Pink Plaid for the Win!

Tunic // Scarf (similar here and here) // Pants

This scarf is probably my most favorite scarf ever- and that says a lot because I have tons of scarves! I bought it at the end of September and have been impatiently waiting for cooler temps so I could wear it. I finally got the chance last week when California started experiencing "cold" weather. I snagged this tunic during the Nordstrom half yearly sale and it's on sale again for $25! I might just have to order it again in a different color. What I like so much about it is that's it's really easy to wear, it goes well tucked in or out (you can see in the pics) and is thin so it's easy to layer without overheating.

I'm trying to post more often, sorry I've been so MIA lately. I've had a bit of a writer's block and the girls have been sick, and we've been really busy so I've just been passing out after putting the girls down for bed. My goal for the new year is to post at least three times a week.

What are some of your favorite posts? What would you like to see on the blog?

Our Christmas Weekend

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday this past weekend- it's such a magical time (yes, I know how corny and cliche that sounds, but it's the truth!). We had an amazing Christmas and I'm really not ready for it to be over so quickly.

On Christmas Eve, I had to work a short day, then we headed over to Matt's parents' home to celebrate Christmas with his side. Santa came to visit and brought each child a gift to get the party started. Ellie was in total amazement and even gave Santa a kiss! It was really special and a lot of fun, it was the perfect start to the celebration.

I was so excited for the morning and couldn't wait for everyone to get up. I was up first, bright and early and the girls both slept in- I couldn't believe it! When Ellie came out of her room and saw her kitchen and gifts, her eyes just lit up and she had to wake up Emma to join us. We had a lazy morning and played with all her new goodies before getting ready and heading to my aunt's to celebrate with my side.

Saturday morning we tried and failed to sleep in so we got to work on cleaning up the house, putting away Christmas gifts, and we even started taking down all of our decorations.We usually keep them up til after the new year, but since we had the time we thought it was best to take advantage of it. We headed back to my in-laws so they could watch the girls while Matt and I went on a date.

We haven't had dinner out and alone in months, I was still pregnant on our last dinner date! After dinner we thought about going back to Matt's parents place because we missed the kids, but decided to catch a movie instead. What we really wanted was to head back home and go to bed, but we'll sleep when we're dead. We watched The Big Short (we really enjoyed it!) and it was the first adult movie we've seen in theaters or even by ourselves since 2013! It was so nice to get away and have some time together. We really need to make it more of a priority to get away more often together.

Sunday we had breakfast and visited for a bit before coming home. The girls and I went to church and relaxed the rest of the day. It was really one of the best Christmases I've ever had and I'm so very thankful for our family. I loved the whole weekend and seeing everyone. Everything I've ever wanted in life I have and I'm so thankful for the blessings in our lives. I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to spend time with your loved ones.

What's in my Diaper Bag with Huggies!

With Ellie, I packed everything in our diaper bag. If I thought I could maybe, possibly, use it, I stuck it in our diaper bag. Over the last two years, I've learned so much and now with a new little one, I have packing our diaper bag down to a T.

I've learned to really just pack the basics, which could be tucked into a tote bag or large purse, and head out the door. If we're going to be gone for a long time, I'll pack an additional bag to leave in the car- items like jammies, change of shoes, extra diapers and wipes. Wanna see what I have in my diaper bag?

1. Clothing
I always pack a change of clothes for the girls, one set for Ellie and two sets for Emma. I always make sure we have socks, in case something happens to theirs, it gets cold, or as an extra layer under jammies. I also always pack a soft swaddle blanket which serves so many purposes. It's nice to cover up the girls, as an extra layer, to swaddle, to use as a nursing cover in a pinch, or to lay on the ground to let Emma play on.

2. Toys
Depending on your child's age, I pack 1-2 small items to entertain them while we're out. Emma is in love with this elephant and it goes with us everywhere! Other good items to bring are rattles and teethers. If you're child takes a paci, always pack an extra two! Emma won't really take one, but we couldn't carry enough for Ellie when she was young.

3. Diapers and Wipes
The good stuff- diapers, wipes, and rash cream! A good rule of thumb for little babies is one diaper for every two hours you're gone. I have yet to really use this many diapers on a trip, but you just never know! It's better to have too many than too little. My biggest advice it to bring extra wipes! We use two wipes holders, one with our changing mat and one we keep as a spare at the bottom of our bag. We run out of wipes faster than anything else since we use them for so much.

