Feels a little like Fall

I love this time of year!  There are so many fabulous things about the Fall.  Wearing socks (yes, I love that!), cozy wrap sweaters, cashmere, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pancakes, pretty much anything with "pumpkin" in it's name, pumpkin picking, pumpkin decorating, and so on.  But another reason that I LOVE the Fall is getting ready for Halloween. 

I am aware that Halloween is still about a month and a half (or 3/4) away.  However, around here, we start planning early.  My kid already have their Halloween costumes, and I am already planning our neighborhood Halloween party.

Here's a little sneak peak at what's on it's way to my house...

Oh yes, a Pirate Pumpkin Decorating Kit.  You can't have a Halloween Party without decorating pumpkins, and what's better than  dressing them up like Captain Jack?!

 

And a few of these bad boys to hang around with us during the party are also on their way.  Again - a MUST for a Halloween Party - some LED Skulls.

And...goody bags!!!  I think this is one of my favorite treats that I found for our goody bags this year.

It's a little hard to see, but it's Green Apple Eye Ball Gum Tape!  Ohhhh, brings me back to my childhood.  All of the other goodies are going to remain a surprise for now, but when I get my extra large box from Oriental Trading, I'll be sure to share a picture.

On a side note, a VERY BIG THANK YOU to my bestie, Christine, for coming over today to help me clean out Bean's closet and get it ready for my new sizing labels.  They should be arriving tomorrow and as soon as I have them in I will share the results!

And on another side note, just a few more days to enter my giveaway!  Make sure you enter!





Back to School Clothes

Well, it's that time of year again.  The nights are getting cooler (thank goodness!!), the school sale fliers are everywhere, and I'm getting ready to head back to work.

I am so blessed to be home with my children during the day, but at night, I head to our local State college as an adjunct professor.  Being (relatively) young can make it hard for the students to see me as their professor at first, so I always worry about my back to school outfits.  I have been mistake for a student on one too many occasions.  (Although these days I sort of appreciate it!)

Being a SAHM  (aka Stay at Home Mom or aka Slightly Appreciated Hot Mess as I've been told that acronym stands for...) means that our budget doesn't allow for too much shopping, but if I had the ability to build my dream wardrobe here are some of the essentials I would HAVE to purchase from two of my favorite stores to window shop.  (I swear, sometimes I really wish I could land on one of those make over shows so I could just walk in and take each and every outfit off of the plastic people decorating the store.   ;)

Anyway, here is my wish list from J.Crew...

J Crew's Stretch Perfect Shirt and No. 2 Pencil Skirt

Even the name of the skirt proves just how appropriate it would be for a teacher ;)  And seriously how sheek is the belt in that camel colored leather with the matching clutch?!  L.O.V.E. it!

J Crew School Boy Blazer in Houndstooth

 

 

 

I love how this jacket is layered on top of a pink cardigan.  It gives it just enough feminine appeal but still keeps the look sharp enough for me to get away with wearing it on a cool night with a classic pair of dark denim jeans.  (I know, I'm very lucky...I can definitely get away with jeans at work.)

 

 

 

J Crew Cashmere Shawl Cardigan

 

 

 

I don't own much cashmere, but it is by far my favorite material.  I could seriously spend all day, every day, in a cashmere cardigan.  Thinking about it is making me crave football games, hot cocoa, and a soft cashmere scarf.  Ahhhhhh, sounds wonderful doesn't it???  Anyway, this piece is a classic in any color and I am a huge fan of this look.  A high quality cardigan can be thrown over almost anything to class it up a notch.

Another fabulous store that I would like to go on a spree in is Anthropologie. 

 

 

 

I love this Ihrin Shirtdress in dark purple.  It probably sounds backwards, but when I am feeling blah, sometimes a good fitting dress that is easy to wear and accesorize is all I need to make feel comfortable and cute.  Plus, this dark purple color is a must have for the fall!

Because I spend about 2 hours a night on my feet teaching, comfy shoes are also important.  I only stand about 5' tall, but I'm okay with that.  I don't feel the need to wear heels to work all the time, even though my students often tower over me.  (I don't know who I think I'm kidding, my 3rd graders used to be taller than me :p)  Anthropologie has an amazing collection of ballet flats and I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one or two all of these!

But when I do need to wear heels, I might just about go to heaven in these nude patent leather Niko Wedges.  Go check out the other views of this shoe...they even have a zipper in the back!  Again, I repeat myself.  HEAVEN.

I'm thinking I need to start with a self help program.  My name is Nancy, and I'm a shopaholic.

One Super Expensive Shopping Trip

Going to Walt Disney World is like going to one really expensive store.  Every where you look there is a gift shop - each grander than the next. 

Almost every ride empties into a gift shop.  Every attraction has a gift shop attached.  The hotels have gift shops.  (Yes, shops).  And, if you don't feel like taking a break in an air conditioned shop, you can stop and buy something at one of the multiple outdoor vendors that you are likely to trip over if you aren't looking where you're going.

Here's the thing...I like the shops.  They might be my favorite part of Disney.

Evidence - this isn't even half of my kids loot...



 Yes, you read that right.  Not. Even. Half.

It helped them that their grandparents were along for the trip and really can't resist their cute little faces like I can.  But, seriously, I am just as bad in Disney.  Why not spend $75 on a cute little outfit like this...

Or $85 for an awesome pirate getup, complete with makeup and tattoo...

Or maybe these $25 Mickey Ears make you happy...







Heck, they make me happy!

So, what was my favorite part of Disney?  Clearly, spending more money on stuff that we do not need because my children have been to Disney more times than years they are old and they could practically stock the gift shops from their playroom.  But, hey, we were making memories.

