Olivia's 3 Month Update!

Hi friends! Wow, I cannot believe my baby girl is already 3 months old! She is turning into quite the little person now! She is full of smiles and even starting to giggle a little. Everytime Olivia sees her daddy, she gives him the biggest smile, she thinks he is just the funniest guy! She is beginning to get antsy when we place her in her swing and Rock n' play, so we aren't sure those toys are going to be around much longer. This little girl wants to kick and push her feet all the time!

On her 3 month birthdate, we decided to transition Olivia to sleep in her crib in her own room. I was very nervous and anxious about it, but I knew it would be best for everyone. I felt like everytime we moved throughout the night, she would move. So I was hoping by her sleeping in her own room, she would have a bettter sleep at night. So far so good! She has been doing very well in her big girl crib, and was not even phased by the transition. Mom and Dad didn't sleep much the first two nights, we pretty much just stared at the monitor. But everyone got used to it rather quickly and she has been sleeping like a champ!

Evening Routine:
  Olivia gets a bath every other night. So on bath nights we usually begin our routine around 8PM
Her entire bathing process typically takes about a half an hour. Afterwards, I take her into her room and nurse her right before I put her down. On a typical evening, Olivia will be in her crib by 9PM. Michael and I have to maybe go back into her room two or three times to give her the pacifier if it falls out and then she's good!
   Now depending on how she napped and nursed throughout the day, depicts how well she will sleep throughout the night. She won't wake more than twice but most often she only wakes once. 5AM is her typical wake up time. I will nurse her and put her back down which she will stay asleep until 8AM.
  
  We are still working on tummy time, (she has not been enjoying that at all) hopefully it will be a better experience for her soon! I am so proud of my little girl and the strides she makes every day!

Gift Guide for Mom

Every year I seem to struggle with what gifts to get for my mom. Not onLy during the holidays, but for her birthday too! Today I am sharing a few items that I know most mothers would love! The prices vary too!

1. Louis Vuitton Key Pouch- who wouldn't love to be gifted with some LV during the holidays?! This is such a convenient key pouch to have in your bag! I use mine for all of my gift cards and membership cards.
2. Slippers- Fuzzy slippers are the best! And I especially love these with the little pom flower detail
3. MacKenzie Child- I would LOVE to have this piece in my kitchen. It is such a staple.
4. FitFlops- If you take notice next time you go out, so many mom types love to wear FitFlops and I know why! They are so comfy and great for your feet! These are particularly cute with the fringe.
5. MAC Eye Shadow- You can't go wrong with this pallet. There are endless amount of looks you can create.
6. Tiffany's Bracelet- I love this bracelet. I actually own one in pink and I already bought this one pictured for my mom last year. But this year she has hinted that she maybe would like more to layer so that is why I included it in this gift guide, it has already been a hit!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Best Baby Shower Ever at The Chew!

The Chew is one of my favorite day time shows, Olivia and I rarely miss an episode. When I was about 6 months pregnant, Mike and I went to a taping in NYC. I never had the opportunity to blog about it, but it was so fun, I had to go back in time and share with you all!

So one of my best friends tagged me in a post on Facebook from "The Chew" stating that they were looking for expecting mothers to be a part of their audience and to enter for a chance to win tickets. Well, I never thought I would, but I won two tickets to their show! So Mike and I booked our flights and were in New York City for a total of 36 hours. It was such a whirlwind! I have never been one to do many spontaneous things, but I am so glad that we chose to take this quick trip.

The staff members at "The Chew" were fantastic! They were so accommodating to all of us preggo mamas and kept us laughing the whole time. It was when Daphne Oz was still on the show and she was my favorite host, such a sweet girl. Carla Hall was a hoot too and I loved her dancing moves!

We were so fortunate to be given many amazing gifts, it still blows my mind that we were so lucky! We were given a year supply of Pamper diapers, a Chicco car seat, $100 Target gift card, a gift card to Cafe Press, and an OxO Tot Stroller. Thank you so much to these amazing companies and "The Chew" for gifting us with these items. It sure made the transition to parenthood just a little bit easier! We had a fabulous time on our short but super exciting trip!

