Five Friday Favorites - Etsy Shops

I've been wanting to do this Five Friday Favorites topic for a while now.  I LOVE Etsy....love all the unique items they have and supporting small businesses.  I've bought SO many things from Etsy shops over the years but narrowing down to my five favorite shops.  Check them out -


#1 - Salted Words Company

I got this sign to put in our mudroom.  I love the meaning behind it and I want our kids to remember it each and everyday they live for school.  The quality was great and I was able to pick size and frame color so it fits with our decor perfect.  They offer a bunch of different phrases, song lyrics, etc.  I had a hard time deciding what to get.  Love this shop so much, I know I'll be ordering from them again.  And you can get a discount with code CHRISTINA20 at checkout.  Definitely take advantage. 


#2 - 3 Little Pixies Shop

Got a personalized money clip from this shop first for my hubs with special dates on it (anniversary and the kids birthdays) and he LOVED it.  Something simple but it has a very special meaning.  We ended up getting these for each of our dads too with important dates.  Great gift idea! And they don't just do money clips.  They have a whole bunch of personalized items for you!


#3 - Sawdust and Lace

My girls LOVE to do art and they are constantly giving me pieces of art to display in my office.  And by office I mean my little nook off of our kitchen.  I ordered this sign to display their works of art.  I love the clips because it makes it easy to change them out.  Unfortunately they are taking a small break but you can be notified to when they return which I hope is soon because their stuff is SO cute!


#4 - My Little Mookie 

I have been ordering from this shop for YEARS ever since I got a blanket as a gift.  She makes the sweetest, cutest baby items.  I especially LOVE her blankets because they are super soft and customizable so you can make it personal with almost whatever you want.  Make for great additions to your home or gift ideas.  She also has super cute onesies, bibs and more.  And you can get some of these fab pieces for 20% off!  She's offering all my readers 20% off with code CFT20 at check out.  Definitely recommend you look at her stuff!!! 


#5 - Recneps Design

I got one of these key rings for my Hubby for Christmas.  He hates anything bulky and this was the perfect gift to keep his keys in some order.  He doesn't just do key rings, he has all sorts of great, hand-crafted accessories that make for great gifts.  Perfect for Valentine's Day.   And here's a coupon code for you to use CFT10!

What's in my Scout bag?

As we spend our first day at the beach, I wanted to share what's in my favorite Scout bag.  I know I've posted about this before but it seriously is the best beach/pool bag.  So much space, bag itself is lightweight and the material is waterproof and very durable.  

First up are the two life vests for the minis.  A bigger one by Speedo for the five year old and a puddle jumper for the two year old.  

The one downside to the bag is there aren't any interior and exterior pockets so I use gallon size bags to keep things organized.  In this baggie I have an assortment of goggles, iPlay beach hats and beach towel clips to keep it secure on the chair.  

Then I have two separate bags one full of wipes and diapers (hopefully this will be the last summer for that) and one full of sunscreen because you can never have too much...apply and reapply!

I have a smaller bag that holds all their toys...some of their favorites include diving wands, dive toys, and squirt guns.

Lastly, my go-to beach blanket.  I've had this one for 10 years I think...it's the perfect waterproof, foldable blanket by JJ Cole...perfect on the sand or grass.  Highly recommend.  And then not shown are towels and a wet/dry bag for the girls wet suits (and another option from Pottery Barn).

Ella is EIGHT Months!!!

Eight months old.  Time is FLYING by!  Ella is so much fun.  She's super smiley, moving and grooving and all around a very happy baby.

Baby Wipes & Accessories

Kids Bath Accessories

We've put a lot of Ella's baby gear away and are moving into the next step of stuff.  She's not quite stable enough to be in the big tub without any support so we blew up the Munchkin duck tub.  It's the perfect amount of space for her.  She can move and splash around but we don't get to worried about her falling over.  Now that she's reaching and grabbing more, we put a cover on the spout.  I like the Skip Hop whale.  It was easy to put on and it doesn't interfere if you need to lift the one thing to shower.  Ella absolutely LOVES this Munchkin ball during bathtime.  It's the most simple thing.  There's a "rattle" in it to make noise and if you fill it up with water and lift it up it "rains" down.  

