Sensory Sunday - Snacking

Hey, it’s Sensory Sunday again and today we will be doing some sorting with snacks! Our kiddie plates are perfect for this easy project. This activity is good for developing a child’s sorting and patterning skills. 

What you will need:

🍪 1 - 2 Kiddie Bites plates. You can find these plates on Amazon and use code KIDDIE10 for 10% off your plate set.

🍪 2 - 4 small snacks. For this, I used Kashi wheat squares, popcorn, chocolate chips, cheerios

There are 3 ways I found to set up the snacks to help your LO sort them. The first way was to place a few pieces of each snack in the smaller sections of your Kiddie Bites plates. Then in the larger section mix the 4 snacks together. Then explain to your little one what to do. Demonstrating how to sort is also a great way to explain. If you are demonstrating what to do say hooray and clap when you place the snack in the correct section. This way your LO knows they did it correctly. This can also be a fun game. Especially when your LO sneaks a few or all the snacks. 

The second way you can set this activity up is by placing all the snacks in the large container and let your LO decide where they go. This will also help to develop their independence.

The last way worked best for Sephira because she was way more interested in eating her snacks. So I took the mini wheat which was her least favorite and I buried her favorite snacks underneath. This is a similar concept to hiding toys under a blanket.

Hope you enjoyed this edition of Sensory Sunday!

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Sensory Sunday - Slime DIY

It’s been a long time since doing a Sensory Sunday. But we’re back and we are going to make some slime? I really like this sensory project because it’s super easy and fun for all ages. I'm going toshow you two fun ways to make your slime.




Here is what you are going to need for your Galaxy Slime;
💚4oz or 1/2 cup of white glue
💚1/2 cup of shaving cream
💚 Fine holoraphic glitter
💚Chunky holographic glitter
💚Black and teal food coloring
💚1 tsp of borax
💚1 cup of water
💚Small Jar to store your slime

First, in a small bowl combine the water and borax, then set aside. You can microwave for 30 second to help combine the borax/water mixture faster. Then, in a medium size bowl add your glue. Try and get all the glue out into the bowl by squeezing and flentening the bottle. You can now add your shaving creame, and glitter, then stir until all combined.  At this point you can add whatever fun items to make your slime unique (combuches, different size beads, buttons, charms, etc.). Now you’re ready to add your water borax mixture. This mixture is what turns your glue into slime. Start with 1 tbsp at a time and you can continue to add while you nead your slime. Once your slime is no longer sticky separate it into 3 piles. Add a few drops of your black foodcoloring to one pile and a few trops of your teal to the other. nead the slime until the coloring has been combined. This can get messy so you can use gloves to keep your hands clean. Now that everything is colored it's read to play with. **Remenber never leave your little one alone with the slime or the ingrediants.**

Here is what you are going to need for your green Nickelodeon Slime;
💚4oz or 1/2 cup of clear glue
💚 Neon Green Glitter
💚Rainbow Beads
💚1 tsp of borax
💚1 cup of water
💚Small Jar to store your slime

First, in a small bowl combine the water and borax, then set aside. You can microwave for 30 second to help combine the borax/water mixture faster. Then, in a medium size bowl add your glue. Try and get all the glue out into the bowl by squeezing and flentening the bottle. You can now add your glitter and beads, then stir until all combined.  At this point you can add whatever fun items to make your slime unique (combuches, different size beads, buttons, charms, etc.). Now you’re ready to add your water borax mixture. This mixture is what turns your glue into slime. Start with 1 tbsp at a time and you can continue to add while you nead your slime. Once your slime is no longer sticky it's read to play with. **Remenber never leave your little one alone with the slime or the ingrediants.**

Hope you enjoyed this edition of Sensory Sunday!

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Fall Activities

 

Being a new mom who is also working full time you end up getting stuck in the routine. Also, weekends end up getting filled with stress, errands, and cleaning. So I wanted to make a post of how instead of cleaning and errands during the days I have with her to spread it out strategically during the week between my husband and I. Then not to get too worked up if the house gets messy. This is always a sore spot for me since I like a clean house. But I think more quality time with my baby girl is worth the house getting a little messy. Here are some of the things we've been doing to get out of the house and out of the routine.

Apple picking. I mean this is a no-brainer during this time of year. There are so many farms around and it's so beautiful out while the leaves a changing. I was planning on going to get some groceries anyway. Why not have some fun outside while supporting local farms? Two birds one stone, am I right? To just go to these places it is usually free unless you plan on purchasing produce. Most will have farm animals you can pet. They usually have little goat feeding machines that you pay a quarter to get a hand full. But if you pick some apples they love these as well! There are also farms that will have hayrides and corn mazes for the kids.

