Five Favorites on Friday

Happy Friday everybody!  This weeks edition of Friday favorites are all items on my birthday wish list!  My 32nd birthday is coming up next week and these are a few pieces I'd love!

1. I'm still hoping to grab a pair of these pajamas from J. Crew one of these days!  Every. Single. Time. I go to order them or finalize an order, they're out of stock!  
2. I'm in major need of a new pair of sneakers and I really love the Nike Air Presto style - I just can't decide if I want to make a statement with the melon color, or go for a more basic color combo like the black and white.
3. As much as I love the ankle boot trend, I have a hard time pulling it off.  I've been on the hunt for a new pair of black over the knee boots and I love this suede pair by Blondo. 
4. One of my goals for the upcoming new year is to be more organized!  I like to think of myself as an organized person, but lately I'm starting to realize I'm lacking in that department.  This planner is not only useful but so pretty!  They have many different styles to chose from and you can build it to your needs.
5. Lastly, I would love this sentimental bracelet to add to my daily stack! 

So there's my birthday wishlist!  I hope you all have a great weekend! 

Five Favorites on Friday

I can honestly say that I haven't purchased much for myself in a long time.  I'm a big online shopper, but lately, all of the items I've purchased have been for my son - mainly prepping his wardrobe for the fall.  Well, I've complied a list of favorites for this week that are items currently in my shopping cart. They are all fashion related in some way and are either for fall or late summer pieces that can easily be transitioned.

1. I cleaned out my closet before the spring and rid it of so many pairs of shoes!  I mainly stick to ballet flats in the cooler months and I've been on the hunt for a new pair of leopard print ones.  These illusion ballet flats by Steve Madden are so cute!
2. This cover up/maxi dress is a great piece for both summer and early fall.  I particularly love the olive color and can picture wearing it with sandals for the remainder of the summer and a lightweight cardigan and flats come fall.  
3. Speaking of cardigans, this tied sleeve one by Halogen is so feminine and a perfect staple item for the cool months.  I love the pink smoke and teal colors!  
4. When I first saw this blouse, the one thing that immediately came to mind was Thanksgiving!  The colors are perfect for fall and I think it would be the prettiest top to wear on Thanksgiving day!
5. Finally, I really would love to have a piece of jewelry with my son's name on it to wear on the daily.  This disc necklace is perfect to wear everyday and dainty enough for layering.

So there you have it... a few of the items currently holding a spot in my shopping cart!  I hope you all have a great break and are able to treat yourselves this weekend!  

The Registry Series: Extras

And here we are... the final installment of the series!  This last section is all about the extras!  These items are all pieces that you may not need right away, but will be so happy you have them when the time rolls around!

1. Car Seat Protector:  This item is one that I really get tons of use out of!  We installed this the minute we put Chase's car seat in the car and it really helps protect your seats!  I never realized how much of a mark/imprint car seats leave and if you have leather seats it's even worse!  This item is super sturdy and has a nice high back so it protects from kicking little feet!
2. Solly Baby Wrap:  This particular wrap is all the rage with mommy bloggers!  I completely understand why!  It is very lightweight, but very sturdy!  It supports babies from birth up to 25lbs and is easily folded to fit in just about any space!  As a bonus, they come in a variety of adorable colors and patterns!
3. Car Storage Organizer:  This item I use on the daily!  I have it on the floor right in front of Chase's seat and inside I always have extra diapers, wipes, a light blanket, and a few toys.  There are also spaces for two cups/bottles and lots of pockets for smaller items!  This organizer is highly recommended! 
4. Mommy & Baby Hook Duo:  These are great to have on hand.  I keep them both inside the car organizer for when I need them.  We use them from time to time for toys, bags, and small purses.  They're great to have!
5. Bumbo:  This is an updated version of the beloved Bumbo chair as it has a handy tray.  This seat acts as a portable high chair and a booster seat.  Chase got lots of use out of his! 
6. Boppy Pillow:  We love, love, LOVE the Boppy pillow!  This item is a dream because not only is it a lifesaver for a nursing mom, it also helps with tummy time, propping the baby up, and helping them learn to sit.  If you don't put anything but one item from this particular list on your registry, let it be this.. trust me! 
7. Bath Toy Storage Bin: We didn't use this for a few months, but once Chase started playing with toys in the bath, I was so glad we had this!  It holds several toys, can be mounted to the wall, and has tons of drainage holes to prevent mildew.  We love this storage bin so so much! 
8. Dockatot:  I really wish I had registered for this portable sleeper!  In those early stages, this would have been wonderful to have around!  At $165 it's a bit of a pricier item, but every review I've read has been wonderful! 

So there you have it... the final piece of the puzzle!  I really hope you all enjoyed this series and found it informative and helpful!  I was so excited to prepare this series for you all because these items really have been used and loved by us!  I hope those of you who are preparing to register for your new bundles of joy are able to use this as a helpful guide!

Fair Night

Summertime is truly one of the most magical times of the year!  Fair nights are something I look forward to the minute the weather gets warm!  We are lucky enough to have three large fairs go on close to us and we make it a point to go each year.  Last year the weather was awful and we got rained out of each and every one which made me look forward to them all this year even more!

Chase was able to experience the fair in all it's glory for the very first time!  He was captivated by all of the lights and the people, but more so than anything, he couldn't wait to get out and run around on the grass!  He made lots of new friends visiting tables and stopping to chat where people were eating all the fair goodies (sausage sandwhiches, gyros, funnel cakes, and fried Oreos just to name a few).

