It’s that time of year again! It’s mid December and you’ve already received a ton of cards wishing you all the best for this holiday season, but you’re a procrastinator like me and haven’t had the chance to order yours! No need to worry because https://www.shutterfly.com has you covered! I’m going to give you a step-by-step on how to create your own, gorgeous Christmas cards.
Hover in the top left corner where it says “Cards and Stationary”. You’ll see a drop down menu where you can choose what type of card you need.
Click on the type of card you’d like to make.
Once you click on, lets say “Christmas Cards”, you’ll see pages and pages of different designs you can choose from. Once you see a design you like, click on it!
The previous step will direct you to a page where you can see the card up close and have the option to personalize. Click on the orange icon that says “personalize” to add your photos to the sample card.
Once you click on that icon, you’ll be able to input your family name, greeting, and upload the photos you’d like. I also love personalizing the envelopes with names and addresses which you can do right after you save your card.
After you’ve done that, go ahead and click “save” on the top left hand side to have it saved in your favorites. That way you can do more of the designs you like and compare and contrast them when you’re ready to choose.
Go ahead and pick the one (or two…or three!) you love and move on to the checkout.
Checking out is so simple and you can always find promotional codes to use on the website. Running through DECEMBER 15, 2018 is the “DAZZLE” promo code which allows you to take 50% off your total purchase!
You can choose which shipping method you’d like and then you’re done! Simple right?!
Making Christmas cards are so important for me because it’s one way to keep in touch with loved ones. Most of the time we are consumed with our children, spouses, and careers and its not always easy checking up on friends and family. Sending Christmas cards is a perfect way to spread some joy this holiday season.
*This post was sponsored by Shutterfly , but all opinions are ALWAYS my own*
As a new mom, it’s hard to wrap your head around all the different gadgets and gizmos that are offered for babies. There are so many different variations of products and picking the right ones can be a daunting task. When it comes to baby loungers, there are a few options available but nothing compares to the original DockATot. I used it with my first baby in the larger, Grand size until she was a year old and am now using the Deluxe, smaller size, for my baby boy.
WHY WE LOVE OUR DOCKS:
Safety- The DockATot is safe for babies because of its breathable and non-toxic materials made in Europe. Although it isn’t recommended for unsupervised sleep, it is a very safe alternative for co-sleeping and daytime lounging.
Portability- It’s so convenient to be able to take the dock with us wherever we go. Weather we’re going to grandma’s house or just waling over to the kitchen to make dinner, it’s great to take along and set baby inside so you can get some work done.
Style- The DockATots come in many different styles to match your taste. They come in many different styles and prints so you can get those adorable photos of your babies in them.
I can say that, without a doubt, the DockATot is my number one used baby product. I put my baby in it most of the day and when he’s super fussy, I can bring the dock into our bed and know that he can safely co-sleep with us. Once my little guy is past the eight month mark, I’ll definitely be getting him the Grade size to match his sister. For more information and where to purchase, please visit: https://dockatot.com
This post is sponsored by DockATot, but, like always, all opinions are genuinely my own.
This post is sponsored by Red Baron but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Since Emma’s so young, I’m not yet dealing with summer breaks and our routines are still going strong! She’s in full time daycare/pre-school and I’ve successfully transitioned into a working mama. After school, there is always a battle of what she will eat. She’s very very picky and she can thank her dear old mom for that gene! I’ve tried it all folks…pastas, chicken nuggets, mac n’cheese, you know it! Nothing seems to work for this girl, except PIZZA!!! She absolutely LOVES it and her current favorite (and mine) is Red Baron!
We all know summer is a time for everyone to enjoy some fun in the sun and spend time with the ones they love! For most moms, it can also be the busiest and most hectic time of the year! With all the fun summer activities planned, I always struggle to get some decent nutrition into my picky eater. It’s always a battle with my girl, but thanks to Red Baron, I’ve found a way to give her the nutrition and energy she needs for all her play dates with her besties! Her favorite thing to do is feed me the pepperoni while she devours the rest!
It’s not always easy with picky toddlers, but finding something they love doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. Here are some great tips for picky eaters that have worked for us:
Social Modeling- Always take part during meal time. As caregivers, we need to model good eating habits with our little ones and they really do notice everything. Make sure to engage and enjoy food with your littles.