We've transitioned her out of the newborn car seat (Chico KeyFit 30 - highly recommend) and into the convertible car seat (Britax Marathon).  There's more space so its easier for me to get her in and out and she seems to be more comfortable.  With the new car seat meant no more Snap and Go so we use two strollers now - First Years Ignite umbrella stroller (for the day-to-day daycare drop off/pick up) and BOB running stroller (walks outside and eventually runs once it warms up).

On the toy front you are probably wondering why I put a walking toy on here.  What I love about this V-Tech Sit to Stand is the gadgets and gizmos on the front come off and Ella can play with it n the floor.  She loves it.  I think I know all the songs and phrases by heart she plays with it so much.  Two little toys she loves were Christmas gifts - a small wooden, circular rattle thing (fits in her hands easily and she loves to chew on it) and sensory balls (again fit in her hand and she can make sounds).  With all these toys and it being prime germ season, I wipe everything down regularly/daily with Dapple wipes.

Somewhat back on track...Ella is SEVEN months old!

I know I say this every month but I can't believe my baby girl is SEVEN months old.  She's growing up so fast.  She's got two teeth, eats three "meals" a day and is now holding her bottle on her own.  It's all going too fast.  Here are some of the products that haven't gotten us through month seven. 

Kids Rattles & Teethers
Kids Bath Accessories

Last month was all about the feeding and this month is all about the toys.  Ella is really into toys now.  She's crawling up a storm so we lay a bunch of fun things on the new floor (middle, top row) in her play room.  Let's start at the top row - she LOVES Sophie like most babies.  I really didn't think she was going to be into as much as she is...she loves her so much I got a second one (cheaper on Amazon) so we have a back up.  Since she's on the move we decided to create a playroom (pictures to come).  It's hard wood in that room so we need durable, cushioned flooring for it.  I picked up two packages of foam letters that we put together and it looks great (similar here).  As I mentioned, Ella has gotten two teeth.  She's been gnawing on everything and anything she can get her hands on.  Per a friend's recommendation, I picked up these great teething rings.  They are easy for her to hold and have different types of ridges so she can pick which feels best on her gums.   

Second row is one of Ella's new best friends, Fisher Price's Laugh and Learn Puppy.  It was a gift from her Godfather and aunt.  She loves "playing with it" meaning she wrestles it and chews on the different limbs.  Eventually she'll start understanding the different features.  Another favorite toy is a classic from when I was growing up, the Rock a Stack.  She can't put the rings back together but she loves taking them off and surprise, surprise putting them back in her mouth.  A product we used with her when she was little has returned, the piano playmat now has been brought back into rotation but this time as an actual piano.  She sits at it and pounds away on the keys.  It keeps her attention for a good amount of time.     

Finally, the last row...my mom bought this toy for Ella a while ago.  It's a sensory toy from Sassy that has become a big favorite.  This was actually the toy that Ella went to the first time she crawled.  It's nice and small, doesn't make a lot of noise so it's one of my favorites to pack when we are out and about.  We started pulling out some basic bath toys (last items) and we need something to store them in so we've been using this suction cup storage net.  So far so good. 

Here are some older posts of my favorite baby products from Ella's first six months and a look back at how she's grown.

 

 Month 1-2

Month 3

 Month 4

 

Month 5

Month 6

Ella's 6 Months Old...well she was last month.

I've been behind on posting Ella's monthly pictures.  She was 6 months old last month.  I can't believe it.  Time is just flying by...she turned 7 months on Wednesday.  As I've done in months past, here were the most have products we used (and still do) during her six month of life.

Stroller Accessories
Girls' Underwear & Socks

First Row - I started making 90% of Ella's baby food and here are my must have essentials - OXO has the perfect storage containers for fridge or freezer.  Beaba's Babycook has been the perfect gadget to steam and puree, it does it all.  It's not cheap (mine was given to me as a gift) but I think its totally worth it.  Beaba also has these freeze containers.  They are great for storing a lot of food but you need to have another container to let it thaw out in.  I like them because it helps maximize my freezer space.  Not the most affordable but I used a 20% off coupon to purchase them.

Second Row - Ella loves the Taggie blanket.  She loves to play with the tags and put them in her mouth.  I noticed she was playing on the tag on the blanket I lay down for her so I have her this blanket and she loved it.  The Bumbo has served multiple purposes.  It's been great for her to practice sitting up but we also use it when we travel to use to feed her.  One of her other favorite toys is the Baby Einstein piano.  She can play with it on her tummy or while sitting up.  It has so many different settings that it keeps her entertained for a long time.   

