1st Easter Basket Gift Ideas

So I finally discovered Polyvore and I am still learning how to put together collages so be patient with me. I just wanted to share some of the items I purchased for my daughter's Easter basket. It is her first Easter basket so I wanted to get her some keepsake items as well as fun items. Not to mention the Grandma's were very generous and purchased some of the items below as well.

One toy that I couldn't find a link to is Banner Toys! We purchased a great monogram bunny teether that was engraved with A's name on it! We are teething right now so we are very excited for a new toy!

Zebu's Pink Harriet Bunny: If you haven't heard of Zubel's check them out. They make a great and cheaper alternative to Bla Bla dolls. All of the dolls are organic and knit. I am a huge fan. You can purchase on their website or via Amazon.

Bath Toys: We are finally getting to the age where A loves her bath time. We have a few toys but always looking for more. Not to mention I feel the need to clean the bath toys every day so the more the less I have to wash.

Peter Rabbit: This was something Daddy saw at a toy store and decided that A must have it. He also purchased all of the books below there as well. You can find them at Barnes and Noble or Amazon. But Daddy had way too much fun picking out items for A's basket.

Beaufort Bonnets: These are the most adorable bonnets and clothes I have ever seen. I am slightly obsessed and can't wait for lil A to wear this outfit and sunhat. She is going to look so incredibly cute. The bucket hat has great sun coverage so perfect for our daily walks on the beach.

Hohner Musical Toys: Around Christmas I found a mariachi that Hohner made at Buy Buy Baby as I was checking out. I thought it was cute and put it in her stocking. Well let me tell you I think I could throw out all of A's other toys and she wouldn't miss them because she loves that mariachi. She loves to shake it in her stroller and carseat. My favorite is when she falls asleep with it in her hands, and then moves and it wakes her up. So anyway, long story short I found the rest of the musical instruments that I am hoping she loves.

Other items I included were a Lilly Pulitzer Lobstah Roll Bonnet from Seaside Stitchery which is so cute! Bubbles and Sunglasses from the Target dollar aisle, and some puffs in her easter eggs!

1st Easter Basket Gift Ideas by jennifer-leonard on Polyvore

Here are a few pictures of her almost finished Easter basket. I have a feeling I might be shopping this week and find a few last minute items.

Below please find some links to the products that I mentioned above! In addition I have a bunch of ideas on my Easter Basket Pinterest Page!

Would love to hear what you put in your children's Easter baskets as well!

Linking up with The Good Life Blog Today!

Nordstrom Price Matching Sale

Nordstrom Price Matching Sale by jennifer-leonard featuring a bracelets bangle

Jack Rogers sandals
nordstrom.com

Jack Rogers leather sandals
nordstrom.com

Jack Rogers jelly shoes
nordstrom.com

Longchamp nylon handbag
nordstrom.com

Alexis Bittar bracelets bangle
nordstrom.com

Kendra Scott earrings
nordstrom.com

Tory Burch sunglasses
nordstrom.com

EBates - Getting Paid to Shop!!!

So how many times have you heard/seen commercials for Ebates.com? Well I have been basically tuning it out forever and so incredibly upset that I have been. A friend sent me an invite recently and said that her friends had been getting checks for $300-$600 a year back from them. FREE money!! So of course I signed right up and regretted that I didn't do this before the holidays.

UPDATE! They are currently offering $75 if you refer 3 friends that sign up and make a purchase! That is half way to a pair of Tory Burch Miller Sandals!!

How it works.

Sign up here via my referral link here. And then anytime you go to shop online go to ebates.com and search for your store here.... You shop normally and check out like you normally do.

ebates.com keeps track of all your purchases and you can login to your dashboard to check your status.

Then on a quarterly basis ebates.com sends a check to you! You can choose to receive a check in the mail or PayPal. I prefer PayPal since I purchase a lot on Etsy and online boutiques.

ebates.com has so many stores! Amazon, Target, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and more! If you are online shopping why not get cash back for it?

For example, Tory Burch Caroline Flats basically cost the same at Saks, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, but when ordering from ebates.com you get 8% back right now from Neiman Marcus!! Not to mention ebates.com offers additional coupon codes as well.

