tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77550394120367025902024-03-21T16:12:51.801-07:00AlchemyA travel and lifestyle blog Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-61474974982836155672020-02-16T20:14:00.000-08:002020-02-16T20:24:59.103-08:00Hiking Half Dome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was innocently unprepared for one of the most remarkable, iconic
and arduous hikes in California. Located in Yosemite National Park, which is
one of the most naturally beautiful places in the US, half dome is a well-known
and very distinct granite rock. It stands 4,737 feet above the valley floor and is
about a 16-mile hike up there and back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I’m glad I didn’t know
what I was in for because in hindsight, I probably would have chickened out. My
husband and I had been on several hikes before half dome. We had most recently
hiked Mount Baldy and an 11-mile hike close to our house. I had also ran a couple of
marathons in the last year, so I felt pretty confident. Yet, even with all of
this preparation, half dome was still so challenging for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re out of shape, I really wouldn’t
recommend doing it.<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hike up to
half dome is almost all uphill with several feet of large granite stairs, so by
the time I got to the cables, my limbs were shaking. For many like me, it became
more of a challenge and adventure than I could have ever imagined.<br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband grew
up near Yosemite, and I know he had always wanted to hike half dome, but never
got around to it. We both love to hike, so it only made sense to surprise him
with a trip up there. Without really researching what I was getting myself into,
I booked a hotel in his hometown of Oakhurst, which is about 30 minutes from Yosemite
National Park, bought some permits and made the nearly four-hour trip up there.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turned out to be one of the most
memorable and amazing hikes that I had ever been on, but with that said, I just
want to warn you that this hike is not for the faint of heart. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTV-awI02_UV9szhpMhT5Dn1LjB3IsEd8E3jGoG4h8qcxwfX03L2-xhYO4OzXvZjo7_0mOIXeSgjI3rrL67ZvJBVvCbZHYtaf6wumJ5RiVvqudugsyojSCMZaFZ9Yn-a37We04AhLqItb/s1600/IMG_0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTV-awI02_UV9szhpMhT5Dn1LjB3IsEd8E3jGoG4h8qcxwfX03L2-xhYO4OzXvZjo7_0mOIXeSgjI3rrL67ZvJBVvCbZHYtaf6wumJ5RiVvqudugsyojSCMZaFZ9Yn-a37We04AhLqItb/s640/IMG_0773.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<b>Here are some half dome hiking tips to help you prepare: </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>-You
will need to have a permit in order to hike half dome. </b></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
They allow a maximum of 300 hikers per day in order to reduce crowding, improve safety, and protect
the natural resources and wilderness. They accept applications for permits from
March 1<sup>st</sup> to the 31<sup>st</sup>. This is done by lottery, so I
heard the best chances of getting a permit would be on the weekdays. You will
then get an email in mid-April notifying you whether or not you were selected
to receive permits. Cables are put up from late May to early October. For more
detailed information go <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm">here</a>
and visit <a href="http://recreation.gov/">Recreation.gov</a>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to apply. When we got up to the sub-dome,
we saw a little ranger station, but no one was there. We could’ve actually not paid
for the permit and still entered half dome, but I wouldn’t recommend this because
there is always the chance that they would turn you away if they were there.
You would also have to pay a large fine. It’s actually pretty easy to apply online
anyway. Good luck!<b> </b></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>-Book your stay. </b>There are quite a few
places to choose from that are close to the hike like Curry Village if you want
to camp, Tenaya lodge, which is a very nice hotel in the area, or the infamous
and very beautiful Ahwahnee hotel. I would book these well in advance because
they can fill rather quickly. We stayed at the <a href="http://queensinn.com/">Queen's Inn</a>
, which is about a half-hour drive outside of Yosemite in order to save some
money. We also booked during the week, which also helped save us money. I loved
this little hotel because it was quaint, quiet, there was a little pond that
ran in the back of the hotel to enjoy. It was also attached to a little winery,
and we received a complimentary tasting, which was really nice<b> </b></div>
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<b>-Get in shape! </b>Run the treadmill or
stairs before attempting the hike. Try some other difficult hikes in your area
to prepare your body because it really is quite the challenge. It can also help
lower your chances of injury. There are a lot of stairs and rock, so you want
to be careful. I thought I could make up time going back downhill since I was
slow going uphill, but the reality is that there is so much rock that it’s difficult
to go fast downhill without risking fall or injury. The key is to have endurance
and keep a steady, careful pace. <b> </b></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>-Start early. </b>Most hikers take about
10-12 hours to get there and back, and some take even longer. Leave around
sunrise or earlier. If you haven’t reached the half dome by 3:30pm, you will
need to turn around, because the last thing you want to do is hike in the dark.
Check the sunrise and sunset as well as the weather report the day of your
hike. Plan to carry a flashlight or headlamp, map and compass just in case you
get stuck in the dark.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><b>-Hiking the cables. </b>People left gloves
and hooks to connect to the cables there, so you don’t need to bring any of
these items. Take your time and be careful because it is easy to slip and lose
your footing. Stay to the side and allow faster hikers to pass you, and never
go outside of the cables. I wouldn’t attempt to do this if there are storm
clouds or if the rock is slippery because most accidents happen when it’s wet.<b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>-What to bring. </b>Broken in boots with
ankle support and good traction are a must. It can get slippery when you are on
the granite stairs and at the dome areas, so good shoes are very important. It’s
also very rocky and it’s very easy to roll an ankle if you’re not careful. Bring
a trash bag, at least 4 liters of water, and flashlights. We brought a backpack
that had a built-in water case, which was very helpful. We filled up at a fountain
by Vernal falls. Pack light, since you will have to carry it for 16 miles. Cell
phones are also good to bring since my husband actually had some great service
at the top of half dome. Good phone service is not located all over the hike,
but it’s still good to have since the ranger stations aren’t always fully
staffed in case of emergencies. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>-Wildlife tips. </b>Never leave food
unattended. If you see a bear, act immediately and scare it away by making as
much noise as possible. Make yourself big and stick together.<b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b>-Parking info. </b>Trailhead parking is
just beyond curry village. Shuttle stop number 16 or Happy Isles is where most people
begin the hike. The shuttle begins service at 7am so if you are planning on hiking
before then just walk on the road which will lead up to the trailhead</div>
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<b> </b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>There have
been some fatal falls from the cables as well as lightning strike fatalities,
so make sure you are as safe as possible. Don’t forget to take a lot of pictures
and enjoy your hike! Hope this helps you!!</div>
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ol
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ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}</style>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-34428652067771457982020-01-18T16:08:00.000-08:002020-01-18T17:49:38.699-08:00The Best of Aruba <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> Other than being a nice, relaxing vacation spot, that’s all I really knew about Aruba. I never really thought too much about the destination since there were so many other places I wanted to visit first. Nevertheless, I became pretty excited when some good friends of ours decided to have their wedding there. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> The flight time took just under 8 hours with one stop in Panama. We stayed at the <a href="https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/auabr-renaissance-aruba-resort-and-casino/">Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino</a>, which is one of the best hotels in the area. The hotel has its own 40-acre private island called Flamingo Beach, which is filled with none other than flamingos, iguanas, beautiful beach areas and a restaurant bar. A boat service is provided that actually picks guests up at the hotel and takes them directly to the island, which is where our friends got married during sunset. We had the whole island to ourselves, which was pretty amazing. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> We ended the night at a restaurant bar with some great live music and dancing just a couple of blocks from the hotel. This is also what I liked about the hotel because it is conveniently located in the downtown area where all of the food, shopping and nightlife are.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> If you like to golf, the <a href="https://www.tierradelsol.com/golf/">Tierra del sol golf course</a> is one of the nicest in Aruba with a beautiful lighthouse and spectacular views of the caribbean. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> It was interesting to find out that Aruba has a large Dutch influence. The island is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is why you’ll see quite a lot of beautiful Dutch architecture surrounding the city of Oranjestad. Dutch is actually one of the official languages spoken there along with Papiamento, which is an Afro-Portuguese Creole language spoken there since the 16<sup>th </sup>century.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Most Arubans actually speak four different languages including English and Spanish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> One of my favorite things we experienced as a group was the<a href="https://www.jolly-pirates.com/cruise/sail-snorkel-swim-and-swing"> pirate ship</a>, which I highly recommend. The ship came equipped with a bar, a rope swing jump, snorkeling and a beautiful sail along the beach to relax and sightsee. We also enjoyed riding the Great Mable along the Caribbean. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> We spent a day at <a href="https://www.yummyaruba.com/r/1/moomba-beach">Moomba beach</a>, which is another great layout spot. We enjoyed one of their local brewed beers called the Belashi Chill at a restaurant on the pier. For dinner, we ate at the <a href="http://barefootaruba.com/">Barefoot Restaurant</a>, where you can dine right on the sandy beach. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> I’ve been to a couple of destination weddings, which are always the most fun, but Aruba stood out to be one of the most fun experiences that we've ever had. Happy travels! </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-45674350862353939012020-01-11T15:29:00.002-08:002020-02-16T20:14:57.499-08:00Salvation Mountain<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> A little strange, but very beautiful in its own right, this masterpiece basically lies in in the middle of nowhere. They call it Salvation Mountain, a piece of folk art created by artist Leonard Knight. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> The bright, colorful mountain contains bible versus and religious messages scattered throughout the sculpture in dedication to the artist’s love and devotion to God.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;">If you are thinking of paying a visit, I wouldn’t recommend going just to see Salvation Mountain since there is not much else sightseeing around besides the Salton Sea. The area surrounding the mountain is actually pretty desolate. To make it worth it, my friend and I made</span> <span style="font-size: large;">a weekend trip out of it since we were already headed in that direction for a lights festival. We stayed in Palm Springs, which is located about an hour and half away from the mountain. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> The best time to come visit is early mornings or late October to avoid all the crowds and the scorching desert heat, especially if you are there to take photos. