Leslie Loves...{Unique Gift Ideas}

Hi friends! I got a little side-tracked {Thanksgiving, sickness, work...blah, blah, blah}, so this took a little longer than I expected...but I am back with another gift guide!  

We all have that one person {or five} for whom it is SO.HARD to find the perfect gift! Maybe it's because he {yes, he!} buys what he wants/needs when he wants/needs it...even if it is the week before Christmas!  Or maybe it's because she seems to already have everything you can think to gift her. Well, I've compiled a few ideas that will hopefully help you with that hard-to-shop for person on your list.  Please drop me a comment of unique gift ideas you've given or that you would love to receive! Any help in this category is much-appreciated...AM.I.RIGHT?!!?

Digital Photo Frame: We've given this gift to grandparents on both sides of our family.  It is perfect because it is literally no work for them {after you help them connect the frame to WiFi}...and it is very minimal work for you {and other family members/friends who want to share photos}. You can send pics directly from your phone to the frame from the Nixplay mobile app or directly via email.

Facial Steamer: I know the primary purpose of these is to hydrate skin and clear pores...but I was desperately wishing I had one the other day when my head was throbbing from congestion and the hot shower steam wasn't doing the job! Anyway, I've heard amazing things about these from a beauty/skincare perspective from a couple of friends...but I'm pretty sure it would also be nice to have for allergy/congestion season! Bonus: this one also works as a humidifier. 

Custom Door Mat: A pretty and functional doormat, available in a variety of designs and several different sizes.  We have one of these mats {24 x 36}, and I love it!

Portable Photo Printer: We received {an older version of} this printer as a gift a few years ago, and it has been so awesome to have a way to quickly print high-quality pics at home.  Throw in some extra ink and photo paper if your budget allows.

Indoor Garden: Give the gift that keeps on giving!  Anyone can grow fresh herbs and vegetables with this self-watering indoor garden. Available in a 3-pod kit or 9-pod kit.

Phone Charger and Sanitizer: Simultaneously charge your phone while sanitizing it...nothing screams #PerfectGiftFor2020 more than this! Plus, it works on more than phones! Although it was designed with smartphones in mind, it will sanitize anything that fits inside.  If your gift recipient has a larger phone or a thick case, go for the PhoneSoap Pro, which is larger and has twice the bulbs as the PhoneSoap3. 

Massage Gun: these are all the rage this year, and this brand is the best of the best! I am kicking myself because somehow Ryan talked me into ordering him one of these in late October...why didn't I save this for a Christmas gift?!!? I'm not sure the difference in the mini versus the "big dog," but you can check out the full-size version here.

Family Tree: Display your family tree on a literal tree! Love this sentimental gift idea.

Scotch-Infused Toothpicks: A fun gift for any bourbon lover! A unique little luxury with amazing reviews! 

Wine Chiller: Keep wine chilled for hours...in a very pretty container! 

Personalized Blanket: This is another one we've gifted to multiple grandparents, so I can personally attest to the great quality and cozy softness of these blankets. 

If you haven't seen the Stocking Stuffer gift guides, you can find them here: for her, for him, for kids.

How much Christmas shopping do you have left?

Leslie Loves...{Stocking Stuffers for Kids}

Happy Thursday, Friends! I feel like I'm really on a roll here...Post #3 of the Christmas Gift Guide series. 

I pretty much stuck with my knowledge base on this one. I tried to keep it gender neutral, but this list is probably ideal for kids aged 3-8ish. Of course there are things on the list that younger and older kids would love and/or get use out of...but I'll admit that the list as a whole is sort of designed around the life phase I am living {because let's face it, it's our kids' world and we're just living in it!}. I hope a few of these ideas will make your shopping a little easier!

Crayola Bath Bombs: Our boys typically prefer showers...and they like to stay in there FOR-EV-ER. Needless to say, baths are a quicker option...excluding the time it takes to battle/convince them to take a bath rather than a shower. That is when these little bath bombs save the day! Both boys will happily take a bath if I offer up a bath bomb. {It's not bribing, just negotiation!}

Body Wash/Shampoo/Conditioner: If your child has any type of skin sensitivity, this is your solution! I am devastated because they are discontinuing this line of kids bath products, so STOCK.UP.NOW {at a discounted price!}. If you don't have a need for all three products, you can buy them individually {we use the shampoo and body wash interchangeably}: Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner.