Once you get all your fresh produce from the farm you can then cook something delicious. There are a bunch of sellers that make safety stool for kids. Then they can watch while you make all the pie fillings and put it together. If you're short on time and not crazy about baking try this recipe for Apple turnovers using crescent rolls.

Peel and cut up 3 apples into little cubes

In a large bowl add your apples, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of melted vegan butter, 1/2 tbs of cinnamon, a sprinkle of ground cloves and fresh ground nutmeg. Mix all the ingredients for about 2 minutes with a large spoon until the apples are completely covered.

Then lay out the crescent rolls.

Add a spoonful of the apple filling and roll them up.

Then bake according to the directions on the crescent rolls.

I also use the same filling recipe for my apple pies but I cut the apples in slices.

Taking a trip to Salem Massachusetts. There are so many places to just walk around here. Most are historical buildings. Then there are free haunted houses during Halloween. This would mostly be for older kids but during the day would be great for younger ones who are too young for the haunted houses.

Hiking is the next one that is always a good idea. Its free and a great activity to get you out of the house and away from the TV. There usually is a trail not too far from even a city. This is also great for introducing your kids to the forest. You can always read up on the area before you go so you can look like a great expert when your kids ask what type of trees or plants they see are called.

Explore new parks close or far from you. Playgrounds are so much more than they were even when I was a kid. Most have rubber grounds so it's much safer. Also, there will most likely be other kids there. For my little girl Sephira, this is important since she is not in daycare. So interactions with other children are even more important for her. Also if it's raining or too hot/cold out for a park some malls will also have a small area for kids to play in. For us, it's the Mall of NH. This indoor playground always has other kids. During the week is even better since it's mostly babies and toddlers.

Now that it is getting a bit colder out. Look into indoor playgrounds. We tried one of these in Woburn, MA called Vinkari Safari that was nice. For Sephira, it was a little overwhelming since she had never been there and there is no real separation from older kids. But I know if we go a few more time she will get used to it. Also if you have a friend/ family member that has a kid around there age bring them.

I hope this post gave you some good ideas on getting out of the house. If you have any requests for posts please email me at veggiemomster@gmail.com or visit me on Instagram or Facebook.

Taking Photo's of you Little One - Flag Day Contest

Flag Day Photo Contest

So this week Sephira is in a photo contest. So I figured I would do a blog post on how to get an adorable photo of your LO. There are a few things you should always have handy for taking cute photos. Number one is a backdrop. For this, I usually use 1-2 yards faux fur fabric. This is great for laying your little one on. Don't worry about getting outside objects or backgrounds in the photo since they can always be cropped out. For the colors of the fur make sure you have black, white and cream always on had. These colors go with everything and you won't feel like you have to purchase a different color for each shoot. Another item that helps make positioning your little one easier especially for ones who can set up yet is a basket of some kind.  Again have a neutral color and/or print like chevron is great for most of your photo. With the fur, you can just lay it on a couch, bed, pillows, co-sleeper, or floor. You can also place it in the basket with the fur sticking out. Again this helps prop up little ones that can't quite sit up on their own. If you just want to use the basket and no fur you can try a towel, face cloths or cloth diapers to help prop your baby up. 

Use a Chevron basket to prop up your little one.

Something that also makes picture taking fun is props. These could be anything from holiday decorations to baby toys/stuffed animals. One thing to keep in mind with props is if you're not using these props outside of your pictures they can pile up. So using fresh flowers can cut down on the hoarding of props.

Now to my favorite part, dressing your baby. For newborn pictures having some cute bows is always a must. Again always have bows or bow ties in neutral colors black, white and cream. If you know that you are going to be taking lots of pictures red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple are great to have in hand. When purchasing bows I always try to get head wraps. They can be a bit more pricey but they will grow with your baby. This way you are getting good quality and more pictures out of them. I purchase my head wraps from HelloMissGorgeous on Esty. They are great quality and they ship fast. 

Black Headwrap from HelloMissGorgous

If you're like me and love cute outfits then here are some of my favorite sellers on Esty that sell the sweetest outfits and accessories for photo shoots BBOWSBOUTIQUE, HelloMissGorgous, SofiaandBelle, NordeensBabyCouture, BabySquishyCheeks, BowtifulSoul, CandyFacesShop, and Katescouturedesign. If you are looking for cheaper more generic options then Amazon Prime always has options for not just clothes and accessories, but also baby photo props like faux fur, wrap blankets and cute accessories. Though I get my fur from Distinctivefabric.com. 

