Mommy & Me Plaid + 10 Flannels I'm Loving This Winter

I am so pleased to be sharing these photos of G and I. This is actually what we wore a few weeks ago when we went to vote. Anyway, I love that these photos capture the essence of our days together. We spend lots of time reading her favorite books, dancing, listening to music, and playing with her instrument set! I wills ay that my house doesn't always look this clean, however ;)

My Outfit: Top (40% off) | Pants ($39)

Gracie's Outfit: Top (40% off) | Pants ($6)

Here are ten flannels I feel are absolutely essential this winter! Flannels are always in style, by the way, so you are by no means spending those dollars in vain!

*Photos by Erika Greene Photography | @erikagreenephotography

xo. L

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Preparing My Children For Social Media

*Thanks to Sophos Home for sponsoring today's post, and inspiring today's discussion.

We live in a scary time to be parents. I'm sure that every generation says that, but I honestly believe that the rise of the internet has both negatively and positively affected us. You see, we live in the age of cyber bullying, and child predators, and social media without monitoring. These are things that aren't in G's immediate future, but they are coming and I worry about them constantly.

While I greatly value platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, I know that one day that will change as G decides it is time for her to join those worlds. I don't know about you, but she's only 17 months and already showing interest in my phone and her dad's iPad. We haven't introduced her to the world of technology yet, but when we do, I've decided it's time to have a concrete plan for what we can do to protect her.

What if I told you that I found something that could potentially give you peace of mind when it comes to your children's safety while using your computers, iPads, and phones? Yes. I've found something that will work wonders in protecting their technology time. But it gets better -- this software is absolutely free.

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILDREN FOR SOCIAL MEDIA/THE INTERNET

1. I plan to have knowledge of all of her passwords to all social accounts. 

One of the biggest mistakes that parents make is too much freedom too quickly. I didn't have a computer in middle school, and in high school I didn't really start browsing the web or using social media platforms until my senior year.(wow, I'm old) so I honestly do not have a ton of experience to draw on. I also had very relaxed guardians - they could have cared less what I did with my free time.

That will not be the case with G, however. My husband and I have decided that we will run/manage/check in on all of her accounts as long as we are paying for her phone bill, internet time, etc.. This allows parents to be in complete control of what is being offered to/seen by their children while browsing the web.

2. I plan to monitor those accounts and all web browsing with strong anti-virus software, Sophos Home.

I couldn't be more thrilled to share Sophos Home with you. Their anti-virus software protects your home and devices from malware, ransomware, viruses, and inappropriate sites. Oh and it's FREE!

3. I will install web filters on our computers and phones.

Web filters are going to be giant when it comes to parental controls! Loook at how with Sophos Home you can choose to block/allow certain content that your children may come across on YouTube, or when playing a game on Disney.com. I absolutely love this feature, and have already downloaded Sophos on my laptop and phone for this feature alone.

4. I will limit her computer/phone time as much as possible. 

Yes. Total mean mom mode, but honestly, she will thank me for it when she is older. I want G to know the people she interacts with. I want her to remember their faces and the looks they make. She can't do that if she's looking down at her phone constantly, right? I don't know - as someone who is immersed in the world of social media, I must say I don't know if I want that for my own children. I would love for her to spend time outdoors, connecting with the earth and atmosphere. 

That being said, I know that teens will be teens and kids will be kids. Lots of YouTube time is in my distant future... Thankfully, I've got Sophos Home to give me the peace of mind I need as a parent!

OUTFIT DETAILS:
Wearing: Mama Bird Tee | High Waisted Shorts | Panama Hat | Dagne Dover 15-inch tote c/o | Tory Burch 'Miller' sandals

Watch this really hilarious video from Sophos Home about steps to protect your kids when it comes to online safety! I literally laughed out loud at this!

Check out SOPHOS HOME for more info on the software, and directions for how to download and install for FREE!

xo. L

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Three Ways To Show You're Thankful

*Thank you to Bond for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, the holidays are upon us, but it's also a time of year where we are most transparent about our feelings towards others. This includes showing gratitude. Gratitude is something that I try to use to center myself. It helps me internalize what I feel about others and share with them those feelings. 

Not everyone is great at showing they are thankful, but I've listed below three surefire ways to let a loved one or friend know that you are thankful for them! You can do one of these, or do all of them. Either way, show some gratitude this season and be sure to reflect on what you're thankful for!

