Made By Munchie's Mama

Mommy "Must-Haves" From A Three-Time Mom

2013-05-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

As I prepare for the arrival of Baby #3 and browse around the hot and trendy registry items on Amazon.com, I can't help but look back at those silly things I just had to have with Baby #1. You Moms who have been there and done that know the exact products I am talking about: wipe warmers, pee pee tee pees, the tricked out pack n play with the lullabies, vibration, changing station, satellite radio and auto pilot. While those things are all brilliant inventions: my boys bottoms survived chilly diaper changes, peed on them selves to spite my ninja like reflexes and Lennie and I ran right back to Babies R Us to return that crazy, fancy pack n play after we spent 2 hours sweating while trying to assemble it.

Needless to say, my wish list for this baby looks just a bit different from that one 4 years and 2 babies ago. Here is a peak at what's on my list for Baby Kennedy. {some links are affiliate links, but you will find these on my registry}

Puj Tub - The Soft, Foldable Baby Bath Tub (Kiwi)

Please tell me I am not the only Mom that battled that ginormous plastic bathtubthat was a permanent eyesore in your bathroom or kitchen while you counted down the days till your little one could graduate to the big boy bathtub! This tub fits right into the kitchen or bathroom sink then folds flat for storage. You can bet I will be kicking the big, blue, plastic monstrosity to the trash the second Amazon delivers this bad boy to my doorstep! Thanks Jen for introducing us!

Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Surround - Beige Dandelions

We had the boys sleep in a Bassinet beside our bed for the first couple months and during middle of the night feedings one of two things would happen: 1. I would be too tired to put them back and would fall asleep with them in the bed, then startle myself awake in a panic looking for the baby or 2. Practically drop them in to the bassinet due to sleep deprivation and poor depth perception. I can already feel the relief of not having to worry about smothering Baby Girl in my sleep or giving her brain damage due to head trauma.

My Brest Friend Original Pillow

When I had Gavin, The Boppy was all the rage! Imagine my disappointment when I had to prop 3 pillows under it so he was at the right height to nurse and then he would just roll in towards my stomach because it was rounded...nursing pillow fail. With Dylan I decided to give the My Brest Friend a try and LOVED it! Both those problems were solved and nursing was so much more enjoyable. Had I known that I would be having a little girl at some point, I probably wouldn't have purchased a cars and trains cover for it though. This coral, feather little number will be the perfect cover with just the right amount of "girlie".

Wubbanub Infant Plush Toy Pacifier Giraffe

Could someone please have told me about the Wubbanub BEFORE I spent way too long tracking down a beanie baby and sewing a Soothie Pacifier onto it's face myself?! Would have been useful information people!

Graco SnugRider Elite

My main concerns when registering for my very first stroller were #1: color {obviously} and #2...well, really I just wanted it to be cute. So I got a "handy" travel system because the car seat and stroller coordinated so beautifully. My back quickly convinced me that this was not the brightest of strategies in selection. It was so stinking heavy and annoying, I literally wanted to throw it across the parking lot every time I had to take it out of the car...oh wait, I weighted a million pounds. That was not possible. PSA for all you first time Moms: Skip the travel system...please! I beg you! Grab a Snap N Go like this one and then pick up a nice compact stroller like the Cybex Callisto Stroller! I accept "Thank You" gifts in the form of Edible Arrangements. Those things are delicious!

Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack Convertible Diaper Bag, Frolicking in Fez

Okay, so this was one trendy splurge that I whole heartedly support. This will be your new go to purse after all, you might as well make it an amazing one! This diaper bag is freaking awesome, has all the bells and whistles and pockets a Mama could dream of. Now a word of caution: steer clear of the "fabric" material bag and opt for the water resistant material. The closures are Velcro and will snag that outer material as will every thing else you pass by while carrying your adorable diaper bag. If you already have the fabric bag, don't throw yourself on the ground Scarlet O'Hara style and weep. Just pick yourself up a set of the Hush Velcro Silencers that cover the Velcro closures and use magnets to close the flap. These also help avoid those uncomfortable stares when you need to sneak something out of your bag in the middle of the prayer at church. P.S. when you unvelcro slowly, it doesn't make it more quite...you just get longer stares. Custom Necklace From Lisa Leonard Designs Ahhhh, the official "Mommy Badge"! Every Mom needs a necklace that represents her children. I got one after I had Gavin and poor Dylie never got added. #MommyFail #Middle Child You can bet that I will be sending this link to Lennie so that he can purchase my "push present" in time for Kennedy to grace us with her presence. So tell me...what is your #1 baby item that you simply could not live without. Or tell me what was your biggest waste of money.

Time to Focus: Nursery Inspiration with Land of Nod

2013-05-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Six / Thirty / Thirteen: Has a nice little ring to it doesn't it? I could have chosen Seven / One / Thirteen, but it just didn't feel right.

Yesterday I had my monthly check up to make sure Little Miss Kennie is lookin' good and we decided on an induction date of June 30th, 2013. She will be out of town the week I am due and there is no way I was going to risk her missing the delivery of my 3rd and final munchkin. She had delivered Gavin and Dylan I would have been devastated if one of the other Dr.s had to step in.

{These photos are from when Gavin & Dylan lived in the nursery}

Today the reality set in that in less than 6 weeks there will be a newborn living in our home. As I did a little tidying up in Kennedy's nursery I felt a little panicked. With the craziness of planning Elevate, decorating a nursery had to be put on the back burner in favor of saving my sanity.

I am so glad that I had gotten the big painting projects done weeks ago: the room, new dresser and vintage twin bed frame. Still her room leaves a lot to be desired. The walls have gone from baby blue and brown to stark white. I love the bright clean look, but I know that I at least want to do some design on a focal wall. I'm thinking light tan stripes??? I'm also thinking of swapping the dresser and crib so all the color isn't located on one wall.

