Win two Passes to the New England Dessert Showcase in Boston!

Disclaimer: This post is a sponsored post, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Monday? Eh.

Here's what makes me happy...

What a tease, right?

But let's be honest, chocolate makes me happy. Chocolate doesn't talk back, or forget to bring out the trash, or tell you it has to use the bathroom after it already had an accident, or bite you while nursing...

Chocolate is just there, ready to make you happy.

Here's the happiest part: all of these desserts, and more, will be at the New England Dessert Showcase which is taking place at the Westin Boston Waterfront on October 12th!

It is the most popular boutique dessert showcase in the country!

Anthem Entertainment is offering up a pair of General Admission tickets to the session of the winner's choosing so they can attend this amazing event as well! 

There are two different sessions:

12:00am-2:30pm (Session I)

3:00pm-5:30pm (Session II)

And it's super easy to enter! Just fill in the rafflecopter below!

Contest ends 10/6/2014. Winner will have 24 hours to respond with choice of session. Tickets will be ready for pick up at will call on the day of the event. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait to see if you've won? Order tickets RIGHT HERE and say hi at the Showcase!

Home Projects I Wish I Had Done

Now that the sun is setting earlier and I'm back at work, I'm really feeling the end of summer.

There were so many things I thought I'd accomplish over the summer, you know, since I was out of work for almost 4 months, but I didn't accomplish any of it. I guess I have a pretty good excuse.. since I had a kid and all... Tyler's room is literally the only room that I don't have anything else I want to do to it...

My pinterest board is overflowing and I have so many things I want to do to our brand new house so I figured I'd start an actual list to help me stay directed.

Outdoor Space

1. Create a walkway to the side door.

2. Create a play place for Emmalee.

3. Stain/paint the decks.

4. Create a patio in the backyard off of the deck.

5. Build a fire pit

6. Build horseshoe pit

7. Find the perfect door knocker

8. Install storm doors

9. Make corrugated steel planters

Living Room

1. New tv stand 

2. Throw pillows 

3. Hack coffee table

4. Repaint living room and hallway

5. New curtains and rug in living room.

Master Bedroom

1. DIY a headboard for the Master

2. Re-do Master closet

3. Hack Rast side tables.

4. Buy new dressers for Master

5. Repaint walls

Emma's Room

1. Repaint her sparkle wall

2. New closet organization

Bathroom

1. Make a growth chart ruler for the bathroom.

2. Repaint walls

3. Paint cabinets to a slate color

Basement

1. Install central air unit

2. Finish it - huge project which will include walls, a new bathroom, a laundry room, a playroom, a craft corner, and a man cave. That might be a few years down the road...

Do you have to keep a list like this? What's on your project lists?

An Easy Baby Book with Collage.com

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm a terrible mom lately.

With the princess, I had a baby book that was updated monthly, with monthly growth photos and information.

Little man's stuff is all in a box on his bookcase. Oops.

In the old house, the corner of our guest room was dedicated to all my crafts and scrap booking stuff and I just don't have that space here.

Collage.com has made it a little bit easier for me to get a book together for the little man and it's super simple!

Create a professional photo book with a single click using Collage.com's One-Click Photo Book. Select photos of any size from Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, or your computer and they will instantly suggest a clean, professional layout that you can further customize.

I'm so excited to see how gorgeous the little man will look.
The format is simple and really puts the photos first!

The best part is that Collage.com is offering a great deal to my readers!

Use this link for 51% off a 20-page 11.5"x8" Hardcover Photo Book From Collage.com!

Keep Boogers at Bay with Marengo Moms' Momkerchiefs!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hate the transition from Summer to Fall.
A. I'm losing the beautiful heat of summer and B. my husband always, always, always gets sick. And like, grown man sick, which means we know he acts like anything but a grown man. The coughs are nonstop, the voice talks in a super soft voice so it needs to be repeated three times which brings on another coughing fit... you know what I'm talking about...

ha!

I can handle the husband's man cold but when the kids get sick, it's unbearable.

