Mother's Day is just around the corner! Here are my top pics for last minute gifts. There is a little bit of everything in here that for pampering you mom or momma-to-be from quick gifts to some luxe items...

Things mom's love:
1. Perfume: I love perfume! Having a few on rotation can change the feel of an outfit or even moods. My favorite scent is D&G Light Blue.

2. Soft and fuzzy things: I really like the Restoration Hardware throw in this list. Its perfect for snuggling up while watching a movie or reading a book (after the kiddies are asleep because let's face it, when does a mama snuggle up during the middle of the day! LOL!)

3. Sunnies: It's bright out there! Protect her eyes with some cute sunglasses! You can splurge or head to places like Forever 21 that have some luxe-like shades on a budget!

4. Jewelry: No need to go out and buy the Hope Diamond. There are really cute pieces that won't break the bank out there.

5. Fitness gear: For the mama who is into looking good while working out, get her some new kicks or a new outfit or a wearable like a FitBit.

6. Heels: If you can splurge, get her a pair of coveted Christian Louboutins. Those red soles will make any woman feel sexy!

7. Hip, Comfy T-shirts: I am all about comfy t-shirts lately. You can dress them up or down and look fabulous!

9. Comfy shoes: A mama is typically on her feet all day. Getting her a pair of cute flats or even some running shoes will help her tootsies when she's on the run.

10. Make-up: If mama has been eyeing the newest make-up palette or has been talking about getting a new skincare line, snag it for her! She will appreciate you helping her feel her best in anyway she prefers.
If you don't do gifts, here are some simple ways to show mom you care:
1. Take her on a picnic. Pack up some snacks (and the kids if you can't get a sitter) and venture outside for a picnic! Since Spring is officially here in most parts of the country, Sunday should be a nice day to hang out, play with the kids and do some cloud watching. If the weather isn't great that day for you, make a pillow fort and camp indoors!

2. Do some sightseeing around town. We did this a couple of weeks ago. Venture to the Zoo or walk around your metropolitan area and just take it all in! We have pretty neat art displays around our Downtown and Midtown areas so we loaded up our little one in the stroller and walked till we couldn't walk anymore.

3. Be the mom for a day: Take the kiddos and let mom have a day off so she can take a nap or just sit and collect herself.

4. Make her a cocktail (and dinner!): If getting out is impossible, make her a nice dinner and a cocktail and sit on the patio when all have been put to bed. If anyone happens to wake up, let her sit while you check on the troops!

5. Make something for her: A silly card, print out pictures...Get creative... It'll show you put some serious thought into a gift for her.

6. Tell her you love her: Need I say more? :)

To all the moms out there, hope you have a Happy Mother's Day...

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Happy Monday! I thought I'd switch things up a bit and start a new series called "Make It Mondays" where I show you my DIY projects.

This week, I'm showing you a super easy project that you can do with Ikea picture frames and some brass corners (and little teeny nails). I got the idea when I read through a DIY frame idea by Courtney at A Thoughtful Place. She used painters tape to create her corners and they turned out fabulous!

Here is her finished product (link to her blog post can be found here):

After seeing this, I thought about it more and wondered if they sold brass corners. Through some digging around via Google, I found some really cute brass corners! When they came in the mail though, they had no nails to go with them. I had to scour the internet once again and after visiting a few hardware stores that didn't sell that small of a nail, I found them online.

The frames I used were RIBBA but I just checked the IKEA website and they don't carry the size I have which I believe is an 11x14 and they also don't carry the color black...

 First, I glued the corners to the picture frames to keep them steady when I was going to add the nails in. I used a rock hammer to nail in the nails because a full sized hammer was way too big.


The nails were really delicate so if I hit it too hard, they bent.

 Then, I'd have to pull them out with pliers. I did this quite a few times. Each corner had 2 holes, 6 total. I only hammered in the first two on the front of the frame.


Pulling these little nails out was super tricky too. The frames are made of compacted wood and were somewhat tough to nail through but I did it!

 I've been in a slight funk the past couple of weeks and I'm blaming the lack of working out in my life. Pre-baby, I was able to workout without much thought and after I had my little one, with nursing all the time to lack of sleep, working out became non-existent in my life. Nearly a year later, I've struggled with being able to workout whether it be due to lack of time, being tired or just being plain ol' lazy. A girlfriend of mine is getting married this year and had chosen me to be a bridesmaid. It didn't really sink in that I needed to get up and move my tush until I tried on my dress. It's just a little snug around the mid-section. Otherwise, looking in the mirror, my mid-section is rubbery, my legs have shrunk and so has my tush. SADFACE.