Kids Hydro Flask and Inchbug Labels: I know these are expensive for a kid's water bottle, but the way they hold up to the wear and tear of daily toddler use makes them worth every penny! Both of our boys have these for school, and their water is still cold at the end of the day. My favorite part: they're dishwasher safe! The Inchbug Labels are the best way I've found to make sure these expensive water bottles make it home! With no chance the label will come off like stickers or rub off like markers, it minimizes the possibility of the water bottle getting lost. I rarely remove the labels, just leave them on when running the Hydro Flask through the dishwasher.

Tetris Puzzle: Challenging fun for a wide age range of kids {and adults too}.

Paint by Sticker Book: Keep them busy with this fun, educational art activity book.

Personalized Flashlight: All kids love flashlights...make it even cooler by adding their name! 

Runaway Alarm Clock: The perfect gift for your hard-to-wake kid! Available in several colors.

Socks {Boys} {Girls}: There's no better time than Christmas to re-stock the essentials. Might as well throw some underwear {boys} {girls} in there too!

Battery-Powered Toothbrush and Flavored Floss: make brushing their teeth fun!

Card Games: So many options for family game nights, including Uno, Go Fish, Memory, Guess Who, Old Maid.

Table Topics for Kids: This is a great way to get your kids talking...and they LOVE having the power of picking a card to get the conversation started. This kids set comes with 40 questions. If you're looking for additional questions designed to get your kids to participate in the conversation, try Table Topics for Families, which comes with 135 questions.

Sunglasses: These sunglasses look like the cool ones the grownups wear...and they even come with a cloth cleaning case!  The frames are flexible {ear pieces can literally be bent all the way out} and the lenses are scratch-proof. They come in so many colors and four different sizes. We've had great success with these sunglasses: Huston has not broken his, and it took Sterling almost a full year to break his {that is saying a lot!!!}.

Under the Sea Craft/Sewing Kit: This is probably better suited for slightly older kids {I'd trust Huston (5) with the beginners sewing needles; Sterling (almost 3)...not so much!}. What a fun activity to simultaneously encourage problem-solving and creativity! Other sets available: Farm Animals, Dinosaurs, Jungle Animals.

Don't forget to check out the other Gift Guides I've posted: Stocking Stuffers for Her and Stocking Stuffers for Him.  

What other Gift Guides would you like to see?

Leslie Loves...{Stocking Stuffers for Him}

Looky, Looky...I'm back with another post, so I can officially call this a "series" of holiday gift guides, right?!!?

Am I the only person who thinks that guys are incredibly hard to buy for? Could it possibly be because they tend to buy what they want/need whenever they want/need it? And does it seem like they specifically do this right around the time you want to buy them a gift? 

Well, I've brainstormed, scoured the internet and conducted a few surveys {very official, let me tell you!} to try to make shopping for the men in your life a little easier/less anxiety-inducing than in years past! Let's get right to it...

Stance No-Show Socks: A good pair of no-show socks is hard to find...and these are good! They don't slip down off your heels and scrunch up under your foot in your shoe. 

Dad and Kid Socks: These are really great dress socks in general...but you have no idea how much the little guy will LOVE matching Daddy! It's priceless!

2UNDR Boxer Briefs: It blows my mind how expensive men's underwear is, but my normally fiscally conservative husband {i.e. penny pincher} assures me that quality underwear is well worth the investment. This brand is one of his favorites. 

Instant Cocktail Cubes: Just drop a single cube into a shot of vodka/splash of water to make a quick Old-Fashioned, Manhattan or Moscow Mule.  If he prefers a lighter cocktail, try this trio to make a Mojito, Cosmo or Mint Julep.

Shower Beer Holder: A little silly, a lotta fun! And if I'm going to enjoy a glass of wine or sip on some bubbly in the bath, then he should be able to have a cold beer in the shower.

Engraved Apple Watch Band: You can't beat the look of a leather band on an Apple Watch. I love that the engraved initials and/or the message on the inside make this such a personalized gift. Available in black, brown and tan.

