5 Must-Haves for Baby 3

*FTC Disclaimer: All items were given to me for a blog post and my honest opinion. All opinions and thoughts are my own.*

It's baby week everyone!! I can't believe it's finally here! I both am ready for his arrival (psh, ya right!) and could wait another week and prep a bit more. His room decor is done (just waiting on his bedding to arrive), I need to organize his drawers some more, clean out his closet, and pack for the hospital!! Eek!!

As I'm preparing for his arrival, I rounded up 5 must have items this time around and what I can't believe I lived without before! I've talked to all my mama friends and these are the items I know we'll use daily and will come in hand time and time again.

Fave Small Shops for Baby

Some of my favorite baby must haves are from small shops, and I love supporting small shops! I like knowing that my money is supporting a specific person, their family, and their dreams. I've rounded up my favorite shops and had to share them with you, I love these shops, their products, and the people behind them!

Recent Purchases: Fashion, Beauty, and Home

With fall basically here, even if it's still in the 100s, I've been on a little bit of a shopping spree getting some new post bump duds. There's so many great things out right now, I want one of everything! Sometimes, the start of a season can be slow fashion-wise, but I love everything that's out right now and have a hard time not adding it all to my shopping cart.

Spring is my favorite season and sometimes, I look forward to fall just for a change of routine, but it is by far not my favorite season. This year? It can't come soon enough!! For one, I'll have a sweet new baby in my arms and two, the high temps are killing me! I can't wait for 70s weather.

So, like I said, I've been on a bit of a spree and wanted to share with you all the great things I've found, almost all under $50 (the booties are under $100!) that you NEED for fall too!

OOTD: Pool Party Baby Shower

My sister and aunt threw a baby shower for me last weekend and when they asked me what I wanted to do, I said eat, swim, and relax. It was the perfect day and the water was amazing! We had good food- crescent sandwiches, pasta salad, green salad, shrimp cocktail, fruit, and a mimosa bar (with sparkling cider for the preggos/kids), good company, and good weather!

I wanted to get a new suit for the party and since it's the end of summer I thought I'd have a hard time finding a cute one, but Pink Blush always saves the day! I have seriously basically only worn Pink Blush this whole pregnancy- they just have everything I need. I saw this maternity swim top, added to cart immediately and it was on my doorstep two days later. I just love them!

OOTD + Little Critter Baby Shower

This past weekend, we had party after party for our little boy. It was such a busy and fun weekend! I felt so loved and I can't wait for him to join us and meet everyone! I'll post about both showers, but wanted to share this one with you first!

It was a little critter theme and it was so cute!! I wanted to get a new dress that went with the color scheme, and this Pink Blush one was perfect! I love their dresses and they're all so comfortable, it was so hot that day, but I was just as comfortable in this dress as I would be in anything else. The colors were gorgeous too- a pretty pinky peach and orange.

OOTD: Baby Blues

I'm so excited for this week- it's my last day of work before I start my leave! I've never taken off work early before having the girls, I just worked until I gave birth so this is exciting to get to spend some time with them before little brother arrives.

I have a lot of work to do though- I need to get the nursery ready, Emma transitioned into a big girl bed, errands, and appointments for doctor, dentist, and hair all before he arrives. These last few weeks are going to seriously fly by so quickly. I have a few things planned to do with the girls, I'm most excited to spend some more time with them! I'll be keeping them home to get all the snuggles in and being able to hold both of their hands still when going places.

OOTD: My 8 Month Mommy Uniform

With each baby, I always forget how hard the last month is for getting dressed. I'm basically living in my Pink Blush dresses (this navy and floral one are getting me through!), but when I'm just home or running errands I've been loving these Pink Blush crops.

It's been so hot here and I'm back to feeling tired often, plus everything makes me out of breath!! I totally forgot about that part and I feel like it's even worse now that I'm chasing after two kiddos instead of just one. I'm not quite counting down the days until our little one's arrival yet, there's still more things I enjoy about pregnancy than not, but that list is getting slimmer!

