Baby's First Vacation: Keep Little Ones Stylish & Comfy with Carter's!

This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Everyday with Miss Delainey is an adventure, the little chickadee keeps us on our toes already and makes everyday full of wonder... but we're actually planning our first real adventure with our sweet girl soon. We are brave souls and we are planning on taking our car-seat-loathing baby on a road trip to Gulf Shores to spend time with family this summer.

While that means we are going to have to somehow convince her that her car seat isn't so bad, that also means I'm learning to pack for 2, for the first time. If you know me, you know I'm a chronic over-packer for any trip and you also know I love fashion, especially baby fashion... so it probably doesn't surprise you that Delainey's suitcase is fairly large and stuffed to the brim with seriously cute items from Carter's!

Baby Clothes may very well be an addiction for me, I mean the thrill of finding something super adorable for my sweet girl... what could be better? Luckily, Carter's makes it easy to find cute clothes for a great deal and their new line is so stylish, I was nearly beside myself when choosing what to bring along with us on our trip!

We snagged some shorts, a handful of tops, a couple of sets of pjs, and some beachy essentials... and, if I'm being honest, I still think we may visit again sometime soon so we can score some sweet Spring dresses and a few summer outfit sets! With that said, here's what's going inside Delainey's luggage (so far):

The first few items I decided to pack for D were the graphic tees we scored as a Doorbuster from Carter's, because I mean what could be more perfect for playtime with her cousins and more fitting for our vacation than graphic tees? Uhhh, nothing!

With a little poodle friend to make our poodle loving family smile, a happy day shirt because every day is a happy day with this girl, and a yoga shirt because this family loves yoga, these cute tee's are bound to be a hit among our family!

To go with our graphic tees, we just had to have the Ruffle Twill shorts, in two different colors so we could mix and match and have fun with her wardrobe! The pink and mint were the two that work best for us, but with the variety of colors, we may add a few more to her stash of Carter's cuteness for the trip!

The Little Traveler Sets were a must have, because hello cuteness... and how perfect is the name of these sets for our vacationing tiny tot? The two sets match perfectly so I got a little crazy and mixed and matched.

One day we are going to wear the stripes and the black pants another day we are going to rock the elephant tank with a pair of the ruffle shorts and maybe another day we'll wear a cardigan if it's feeling breezy, the options are almost endless. That's one of the things I love the most about Carter's - the versatility and how each item can be worn so many different ways!

On the same note as the little traveler set, I thought our little traveler needed a beach towel of her own and we all know sunglasses are a necessity for a diva on the beach!

The flamingo towel pairs perfectly with all of her cute Carter's swimsuits... and luckily, I've been stashing up on those beauties since before she was born! A day on the beach just wouldn't be complete with out Carter's cuteness involved, am I right?

After a day on the beach, it's always nice to get cleaned up and go out on the town, so that's exactly what we'll be doing one night while on our family vacation this summer. Obviously, for a nice dinner, D needs to be dressed for the occasion.

While I want her to be looking snazzy, I'm certain after a day at the beach she'll want to be comfy as well, so I found a compromise in the Ruffle Sleeve tank for some comfortable "fancy" clothes for the little diva. Paired with the bubble shorts from the traveler set and a big ol' bow, she'll be all set for the evening and looking stylish while still cozy!

After a long day on the beach and a night out on the town, there's nothing better than putting on some cozy PJs... especially if they have mermaids on them, am I right? I think Delainey agrees! We can't wait for PJ party fun with her cousins, but for now hanging with a unicorn in her mermaid pjs will just have to do!

While we all are pretty excited about the vacation, I guess I should address the fact that we practically live on vacation here in Florida... and that's why we love Carter's so much, they make items precious enough to bring on our family vacation with us, but comfortable and casual enough that we wear them around town and for play everyday too.

So tell me, what do you and your little's have coming up this summer? Are you planning a little spring adventure right now? Maybe you're contemplating a trip to the coast or  a little staycation in your own town! No matter where you vacation, be sure to stock up on essentials to keep your kiddo comfy from Carter's and don't forget to use this coupon to get score some even better deals on the adorableness!

Love Delainey's bows? They're from Darling Diva Boutique Bows and 21 Blessings!

Lyst - My Fashion Secret!

Today's discussion is sponsored by Lyst, regardless all opinions expressed are my own!