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The caretaker is also pretty strict, but if you mind the rules he’s nice. Make sure you follow the yellow painted path to help preserve the mountain, and don’t bring alcohol since it’s not allowed on the premises. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The sculpture was made out of adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of donated lead-free paint. There is also some car parts and tangled trees that twist inside the mountain. If you like cats, the area bunch that roam free around the area as well.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMDGivdbOgWw3EA_RKDIXtO0Q-yznDH22h5jvOz4FKAGidXfLGaL8RVK0hbnS2d7vGyfUzzDyAPg5azvKiAFWgiVMMH4Ya-3bhyphenhyphenphHHz0cSxZrUm1uImABZgWagk8FZvjXCVxJkS3fD6j/s1600/IMG_1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="822" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMDGivdbOgWw3EA_RKDIXtO0Q-yznDH22h5jvOz4FKAGidXfLGaL8RVK0hbnS2d7vGyfUzzDyAPg5azvKiAFWgiVMMH4Ya-3bhyphenhyphenphHHz0cSxZrUm1uImABZgWagk8FZvjXCVxJkS3fD6j/s640/IMG_1112.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> The sculpture was made out of adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of donated lead-free paint. There is also some car parts and tangled trees that twist inside the mountain. If you like cats, there are a bunch that roam free around the area as well. Thousands of visitors come here each year, pray and leave an item at the mountain as symbolism for giving themselves to god. To learn more, visit <a href="https://www.salvationmountain.us/">here </a> at the Salvation Mountain website. Happy traveling!!</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-9851341990575396952019-12-22T01:17:00.002-08:002019-12-22T08:54:57.150-08:00Christmas Light Festival for the Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Light festivals can be a fun activity for the family during Christmas time. One of my friends had told me about the <a href="https://www.amazelightfestival.com/">Amaze Light Festival</a>, which just so happened to be a convenient ten minutes from my house. </div>
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The cost of admission seemed a little pricey at 20 dollars per adult and 15 dollars per child, but since my kiddos were free (3 and under) and it was so close to home, we thought we'd try it out. My toddler and nine month old were absolutely in awe by all of the pretty lights. The festival also had food trucks, fake snow, pictures with Santa, and a synthetic skating rink to keep us all entertained. </div>
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I definitely recommend Amaze to families with small children, but if you're on a tight budget, have to drive far, or have a larger family with kids you have to pay for, I would probably opt do something else since the price can add up quickly. </div>
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For more information, go to the Amaze Light Festival website <a href="https://www.amazelightfestival.com/">here</a>. Have fun! </div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-33395428073040233682019-12-09T02:18:00.002-08:002019-12-22T08:56:09.564-08:00Christmas Time is Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDs_oq55Lboc1mSRji8UebhVReDaaU5vbyAzIWSLD1ZZToW6c3z4UgT_r2CINOllX1Vz5KmgbN_Cg2tz-dkfhHXA_0IfjenIh8JJj1zfTRXOt8R89okN_7QJKUIandJOWS8RlBFksbgil/s1600/DSC_5851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDs_oq55Lboc1mSRji8UebhVReDaaU5vbyAzIWSLD1ZZToW6c3z4UgT_r2CINOllX1Vz5KmgbN_Cg2tz-dkfhHXA_0IfjenIh8JJj1zfTRXOt8R89okN_7QJKUIandJOWS8RlBFksbgil/s640/DSC_5851.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As hectic as this time of year can be, I'm so relieved that the fair weather has finally come in Southern California. We decided to take our Christmas pictures earlier than usual this year to begin crossing off my crazy holiday checklist. It was close to 90 degrees on this sunny day in September, and my husband and I were sweating like crazy. Yet, we had such a fun time taking these amazing family photos with our photographer. I love changing up styles and hers is so unique and perfect for the fall and winter time. </div>
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The beach is a popular place to take family photos for Christmas, and although beach photos are beautiful, I wanted something different. My husband and I had been to Carbon Canyon Regional park once before ,and even though I grew up not too far from this location, I had no idea that these beautiful redwood trees were tucked away at this park. <br />
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The trail is just a couple of miles long and maybe a half mile walk to the Redwoods. It felt like five miles though considering I was walking in heels. I love discovering these unique hidden gems. The redwoods are not as tall and thick as the ones that grow up in Northern California, but they are equally as striking. It's amazing that they are able to survive in this environment. The park does a great job at preserving and recreating their natural environment where they can thrive. </div>
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Even the walk up to the redwoods was so beautiful during sunset. When we had arrived, there were a couple of other photoshoots going on at the same time. My photographer had told me that it was good we had done the shoot when we did because it way more crowded and the park was fining people for photographing at the redwoods. We didn't realize it at the time, but the park does this to preserve and protect the trees, which is very understandable. </div>
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Nevertheless, the Redwoods are so worth paying a visit and spending the day hiking with the family if you live near the area. It transports you to a different scenery within the blink of an eye. You don't have to drive hours and hours to see redwoods anymore.</div>
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My kids loved this place, and we really loved the way the photos came alive. If you want to pay a visit or learn more about this beautiful location, go to the <a href="http://www.ocparks.com/parks/carbon">Carbon Canyon Regional Park </a>website for more information. Happy Holidays!<br />
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<br />Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-47462153125493456122019-06-08T15:17:00.001-07:002019-06-18T16:00:14.769-07:00Engagement Ring Hunting<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span> Most women usually have some inkling of an idea as to what kind of engagement ring they want. I had been in love with the Asscher cut diamond for as long as I could remember. It’s a ring that is modern, simple, beautiful, classic and surely withstands the test of time. Art deco is one of my favorite styles, and the Asscher cut diamond is the epitome of this style. I couldn’t express enough how dead set I was on this ring, but of course, my husband had a totally different idea in mind. I showed him some photos of actress Kate Bosworth’s beautiful Asscher cut engagement ring, and he was basically unimpressed. We had completely opposite tastes. He loved the more blinged out rings. His motto was, the more diamonds and shine, the better. </span></div>
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(Kate Bosworth's engagement ring)<br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span> Despite our differences in taste, we decided to go ring shopping together anyway. I was pretty adamant about my ring, but I reluctantly kept an open mind and just focused on trying to enjoy the experience since I knew this was a pretty special moment. After all, trying on diamonds should always be fun. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> We decided to go to the Jewelry District in Los Angeles, which is basically the go to area in downtown that many people visit to find a beautiful ring at a reasonable price. We saw two jewelers who where recommended by some friends. The first place we went to was not a very good experience for me. They were a little busy and the jeweler wasn’t really giving us his undivided attention. It was a complete turn off for me, so we went on to the next. The second jeweler tried to convince me pretty early on that their halo flower ring was the perfect fit for me. He was actually a pretty good salesman, but I knew that ring, along with all of the other rings I had seen that day, were not what I was looking for. We continued the search at a couple of other jewelry stores with no real luck. I was beginning to feel like the ring we both could like together didn't really exist.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span> I was in the middle of looking at one of the many round cut halo solitaires I tried on at a jewelry store in Orange County when I suddenly saw a three stone oval cut ring that caught my eye. A jeweler took it out and started to clean it. It was weird to me that it would have caught my attention because I never would have thought I’d like a three stone halo ring, but there it was. There was something about it that was special and unique to me. It looked very antique even though it was brand new. I tried it on and instantly new it was mine. My husband was surprised since it was completely different from what I thought I wanted. It was in no way like the Asscher cut, but it was very beautiful in its own right. It was also very bling, which is what my husband liked. It was the perfect marriage of our two tastes.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> If there is any advise I could give on finding that perfect engagement ring, it’s to have a good idea of what you want, but also have an open mind because you never know what else might strike your eye. I actually tried on the Asscher cut diamond plenty of times during the process, and while beautiful in all reality, it seemed to look too simple and plain for me when I saw it in person. I wanted the solitaire to be a little bigger, but it was beyond our budget to make the diamond larger. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyHbGAYi4YxuYKtAFNjh00jpvEeLItRCEo68PCL-v0MCuB4I6cE-9-t1mjHRf15mBQAXzHn47FP-Z65MKOFmaZ-LM2a8xX29cPvRWsPyOO_OU1RqFWJ1pnPLIzW42mYdltcgWth8ZKGiU/s1600/IMG_9151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyHbGAYi4YxuYKtAFNjh00jpvEeLItRCEo68PCL-v0MCuB4I6cE-9-t1mjHRf15mBQAXzHn47FP-Z65MKOFmaZ-LM2a8xX29cPvRWsPyOO_OU1RqFWJ1pnPLIzW42mYdltcgWth8ZKGiU/s320/IMG_9151.jpg" width="301" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span>Another piece of advise I could give is to not settle. Even though I didn’t end up with the ring I wanted in my head, for me, I still ended up with a ring that was meant for me. I knew my husband and I didn’t have the same taste, but I also knew I wasn’t going to settle on something that was just going to appease him and not me and vice versa. Who cares if it takes you a while to find it, just make sure you love it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> I actually found my wedding band after my wedding took place. It’s a long story, but basically it wasn't going to be ready in time. So, I found a pretty antique looking band on Etsy that we used in the mean time and I wear both of them now along with my engagement ring. I found it on Etsy from this jewelry designer that was just a joy to work with. It was a custom baguette-lined band that curved to the shape of my three stone oval ring. It was very reasonably priced in comparison to some of the others I had found. There are so many options out there nowadays with online stores and small businesses that you don't have to break the bank to get what you want. you can visit my jewelry designer <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/RingOnly">here</a>. Happy hunting!</span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-82038429750225640582019-05-29T14:24:00.000-07:002019-06-09T11:46:09.385-07:00Welcoming Emma: My birth story and adjusting from one to two babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> We welcomed our baby girl Emma Charlotte Beal into the world on March 5, 2019, which was actually on my scheduled c-section date at 39 weeks. My OB doctor and I were pretty open to having a VBAC (Vaginal birth after c-section) but she would only do it if my water broke naturally since I could not be induced. As it would turn out, I never went into labor naturally, so we ended up having the c-section, and to be quit honest, I was actually pretty relieved that Emma didn't come earlier than her due date. I had already felt comfortable and familiar with what the c-section experience looked and felt like. Yet, the c-section itself was just about the only similarity in both of my birth and postpartum experiences. