Valentine's Day Photo Shoot - Perfect Last Minute Gift

Having a child at any holiday seems to make it 10x more special. But with the need to instill traditions while keeping things Pinterest-perfect, there is a lot of pressure as well. I am definitely not immune. Celebrating Baby's First Everything puts me in a tizzy. I want to document it all. It's also important to spoil the grandparents with baby love. For Thanksgiving we did footprint turkeys. At Christmas, we made handprint ornaments. I figured for Valentine's Day it was probably time to let up on the body parts haha.

Instead, we did a mini photo shoot for Valentine's Day and guess what - you can too! I promise, it's not too late. Within 15 minutes of shooting, I had the perfect custom Valentine for baby J's grandparents.

With places like Target Photo that print cards in store (or even using your own printer and cardstock at home) you can have cards printed within an hour of doing the shoot. About 10 minutes after placing my order, I got the email confirmation that my prints were ready for pick up!

What you need is minimal at best. A piece of fabric for a backdrop, a couple glitter hearts, and a coordinating holiday shirt. No pants necessary folks!

Rosé and Lime Spritzer & Festive Wine Glasses

Are you preparing a Valentine's Day dinner at home? Maybe you're super wonderful and hosting a Galentine's Day Brunch this Saturday morning? Or, if you're anything like me, you like the idea of having another fun beverage idea up your sleeve!

This Rosé and Lime Spritzer is super simple and absolutely refreshing.

MommyCon 2015 + Discount Code

Motherhood comes with lots of unexpected perks - who doesn't love storytime and midday snuggles? I know Joe and I are enjoying bedtime books way more than the little guy considering we're the ones saying "just one more." Two words: Dr. Seuss. It's also a time for you to start finding yourself as a couple - a couple of parents. As I shared earlier this week, we have made some very specific child rearing decisions. I'm really lucky to have a best friend who shares a lot of the same parenting ideals. We can vent, celebrate, and have legit discussions with one another. Unfortunately she is states away. This is forcing me out of my element to start networking with other similar mamas.

Meeting other like-minded moms is a huge goal for me this year. Other than my bestfriend, I don't know another CD mom 'in real life'. Babywearing seems foreign to everyone we know. Our friends are puzzled by our Tummy Tub and our plans to make homemade baby food. Lots of people think we're the epitome of weird for co-sleeping.  So, I sought out a place where parents like us might gather.  Without a doubt, that place is MommyCon!

Chocolate Chip Toffee Oatmeal Cookies aka Lactation Cookies

On Sunday I shared our breastfeeding story - the ups and the downs, the good and the bad. I have to say, I really appreciate all of the kindness and support. It's reassuring to know that other people have had similar experiences and triumphed in one way or another. I am positive that the improvements to my milk supply were due to suggestions from the lactation specialist. And when your doctor suggests a magical cookie that will boost your milk supply, you say 'yes please.'

These aren't just any cookies. These are Lactation Cookies. These are a nursing mama's baked bestfriend. Try them. You'll be a believer too. Even if you aren't nursing (and I imagine that is most of you), try these anyway - they'll hit the spot.

Our Breastfeeding Journey - A Rocky Road

Disclosure: What I'm sharing today is long and incredibly personal. I mean, you can't get a lot more personal than boobs and childrearing decisions. 

After successfully navigating the road to conception and carrying a beautiful baby to term, you don't think anything can get you down. Especially once you see that little pink baby in the flesh. I sure didn't. I have a ton of experience with children. I read all there was to read about caring for a newborn. I practiced swaddling until I got it just right. I researched different breastfeeding positions. We decided to bedshare and babywear to keep our baby boy close. I made plans to ensure he would be exposed to only the best - a top rated pediatrician, high quality cloth diapers, homemade baby food, and, the most obvious, his mama's breast milk.

Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned.

Five Fab Finds (Plus Some!) - Ikea

Sometimes I forget how lucky we are to live so close to an Ikea! I haven't stepped foot in there since October so it was the perfect naptime getaway for me and the little guy. Visiting Ikea on a Wednesday morning?! HEAVEN. Pure heaven. If you can swing it, do it!

The whole store was practically empty which was good considering that I didn't put any effort into looking 'presentable' haha. This visit was just what I needed thought. I've been lacking inspiration for the rooms at the fixer upper. In particular, I was searching for a living room sofa, a tv console for the family room, kid friendly window treatments, and storage ideas for the kitchen, pantry, and laundry room. I think I found everything I was looking for, and more!

Crispy Oven Fries

Aside from 24/7 Jasper time, my favorite aspect of maternity leave has been the ability to cook a homemade meal every night. Having time to make food from scratch is pretty flippin awesome (just ask my husband. haha!) No more pre-made pizza crust or bagged frozen potatoes in this house.

In addition to my 'tried and true' dishes, I've tried out new things to add to my repertoire. One of our new 'family favorites' are these Crispy Oven Fries. Sure, they take a bit more work than frozen fries but that's to be expected. But the flavor?! Yeah, these are unbeatable. Since I made the first batch, we've had them with dinner every.single.Friday.