Until then, I wanted to share my weekly roundup of favorites with you guys. As always, please feel free to chime in and let me know what you’re loving this week!
I hope you all enjoy the weekend!
Thing I’m Loving Friday
I have an odd obsession with olive green. In my mind, it’s a neutral that’s not really a neutral in that it goes with just about everything but it’s not in the white/black/beige/gray family. I couldn’t resist this $14 backpack when I saw it at Walmart a month or so ago and it’s one of those inexpensive purchases that ended up feeling like a major steal! The quality of the backpack is great and it’s big enough to hold everything I need. I took it on our zoo trip last weekend and it easily held all of our snacks, diaper supplies, my wallet, phone, a burp cloth, some random baby toys, a pacifier and all that good stuff.
Ryan actually commented on it saying he liked that it was a backpack he could carry as well without it looking overly feminine, so it’s a score for the whole family! And if olive green isn’t your thing, the backpack comes in a myriad of colors and patterns. I love the black striped version, mint striped version and the blush pink and mustard yellow as well!
(P.S. For those asking via IG Stories & blog comments, here’s a breakdown of my zoo outfit –> Cropped distressed sweatshirt: Audrey 3+1 — no longer available but this $15 version is very similar / Leggings: Fabletics Powerhold High-Waisted 7/8 / Shoes: Adidas Swift Run Sneakers / Plaid Top: Rosio via Zulily / Denim Jacket: Old Navy)
Santa (aka Ryan) bought this mini air hockey table for Chase for Christmas and it’s one of those random gifts that surprised us by being a big-time hit. Chase loves it and is getting surprisingly good at it already! He loves challenging us to games and I have visions of Chase and Ryder playing together in the future one day, too. I just wanted to share this here in case you’re on the lookout for a different kind of Easter or birthday surprise for a little one in your life!
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Beach Tent Shopping
I need your help with this one! Ryan and I recently booked a trip to Hilton Head Island for spring break with my in-laws and I’m anticipating a lot of time at the beach! I’m not sure whether or not this is wishful thinking, but I’d love to get Ryder to nap on the beach and I’ve been researching pop-up beach tents since they seem like the most amazing way to maximize beach time with little ones. Well, my quick research led me to about a billion different options and now I’m officially overwhelmed. Do any of you guys out there have one you love? Are we better served getting a big one that can provide shade for the whole family or a smaller one just for Ryder? There are too many options and now I feel frozen! Help! Also, am I crazy to even think a 9 month old might nap at the beach?
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Daily Harvest Spinach Shiitake Grits Harvest Bowl
I officially have a new favorite harvest bowl from Daily Harvest! The Spinach Shiitake Grits Harvest Bowl blew me away this week! It’s rich and creamy and made with millet, a tiny gluten-free seed that’s rich in magnesium. The cheesy flavor comes from nutritional yeast (high in vitamin B-12!) and cashew butter mixed with garlic and olive oil and I just wish they sold the faux-cheese sauce in jars because I would be the first in line to buy it! Come to think of it, I wish Daily Harvest would just go ahead and publish a cookbook with all of their harvest bowl recipes because I love them so much and would love the ability to make big batches for our family. As always, I added a few of my own ingredients to the harvest bowl to give it more staying power (in this case I added chopped green beans, chicken thighs and cashews) and it was so ridiculously delicious. Let’s just say it will be a must-add to all of my future Daily Harvest orders! As always, if you want to give Daily Harvest a try for yourself, you can use my affiliate code pbfingers to get three free cups on your next order. Yum!!!
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Easton Mills Memorial Challenge (Lake Norman, NC)
I just wanted to share a little bit about an upcoming event in the Lake Norman area for my local readers that’s taking place to raise money for the YMCA’s Send-a-Kid to Camp Scholarship Fund in honor of a precious little girl. On May 5, 2017, Easton Mills, an adorable two-year-old girl, passed away suddenly from a rare brain tumor. Easton absolutely loved the YMCA and would bounce into the Y every morning with a perfectly placed bow in her hair and an infectious smile on her face. Her family and her YMCA family were shocked by her passing. The Easton Mills Memorial Challenge honors Easton’s legacy and helps other children by raising money for the Send-a-Kid to Camp Scholarship Fund, created to send kids to the YMCA and provide them with a place where they can be themselves, cultivate lasting friendships and learn from positive role models. The Easton Mills Memorial Challenge is a four-part workout challenge designed for participants with varying levels of fitness and finds the right balance of competition and community. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon on April 27 at the Lake Norman YMCA and anyone interested may register here.