New Phone, Who Dis? A hilarious adult party game. 

Wireless Meat Thermometer: The perfect gift for the grilling master! This is a newer model of the one that Ryan uses, and the only complaint he's ever had with his thermometer is that he wishes he could monitor it on his phone/app. This updated version does just that...and also comes with two additional probes.  If you don't care about the phone/app availability and only need two probes, I can attest {via the master chef in our home} that this model works incredibly well.

Peeps Glasses Cleaner: This is the perfect tool to clean your sunglasses {or regular glasses} without scratching the lenses. It would be great to leave in a vehicle...where you always seem to notice how dirty your sunglasses are but never have the right cloth to clean them!

  

Gaiter Face Mask: This is the type of mask that Ryan prefers to wear. He joked this summer that it was actually a benefit to get to wear it because it protected his neck and face from the sun...and now that winter is rolling around, these gaiter masks will keep him warm! These come in a variety of colors. We buy them in packs of six {because ain't nobody got time to be doin' laundry every night!}.

Pocket Hand Sanitizer: This is one of the very few sanitizers I've found that doesn't leave your hands sticky and smelling like alcohol. Plus, it contains aloe vera so it isn't as drying as other sanitizers. The best thing about this line is that it fits perfectly in a pocket and contains 500+ sprays.

Portable Charger: There seem to be at least a million portable chargers out there, so I took some time to do a little research...and every resource kept pointing back to this one. If you're looking for something a little more compact and don't need the rapid recharge speed, this model may be a better {and cheaper!} option.

No-Fog Shower Mirror: Ryan has had this exact mirror for 4.5 years now {the date I bought it popped up when I found it on Amazon}, and it is still going strong.  That says a lot given that two little boys have had their little fingers all over it and dropped it at least 2,476 times.

Poo-Pourri: I don't think there is a man in this world who doesn't have a need for this!

Have you seen the "Leslie Loves...{Stocking Stuffers for Her} post?

Leslie Loves...{Stocking Stuffers for Her}

Hello, Hello! I'm back with another round of "Leslie Loves..." This is the first of a series {hopefully I'll get them done!} of holiday gift guides. I love stocking stuffers...probably to a fault given that the stockings are usually overflowing at our house on Christmas morning.  It's just so fun to find little things that will actually fit in the stockings...until there are too many little things to actually fit in the stockings. Ha. 

Anyway, enough chit chat...let's get down to business! I present to you Post #1 of the 2020 Leslie Loves Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers for Her...

Initial Necklace: A great necklace for every day wear; perfect for layering. If you don't love the personalized initial on the pendant, this necklace is a great alternative.

Face Masks: These are my favorite of all the face masks I have. They are breathable {as breathable as a face mask can be} and comfortable {relative}. Added bonus: they are cute and neutral, so they are like an accessory to your outfit. Kinda. Maybe. Ok, not really...but they are cute in terms of face masks.

No-Crease Hair Ties: Because hair creases are ugly.  Plus, these don't pull or break my hair...and I am convinced they even help my thin hair look a little thicker when it's up in a top knot.

Tyler Diva Sachets: You're probably aware of my obsession with the Diva laundry detergent, so it's no surprise that I love these little Diva sachets. Toss them in the dryer like a dryer sheet to freshen up your laundry and leave it smelling amazing! 

Corkscrew and Bottle Opener Set: This set is so pretty and fun; perfect to display on a bar cart!

Satin Pillowcase: This just might be the next best thing to dry shampoo for your hair! Not going to lie, I had my doubts about all the hype surrounding satin/silk pillowcases...but I received one of these for my birthday, and it really does make a difference. I have significantly less "bed head" after sleeping on my satin pillowcase. These pillowcases also claim to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve your skin's hydration. I can't say I've noticed a huge change in my skin {in the month and a half I've been using my pillowcase}, but I'll never turn down something that may slow the aging process!

Stress Relief Rollerball: I don't know much about essential oils, but I can personally verify that Aveda aromatherapy products work! I first used the Aveda Blue Oil rollerball when I was pregnant with Huston and couldn't take anything for my migraines. It was the only thing that helped reduce the pain. For stress relief, I apply this to the temples of my head, the back of my neck and the insides of my wrists. Maybe it's all in my head, but either way, it reduces my stress/anxiety {and smells so fresh and clean}, so I call it a win!