I'm a shopaholic, I've never denied that... but I'm a thrifty shopaholic! I love finding a bargain, so I suppose I'm a fashionista on a budget and that's why I peruse Lyst for the best deals! I shared my love for Lyst last year and while I've done a ton of shopping on the website since then, I feel like I need to remind you all about this ridiculously useful website and encourage you to join me and find some great deals and designer items for yourself!

From the hottest trends like ankle boots and leather jackets, to classic cocktail dresses, to the fluffiest faux fur, Lyst can help you find the most amazing deals on everything you need to make your wardrobe complete this season! If you're on the hunt for accessories, you'll find the perfect item while browsing on Lyst. If you need a new handbag or a present for your hubby, you'll find something you just love while looking through all of the items available. That's why I love Lyst so much... you can find anything, from nearly everywhere, all in one place.

While I've been eyeing several items on Lyst lately, I must say floral dresses have held a special place in my heart. There's just something about a pretty little flowered dress and the end of summer, it's the perfect pairing. If you're wanting to invest in a cute floral dress, here are a list of my favorites:

1. ASOS Women's Fold Over Bandeau Mini Prom Dress In Placed Bouquet Floral | 2. Maggy London Women's White Floral-print Fit-and-flare Dress | 3. MSGM Women's Multicolor Short Dress  | 4. Boohoo Women's Blue Doina Strappy Back Floral Printed Maxi Dress | 5. Vince Camuto Women's Black Floral Scuba Shift Dress | 6.  Adidas Originals Women's Multicolor Originals High Lo Maxi Dress In Engraved Floral Print

Floral dresses are all the rage, at least in my opinion. So maybe you should head on over and check out my collection and maybe purchase one or two if you feel so inclined. If floral dresses aren't your thing, take a second and check out everything else Lyst has to offer, you're bound to find at least a handful of items to add to your wardrobe.

Which leads me to my next little tidbit of information -  I want to share how you shop on Lyst, for those of you that don't already know... It's rather simple, if you're shopping from the US, UK, or Europe, there are two ways you can buy items on Lyst. With some retailers you can purchase your items through Lyst's super fancy integrated shopping cart (making all of your purchases from different stores at once with their interface) or you can buy an item directly via the stores website, whichever way you prefer!

It's that easy to fill your closet with beautiful new items, but be warned, Lyst is addictive (in all the best ways)! So tell me, what items on Lyst will you be adding to your wardrobe first?

A Baby Shower Gift Everyone Will Love: I See Me! Personalized Children's Books

Thanks to I See Me! for sending over these adorable, customized items to include in my baby shower gift guide,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Ever since I can remember, books are something I've always been pretty fond of. Story time was my favorite time of the day in Pre-K and I've been a bit of an over-buyer when it comes to trips to the book store. My husband has always been the same way, story time with his mom was something he looked forward to and when he grew up he found a sense of comfort in books. While there are plenty of amazing hobbies to have, reading is one of my favorites that we share and one that I really want to encourage Delainey to partake in. We can't make her have a specific hobby, we plan to read to her often and hopefully influence her to love books just as much as we do.

We have a growing collection of books in her library already and we even asked guests that attended our baby shower this weekend to bring a book instead of a card, which greatly expanded her library! She now has some of the classics, an amazing amount of new books, and even a few books I've never even heard of but look forward to reading with her!

While we have an amazing stash of books now, I have a feeling I know which ones will always be her favorites... Her personalized Snuggle Bunny book and her personalized ABC What I can be book! How do I know these books will be loved so dearly? They are books specially written about her made by I See Me!

The Snuggle Bunny book actually came as part of a set that includes the most adorable snuggly bunny stuffed animal and a placemat that's equally as cute. The story is all about the 10 different ways this cute little bunny loves your child, with their name sprinkled through out the book and beautiful illustrations to match!

Whether your son's name is Jacob or your daughter's name is Hannah, you'll be able to have to book customized to include their adorable name and it'll be one of their favorite night time stories for life. My little niece was gifted this book by my grandmother and it's one she constantly grabs to read at night, even though she's 3 years old and has read it almost every night since she was born. Plus, Snuggles (her little bunny) is her favorite stuffed animal that she owns... I can't wait until Delainey is here and we get to share the snuggly love with her too!

The other personalized book we ordered for Delainey explores different careers while also teaching her the alphabet in a fun way that includes her name on nearly every page! Whether she wants to be a gardener, a musician, a novelist, or a dentist, this book is a fun way to teach her while encouraging her to be whatever she wants to be and will be perfect for any little curious kiddo in your life!

