August Empties

 I finished up so many empties in August! I've decided to add baby empties into the mix for now. We have been amazed by how many diapers and wipes we've gone through already. Let's get started!

First up, scented things! 

Febreze Fresh Spiced Apple Spray- Last year after Christmas I found a ton of these on clearance at Walmart, so we have a stockpile of them. I do like the scent but I would like to grab some new scents to change up our spray every once in awhile. I would buy this again though, it does smell nice for a bathroom spray.

Glade Car Plugin- This plugin worked great in my car. This is another clearance find and I'm honestly not too picky about what scents I use in my car as long as it covers up the dog smell :)

Febreze with Gain Car Plug In- Another car scent and this one works fine but it doesn't last long. It honestly only was in about a week before it was empty which seemed really quick. I wouldn't pay money for these in the future. 

Young Living Lemon Essential Oil- I love using lemon essential oil for all sorts of things around the house. I would repurchase this essential oil again in the future, I just don't love how expensive Young Living oils are.

Renuzit After The Rain- We kept this in the bathroom and it worked great for a long time. I get these couponing and would chose this scent again in the future.

Bath and Body Works Sea Island Shore Hand Soap- This soap was nice,  I really love all the beachy scents from BBW and this was no exception. 

Bath and Body Works Moonlight Path Lotion- This was a mini lotion that I used at my office. I really liked the scent and would repurchase items from this scent line in the future.

Maybelline Mascara- This was really nice mascara and I would definitely pick it up again! I like mascara that isn't super wet, so this worked perfectly.

Sensodyne Pronamel- The only brand of toothpaste that works for me. If you ever have issues with canker sores definitely start using sensodyne and you will notice a difference for sure.

Cake Batter Chapstick- My favorite chapstick. I swear I finished more of them but this is the only one that made it into the empties bag. I still have a huge stockpile of these thanks to Tim!

Bath and Body Works Tis The Season Antibacterial- Tis the Season is one of my favorite candle scents from BBW and I loved having this antibacterial gel. It was a little off season but I still enjoyed it!

Huggies Special Delivery Newborn Diapers- I didn't get a ton of newborn diapers because everyone said Ellie wouldn't be in them for long...however we are almost 3 weeks in and she is still in newborn diapers and clothing. Honestly we change her diaper so often I haven't noticed a big difference in types of diapers yet. These Huggies ones were nice and were on clearance at Walmart, so we definitely got our moneys worth. I would purchase them again in the future for sure.

Pampers Sensitive Wipes- These wipes have been great and I love that they are fragrance free and are sensitive for my tiny little newborn. We have been flying through wipes and Tim even asked me if I had coupons enough of them. While we do have a ton stocked up, I will keep purchasing them with every couponing deal I can find. 

Affresh Washing Machine Cleaner- This is what I use to clean our washing machine. I like it and will keep repurchasing it in the future.

Caldrea Countertop Spray- I like this spray but it is so much pricer than other types. I would repurchase this because the scent is wonderful but I prefer the Mrs. Meyers spray due to the price and I like it just as much.

Dawn Powerwash- I didn't expect to like this dishsoap as much as I did. It is magic at cleaning dishes and I can't believe how powerful it really is. 

Aloe Vera Gel- I used this to make padsicles which turned out to be magic after giving birth. I am luckily past that point but would definitely repurchase this in the future if I ever need aloe vera. 

Iron Supplements- I had some iron issues late in pregnancy and continue to need iron supplements now so I will continue to repurchase these.

Prenatal Vitamins- I love these gummy vitamins and will continue to take them and buy them!

What have you finished up lately?

Welcome Ellie!

On August 24th at 12:51 PM we welcomed Ellie Olivia into the world. 6 pounds 6 ounces, 20 inches long she is absolutely perfect and we are so completely in love with her!

I've been absent on the blog the last couple of weeks because a new baby is a TON of work. Ellie and I have been spending our days on the couch, but for some reason the day flies by. I often don't have free hands or arms and have been simply holding our little miracle all day long. 

Ellie is a very sweet baby who rarely ever cries. Only when she is hungry or when we change her in the middle of the night. 

I have so much to share with you- her birth story, all of our favorites so far, and I promise it is all coming because I don't want to forget a second of it.

But if I am not around as much, it's because I'm snuggling this tiny, perfect human. 

 

Stocking Up Before Baby

 You guys know by now that I am a couponer and love to stock up on items for super cheap. I have been spending the last few months trying to fill my stockpile and get items as cheap as possible before Ellie arrives. I always love to save money but I figured with a baby coming I wouldn't really feel like heading out to the store too often once she arrived so it was better to have all sorts of essentials already stocked. I watched a few youtube videos and found a few lists online that shared lists of what to stockpile before baby- not just baby items but household items as well so I thought I would compile my own list and share it here if anyone is interested! I'm also going to share a few photos of my current stockpile because I'm pretty excited with the amount I've accumulated lately.