Now that baby is sleeping without nursing every 2-3-4 hours, the hubby suggested I dust off that gym membership and start up again.

The first week (last week), I primarily stuck to cardio and did some light free-weight work afterward. But after only a week, I became bored. So, I'm researching things to do.

Prior to this, I also haven't been eating the greatest. Weekly Friday baking of cookies, micro baking experiments... it all adds up!

The last few days, I've been doing exercises with Tone It Up, a lifestyle plan created by two super cute trainers. I'm still in the beginning stages and haven't committed to purchasing it but am really liking the workouts they do. They have a program that you can buy into that gives you a full nutrition plan, grocery list and workout plan and their social media community is super supportive. They post weekly workouts in video or a downloadable .pdf. If I'm working out at home, I just plug in my computer and do it that way or if I go to the gym (like today), I print out the pdf and take it with me.

Here is what I'm doing today! (Courtesy of Tone It Up)


I hope to do a Friday check-in here and post my progress from everything to exercising to what I eat to how I feel.

Here's to getting my booty back!

Its been a couple of years since I'd done a serious Target collection run. My last run was the Neiman Marcus collection released during Christmas and since I lived in a smaller city (San Luis Obispo) at the time, all of the items were still on the shelf by the time I arrived in the afternoon.

Not so much now!

I actually wasn't going to go to Target but when I had gone online and saw that the collection was available, I panicked! I really wanted the super cute jumper for Lily (Lily in Lilly... love it!) and everything was sold out online. So it was early enough (7:30am) where I dressed L, jumped in the car and went out!

Two random things:
1. My hubby must have thought I was nuts because i'm never that bright eyed and ready to go at 7:30am on a Sunday... and
2. I'd like to thank my precious Lily for waking up at 5:30am today because if it weren't for that wake-up call, I wouldn't have scored these goodies for her!

We got there in 10 minutes and as I was driving, I thought to myself that no one here in their right mind would be at Target this early for this stuff. Boy was I wrong!

When we walked in, there were probably 40 women with carts piled high in the Women's section. I panicked again and thought maybe this was the only end cap and I wouldn't get to my that precious jumpsuit. As I walked by these women, there were brightly colored bowls, umbrellas, towels... Clearly they hit up the housewares area before tackling women's.

After seeing the giant group, I made a beeline for what I thought was the toddler's area. I grabbed a jumpsuit in an XS but quickly realized I was in the girls section. So, I threw that down and quickly walked to the toddlers area. That endcap was FULLY STOCKED and not a soul around! I was able to grab the piece I wanted and a few more that I didn't even consider!

Who was a happy camper? This lady! L was pretty excited too... when we walked in, she was laughing and screaming! She could probably feel momma's endorphins kicking in!

Feeling high as a kite (i'm not ashamed to say that shopping gives me a rush lol), I decided to meander and check out the other areas to see what was left.



Housewares was pretty much empty except for a few pieces like candleholders, some string lights, a super cute platter which I should've picked up...

Girl's was mostly untouched when I got there but was starting to thin out when I had come back around.

Beauty still had its endcap intact!

Women's had a decent amount of product but mostly in L-XL.

I didn't get a chance to see the SHOE section either. 

I talked to quite a few ladies that said they had arrived at 6am. I spoke with more that arrived at 8am to find a line that snaked around to the back of the building. Online wasn't such a great experience after reading Twitter. With all the ruccus, the site had crashed and then after only a few minutes, everything online was gone!

I overheard a few tidbits for shopping during collection times and I thought i'd share them with you. Keep in mind, these are for shopping in stores only. Online is a whole other beast that I cannot speak to:

1. Do your HOMEWORK. I never thought school would condition me for shopping but it most certainly has! Make sure you check out the collection's lookbook before you go in or shop online. I don't prefer to blind shop and its good to know pricing of the pieces you want before you go. Also, make sure you know what time Target opens and maybe even study the layout of the store if you really want to be prepared.