Bath Bombs: Baths are my escape, my "me time," the sanity-saving moments after a long and/or hard day. With all that said, I take my bath products seriously...and these bath bombs are legit!

Cozy Socks: Who wouldn't love a cute pair of cozy socks to lounge in on a cold winter day...especially necessary in the Work From Home era we're living in!

Tweezer Set: I just love this pretty set of tweezers! Plus, I feel like I'm constantly rummaging through my {disastrous} drawer to find my misplaced tweezers when I need them, so maybe this nice little case would make them easier to find???

MakeUp Eraser: I was hesitant to believe that this incredibly soft, pretty pink cloth could remove all of my makeup {including waterproof mascara} by just adding water...but it works! Gently wiping this wet cloth over your entire face seriously removes every trace of makeup. And it's reusable...just throw it in the washing machine and it comes out looking brand new!

Hair Turban: This hair towel/turban absorbs water to dry your hair faster and reduce frizz and static. It's easy to wrap your hair in and so lightweight that you might forget it's on your head.

Ice Roller for Face: A fabulous tool for self-care! It reduces puffiness and redness while soothing your skin. It promotes blood flow/circulation to make skin look more vibrant.  Added perk: it can be used for to the pain of a tension headache or migraine. 

USB Lighter: This.Is.Genius! It recharges just like your cell phone. 

Wick Trimmer: I didn't realize how important it is to trim the wicks of candles...but it can extend the life of a high quality candle by up to two hours because it ensures that it evenly burns.

Anecdote Candle: A true tribute to the craziest year in the history of...ever! "Smells like WFH and WTF." This just might be the perfect way to close out 2020...by burning it down!

What do you want in your stocking?

Leslie Loves...{Sephora Beauty Insider Sale Edition}

Well hello there...it's been awhile! Years, actually!  Turns out, being mom to two tiny tyrants little boys tends to interfere with time available to blog. But what can I say...I wouldn't trade it for the world. Being their mom is the absolute best role God has allowed me to fill.  I will continue to invest every minute of my time in my family...but I'm also going to try to throw a blog post in here and there because I've missed this!

I thought the best way to jump back in would be to revive the good 'ole "Leslie Loves..." series. I just spent entirely too much money made a solid investment in makeup and beauty products this past weekend thanks to the fall Sephora Beauty Insider sale, so I thought I'd share with you the products I use and love. Let's just jump right in...

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation: I know this foundation is pricey, but it is THE.BEST I've found. It goes on so smooth {I use a BeautyBlender to apply it} and feels weightless on your face while providing medium to full coverage.  For reference, I wear color 6.5.

NARS Blush: I've used this blush for as long as I can remember. It's buildable, so you can make it as natural or as dramatic as the occasion calls for. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: This is the perfect brow pencil to fill and enhance brows and leave them looking natural...and it is EASY.TO.USE {which is critical for me!}. I use the color taupe.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Contour Duo: If you are like me and have no clue how to contour but still want to look like you have defined cheekbones, this is the product for you! 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: The very best I've found to cover the dark circles under my eyes...and it doesn't crease throughout the day! I use Cannelle under my eyes and Honey to cover blemishes.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: I've been using this mascara as long as I've been using the NARS blush. I've tried others and just keep going back to this. It lengthens and adds volume to my lashes...and best of all, it doesn't clump!

Smashbox Halo Setting Powder: The best setting powder for a perfect finish that will last all day. I've been known to skip the foundation on occasion and just use this to even out my complexion.  I use Light/Medium in the summer and Light/Neutral in the winter.

Michael Kors Perfume: This is my old faithful, signature scent.  It is a fresh and clean scent; the perfect mix of warm and cool. It is long-lasting, as I still get compliments at the end of the day.

Dr. Dennis Gross Tan Towels:  I hate being pasty-white, but I refuse to subject myself to a tanning bed...so this is my solution! These towels provide a much more even faux tan than the liquid sprays or lotions. The result is natural looking, not oompa loompa orange! These tan towels also come in a smaller version if you're just looking to add some color to your face.

