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Monday, October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween!!!

Ah it's Halloween!  But seriously, where did October go?!  This month was full and fun and absolutely flew by.  I can't believe it's already Halloween, but I'm so excited that it is!  Sloan totally "gets it" this year and cannot wait to go trick-or-treating for the very first time!  It's supposed to rain (thanks for that Oregon), but I have a feeling she won't mind at the first sight of candy in her treat bag!

So this is most definitely my last year getting to pick Sloan's Halloween costume, thanks to my annoying friends who let their daughters choose their costumes this year ;).  When Sloan found out BOTH of her besties were going to be Elena of Avalor for Halloween she was pretty confused (and pissed at me).  So I let her dress up as Elena for ballet this morning, but we're going with my costumes for the rest of the day (I know I know, mean mom).

The girls are a rainbow and a cloud this year and I seriously think they look so darling!!  I of course wanted to coordinate their costumes somehow, but didn't want them to wear the same thing.  I love how their costumes turned out!  I snagged Sloan's rainbow costume at Pottery Barn Kids and I made P's costume using an old leotard, cotton, and about ten tons of hot glue!  The girls are wearing white bows with rainbow dots (they're from Ellia May Designs) and P is wearing the sweetest sky blue mary janes (they're from Mon Petite Shoes).  We just got our custom treat bags in the mail from My Pretty Lil Party and they are SO cute!!

So without further ado... My rainbow and my cloud!







I hope you guys have an amazing Halloween!!!

Xo

Marisa 

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Just like a boomerang, kindness comes back around.


I am so excited to share about the new Kindness Boomerang Challenge that Mama Said Tee's has created!  I have been a long time fan of Mama Said Tee's and I adore the two owners, Colleen and Colleen (yes, they have the same name-isn't that cute!).  MST is on a mission to spread kindness and positivity like wildfire.  Their stance is that anyone and everyone can complete an act of kindness, and I agree!  The kindness boomerang challenge comes on a little card in your package when you purchase from MST.  You have 48 hours to complete the challenge and you must share it on social media.  Then you get to nominate three people to complete the challenge as well!

The girls and I received the cutest tee's and a kindness boomerang challenge card yesterday.  Our challenge was to leave a note on a mirror in a public restroom that reads: "You are beautiful".  I read the challenge aloud to Sloan and her first response was, "Mama!  I'm beautiful riiiight!!"  I assured her that yes she was indeed beautiful, but it would really nice to brighten someone else's day if we told them that they were beautiful.  She loved the idea and was totally on board, she even asked if she could help me make a sign.  We got our markers out and got right to work.  Phayre even got in on the coloring action and we all talked about why kindness is important and why we should be kind to everyone, even strangers.

Once our sign was complete, I asked Sloan where we should complete our act of kindness.  She said, "Nordstrom! Because there's always nice ladies in that bathroom."  I laughed because obviously she's my daughter, we love our Norstrom :).  And it also made me think of all the times Sloan played in the womens lounge while I nursed P (anyone else miss nursing?!).

So off to Nordstrom we went and Sloan was so giddy, it was so adorable.  She kept saying, "Mom!  People are gonna be so happy!  Soooooo happy!!"  Sloan helped me put tape on the back of our sign and I lifted her up so she could stick it on the mirror.  There was an older woman in the bathroom and after she read it, she bent down and looked at Sloan and said, "Why thank you, that's very nice of you."  Sloan got really shy and looked down, but couldn't hide her smile.



After we walked out of the bathroom, Sloan was looking at "all the fabulous dresses" and we overheard two women talking about our sign!  Sloan LIT UP.  It was the cutest and gave me the best feeling in the world.

Completing this random act of kindness was so easy and completely free.  I so highly encourage you to take on this challenge and discuss why kindness is not only important, but how incredibly easy it is to just be kind.

Now, I am passing on the torch to three of my real life friends!  Aimee, Liz, and Sara I challenge you to commit this same act of kindness (you can find more info here!).  Love you guys :).