We went with my family and had a really great time!  It's always nice to spend time together doing things we all enjoy!  Chase decided he had had enough around 9:30 and passed out in the stroller, so unfortunately, he didn't get to see the animals.  I like to think he had a great time though :)

We have another one this weekend and it's near the water so I know he will love it for sure!

Stroller  //  Stroller Console  // Chase's Outfit - Shirt  //  Shorts //  Shoes

Five Favorites on Friday

Keeping with the "theme" idea from the last few weeks, this Friday's Five are all about adding to your recipe book.  I love finding new recipes to try out and lately, we've been experimenting with at least one new one each week.  Pinterest is such a great tool in finding new recipes to test out.  I've complied a list this week of a few that looked really appealing to me, but if you'd like to see a lot more, come over to my Pinterest boards and have a look!

1. Breakfast - I've been on a pancake kick lately and I found this recipe for pancake bread that sounds really simple and really tasty!  Plus, I think my son might actually give this one a try!
2. Lunch -  I like to have salads for lunch, especially in the summertime.  You can really jazz up a simple salad to make it into something extra special and I think this grilled ginger-sesame chicken salad does just that!
3. Appetizer - There is a chain restaurant where we live that sells blooming onions as appetizers and they are a favorite of my husband's.  These bite size ones are perfect for picking on before dinner or serving to crowds. 
4. Dinner - Dinners are typically made out on the grill in the summer, but I couldn't help but drool a bit over this one skillet savory beef tips with gravy recipe!  Any recipe that involves beef and red wine together is a winner in my book! 
5. Dessert - It's ice cream season and every time this recipe pops up for matcha coconut ice cream, I can't help but think how badly I have to try this! 

I hope you guys get a little insipration from this makeshift menu and try a few of these out this weekend!  See you next week!

The Registry Series: Gear

This is probably my most favorite of the "Registry Series" categories because these products are the ones we got the most use out of during those early months!  Looking at them really tugged at my heartstrings because I can picture a brand new little Chase and now he's just so big!  Time flies people!

Anyway, these are four of the main gear items that I feel are completely worth every cent!  They are not only extremely easy to put together (while my husband was putting together furtniture, my nine month pregnant self put all these together!), but even easier to use!

1. Rock and Play:  This item was honestly the most used item in our house when Chase was an infant.  He not only napped here, but he slept in this every night next to my side of the bed.  We never purchased a bassinet, so this did the trick (knowing about this bassinet now, I'd probably chose this for him to sleep in for a bit - maybe next baby). This particular Rock and Play model (there are a few to chose from) features 12 songs, 3 calming sound effects, and two different auto rocking modes.  This is a great item to have!
2. 4moms Mamaroo:  When I found out I was pregnant, this was one of the five items I knew I had to register for right away (followed by the high chair, play yard, stroller, and car seat).  Almost every mommy blogger I read and every new mom I knew personally, couldn't rave enough about this gadget!  It's perfect for giving mom a break because it mimics motions rather than just sway side to side.  It also features soothing sounds, a hookup for your phone, and 4moms has an app that you can use to control it from another room!  This is another favorite of ours!  
3. 4moms Bounceroo:  After the Rock and Play, this is probably the second most used item from when Chase was an infant.  I can't tell you how much I love this bouncer!  It's super light weight, portable, and easy to store away!  He's hung out in here while I cooked, showered, you name it - it's a mommy life saver! 
4. 4moms Breeze: If you can't tell by now, I have major love and appreciation for the 4moms brand!  All of their items are geared towards making babies comfortable and ease of use for parents.  The Breeze is a bit on the pricier side in terms of other play yards, but as far as ease, it's in a league all its own!  Breeze may be the name of this item but it also speaks volumes as to how easy it is to put together and take down!  We love ours!  I can pop it up with the baby in my arms and take it down just as easily!  Save yourself the headache of fighting with other play yards and register for this one... you will be so glad you did!

We are coming to the end of this series... the final installment (all the extras!) will be posted next week.  I hope you all have enjoyed it this far!  

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Summer Shades

Summer is in full swing and with the warm weather comes lots of sunshine!  One of my favorites accessories to wear year round - but especially in the summer - is a great pair of sunglasses!  There are so many great styles out there at a variety of price points.  I've complied a list of my favorites for all ranges!

LOW 

One of the most popular brands for affordable and trendy sunglasses right now is Diff!  You probably see them on celebrities and all over Instagram!  These Becky sunglasses are so pretty!  I love this black and metallic combo but they also come in gold and rose gold!  At $85 they're great buy!

These angular aviator style sunglasses are a total steal at only $12!  They remind me so much of the high end designer styles that cost upwards of $400!

MIDDLE

Ray-Ban is one of the first brands that comes to mind when I think of sunglasses.  Their classic styles are timeless and this wire frame aviator is a great investment purchase that will be sure to last for years to come!

A square frame is also a classic style and these gradient lenses by Marc Jacobs come in basic colors like black and brown, making them a wardrobe staple!

HIGH

If you are a fan of the HGTV show Flip or Flop you probably notice these right away as Christina is never without them!  These butterfly style sunglasses called the Anoushka by Tom Ford are so pretty and one of the many items on my wish list! They are an investment but you have lots of options as far as lens and frame color.

I saved my favorites for last!  I received these Bold 1 sunglasses by Saint Laurent from my husband as a 30th birthday gift and I can't tell you how much I love them!  They are a classic style and the quality is wonderful!  I highly recommend these!