I love the clean, crisp bedding and this Herring bone throw might be my favorite thing in Kennedy's room, but it just doesn't feel complete yet. The rocker in the corner was passed down to me by Lennie's aunt and as much as I love it, I would really love something a little more comfortable.

These wood frames are such a fun and whimsical shape...I'm having a hard time committing to a color to finish them off though. Good thing, paint isn't permanent! I purchased this vintage bed and dresser off craigslist and transformed them using homemade chalk paint. I have some ideas in mind for finishing this room up, but one of the problems I have run into color matching. I purchased some material online that I loved and used that to match the paint for the bed and dresser. While I usually shop online for convenience, it can make it hard to ensure that the items I purchase will fit in with my current color scheme. You could imagine my excitement when I found out that Land of Nod is opening up a store just 10 minutes away at South Coast Plaza! Problem solved! The South Coast store Grand Opening is literally just around the corner: May 31st! Land of Nod is having a huge party with lots of giveaways happening through out the day and special goodies for those who shop early...you can bet I will be one of those early birds! Just like Lennie enjoys a little pre-game action before a big football game, I have been doing a little "online pre-gaming" to prepare for what promises to be an epic shopping trip. Here is what I have my eye on... 1. These teal suitcases would be the perfect storage solution 2. I have been looking for a tan rug and this one is just perfect! 3. How cute would these knobs be with some mini ballet shoes hanging from them?! 4. I strongly believe that this glider would make me a much better mom, I think it's a proven fact that a comfy chair makes a happy mama. 5. Really...how can you go wrong with a beautiful, white, felt pillow?! 6. When it comes to crystals, I am a firm believer that bigger is better and this chandelier does it right. 7. How am I so lucky that they actually have those adorable suitcases in BOTH the shades I need??? Pretty sure that is a sign that it was meant to be. While taking home ALL of these swoon worthy items, may not be in my immediate future...there might actually be away to up my chances of making that happen! Land of Nod is having a Room Makeover Sweepstakes that ends on June 17th. Can you say perfect timing?! If you need me, I will be over there entering...every. single. day! If you want to keep yourself in the Land of Nod loop, here is how you can keep in touch: {Instagram} / {Facebook} If you could pick anything from Land of Nod to grace you home, what would it be? You can bet that glider is "numero uno" on my list!

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Land of Nod, but all my opinions are my own. #PMedia #NODinCA http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”

Elevate: The Back Story and Our "Why"

2013-05-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Back in the day {like 2 years ago} when I started blogging I was trying to navigate my way through blogger jargon, html codes and linky party rules. It can be so overwhelming to a newbie! I was doing my linky party duty one day and clicking around some links and notice that this one girls blog had the pretties little grouping of buttons at the bottom of her post that she had linked up. The buttons were all the same size and lined up just perfectly in a neat little block.

Jen & I sightseeing in Utah after SNAP! I thought to myself...I HAVE to figure out how she did this! I can be a little "Monica Gellar" when it comes to things all lining up and being neat and orderly. You really couldn't tell that from looking at the hot mess that is my home, but in business and my online life, things must all be in a pretty little package. So I found her email address and sent her a message that said something like, "I love how all your buttons line up! How do you do that?" Super smooth right! Here was her response: Hey there!
Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you, our computer is running so slow! Anyways, I got help with my button list from one of my blogging buddies, Jen, over at Life, Crafts and Whatever. Here is the link: http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-clean-up-those-buttons-yo.html and it is so much easier than you'd think. Before I was doing a text link and editing my post every time I found a new party, but now I just copy and paste the buttons I had put from my previous craft post and put it in my new one. You can make them whatever size you want and make them look clean and organized. The first time I was super nervous because it's somebody else's button :), but once I came to the realization that I wasn't going to delete my post, it became pretty easy. I hope that helps, let me know if you have questions! Also, I'm your 50th follower, yay! I love your about me-in my other life I would have loved to be a dancer...Wish I could say cheer helped me with rhythm, but it didn't! Would you ever like to guest post on my blog or do a giveaway? I am swooning over your pegboard! What a great idea! And your etsy shop is darling, you do it all! Don't feel pressured, no worries if you can't!
Thanks!
Jen Honestly, I totally didn't get how to do that button thing still, but a guest post! I knew what those were so I went with that. Hey Jen!
Thanks so much for the info...I am having a hard time keeping up with all these awesome link up parties, but my link up list is all wacky. I would love to do a blog swap if you are up for it! I usually like to swap on Thursdays because I post link up posts on the other days, but I am totally flexible. I have oct. 13th and 20th open. Let me know what you think!
Thanks again!
Summer We did our guest post swap and that was that for a bit. Then about 5 months later Jen sponsored my blog. In the middle of getting buttons and giveaway info she sent me this life changing email. Hey there!
Getting ready to write my guest post...what exactly do you want it to be about? My giveaway will be on that post, right? I have read a couple of the sponsor guest posts and they were about the blog, how they started, their family etc. Let me know if that is what you'd like.
Also, I have a question...promise you won't laugh!
I follow this blog and I hadn't looked at it in months because of how sick I've been with this pregnancy and when I did I saw that she had just put together a blogger social {maybe in the San Diego area because I think that is where she is} and it looked like a bunch of fun. They did 2, the first they had to cap at 30 and the second they had to cap at 60. She gives tips of how they put it together, I can send you the blog post if you want. I'm wondering if you'd be interested in throwing something like that in the next few months. Anyways, I have some ideas, but wanted to just run it by you and see what you thought. No biggie if you are super busy!
Thanks!
Jen

