Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Family Beach Maternity Session

This family beach shoot feels so perfect for this summer season! Photographer Chrissy Trujillo of Vitalic Photo captured these photos of her business partner and best friend, Nicki Pasqualone, along with Nicki’s husband and adorable 3-year-old daughter Amelia. Nicki did such a lovely job styling the shoot as well, and if you love it too, be sure to check out more of her style at her blog, Cute & Co.. We love the beautiful mother-daughter white dresses and matching floral headbands!

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Family Beach Maternity Session

Credits: 
Photography: Vitalic Photo
Styling: Cute & Co.
Earrings/Bangles: Stella & Do


Source : Onto Baby

Thursday, April 24, 2014

5 Things that Make it Easier to Work from Home with a Newborn

work at home mom

In February of 2013 I quit my 9-5 job and started working full-time with my best friend as a graphic designer and blogger. After 3 years of slowly building up our business we were finally ready to take the dive and be our own bosses. After finding out Jon and I were pregnant in May of 2013, I was especially thankful to already have a position working from home.
I took a month off for maternity leave when Soren was born and did my best to enjoy every moment with him as a newborn. It was a wonderful and challenging four weeks and I was thankful for every minute. I had a lot of nerves going back to work and after nearly a month back I've learned some great strategies for taking care of baby and getting work done!
1. PLAN IT OUT - Every Monday morning I sit down and write out my schedule for the week. I write out Jon's plans, my plans and all of the things I NEED to get done that week. It's helpful to see everything for the week planned out and cross off my to-do's as I go along. I do my best to be realistic about my to-do's and usually always include a small "bonus" list of things I'd like to get done during the week or on the weekend if possible.
2. BREAK IT DOWN - I have several things I need to get done during the week for my job. Some of these things can be easily accomplished in a day and others are larger sized projects that need more time. When scheduling out my week I try to break down the big projects into steps so I don't feel like I have to get everything done in one day. This definitely makes larger projects more possible to accomplish.
3. BE INTENTIONAL - There are times when grandparents help with Soren, when he's down for a nap or content playing on his play-mat for a few minutes. During those times I do my best to take advantage of the time and working on something from my to-do list. Knowing I don't have a lot of time on my hands at once really motivates me to make the most of the time I do have to work. It inspires me to not waste time surfing the web and focus on my task. I've found myself to be extremely productive from working like this!
4. BUILD A ROUTINE - Developing a routine throughout the week has been really helpful for accomplishing tasks. This especially helps with doing chores. We have mini morning routines and nighttime routines and a fairly consistent schedule throughout the week. This really helps establish momentum through my week.
5. TAKE A BREAK - Although my Monday-Friday is filled with caring for Soren, work and chores, I do my best to not schedule anything during the weekend for work. I love the feeling of not being required to-do anything during those days and just relax, be with my family or do something fun that we've scheduled. Breaks are just what I need to be refreshed to start the new week.
- By Savannah Wallace
Read more of Savannah’s writing at Maiedae. In addition to her blog, you can also find her on InstagramFacebook andYouTube.


Source: Disney Baby

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Modern Sea Nursery Inspiration Board

Being that mint is the color of the moment, and this moment is quickly leading us to summer, we thought we’d combine the two with this modern sea theme for a baby of either gender. We stuck to light modern colors for inspiration – some of our faves for baby always. Here’s what we came up with:


Ocean Nursery

1. Rickshaw Design block print quilt / 2. Fish rattle / 3. Aden + Anais crib sheet / 4. Color block pillow / 5.Eames rocker (you can totally find knock-offs of these if you like the look, but can’t swing the cost of an original) / 6. Bla Bla sea grass pillows / 7. Caravan natural crib / 8. Max Wanger Tulum print / 9. Confetti mobile / 10. Paige Lauren sorbet onesie / 11. Sea grass baskets / 12. Jute rug / 13. Ceramic whale bookends / 14. Hop & Peck tractor / 15. White leather pouf

Source: 100 Layer Cake-let

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Birds and Bees Baby Shower



Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

Birds and Bees Baby Shower

BIRDS AND BEES BABY SHOWER PARTY DETAILS:

Anne-Marie said this about the party- “For quite some time I have wanted to do a bee themed event. so when I was asked by a client to event decorate for her best friends baby shower who is also a client, I figured out a way to incorporate the bees: Life begins with the Birds and the Bees!
Life begins with the Birds and the Bees; therefore how apropos to have a birds and the bees baby shower for a first time mommy! It’s a theme I haven’t seen created using both the birds and bees in this way. I loved the challenge of brainstorming how to be innovative in an artistic, soft, yet masculine to welcome a precious baby boy. The inspiration for this event came from the infamous lyrics, “Lets talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees, and the moon and the stars… ” I remember hearing it in my fathers car on his 60′s radio station as a little girl…quite nostalgic! From there I started my research and to my delight came across this stitching. This photo was the initial inspiration for the invitation and backdrop. We tweaked it to its final design by incorporating all the elements from the classic song. Rachael from printed Ink was incredible in collaborating with me to create this one of a kind design!
In effort to create harmony between both elements on the table scape, I decided to focus the left half of the table on the birds and the right on the bees. The decor, desserts, onesie banner, and the backdrop were designed to mirror this concept as well.
It was a tedious task finding bee skeps;however, on an errand to buy dog food at the local pet store, I inadvertently found these in the cat aisle. Who’d a thought?! And they were a fraction of the online prices. Score!! I cut out a circle using felt attached the bees from Michaels and there we have a bee hive.
The cake pops were created by KM Cake Pops. She truly is talented in her artistry! What an amazing job matching the decor and I displayed them in a way that complimented the flow of the table. They sat on ceramic bird stands that once again tied the elements in. Notice the stars and moon on the bird cage cake pop.
Sugarmama’s Chocolates made the Honeycomb pattern Oreo’s which sat on the grass with a bee sugar lay. I couldn’t have been happier with the color and technique.
Dania’s Cake baked the adorable coordinating cookies and cake as I had requested. She mirrored the image of the invite for the cake. The favor tags for the birds read “About to Hatch” and the bee tags read, “Mommy to Bee.” Once again, you’ll see the moon and stars in the design on tags.
Unless I’m pressed for time, I like DIY projects. I created the 2 diaper cakes one bee themed and one bird themed to coordinate with decor. I also created the the onesie banner which focused on the birds on the left side of the banner and bees on the right side. I also tied in the moon and the stars on a couple of the onesies. The baby boy flag banner on the ABC album activity was in a honeycomb shape and honeycomb card stock backdrop. I made these 3-D to give it some texture. On a whim, I made the pacifiers that sat on the napkins by utilizing lifesavers, icing, jelly beans, and ribbon from a tutorial I found online. I thought it was a nice accent to incorporate the baby theme. For the BOY letters, I used honeycomb card stock and then used my Cricut for the cutouts. I placed them in a fence with moss and flowers for the outdoor feel.
There were two activities and 1 game that I created for the baby shower. The first activity was to make a wish for ba-Bee. I cut out birds and attached ribbon to hang from the stand. I love heartfelt messages and thought this was a nice sentiment for baby to read one day. Activity number two was creating an ABC album for baby that served as a guest book. The guests were to pick a letter and draw something that matches the letter of the alphabet. This activity was the highlight of the party. The guests took this very seriously and traced out images before coloring them in. It was great to hear that they immersed themselves in the activity. I stumbled upon The Honey Bee Scratch Off Cards and thought that it couldn’t fit better into this theme. The winning card revealed a sleeping baby bee.
Honeyrun farm is notorious for their delicious raw honey; therefore, it was fitting to have pure raw honey sticks as gifts for the winners of the games. One bag read About to Hatch and the other Mommy to Bee.”
Credits:
Cake Pops- KM cake pops
Party Printables- PrintedInk 
Cake and cookies- Dania’s cakes
Photography- Alyson Sivek Photography
Oreo’s- Sugar Mama’s Chocolates
Honey Sticks for favors- Honeyrun Farm
Honey Bee Scratch Off Cards- Inklings Paperie

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Most Fashionable Babies on Instagram


We're obsessing over these baby fashionistas! We came across the Fashion KidsInstagram account today, and we can't get over how adorable and trendy these guys are. It goes without saying that these little hipsters love being in front of the camera (in fact, a few of the toddlers are already Instagram stars for their sass and style).
This is proof that fashion is for all ages, and these little nuggets have really nailed down all the fall trends. From beanies to booties, everything is perfectly miniature... and perfectly stylish!
Scroll down because they keep getting cuter!





