My Summer Favorites & Birthday GIVEAWAY

My Summer Favorites & Birthday GIVEAWAY

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

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Sweeeet Summer time, y'all!!  Summer is here and it's already been a hot one here in Florida, so I decided I would share a few of my favorite Summer products that help keep me feeling "Cool for the Summer"! (anyone else singing Demi Lovato's song right now)

Like I promised (if you've been following me on Instagram),  I'm giving away some of my favorites to one lucky follower!  I'm so excited about this amazing giveaway!  It's my birthday week and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate!

So...are you just dying to know about my favorite Summer products?

1. I love getting my nails done.  It can be so much fun to go the salon and relax, but with two kiddos under two now, it's almost impossible to do.  That's when I discovered Jamberry nails.  They are amazing and so easy to apply.  Mine lasted almost three weeks and one sheet costs a lot less than a manicure.  Each sheet has 2-3 applications!

2. Rodan and Fields Sunscreen is my go to for keeping my skin protected during the Summer.  We love to go boating and this sunscreen is so lightweight and non-greasy.  It's perfect for everyone in my family, including my girls.  It's a must-have!

3. My absolute favorite monogrammed mason jar tumbler is from Caroline Randall Made AND it has another summer favorite all over it...flamingos!  I drink out of this tumbler every single day.  It is cute, easy to take with me and I can easily change out the sleeves!  I secretly want to keep the giveaway tumbler for myself ;)

4.  Floppy hats are one of my go-tos for the Summer.  You can dress it up or dress it down.  They are cute with just about anything!

5.  Let's be honest, flower crowns are everything!  I love how whimsical they are and how beautiful they look and make you feel.  RyleighxCo has the cutest shop filled with flower crowns and mommy and me items.

6.  Younique makeup has been my favorite brand for lipstick and mascara!  I'm obsessed with lipstick and like that I can mix it up in the Summer with a bold pop of color!

7.  This tank!  I want to wear this everyday!  Adding Accents has the best tanks and tees!  I seriously want them all!  It's perfect for a Summer outing.

8.  You can't forget a good coffee mug!  The Summer is for getting up early, hitting the beach and going to bed way too late.  You're going to need a lot of caffeine and what better way than to drink it out of this adorable mug from ByTracey?!  You can't go wrong with any of her cute and clever designs.  

8.  If you know me, you know how much I love the smell of coconut!  This coconut citrus candle smells like I'm on a beach all day long (even when I'm covered in baby food).

NOW, here's your chance to win this entire package!

You have until Sunday, July 3, 2016 to enter in this fabulous Summer giveaway! Just click into the Rafflecopter widget below (if you’re in Google Reader you’ll have to click over to see it) and follow the easy steps to rack up extra entries!

Good luck! I’ll be crossing my fingers for you!

Winner will receive:

• One sheet of Jamberry nails and nail file from Liz Cantu
• One Monogrammed Mason Jar Tumber from Caroline Randall Made
• One Coconut Citrus Candle
• One floppy hat from The Littlest Funk (color of choice)
• One sunscreen from Rodan and Fields
• One flower crown from Ryleighxco
• One lipstick, lipstain or eye pigment from Lexi at Younique (winner's choice)
• One Beer Lime and Sunshine tank from Adding Accents 
• One coffee mug from ByTracey

ONE winner will receive:

•  One lipstick, lipstain or eye pigment from Lexi at Younique (winner's choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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An Open Letter to my Toddler | Part 1

An Open Letter to my Toddler | Part 1

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

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Dear Emma (the toddler I'm referring about),

Please quit sitting on your sister.  She is not a chair and she can't breathe.  As much as you would like to think this is quality play time with your little sister; it isn't, so please stop.

On that note, please quit trying to feed your sister.  It's very nice of you, but she can't always have what you're having and probably doesn't appreciate you trying to shove 6 pretzel sticks in her mouth at once.

As cute as it is when you say "ease" (please), you cannot have "andy" (candy) for breakfast.  Even if you ask 55 million times in a row, wait a few minutes and then ask again.  The answer is still no.

My sweet, dear child, for the love, please put on clothes.  We cannot leave the house unless you wear them and if you don't want your mother (me) to lose her mind, we HAVE to occasionally leave the house.  Also, the USPS and UPS workers don't appreciate me slamming the door in their faces when you bolt towards the door naked.   