I love that as she gets older she can recognize her name in random spots through out the book and learn to think creatively about who she will be when she's bigger. It's such a fun book and one that I think I may order for my niece as well so she can have another amazing book from I See Me!

While these two books are amazing, I suggest you take a look at the other options you can customize for your little one! If you want to get your little girl a personalized book about being a super incredible big sister or your niece a book about how she can change the world, I See Me! has the most amazing options and at a great price they make the perfect and most thoughtful Baby Shower Gift! They don't just make books either, your little one can get everything from a personalized lunchbox to coloring books and growth charts that have their name!

Plus, I See Me! is celebrating their 15th year anniversary of the book that started it all! You can get the 15th Anniversary Edition of My Very Own Name this year and celebrate with them!

So click here and check out the great selection, if you find something you just love, let me know what it is in the comments below... plus be sure to sign up here and receive their coupons in your email so you can score an awesome discount on your next purchase! I know I signed up right away, because I'll definitely be investing in a few more of these cute personalized books before Delainey arrives. As I said, I want her to love reading and having a huge stash of books is the perfect way to instill that!

Be sure to follow I See Me! on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Google+

Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!

One Case, Endless Possibilities: The New OtterBox uniVerse Case

You can now expand your phone's capabilities simply by changing the case! With modules built into the new OtterBox uniVERSE Case System, you'll likely never need to invest in another little computer gadget again!

One case with endless possibilities! You can use this case to turn the little slot on the bottom into a variety of different items - batteries, card readers, speakers, camera lenses and more without ever having to remove the case for any reason.

If you're the photographer type, you can use the OtterBox uniVerse case to attach your phone to a variety of different photo-friendly accessories! From a large flash drive to tripod, you'll be able to have the perfect photo and photo storage options plug right into your phone.

If you're using the photographic capabilities on your phone for other purposes, on a job site for example, the thermal camera may be the perfect accessory to help you track down things like insulation issues or something similar!

Do you run your own business? The OtterBox uniVerse is the perfect case to conduct business and process transactions! With the option to attach several different card readers you'll be able to sell anything while on the go and with an attachable Bluetooth mobile speaker you can rock out in between your customer's purchases!

Not only can the OtterBox uniVerse case be used as a tool for your business, it has an ultra-slim and sleek design perfect for anyone! It's easy to install and with a screen bumper, the raised beveled edge helps protect your touchscreen from any damage! While the case is only made for iPhones, I'm hopeful that one day I'll be able to join in on the fun of having an OtterBox uniVerse for my Samsung! Can you picture yourself using this fancy new case? Be sure to check it out at Best Buy today!

Protect Your Wardrobe + Keep Clothing Fresh with Downy Fabric Conditioner

Thanks to SheSpeaks/P&G for sponsoring today's discussion,
regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

As an avid shopper and a borderline clothing hoarder, I'm always trying to extend the life of my clothing. From carrying a stain fighting pen in my purse to using the best of the best detergents, I want to make sure each and every item in my closet can be worn for (at least) a few years.

While my routine has turned out some pretty good results thus far, adding Downy Fabric Conditioner has really upped the lifetime of my clothes! Now instead of my favorite clothing items losing their shape, they bounce back to the store-bought look after every wash! The best part is the colors of clothing that I've had for a while now are still as vibrant as the day I first threw them in the wash and they are actually softer than ever before.

How does Downy Fabric Conditioner work? The science behind the fabric protection is actually pretty simple. During a ride around the washing machine, garments pull stretch, and rub together. Downy conditions, strengthens, and lubricates each fiber to protect clothing from the friction, and agitation of typical washing cycle.

While Downy Fabric Conditioner does it's best to protect clothing, I've also learned recently (from having oodles of baby clothing to wash) that turning clothes inside out and washing the super soft items (like cotton) on the gentle cycle will keep your clothing looking fresher for longer!

Whether your trying to save an item that you've had for decades or you want to spruce up a new vintage find, I highly suggest adding a little bit of Downy Fabric Conditioner to your next load of laundry! Luckily you can grab a bottle on your next trip to Walmart!

So tell me, what's your favorite item in your wardrobe? Do you have a vintage gown from your mom that you must keep in tip-top condition or maybe a thrift store find that needs a little life brought back into it? I want to hear all about it in the comments below!

The Most Rewarding Way to Shop: Earn + Give Back at the Same Time!

Shopping is one of my main hobbies, you might even call me a shopaholic... but sometimes spending so much can take a real toll on our budget. So I've found a new way to save with Giving Assistant and the best part about saving is that I'm also giving back!