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> With my first child, the recovery process was quite difficult. I had become septic and my preeclampsia lingered on for months following birth. I didn’t get out of bed for at least a week, I was on all kinds of meds, and I pretty much felt like a train wreck….and to make matters worse, my c-section site had become infected two weeks postpartum. I came pretty close to having to reopen the wound and drain the fluid out. Thankfully though, that didn’t happen. As many new mothers can relate, having to deal with the physical recovery aspects on top of becoming a new parent, which you quickly realize is a huge responsibility with a very steep learning curve, is overwhelming and exhausting. It’s a perfect recipe for postnatal depression. I also learned that I was part of the majority in this feeling of suffering in silence. It felt like an epidemic. So many of my mom friends say they often felt depressed in those first few postpartum months. Maybe it’s because it really does take a village to raise a child, and our culture now doesn't provide the family and community support like it once did. Maybe there is so much pressure now compared to the much more simple times of the generations before us. Many of my new mom friends, including myself, were not nurtured or guided through the experience, which is why I feel that many of us often feel alone, lost, bewildered, overwhelmed, hopeless, sleep deprived and exhausted to name a few. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Thankfully, having my second child has been a much more positive experience. Now, with the invaluable and often underestimated experience behind my belt, it has made things so much easier this time around. Just knowing what to do and the milestones that your baby is going to make already keeps me way more relaxed and at ease. I really like to be open and communicate with my new mom friends and really any new moms on the huge adjustment it takes to become a parent. I love being real with them and letting them know my own experience and what has worked for me to cope with one of the biggest changes in life that we will ever make. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the support, nurture and guidance from family that I had expected to get when I was a new mother, and that was okay. I had eventually realized that it didn't make my family bad people. They are still loving and supportive in other ways. Where I unexpectedly did get guidance and support from was friends who already had the experience of motherhood as well as new moms who were going through it with me. Getting out of the house, just going on walks, talking and venting with new and experienced mothers, and just really embracing instead of trying to go against the current of your new life has really helped me. Yes, it’s hard to find time to take even a shower, or clean up one of the billion messes my toddler makes, but if I just look at it in a way were this is really just a fleeting moment, and I concentrate on their beautiful little faces, it really is all worth it. My old life has ended and I mourn it, but there really is a whole new life that has begun. Yes, its hard and many times annoying, but it is also very beautiful and enriching in ways that your life could never be enriched before you had become a mother.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I suppose my second time around has also been much easier to adjust to because little Emma seems much more even tempered than Eli was. She was also a very healthy 9 pounds, whereas my first was only around 5 pounds and very colicky, which kept me in anxiety mode for a while. There really are so many variables that go into whether you feel it is a harder experience going from zero to one child versus one to two. My sister always said having her first was a lot easier than having her second. Maybe it was because her second had a more challenging temperament, and logistically it is harder to get two out of the house compared to one. It just takes that much more time and patience. But for me, the life adjustment of becoming a new mother was just simply harder. My husband now has experience behind his belt, and he seemed much more helpful this time around. We new how to work as a team already. My parents and the in-laws seemed to be a little more hands on and helpful to me as well. Maybe they saw that I had a hard time with my first, or maybe they just felt like I would need more help with two, I don't really know. But they seemed much more supportive this time around. I also think that since I didn’t really have any pregnancy or postpartum complications, my recovery felt like a breeze. Within hours after giving birth to Emma, I was up and walking and I just seemed to have more energy with her. Other than those few last weeks of back pain, acid reflux, insomnia, anemia, and just pure misery, the rest of my pregnancy was a breeze. Our little Emma Beal has such a sweet and mellow demeanor, and we feel so blessed that she is a part of our family! She couldn’t be a more perfect addition to the Beal clan.</span></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-9524285018653938432019-04-30T19:55:00.004-07:002019-06-09T11:47:39.436-07:00My Baby Girl's Nursery<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We welcomed our little baby girl Emma Charlotte Beal into the world this passed March and have since been happily adjusting to our new life as a family of four. We’ve also been pretty hard at work on her nursery, and we are so happy to share it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I actually had a totally different idea of what I wanted Emma’s nursery to look like. I’ve never been a huge fan of pink, and I always felt like it was overdone. I was thinking of a more modern nursery with neutral and natural colors like yellow and brown, but of course my husband wanted pink. We were also on a tight budget, so we had to go with furniture we already had in our bedroom, and it was far from the natural and modern vibe I wanted. It has more of a glam art deco feel to it. We bought the furniture four years ago when we bought our house, and although I really liked it, I eventually had buyers remorse since it just didn’t quite work with the rest of our furniture in our bedroom. So, when we found out we were having a girl, we decided it would be a perfect fit for her nursery along with the white crib my sister gave me.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The dressers are what became the inspiration for our nursery. I never liked pink, so my husband and I compromised on a blush color as an accent for the room. An art deco theme was really what eventually got me excited to decorate since it’s one of my favorite types of architecture. I incorporated a little glam, white faux fur and ballet decor to go along with it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We replaced the dated mirrored 1970’s style closet doors with white wood double doors. We bought some art deco style crystal knobs, which is one of my favorite parts of the room. My husband and father-in-law installed the doors, which were a lot of work to put together, but was well worth it since it saved us a lot of money.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We got these pretty velvet soft pink chairs from Amazon and the fun flapper lamp from Urban Outfitters. The pom pom drapes and shade tied in with the sweet vibe of the room. I got some soft pink pillows from TJ max and a white chest from Wayfair to tie it all in.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The white crib was a little boring against the white wall, so I bought the tent to drape and add a little color. I loved that it added to the soft and whimsical look that we were going for. My husband found the white chandelier up in the attic that I had kept from high school. I was about to throw it out, but he added a few crystals to it, hung it and it seemed to work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have made a pretty good decorating team so far. I tend to start out with a theme or vision and buy the pieces, and my husband is good at arranging the room and putting it all together. He’s actually really great at making furniture or other things that we already have work in a room.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We put up a couple of marble shelves from World Market in the corner of her room. There are a couple of books and some frames that we put up as well. I also wanted a white faux fur rug, but I ended up getting a smaller one since I new it wasn’t very practical to have an all white rug with a toddler running around. So, I got another sturdier rug to go under it. I love the girly design of it. I think it sort of draws your eye down and it makes the room really fun. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I love most about this room is that we didn’t spend a ton of money. The furniture pieces are all stuff we either already had or pieces that were given to us by family. I got all of the smaller pieces from very affordable places like amazon, TJ Max, World Market and Wayfair. You really don’t have to spend a lot to make a room look great. There is usually always a similar more affordable piece. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Glad to share Emma’s nursery. Hope you like it!</span></span></div>
Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-27319039356815104132019-04-17T16:27:00.001-07:002019-12-22T08:57:29.396-08:00Visit a Cat Cafe<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioedHYQbet-a18eFTCDj1Klz8FiAxQyrt2eyIyUPclBgZhUo4deGXmm0GpCuX-dp8GF_IeTCsW7ILRcqk6RAlOupdaVhEibyqA5_nq8xv5VglpR85NYBOMS7_MXeSqyx8FN9RVV09VX2zX/s1600/IMG_4806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioedHYQbet-a18eFTCDj1Klz8FiAxQyrt2eyIyUPclBgZhUo4deGXmm0GpCuX-dp8GF_IeTCsW7ILRcqk6RAlOupdaVhEibyqA5_nq8xv5VglpR85NYBOMS7_MXeSqyx8FN9RVV09VX2zX/s640/IMG_4806.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you love
coffee and cats, paying a visit to a cat café is a must. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cat cafes have been gaining a lot of popularity
in the US over the last couple of years. In fact, I am super excited to have
just learned that there is a cat café that opened in my area just a month ago. Cat lounges, which originated in Asia, allow you to socialize with the furry friends while you hang out and enjoy a coffee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I decided to take my biggest cat lover friend along with me
to the Cat Café Lounge in LA, and we absolutely loved it! You can either pre-book
online or just walk-in. We booked a 90-minute session for 25 dollars. There are
a variety of sessions to choose from, and you can have anywhere from an hour to
a four-hour session, or even a cool cat party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We ordered our coffee and beverages first
before waiting for our session to begin. We then were escorted to the cat
lounge, where we hung out with a variety of different adoptable fur babies. There
were a few people studying and a couple of people just enjoying and playing
with the cats. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was such a unique and fun experience! The atmosphere was so laid back
and relaxing that I could’ve stayed there all day long. Laying on a couch with
my coffee and cat was pure heaven.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lggUj5-J-tsHAVj8Ipk7V4RqnXMbtvW0lhiwyoyoomXpGnWenDesGiMfmwWd8MKdMKER28MV2oZ5l2eNjrRI5QvdW5-WT1sGtmrWkBn3XdOr9nUJNLAosqripvSmhQl1Je6blgE2Vujq/s1600/IMG_4892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lggUj5-J-tsHAVj8Ipk7V4RqnXMbtvW0lhiwyoyoomXpGnWenDesGiMfmwWd8MKdMKER28MV2oZ5l2eNjrRI5QvdW5-WT1sGtmrWkBn3XdOr9nUJNLAosqripvSmhQl1Je6blgE2Vujq/s640/IMG_4892.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The non-profit
organization allows cats to roam in a more relaxing and free environment
instead of being held in a small cage. This way you can get to really know
a cat’s behavior and be able to bond with them if you’re thinking about
adopting. This healthier environment is a way to keep cats from getting euthanized
in an overcrowded shelter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>100 percent
of the Cat Café Lounge’s donations go to support decreasing euthanizations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For more info visit there website here:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<a href="http://www.catcafelounge.com/">Cat Cafe Lounge</a></span></span>