OOTD: Navy + Denim

Hello loves! Hope you're all doing well, sorry to be MIA last week. These last two weeks have been pretty busy and tiring for me. I feel like I'm in the first trimester again and I'm tired all the time. We still don't have a birthdate yet for this little nugget, I should be finding out this week though at my next appointment. I can't wait to have his birthdate on the calendar!

For his nursery, I've taken down Emma's artwork (I still need to move them over to Ellie's and create a new gallery wall) and have FINALLY ordered some artwork for his room. I have a laundry list of things I want to do before he arrives, one of which I'm dreading. I need to get Emma out of her (soon to be his) crib and into a big girl bed. Any tips?? Wanna come over and do it for me? Pretty please?

My Nordstrom Sale Picks - All under $100!

Every year, people everywhere (especially bloggers) go nuts over the Nordstrom sale. It really is the best time to stock up on basics and get high end items at a great price. At first glance I didn't find anything super special, but now that I've looked it over the last few days I've found some super cute pieces! It's still early access today, but opens to the public on Thursday 7/20!

Friday Faves

Today is another mix of favorites, do you guys prefer a theme or just whatever? I've done themes in the past and I do like that it's cohesive, but sometimes a series of products won't line up with what I want to share. If you prefer themes though, I can definitely make it happen! I have a ton of beauty buys that just came in (did you see my IG story?? Yesterday was a good mail day!!) that I'll be reviewing soon!

Recent OOTDs + Recent Purchases

Here are a few outfits I've posted on Instagram that never made it to the blog until today! Getting dressed this pregnancy has probably been the easiest so far, but I can't wait to wear whatever I want. bout half and half of my clothes right now are maternity vs non-maternity and I should be able to wear almost all of them postpartum. Thank you loose fit!

OOTD: Pink + Yellow

Good morning beautiful! Hope all of you had a great weekend! We had a total blast at the beach, it was so much fun and we're planning our next trip. I want to get in as much as I can these last nine weeks. Can you believe that's all that's left? I find out little man's birthdate next week! Eek!!

Friday Faves

Happy Friday! I'm so excited for this weekend, we're taking the girls to the beach for the first time! I can't believe we've never taken them before! We're heading down to San Diego with friends and Eleanor is over the moon about it. There's so much to pack though! Have you seen that little video about the beach before and after kids? That's totally true. I remember in high school, you'd head to the beach with a towel, tanning oil, and maybe a blanket.

This week is filled with some of my favorite favorites! I'm in love with every thing in this post (well, every Friday Faves post is favorites, that's why I include them here). I just picked up a few things this past week (tops, hair stuff, and beauty items) and I'm going to test them out before posting them, but if they're winners I'll be sharing them in the next few weeks on my Friday Faves posts. Do you prefer a theme of faves or just whatever is good at that time?

I've got a secret and I can't keep it!

Good morning! Remember that secret I told you about a while back that I’d be sharing with you? Well, I’ve finally had the time to sit down and share it! In February, I became a Senegence distributor! I fell in love with their Lipsense lip color and after buying my fifth color I decided to sign up, even if it was just for the personal discount.

Lipsense is a lip color that lasts all day long! I love wearing lipstick, but hated reapplying. I just don't have the time! I work 40 hours a week, talking to customers all day, I'm busy with my family, etc. Just like all of you, if I find something that simplifies my life- I'm doing it! I know it's a small thing, but I LOVE knowing I can apply my lipstick at 7am and it's going to look just as great when I'm ready to hit the hay at night.

OOTD: Florals

Hello and happy hump day! I'm so excited for this short week, although I'm totally thrown off today thinking it's Monday and not Wednesday! Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July yesterday! We kicked it off Monday night with strawberry shortcake and fireworks with friends. The girls loved watching the fireworks! I thought the sound might scare Emma, but she loved them! Yesterday we BBQ'd with family and swam all day. We also started playing Spike Ball? Have you ever played it? It's harder than we all thought it would be! It's like volleyball and tennis combined, there's a round net in the center, four players, and you use your hands with a small ball. It's fun though!

