On Keeping Organized...

 If you knew me for the first 23 years of my life, you're probably very surprised to see me write a post on organization. I'm ashamed to admit that I used to be, well, pretty messy and unorganized. I knew where and when I needed to be somewhere and I've never been the tardy type, but in high school and college I found myself always in such a rush that clothes piled on the floor, my backpack was a wreck, and I didn't even consider making a to-do list. My, my how times have changed.

 

Ever since getting married, and especially since having Bear, I've been all about running an efficient household. When things are out of order or we miss an appointment, I feel like a lousy wife and momma. It makes me feel much better to have things running on somewhat of a system. I find it fascinating, for some odd reason, to see how other people stay on task throughout the day/week/month so I thought I'd share with you guys a little of how we keep organized around these parts. These aren't perfect methods, but it works for us!

 

 

 Every night before bed, I sit down at the desk in our kitchen and write out a day plan and mini to-do list for the upcoming day. I don't always stick to them verbatim, but it gives me a visual outline of what I'd like to accomplish. It feels good to mark things off the to-do list throughout the day, and the day plan helps me maintain a timely schedule.

 

Also at the kitchen desk sits a dry erase calendar where I keep only our big events posted, ie doctor's appointments and company visits. (the top right corner serves as a "when to get things out of the oven" spot, too...cookies were done at 6:10 that night :) ). I check this calendar every morning to make sure we don't have any appointments that we're forgetting.

 

Beside the calendar sits one of the best purchases I've ever made, our card box. I'm big into sending cards, especially to our sweet grandparents, so I like to keep them all organized and handy for those "Nana's birthday is Wednesday and I don't have time to go get a card!" moments.

 

I wouldn't remember Nana's birthday was Wednesday if it weren't for this trusty planner; she's my best friend. I take her everywhere! Inside is not only calendars and memos, but also a full list of everyone we know's birthday. I seriously write everything in here. It's great for staying organized on the go, as you never know when you'll need to jot something down or check a calendar for dates/plans.

 

Also inside this planner is where I keep my weekly cleaning schedule. This, my friends, is proving to be the best thing I've ever done for myself and our house. I've divided up cleaning tasks into 6 days, with Saturdays off, so each day I spend about 30 minutes cleaning and the house constantly stays tidy. It's a lifesaver when you have a baby and don't have tons of time to devote to cleaning; I would highly suggest new mommies making a schedule like this one. I feel like I have more time to enjoy our little man while still maintaining a clean house.

 

Lastly, this is our mail system. Zach and I rarely ever fight, but the majority of our arguments the first 6 months we lived in this house were due to misplaced mail. We always sat new mail by the trash can (dumb!) and it would mysteriously disappear, causing us to question the each other and sometimes even miss out on bill pay. No good! We developed this system for bills:

bottom row- to be paid (none at the moment! yes!)

middle row- to be filed

top row- receipts for flex spending

I pay all bills and Zach files all bills so it's easier to keep things straight. This system has worked great for us; now if we could just figure out a way to elminate bills altogether....

Also, on groceries, we are what you call "bulk buyers". Once every 2-3 months we make a trip to Sam's Club and load up on items such as granola bars, water, paper towels, etc. We keep a notepad on our fridge with a running list of items we're low on or have just run out of. Whoever uses the last egg or drinks the last glass of milk is responsible for jotting it down on the list. I make at least one SuperTarget run a week and grab all the items we've written down. This way, we never go more than a day or two without a full fridge and pantry.

I feel like I could rant about organization all day...sometime I'm hoping to share with y'all how we keep Bear's things in order. It's a job!

 

What are some of your organization tricks? Are you a list-maker, too? Please share!

 

 

Attention, Mommies! Baby & Momma 1-2 Month Must-Haves

I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert Momma. I've only been at this gig for ten weeks, so naturally I'm still learning the ropes. I can, however, tell you what items have worked best for us and have been our favorites over the last few months. I stumbled upon several posts like this while pregnant and found them really helpful when registering; hopefully this will help some of you, too!

 

 

 

 

1. Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack- This has been an absolute lifesaver. I started pumping a little over a week ago and the bottles, pump parts, etc. were piling up like crazy on our countertop. It was getting ridiculous, y'all. Something had to be done. I hopped on over to Amazon (the cure-all) and found this bad boy which has made our life lots easier. Just make sure you get the "lawn" size; it holds much more than the regular "grass" rack. Looks really cute on our countertop, too.

