Baby Registry Favorites | Baby Gear

This next installment of my baby registry favorites is all about the gear!

If there is anything I have learned, you totally get what you pay for in terms of quality.  Some of these items might seem a little pricey, but for us they have been worth every penny!

BOB stroller-  We have literally owned a handful of strollers at this point.  First there was the travel system, a Graco stroller that went with the infant car seat that we had... convenient for it's snap and go feature, but a total pain to push.  We also own two super cheap umbrella strollers for the random occasion that we need something super small and lightweight... we don't love them, but for the price, they have served their purpose.  We bought our BOB when Max was almost a year old and I was getting back into running.  Yes, it is a jogging stroller, but trust me, even if you don't run, this stroller is AMAZING.  It pushes like a dream over and around everything, and we would purchase it again 10 times over (It is also currently on sale for 25% off, which rarely happens!).  We also own a City Mini Double Stroller, which has worked out great for us, but if I am being honest, we will likely be upgrading to the BOB duallie, and selling our City Mini... that's how much we love the BOB.

Motorola Video Monitor-  This is the monitor we have had since the very beginning.  We used it when Max was a baby, and added an additional camera when Ella was born.  It has always worked great for us, so I totally recommend it!

4Moms Mamaroo-  I can't say a whole lot about our Mamaroo yet, as this was a recent upgrade for baby #3.  Everyone I know who owns one raves about it, so I cannot wait to put ours to use.  I already love that it can be controlled from my iPhone, and how much less space it takes up then a traditional baby swing.

Boon High Chair-  True confession, We do not own this high chair, but if we decide to upgrade, this is the one we will purchase.  I have heard great things from people who own it, and have read many reviews. People seem to love how easy this high chair is to clean, and how stylish it is.

Solly Baby Wrap-  I plan on baby wearing A LOT this time around, and this will likely be my go-to wrap.  It is incredibly soft and lightweight, and comes in the most beautiful colors.  The natural and gray stripe is the color that I went with, and I am already obsessed.

Fisher Price Rock n' Play-  We bought our rock n' play just before Ella was born, after so many people highly recommended it to us, and let me just state for the record, EVERYONE was right.  Ella lived in this thing for months.  She slept in it, napped in it, lounged in it... and I loved it, because it is super lightweight and portable, so I could move it all over the house, and have her everywhere I needed to be.  This thing is high on my baby item MUST-HAVE list.

Stay tuned for the next installment in this Baby Registry Favorites series, which will feature my favorite items for in the car!

Swoon Worthy

I'm not sure how it's already the last weekend of January, but for a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy, I am ready to welcome February with open arms.

It's been a rough and crazy last couple of weeks for me, so I'm thrilled that Saturday is finally here and I can pawn some of the parental duties off on my husband, and hopefully kick my feet up and relax a little.

As always, this week's list of items that I am swooning over, is a random mix of "stuff"... recipes, good reads,  and fun fashion finds.

Here we go...

1.  I've been starting to feel like I'm in a bit of a dinner recipe rut lately...this little pasta dish might be just the thing to pull me out!

2.  I am dying to get Ella into dancing classes.  Tiny ballerinas top my list of cutest things ever... in the meantime, this dress... I die!

3.  My favorite pajama/lounge pants are now available in stripes.  Most comfortable pants ever!!!

4.  Seeing as my biggest pregnancy craving right now is anything topped with sprinkles (hence the funfetti cake you see pictured above), these are on my must-make-for-Valentine's-Day-list!

5.  If you don't already know, I swoon hard over faux fur throws!

6.  I am currently off of my Netflix binge, and back on my read-all-the-books kick.  This one is my latest read!

7.  I'm trying to restrain myself from buying one of everything for my kids from this awesome shop!

8.  In need of a good dip recipe your Superbowl party?  This one is a goody.

9.  I will always adore a cardigan that pairs well with anything and is long enough to cover my backside if I choose to wear it with leggings,

10.  When I'm not carrying my massive suitcase/favorite tote, I love a good crossbody bag.  I'm currently crushing on this one!

Have a great weekend!

Swoon Worthy

Cheers to the weekend my friends... after what seemed like the longest week ever, I couldn't be more thrilled that Saturday is upon us.

I'm hoping to use the next few days to get our home decorated for Halloween. I'm always big on decorating for fall, like as soon as September hits, but I generally lose some steam when it comes to Halloween decor.  Now that M&E are getting a little older, they're pretty fascinated by all of the fun spider webs, bats, and jack-o-lanterns that they see every time we walk through Target, so I picked up a few fun festive items, and hope to get down to it sometime over the next couple of days.

As always... In the meantime, here's what I'm swooning over this week!

1.  Iced or hot... every since my pregnancy induced coffee aversion began, I can't get enough of this stuff in its place.

2.  I love a good, festive, holiday garland.

3.  I'm only a little bit sorry (not sorry) for linking yet another pumpkin related recipe.

4.  I still swear up and down that these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned... This black pair is next on my my-have list.

5.  This article sums up so many of the feelings that I have about parenting.

6.  A little throw back to last year around this time, because I think it's time to make this snack mix again.

7.  I stumbled upon this sweater this past week, bought it, and see it getting A LOT of wear over the next few months.

8.  How adorable are these happy little pumpkins?!?

9.  I really need to find out whether baby #3 is a boy or a girl... but in the meantime, I'll take one of these in every color please!

10.  Officially addicted to this stuff.

Have a great weekend!