#reading2gether with Bookroo

Good morning! Tomorrow is my FAVORITE holiday and I'm so excited to celebrate it with family, good food, and in the pool! Want to know something else that's great about this week? One of my favorite companies, Bookroo is having a HUGE sale tomorrow!! I have to share it with you because they are the absolute best and we love our subscriptions with them.

My Bundles of Joy with Huggies

As most of you know, we are a Huggies household. I remember bringing home my first baby, fumbling with different diapers and wondering when is the right time to size up. I was a brand new mom, I was exhausted, stressed out, and filled with so much love I thought my heart would burst. We quickly figured out that Huggies were best for us, we could rely on them to fit her just right, keep her dry through the night, and after a great customer experience with customer service, we became Huggies customers for life.

When I was a pro the second time around (ha!), I knew exactly what diapers we would need and Huggies have been there for us every step of the way with both of my daughters. Their new campaign is sharing your favorite Bundle of Joy moments and I can’t help but get emotional as my youngest Emma will be turning two soon, and will no longer be my youngest baby. We only have a few months left and she’ll become a big sister, a role her older sister has taken a shine to and tells me she’s going to teach Emma to be a good big sister like she is. It’s the cutest thing ever!

OOTD: Pink Jeans + 2nd Trimester Recap

Good morning and happy Tuesday everyone! I'm officially in the final trimester! Can you believe that? I feel like it's flown right by and that I've been pregnant forever. Only a short, but hot, three months left! He's gonna be here so soon and I'm so not prepared.

We haven't even started on his room, I have one thing for his wall. ONE! I finally found a theme Matt and I love and I want to get started on it, but we're so busy I just haven't done anything for it. I totally have it all pictured perfectly in my head though. I don't remember when I did Emma's, I do remember it being later in the pregnancy, but then I found nearly everything on one big shopping trip. Boys are hard ya'll. It's a whole different ball game from pastels, florals, and glitter.

OOTD: Floral and Scallops

Thank you Jane for providing the top for this post!

Happy Thursday! I'm so happy the weekend is so close! We don't have any plans this weekend and I'm keeping it this way! I have to work for a couple of hours on Saturday, but after that I'm staying home with my family. Sometimes you just need a day without plans!

OOTD: White Lace

While on our family trip last week to St George, we snuck in a date night! It was so much fun and a much needed break. We headed to dinner at Sakura and then to see Newsies at Tuacahn. It's an outdoor amphitheater and it's incredible! All of the actors are so talented, most of them from New York and have performed on Broadway. I've seen Peter Pan and South Pacific in years past and was so excited to take Matt! It was actually his first play and he really enjoyed it! Sounds like we'll be going again!

Friday Faves

Happy Friday everyone! Several blog posts in two weeks? Who am I? I'm on a roll and hope to keep the momentum going! I've really missed blogging and am finally getting some energy back this trimester. Yay!

OOTD: Blue Stripes

We're on vacation in southern Utah and having so much fun! The weather has been perfect and we are having so much fun! If you're looking for a good family spot with lots to do for kids of all ages, good food, and beautiful sites, this is the spot!

When I was packing, I packed mostly dresses since they're so easy to wear and would be comfortable in the heat. When I had everything packed, I realized most of what I packed was from Pink Blush! They are seriously getting me through this pregnancy- they just have so many maternity options. One thing I knew I had to pack was this blue striped dress. It's so soft and comfortable! I've worn it a few times already and just love it!

OOTD: Cold Shoulder

Happy freaking Thursday everyone!! Have you tried the off the shoulder trend yet? I haven't and I saw this top from Pink Blush, I had to get it! I absolutely love the print! It will also be perfect for now and transition beautifully into fall. Plus, it will totally work postpartum too! Winning!

OOTD + Our Summer Bucket List

Summer is here and it’s the last one as a family of four! We are so excited for our growing family and have started talking about what we want to do this summer and before our little one’s arrival. A few weeks ago, I talked about 5 Things to do before Baby Arrives and one of them was family activities before he arrives.

OOTD: Palms + Our Weekend

Good morning! Happy Monday everyone! This weekend was so fun and it went by in a blink of an eye! I wish every weekend could be a four day weekend, I just love being home with my kiddos and not having a strict schedule. The work week is so busy for us and I've been absolutely exhausted at night and go to bed after putting down Emma most nights! 

