Transitioning Your Baby To Table Food

We started Charlie Beth on purees when she was around five months old, but she never really took to them. I spent hours buying fresh produce, cutting, steaming, pureeing and packaging her food, and some days she wouldn't eat more than a spoonful or two all day. She was quite content getting her nutrients from nursing, so I eventually gave up and let her take the lead. Right before she turned eight months she started to take interest in the foods that Steven and I would eat. I would try to give her spoonfuls of pureed food while we ate dinner, but she only wanted what we were eating. We started giving her tiny pieces of soft foods, and she was hooked on table foods from then on out. 

I was so glad that she was finally taking an interest in foods, but I also had intense anxiety over choking. Poor Charlie Beth could barely pick up her food and put it in her mouth because I cut everything into such small pieces. I knew that I would eventually have to start giving her bigger bites, so I began researching foods that she would have the easiest time chewing and swallowing. After a couple of weeks we progressed onto new flavors and textures. Now, at ten months old, Charlie Beth is eating basically everything that Steven and I eat. I'm constantly amazed at how much her meals resemble that of a child's meal. Where did my tiny baby go?! 

One thing that stressed me out most when starting table foods was trying to figure out what to feed Charlie Beth. Other than "something soft she won't choke on," I had no idea where to start! I wanted to ensure that my baby was eating as healthy as possible, so I try to stick to natural and organic whenever possible. Slowly but surely I started compiling a list of foods as she tried them. Below are examples 

Avocado cut into small bite size pieces

Banana cut into small bite size pieces

Sweet potato fries cut into small bite size pieces

Beans 

Softened diced vegetables

Rice

Bread cut into small bite size pieces

Scrambled eggs** 

Fruit cut into small bite size pieces

Annie's Homegrown Organic Shells & Real Aged Cheddar Mac & Cheese

Pancakes cut into small bite size pieces

Peanut Butter Sandwiches cut into small bite size pieces**

Spaghetti cut into small bite size pieces

Cheese cut into small bite size pieces

Pulled pieces of meat such as chicken, turkey, and pork

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Annie's Homegrown Organic Summer Strawberry Whole Milk Yogurt Tubes 

**Talk to your pediatrician before introducing your baby to known allergens such as eggs and nuts. 

As you can see, there is a lot of variety in the foods that Charlie Beth eats on a daily basis. There really isn't much that we eat that we don't let her have. That being said, Steven and I have really had to clean up our diet. It's important to me that Charlie Beth gets wholesome and, whenever possible, organic foods. I believe it's imperative that we start healthy eating habits now so that they will hopefully carry on with her for the rest of her life. That being said, I'm thankful to have products like Annie's Homegrown easily accessible at my local grocery store. As a busy mom, I don't have time to drive all over town just to buy groceries. Annie's Homegrown helps our family to eat better and live more responsibly without having to sacrifice taste. 

Are you ready to start your little one on table foods? Head to your local grocery store and try Annie's Homegrown products for yourself.

Fleming's Steakhouse "100 Wines. One Summer." {{Plus A Giveaway}}

Last Saturday evening my mom and I had the opportunity to sneak away for a girl's night and attend a wine tasting at Fleming's Steakhouse. We had a blast tasting bottles we had never had, sipping on some old favorites, and enjoying some delicious hor d'oeuvres. 50 of the 100 wines that Fleming's offers by the glass were uncorked for the night, so the options were endless. We stuck with tasting mainly whites, but the reds looked just as delicious. It was such a fun night out with my mom!

Fleming's has been a family favorite of ours since they opened a restaurant in Birmingham several years ago. Steven and I celebrated our first anniversary at Fleming's last year, and it is one of our favorite places to go for birthday dinners. However, Fleming's isn't just for celebratory dinners. They also have a fantastic happy hour. I love meeting up with girlfriend's for happy hour drinks and small plates. We always have the best time catching up and sipping on wine!

One of my favorite things about Fleming's is there wine menu. The choices are endless! I love that the wine menu is presented on a tablet. With so many options it's easy to get overwhelmed, but their virtual wine list is easy to navigate and read. Steven isn't a big wine fan, but he is a huge fan of their steaks. Talk about delicious! We have never had a meal at Fleming's that we haven't loved. My mouth is watering just thinking about the menu!

Do you have a Fleming's Steakhouse near you? Fleming's would like to give one lucky reader the chance to win a $100 gift card to their restaurant. Enter below for your chance to win. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you Fleming's Steakhouse for hosting my mom and I at the One Summer Wine Tasting Event and for sponsoring this post and giveaway. As always, all reviews and opinions are my own. 

