October 15, 2017

Super Sweet Sprinkle Sundae Baby Costume Inspiration



You know, I didn't think she could get any sweeter...


Then I put this pastel sprinkle covered Rylan Nicole Designs romper on her and I realized I was mistaken.


This little Sprinkle Sundae costume is by far the easiest little Halloween outfit ever! Why? Because Rylan Nicole Designs did all the work and sent this beauty over!


I just added the cute little cherry from Bloomology on top out of her little noggin, for the finishing touch to her Sundae costume! With that said, it's SUNDAY... which means customs open soon! I can't wait to see what custom blooms y'all have in mind!

 
Enough about bows though... Isn't this little sundae bench the cutest place ever for my Sprinkle Sundae to show off her sweetness? I am obsessed!


And... I'm not exaggerating when I say Delainey Kate stopped traffic in Clearwater Beach today to get these photos. Seriously.


Everyone that was walking on the side walk stopped, I heard a handful of people mention how sweet she looked and I heard about a dozen people say "she's so cute" as we took our photos... and Delainey ATE IT UP. She seems to be losing her shy tendencies and that makes me so proud!


My sweet girl is getting big... and I'm just thankful for moments like this.



Moments with her, being so sweet and gaining independence right in front of my eyes... or in this case, in front of my camera lens. I know in the future I'm going to look back on all of these moments... and these photos and smile.



But for now, I'm doing my best to cherish each sweet moment with this tiny sprinkle-covered toddler.






October 14, 2017

Moms Don't Get Sick Days: Why I Chose to Ask an Expert Today!

Today's conversation is sponsored by Samsung via MomTrends.

Moms can't be sick, it's an unspoken rule. But if you're feeling under the weather, check out how you can EASILY and QUICKLY be seen by a medical professional from the comfort of your own couch...

It was bound to happen... and for the first time since I had D, it happened today.

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Y'all... Today, I woke up with a sore throat, a scratchy feeling in my ears, a slight fever, and an overall BLAH feeling. Oh, freaking no. My life is busy, as is, there's no time for being sick. Moms don't get sick days! It's just like an unspoken rule or something, we literally can not be sick.

Moms can't be sick, it's an unspoken rule. But if you're feeling under the weather, check out how you can EASILY and QUICKLY be seen by a medical professional from the comfort of your own couch...

I wasn't sure what I was going to do... but I knew I had to act fast. I'm sure you can relate, mom life doesn't leave much time for contemplating decisions. With a toddler bouncing around in bed with me and growling like a wild animal, I knew it was time to start the day... whether or not I felt up to it or not. So I made my plan and executed it, almost flawlessly, may I add.


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The first thing I did was gargle with salt water and make myself a cup of honey-lemon tea.

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Next, I knew I had to see a doctor, but wasn't sure how I was going to swing that with Miss Crazy Pants in tow. Then I remembered, I can just use my phone! Samsung Health makes it all easy as pie.

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So...instead of trying to get myself and D dressed & put together for an in-person Doctor's visit, I was able to consult with a qualified physician from the comfort of my couch using Ask an Expert on my Samsung S6 Edge. I can't even begin to tell you what a relief this was.

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I didn't have to worry about D catching something while waiting for me to be seen at a local urgent care, because we were literally able to watch her shows while I waited to be "seen" by the doctor.

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I love how convenient Asking an Expert was, I literally just pressed a few buttons, chose who I would see, and then waited a few minutes until it was time... and of course, D had to say hello and help me discuss my symptoms.

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Then... He told me to take it easy, get some rest, and make sure I'm getting plenty of Vitamin C. HA! And while I wish I could do all of that, it simply isn't going to be happening any time soon, at least while I have D in my care. So I amped up the vitamin C and we did our very best to take it easy today, which still included lots of time playing and chasing my tiny boss around the house.

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While I'm not feeling a hundred percent myself yet, I think I'm on the road to recovery and I'm thankful I was able to Ask an Expert and confirm it was just a common cold without even having to leave my house.

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Are you feeling a little under the weather or maybe your sweet pea is breaking out in a rash? If you're a Samsung user, here's some good news (even though I'm sure you're stressing):  you can see a doctor easily, just like I did! PLUS, I have a discount code you can use, save $10 when you use the code 'SAMSUNG24'! But just so ya know, this expires 3/31/18.

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Disclaimer: Compensation for this post was provided to me by Samsung via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Samsung or MomTrends. Ask an Expert (Online Doctor Visits) is a service offered through Samsung Health that helps you easily connect to medical and wellness experts from your phone. Samsung Health requires a compatible Android phone and a Samsung account. The Online Doctor Visits service is available in the U.S., except in Arkansas. The service is not for people suffering from medical emergencies or serious life-threatening conditions.  If you have a serious medical concern, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.