I worked Saturday and then we just ran errands and did our usual Saturday stuff (grocery store, laundry, cleaning, etc). Matt took the girls to dance and then a splash pad near our home. Splash pads are the freaking best thing ever!! Where were they when I was little? I took the girls last week on Memorial Day and we had so much fun. 

5 Things To Do Before Baby Arrives

Thank you Dreft purtouch for sponsoring this post, all opinions are of my own and based on my experience.

I’m well over halfway now with my last pregnancy! How did it go by so quickly? My mind is blown with everything I want to get done before our little guy joins the team. I’ve been making to-do lists, crossing my Ts and dotting my Is, and thankfully I think I have everything set in place. Of course, I still have some time before his arrival, but I prefer to be prepared. I’m a planner and it works best for me and my stress level if I can plan and prepare a few steps ahead! Welcoming a new baby into the family can be a huge change for everyone and I have a few tips I want to share that can make that change easier.

OOTD: Seeing Stripes

One of my favorite dresses this pregnancy has been this striped dress from Pink Blush! It is so comfortable and I've worn it several times- running errands, out to lunch with my BFF, family BBQ, etc. The fabric is so soft and it's so easy to wear!

I'm so happy to have found Pink Blush with my last pregnancy, they have the cutest pieces- both maternity and non-maternity. Whenever I need something for everyday or a special occasion, I know I can find what I need on their site. Nearly everything I own from them is perfect for each stage of my pregnancy and postpartum. I love finding quality items that I can wear for years!

20 Weeks Update + Pink Blush Giveaway!

Morning everyone! Sorry there's been so much radio silence on the blog and Instagram lately. This pregnancy has gotten the best of me! I don't know how mamas with lots of kids do it! There's a few women at my church who are expecting as well and some have 3+ kids already and I just look at them in awe. Sometimes, I want to just pick their brain about how they get it all done. Women are such rockstars!!

This last week I hit 20 weeks and I can't believe I'm already halfway through my last pregnancy! It's crazy how quickly each pregnancy goes by. We've been pretty busy and I have another announcement to make in a future post (which isn't really that big of a secret if we're friends on Facebook) that I look forward to sharing with you guys. Here's some pregnancy and life updates about what's been going on.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

How I Pack for Toddlers with JJ Cole Backpack

I've been rocking a diaper bag for almost four years now and I definitely consider myself a pro. With two toddlers under my belt and a new baby coming this fall, I've learned all the essentials for any outing! Finding the right diaper bag can be a bit tough, JJ Cole offers a variety of options and features, styles, and I love their color options!

My diaper bag has been stuffed to the brim with all the baby necessities, then it changed as Ellie grew up. Then, I had to start over with Emma, but I knew exactly what I really needed and what we could go without. Now that they're both toddlers, it's probably the easiest diaper bag I've ever packed!

Gender Reveal + First Trimester Recap

Good morning! Here's a fun post about our little one, we found out the gender a few weeks ago, but have been keeping it to ourselves. I had an appointment yesterday and confirmed the gender again, we found out early so I wanted to be sure! This first trimester has seriously flown right by. This has to be the quickest of any of my pregnancies, I guess two little ones will keep you busy like that! I can’t believe we were able to find out the gender so early on- we had to wait so long to find out with Eleanor and Emma had her legs crossed or the umbilical cord between her legs every time and it took forever!

I found out right at 12 weeks this time around, during my NT scan. The nurse was really nice and I asked her if she thought it would be possible to tell. She said that it would be really hard, the baby would have to be in just the right position, and that wasn’t what the appointment was technically for. Then we just chitchatted about old wives tales, life, work, etc. Then she asked me if I wanted to see the baby’s gender and turned the screen…

Friday Faves

Happy Friday everyone! This is just a quick post, sharing a few favorites and thoughts from this week. I have some posts scheduled for next week and some pregnancy updates- and the gender reveal! I tried to get them done this week, but it was just too busy with work, my crazy girls, and lack of sleep.

