Shop Update!

So I finally got around to updating the Etsy shop!  I have had some of these items made for quite some time but never got around to posting them until now! 

Do you jump the gun when it comes to Holiday outfits and decorations?  Me either, if you do you can get your little beauty's 4th of July accessories here! 

Here is the first item in our new line: The Rock Star Collection and am currently working on several others that I'm super excited about it!  So if you want your baby to get their moonwalk on, hurry over and scoop this "Bad" boy up before they are all gone! 

Do you need new baby decorations? I know I'm always in the market!

Follow us on Instagram here to be the first to see new items!
Oh, and I've got a pretty awesome giveaway planned for when the shop reaches 100 followers, so spread the word!!

Linking up with Kristin for Baby Talk

5 Months, Oh My!

Sheesh!  I cannot believe I am writing your 5 month update!

What's new in Harper news:

You are still my chunky monkey! (and I love it!)

Your legs never, and I mean NEVER, stop moving!

With that said, YOU never stop moving!

You had a to take a visit to the good ole' Doc to get a vaccine and you didn't even flinch!

You still love the jumperoo

You want to crawl so badly but can't seem to get your legs and arms to work together

You are the happiest baby in town!

You hate, with a capital H, peas! (no hard feelings, so do I!)

You really liked avocado, you healthy girl you!

You are still trying to master the upright sit, but you much prefer your attempt at crawling.

   Here are a few of my favs from this photo shoot!:

Those eyes, they get me every time!

Rawr!

Oh how I wish this picture was clear!

aaaannd Target Stikes Again!

ALL I NEEDED WAS JUICE!

Seriously though, juice, and some how I ended up with an outfit for Harper that she absolutely HAD to have didn't need, a shirt for Ainsley, because well, Harper got a new outfit and it's only fair (right?!), and a candle that smells SO good I can't keep my face out of it! I am not condoning my recent behavior but if you have a Target within driving distance get there now and pick up the Pure/Clean/Soy candle in Pink Magnolia and hurry because there is a very possible chance that I will wipe them out!

I think I need help, a Target intervention maybe!  

I do have to pat myself on the back for passing up on this absolutely adorable jumpsuit for Ainsley (it was so hard I tell you, so hard!)

I may or may not have already made a deal with myself that if it's still there next week I will get it!

Ahhh see!  I am planning trips to Target a week in advance now!  So, I am officially going on strike (for at least a few days, I mean did you see that jumpsuit?)

At least I got the juice right!  Well played, Target, well played!

Meet Hayley!

I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet some wonderful ladies since starting this blog.  Hayley is one of those ladies and she is here to say hello!


Hi, you guys! My name is Hayley and I usually write over at A Beautiful Exchange, but Angela asked me to hang with you guys for a little while!!

I am really horrible at introductions, but I am a 20 year old mom of one that lives in Chapel Hill, NC! Yes, you read that right...I am only 20, and yes, I am a TARHEEL! :) I am an everyday reading, every once in a while DIYing, Target addicted, chocolate consuming, coffee loving, JESUS following, movie watching mom! My husband, Jacob, and I got married on a cool November night and then we were blessed with our son, Eli, that following April. You can read more about our story, here, or read more about me, here! If you really like to read books, you can check out my reviews and find out what I've been reading. If DIY is more your style, check out the DIY stenciled tea towels I made, or my DIY T-shirt Makeover! If you like to read about life as a mom and family, there are a million (ok, maybe not a million) posts about my amazing husband, son, and extended family, here! Jacob and I both come from pretty big families, so getting together with them is one of the biggest parts of our life. You can read about my son's first birthday party, here, if you'd like---his 2 parties were so much fun with all of the family! Both sides of our family are so great and they love my baby, which is even better!!