Stock Up Before Baby List

Baby Items

• Diapers (Obviously...) Every chart online says a different number but I looked up a few on Pinterest and just sort of guessed what we would need. I am completely stocked up for newborn through size 3, so I will be working on size 4 and holding off to see if I even need size 5 or 6. I wasn't afraid of buying too many because I made sure they were less than 20 cents a diaper and we plan on having at least one more kid in the future. Also, diapers make great gifts for baby showers!
• Wipes- Again, obvious but make sure they are one cent a wipe or cheaper!
• Bottles- Just a few free sample bottles to try out and find the kind you like. 
• Formula- Free samples are available through Enfamil and Similac. Even if you plan on breastfeeding it doesn't hurt to get the samples just in case. You can always donate them!
• Clothes- Not a ton, but look for clearance clothing and stock up for the next year.
• Baby Gear- I will share more of the gear we received at our shower and what else we picked up in another post, but we ended up with a lot of stuff. Probably not all necessary, so talk to friends and family and do your research to see what you will actually use and love. I plan on updating once Ellie is here and we actually know what she will use.

Household/Personal Items

• Paper Towels
• Toilet Paper
• Tissues
• Qtips
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Lotion
• Shower Gel/Soap
• Deodorant
• Laundry Detergent
• Dryer Sheets
• Laundry Scent Boosters
• Sponges
• Dishwasher Tabs
• Cleaning Sprays
• Dish Soap
• Aluminum Foil
• Plastic Wrap
• Ziploc Bags
• Parchment Paper
• Lysol Wipes/ Other Cleaners
• Garbage Bags
• Paper Plates
• Toothpaste
• Hand Soaps
• Bathroom Sprays
• Vitamins
• Medications- Tylenol, Tums, etc..
• Razors
• Batteries

Pet Items

• Pet Food
• Pet Treats
• Pet Medications

Food/Drink Items

• Water Bottles
• Soda/Juice/ Other Drinks
• Snacks
• Ingredients For Simple Meals
• Ingredients to Make Freezer Meals

Post Partum Supplies

• Pads
• Tucks Wipes
• Ingredients to Make Padsicles
• Ice Packs

That's what I've come up with so far! Let me know if you think anything is missing from my list and I will add it! I've been working hard at stocking up for a few months now and would love to know what else I should be grabbing at the store!

July Empties

 

Today we are talking about July empties! Sorry for the lack of posts lately- it's been crazy around here. We are in week 36 of pregnancy and I am still working full time (currently in person) so I have been using my limited time to get ready for Ellie's arrival. Rory also got spayed last Thursday so we currently have a cone-head wandering around our house that we need to keep an eye on constantly. Basically life has been crazy as we look forward to our little girls arrival. I'm guessing things will be slow here on the blog for a bit but I am working on putting together posts about preparing for baby so hopefully those will be sprinkled over the next couple of months for you guys!

Anyways, let's get into the empties!

Downy Unstoppables Fresh Scent- This isn't the first time I've shared these with you guys. They make your laundry smell amazing! I want to try out some of the other scents offered but these are so good I just keep on repurchasing them. 

Lysol Wipes- A staple in our house. I mostly use these in the bathroom because I prefer to make sure everything is super sanitized. Ibotta has had some amazing deals on these lately so I keep stocking up every time I go to the store.

Tide Pods- This huge container of Tide Pods was picked up on a BJs trip and while I don't like purchasing detergent at such a high price point I really loved how big the container was and how long it took me to get through the whole thing. I will be stocking up with couponing deals going forward though because these are just too pricey for me!

Bath and Body Works Malibu Heat Shower Gel- I really liked this shower gel and would definitely repurchase it in the future. I love these mini shower gels because I get to try different scents and don't get stuck using one scent for too long. It helps me not get bored! I would get this again and would even purchase it in a larger size.

Bath and Body Works Watermelon Lemonade Candle- This candle smells so good! I love the watermelon lemonade scent, it's so sweet and this candle had great throw. I would definitely repurchase.

Sensodyne Gum Repair Toothpaste- My gums have been a mess during this pregnancy and this toothpaste really did seem to help. I can only use sensodyne toothpastes since I get bad canker sores with other brands and was so glad to see they had this gum repair version. I will definitely repurchase this in the future to strengthen my gums back after pregnancy.

Dreft Laundry Detergent Sample- So you would think I used this sample on baby clothes...but no. I used this on a load that smelt like dog poop, after we had an issue where Rory got sick and pooped all over her dog bed. After washing the dog bed, everything smelled fine...until I put the next load in and everything came out smelling like dog poop. After using vinegar, deep cleaning the washer and the dryer and using draft detergent, we finally have everything back to normal! 

Bath and Body Works Cactus Blossom Hand Soap- I really liked this hand soap. I've mentioned before that I'm a big fan of the BBW foaming hand soaps and I picked up quite a few summer scents this year. I've been working my way through them pretty quickly and this is definitely one I would repurchase in the future. 

Bounce Dryer Sheets-  These are definitely my dryer sheet of choice and I repurchase them quite often. I like the scent of them and they work great!

Philosophy Snow Angel Scrub- I've had this body scrub for a few years and finally finished it. I did like it, but I don't know that I would repurchase it in the future. I have been trying out a bunch of different scrubs and this one wasn't as abrasive as some of the others.