2. Nap Nanny- Yes, I know they've been recalled. Yes, we still use ours daily. In fact, this is what Bear sleeps in every single night. It's perfect because he struggles with reflux and the slightly upright position of the Nap Nanny provides more comfortable sleeping for our little guy. You can still locate some on Ebay and craigslist; I would highly recommend tracking one down. Just do your research and use it correctly. Baby will love you for it!

3. Munchkin Steam Guard Microwave Sterilizer- Trust me on this one, you do not want to have to boil water every time you sterilize baby items. Throw everything in, pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes, and you have germ-free bottles/pacis/etc. It's like magic.

4. Booginhead Pacifier Clips- These are the most clever invention ever. Not only are they super cute and come in all different colors and designs, but they also keep baby's pacifier from constantly (and I do mean constantly) hitting the nasty floor. My brother and sister-in-law ordered us four of them and we have used them every day since.

 

5. Chicco Keyfit 30 Travel System in Fuego- Since we've only used this carseat/stroller combo, I can't rightfully compare Chicco to other brands. I can, however, say that we love ours. Love love love it. The stroller rides well and Bear falls asleep the minute we start pushing him. We call it the Sleep Buggy. Make sure to get a second base for Daddy's vehicle, too.

 

6. Summer Infant Mother's Touch Deluxe Infant Baby Bather- I honestly can't say enough good things about this bather. Put it on your registries, ladies! You won't be sorry. Bear has taken all his baths in this and he seems to really enjoy bath time. We set it in our tub and wash him down; he's been using it since the night his umbilical cord came off.

7. Munchkin Arm & Hammer Pacifier Wipes- Just picture this: You're in Target, first official outing with Baby and without Daddy, and things are going smoothly. Dollar Section's got those good Frosted Animal Cookies you love. All of a sudden, Baby exhibits superbaby strength and manages to hoist his pacifier over the side of his carseat. You, being a first-time Mommy and not-so-great-diaper-bag-packer seem to have left all other pacifiers at home. The floor looks nasty. In fact, there's a pile of crumbled animal cookies right by the neglected paci. Oh, but wait, you did remember to pack the handy dandy pacifier wipes! You're saved. Superbaby is happy once again. Nice job, Mom. (this may or may not be based on a true story...)

8. Safety 1st Deluxe Healthcare and Grooming Kit- This was a shower gift that we have absolutely loved. We use the contents daily; from the nail clippers (use while baby's sleeping!) to the thermometer...we've used it all. Added bonus is that it comes in a cute travel bag, great for tossing in the diaper bag on your way out the door. You'll have all Baby's grooming necessities in one handy little bag.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1. Bamboobies Super Soft Washable Nursing Pads- My mother-in-law picked these up in the hospital lactation center; silly me had no idea these things even existed, nor just how badly they'd be needed. This brand is amazing because they're organic, washable, and super soft. Each pack comes with three regular sets and one thicker overnight set, which you'll definitely want.

2. Babymel Satchel- I did a lot of research on diaper bags while expecting and finally decided on the Babymel Satchel. I wanted to make sure Baby and I would not only be out and about in style, but also have plenty of room for everything we need. This bag is the perfect size. I'm also a bit of an organization freak and love how the big front flap opens easily and keeps all my stuff seperate from Bear's (and not milk-crusted). I also really like, and use, the insulated side pocket for bottles.

3. Gillian & O'Malley Side Sling Nursing Cami- I own two of these, one black and one gray. They have been my best friends over the last ten weeks. They're perfect for both around the house and on the go nursing.

 

 

 

4. Cool Gear Chiller-I'm sure you've already heard, but breastfeeding makes you thirsty. Parched. Desperate for H2O at all times. With a cute chiller like this one, you're not only being green but also sure to stay hydrated. Zach can tell you, my "fancy pink cup" never leaves my side.

 

5. Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags- You will quickly find that throwing away breastmilk is not an option. You work hard to pump that milk and would rather dip your Oreos in it as to see it go to waste. Seriously. These storage bags are the perfect fix; rather than junking up your fridge with bottle after bottle of milk and constantly wondering which bottles have gone bad, pour milk into these storage bags and pop them in the freezer. So easy, so efficient. I tried several different brands and these seemed easiest to use.

 

6. Bath & Body Works PocketBac Holder- On our first few outings, I carried around a bottle of Germ-X in a pocket of our diaper bag. Didn't work. I could never find the silly thing when I really needed it. Yes, our diaper bag is organized, but in moments of "omg there's baby poop on my fingers and I really don't want to touch anything" crisis, you'll want one of these handy antibacterial holders on the strap of your diaper bag. Trust me. Plus, they're cute and come in all sorts of fun colors.