Our lives are pretty crazy right now, with Jacob working and at UNC fulltime, but we are making it work! As you moms know, sometimes things get really hard.  A lot of time in the blogging world, you catch the cute pictures of the smiling babies, but we moms have to stick together and support each other for those days where things just don't fall into place!! Thankfully, blogging has really been a great outlet to do that. Because of my love for the relationships that are built through blogging, please make sure to head over to my blog and leave a comment or two! I love hearing back from the readers and will always reply back to you!

If you are just catching up with Angela, make sure you check out her post about a temporary fix to eye sore walls, all the posts she has about fashion, and especially her Etsy shop! She is so creative and has the cutest little girls. If you have little ones of your own, you should definitely take a look at the little head bands, onesies, and paci clips that she makes!!

I hope you have enjoyed hanging out with me! I would love to hear from you and have you follow along with me via Bloglovin'!! Also, if you haven't already, make sure you follow My Silly Life on Bloglovin', too!!

Munchkin Must Haves: 2 and 3 Months

A few weeks ago I participated in a "Preparing for a little one" link up with Kaitlyn over at Wifessionals.  I received several emails about this post and questions about other items I have found to be helpful, so I decided to do a monthly feature.  These will be things that I have used with both of my girls or things that have made the second go 'round so much easier!

Nuby Teether / Bumbo / Towel / Paci Clip / Sound Machine / Jumperoo / Shampoo / Tutu Onesie

1 / This teether has been a life saver! It comes with a nice case to keep it clean when you aren't using it.  It has soft little "teeth" that massage baby's sore gums and it seems to really relieve the pain!  We put Harper's in the freezer and, aside from the massive amounts of drool, this thing is wonderful!

2 / I'm sure you have seen or heard of the Bumbo.  It is definitely all it is cracked up to be!  It is wonderful to free up your hands for a few minutes (I'm not recommending strapping the babe in and peacing out, but it is nice to at least have two hand for a minute!) I will say though that Ainsley LOVED her Bumbo and would use it all the time, even as a make shift high chair for a while.  Harper, on the other hand, likes it alright but quickly, and I mean quickly gets tired of it!

3 / Any hooded towel is nice to have, but I really like this Circo owl towel.  Not just because it matches her nursery, but also because it is thick cotton and not super thin like a lot of baby towels are.

4 / If your little one takes a paci, a paci clip is an absolute must!  You can only pick the paci off the floor SO many times before you want to chuck it out of the window!  This paci clip is cute with the ruffles and holds that paci tight so it is always within you or you babe's arms reach.

5 / I have had this sound machine for both girls (two different, but same model).  I used this until it ran out of steam when Ainsley was 3!  It is wonderful!  It has several different sound settings to choose from, we like the ocean, and it has a projector that shines onto the ceiling above the crib.  You can choose from three different slides, Hey Diddle Diddle, Ocean Scene, and birds.  This is wonderful to drown out noise and when the baby gets a little older the projector gives them something to look at!

6 / The jumperoo, ah the jumperoo!  I don't know if I can say enough about this wonderful thing!  Ainsley literally lived in this thing!  From birth she (actually Harper too) would push off with her feet and all they want to do is "jump".  We put both girls in this probably WAY sooner than recommended!  We had to put pillows under their feet so they could reach, but let me tell you once their feet connected with something, they would go to town! It is so much fun to watch as they squeal and jump!

7 / So both of my girls had baby eczema and couldn't have any perfumes or dyes in their lotions or bath wash.  Harper's only affected her face, but Ainsley still has skin issues!  This bath wash is super gentle and has tea tree extract which helps calm not only eczema but also cradle cap!  Did I mention it smells wonderful? Oh I didn't, well it does! 

8 / What little girls doesn't need an adorable tutu? I loved this onesie so much I am about to get it in a larger size!  It's soft cotton with a cute little tutu on her rump!

Well that's about it for 2-3 months!  I will try to post 4-5 month must haves soon!

What couldn't you live without during the 2-3 month age?

Photo Link Party

 

  

LINK PARTY!

 with

   
             blog/instagram                                        blog/instagram                                           blog/instagram

Oh you have no idea what I'm talking about?  
Just click here for the full details on how to join us! 
   Don't worry if you're "behind," Just jump right in!


