I always start shopping for swimsuits early in the year because the good ones sell out FAST! I have already seen some of these sell out and restock once, so I recommend shopping earlier rather than later. All of these swimsuits have good coverage and are great options for those of us who spend most of our time chasing toddler around the pool. HA! I hope you find some winners amongst these affordable swimsuit options!
Mom Friendly Swimsuits
Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! If there is anything I’m always down to do, it’s celebrate! I love holidays and especially this one. I mean, who doesn’t love to celebrate love? This is also the last major holiday that will be Tucker’s “first” during his first year. I can’t believe he will be 10 months old tomorrow. Someone pinch me! I am sharing some Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for her, him and the kiddos below:
Mug Set // Throw Blanket (our favorite) // Heart Ring // Heart Necklace // Candle // Sweatshirt // Couples Game // Box of Chocolates // Name Necklace // Eye Shadow Palette
Sunglasses // Beats Headphones // Toiletry Bag // Yeti Mug // Polaroid // Pullover // Beanie // Team Tumbler // Adidas Sneakers // Echo // Messenger Bag
Sweater // Scrunchies // Karaoke Microphone // Crayons // Rain boots // Cuddle + Kind Doll // Charlie Brown Book // Pete the Cat Book // Heart Craft // Converse Sneakers // Name Crayons // Heart Sunglasses
Best Organization Products for Your Home on Amazon
Is anyone else is crazy organization mode in there house this month? I feel like every January I start cleaning and organizing everything and it feels so good. This year it has been overwhelming with our move. We still have stuff everywhere…both ours and some of my grandparent’s things that we are slowly but surely taking care of and finding place for. It’s been an overwhelming process, but I am so proud of the progress we are making and can’t wait to see it continue to come together. We start our big kitchen renovation next month and will be replacing the floors in the entire downstairs, so for now, I am focusing on organizing our bedroom closets and bathrooms. I am linking several of the best organization products that I found while perusing Amazon below!
Label maker – You can be super fancy like me and just use tape and a sharpie, or you can make your things looks very nice with this label maker. It is so affordable and worth every penny if you have a lot of labeling to do.
Sippy Cup Organizer – Keep those cups nice and neat in your cabinets with this organizer!
Pan Organizer – Another good one for the kitchen. I love this pan shelf organizer to easily grab the pan you need instead of your cabinets being a mess (like mine tend to be)
Storage Box – This is actually in my cart. I need about 100 of these at the moment. They are perfect for organizing arts and crafts or photos!
Luggage Organizers – If you travel a lot, these are great for organizing your luggage and so affordable!
Laundry Organizing Hamper – I actually have one of these and LOVE it! It makes organizing our laundry so easy.
Hanging Jewelry Organizer – I need one of these at the moment. My jewelry is a hot mess. I love that this one hangs and you can easily see and grab what you need.
Car Caddy – I love this for keeping extra diapers and wipes, toys and snacks organized in the car. It would be great to have in time for our spring and summer travels! Here is another more affordable option that I love!
Hanging Clothes Organizer – I love that this clothes organizer is labeled by days of the week! It would make laying out the kid’s clothes so easy! You could also use it for homework or daily crafts and projects.
Drawer Organizers – I am grabbing some of these for our bathroom drawers!
Large Baskets – I have a few random baskets scattered through our house that I use to throw blankets in or toys. They are very useful when you have babies and small children. This one is very affordable!
Makeup Bag – I have this in pink and love it. I bought it a year ago and it has been one of my favorite purchases from last year. It is great for traveling and organizing your makeup.
Dry-Erase Calendar – I love that this calendar is magnetic making it perfect for your fridge! These are great for planning your week!
Playroom Organizer for Toys – I love this option for organizing toys! It is also under $50 making it a very affordable option.
Makeup Caddy – This is on my wish list! It is a great way to organize your makeup and other skincare products.
Over the Cabinet Styling Tool Organizer – This is a perfect way to organize your hair dryer and curling irons!
More Organization Products For Your Home:
20 Books to Read in 2020
Happy new year, y’all! I just typed out “2020” and it hit me that I am getting on up there in age. I mean I remember – like REALLY remember – the millennium and what a big deal it all was. That was 20 years ago. Holy cow. Anyways… This is always one of my favorite posts to write every year (and your’s, too). I am a sucker for a good book list and have a growing list of books that I want to read in my notes on my phone. One of my favorite things to do is to research new books that are coming out in the new year to add to that growing list. Here are 20 books to read in 2020.
