April Showers Giveaway

This week we have been experiencing a lot of those infamous April showers here in the deep south. Throw in a tornado or two and it makes for exciting times. But we aren't going to let all that rain dampen our parade. We've teamed up with some of our favorite friends to make all those April showers a little more fun with an AMAZING giveaway!

First, check out our friends! These are some fabulous ladies whom we wished we lived closer to because we just know it would be a fun time!

 Rebecca from Mainely Mama

Christy from Stained with Style

Liz from Ellie & Addie

Kim from The Best Ideas for Kids

Carolina from Mama Instincts

Now to bring on the exciting part! We've partnered with some amazing brands to bring you some amazing items. These were some of our favorite things when we had a baby and some we even still use today with the toddler crew. And who doesn't love a good bag no matter who you are? 

One lucky winner will receive all of the following prizes: 

$300 to shop Lily Jade
Lilly Jade is one of the top makers for designer diaper bags. These bags are not only gorgeous, but are functional and versatile for every kind of mom.

$100 to Milk & Baby
Milk & Baby make the coziest items. From the delivery room to nightly nursings to playdate attire, mom is covered with luxury in these comfy products. And trust us, finding functional and cute nursing is hard to find!

$75 to shop Zutano
Zutano is such a fun brand for little ones and has been a long time favorite of ours. They have the most adorable little booties, unique toys for little ones, and offer cozy clothes. They even monogram! (That's right, we said monogram!!)

$50 to shop Spray Pal
We didn't cloth diaper, but if you do (or are planning on it), you will want to know Spray Pal! They've thought of everything for you and make the world of cloth diapering and cleaning a cinch!

$300 to shop with Pear Tree Greetings
Stationery is one of our absolute favorite things. Pear Tree Greetings offer the most adorable designs for paper goods, designer decor, and gifts.

Divided Plate and Spoons from Oogaa
Oogaa is one of the leading makers in modern baby feeding products. Their silicone feeding utensils help keep baby safe and make mealtime way more fun!

One Happy Baby Wrap
Being hands free as a new mom is extremely helpful during those first few months. Happy Baby Wraps are so light and easy to use that it will become your new favorite mom accessory. The fabric feels amazing, is machine washable (wahoo!), and can hold up to 25lbs.

Ultra Bottles and Night Time Pacifiers from Tommee Tipee
We both nursed our babies, but we know the magic of a good bottle. Tommee Tipee bottles were favorites amongst our group of mommy friends and that's because they knew how to keep both mommy and baby satisfied. The glow in the dark Night Time Pacifiers weren't around when ours were little, but oh my goodness they would have made nights so much easier!

Choice of Shoes from Livie & Luca
Livie & Luca shoes are our favorite shoes for little ones! Their innovative technology assures you that babies feet will be properly developing during all stages of walking, and they are super adorable while doing it. Seriously, we wish we could have a pair or two in adult sizes!

Zen Swaddle from Nested Bean 
Right from the get go we learned that swaddling was the key to getting baby to sleep. The Nested Bean Zen Swaddle helps keep baby cozy and snug by mimicking the feel of human touch, and not to mention (ok, we will!) that its super easy to use.

Oscar the Owl Humidifier from Crane USA
You can find a humidifier running in our kids rooms every night, and Oscar the Owl from Crane USA is adorable. The humidifiers are quiet, easy to clean, and made with materials that help reduce bacteria and mold growth.

Boppy Pregnancy and Classic Pillow
Talk about life changing! The Boppy pillows are one of our favorite baby products, and even nursing today Jen still uses her Classic Pillow. If you have to put one item on your registry lists we suggest these! With support in all stages - pregnancy, postpartum, and nursing - Boppy Pillows will be your new best friend.

Bouncer Bliss from BabyBjorn
One of our favorite pieces of baby gear was our bouncer. The BabyBjorn Bouncer Bliss  is their newest bouncer and it looks amazing. With it's sleek design, comfortable support, and classic colors it makes for a bouncer that your home will enjoy too!

Organic Blanket from The Company Store
Everyone wants their new baby to be snuggled with the softest fabrics. The Organic Blanket from The Company Store might be the snuggliest one of all. Made with 100% organic cotton and an array of wonderful colors this will be the blanket both you and baby want to cuddle in day and night!

