​The kids spend a lot of time in this room and pretty much took over the space. It's usually littered with toys and they tend to bring their messes in here so it was functional enough and I didn't spent much time on decor or updates.

Now that Cole is two and Lilly is four,  they spend more time playing in their playroom and I finally feel comfortable styling this space a bit. Still keeping it functional and practical as it is a high traffic room ( hence the WASHABLE rug ), but adding some new decor and details to make it more appealing.

​One of my favorite things about this update is how easy it was! I only added a few new items and I shopped my home for the rest. I highly recommend doing this when you feel like you need to refresh a space in your home. If you look to items in other rooms that don't get much use and can be relocated, try using them in a new space, in a new way. It's a great way to keep costs down and re-purpose items you already have.

The only item I purchased for this update was the set of light grey pillows. Lorena Canals provided the rug and pouf for this post. (They are from their Early Hours Collection and I am in love with it! ).  The ottoman that now doubles as a coffee table, the side table, faux fur ottoman, leaning wall mirror, all the pillows and throws, the plant and the wall quote are all items I already had in the house.

​*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you, I may make a small commission.

This past weekend we celebrated Cole's 2nd Birthday (how is my baby 2 already!?). He LOVES big trucks and construction machines so we went with that as his party theme this year. I've linked some of the items that we used to turn our backyard into a construction party zone, above. It was super easy and lots of fun. 
A favorite was the little ride on digger we gave Cole as a birthday gift. I highly recommend it for any truck/machine obsessed toddler in your life. Cole loves riding it and using the digger (it really digs!) and at under $55 its a great buy!

1. Travel Lap Tray // 2. Canvas Tote // 3. XL Disposable Toilet Covers // 4. Biodegradable Placemats // 5. Potette Potty Seat & Liners // 6. Wine Tote & Cooler // 7. Toddler Safety Backpack // 8. High Chair Harness // 9. Disinfecting Wipes // 10. Kids Tablet Case //
​ 11. Kids Volume Limiting Headphones // 12. Hand Sanitizing Wipes // 13. Mini Crib Mattress Topper

 ​We are driving to Charleston, SC in a month- with a 4 year old and a 19 month old. It sounds crazy but we have made the 12 hour drive from New York with Lilly 3 times now,  including last year when we drove with both kids.  Our reasons for driving vs. flying include that my husband prefers not to fly if he can avoid it and we like the flexibility driving offers- leaving when we want and bringing everything we need from home.
Surprisingly, all of our trips have been successful and I believe with a lot of planning and the right gear, there is no reason to fear going on road trips with toddlers!  Below are some of our tried and true must haves as well as some new gear we are incorporating this year since the kids are slightly older (one potty trained and no more bottles!!)

1. A travel lap tray is a new addition to our gear this year. Lilly will use this to house her tablet and other activities. I like that a tray will keep activities and snacks in place and off the floor.

2. A large, structured tote is everything when traveling in the car! We keep food, extra clothes, and a cooler organized in this tote and it’s the perfect size to place on the car floor. This tote has a wired top which keeps it open and accessible. It’s also a versatile item; we use it in the car and then we also use it while on vacation to tote all the things for the beach and pool.

3. These extra large toilet seat covers cover nearly the entire toilet surface and are coated on the underside to avoid leak through from yucky rest stop toilets!

4.I always bring disposable placemats for the kids when we travel. I don’t like creating waste so I love that these are biodegradable!

5.  Now that Lilly is potty trained we are entering new road trip territory. This Potette potty seat is a life saver to keep in the car, not just for road trips but all the time. It can be used alone as a potty (with the liners) or on a large toilet as a training seat. Another plus- the liners are biodegradable!

6. Yes, a wine tote/cooler! No, I don’t carry wine on the road, but this tall cooler is a great space saver. Instead of a typical short wide cooler that gets buried under other items, a taller cooler remains easily accessible without taking up much horizontal floor or tote space. We use ours all.the.time. (And it’s great for toting wine too, of course).

7. Safety/ harness backpacks are a little controversial, but we are going to be utilizing this one for Cole this trip.  While he will stay in the stroller if need be, there are certain crowded places I would like to let him explore but remain safe (for example, the aquarium). My view is that it doesn’t hurt but it could help, so why not. It also helps when the kids can carry some of their own items and this cute Dino backpack is insulated as well.

8. This high chair harness turns any chair into a high chair. It’s easy to fold up and carry everywhere to keep the littles safely seated.

