2020 Holiday Gift Guide: For Moms Edition

Moms deserve a lot! Sometimes a day to herself is all she needs, but these goodies can help too. 

These are a compilation of items I own and want myself! Some will be on sale soon, so make sure to read below for details.  

2020 Holiday Gift Guide: In-Law Addition

As one of the most requested gift guides, I bring you a little mix of goodies for your In-Laws. I personally love gifting personalized gifts with functionality. It's the best of both worlds; special and useful!

Things I've tried and...

Like most people, I like to try out new things. I tend to only try new hair or skin products when I finish through what I have. It's better for my wallet and less overwhelming than seeing an influx of half used products. With the extra time I have with Quarantine (NOT, I'm wring this while the kids are sleeping) I figured why not create a new series of monthly reviews on things I try. I'm going to go as random as sharing snacks, cleaning products, and pretty much anything that I feel is worth sharing. Hopefully you find it useful. 

Baby Essential Game Changers

When I heard I was having another boy, I felt like I hit the jackpot. I didn't have to go run out and buy everything new. So, I went into this second pregnancy thinking I had everything and needed nothing. For the most part that's true, but I compiled a list of my baby essentials. Some new and some true favorites I discovered with my first Grayson. 

Hair Transformation with Formulate

Raise your hand if your hair changed drastically after kids? If you raised your hand, well you're not alone. I went from strong & luscious hair to hair that was limp with tons of breakage. This was the last thing I expected after giving birth. Especially since I felt my prettiest during my pregnancy. So, when Formulate reached out about trying out their hair products, I jumped at the opportunity. What did I have to lose? The answer is NOTHING! I wanted my pretty hair back.

FOOLPROOF STOCKING STUFFERS FOR WOMEN

These are things that I can honestly say are foolproof when it comes to gift giving. You can definitely get a few of these items and make a cute tag saying "Beauty Survival Kit". We as Mothers are always on the go and so is every working woman. So,  having these things at the ready is NICE! Just about every gift is under $20 AND a bulk of them you find at Target or Amazon, so you can get it before Christmas! You're welcome ; ) 

1. I just bought this scent over at TARGET! and I'm in love. I gravitate toward rollers because it makes for easy application. Only $13 
2. I've been on a cute hair tie kick and I love the ones at Madewell. 
3. There's just nothing like a beauty blender. If you don't have one, you need one. 
4. You can never go wrong with hoops and I think instead of gold ones, Tortoise ones are just as classic. These are $9!!!
5. I like clear make-up bags because I like to see what I have on hand quick! This one from Madewell is 25% off right now. 
6. This external battery is a no-brainer! My phone dies from taking so many videos and pictures of Grayson. 
7. Dry Shampoo is a lifesaver, who wouldn't want that! Here's a deal for 2, so one for you and one as a gift. 
8. You can never have enough mama T-shirts Don't mess with Mama T-shirt Under $20
9. This is my all time favorite lip balm Rosebud Salve. It can be used as a cuticle cream too.
10. Sheet masks are fun and an easy self-care gift. 
11. There will never be a Brow Gel like this one from Glossier. I usually get shade brown, but clear is a good option for a gift. They have FREE RUSH SHIPPING
12. You might think Band-aids are random but have you had to walk miles in a new pair of shoes? I have and blisters galore, so band-aids are my saviors!  Makes for a cute stocking stuffer! 

Hope these help with any last minute gifts you need to put together. Remember you can buy a few of these items and still not break the bank.

Adrianna 

One less thing to worry about for the Holidays

When it comes to the holidays, it's a very overwhelming time for me. Is it for you? I love Chritsmas and really enjoy decorating the house very festive. But, when it comes to all the events and things I have to get done, that's what gets to be a lot. Now that I'm back to working full-time, I'm really trying to figure out how to manage my time wisely. You know "work smarter, not harder" especially, when it comes to the Holidays. Perfect example is I created a wish list in advance for Grayson and decluttered the house to prepare for all the holiday decor. Another way I'm working smarter is by using Paperless Post to send out my invites for my yearly holiday party. And this year, I'm also going to use them to send our Holiday Cards. I won't have the time to mail our cards out and this will be the perfect alternative. Paperless Post has a huge selection and I love how you can see when someone opens up the card. This is just one less thing I have to worry about for the Holidays. Doesn't that sound amazing?! Just check them out and see what I'm talking about. 

Best gifts for a one year old

I was YOU right before Grayson's birthday, figuring out what to put on his gift registry. Everyone kept asking what does Grayson want? Umm...he can't answer that right now-he's only turning one! 