Weekend Recap & OOTD: Pink Blush Stripes

Happy Monday! This past weekend was so busy and just flew right by. Friday night the girls and I stayed in and watched the new Tangled Before Ever After on Disney- it's pretty cute. Ellie is so excited for the new tv show to start, I'm glad they did the movie first instead of after a few episodes. Why do they do that? It was so annoying with Elena, show me the movie and back story first!

Then Saturday we were on the go, go, go. We had dance class, a Costco run, lunch with Nana and Papa, then we headed down to Fallbrook for my niece's recital (she killed it! Her team took 1st place!). We were so tired after the day so we ended the night the best way we could- with some In n Out and then a stop for an Oreo shake! We were STUFFED!

Friday Faves

Happy freaking Friday everyone! Is it possible for a week to both fly and crawl by? That's how I feel this week has gone. I've been so incredibly busy these last few weeks and so tired/lazy thanks to first trimester, it's been quite the whirlwind as I play catch up and add to my already full plate.

Thank you all again SO much for all your sweet words this week. I'm so happy to finally share the news. I love being pregnant and I'm so excited to be on this journey one more time. I love following other's pregnancies and all the love and excitement as their due date approaches. Are you interested in  bump dates? I want to journal it for myself, but I'm not sure how much I'll share since it's my third one and you guys, depending on how long you've been reading/following, may have seen it all! Maybe just some posts sprinkled in? I'm not sure. Any feedback is welcome!

I'm really trying to get back into the swing of things here on LLP, so far in 2017 I've gone from posting 3-4 times a week to nothing for a week or two. Maybe second trimester will be better for my energy levels! Either way, I'm excited to be back this week with a third post and sharing Friday Faves with you guys, I love putting together these posts and sharing little bits of life, products, shop, etc with everyone.

OOTD: Baby Blues

Now that the cat's out of the bag I can bust out all my fave bump friendly outfits. I'm definitely showing, my uterus said "third baby? I got you!" and then exploded. Right now I'm at that awkward stage where a lot of maternity clothes are too big and my regular clothes are getting kinda tight. As soon as I knew we were expecting I headed over to Pink Blush because they have the cutest stuff and a lot of styles that work from beginning to end or postpartum.

Our Little Announcement- Baby 3 is on its way!

We are so excited to finally share the secret we've been keeping since the new year started- our family is growing and we're adding another little one! We are over the moon that we're expecting, it was a welcome surprise!

Valentine Gifts for Her

Valentine’s is just around the corner, and I love all the hearts, pink, and glitter it brings with it. I mean, I typically will wear bright pink or red lips all month long, so bring it on! Here’s a few things I have my eye on for the season that will get lots of use as we make our way into spring and then summer. Are you making Valentine plans this year?

OOTD: A Valentines Look

Can you believe Valentine's day is just a week away!? Didn't this year just start and Valentines is just around the corner! This year is flying by. I love this flirty red dress, I'm such a sucker for ruffles. It's a bright cherry red and it's perfect for warm weather (not that we've had much yet here). I know I'll be wearing it all summer, it will pair perfectly with some gladiator sandals or as a cover up.

My Favorite Diaper Bag- Jujube has it All!

One of my top baby product suggestions for parents is a good diaper bag. You’ll use it almost daily, it gets tossed around, things spill on it, it needs to keep a gazillion items inside, it’s important to invest in one that’s going to keep up with you! It's an investment piece that can last you years if you choose the right one. There’s a ton of options for you to choose from, but we love Jujube and I’ll tell you why! We prefer to use a backpack diaper bag so we have our hands free and we have the Jujube Be Right Back and the Be Quick in Chrome and I love that it works for both Matt and I. Jujube offers a variety of styles, colors, and prints, I had a hard time choosing which style and print I liked best!

We Love BookRoo!