Week 3:
I was super busy this week with school so I only got a few of this weeks photos! Oops!

This was #inthefridge, but not for long!

I am not proud! Scott calls it my cartoons. #guiltypleasure 

#itstinks! but it cleans really well!

If you are already in the know, this is your chance to link up!
 Both blogs and Instagram profiles are welcome and 

before you link up, please make sure to follow all 3 of the hosts. 

       

Let's Be Friends Blog Hop

LET'S BLOG HOP!

Hey guys! I hope you've had a great week!  I have been swamped with school work this week! I am so ready to be done with it!  This week wasn't a total bust, I got to meet this wonderful lady and have the opportunity to co-host her amazing blog hop!  So let's get to it!

                                        
                                                   

Hi Friends! It is time for the Let's Be Friends Blog Hop #9. I am so excited to see how many people I have connected with out there. I have discovered some amazing blogs from this hop and am so grateful I started it! Thanks everyone for making this such a great hop!  

 If you are interested in co-hosting this hop with me in the future, please visit here. I would love to welcome on new co-hosts! I HAVE OPENINGS FOR NEXT WEEKS BLOG HOP! Email me if you want in. :)

Ok, the rules are simple:

1. Follow your host (either GFC or Bloglovin'- or any way you fancy!). 

2. Follow your co-hosts (same as above!)

3. Visit some new friends. Visit 3 new blogs, follow them, and say hi! 

4. Promote the hop by linking back or placing the button on your page.

**Leave me a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow back faster and easier!

Meet this weeks co-hosts!

Angela from My Silly Life

Kristen from Happiness Is A Mood Not A Destination

Sarah from A Girl Smitten

                                               

                                                            

Nautical

Dress: Ross

Sandals: Target (last year)

Watch: Target

Necklace: Gift

Sunnies:Target

This was another dress that I bought when I was pregnant with Harper and I still love it!  You may notice that when it warms up, my spring/summer uniform is an easy dress and some sort of sandal.  It doesn't really get much easier than a dress (unless you are breastfeeding, which I currently am, and feedings can be a bit awkward if you have to basically pull your entire dress up to access the goods!).

Also, I am still finding silk worms on my body after taking these pictures!  They are EVERYWHERE!

In other random news:

I saw a man walking a pig this morning. Yep, you read that right, walking a pig. on a leash. a pig. Like full on Babe, not a little one!

Also, Ainsley has a loose tooth.  If you are basically anyone but me, this would be an exciting time! Her first loose tooth! For me, not so much!  I can take blood and guts and pretty much anything else, but put a child in front of me and wiggle their barely hanging on loose tooth and I will likely barf everywhere!

Linking up with Lindsey, Shanna, Lauren, Rachel, and Andrea

Photo Link Party!

Its time for round 2!!

 

  

LINK PARTY!

 with

   
             blog/instagram                                        blog/instagram                                           blog/instagram

Oh you have no idea what I'm talking about?  
Just click here for the full details on how to join us! 
   Don't worry if you're "behind," Just jump right in!



If you are already in the know, this is your chance to link up!
 Both blogs and Instagram profiles are welcome and 

before you link up, please make sure to follow all 3 of the hosts. 

                                       

 Now on to Week 2!

#Egg

 

#Plate of delicious pork chops!

Sneak peek of new items to come on Etsy! #Blackandwhite

My #new hat!

That face! #priceless

 All #clean

 Very #dirty!

Happy National Siblings Day!

Steven: You were my best friend when we were little, whether you wanted it or not, you were! We had so much fun together in our "camp outs" in the tree house watching Ernest Scared Stupid (oh yeah, I remember)!  Thank you for all of the memories you gave me and the fun we had!

Deanna: I'm not even sure where to start! You bring so much light into my life (and everyone you meet)! You have always been the kindest, sweetest person and I see so much of you in Ainsley.  I can only pray that she will have your spirit as she grows older.  I love how much closer we have grown in the past few years and look forward to the future!