Dreaming Of Fall Weather With Burt's Bees Baby

It may be August in Alabama, but that doesn't mean that we aren't dreaming of the crisp, fall days ahead. The vibrant colors of the leaves falling from the trees, the sound of football on tv, the aroma of pumpkin flavored everything, and mostly, the fashion. What's not to love about Fall?

Charlie Beth and I are preparing for the upcoming season the best way know how, by making room in our closets for new clothes! I could shop non-stop for this little girl. Clothes are just so much more fun when they come in mini-size. When Burt's Bees Baby sent us these adorable clothes I couldn't wait to have Charlie Beth try them on. I mean, how adorable are these dresses? And do they come in my size? 

 

The quality of these organic baby clothes are unlike anything I have felt. They are just so incredibly soft! Charlie Beth is going to stay looking stylish and feeling comfortable all season long in her adorable new outfits from Burt's Bees Baby. 

Have you checked out the Burt's Bees Baby Fall 2016 line yet? Whether your little ones are heading back to school or just trying to grow their fall wardrobe, there is something for every occasion. 

Secrets of the Mommyhood || A Book Review

When I was pregnant with Charlie Beth I did everything I could to prepare myself for motherhood. I read books, articles, and message boards like it was my second job. I compared methods of sleep training, breastfeeding, and starting solids. Before I knew it I was overwhelmed with information and still just as clueless as I was before I picked up the first book. 

Thankfully, Heather Alexander came to my rescue before any major panic attack ensued. I received an email from Heather last summer right before Steven and I left for our Babymoon about a book review. I was hesitant at first because the thought of one more baby book made me sick to my stomach, but something about this book just seemed different. I could tell from the front cover that this book wasn't going to be like the other boring baby books I had been filling my brain with. I accepted her offer and headed down to the beach with her book, Secrets of the Mommyhood, in tow. 

To say this book was different from the other baby books I read would be an understatement. I finished the book in one day while sitting with my feet in the sand. I couldn't put it down! Heather found a way to hit all the important topics of mommyhood into a fun, lighthearted book. She had me laughing from the very first page! 

I'm so glad I kissed those boring, old school parenting books out the door and replaced them with the only book I ever really needed. Secrets of the Mommyhood covers everything from recovering from birth to finding your sanity during the sleepless nights. Thank you, Heather, for putting a light hearted spin on such a serious subject. 

To all my Mommies to be, do your self a favor and click HERE to order the only parenting book that you need. I promise Heather won't let you down!

Diaper Bag Necessities (For Mom)

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Walmart #CollectiveBias

The other day Steven and I were heading out for a rare date night and I found myself scrambling around the house trying to find a purse. I honestly don't know the last time I actually used a purse. It was probably before Charlie Beth was even born! These days my "purse" takes the form of a diaper bag. 

When Charlie Beth and I are out running errands I find that my wallet, phone, and other mommy necessities fall lost in a bag filled with diapers, wipes, and teething toys. It's not my bag that I tote around from store to store, it's hers. That being said, Mama still needs to ensure that she has a few necessities on hand and easy to reach in a bag that's typically all about baby. 

I have three compartments in Charlie Beth's diaper bag that are reserved for mommy only. These are the necessities that I keep on hand in those compartments for easy access: 

- Wallet: I like to use a pretty large wallet so I can grab it out of the diaper bag if Charlie Beth and I are just doing a quick in and out at the store. 

- Keys: I always keep my keys in the exact same pocket. This saves time when I have a screaming baby ready to go home and take a nap. If for some reason I forgot to put my keys in that particular pocket I'm usually scrambling around outside of my car for a good few minutes searching for them down in the bag. 

- Phone: I use the same rule of thumb as I do with my keys. I always keep it in the same spot for easy and quick availability. 

- Makeup: I don't carry my entire makeup bag with me every time we get up and go somewhere, but I do keep powder and lipstick on hand. 

- Water: Nursing keeps my thirsty all the time, so I never leave the house without a bottle of water with me. 

- Wrigley Extra® Gum: I love chewing gum throughout the day and have to have it with me at all times. That's why I love the new Extra® 35-stick pack. With a 35-stick pack of my favorite Spearmint and Polar Ice® flavor, I never have to worry about running out of gum (especially after eating a salad full of onions for lunch!). It's inevitable, when you are finishing up lunch with friends and pull out your pack of gum the friend always ask if she can have a piece. With the new Extra® 35-stick pack you can share your gum with ease that you won't be left short handed. Make sure you Give Extra and Get Extra with the the new Extra® 35-stick pack of Wrigley Spearmint and Polar Ice® gum. 

