Summer STEM with Snapology + giveaway

This post is sponsored by Snapology. As always, all opinions are my own.

Mommy's favorite accessory // JORD watches

Sometimes it catches me by surprise, this whole motherhood role. Being a mom has always been my desire but sometimes I just can’t believe that I AM a mom. To three littles, perfect stair steps of roughly 3.5 years apart; girl, girl, boy. Sometimes that realization of the weight of my role is breathtaking; how did I get so lucky? How did I get here so fast? This post is sponsored by Jord but all opinions are my own.

Sleep in heavenly peace // four ways to promote childhood sleep + giveaway

This post is sponsored by Acutee but all opinions are my own. Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links with no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

The Spirit of God Illustrated Bible {a review}

I received this book for review purposes but all opinions are my own. Thanks to ZonderKidz for sponsoring this post.

Teeth Whitening for Sensitive Teeth // Practicing self care with Smile Brilliant + giveaway!

Self care has been a buzz word lately, hasn't it? I usually would roll my eyes at this notion but since becoming a mom of three(!!), I've come to value its importance. I don't get much "me time" these days so carving out little bits of time to recharge is something I'm working on. And making myself look and feel pretty has slowly become a priority (eye bags for daysss over here) so when presented with the offer to whiten my teeth with Smile Brilliant I was all over it! This post is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. All opinions are my own.

Summer Fun with Montem {plus a Giveaway!}

Having true summer weather has lent itself to many days spent outside (but only during morning/evening times. We're not crazy! ;) enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. I'm not sure if it's just me, but I swear the sky feels bigger and closer here. It is truly a wonder. This post is sponsored by Montem. As always all opinions are my own.

Getting festive with Picket Fence Boutique // $50 giveaway

We've been getting festive around here and I realized the Holidays are so much more special when it's a Baby's First Christmas! Am I right? Something about the newness of everything makes me want to strive a bit more, you know? Not that Clark will remember it, but those pictures will last a lifetime. I've been introduced to a new online boutique, Picket Fence and it has kicked up my cheer even more! This post is sponsored by Nakturnal. As always, all opinions are my own.

They carry popular kids lines like Kickee Pants and Tea Collection, housewares & gifts, and some women's apparel and accessories that are just gorgeous! I've rounded up my favorite Christmas items from Picket Fence below!

Was it any surprise what I got for Clark?! I'm all about that jumper life recently.

I mean, c'mon, people! How cute is he?!

To bring someone else some holiday cheer, there's a $50 gift card up for grabs! Enter the giveaway by uysing the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway runs from Monday, December 11th through Friday, December 22nd. Winner will be notified via email. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Another favorite way to spread cheer can be found here! Kinsey's Package from Santa is on it's way and I'm so excited to see her open it!

Only TWO MORE WEEKS til CHRISTMAS!!!

   

   

Growing up Clark // three month edit {+ giveaway!}

Bless you baby who still continues to sleep well and wake up happy.

I had a sad realization about how fast Clark is growing. The story- it was a blow-out-a-day kind of week so laundry was piled up and the only jammies available were size 6 months. “Oh, lets just try these out.” They freaking fit lengthwise. I wanted to bawl.

Height guesstimate 25 inches

Weight guesstimate 16 pounds

I got a solid laugh out of him while kissing on his sumptuous cheeks. It almost sounded like a cry but he was smiling, made it even more entertaining.

Tummy time has begun, halfheartedly. My thing is having hardwood floors makes it seem mean to put him face first onto them. And of course I can't find the mat we had with K & B (insert eyeroll emoji here) so a halved blanket has been the sub. He lasts a decent amount of time. I just don't want him to be behind on rolling but also just want to hold him all the time. #conundrum

See that little tongue? He's been playing with it and drooling. I'll let you guess which of those two things I find cute. Guess its time to begin playing the is he teething/not teething game.

Clark's been sneezing and it literally sounds like "AHHH-chooo", it's great. And very loud.

This kid loves bath time! He's discovered kicking the water and goes to town paddling away with the most serious expression on his face. Has me laughing and soaked.

Gear-

(For mama)

Spray N Wash- remember the blow out week above? This miracle in a spray bottle saved me, my sanity and Clark's darling clothes. I suck at getting stains out but with this I don't need to scrub.

Little Unicorn backpack- this back pack holds a b u n c h of gear! My mistake though is making it too heavy, haha.

nursing bra- I've been on the hunt for a new nursing bra. I don't have any qualms about the ones I have currently but you never know whats out there that's better unless you try, right? When I was given the chance to try a Coobie nursing bra, I figured it was a sign. I liked the soft structure of the bra (no underwire for me) and the ease of use of the snaps. I didn't like the sports bra design (not a fan of putting on/taking off by pulling it over my head) but it was comfortable on.  All in all, I was pleased! Give me a year and I'll be trying out their bralette which is too pretty!

Now it's your turn to enter to win a Coobie bra of your choice below using the Rafflecopter widget! I'm giving away TWO so there will be TWO winners! Because it's nice to give yourself a gift too :) Giveaway runs from Thursday, December 7th through Wednesday, December 12th. Winners will be notified via email. Good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But since I love you all here is a coupon code too! Save 30% on Coobie Seamless Bras at Shop Coobie Use code: USFG

(for baby)

cradle cap brush- you'd think I would have known about this miracle brush two babies ago. Its completely cleared Clark's bout of cradle cap, the trick is to catch it early so it doesn't build up and get unmanageable. 