The princess wipes her nose on the back of her hand, her sleeve, my leg, my shoulder, in my hair... ugh.  It's seriously foul but Marengo Moms opened up an Etsy shop and has created the perfect product to fight against unwanted booger attacks!

The Momkerchief attaches to a pocket, a sleeve, a coat and gets all those unwanted boogers so they're not all over your other things!

The Momkerchiefs come in great prints that I love and at only $8 a pop, you can match them to your outfits if you want!!

Yvette | Pearl | Diana | Charlie

The Momkerchief isn't just for boogers though!

Clipped to a baby's onesie or mom's sleeve, it's a quick spit up grabber as well!

I've had mine clipped to my purse and my pants have been wonderfully booger free for the past two weeks!

Want to win one?

It's EASY!

1. Go to Etsy and FAVORITE Marengo Moms Etsy site!

2. Come back here and leave your Etsy name so I can verify it!

For an extra entry, leave an additional comment with your favorite pattern!

One winner will be chosen on October 4th. US winners only.

Winner will have 48 hours after being notified of win to claim prize, or prize will be forfeited to another winner.

Good luck!

VTech Go Go Smart Animals :Giveaway:

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post from VTech.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I love when I find toys that my 4 month old and my 3 year old will enjoy playing together.
With a three year age difference, more often than not, the games consist of my toddler saying the baby is supposed to be a character and then the baby just rolls around and grabs things making the toddler angry! Not an ideal "play" situation.

VTech is one of those companies that I just love.  They make great products for children of all ages and they've created a toy perfect for my two kids to both engage in.

The Go! Go! Smart Animals Forest Adventure Playset is designed for ages 1 to 5 and kids use Blake the Bear to explore his home and forest with playful songs!  Blake himself plays songs and says even more when he's activated on Smart Points located in the forest!  The Smart Point Technology and the fun manipulative feature like the turning disc, the gate, the sliding squirrel, and the twisting butterfly help strengthen motor skills!
And of course, we know my favorite toys are toys that have a learning value to them too!

Another great feature is that you can continually add to the track with other Go! Go! Smart Wheels Playsets (each sold separately) and animals (sold seperately).  My daughter loved that the monkey we received was a girl named Mary, and the Alligator's name is Aiden. She of course claimed rights to the girl monkey "because I am a girl mommy". Ha! She cracks me up!

So even though she doesn't like to share, both kids are able to engage in the toy at the same time.  The baby likes watching the lights and sounds, while the toddler moves the animals through the playset, narrating her own story!



VTech is offering a starter pack of the Go! Go! Smart Animals Forest Adventure Playset and two extra animals to one of my lucky readers!
Enter in the Rafflecopter below!

Open to US Residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Little Man is 4 Months Old. (And like 2 weeks...)

Growth:

Little man can grow! 14 lbs 8 oz and up to 26 1/2 inches! It's crazy to me how fast he has grown.

Looks:

Lots and lots of smiles!Always smiling but makes lots of expressions with his eyebrows too and it just cracks me up!
He still looks just like Dave and is still rocking red hair! I think it may be more strawberry blonde than orange/red but it's just the cutest.

Firsts and Milestones:

No crazy milestones this month.
Still rolling over, pushing up on his arms and is now pulling his knees under himself.  He can not put the two motions together yet but he's trying.
He has been trying to roll from back to front and gets half way there.  He usually stops there but sometimes pushes himself onto his belly.
Does running legs a lot and grabs everything, including Emma's hair.

Sleep:

Most nights are still great.  He usually wake only once or twice during the night with a long stretch from 7 pm ish until 2 am ish.  he does not like sleeping during the day but he'll fall asleep in the car if you go somewhere.
He likes sleeping on his side and will roll if you put him on his back.

Food:

Still breastfed but I can no longer say exclusively because daddy tested out a half formula/half milk bottle to see if he'd take it, and he gave him 2 spoonfuls of apples on day.  We're going to wait at least another month before we really introduce solids.
He loves nursing and usually flips his body half way over, with his mouth wide open, grabbing on to everything as he waits for the boob.  I always laugh.