Definitely check out Mama Said Tee's and their incredible mission, I promise you'll feel inspired.  You might even feel a little better about this very complex world that we live in.

Xo

Marisa





Thursday, October 13, 2016

Holiday Dresses ((for little ladies))


Raise your hand if you've been planning your families outfits for holiday photos??  I am usually on my A-game when it comes to family photo outfits, but I have totally drawn a blank for our holiday photos this year.  I started searching for dresses for the girls and I found so many good ones, now I can't make up my mind!  I thought I'd share a roundup of my finds so far!

White Tulle Dress (the dress Sloan is wearing)
Mauve Tulle Dress (the dress Phayre is wearing)
Navy Ruffle Dress

Now I just need to decide on outfits... which ones were your favorite??





Girls dresses c/o Pippa and Julie
Bows by Zozu Baby
Sloan's shoes by Mon Petite
Phayre's bracelets by Poppy Lane and Co.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

So, I'll be totally honest.  I don't have much to say (or much time to say much), but I really need to do a photo dump!!  We went to the pumpkin patch last weekend and Sloan hasn't stopped talking about it.  There were pony rides!  And P wore the teeniest tiniest baby rain boots.  It was just cuuuuuute.  It was such a perfect day and we all had so much fun.  So if no one is interested in this post, you're welcome Carrie (my mother in law) for this photo dump :).



















Monday, October 10, 2016

Fall Bucket List


I have completely embraced fall and I am LOVING everything that comes with it.  Cozy sweaters, leaves falling, pumpkin spice everythang, and as many pumpkins as I can convince Eric to let me buy.  Oh and Halloween!!  I LOVE Halloween and have been having so much fun working on the girls costumes!  The holiday season is upon us and I couldn't be more excited!

We started checking items off our fall bucket list this past weekend and I realized I never shared our family bucket list!  So here goes!

Hello Baby Brown Fall Bucket List

Visit a pumpkin patch (check!)
Decorate our front porch for the season (cheeeeeck)
Drink apple cider (does hard cider count?)
Bake a pie (I'm thinking a sour cream apple pie)
Walk through a corn maze
Carve pumpkins
Sit by the fire
Make soup
Play in the leaves
Drink a pumpkin spice latte (check, check, check)
Make Halloween costumes (working on them!)
Go trick-or-treating
Jump in puddles
Go hiking
Movie night in mom and dads bed
Give thanks

What is on your fall bucket list?  Did I miss anything??

Xo

Marisa

My sweet friend Lindsey took these photos of the girls and I!







Friday, October 7, 2016

Friday Favorites!


Oh heeeyyyyyyyy party people!!  It's FRIYAY!!  I am so ready for the weekend.  I can't wait to spend quality time as a family and hit up the pumpkin patch!  I'm going to be totally honest... I was in a bit of a funk this past week.  The weather sucked, Sloan skipped nap THREE days in a row, and Eric worked late every single night this week.  It was just a meh week, but I'm determined to have an awesome weekend!  So bring on all the cocktails and pumpkins and family cuddle sessions.

I love sharing Friday favorites and I have some good ones this week!  You all know how much I love shopping small.  I love connecting with handmade and small shop owners, there's something special about wearing or using an item and knowing that there's a hardworking mama or family behind it.  While I have several favorite shops, I thought I'd share a few that I'm majorly crushing on right now!

The girls have been living in their Plain Jane nightgowns.  Sloan calls them her "neverland" dresses she things they look like Wendy's nightgown in Peter Pan.  I bought all three of us the gray striped dresses and I'm officially obsessed with tripleting.  The olive is next on my list for triplet dresses and the girls definitely need the blush floral dresses as well!


One of new favorite basic shops is The Little Spoons.  While I love all of their pieces, the play dresses and rompers are to die for.  They are so soft and cozy, I want one in every color for each of the girls!  P wore her berry romper twice this week!


