Pretty, Comfortable and Functional - WIWW

I apologize yet again for the poor quality of these photos as I'm still using my iPhone since my DSLR camera charger is MIA. Maybe by next week we'll be back in business!

Multi-functional outfits are a must for me these days since I go from Mommy mode, to work, to errands then back to mommy mode, with no time in between to change clothes. I managed to wrap all of my favorite things into one outfit by keeping it pretty, comfortable and functional.

Boots, tights and cardigans are my everyday winter essentials. But throw in some pretty jewel tones and a skirt with an elastic waist, and I'm in heaven. For whatever reason, I feel like I can conquer the world and can actually live in this outfit.

Linking up with Lindsey @ The Pleated Poppy for WIWW!

High Five for Friday!

1. We had so much fun last weekend just by staying in and playing around the house. Listening to Charlotte giggle uncontrollably is one of my favorite parts about being a mom. In that moment, nothing can be wrong. All my worries, fears, anxiety and stresses disappear and I get to laugh with this little girl.
2. My (new) selfie stick came! My husband got me a selfie stick for Christmas and it broke due to the weight of my phone (stupid iPhone 6 plus). So I sent an email to their support department and they sent me a new and improved one that was meant to hold the phone, and guess what?! It's PINK! 
3. This little girl needs to seriously stop growing up! She drinks out of cups with straws and doesn't even need me to hold it for her!
4. How stinkin' cute are these?! I've been eyeing gold moccasins since before Charlotte was born, but when I saw these little beauties with bows on them I just knew they were for me (er, I mean Charlotte)! BriellaBo does such a nice job making these! Oh and if you use code JAN15 at checkout by Jan 31st, you get 15% off your order!
5. I don't think I've mentioned it on here yet, but next month my friend and I are headed to Disney to run the Princess Half Marathon! (I know what you're thinking, "OMG, I had no idea you were even training!" Unfortunately, I haven't, but it will still be fun right?....this should be interesting!) Here is a start on my costume, can you guess who I'm going to be?! Stay tuned for the tutu! 

5 Things That Helped Us Survive The First Year

While I was still pregnant with Charlotte, I remember my sister-in-law telling me that a baby only needs three things: a safe place to sleep, a car seat and clothes to stay warm. It was just the thing I needed to hear after wasting too many nights stressing over what brand of bottles and bibs to put on my registry. She made me realize that at the end of the day Charlotte would have her basic needs and survival is the only thing that matters. I know that sounds dramatic, but sometimes that is the best you can do until tomorrow.

Now that we have been parents for a year, I thought I would share some of the things that we couldn't have survived without. The funny thing about every single one of these items is they never made it on our registry, they were purchased in an attempt to solve a problem. Hopefully these items will help other first time parents get a little more sleep so they can enjoy the first year for all the fun that it brings.

1. Rock-n-Play by Fisher-Price

This turned out to be the best money we spent in the first few months of Charlotte's life. We quickly found out that sleeping completely flat was painful to her, so we tried putting her down in her bouncy seat and it was the longest stretch of sleep we got. It didn't take us long to realize we needed the Rock-n-Play as a safe place for her to sleep in at night.

We kept her in this in our room for about three months. It was portable enough to bring around the house wherever we were, it vibrated which would instantly put her to sleep and it was at the perfect height by my bed so if she woke up, I could easily rock her back to sleep just by stretching my arm out next to me.

2. Giraffe Sound Machine by Cloud B

Moving Charlotte from our room to her crib was harder on us than it was on her. We were so worried she would know we weren't there and would wake up crying. We were wrong. But to help in the chance she did wake up, we got this little Giraffe that makes white noise and sings lullabies. You can put it on for 23 or 45 minutes. We have only changed the batteries once and we've used it every night for the past 10 months. We traveled quite a bit with Charlotte during her first year, so being able to bring this little giraffe with us everywhere we go has helped create a familiar sleep environment for her.

3. Motorola Video Monitor

There are a lot of different schools of thoughts on video monitors and whether they are good top have or not. Some people think it's lazy, but for us it has been a huge help. We both are sound sleepers and have to keep ours and the baby's door closed at night so having a sound monitor is a must. However, the video part has helped us assess if she's truly in distress or not. I know I should know her cries, but sometimes in the middle of the night it's hard to think clearly. Being able to just look over and watch her try to go back to sleep has eased my mind on many occasions. Often when she wakes up she doesn't cry, so it helps us determine when we need to go and get her and when she is content on having quiet time in her crib.

Another huge benefit for us is being able to sit downstairs and watch TV or do work without constantly worrying if she's ok. She has a habit of sleeping with her blanket by her face (it's the only way she'll sleep) so being able to check on her periodically without going into her room and risking waking her up has been a lifesaver

4. Buddy Fruits

Now that Charlotte is off formula, we have to always be prepared with a snack in case of a meltdown. A bottle used to solve everything, but now we have to be more creative. My mom discovered these little Buddy Fruits at the grocery store one day and we haven't been without them since. They are easy to throw in your purse or diaper bag for a quick snack, plus they have more nutrition value than cereal or puffs. I think Charlotte just likes being able to hold it on her own.

5. Family

It's not a product, but probably the most important factor to surviving our first year as new parents. We seriously could not have done this without our family. Whether you use them for advice and moral support or to help when you need a little break, having family and friends willing to help is the only survival tool we need. At the end of the day, there is always someone to listen to you rant about the hard times, but even better, they are there making memories with you along every step of the way.

