strolling with oxo tot

life is about to get crazy, you guys! we are in this phase of transition when it comes to toddler-dom.. when Baker was born the twins were a bit older (at 2 years and 8 months) and were definitely ready to be out of the stroller and walking (for the most part) on their own when we went somewhere.  the giant stroller we had for the twins was awesome and met all our needs up until they were about 2-ish years old, but it was heavy and definitely not compact at all. I couldn't get it into the back end of the car without a little oomph or Jordan just taking care of it all together. after Baker was born I stopped toting a stroller all together and just practiced baby wearing any time we went anywhere.  Baker isn't ready for that (like, no where near ready..) and I'll be a postpartum mess and giant puddle of sweat if I am having to chase Baker around while trying to manage a newborn AND the big girls.  

I am very lucky when it comes to the obedience of Parker and Jolie- they are, of course, a couple of four year olds and can (and do!) have their moments of breakdown and misbehaving, but they are really well behaved when we go out.  Baker, on the other hand, needs a strap and a variety of snacks to keep her busy:)

I need ease and convenience and to be able to load and unload without a lot of effort.  I also need it to be comfortable- I have tall babies and in our previous toddler stroller the girls, and now Baker, don't fit well in the seat with the canopy folded out.  which is why I am SO excited about our newest baby/toddler product addition- the OXOtot Cubby Stroller!

the Cubby Stroller is complete with a large storage basket, large canopy, deep recline (good for babies of 6 months of age or up to 50 pounds), flip-flop-friendly brake- which makes my life SO easy, and lots of storage! the pockets on the back of this thing hold everything I need (without my diaper bag).

the wheels are large and can handle a lot of terrain.. we wont be using this stroller for much more than walks around the neighborhood or a stroll through the mall, but I appreciate its durability. 

not to mention..this bad boy weighs just about twenty pounds and has the feature of a one-handed fold when I'm ready to put it away.

I've always known OXOtot for their amazing sippy and snack cups as well as their feeding bundles and high chair, but the opportunity to welcome another great product into our toddler world has been more than appreciated! 

a little more about the brand::

"OXO's mission is to design consumer products that make everyday living easier. 

Throughout our history, the idea of designing baby and toddler products was brought up time and again. And time and again we focused on solving pet peeves for the place we knew best: the kitchen. But when 25 babies were born to our then-50 employees over the course of five years, we discovered firsthand the challenges and pet peeves parents face and knew we could help solve them.

 Our mission is to make every day with your tot a little easier, in every room of the house and beyond, so you can focus on the fun side of being a parent." 

handy stroller hook //  on the go wipes dispenser  // tot transitions soft spout sippy cup

my favorite features of this stroller:

::one handed open and close (what parent has both hands, anyway??  genius!)

::the 5-point harness, similar to that of a carseat

::the peek-a-boo pocket for my phone and keys, etc.. I always end up using the cup holders for those kind of accessories and having a special place for them is definitely ideal

::the GIANT undercarriage + large pockets for all the other baby/toddler things! 

oxo tot floppy snack cup

for family outings Baker will 100% still be in the stroller and will most likely be manned by her daddy while I take responsibility of baby wearing or toting Brady in our newborn/infant stroller.

you guys- I just have to say it again.. its about to get crazy!  

as always, thank you to Brittany for her talent in catching my crazy crew in the best light, and to OXO tot for sponsoring this post.

Baker // dress (similar)

chubby knot clips // loved by sophia claire

moccasins // freshly picked

Big Girls // dress (similar)

sandals //  salt water sandals

Amber // romper (similar)

tank // gap

booties //  sam edelman

earrings // kendra scott 

preparing for baby with evenflo

time if flying. 

I feel like it was just weeks ago that I was taking pregnancy test after pregnancy test (albeit, sometimes twice a day during that first trimester) in complete disbelief that I was pregnant.

and now here we are with all these baby boy things filling our front room, coming together as an almost finished nursery in preparation for his arrival in just a handful of short weeks. with every doctor's visit and repeat sonogram I'm reminded with how quickly he's growing and what little time is left before I actually get to hold a newborn.

the best snuggles and squeaks and baby smells of his head.

early in my pregnancy, after finding our we were indeed being blessed with a baby boy, we talked about how we should probably invest in some baby gear that is generally directed to being more masculine.. a car seat with a pink canopy, floral crib sheets, and the bright purple seats of a stroller weren't going to fly for this Massey babe.  so many things have changed since welcoming the girls 4 years ago- the styles and plethora of trendy baby items available are amazing and nearly overwhelming. thankfully there are brands that remain constant and familiar to this 4th time mom over here.  I was so excited for the opportunity to fill our newborn stroller needs with the Pivot Travel System from Evenflo.