I absolutely love NYC

Picture of us off of our TV

So neat to see the behind the scenes!

Easy Fritata Recipe

Good Morning! The other day we had a family brunch at the house and I promised to share my fritata recipe with you all. So here it is! This was my first time making this dish and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was and how yummy it came out! I searched through Pinterest and researched a handful of recipes. Most of them called for ingredients that I knew my guests wouldn't be fond of, so I took tidbits from each and created my own. The entire dish from start to finish took about 25 minutes.It was so easy, I am going to definitely make it again just for my hubby and I, no fancy brunch needed :)

5 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Bacon bits (I didn't measure, I just eyeballed the amount that I thought would be sufficient)
2 cups baby spinach
1/2 tsp. Thyme
1/2 tsp. Oregano
1/2 cup of cheddar cheese
1 cup milk (I used almond milk)
Serves 5-6

Start by lightly greasing (making sure to get the sides) and adding your spinach to an oven friendly pan (none with rubber on it that will melt in the oven).  Allow your spinach to wilt, should take about 4-5 minutes.

While your spinach is working, begin scrambling your eggs. The trick is once the eggs easily flow through your fork, you are ready to add the other ingredients!
Add the remaining ingredients to your eggs, mixing it all together nicely.
Once your spinach is wilted, you can add your egg mixture to the pan. Be sure not to distrupt your mixture in the pan, you want it to cook smooth and flat. When you notice the edges of your egg starting to set (about 2 minutes), place the entire pan inside your oven at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Check your creation often to ensure the eggs don't get too brown. Serve warm.

And voila! You have now made a scrumptious fritata! So easy!

Gifts for Him

Hi friends! Today on the blog I am sharing some great gift ideas for the special guy in your life! Just some items I'm thinking of snagging for my hubbs. All items are linked!

1. Cole Haan shoes are my favorite for men! And it helps that these are on sale too!
2. The Art of Shaving has a bunch of great items to gift your guy this year!
3. Something about a cotton long sleeve shirt is just cozy to me!
4. I don't know how many times we have tried to plug headphones into our iphones just to roll our eyes remembering we can't do that anymore! These headphones are a must!
5. The ecobee is the hottest thermostat out there. It comes with room sensors so that your a/c unit can keep the rooms most lived in at your comfort level.
6. This is a classic looking watch. I love that it just goes with anything!
7. This watchbox is sleek and would look great in a closet or on a nightstand.

Sorry, Not Sorry

   Why do we as women always apologize? Seriously, I always find myself saying sorry, whether it's to a stranger or to my husband; I must say it at least 10 times a day. I think it might be something carved into our minds as women to be sorry for things that we aren't sorry for. Now I know Demi Lovato's song has a totally different meaning but hey, if the lyrics fit!
   If you follow me on Instagram (you really should), you may recall my nail dilemma from this past weekend. The abridged version of the story, I tried the Nex Gen nail powder on my nails for the first time this weekend and absolutely hated it. They were so thick and goopy looking, it just wasn't for me.  Once I finally gathered up the moxy to go back and have them fixed, I spoke to the manager (who could not have been sweeter to me) and I apologized and said sorry for being unhappy with them. Well.....he quickly put me in my place and told me NOT to apologize, as I did nothing wrong. And you know what, he was right! Why was I sorry? I paid a lot of money and treated myself to a manicure which does not happen often, I deserve to be happy with the results. So why was I saying sorry to him?
    I guess it kind of opened my eyes a little to have a stranger at the nail salon put me in my place and tell me that I deserve to be happy with the service I was provided. So ladies and gentlemen, I decided to pass the message onto you! Stop saying sorry! We all do so much on a day to day basis, we deserve everything and more!
    Sorry, not sorry! 😜

Olivia's Two Month Update

Hi friends! I cannot believe that little miss is already two months old! Time truly does fly by! Olivia is already wearing size 3months in clothing. I washed all of her newborn clothes, sorted and labeled them in freezer Ziploc bags and stored them in a plastic container. I definitely shed a tear while I was packing up some of my favorite pieces thinking she'll never wear them again, so sad.