Beauty on a Budget

I'm not denying the fact that I have been known to splurge on beauty products in the past.  Trips to Sephora to purchase high end cosmetics are something I enjoy probably a little more than I should admit, but these days, I've really dialed back my beauty routine, since I highly doubt the effort is much appreciated by my 3 year old and 1 year old.  

Lately, budget beauty purchases have totally become my jam.  Given the amount of trips I make to Target on a weekly basis, I've become accustomed to quickly throwing something in my cart before a toddler tantrum ensues, and hoping that when I get home, it's as fabulous as I envisioned in the frantic moment that I decided to grab it and give it a whirl.

The following are the items that I've randomly tried, liked, and come to use on the regular.  Most of them are under $10, and all of them can be purchased at good ol' Target, making them even easier to love.

1.  NYX Concealer  This stuff provides great coverage for the dark circles under my eyes, that result from the minimal hours of sleep I've been getting, as well as the occasional blemish.

2.  Pixi Sheer Cheek Gel  I love the pop of pink that the "flushed" color this gives my cheeks.  I use it year round, and it lasts all day long.

3.  Maybelline Baby Lips  I own this stuff in pretty much every color.  A self-proclaimed lip balm addict, the price of this stuff makes it great to stock up on.  I love the colors, and the moisturizing benefits.

4. e.l.f. Eye Brow Kit  I recently realized the impact you can get from lightly filling in your brows... I use the term lightly, because one can certainly go overboard here, but a few light brushstrokes of this through your brows really does make a world of difference.

5.  Maybelline Pumped Up Colossal Mascara  You guys, I LOVE this stuff.  The best inexpensive mascara I have purchased in a long time!

6.  NYX Dusk til Dawn Eye Shadow I like to think of this palette as the Naked palettes much, much cheaper knock off.  The colors are great for both day and night, and it offers great versatility for the price.

7.  e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick  At $2 a pop, you can't go wrong with this stuff.  It's great when you want to experiment with color and not spend a fortune.

Like I said, I still like to splurge on certain items.  I have my go-tos when it comes to bronzer, BB cream, and blush... but I feel a lot less guilty about it with the money I save from purchasing these great items.

What are some of your favorite budget beauty purchases?

                                             

Cabin Fever & My "Mom Uniform"

I feel a little bad complaining about the winter when my friends and family in the Northeast seem to be getting repeatedly buried by foot, after foot, of snow, but it isn't exactly all warm and springy here in PA either.

This weekend temperatures here are apparently supposed to drop back below 10 degrees, and let me tell you from experience, trudging out into Arctic weather with two little ones is certainly no walk in the park.

The combination of freezing cold temperatures and sporadic accumulations of snow have left us with a case of cabin fever friends, and we've got it bad.  

Today we bundled up, and after what seemed to take literally hours to get out of the house, we headed for the mall in an effort to keep from going completely stir crazy.

Yup, that's a selfie from Nordstrom's family bathroom, where we inevitably had to stop for diaper duty.

Thankfully our mall has a pretty decent play area, so it was the perfect place to let Max burn off a little energy while Ella and I sat back and took in the craziness, and I sipped on a Flat White.

After that we browsed around and took full advantage of the opportunity for me to get in some of my 10,000 daily steps (on my fitbit).

Is it just me, or does anyone else love to browse around the Crewcuts section at J Crew and wish that they were small enough to buy one of everything for themselves?

Anyhow, all of this browsing got me thinking a little bit about my "mom uniform".  

Once upon a time (what seems like a billion years ago), I used to get dressed up every day for work.  I would wear dresses, and even heels (gasp), and spend a lot of time applying my make up and blowing out my hair.  These days all of that would be a bit much, seeing as I'm all about whatever is comfortable and socially acceptable for running errands and playing on the floor with my kids, and only occasionally pull out those dressier staples.

So... I thought I would share some of my favorites items with you guys.  The items that I wear over and over again, and can't get enough of... Essentially, my "mom uniform".

From top left:

My go-to dress up or dress down must-have are these jeggings.  They are perfect for when I need something dressier than, let's say yoga pants, but they're still super comfortable.  They come in a denim version as well, and are super affordable.

I love, love, love my Nike's for something super easy to just throw on and kick around in.  This style is no longer available, but I'm totally swooning over these ones in the gold salt color.

My favorite sweatshirt was a bit of a splurge, but for the amount of times it has been worn, I certainly have gotten my monies worth.

The boots I literally wear the most from fall to spring are for sure my Hunters.  I love that I can just slip them off and on, that they go perfectly with leggings, and that I don't have to worry about how wet and muddy it is out when I wear them.

This blanket scarf is by far one of my favorite accessories.  I throw this on with just about everything, and I love how warm and cozy it is.

If I could wear these sweats every day, I swear I would... and they are a much more affordable version than the J Crew and Gap ones!

Another splurge, but Mike got me these leggings a couple of years ago for Christmas, and they are seriously the best pair I have ever owned.

Hands down the most comfortable pair of ballet flats out there.  When I actually put on jeans, these are the shoes I reach for.

Possibly the best staple item I have ever purchased.  I wear this chambray shirt over dresses, bathing suits, tank tops and leggings.  It's so versatile and by far one of my favorite clothing items.

***Not pictured, the greatest puffer vest ever and the most comfortable undershirts!

There you have it.  Nothing super glamorous, but lately I'm much more into quality than quantity.  If I'm going to wear something all the time, than I totally feel okay about spending a little extra on it, versus something I will rarely wear.  I like to have staple pieces, and then add accessories and wear them in different ways.  What are some of your closet staples?  I always love to hear what other ladies are wearing.
-J