Third Row - One of my favorite bloggers, Life After I Dew turned me on to Children's Place stretchie PJs.  They are so easy to put on and because they are so strechie she's not growing out of them right away.  I absolutely LOVE this hat from GAP.  It's fits her huge melon head and gives her maximum coverage over her ears.  It's soft but very durable.  Another great cold weather item is the JJ Cole Bundle Me.  It's goes over the car seat and Ella is all bundled up and warm...no need to worry about having a blanket. 

Ella is Five Months!! And my latest baby product picks!

I can't believe my little girl is FIVE months old!  The time is flying by.  She's so much fun these days doing lots of moving (she really wants to crawl but isn't ready) and talking.  I can't believe how big she's getting!  So the products that have been my must haves lately are the following:

High Chairs & Booster Seats
Kids Bath Accessories

Top Row:
Organic Teething Rings and Sophie Teething Ring:  Ella is in the beginning stages of teething and she loves putting anything she can get in her mouth so these are perfect.  She can easily grab and chop down on them.
Spacesaver Highchair:  We started her on solids at four months and this highchair has been perfect to get her used to sitting up and eating.  We don't have a lot of space in our eating area and this highchair does what it says - saves space!   

Middle Row:
Ella is a VERY messy eater so these Bumkin Bibs are perfect to clean up her messes.  They wipe down and go in the washing machine very nicely!  Also a big fan of the Munchkin spoons.  And probably my most favorite thing - Aquaphor.  I lather Ella up with this stuff twice a day!  It's the best.    

Bottom Row:
Her legs are a little too short for this but she loves to try and bounce around in the Jumperoo! As Ella has gotten bigger we needed to upgrade to a bigger tub.  My recommendation would be to get a tub that has a large piece of plastic in the center so you can lay them in it and it stops them from sliding down.  Again, really like the Munchkin "dinnerware" and the bowls have worked out great. 

Must Have Baby Products - Four Months Old

I can't believe that my baby girl is four months old already.  Since the "gear" and my "must haves" are constantly changing, I thought I would share the latest and greatest must haves for this stage.

Kids Bath & Body
Bottle Feeding Accessories

First row of favorites have definitely come in handy the last few weeks as Ella was battling her first cold.  This snot sucker is amazing!  It works so much better than the one the hospital provides.  I know it seems gross that you are the one to "suck out the snot" but there's no way it can end up in your mouth.  Pair this with some saline drops (third item in top row) and it will really help with your baby's congestion.  And lastly for the cold, we broke out the Boogie Wipes to prevent a really red nose every time we wipe. 

Second row includes a Munchkin basket to wash all her bottle parts (we run the dishwasher all the time now).  I really like how this one has a special section for the nipples, it really gets them clean.  Next up is her favorite Baby Einstein toy.  It's plays music and flashes bright lights which really entertain her.  I love that she's starting to take an interest in toys.  Finally we've got the Nuk teething rings.  I know she's not going to get teeth for awhile but she is in the very early stages putting anything and everything she can in her mouth. 

Last row are two of my very favorites.  First are the Mustela facial wipes.  We don't bathe Ella every night but since she's in day care I do like to give her a good clean and these work great.  On the nights we don't give her a bath I just wipe down her face and neck with these.  And lastly the Munchkin formula divider.  This is perfect for when we are out and about.  I measure out her formula and have it ready for three bottles.  The divider system allows the formula to stay in each section and you can easily move from section to section.  Perfect for when we are on the go. 

What are some of your favorite baby products for the 3-5 month stage? 

Must Have Baby Products - Three Months Old

Activity Gyms & Playmats
Baby Monitors

My sweet little girl is three months already and I thought I'd share with you some of my must have baby products that I can't live with out.  I did a post like this just after she was born...check it out here.

The Summer Infant Video monitor still continues to be a must have.  Now that she's starting to sleep longer and I get up earlier to get ready the monitor is a must to check on her.  The quality is so good that I can see if she's just stirring or really upset.

Ella is completely on bottles now that I'm back at work.  I'm still pumping so she's getting breast milk but it's all from a bottle and I have to say I'm in love with the Dr. Brown's products.  The warmer is so nice to have and has been put to good use each time we feed her.  So easy to just put it in there instead of trying to warm water and then warm the bottle.  The bottles themselves are fantastic.  She isn't very gassy and rarely spits up.  Highly recommend.