Hoop by: Take the Cannoli

I thought sure! That sounds like fun. A little lunch and maybe a speaker and call it a day. We can totally handle that! Pretty soon we were talking on the phone every night till midnight and Lennie started referring to Jen as "My Wife"...our little blogger meet up had turned into an idea for a full day conference. But our idea wasn't to organize just any conference, this one would be special. There are so many events out there that focus on the business of blogging, how to classes, tips & tricks and are amazing! But there was nothing out there that had a main focus of promoting actual friendships and inspiring women to believe that their story is important enough to be shared. That was where we wanted to go. We focused our planning on providing opportunities for the attendees to really connect and spark a friendship. Conferences can be one of the most intimidating situations in the blogging world because you are stepping out from behind the computer screen to put "the real you" out there with all your "flaws". You are no longer able to backspace and spell check before you put it all out there. There is no pic monkey-ing or photoshopping. It's just you....and a bunch of strangers. Scary...like really, really scary! Bags donated by: Laura Hernandez Photography / Graphic Design by: Madison Design Studio We included activities that facilitated an opportunity to meet new people without the intimidation of having to walk up to a group of strangers with nothing in mind to say. We carefully selected speakers that make sure that once these women walked away at the end of the night, they would know that they mattered both as people and as bloggers, that they have a story that is uniquely theirs, that they are the only ones qualified to tell that story and there somewhere out in blog land there someone that their story will touch in a way that no one else could. They could inspire and change lives just as their favorite bloggers do on a daily basis. This was our goal. Jen, Me & Nichole Even as we planned Elevate this year, our focus remained unchanged. Each minute, each activity, each speaker was carefully planned out to achieve this vision. Yes we still had conversations about business and shared the things we have learned about blogging, but the focus was still to inspire. The amazing swag and raffle prizes donated by our generous sponsors At the end of the night as we packed up all the decor that we spent countless hours planning, making and setting up we wonder if we once again achieved that goal that we set back in the initial planning stages of our first Elevate. And then we sit and wait and hope that those who spent the day with us got anything out of their time at Elevate. And then the we see posts like this one, this one and this one. Then when I feel all warm and fuzzy, the warmth continues with post like this one, and this one. Thank You to the Newport Dunes for providing a breath taking venue Posts like these make me breathe a sigh of relief, make me excited to start planning all over again, make me feel like I have made a difference. In a world where it is so second nature to tear each other down, I feel so blessed to be part of an event that promotes building each other up, supporting each other and facilitating an environment of inspiration. This is why Elevate was created and this is why it continues. Our amazing speakers: Kimmie, Sarah, Ashley, Erin Planning partners in crime: Jen & Nichole Nichole's Sister Jen, my Mom Terry, Jen's Mom Sue These ladies worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly A big hug and thank you to all of those who supported us, there are so many of you: speakers, attendees, sponsors, family, friends. It's because of you that lives are being touched and changed for the good. Till next year! Want a peek into the Elevate 2013 shenanigans? Here is the highlight reel!

Photos and video courtesy: Lora Knight Photography

Epic Silhouette Giveaway: Ends Tonight!

2013-05-13T14:08:00.002-07:00

I have a bit of a love affair going on right now.... Let me clarify! It's a crafting love affair, with my Silhouette cutting machine. I love it so much that I even named her, yep...it's a her. I love it so much that I actually own two! And yes, I named her as well. They are like the most awesome little old ladies that you just love to hang out with because they tell the best stories. Accept instead of telling stories, they make THE BEST projects!

Do you have a Silhouette? The possibilities with a Silhouette are endless!

Need anything paper related? Done Want to decorate with vinyl? No prob!

Have you seen the darling month by month baby onesies? Make your own!

I love my Silhouette and am having fun learning to create more with it! This last weekend Silhouette so generously gave away a Silhouette Portrait at Elevate Blog Conference to one of our attendees and to sweeten the deal they are giving one more away on Instagram!

Want to get your hands on the raddest crafting tool of life??? We got cha covered: Rules are below!

Easy way to enter:

1. Follow these peeps on Instagram

Silhouette

Delightful Deets

Munchies_Mama

Mother Hubbard

2. Repost the picture above

3. Use the hashtag #silhouetteelevate in the caption of your repost and tell people how they can enter too!

Hurry! You only have until tonight to get your entries in!

If that wasn't awesome enough, Silhouette is having a great deal through this Wednesday, the 15th for the Silhouette Cameo and chipboard, Silhouette Portrait and chipboard, and the chipboard if you already have either machine.

Look at the discounts!

Go here to read the details and use the code

ELEVATE

to take advantage of this offer!

I don't think we could have started off the week any better! Good Luck friends, I hope you win!

Sunrise Shortcake Popsicle Recipe with Probugs Frozen Kefir

2013-04-30T19:33:00.002-07:00

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Lifeway Kefir but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia ##kefirprobugs http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO”

I have a confession to make and if you know me in real life then it's not really a surprise: I may not be the best example to my boys of how to eat healthy. I just love my sweets! Moderation Shmoderation! Lucky for me, this Little Miss that has been growing in my belly for the past 7 months has kicked me into gear. I have been on a total healthy kick, I simply can't get enough fruit! No joke I ate a whole watermelon yesterday and I'm not even sorry. It was delicious! I have even been exploring new foods! Confession #2: I hate to try new foods. This baby has seriously been rocking my culinary world. One of the new foods I have tried is Lifeway Kefir. Heard of it? Neither had I till my girl Alissa started raving about it. Let me fill you in:

Keifer is a creamy probiotic dairy beverage similar to but distinct from yogurt. Lifeway offers the largest selection of Kefir in the world. Based on whole milk, low-fat or non-fat pasteurized milk, Lifeway Kefir has a unique effervescent quality that stems from the exclusive blend of kefir grains. The blend of cultures contains seven to ten billion CFU’s of 10 strains of bacteria, plus ProBoost, our exclusive pair of clinically proven probiotics to balance your body’s ecosystem, support digestive health and immunity – that’s 12 live and active cultures per cup.