Olivia is now starting to smile at us and hold her head up really well! She is so alert and loves to follow us around the room with her eyes. Also, she sleeps through the night! I typically try to put her down around 9:30 PM. Sometimes she wakes up at 5:00am and I will feed and change her and she will go back down for another two hours. Other nights she will sleep right through to 7:30-8:00 AM. We are truly blessed with a baby who likes to sleep!

Yesterday we took her to the pediatrician for her two month check up and shots. The doctor was very pleased with everything Olivia had to offer. She said her weight (11.6 pounds) and height were right where they needed to be and to keep on doing what we were doing.

Olivia had to get her first set of shots at that appointment....oy. That was difficult for both she and I. I asked Mike if he would hold her because I knew I wouldn't be able to handle it, and I was right. I stood in the corner sobbing while she got all three shots. I had never heard her cry like that before. It was hard to not be able to soothe her. She calmed down shortly after, but just wasn't herself for the rest of the day. She was irritable and cranky and towards the end of the night she began to spike a little fever. We decided to give her some baby Tylenol and thankfully she slept through the night. This morning she's a little happier, but still not 100% so I am watching her closely.

The doctor also suggested we stop swaddling her and transition her into her own room but I am just not ready nor do I think she is. I feel like it is too soon! When did you transition your kids to their own room? I'm curious to know! Leave a comment and share :)

Gifts for Her

Happy Monday! I took some time over the weekend to round up some items that I thought would be nice for that special lady in your life! The items are in various price points so you can really find something for anyone on your list. Happy shopping!
1. Valentino Dupes
2. Sara Happ Lip Balm
3. Such cute denim with the most subtle pearl detail. Perfect for that friend who wants to try a new trend.
4.Love this phone case. Currently in my shopping cart.
5. These candles smell so yummy!
6. I have been eyeing the iwatch and leaving subtle hints for hubby (hehe)
7. Love this necklace

Things to do to prior to baby

I think we did a pretty good job when it came to getting ready for our little babe's arrival. Everyone warns you that your life will never be the same again, and of course that is true since you're adding a whole other person to the family, but Mike and I tried to do a few things in order to enjoy one another before our lives changed forever.

I should probably say first and foremost, Mike and I are not big travelers. I am a total homebody. I like the idea of planning a trip and creating fun memories but somehow when push comes to shove, I would much rather be in my own bed in my own home. Is anyone else like that?

That being said, we still decided to plan a mini babymoon just to get away for a few nights. Living in South Florida, your quick getaways are quite limited since it takes 10 hours just to get out of our state! So we opted to drive West to Naples, Florida and stay at the Naples Grande Resort. It was so beautiful and nice to getaway. We appreciated the adult only pool section as we knew that would be one of the last times we would be able to spend time there. They have a beautiful beach area which you take a walk along a gorgeous nature trail to get there as well as great shops just down the street. It was a fun little getaway.

I absolutely love the water on the West coast! It is so calm and peaceful and this picture just takes me right back! There was actually a wedding going on on the beach right next to us, so Mike and I sat down and took in all the feels.

Unfortunately, being pregnant forces you and your spouse to miss out on a few events. In my ninth month of pregnancy, we had to miss our good friends wedding in California, a bachelorette party and Mike missed two bachelor parties. I felt really bad that he had to miss out on so many life events because of his preggo wife, I decided to surprise him with a "Dad-chelor Party".  I collaborated with his best friend, and planned a fun guys weekend in Miami. I had pre-packed a bag for him and he was so surprised when his buddies came to the house to pick him up. They had a fun filled weekend of boating, drinking, and good food. I was so happy he had a good time with his buddies.

This was the view from the balcony where the guys stayed in Miami. They had so much fun taking the boat out that day and just relaxing.