Language:

Lots of noises! Some sound like "Yaaaaah" but there's no way so I'm being silly.  He has the best belly laugh and makes really different noises depending on if he's unhappy, needs a new diaper, or just wants attention.  He might not be saying anything, but we understand him.

His favorites:

Being "thrown" up into the air, which is just me and Dave raising him over our heads.  He also loves raspberries on his belly and laughs so hard.  He's big into the kitten right now and especially loves Emmalee. He loves rolling and trying to move and chewing on his fingers.  His fingers are pretty fascinating to him.

My favorites:

The way he still curls right into me and the "need" for milk that he shows through grabbing and making little monkey noises until he gets it.  I love the way his face lights up when I walk in the door after work, or at 2 in the morning when I get him out of bed.  I love when he curls up on my chest and closes his eyes and I love seeing his little personality grow every day.

I'm just so blessed.

Obsessed with Heather Stillufsen

A friend shared an image on her Facebook timeline and I immediately fell in love.

Sometimes it's hard to be a mom and the night I saw this print was especially hard.  I needed to see this that night and remind myself of what was actually important. 

So naturally, I need to investigate who the artist is and stumbled upon Rose Hill Design Studio, which is illustrated by Heather Stillufsen. I am literally obsessed.  Her pictures are gorgeous and every card is adorable and many are inspirational.  Here's a few more favorites:

Are they just the best?!

You can find the illustrations on Facebook, at her website, or on the Etsy site!

Undercover Mama

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Undercover Mama however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Breastfeeding both my children was really important to me and thankfully I was, and continue to be, really successful at it. I'm comfortable nursing my little guy but I do realize that other people can be uncomfortable with it. 

In all honesty, some images of other people nursing in public make me uncomfortable.  Maybe it's my own insecurities about my weight but I don't feel comfortable baring all of myself while nursing.  I nurse discreetly. Now, I'm not hiding in the corner where no one can see me but there is a difference between nursing with your breast pulled out over the top of your shirt and your shirt pulled up over your breast while nursing.

via Time

I am of the second camp. I pull my shirt up on top of my breast to keep the whole top boob from just toppling out but that often leaves my postpartum, still floppy, overweight stomach just hanging out.

Undercover Mama has innovated the most amazing solution for me to feel more comfortable while nursing this way.  

The Undercover Mama Tank is a strapless undercover that hooks onto the straps of the nursing bra which provides the coverage for your postpartum belly while nursing. It literally makes any shirt a nursing shirt.

It even helps me feel more comfortable while nursing at work. I literally nurse in a closet in the back of one of the classrooms and I'm always a bit nervous someone will walk in.  At least with the Undercover Mama I feel covered even if I am in a very vulnerable position. 

In addition to feeling more comfortable while wearing the Undercover Mama, it is literally so comfortable as well! Its a soft quality cotton and spandex mix which ensures that you feel a bit held in and are stretchy enough to keep you all in.  I prefer my tanks to feel a bit more snug and that is how the Undercover Mamas are designed so it's perfect.

I literally could not picture nursing without this wonderful accessory!

And because I love them so much, Undercover Mama is giving away one Undercover Mama to one of my readers!
Winner must be a US Resident, sorry!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Fun

I'm kind of over the bucket list posts because I feel it puts too much stress on getting it done, but I do love fall so I made an image of all of our favorite things to do!

Hope we can get to them all this year!

Which activity is your favorite?

Never Forget

via

The Most Versatile Bag EVER: Cinda B Boxer Tote

Ever stumble across a bag that is just perfect? Like for every day and every occasion perfect.

Spoiler alert: I have.

The Traveling Bowler in French Linen from cinda b Bags is seriously the most perfect all in one bag I've ever used.

It is my every day bag, my diaper bag, and my overnight bag.

And I struggled how to put this post into words without just talking about how amazing it is multiple times so I'm going to do my best...

I love this bag because as a working mom it is absolutely perfect for whatever I need to get done that day.

Day #1: Emma's Photo Shoot with Cosco Car Seats

My wallet, phone, keys, two changes of clothes for her, a hair brush, toothbrush, wet wipes for cleaning up her face, and the bag of candy from the penny candy store down the street after her "fasson model time".