Mini Blogger Costume Inspiration & Why We're Playing Dress Up Everyday During The Month of October




Well, it was bound to happen... 
Y'all, Delainey Kate officially became a blogger today!


Just like her mama -- she decided to dress up, photograph it all (while even sneaking in some selfies), and then sit down and type it all out.


I think I've said this each day as I share a new costume idea or DIY project this month... but this Blogger costume is most definitely my favorite and one I think I'll always look back on and giggle.


She seriously looks like a more adorable, drooly, and significantly more fashionable version of me... and while I kind of feel silly saying it, I loveeeee it!


She's the definition of a girl boss in this "blogger costume", which in turn kind of makes me feel more empowered.


Realizing I've created this is something to be proud of and I'm not going to mask that pride.


And by this, I guess I mean all of it - the costume, the adorable baby, and this blog -- our livelihood. I'm not trying to brag, but that's pretttyyyy cool.


I'm proud of that and I think Delainey is proud of me, so can I get an "AMEN" for teaching her that she can be anything she wants to be - including a painter with a unique style like Frida Kahlo or a blogger with some sharp wit... like well, silly ol' me. Ha.


I've had a few recent comments about a costume or a photoshoot a day being too much for her. But I think those people are missing the point of all of this. I'm not sitting her in front of the camera and shouting "CHEESE". We are doing something new, learning, dressing up, getting hands on, and having a good time, every single time she's in front of the camera.


That's what this month is really all about. Having fun and teaching Delainey to dream big, while also exposing her to new things. Do you think we always talk about Frida Kahlo and let D smack the walls with a paint brush or make Delainey little play laptops? Nope. This is all learning through play.



Believe it or not, dressing up and letting her explore the world is helping Delainey to develop social and cognitive skills like building her vocabulary and engaging her memory, while also helping her mature emotionally by teaching her imitation, empathy, and problem-solving, and at the same time she's able to gain self-confidence in new experiences.


So tell me, what kind of activities do you think are fun for a 13-month old? Right now I would say Delainey loves to dance and she has a real passion for doggies and art. I can't wait to continue to show her the world, I'm certain she'll love all kinds of cool stuff and teach me a lot.... and I guess I have to say it again - that's prettyyyyy cool.


Love her outfit, click each shop to find out more details & availability:
Bow: Darling Diva Boutique Bows
Peplum top: Brooklynn & Grey
Pearls + Lace Jeans: Baby Bottoms
Shoes: Baby Gap


If you're wondering about her "laptop"... it's made out of an old piece of cardboard! I printed off a grey laptop backing, made our own "DelaineyKate.com" screen with her photos, then printed off an image of a keyboard. Gluing it all to the cardboard, as well as a plain white piece of paper on the bottom of the "laptop".



Then we handed her the SilliChews camera teether and her iPod and she was set. If we could add a Tula & some Starbucks in her hand, she would literally be me.



October 13, 2017

DIY Puppy Dog Dalmatian Baby Costume Inspiration


It's true Delainey loves doggies.


From falling in love with our dogs at just a few months old to chasing my mom's dogs around her house each time we go to visit, she's never met a pooch she didn't like.


Just like with art, D has always shown an interest in puppy dogs so we knew we had to dress up as a pup during this month of costumes!


And I'll tell you all right now, the second she saw herself with little polka-dot puppy ears in the mirror she LIT up. I'm fairly certain this simple puppy dog costume is her absolute favorite thing she's ever worn.


We even went to the library with her all decked out like a doggy and she was a magnet for smiles. She, of course, found books all about doggies and sat there patiently looking through them.


I'm telling you, this costume is pure puppy love... and so simple to put together!


If you have a little puppy lover, here's the details on Delainey's doggy costume and a few ideas on how you can DIY, if you wanted!


This little puppy's pajamas are Gerber brand and were a gift, but it looks like you can find this exact pair and some other cute pjs here.


Her adorable little puppy dog ears with bows and the heart-shaped doggy tag were made by Bloomology, you can order a pair this weekend... or they could even be made out of construction paper if you're in a time crunch!


Lastly, her little tiny pink shoes are Converse and you can find them here!


So tell me, what animal do you think your kiddo would love to dress up as? I'm looking forward to maybe seeing D dressed up as a flamingo, a hippo, or maybe even a dinosaur?!  She loves all creatures so it's hard to say what kind of creative ideas she'll have for future costumes!