In short: it's creamy, delicious and good for you! My boys have a current obsession with popsicles and although they totally chow down the the Lifeway Kefir ProBugs frozen treats all on their own, I decided to whip up these fun little layered Sunrise Shortcake Popsicles for them last Sunday.

Here is what you need: 5 T Cool Whip 5 Medium Strawberries (diced) 30 Mini Nilla Wafers (crushed into crumbs) 5 Tubes Lifeway ProBugs Frozen Kefir in orange (defrosted till soft) 1/2 T Butter (melted, not pictured) 6 small drinking cups 6 Popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. Mix melted butter and crushed Nilla Wafer still combined.
2. Layer 1 spoonful of each ingredient into the drinking cups in this order:
Kefir / Wafer mixture / Cool Whip / Strawberries / Kefir

3. Insert popsicle stick and freeze for 4-5 hours

To remove from cup: snip the top of cup with scissors and peel cup off

And then enjoy!

Here are some fun facts about Lifeway Kefir: * Filled with more beneficial cultures than other fermented milk products such as yogurt or buttermilk.

*Cultured for 14 to 16 hours, whereas most yogurts are cultured for just 2 to 3 hours. It’s that extra time that gives Kefir its high probiotic activity count (7-10 billion CFUs per serving) and its delicious effervescent taste.

*Made with organic milk from grass fed cows, free of rBGH (Bovine Growth Hormones) and antibiotics.

*An ideal milk substitute for infants, pregnant women, nursing mothers, convalescents and the elderly.

*A good remedy for digestive problems such as colitis and IBS, and is particularly helpful in reestablishing necessary intestinal microflora that may have been destroyed by antibiotic or other medical treatment.

*Available in 12 flavors in lowfat, nonfat, whole milk, children’s (ProBugs™), both lowfat and whole milk organic, and lowfat organic varieties under the Helios brand.

*Produced in 32 and 8 ounce bottles found in the dairy section of supermarkets, grocery stores, gourmet shops, delicatessens, and convenience stores.

*All of Lifeway's products are gluten free.

Lifeway Twitter / Lifeway Facebook / Lifeway Pinterest

What I Wore: From Maxi Dress to Maxi Skirt

2013-04-30T01:49:00.000-07:00

At 30 weeks pregnant and chasing after 2 other little guys, comfort is King right now! I love maxi skirts and with the weather getting warmer I am so excited to be able to break them out. Here is how I wore this tropical maxi.

Sweater, Shirt & Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Simply Vera for Kohl's

Want to know a secret???
This skirt is really a dress! Yep, you heard right.
It's a tube dress that I just rolled down to wear as a skirt. I don't really like tube dresses so this suits me perfectly. I love that it's a fun print in a neutral color. It makes it easy to bring in some bright Spring colors to complete this "Resort" look.

Obviously flats are a must in my current condition, but that doesn't mean that they can't be fun! The pop of color on the toe and snake print are again a great pairing of a neutral print that incorporates a bright color. Bonus: they are so comfortable! Here is where I am linking up. Check out more of my What I Wore posts HERE

Bump Date: Weeks 21-29

2013-04-29T01:40:00.000-07:00

I was looking back to see the last time I did a week by week photo update of this growing little bump and Holy Cow!!! It's been ten weeks! Where has the time gone? The fact that I am now into the single digit count down is just blowing my mind. It took me so long to start feeling good and now that I am actually enjoying pregnancy, it's almost over. {tear} I am so glad I did these photos with Kennedy. It's going to be so fun to put them all side by side to see the progression. I had great intentions of doing this with both the boys pregnancies, but I failed miserably. Thanks to you all for keeping me accountable this time! If you want to start from the very beginning.. Bump Date #1 Bump Date #2 Bump Date #3 21 week bump: night time morning sickness is back and heartburn is never ending, but she looks perfect and that is all that matters 22week bump: counting down the days till I get my epidural so I can finally have some relief from this hip pain...oh and get to meet my daughter 24 week bump: less than 4 months to go! Hope I don't get pinched today... #greenisnotonmycolorwheel happy St. Patrick's day! 25 week bump: feeling the need to purge and organize, can you say nesting??? 26 week bump: thus time next week I will be saying exactly 3 months to go which is so so scary!! 27 week bump: goodbye second trimester, hello less than three months till Little Miss Kennedy gets here 28 week bump: getting close to the single digit countdown and finding very few clothes that fit 29 week bump: feeling good and enjoying feeling #littlemisskennie kick finally. Girls got some legs!!!

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift ... PERIOD.

2013-04-26T13:18:00.001-07:00

This post contains some affiliate links although, I have many Lisa Leonard pieces myself and absolutely love her jewlery and a good deal so I wanted to pass on these coupon codes to you all. Okay, Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you don't let your loved ones know what you want now...chances are you won't get it. That is unless hubby decides to pay a grip for overnight shipping. Here is where I step in to save the day! My cape is at the cleaners, so you will just have to picture me in my super hero uniform. Spandex and baby bumps are always a Fashion "do" in my book. TODAY only: Lisa Leonard Designs is giving away a free pair of her Gold and Aqua Stone Earrings with every $25 purchase. Just enter FREEFORMOM at checkout. Awesome sauce right?! Well, it get's better! You can pair that promo with the coupon code BONUS15 which will give you 15% off any SALE item. I really don't think it gets any better than that folks! If you have been lurking around LLD and have been waiting for just the right time to buy, stop being a creeper and take advantage of this awesome deal! Here a couple of my faves: Happy Shopping! And feel free to email this post to your favorite Mother's Day shopper, after you grab one for your Mom that is. SHOP HERE

What I Wore: SNAP! Conference 2013

2013-04-23T00:28:00.001-07:00

I just flew in from Utah and boy are my arms tired! ... (crickets) I don't know why, but that seemed like the perfect way to describe the state of my brain right now. I arrived home from SNAP Conference a couple hours ago and I am just exhausted! It was way too much fun for this pregnant girl to handle apparently.

