Nap Time Project: DIY Wipes Case Covers

So Lilly has started transitioning to pretty much one nap a day, some days she still takes a little afternoon nap, just depends on the day for her. So during her nap time I wanted to start doing something for myself once or twice a week that isn't cleaning, dishes, or laundry. I wanted to just disconnect and focus on something that I wanted to do and I decided to venture into my craftier side. Growing up my mom was also making crafts and always had projects for me and my friends to do on rainy days and days when we were bored. So crafting has always been an on and off thing that I do every now and then. My first project I wanted to make was my own wipes case covers. I originally was just going to cover the Pampers case in her nursery first, but when I went to Walmart I found fabric that matches my Vera Bradley almost perfectly so I had to make one for my diaper bag too. So all in all I ended up making 2 wipes cases.  Pinterest and Youtube are forever my muse and best friend for these kinds of projects and I just followed along with this tutorial and this one. 

What you'll need:

Fabric

Ribbon 

Felt or Quilt Batting

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Scissors

And any other little things you'd like to decorate on your wipes case

Lilly's nursery is Owl Themed so this fabric was a perfect match for her room. I also wanted to leave the top opening on the case so I improvised from the tutorial I watched and left a majority of the turquoise of the lid for color. 


I'd love to know some of your nap time projects out there so feel free to leave a comment and link below :)

Trendy Tot Tuesday: Toddler Pre-Fall Shopping Haul

So this weekend I stumbled into Target while my husband went to a sporting goods store nearby and came across a whole table display of $4 and $5 everything (originally $6 and $7 I think)! These items are so cute and I just couldn't pass these styles up going into the fall and Lilly already growing out of 12 month items. I snatched up a variety of graphic t's and leggings, a pair of herringbone jeans, and a couple of cute fall tops with bows on them for her and walked away spending less then $50 with a coupon and my 5% discount.  SCORE!

Be sure to link up your trendy tot with Kelly, Megan, and Aliya!

Mommy Favorites: July & August

New Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Wash 
in Pistachio Cream with Magnolia
I have been a big fan of Dove soaps and body washes for years now. Dove is the only soap that I have used that makes me feel ultra clean and moisturized at the same time. This new formula and scent is  amazing. Try it out and see for yourself :) I'm certain you'll love it!

Nivea Q10 Skin Firming and Toning Collection
Mommas....I'm telling you right now to go out to your drugstore and get these two products immediately! The first product is the Skin Firming and Toning gel cream for stretch marks and cellulite. I use this on my thighs, my stomach, my hips, and my butt...yes I said my butt. The second product is the cellulite serum that I use on the same areas. The products say to use it for 2 weeks to see results. Use it for 2 weeks! I actually noticed a difference in my stretch marks and my skin within 1 week. This stuff seriously works! It is perfect to use especially for moms after giving birth and would make a great postpartum gift.

Batiste Dry Shampoo
Before, I was using Treseme Dry Shampoo and I liked it, but I had to use a lot for it to last all day in my hair. I only wash and condition my hair about 3-4 times a week and having dry shampoo is a must. I stumbled upon Batiste at Marshalls actually for $5 and tried it out and fell in love. This brand and formula I feel is stronger then Treseme and lasts longer in my hair during the day.

Moroccan Oil Intense Hydration Hair Mask
I was suggested to use this by my hair stylist the last time I got my hair done because I had a little breakage in my hair. I have been using this 3-4 times a week for almost 2 months and have noticed a great difference in my hair. I really love this stuff!

Target Sandals
These sandals are so comfortable and are very trendy right now and will continue to be trendy going into the fall. Unlike some other birkenstock styles out there the way these straps are placed make the sandal look really flattering on the foot. They are now my go-to sandal :)

Estee Lauder Perfectly Clean Cleanser
I have finally found the perfect cleanser! I am in love with Estee Lauder products and have really seen a difference in my skin. This cleanser is for all skin types and can even be used as a mask. I have had this container for 4 months now and have been using it twice a day and I still have some left. With all Estee Lauder products that I have tried this year, a little bit of product goes a long way, so they last a long time. Yes they are a little more expensive, but you're saving money because the products last a long time, you don't have to use a lot.

Try some of these products out and tell me what you think :)

DIY No Sew Kitchen Curtains

 I used

Material I had 

Heat bond tape

Fabric cutter

Iron

Curtain rod (walmart)

Curtain clips (walmart)

I then followed Lauren Rae and Company's way of making no sew curtains as a reference and watched a few Youtube videos. 