 

Other tips:

-Buy two or more Boppy (or other nursing pillow) covers. Baby will spit up, throw up, and all other kinds of "ups" on the pillow and you'll need back-up.

-Bring home the baby socks from the hospital. A-you paid for them, B-they're likely the only socks that'll fit your little one for awhile.

-Lanolin is amazing but will stain your clothes. I learned this the hard way. Remember those bamboobies I told you about? They'll also protect your bras/tops from permanent Lanolin stains.

-Gripe Water works wonders for gassy tummies (doesn't work on husbands though...I tried).

-Gowns are the best sleepwear attire. Zach frowned and called them "dresses" at first but quickly learned that late night diaper changes are much easier without zippers or snaps. Old Navy has really cute, soft gowns in 0-3 months; we looked high and low for gowns in that size and my Mom finally found them there.

-Enjoy every single precious moment.

 

 

Other things we love but I'm too lazy to rant about:

Prince Lionheart Wipe Warmer

Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller

Bestever Blue Bear Baby Mat

Bull Wubbanub Pacifier

Munchkin Precision Digital Bottle Warmer

 

 

 

 I hope some of you have found this useful! Please, please comment or email with any questions you have...it's pretty obvious I love to talk all things baby :). Congratulations to all you Mommas-to-be!

 

 

 

What's In My Hospital Bag

As time ticks on slowly by, Zach and I are anxious yet starting to feel somewhat prepared for Tiny's arrival. Let's hope so...afterall, he is due NEXT week! I started packing our hospital bags last week (yes, we each have one...even Z) and finally feel like if Baby decided to make a grand entrance into the world tonight, we could load up and go.

I'm by no means an expert; this has all been packed based simply on what the hospital nurses advised and what I've researched from other blogs and experienced mommas. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share!

The bag was a Christmas gift from Zach's grandma last year; it's a Vera Bradley large duffel and I love it. Can't say enough good things. It's been perfect for so many weekend trips and seems to be just the right size for all my hospital necessities.

 

Here's what's inside:

1. nursing pajamas- These were a generous gift from a family member; she bought them for her post-delivery last November but never ended up wearing them. They are sooo soft and are made especially for nursing; I can't wait to give them a try!

2. slippers- for roaming the halls and potty-trips

3. comfy pajamas/robe- I've read on several of your blogs where a robe is a must-have during the hospital stay. With visitors coming in and out, it's a quick "I'm as presentable as it's gonna get" fix.

4. Boppy nursing pillow- This is something I've debated taking but think I'm going to stick with it. I know those first few feedings are crucial and want to be able to position Little Man just right.

5. nursing bras/tank- The bras were a gift (also from sweet Riley Ann!) and I purchased the nursing tank at Target. Nurses at our hospital advised not investing in nursing bras until your milk comes in, so I'm going to try these out before buying any myself.

6. cozy socks/undies- self-explanatory!

 

7. camera- We have a Canon Rebel T3i and absolutely love it. Hoping it captures some great shots during all the excitement!

8. comfortable shoes- My sister-in-law, Scarlett, gave me these Toms several Christmases ago and I've been obsessed ever since. What's not to love about cute "slippers" that are totally acceptable for public wear? I packed them for the trip home.

9. going home outfit- As much as I'd love to leave the hospital in some fancy schmancy dress or even just my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans, I've facing the reality of the situation...putting on this velour tracksuit will likely be all the fashion I'll be up for.

10. makeup- to freshen up before guests and hopefully feel a little more put-together after labor

11. baby book- for guests to sign

12. library book- I know, I know...you're probably thinking, "Does she really think she'll have time to read a few chapters in between contractions?". The truth is I just never go anywhere without a good book. You never know!

13. nursing pads/Lanolin cream- I think the hospital provides these, but I'm not sure and want to be prepared just in case.

14. snacks- What you see has been quadrupled since this picture was taken. I'm a candy-holic, so candy is a must, but also threw a few granola bars in for good measure.

15. iPad- for Facebook updates, of course

16. toiletries- This bag will have a few last minute items thrown in, but I've also bought several travel-size items for convenience. Shampoo, body wash, face wipes, etc.

 

This adorable babyprints frame wasn't pictured above but has since been added to the bag; it was a gift from our friends Whitney and Garrett (over at Keeping up with the Cyperts). I'm hoping the nurse will put his little prints in the frame for us!