Thursday, April 10, 2014

10 Parenting Truths I've Learned


One thing you learn quickly about parenting is that no one knows exactly what they are doing.
Every child is so different and there are so many variables to any situation, that it’s impossible to say that one thing is true for every parent and every child.
In the last nearly four years of parenting, though, I’ve learned some things that seem to be at least somewhat universal. Have these been true for you too?
#1: You will definitely think your baby is the cutest thing you ever saw
Even if you can objectively tell that there are some children that are cuter than yours, you’ll STILL think yours is the cutest thing ever.
#2 Just when you get the hang of a certain schedule, it'll change
The only constant is change in that first year!
#3: That new baby smell?
It’s real!
#4: You'll do anything to make them laugh
Whether it’s singing ridiculous songs, dancing around like a fool, or babbling, if it makes them smile, I do it!
#5: The best toy is a box
I don’t know why it is, but it’s true.
#6: You'll do something you swore you'd never do as a parent
Whether it’s giving your baby a pacifier, leaving the house in sweats, or letting your toddler play with your phone, sometimes you realize that what you thought about parenting doesn’t match up with the realities of being the mom or dad.
#7: You'll have more strollers than you have children
I have two children and I own four strollers. There’s no such thing as one stroller that meets EVERY need.
#8: 8 a.m. is sleeping in.
For that matter, 7 a.m. was sleeping in the first year!
#9: Even after a long day of parenting, you'll miss that baby when they go to bed
I can’t tell you how many nights, I put my baby down and then went straight to my computer to browse through pictures of her. And I’ve heard that other parents do it too!
#10: The important thing is that your baby is fed and gets some sleep
It’s way less important if that’s nursing or formula or homemade organic baby food or store-brand jars of peas. Whether your baby sleeps with you, in a crib, in a bassinet, or on a floor bed, you get to pick the right fit for your little family.
by Janssen Bradshaw
You can read more of Janssen’s writing at Everyday Reading and on Twitter and Instagram. She's also on Google+

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us



When I heard that Kim, Khloé, and Kourtney Kardashian were releasing a line of clothing for kids, I cringed (just a little). But the truth is that I'm pretty much in love with these adorable little numbers. The gold stars, polka dots, and butterfly prints that make up Kardashian Kids are perfectly suited for little girls up to 24 months — and because the collection will retail between $15 and $30, they're pretty well suited for Mama's budget, too. Kourtney Kardashian, mom to Penelope and Mason, explains her vision behind the baby threads: "Since becoming a mom, I've been so inspired to create Kardashian Kids with perfect prints, heavenly fabrics for a baby's skin, and to bring fashion to the baby world that is affordable." Mission completed. Well done, ladies!
The sweetly sophisticated pieces are bound to win you over too, but you won't be able to outfit your baby fashionistas just yet; the line can be found into Babies "R" Us stores since March 15. Luckily, you can get your shopping list started right now with this little sneak peek! Just scroll down to check it out.

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us

Photos Of The Kardashian Kids Clothing Line From Babies R Us





Thursday, April 3, 2014

10 Must Have Products to Travel With a Baby




As some of you already know, I'm a military wife and we are stationed in Turkey right now, so we've decided to enjoy the time here and do some traveling. I've been traveling with my baby since he was 2 months old and that is why I've decided to list here the 10 on the go products that are a life saver and we could've never done all this traveling without out it.

on the go baby products


1- Fisher-Price Packpack - Don't let the size of this backpack fool you, you have no idea how much stuff you can put there once you start packing, it's really resistant too. What I like about this backpack is how easy it is to find things in it, and all the pockets that it has.

2- Umbrella Stroller -  This one is Britax B-Nimble, I love this stroller! It's really easy to open and close and when is closed is very compact. Let me tell you this, if you are traveling around Europe with an infant you can only do so with a umbrella stroller, since there's a lot of walk to do and most of places here are very small, like restaurants and sidewalks, what I also love about this stroller is that it doubles as a changing table, not all places here in Europe has changing table in the restrooms ( I could only find it in airports or big malls), so since this strollers reclines almost completely flat I use it as a changing table on the go.

3- PeaPod Travel Bed- Like I said before, places here can be very small, so in some hotels that we've been a crib or a pack and play would never fit, besides they are also to big for us to be carrying them around, so this bed is perfect, it fits in baby's suit case opens and closes in seconds and I don't worry about him falling out of the bed since it closes completely.