Itzy Ritzy car seat cover- we're getting into germ season this helps ward off sick + nosy people.

Summer Infant car seat insert- since its been cold I added this to the car seat. Bonus the headrest actually supports Clark's head and I think also keeps him comfortable longer.

shawl collar jumper- just darling!

bear sweater- he would wear this all day every day if it was up to me.

   

   

Freshly Picked Moccasins for our Dapper Little Dude {Baby #3} + Giveaway

My love for Freshly Picked moccasins is no secret around here (or here or here!) and when I became pregnant I knew I had to have a pair of itty bitty moccs for the new babe. Thanks to Freshly Picked for sending baby boy a pair of moccasins. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase using one I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!

When baby became Baby Brother I really got into finding the perfect pair for him! In the last few months Freshly Picked has introduced two new styles of moccasins, the City Moccs without fringe around the ankles and the Penny Loafer no fringe and a cute "penny holder" detail that are pure perfection for the dapper little dudes in your life!

I am so smitten with the Penny Loafer style, the classic look in quality leather sized just for new baby feet, that it makes my heart positively melt.

I have a set aesthetic when it comes to our son's wardrobe (give me all the gray neutrals, black and whites/creams, stripes and a few pops of bright poppy) and these slate penny loafer moccs will go with everything!

So now we just wait until our baby boy makes his appearance and when he does (three weeks and counting!) he will be our last babe to make his first shoes Freshly Picked moccasins.

***Head over to my Instagram to enter to win a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins of your very own!***

Linking up here.

   

   

The {July} Book Report

After a slow start to the month reading-wise, I picked up steam and crossed off four books! Three out of the four were authors that I adore and one newcomer to the world of Christian Fiction. Let's see what I read, shall we?  Affiliate links used. A small commission may be received if you purchase an item through my links. Thank you for supporting my blog! 

Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils ... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Thoughts:

I had a hard time getting through this book. I guess I was expecting something more magical (for lack of a better word) from J.K Rowling and this just fell short for me. 

Characters: 

I didn't care for a single character in this whole book. Everyone had such big personalities and just behaved so ugly that I was really turned off. This is in no way like her Harry Potter series and for that I am saddened. I will say Rowling is a very good storyteller, I just wouldn't ever recommend anyone reading this particular one. 

Stars:

3 out of 5

Buy the book here and the movie here

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

Goodereads Synopsis:

Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown of Shirley Falls for New York City as soon as they possibly could. Jim, a sleek, successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, and Bob, a Legal Aid attorney who idolizes Jim, has always taken it in stride. But their long-standing dynamic is upended when their sister, Susan—the Burgess sibling who stayed behind—urgently calls them home. Her lonely teenage son, Zach, has gotten himself into a world of trouble, and Susan desperately needs their help. And so the Burgess brothers return to the landscape of their childhood, where the long-buried tensions that have shaped and shadowed their relationship begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever.

With a rare combination of brilliant storytelling, exquisite prose, and remarkable insight into character, Elizabeth Strout has brought to life two deeply human protagonists whose struggles and triumphs will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. Tender, tough-minded, loving, and deeply illuminating about the ties that bind us to family and home, The Burgess Boys is Elizabeth Strout’s newest and perhaps most astonishing work of literary art.

Thoughts:

I adored Strout's Olive Kitteridge and was hoping for more of that nitty-gritty, daily life prose that she is so good at but which fell short for me on this one. I guess I was expecting more family drama and got more information about Somalia than I was prepared for.

Characters:

My favorite Burgess sibling was "slob-dog" Bob and I am so glad his storyline ended on a high note! Actually, the character development was great all around and I definitely have my strong opinions about how each Burgess sibling acted/reacted during times of crisis and distress.

Stars: 

3 out of 5

Buy the book here

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game. 

Thoughts:

I'm still sorting through my feelings on this one! It was a powerful read and I have to add that I had to mentally edit some of the language used and may have been left with a bad taste in my mouth by the Bauer's behaviors and beliefs. Picoult can spin a yarn like no other and this was just as emotionally tugging as you would expect from her. Courtroom drama aside (I could do without, personally) this is a story that will open your eyes.

Characters:

Ruth was my favorite character and it broke my heart that she was put into such a devastating situation and that situations like that happened more often than I know(!)

Stars: 

4 out of 5

Buy the book here

Grounded Hearts by Jeanne M. Dickson

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face imprisonment.

Still, something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual affection—and an unbreakable bond.

But Nan has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his escape, can he help restore her faith?

Thoughts:

I must be drawn to WWII novels. But this is the first time I've read about it from the point of view of Ireland! Funny how you don't think about who else was affected (the whole world) when the drama was being played out in Germany (or is that just me?) This was an easy read and I'm a fan of a good happy ending so I was satisfied there. I wasn't too thrilled with some of the Christian aspects of the story; the priest wasn't enduring and some situations turned sexual, inappropriately and left me scratching my head.

Characters:

The main characters were likeable enough but Nan's guilt and preoccupation over her dead, abusive husband started to wear thin on my patience. The assorted townsfolk really made this a cast of characters and the brogue was fun to read.

Stars:

3 out of 4

Enter to win a copy here!

Linking up here.