is what it came out looking like. It's kind of cute in a rustic/cartoony way. At the very least, it tasted good.

For the drinks I made a label for the Lemonade that said 'Jet Fuel' and a sign for in front of all of the drinks that said 'Cool Your Engines', which I thought was super cute and clever (my sisters idea). I laid down a roll of chalkboard paper at the entrance and made it look like an airplane runway and a chalkboard that said 'Welcome Aboard flight 1019. Your Captain is Dakota. Enjoy the Ride' and had a 'Baggage Claim' area set up for his presents. I also made a paper airplane toss game out of a foldout posterboard. I cut circles out of it and made each hole worth a certain amount of points for your paper airplane to go through. The kids got frustrated with the game, though, and ended up just peeking through the holes at one another. I also made the shirt he is wearing in the picture below. I took the number 2 from his decorations, painted it, and stamped it onto the shirt. It ended up showing the pattern of the wood, which I loved! It turned out so well that I actually made another one for him to wear the next day on his actual birthday.



I was on a super tight budget for this party so I am pretty happy with the way all the decorations and everything turned out. It wasn't 'picture perfect' but I put in a lot of time and effort into making my baby's birthday the best it could be. He ended up having a great time with his cousins and family and thoroughly enjoyed the cake so I call it a win!

Dakota's 2nd Birthday

Dakota will be turning 2 this Sunday and I am just sitting here thinking- HOW?!
Where did all the time go?! I remind myself several times a day to take in each moment and to savor it because he won't be this little forever. I feel as though I blinked and here he is, wearing Toddler sized clothing and developing preferences and pointing out animals and colors and shapes and he knows their names!How did this happen? Watching your child grow is the very definition of bittersweet. 

 Koda has always been verbal but now he is doing very little 'baby babble'. Most of what he says is actual words and sentences. This kid is all boy. He was made for the outdoors and would play outside all day, every day if he could. He absolutely loves music and dancing. He will get down to anything at any moment. He has developed an obsession with airplanes and loves to look through old paper towel tubes and pretend it is a telescope. He loves to 'carly' (his word for color) both with markers -the Colorwonder kind, for my sanity- and chalk outside. He loves to eat 'cakes' (pancakes) and crackers and is not a fan of meat. Born vegetarian? Good luck in our house! Haha. 

Koda loves being a big brother. He tries to help and likes to try and give 'Lee-bye' (Levi) snuggles but he is still a little too rough so we have to keep an eye on him. His favorite thing (and Levi's favorite, too) is when he jumps around in front of Levi and they just giggle and laugh back and forth. I absolutely love watching them interact. It will be so much fun as they get older to watch them become best friends - hopefully!

This little man is just everything. He has taught me love and patience, peace and fear. He is loving, sweet, and a total brat. He is my baby who I love so deeply, unconditionally, forever.
Happy 2nd Birthday, Sunshine Man.
Mommy loves you!

A New Beginning

Back in April my husband left the Army and we moved back home. It has been quite the transition. Not only did we move back home from Germany, we were also coming back to our families after spending years away on our own. We went from being used to having out own house to living with family. We went from having a steady income to my husband being in construction and the possibility that at any moment the job could end and he would be laid-off and job hunting again. It seemed like there was no end in sight. But recently, my husband was able to secure a job in his field that the Army had trained him in and we are purchasing our first home! Although it has been nice to live near family, we are ready to be out on our own again and have our own space. I cannot tell you how excited I am to go from staying in 2 rooms in my parent's house (although, they have been wonderful and a true blessing to us) to finally being in our own house and not having to move within a year! Being able to settle back into our routine as a family will be so nice. I am so looking forward to it! Another thing I'm looking forward to is turning our house into our home! We have always lived in on-post housing and hadn't been able to really personalize our living space because we weren't ever in one place for very long. This will be the first time we have ever painted our walls, hung all our pictures, and done all the things that really make your home your sanctuary. I can't wait to post pictures of what we are starting with and then more showing our progress, and finally our finished product!You can check out my Pinterest board to see what I will be using as my inspiration. I also have seperate boards for specific rooms, such as the nursery and toy room. I would love for you to follow along with us as we step into this new season as a family.

Let's Talk Razors

As a married woman, I want to do everything I can to stay desirable to my husband, but after you've been married for a while, sometimes you tend to let certain things slide. One thing that I used to let slide was shaving my legs. It was seemed like a hassle that I did not have the time for. I'd shave about once a week and to me, that was enough, especially because it was uncomfortable for me. For some reason, my legs always burned after shaving and if I waited longer between shavings, it wasn't quite as bad. But then I got to thinking, I'm sure my husband would appreciate having his wife come to bed with silky legs! To feel softness when he cuddles me. A stark contrast from the dirt and grime and general roughness that is his work day. I decided to make it a point to keep my legs shaved daily. You never know how much of an impact even a seemingly small change could make! However, I still had the issue of my legs burning after shavings and I had razor bumps all the time. UGH!

