Three Tips to Keep Your Child Safe When Posting Their Photo Online

As a mom who both cares about my child's safety, yet loves sharing photos of her bright and cheery face I struggle with whether to post her picture online. I know many parents who have the same fears. I've figured out a few simple ways to be sure I am protecting her, but allowing others to enjoy all she has to offer the world through her sweet smile. Read on for three tips for keeping your children safe when posting their photos on social media.

It took me a year to post my baby's face online. I just couldn't get comfortable with it. Especially after reading another blogger's story about her baby's photos being stolen by children pornography sites, I wanted to vomit just thinking about posting my little one. But as she grew up and started to do cute things, and wear cute outfits, and hug me during our shoots, I didn't want to leave those things out. My website became an avenue through which I celebrate motherhood, so how could I leave her out of it? I decided it was time to figure out the best way to show her off without being too lax.

THREE TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR CHILD SAFE WHEN POSTING THEIR PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Make sure your child isn't looking directly into the camera lens.

Apparently predators prefer for their victims to make eye contact with them (seriously, absolutely disgusting), so they want the person to be looking straight into the lens. I try to be vigilant when posting G's photo and only pick ones where she is looking off, or looking down or even just the back of her head. I have tons of photos of her on my Instagram during her first year of life where it's just her little body, haha. A mom has to do what a mom has to do!

2. Watermark your photos.

This is something I do for every photo that Grace's face is showing at all. It sometimes doesn't look the prettiest, but I am to the point where that doesn't matter. with Photoshop and all sorts of editing software it may be a bit easier to steal photos, but for the most part, a watermark across their chest or near your child's face will help deter others from stealing your photos.

3. Try to post photos where the child has an adult in it.

Online predators prefer photos of just children, which is absolutely disgusting. Therefore, I am very selective in choosing photos where Grace is alone. More often than not I choose ones where she is turned away from me if I am not in the picture with her. Keeping you or another adult in the photo says "this is my baby, not yours, you sick, disgusting pervert." Okay, maybe I'm a bit over the top, but honestly - you don't mess with a mama bear and her cubs.

My Outfit: SIMILAR SWEATER HERE & HERE | DENIM | SHOES

 *Photos by Erika Greene Photography | @erikagreenephotography

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I truly hope these tips are helpful to you. I completely understand the struggle. I have a few friends who are so amazing and have held out in posting their children. I truly envy that decision and sometimes wish I had kept my word on it, but I just couldn't help but show her off!

Thank you so much for reading!

xo. L

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A Guide To Buying A Mattress | New Year, Better Night Of Sleep

It took us awhile but one of the most important things to us during the process to 'green' and detoxify our home was our mattress. If you think about it, you spend an average of 56 hours per week (at least) using that thing - it needs to be a good one. I did a lot of research when looking for our mattress that we currently have thanks to Tuft & Needle, so I wanted to share my findings!

THINGS I LEARNED WHEN RESEARCHING MATTRESSES:

Mattresses are typically super marked up.

Some mattresses can be marked up 6-12 times past what they're worth. This is true for many furniture stores, but mattresses especially. Sales people need to make commission and storefronts have to meet rent, so you have an increase in price when the mattress itself isn't worth nearly what you pay.

The materials most mattresses are made of aren't ideal.

You can read tons more about this here, but some mattresses are made of latex (which isn't ideal and pretty outdated), memory foam (which results in hotter sleep at night because you sink into it), springs (which aren't supportive at all) I mean really when have you laid on a spring mattress and thought, "man I'm super comfortable right now" ha! Lastly some mattresses are made of egg-crate foam which I've personally never felt was comfortable and apparently you're paying for a mattress yet getting 50% less material! So silly.

Layers = glue = chemicals.

No, this isn't a math lesson, it's just common sense. The mattresses that have layers of materials are glued together with adhesive that gives off chemicals and also reduces airflow.

Buying online > Buying in store.

More math, I know... I hate equations, not sure why I'm using them, but really. The reason I prefer to buy online is that you can get it much cheaper. You basically cut out the middle man and reduce emissions and transportation as well, which helps our environment! I'm all for anything that is sustainable! Also, many mattresses are made outside of the U.S. which means we have to import the materials before even transporting them to the location where they're sold.

My solution?

Tuft & Needle.

We've had our mattress for around 60 days now. Tuft & Needle sent it to me to review for you, and to be completely honest I've wanted to really use it and sleep on it before writing this review. I never endorse products that I don't fully believe in or use myself. It's important to me to be honest and transparent with you.

I love Tuft & Needle for the following reasons:

1. Their mattresses are made in the U.S. and shipped to you directly.

2. Their products have less glue and adhesives so you don't have to breathe in as many toxins.

3. There are only two layers of materials in their mattresses versus the typical 4+.

4. Their products are SUPER fairly priced.

5. They give back to the community. Mattresses that are returned to them are donated to local non-profits.

6. They have a 100 Night Trial program! Read more about that here!

7. T&N has a 10 year limited warranty.

8. Their special foam is Certipur certified and free of PBDE flame retardants, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals. (See the graphic below).