Books to Read:
Clothes and Other Things That Matter by Alexandra Shulman – If you enjoy non-fiction or are into fashion, this book is for you! Written by the former editor of British vogue, this book explores the meaning of clothes and why/how we wear them. I am so excited to read this one! I’ll link it as soon as I can.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – This is already being talked about as a new American Classic. Buy it here.
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel – I am not sure if I want to read this one yet or not, but I have seen it everywhere. It is about a troubled mother-daughter relationship and has a dark context. I do not normally read things like this, but it is supposed to be really good if you are into this sort of novel. Buy it here.
A Hundred Suns by Karin Tanable – If you love historical fiction, this one is for you! It comes out in April. Preorder it here.
All The Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White – yes, you read that right. Three authors, one novel! This one is set in Paris and about three generations of women living at different times in the same area and how their lives collide. I am very excited to read this one! It comes out on the 14th! Buy it here.
The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotchu – this non-fiction book is by the founder of ban.do. It is all about how her struggles with mental illness led to her greatest successes in work and life. Buy it here.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – I just started this one, myself. It came out last year, but it has amazing reviews and I’ve had it recommended to me by many friends in my personal life as well. I’m excited to dive into it more. Buy it here.
It Started With A Secret by Jill Mansell – This looks like the perfect beach read for the summer! Preorder it here.
Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra – Who likes Chick lit? This is a sweet story about four sisters coming together during their mother’s illness. It came out last month. Buy it here.
The Giver of the Stars by Jojo Moyes – I have read several Jojo novels and absolutely loved every single one. I am excited for this new release. Buy it here.
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim – When I heard about this being similar to Liane Moriarty’s books, I was sold. I already have it sitting in my Amazon cart as we speak. I love a good mystery novel. Buy it here.
Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler – One of you recommended this to me on Instagram and I have really enjoyed it over the last few months. It is a good one to gift to a sister or friend as well as for yourself to read. It is so encouraging to mothers. Buy it here.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – This is an anticipated novel by many. This book takes place before the Hunger Games, so if you were into the trilogy, this is a must read this year! Buy it here.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver – Another great Chick lit option! Buy it here.
All Adults Here by Emma Straub – A warm and funny novel all about the messiness of a big family. Buy it here.
The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin – I have read every single Emily Giffin book and absolutely love novels. I am really looking forward to reading this one this summer on a beach somewhere. Preorder it here.
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid – This novel is centered around race and privilege and the story sounds like one I won’t be able to put down. It is also on Reese’s book club list this year and just released last week! Buy it here.
Red At The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson – This book is less than 200 pages but covers so much in this short novel. It is an instant bestseller and on Oprah’s book list! Buy it here.
And just like every year, I am ending with a classic, except because two of my all-time favorite classic novels are being made into movies this year, I am including them both. Make sure to read Emma by Jane Austen and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett before they hit the big screen!
Related: 19 Books to Read In 2019
What is on your reading list this year?
A Look Back At 2019
I just teared up looking back through all of our memories from the year for this post. Y’all, I forgot how baby-like Weston was just at Easter of this year. He and Sophie have grown and changed SO much over the last 6 months, and don’t even get me started on Tucker. Seeing those newborn photos and videos of him had me balling. It happened so fast. Time is a thief, but thank goodness for photos. These memories are everything and our year was absolutely insane in so many ways, but even through the chaos, there were beautiful moments. Here is a look back at our 2019…
My sister married the love of her life on January 5th! We were all a part of her day and it was so beautiful and special.
One of my last bump photos before Tucker came! Weston went to my last doctor appointment with me! He was about to not be the baby anymore, but little did I know, he would be smitten with his baby brother and still enjoy lots of snuggles with me despite not being the “baby” anymore.
I love this photo of us! We were laughing so hard behind the camera and I remember it like it was yesterday.
Baby Tucker was THE highlight of our year by far. He is the sweetest baby and has a calm demeanor (reminds me a lot of Hamp). He is a perfect blend of his older brothers. He has stollen our hearts and we aren’t mad about it. <3
Look how baby-like Weston was at Easter! He has grown so much since this photo.
More sweet moments with baby Tucker! We spent that first week bonding and it was something I will cherish forever. I really learned how to slow down, take care of myself and enjoy the moments with him. 4th time’s a charm I guess!
We enjoyed many ball park days with Hamp again this year. He loved playing t-ball again and is looking forward to coach pitch this year! He improved so much from 2018’s season and we are so proud of him.
Sophie’s first dance recital was something we have both looked forward to since she could walk. Sophie is our little performer and loves to dance. She was beautiful and very entertaining. HA
Summer days and beach vacays were another highlight of our year. I love summertime and spending endless days with my babies. Making our own schedule and doing whatever we want every day. It is my favorite. We had such a fun summer of travels and spending time with friends. The memories we made make my heart full and I can’t wait for this summer to do it all again!