Our diapers of choice from day one with both girls is Huggies. I've found that they fit the best from the very beginning, especially with their umbilical cord cutouts to help with healing. We had the least amount of blow outs and leaks with Huggies, and their wetness indicator is perfect to know when they need a change, especially when you're just adjusting to their feeding habits and establishing a routine.

One time I had to call their customer service line and the representative I spoke with was so nice and friendly. I remember getting off the phone and telling my friends about their exceptional customer service. That call alone really cemented my loyalty to them, they are an awesome company with products that help keep my babies' skin soft and protected.

Another mom tip I have is to buy your diapers in bulk! You go through them so quickly and I've priced them everywhere and I get mine at Sam's (along with popcorn, milk, and other yummy snacks). The girls love getting out of the house and trying samples, checking out their kid stuff, and we always get a snack on our way out. It's been a nice break while I was on maternity leave so sit and talk with Eleanor. What's awesome about being a member is that you can get store pick up or free shipping! Score!

What do you keep in your diaper bag? Any tricks or tips?

Wishlist Wednesday: Easy Gifts Under $25

Prep & Finish Set // LORAC Palette // Too Faced Lips 

Headband // Studs // Cuff 

I've been all over the internet on the hunt for some gift ideas for my sisters and thought I'd gather some ideas for anyone else looking for something great for a good price!  I saw these items online and thought they'd make perfect gifts.

Makeup: Everyone can use some primer and setting goodies to help their makeup last through the holidays. I've been OBSESSED with my LORAC palettes and this one is a steal with some truly gorgeous shades that are perfect for every day. It's a small case so it would fit nice in a makeup bag. The Melted lipsticks have been on my radar for a long time- I think it's time to test run them!

Accessories: I love the basics! Simple pieces you can wear daily, you can't go wrong with studs. I love the vintage styling on the sides of these ones! The bangle is gorgeous and would pair perfectly with a watch and mixed with other metals and bracelets. The headband is beautiful and would really make a statement with a simple hair style for the holiday parties!

What do you like to gift and get?

#SpreadCheer with Betty Crocker + $20 Giveaway!

One of my favorite Christmas memories is my Grandmother's cookies. She made all different kinds, but my personal favorite were her sugar cookies. They were amazing! She would have to make hundreds and we'd all eat them all up so she would have to hide them from the family. It was always a hunt when we came over and we only found them twice- buried in the snow! She was an amazing cook and baker and her treats always made us feel special.

Baking and cookies are something I want to share with my kids and loved ones. Now that I'm back to work, it's so hard to try and squeeze everything in on the weekends and nights before bedtime. I'm loving that Betty Crocker is here to help me through the holidays. Her cookie bags are simple to follow, make delicious cookies, and her cream cheese frosting is to die for.

This season, you can help #spreadcheer with Betty's new campaign to share the holiday spirit with friends, loved ones, and neighbors. It's so simple and a great activity to do with your littles and help teach them the joy of giving!

1. Download your coupon and grab your goodies at your local stores

2. Start baking easy holiday treats with your little elves

3. While you wait for cookies to finish baking, take advantage of their free printables! They have coloring pages for the kids, gift tags for the cookies, and door signs for the goodies!

4. Once your cookies have cooled- get to decorating! I hope our neighbors like sprinkles...

5. Tie up your cookies with the gift tags and drop them to your neighbors!

Our cookies turned out so good, we're baking them again this weekend! Can't beat a simple cookie mix, butter, and a single egg! It's so nice that these treats are so easy and quick to make. We had a great time baking and decorating them together and Ellie had so much fun delivering them to neighbors. The little boy above has been sick for a while and was ecstatic to have some treats! It was the sweetest moment, he couldn't believe they were his and it really brightened up his spirit.

Now for some fun and your chance to win $20 in PayPal Cash!!

Spread cheer with your family, snap a photo, then share it on your choice of social media with the hashtag #SpreadCheer and nominate two friends by tagging them to join in the fun! Come back and link to your share so I can check it out or tag me in your original post! I can't wait to see everyone's goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Black Friday Buys!