My name is Nancy, and I'm a shopaholic.

aden + anais

So, this weekend was another weekend of baby talk with my chickies, and I even found out about another little one who will be entering the world next year, so my brain is back to shower gift ideas.

A good friend of mine introduced me to aden + anais and their cotton muslin products when I was pregnant with Bean and since then I have seen and heard about their products EVERYwhere!  They have quickly become an obsession of mine, and it seems like it has hit Hollywood too.  Check out these hottie's and their babes snuggled up with their aden + anais swaddlers and blankies.

So, other than their obvious trend appeal, why should you try these? 

Well, first, the material is amazing.  Super soft, breathable, and gets better with every wash (which obviously is important with little ones...trust me...1 kid and my laundry doubled.  2 kids and it quadrupled.  Not sure how that works, but it's true!).  The swaddles are also very large which makes the actual swaddling process soooo much easier!  And of course, the research that says swaddling can help prevent SIDS and help your baby sleep better are HUGE reasons to try it with your baby.

Second, the designs are to die for. 

 

Whether you go with the original swaddle, like this four pack of baby cakes swaddles...

 

Or you prefer the organic cotton swaddle ...

You really can't go wrong.  

Plus, aden + anais, is way more than just a swaddle company.  They also have other fantastic products like the burpy bibs that I couldn't live without.  This burp cloth easily converts to a bib with a little snap closure, and protects your baby's clothes sooooo much better than a traditional bib.  And of course, the fact that it is soft and made from 100% cotton muslin doesn't hurt either.  Like I said, I didn't know about this company until right before I had Bean, but if I had known with P, I would have totally stocked up on this prince charming design. 

A-dorable!! 

Or these issie security blankets.  They conveniently come in a pack of two so that you have an extra for when one is in the wash, or heaven forbid, you lose one.  I still have these on Bean's wish list...perhaps Santa will stick some in her stocking...

And maybe a coordinating dream blanket will be under the tree :)  (Santa, are you reading??)



So, if you are expecting a baby gift from me in the near future, you may be receiving some of these amazing products.  And if you are expecting a baby in the near future, be sure to add some of aden + anais goodies to your registry.  They even have a line at Target now...could you ask for anything more?! ;)

The Ultimate Baby Shower Gift

So many of my friends are either pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or have just had babies, that I have spent a LOT of time lately thinking about the ultimate shower gift.  I am trying to come up with a list of the best things that I had as a new mommy so that I can compile a basket of "must-haves" for my besties.  I'm talking about the small items that no one remembers to get or that they pass over on the registry because they are not that expensive.  These are things I like the best!  I am a fan of the overflowing basket of necessities!

I seriously stay awake at night thinking about this.  I know.  I'm nuts.  But that's okay...I'm usually up anyway, waiting for one child or the other to come into our bed. :/

So, here are a few of the items on my list.

1.  MAM Pacifiers.  (A MUST!  They are the only pacis my kids like...you can  check out my post on them here.)

2.  Boogie Wipes.  (Preferably in the grape scent.  Think purple Bubblicious circa. 1990.  These wipes easily get rid of those lovely green crusties that appear on our babies little noses when cold season arrives...and they don't receive nearly as many complaints as a typical wipe or tissue thanks to the saline in them!)

3.  Medella Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags.  (I'm not sure what I would have done without these bags at 2 am when I needed to sanitize pump parts or pacifiers.  They make life soooo easy and only cost about $5 for 5 bags/100 cleans.  Well worth it!  My SIL gave me a whole bunch of these at my shower for Bean and I am still using them!)



4.  A Skip Hop Diaper Bag.  (The perfect packaging for all the goodies you want to gift!  I personally have the Skip Hop Duo Double Bag, which fits on my double stroller like a dream, but I am also a huge fan of their new designs for their smaller bags.  I think these all deserve their own post but here is a preview...)

ooooo, pretty!

5.  Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads.  (Whether or not a new mommy plans to nurse, it is inevitable that they will need to use these at some point.  This brand is unbelievably comfortable and super absorbent.  Having these on hand is a huge help when you wake up in the middle of the night.  Soaked.)

 

These are just a few of the things on my shower shopping list.  I will share more soon, but in the meantime, what things have you purchased/received for a precious little one that you couldn't live without out??  Comment and let me know!  I've probably forgotten some really important ones and could use the input!

Superhero Overload

There is an overwhelming amount of superhero paraphernalia in my house.  It's on P's sheets, and walls, and clothes, and toy bins, and lunch boxes, and backpacks, and...you get the idea.  Especially anything Spiderman.  You see, Spiderman's real name is Peter Parker, and well...Parker's name is Parker...so, you know, he wants to BE Peter Parker.

Anyway, on our trip to Baby Gap today, we came across the new junk food line that is sporting none other than - you guessed it! - Spidey!

It took so much self restraint not to grab every piece of Spiderman apparel that I laid eyes on and run.  First of all, how freaking cool are these shoes?!?

They come in Batman & Superman too...I actually was really digging the Superman ones ;)  And seriously, how cool would P look sporting those slip on shoes with these jeans...



And this shirt...



So - if I did what my shopping crazed mind told me to, I would have left Baby Gap with a $100 outfit for P.  To jump, climb, run and roll in the backyard with.  Hmmm...probably wouldn't have gone over so well with the hubby.  So I left it.  But, don't think I won't be stalking Baby Gap and Babygap.com to grab these bad boys when the go on sale!  Good thing Gap is amazing when it comes to sales...I wonder if I could hide P's size... ;)