2 Cake Batter Chapsticks- I still have a huge stock of these and am obsessed with them. Always a repurchase for me!

What products have you used up lately? I feel like I didn't have a ton of empties this month but I always want to share what I've finished so you guys can hear my thoughts on everything. I also think it's a good view of what free samples I have bean able to snag and what products are available through couponing. I hope you enjoy empties posts as much as I like writing them!

Have a great day everyone!

Our Baby Shower

I unintentionally took a break from the blog...sorry guys! It's hard to keep up now that I'm back to work in person full time. Adding in my commute time now, trying to get the nursery put together, and just keeping up with general chores around the house in my third trimester, I've been completely exhausted. 

Today I wanted to share our baby shower which was a few weeks back. We decided to do a drive-by shower so anyone who didn't want to stay. It was very low pressure and just in our front yard. My mom did an amazing job planning, she had cupcakes delivered and a Del's truck parked in the driveway. It was so nice to have so many people we love stop by and wish us well! I was completely exhausted by the end and my feet were super swollen. 

Basically, I'm going to do a major photo dump of the shower so enjoy!!

Sophie and Rory attended the shower and did so great! It was a really hot day, but they were troopers and slept so well that night and the whole next day.

Our attempts at a family picture didn't go really well, but that's okay!

My mom did such an amazing job planning the shower and hosting! 

Ally tagged this picture of us on instagram, I look so tired! 

My dad even stopped by for awhile, I think he is excited for his first human grand baby!

My in-laws also came and stayed awhile! It was so nice that they came by!

My uncle, his girlfriend, and cousins came from Connecticut to celebrate Ellie.

A picture of the set up along the road. We are lucky we have a big front yard. 

The cute sign my mom ordered and the table in the background. 

Sitting with the dogs before guests started to arrive. 

Another family photo attempt. 

It's hard to believe that these three girls were the flower girls at our wedding, and Tyler wasn't even born yet! (Pictures from our ceremony can be found here) They all seem so big now! 

My mom bought beach balls for all the kids to play with and they had a great time chasing them around the yard. 

Some of the cupcakes my mom had delivered. I never even ate one....

My mom truly went overboard. From the goody bags to the guessing game to the hand sanitizer favors, she had so much set up!

If you aren't sure what Dels is, it's a Rhode Island thing! It's frozen lemonade and delicious but guess what, I never even had one! Luckily our guests seemed to enjoy them!

My mom took guesses on when Ellie would be born and sent me the document, it'll be interesting to see who wins! There were a lot of early September guesses but some major outliers as well. My cousin guessed September 25th.... 22 days late! I am already feeling rather uncomfortable so I can't imagine if I was forced to stay pregnant that long. 

I'm so glad that my uncles girlfriend Liz snapped all these pictures of my mom setting up and how the tables looked. 

Alcohol in case anyone wanted to add it to their Dels. 

Rachel and Ant came and I always wish that we had more time to hang out with them!

My mom invited a bunch of her friends and it was so nice that they all stopped by!

Rachel and Brittni who have handed down so many items to us from their kids! It has been such a lifesaver.

We were so lucky to have so many people stop by and hang out with us. 

Derek and Ally are excited to be Uncle Derek and Auntie Ally!

Tim's mom and brother Dan hanging out.

It was so nice to see Marissa! We don't see Marissa and Fred that often so it was great to hang out with them!

Tim's dad and Fred.

The baby daddy himself :)

Callan and Kason, the oldest of the cousins! They have been the only ones for so long, but already gained one cousin this year and soon Ellie will be here too!

My uncle Dave and his fiancé Liz!

It was such a nice shower, and there were a ton of people who dropped by that we didn't get pictures of. I think the only pictures that I took were of the dogs....all the rest were stolen from my mom :)

I didn't take pictures of all the gifts we received but once the nursery is complete I will do a full nursery tour post and share what we received. 

Have a great day everyone!

Nursery Wall Prints

 Thanks to my amazing husband we finally have wall prints in Ellie's room! I had three quotes that all dealt with night time that I wanted to hang in her room. They are quotes from Harry Potter, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Throne of Glass.  Before we even got pregnant I knew I wanted a night sky theme in the nursery and wanted to feature one of my favorite quotes so I went ahead and found two others that I love as well. 

At first I was attempting to make these with my Cricut, but it was frustrating and I kept ripping the paper. So I made some Photoshop prints and Tim printed them out for me at work which was so sweet.

First up is a Harry Potter quote which I placed along the back wall of the nursery.

This was the last quote I decided on and I think it's so sweet and perfect for a nursery.

Next up over the dresser I have my all-time favorite quote from A Court of Thorns and Roses.

How perfect is that? Side note: if you haven't read this series by Sarah J Maas get on it...it's incredible!

The last quote is above the changing table and bookshelf and is from the Throne of Glass series. 

I just love having these up, they make me so happy! I hope my little girl loves to read as much as I do. I plan on reading to her from day one and hopefully I can pass along my love of reading to her!