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Around the Web
Food: 100 Healthy Smoothie Recipes / Creamy Vegan Broccoli Cauliflower Soup
Fitness: 50-10 Workout / 5 Workout Finishers / 15 Minute At Home Power Yoga
Old Navy Spring/Summer Apparel: When I was taking full advantage of the super sale on Old Navy t-shirts for Chase for the summer (lots of tees and polos for only $4!) and a few warmer weather finds for Ryder, I couldn’t resist adding a few things to my cart for my niece (oh my gosh have you seen Old Navy’s baby girl bubble rompers!?) and also added this chambray romper (in tall since most rompers end up being way too short on me because of my long torso), this black jumpsuit (great for dressing up or down) and these comfy joggers to my cart and have high hopes for all of them!
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Friday Flashbacks
Paleo Coconut Crisps (I made another batch of these this week and brought them to a friend’s house for a play date and between three of my girlfriends and myself, we had no problem inhaling the whole batch in one sitting. So good!)
Do Anywhere Workout (A great one to keep on hand for anyone who might want to work up a sweat during spring break travels!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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I have been looking for a cute romper and jumpsuit like the ones you linked to at Old Navy. However, I am nursing and can’t seem to find one that’s nursing friendly (buttons in the front). I’d love your feedback on these two you ordered after you use them and if you were able to nurse in them or not!
Yes!!! I’ll report back! I was thinking I’d wear them for activities when I will be away from Ryder/not need to nurse (girls’ night, date night, etc) but I did just buy another one with a tiny button on the front that seems nursing friendly and I’ll share a link to that one in the future if it works out well, too!
It’s not a true “tent,” but we have the Sunbuster Shelter from LL Bean and love it. It’s a little pricey but we’ve had it for years and it’s held up well! You can put the panels up over the “windows” or even close up the front, and it comes with stakes and a nice big floor. I would recommend opening and closing it once or twice in your yard before you take it to the beach- it’s easy enough but a little practice never hurts!
Great tip! I feel like practicing with whatever tent we buy might help us avoid some serious beach meltdowns ?
Love the Walmart backpack! Their stuff is getting cuter and cuter.
My sister has a one and three year old and lives at the beach in the Summer. She typically sets up an umbrella and then takes them on a walk in her BOB at naptime and they typically fall asleep and then she just sticks them under the umbrella still in the stroller.
I second this one!
We have had this tent from Costco for 4 years and we love it! Easy set up/breakdown! https://www.costco.com/Lightspeed-Outdoors-Quick-Shelter-with-Porch.product.100371833.html
REALLY excited to hear you say that because we just bought that one today!
We took our 8 month old to the Outer Banks last summer, and we just brought two large beach umbrellas with us. We set them up right next to each other, so my husband and I could sit on either end with the baby in the middle. He definitely napped on the beach! We just made a little mat out of beach towels and he slept really well! We joked we needed an ocean in our back yard to help him sleep at home! There’s something about that salt air! ?
When you find a pop up, report back. We live near the beach and bought a beach tent, however it is one with stakes and poles… It’s great once it’s set up, but it takes too long to set up and even worse take down when everyone is hot and tired. And by too long I mean even 5-10 minutes. My advice… buy a popup. We’re looking for one to use this year. 🙂
I absolutely will report back! Checking out all the recs now!
We have the Coleman beach shade. I can’t say it’s easy to set up, but our kiddo did nap in it (he was ~6-7 months).
We have the same one someone mentioned earlier from Costco – it is AMAZING. So quick to set up and take down and gives a great amount of shade.
For napping, we had a lot of success by brining a small blow up baby pool to put in the tent (creates a small corral and keeps the sand out!) – a few blankets and our kiddo was OUT for a solid 2 hour nap.
We have a week long trip to cape cod planned this summer with my parents and I was thinking we need a pop up tent for our little one who will be almost 10 months by then because I’m hoping for the same thing as you (naps on the beach!) I would love if you shared the recommendations you get from others because it would be so helpful for me too as I research this. I also want to buy before the summer hits so we don’t run into things being sold out! haha Thanks!