You, are not a dog.  Please quit chewing on the furniture...and with that being said, quit licking the furniture...and the windows...and your sister.

I know you were breastfed, but you haven't nursed in almost a year; quit trying to grab my boobs (and sometimes nipple) every time I nurse your sister.  Also, quit trying to shove my boob in her mouth.  I know you're just trying to help, but it's kind of weird and I think you're creeping your father out.

It would be really nice of you to quit deciding you want to play with every loud toy you own and run up and down the hallway as soon I put your sister down for a nap.  I'm sure she would appreciate you not doing that as well.

My fearless child, I love that nothing scares you and that you love to be independent, but climbing and jumping off of everthing (including the pool) and trying to do front flips is not my idea of fun.  You're going to give me a heart attack and I'm pretty sure you're the one giving your daddy gray hair, not me. 

I know that you are super excited about being potty trained now, but there is no need to scream like a teenage girl at a Taylor Swift concert every single time you poop (which happens to conveniently be while your little sister is napping).  Also, try not to get excited until after you finish peeing in the potty.  Getting excited midway through is getting pee all over the floor.

 Lastly, you really are such a joy and as crazy as most of our days seem to go, I wouldn't change the personality you have been given for anything in the world.  You doing these ridiculous and funny things are what make you who you are and I can't wait to see what else you throw at us.  I never imagined your daddy-0 and I would be in for such an adventure with you!  We love you silly girl!

(For the last month, we are mommy-o, daddy-o and Charle-o)  Haha!

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Charlotte Maria | 6 Months

Charlotte Maria | 6 Months

Monday, June 20, 2016

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 Happy 1/2 birthday to my sweet baby!  Half a year old! 

 Age :: 6 months

Length :: 25 1/2 inches
 
Weight :: 12 lbs 13 oz 
*We finally gained a little more than a pound this month!  Our pediatrician thinks she is just going to be petite and is pleased with her weight gain.  No more weight checks!  Praise God!

Milestones :: We have a very mobile and active baby!  She is crawling like you wouldn't believe and starting to pull up on things.  She is sitting up on her own and doing great!  Charlotte has two teeth now and has started solids.  She can focus and grab toys and her favorite thing to grab is Emma's hair...it's already begun!   

Sleep :: Sleep is not that great :(  It could be worse, but it could be a lot better.  I feel for those mamas who are up every two hours.  Charlotte is a great napper (when big sis lets her), but she has a little trouble staying asleep through the night.  She is still going 5 hours or so, but is waking in the middle of the night.  Most nights she is ending up in our room and sleeps well.  We have started to sleep train again and are hopeful we can get her sleeping through the night again soon.

Favorites :: She loves to chew on everything, and well, get into everything.  She loves to look in the mirror and pull big sister's hair.  Ha!  She loves cuddling and being rocked and sung to before bedtime.  She is obsessed with our dog, Neko! She still enjoys jumping in her Fisher Price Jumperoo and playing Peek-a-boo.  Her favorite toys are Emma's barbies and her teething toys.  She loves bath time and has moved on from sitting in her bath chair to sitting in the tub like a big girl.  I wish she would stop growing!

Doesn’t like :: She still does not like her carseat.   At this point, I'm not sure she every will.  She doesn't always like to take a nap.  She would rather see what Emma is up to.  She doesn't like getting dressed and won't lay still long enough to get her diaper changed. She does not like to have face wiped and hates when I leave the room. 

Foods:: Breastfeeding strong! This girl loves to eat and hasn't had any trouble with solids.  She has tried bananas, avocados (her favorite), spinach (another favorite), apples (doesn't like).  We have decided to go the Baby Led Weaning route, which I will talk more about later, but you can click here for more info on BLW.   

Firsts:: First trip to Texas and first airplane ride (22 weeks), sitting on her own (23 weeks), celebrated big sister's birthday (24 weeks), started solids (24 weeks) first full day with daddy (25 weeks), first tooth (5/11). 

Clothes:: Size 1 diapers.  3 month clothing and some 3-6.  

Nicknames:: Char, Charlie (Emma's version of Charlotte-sounds like Sharlee), Charlie girl, Pumkin, Sissy, Sister

Here are some pictures from this month :)

Heading back to Florida!