My baby Hamp started KINDERGARTEN! Such a big deal! He has thrived and loves his new school. We are so proud of him and all he is learning. He is reading so well and writing one “comic book” after another these days. It is his favorite pass time.
Our sweet Tucker William. He is growing so much, y’all! We will be celebrating his first birthday before we know it. He is 9 months now and is crawling everywhere and pulling up. It’s all happening so fast, but I am trying to cherish every moment of this season with him and all of my babies. I will post an update on him soon. It is long overdue.
One thing is for sure. We were faced with several challenges this year. With our jobs, our move, tough and painful relationships in our life and more, but we have learned how to come together through it all. Work it out together, make the tough decisions, have the tough conversations and grow and learn. Mine and Ryan’s relationship has grown and we have gotten so much closer this year. Our hearts have grown so much through the birth of our fourth baby and through all of our experiences – good and bad.
We said goodbye to 4 family members, two of which were too young to go, but it is through these tragedies that you learn and grow and are made aware of what is most important in your life and what you need to let go of. And I have. I’ve learned who my people are this year. I’ve learned who I can trust. I’ve made incredible new friends that are encouraging and loving and I am so thankful for those new friendships. I’ve grown so many old friendships with girls I can go to for anything (and vice versa). I have a loving husband who is there through thick and thin and a loving family who is so kind and supportive. I have four babies who are my whole world and I am excited to keep doing life with them and living all of the experiences. We have some surprises planned for our kids this next year that we are looking for forward to. I am excited to take you all along with us! Most of all, I am so thankful for a loving God. I’ve grown closer to Him this year and nothing compares to that relationship. I have learned how to really lean on Him when life feels like too much or when things get super stressful. I’ve also practiced gratitude more than ever this year and it has changed my heart for the better.
Thank YOU for being here. From the bottom of my heart. I am astonished at the amount of people that read my blog or follow along on social media every year. This hobby has grown into something much more than I could have dreamed and I am so thankful to all of you for that. I’m looking forward to what God has in store for this new year. I’m excited to keep sharing our life with you all, to keep conversating with you guys and to take you along on all of our adventures.
Top 5 Posts of 2019:
#5 Best of Amazon: January
#4 Gift Ideas Under $50
#3 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Dupes
#2 Words of Affirmation for Husbands
#1 19 Books to Read in 2019
Top 5 Sellers in 2019:
Revlon Hair Dryer & NSALE Booties found them on super sale here!
Amazon Tunic Tee
AE Denim Shorts
Live in Leggings
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
Cheers to 2020!
Stocking Stuffers for Her
I think shopping for stocking stuffers is probably my favorite part of Christmas. Mixing the little needs with a few little surprises makes my heart happy. I also love shopping for this sort of this for my friends and dirty Santa gifts as well. These are all things that are on my personal list or that I already own and love!
Stocking Stuffers for Her:
Gift Ideas Under $50
I rounded up some of my favorite gift ideas under $50 for her! I tried to include something for every type of person…something for the hostess, cozy lover, entertainer, music-lover and more! A lot of these are also available for Amazon prime shipping. I definitely recommend you go ahead and try to finish up your online shopping ASAP so that your presents ship to you in time for Christmas.
**I do recommend viewing this post on your laptop or desktop to see the links. Some cell phones are not allowing some of you to view them well. Also, I do earn a small commission when you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Shop Gift Ideas:
Gift Ideas for Her
This is my favorite gift guide every year because it is like putting together a wish list for myself and it is so fun! Some of these things I own and love and others are on my personal wish list (hint hint, Ryan)! I will be sharing more specific gifts in lower price points and stocking stuffer ideas in my next gift guides, but for now, here are my splurge-worthy items that are great ideas for the ladies in your life!
STEM Gift Ideas
The older my kids get, the more they love educational and STEM related gifts. My kids love things that they can build or do with their hands, and I am all about anything that will help their development and encourage learning in our home. I rounded up some great STEM gift ideas – some of which are on my kids wish list this year! Also, they are all available on Amazon prime!
STEM Gift Ideas
Gift Ideas for Men
For me, men are the hardest to buy for. Let’s be honest, they know what they like and absolutely don’t like. haha I like to buy our dads and Ryan gifts that go along with their current hobbies so that I know the gift will be a winner. For example, Ryan loves to golf, so anything golf related is perfect for him and makes him excited. I also love to buy him a new pullover or jacket each year to add to his wardrobe and freshen his closet a little because he doesn’t typically buy clothes for himself very often. Think about what your husband or dad loves to do and then go from there. Here are some gift ideas for men!