9. Tuft & Needle uses a NATURAL flame retardant. This is a huge one for me.

10. They're environmentally friendly, as they are made in the U.S. and shipped directly to the residence vs. additional transportation to stores and importations, etc.

(source)

TIPS FOR BUYING A MATTRESS:

1. Buy one that's manufactured in the U.S.

2. Find a material that is breathable and less than 4 layers.

3. Find a company that delivers to your door vs. trying it out in store.

4. Try to find one that emits the least amount of chemicals.

5. Do your research and shop around for a fair price.

Tuft & Needle King Size Mattress c/o || Cariloha Bamboo Sheets c/o | Cariloha Bamboo Pillows c/o | Similar Headboard

*Photos by Erika Greene Photography | @erikagreenephotography

My Outfit: Similar Sweater | Denim (ONLY $64) | Identical Hat

 CHECK OUT THE TUFT AND NEEDLE SITE HERE!

Thank you so much for reading!

xo. L

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Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours

 We wish you all the love, joy, and happiness. Happy Holidays from our family to yours <3

 MY OUTFIT: Dress worn as top (on major sale!) | Bliss Tulle skirt c/o

*Photos by Ashley Haxby Photography || @ashleyhaxbyphotography

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 xo. L

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DIY Wintery Mason Jar Gift Card Holder + VIDEO TUTORIAL

*Thank you Gift Card Mall for inspiring and sponsoring today's DIY post.

Once upon a time, I wasn't a crafty person. I still don't think I am the craftiest of them all but I'm getting better as the "mom" in me develops! I had a super fun idea after perusing the dollar spot at one of my favorite retailers! These mini flocked Christmas trees sparked something in me that yearned to be creative with my gifting this year.

Gift cards like the Visa Style Everywhere and other Visa gift cards are becoming more common as people do love picking out their own gifts, but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice the fun of wrapping up a gift for our loved ones! Keep reading for directions and a quick, minute-long video tutorial on how to make these wintery mason jar gift card holders.

The VISA gift cards are sold at retailers like Vons, Albertons, Safeway and Kroger. They are a great option for a loved one, family friend, or even a teacher you want to spoil for the holidays! Gift your son's teacher with a Visa Fuel Everywhere card or the Visa Explore Everywhere card for them to use over their holiday vacation!

I plan to gift my husband the Visa Movies Everywhere gift card as a stocking stuffer because he is obsessed with movies, and it gives us an excuse to go on a date! The Visa Dining Everywhere card is a great gift option for family members who you see each year but aren't super close to, like aunts and uncles or family friends - everyone has to eat right?! Lastly, I'm totally secretly hoping that "Santa" gives me the Visa Home Everywhere gift card because I am obsessed with decorating our home and my budget could use some boosting, ha!

DIY WINTERY MASON JAR GIFT CARD HOLDER CRAFT:

This craft is SO simple and fun to do! You could totally do this during a Pinterest party of for a fun craft and wine night with girlfriends! Aside from the mason jars being glass, kids can totally complete this project with you too, with supervision of course!

Many of these supplies were things I already had on hand like cotton balls, old gift bags, and the tags! I even used mason jars that had been sitting around, so feel free to get creative with what/how you use them! The trees were fairly inexpensive but I love how nice they look next to the fluffy cotton ball snow!

What You'll Need:

• Visa gift card(s) from GiftCardMall.com
• Scissors
• Mini flocked trees
• Cotton balls
• Paper Confetti
• Old gift bags
• Pint size mason jars
• Burlap ribbon
• Optional: gift tags + twine to label

Method:

See video below!

I would love to know who you decide to make these for! If you do try them out post on Instagram with #LivinginColorDIY so I can comment on it and "like" it :)

xo. L

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Glitter Holiday Cards + Tiny Prints $100 Giveaway

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is drafting and sending out holiday cards. I have all of our cards from years past and I always display them to show milestones. I love that I can glance at each one from the past few years and see things like my pregnant belly in 2014, and then last year's card where we celebrated G's first Christmas! This year we have so much to be thankful for and have created so many great memories. 

I typically send our cards out super early so that I get them out on time since this time of year can be so busy! We don't live near a lot of family so these cards are an extra special way to spread some holiday cheer! I choose a theme every year - last year we did red in our holiday cards, but this year I am thrilled to be using a more neutral card from Tiny Prints.

We went with the Glitter Cards from Tiny Prints this year, and I love how nicely they accent my tulle skirt in our family photo! The best part is that it doesn't come off at all! No glitter trail on my hands or table, or anywhere after I stuffed and sealed these beauties.

As for the theme - like I said we chose neutrals and kept it super simple. I have some family and friends who don't celebrate Christmas so we wanted these to apply to everyone's holiday festivities, not just ours. I love how bright and cheery these look without being too busy.