THREE WAYS TO SHOW YOU'RE THANKFUL

1. Cook and deliver a yummy, nutritious, and delicious meal with the recipe attached! (Because who doesn't love delicious food?!)

2. Offer to do something small and simple that you know the person isn't fond of. (Like taking out the garbabe, doing the dishes, or folding the laundry.)

3. Send a personalized, handwritten "Thinking of You" or "Thank You" or "Just Because" note with Bond. Cards are a great way to express how you're feeling without having to be eloquent in the moment. You can craft each sentence carefully to show how much you care without stumbling over your words.

Bond has exceeded my expectations as far as usability and organization! I sent three notes to loved ones and it was super quick! They also have an app that you can use to write personalized notes from your phone!

HOW IT WORKS: (DESKTOP)

First, you have to choose what kind of personalized note you would like to send. There are several options to choose from as far as customization. You can handpick the color of the card, the font, the signature, and pretty much everything! It makes it such a personal experience! The cards then get delivered 2-3 days after!

One of my personal favorites is the "Custom Image Card" that you can completely customize down to the cover (with an uploaded image)! Such a clever idea, right?

For my first note, I chose to write a "Happy Birthday" card to my sister since she turned nineteen this month. I loved the cursive fonts!

Another note I sent was a "gratitude" note. I wanted to show my Nana (she's my grandma, but I call her Nana) how much I love her and how thankful I am to have her with a "Just Because" note. I wrote her a sweet little message on the back of the card.

After all of my notes were finished, I added the recipient addresses and now I just wait for them to be sent out in just 2-3 days! I love that these sweet, little notes come to life and are delivered right to the person's doorstep on premium quality paper. 

My third note was sent on my phone! I actually really liked using the mobile version of Bond and honestly see myself using that more often since I do everything from my phone these days! The steps are almost the same, but you have to be sure to download the app first!

HOW IT WORKS: (MOBILE)

First, you choose what kind of personalized note you would like to send. You simply type your note on the keyboard and it's super responsive! You can handpick the color of the card, the font, the signature, and pretty much everything in the mobile app too. Then you fill out the recipient address, and the cards then get delivered 2-3 days after!

Let me know if you decide to try Bond out! I had a blast sending some notes to my family and friends!

xo. L

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Ten Items You REALLY Need On Your Baby Registry

*This post is brought to you by Baby Cubby. They provided me compensation to create this content for you to enjoy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own.

This post is long overdue, my friends. Two very important people in my life are pregnant right now and I helped them both with their baby registries as this was all very fresh in my mind still. It was still overwhelming; even the second and third time around.

As a new mom myself just a few short months ago, I was scouring the internet for things I REALLY needed. I had absolutely no clue where to start when registering for G. They really should offer podcasts or tutorials on this type of stuff. How are you supposed to know what you need for a new baby when you've never had a new baby before?!

Needless to say, I now know all the things I will need next time I have a baby. Although, I do understand that not all babes are the same. Just because your first baby loves a pacifier doesn't mean baby #2 will. So because of that, I pretty much only included things you're sure to need, no matter the type of baby, no matter the baby's preferences.

Here are ten things I absolutely could not live without when it comes to baby stuff. Because believe me... you will think you need one million things, but it honestly just comes down to a few necessities. 

1. Dockatot

A co-sleeping mama, (or just about any mama's dream) a safe place to position/lay your baby while they sleep.

2. Bath Toys

All babies have to take baths! Why not make it a fun experience? We rotate our bath toys to keep life interesting, and G always looks forward to bath time. (There were a few months where she literally couldn't stand the bath.)

3. Baby Bouncer Seat

The only place I could safely set G while I was in the shower... her bouncer seat. That is pretty much the only time she sat in it, but that's because I wore her everywhere else. Still, a great investment for those first few months, in my opinion!

4. A Way To Document

This is a big one and something that I feel sometimes gets overlooked. I took monthly pictures of G's first year and it makes me so happy to have those and cherish them forever. Definitely be sure you're ready to document your sweet babe's first few months/years of life! You won't regret it.

5. Nose Frieda Nasal Aspirator

Okay. Put the bulb syringe down and step away from it asap! You don't need that horrid thing. The Nose Frieda is the greatest invention ever. A way to remove snot from your child's nose with...air!

6. Books, books, and more books

Okay so this may be personal opinion, but since G loves books I couldn't not include books on my comprehensive list. Bedtime stories not only help with oral language development, developing a wide vocabulary, and they help instill a natural bedtime routine if you read books with your baby or children before bed.

