Fabulous Princy n Paris Giveaway!

Oh how I love all of these fabulous hair pretties by Princy n Paris, I just love her classy style. I haven't ordered from her yet but I do already have a nice wish list ready to go if I was lucky enough to win her giveaway.

Check out her beautiful store on Etsy and I am sure you will love her like I do.

Moms Make the Best Milk

Nursing Harlow on the beach in CA at 9 months old

I figured it was time to Blog about who I am, I am passionate about a lot of things and kids clothing is just a very small part of me.

So today while I was nursing Harlow I knew I wanted a post about breastfeeding. I am so very very passionate about breastfeeding but it's one of those topics you have to bite your lip a bit before talking about because it stirs up so much emotion in women.

With that being said, I have always and will continue to say (even if it's just in my head) that the breast is the best. I know people have reasons for not breastfeeding or they couldn't for numerous reasons and I understand that, I don't place judgement on them but this post is my chance to talk about how great breastfeeding is and how fortunate I have been with breastfeeding my kids.

I have breastfed all 3 of my children without using any formula and I have enjoyed every minute of it for so many beneficial reasons.

With my first daughter Paige I worked full-time, I carried my pump bag around with me at work and pumped as often as she ate with her caregiver so I could provide my milk for every feeding the following day. Sure it wasn't much fun sitting in a small room pumping at work and then having to wash the parts but it was well worth it and I cherished nursing her when I wasn't at work.

I have been fortunate to be a Stay At Home Mom with my last two children. I have been able to nurse on demand, I have kept my babies with me so I could avoid pumping and bottles. I enjoy it, I don't want to miss a minute of it because it all goes by so fast. I have cherished every moment I have had a baby at my breast because I know what I am doing is best for nutrition, overall health and well being and creates a stronger bond between my baby and I.

Harlow has definitely been my most difficult baby to nurse, she has always been super impatient waiting for the milk to letdown and bites me on occasion but I still keep at it and enjoy it. It hasn't always been easy to nurse, I have faced many obstacles over my nursing years but it's worth it to keep at it and I still love it.

Here's some of my must haves for breastfeeding:

I don't feel the need to cover, I don't really show anything but a baby in front of me but I would recommend a cover if you need some privacy and/or these are great if your baby is easily distracted.

Udder Covers has some really pretty nursing covers

Lansinoh Nursing Pads

Lansinoh Breast Cream for those first rough few days...I promise they will heal and it's well worth it to keep at it

The Boppy Pillow this is my favorite nursing pillow (I tried the My Brest Friend with my 3rd baby Harlow and it wasn't comfortable after the first few months so I went back to what I loved with my first two babies being the Boppy Pillow)

This Adiri bottle is great for a breastfed baby, Harlow had 1 bottle one time while I was at the Black Eyed Peas concert (well worth that bottle) and she did great using this bottle.

So grab a bottle of water, sit down, put up your feet and enjoy the time with your baby at your breast. Be sure and get some beautiful pictures of you nursing and pat yourself on the back for giving your baby the best milk on Earth!

I have entertained the thought of becoming a lactation consultant because of my passion and personal experience. I just need more knowledge and a license to round-me-out.

Nursing Aiden at a year old

Oh my more Ruffles at Evy's Tree

You all know I love ruffles, so it's obvious that I would swoon over the new ruffle Lacey Zip Up by Evy's Tree. She is having another giveaway so now is the time to check out her fabulous goodies and enter for a chance to win this new Lacey Zip Up, I would gladly take it off your hands if you win.

Cute x2 in Lil Blue Boo

The only thing better than 1 of these Lil Blue Boo dresses is a little doll dress to match, Paige was so excited to match her Bamboletta doll Chloe.

I have recently become addicted to all things Lil Blue Boo, I love the upcycled one-of-a-kind dresses she makes as well as the limited silk screen prints that she sells. Paige loves how "cool" and comfortable they are. As with many of the things I love, they sell out almost immediately and the race to get one is part of the fun.

I recently scored a fabulous horse print dress for each of the girls with doll dresses to match, I get 'giddy' just thinking about the cute pictures of the girls' together wearing them.

Fabulous Ruffle Hoodies by Evy's Tree and a Giveaway

Ok I admit it, I have a serious addiction to ruffles so when I laid eyes on a hoodie by Evy's Tree it was love at first sight. Living in TX hoodies are so practical since our weather changes from day to day and the kids prefer them over bulky jackets. Harlow and I brought our Evy's Tree hoodies with us on our CA trip and they came in so handy and of course scored us a ton of compliments. I also have to mention how sweet Amy the owner/designer is and how beautifully she packages her items, the best way to find this out is to go and order one for yourself (tell her I sent you).

Evy's Tree is having a great giveaway so go check out her fabulous Etsy store and enter to win one of her beautiful ruffle tees, another item I hope to own VERY soon.

Paige's Early Birthday at School

Friday was an extra special day at school for Paige because she got to celebrate her birthday. Paige will be turning 6 on June 15th but got to celebrate her birthday early since school will be out on summer break.

