Category: Favorite Products

Nuby Bath Letters Product Review

Now that Emma’s almost a year old, she’s way too big for her baby tub and has transitioned into our standard sized bath tub. The good thing is that she has been loving it in there and its all due to the fact that she now has some fun toys to keep her entertained during the process. We received these Nuby Bath Letters and Numbers for Emma and are loving the fact that they stick to the bathtub wall and also float on the surface of the water. I want her to get familiarized with the alphabet as soon as possible and this is a great way to do so. As you can see from the picture, she loves putting these in her mouth and I feel ok about her doing so because they’re made without any BPAs and phthalates. The bright beautiful colors help get her attention and have made bath time so fun! Definitely recommend them!

 

*products were provided for review, but all opinions are my own*

Tiny Prints Christmas Cards

     Tiny Prints has been my go-to for all things invites, birth announcements, and holiday cards. This year, I decided to make two different cards since it’s Emma’s first Christmas. We used Tiny Prints for Emma’s birth announcement in January as well and I love the quality, customer service, and designs to name a few. Their website is so easy to use and you can even submit your sample to one of their designers to make sure that all is well with your design. They have tons and tons of styles you can choose from and I don’t know if thats a good thing or a bad thing since I literally wanted every single design. Here, I’ve included a digital catalog for you to view TINY PRINTS CATALOG. Its important to pay attention to cut off dates as well so I’ve included them here CUT OFF DATES. 

I think its so important to share the joy of Christmas with all your friends and family. Its hard to keep in touch sometimes with such busy schedules, and sending a Christmas card is a sweet way to say that you are thinking of them during this wonderful time. Tiny Prints has been such a joy to work with, and I can’t wait for Emma’s first birthday invitations to be made through them as well! Here are some promotional codes to take advantage of TINY PRINTS PROMO. I hope you enjoy your Holiday cards as much as I have! Merry Christmas!!

This post was sponsored by Tiny Prints. All opinions are always my own!

Dr. Brown’s Product Review

My 9 month old Emma is at a stage right now where she’s teething like crazy, needs constant soothing, and is learning to transition from a bottle to a sippy cup. As someone who is a self proclamied product junkie, I have been testing out different teethers, soothers, and transitional cups. I wasn’t very surprised to find that one of my favorite brands, Dr. Brown’s, has some of the best products for my current needs.  The products that I will be focusing on are the Coolees Soothing Watermelon Teether, the Lovey Pacifier and Teether Holder, and the Soft Sprout Transition Cup. 

dr-browns-teether

 As you can imagine, I’ve tried MANY, MANY teethers. I can honestly say that this one is at the top of the list! It costs about $4 dollars and at that rate, its a steal! What I love about this particular teether is that it stays cool for a really long time! Its freezer safe and has no liquid in it so it amazes me that it held up for quite a while. The cleaver shape is perfect for her tiny mouth and was designed to reach all parts of the jaw for maximum comfort. It’s been so hard with a fussy, teething baby and having this product has been a huge help. Emma lights up every time she sees it. These Coolees teethers are designed with beautiful vibrant colors that Emma cannot stop staring at. I’m not a big believer in teething gels and homeopathic remedies as they’ve either been proven ineffective, or dangerous so this teether has been a perfect source of mouth relief for Emma. I also love that I could snap it onto her Lovey pacifier and teether holder. This product has been recommended for babies 3 months and older and is freezer and dishwasher safe.

Recap:

  1. Stays cool for long periods of time
  2. Safely relieves pain in the gums caused by teething
  3. Economical
  4. Cleaver shape reaches optimum surface areas of the mouth

lovey-pacifier-holder

Ok, so pacifiers have been a struggle for us since day one. I held off on giving Emma a paci early on because I was afraid it would interfere with breast feeding. Unfortunately, breastfeeding didn’t pan out for us and when I decided I was in desperate need of something to sooth Emma, nothing worked! Since she was drinking from the Dr. Brown’s bottles, I decided to try a Dr. Brown’s pacifier and she seemed to take to it right away! If you have me on Snapchat, then you know how excited I was. Once we received “Zoey the Zebra”, Emma was thrilled to have her paci attached to it. She loves to snuggle with it and I love how it’s made from different textures and materials. This makes it a great sensory toy. I also love how there are two slots with snaps that you can place with whatever combination of pacifier and teether you’d like. It fit perfectly with her Coolees teether and I’m sure there are other pacifiers and tethers that will fit in these slots. I cleaned it with warm soap and water by hand and it dried fairly quickly. It’s about $16 and includes one pacifier. The pacifier itself is made of medial-grade silicone and is dishwasher safe. 

