A Few of Our Favorite Things

Rory's Picks

1. Freshly Picked Moccasins

I've been obsessed with these mocs ever since I saw the owner on Shark Tank last year, but I couldn't bring myself to spend the $60, especially since baby feet grow so quickly. Fortunately for me, I have a very generous friend (thanks, Lu!) who bought Rory a pair during one of their flash sales. They're all leather, super soft, durable, and best of all...made in the USA! Rory often complains about wearing shoes, but she doesn't seem to mind wearing these. They're so soft and stretchy, I don't even think she realizes she has them on. There are loads of colors and sizes to choose from...Rory also has a pair of Freshly Picked pineapple mocs that I can't wait for her to fit into. If you follow the company on Instagram, you'll be notified of their flash sales, which make them slightly more affordable.

Freshly Picked Moccasins in blush.

2. Sensory Table

Ever since we came home from Mexico, I've been wanting to build Rory a sand table. She really enjoyed playing in the sand in Mexico, and as a teacher, I know how beneficial sensory play is. So last week, I dragged Rory to Home Depot where Nick in the lumber department helped me choose the right wood and then cut each piece to size so that all Marcos had to do was drill the pieces into place. It turned out great, but unfortunately, it's too cold to fill with sand and put outside. Luckily we had some extra pasta in the house that Rory seems to think is just as entertaining. During the winter months I plan to fill the bin with things like corn, cotton balls, rice, and anything else that I happen to find on Pinterest.

She's not quite tall enough to reach it on her own. 

Cheap entertainment at its finest.

3. Saying "No"
I'm sure everyone but Rory would agree that this one is self-explanatory.


Lindsey's Picks

1. livesimply.com

This blog is like porn for hippes, y'all. I mean, this woman makes her own (all-natural) hand sanitizer and laundry detergent, for crying out loud. (I've already ordered the ingredients for both.) I also like her approach to meal planning using whole foods, and she has lots of ideas for homemade gifts. (I apologize in advance to whoever is at the receiving end of my attempt at these homemade gifts.) Her posts are funny, reader-friendly, and full of gorgeous photographs. I'm most excited to try the homemade apple pop-tarts and all natural sunscreen.

Homemade Sunscreen: How hard can it be?

2. Chick-Fil-A Fridays

I have a confession to make: I eat fast food. As much as I pride myself in eating whole, unprocessed foods, I cannot resist Chick-Fil-A. Maybe it's the waffle fries or the combination of honey mustard sauce and delicious chicken, but I'm pretty sure a chicken nugget meal from Chick-Fil-A is what heaven tastes like.  I'm not sure when or why it started, but for a few months now, Marcos and I have deemed Fridays Chick-Fil-A night. I was a vegetarian for five years, so maybe I'm just making up for lost time. As soon as Rory is down, Marcos goes through the CFA drive through, and upon his return, we feast on trans fats and wash it down with carbonated poison. It's really the only time throughout the week that I allow myself to eat anything processed or fried, so I don't even feel that badly about it. I swear. I don't.

If you insist.

3. Homemade Tortillas
I hate that the tortillas from the grocery store are full of ingredients I can't pronounce and definitely don't sound like anything I should be ingesting. Yesterday I had a craving for black bean enchiladas, but I didn't have the time or energy to run to Whole Foods to buy the all-natural tortillas, so I decided to make my own. It was one of the easiest things I've done, and they tasted amazing. They had exactly four ingredients: flour, water, baking powder, and oil. (One of the reviewers even said that it's possible to omit the oil.) Rory had fun "helping" me with the dough, and she was a big fan of the finished product, too. Here is the link to the recipe I used. I'll probably double it next time and freeze some.

Cheese! 

I'm wearing pajama bottoms, too. Don't judge me.

Flour-faced.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Rory's Picks*

1. Peek-A-Boo Barn App
This was a lifesaver during our trips to San Francisco and Dallas. The app features a barn with a door that opens when you touch it. Each time it opens, it reveals a different animal inside the barn, says its name, and makes the corresponding animal noise. Rory has already learned several animal names and sounds through this app. We also downloaded Peak-a-Boo Halloween, Peek-a-Boo Christmas, and Peek-a-Boo Fridge (Featuring a very strange-looking pickle.) These apps are great for long car rides, waiting in line, and keeping your toddler busy while you're trying to watch KUWTK cook dinner. I don't feel guilty about using the ipad every once in awhile when I know she's learning from the activities. Let's face it- listening to me make animal noises isn't nearly as entertaining.