How does this work? For every qualifying purchase originated through Giving Assistant, they donate a meal to a needy family while your saving with the discounts available from their marketplace!

Planning on making a purchase from Ebay soon? You can earn 1% back and help out the Jones' who need a meal on their table! Going to make a big buy from Best Buy? You should click through on the Giving Assistant Marketplace and score 2% cash back for yourself and a meal for your needy neighbor. Not only can you make purchases and earn cashback, you can score coupons too! From stores like Shutterfly to Express, Giving Assistant has tons of coupons for you to score a super awesome discount!

It's that simple to help someone out while helping yourself... That's why when I made my recent purchase from Amazon, with things for Delainey's room and a few hair products, I simply clicked through on Giving Assistant and got 1.5% cash back and helped someone else out.

Are you a fellow shopaholic? You'll be glad to find out that Giving Assistant has partnered with 1,650 stores to help you earn cash back! From Coach to Bass Pro, there is such a variety in stores to shop that you can buy everything you could ever want while helping someone who is actually in need!

Interested in signing up for Giving Assistant? It's a simple process... just enter your email & a password and your set to start shopping! Click here to help someone else out while also helping yourself!

Officially Announcing Baby Harmon's Name & Sharing Our Love for The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe! { + a Giveaway}

Thanks to The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe for sending over the cutest personalized items for our little gal to wear, she's going to be so adorable in these and we're super happy to have been able to share our big news with the world with your help and expertise in embroidery!

I'm going to put this out there for anyone planning on having a child or even contemplating the idea, naming a child has proven to be a super difficult task... I'm not sure how people can just know. Maybe my hubby and I are just super indecisive, maybe I'm just picky or he's too traditional but we've had quite the adventure trying to figure out what our daughter's name will be.

Although, nicknaming her came easily and from the time we found out we were expecting we started calling her our little pineapple. She's been known as the pineapple or our pineapple for about 20 weeks now and while the nickname is super cute and may even be one of her nicknames for life, she may not appreciate being named after a fruit that wears a crown when she's an adult so we had to settle on a real name.

We went through list after list, had narrowed it down to handful of names, finally decided on a first name a few weeks ago, then had the hardest time choosing a middle name. But we finally figured it out, I think the name we've chosen is perfect for this little miracle we've been blessed with and I'm so excited to say she's officially named!

I was thinking we might wait until she was born to announce it on the blog, but it's too much fun to finally know her name and not call her by it. Plus, I love personalizing items and I can't imagine hiding some upcoming projects from you, so without further ado, Baby Harmon is officially going to be named Delainey Kate Harmon.

We decided on Delainey weeks ago, it's the perfect mixture of sweet and classic, but choosing a middle name was shockingly more difficult for us. Kate is our final choice because my middle name is Katherine and my mother and sister share the middle name Kaye, so it's kind of like we are continuing a family tradition with a K middle name but adding our own little twist for her.

Not only have we decided on a name for our babe, we've started personalizing items for her... Click here to learn more about the Cotton Cupcake Shoppe and check out all of the adorable items she carries, including the beauties I shared up above.

From the perfect little pineapple onesies, to burlap art stitched with a sweet quote to hang on baby's walls, to adorable customized hats perfect for showing off your little one's name, this little shop makes the prettiest items and I knew I had to share her work with the big news of announcing Delainey's name...

The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe all started whenever Amber, the owner's, third daughter was 4 months old. She had her in an adorable onesie but noticed it was missing something, she embroidered on her nickname and it's all history... Her little one time addition to her baby girl's clothing turned into a gorgeous shop full of the perfect personalized creations for all babies!

The thing I love most about her shop is that she has a true passion for everything she creates and it really shows. The items she makes are truly unique and one of a kind and I'm so honored we were able to share our daughter's name with you showing off her detailed work.

Interested in finding out more about the Cotton Cupcake Shoppe and possibly ordering a few personalized pieces for you littles? You can find her shop here and don't forget to follow her instagram so you can stay up to date on her latest creations!

Plus, you have the opportunity to WIN an adorable creation from her shop! Use the giveaway tools form below to enter to win an ADORABLE arrow hat from The Cotton Cupcake Shoppe!

Entry-Form

Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!

Bargain Shop From Your Phone with PatPat!