Recap:

  1. Soft and cuddly
  2. Two snap feature
  3. Easy to Clean

dr-browns-transition-cup

Dr. Brown’s Soft Spout Transition cup is the perfect way to get your little one ready for some big girl (or boy) cups. This cup is priced at about $8 and worth every penny. What I love most about this product is the fact that it has wide contoured handles that make it easy for Emma to pick up and place in her mouth. The spout is made of silicone and perfectly designed for tiny mouths. Emma has been drinking her water from it and I can safely say that it is completely spill- proof! Yes mama, SPILL- PROOF! We’ve tried two other brands that leaked all over her car seat and I was less than pleased. This cup is perfect because it has only one piece that I can take off and throw on the top rack of the dishwasher for sanitizing. Another awesome feature is the lid. It’s attached to the cup so it doesn’t go missing! I don’t know about you, but I have lost so many bottle lids that my husband has had a few words with me about it! If you’re wondering weather it can break off and be gone forever, then I have some good news: I pulled it off myself to test and was so happy to see that I was able to pop it back in with less strength than it took to pull off. This attached lid feature is perfect for all you germaphobe mamas because it keeps the spout nice and clean by covering it when not being used.

Recap:

  1. Spill- proof
  2. Lightweight
  3. Easy to grip

If you’re in the market for any of these products, I’d highly recommend them. Dr. Brown’s has been a trusted company for many, many years and I feel comfortable using their products for my child.

 

*Products were provided free of charge for review. All opinions are my own. This post was sponsored by Dr. Brown’s*

JORD Wood Watches

jord-sandalwood-watchAs a Mom, its so important to look after yourself as well as your family. Before I became a mom, it was all about me and my needs but those days are totally over! Now, I find myself always wanting to take care of, and treat others. I guess its the motherly instincts that have kicked in. When I was contacted by JORD watches for a collaboration, I immediately thought, “Oh great! The holidays are coming up and I can give one of these beautiful watches to my sister or mom”. Once I received the gorgeous Frankie 35 Sandalwood and Mint style, I immediately changed my tune! This is seriously such a chic and unique watch. I love the dark wood and teal contrast which is so easy to style with other accessories and outfits. the dark wood is so appropriate for all of your fall and winter staples. The watch itself is so durable and that to me is so important since I’m on the go everyday. Its made of real wood, but feels so light on my arm! The box that it came in is a work of art all on its own. That too is made of wood and has a little drawer on the bottom where you can keep your other everyday accessories. I love to put things in their designated place so I was so happy to know that my new watch would have a little home for itself. You’ve worked so hard all year, so why not treat yourself to a timeless, beautiful forever piece? JORD and I are here to help you snag one of these beauties for yourself by offering a $75 shop credit to one lucky winner and $20 shop credit to everyone that enters the giveaway! All you have to do is click on the link below and enter your info…THATS IT! jord-wood-watches

Click here to enter the Giveaway!

THIS POST WAS SPONSORED BY JORD WATCHES. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Wooden Wristwatch


Diaper Bag Essentials

Ok, so I really wanted to call this post “Whats all that crap you’re carrying around”, but soon decided that its not crap and I would be lost without these things. Some people may ask, “Do you really need all that stuff?” and the answer is YESSSS. If you’re a first time mom expecting a baby, this post is specifically for you! Here are all the things I use on a daily basis when leaving the house with Emma.