2. Get in line...EARLY. This really can make or break whether or not you get the item you can't live without.

3. Be STRATEGIC. If you know your way around the store, be sure to take the quickest and most direct path to the area you want to get to first.

4. Grab a buddy and SHOP MULTIPLE STORES. Grab some friends or family (or your hubby if he's up for it) and split up! Choose a store and then follow steps 1 & 2.

5. Hang out by the DRESSING ROOM. As I was quickly heading to the toddler area, I noticed a large group by the dressing room. I thought they all had stuff to try on! As it turns out, half of them were there to try and snag what others wanted. One woman I talked to said she was there pretty much the whole time and gathered quite a bit of stuff!

6. Wander the STORE. As I was checking out other areas, there were pieces of LP here and there that were abandoned along the way. Coveted pieces! I didn't want to leave them behind but definitely wasn't down to have the hubby give me the eye when I pulled out a size 7-8 girl's dress when Lily is only 11 months old. 

7. Don't forget to watch the CHECK OUT areas! As I was checking out, I talked to the cashier who had been there since 8am. Her station was PILED HIGH with housewares stuff... towels, plates, a super cute blanket that I really should've snagged...and other stuff she said was under her station. Apparently two different women had rang up for $1000 and $770 and my guess was they didn't want the stinkeye from their husbands either, so they ditched some stuff. The registers are a great area to look for last minute ditched stuff!

Did you get out to Target for Lilly? What did you purchase?

With my new journey into blogging comes new topics I can write about! I'm really excited to blog about what is in my diaper bag! Now I know that I'm not carrying anything that is groundbreaking but since L is getting older, I've become more efficient at what I carry and how I carry it.

So, here is what's in my diaper bag!



HONORABLE MENTION: I had to start off with what kind of bag I have... I didn't splurge for much for myself...except for the bag. I knew I wanted this bag way before I became pregnant! You can't go wrong with Marc Jacobs.  Its a sturdy, super roomy bag and has a billion pockets. I also wasn't into colorful bags and this bag came in a variety of colors...including black.

1. Similac RTF Formula (Supplementation): In times that I can't breastfeed or if I've left the pumped milk at home, I keep a couple of spares of formula in the bag. They come in these 2 oz doses which are way convenient. Since she drinks more than that at a time, I just bring a bottle and will add multiple bottles into that.

2. Sweater: You never know when the weather will suddenly turn on you. Today it was awesomely sunny but in our part of town, we get what's called a "Delta Breeze," and it gets pretty windy and chilly so I make sure to keep a sweater in her bag just in case. This super cute sweater is from Target and I love the loose knit and the colors for Spring!

3. Supply Bags: These bags are GREAT for organizing! They have 7 different sizes and the biggest can fit all the diaper supplies and then some. They are also travel-friendly. Travelon Set of 7 Packing Envelopes, Clear with Black Trim, Assorted Sizes
4. Diapers: Well, this is a MUST to have as I'm sure you already know! I usually go between the BabyGanics and Seventh Generation Diapers when I'm out and about. When I'm home, I use cloth diapers.

5. Aveeno Diaper Rash Cream: Aveeno Baby Diaper Rash Cream, Fragrance Free, 3.7 Ounce I was using Boudreau's Butt Cream which has worked well when she has had a diaper rash BUT that particular product shouldn't be used with cloth diapers as we have recently found out. In high amounts, itt gives microfiber a fishy smell when they're dirty and that is NO BUENO. I've read that its the high amount of zinc oxide (and some creams use fish oil) that is the reason for the smell but the zinc is the reason the cream is so effective. The Aveeno Cream doesn't have as high of Zinc so it shouldn't give the diapers that smell and still help with diaper rash.

6. Arm & Hammer Diaper Bags: Munchkin Arm and Hammer Bag Refill I keep a roll of these in the bag to dispose of dirty diapers or keep cloth ones contained till we get home. They have a super pleasant smell to them and they come in bright colors so you can't miss them if you throw it in your bag.
7. Bebe Au Lait Cover: While I don't breastfeed in public, I do use my cover in the car (if I really do need to breastfeed). Its a light cotton and fits in the diaper bag in one of the pockets. I also use it to cover the stroller if extra shade is needed.
8. Happy Baby Organic Puffs: HAPPYBABY Organic Puffs Sampler  L is all about these snacks! These were a great snack to introduce practice with her pincer grip and they dissolve easily and quickly when she eats them. They don't taste sugary (the hubby and I have had a few ourselves lol) and 75 pieces equal 1 serving so a lot goes a long way.