Beth, Me, Nichole, Jessica, Lauren, Angela I learned so much, met so many amazing women, was inspired, laughed till soda came out of Jen's nose (you had to be there) and made some incredible memories. I can't wait to share more with you all, but for now I thought I would start off with my SNAP maternity style.

Jen, Me, Nichole It was COLD! Well, at least for a California girl it was cold. There were a number of times that I walked by some Utah natives eating ice cream outside as I shivered and cursed the fact that I didn't have gloves or a scarf. We did a lot of walking from class to class and did a lot of sitting in sed classes so my outfits needed to be both stylish and comfortable. Daytime Day 1 Sweater: Target / Top: Stitch Fix / Jeans: Old Navy Door Printables Designed By: Allison @ Madison Design Studio Evening Day 1 (That's right, I had too much cute stuff so I made a costume change) Top: Stitch Fix / Jeans: Old Navy Daytime Day 2 Blazer: H&M / Shirt: Target / Jeans & Boots: Old Navy / Jewelry: Charming Charlie Evening Day 2 (We had a PJ/Craft Party) T-Shirt: The Printed Palette (most comfy and stylish casuals you will find!) Leggings: Stitch Fix Daytime Day 3 (What?! Doesn't everyone take their what I wore photos with a dinosaur skeleton?) Sailboat Top: Stitch Fix / Sweater, Jeans & Boots: Old Navy Necklace: Lisa Leonard Designs Evening Day 3 Sweater: Target / Shirt: Destination Maternity / Jeans & Boots: Old Navy

Necklace: Lisa Leonard Designs

If you haven't checked out Lisa's site, you need to stop by!

If you sign up for her newsletter, you get 15% off your purchase. Perfect for Mother's Day! Not to mention that she is so sweet and genuine, she was a keynote speaker this weekend and was so inspiring!

And did I mention, there were goats?!
I was a little excited.

I can't wait to share some of the business tips I learned and inspiration I received. It was like a double shot of espresso for my creativity and dedication to my blog and shop.

If you'd like to check out some of my past Fashion Posts click HERE

Linkin up with The Pleated Poppy

Giveaway Promote Spring Into Cash Giveaway

2013-04-14T23:15:00.000-07:00

I wrote previously about my secret weapon to growing the MBMM Community and it's time again for another Cash Giveaway with Giveaway Promote! The best thing about participating in GP Giveaways is that not only am I growing my community, I am also getting offer the opportunity to my current readers to win some cold hard cash! It's a win-win! Good luck to all of those who enter and welcome to all the new MBMM fans!

Welcome to the $500 Spring Into Cash Giveaway!

Hosted by Giveaway Promote.

We've teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you this fabulous giveaway. One lucky person will win $500 cash.

Enter to win $500 cash via PayPal.

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link to earn even more chances to win.

Open Worldwide.

Ends at 11:59pm EST on April 28th, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bloggers, we'd love for you to join an awesome group giveaway event like this one! Sign up to be emailed about future events hosted by Giveaway Promote.

Spring Into Cash Twitter Follow Page #4

2013-04-14T14:58:00.002-07:00

Welcome to everyone stopping by from the Spring into Cash Giveaway!!!

If you're a fan of the following accounts on Twitter, you are entitled to these free entries. If not, you can follow them here. Follow @simplysherryl Follow @monwithmac Follow @lilmissnerdgirl Follow @PracticalMommy2 Follow @MeasuringFlower Follow @pinkcouponcafe Follow @twoclassychics Follow @PBnWhine Follow @_motherhubbard Follow @LoriHardegree

I'd love it if you hung out for just a minute and looked around!

Here are a couple fun things to take a look at.

Most Recent What I Wore Fashion Posts

Most Recent Parenting Posts

Lennie and My Love Story

Lastly a little shameless self promotion:
I'm selling 3 styles of Nail Decals on VeryJane.com till April 16th!
Only $3.25 a sheet!

Good Luck in the Giveaway!!!

It Doesn't Have to be a Pinterest Party

2013-04-13T23:48:00.002-07:00

Remember the good ole' days? You know, the ones before Pinterest made us all feel like failures at motherhood, marriage, decorating and most of all throwing Birthday Parties? Dylan's birthday is Wednesday and that just happens to be the day I leave for SNAP Conference...Mom Fail! Partner that with being pregnant, planning Elevate and my need for throwing the perfect party...down to the coordinating paper straws, food labels and themed meal and the decision to not do anything special this year was sounding pretty reasonable.

He's only 2, he won't remember. I'm just way to busy to put a party on my plate too. Besides, if it's not going to be Pinterest worthy, then really what's the point. Seriously, what the heck is wrong with me! I'm not going to throw my son a Birthday party because I don't have time to devote hours and hours to a put together a party for everyone else...on the Internet. Thank goodness a good friend talked some sense into me and convinced me that it doesn't have to be a huge production. A simple party with our closest loved ones to celebrate Dylan's special day was really all we needed. It doesn't have to be a Pinterest Party!

So...I literally threw a party together in an hour and it was AMAZING! No stress, no pressure and I actually got to enjoy it. Who would have thought! Here is how Dylan's Ice Cream Social party all came together. The first thing I did was forgo the professionally designed Etsy invites (if you go that way, Madison Design Studio is my go to. Allison is amazing!). I whipped this invite up using PicMonkey.com and emailed and texted it to our family a couple days before the party.

Instead of spending a grip of $$$ at the party supply store, I went through my home to find things I already had and could use for the party. This chalkboard was made out of a $4 Walmart frame and painted with chalkboard paint to use for an event at church. I looked up some chalkboard signs on the Internet for inspiration and put my new chalk pen to work. There was a lot of wiping off and redoing, but that is the beauty of a chalkboard, it's not permanent. The table cloth was from Dylan's first birthday and you can never go wrong with red solo cups...classic!