 You can find the new Extra® 35-stick pack of Wrigley Spearmint and Polar Ice® gum at your local Wal-Mart in the easy to find checkout lines. Make sure you Get Extra, Give Extra by keeping the new the new Extra® 35-stick in your diaper bag or purse! What are some of your mom necessities?

My Everyday Mom Uniform

Getting dressed looks a lot different these days. I'm no longer worried about picking out the perfect pair of heels to go with my outfit or topping off my makeup with the perfect shade of lipstick. These days I do good if I get in a quick shower before the baby wakes up. Most of my dress clothes have been shoved to the back of the closet because more times than not I reach for the nearest pair of yoga pants and a top that (semi) matches before getting Charlie Beth dressed and heading out for the day. 

Most days Charlie Beth and I venture out to the grocery store, run some errands, and end our days with a stroll around the park before heading home. Yoga pants aren't only comfortable to wear during the day, but they are also practical. Lets face it, I'm not going to put on a dress and wedges just to run to the grocery store!

YogaOutlet has made my life easier by offering cute and affordable yoga pants. Gone are the days where all I can muster are plain black leggings! YogaOutlet has a variety of cute and colorful yoga pants. 

YogaOutlet has a vast variety of yoga pants on their site. I had such a difficult time narrowing down my selection! These black patterned pants are my go to. They are so comfortable and perfect for our afternoon walk around the park. 

If you're looking to add another pair of yoga pants to your closet (and lets face it, who isn't?!), head over to YogaOutlet and pick out your favorite style! 

This post is Sponsored by YogaOutlet. I received a compimentary pair of yoga pants in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Irresistible Me Hair Extensions

When Steven and I got engaged I decided that I wanted to grow my hair out for our wedding. I spent our entire sixteen month engagement growing and growing my hair until it was the longest it had been in many years. A couple of months after the wedding I decided I was done with long hair and chopped ten inches of hard work right off. I've regretted that decision ever since. 

Since the big chop of 2014 I've started growing my hair back out. Every six months or so, however, I get the itch to cut it and against my better judgement I always ask my stylist to "trim it up along the edges" and end up with 2-3 inches cut off. Due to this never ending cycle, my hair still isn't as long as it was the day of my wedding. 

When Irresistible Me contacted me to try out their hair extensions, I jumped all over the opportunity. Finally I would get the long hair that I've been dreaming of! The Irresistible Me extensions are made from royal remy hair, so they can easily and safely be cut, washed, blown dry, straightened, and curled. They feel and look exactly like real hair because they are made from real hair. I was able to quickly clip them in my hair and style as I would normally style my hair.  

The most difficult part of the process for me was deciding on the color. Because my hair is highlighted, I wasn't sure whether to go with a lighter color to match the highlights or a darker color to match the roots. I ended up going with the Ash Blonde, and it was the perfect match. You can also decide on the length of extensions and weight (thickness) that best suits you. I ordered the 20 inch style, but after seeing them on I would probably go with a shorter style. I think 20 inches is too long for me, personally, and a shorter length may look more natural. 

Overall I absolutely love my extensions! I usually wear them one of two ways, I will clip them in and curl my hair or I will clip them in and pull it into a long braid as I did in these pictures. My natural hair is still a bit too short to braid, so the extensions give me the braid I've always dreamed of! 

Everything from the ordering process to clipping the hair in is incredibly seamless and easy. If you're looking for a quick way to get the long hair you've been dreaming of, I highly recommend trying out Irresistible Me. And if you notice my hair looking quite a bit longer than usual, now you know my secret! 

Diaper Bag Essentials

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeHealthyForEveryPartOfLife #CollectiveBias

With Charlie Beth due to arrive any day now, I've been doing a lot of research on what to keep in the diaper bag while we are out and about. My baby shower hostesses gifted me the perfect diaper bag, and I can't wait to put it to use! Right now the diaper bag is packed for the hospital and sitting next to the door ready to go, but after we get home and settled I plan to repack it with these eight things below. 

1. Diapers + Wipes - This is the obvious first thing that comes to mind when you think about packing a diaper bag. The key is to pack enough diapers so you're fully prepared for any unforeseen blowouts that could occur while you're out running errands with your baby.

2. An Extra Outfit For Baby - Because babies are messy! You can't predict exactly what they are going to do next. Whether it's a blowout in the back or spit up down the front, bodily fluids are bound to ruin an outfit or two during the worst possible time.

3. Thin Blanket - I can already tell that these Aden + Anais Muslim Swaddles are going to be my go-to blankets. I received a few at my baby shower, and I love them! They are so thin and soft. They are the perfect blanket to throw in the diaper bag to keep baby warm, use as a nursing cover, or throw over the car seat to keep wind or sun (and strangers!) away from the baby.