I bought the same backpack in black to take to Disney World! It is a pretty perfect little thing, isn’t it? My husband made the same comment about it not being too feminine for him to carry too. I wish it had two zippers for easier access instead of just the one, but still!
Hope you guys have so much fun in Hilton Head! We see a lot of pop-up canopies when we go- which seem like a good option in that there is no ducking in and out, lots of shade, and easily tied down with bags full of wet sand. But they are bulky, so unless you’ve got an easy access/route to the beach (such as if you’re going to the Sea Pines Beach Club- which I highly recommend!) or a beach wagon, I’m not sure it would be the best option.
Dave and I have an ongoing debate about my grey Fawn bag — I think it looks unisex so he can hold it, he disagrees — I think you’re right your olive green backpack does the trick. hehehe Hope you and the fam have a great weekend! 🙂
We LOVE this beach tent: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ALMJMI2/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I actually brought it in my luggage on a cruise last year when my daughter was 11 months- and she napped in it! Big enough that I fit in there easily as well, but collapses FLAT to fit in a (large) suitcase.
We have the Lightspeed Outdoors Quick Cabana Beach Tent Sun Shelter off Amazon and it worked great for the last two years! I will say check ahead of time and make sure rents are allowed. We went to Ocean aisle and they didn’t allow them (whomp whomp) but they’re fine at Fripp Island where we usually go! We brought a small umbrella stroller to the beach for our 4 month old and she would take a nap in that if we walked her around at naptime. It was still not my favorite beach trip having a baby at the beach but we made it work!!
I think I might have to jump on the backpack-as-diaper-bag train, just because it seems soooo much more convenient (not to mention easier on my back having the weight equally distributed!).
I’ve got $60 in Old Navy rewards, so I think I need to be doing a little spring shopping this weekend to take advantage of their spring sale 🙂
We have used this for two summers and LOVE it! It is lightweight, easy to set up and take down, and still lets you catch a decent breeze inside. Half the time we have it set up on our deck for the boys to use as a fort. It looks really similar to the Costco one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RQQRTSM/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Please share your results about your pop up tent! I have a 10 month old and need something for the summer as well!!
Going through all the recs now and will report back!!
Make sure the beach will allow tents…some will not, even baby tents. They can make you take down. Some beaches are umbrellas only.
As a breastfeeding mama, I eat a ton and those DH meals look so skimpy to me. You always seem to have to bulk them up too. Is that worth it???
Our son was 8 months old when we took him to the beach for the first time . We were very lucky in that he napped like a champ on the beach! We just had him on a towel under the beach umbrella and it worked but I like the tent idea. Have fun!
I love seeing all of the neat things you seem to find! I definitely need to step out of my bubble!
What I’m loving this week seems WAYYY too simple but it’s probably one of the most useful things we have for our baby! I’m loving the formula to go divider things! Not only do we use them for on the go feeding, I also prep them the night before to make night time feedings easier!
We bought a beach tent last year (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014I4TYA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 – Schylling UV Play Shade, SPF 50+, Ultra portable) and I had hoped our 10 month old would nap in it on the beach but I was very wrong – ha! But, he wasn’t a great napper anyway, so I hope Ryder does better! I could lay in to nurse him, so that was nice to have some privacy. The tent was super easy to fold and set up so I would recommend it!
My son was 5 months when we used a small beach tent (from amazon) but it worked really well!
http://tylermichaelandrew.blogspot.com/2011/08/
We live in Hawaii and had the Quick Shelter tent, but it was too small to fit 2 chairs and a baby under and it got way too hot inside. I put the Easy Go Cabana on our baby registry and we love it!!! It’s a bit pricey, but super easy to set up, and plenty of shade. Our 4 month old took a nap under it yesterday on a beach towel. I would also recommend a UPF blanket/towel (ours is Luv Bug brand). When he gets too hot, we can get it wet to cool him down, or just use it as a blanket and it has sun protection. That thing has been a lifesaver!
I have used the Pacific Breeze Easy Setup Beach Tent Deluxe XL (from Amazon) with great success. My in-laws had an umbrella which was only kept from blowing over, we were at Virginia Beach, by our tent next to it. My biggest tip is to buy one which has windows on opposing sides to allow for cross airflow. Without a breeze coming through, tents get hot!
thank you!!