This adorable piece is made of terry cloth and is very absorbent for wet pool days or a romp at the beach.  The flower petal hood is not only cute, but it actually provides a good amount of coverage from the sun shading your little one’s eyes and face from direct sunlight.  The zipper makes it great for quickly covering up when the temperature changes or if she’s just had too much fun in the sun and needs added protection from the wind and sun.  It also coordinates perfectly with a cute pair of flip flops and swim suit.  All she’ll need after that is a cute pair of sunglasses and she’s all set for her first day in the sun.

There is no preparation needed and these little packs of goodness are packed full of vitamins and necessary nutrients for a growing baby.  Plus, you can’t beat the portability of these pouches.  They don’t spill and they can be found in gluten free versions, each one rich in protein, complex carbohydrates and other vitamins and minerals. If you haven’t tried these out yet, you’re missing out.  They are so good, I include them in my own diet from time to time when I need a quick healthy snack on the run – literally (I bring along a pouch on my long training runs for a quick and healthy energy boost.)

My friend absolutely loves the sock monkey, as she is a huge fan of monkey styled baby things.  So I decided it was blog worthy as it has been a huge hit with other moms.  It’s 100% polyester and most importantly it’s machine washable, which many stuffed baby toys all recommend hand washing or soft cloth wiping as they can’t hold up to machine washing, but this Sock Monkey has lived through several wash cycles and her little one still loves it.  The best part is this Snuggle Buddy Sock Monkey is a combo toy and security blanket, making it two gifts in one.

This diaper bag even expands adding a little extra room when needed and it looks great.  It’s material is soft and lightweight, making it very easy to wipe off any messes.  One if its best features is the stroller straps that have a great non-skid surface that securely adhere to your stroller handle.  The Versa diaper bag has lasted done everything for me that it claimed to do and the best part is, it doesn’t look like a little kid bag, but a sophisticated  bag any woman would be proud to carry.  If you’re in search a well priced, high quality diaper bag that is functional and stylish, look no further.

And when it comes to the alternative metals like titanium and tungsten, traditional engraving methods and jewelers tools don’t work as the metals are too hard, so laser engraving is done.  We had this done on our tungsten carbide wedding bands a year after our wedding as an anniversary gift to each other.  It was a great touch and gift and because tungsten is so strong, our rings still look as good today as they did a year ago without the need of dipping or polishing.

For little girls, there are so many adorable options from brands like Carters, Naartije, Janie and Jack and others. I have been so in love with looking at and buying my little angel dresses that she can one day soon wear.  From pretty plaids in dark greens and blues to bright florals and paisley patterns, there are so many dresses that I wish I could wear them myself.  My current favorite is this Strawberry Blossom Apron dress from Janie and Jack.  It’s vintage inspired look is just too sweet and the nothing says spring and summer like strawberries.

The key to picking out the perfect ring for engraving is knowing which type of metal you want or your recipient would want.  There are many options and lots of information available to learn about tungsten rings, platinum rings, gold and even sterling silver.  When considering engraving, you’ll want to select a pretty simple ring design so as not to conflict with the engraving.  Then select your message, and location of engraving and you’re all set.  Many people engrave on the inside of the ring, but this can fade with time and wear, so you may also want to consider engraving your message on the outside of the ring and incorporating a personal or unique design.

Teutonia is a great brand and one I highly recommend.  The brand is affiliated with Graco and the Teutonia T-Tario 35 is very similar to the Graco SnugRide 35.  The main difference is the slight upgrades in the material, it boasts “luxury foam” and has a UV shade with SPF protection of 55.  It is light weight and fairly easy to carry, load and unload from either the base or stroller adapter and it comes in a few neutral colors.  It fits great into most strollers and you can get an extra base for another vehicle.  In fact you can use the Graco base which is slightly less expensive and gives the option of different colors, if you’re into.  Overall, I’d give this car seat a 5 out of 5 stars.

While, I’m not one hundred percent sold on the idea, I did find a few good places for massages in Orange County that I might treat myself to.  After a long labor and the recovery from an unexpected c-section, my body has definitely taken a toll, not to mention the post-partum transition back to my pre-pregnancy body.  Maybe,  after I’ve had a massage or two myself, I’ll consider a massage for my little one too, in the meantime, I’ll be extra attentive to her needs and give her little baby massages on her back, arms and legs.