4. Cold + Flu Season Emergency Kit - I'm not going to lie. Having a newborn during cold and flu season seriously freaks me out. I've already preached the importance of the whopping cough and flu vaccine to our family members and asked each of them to make sure they are immunized before the baby is born. On top of the immunizations, I am prepared to carry about cold and flu season emergency kit in the diaper bag. This kit is complete with plenty of hand sanitizer, Kleenex, and Emergen-C Immune+ Chewables for immune support. When Charlie Beth gets a little older I will include Infant's Advil in our emergency kit as well to quickly soothe teething pain and fever. Infant's Advil provides up to 8 hours of fever/pain relief with just one dose. 

6. Makeup Basics For Mom - It's silly to think that as a new mom I am always going to have time to put on a face full of makeup, but I do know that I will feel much better about myself if I can swipe a bit of blush and mascara on my face. With winter on the horizon, I will also make sure I have ChapStick Total Hydration thrown in the diaper bag to keep my lips smooth and moisturized for all those baby kisses! I love that ChapStick Total Hydration is 100% natural! 

7. Nursing Supplies - I don't plan to keep a nursing cover in the diaper bag because it feels like a waste of space, but I do have a tube of Lanolin on hand for me, especially during those early days of breastfeeding.

8. Extra Pacifier For Baby - I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Charlie Beth will actually take a pacifier. According to my mom, I wouldn't take one as a baby. I plan to introduce a pacifier to Charlie Beth as soon as we perfect the latch while breastfeeding. If she takes to it, I'll make sure I always have an extra one on hand. I've heard those things have a way of disappearing at the worst possible times!

Am I leaving anything out? What are your diaper bag essentials? You can find Emergen-C Immune+ Chewables, Infant's Advil, and ChapStick Total Hydration at your local Walmart in the pharmacy section. Make sure you stock up before cold and flu season hits!

Keeping Our Dogs Healthy And Satisfied During A Time Of Change

As Steven and I anxiously await the arrival of our baby girl in a few weeks, we find ourselves giving the dogs lots of extra love and attention. We know that our world, as well as theirs, will be changing very soon, and we want them to feel as loved and spoiled as ever. I find myself often wondering how the are going to react when we bring Charlie Beth home from the hospital. Will they be jealous or protective of her? Will they even care? I think that Cooper will probably be the protective older brother who will sit at her crib and watch over her. Kane, on the other hand, is our wild child, and I'm really curious to see how he is going to react with a new baby sister. 

One thing is for certain, the boys are in for a big transition! With any type of change or transition, we are expecting a few hiccups along the way. Our dogs are notorious for getting upset stomachs during any kind of transition phase. Their diet, routine, or sometimes even a change in the weather can trigger an upset stomach for both our dogs and a few long nights for Steven and I. Because of this, it is important that we pay close attention to their diet and exercise routine before the arrival of our baby girl. The last thing we want to deal after bringing Charlie Beth home is cleaning up a mess left by the dogs at all hours of the day and night. 

Proper nutrition for our dogs has always been important to Steven and I, and that is why we feed them Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Zero Grain™ Beef with Bison. This recipe is made with simple, natural ingredients like real U.S. farm-raised beef, which is always the number one ingredient, combined with wholesome vegetables. There are never any grains, glutens, fillers, nor are there artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, which is important when you are dealing with dogs who have stomach issues. 

Kane is like a garbage disposal when it comes to food. He doesn't really care what brand, flavor, or consistency the food is, he inhales it all. Cooper, on the other hand, is my picky eater. I've thrown out bags of dog food simply because Cooper won't touch it. He's been known to go two or three days without touching his food, at which point I freak out and usually scramble him an egg to eat. Thankfully, I don't have that problem anymore now that we are feeding the dogs Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Zero Grain™ Beef with Bison. Kane finishing his bowl of food in record time, and even Cooper comes running when it's time to eat. It's safe to say that they both love it! 

I am a huge fan of Rachael Ray, and I love that she has developed a healthy and nutritious food for our beloved animals. What's even better than a healthy dog food that keeps our pets happy and full? Rachael's personal proceeds go to Rachael’s Rescue, a charity created to help shelter pets in need. To date they have donated over $9MM. This money has gone toward food, medical supplies and treatments for these unfortunate animals. How amazing is that?! I love knowing that when I purchase a bag of her dog food, I am also helping out another dog in need. That definitely warms my animal loving heart! 

Are you looking to introduce your dog to a healthy dog food that you can feel good about? Click HERE to make the switch the Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® Zero Grain™ and receive $3.00 off zero grain dog food.