This year, Black Friday was a huge success! At least I think it was, I did the majority of my shopping online so I’ll be waiting to see how it goes once my items are delivered. I’m most proud of the fact that in all my Black Friday hustling years, this is the year I've shopped the least for myself. Now I definitely got myself some nice goodies, but I’m going to wait on some of what I snagged for myself and have Matt wrap it for Christmas. Most of my buys were clothing for the family, everyone really needed some cold weather items for the season. We did buy a few things for the house and a couple of gifts for the little ones in the family too. I’ve linked everything below- including a few items I picked up earlier in the week and items that were not included in the sales.

For myself:

Cocoon Sweater // Lightweight Sweater // LORAC Palette // NYX Lip Set // Pajama Bottoms and Top // Vest

For Matthew:

Henley // Sweater // Jeans // Plaid // Button Down

The Little Ladies:

Gray Set // White Hoodie Set // Pink Hoodie Set // Jumper

Peplum Top // Hooded Zip Sweater // Sweater Dress

Toys:

Disney Magiclip Princess // Play-doh // Lego Dimensions // Kitchen // Bow and Arrow

Doll // Matching Game // Book // Octoplush // Textured Balls

For the House:

Wood Frame // Silver Frame // Appetizer Dish // Pastry Board

Phew! Such great stuff, I really hope everything is just as awesome in person as it was online! I did end up going out around 9pm on Thursday night to get the few things that weren't available to buy online or were sold out. The shops were nearly dead!! I didn't wait in line to check out at Target or Toys R Us and it was so weird. I really love to shop Black Friday, but part of the joy for me is waking up in the middle of the night and being a zombie with my family and girlfriends. I'm really glad that this year so many places had deals that went all week- it was nice to shop without any crowds.

Did you do some shopping? What did you get?

Recent OOTDs

Over here in CA, our weather is all over the place. Today and tomorrow are supposed to get pretty cold, but the rest of the days are freezing in the morning and mid 80s by the afternoon. I have a few sweaters and scarves I've been wanting to wear, but it's just too dang hot! I've been wearing a lot of the same items repeatedly lately. We're also going through some dress code changes at work so I've been dressing pretty boring to stay within the guidelines (no bright colors, long slacks, nylons, it's pretty dated). Hopefully, I'll be able to get some more outfits posted soon, especially some more work ones- I always like to see what people wear to work and get inspiration for the ho hum of the work week.

Jacquard Tunic// Jeans

I haven’t actually worn this top yet, but I bought it and tried it on at home. I plan on wearing it to Thanksgiving with these jeans and some booties. I spotted it at Target and immediately tossed it in my cart. The jacquard detailing is really pretty and is such a pretty cream color, the sleeves have a darker underside which looks great when you roll them for a more casual look. Target has been killing it in sweaters this season, I saw a ton of really cute ones when I got this one.

Gingham // Bottoms

I’m so glad I snagged this top a few weeks ago, it’s so easy to wear and washes well. It’s cute for both work and personal life and is great to layer with cardigans and sweaters. When I was pregnant, I had these pants in the maternity version and I bought two more non-maternity pairs for work. I really like them and think they fit true to size, I want to get the navy color as well. I love the ankle length, but we are no longer allowed to wear ankle length pants at work and I’m pretty bummed about it.

Cardi // Tee // Skinnies

This cardigan is so soft and it's the one from my Closet Clean Out post that I was on the fence about. It's definitely too casual for work, but I'm glad I kept it. These skinnies are super comfortable and soft too, I've thought about distressing them and making some holes, but I'm too scared to do it and ruin them.
 

Sweater // Nursing Tank // Leggings // Jeans

I’m so completely obsessed with this sweater! I’ve been wearing it nearly non-stop, it’s just so comfortable. I wish I had bought it in more colors and I went back to the store and they didn’t have my size left (crying face emoji), so I’m going to order the fig online. If you’re looking for a great pair of leggings, I’d definitely check out White Plum’s, theirs are so soft and comfortable, they are honestly my favorite leggings to date.