These cards not only serve as a way to wish our family and friends happy holidays, but they make great simple gifts for teachers! We gifted G's music teacher with one along with some freshly baked pumpkin granola and it now hangs on her little board in G's music class!

Family Photo on Card by Ashley Haxby Photography | @ashleyhaxbyphotography

Photos by Erika Greene Photography | @erikagreenephotography

TINY PRINTS GIVEAWAY! WIN $100 CREDIT TO MAKE YOUR OWN PERSONALIZED CARDS!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

• Win $100 to TinyPrints.com thanks to Tiny Prints.

• Giveaway ends Friday, December 2, 2016 at 12 AM PST and winner will be randomly selected and notified by Friday, December 16, 2016.

• To Enter: Leave a comment above by visiting this link: http://clvr.li/2dtGoQ8 then stating which design you would choose for your holiday card and then leave your answer below in the comments section!

• Make sure to follow @TinyPrints on Instagram for an extra entry!

• Age 18+ US residents only, please! One winner per household!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo. L

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Beauty | Tips for Exfoliating + Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, Phenoxyethanol-free Skincare Line

*Thanks to Mirada de Provence for sponsoring today's post; all opinions and reviews are my own.

I am so excited about today's beauty post! I'm sharing a line that I am very proud of and have enjoyed learning about. Mirada de Provence features skincare products made from the rich farmland of Provence in France! I love that these products are inflused with botanical traces of the plants harvested there  - literally, it doesn't get more natural than that! They are also completely paraben-free and most importantly phenoxyethanol-free!

I also firmly believe that no one really teaches you about skincare unless you actively seek the information. My family wasn't super explicit about teaching me about skincare or skin products, so this is something I've been sure to think about when G gets a bit older. I want her to know what she's doing so she can take care of the largest organ on her body!

What is Phenoxyethanol and What Are Parebens? 

Both of these words are buzz words that you'll start to hear more often. Phenoxyethanol and Parabens are both preservatives that help extend a product's shelf-life. You see, most people hear that and think, "Yes, so my make-up and skin care products last longer... what's the big deal?" 

The big deal is that these synthetic preservatives have been found to cause tumors, are known carcinogens, and hormone-disrupters. In products like nipple cream, phenoxyethanol can cause vomiting, diarrhea and a slew of other side effects for infants. It's honestly a scary product and likely the next target for people who are looking to lead a more chemical-free lifestyle.

In this article, a researcher states "Phenoxyethanol is restricted for use in cosmetics in Japan, which is alwasy ahead of the curve when it comes to cosmetic safety." Honestly, you guys - it can be disheartening as literally EVERY beauty brand (except a select few) uses these synthetic preservatives to keep costs down. They could use natural preservatives like herbs, etc, but it would cost way too much.

I urge you to research the products you're using - especially if you are pregnant of breastfeeding! Apps like Think Dirty are amazing for starting to clear out the chemical-ridden products from your medicine cabinet! Also, you can start with finding brands you trust to not use these chemicals, like Mirada de Provence!

Cruelty-Free!

Not only are Mirada de Provence's products pure in form, they are also cruelty-free. This means they do not test their products on animals! I love when companies commit to this important issue because several big brands in the beauty industry are huge culprits for animal testing. You should definitely check out this comprehensive list of cruelty-free beauty lines here! It helped me so much.

This Aromatic Herbs Nourishing hand cream I am using smells divine! I loved that I didn't need to worry about synthetic fragrances while using it, and could just enjoy the scent of freshly harvested flowers!

My good friend (who is a licensed esthetician) and I were just discussing exfoliaton and she shared some amazing, professional insight, so I thought I'd share that with you! It was super eye-opening to me. 

Tips for Exfoliating

Only exfoliate once or twice a week MAXIMUM.

Exfoliating too much can be very bad for your skin - it needs to to recuperate and rebuild!

Do NOT use any type of sugar scrub when exfoliating.

This one really surprised me. Apparently sugar breaks down skin tissue and can cause tearing on your skin! The face tearing has me all sorts of scared, so I won't be using any sort of sugar on any part of my body ever again, haha.

Using a brush like Clarisonic is okay... in moderation.

It's marketed to be an every day use product, but brushes like Clarisonic are not the best thing for your skin's integrity and can cause tearing as well.

Use something natural.

I adore this Fig Lemon body scrub pictured in the photo below! It seriously made my legs sooo soft and smooth! Definitley use something without chemicals - just not sugar!

Be sure to look up the products that you use on your hair, skin, and even nails! These things are used on our bodies daily and we have a right to use safe ones in order to ensure optimal health and longevity, am I right? 

Also if you decide to place an order with Mirada de Provence soon, be sure to do it while shipping is free! Thank you so much for reading!

*Photos by Erika Greene Photography | @erikagreenephotography

 xo. L

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