The Fisher Price piano play mat was a recent purchase and she absolutely LOVES it.  Now that she kicks her legs this play mat was perfect because every time she kicks that piano it plays a note or song.  I HIGHLY recommend this product...it's such a hit in our house and it will grow with her as she gets older because it converts into a piano when she's ready to sit up.

Another "toy" is the Sassy' floor mirror.  We set this up anytime we lay her down on the floor and she just loves to stare in the mirror.  She's really into mirrors lately so putting this in front of her really occupies her time.  And it's super portable so its great for travel.

Nuk pacifiers are a lifesaver when Ella needs some soothing.  We are slowly trying to take it away but when we need something to help calm her down this is a definite go to.

For bedtime the last three things have been crucial.  Poor thing has pretty dry skin so before bed we lather her with Aquaphor.  It's really helped.  I've seen such a difference in her skin.  We also put a humidifier in her room because she was waking up a little stuffy.  The Crane brand is the one we bought in the elephant shape and it's so quiet and helps her congestion and dry skin.

Finally she's moved on from being swaddled at night to a sleep sack.  She transitioned really well.  I'm a big fan of the Halo brand's cotton sleep sacks.  They fit her great and she sleeps really well in them.  We also have an Aden and Anais one that's ok.  It's really soft but I don't think it's as cozy.

Must Have Baby Products

My sweet baby girl is six weeks old...so crazy how quickly the time is going by.  I thought I'd share with you the products that have been my must haves during these past six weeks.

Snugabunny Bouncer Seat

We have been using this since day one.  The seat is Ella's favorite.  She sleeps, plays and just hangs out in it.  It's set up in our main living area which allows me to nap her in it and get things done.

Graco Pack n Play

The style I selected had a reversible changing pad/napper.  I never used it as a napper but the changing pad really has come in handy.  We set it up on our main floor so we don't have to go upstairs for every diaper change.  It breaks down easy and we brought it to the beach with us.  It was nice to have a changing/sleeping station for her for the week.

Itzy Ritzy Burp Cloths

I actually discovered these burp cloths from one of my Citrus Lane boxes.  It's super soft and large so it catches more spit up than some of the other burp cloths I have.  It also doubles as a bib but we haven't really used bibs on her yet.

Medela Nipple Shield

I had a really hard time breastfeeding.  Sweet Ella has a very small mouth and a hard time latching.  This nipple shield was a lifesaver.  It's the only way she's able to feed from me.

Itzbeen Timer

This has been a lifesaver to keep track of feedings and sleeping.  It's super easy to use and very portable.  I got this before I had an iPhone so I probably wouldn't have needed it but I've gotten so used to it that I prefer to over my iPhone.

Summer Infant Video Baby Monitor

This video monitor is so nice.  The picture quality is very clear and sounds is great.  The best part is that the camera actually rotates so you can get almost the exact angle you want.  It's not cheap but worth the cost in my opinion.  I'm so much more at ease when she's sleeping because I can easily see her.  I recommend getting the "skin" for the monitor because chances of you dropping it are good...especially when you are sleep deprived.

Tiny Love Mobile

Ella absolutely LOVES this mobile.  My sister-in-law recommended it because my niece loves her.  We put it on when we put Ella down and it soothes her to sleep.  It's on a timer so it goes off after about 30 minutes or so.  I think this will be a lifesaver when we start napping her in her crib.

Swaddle Me

These have been a lifesaver for swaddling our little angel.  She loves to squirm and these swaddle blankets have velcro which help it stay in place.  I highly recommend these.  We love them so much that we bought more after she was born.

Decorating Dilemma

We've started getting the nursery together for the little one and I need help deciding on a mobile for the nursery. Above is what the bedding looks like and we are painting the walls yellow. The furniture is an espresso color. For those of you following me on Pinterest I've started a board that has all the nursery stuff.

One of the decisions I'm having a hard time making is the mobile. I have narrowed it down to two. First up is this adorable one from Pottery Barn Kids.

Source: potterybarnkids.com via Christina on Pinterest

I absolutely love this one. I think it will go great with the bedding and look super cute in her room but I've heard that the cutesy mobiles are just only for looks and don't help soothe or entertain.

The other one is a more "practical" one I guess. It's from Tiny Love. It's gotten great reviews on Amazon and my SIL has it up in my niece's nursery. It's cute but definitely doesn't go as well with the bedding.


I need your advice. Which one should I go with?