6 Month checkup.

Heading to Texas!

Standing for the first time.

First time to feed herself avocado.

First trip to Texas and she got to meet all her cousins! (My mom, two sisters, Emma, Charlotte and 4 cousins and another one due late June.)

Mi Abuela...Charlotte's Great.  I'm so thankful she gets to love on her. 

Charlotte's first homemade tortilla!

Hanging with her oldest cousin, Ava.

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Review and GIVEAWAY | Amber Teething Necklace

Review and GIVEAWAY | Amber Teething Necklace

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

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There is nothing better than a teething baby...said no mom ever!  God definitely has a sense of humor because I've had it twofold with Charlotte cutting her first teeth and Emma cutting her two year molars.  There is drool everywhere and teeth marks in the couch.  No, we did not get a new puppy...that's just our 6 month old and our toddler.  Ha!

Charlotte has been wearing her Amber teething necklace from Mister Man Pants for about two months now (24/7), has cut two teeth and there are more on their way soon!  I've worked with Kate from Mister Man Pants before when Emma was a baby and I'm so glad that I did.  I love what these Amber necklaces have done for both my girls.

I remember when Emma was around 5 months old and she was so upset.  Michael had taken her teething necklace off for a bath and I asked where it was.  Michael, a natural skeptic, kind of rolled his eyes at me, put it on her and she immediately stopped crying!  He still thinks it was a coincidence, but I'm a believer!  Momma knows best...right?!  Emma cut all of her teeth with no problem at all.  We don't take it off of them ever.  They even sleep with it on and we've had no problems.  Charlotte has been very different from Emma and has had a few sleepless nights and low grade fevers, but overall I think the teething necklace has still been successful! 


If you don't know what Amber teething necklaces are, you can click here for more info and facts on Baltic Amber :) 

Mister Man Pants uses natural 100% authentic Baltic Amber in her products and I love that!  I have read too many times about people not getting authentic beads.  That can be so stressful when you just want a happy baby!
 

Amber is also thought to bring good luck and is incredibly beautiful!!

Now...are you ready for a GIVEAWAY?!  Mister Man Pants and I have teamed up to giveaway a $15 shop credit!  Head over to my Instagram page for more details.  You can also comment below for an extra 5 entries.  She doesn't just offer teething necklaces.  She has adorable cloth diapers, oils and more!  

Instagram @mistermanpants_ig
Facebook Mister Man Pants
 

Safety Disclaimer ~ please don't leave children unattended with their necklace or bracelet, it may present a choking hazard. 

*I received this product in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are that of my own.

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Emma Turns 2! | Ice Cream Social

Emma Turns 2! | Ice Cream Social

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

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How is it possible that Emma is two?!  We have now not only survived her first year, but her second year too!  Praise God!

It was a lot of fun and less stressful planning Emma's 2nd birthday party {Ice Cream Social} this year.  We didn't get another water bounce house, but we had a water slide, a small bounce house and a few other things for the kids to play.  AND we got to host it on our new patio, which was great!

We kept it somewhat simple this year for her party, but I loved the way it all came together.  I'm getting a little better with party decorations.  It's definitely not Pinterest worthy, but we are getting there ;)

Here are some pictures from Emma's party! ENJOY!

Ice Cream Garland :: ThePaperWonderland / Ice Cream Truck (treat holder) :: Amazon / Party Tray :: Amazon / Picnic Caddys :: Amazon / Tablecloth :: Target

Polka Dot Ice Cream Cups :: Post and Twine / Mini Wooden Spoons :: Post and Twine / Striped Paper Straw :: Target (dollar section)

Animal Cracker popcorn recipe here. / Homemade chocolate magic shell recipe here.

This book came from Shutterfly and I love the way it turned out. We put all of her pictures from her 2 year/ice cream photo shoot in this hardcover book and it was perfect for everyone at her party to look at.  Shutterfly always has great deals and freebies too, so be sure to sign up for their emails if you aren't already.

We moved our deep freezer to our back patio for the day of the party to keep all the ice cream in and just had to turn it into an ice cream truck!  How cute is this?!  Of course, Emma had to help decorate it too :)  I can't take credit for this though...our friend, Brittany, was nice enough to draw this for us.

Custom Headband :: Birdie Baby Boutique

I mean, it is her birthday, right?!

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