I want a new pair of mules for work and also a pair for more everyday, casual wear. Can you link some cute ones?
The good thing about mules is that most styles can easily be dressed up for work or dressed down with a pair of jeans so the ones I linked below could go both ways.. perfect for work or everyday errands.
I need a carseat for our nanny starting next week and I want something that is safe, will grow with my baby and is relatively inexpensive. What would you recommend?
With so many carseats on the market, it’s hard to know which way to go. I have had this Chicco, this Uppababy, this Graco and this Maxi Cosi.. so you could say I am a connoisseur when it comes to carseats 😉 The Maxi Cosi is what I use for my boys as convertible carseats once they turned 1 and what I’ll use for Parker as well since I have an extra one somehow?! Don’t ask. Carseats coming out of my ears. Anyways, I have liked all of my infant carseats for different reasons but I’d say the best bang for your buck is going to be with the Graco line because they have great options that grow with your baby, they get great reviews and are SAFE (that should be your number one reason). I’d recommend this Graco for your nanny because it’s meant for infants 4 lbs (rear facing) all the way up to 50 lbs (forward facing).
We are taking family photos next week for our holiday cards and need some outfit inspo for the whole family. I want everyone to match but not too matchy-matchy.. you know what I mean?!
Totally know what you mean. You want to coordinate but don’t want to go overboard.. I got you. I always look on Pinterest for holiday picture ideas.. just search Christmas card ideas and so many results show up. When in doubt, I always go plaid or sweaters with jeans (sooooo original, I know). I always stick my husband in a neutral color like cream, grey, navy or black and then weave in some fun colors with my outfit. But of course, the kids steal the show.. no one is looking at you in the card haha. But be careful with too many prints. I tend to stick to the same color spectrum and keep it pretty neutral.. too many wild prints and colors will just be a cluster in my opinion. Here’s some outfit inspo ideas. Also, check Zara kids.. I couldn’t link any options but I have always lucked out there.
For your guy:
For you:
I am traveling with my toddler and infant solo and need all the tips and tricks for surviving the trip. What did you pack in your carry on to keep them entertained?
May the force be with you.. that’s all I have to say! Kidding.. kinda. When I did my solo trips, I packed ALL. THE. SNACKS.. which I am sure you’ve heard before. And special snacks/treats that they don’t typically get at home. And I like to pack snacks that take a while to eat if that makes sense?! Like goldfish, peanut butter pretzels… little things that they have to take their time on. It seriously buys you time. I try to limit the sugar intake though because a tired kid + a kid hyped up on sugar is NO BUENO. However, a few lollipops and a couple M&Ms for when the plane is landing worked well for me.
As for entertainment, I do let my oldest have his iPad and load it up with Disney movies that he hasn’t seen or watched in awhile. I also really like the Kidloland app and you don’t need Wifi for it (but make sure to download games beforehand). The app is full of games, puzzles, songs, interactive learning tools, tracing, etc. It’s educational and fun for them. For my youngest, he just wanted to play with the seatbelt (so sanitary).. but I also packed window stickers, post it’s (seriously endless entertainment) and silly putty from the dollar section! My boys went crazy over that stuff because they could make “toot” noises with it and they legit laughed for an hour #boys. But beware, that stuff will stick to everything and it leaked in my bag and got all over my extra clothes I packed. Oops!
Good luck mama! There’s a reason they serve alcohol on planes 😉
What food bloggers do you follow and who’s recipes do you love/use the most?
Some of my favorite Instagram accounts to follow for recipes and food inspo:
- itsybitsyindulgences -she posts really simple recipes with ingredients mostly from Trader Joe’s
- Kristin Cavallari– always showing off her recipes from her True Roots cookbook that we love
- hummusapien– fellow RD and has so many good recipes on her website
- Rachaelgoodeats– another RD in Seattle and has great food inspo on her Instagram
- littlebitsof_realfood– has a ton of good recipes on her website and is always cooking up a storm in her insta stories
- delishknowledge and whitneyRD– both dietitians with a lot of great vegetarian recipes
- Skinnytaste and Cookinglight always have quick and yummy recipes
Any awesome food bloggers you guys are following that we should be?!
What’s the deal with hydrogen-infused water? Is it healthier than regular water or alkaline water?
Thanks for this question because this is clearly a new trend and I didn’t even know about it! Apparently this has been a thing in Japan since the 1960’s and they are also bathing in it and administering via IVs. So ya, adding extra hydrogen to water (some call it “HWater”) is all the rage- who knew! One of hydrogen’s main roles in the body is energy production so the thought is that having more hydrogen in your water must make it even better for you. So here are the health claims: increases energy, improves recovery after a workout, and reduces inflammation, and even helps with jet lag. They are sold in aluminum pouches like this for $3 each. Dr. Perricone is the big name behind this trend and he claims the ideal dosage is 24 oz/day. He’s saying this is an alternative to energy drink and a game changer for athletes to drink before and after workouts.
Alkaline water is different than HWater. Nutrients are added (via ionization process) to it to achieve an alkaline pH (usually between 8-10pH). Alkaline water has a high pH level compared to plain tap water and claims that it can neutralize acid in your bloodstream and help you metabolize nutrients more efficiently. Alkaline water companies make vague claims about “detoxing” “anti-aging” and “energizing” the body and that it is “superior hydration”. (Which just drinking adequate water will also do just saying!) Not going to lie…if I need to buy bottle water for some reason I reach for Essentia which has a pH of 9.5 and it tastes really good…unsure about all the health claims but I like the taste…
Bottom line there is very little scientific evidence to back up either of these water trends. For the hydrogen infused water there just aren’t many studies yet and more importantly long term studies…possible side effects/consequences?? I’m totally open to exploring new health and wellness trends obviously, but I’m going to wait for a little more research until I test this one out. I would recommend to first start with drinking more “regular” water on a consistent basis to boost your health 😉
I need some advise on the workouts you when not running or taking a class. Like at a home gym, hotel gym, gym gym. My office gifted us memberships to the local Anytime Fitness just down the street and I’m a little lost on what I should do to get the most of my time?
Hello Pinterest! Seriously so many good interval ideas to use for the cardio machines. Getting on the treadmill or stair stepper with no plan can be really boring, so having an interval plan to help you change up the speed and incline makes it harder and go by faster. I will often search Pinterest the night before and just screen shot something on my phone. I’ve also created a lot of gym circuits that I’ve saved under “workouts” on our Instagram highlights. Lots of workouts saved there!
Heather and I used the SWEAT app for a quick 30 minute HIIT workout you can do at the gym. It’s actually nice to use that app at the gym because you can access the weights and other equipment needed to enhance the workout.
My baby is 18 months old now and he is still with me at home. When (based on your experience) do you think it’s appropriate for a kid to go to school??
Quinn just turned 2 and recently started a little “school” 2 days a week from 9am-1pm. Most of the school like settings (vs daycare) start accepting kiddos around 2-3 years old. For me, I’ve always tried my best to socialize Quinn in different settings, but felt her being in a structure environment would be really healthy for her starting at 2. So far she’s doing really well and seems to like it! I plan to slowly increase her days at the school as she gets older so she’s ready for the transition to preschool. I think it’s totally up to you though and what you as the parents feel like your child needs structure/socialization wise. It’s also a nice break for mama too 😉
Thanks for stopping by and sending in your questions to champagnetheory@gmail.com. Have a fun weekend!
xx