​9. Disinfecting Wipes!!! These use the power of peroxide and they kill Norovirus aka, the stomach bug (not all disinfecting wipes do!). Enough said.
I use these when we are at hotels and rental homes to wipe down all of the germy surfaces (phones, remotes, bathrooms etc.) and I also carry some in my purse to wipe down shopping carts.
 
10. This tablet case has served us well for 2+ years. A tablet is essential for road trip success and this case is easy for the kids to carry and the handle also folds to stand.
 
11. Lilly has been using these kid’s headphones for two years as well. They adjust to fit and they are volume limiting.
 
12. I love these hand sanitizing wipes and have been using them for years. We always take them when we travel because they eliminate the need to wipe down little hands after a spray sanitizer.
 
13. A mini crib/pack and play mattress topper is not really for the road trip but rather, when we arrive. Cole is a great sleeper but when we are away from home he doesn’t sleep well at all. I did a lot of research and read a lot of comments from parents with the same issue stating that mattress toppers for travel cribs had solved their sleep issues. Travel cribs don’t have the most comfortable mattress pads so I am hoping this memory foam topper works for us this trip! This particular topper is sized for a “mini crib” and states it will not work for the pack and play, but this one does fit my pack and play model so just be aware of measurements and if this one doesn’t fit, there is another version that should.
 
I’ll be showing these items on my Instagram Stories, so if you want an up close look at anything, be sure to head over to my Instagram feed.
 
I’ll also be following up with a post about how we entertain the kids and keep everyone happy on the 12 hour ride, so stay tuned! 
 
Happy travels!

Cole just recently turned 10 months old and I am finally getting around to sharing his nursery! It should not have taken me this long to reveal but I kept going back and forth regarding what to do on the wall behind his crib. My original vision was wood planking, but that seemed too permanent and I like to change things up too often. Then I wanted birch tree wall paper, but I felt that came off a little too sophisticated for a nursery, so I nixed that idea as well. Cole's uncle created the most adorable woodland prints for him and they were perfect to place above his crib. I love that the space is minimal and serene, which is how I like to keep the nursery. This room had the same feel when it was Lilly's nursery and I knew I wanted to keep it for Cole. The major pieces of furniture (Crib, Chair, changing table, and dresser) are all pieces we left from when it was Lilly's. We changed out the rug and décor to make it Cole's.
​Sources and links for the items in his nursery are located below the last photo in this post. Enjoy!

The changing table is actually a bathroom vanity! It is the perfect height for changing and when we no longer need a  changing table we can repurpose it in a bathroom renovation.

Crib: Similar Here & Here / Art Prints / Frames / Stuffed Deer / Chair: Ikea / Pillow / Ottoman / Area Rug / Faux Pelt: Target (Seasonal)  / Deer Head Décor: Target (Seasonal) / Changing Table Vanity: Building Supply Auction / Baskets: Ikea / Curtains: Ikea / Side Table: Home Goods / Wall Color: Benjamin Moore Moonshine

Happy Mother's Day week! I am celebrating with a Mommy and Me post featuring a spring look that has been on repeat around here, thanks to lots of rain. Lilly is especially excited about all the spring showers because she is OBSESSED with rain boots (she wears them all. the. time. rain or not) and jumping in puddles. It's the cutest and I couldn't be happier to be collaborating with Kamik footwear on this post. I am loving our Kamik rainboots! If you have been following me for some time you know I refuse to spend hundreds of dollars on rubber rain boots, even if they are an outerwear staple. I was thrilled to learn about Kamik, their products and their dedication to sustainability. They are reasonabaly priced, well constructed, stylish, 73% of their products are made in North America and get this- they are recyclable! When your boots can no longer be worn, you can send them to a Kamik recycling center.
I've linked all of the pieces including our boots, below. You can also visit the Kamik website to view all of their rain and winter boot collections for men, women and kids.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mommy Yummy Reusable Packs / Naturesutton Natural Rubber Paci / Organic Cotton Paci Clip / HiccaPop Sleep Bumpers / Baybee Boutique Teething Jewlery / Jellycat London Bunny / Cozy Rider Stroller Seat/Board / Babo Botanicals 3- in -1 Wipes

Happy Friday! I get a lot of questions regarding certain products I feature in my Intsagram photos so I am going to try to put together a monthly roundup of popular items with links.
This month I put together a list of the baby/kids gear we have been loving and getting the most use out of. Click on any of the photos below or the product description to shop the items.