As you know, I LOVE free stuff. I am part of a website called Influenster that will sometimes send you products for you to test and review. Recently they sent me the new Gillette Venus Embrace Sensitive razor for me to try. Sensitive? As in, for sensitive skin? I mean sure, I have sensitive skin on my face but....on my legs? Is that why my legs burn after shaving? Is that why I can't get rid of my razor bumps?
After trying out the razor, I can say that the answer to those questions is YES! Since using this razor, I haven't had any of the problems that I had previously. No razor burn or bumps, no burning! Had I never received this razor to try, I probably would have never considered that I may have sensitive skin on my legs. If I had seen it in the store, I probably would have walked right past it! If you have similar issues as I did and are looking for relief, try this razor! I can almost guarantee you will notice a difference.
As a bonus, the razor itself is gorgeous. My favorite color. What are the chances? It also comes with a razor holder that suctions to the shower wall which is super convenient. I like that I can place it up high to where my son can't reach it.

It has 5 blades for a super smooth finish and is perfect for sensitive skin.

All in all, I am very impressed.
Good bye old razor, Hello Venus Embrace Sensitive!

Recovering

I took Dakota to play group/storytime last week to try and get some social interaction not only for him, but for me as well. At the first storytime on Tuesday he just wasn't his usual outgoing self! He clung to me the whole time and wouldn't even participate in the songs. I found this really odd since normally he loves to dance and sing and play with other children. I decided to take him to a Toddler Time the next day to help break him out of his shell. He did better this time and somewhat interacted with the other children. I think after a few more visits he will be really into it, but that's not the main focus of this post. 

While watching him play, there was one point where I saw him grab a block and almost as if in slow motion, I saw him bring it up to his mouth and in it went. In my head I was screaming 'NOOOOOOO!' I knew then and there....We were in trouble.

A couple of days later, there he was, waking up with snot all over his upper lip (I apologize for the mental image), watery eyes, and a cough. I knew it was coming, and there was nothing I could do about it. So I comforted my sick baby and tried to keep my other one as far away from him as possible. All while downing my Emergen-C, washing my hands every 2 seconds, and telling myself "DON'T GET SICK. You CANNOT get sick! You WILL NOT get sick!" Despite my best efforts, the next morning I woke up with a stuffy, runny nose, tired achy muscles, and a very sore throat. The next thing I knew, Levi's tiny little nose was getting stuffy...(Breastmilk worked wonders to help clear him up!)
5 days later we are all almost back to normal. I'm hoping this was a one-time ordeal and that now that we have built up our immune systems so that the next Toddler Time won't cause anything like this again. In the meantime I'll be teaching Koda not to put blocks in his mouth. ugh.
My one question?
How did my husband manage to get out of this one?

New Baby Must-Have's

Even though Levi is our second baby, we had just moved back to Texas from Germany and were still waiting for our belongings to arrive when he was born. We didn't have anything with us that we had for Dakota and basically had to start all over. I didn't realize how much stuff we would need! So I've compiled a list of "must-have's". I'll be honest, most of them are just things that are really nice to have but not necessarily essential. 

Mamaroo, Rockaroo, Swing or Bouncer

You'll need a place for the baby to be put down during the day. Even if you do tend to hold the baby most of the day, everyone needs a potty break now and then, even mommies. We have the 4moms Mamaroo and it's amazing. It's a bit more expensive than your regular baby swing but, in my opinion, it's worth it. It has 5 different speed settings, 5 different movement options, as well as a sound machine and a place for you to plug in your ipod to play your own music!

Boppy Pillow

Oh Boppy, how did I survive without you with Dakota? The Boppy is great for nursing and for letting baby lounge. I always keep mine close by for feedings and I like to use it to prop Levi up closer to his toys in his play gym and for tummy time. I had a different kind of pillow similar to the Boppy with Dakota but never used it because it was more 'boxy' and uncomfortable for Koda to lay on. Boppy is the way to go.

Diaper Backpack

I HATE traditional diaper bags. They are so bulky and just...a pain. We quickly switched to a backpack when Dakota was a newborn but with Levi we found a diaper bag that actually is a backpack! It has a pocket that is lined to keep things warm/cold and it came with a really nice changing pad with zipper pouches to hold wipes. It's roomy without being so big that you can lose things in it and much easier to carry than a traditional diaper bag.

Baby Gym

Now that Levi is almost 3 months he is beginning to want to play more and more often. A play gym is perfect for this age because they can lay on their back and look up at the toys and hit them to watch them swing and they are also perfect for tummy time. Ours even came with a little pillow specifically for tummy time!

Gripe Water

This stuff is magic in a bottle! We use it every day with Levi these days. They help with colic, gas, and hiccups. Even better, the one we use is all natural.

Baby Nail Clippers

Your sweet little baby will have the claws of a LION! They will scratch their face and yours constantly and they grow at the speed of light! I have to clip Levi's nails at least twice a week. Some have a magnifying glass attached so you can see their little nails better. Ours has a light, which I prefer to the magnifying glass.