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</style>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-69050824296462043262019-02-13T13:26:00.002-08:002019-12-22T08:58:33.297-08:00Baby Moon at El Capitan Canyon<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Baby moons, aka vacationing before the arrival of your little one, has become quite popular these days. I personally think they are a necessity, especially if couples are about to become parents for the very first time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Becoming a parent is the biggest blessing you will probably ever experience, and at the same time, it is also a huge life change. There truly isn’t anything anyone can tell you to prepare, especially during the very exhausting first couple of months, which is all the more reason why you should relax, pamper yourself, and get as much rest as possible before baby comes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> My husband and I chose El Capitan Canyon for our baby moon, a 300-acre camp ground right off the beautiful pacific coast highway and located 20 miles north of Santa Barbara. I love Santa Barbara. I’m always trying to find reasons to go back and revisit the place where we got married. I’ve also always wanted to try glamping. So, when I found this place, I jumped at the idea to make it our baby moon destination knowing I would have the chance to have the full glam camping experience. You can choose to stay in a log cabin, lavish tent or yurt. We chose the log cabin since it had its own bathroom. It felt so nice being outside of the city noise and surrounded by nature. Birds were chirping and a fox came right up to our door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br /> You can bring your own meals or buy dinners at the local campground store to barbecue. There is also smore kits available, which are a nice after dinner treat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> We didn’t do much but lounge out and enjoy the slow pace life while we were there, but there is also plenty to do here if you get bored. There’s a beach park within walking distance of the grounds, and downtown Santa Barbara is just a short car ride away. You can feed lamas, join in on concerts at the grounds, rent beach cruisers, get a spa treatment, or go for a swim in the camp ground pool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Make your baby moon during the week days here since it is a lot less crowded and cheaper. El Capitan Canyon is definitely a unique place worth experiencing at least once. For more info visit their website <a href="http://www.elcapitancanyon.com/">El Capitan Canyon</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-10481743288363271382018-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:002018-12-30T15:17:08.636-08:00My Second Pregnancy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Although my husband and I planned to have a second child, it took us by surprise that it actually happened so quickly. We weren’t exactly planning yet, but we also weren’t exactly being careful either. Baby Eli just turned 8 months old when we found out we were adding a new addition to the family. Initially we were shocked, but I soon realized shortly after, that it was probably a good idea to start trying sooner rather than later anyway since we weren’t exactly getting any younger (I’m 35 and my husband is 39).</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Even though she came by surprise, it felt pretty natural to us, almost like she was meant to come sooner than we had anticipated. I have heard from other mothers that all pregnancies are different, and I have to say that my experience has been no exception to this in some ways. My cravings are a little different this time around. With my boy, I craved more salty foods and surprisingly more healthy foods like salads, fish and chicken. With this pregnancy, all I want is sweets and desserts. Bring on the carbs!! With my first, I absolutely loved being pregnant. I was over the moon, and I felt great even though I grew very swollen because of the preeclampsia. I still managed to feel good in my skin, and I didn’t gain too much weight. With my second pregnancy, I haven’t been feeling too great at all. Yet, many people have been telling me I don’t look swollen. My belly grew over night and is literally twice the size compared to my first. This probably has something to do with the fact that I was in the middle of losing all my baby weight when I found out I was pregnant again. I had lost 20 pounds, but still had another 20 or so to go. When I found out, I just sort of let go and let myself indulge. I know it’s a bad way to think but I kind of wanted to go easier on myself this time around. Going through this big life adjustment is hard enough with our body changes, hormones going crazy and all of the aches and pains we endure. I figured this time I wanted to just enjoy the process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This pregnancy has literally flown by compared to my first. I can already see how different this experience has been, and I think this may have something to do with having a one year old at home and having been through it all before. With only 9 weeks left to go, I still haven’t done a thing to prepare for her arrival. No nursery, no bags packed and ready for our hospital stay, no bottles and no clothes. I had everything set and organized with my first by the time I was seven months pregnant. Yet somehow, I actually feel way more calm. I guess you learn to operate differently once you have a child. It is true that you really don’t sweat the small stuff as much the second time around. Time is literally of the essence when it comes to organizing and preparing anything when you become a parent. What I would have planned months in advance pre-child, I now take it day by day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mom guilt has of course also started to come into play. I feel bad that I haven’t been paying the same attention to my pregnancy this time. We actually only have one ultrasound picture of this baby. I had like 10 plus 4D pictures and a video with my first. I feel bad that I don’t have quite the energy now to keep up with my one year old the way I normally do since I am in my third trimester now. Luckily, I have a lot of good mom friends that help keep me sane and remind me that it is all just a phase and we all just do the best we can. </div>
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As hard as it is getting through the day taking care of a one year old and being in my third trimester, I can’t help but think lately that I really need to stop and enjoy this time with my first and enjoy this time being pregnant since all of these experiences are so fleeting. I definitely don’t want to look back regretting that I hadn’t stopped and taken a minute to just be in the moment and enjoy it even though I’m so physically and mentally drained at times. These really are one of the hardest but best and most cherished moments I’ll ever have. I want to make time to stop and feel her kicking in my belly, and I want to frame more of her ultrasound pictures. Even though it has been more difficult to really stop and enjoy the moment, we are no less excited to meet our baby. Sometimes I have to pinch myself that I am going to be a mother to a little girl. I feel so lucky and blessed. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-63046277927175584492018-11-27T21:39:00.000-08:002019-06-09T11:49:44.707-07:00Baby Eli's 1st Birthday Party<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Planning your baby’s first birthday can be a both fun and daunting experience all rolled into one. Invitations, cake, decorations and entertainment are just some of the details I started thinking about a couple of months before his birthday. I kind of knew that I wanted to splurge since I figured this was a very special day for us as a family. I know a lot of parents say babies aren’t going to remember their first birthday, which is true. So why go all out? I think for me, it is not only a celebration for baby but also mom and dad. We’re celebrating one of the biggest life changes and adjustments that we’ll ever experience. Becoming a parent and surviving the first year is a big accomplishment and what better to celebrate that then a party surrounded by all of your family and friends? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> I began thinking of a theme for the party. Baby Eli always loved watching Disney’s short film “Lava”. My husband and I started saying “I lava you” every time we put him to bed, and sooner or later the saying just stuck. The rest of our family began to say “I lava you” as well. So, when we started to think of a theme for his party, it seemed only natural to incorporate the Hawaiian decorations and add a little lava in there too. It also didn’t’ hurt that our backyard has a very tropical setting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> We were actually planning to have a pool party, but of course, nature has its way of getting in the way. The day of baby Eli’s party was the only day it rained in months. I tried not to get discouraged and my sweet sister helped keep my spirits up. Luckily, I had a plan b up my sleeve and came prepared with plenty of games to entertain the kids. We hired a bubble person, which I highly recommend for parties since it keeps all the kids engaged and occupied. We also had a bounce house, piñata, limbo and hula hoops for them to play with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> If there’s any advice I can give to mom’s planning their first birthday party, I would say to work hard to plan the party, then just try to let go and enjoy it. One way you can do this is by hiring a photographer. Of course it can be pricey, but shop around and you would be surprised that some are quite reasonable and offer quality photos. This was great because I didn’s have to worry about missing out on enjoying the party and being in the moment with family and friends. I knew I was going to get great pictures. I also, highly recommend hiring a taco man or caterer. A taco man is pretty reasonable as far as pricing goes as well. Keep it simple, so your not worried about serving people or the food getting cold. It’s totally worth not having the insanity and stress it can cause. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> I rented kids tables and chairs and decorated them with greens, coconut cups, and pretty Hawaiian themed plates, which the kids loved. I also had a cascading balloon arrangement which added so much color to the cake table. We lit some tiki torches that we used outside, which were great for the Hawaiian tropical theme we were going for. I found most of my decorations at oriental trading company, which was very reasonably priced, and a few things on Amazon and Etsy. My sister helped me with some of the flower arrangements for the day, which all came together pretty well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"> Knowing and accepting that the party isn’t going to turn out exactly as I planned really helped put me at ease. The show must go on rain or shine, and even though it rained, the party still turned out great!</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-22418059851830542222018-11-04T00:34:00.001-07:002018-11-04T00:34:47.143-07:00Our Little Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> My baby boy is officially going to be a big brother. He might not look too thrilled in these photographs, but I'm sure he'll get used to it and love his roll eventually. We knew we wanted a brother or sister for little Eli, but the news still came as somewhat of a surprise to us since we didn't really plan on having two this soon. Yet, it has genuinely been a blessing for us, and we are soooo excited. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> My husband and I had an amazing surprise party for both our pregnancy announcement and gender reveal with our son. It was so exciting to see the look on our family's faces when we revealed we were expecting. Some were confused and some were immediately excited. It was the perfect surprise pregnancy and reveal party all rolled into one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> For the gender reveal, We first tallied up all of the boy and girl guesses on a chalkboard and used confetti canons to reveal the gender. It was so spectacular. Tons of blue confetti surrounded us. We were all over the moon happy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> This time around, we still wanted a gender reveal and we wanted to make the experience special, but we also wanted to be low key. I had the idea of having a photographer capture our pregnancy announcement and gender reveal at our home so that it is still a special day without being a big party. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> My husband loves to play golf, so I thought this time around he could hit a golf ball in our backyard that exploded into pink or blue smoke. I found gender reveal golf balls on Amazon for 10 bucks. It was so easy and convenient. I called a family friend who is a photographer and he was more than happy to help capture this special day for us. He was actually the first to know the gender of our baby. We slipped him a little envelope. He gave us the appropriate golf ball and poof! We found out we were having a girl!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We were so excited to find out baby Eli was going to be a big brother to his sister. My husband wore pink and I wore blue to show what we thought we were having. It was such a sweet moment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> I also bought smoke canons for some nice pink background photographs. I would definitely recommend a gender reveal if you are thinking about it. You can get creative and do whatever you want with it. You can make it big and grand or small and low key. Either way, it will be an awesome experience for you and your family. </span></div>