Cozy Rider Stroller Seat/Board

This Stroller seat/board has been my most asked about item recently. I purchased this at random from Amazon because we hadn't yet decided on a double stroller and wanted to try other options. Lilly LOVES this! Se calls it her bike and will stay seated during the majority of most outings. It fits most strollers (we have a Britax be Agile), is easy to attach and the seat can be removed if you want to use it as a standing board only. (Lilly will alternate between sitting and standing even with the seat attached). Some reviews complain of it taking up too much space making it hard for the person pushing the stroller to walk. This can happen but I have found that it is easy enough to push the board to the side while walking and it will stay there, allowing me to walk comfortably. We now have a double stroller that we use on occasion but Lilly prefers this seat when she has the option. It is a great alternative to a double and it is under $120.

Organic Cotton Paci Clip

I was on the search for a paci holder and this guy won for a few reasons- I always go for organic options if I can. A few dollars more for a healthier product is never a question for me. This animal is also easily washable and has a pouch that houses a natural cornmeal bean bag that can be heated for soothing effects. I removed the bean bag and tuck away the 2nd clip (used to clip the holder to clothing etc) when its not in use. This holder comes with a pacifier but we don't use it so I can't attest to quality, etc.

Natursutten Natural Rubber Pacifier

I have only recently been introduced to natural rubber pacifiers through the many Mama friends I see using them on Instagram. I really liked the fact that they were natural and figured I would give it a try. At $9 a paci they are definitely on the pricier side but again, a healthier option was worth it for me.  I also like the soft texture of the natural rubber. If Cole roles his face on it in the middle of the night its not hard or uncomfortable.

Teething Jewelry by Baybee Boutique

I underestimated the importance of teething jewelry until I had a teething baby. These cute pieces are a stylish solution for teething but also keeping babes busy while carrying and nursing too. There are even mini versions for your teething littles to wear. Cole and I use my necklace daily!

HiccaPop Sleep Bumpers

When we put Lilly into her big girl bed I knew safety bumpers/rails were a must but I didn't like the look of the standard rail type options. Through some searching I found HiccaPop bed bumpers. They have worked great! They fit under the fitted sheet and we haven't had any issues since Lilly started using them a few months ago. They are also PHTHALATE & BPA Free Polyurethane Foam with no flame retardants, waterproof and washable.

Mommy Yummy Reusable Puree Packs

Lilly is going through a  puree phase, meaning the only way I get fruits and veggies into her is via fruit and veggie packs or smoothies. This is my fault, I know, because those packs are just so convenient and we used them often and now its all she wants. Now that cole has started solids I have started making my own purees again (although not as much as I  would like to) and using reusable packs helps keep it all cost effective. I tried these packs at random and they have been good; durable, easy to clean BPA free and large. I have also found that most caps from standard throw away packs fit these as well, so if you lose a cap there are usually plenty of replacements.

Jellycat London Animals

I love the adorable stuffed animals in the Jellycat line, Lilly and Cole each have at least one. I added these to the list because we recently got them "bashful bunnies" for Easter and they became fast favorites. These stuffed animals are great gifts!

Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Wipes

These wipes are the only item on the list that are sponsored, meaning I received the wipes in return for trying them and providing an honest review. I am including them because we have been using the wipes for a couple of weeks and really like them! Cole and Lilly both have very sensitive skin and Cole was recently diagnosed with mild eczema so I am very careful what products I use on their skin. I don't know how to parent without wipes, so we have been through many brands. Natural, plant based are our favorites as they are usually the most gentle. These wipes are great because they are 99% natural, very effective and smell amazing! I don't use them exclusively as they are a little more expensive than standard wipes, but I love keeping a pack in my baby bag to wipe hands and faces on the go. The brand is also cruelty free and the wipe material is biodegradable.

I hope these links are helpful and if you see any items on my social feeds that you like or have questions about feel free to message me for info! Happy Weekend!

 This Gorgeous woman is Stacy Doolan,  The most AMAZING makeup artist!

​Cole's outfit was so much fun for me to style because this is his first Christmas and the first holiday I am shopping for a boy! For him I chose an ivory cable knit sweater, a plaid poplin shirt, navy corduroy pants and accessorized with the sweetest reindeer bowtie and wingtip crib shoes (so cute!). I had fun playing with different textures and patterns from the collections to select each piece and I am so impressed with their selections for the little men! Most retailers have a huge selection for girls and then you get to the boys section and it's limited. I also love their accessory selection for boys. Accessories really put that necessary finishing touch on a look and Janie and Jack really delivers! My personal favorites are the bowties. I am officially on the bowtie bandwagon after seeing Cole wearing his. So dapper! 

​I really love dressing for the holidays. Do you like dressing the kids in matching looks or just coordinating with color or patterns? Check out the Janie and Jack Holiday Collections and let me know your favorites!