November 18, 2016

Learn About the App: IFTTT & How It Can Simplify Your Life!


Simplify your life with an app? It's totally possible if you're ready to try IFTTT! Get the details on this app and start letting your phone help you lead a better life.


As a mama, I've learned that if I want to get anything accomplished I need to find some shortcuts. Instead of trying to speed home every afternoon or cutting a diaper change short, I've decided to try and make things I do anyways a little simpler with "IFTTT" or "If this, then that" - the app.

While initially setting up my applets took a little bit of time, now I don't have to take 3 actions to share my twitter photos on Instagram, because the app does that for me.

IFTTT lets you do more with the services you love and applets within the app help you bring together services you love. From pairing your Insta with your Twitter to pairing your phones GPS with your lighting system, IFTTT has so many applets that can help you. So, with that said, here's some ways you should be using IFTTT in your life.

1. Automatically wish your friends a Happy Birthday on Facebook - Ever felt like a total jerk because you ignored the notification for a buddy's birthday and never took a minute to write on their wall? Use IFTTT and you'll never have that happen again. Just sign up to send well wishes and the applet will do it for you!

2. Share Instagram photos to Twitter as a photo (not a link) - THIS is literally the reason why I originally started using IFTTT. It may seem lazy but it's nice, as a "momtog", to share photos on Instagram and have them share directly to my most beloved social media platform, twitter. If you love both Insta and Twitter as much as I do, then this is a useful applet for you.

3. Be your own weather person, know when it's going to pour - Don't fret about whether it'll rain or not tomorrow... IFTTT will let you know. Just sign up for a notification and you'll always know if it's going to rain!

4. No worries when dealing with photo storage - Using google drive, back up your Android photos and never worry about having to transfer photos to an external or deleting extras. As a mama with a passion for photographing her baby, this was a huge reason I fell in love with IFTTT.

5. Hit the lights without lifting a finger - If you have the Hue system, which I talk about here, then you have to check out the IFTTT applets that sync up with the lights! You can change your lights to blue lights when it's raining, have your lights automatically turn off when you leave home, press a button to make hue lights color loop and more. I'm obsessed with playing with my lights and IFTTT has made them even cooler!

6. Keep track of everything with Trello - Whether you've heard of Trello before or not, now is the time to start using this app and paired with IFTTT, you'll never forget anything again! I love using this app to keep track of upcoming assignments, appointments, and fun stuff too. The coolest part is I can label an email with a specific label and IFTTT will create a card in Trello for that event. Making time for everything just got a little easier.

November 10, 2016

Add Some Sparkle with Just Born!

We're such big fans of Just Born that we're actually brand ambassadors, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48

Having a little girl means we are blessed with a ton of pink and sparkle in our house, so it comes as no surprise that we are obsessed with the Just Born Sparkle line for our gal. From the clothing to the changing pad covers, the line is absolutely adorable and the perfect girly touch for our little darling and her mermaid room.

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48


I shared how much I was looking forward to sharing Just Born with Delainey recently and now that she's here, we both agree that they only make stuff that makes a girl smile!

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48

Have you seen the latest from Just Born? When we were sent the crib rail guard in pink with a gorgeous pink crib sheet and the pink changing pad cover, both Delainey and I were gaga over the new additions to her room!

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48

The sheets are super soft and she loves just hanging out in her crib watching her mobile and feeling the gentle sheets against her, it's a blessing that she loves to spend so much time just lounging in her room and being curious.

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48


While the sheets are soft and perfect for my gal, the crib rail guard is a great feminine touch to her crib and great while she's little. I love the delicate female tone of pink and the gold embellishments are the perfect compliment to any nursery theme.

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48

Lastly, the changing pad cover is awesome. Why? It's mainly because it's the softest in our collection... but also because it sparkles!

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/brand/just-born/1048/fl_sparkle/1-48

So tell me, are you looking to add some cuteness to your baby's room or wardrobe? Check out the Just Born Sparkle collection and tell me which item you are going to add first!


Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!
http://www.laurenpaints.com/p/baby-shower-gift-guide.html

November 8, 2016

Delainey Kate: 2 Month Update


Oops, I'm a few days late... but Delainey is two months old as of November 2nd.


In some ways it feels like she's always been a part of my life and I'm in shock that it's only been 2 months... and in other ways, I feel like she just arrived and there's no way it's already been 2 months. Maybe this is just what parenthood feels like though?


Anyways, Baby Delainey had a big month:


She made her first craft with me before Halloween. We made little creatures with paint and her cute little footsies! Speaking of Halloween, that reminds me, she also celebrated her first holiday (other than Labor Day, which doesn't really count)!


She visited an amusement park for the first time and took her first nap on the beach. The amusement park was a joy with her, she slept a lot of the time and loved looking around and spending time outdoors... and well, she napped most of her time at the beach so she still has yet to really see it!


She now maintains eye contact, coos and grunts at us, and smiles all the time! She has a range of different cries that we are learning to identify, one that sounds like she's yelling "MAAAA!" and while it's pitiful it makes us laugh a little before we soothe her.


She is starting to gain control of her little head and loves to be sat up so she can look around at the world and take it all in. She has also rolled herself over a few times during tummy time, although we aren't claiming she can officially roll over yet because it's only happened a couple of times.


She loves being held and bounced around, especially by her daddy. He sings her a song with lyrics he made up for her and it may very well be her favorite song and oh-so-sweet.


Speaking of her favorite things, some other things she seems to favor currently include spending time outside, staring at the ceiling fan and the closet light when it's dark (what we use as a night light), and of course, she loves milk.


We think she may be a redhead, although it's hard to tell! Sometimes her hair has strong hints of red and other times we see blonde. She's a mystery... although, one thing that isn't changing much is her beautiful blue eyes! They are lightening some but still are very blue.


She's finally graduated into size 1 diapers and can fit into some of her 0-3 months clothing! Really, all I know is at two months old she's a dainty thing, but perfect in every way!


November 1, 2016

Keep Things Fun with Ahoy Boutique Sheets in Your Nursery!

Thanks to Ahoy Boutique for sending over these gorgeous sheets to include in the Baby Shower Gift Guide, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own.


https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique

You guys, time just keeps flying by and I realized I haven't even finished telling you about all my favorites in my baby shower gift guide... so I'm back at it! Today's post is about one of the best parts of Delainey's room and something I change fairly regularly - the sheets!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique

While sheets may seem like a small detail in a nursery, they actually are a center point. The first thing I see after I see her, something always in photos of her in her crib, and definitely part of the room that really makes the theme come through. That's why when I decided I wanted a couple of custom sheets for my girl's crib, I turned to Ahoy Boutique.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique


This little Florida based etsy shop is one of my favorites, with so many unique children's bedding options it's hard not to change the theme of Delainey's room weekly. Whether you are doing a bold striped floral look or a muted swan princess look, Ahoy Boutique has bedding to match the theme of your child's room!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique



Since Delainey has a tropical themed mermaid room, we obviously loved the more tropical sheet options! When I saw the pineapples I knew she needed these and once I felt them in my hand, I just knew she'd love the softness! These babies are perfect for my baby!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique

The other sheet I chose for her nursery is the geometric mermaid print! It's a gorgeous mixture of all the colors of her nursery and equally as soft as the pineapple sheet! Made with the utmost detail, these sheets will last for years to come!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique

Speaking of years to come, I'm also pretty excited because in a few years, when it's time to change the theme to something Delainey likes, we could always find the perfect match in Ahoy Boutique's collection!


https://www.etsy.com/shop/AhoyBoutique


So take a minute and see what fits your theme... As you can see, we fell in love with the pineapples and the mermaid print, what do you love the most?


Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!
http://www.laurenpaints.com/p/baby-shower-gift-guide.html