I knew I didn't want things that wouldn't get much use or that didn't have any meaning behind it. So, I compiled a list of things I received for his birthday and have been getting a lot of use out of.  I separated the list into categories to make it easier. This list is also Unisex : )

Top 10 Places We Forget To Clean

I used to consider myself a major clean freak until Grayson came into the picture. I have been dethroned from that title. I'm now just a mom who cleans when she can. Balancing being a mother full-time, on top of cooking the majority of the week, all while trying to fit in some side hustle work- it's hard to think about every nook and cranny I have to clean. I will say I vacuum on the daily and that's because crumbs are inevitable with Grayson. But man, the days I was devoting towards deep cleaning, I was forgetting so many places that are important for the cleanliness of our house. So, I figured why not share my top 10 places I forget to clean. 

Sephora Haul Review

I had just finished my "No Spend Month" and what better way to reward myself than doing a Sephora Haul. I came to Sephora looking for an eye cream, a new dry shampoo and a texture spray that would work in this Florida heat. I only added 2 unintended items AND one has become my favorite beauty item of all. My "No Spend Month" kept me in check as you can tell. I'll be sharing my positives and negatives for each product. For the most part, they're good, but some not "Holy Grail" good. 

A Unique Summer Watch

Ever since I became a stay at home mom, my spending habits have changed drastically. I don’t have that full time job to depend on, and every dollar spent in our household goes with a lot of thought. With that in mind, we cut down on eating out often, and especially on our spontaneous splurges at the mall. However, one thing we haven’t changed though is the quality in the items we purchase.

If there’s anything that has stuck with me from my days in luxury retail, is thinking about the price in terms of cost per use. If you don’t intend to use it for a long period of time, is the cost worth it? That’s what I always ask myself, and it definitely helps deter buyer’s remorse.  

TOP 5 PLACES TO SHOP FOR BOYS

When it comes to shopping for Grayson, I look for 3 things: Cute. Easy. Accessible. Babies need so many last minute outfits, we need to be able to drive somewhere on a whim and get what we need. With that said, my Top 5 Stores for Boys are all accessible and have a storefront for you to touch and feel. They also are priced fairly which we all know is important since babies go through clothes quickly. 

Trader Joes Shopping List

Trader Joe's is my go-to place for groceries. You just can’t beat the selection and the prices. I know Trader Joes can be daunting in the beginning to a lot of people, so I figured this list would be helpful. I too am that person who goes overboard trying everything to see what they like. Lets just say, I’ve tried pretty much everything they have to offer. So, this list is a compilation of items that are true favorites and always stocked in my house. 

Signs of a Toxic Friendship

After posting a few polls on Instagram out of curiosity, I was completely taken aback by the responses, but the one thing I have learned is, people are in our lives to shape us in one way or another. Here's my personal story, and take, on toxic friendships. 

   

TASTY TUESDAY: CHICKEN ECHILADAS!

I’m pretty sure I was going to share this recipe 3 weeks ago, but then I made it again and remembered I never shared, Oops. So, here it is, my easy delicious Chicken Enchiladas! I’ve perfected this recipe to be QUICK and EASY! Nobody has all day to cook.

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 Chicken Breasts (to be shredded) 

1 (32 oz) Carton of Vegetable Broth 

1 Chunky Tomatillo Salsa 

1 Tomatillo Sauce 

1 Can of beans (you can omit if you get salsa w/ beans) 

2 Cups of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

5 oz of Cream Cheese 

Packet of Tortillas 

1 Avocado as topping 

Mama Monday #1

If there's one thing I can say all moms have in common, is that their children are constantly changing what they love. With Grayson, it's safe to say he officially hates his bouncer after 4 months. The dread because it used to be his and my favorite toy! That little bouncer was my saving grace when I wanted to start dinner or fold the laundry. With that, I compiled a few items that won't break the bank and will keep your baby busy and happy.

Playmat- Minimal and the perfect price. (they sold out in this style, but 2 other great choices)

Toy Remote- This is a MUST buy if you're baby loves your remote.

Teething Biscuits- These are the perfect snack for in between feedings. He loves all the flavors. 

Whale Bath Toy- Grayson loves that the whales mouth opens and fits his hand. 

Squeeze & Teethe- This is Grayson's favorite teether, we take it everywhere!

Suction Toy- Perfect toy to take to restaurants or put on their high chairs. 

Wooden Shape & Color Sorter- I gravitate towards wood toys because they're a natural material and Grayson loves to put everything in his mouth. 

Banana Teether- Great to start breaking the skin for new teeth and Grayson just loves to chew on it. 

Let me know your babies favorites in the comments.

Xo

Adrianna 

Tuesday Tip #1

How many times have you said that you can't wait to have your own place so you can host gatherings? Me, a million times over but the number of times I actually have is less than 10. But now that Grayson’s a little older and in a routine, I plan to host more guests. With that said, I found the perfect website to help me out creating invites, Paperless Post! 