2. Whats Inside?
This toy was another awesome consignment sale find. It's a large cube that comes with several stuffed objects (frog, butterfly, plane, car, etc.). The objects fit through the slot at the top of the box, and it's designed for a child to stick his or her hand in and feel around for a particular object. It's great for learning the names of things and distinguishing between their shapes. It also helps children learn object permanence. (Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there.) Rory isn't able to name all of the objects or search for a certain one yet, but she loves pulling things out of the box. (Is it wrong that all I can think about is Dick in a Box whenever I see it??)

3. Humidifier
These colder temps mean the heat is on more often which means the air is super dry. My hands are already chapped and I've traded in my light lotion for my Eucerin cream. (I love this stuff...just don't try to turn a door knob within an hour of applying it.) To combat the dryness in Rory's room, we started using a humidifier again. (I'm not convinced it actually helps, but Marcos is a believer.) Rory was obsessed with it from the moment we turned it on. She can't get enough of it. It's the first thing she points to when we enter her room, and her favorite thing to do is put her face in the vapor.(Can you blame her? We all do it.) I'm waiting for the novelty to wear off, but it's been over a week, and her love shows no signs of fading. Remind me again why we buy toys?

Lindsey's Picks

1. Thred-Up
One of my friends turned me onto this online used clothing site. I bought several pairs of maternity pants for a great price when I was pregnant with Rory. I like that the shipping is always free, and they have excellent customer service. There was a mix-up with one of my orders, and they replied to my email right away and reimbursed me immediately. They have high-end brands for much less than retail, and it's all in great condition. I haven't bought anything lately because I stocked up on clothes for Rory at the JBF sale, and dressing up for me these days means wearing my "nice" yoga pants. Marcos' annual company party is in January though, so I'll be in the market for a new dress soon, and I just received a $20 off coupon in the mail.

2. Bark Thins
Buy them. Trust me.

Heaven in a bag. 

3. Shutterfly Photo Books
I hate shopping for Christmas gifts. Luckily the only people we really buy for are our parents. I find the process of shopping for the perfect gift completely agonizing. I'd rather get a root canal. Usually I just let my sister decide what to get and mail her a check, but not this year! We ordered our Christmas cards from Shutterfly, and I saw that they also make photo books. So, Marcos and I used a template to create a photo book of Rory's first year. It was super easy to do and it turned out really well. There are lots of customization options, and you can add as many pages as you want. I know several people who make the books for special events, too, like weddings and vacations. Shutterfly also has 40% off sales pretty much everyday, so we won't end up spending a ton of money. Hopefully they like it because that's what they're getting every year from now on.

It's what's for Christmas.

*Runners up include chasing the vacuum, eating anywhere but her high chair, the word "wow", and rummaging through the bathroom drawers.

A Few of Our Favorite Things

Rory's Picks

1. Xuxa

There are lots of good things that come from Brazil...caipirinhas, Havianas, and samba, just to name a few. Well, now you can add Xuxa to the list. She's like the Brazilian nanny I'll never have. As soon as Rory hears the first rift of any of her 100+ catchy songs, she immediately stops what she's doing (most likely terrorizing Marli or eating week old Cheerios off the floor) and stares at the TV, completely entranced. I'm not a big advocate of using TV/electronics, especially with babies, but for those 15 minutes between dinner and bath, Xuxa is a lifesaver. Plus, it's helping her learn Portuguese, so it's practically educational.

2. Ikea Sippy Cups



Rory has probably tried every brand of sippy cup under the sun, but none of them worked for us until we tried these cheap-o ones from Ikea. The nicer/ more expensive ones usually require some sort of sucking motion that Rory just couldn't seem to figure out, but these don't have a stopper, so all she has to do is put it in her mouth and out comes the water. This is great until you find one turned upside down next to her in the high chair. For the third day in a row.


My Picks

1. Lou and Grey
My friend, Karla, recently told me about this line of lounge wear from The Loft, and I'm pretty sure Marcos wishes she would have kept it to herself. I've ordered several pants and tops from this line, and I'm very impressed with the quality and comfort of each piece. I've dubbed these clothes my "fancy sweatpants", which is basically every mom's woman's dream. Here are a few of the things I bought as part of my 37 piece capsule wardrobe:

Lacy sweatpants? Yes, please!

I love this moto-jacket. 

