Graze: FREE Snack Box

As a new mommy, I now carry a diaper bag like it's my purse.  Keeping up with a diaper bag and a separate purse was just too much, so I found a way to carry what I needed in Harlow's bag.  I have a wallet and small makeup bag (with a compact, lipgloss, and a pen) that I throw in along with her diapers, wipes, burp cloths, and every other item she needs.

I'm also breastfeeding Harlow and find that I need to eat more often.  After I nurse Harlow, I get hungry.  Sometimes I even have to snack beforehand to have the energy to feed her!  On several occasions we've been away from home when I've needed to nurse her, and I haven't had anything handy to eat.  Anything that I can quickly pick up away from home tends to be very unhealthy.

In comes Graze!

I received a coupon for Graze in a pack of baby coupons that I received at some point of the pregnancy.  I redeemed it a few months after Harlow was born.  I had no idea what to expect.  I hadn't seen Graze in person.  I got online, ordered a box, and waited.  It came in a cute cardboard box with four snacks.  They were the perfect size to throw in the diaper bag!

You can customize what snacks you would like to try (hello, chocolate and fruit!) and what you would hate to get (ew to anything with cherries).

The snacks are small and perfect for tucking in the diaper bag for an emergency snack that's guilt-free and yummy.

If you'd like to give Graze a try, but aren't sure whether or not it's for you-- no fear-- you can try it for free!  Go to graze.com and enter code MARLAS2LB to get your 1st and 5th boxes for FREE!

Let the snacking begin!

Recipe: 3 Ingredient Bean Soup

A few years ago I did a bean soup that had mainly three ingredients plus a few more and could cook in the crockpot.  I did a little video showing how to make the soup on the stove, using those same three ingredients and just a little water. It's so fast and easy and cheap!

ModCloth Gift Guide

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Christmas is coming up, which means time to buy gifts!  One of my favorite online stores is ModCloth. I usually find at least one thing I want for Christmas (like the wallet I carry) and send the link to my husband so he has some gift ideas :).  My shower curtain is from ModCloth, and there's even a rug in Harlow's room that I bought from ModCloth.  I love how unique all the items are.

Here are three items that I think would be great gifts this Christmas (gifts I'd love to get!):

The Portlandia Cookbook

Colin and I love the show Portlandia.  My favorite Portlandia clip takes place in a restaurant (about a chicken named Colin), so it's hilarious that they've come out with a cookbook.

More in Store Jewelry Box

This jewelry box would be great for guys or gals.  After all, guys have watches, exercise bands, collar stays, and little things they need to organize just like us girls.  I like that this is an affordable gift that just about anyone could use.

Winterberry Tart Coat in Burgundy

This coat, unlike the previous two items, would be a total splurge.  It's a reasonable price for a coat, but it's a pricier gift item for someone on a tight budget like me (but it is beautiful!).  Who cares what you're wearing underneath when you have this coat on?!  This is a total statement piece that I think will be in style for years and years to come.

One thing I really like about ModCloth is their sale section-- that's usually where I find my quirky buys!

What items do you think would make great gifts?

Birth Announcement!

Harlow was a little skeleton for Halloween :)

Our little girl is here!  Harlow Jude made her grand entrance into the world on October 21.  I went into labor on the night of her due date (October 20), and after laboring for about 17 hours and then having an emergency c-section, Colin and I finally got to meet our baby!

We are overjoyed, in love, and a little sleep deprived :).  We think she's the most beautiful person we've ever seen, and we're just so happy to be her parents.

Here are a few photos I snapped of her when she was around 10 days old.  

[You may notice a bruise on Harlow's hand.  She had some breathing issues when she was born and had to stay in the hospital nursery a few extra days.  The bruise is from an IV.  I didn't photoshop the bruise, because I know that one day she'll want to know the story of how she came into the world, and that little bruise is part of the story.]

Cocoon and headband from Yarn Over Little Rock 

Nursery Tour

Here is a tour of Harlow's nursery!  The room itself is small with two walls of windows, so we tried to keep the design simple and space friendly.  The walls are light grey with white trim to keep things light and bright.

Chair & Ottoman: It's from a scratch and dent furniture store.  We got it for a great deal.  It doesn't photograph very well, because it's corduroy and catches the light kind of weird.  They have this exact same set at Babies R Us, but we paid way less.  Be open to looking for furniture in unusual places!

Side Table: Target

Lace Mobile: Tutorial

Moon Nightlight: Made by my dad when I was little

Blanket, Elephant, Succulent: Gifts

Crib: Walmart

Rug: Zulily (no longer available, but they always have fun rugs)

Harlow banner: gift

Bow Holder/Pet Portrait: Tutorial

Cloud Mobile: Tutorial

Name Canvas: I painted two canvases and then glued the smaller canvas onto the larger canvas.

Rug: Modcloth

Cube Shelf: Walmart

Baby clothes are just too cute to cover up, so we left the closet open.  I sewed a curtain to hang in the back for a pop of color.  The fabric subtlety peeks out from behind the clothes and the cube shelf.  We hung two clothes rods with larger sizes in the back, rather than storing the clothes she's not wearing yet.  That helps me keep up with what she has so I don't buy more than she needs.

Pillows: Made by my mom with fabric from Hancock Fabrics

Quilt: Made by me with a tutorial coming soon

Sheets: Target

Mesh Bumper: Target

Boppy Newborn Lounger: Target

***I know the baby isn't supposed to sleep with pillows or anything in the crib, so please don't worry about that.  It's just for decor while she's not in the crib. :)

Changing Table: Hand-me-down from cousin

Changing Pad Cover: Target

Cardboard Letters: Gift from sister-in-law Loren who got them at Hobby Lobby and dressed them up

Fabric Hoops: I picked out fun fabric from Hancock Fabrics and Hobby Lobby and put them in embroidery hoops.  It's super easy, but if you absolutely need a tutorial, I'm sure there's one on Pinterest.

Cacti in Clay Pots: I used a gold Sharpie to draw dots around the top of the pots for a little sparkle.

Vintage Dress: This was mine from 1985.

Canvas: Gift from my sister-in-law Shannon

I love coming into her room and just standing and looking at everything.  I know it won't always stay this organized and clean, but I hope it gives Harlow the same calming feeling that it gives me when I'm in the room.