Thursday, April 30, 2015

Boho Chic

This week has been all about cleaning our home from to top to bottom and getting rid of things we don't need.
On Monday, I literally hauled what felt like half of our house to Goodwill!
My closet is now half of what it was and I am excited to just have a few pieces that I know fit and are comfortable & classic rather than a bunch of things that I don't really wear. #letsfaceit #mymomuniformonlyconsistsofleggings #howmanyblackteeshirtscanapersonown #iwinthatcontest

However,
this Spring is all about bohemian chic!
And I am LOVING all the tassels, bright colors, & crazy fun prints I am seeing everywhere!

Since my wardrobe usually consists of blacks, grays, & navys, I adore the idea of adding a pop of color with these fabulous boho accessories. And of course, I love dressing up my little lady in all the latest trends ;)

Here are just a few of my current bohemian chic faves:




If you're as obsessed as I am with that tote & clutch, all jewelry & accessories are buy one, get one 50% off on target.com! Such a steal!


What's your favorite spring trend?


Xoxo,
D




Thursday, April 23, 2015

Our Experience with the Whole30





My hubby and I decided to take the Whole30 challenge throughout the entire month of March.
What is the Whole30 you may ask?
The Whole30 is a challenge where you try to eat only whole, nutrient-dense foods for thirty days.

This meant none of the following:
-NO grain
-NO dairy
-NO legumes
-NO soy
-NO added sugar
-NO processed foods

Which meant that our diet consisted mostly of:
-Healthy fats (avocado, coconut, & nut based foods)
-Organic meat/protein (eggs, chicken, beef, pork, bacon, sausage, etc.)
-Potatoes (sweet potatoes & white potatoes in moderation)
-Fruits
-Vegetables

Now making all these changes was definitely not easy.
The first few days, I cried yelled googled pictures of cupcakes struggled.
But after ten days of the challenge, I realized how amazing I felt.
I had more energy, I slept better, and I instantly looked slimmer.
I wasn't bloated, my mind was clearer, and I felt truly full after each meal.
We got so many compliments about how great we looked.
My hubby felt & looked the same way and it was awesome!

After 30 days, we both lost about 10 pounds... and that's without any exercise!
While that was exciting, what we learned about food was worth more than that.
I learned that I have a major dairy sensitivity. 
I learned that sugar is hidden in so many other foods.
I learned that what I eat does impact how I feel.
And most importantly, I learned that I am in control of what I eat & can make good choices.

My hubby's after picture

My after picture

As far as after the Whole30, we have adapted many of our favorite recipes to our normal life.
We are eating mostly Whole30 approved foods, with chocolate added back in of course ;)
While we aren't perfect with it, it definitely has changed our entire outlook on food!


Have you heard of the Whole30 challenge or seen it floating around on social media?
I encourage you to try it! It will truly change your life!


Xoxo,
D

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Splurge/Spend/Save: Kids Shoes Edition

I'm starting a new series on my blog entitled "Splurge/Spend/Save" - where I am going to let you in
on a few of my favorite products from all different price ranges!

As a mom, I love to save! I would definitely classify myself as a bargain shopper. I mostly buy on clearance, use coupons & apps to save money, and I always check many different websites before making a purchase to be sure that I am getting the best deal (shout out to my Dad, who always taught me to do this!) 

Once in a while, I do like to splurge on items that I know will last a long time, could be used for future children (I buy these items in colors that are gender neutral), or items that I know have great companies behind them that offer great customer service. To me, it is worth a few extra dollars to buy certain items  that will stand the wear & tear of time!

Whether we want to or not, we always have to spend some money, right?! And bottom line, whether it is a deal or something spendy, I want to make sure I spend my money on not only something that I really like, but something that is going to be functional at the same time! This is what I would call the "middle" between splurging and saving.

With those categories, I'm going to dive into my FIRST ever Splurge/Spend/Save....
kids shoes!

This mama L-O-V-E-S shoes. I mean, big-heart-with-an-arrow-through-it love.
And my E girl already adores shoes too.
Even her daddy is a shoe guy!
Needless to say, our closets are full of shoes... annnd we may know a little bit about this topic! ;)

I recently donated all the shoes that we don't wear/weren't in the best shape and kept the ones that still have life left. To me, shoes are something I don't mind spending more money on, especially when it comes to kids shoes! I want to make sure my E has good, supportive shoes that help her walk correctly and are comfortable for both indoor and outdoor use. I like shoes that are easy to get on and off (as we all know, us mamas don't have time for lots of laces, buckles, etc!) and I also like shoes for E that will be easy for her to put on as she learns to dress herself.

Here are some of my current FAVE kid shoes:


1. Saucony Jazz Hook & Loop Sneaker - These are the only tennis shoes I have for E and I absolutely adore them. Not only are the super cute, but they are sooo easy to put on. They are wider than most (which we need!) and have a super easy velcro strap. Love the vintage look of these & I know they have great support. Worth the splurge in my opinion, even thought I got these for 40% on amazon.com... so they were actually a major save for me! Browse different sites, ladies! Many retailers (such as Nordstrom) will also price match!!!