Confident and Classic City Chic - WIWW

I must first apologize for the quality of this week's pictures. My camera charger is missing and I've officially killed the battery, so these pictures were taken with my phone. If I still don't have my charger by next week, maybe I will do a What I Wore Wednesday post using my selfie stick! Yep, you read that correctly, I have a selfie stick and I'm not ashamed to admit it. 

So there I was, out for one of the first times since having Charlotte and I came across this poncho at Ann Taylor on the clearance rack. It wasn't like anything I've ever bought, but when I tried it on, the transformation was instant. I no longer felt insecure or frumpy; I felt stylish and chic! Needless to say, this little gem went home with me. And now over a year later, I still find it to be one of my favorite pieces especially on a day when I need a confidence boost!

Outfit Details:

Poncho//Ann Taylor

Black Jeans//White House Black Market

Heels//old

I can't help but feel like Mary Tyler Moore when I wear this outfit which for some reason raises my sass level tenfold (I feel bad for my colleagues). Regardless, we must all have an outfit that makes us feel a million bucks no matter what the day throws at you. This goes to show that you don't always have to be super dressed up to feel fabulous. 

What is your go to outfit that makes you feel on top of the world? Do you wear it enough? I challenge all of you to dig out that outfit, article of clothing or even accessory and wear it this week to give yourself a well deserved ego boost!

Linking up with Lindsay @ The Pleated Poppy for WIWW

High Five for Friday!

I typically don't miss a High Five for Friday post, but last week was beyond my control. Our entire family came down with a terrible stomach bug. The only good thing about bugs like that is they are usually gone within 24 hours. Needless to say, I missed my high fives. So to make up for it, I am doing one big high five to cover the last two weeks. Enjoy!

1. Charlotte enjoys feeding herself at dinner, but I think her favorite part of dinner is licking the plate. She started this little trick the other night and I just HAD to document it.
2. We of course had her 1 year check up last week and just as I was trying to take a picture of her stats, her little fingers crept in. Maybe it's just me, but those two little chubby fingers sneaking in just cracks me up!
3. I've shared this picture on Instagram and in her Birthday post, but it's still one of my favorites right now. The pure joy on her face can make a bad day instantly better.
4. Here is another one of my favorites. Charlotte insists upon brushing her teeth whenever she sees me with a toothbrush. She will fuss and cry until I give her hers.
5. I made this perfect little Disney decomesh wreath for Charlotte's birthday and I've decided that it will now be my everyday wreath.
6. One of my wardrobe staples as of late is this amazing onsie by OnePiece (don't worry I got mine on super sale!). It's made of sweatshirt material, so no static and doesn't have feet, which makes it absolutely perfect. As soon as I get home, I change into this for the evening. Can we say obsessed?!
7. This is a little snapshot of how my mornings go. When I'm trying to get ready, she insists on being as close as humanly possible to me. It makes doing my hair with a 400 degree flat iron interesting to say the least. 
8. On Monday I spent the afternoon making food for the week. I cannot say enough how much this helped us this week. I managed to make chicken pot pies, chili, cornbread and baked ziti. 
9. One of Charlotte's birthday presents was this awesome little talking chair complete with a remote control on the armrest. From time to time I will catch her watching TV in it and suddenly she is no longer a baby!

It's going to be a nasty weekend with rain/snow/sleet so you will find my family in their jammies all day tomorrow and I can't wait! Have a great weekend and stay dry!

Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies

Need dinner in 30 minutes or less with little clean up?! Then this is the perfect dish for you. My mom made these for us a few months back and I loved how easy they were. You can come up so many different variations by just swapping out an ingredient here and there,the possibilities are endless!

What you'll need:

Cooked chicken (1-2 cups)

Cream of chicken soup (1 can)

Frozen mixed vegetables (1-2 cups)

Grand biscuits (1 can)

Preheat your oven to 375. Now begin cooking your chicken and vegetables. I used frozen, precooked chicken strips and frozen vegetables and simply microwave them per the instructions. Once cooked, combine the chicken, vegetables and cream of chicken soup in a bowl and stir. 

Set your mixture aside and take your biscuits and flatten them out to about 5 1/2 inches in diameter (be sure not to make them too thin). Then place them in your greased muffin pan so that about 3/4 of an inch hangs out on all sides. Once the biscuits are in place, simply fill 2/3 of the way with your mixture and fold over the remainder dough on top. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Not only are these great for a quick dinner that everyone will love (even your kids!), but I find them perfect for lunch on the go; just grab one and reheat in the microwave!

How to Clean Your Flat Iron

 I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I know I can't be the only one who has a gunky flat iron. After all, we all use product of some kind or another when styling our hair. After a few months you may end up with a flat iron that looks like this.

Oh, yours isn't this bad? Don't judge me, Mine is months and months of caked on hair product and it needed to be fixed. After all, this was my beloved Chi! After some searching, I came across multiple sources that say baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will clean that gunk right off. That has to be better than the bobby pin I was previously using!

What you'll need:

Hydrogen peroxide

Baking soda (1/4 cup)

Dirty flat iron

Simpy mix the hydrogen peroxide with the baking soda until you have a think paste. You will only need a small dash of the hydrogen peroxide so as not to make it too watery.

Once it is good and mixed, you can start to coat the metal plates of your flat iron with the mixture. As soon as it is good and coated, walk away for about 10 minutes.

When you come back, wipe off the mixture and rub the excess into the flat iron with your finger a sponge or even a toothbrush. You can use anything to get the remainder of the mixture off as long as it doesn't scratch the metal plates of your flat iron.

And there you have it, in about 15 minutes you have a nice and clean flat iron. I can't wait to use it!