If you’ve been around here long, you’ll know that I’m a total book nerd. I’ve always loved to read, even as a child. I remember going to the library all the time with my mother and grandmother, reading at night on the porch outside, and staying up late to finish my latest novel. Reading has always been an escape for me and I can’t stand the days between books! I love to read on my lunch breaks at work and any free time at home. It's important to me to develop my children's love of reading and set the example for them. We read to the kids every night as part of our evening routine and they always receive a book or two for holidays and special events. Reading helps with their communication, brain development, speech, promotes academic excellence, and the list goes on and on. Plus, it's fun! Let me tell you why we love our BookRoo subscriptions,

Recent OOTDs- IG Round Up

The rain here has been INSANE! I haven't seen it rain this hard or flood the streets this badly since I was in high school. Incidentally, it was the first year I lived here and really made an impression on me. I compare all rains to that year because it was so crazy. As soon as second week of January hits, I'm fully ready for Spring. All I can think about is florals, pastels, brights, and sandals. I can't wait, it's one of my favorite seasons! I've ordered a few things I'm waiting to come in and I can't wait for sunshine and warmth! Until then I'm just trying to stay dry!

How I Whiten my Teeth at Home

With the new year upon us, I have several goals and resolutions this year I fully plan on keeping. I know I’m one of many who have the same mindset, but I’ve been thinking about 2017 and what I want to accomplish for several months and have narrowed it down and focused on what is really important to me and my family. One thing that seems to be on everyone’s list each year is their health. This year, I don’t have a fitness goal, but I want to focus on my overall health, including my teeth!

Eleanor had a dentist appointment a while ago and she did amazing! I was so proud that she didn’t have any cavities and knew that our hard work of daily brushing and flossing have paid off. Matt and I were so concerned about setting our children up for success in having healthy teeth by watching what they’re eating and when, using a timer to brush their teeth, using the right toothpaste for their age that I’ve put my own teeth health on the back burner. How can I expect my children to maintain healthy teeth if I’m not setting a good example myself?

Best Beauty Purchases 2016

Morning! Some of my favorite posts to read at this time of the year is people’s favorite posts, best of, or recaps. I just love looking back and seeing all the good and positive from one year and heading into the new year with hope and happiness. Another favorite post of mine to share and to read from other’s are their favorite beauty products! When I initially went to write this post, I didn’t think I had too much to share, but then when I reviewed my Instagram and published posts- I had a lot! I was pretty successful in the beauty product department for 2016 and didn’t really have any stinkers, but today I’m sharing just my absolute favorites of the year with you!

Product Review: Tried and True Image Skincare Favorites + Giveaway!

Several years ago, I tried my first Image Skincare product and after using it for a few weeks I became a lifelong customer. Finding the right skincare product can be trying and can follow a series of trial and error. It you have sensitive or problematic skin, it can even be emotional to try a product and not see any results or worse yet adverse results.

All my life, I’ve had pretty even skin that tends to dry out and can be sensitive at times. I never really had an issue using any product (as long as I bought the sensitive version of it), but never saw a change in my skin. Not a single product brought my skin to life, evened out the skin tone of my rosy cheeks, or worked with what I had naturally to make it better and stand out. It just did its job in the laziest way possible and I had no results one way or another. None of this is true for Image. After a few weeks, my skin brightened up, I could wear less makeup, and even with long nights nursing babies my skin never looked better.

OOTD: Bell Sleeves

Good morning everyone! How is everyone's first full week of the new year? Mine has been so-so, but I still feel great about the year and reaching my goals. Going back to work and waking up to an alarm has been pretty tough, and I forgot my keys in our other car on Tuesday! Oh my gosh you guys. At least each day is a new start right?

Today I'm sharing this gorgeous bell sleeve top (available in six colors!!) and is on sale for $12!! I love it! It's a nice thick fabric and is perfect with jeans and boots or slacks and heels. It's such a simple and chic top that's was to wear a bunch of different ways

Our Christmas Break

Happy New Year everyone! I hope all of you had a wonderful and magical holiday! I can't believe how quickly this past month, year, and holidays went! Wasn't it just the start of December?

Our Christmas break was so fun and memorable. It was one of the best Christmases I've had! Matt and I both have had the last ten days off work and I've loved being home together. Our vacation had a good mix of both busy and fun. We baked, watched Christmas movies, stuffed our bellies, crafted, and relaxed. Here's a quick recap of our break!