2. Circo Devyn Glitter Sneakers - E has a white pair of these but I loooove the glitter! They slide on easily and are a great, inexpensive shoe. I got a great deal on these with a coupon from Target.com & of course my beloved Cartwheel app! Save your dollars & use these an easy outdoor shoe this summer, then you won't feel bad when next season they don't fit & are dirty!

3. Native Jefferson Slip-On Sneaker - We get stopped everywhere and people ask us "where did you get those shoes!?" I have had several friends now purchase these for their littles and I cannot say ENOUGH about Natives. They wash off sooo easily (we're talking like spray em' off with a hose!) and I love that I can just dump out the sand/dirt/Goldfish crackers at the end of the day ;) Mamas, you can wash these in the dishwasher and you can take scuff marks off with a magic eraser.  SPLURGE ON THESE! To justify my splurge, I purchased the light blue color for E so even if we have a boy one day, I can pass them on to him. Future hand-me-down + easy to clean = mom WIN. #getyournativesnowpeople

4. Ministar Bowtie Shoe - I found it easy to spend money on these leather booties. E wore these as her first ever shoes when she started walking and I love how lightweight they are. When we run to the store and I know she won't be walking at all and will be in the cart, we wear these and I can throw them on quickly. They also look super cute with a fancy dress! 

5. Hunter First Classic Rainboot - I have been drooling over these for months! Like what is cuter than a toddler with rainboots on?! That's right.... #nothing! I have a pair of Hunters myself and find them to be perfect on a rainy day. My feet stay warm and dry while looking adorable! With how much E loves to jump in puddles, I am thinking these are a must. What I love about Hunters are that they are timeless; they won't go out of style. If I do purchase a pair, I'm going for the black pair so again they can be gender neutral in the future. You can also add boot socks to these for a warm, winter look! Splurge on these because your child can wear them YEAR-ROUND!

There you have it, mamas!
Tell me... what are your favorite shoes for your kiddos?
Where does my next shopping trip need to be?

Xoxo,
D





*Disclaimer: These opinions are all my own. I am not advertising for any certain store or brand.*

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Emersyn's 19 Month Update


Age: 19 months

Stats: Well now that E loves to stand on the scale in our bathroom and jump on it, I know she weighs about 27 lbs ;)


Favorite Foods: Anything but meat right now! Her faves are bread, cheese, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese.... #areyouseeingatrend? HA! She does still eat veggies & fruits really well too! Oh, and an occasional donut or cookie ;)


Words:

 OH. my. GOODNESS! Her vocabulary is just exploding right now! My favorite things she says right now are: 
*saying hi to every single person/animal/inanimate object there is!
*introducing herself as "HI! I'm Emme!"
*she loves to tell everyone that she is TWO instead of ONE ;)
*yelling BABY and PUPPY every time she sees one (her two favorite things!)
*and her latest... saying "I don't know" in the right context... it's hilarious!


Activities: Now that the weather is nicer, we have been hitting up the parks and playing in our yard at home. She loves to color and take care of her babies. She loves to "shop" with my old Target bags and loads them up with lots of goodies she finds around the house (no idea where she gets this from ;)). She loves to go to her class at church and she enjoys playing with her friends. 



Favorite Things: Puppies, babies, coloring with chalk outside, bubbles, going on rides, playing at the park, going for drives in the car, her two favorite movies Toy Story & Frozen and fave show Mickey Mouse, and of course her blankie and pacifier.

Signature Moves: Yelling HI at everyone & everything, going down the slide on her stomach, chasing after puppies wherever we go, looking through clothes in our closet and saying "hmmm" (HAHA!), and sneaking into bags and dumping out all the contents inside.



Mom's Proudest Moment: Watching her sit in the front seat of the kiddie roller coaster with her hands up and giggling with joy! I love that she's adventurous!

Dad's Proudest Moment: He loves that his girl loves Toy Story, which was one of his childhood favorites! E can't get enough of hugging & kissing her Daddy, which I know makes him happy too!



19 months is a busy age, 
but the reward is getting to witness her do something new literally every. day.
We are having fun over here at the Kleiner house now that it is finally SPRING!
Stay tuned for our outdoor adventures, complete with SPF 70. #fairskinnedproblems


Xoxo
D


Thursday, April 2, 2015

Rewind to Our Family Trip to Florida

It seems like only yesterday we were in Disney World soaking up the sun.
Really, it was over two months ago! #eeekimbehind

At the end of January, we enjoyed 9 wonderful days in Florida with our family and it was lovely!
A few days at the beach & a few days at the theme parks made for the perfect vacation.
It was so fun to watch Emersyn experience the ocean (and make friends with the birds) for the first time.
I already can't wait to go back!

Epcot


Animal Kingdom


Magic Kingdom


Hollywood Studios 


Daytona Beach


The ocean has the Emersyn seal of approval ;)




I will treasure this picture forever. My beautiful beach babe!



Annnd for the outtakes... Emme thought Disney was just plain exhausting. #howdoesyourfacenothurt


So thankful that we got to spend some quality time with our family members, 
relax, and have oh so much fun!
If you haven't been to Disney before, you MUST find a way to go!
It is a truly magical experience unlike anywhere else!


XOXO
d