4- Mixie Formula Mixing Baby Bottle - Perfect when you are out there and not always have time to mix the formula on the spot. Just pre mix it in this bottle and when is time to feed just push the button and feed the hungry baby.

5- On-The-Go Bottle Rack- I've been in countless hotel room, and when you have a bottle fed baby you will face the problem when you wash his bottles you don't have a hygiene place to dry it. This on-the-go bottle rack is awesome, it comes with a brush and I don't need to worry about a place to dry his stuff!

6- Fisher-Price iPhone Case and App - Love, love, love the case and the app, they are life savers when traveling with a baby or a tot. The case is very resistant and water proof, I just put my phone in it and let him play with it. It is also small enough to put in his diaper bag.

7- On-The-Go Feeding Spoon -  Love this spoon, comes with a case so I just put in his diaper bag and forget about it.

8- Baby Carrier - I chose the Baby K'tan as my go to carrier because it folds really small and fits in his diaper bag, and a baby carrier is a must have when you are traveling with a baby, specially when you are at the airport and need you two hands free to go through security and to carry all your stuff.

9- Inflatable Bath Tub - Here in Europe most hotels bathroom don't have tubs, and the sinks are usually very small too,  and if you have a baby that can't sit up by himself yet or you are not comfortable in letting them sit on the shower floor this tub is a great solution. When is deflated it folds really small and fits flat at the bottom of baby's suitcase, I can't tell you how many times we've used this tub.

10- Infant Travel High Chair - Not only good when you are in a restaurant that doesn't have a high chair, but when you are also in your hotel room and need a place to feed the baby, or sometimes just to keep them in a safe place while you are doing something. Also it folds down to a size of a diaper. 



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Encouraging Working Moms


 Working Moms, Stay at home moms

This post is not about whether mothers should work or should stay home.
This post is not about whether it’s better to home school or go the public, or Montessori or other route.
This post is not about whether it’s harder to work at home or out of the home.
This post is simply a whispered, “I know,” to the Sunday night, getting ready for work tomorrow, mamas.
The ones who are right now wiping down the counters, packing up the lunch boxes, sorting the socks, going through the mental gymnastics of gearing up for another week of good-byes. The ones preparing themselves for the waves of weekend homesickness that will hit when 5am comes early and preschool or daycare drop offs come inevitably.
This post is for the brave moms who know the ache of early good-byes.
For the ones who will commute hours before the rest of us get up because that’s what it takes to keep home a place of food and warmth and security. For the courage it takes to trust your children to someone else’s care. For the ones who beat themselves up harder, longer, more ruthlessly than the rest of us could possibly imagine.
This post is for the women who are short on grace for themselves.
I hear you. I know you. I lived in your shoes for long years and it is hard. And there are voices that can make us feel small. Make us feel achey breaky in our bones. Voices that lie about the quality of our mothering and try to steal the joy of time spent with our children by making us worry about the time spent apart.
My Sunday night sisters, I have listened to the crackly static of a nagging voice that whispers, deserter, and hear me when I tell you that that voice is a liar.
I know that going to work when you want to be home can feel like being trapped. It can make you want to beat your head on the wall. It makes you shrink next to those who point out what you should be, especially when it’s what you want to be. It can be an endless cycle of self beratement.
But for those of us in that place and season, we lift up our eyes to the hills and help comes. The Holy Spirit ministers tenderly, bandaging wounded hearts and restoring what the deceiver has tried to destroy. We need grace from others because goodness knows we rarely get it from ourselves.
And when the crackly static of the nagging dies down there is another voice and He whispers, provider.
He sings over you.
He is waiting for you in the morning as you struggle to wake up. When the glare of the bathroom lights blind and tired eyes fight the lenses they need to face the day, He is there.
He sings,
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family.

Proverbs 31:15
You are no less and no more than the mothers who get to stay home. God did not give them a pass and you a punishment. You do not need to apologize for the fact that you work. You do not need to be embarrassed.
We practice dying to our own desires every day with each good-bye, each desperate hug, each meal prepared and left to be eaten in our absence. We walk the hard path of trust. Trusting that the God who built our kids will parent them in our absence, will grow them in courage, and teach them over time that this is what love looks like.
Gritty, committed, and determined to do what is necessary.
And drenched in grace, friends. Drenched in grace.





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