Designated meal or snack times- This one is really hard for us! Meal time should be just that, MEAL TIME ONLY! There should be no distractions and food should be the main focus. This is particularly hard for us when we eat out because I’m tempted to bust out the iPad lol! We are working on it though!
Portion size, food size, and type- This is an interesting one. The basic rule is one tablespoon of food to each year of child’s age. Giving toddlers a few options is also good, but never force feed as it could backfire.
Reset!- It’s recommended to change things up every now and then. Food can get boring and changing small aspect of the same foods they’re eating can slowly transition them into liking new tastes and textures.
All of these tips were recommended to us by our pediatrician and it is always best to consult a professional for all your feeding concerns.
Another year, another birthday party! I promised myself I wouldn’t make a huge fuss every single year for Emma’s birthday but lets get real for a sec…my baby deserves the WORLD! I thought about changing up the venue or even celebrating in our backyard, but who wants to clean up after 20 kids under the age of five?! Not me… I attended a birthday at an indoor playground called, “Little Rascals Clubhouse” a while back and decided to give it a shot. I’m really impressed with the professionalism they offered and also loved their vision. The cake table design was completely done by them and I didn’t have to lift a finger. They offer three different party packages and I settled on the “Rascals Package” with a few add ons. The cake, donuts, chocolate covered strawberries, and cake pops were all done by Cakes By Mia. Not only did it taste delicious, but she also offered very competitive pricing! The photos were done by an amazing photographer named Christine Hasratyan. She was really able to capture Emma in all of her birthday glory! I loved how patient and professional she was and I can’t wait to have her take more photos of my family in the future! Here are a few of my favorite photos:
Beautiful cake table design by Little Rascals Clubhouse.
So much sass!
The apple of my eye!
Minnie Mouse cake by Cakes by Mia.
Her grandpa surprised her with a visit from Minnie Mouse!
So happy to be with her favorite mouse!
<3
I looked far and wide for some goodie bags that would go with my theme and all I came across were some super pricy Etsy finds. I decided it would be fun to make some bags of my own! I drove to Michaels one day and picked up some plain white paper bags, some glitter paper, silk ribbons, and “thank you” stickers. I put it all together and I think it came out better than the ones I found on Etsy! Note: I forgot to back up my phone and lost all my pix so, IG Story pix will have to do LOL.
Diaper rash is one of the things thats commonly dealt with as a parent. Life happens and sometimes baby might stay in a wet diaper too long or they might have sensitive skin in general and that can lead to a nasty, and painful, diaper rash! The common causes are:
Irritation from stool/ urine with prolonged wear of diaper
Sensitive skin
Chaffing and rubbing
Irritation from new product
Bacterial or yeast infection (fungal)
Use of antibiotics
The best way to stay ahead of red is by using DESITIN! It’s the best diaper rash cream on the market and I actively use it to prevent rashes from occurring. Its gentle on your baby’s skin and works like a charm. Along with Desitin, you can also practice good diaper changing habits:
Change diaper often
Rinse baby’s bottom with warm water after each change.
Patt bottom dry with clean paper towel.
Don’t over tighten diapers
Diaper rashes can be such a pain (pun intended!), but you’re not in it alone! Desitin is here to help sooth your baby’s rash and to prevent future rashes. I encourage you mamas to try it out and see for yourself!
I had the most amazing opportunity to review the new Monaco diaper bag by LULI BEBE! Being a mom means always being on the go and always traveling with tons of stuff both for you and for baby. My daughter Emma is nearly two years old and I’m still shlepping around all kinds of stuff on our daily adventures. Here’s a list of all the things I normally look for when choosing a diaper bag:
STYLE!- Honestly, I’ve seen some pretty hideous diaper bags in the past few years and there’s just no way around it folks, stay away from awfully busy prints and bad synthetic materials. The Monaco is a beautiful faux vegan leather with a quilted front pocket that’s easily accessible and has the convenience of a magnetic open/close feature. You can either show it over your shoulder or wear it as a backpack.
Versatility- The best diaper bag is one that doesn’t really feel like your conventional bag. Its one that you feel like you can sport without having to also bring a purse along. I always love when a diaper bag has a designated “mama space”, where I can place my wallet, phone, keys, chapstick, etc…The Monaco has so many great compartments within the bag where I can store all my mama essentials.