Instead of slaving in the kitchen on a cake and spending hours rolling fondant, I enlisted the help of a professional. Nothing Bundt Cakes has by far the most delicious cakes on the planet! To add a little somethin' somethin' I folded up a piece of tissue paper, tied it in the middle and fluffed it out to a flower and simply plopped it down in the middle of the cake. This adorable cake stand I picked up at TJ Maxx Homegoods a couple weeks ago use it all the time. It was such a find!

I have kept all the bunting from my boys birthday parties and they definitely came in handy today. The bottom was from Gavin's first birthday (cut by hand before the days of the Silhouette) and the top was from Gavin's Robot 3rd birthday party. They don't match perfectly, but because the table cloth had all of these colors, it pulled it all together.

I had these coordinating bowls from Dylan's 1st birthday party and happened to have these matching plastic spoons in my stash. They were the perfect home for all the delicious sundae toppings.

My brother's birthday is April 14th and Dylan's is the 17th so we celebrated together. My boys are so lucky to have an Uncle who loves them enough to share his birthday party with them.

If you are in the Orange County area, you HAVE to stop by the Nothing Bundt Cakes in Huntington Beach! Heather, the owner, is just the sweetest and so helpful! Did I mention, they have samples...bonus!!! The red velvet is just to die for...the mini chocolate chips throughout put it over the top delicious!!!

Does this look like the face of a boy who cares if his party took 1 month or 1 hour to plan??? He had so much fun running around with his cousins, I couldn't imagine having celebrated any other way.

The Birthday Boys enjoying their Ice Cream Sundaes and Bundt Cake

Happy Birthday my sweet sweet boy!

Perseverance

2013-04-11T23:44:00.004-07:00

Today I took Gavin on a date to The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. It was so much fun to get to spend some one on one time with him. He is such a special little boy and days like today are a reminder of that. As I watched the other kids eagerly play and explore I spent the day trying to manage meltdowns. For a child with sensory processing issues, things that should be all fun and games are a constant balancing act of attempting to prevent tantrums and trying to stay calm myself. I find myself ready to throw in the towel at the first sight of him getting upset partly because I want to protect him from these difficult things that he has to go through and party because my anxiety gets the best of me. It's hard to be the mom of "That Child". You all know what I am talking about ... that child who is flailing on the ground, kicking and screaming in public.

My apologies for the phone photos, my camera died the second I turned it on.

My first reaction is to take him home, but I am discovering that the most important thing I can do for Gavin is to persevere. How can I expect him to learn to deal with circumstances that make him uncomfortable if I am not willing to do the same. As we sat in a large tent waiting for the Bubble Laser show to start...so did the tantrums. First came off the shoes, then the socks and then the tears. The transition from being out in the sunshine to sitting in a dim event tent was really hard for him. I was about to pack it up and head home, the fact that I needed to get home so Lennie could go to the A's game was the perfect excuse to duck out early. But I tried to distract him long enough for the show to finally start. Then came the clapping. My poor boy watched the first half of the bubble show with his hands on over his ears. The noise was just too much for him to process. Then it came...the moment where his hands came down and a smile showed up on his face. He had the best time! Running and jumping and clapping and squealing with excitement. It was that moment that was my pay off. We stuck it out, persevered and then came the reward. It was a valuable lesson for the both of us and I am grateful for a good friend who is loving and patient with my precious boy. Today was a good day. Wish us luck tomorrow, we have our 2nd appointment with the neurologist. We were 15 minutes late to our initial appointment because I got lost and they sent us away....simply could not find a way to make up that time in his 3 HOUR appointment. Don't even get me started!

What Easter Looked Like in 2013

2013-04-11T00:31:00.001-07:00

On Sunday my brother and I were talking about the LDS General Conference talks and marveling about the detailed stories that the speakers shared in their talks from their childhood. I asked him how he thought they were able to recall in such detail the events of so many years ago. His response was: Journals. I immediately had regret of not keeping a journal of my own to share when my kids were older...but who has time for things like that? Flash forward to tonight and I was thinking about sharing some of our Easter photos and it dawned on me: The blog is my journal. How had I not seen it before? As I share the ups and downs, the laughs and sorrows, the excitement and disappointments of day to day, I am documenting my life for my posterity. Just one more reason why I love this little space of mine. Here is what Easter looked like at the Alvarez Zoo in 2013.

How was your Easter? Did you post photos in your "journal"? Share a link, I'd love to stop by and check them out!

Oh Hey!

2013-04-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Oh hey there. It sounds a little strange, but I feel totally guilty writing this post. It's like this blog is one of my closest friends that I have been neglecting and can't bear to actually face. Ever since becoming pregnant posts have been few and far between, mostly consisting of bump updates and what I wore features...nothing deeper than a puddle. Truth is that I just didn't know what to say. Do I complain about how awful I feel, how tired I am, how naughty my kids are being (well I actually did write a post about that)? Who wants to read post after post of my pity party of one? Then when I finally started to feel like myself, life kicked back in and between my full time job, being a mom, working for Pollinate and filling orders from my shop...my usual bedtime became 1 a.m. Let me tell you, blogging while deliriously tired is NOT a good idea. Who knows what could come out of your mouth...er... fingers? And so I just didn't blog. And you know what, that's okay. Because what's most important is taking care of myself, my family and this precious little miss that will be making an arrival in LESS than 3 months! via I just love this quote. It has reminded me that it's okay to not be THAT BIG TIME blogger with the hundereds of thousands of monthly pagviews. Maybe it will happen someday, maybe not ever and that's okay because that's not why I blog. It reminds me that sacraficing time on my computer for time with my family is a good thing. It reminds me to just be happy with the everyday, ordinary life that I live because while I may be ordinary to most, to my family and to my Heavenly Father I am exraordinary. I'm starting to feel the blogging bug get back into my system and as I am wrapping up with the Dentist Office (that's right! Work from home Mom is my new title!) I'm finding more time for the things that I enjoy! Can't wait to get to know each other again my dear blog! See you soon! And just because I feel like it...here are some quotes that make me happy. via

via via via

What I Wore: Stitch Fix and a Baby Shower

2013-04-09T00:23:00.002-07:00

It's bee a busy couple of weeks around the Alvarez zoo! Easter, Spring break, baby shower...it makes me tired just looking back at it all. And to think, we are going to be adding a whole other person to the mix in just 3 short months! I'm exhausted and so so excited! More to come on all those things later, but for now here is what I've been wearing the past 2 weeks. Old Navy outfit / Guess Shoes Kohl's on top / Old Navy on bottom Old Navy

Kohl's on top / Old Navy on bottom (are you sensing a theme here?)