 Snap & Go Stroller

Travel systems built specifically to match and carry your car seat are nice, but can be bulky and take up all or most of the trunk in your vehicle. The snap & go is a great alternative. It's compact, lightweight, fits any infant car seat, and even has cup holders, a compartment for keys/phone and a space underneath for your diaperbag and/or purse. Honestly, it's a lifesaver! 

Bassinet

Most likely, baby will not be willing to sleep in the crib immediately after bringing them home from the hospital. Also, you will want to have them near your for easier feedings and diaper changes in the middle of the night. The one we have folds up for easy transport for when we go stay somewhere overnight. It's much easier than lugging a pack n' play around. It even has a vibration setting and the base is curved so you can rock it.

Snuza Hero

This is probably the most important thing on my list. It can literally save your baby's life. It's a breathing/movement monitor that clips onto your baby's diaper and sets off an alarm if they stop breathing for a certain amount of time. For us, it has already paid for itself. I get more sleep because I'm not checking on Levi's breathing constantly and I know firsthand that it works. Thank God for Snuza!

Swaddle Blankets

Even though we don't swaddle Levi, we love our swaddle blankets! We use Aden + Anais swaddle blankets. They are so soft, perfect to use as a light blanket while out and about and they have seriously cute prints. If you're looking for a similar but less expensive option, Summer Infant is great. 

What are some baby items that are essential for your family? Leave a comment!

When Reality Hits

Have you ever had a moment that felt like time was standing still but also racing by at the same time? That's how I felt today when my son got a bo-bo. It was just like all the other ones that happen 10 times (or more) a day. He's playing, falls or runs into something, cries for a second, comes to get a mommy cuddle and then gets over and he's quickly on to his next activity. This time was no different, until I felt his little arms wrap around my shoulders when he came to get his little reassurance snuggle. His arm reached around to the middle of my back and all of the sudden, time stood still as I recalled how just a short time ago, his arms were so short that his fingertips couldn't even touch over the top of his head. Now his little arm was reaching around me, actually holding on to me and pulling me in. I soaked up the moment because I started feeling as though any second he was suddenly going to morph into this teenage boy, towering over me with big, heavy, muscular man arms.
While I am loving watching my little baby become a toddler and from there become a kid and so on, I am clinging to whatever little tiny bit of baby-ness there is left. I'm sure every mother feels the same way about her children. Each day he needs me less and less but I need him. I'm not ready to let go of the little kisses and hugs or him dragging his 'bankie' (blankie) around everywhere so that it's covered in dirt 5 minutes after I get it out of the dryer. These moments are so sweet, and so very fleeting. Now I understand why my parents say 'you'll always be my baby'. No matter how big and strong and manly my little baby boy becomes, to me, he truly will always be my baby.

Product Review: Fisher Price Little People City Skyway

One of my favorite things to do is get stuff FOR FREE and review them! It's SO easy to do and, c'mon, who doesn't like free stuff? I've been testing and reviewing for a site called bzzagent.com for a few months now and I am loving it! I'm now on my third 'campaign' and one of the things they sent me was this new toy by Fisher Price! It's from the Little People collection and it's a race track type set up called City Skyway.

It stands just over 3 feet tall and is recommended for 18 months to 4 years.
My (almost) 2 year old LOVES this thing! I mean LOVES! It is the one toy we have that keeps him occupied for more than 5 seconds. He likes to send both cars down one right after the other and watch them take a different lane every time. There are 3 different lanes that the cars can go down that are activated by these 'automatic switches'. Each time a car hits one side, it opens up the other so that when a car goes down it takes a different path than the one before it. All 3 paths end up coming out towards you and the center one even causes the car to jump! It also comes with 2 cars so it's great for both independent play and play with a friend.
As far as assembly goes, it comes with a lot of pieces but is pretty easy to put together and all you need is a screwdriver. It's really very sturdy once it's put together and the bases are nice and wide so it's not going to topple over unless someone puts a whole lot of effort into pushing it down.
The one and only thing I think I would change is the age range. I feel like children that are on the older side of the age range would get bored with it somewhat quickly but for about 2 years old- this thing is GOLDEN.

If you'd be interested in testing and reviewing products like this one, head over to bzzagent.com. It is 100% free, legit and so easy!

I was sent this product for review c/o Fisher Price and Bzzagent

Hello!

Hello! I'm Jessica. I'm a 20-something stay at home mommy. I was born and raised in SETX (Hook 'em!) and I have been happily married for 3 years. My husband is former military and we have lived at Ft. Bragg in NC and Schweinfurt, Germany but now we are back in TX!

That little guy ^ is my son, Dakota, who will be 2 very soon. Much too soon.

He now looks like this.

I also have a 2 month old little mister, Levi, who is so cute my heart bursts every time I look at him.



On this blog, I will be posting about our day to day shenanigans, as well as my favorite things, recipes, and who knows what else.
I hope you enjoy reading and stick around!
Welcome to our lives, We're The DQ's!