9. Snacks for Mama: I think its very important to not forget about yourself when packing the diaper bag. I'm very much a snacker and if we're running errands, hitting up Starbucks for a coffee and snacks can add up quick. I like to take a piece of fruit or pack a sandwich and take a bottle of water for when we are on the go.

10. Mama Sunnies: Unfortunately L isn't with the sunnies trend yet so she wear a hat when we are outside BUT I'm pretty adamant about wearing sunglasses.

11. Phone: Ok, nowadays who doesn't have their phone with them?! Do you remember when cell phones (or the internet) didn't exist (I do!)? We do everything from taking pictures/video to searching the web for various things to making phone calls or texting. This is a MUST-HAVE! I do try not to use it a lot in front of her because I don't want to make an impression that people need to be on their phones all the time.

12. Mama Supplies: Lastly, I keep one small pouch for myself which includes
lipstick (Rimmel #08 from the Kate Moss Line is my go-to) , lip liner (Rimmel's Exaggerate in Epic), gum, and $20.


What's in your diaper bag?

Hello lovelies! Last weekend seemed like a blur and now I'm dragging. If i'm that tired, that means it must have been a good one, right?

Here was my week via Instagram and the camera roll...
1. I'm in full first birthday party planning mode! I'm hoping for some good weather Memorial Day weekend! I can't wait to show you the final product!

2. This little lovely was playing around with some goodies from a goodie bag she got from a friend's son's first birthday (see #7).

3. I scored this wood baby highchair from Craigslist for only $20! This also has something to do with L's first birthday...stay tuned!

4. I found a bottle of my favorite light wine at my parent's house the other day. If you've been to the V.Sattui Winery in Napa, I HIGHLY recommend the Gamay Rouge. Its light and sweet...perfect for summer!

5. My sister (in the picture also) sent me a picture of my nephew and I BARELY recognized him! Gone is the little chubby baby and replaced with a young man! He'll be 14 in a few weeks!

6. L is fighting her naps with a vengance. When I go in to check on her sometimes, she'll have completely turned around in her crib! I'm hoping this is just a phase and she goes back to her normal nap routine.

7. My gf had her son's first birthday party over the weekend. It was a "Little Man" theme and it was ADORABLE! It was decorated to the nines with mustaches. The weather was good and she had A LOT of people over. The kids got goodies bags with candy (for the bigger kids)/ baby treats (for the smaller kiddos) and little toys. The adults got a root beer and lollipops!

8. For Easter, we spent it together as a little family and did our normal Sunday shopping but I put her in bunny ears. Everyone was waving and smiling at her... From this picture, she was definitely not as thrilled as I was.

9. I scored ANOTHER pair of sunglasses from Forever21. I love the colored lenses on this piece and its pretty sturdy!

Hope you all have a good week!

Happy Frrrrriday dolls! I hadn't posted anything all week because I've been working on the design of my blog. It's been YEARS since I'd touched it. Initiallly, I bought a template from a person on ETSY but she went out of business and my page's images and links stopped working. I couldn't figure out why it looked terrible...until I figured out she'd exited the blog designing game and didn't let anyone know. :( So I've been trying to figure this out on my own. Hope you guys like the new design! Obviously there are going to be some glitches over the next few weeks but its better than it had been!

On to the main event! I've been LOVING graphic tees lately! Since I basically throw on whatever is directly near me in the morning, its typically a t-shirt and jeans/shorts/yoga pants. I feel like there has been a graphic tee explosion lately on Instagram! I've purchased a few and am hoping to make a video haul in a few days. Here are some of the ones that have caught my eye! I really love the ILY Couture shirt with the rows of hearts. I saw a girl wearing it on Instagram and its on the list to buy!

I thought i'd give you options on what to pair them with. I stayed with denim because there are so many styles and colors out there that you could easy change a look with denim material now.

Of course, you can't forget to add shoes to this outfit. I chose a variety of styles and color because I most graphic tees lately have been black, white or gray and you DEFINITELY need some color in this equation. Of course you should be careful not to add too much color. I did choose some colored jeans below so make sure you don't over it.
Hope you all have a Happy Easter!