Here is the finished product

Trendy Tot Tuesday: Lake/Beach Life with an Infant/Toddler

So August went by super fast and I realized I didn't post as often. Lilly turned one and we had a lot of things going on and time just slipped away again. This past weekend we went up to my in-laws camper at White Lake, NC to surprise Josh's stepmom for her birthday and have a nice little weekend vacation. We all had a blast, relaxing, swimming, and just enjoying lake life. It was a much needed weekend trip for all of us. Lilly had a blast on the lake and loved the water and Josh got to see some old friends he hadn't seen in years. 

Here are some of my infant/toddler essentials for the lake and/or beach :

Jujube Super be and Fuel Cell

The super be makes a great beach, lake, pool bag and the insulated fuel cell is the perfect size for drinks and snacks

Rash guard swimwear, sunhat, and wrap around sunglasses

These are a must have for an infant/toddler to keep their eyes and skin protected

Aveeno Baby Sunscreen SPF 50

This is my favorite baby sunscreen

Thermos sippy cup

These are amazing and keep her drink cold for up to 12 hours and are also leak proof. Get one!

Sunshade Float

These are fun to have at the pool or lake

Lake Life with an Infant/Toddler by nataliemorelliwaters on Polyvore

i Play Short Sleeve Tie Rashguard And Swim Diaper Set
amazon.com

SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy, Pink
amazon.com

i play. Baby-Girls Infant Classic Birm Sun Protection Hat
amazon.com

Be sure to link up your trendy tot with Kelly, Megan, and Aliya!

Adventures in Mommyhood: Living Simply

Since I left my job a few months ago and am now a full-time stay at home mom, I have been determined for us to live a more simple life as a family, especially since we don't have the extra income.  From meal planning, to starting a garden, to having our own chickens, to now becoming a very good financial planner and budgeting every single penny....beginning a simple life isn't that simple. Yes, in the long run things will be much simpler, some things already are, but at first when you try and de-clutter your life if you will, it can be a challenge. It takes a little bit of work to get things in order, but oh so worth it.

We started a garden and grow a few vegetables and now they are starting to be ready to eat and we love it, saves us so much time going to the store. It took my husband a whole day to build the garden and get things planted, but one hard days work and a few weeks of of tlc and now we have an abundance of fresh veggies. Same thing with our chickens, one hard days work putting the coop together and a fence and getting supplies and a few months later, our chickens are  producing eggs, we are not eating the chickens, just using them for eggs :)

Now on the the cleaning and managing of the household part. I work off of schedules and lists constantly. I think I have a pad of paper in every room, even the bathroom, when I get an idea or see something that needs to be bought or done. Lists are everywhere in my life. I invested in a planner from staples and am using that to stay organized. This planner has made my life so much easier, everything is organized in one place and I love it. It keeps me on track with everything.

Here's how my planner is organized:

Monthly and Weekly Calendar
Meal Planning
Routines
(Lilly's Daily Routine and House Cleaning Routine)
Blog Stuff
Personal
(Shopping lists, wish lists, ideas, etc)
Finances
(Bill Payment Checklist, Monthly Calendar)
Notepad

Things are going a lot more smoothly lately and the planner is really helpful! There are tons of weekly cleaning checklists you can check out on Pinterest and find great planner printables on Etsy to fit your planner and your style :)

Pre-Birthday Shopping Spree

So since my 25th birthday is next week, I decided to get myself a few things and have a mini shopping spree :) I found some awesome things at Old Navy and Banana Republic. Apparently I am loving black, white, and navy blue at the moment ;)

The bag I got on sale at Banana Republic and the pics online don't do it any justice. BR has friends and family going on right now and 30% off on sale items, so I got this bag for less then $100. This bag is going to be a great purse/diaper bag this fall and winter! It has a ton of pockets and compartments on the outside and inside of the bag. I am definitely looking forward to doing a packing video or post for this bag when I use it so stay tuned for that :) 

All the clothes and the "Holy Chic" canvas tote and baseball tee I got from Old Navy. Like always they have some great sales going on right now so I take a little advantage when I go in there. Again I walked away with all of these pieces for less then $100. That's always my goal when I go on a "shopping spree"....how many things can I get for less then $100???...ready, set, go!