10 Baby Must Haves

These have been my top 10 favorite things for Emmy that I used over the past 18 months.  I've included links :)

1. Ava Anderson Non Toxic, Baby Body Wash and Shampoo - This body wash and shampoo smells and feels heavenly! It is organic and naturally fragranced with essential oils...it's perfect for baby's sensitive skin! As a bonus, you can order a pump top which is so handy! They also have baby lotion and diaper cream - I just ordered those and I'm excited to try them out. I am sure that I will love those as well. I'll let you know! You can buy all three in a gift set, which is perfect to bring to a baby shower!

2. WubbaNub Pacifier - Affectionately called "the wubb" in our house... this was an absolute lifesaver for us. The attached stuffed animal makes it easy for them to grab and hold on to and also helps to soothe them. It's also easier for moms and dads to catch when it falls out of babies mouth and is on its way to the floor. The stuffed animal does not detach from the pacifier piece, but you can throw the whole thing in the washer and then airdry it. I wish we had it from since she was a newborn! The pacifier part is the same ones that they use in hospitals and it's a great quality.

3. Nuby Splish Splash Stackable Bath Cups - We love bath toys and these are so simple, but Emmy loves them so much! From banging them together, putting water in and watching it pour out, or stacking them, she has so much fun with them. Plus, they have holes so they don't get moldy!

4. Infantino Go GaGa Deluxe Twist & Fold Gym - Emmy used this up until she started crawling at 6 months and she loved playing it in everyday! This includes a pillow that is great for tummy time - and you can always move where the toys and mirror are to encourage tummy time and rolling around. This also plays music and folds up easily! The activity part detaches, so once they start sitting up, you can use the bottom part just as a nice cushioned mat on the floor! It also washes great in the machine if you have a baby that spits up gallons all day, like Emmy was!

5. Boon Odd Ducks - I told you that we love bath toys! The stackable cups and boon odd ducks are a staple in Emmy's bath every time. My mom got her these for Christmas last year and they have been a hit. They are PVC-free and do not hold water so they won't grow mold! Emmy's favorite thing to do right now is give their cute little beaks a smooch!

6. Joovy Nook High Chair - Black Leatherette - This high chair folds up to the size of a briefcase for easy storage and travel (it is so light, yet sturdy). The chair is a leather material, so it wipes down very easily. The top tray also snaps off so it can be cleaned and even put in the dishwasher. 

7. Fisher-Price Baby's First Blocks - I bought this for Emmy for Easter when she was 9 months... she loved it from Day 1 and still plays with it, just in a different way now. She loved taking things out at first, then putting things back, using just the bucket, etc. It's very versatile, inexpensive and will provide a lot of entertainment! It's also a good portable size that can be carried for car entertainment or out at someone's house or a restaurant. It's also a quiet toy since it doesn't make noise :)

8. Oxo Tot Bottle Brush - I pretty much love everything that Oxo makes...and their bottle brush is no exception! If you are using any bottles, they will need to be cleaned - this is the best brush that I found!

9. Fisher-Price Kick N Play Piano Gym - Until she was 6 months old, Emmy would rotate between the Infantino gym (#4 above) and this.. they both provided hours of entertainment. They can either lay on their backs or it can be reversed to practice tummy time. It also encourages reaching and grabbing. As she started trying to sit up, this is great because the piano is removable and it can be upright so they can sit (or you can sit behind them to hold them) and push on the keys. We also used to take the teething toys off and use them on her car seat. I love its versatility.

10. Little Green Pouch, Reusable Food Pouch (7 oz. 4 pack) - I actually bought these when she was a little over 12 months, but I wish that I had known about them when she started eating pureed foods. We use them now primarily for yogurt since buying a big tub of yogurt is way cheaper than those individual squeeze packs and little cups make for big messes when little ladies or gentleman don't know how that spoons aren't for flinging yogurt! They are dishwasher safe and so durable. These are another great baby shower gift!