I love you guys to pieces! I wouldn't be me without you!

WIWW

Dress: Ross

 Wedges: Target

 Watch: Target

Spike Bracelet: Apple of My Eye

Necklaces: Gifts

Black/Brown Ring: Target

Sunnies: Target (I like Target!) 

I love this dress, it is so comfortable!  I bought it when I was pregnant (it's not maternity) and wore it all the time.  I will say, if you are expecting, don't go straight for the maternity section.  There are a lot of clothes (like this dress) that can work for a growing belly.  You may need to get a size larger but that will give you something to wear those few months after you give birth and are getting your body back.  There are a few things that you will need to purchase from the maternity section, but for the most part you can buy regular clothes.  It's also much kinder to your wallet!  

Luckily, this style of dress was perfect while I was pregnant and it works great now.  It can be dressed up or down and did I mention how comfortable it is?!

Linking up with Lindsey, Shanna, Lauren, Andrea and Elena

Preparing For a Little One

So the adorable Kaitlyn recently found out she and her husband are expecting their first child.  She decided to host a weekly series to help her get ready for life with a little one!  I am no expert, but thought she may benefit from some of the things I have learned as a mom of two. Some of these things other people have told me and others I have learned on my own.

The first week of her series is all about registering.  What to you absolutely MUST have, what would be nice, and what to not bother with.

I will start with my must haves.  These are things that I absolutely wouldn't have been able to live without with both of my girls.

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

1- I know a lot of people talk about swaddling your baby and how helpful it can be.  Well I am not here to disagree one bit!!  I have had the pleasure of having both an extremely colicky (fussy) baby and a very happy baby, both of which LOVED the swaddle.  I did learn my way around the MANY different swaddling blankets though!  With Ainsley (my first) it was about a month in when I found the Miracle Blanket.  This thing was sent from heaven! Other swaddles were never "tight" enough and would always come loose, not the Miracle Blanket, that baby was wonderful!  I recommend getting AT LEAST two for when you need to wash one!

2- You are going to need a diaper disposal of some sort.  Many people use the Diaper Genie, which I have heard is great.  I on the other hand prefer the Diaper Champ.  If you are a family on a budget I highly recommend this, as you don't need to purchase "special" refills like you do for the Genie.  You simply place a kitchen trash bag into the base and, if you prefer, some sort of odor absorb-er such as baking soda, I skip this step as the Champ does a really good job holding in all odors!

3- If you are planning on breast feeding, lanolin cream is an absolute MUST those first few weeks.  I will be honest, those first weeks can be excruciating, especially if baby doesn't latch properly! The lanolin cream gives relief to those sore nipples! I am not really recommending any specific brand but I used Lansinoh and really liked it!

4-Whether you decide to breast feed or not you are going to need nursing pads!  During those first few weeks your body is producing milk on overload and trying to figure out how much baby is eating (or not eating) and you are bound to leak ALL. OVER. EVERYTHING.!  This is where nursing pads come in to play.  There are different absorbency levels to choose from, I recommend getting super to start and go from there.

5-The last must have is the snap and go swing.  I used the Graco Snugride car seat,which is awesome in itself, it clicks right in to this swing.  This thing was a life saver when we would come home and baby was asleep in her car seat.  You would just take the seat out of the car and click it into the swing and baby would continue to nap!  I also really liked this swing because it it small and doesn't need it's own corner of the room!

April Photo a Day Link Party

It's Time!!

 

  

LINK PARTY!

 with

   

How did you do for week one!?  


Oh you have no idea what I'm talking about?  
Just click here for the full details on how to join us! 

If you are already in the know, this is your chance to link up!
 Both blogs and Instagram profiles are welcome and 

before you link up, please make sure to follow all 3 of the hosts.

Week 1:

I'm excited to see what you come up with!
Don't worry if you're "behind" go ahead and show us anyway