Tulip Top // Bottoms

Another repeat, this tulip sleeved top is one of my favorites. Most of the time I’ll tuck it in for work and leave it untucked if I pair it with jeans on the weekend. It’s lovely with a skirt too. I have the top in lime as well and want to get it in black. The tulip sleeves are just so soft and pretty, I love feminine details like that.

Happy Thanksgiving eve! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!

Weekend Recap

Like most weekends, this one went way too fast. It seems like we're always on the go, go, go. Since we had the time, we put up our tree Saturday morning. I am not ready to fully decorate our house, but I love the glow of a tree. Ellie was also dying to put it up and decorate it, she was so excited!

I decorate the top with all of our ornaments, but I've bought soft ornaments for the bottom two feet for the girls. I didn't want to have a tree that they couldn't touch or leave the bottom half bare. It's been really nice because since it's never been a big deal about those ornaments, Ellie rarely plays with them and if she does it's no big deal. Ellie made sure Emma got in on the action too.

After our morning got started, we headed out to celebrate my cousin's birthday. I love being so close to my cousins, we've had so much fun growing up together and it's nice to have a large family at gatherings.

We went to Lucille's and it's been way too long since we last ate there! I had their pork sliders and peach lemonade and it was delicious! I told Matt we have to go back again soon. I'm also obsessed with their apple cinnamon butter and want to find a copy cat recipe asap for it.

Saturday night I had a craft night with some girlfriends where we all painted Hello Happy House wreaths and it was so nice to get out of the house and relax. We had so much fun, but my painting skills are seriously lacking!

It was a great weekend and I'm so sad to return back to work tomorrow. I wish I had this week off for vacation and could snuggle my littles all day. Hope you're having a great start to a short week!

Recent Purchases for my Matching Girls

Growing up as a sister duo, I was forced to wear a ton of matching outfits with my cool little sister. Sometimes it was awesome and other times we both kicked and screamed the entire time and hated that we matched. I'll let you take a guess which happened more often. I think it's a rite of passage to be able to match your children for as long as they will allow you to. I fully plan on letting this vicious cycle continue onto my own munchkins and I can't wait to see them in matching get ups.

Seeing Spots

Ellie is obsessed with the "puppy" movie, aka 101 Dalmations, so when I saw these outfits I had to snag them. The black leggings are sparkly and I thought they were just the cutest! How adorable will these look with boots or Mary Janes?

Puppy Set

Again, Ellie is obsessed with dogs right now so I thought this was only fitting. I like that the top is a little heavier and these leggings are also sparkly.

Snowflake Jammies

The Christmas holiday is all about matching pajamas and we are all set! It was the only set I could find that had sizes for both girls in the same fabric. I want to get a few more sets, but I love that these have all the holiday feeling while not being outright just for Christmas.

Sparkle Tee

Another holiday top that's not outright just for Christmas and would look adorbs with the sparkly leggings from the above sets.

The girls also needed some every day clothes for play and day care that I thought I'd include in this post, even though they didn't get matching sets of them.

Long Sleeve Trio

How sweet is this floral print? Carters have several different pieces that are too, too cute with this print (I especially love this set), but Emma really needed some classic long sleeves for the season so I went with this three pack set.

Skinny Jeans

These jeans are the cutest thing in the entire world on Eleanor. When I brought them home and tried them on her, Matt said she's too young to have real jeans and I needed to return them immediately. I totally agreed, but we kept them anyways and I just love how cute and old she looks in them.

Top (on clearance, similar here) // Leggings // Dress

On a mommy trip to the mall one night, I couldn't help but immediately "add to cart" when I saw these plaid looks at Old Navy. I thought they would be perfection at Christmas and a way for the girls to match, without being identical (which I actually prefer to dress them). I may have also bought myself a matching top, I'm totally that mom! I like this dress version of it, but it just didn't work for my body type and would be pretty tough to nurse in.

Cable Knit // Beanie // Plaid Set // Red Dress

Here are some more picks from Carter's that I love! The cable knit is gorgeous in person, but it just doesn't get cool enough here for the girls to wear it. Especially Emma since she's always being held, I thought she'd get too hot in it. I love all the red they have this season, I think it's perfect for the holidays (obviously) and will pair so cute with fun printed tights/leggings, and sparkly shoes and hair accessories. 

What have you been buying your littles? Do you match your kids? Did you grow up matching your siblings?