In addition, when you sign up and make your first purchase ebates.com sends you a $10 coupon after your first purchase. They have a great referral program and you get $5 for each sign up. Not to mention they currently have a deal if you refer 2 people that sign up and make purchases you get $50.

So if you shop online it only makes sense to sign up for ebates.com.

Let me know if you sign up and what deals you get! I just purchased some baby presents and going to use my coupon savings for a new pair of Tory Burch Caroline flats!

xoxo!

Five on Friday - Valentines Day Inspiration for Kids

Yes, I know Valentines day is over 3 weeks away but these days my boss (lil A) is keeping me quite busy. So I need to start prepping in advance for the holiday! Here are 5 of my favorite Valentines inspirations. 

1. Yoda Best Valentine

Again, I know a few of A's older friends that would thinks this is the best, not to mention this might be what she makes her Daddy! source

2. I "Wheelie" like you!

For A's Boyfriends! How adorable! I really don't want to give candy to kids so a lil matchbox car is perfect.  source

3. Your "Purrrfect" to me

For A's Girlfriends! Not to mention I have so much leftover craft paper from her birth announcements that I can reuse. All I need to do is buy some googlie eyes! source

4. Monogramed Heart Napkins

Did I tell you that I got a monograming machine from Santa? I am still practicing but this looks like the perfect opportunity to test it out and make monogramed heart napkins. source But then again I will have to price it out, it might be easier to buy them at PB. But then again that wouldn't be any fun! Haha!

5. TuTu skirt

I made something similar for A for Christmas. Thinking I can repurpose what I made and add some valentines day tulle. I will do a blog post on how to make the tutu skirts later (SO SIMPLE!!). We also already have the heart sunglasses which I picked up at Target before she was born!

So as you can see I will be busy for the next few weeks working on my projects! Today after the gym I will be hitting up Michael's! WOO HOO!!!

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Happing Pinning!

xoxo Jenn

Linking up with a. liz adventures, carolina charm, hello! happiness, the good life blog, Jennie, Rebecca, and Amanda!

Country Club Prep - Check it out!!!

Have you heard of Country Club Prep? I just discovered this online store and I am obsessed. I read that they had Beaufort Bonnets (my favorite baby gift) and FREE SHIPPING! Woo Hoo!!! So I am definitely making this my go to source for Beaufort Bonnets. Not to mention when you sign up for their e-mail list they currently are offering a 17% off discount. HELLO SHOPPING!!!

Some of the brands they sell are Jack Rogers, Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, Sail to Sable, Lacoste, Sperry, etc

Check out Country Club Prep here. This is my referral link!

Here are a few items that I am currently looking at!!

Schoola - Sign up TODAY!!!

I just learned about the coolest website from my friend Lori at Everyday Loveliness blog. Schoola is a website that sells new and used clothes for kids. The best part is that 40% of the proceeds goes to fund a school in your area.

So this is the REALLY exciting part!!!

Right now they are offering a $15 credit if you signup via my link below...

http://www.schoola.com/stitch?ref=cp-3XubiSVJ

and then if you purchase today they are offering an additional $5 if you use code 2015 at checkout.

That is $20 for you to spend on clothes for your child!!

And they have FREE SHIPPING for the next 2 days!!

So go and sign up RIGHT now and happy shopping!!!

Five on Friday - Favorite Baby Apps!

It is funny, I hear all the time from my parents and in-laws about how they raised us. We gave you food when you were a month old, you slept on your stomach, etc! And yes we all survived. However, after showing our parents our iPhone apps they are amazed on how much it calms the baby and the information that I tell them on why she is acting the way she is.  From music, reading or tracking development it is probably one of the most important pieces of baby gear. Here are 5 of my favorite baby apps that I swear by!

Definitely if you are looking for a creative baby gift for a shower I would buy the new Mom a iTunes gift card with some of these recommendations below!

1. White Noise App - this is a must have. I have mentioned the book "Happiest Baby On The Block" before and this is where I learned about how babies become over stimulated and white noise along with a pacifier and swaddling helps. I swear by this method and the white noise app. It instantly calms down my baby. Not to mention we have all started using this in our house to help us go to sleep!

White Noise Lite: Relax. Sleep. Better. 