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<br />Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-84447539851716603422018-09-30T16:32:00.001-07:002019-12-22T09:00:41.258-08:00Malibu Wine Safaris <br />
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It had been seven months since giving birth to my baby boy, and as many mothers know, it's pretty difficult to sneak in some friend time. I had just found my lovely babysitter and was able to get away for the day with my friend Andrea. I am so lucky to have her as a friend. She's always up for new adventures, and we both have an intense love for travel. Every year, we, along with another friend, take turns deciding where we want to go. We've been to New York City, Portland, and Orlando together, and soon we will be paying a visit to Austin. We kind of had to improvise this time around since I didn't want to take a long trip away from the baby just yet. We eventually decided on wine tasting, and it ended up being the perfect place to pamper ourselves.<br />
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<a href="https://www.lasafaris.com/#home">Malibu Wine Safaris</a> is where we chose to be, and let me tell you, we had so much fun! The 1,000 acre vineyard is tucked away in the beautiful hills of Malibu and combines wine tasting with safari tours, which I think makes this place stand out from the other hundreds of wineries you can choose from in Southern California.<br />
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They offer a variety of different historical jeep style tours that take you around the grounds while offering wine tasting, lunch, and a chance to see and feed some of the exotic animals they have on the ranch. We chose the 1.5 hour giraffe tour, which was about $100 bucks and included tastings of 6 different wines, cheese, crackers, and an exotic animal meet and greet.<br />
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Tours range in price from $65 to $180 bucks, so if you are not looking to spend much, they have a variety of options to choose from. I would definitely recommend this place for a couples day trip or friends trip. It's a great place to unwind and relax without having to travel too far from the L.A. <br />
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<br />Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-38864580432773608672018-08-05T15:51:00.004-07:002019-06-09T12:01:30.241-07:00Midcentury Modern Baby Shower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Mid-century architecture is one of my favorite styles of all, which is kind of why I'm a little obsessed with Palm Springs. I love how clean simple lines meets classic history. So, I told my sister I would love to have a mid-century modern inspired baby shower, and I was more than impressed on how it all turned out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Soft blue and yellow colors filled the backyard with such beauty. Palm trees also added a great touch. The different types of retro table and chairs added to that mid-century modern look we were trying to achieve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My shower also reminded me a little of a tropical garden party. It was so bright, airy and beautiful. Im obsessed with photographs, so I included some framed baby pictures of my husband and I as well as some 3D photos of the baby. I think it's fun to share old pictures for family and friends. It makes the atmosphere feel much more warm and inviting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My cake was just as tasty as it was beautiful. A clean and modern cake, cookies and sweet treats added to the theme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My ankles were so swollen at this point in my pregnancy, but I was determined to wear heels...for at least half of the party. I actually chose this nude color illusion dress by Free People for my wedding shower, but I changed my mind at the last minute since it didn't seem quite right at the time. The blue flowers on this dress really matched the theme of my baby shower for my little boy, so I am so glad I waited for this special occasion. Plus, it complimented me so much better with my baby bump. Check out </span><a href="https://www.stylemepretty.com/living/2018/03/14/tropical-inspired-baby-shower/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Style me Pretty Living</a> <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">for more details on my baby shower. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-72856462971677596002018-06-26T11:13:00.001-07:002018-06-26T11:15:01.808-07:00Bridal Shower Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i> I wanted my shower to be closely tied to the theme of my traditional Spanish style wedding without losing its own unique character. After much thought, I eventually decided that I wanted to go with a desert theme.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>My sister at Beijos Events helped me transform this vision into a reality. She went with soft neutral and natural tones of flower arrangements along with some hints of cactus and bougainvillea. These were my favorite flower arrangements to date. I thought they were so unique and beautiful, and the Bougainvillea was to die for. Its amazing how flowers can bring so much beauty to decor. I think it is one of the most important features when decorating your event. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>I loved my white geometric patterned cactus cake as well. It was simple, yet blended in perfectly with the rest of the decorations. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Copper chairs and white linens added to the simple rustic feel we were going for. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">I chose a white dress that, to me, resembled a flower. I did have some reservations over it since I have a very short torso and usually this type of cut does not compliment my body type very well. But, I fell in love with it, and Im glad I did since it seemed to actually fit in well with the look of my shower. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>So grateful for my sister who owns an event company called Beijos Events. I couldn't have made this happen without them. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i>Check out my wedding shower on <a href="https://greenweddingshoes.com/cactus-inspired-bridal-shower/">Green Wedding Shoes</a> Happy Tuesday!!</i></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-78225956645950694522018-05-26T00:01:00.000-07:002018-05-26T07:50:54.900-07:00Must Haves for a New Mother 0-6 Months<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 12px;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Preparing for your baby’s arrival can be a daunting task if you are a first time parent. There are so many gadgets out there, and sifting through it all can prove to be quite overwhelming. I turned to my amazing sister and mom friends for some insight, which turned out to be the best way to figure out what I needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> There were some varying opinions about certain products that my mom friends either found helpful or a complete waist of time and money, but the one piece of advice that they all seemed to agree on was that I really didn't need very much at all during the first few months. Diapers, wipes, swaddle, bottles, and a little bassinet was really all I needed. However, after those first couple of months were over, I used quite a few products that were really great. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> Baby Eli is now 7 months old and looking back, my mommy friends were right. Whether you want to get it now or later is completely up to you, but you most likely will need quite a bit of stuff to make you and baby comfortable. It also can depend on what type of person you are. For instance, I feel like my sister is a little less of a stress case than I am. She can just take it as it comes without having to be too prepared. I, on the other hand, am a planner. I like to schedule my day, which helps me destress and feel more organized. So, I’d say that if you are anything like me, even though you don't need much in the beginning and you do have time to buy baby stuff later, I would get it over with and buy as much as you need before the baby comes because once they are here, you won't have much time to even shower and sleep, let alone head to the store. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> I’m actually really glad I had the nursery done before my baby was born even though he's just barely starting to use it. I enjoyed the experience of creating his nursery and researching good products for my baby. I think I would have been so tired, stressed and uninterested had I waited until after he was born. I don't have to even think about getting more stuff, because I already have it, which is really nice. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"> Luckily, Im kind of one of the last out of my group of friends to become a mother, and there was quite an advantage to that, which came in the form of lots of advice and baby hand me downs. I welcomed it all with open arms. I received some pretty expensive and amazing stuff ranging from clothes, carriers, toys and more. If you are on a budget, this is really the best way to go since babies grow out of stuff before you can even blink. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"> I thought it would be nice to dedicate this blog post to sharing some of my most favorite and useful baby things I used in the first 6 months of my baby’s life. Of course, this isn’t everything that you need, just some of my favorites.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.snuza.com/baby-monitors/movement-monitors/snuza-go/">Snuza Go!</a> Baby Monitor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This gadget monitors your babies breathing while they are sleeping. It’s half the price of the </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">owlet, and still gives us piece of mind that is so worth the cost. At 7 months, my baby still uses it while he naps. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.swanling.com/slumber-sleeper.html">Slumber Sleeper</a> by Swanling</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i6g9OicPmczuqq9Op6d63hOnpBjOGJaTCLQpFRWPgoWSMbBbQaxNS5aHh58slOAMZ32s2Ms91arCHTCfiljyWYL3-AmipRW7XkbxUIfyBQ-GcIn25MoclK4krfl58yqbyHvc6tWDXWTo/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5JvgjZ2k7yaPu9TnBGA7poaAnwUUsoU58gyndZfYnY-qwzKLcIjfj6Pvl36goijfj_khLcOtHcKSTv-s8XK4e2Yj_Ng5lKcfaf_FqGvckkt-BuFoVHFN6QFNBAdjODyzvlqIPXKPCTTC/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5JvgjZ2k7yaPu9TnBGA7poaAnwUUsoU58gyndZfYnY-qwzKLcIjfj6Pvl36goijfj_khLcOtHcKSTv-s8XK4e2Yj_Ng5lKcfaf_FqGvckkt-BuFoVHFN6QFNBAdjODyzvlqIPXKPCTTC/s200/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i6g9OicPmczuqq9Op6d63hOnpBjOGJaTCLQpFRWPgoWSMbBbQaxNS5aHh58slOAMZ32s2Ms91arCHTCfiljyWYL3-AmipRW7XkbxUIfyBQ-GcIn25MoclK4krfl58yqbyHvc6tWDXWTo/s200/images.jpeg" width="200" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">This sleeper by Swanling is amazing. It looks kind of like a weird straight jacket, but its, again, for parent’s piece of mind. The jacket is attached to the mattress preventing your child from rolling over or trying to jump out the crib unsafely. Your baby can still turn and sit up safely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This is another alternative sleeper that we used for safe sleeping. The Halo sleep sack</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">can transition from swaddle to arms out as your baby gets older. It helps keep them snug like a blanket without the hazards of using one. Also, you don't have to fuss with the manual swaddle blankets, which take time and may not be practical once your baby is strong enough to wiggle out of them.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SEW-3042W-RealVIEW-Monitoring-System/dp/B01FN6HMDI">Samsung RealView</a> Baby Monitor</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I chose the Samsung RealView baby monitor because I had a 300 dollar gift certificate from Sams club, and this was one of the few baby monitors they offered there. I am sure there are nicer and possibly cheaper monitors out there, but I was not disappointed with this choice. The monitor shows clear video and has different setting and volume options.