Day #2 : Beach Day with Both Kids

Diapers for little man, change of clothes for little man, change of clothes for the princess, sunscreen, wallet, keys, sunglasses for me and the princess, little man's bucket hat, extra hairties for the princess, a few Go Go Squeez pouches, a few juice boxes, and my Victoria Secret Water bottle.

Day #3 : Outlets Shopping

Wallet, keys, phone, coupon accordion folder, AAA savings flyer, extra change of clothes for little man and the princess, diapers and wipes for little man, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses for the princess, Go Go Squeez pack, single serve bag of pretzels, and  a bag of jewelry I needed cleaned at the store!

This bag rocks some serious space and works amazingly well as a one or two person weekender but is also the perfect size to use as an everyday bag as well. It has quickly replaced my Kate Spade diaper bag!

It is a machine washable bag that is stain and water resistant.
There is an outside slip pocket and an outside double zip pocket, as well 2 slip pockets and one zip pocket in the super roomy exterior.  There is NO losing your cell phone at the bottom of this bag!

The bag has a 7.5 drop handle so you can carry it like a handbag, or you can utilize the adjustable crossbody strap for when your hands are already full!

It truly is the solution this crazy busy mom needs, but it's stylish enough that I don't look like a mom while using it!

It comes in a variety of colors so you can choose the color combination that fits your style best!

You can see even more amazing bags that cinda b has created on the cinda b Facebook Page and the cinda b Twitter and Instagram feeds!

Clean Up Stroller Clutter With The Joovy VaryLight

Disclosure: I received a Joovy VaryLight for review purposes but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

When we moved I realized I had a bit of a problem with strollers. I apparently hoard them. We had SEVEN strollers when we were packing! Seriously?! Who needs Seven strollers when you only have two kids?

Apparently, me. I had 2 jogging strollers, a Snap and Go, a Sit and Stand, 2 umbrella strollers, and the stroller that was part of our travel system all hoarded in different parts of our house.  

I had seven different strollers because I needed them for different things.

Each stroller only served one purpose.  One jogging stroller was a gift, the other had a pocket to hold my phone and water bottle while out, a Snap and Go just for the baby's seat, a Sit and Stand if I had both kids, lightweight umbrella strollers in each car for Emmalee if I would be babywearing the little man, and the stroller designed to go with little man's car seat. Yikes, I'm tired just thinking it...

Thankfully the Joovy VaryLight lets me condense my stroller collection!

The Joovy VaryLight  is a tandem stroller that expands from a single stroller to a double stroller and is perfect for children from birth (with the use of a car seat adapter, sold separately) to 55 lbs!

The Joovy VaryLight can be used in a variety of positions.

As you can see, the car seat adapter can be used in the front or back position which lends to lots of ways to use the Joovy VaryLight.

You can see a few of the ways we have used it here.

It makes a perfect stroller for the little man, if I have both kids, or if I only have the princess.

Opening the Joovy VaryLight is a breeze.



The front seat offers a five point harness, three position recline seat, a swing away tray and and a great over sized canopy with a sunvisor extension that provides extra protection.  The back seat offers a standing platform or a three point harness seat belt and bench for older riders. Both seats offer seat belts so I know both kids are safe regardless of which seat they are in.
I love that the VaryLight can function as a single stroller, or as a double stroller with either a bench sitter or a platform stander and switching between the configurations is super simple. Unhook the latch, a quick and simple pull, and then relatch!

And when we're done using the roller, it can easily fold up with one hand again!

The Joovy VaryLight is exactly that, very light! At less than 34 pounds, it's also lightweight and easy to move between cars if needed.  Even with two kids strapped in, I can push the stroller easily with one hand! The sturdy polyurethane tires help make it for a nice smooth ride. Additionally, the extra large storage basket can hold a full sized diaper bag and my purse with room to spare!

The Graphite Frame comes in Blueberry, Red, or Black, and the Silver Frame comes in Purpleness, Charcoal and Black and can be purchased from Joovy for only $499.99!