7. An Easy-To-Clean High Chair

Ugh. This is a big one. Especially since I don't have an easy-to-clean high chair. I love the one I linked above and I'm totally eyeing it for my next baby. Think about this: Your baby literally eats in this thing three times a day, and friends, babies are not neat eaters, haha.

8. Wearable Blankets

I love these blankets because I didn't have to worry about G pulling the blanket over her face while she slept. It zips on with ease and bonus: it's way easier than swaddling.

9. Wearable Mama Jewelry

Chewbeads or any other product that allow baby to teeth on it or fiddle with are absolutely useful. Babies teeth for... forever it seems like, so you definitely want options. We had Sophie la Girafe, several medical grade silicone teether rings, and also lots of chewable necklaces that I would wear while wearing G. Did you get all that? You get a cookie.

10. Baby Carrier

It's total coincidence that this item is last on my list. These aren't in order of priority or anything, but I suppose I am happy that it's last so I can really instill this one into you! One word: babywearing. I wish someone had told me how it would change my life. How much I would wear G and bond with her in that way. Every mama needs a baby carry. Every one. I don't care if you're a SAHM, WAHM, working mom, a dad, an adoptive mom. All moms. Should. Babywear! Every baby can benefit from it!

If you are interested in more info on babywearing, see my posts below!

BABYWEARING FOR BEGINNERS | LEARNING THE ROPES

EIGHTEEN THINGS BABYWEARING HELPED ME DO THIS PAST YEAR

DADS WHO WEAR BABIES

A lot of thought went into each item on my list. What do you feel is a must-have that you don't see on this list?


xo. L

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Tips For Reading To Your Toddler (How To Read With Your Kids)

*Special thanks to Incredibundles for sponsoring and inspiring today's discussion.

I'm mostly writing this post for those who aren't preschool/kindergarten teachers, and have no clue how to read a story to little kids. (Which was me before I was trained in it) and also my husband who has needed training since having our first baby who inevitably adores reading!

You see, simply picking up a book that has two paragraphs of text isn't going to cut it for a baby that's 16 months old or even a three-year-old. They have short attentions pans and limited vocabulary (for now) so it's important to focus on attainable skills! The books that I am reading to G in these photos are from her Incredibundles box! I can't wait to share more about Incredibundles below, but for now, keep reading for some quick, easy tips for reading to your toddler at home!

Always look at the pictures first. Let your toddler find the things that catch their eye each time you turn the page. G always points to the trees or birds since those are two new words she's learned lately!

Try paraphrasing text when it's a long story. This is an acquired skill for sure, haha. I quickly scan the text and paraphrase it into one or two sentences, just so they understand the main idea. When G was super tiny I completely ignored the text!

Point out colors of items. An example would be "Look at that red car!" versus saying "Look at the car!" It's also something that requires training but definitely becomes second nature after awhile.

Try to point out objects (especially ones that encourage the use of new vocabulary) G always points to certain things because she knows them, but I like to show her new objects and words too, so I let her show me what she wants, then I try to show her a new thing on the page with a new word!

*The tips below are for older kiddos, but so helpful when reading to pre-school aged/kindergarten aged kids!

Ask questions when you're reading to kids older than 3 or 4. Asking questions while you read is definitely important for older children. Some will be super into it and some won't - it depends on your child, but it doesn't hurt to try and cultivate conversation about the story!

Ask OPEN-ENDED questions. An example of this is "why do you think the boy doesn't want to go to bed?" versus, "Did the boy go to bed?" Basically, open-ended questions allow for elaborate answers, and not just yes or now answers. Those don't allow for critical thinking or imagination.

After you're finished reading, ask your child about the story. Ask them to recall the information by inquiring about their favorite part of the story. You can share your favorite part afterwards, then maybe discuss a few things you may have learned if it was a longer story with a plot, etc. Basiclaly any extra conversation about it leads to them really processing and understanding the story!

Note: When reading with kids, every single story doesn't have to be a "lesson" these are just tips for when you are reading with purpose! It's important to encourage them to like reading so let them sit with the book independently too! It's all about balance!

Like I said earlier, the books we're reading in this post are from a super cute little gift package from Incredibundles.com! There are so many little packages you can get for new or expecting parents. They come pre-wrapped with a card and everything so they are ready to be gifted or opened upon arrival!

It's basically a super chic and easy way to not have to go put together your own package. Incredibundles does it for you! In this post we are feature the "Baby's First Books" bundle, but they also have diaper bundles, bath bundles, sleep bundles, and my personal favorite: organic bundles!