 

I can tell you right now I've been slacking in the details department of events since becoming a mom; thanks, Gray. Example, our Christmas Eve invite was sent over a group chat with the details on what time, and what to bring; but hello Paperless Post, where was it when I needed it?! The pros are endless because the number one thing that I love is those days of having to mail out invites are long gone! I love memorabilia just as much as the next person, but sometimes it starts to become junk and the guilt of having to keep is just too heavy. Do you know what I mean? I bet you still have your friends holiday cards up on your fridge. I know I do!  

I always go off tangent, sorry! So, back to Paperless Post. I am seriously just obsessed, and possibly spending a little too much time creating future invites. They have so many witty, cute, and unique options, and it lets you take any invite and customize it to your liking. The invite I'm creating for Grayson's 1st birthday is coming from a save the date template! How cool is that? Also, pricing is pretty affordable and the App is free. They use a “coins” system for paying and you can easily gain them by linking to your Facebook and just liking their page. The App also lets you manage which of your guest are attending or not, which helps with a headcount. It really can't get any easier than this. 

Let me know if you end up using Paperless Post or have used it yourself. 

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Hope you enjoyed this Tuesday Tip! 

Xo Adrianna 

2 months of motherhood

   

Becoming a mother has changed my views on everything! It's made me aware that society doesn't keep mothers in mind. I say that, because the moment I decided to leave the house with Grayson, I realized a lot of places are not equipped for mothers. For example, I'm not able to fit my cart everywhere, so I can't imagine how the disabled feel. Not every restroom has a changing table, so where am I expected to change his diaper? And why is public breastfeeding not a norm yet? Everyone should be kept in mind when creating an establishment and people should be rooting for mothers who breastfeed because it isn't easy! I just feel as though society is still holding on to the notion that mothers should stay at home.

Continuing on being real here, let me share my time so far as a new mom. Being a mother is like studying for a test, but the material is completely different once you got it down pact. What I mean is, each day is completely different and makes caring for a newborn that much harder. The first week was easy. I kept telling people how lucky I was because he was sleeping so much. But that was a facade! Between being fussy for a reason I couldn't figure out and getting peed on every day, the days felt long. But, like any mother, you overcome and conquer with patience.

I chose to exclusively breastfeed and went in completely nonchalant about it. I knew it was the only form of milk I wanted to provide and was going to do it no matter what. But with that, I didn't know the first thing about breastfeeding. I was lucky that Grayson took to my breast, but only by wearing a nipple shield. You ask what's that? It's a tool for those who have small nipples. Who knew they made such a thing? I'm grateful for the nipple shield as I am resentful. First, I hate that I need it and secondly, when it comes to feeding a HANGRY Grayson, his arms go crazy that he knocks it off. Imagine trying to feed him at night! I need to turn on the lights to guide him and hold his arms down. Breastfeeding is hard as it is. 

My real tough days are when Grayson has gas and can't poop. I seriously pray for poops because seeing him miserable is the worst. When he has gas, that means a very fussy baby, late nights and no real sleep. Another thing, that might seem minuscule, is having to cut his nails. I haven't been able to successfully file or cut them. The second time I went to cut his nails I made him bleed! It scared the crap out of me and was a total mom fail. Now I just file them. Even though, at this moment only one of his hands has been successfully filed down. The other hand I'm just hoping his nails don't grow. Not a real solution, but it's better than bleeding.

Overall I think trying to be the best mom, wife, and employee is what makes motherhood hard. Finding balance and time to do everything has been hard for me. I had to start working from home a week after giving birth. I had no real time to adjust with a newborn, let alone how I was going to manage to clean the house and get any work done. I have managed to breastfeed while doing Photoshop, which I find pretty impressive ; ) What I do know, is that I want to do everything I can for Grayson. What I'm still learning is to give myself some slack. I'm a type A person and strive for perfection, so I can't live in a chaos. But, a little chaos can't kill me, right?

Maternity Uniform

During this pregnancy, my wardrobe has felt very much like being back in high school and having to wear a uniform. This time, I've traded in my khakis and polos for oversized dresses and shirts and over-belly bottoms. The majority of my maternity basics come from Madewell and Forever 21 and I did buy a few maternity jeans. My favorite jeans have to be the Jessica Simpson ones I added to my collage below. With the Courier Madewell shirts, they've been a God sent! I can totally wear them after the pregnancy and I've been able to use the ones I already owned.

The way I spruced up my basics were through accessorizing, which is the most cost effective way to change a look. Statement earrings are an easy go to for me and J.crew and Madewell always have great options. Overall, I just didn't want to go overboard on maternity clothes because I like to invest in pieces I can wear multiple times.

Coincidently, this collage came out very 4th of July themed, so my fellow preggo's here are some pieces for you to wear!

SHOP THESE

Grayson's Nursery

We are finally tackling Grayson's room this weekend! I'm so excited to get his room ready for his arrival. We decided, well more like I decided for a safari theme ; ) The idea sprung from the sheets we got him at pottery barn and the rest is history. I can't wait to show you how this inspiration board becomes his room!