my absolute favorite feature?  well, that full coverage canopy option basically sold me at first sight.

other strollers I have used with my newborns go from the common car seat option to toddler seat, which leaves me with that weird middle space when they are too big for the infant cars seat but not big enough for the toddler feature just yet.  having the ability to be able to take my baby on a walk and allow him to snooze on his back while doing so seems like a nice option to have! 

my plans for post-baby include getting back into the swing of bootcamp again and they happened to get a new group started in my neighborhood!  I can just walk him right up the street in his new stroller and let him sleep while I get in a good 60 minutes.

..well.  that's the plan, anyway.

Brady might be laughing his way out of the womb.

another amazing benefit is the giant storage basket in the undercarriage of the stroller.  not only to fit the diaper bag, but also to fit the millions of other toddler trinkets and toys and purses- AND snacks and sippy cups that the twins and Baker cannot live without while we run errands.  I swear my back end looks like toys r us exploded for all the things they load into the car and fail to get them out when we return home. 

another amazing detail about the Pivot Modular Stroller Travel System by Evenflo is that it includes the Evenflo SafeMax™ Infant Car Seat.  checked that baby "to-do" off my list, too!  we have plans to borrow a carseat from Jordan's sister that she recently used with my nephew, but we also have two cars + grandparents that might take him, so having the opportunity to be able to use more than one carseat is beneficial!  I plan to use this seat in my car and the other for Jordan and his mom.

while I don't have previous experience with these car seats I was pleased after doing some research about the brand and overall safety of them.  Evenflo has designed and tested their seats for structural integrity at energy levels 2x the federal crash test standard and tested to simulate a side impact event and rollover event. the SafeMax™ Infant Car Seat also features an Anti-Rebound Bar that limits the amount of rebound movement experienced in the event of a frontal-impact.

the car seat snap in is also a feature of this stroller, which I'll appreciate trying to get in and out of Target with a sleeping babe.

..hey belly.

alright Mr. Brady. we've got you covered in the cruise department:)

as always, thank you to Brittany for her photo snapping talent, and to Evenflo for sponsoring this post.

you can find my mama bear tee HERE // my yoga pants HERE // sneakers HERE

diaper bag HERE + car seat cover HERE

swaddle blanket HERE + personalized leather paci clip HERE

healthy snacks + fit pregnancy | albion fit

I've gotten plenty of questions about staying fit during this pregnancy and to be honest it was something I was most excited about when I started my pregnancy journey.. before I was even pregnant.  I have never been super active during any of the pregnancies (nothing more than just walking and low impact stuff) and after doing bootcamp for several months prior to getting pregnant,  I had a great base to keep going- and I plan to until my body just cant do it any more. my belly is already feeling really heavy and I cant lay or sit certain ways, but I just have to listen to my body and do what I can.

the biggest component to my exercise routine is FOOD. food is SO not fun for me right now, and I generally love food- but now more than ever I need to make sure I am fueling my body with the nutrients it needs both pre-workout and recovery.  early in my pregnancy I was getting really lightheaded any time I tried to run or do the normal workout movements and while this is common for me in my first trimester regardless of working out or not, it was definitely attributed to my food intake on how easily I could recover and keep up with my workout. 

 many people start their early morning workout food-free- and I was totally one of them!  this is a problem because when you sleep at night your body burns through your dinner and night-time snack.  by morning your body needs nutrition to jumpstart metabolism, replace some of the carbohydrate stores used up over night and give your body energy for a workout.  there is myth that you burn all fat, like the fat off the back of your leg, if you workout on an empty stomach.  False.  you burn thought stored carbohydrate in your muscles, a little fat from inside your muscle and likely protein, which is never good.  the idea is to eat a little something carbohydrate rich before a workout.  it will help you feel better and have more energy.  for cardio based workouts an hour or less something like a whole grain granola bar, banana, some dry cereal or even part of a protein bar will work with water.  for me, bootcamp lasts about an hour or a little longer- so if you are working out for longer than an hour or going to be doing something more intense like lifting weights, cross fit or boot camp, I would recommend a little protein in addition to the carbohydrate.

peanut butter + banana 
granola bar
180-200 calorie protein bar
  
if not, your blood sugar can drop leaving you feeling weak, dizzy and light-headed.
all those things I am already feeling while pregnant and now I want to make my body move and be active on top of that!?  if you workout in the afternoon, it is a little easier because you have time to let food digest.  ideally have some whole grain carbs, some protein and veggies at lunch.  then mid-afternoon, an hour or so before your workout, sit for a carbohydrate-protein snack such as:

​​whole grain crackers + string cheese

apple/banana + peanut butter

greek yogurt with whole grain cereal or fruit

hummus + whole grain pita chips

1/2 of a turkey + 2% cheese sandwich on whole grain bread

180-200 calorie protein bar

be sure to pair your pre-workout snack wth 12-16 oz water.  

if you take a longer time to digest things, then maybe eat your snack 1.5 hours before the workout.

mornings are best for me to workout- getting it out of the way first thing.. because if I don't I will have every reason to all myself out of it the rest of the day.

another big thing for me is finding maternity style and comfortable workout clothing to wear.  the weather is changing, so I've been wearing long pants and sweatshirts in the morning at 5am when its still in the low 50's.  I was excited when I got the opportunity to try albion fit on for size. I have seen them all over instagram on my favorite feeds.. I even had someone recognize the logo on my pants while out at bootcamp recently.  there is something to say about that! NOT to mention, they are the most comfortable joggers I think I have ever owned.  does anyone know what I'm talking about with certain styles of jogger pants that just cut into your side?  they fit well everywhere else, but the waist makes you want to suck in the entire time you are wearing them!  

not these.  

very comfortable + adjustable waistband- I sized up in anticipation for growing with this pregnancy and probably didn't have to.  they are 100% true to size. while they are a splurge on lounge clothes, I know- I have spent $50+ on joggers from my favorite online boutiques and those don't even come close to albion fit >> totally my personal opinion from personal experience:)

my favorite post workout breakfast:

greek yogurt (protein) + berries (carbohydrate) + granola (carbohydrate and a little fat)

its Jolie's favorite, too.

not Parker (clearly).  the pickiest eater on the planet.

over greek yogurt and fruit.  silly girl!

OH.. and they have their own line for the kids!  the big girls thought it to be SO fun that we were matching.

I'm so excited for the opportunity to offer one lucky winner $50 shop credit towards anything they wish from albion fit!  I know I'm not the only mama out there that could use $50 to kick their workout (or lounge) gear into shape- not to mention that cooler weather wardrobe for themselves and their babe(s)!  even better, albion fit is offering a generous discount of 15% off your entire purchase using the code: masseya

I'll totally be using my own discount code to get a couple of these amazing sports bras + probably this hoodie. 
probably.

GO!  fall is here!! but don't forget to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 ..and I'll end with Parker puling my hair.  

nut job.

as always, thank you to Brittany for her talent in catching my crazy crew in the best light, and of course to albion fit for sponsoring this post.

mama
tank

cardigan

joggers c/o

toesox c/o

mug c/o

littles

ponchos c/o

mini joggers c/o

snack cups c/o

toddler tailgating + little mango | giveaway

I've said it before and I'll say it again.. we LOVE small shops.  working with and shopping small has been rewarding in more ways than just the CUTTE clothes.. watching these businesses grow from the ground up through support of others like me and you- not to mention being able to find basically anything I'm looking for when it comes to trendy clothes for my girls! 

..well and now a boy (eeeeKK!)

toddler tailgatiing.. because its still SO HOT and bahama bucks dreamcicle + cotton candy sno cones just sounded right for the occasion. 

at Little Mango, we love all things kids. after having our son Cruz in 2011, we searched for unique and diverse children’s apparel and accessories. following many late nights spent online, we’ve since discovered many new brands and small, family run shops with trendy products that simply cannot be found on every block. we were hooked. four years later and with the arrival of our second son, Leo, we have put together a collection of our favorites and Little Mango is our little space to share them with you.

you won’t find any products at Little Mango that we wouldn’t use ourselves (or gift to the fabulous little ladies in our lives). we love discovering new brands and sharing them with everyone we know. Whether you are looking for something for your own littles or you want to find the perfect gift, Little Mango is your spot.

one of our goals for Little Mango Children's Boutique is to provide an unparalleled shopping experience for our customers. We work hard to provide great service and to help you in any way we can to find the coolest gear for you and your kiddo.  we also know you are busy and sometimes you may not have time to scour a website for the perfect look for your child for a special event or to find a gift for a birthday or baby shower. 

that's where we come in. 

send us an email (hello@shoplittlemango.com) and let us know what you are looking for - we will put together some options and send them back to you and hopefully help find exactly what you wanted! we can be even better if you send us details, preferred sizes and budget!

like we said, we are here for YOU. 

drama mama right here.  I busted her out of the crib for these pictures and I don't think she was completely awake yet, but HOW SWEET does she look anyway?! 

me and Baker will have matching bellies before we know it.. and if only mine would look as cute as hers!

 every single bit of these outfits can be found over at little mango, and not to mention the slew of baby BOY things I cannot wait to get my hands on. OMG I have so much shopping to do!! 

baby boy denim + beanies + cardigans + graphic tees

I'll take this entire outfit.