Comfort- As moms, we’re always carrying our babies and straining our backs and the last thing we need is an uncomfortable diaper bag to throw on our shoulders. The best kind of bag will give you the option to either hang on your stroller, wear as a backpack or quickly throw over shoulder for fast and short periods of time when you don’t have a second to wear it appropriately. Luli Bebe’ offers all three on these options with their Monaco.
Easy accessibility- When your baby’s laying there with a poopy diaper, the last thing you need to worry about it opening and closing the diaper bag in order to get what you need. With the Monaco, you have two zippers from each side that open the top almost completely, offering easy access to all of your needed baby items.
Easy clean up- The first day I used my Monaco diaper bag, I of course, spilled a sticky Caramel Macchiato all over it! Gosh I was so mad until I took a simple baby wipe and cleaned it right off! It was such a relief because I’ve had to throw an entire diaper bag in the wash before and couldn’t really use it until the next day, which was so inconvenient. The inside is lined with beautiful satin that can also be easily cleaned. If you’re a “Hot Mess Mom” like me then definitely get a Monaco!
Storage- Last, but certainly not least, storage is KEY! I was so amazed at the sheer size and storage space that the Monaco offers. It fits multiple bottles, clothes, diapers, wipe, creams…you name it!
I’m thrilled to say that Luli Bebe’ meets all of these needs and more. It’s been a lifesaver and no-brainer for us. Definitely consider it if you’re a new mama or even a seasoned mama looking for something better for yourself.
Only half of what you can fit inside!
So much space!
*This post was sponsored by Luli Bebe’ but all opinions are always my OWN! <3
Mamas, lets talk FLOWERS! I’ve honestly never met a woman who didn’t like reciveing them, and this weekend J’Adore Les Fleurs sent Emma and I our very own arrangements! From the moment I opened the door, my house flooded with the smell of these beautiful flowers and Emma was so excited to see that Mama wansn’t the only one being spoiled! They sent her her own little mini box that was identical to mine! How sweet is that?!
This wonderful flower boutique is Los Angeles based and has three locations for your convenience. It’s such a great gift to take to one of your friends who recently had a baby or even to hint at your hubby for an upcoming anniversary, birthday, or “just because”!
Studio City: 11030 Ventura Blvd. Studio City, CA 91604 (818) 763-2989
Pacific Palisades: 542 Palisades Dr. Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (310) 463-8883
Glendale: 1100 S. Central Ave Ste C, Glendale, CA 91204 (818) 244-2233
Each arrangement is crafted with care and love with non other than the finest florals. They also specialize in a wide variety of event designs for weddings, showers, christening, etc.. You can phone same day or ahead of time and tell them exactly what color scheme you’d like and for what type of event and they will customize it to your liking. They have different sizes, styles, and textured boxes that you can choose from to make them extra chic! Next time you’re in the market for some beautiful, lush, extravagant bouquets, you know right where to go!
Summer’s here and as a mom who loves having my girlfriends over for playdates, I also have to think about all the germs that will be left behind once all the fun is over. My goal is to illuminate as much bacteria I can from the toys that she’s constantly sharing this summer. Im going to give you all a step by step of what I like to use in oder to get the best clean possible! Emma and I headed over to Walmart to grab some Clorox Cleaner spray and Viva Paper towels. Here’s two rebates that’ll come in handy: ‘Walmart + Clorox Ibotta Rebate Offer’ and ‘Viva Ibotta Rebate Offer’.
Once you make it home from your Walmart trip, here are the steps to getting all of your child’s toys disinfected:
Lay out a few pieces of the Viva paper towel and place the dirty toys on top.
Use your Clorox spray cleaner to mist some of the solution onto the toys but be cousious because a little goes a long way and make sure to open a window. Always keep the kids way from any type of leaning solution.
Let it sit for a few minutes…
Fill up the tub with warm water and soap, and dump the dirty toys with the soultion on into the bath.
Once you get the Clorox solution cleaned off, lay the toys back onto a clean Viva towel and wipe dry.
Its honestly so simple to do! It takes about 15 minutes from start to finish and it’s truly effective! These are definite essentials from the summer but really can be used all year long for all of your household messes!