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.crateandbarrel.com/kids/cribs-bassinets/1">Land of Nod</a> Bassinet</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I borrowed this modern style Bassinet from my sister, which she bought from Land of Nod. I had this right beside my bed every night and it worked great! I was actually thinking about going with a Moses basket, which was cheaper and just as nice, but considering the fact that babies use the bassinet a year or less, I didn’t really want to spend a fortune on a bassinet. There are so many things you have to get when you have a baby and it can add up quick, so although necessary, it is also something you probably shouldn’t spend a lot on.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://babybrezza.com/collections/bottles">Brezza</a> and <a href="https://www.mimijumi.com/">Mimijumi</a> Bottles</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">I learned that every baby is different in terms of preference to their bottles. Some of my friends and family recommended Avent, Dr. Browns, and Como Tomo, which were all great, but my baby didn't seem to think so. The only bottle he liked was the Brezza bottle, and my guess was because their slow flow nipple was even slower than the others. It took a while for my baby to gulp the bottle down, but it was a true life saver for us since he would scream bloody murder with all the rest. Plus, I fell in love with the cute little sayings on the bottom of each bottle that read “Bottoms up” and “I drink until I pass out.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;">I didn’t start using the Mimijumi bottle until after my baby was three months old. Although a little on the pricier side, it was another one of my favorites. This is a wide-mouthed bottle with a unique nipple and texture that mimics the breast, so it was easy to use interchangeably from breast to bottle. It also has an anti-colic venting system that allows the baby to control the flow which reduces air intake and decreases colic and gas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx8bJopnssBtLTGQoE3K249WXHNZg3wF_hCFDGK_AsRtGMg1dA5uQ7AJbmzpkPvUhqdZaBGxxp-FX7kJUbgqMftNxqhO3biU_6an_LmCDiIgDJdatzn3FQ-yL0tX4qL8kK7nqr5TteTJn/s1600/th.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx8bJopnssBtLTGQoE3K249WXHNZg3wF_hCFDGK_AsRtGMg1dA5uQ7AJbmzpkPvUhqdZaBGxxp-FX7kJUbgqMftNxqhO3biU_6an_LmCDiIgDJdatzn3FQ-yL0tX4qL8kK7nqr5TteTJn/s400/th.jpeg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I used the dock a tot all of the time. My baby took day time naps everywhere with this portable bed. I put it in his bassinet, and I would take it in the bathroom with me so I could put him in it after baths. It’s been in almost every room in my house, and is also great for when we traveled. We took a trip to Northern California, and he slept so well in it. Its easy to carry, takes up little room, and is very well worth the price.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CS-6-6-Bottle-Capacity-Sterilizer/dp/B008EYOGL8">Cuisinart baby</a> Sterilizer</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFmHbBxE0O4PdWN6cf2zCs2L-JNq9lpdA9ytl7I5X9DZLsQUzhYsgdnuB0SnxUpAzyyTjFH1yzl4RQQFDfbTUpsvuoTIF8pasoIJ7tAzKbZmlm0zzfzr5P3llS51GpgrjgzyL722EJBZ8/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="227" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFmHbBxE0O4PdWN6cf2zCs2L-JNq9lpdA9ytl7I5X9DZLsQUzhYsgdnuB0SnxUpAzyyTjFH1yzl4RQQFDfbTUpsvuoTIF8pasoIJ7tAzKbZmlm0zzfzr5P3llS51GpgrjgzyL722EJBZ8/s200/Unknown.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The baby sterilizer is very easy to use. You just put bottles and toys in the container, add a little water, turn it on and your ready to go with a clean bottle in just minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Hours-Sleep-Weeks-Step/dp/0525949593" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Twelve Hours of Sleep by Twelve Weeks</a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I was given this book by my best friend who I really look up to as a mother, and let me tell you that this book forever changed our lives. If you ever value your sleep, and I'm sure most if not every parent does, you NEED to read this book. It is a true game changer, and it really does work so long as you follow the steps. Luckily, my husband and I read this book while I was pregnant and I am so glad that we did. People are so surprised when I tell them that my baby has slept through the night ever since he was 12 weeks old. They tell me we are so lucky to have an amazing sleeper, which we are, but in all reality, we trained our baby to sleep through the night and it takes a lot of patience, thick skin, and time…..but it is well worth it. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="http://www.babyjogger.com/en-US/city-select%C2%AE-lux">City Select Lux Baby Jogger</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xEKTeeyTmBwL_wCI4tDOrkvpplp2qA55jVd0r-GmtfJnY5SmxaKtbY4k7eUrunxW74B5ppI97jHS3Jf0Aqfj-EeyrWFEALk4Nl7wguGEErrmRN0Ep9xtrhGS2prYrdTAVWoCfSFPTqRt/s1600/images-5.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xEKTeeyTmBwL_wCI4tDOrkvpplp2qA55jVd0r-GmtfJnY5SmxaKtbY4k7eUrunxW74B5ppI97jHS3Jf0Aqfj-EeyrWFEALk4Nl7wguGEErrmRN0Ep9xtrhGS2prYrdTAVWoCfSFPTqRt/s400/images-5.jpeg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc6f2XsXV8CSpoJHF8yDlrysUDL55uPCnIUwH92i5e_VCehlJUd5F-humQmRg6pWfj8H6pErNp-A-L8snWzx8-gUgiup7rlCP_pAokrEFqRe7FtMHhPhTwaAh3oxbxLX5q2rBYlciOZ4E/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc6f2XsXV8CSpoJHF8yDlrysUDL55uPCnIUwH92i5e_VCehlJUd5F-humQmRg6pWfj8H6pErNp-A-L8snWzx8-gUgiup7rlCP_pAokrEFqRe7FtMHhPhTwaAh3oxbxLX5q2rBYlciOZ4E/s200/images-3.jpeg" width="179" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1bHzLBq58UvC7XD171sZYXpLWZ6QaYZBbjeGsARZE3LG7-3aqViMDtUWS76LUKZDr7RjNta9w1iQnThtA5M6qcoobxdIHFlZGiMsrodsAAwDs4ry-JBXDowzW-zPnc-PobQ9tpKMQopQ/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1bHzLBq58UvC7XD171sZYXpLWZ6QaYZBbjeGsARZE3LG7-3aqViMDtUWS76LUKZDr7RjNta9w1iQnThtA5M6qcoobxdIHFlZGiMsrodsAAwDs4ry-JBXDowzW-zPnc-PobQ9tpKMQopQ/s200/images-4.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I chose the City Lux because I love how versatile it is. There are so many different ways you can use this stroller. It has excellent storage.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">You can connect a tote bag, a bench seat or stand for an older child, or you can put a second seat on it. It rides very nicely and I sometimes take it jogging around the neighborhood. I wanted a stroller that can grow with my child and so far, this has not disappointed. I also bought their carrier, which can connect to the stroller and does not need a base. So, I keep my base in my car and did not have to buy another car seat or base to put in my husbands car. The Lux might be on the pricier side but I figured I would be spending less money overall since I would not have to upgrade to another stroller in the future. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The baby mitt helps sooth my baby’s teething, and the baby jumper keeps him pretty occupied while I get the endless list of household chores done. He absolutely loved the swing, which moves back to forward and side to side. I received all of these toys as either gifts or hand me downs from family and friends, which I am very grateful for because, again, the price can add up and they only use it for a short period of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="http://joovy.com/foodoo/">Joovy Foodoo</a> High chair</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I chose the black Joovy foodoo highchair for its versatility, efficiency and simple design. Although a little pricey, I felt it was well worth it considering how much we would use it. This high chair has different height levels so you can feed your baby while you are on the couch, near the dining table or standing up. The actual seat itself can also adjust far back like a cradle and is easy to move. It also has a tray with a clear cover that is easily removable to be able to wash in the sink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/i-play-reg-infant-sun-flap-hat-in-white/1016299120">Sunhat</a> and <a href="https://www.target.com/p/babyganics-mineral-based-baby-sunscreen-lotion-spf-50-6oz/-/A-13983788">Sunscreen</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">My baby loves to be outside and we used both the buy buy baby sunhat and baby organics sunscreen on him whenever we are outside. Its a must when you live in sunny Southern California!</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.costco.com/diapers-wipes.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Diapers and Wipes</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJk_DJecQhrC7fQ-XcWGMQfMBSrLMoccbr4zEa1kSjfWUuq-0aQsRnMA-Mr0D0hB6VR2QR-YXZTgn1vuGQyTE4campBhu5gzIIKXQzYwt7E14KBB2kyrEk2iw51GIIr3uvgPyh4YKcPPX/s1600/Unknown-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJk_DJecQhrC7fQ-XcWGMQfMBSrLMoccbr4zEa1kSjfWUuq-0aQsRnMA-Mr0D0hB6VR2QR-YXZTgn1vuGQyTE4campBhu5gzIIKXQzYwt7E14KBB2kyrEk2iw51GIIr3uvgPyh4YKcPPX/s400/Unknown-9.jpeg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzQIV9PPU4mk77yXmPYlswaJ5ZZsyqJ_Y-eV8nY5y16JcwXjc8Cuhk2aexwsILP0C6WMRT1J57Gz_ArXnGqjUYLI34wSfErlMn6Q4K6TTtn_SuYt6b3tyWTe5tIKVV-idg4IbTlKQbqX/s1600/Unknown-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQzQIV9PPU4mk77yXmPYlswaJ5ZZsyqJ_Y-eV8nY5y16JcwXjc8Cuhk2aexwsILP0C6WMRT1J57Gz_ArXnGqjUYLI34wSfErlMn6Q4K6TTtn_SuYt6b3tyWTe5tIKVV-idg4IbTlKQbqX/s400/Unknown-10.jpeg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_LasKv6eQaJXgqpe_C7x3tO3nEtQkJapkpDQ6HaOx0DdL8VNrCVU8U6R9LcC0RznoPre2nOJ7xkdk2gcvuNtvQtF0Xgt-4J-fJEkkWd6lT6ttwhbbifhtoj-JixuHG_cv9ODz8coZaFK/s1600/images-8.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_LasKv6eQaJXgqpe_C7x3tO3nEtQkJapkpDQ6HaOx0DdL8VNrCVU8U6R9LcC0RznoPre2nOJ7xkdk2gcvuNtvQtF0Xgt-4J-fJEkkWd6lT6ttwhbbifhtoj-JixuHG_cv9ODz8coZaFK/s400/images-8.jpeg" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">I received so many different diaper and wipes brands from my baby shower. I tried everything from organic and natural types to cheap and generic. I also received the fancy and cute brands. If you are on a budget like me I would stick with buying the kirkland brand in bulk at Costco or the Members Mark brand at Sams club. It saves you a ton of money and you won't have to keep taking multiple trips to the grocery store. They seem to be just as sturdy as the pricier brands. If you are in to fancier design and organic options and don't mind spending a little more, I liked the honest and parasol brands the best.</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://www.target.com/p/ergobaby-adapt-ergonomic-multi-position-baby-carrier-pearl-gray/-/A-50838492?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=s&device=c&location=9031605&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6J7YBRC4ARIsAJMXXsd2Fyow1HqdVluqGF-IkaeXE9rDr6rLQMbJ0L9sUdAf5MQkl0eIRF0aAo2jEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Ergo Baby Carrier</a></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQGCCgF2HcK8nomsnF1IbXiWbFApMwv3Q0uvum4N0bGImZ_AbB1z1QWOxnJBLeWcFSqXQg8StlvZJNMcyRQqtGC-9bCtmTpEZgNiOgCQOHpLzHr5BVqZdjK9Fo9d-fwZiGDxmOXBnMIIW/s1600/images-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQGCCgF2HcK8nomsnF1IbXiWbFApMwv3Q0uvum4N0bGImZ_AbB1z1QWOxnJBLeWcFSqXQg8StlvZJNMcyRQqtGC-9bCtmTpEZgNiOgCQOHpLzHr5BVqZdjK9Fo9d-fwZiGDxmOXBnMIIW/s200/images-9.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">This is my favorite carrier since it is very versatile and has great back support. While the wraps are cute, they offered little back support and took time to put together, which was not very practical with a screaming baby.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.vickshumidifiers.com/shop/humidifiers/vicks-starry-night-cool-mist-humidifier">Vicks Humidifier with night light and Infant Tylenol</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyOrUevZbXyJnBOaVmVPbphppUOTiDA9qD6c44srES7HYyVyELyDrn7tyhJE0lVQl9-QEIBcqfNvXJn-OzBdmzrrgGo6GxON3gVb_BIBlbk3OOAjB98qZHL5KAApWJACX3SKUG7QJ841E/s1600/images-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyOrUevZbXyJnBOaVmVPbphppUOTiDA9qD6c44srES7HYyVyELyDrn7tyhJE0lVQl9-QEIBcqfNvXJn-OzBdmzrrgGo6GxON3gVb_BIBlbk3OOAjB98qZHL5KAApWJACX3SKUG7QJ841E/s200/images-10.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldP4zGBphC5R02Lz2b0CuzZwlWbNSx8WcCr6uMWmiYNHw1Fk-lVsRlItYm7UNLIIT5iVh64yCGc3PIr71-DOzL20Auiyrel111gAoXQk0ctyj2ZBgXYIZEHNYqwHJXP3od8Ym4djfV6LM/s1600/Unknown-11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldP4zGBphC5R02Lz2b0CuzZwlWbNSx8WcCr6uMWmiYNHw1Fk-lVsRlItYm7UNLIIT5iVh64yCGc3PIr71-DOzL20Auiyrel111gAoXQk0ctyj2ZBgXYIZEHNYqwHJXP3od8Ym4djfV6LM/s200/Unknown-11.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though not on my registry list, my best friend gifted this to me and I couldn’t thank her enough. It was one of the most practical and best gifts I received. She already had two children and knew exactly what to get me. My baby was sick a total of 6 times in the first few months of his life, which was both terrifying and absolutely tiring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://binxybaby.com/"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Binxy Baby Carrier</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></a><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My baby loves the Binxy baby Carrier and so do I since it allows me to have more cart space for groceries.