3-in-1 Growing Step Stool from Little Partners
From brushing teeth to helping in the kitchen, the 3-in1 Growing Step Stool from Little Partners is one of our favorite kids products of all time. One can currently be found in our kitchens today and we love the versatility and independence that this stool offers our little ones.

To enter this amazing giveaway use the Rafflecopter form below.  Note that you must be at least 18 year old and a resident of the U.S. or Canada (excluding Quebec). The giveaway will run from Saturday, April 8th, 2017 to April 16th, 2017 at 12AM EST. The winner will be displayed be  notified via email on April 17th, and will have 48hrs to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back to School Essentials

Well, sadly the summer is over and our biggest kids started back to school on Monday.  I'm happy to report that my girls had a great first two days and I think they are all set for a great year!

As a kid I remember always going back to school shopping with my mom to get new clothes and outfits.  However, we started a lot later back then and now since the kids go back so early it's still SO hot.  They'll be wearing their summer clothes at least through September so no need for new clothes. However, I do like to get them a few new things so they are excited about the new year so today I thought I'd share all about our back to school essentials.

Some kids get new backpacks every year, but I invested in a nice Pottery Barn Kids backpack when they started elementary school and made sure to pick a pattern that would last.  These backpacks hold up SO well and have continued to be great for us.  I usually wash them at Christmas break and again right when Summer break begins and they hold up through the washings wonderfully, too.  (I wash on cold and then just hang to dry.)

I get the large size and while it is a little big for a Kindergartener, it's best to be able to easily fit their folder, lunch box, etc. instead of having to cram it in a smaller bag.  Then it is the perfect size as they enter 1st grade and start having a binder and the size still works well for my 4th grader!

I also go with the Pottery Barn Kids lunch boxes.  In the past I have gotten them a new one each year just because they get so dirty throughout the year, but this year I tried washing them like I do the backpacks and I was amazed by how well they washed and how clean they were.

New shoes is always something on our back to school essential list.  My girls would love nothing more than to wear their sandals and flip-flops to school, but they are expected to wear sturdy shoes for the playground and on PE days (which is every other day) they have to be in tennis shoes.  This year I got them each a new pair of tennis shoes and the girls made their selection quickly, but Boo-Boo wanted them all so it was hard for him to narrow it down.  I ended up with two pairs for him since he wears his every single day!  Plus, one was last year's color so it was SUPER cheap.  They are both the Nike Flex and they come in lots of different color combinations and also come in both tie and velcro, depending on the size you need.

Note the outfit...it's one of his favorites, but I have let him know when school starts for him next week I'm going to have a little more control in the outfit department. :-)

Blondie picked these and I wish they came in my size because they are so bright and fun!  I also got the girls a pair of Converse.  I feel like they are cuter than plain tennis shoes with some of their outfits, but still will work out great for PE.

Lastly, I got them each of the girls a pair of Chacos.  While they are still sandals, they are sturdy enough for playground time.

They are encouraged to take a water cup to school each day and so new cups are fun for them!  These Thermos Funtainer 12 ounce cups are our favorite because they don't leak and the keep their drinks nice and cold all day.

We'll wait to do fall clothes when it cools off a bit, but I did get each of the girls a denim vest.  They each have a lot of thin or spaghetti strapped dresses and outfits which aren't allowed at school.  However, wearing them with these vests covers up that part so they can keep wearing these cute clothes to school!  A friend told me that is what she does for her daughter and I never would have thought of that on my own, but I love it and love that it adds a layered look to their outfits, too.

The last thing that is on my essential list for back to school is actually for myself.  I mentioned it a few weeks ago, but I just love my Erin Condren life planners and it is a must for me to have a new one to start the school year so I can stay organized and keep up with everything I have going on. From room mom responsibilities to my blogging schedule, to the kids practices and lessons, it helps me survive the crazy busy school year!

That's about it for our back to school essentials.  I hope everyone who started back to school this week is adjusting to the new schedule and I hope those of you that don't start for another week or so are soaking up the last days of summer!

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