Her day started off getting to wear the special birthday hat, getting a special pencil, then she sang and dance on stage with other kids celebrating their birthday's and we dropped off donuts and orange juice to her class to enjoy later in the day.

I of course already hand on-hand the perfect '6' dress for her to wear, I bought it almost a year ago... because yes, I am really that crazy. This fabulously fun upcycled '6' dress is by courtneycourtney, you have to get her stuff quick because everything she makes sells out instantly and is one of a kind....JUST LIKE MY BIRTHDAY GIRL!

My Mother's Day Gift...A Great Wolf Lodge Vacation

I have the most priceless gift in the world, my 3 beautiful children

I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day gift then spending 2 nights at the Great Wolf Lodge with my family. This hotel has so many fun things to do you can barely get it all in with a 2-night stay.

We spent the majority of our time playing in the huge indoor water park, the kids enjoyed playing the Magi-Quest adventure game, they also enjoyed playing in the arcade, story-time each night was awesome and we got each of the kids a PAW Pass which included some other fun things to-do inside the hotel.

The best part about the room was the 'Kid Kamp' the kids each had a turn sleeping on the top bunk bed and they had their own tv to watch from their beds.

I told Jon we should make this a yearly tradition on Mother's Day weekend because we all had such a good time and it's a great excuse to go back every year.

Posing for a picture next to one of the wall murals in their 'Kid Kamp' room

Harlow's first time in a swimsuit, how CUTE is she?!

Harlow's first time in the water, she LOVED every minute of it

Storytime

Aiden paying the Magi-Quest game

First time sleeping in a Pack-n-Play

The kids still have these cool tattoos a week later

Oh Dear Lillie...I love it all!

This was just a week of sharing some of my favorites with you all (hey part of this blog is all about shopping right?), I have one more I must mention as everything this store carries is beautiful. I have yet to own any of it but I certainly have a growing 'wish list' for both my girls and I.

The store name is Dear Lillie and they also have a store on Etsy you can shop. I love the tutu's, the flowers and the Adeliene dress for myself. So go and give it a peek as I am sure you will fall in love with it all as I have.

Happiness in Little Pretty Shoes and Pretty Flowers - Joyfolie

I tell ya it's the little things that make me happy, I am sure you have read over and over again on my Blog about how much I love these special little shoes and flowers on Harlow. I received our first pair of Mia Joie shoes from my good friend Laura B. shortly after I had Harlow and I knew the moment I laid eyes on them it was love. I actually think Harlow looks a bit-off without a flower in her hair since she wears them almost everyday, of course if she has shoes on they are by Mia Joie and recently I ordered myself a fabulous flower headband.

Well what was once Mia Joie is now named Joyfolie, whatever the name I am in love with everything Jessica creates and am definetly one of her biggest fans. So go become a fan on her new Joyfolie Facebook page and Follow the Joyfolie Blog.

She has a contest going on now to win a pair of shoes, you know you can always give them to me if you win ;)

I dream about owning these for Harlow

Harlow modeling her most recent pair of sweet peep toe shoes

Love these flowers!

VOTE for Harlow

Ok you all know that I love a contest and I could use some help so Harlow can win this one.

It just takes a second to become a fan of (click link below):

La-Moo on Facebook and then 'like' on Harlow's picture

Another way to help Harlow win is by posting or 'sharing' the link below on your Facebook page so your friends can also cast their 'like' vote.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3979441&id=709262187&subject=402597741368&ref=mf

Oh and I have lot's more to share with you all so stay tuned for some fun, picture filled Blog posts in a day or two.

Thanks for your help!!!

I am "Crunchy"

So I never knew they had a 'term' for the way I am, the things I do but I learned last week that they do and it's called being a "crunchy mom".

I took the kids to a playdate last week to meet some new mommies from my area and in addition to meeting them I ran into another group of mom's that I also had a lot in common with, they referred to themselves as being "crunchy".

At first, I dismissed the idea that I too was considered "crunchy" as I figured it had more to do with recycling, composting and overall being green which wouldn't describe me (although I hope to improve in some of those areas) at least not right now, but I learned that it was more directed at being 'natural' and a lot of it surrounding the way we view and raise our children.

Well as my new "crunchy" friend started giving me the rundown I answered yes to almost all of her questions except a few. What do I do that makes me "crunchy" well I do natural births and a homebirth in water with baby #3, I cloth diaper (I love you FuzziBunz!), I love baby wearing (Ergo your the BEST!), I don't use medicine and I don't give it to my children, I breastfeed without using bottles (Harlow is 8 months old and has only had 1 bottle 1 time, it was worth it though to go to the Black Eyed Peas concert) and overall I believe in being as 'natural' as I can.

I just thought it was neat to have a definition for how I view things, makes it easier to classify and easier to find those that are similar to myself. I really enjoyed meeting this great group of mom's that I could relate to and admire, I always felt the minority so it was refreshing to meet a group who viewed so much of parenting as I do. I joined their 'Bohemian Parent's' group as soon as I got home and I look forward to getting to know them better and learning more about myself in the process.

We know I am "crunchy" are you? Take this quiz and find out.