These are great gift options for grandparents/aunts/uncles to give as gifts and an amazing way to welcome the new baby into the world!

Hopefully these tips were helpful to you! Let me know if they were in the comments below!

GIVEAWAY!
Win a $50 gift card of your own to use as a gift or buy something for your little one! Giveaway is U.S. only and runs for 2 weeks (until Oct. 6). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


xo. L

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Three Tips To De-Clutter Your Child's Room

If you're a parent, by now you've probably realized that having a baby is just another way of saying "I'm about to accumulate a lot of stuff." 

Today, I am sharing a few tips for using up all the space in your little one's room plus great ideas for de-cluttering! I am not a fan of stuff. I don't like having things I don't need or use around, so if it is not useful to me, it either gets packed away for another time (aka the next baby) or gets donated.

Tips for De-cluttering

At first, it can be quite overwhelming to purge and de-clutter. A helpful tip is to act like you’re moving. When going through the items, have three empty laundry baskets in the middle of the room: one for items you want to get rid of, one for items you want to store for the future, and one for items you want to keep. Only keep items that you, or your child, love enough to lug with you to a new house. Also, consider the rule of six months: if you’re child hasn’t worn an outfit or touched a toy in the last six months there’s a reason – it’s an indication that it’s time to part ways.

Make sure you do one area of the room at a time! It will be tough to control yourself when you get on a roll, but try to stay focused on each space before moving on to another.

Reassess – after the initial de-clutter session, make sure you go through what you decided to keep and make sure it’s workable for the space, and things your child will actually want or use.

Now you are ready to get started!

The Great Purge

Oh, yes, the toys. There are SO many toys. When I registered for Grace, there were fifty toys per age category that I just absolutely NEEDED. Now that she's here and going on fourteen months old, I probably see her play with the same five toys! She loves things like measuring cups, and spoons, etc, but yes, she did accumulate a lot of toys! 

Step one: Group toys by type. You’ll quickly notice that you have 14 pretend cell phones but your kid only plays with one. Put aside the excess to donate. Also, as you’re doing this you will probably come across entire categories of toys that your child has outgrown. Newborn toys like rattles or hanging toys are not really of any use to your growing kid anymore. Donate these or stow them away for future kids. Same goes for clothes that don’t fit your child anymore.

With kids, it’s easy to get sentimental and find it difficult to throw out items. Remember that your donations will go towards great causes, and it’s an awesome opportunity to teach your children about the importance of charity. Also, don’t forget you can keep a few special things, but most of the clothing and toys that your child has outgrown are just taking up space.

Step two: Now that you’ve taken care of purging, figure out the best way to store the things that you are going to keep. I put lots of Grace’s toys in her Delta Children Jack & Jill Deluxe Toy Box. I was so happy to find this item because it's childproof, so the top doesn't slam down. It opens with ease, and it even has book storage on the ends for my little bookworm! I condensed down her toys so much that they all fit into this chest! 

As for storing clothing items, I have fabric bins in her drawers. I have three bins in each dresser drawer. They are labeled with a clothespin by the size. (18-24m, 2T, 3T, etc.) I also sort them by item in each bin, so all of her pants that are size 18-24m are in the same place, and her 2T tops are all in the same bin. It helps so much to keep clothing organized, especially for quick changes when your toddlers get messy and grumpy!

Tips for Reorganizing

Fabric Bins: My favorite item to use in bookshelves, other than books, is fabric bins. I use fabric bins all over my daughter’s room – I mentioned using them in her drawers but I also have them in her closet and on the floor. They are safe, and not pointy on the ends like plastic or wire baskets, and they look cute! You can find a whole variety of bins from Delta Children and they can be great for organizing bows, thermometers, and other tiny things that may be in baby’s dresser.

Spice Racks: Rather than putting a ton of nails in the wall to hang pictures, I have some little, white spice rack shelves to display photos and decor. I also love that I can store twice as many photos, and don’t have to worry about dusting on top of shelves or dressers where pictures would set if I didn’t use these racks. Also, Grace likes to grab anything within her reach, so I prefer the glass and fragile items to be very high up.

One last tip for decorating or re-decorating: Keep it simple with your décor. Less is more.

Hopefully after reading this post, you're a bit more confident in your ability to go through your kiddo's room and keep important things/donate or toss things that aren't needed. I don't know about you, but I always feel amazing after I get myself organized! 

*Thanks to Delta Children for sponsoring this post. Product was provided for my honest review.

xo. L

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