Alright, that's it for now - I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you try any of these products or if you use any of them currently,  I'd love to hear what you use everyday for your little ones!

21 Day Fix: My Journey

What is the 21 Day Fix? If you've read my blog or seen my Facebook posts, my journey began with Focus T25 in July 2014. When I was doing T25, I heard about the 21 Day Fix and I was interested since it combined at-home workouts with nutrition. Plus, the program is only 21 days long and promises to bring you great results. I wanted to find another workout that I could rotate with T25 for the winter months. My goal for the 21 Day Fix was to continue toning up.

I had heard read mixed reviews online about the 21 Day Fix and I was nervous because I loved T25 and Shaun T so much. I was afraid it wasn't going to be a good enough workout for me after I had been used to the high impact of the T25 workouts --- well, it's safe to say that after a few minutes into the first workout, I was completely humbled. The 21 Day Fix workouts are so simple, but they will whip your butt into shape! 

I was obsessed with Shaun T when I did T25... he was so motivating and always pushing you to go further. The 21 Day Fix is done with Autumn Calabrese... I am now absolutely in love with her. She makes me feel guilty if I am not giving 110% effort! I don't know how she does it, but she makes me push past all of my excuses. Plus, she travels to my living room everyday to give me a personal workout, even in rain and snow! And she gives you great motivating quotes during each workout :) I love my motivating quotes!

The best thing is that this program is a great transition from a program like T25 if you want to switch up your workouts or for someone who hasn't worked out in a while because there is a modifier for every move and breaks! It is also great for someone who has an event coming up that they don't have 10 weeks to commit to along-term program like T25.

These were comparison pictures that I posted on Day 5 and Day 11:

Okay - so let's get into the details. The program involves 7 at-home workouts, as well as portion control containers and an eating plan.

The Workouts

The 7 workouts range from 27 - 32 minutes (30 minutes on average). In addition, there is a 10-minute ab fix that you can choose to do on any or all of the days! If you order from me, you will also get a bonus Plyo workout. All of the workouts are designed to use multiple muscle groups at once so that your body burns the maximum calories. Autumn did a great job of introducing variety into each day's workout. Here are the core workouts:

There is a modifier for each move and she also demonstrates varying degrees of difficulty level so that you can step it up or step it down depending on your fitness level. 

The Eating Plan

With the 21 Day Fix, there is no need to count calories, ounces or cups. You just need the seven color-coded portion control containers and your Shakeology shaker cup to give you the right portions every time, so you don't eat too much or too little. If the food fits into the container, you can eat it! You will be eating every food group. Here are the containers:

You will answer a few questions about your weight and goals and that will tell you how many of each container you can eat each day. Based off that, you will form your meal plans and find recipes that are "21 Day Fix Approved"!

As part of my challenge groups, I provide sample meal plans and new recipes every week. Meal planning can be stressful so I help to take the stress off of it you want to follow the sample meal plan. All of the recipes I provide are simple, family-friendly and approved by my picky husband and toddler!

Some of the recipes included in my challenge groups are Mexican Lasgna, Loaded Potato Soup, English Muffin Pizzas and Crockpot Beef & Broccoli. Sounds delicious, right?!

That's it - it's simple, I promise you! I am doing Round 2 of the 21 Day Fix now and still following the meal plan about 80/20 and it's helping me to maintain my weight and continue to tone up!

Here are my final results from Round 1:

I wanted to share my journey with you in hopes of inspiring someone that you CAN make a change in your life - you just have to make a commitment to do it! I would love to coach you through the 21 Day Fix...it's your turn for a transformation!

If you are interested, tell me! You can e-mail me here! I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have. If you are interested, but have hesitations, tell me them so I can try to understand them and see if the program is for you.

Don't order the program on your own - let me be your coach and help you through it to get maximum results. Click here for the proper link to browse on your own!