Thanks to PatPat for sponsoring today's discussion, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

With a little baby on the way, I've been trying to cut corners and save a dollar anywhere I can. From scouring through second hand stores to browsing online sales, I've always got my eyes peeled for the best deals and I've luckily been able to save us quite a bit of money!

Since my eye for sales is super strong, I'm also trying to find the best apps to search for deals while I'm on the go. From using coupons while checking out at department stores to finding new ways to shop, I like to think I'm on the up & up when it comes to using my phone to score a bargain! That's why I've been using PatPat for a while now and when they asked me to share my love for the app with you, I knew I had to share my little secret...

PatPat is an app that has changed the way I shop for our little gal. Instead of having to search high and low for the best deals on cloth diapers, I can simply click on the app and find a great variety of styles! I'll be honest and admit I bought 3 the day I found out I was pregnant... if you're a fellow cloth addict, you know it's hard to not buy a stash of adorable diapers for a great deal!

Plus, I love that I'm always able to find an excellent bargain on clothing whenever I want to buy adorable & unique clothes for our little baby girl and my nieces & nephews!

They don't just specialize in baby items though, PatPat has a whole section dedicated to women and our passion for fashion! From the cutest maternity clothing to the best swimwear, I can always find something adorable to add to my wardrobe!

The fun doesn't stop there for adults though, they also have a beauty section... which is how I found the app! When I was browsing for beauty blenders I had a friend recommend the app and I instantly fell in love, with stellar deals on items you could spend an arm & a leg on elsewhere... Any beauty product junkie will be overjoyed when they find the items they've been searching for at a great discount!

While everything is usually sold at a great price to start with, another reason I love PatPat so much is the Flash Sales they offer. Sometimes you can score a dollar amount off, sometimes they run specials on just diapers but the sales are amazing, it all depends on the day and all you have to do to snag the sale is click on the app!

Interested in seeing what PatPat has on sale today? You can download the app for Apple here or for Android here!

Trendy Headbands for Your Little Fashionista from Rug Belly Boutique!

BIG thanks to Rug Belly Boutique for sending over a handful of headbands to include in my Baby Shower Gift Guide, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own!

If you've been following the blog, then you know I'm expecting a girl in September... which means I'm also stocking up on clothing and accessories because that's what every little diva needs in her life, right?!

While there's a million different items I want to stock up on before my princess arrives, I knew I needed to add a few adorable little headwraps and top-knot headbands to her growing collection of cuteness! So when I found Lauren's Rug Belly Boutique on Etsy, I instantly fell in love!

Her shop is full of the cutest, trendiest hippie-inspired headbands on the market and I love that my little girl will look like a true fashionista while she's sporting her new headbands from the shop!

Ranging in size from 0-3 months all the way up to 4T (with custom sizes available as well), you can rest assured Rug Belly has the style of headband you'll want for your little darling for years to come! Plus, the super soft fabric won't be a bother to your babe's head, a huge win for both you and your little!

Not only does Rug Belly sell some of the cutest headbands, they also carry some pretty adorable rompers! I guess you could say Rug Belly is a one stop, ultra hip shop for all little divas needing to accessorize and I'll be honest, I can't wait for my girl to be here so I can make sure she's always rocking one of these adorable and super soft headbands!

Are you interested in staying up to date with your new favorite accessory shop for your little gal? Follow Rug Belly on Instagram and be sure to add Rug Belly boutique to your Etsy favorites today!

Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!

Drink in Style with Chuester!

This post is sponsored by Chuester, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Drinking water in mass amounts has always been a main priority for me, from trying to lose weight to helping my baby grow... I've had plenty of good reasons to stay hydrated over the past few years, as most of us do.

So when Chuester asked me to review one of their new cups and share my thoughts with you guys, I couldn't decline the offer. You see these cups are just different from the rest! This gorgeous cup has the ability to keep your drink at the right temperature all day long with it's double-walled glass, while also offering a BPA free, deliciously clean cup, it's obvious why I fell in love with these cups and use them all day long.

I've had tumblers and water bottles galore in my life, but this beautiful little cup is so perfect for my day-to-day routine that I've been washing it and using it almost all the time since I first received it. Coming in two of my favorite shades, a bright pink and a gorgeous mint green, I decided to stock up on cups and own them both now.

Whether you are drinking a cup of joe from your Chuester or sipping on aqua like myself, you'll be more than pleased with your new eco-friendly beverage container. Plus, the ability to see your drink is great if you're trying to achieve the perfect shade of mocha in the morning or you want to make sure your smoothie is still perfectly green.