Ross sweater / Forever 21 top / Stitch Fix leggings / Old Navy boots These are THE most amazing leggings of life!!! The waist band is beyond comfortable and they are so soft! These were the only thing I kept from this weeks Stitch Fix box and I could seriously live in them. Sign up for Stitch Fix HERE!

Jacket H&M / Kohl's top / Old Navy bottoms

I thought that you all might be getting tired of seeing me in the same 2 bracelets every single week so I did a little retail therapy. Charming Charlie has whole table dedicated to the arm party...I could have bought them all! Perfect fit, perfect size and perfect sparkle!

Necklace Charming Charlie / Baby Bump courtesy of Little Miss Kennedy Bye Bye Feet!!

Earrings H&M Here is what I am wearing on my fingers this week! New arrow decals will be available in the shop this week! Linking up here

What I Wore: The Day I Deleted My Photos

2013-03-26T23:54:00.003-07:00

I kinda slacked off this week on the daily outfit photos. I figured you probably didn't want to see my sweats and painting clothes. On the bright side: Lennie and I painted the baby's room and I finished waxing the headboard and footboard for her room too! All my big projects are done and it feels so good!

Here is what I wore when I actually took a shower and got dressed this week. Dress: Kohl's Shirt: Old Navy Boots, Sweater & Scarf: Old Navy / Jeggings: Kohl's And on the not so bright side: I accidentally deleted all of the photos I took with my real camera. I was only able to recover 1 photo so here ya go folks!

Sweater: Ross / Shirt: Stitch Fix / Jeggings: Kohl's / Boots: Old Navy

Haven't heard of Stitch Fix??? Heard about it, but haven't given it a try???

Check it out HERE! It's my new obsession!

Update!!! Thanks to a program that I found while googling how to recover deleted photos called Recuva I got all my photos back! I'm so excited! Here are some more looks at what I wore.

Necklace: Payless Shoes / Bracelet: World Market Here is where I'm linking up!

Discipline: I'm Lost

2013-03-20T23:36:00.001-07:00

Most of the time when I write a blog post, it's to share something I may be going through or thinking about or learned that I hope will help someone or inspire them. Tonight I need you all to help me! Lately my kiddos have been sooooo naughty! They are really trying both my and Lennie's patience. They are just not listening; getting into things, taking diapers off, hitting the TV with wiffle ball bats, playing in the toilet. You name it...they do it. To be fair: we do have to take a little responsibility since we have not been very consistent on follow through from the beginning, but it's time to get this figured out before they are pushing candy cigarettes on the preschool play ground. We need to come up with a plan for discipline, but I don't feel like any of the "go to" methods will work for us. Sending the boys to their room results in them throwing up on purpose and then I get to clean it up..yeah me! Last night Dylan didn't want to go to sleep so he cried till he threw up in his crib (this took maybe 5 minutes of crying) and then when I made Gavin go downstairs and sit on the couch, he threw up on the couch. It's a no go folks! I considered redirection and spanking, but then I would literally be either entertaining them ALL DAY and NIGHT or spanking every 5 minutes. Ain't nobody got time for that!!!

Source: society6.com viaChelsea on Pinterest

All right peeps, let those pearls of wisdom flow!!!

Signed,

A mama at her whits end

What I Wore: Stitch Fix Non Maternity-Maternity

2013-03-18T00:52:00.002-07:00

A few months ago I read about Stitch Fix on my girl Nat's blog and was intrigued. I wasn't quite sure I was brave enough to venture out of my Old Navy comfort zone, but after seeing month after month of fabulous pieces that her personal stylist had sent her I had to give it a go. I wasn't sure that being 5 months pregnant was the right time to try it out considering it does not have a maternity option, but I threw caution to the wind and a few "I'm knocked up, send me something flowy" pleas into my application.

I didn't expect to fall in love, but as soon as I opened the box and saw navy with white stripes and black sheer material and got really excited! I was very pleasantly surprised with my selections and knew I was in trouble...or at least my bank account was. Here are some "high quality" cell phone picts of this weeks maternity wear followed by my favorite Stitch Fix find. Seriously...how amazing is this top?!! I just love finding pieces that will work with my growing bump as well as that very flattering after baby belly. (why don't they tell you that you come home from the hospital still looking 9 months pregnant???) BTW: It also comes in different colors! I die!

Earrings: Forever 21 / Bracelets: Charming Charlie & Stella and Dot Are you ready to try out Stitch Fix for yourself? If you enjoy having a personal shopper, clothes shipped directly to you to try on with your existing wardrobe and keeping up with the latest style trends then the answer to that question should be YES!!! There is a wait list so don't wait, sign up now! About Stitch Fix: Stitch Fix is a personal styling service that delivers a truly personalized Fix^™ of accessibly priced items directly to doors across the United States. Stitch Fix hand picks pieces for each client, to ultimately help them look and feel their best. Over time, Stitch Fix tracks and learns from each client’s preferences, likes, and dislikes making it the only shopping experience that can know women’s tastes even better than their friends. Stitch Fix works with over 200 brands, from up-and-coming labels to more established designers. Based in San Francisco, Stitch Fix has over 50 employees and ships throughout the U.S. Linking up here

Gender Reveal Printables

2013-03-12T23:56:00.004-07:00

When we found out what the gender of "Baby C" was going to be, we wanted to make a celebration of announcing it to all of our family and friends. I made an invite, banner and printed a chart for everyone to guess the gender of this little one.