Onesie From BabySquishyCheeks and Shorts from CandyFacesShop

Headwrap from HelloMissGorgous

Headwrap from HelloMissGorgous and Fur from Distinctivefabric.com

For editing photo's there are 3 apps that I like to use. PS Express (free), FotoRus (Free with in app purchases) and Union ($1.99). Union has to be my favorite because you can have a photo of your LO and completely remove the background and replace it with whatever you want. PS Express is good for erasing minor blemishes. FotoRus is also good for blemishes and has some other crazy options to add makeup to your face. This is one of those in app purchases though.

If you like this post and I gave you a few ideas for photographing your LO then please share this with other moms. Also Please go to the link and like my Little Girl's photo on the Brady Sullivan Facebook Page so we can win! Thanks so much for reading!

Link to photo: Flag Day Contest

Matching Outfits Monday - Unicorns

Welcome back to Matching Outfits Monday, It's been a few weeks since I've been able to post one of these since my LO has been sick. But she is feeling much better now and we are getting back on track with our posts. So about a week ago we went to a circus camp and I needed some adorable outfits for the weekend. Also side note sometime in the next few weeks, I will post what we packed and how we survived the weekend with a teething 8-month-old with eczema.

So, back on track, of course, our outfits had to match in some way shape or form so I picked some easy categories and when from there. Our First day we when with Unicorns. You just can't go wrong with unicorns at a circus camp.

For my outfit, I wore a purple unicorn print t-shirt that I modified. I followed this tutorial to cut a v-neck with a collar into the shirt. I then paired it with some simple gray shorts and my platform jellies from UNIF. When it got a bit chilly I wore UNIF's pastel Forst Sweater. For accessories, I got a unicorn horn from Amazon. The headband was very tight so I cut it off and hot glued a hair clip. So nothing was wasted I took the elastic headband I cut off and make a hair elastic. To carry my LO around in I had a Unicorn Toki Doki printed LILLE carrier.

Links to my outfits hear
Shirt - XL
Sweater - XL
Jellies - 9
Carrier
Unicorn Horn - Color violet felt. I got the size medium but you can get it in an adjustable size if you don't want to use a clip.

More Importantly, my LO wore a  ruffle leotard from Baby Squishy Cheeks on Etsy. I was really excited to finds this seller because every time I found this style of leotard they didn't come with snaps for easy diaper changes. But these ones do and they come in 4 colors light pink, light purple, black and white. For this outfit, I purchased the light pink. Do be careful when washing, make sure they are will like colors and wash in a lingerie bag if you have one. 

I paired her leotard with the most perfect high waisted unicorn shorts from Candy Faces Shop on Esty. I loved the high waist on these shorts they just made the outfit. The high waist gives a cute ruffle top. They fit perfectly, I gave the owner Covantry my LO's measurements and asked her to make them a little larger. They fit perfect with room to grow without looking too big. My LO will be able to wear them for the rest of the summer. The shorts were pink with a unicorn and rainbow print. These shorts also come in the same print in blue. The quality is fantastic from this shop, the owner is passionate about what she does and its worth it to go and take a look at what she has to offer. This shop also has tons of other magical unicorn items to select from as well.

For Sephira'a accessories I found an adorable unicorn headband Bowtiful Soul on Esty. The headband was super sparkly and the unicorn figure was adorable. For shoes, Teeny Toes had the most perfect sparkle jellies to match mine. Also, in case if got cold I found a rainbow unicorn horn sweatshirt from Amazon that was a perfect fit. 

Because we had to drive 2 hours to the camp I was worried about having a diaper blowout in the car. so on our way, I dressed Sephira in some cute unicorn pajamas.

Leotard - 18 months
Shorts - Custom
Headband
Jellies - 3
Sweatshirt - 12 months
Pajamas - 12-18 months

How to Over Pack for a Week in Florida

Here is my blog for what I packed for my week trip to Florida, to visit my mom and stepdad. If you're looking for a minimalist's packing list, you have come to the wrong place. I'll share with you what I packed in my 3 bags. I'll provide all the links to the items that I bought. What I ended up overpacking were diapers and wipes. I was glad though that I didn't run out, though I only needed 2 backs.

This is what I packed in my diaper bag. I wanted to make sure all the items I would need to access frequently were easily accessible so I wasn't fishing around in the bag looking for something. When I make packing lists I always make sure I add everyday items that I would most likely have on me to ensure I don't forget anything. These items are my wallet (credit cards, cash, ID), my phone and my tickets. Then before I leave for my trip I can ensure that they are also with me.