Other than those two events, we really tried to spend time with each other and our friends and take all the special moments in. You can never truly prepare yourselves for parenthood; and like they say, you're never really "ready" but I think we did well when it came to spending time with each other and those who are special in our lives :)      

My Shopping Cart Lately

Hi friends! So I admit it, I have a problem. I keep items in my online shopping cart FOREVER! For some reason it takes me a while to make the decision (and commitment) to click the "Place Order" button. I'm not sure if it's the thought of spending the money more so than me wondering if I really need the item or will actually wear it. If I typically find myself thinking about the item often, that tells me that I truly like it and should go ahead and pull the trigger. So, I thought I would share some items that I currently have sitting in my online shopping cart.

Not to sound cliche or like I am hopping on any bandwagon, because you will quickly learn I am not a "follow the trend" type of gal, but I truly do love Nordstrom. Not only did I work there for three years, but it really is the best retail store. They have the best price points whether you're looking for something to wear for everyday, or something for a special occasion. They also have the best customer service which I am very appreciative of. Also, (and this is only for in store shopping adventures) they have the best and cleanest bathrooms! Especially as a new mom, their nursing area in the women's lounge is the absolute best for baby. I always make Nordstrom my home base at the mall for that reason! Anyway...enough with the ranting, you get it, Nordstrom is awesome. Here are  a few items that I am looking to purchase! Links are in the captions :)

Yessss! The stripes and sleeves and ruffles oh my! This top is so fun!

This tunic is an oldie but a goodie. I already have one in a blue color which I love! I definitely want one in white for my closet.

This top will look so cute with leggings, white jeans, black or blue jeans! I love myself a camel top and black pants look. The neckline detail gives this top a little something extra.

So I feel like every time I look to see what lip color someone on Instagram is wearing, 9 times out of 10 it is this lipstick. Just the thought of spending $34 on a lipstick when I know I can buy a MAC lipstick for $14 is hard. Maybe I will ask for this lipstick from Santa :)

This to me is the perfect top for a fun date night out. It has just enough skin showing for my taste and is still sexy. Pair it with skinny jeans and a cute heel and you're good to go!

All About the Nursery

I have received numerous comments and DM's about Olivia's nursery and thought I would share some links and such here. When I found out I was pregnant with a girl, I knew I wanted to get started working on her nursery as soon as possible. It was going to be feminine, but very soft and delicate and I think that is what I achieved! I first starting searching through Pinterest, gathering ideas of what I wanted and didn't want and honestly, it all started with the wallpaper. To be honest, it took me a good three months to convince myself to spend this much money on wallpaper (I mean who spends hundreds of dollars on wallpaper?!- I do) and it wasn't until I received a bonus at work that I felt I could justify the money I would spend. I opted to just do one wall and only cover it 3/4 of the way and I love how it turned out! I then built the rest of the room around it. I took the paper to my local hardware store and asked them to color match both the white and the pink. So unfortunately I cannot share the name of those colors as they are custom made. I knew I wanted white furniture for the room and a solid headboard for the crib, easy right? Not so much. My mother and I shopped at pretty much every store that sells nursery furniture and were only able to find a few. Another criteria for the furniture that I had was I wanted a full sized dresser. So many furniture sets come with these dinky dressers that I knew Olivia would outgrow once she got a little older, so a full sized dresser was a must. We finally found exactly what we were looking for at a local children's furniture store (who I will not share the name because our customer service experience was horrendous). The company name of the furniture is Silva and it is great quality! My husband did such a fantastic job at helping make my vision come to life. We spent countless hours working in her room together. It was almost therapeutic for us! We absolutely love how it all came out! I will link as much as I can below! If there is something I missed, feel free to ask in the comments! Thanks for reading!

Wallpaper-  Project Nursery (exact) (we used left over wallpaper scraps to build the valance)
Other options- One, Two
Rug-Lulu&Georgia 5x7
Lamp and  picture frame- Homegoods
Curtains-Ikea
Wall print- 5th and Grace 
Rocking Bunny- Pottery Barn
Mirror- Homegoods
Shelves- Target