I printed the 2 pages of the banner, cut out the circles around the outside of the dots, punched holes on the top of the circles and strung it on some twine. Then I added baby girl clothes to the end of the banner with clothes pins. We took he banner out of a bag little by little to reveal the gender of our little baby Kennedy.

I thought that I would share them with you all in case you should need them sometime in the future. Just click the photo to download. You can use any editing program to add your info to the invite at the bottom. I like picmonkey.com but you could even use microsoft publisher! Enjoy!

Invitation: Add your party details at the bottom and print size 4x6

Guest Gender Guess List

Banner page 1 (print on 8.5x11 paper)

Banner page 2 (print on 8.5x11 paper)

Growing Your Community: My Secret

2013-03-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

Hey friends, I wanted to share an awesome opportunity to grow your readership and social media following! Jen from Delightful Deets first introduced me to Giveaway Promote and I have found it to be the most cost effective way to grow your community. I first participated in their Winter cash giveaway and my numbers in FB and Twitter both grew by over 600 new fans!

The great thing is that almost all of those followers have stuck around. I have done sponsorships on both small and large blogs, donated countless product and ad space and never got the return I was looking for. Participating in Giveaway Promote giveaways have given me the return I am looking for without the high cost of advertising on blogs or the hastle of providing photos for product giveaways and sacraficing the time to work out delivery of the prize. Don't get me wrong, occasionally I still donate items to giveaways, but it's because I love my friends and enjoy supporting them when ever I can.

I have found that it doesn't matter if your numbers are growing organically or by doing giveaways: as long as you are providing quality content that is engaging, your numbers will steadily grow because those people enjoy being part of your community. For those of you who are looking to grow your numbers and in turn enlarge your blog community: Giveaway Promote is my #1 suggestion.

Click HERE if you would like to get in on their $500 cash giveaway and please let them know that Summer from Made By Munchies Mama sent you. I promise you won't regret it! PS: buy in is as little as $5!!! PPS: Just wanted to let you know that this is not a post sponsored by GP, I just wanted to pass on this amazing tool to all my friends!

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What I Wore: A Lil' Bit Country...Maternity

2013-03-05T23:29:00.002-08:00

Here is another look at what i wore this week on this little baby bump of mine. So sorry about how blurry the phone pics are. I don't understand why Lennie and I both have the same exact phone and his takes super awesome photos!!! There is a good chance it may be user error lol. Now that you have gone cross eyed trying to get your eyes to focus, I'll do you a favor and give you some that are a tad more clear. Have I told you how much I love my camera remote yet??? Oh, that's right I did, but I love it so much I had to tell you again.

If you want to browse around some more of my outfits HERE IS A LINK. I happen to be linking this post up right HERE. On a total side note: I will be taking Gavin to his first appointment with the CHOC Neurologist tomorrow...they say it will be 2-3 hours long. Yikes! Wish us luck that neither of us have a melt down. Prayers are appreciated! (he is perfectly fine btw, they are just looking into his speech and sensory processing delays). I'll give you a full report later.

$50 Nail Decal Giveaway

2013-03-03T23:32:00.004-08:00

It's been awhile since we have done a little giveaway up in here so here is a fun and easy one for you. I'm selling my decals on Very Jane.com today and tomorrow at a huge discount so all you have to do is share the deal info with your peeps and you might win a $50 credit to the MBMM Nail Decal shop. Details below.

How to enter: 1. Screen shot the image above and share it with your instagram peeps. Make sure you tag @munchies_mama and tell them to "follow @munchies_mama and visit @veryjane to get their nail decals at a huge discount." Use the hashtag #mbmmgetfifty and if you are a private user come back here and leave a comment that you shared on instagram. 2. Share a link to: https://veryjane.com/deal/2821/nail-decals-chevron-bunnies-and-bows-choose-from-21-colors on your facebook and/or twitter pages telling your friends to "check out the cute nail decals that Munchies Mama is selling on Very Jane!" Make sure to tag me for your entry. F:@made by munchies mama T: @munchies_mama and come back here to comment that you shared on FB or Twitter. You can do each of these once a day. I'll pick a winner Tuesday at midnight and announce on Wednesday morning. Will it be you? You lose out on 100% of the giveaways you don't enter so why not give it a shot?!

What I Wore: A Whole Week of Maternity Fashion

2013-02-26T23:40:00.001-08:00

This week I started taking more photos of my outfits. I finally let go of needing everything to be perfect in order to take a photo: the photography, lighting, make up, hair, my messy room. I just let it all go and I loved it! I enjoyed hearing your feed back when I posted on Instagram or Facebook, it was just the little boost I needed to get out to of this maternity funk. So here is what maternity outfits I came up with this week. Warning: photos are far from professional or perfect, but I did them and that's what matters....right?

And finally, here is a little dose of truth. I have been too tired to take photos in the morning before I have to rush out the door to work so I always tell myself that I will just do it when I get home. The photo below is proof that this train of thought might not be the best way to go. Linking up here

Mani Monday: Birds on a Wire

2013-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted a new set of decals and I couldn't wait to share this one with you. Last night I was painting my nails and the idea of cute little chicks came to me. Then I looked at my stripe decals and a lightbulb came on: Birds on a Wire!!! I just love how they look in my blog header and thought they look even cuter on my nails. And that is how this mani was born! You can buy the decals to recreate this look HERE.

Check out all the other Nailed It Decal designs HERE Linking up with Mani Monday