Food
   👽 Oatmeal Cookies
   👽 Baby Mum Mums
   👽 Apples
Necessities
   👽 Wallet (Credit Cards, Cash, ID)
   👽 iPhone 7 Plus
   👽 Travel Pack of Tissues
   👽 Phone Charger and/or Portable Charger
   👽 Neck or Travel Pillow
   👽 Bluetooth Headphones. I love these because I don't have to fumble with my phone when I get a call while walking through the airport.
Playing
   👽 Toys. You want to make sure they are not ones that make any noises as a courtesy to other passengers. This means no electronic toys or ones with bells or squeakers. I packed my LO's rings, sensory book, and Butterfly security blanket. The best items to pack are your babies favorite. If one of their favorites is an electronic toy then just make sure it stays in the off position or the batteries are removed.
   👽 Books. As well as toys I pack a few books to keep their attention. I have recently started to purchase books that have to do with my LO's first. For this trip, I have a Day at the Airport by Richard Scary. Then inside the book, I marked the date that we went on her first airplane. This way I have a little memorabilia. I am also going to take some pictures of us in the airport. Then add the pictures and our ticket to the back of the book. Also, I packed some smaller Bitty Baby books and a Bizzy Bear Space Rocket book to match our travel outfits.
Changing: This is one of the most important things to pack. I would say every parent will most likely have all of these items in their diaper bag already.
   👽 New pack of Baby Water Wipes
   👽 About 10 Bambo Natures diapers. I am also going to back 20 more in my larger carry-on just in case.
   👽 2-3 Ziploc bags. This will be for dirty clothes or diapers I am unable to throw away. If you don't have Ziploc bags then disposable poopie bags or reusable wet bags would also work.
   👽 Changing pad. If one does not come with your diaper bag we use these pads from Target.
   👽 Grey Fleece Baby Blanket
   👽 Nature's Baby Organics Silky Dusting Powder
   👽 3 Basic Amazon Face Cloths
   👽 2 Pairs of Cotton Pajamas with Feet
Toiletries:
   👽 All medications and vitamins
   👽 Badger Unscented Balm
   👽 Hand Sanitizer

Carry-On Suitcase
I usually pack secondary essentials in my carry-on suitcase. These are items I probably won't need unless we got stuck at the airport overnight.
   👽 Tooth Brush/Travel Size Tooth Paste
   👽 Contacts/Travel Size Saline Solution
   👽 Breast Pads
   👽 Makeup. Most of my makeup comes from the brand 100 Percent Pure.
   👽 Face Cloths
   👽 Underwear
   👽 Pajamas
   👽 20 Diapers
   👽 Bras (Under Wire and Sports)
   👽 Sunglasses for Mommy
   👽 Jewelry
   👽 Grooming Kit/First Aid
   👽 Baby Carrier
   👽 Extra Changing Pad
   👽 Toys.
   👽 Books

Checked Bag
   👽 2 Packs of Wipes
   👽 3 Packs of Diapers
   👽 Toys
   👽 Books. We will be going to the beach for the first time so I purchased A Day at the Seashore. Then I'm going to print the date we go to the beach in the back of the book. Also, we are going to her first boat ride so I purchased Richard Scarry's Boats.
   👽 Matching Outfits. Some of these outfits are from our Matching Outfits Monday Post. But there will be a few more surprises that I will post on Instagram. To organize Sephira's headbands, socks, and legwarmers I used Ziploc bags.
   👽 Shoes

I looked up so go ways to prevent ear popping and all said that nursing as the plane is going up then down it the best. They also stated that it is the suckling that helps so if you don't breastfeed then a pacifier would work just as well.

Items that were a must to have on the plane were a neck pillow. This acted like a mini nursing pillow and made it much more comfortable for me. Also an infinity scarf or nursing cover, this was nice for my own privacy and doubled as a blanket to block out the light so she could sleep. With my outfit, I wore a nursing necklace and bracelet. This worked perfectly to have toys on hand that she was able to play with. We had 2 diaper changes during our trip there and back. If you haven't traveled on a plane with a little one they do have changing tables that pull down behind the toilet. Also because it was too much to bring Sephira and the diaper bag to the bathroom everytime I would just grab a diaper and 2 wipes. So, make sure you have these easily accessible. If you are traveling with another adult this will all be a lot easier. But because the trip was quick it was not too hard alone. Most people are more than willing to help you out which I was quite surprised about. Many times people offered to get my bags, pick up items I had dropped or offer me any help I might need.

I would try to travel when there is a school vacation this way there are other families on the plane. Because it was school vacation the week we went I felt more comfortable the more families with babies that I saw.