If you've been following me for a long time, you know about my love affair with Fancy Free Finery.  You guys, it kills me that I can't buy every color!!  They're so good!


Now one for the mama's!  You know I love a good graphic mama tee and this "Mama, Wifey, Coffee for Lifey" from Ford + Wyatt is my current fave!


You guys, it's flannel season again!!  I am so excited to take out my cozy flannel shirts (and maybe buy a few new ones, like this boyfriend flannel shirt!).  I also just bought this knit pullover and I definitely need it in a few more colors (I got it in the olive stripe).

If you missed me raving about this pumpkin candle and you haven't ordered one, your life is simply not complete.  This candle makes our entire downstairs smell like pumpkin and I can't get enough of it.  Plus it is lasting forever!

Are you following me on Pinterest (if not you should be ;))?  Sloan and I made the most incredible greek yogurt apple muffins (that were actually pretty healthy for a muffin) this week.  We'll definitely be making them again this fall!  Find the recipe under my "good eats" board!

We are about ALL things Halloween right now.  I can't wait to try these watercolor spider webs with Sloan.  I also want to try these Halloween pretzels!

image via letslassothemoon.com

I hope you babes have an awesome weekend!  Cheers (with coffee right now, but with wine later)!

Xo

Marisa

Thursday, October 6, 2016

The new Maxi Cosi Dana Stroller // Product Review


It's no secret that I love Maxi Cosi.  They are one of my favorite baby gear brands so I was pretty excited to try the new Maxi Cosi Dana stroller!  I've actually been searching for a (decently priced) lightweight stroller for mornings when Sloan is at preschool and it's just P and I.  I love running errands with P, it's so special getting one-on-one time with her and lets be honest... taking ONE kid out it so easy!!

The Dana stroller is super lightweight, it's only about 20 pounds.  It's so easy to get in and out of my car and is super compact when folded.  It can actually stand upright when folded which I thought was a really nice feature.  But the very best part about this stroller is that it is so incredibly plush.  The seat is so padded and plush, Phayre is so comfortable.  The Dana also has an oversized canopy and reclines almost completely flat.  It's perfect when I'm on the go and Phayre needs to take a snooze.  Oh and MAJOR bonus-the seat pad is removable and washable.  Perfect if your baby is a mum-mum addict like P.

When P was tiny (insert crying face emoji here, where did my tiny baby go?!), we used the Maxi Cosi Mico Max 30 infant carseat. I am so bummed we didn't have this stroller then because this stroller can also be used as a travel system.  Carseat adapters are included with the stroller, so you can easily click a Maxi Cosi infant carseat right onto the stroller.  Along with the carseat adapters, the stroller also comes with a cupholder.  I love that it comes included and you don't have to purchase it separately.

Like I said this stroller is very lightweight, which would make it perfect for travel.  You don't ever have to push your little around in a rickety umbrella stroller again.  The Dana is slim and lightweight, but really stable and easy to push.  This stroller is actually really comfortable for both of the girls (it can hold kiddos up to 50 pounds).  Last weekend we were walking around downtown and Sloan started to get a little tired.  I put P in the front pack and Sloan sat in the Dana stroller.  She immediately said, "Mama, I want to lay down.  This is sooooooo cozy."  Comfortable and happy (and quiet) kiddos are always a good thing in my book!  It also has a storage basket underneath, another great everyday and travel feature.

So obviously I love this stroller!  It is just so compact and easy and Phayre is so comfortable in it.  It's the perfect stroller for when I'm out and about with P or when I'm running a quick errand with both of the girls.  I also can't wait to travel with it!  You can learn lots more about the Dana stroller here, I promise you won't be disappointed if you're looking for a lightweight single stroller!

Let me know if you have any other questions, I would be happy to share my opinions or experience!

Xo

Marisa






I patterned with Maxi Cosi on this post, all opinions expressed are 100% my own!!