..can I enter my own giveaway?

meh, that might be frowned upon, BUT, what I can do it use the amazing discount code little mango has offered up exclusively to my readers!

  facebook  web  instagram

OMG I just cant with these growing girls!

I'm so excited for the opportunity to offer one lucky winner $50 shop credit towards anything they wish from little mango!  I know I'm not the only mama out there that could use $50 to kick off a fresh start to the school year and cooler weather wardrobe for their babe(s)!  even better, little mango is offering 20% your entire purchase using the code PBJBABES
GO!  fall is here!! but don't forget to enter the giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
good luck!

as always, thank you to Brittany for her talent in catching my crazy crew in the best light, and to little mango for sponsoring this post.

twins::

leopard headband

nerd glasses

prom queen tee

mermaid tee

faux leather leggings

sandals

baker::

denim pearl snap shirt

pocket romper

glamour leggings

moccasins

purllamb | a hoodie company + giveaway

who is ready for some football?!  preseason is over and we officially have football on the television every sunday for the day's entirety. AND this will basically be my sunday attire.  comfy leggings, a flowy cardigan and my sunday checklist tee. I for one love love looooove the cool weather.  I would much rather it be cold so I can layer layer layerrrr. I basically wear a sweatshirt and pants through the entire Texas summer (indoors), so being able to be that comfortable outside of the house is optimal for me:)

as far as my babies go, I want them to find the same comfort!  I discovered purllamb right before Baker was born and it was everything I had not to buy out the adorableness of her shop! Baker wore her knotted gowns (on sale!) from newborn to 6 months and then it was onto sweats all through her first fall and winter season.  her little diaper bum in those skinny sweats were just to DIE for.  not to mention, baby ears on baby hoods.. well, I think thats just about the best idea ever.

side note- I cannot get enough of her little barefoot in this picture. 

heart eyes!!  she loves to hold hands while she walks and the feeling of my heart shooting to my throat when she reaches up for my hand will never get old.

 I MEAN,  LOOK at this tiny BAKER!!

those tiny toes again (omg.omg.omg.)

give me another one.  asap.

..because now she's big.  and sassy. and runs our house like she owns the place.

she's wearing these purllamb shorties with santa leggings. 

SANTA LEGGINGS. 

basically among my top 10 favorite pictures of Baker. ever.

where has the time gone?!

reel me back in.  

REEL me back.

she still looks pretty freakin' cute and super comfy in these hoodies + sweats.  perfect for football sundays, if I do say so myself.  

I wonder if I could get a hoodie in my size.  

I need to get on that..

runaway animal baby!

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I'm so excited for the opportunity to offer one lucky winner $50 shop credit towards anything they wish from purllamb!  I know I'm not the only mama out there that could use $50 to kick off a fresh start to a cool weather wardrobe for their babe(s)!  even better, purllamb offers free shipping with a $49 purchase! fall is here!!  
well.  almost. humor me, Texas.  humor me.
good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway as always, thank you to Brittany for her talent in catching my crazy crew in the best light, and to purllamb for sponsoring this post.

organic crazy dots hoodie c/o purllamb
felt girly bow // a little lady shop

sunday checklist tee c/o oliver + otis

long sweater vest / gap

leggings // target

sneakers // nordstrom (similar)

september first! with childhoods

its september 1st!  DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?  okay.  so I wont go all PSL psycho on you, but who else is excited for fall?!  I am so excited to be partnering with childhoods clothing to share their newest line released today! I've been fangirl'ing childhoods clothing for years and this season they branched out from their traditional style and have created comfort and style in one sweet little package.  I mean, how darling are those peplum sweatshirts and the tie back detailing of Baker's sweatshirt dress.  of course they still have the skinny sweats and bloomers in brand new patterns and gorgeous fall colors.. Baker's thighs in childhoods bloomers are just amazing.

AND- how about these tank rompers? I about died when they shared a sneak peek on their instagram earlier this week. 

does this stuff make you so excited for cooler weather or what?!

baker

bow c/o guguberry

dress c/o childhoods clothing

boots // gap (similar)

twins
oversized school girl bow // free babes 

peplum sweatshirts c/o childhoods clothing

leggings // target

boots // old navy