One of Emma’s favorite things to eat is soup! She’s been loving all the yummy Armenian soups that my mother in law has been cooking for her. Since we are always out and about, I needed something to store the soups in, that would keep it both warm and fresh. That when I decided to try out the Nuby Stainless Steel Food Jar. It has a duel wall insulation system that keeps foods cold or hot. It also have a little compartment to keep dry food separate from wet ones. It also included a foldable spoon with its own spot for storing which is so convenient! It always stays cool to the touch so you can go ahead and store it in a diaper bag if you’d like! Overall, I love this product and would definitely recommend it!
Sleep training can be a tough topic to discuss since we all have different thoughts and experiences associated with it. I have friends and family members who’ve done the CIO (cry it out) method and have been very successful and I’ve had others (like myself) who haven’t been able to sit through the cries. I want to make sure to say that I respect every mothers’ decision to parent their child in the way that they want and see fit. This post is not about right or wrong, it’s just about what I’ve chosen for my child and what has been working for us.
A little back story (don’t worry, I’ll keep it short not to bore you):
Emma wasn’t the worst sleeper in the world when she was a newborn, but she definitely wasn’t the best. I remember waking up every two ours with her for months. It was utterly dreadful and, frankly, I was turning into a monster. The lack of sleep was bringing out sides of me that I never knew existed and let me tell you, they were NOT pretty. Once she hit months three and four, it got a bit easier. I had transitioned her into her crib and she was only waking 3-4 times at night and I was able to put her down in about 30 minutes. The problem was that once I was up, I couldn’t get back to sleep for another hour or so. I’ve always been a very light sleeper and had similar issues before being a mom. She hit month five and I decided to try the CIO method. I bought the book by Dr. Richard Ferber and began to read like a mad woman. It even had a nice chart to use during the training so you can log in your time spent listening to the cries. I buckled down and decided to try it. I won’t get into too much detail, but I will say that I spent an hour straight crying my eyes out with her to the point where she began to throw up. That’s when I threw in the towel. I decided it wasn’t for me. I wasn’t strong enough. I felt a huge sense of guilt and failure.
Everything I read and heard told me that doing this for my child would only benefit them and that you needed to, “give them the gift of sleep”. I love my baby like any mother does and of course I wanted her to have that “gift”, but it just didn’t work out. I read thread upon thread of success stories on all my Facebook mommy groups and the guilt just kept sinking in. I felt so bad for putting her through that sort of stress that night that I decided to bring her to my bed and have her sleep with me. Now, it wasn’t the first time that we had co-slept or bed-shared, but it was the first time I got to snuggle my girl to sleep. I remember her holding on so tight to me, like she needed my love in that moment and thats when I decided that I would never deprive her of that. Now a days, she starts off in her crib and when she wakes around 2 am, I bring her to our bed and sleep till morning. She gets a full 12 hours every night and I get some much needed rest as well. My husband doesn’t mind it much since he values my sanity. There are some nights where she sleeps in her crib uninterrupted till morning and always sleeps through the night in her Pack n’ Play with her DockATot when sleeping over at her grandmas. I know what you’re thinking…”Try putting her in the Pack n’ Play at home…maybe she doesn’t like her crib”. Of course I’ve tried that. I’ve tried everything!
Theres a huge stigma with co-sleeping and bed-sharing in the Armenian culture but I hope that that will change with the new generations to come. I feel like these early years are meant for attachment and love so why should I deny her (or myself) of that? Some will say, “Yes, but co-sleeping will put a distance between you and your partner” and my response to that is, 1. Worry about your own marriage, 2. If you’re so concerned with my marriage, Ill reassure you by telling you that we work hard for our relationship and ALWAYS make sure to spend alone time together weather it be on a weekend getaway or just a date night while Emma stays with her loving grandparents.
As she ventures off into toddlerhood, I will watch her to see when she’s ready and thats when Ill try to have her stay in her room all night. It might take until she’s 5 or 6, and if thats the case, so be it. Thats what I signed up for as a mom. I’ve dedicated my life to her and I know that one day, she will refuse to sleep next to me and that my heart will break a little, but until that day, I will soak up every single cuddle and hug I could get!
You do you mama. Whatever works for someone else doesn’t have to work for you. We are all trying our best and as long as your little one is happy and healthy, thats all that matters!
Mamas, lets talk FLOWERS! I’ve honestly never met a woman who didn’t like reciveing them, and this weekend 