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=153929052&CAWELAID=120299900000136672&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=36024990456&CATCI=pla-295285319999&tid=onpl000017&kwid=1&ap=7&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6J7YBRC4ARIsAJMXXsfg0SMcjXaO32dpBq5S4UXnII3s-Mq3PyRrJiW-KKGgxpxpHk0hHzIaAiqsEALw_wcB">Onesie with Zipper </a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z1Vp-UVpWl6yO4h-X2dAb-tCIUxR4ABfsSUMRrZbxXHZ89-SuAZWK7gsaAlUbBYc0GP3L0-G-FEKtY4lwi272G76dx6uQzQ4YoAWA9WWe2_roZ7NxDu9V2rolV1xNyuOSrPlCjnZD1CI/s1600/cn8759486.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Z1Vp-UVpWl6yO4h-X2dAb-tCIUxR4ABfsSUMRrZbxXHZ89-SuAZWK7gsaAlUbBYc0GP3L0-G-FEKtY4lwi272G76dx6uQzQ4YoAWA9WWe2_roZ7NxDu9V2rolV1xNyuOSrPlCjnZD1CI/s400/cn8759486.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">No muss no fuss is the best when you have an infant. I had some of the cutest clothes for my baby, but the buttoned down onesies were the worst for practicality. There are so many cute zip up onesies. When you are changing a bizillion diapers a day, something as simple as a zipper on a onesie makes a huge difference. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><a href="https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/boon-pulp-2-pack-silicone-feeders/4552685?country=US&currency=USD&cm_mmc=google-_-shopping_ret-_-674512778-_-35855567173_4c73cdae-4fb4-4f6f-8e09-682d10a6de44&cm_mmca1=pla-267523432530_97915545&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6J7YBRC4ARIsAJMXXsdz1n1Y1FBW0KUkTsKbhZMLtQSAKQJ7UpDhJyUfy2Qxxg_qgjjQA7IaAjNCEALw_wcB">Boon Pulp </a></span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UfOg-0O1TX2OQPr6wvF5D_zPXMzY_-bpfS4R7w7E9tsvZwCWpgQvX3rW0J6N9iYiDij210kkHdrEDL2dW_kYEGfOV9lIU9H9pG1gAjIGDVjCjxjTyClwASCRryl6EqKMocjbzpVEo7dL/s1600/shopping.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8UfOg-0O1TX2OQPr6wvF5D_zPXMzY_-bpfS4R7w7E9tsvZwCWpgQvX3rW0J6N9iYiDij210kkHdrEDL2dW_kYEGfOV9lIU9H9pG1gAjIGDVjCjxjTyClwASCRryl6EqKMocjbzpVEo7dL/s400/shopping.jpeg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">My baby just started using these and they are great for him to suck on fruits like strawberries and bananas as well as avocado without being a choking hazard. </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">So there it is, My must haves from 0-6 months. Hope this was helpful! </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-72115372921949614402018-04-15T17:29:00.001-07:002019-06-09T11:52:33.495-07:00Journey to Motherhood: From Birth to Bringing Home Baby<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I was never strict about choosing a particular birth plan. As long as my baby and I were healthy and happy, I didn't mind surrendering to the powers that be. At 35 weeks pregnant, my stubborn little guy was still breech and showed no signs of turning. He was perfectly content with staying right where he was. My blood pressure was also steadily rising as my due date approached, so our doctor discussed with us that it was best to plan on delivering via C-Section at 37 weeks. I was pretty nervous about the early due date considering our baby was still measuring small. Yet, there was a part of me that was kind of looking forward to it since I felt like I was a month overdue. I was so swollen, short of breath and just flat out uncomfortable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Weighing in at a little over five pounds, my little boy came via C-Section on October 18, 2017. We named him Eli Amos Beal after his grandfather and great grandfathers. </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: center;">Seeing his face for the first time was so surreal. I still couldn't believe I was a mother. We made this perfect little human.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> My birth experience wasn't exactly what I expected. It felt so strange to be numb from the waste down, but nevertheless, I was so grateful that it was painless. My husband was right by my side comforting me as we were about to meet our little boy. Once he came into the world, I was only able to see a glimpse of his sweet little face before they whisked him away to the recovery room.</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">It took about a half hour to stitch me back up before I was able to see him again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I didn't actually get to hold my baby until the following day since my blood pressure continued to rise after the surgery. Yet, I wasn't upset. I was just happy that the medical staff kept me comfortable and my baby safe throughout our stay. It was such an exciting and nerve-wracking time all rolled into one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> I was so lucky to have an easy pregnancy and quite easy birth other than the blood pressure problems. The real challenge for me came postpartum. It all started with my inability to produce enough milk. I had to use a syringe filled with formula to both supplement and help my milk to come in. It was exhausting. My mother said she had produced too much milk, so I was quite surprised to find that my experience would be so difficult. I also had to constantly monitor my blood pressure at home, and I had to take medication for about a month or so before it started to normalize. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As soon as I started to feel better, another hurdle came. My c-section site became infected. I noticed redness and warmth spreading slowly across my belly. I cleaned and kept the site dry every day, but the doctor believed it might have been caused by the belly band I had to wear every day. She immediately put me on antibiotics and told me there was a chance that they might have to open me back up to drain fluid. I was horrified. Between all these medications I was on, recovering, and taking care of an infant on zero sleep, I hit an all time low. My husband had to go back to work right away as well. I was alone with my baby 6 days a week and I started to feel the postpartum depression creep in. I could tell I wasn’t my normal self. My hormones were just so out of wack. I would be crying one day and in pure euphoria the next. Luckily though, they didn't have to drain and re-stitch my c-section. After a couple of days, my symptoms ceased. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> The depression didn't really set in until my sixth week postpartum. I was over the moon happy. Then I noticed a shift in me. I felt like I couldn’t recognize myself. It all hit me like a ton of bricks. Why was I feeling so hopeless? I had crazy anxiety to the point where I had trouble sleeping, and by the eighth week postpartum, I hit a wall. In the past, I was so used to dealing with things on my own, but I realized I had to surrender and ask for help from my family. I couldn't do this alone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By twelve weeks postpartum, I started to feel more like myself again. I know for a lot of women, it could last even longer. So, if there is any advice I could give to other mothers going through this, don't be afraid to seek help. Whether its getting it from family and friends or seeking professional help, sometimes you just can't do it alone. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and I believe its necessary to feel like yourself again for your family’s sake. You are not alone and I've found that a lot of mothers have opened up and shared there own experience with me, which has also helped tremendously. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> My little guy is almost six months old now and it just gets better and better. It's like there is this new sense of peace and contentment that I’ve found in myself that I didn’t realize I’d have being a wife and mother. I still want to maintain a sense of self and I think its important to, but somehow things that used to matter don't matter as much. I’m pickier about how I spend my time and about what I want to do. It has to be something that makes sense for my family and it has to be something I genuinely want to do. Life just seems like it takes on a whole new meaning as I watch my baby explore the world for the first time. It’s such a blessing.</span></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-31134877740489276902018-03-16T20:23:00.001-07:002019-12-22T09:13:42.319-08:00Journey to Motherhood: My Pregnancy<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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My husband and I always knew we wanted to be parents. We had spent the last 6 years traveling, partying and living life carefree together, so we were pretty excited to begin this new chapter in our lives. The big question for us was “When should we start trying?” At 33 years old, I could hear my maternal time clock ticking away. I knew some women who struggled with infertility as well, and I didn't know if my own experience would be similar. On the other hand, I didn’t know if I was ever going to feel 100 percent ready for one of the biggest life changes I would ever experience. What about the trip to Africa that we never got around to doing? Should I go back to school first? There was always a long list of things I thought I had to do or accomplish before deciding to start a family since I was told many times that my needs would no longer take precedence once I had a child. For someone who has lived a very free and selfish life, and all of the sudden have to take a backseat was a huge pill to swallow. I knew that every time I visited my sister or friends with kids, I would feel so tired after just one day with them. How did she do it? All of these moms must have super human powers. How was I going to handle my child all day, every day? The truth is, motherhood can never be imagined until you are actually living it. This was difficult for me to come to terms with because I’m such a planner. Not knowing what I was getting myself into was a really scary thought. Yet, despite the hesitancy, my husband and I knew in our heart of all hearts we were more ready than ever to embark on this wonderful and mysterious world of parenthood. It scared the hell out of us, but nevertheless, we were ready.<br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> We planned to start trying after our Hawaii honeymoon in February, but little did we know, we already had a little bun in the oven. I went shark cage diving, paddle boarding and hiked six miles all before knowing I was already pregnant. “Did I deserve this?” I would think to myself. We tried for only 4 months . I knew some friends that had such a long and difficult journey conceiving. I would hear stories about the endless IVF treatments, diet changes, and miscarriages they had to endure. So, why was I so lucky? I kept waiting for the ball to drop, but the first trimester came and went pretty easily. I felt so blessed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Second trimester felt even better. My baby bump was starting to show, and I no longer looked like I was packing on the few extra pounds for no good reason. I absolutely loved being pregnant. I had very little symptoms if any. Other than some mild dizziness and swelling, I was glowing. Having a little bump gave me the perfect excuse to indulge in cravings that included a lot of almond boba milk teas and buttered toast. I didn’t necessarily go overboard, but I thought it was important to feel free and allow myself to enjoy my favorite foods without feeling too guilty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We surprised our family and announced we were expecting at my birthday pool party celebration. As they were all singing to me, my husband suddenly stopped everyone and revealed the real reason why they were all here. The look of shock on everyone’s face was priceless! I was 16 weeks pregnant and we thought it would be fun to also announce our baby’s gender surrounded by family and friends. We wanted to be surprised with them. I gave the ultrasound results to my work friend so she could order some confetti canons for the big reveal. It was kind of crazy thinking that she was the only person who knew the gender. Not even I knew. Yet, it was such a treat to wait in anticipation with the rest of my family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"> Third trimester was definitely the hardest on me both physically and mentally. We had to endure genetics testing after a blood test scare, which took 10 days to get results . It felt like the longest 10 days of our lives, but luckily, our baby was okay. From then on, I started to experience some major swelling and elevated blood pressure. My nose grew like Pinocchio and my feet looked like marshmallows. My doctor finally told me it was time, and at 37 weeks I was ready to meet my sweet baby boy.