For transporting Sephira I used a baby carrier from LILLEbaby. I loved this because I was much more comfortable than my wraps and it has a convenient pocket on the front that was big enough for my phone, mini wallet, and ticket. When I went through security they let me wear it through the metal detector. This also left me hands-free to load my stuff on the conveyor belt and then gather my stuff up. You may want to bring a stroller depending on what you are doing once you are at your destination but my mother had already purchased one for our trip. If you are bringing a stroller and traveling alone I recommend the Austlen Entourage. This is great because you will be able to load your carry-on luggage and personal item onto the stroller.

I wish you all luck on your next trip and I hope you found this post helpful. I will be posting the Matching outfit we wore on Monday.

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Matching Outfits Monday - Butterfly Kisses

Thank the universe for Matching Outfits Monday! Today in spite of all the snow we are doing a fun spring/summer look. We all need a spring time Mommy's Outfit, for the first warm days that come. This year butterfly prints are extremely popular. I think this will be a great look for a nice day in the park. For mommy, I found a realistic butterfly print t-shirt. I paired this with a cute distressed jean skirt. I ordered this shirt a size larger than I usually do because it has no stretch to it. For my LO I purchased a butterfly print shirt and jean skirt set. This was extremely lucky and got so excited when I found it. Since I found the outfit from Babies"R"Us I also purchased a purple butterfly teether and blanket. This way she had the complete look and I received free shipping.

A few notes on my LO's outfit in the picture it shows the skirt with buttons and a pair of bloomers. But, Mine came with no buttons and bloomers attached to the skirt. I didn't mind this at all because I liked the one that came even better. Also, the socks I purchased are a lot lighter then they appear in the picture on Amazon. The color you see in my picture is more accurate (light purple).

To give the outfit a more matching aspect I sewed a pink flower ribbon to the skirt. I sewed it toward the bottom of the skirts so they wouldn't be covered but the shirt.

Mommy's Outfit
💟 Butterfly Print Shirt - L
💟 Jean Skirt - 14
💟 White Sandals
💟 Purple Baby Carrier

Baby's Outfit

💟 Butterfly Print Shirt and Jean Skirt Set
💟 Butterfly Blanket
💟 Butterfly Teether
💟 Purple Bow
💟 Purple Leggings
💟 Purple Socks

Next week for MOM I'll show you what me and my LO will be wearing for our plane trip to Florida, plus what we will be packing for the week away.

Don't forget to follow my blog by clicking the Follow button at the bottom. Also, you can follow me on Facebook @Veggiemomster and on Instagram @Theveggiemomster.

MOM - Blue and Grey Skies

This week on MOM I'm doing a more simple look. Matching outfits don't have to be identical to match. This is one of my more casual, comfy but, still awesome looks. I ordered a custom size 2 piece jumpsuit from one of my favorite sellers on Etsy ElvenForest. I love this jumpsuit because you get the best of both worlds. First, this is a jumpsuit that you don't have to get naked to go the bathroom. Also, this jumpsuit is good for breastfeeding mommy. It gives you plenty of access and privacy with its cowl neck. They sell the pants in a flared style as well. I picked the gypsy style because I wanted the gray color. But, I'm glad I did because they are spectacular. A reason I like ordering from here is your ability to give your exact measurements. This way you don't have to worry about if it will fit. You will definitely be seeing this jumpsuit again in another edition of MOM in a different color or one of their other awesome pieces. Please note that these are custom and handmade items, so be kind to your Esty seller and give them the time it takes to create their masterpieces.

For my Little One, I found a sweet jumpsuit with snaps at the bottom for easy diaper changes. Then I made another pair of baby sandals with some elastic and ribbon from Joann's Fabrics. Click HERE for the tutorial.

This look is great for a day at the park, festival or concert. You can also, dress it up with some heels and dramatic makeup for a more night on the town look.

Mommy
💙 Grey Gypsy Pants
💙 Blue Cowl Neck Crop Top
💙 Grey Jacket
💙 Blue Baby Carrier
💙 White Faux Leather Necklace

Baby
💙 Heather Blue Jumpsuit
💙 Grey Rose Bow
💙 DIY Baby Sandals
💙 Grey Long Sleeve Onesie
💙 Still on the hunt for a Faux Suede Jacket for Baby. I'll update if I ever do. Here is one for an older child. You could also pair with a gray baby sweater.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Matching Outfits Monday as much as my LO and I do. See you later this week for a baby picture's tutorial.

Don't forget to follow my blog by clicking the Follow button at the bottom. Also, you can follow me on Facebook @Veggiemomster and on Instagram @Theveggiemomster.