  1. Diapers- Ok, so its not the cutesy Honest brand diapers that cost an arm and a leg but hey, they have these at Costco and they work just fine! They’re Huggies brand and I love them. I try to keep at least three in my bag at all times cause you never know if its going to be a poop explosion day! These Huggies diapers are soft and have Micky Mouse on them…what more can you ask for?!
  2. Wipes- Also Huggies brand and what I love about them is that they’re the “one and done” kind where its for face, hands and bottoms. Its nice for when they decide to stick their little hands where they don’t belong and you need something quick to wipe them with. Seriously make sure you have enough or else you’ll be elbow deep in shit (literally) with no help in sight. This may or may not have happened to me…
  3. Thermometer- You never know when a fussy baby might be coming down with something or might be teething, so its nice to keep a thermometer handy in case you want some peace of mind. This one is the Rite-Aid brand and works great. I find that the electronic ones that you swipe on the forehead can often be incorrect so I’d rather use this old school one and know for sure!
  4. Formula Powder (or your boob if you’re breastfeeding)- Yeah this is a no brainer…don’t forget the babies food! Not going to lie though, its happened to me and the best thing to do is to pop into a drug store and buy a few “ready to feed” bottles. I use Enfamil Gentlease.
  5. Bottles- I like to pre fill my bottles with water so that its easy to just add the powder when I need. If I’m super lazy (and I usually am!) I make the milk at home and put it in a small cooler with icepacks and take it with me. If I don’t have a chance to even fill the bottles with water, i just buy regular bottled water and fill when needed. Some of you may be thinking, “OMG why doesn’t she use nursery water” and the answer is because I don’t have too! Pediatrician said its all really the same thing and I trust him enough to go with it! The bottle pictured is by LifeFactory.
  6. Sweater- Ok, so we live in Southern California and its always a million degrees here but sometimes at nigh it gets a bit chilly so I always keep a little sweater or cardigan for Emma. This one is from Zara but Baby Gap has really cute ones as well.
  7. Bibs- I hate when Emma’s clothes get dirty. I know she’s a kid and its only going to get worse but I found that if I make the bib a part of her outfit then I won’t feel so bad when it gets dirty and I can just take it off. I love these Aidan and Anais bandana bibs. They have them in a few neutral colors as well so you can accessorize with a lot of things. The yellow bib pictured is from Tommee Tippee and I loved these when Emma was an infant. They have a dribble guard and I found that it was the best at keeping the milk from running under her little double chin. As most of us moms know, its really hard to clean under their chins so this was a life saver.
  8. Hats- I like to keep a sun hat in my diaper bag, just in case I want to take her out of the stroller and put her in my carrier. Heat exhaustion is a thing and you definitely don’t want it happening to your baby. I also like to keep a beanie in case it gets cold at night. 
  9. Extra outfit- This is mainly for any poop explosions that get past the diaper. Its such a relief to be prepared in that moment and know that you can change your little one out if needed. I love these basic Carters onsies!
  10. Pajamas- I never know how long we might be out or who we might be going to see so I like to keep her P.Js with me at all times. If its approaching bed time, I change her into those and cross my fingers that she’ll go to sleep on the way home and I can just transfer her straight into her crib. The ones pictured are by L’ovedbaby and they’re oh so soft!
  11. Butt Cream- I can safely say I’ve tried every kind of butt cream this world has to offer and my favorite is Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. I found that it was the most effective at preventing and treating diaper rash. 
  12. Teether/Toy- Emma is currently eight months old and is teething on and off. She loves to chew on things and this is her new fave. Its by a small shop called Feltman + Co based out of Houston, TX. The textures and materials used in this specific teether are great for sensory play as well.

So, there you go! Thats what I normally take with me on a daily basis. Some days I throw in a few extra things, like sun screen, blankets, or a cooler for her milk, but this is my usual jam. If you’re wondering what I put all of this in, you’ll have to wait for a future post to see! Don’t sweat it if you forget something. It happens to everyone and sometimes less is more!

DockAtot

img_6448As a new mom, I was super anxious about baby’s sleeping habits. I don’t know about you, but when I don’t get enough sleep, I turn into a monster! In the newborn stage, Emma would wake every 3 hours for a feeding and it would still take me another 45 minutes to an hour to put her back down. Although it wasn’t ideal, I figured it to be normal and sucked it up. Fast forward to her four month sleep regression and OMG I was ready to fly off the handle. Emma would wake up every two hours and it would take me another 45 minutes to put her back down. At this point, I had transitioned her into her crib in her own room and I had a feeling that her mattrass just wasn’t soft and comfy enough. I would watch her through the monitor and see her toss and turn all night. None of us were getting any sleep! She was refusing to even nap in her crib during the day time. I tried to sleep train her as she got closer to her fifth month, but that was a disaster that I will leave for a future blog post! I was at my wits end when I began to do a lot of research. Heres what I was looking for: 

  • Safety- I can say, without a doubt, that this is every moms number one goal: SAFETY. I needed something breathable, non-toxic and lightweight.  
  • Practicality- This product is so genius! Its made to feel like its cuddling your infant! When the baby falls asleep in my arms, I want to be able to set her down in an environment where she feels cozy, and man does the DockAtot feel cozy!
  • Bang for my buck- Being on a one income household, I like to always get what I pay for, and then some! Its true that the DockAtot is a bit pricy ($165-$185 with cover for the deluxe size and $260-$290 with cover for the grand option) but can you really put a price on sanity?! 

Being that Emma was now a six month old, at the time that I was the most desperate for sleep, I decided to purchase the Grand DockAtot. It goes up to 36 months so I was happy to know that I can use it for years to come. It will eventualy go into her toddler bed. Its a great way to transition from crib to bed because she won’t feel much of a difference in space. The Deluxe option is for newborn to 9 months and I wish I had purchased it sooner! The first night we put her in the DockAtot, she slept a full eight hours! I thought to myself, “Just img_6444-2-copya coincidence, can’t be that magical”…WRONGGG! She’s now almost eight months old and sleeps without waking almost through the night. Her daytime naps are heavenly and I get to have some time for myself. Another great feature is that its perfect for travel. It comes in a nice traveling bag that you can take with you on the road or to grandmas and grandpas for sleepovers. Its definitely worth the investment and if you type “10OFF” at checkout, you’ll receive a $10 discount. I WAS IN NO WAY PAID FOR THIS POST OR MY REVIEW. I just love to share all the things that make my life simpler and make being a mom more enjoyable. This worked for me and many many others that have tried the product, but I encourage you to visit their website for a more thorough an detailed explanation of the the DO’s and DONT’s. http://www.dockatot.com img_6449