</span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-40193994317590551802018-02-23T00:10:00.001-08:002018-05-26T07:51:40.821-07:00My Baby Boy's Nursery<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I didn’t really have a specific idea of what I wanted our little boy’s nursery to look like. I was actually pretty open to different themes. The real challenge was narrowing down the options, which is why I highly recommend a Pinterest board for decorating because it can really help you both organize your ideas and see the bigger picture. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My husband wanted a golf themed nursery, but after looking at several examples, I realized that I didn’t want green colors or anything overwhelmingly bright. Ultimately, we decided to incorporate maps and airplane accessories because we both love to travel. I also knew I wanted to include some beautiful Navajo pots and wall decorations since my husband is half Navajo. It sounded strange to tell people we were going with a travel/Navajo theme since they don't really correlate, but luckily, it all made sense and came together in the end.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I chose colors and patterns that would compliment the walls, which were already painted a soft grey. I wanted the furniture to have a sort of southwest and natural feel to it. So, I chose a simple patterned black and white rug, with a dark brown crib. The simple white dresser I picked from Ikea is my favorite piece, partly because it was so reasonably priced and partly because it is so functional. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I usually gravitate towards simple and muted colors. Black and white always seem to be my “go to” colors. I made all of the big furniture pieces white or black, and focused on adding hints of color in the accessories. We exchanged our gold-lined mirrored closet doors from the 70’s for classic white bifold doors along with a new modern and simple black fan to tie it all together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really had so much fun decorating my baby’s nursery. It made me feel confident that I could actually tackle decorating and renovating the rest of our house. If only I had more time and money! I guess it will be a slow and steady process, focusing on one room at a time. </span></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-2479635269473931222018-02-04T13:06:00.001-08:002019-12-22T09:01:49.935-08:00My Traditional Wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="yiv1754202663s1" style="line-height: 1.2em;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Michael and I were absolutely sure we would have a </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">destination wedding. We had been to weddings in Cabo San </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lucas and Aruba and had the absolute time of our lives </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">there. So naturally, we fell in love with idea for ourselves.</span><span class="yiv1754202663s1" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;">Low-key, intimate, laid back, barefoot on the beach type of wedding seemed right up our alley. Yet, when it came time to actually begin </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">planning, we completely surprised ourselves. We were a bit more traditional than we had thought.</span><span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We quickly realized it was important for us to have the venue close enough for family and friends to be able to join us in the festivities. I also realized that ever since I could began to envision my own wedding I was always drawn to these gorgeous old historic churches and missions. Their stories are so fascinating to me, and I've just always loved the romantic feel of them. I think I always new I wanted to incorporate my beautiful Mexican culture in the wedding as well, so as soon as we laid eyes on the chapel it inspired me to run with it. I</span><span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">don't know whether having a traditional venue reminded me of going to catholic school growing up or going to church on Sundays with my parents and grandparents, but it just felt like home. It was love at first site. Somehow I felt like it had found us because we were certainly not looking in that direction at the time. I still cant imagine a more fitting wedding for ourselves.</span><span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><br />
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<span class="yiv1754202663s1" style="line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I would say that my most memorable moments was a tie between my beautiful niece accidentally falling on the alter while twirling In her gown like a little princess (it was the cutest thing and the priest made a joke about it) and the Mariachi band parading us from the chapel to the reception.<span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 1.2em;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">I am lucky enough to have a very creative</span><span class="yiv1754202663Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">sister who loves to plan parties and she is amazing at what she does. She reminded me to just embrace the planning process. This is your time to be creative and have fun with it. Make it your own. Once you have done everything you can, remember to let go. Enjoy yourself. Be in the moment. Imperfections are what makes the party unique and fun. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 17pt;">Check out my wedding video here....<a href="http://amariproductions.com/lana-mike/">Wedding Video</a> and my wedding on <a href="https://greenweddingshoes.com/a-spanish-wedding-in-santa-barbara-with-old-world-charm/">Green Wedding Shoes</a></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-75048781247841865902018-01-23T20:05:00.000-08:002019-12-22T09:03:40.063-08:00How We Met<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; background-color: white; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mike and I wed in 2016 and I thought I'd share the story of how we met along with some of our engagement photos this week. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> My husband never likes to say that we met at a bar, but the truth is…..we did. My best friend Natalie, and his best friend, Neil, actually played the matchmakers. We owe everything to them, since we probably wouldn’t have made the effort to meet each other being such homebodies ourselves. We needed that extra little push. My best friend has always been the eternal optimist of love, and I was always the complete opposite who had, at that point, swore off men. She was convinced we were the perfect match! She was so persistent, and I was so stubborn at that point that she realized the only way that I would meet him is if she secretly set up a date for us. So, for my birthday, she took me to a John Legend concert and after it was all over I expected to go home, but my friend had other plans. “Why don’t we go out and have a couple of drinks in Huntington beach to celebrate,” she said innocently. “Sure, why not,” I said. So, I obliviously drove up to Main Street in Huntington Beach. We ended up at a bar called Black Bull, and low and behold, there he was. It sounds cheesy, but we were pretty smitten with each other right from the start. He was the perfect gentlemen and he had the cutest green eyes. The only thing that worried me a little was his shoes. He was wearing white snakeskin loafers. They were atrocious, but not a deal breaker by any means. Fast forward to almost six years later, his shoe collection has greatly improved thanks to my help. We took it pretty slow before we started talking marriage...6 years to be exact, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. We got to really know each other and be by each other’s side during our highs and lows. We’ve traveled, got through school, changed careers, and bought our first home together. So we couldn't have been more ready at the time to marry each other. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> When we were first looking for wedding locations, Palm Springs was one of our top picks, but since friends had there wedding there a weekend after ours, we decided to head up north to Santa Barbara. Every year we try to make mini vacations to Palm Springs. I feel like it’s our home away from home. We just love the relaxing and stylish vibe. Mike is a sun worshiper. The hotter the better for him. He is also obsessed with golf. I love relaxing by the pool, and Im a sucker for the mid century modern style. It seemed only natural that if we weren’t going to have our wedding there, engagement photos would be the next best thing. My parents also loaned us their beautiful classic Corvette to add a bit more style and edge to the photos. We loved the way they turned out!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We almost didn’t make it to Glamis due to the 30 mile an hour winds that day, but Megan was so encouraging, and I new we would regret it if we went home. When we arrived, it was so windy that I could barely get out of the car and walk. At times, the sand hit your body like a ton of bricks. We couldn’t even open our eyes with the sand blowing in our face every five seconds. We literally had to walk backwards to get to the shooting location. Megan and Adam were such troopers. They were so encouraging and positive through it all. I don’t even know how they opened their eyes to take a photo! I must admit that it crossed my mind more than a handful of times how we would get even one good photo. Now, when I look at the finished product, I was clearly wrong. You can’t even tell we were struggling. I loved the photos. They were simple, yet so breathtaking. I loved the idea of being in the middle of nowhere. Just us</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">.</span></span></div>
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Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780829282866969310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7755039412036702590.post-46925474649559631792018-01-14T21:21:00.000-08:002019-06-09T12:02:10.784-07:00A New Resolution for the New Year<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Normally, I like to attack the New Year head on with a neatly organized and well thought out list of resolutions, which usually includes losing the extra 10 pounds I've packed on during the holidays. But making this year’s list feels totally different now that I have a three month old son. It has my sleep deprived, burned out self quickly realizing that I should probably just boycott the list this year since I now consider simple tasks like getting out of my pj’s and taking a shower an accomplishment. Those pre baby ways of attacking the day just don't seem to be working out for me anymore. It’s been quite a challenge to adjust to this new foreign world of motherhood. Trying to find my footing has really been tough. I guess it’s partly because my stubborn self still tries to do it all and operate like I used to. I would always look at the bigger picture, but now as a new mom it can easily be overwhelming. I have to keep reminding myself to pace it out. It’s like I’ve always been accustomed to sprinting to the finish line, but now it’s about retraining myself to slow down so that I can get through the marathon. I have to think about getting through the day, the hours, the minutes and not the whole month. It’s silly how I thought I was going to be one of those amazing mothers who could workout five days a week and still have loads of energy to hang with friends. It’s like Im learning to very slowly shed my old selfish ways and surrender to this new life. I do miss my carefree self, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Now I understand when mother’s say its so hard but so worth it. You’re just so in love with your baby and you would do just about anything for them. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-kerning: none; font-size: xx-small;"> Motherhood has made me think a lot more about my past New Year’s resolutions. This year I want to do something different. I want to make a resolution to just be in the moment. My son is already teaching me to slow down and be good to myself so I can be the best mother for him. Its such a challenge though. I’m usually putting loads of pressure on myself, Today, I was watching my boy interact with our cat for the first time. I went for a walk with him, and he was smiling at me. Im his whole world and its amazing to see him look at things for the first time. So simple, yet so fulfilling. He’s already teaching me about what’s really important at the end of the day. It’s not so much being engulfed in these endless unrealistic resolutions and goals we set for ourselves. It’s about stopping and smelling the roses and being okay with that. I don’t want to miss these fleeting moments with him. It’s actually exactly what I need. Im just taking it one step at a time. </span></div>
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