 

 

There are several items not listed that we can't pack until the last minute such as phone and camera chargers, pillows (I've heard the hospital ones are no bueno), contacts/glasses, etc...but hopefully this list will help some of you other Mommys-to-be when you're considering what to pack for your hospital stay. I'm planning on doing a run-down of what was used and really necessary after Baby Boy gets here. If you have any tips or advice, please send them our way!

Thanks for reading, friends!

  

Turn Any Purse Into a Diaper Bag!

Awhile back, I posted a picture of the Steve Madden "diaper bag" Z and I found at Home Goods. I fell in love with it instantly depsite the fact that it's not officially a diaper bag, but instead a satchel. We figured we could make it work since it's the perfect size for Tiny's things (while still being stylish).

After looking closer at the inside, I began to worry. The cloth material seemed like it would get filthy from bottles, dirty wipes, etc. (gross!) and it was too big of a space to really organize baby necessities.

One day, I was surfing Amazon when I came across this. The perfect solution to our little problem...a diaper bag insert organizer.

Zach ordered it right away and viola! It fits perfectly inside my new "diaper bag" (I can quit using the quotations now, right? Since the bag's been converted and all...).

It's made of durable, waterproof material so it's easy to wipe clean. Thank you, Amazon! You really are like magic.

I'm sorry for all the baby-related posts lately; thank you guys for bearing with me. Little One has definitely taken over our lives and it's apparent through this blog. It makes us happy, though, so there will surely be many more baby posts coming your way :).

Closet Reveal

Happy Hump Day, friends! Hope you are all having a fabulous week. I'm going to preface this post by telling you that my closet is dedicated to my sweet husband. You see, we each have our own in the master bath, but mine is a tad bit bigger. He originally suggested the possibility of hanging a few shirts in one side of my closet and of course I agreed, but the more clothes I hung the more I realized that unfortunately (for Zach) this wasn't an option. I'm a female, afterall. We have three dressers and four other closets that he can take his pick from. But this Baby, she's all mine. Since he didn't get to share, all the paintings you see hanging were made by him so that everytime I walk in, I think of how beautifully creative he is. Good trade-off, right?

Ohhhh, the vulnerability I'm feeling right now. This is like opening up a small piece of my heart to you guys. Good thing you are all so kind, or else this would be just too much. It's not Kim Kardashian's closet, but I'd rather have a successful marriage than a successful closet any day.

Without further ado, let me explain to you the closet that's been put together (so far).

The way the bathroom is set up makes it really difficult to get a picture from the outside, so this is from the doorway looking in. I hope to eventually get all matching hangers, but for now this will have to do.

The racks are grouped into coats, blouses, t-shirts, and track suits up top...dresses, shirts, and pants on bottom.

We received two of these lovely iron key-holders as wedding gifts. One is hanging by the backdoor and one found it's home as a purse-holder in closet de Brittany.

 

Being the cheapskate that I am, I tried to be resourceful and use things we already had but couldn't find a place for. This little belt-holder is actually a picture stand. It sticks out from the wall far enough to hold plenty of belts, even the widest ones.

Told you it was dedicated to him.

Here's a breakdown of the top shelves. The bathing suit bucket is from Dollar Tree and the aqua baskets were $5 each at Lowes. The hat box was a gift from my grandma. Thanks Nana!

This scarf-hanger, my friends, has a story. I'm sure you can tell that it's actually a towel ring, but it works perfectly at it's new position. I was in Bed Bath & Beyond recently buying some of these bad boys for our bathrooms and picked up an extra one we didn't need. In my little-kid-on-Christmas-morning like way, I ripped it out of the packaging before I even realized we didn't need it. Since it was $12 (say what? for one of these thingies?) I was determined to give it a purpose. I think it likes it's new home.

Boots, heels, and flats all rest on the shelf in between top and bottom hanging clothes.

...and a few got "booted" to the floor.

Because there wasn't enough room to neatly display all my shoes, I decided to put them out in seasons. Which, in Houston, consists of summer (11 months of the year) and winter. It doesn't have a lid because I believe shoes, being much like people, need to breathe. This bin is perfect for rotating shoes that are only good during the warm months....

and cold months month.

This was also my first time attempting color-coordinating. It made me want to eat Skittles.

And one more look at the left side through the door. Thanks for visiting, y'all! Hope this has given you some cheap and simple ideas to organize your closet.

If you have any other suggestions or methods of organization you use, I would love to hear them!

Linking up at Inspire Me Fridays!