2. The Wonder Years - this app talks about your babies mental leaps. Personally for me I have found this app great for understanding why my baby is acting fussy or needy. Not to mention what new skills they should be developing. They also have a book which I am interested in but haven't purchased.

The Wonder Weeks App

3. Mom's On Call - this method helps put your baby on a schedule. I find it extremely helpful and follow the schedule closely. I have had a baby that sleeps through the night since 3 weeks. Not to mention it sends you reminders for feeding and napping. This app was extremely helpful the first 3 months and continues to be helpful as my child grows.

Moms on Call

4. Pandora - we have Pandora on all day long. I created a few different stations as well as listen to some of their channels which include "toddler radio" and the "Disney Channel". One of the stations I created has Rock-a-Bye Baby, Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell, And Baby Einstein perfect background music that is relaxing.

Pandora

5. Baby Log - Activities, Growths and milestones. I used this app the day after A was born. I documented all the times I nursed, how much she ate, when I changed her diaper, what was in her diaper, baths, etc. This app really helped me stay organized and peace of mind if I had any questions or if the dr or lactation consultant had any questions. I only used this app for the first month but it was a lifesaver.

Baby Log - Activities, Growth, and Milestones

Now if only paid me for promoting these Apps! I can't tell you how much I talk about them.  Hope you have a great weekend! Next week we are going to continue the Baby a registry guide! 

In the meantime I will be on Ointerest coming up with ideas for my new home!!

Cheers!

Jennifer

Linking up with a. liz adventures, carolina charm, hello! happiness, the good life blog, Jennie, Rebecca, and Amanda!

Time to Clean the Closet - Tag Sale

So I decided that I needed to clean out my closet. I am sure I can get rid of more but baby steps! Here are a few items that I am selling on eBay. Definitely check out the links and let me know if you are interested. I need to buy some new Lilly! Have you seen the spring collection yet?

$45 JCrew Coral Blazer never worn but without tags - Size 4

$20 Black and White Polka Dot Blouse - Size Small

$14.99 2 Gap Outlet 3/4 length tees with peter pan collars

$12 NWT Gray and Navy Striped Old Navy Dress - Size Medium 

$40 NWT Gray and Black Wool Blazer with Leather trim  - Size 6

$29.99 Size 10 Nine West Patent Leather Pumps worn once to an interview. Hardly any wear at all.

$10 Black Lauren Ralph Lauren Floral Sheer Blouse - Size Small 

$10 Black and Gray Striped Old Navy Dress - Size Medium

$9.99 Aqua Old Navy Blouse - Size Medium

$20 Ralph Lauren Floral Button down Shirt Size 6

$15 Tommy Hilfiger Cardigan - Size Small

Happy Pinning!

xoxo Jenn

We Bought A House!!

Actually we bought a plot of land... that one day will be a house!! Since we moved to NC for the past year we were pretty set on one development in Davidson called River Run. Well shortly after we moved here we found out I was pregnant and put our house buying plans on hold. However, once in a blue moon we would visit other developments to get a sense of what is available in the area. In April we went to one development that I loved. We talked to the sales person and she told me about a new development across from River Run. I basically took it with a grain of salt thinking it was a different development near the power lines.

Flash forward to July when we were out and about and stopped by River Run again to see what homes were available. The salesperson there told us about the development across the street that they had just sold and took us on a tour. I was not a fan of those houses that were built whatsoever. She kept telling us that she had 2 plots of land available to build on but just figured that was so out of reach for us. She took our information and said once she had pricing she would be in touch. The Monday before I had the baby she reached out saying that one of the properties we were looking at sold but the other was still available but others were looking at it. So next thing we know in 48 hours we were in their offices signing paperwork to buy the property. They started the foundation in November and we should be finished in June! I can't believe we are going to be homeowners. 

Our house will look somewhat like this! We have a different color scheme.

Excuse how huge I look, this was the day before I was induced!

No joke, I signed the final papers while I was in labor! 

The start of our foundation!

So over the past few months I have been on Pinterest nonstop picking out ideas for our new home. I can't wait to share them with you. And obviously the finished results as well!

If you need me I will be on Pinteresting pinning!!

Cheers!