2. Loreal Evercurl/Plopping



I have wavy/curly hair that one random guy at a bar in college said made me look like Taylor Swift. Thank you? I'm always trying out new shampoos/hair products in an effort to tame frizz and define my curls without making them stiff and crunchy. I've had the most luck with the Devacurl line, but it's expensive, and it's literally just money down the drain. Devacurl is sulfate-free, which is important when it comes to curly hair because sulfate dries out curls, making them limp and frizzy. I did some research and learned that Loreal recently created a sulfate-free line for all types of hair, and it happened to be on sale at our grocery store, so I decided to give it a try. It's amazing, and much cheaper than the other sulfate-free shampoos I've tried. I'm actually looking forward to finishing my curl cream so I can try the Loreal version. It's the little things.

I learned long ago that you should never towel-try your hair because it creates frizz, so I've been using old T-shirts for years now, but I recently read an article about something called "plopping". The name alone is intriguing, isn't it? Basically, you wash your hair, put in your product, wrap your hair in a t-shirt (using a special method) and wait until it's dry (or dry enough). Here's a link that gives you step-by-step instructions:

http://www.gurl.com/2014/03/13/how-to-plopping-plunking-curly-hair-tutorial/#6





3. Online Garage Sales
If you read my blog, you know I love a good deal. Almost everything Rory has is used, and I always check Craigslist and other sites before purchasing anything new. My town has an online garage sale through facebook that's awesome. People post pictures of things they're trying to get rid of  at (mostly) great prices, and you can go "shopping" without ever having to leave your house. I like this group better than Craigslist because everyone lives in the same town, which means you don't have to travel far to pick up your purchases. I bought Rory's wooden kitchen for $60 through this group. It's in near-perfect condition and retails for $160 on Amazon. I also bought a tricycle, an REI rashguard, bibs, and a travel placemat that sticks to the table, all for way less that what they would cost new. Check Facebook to see if your area has a group of its own...I'm willing to bet it will quickly become one of your favorite things.

A Few of our Favorite Things

Rory's Picks*

1. Activity Table




I always imagined a house full of wooden, Montessori-esque toys that encouraged imagination and open-play. I distinctly remember telling Marcos, "I refuse to buy toys that make noise. Or anything that needs batteries." (Excuse me while I die laughing.) Before Rory was born, I stalked up on wooden blocks, puzzles, and rattles. There's just one problem: Rory could care less about any toy that isn't plastic, composed of bright primary colors, or doesn't make loud, obnoxious music that gets stuck in your head for days at a time. We bought this activity table for ten bucks at a garage sale, and my only regret is that we didn't buy it sooner. She loves that it is the perfect height for her and it has a ton of buttons for her to push compulsively. Also, it has a Spanish button, so it's obviously educational.

2. Baby Bananas 



Rory is eating more and more solids, but banana is still her all-time favorite. I've been giving her fruits in their whole form as often as possible, and these little bananas are perfect for her little hands.

3. Aden and Anais Sleep Sacks


Rory has graduated from her Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit (try saying that five times fast), and is now wearing sleepsacks. I found this Aden and Anais bamboo sleepsack at TJMaxx, and I love that it is super soft and very light weight for the summer months. It's easy to put on and take off and it stands up to heavy washing. Another win for Aden and Anais.

4. Textured Blocks 

I purchased these a few months ago at a consignment sale and stowed them away in a closet where Marcos found them earlier this week. It's a good thing he did, because Rory loves them. Each side of the block is covered in a different texture, which makes them easy for her little hands to grip. She loves knocking them over after I've stacked them and throwing them at the TV.

*Let's be honest; these aren't really Rory's picks. If I were to make an honest list of her favorite things, it would include waking up at 5:30 am, biting cords, crying in her carseat, and sucking on Mommy's wedding ring.

She may not look like me, but her obsession with diamonds proves she's half mine.

My Picks

1. Utility Tote

I ordered this bag from Etsy, and it's amazing. Rory and I go to the indoor pool at our community rec center a few times a week, and it's perfect for holding all of our pool gear. It's super sturdy, so things stay put, which is great when for those times when I'm searching for my keys or my ID card. The wire sides can also be collapsed for easy storage. I know several people who keep similar bags in the trunks of their cars for storing things like diapers and towels.

2. My Hand-Stamped Ring 

I bought this ring for 10 bucks on groopdealz.com (see number 3), and I love it. It's a lot thicker and nicer than I thought it would be for the price. Next time they are featured on the site, I plan to buy a few for my sister.

3. Groopdealz



This wesbsite is the first thing I look at each morning when I wake up. I rarely buy anything (Marcos would probably say differently), but they do have great deals and feature a lot of cute kids-themed items. It will definitely be a great resource for Christmas gifts.