DryBar Triple Sec: Although this is technically a texturing spray, I also use it as dry shampoo. It gives my hair instant volume and a little grit to help with styling...and strangely enough, it also gives it a refresh when I'm trying to squeeze in another day before a wash.

Sephora only does these sales twice per year {in the spring and fall}, so now is the time to stock up...and maybe even buy a few Christmas gifts! Since it’s been a minute since the last “Leslie Loves...” post and in the spirit of full disclosure, I just want to remind you that this post contains affiliate links {i.e. if you click a link and buy the product, I may receive a small commission. There is no added cost to you}. However, I promise you that I use {and love!} everything included in this post...which is the whole point of me sharing with you. 

This was fun to put together, and I hope you find it useful. If you have a minute, please drop me a comment to let me know what you’ve been up to...and what you’d like to see in future blog posts. It's great to be back in the blogging world!

Leslie Loves...{3.06}

I had planned for my next "Leslie Loves..." post {i.e. this one} to be non-baby-related...but, once again, time got away from me, and I've got to get these items written down before I forget! #MomBrain  As a side note, if you think #PregnancyBrain goes away after you have the baby, think again, my friend! It's simply replaced by #MomBrain, a condition that significantly {negatively} affects the memory! Anyway, back to the subject at hand...

These are our "MUST HAVES" for months 9-12...

1. Mirror Shapes Bath Toys: these bright-colored shapes with mirrors are H's favorite bath toys! They stick to the side of the tub/tile wall just like the foam letters {which he also loves}.
2. Shape Sorter: of the 2,468 toys we have strung out across our living room, this is one that he plays with every.single.day! At first he just liked to take off the lid and dump out the blocks, then he started putting them back in the bucket {without the lid}, and recently he's actually been making an effort to get the shapes through the right slot in the lid. {It's so fun to watch him learn!} 
3. Little Tikes Snug 'n Secure Swing: as long as it's not raining, I can pretty much guarantee we will be outside swinging at some point during the day. H is very secure in the swing now with the shoulder straps that hook to the T-bar, and he still has plenty of room to grow.
4. Bowls with Lids: now that he's a full-on solid food eater, we've got to take snacks with us anywhere and everywhere we go. We love these bowls because the lids are easy for us to pop on and off, but they're secure enough that we can hand a bowl full of Cheerios to H to play with {bang around and make lots of noise} and not worry about the lid coming off and spilling Cheerios everywhere. I will tell you that my 2.5-year-old nephew is capable of removing the lids though...just FYI! The size of these bowls is also great for warming up a baby-size serving of food or for storing leftovers in the fridge.
5. KidCo Foam Edge and Corner Protector Kit: the majority of H's toys reside in our living room surrounding the fireplace, which has a granite slab that is about 18 inches high and extends out about two feet...you know, the perfect height for a babe to fall into and cut his head open/knock himself out. Thus, we found this sticky foam edging to soften the sharp edges. It comes in several colors to blend with whatever surface you're trying to prevent from causing bumps and bruises.
6. Baby's First Photo Album: H received this soft-cover photo album for Christmas, but he's just now started to really enjoy/interact with it. It's full of bright-colored pages and shapes made of different fabrics and even includes some crinkly sound pages. It's filled with photos of family and friends...but H's favorite page is the one with Lily. When he gets to that page, he YELLS "Dog! Dog! Dog!" over and over and over again.
7. Disposable Place Mats: these are perfect for restaurants, and I've found that they serve two purposes for us: 1) keeps the babe's food off of the {possibly} germy table, and 2) makes it easy to clean up the {possible} mess when H is done eating. 
8. Sippy Cups: we've tried multiple sippy cups, and these three are the ones that work best for us. We introduced several cups when he was about six months old, and these were the only ones he liked for several months {our "starter cup"}. This is more of a transition cup, and it's worked like a charm for us for milk. It's tall and skinny similar to the shape of his bottles {and he uses it without the handles}. H has tried {and continues to try} everything possible to make this cup spill/leak, but so far he's been unsuccessful in those attempts {knock on wood!}. Now THAT is a selling point for a sippy cup if I've ever heard one! Lastly, it took H a little time to figure this one out, but it's by far his favorite now that he's got the hang of it. For the most part it doesn't leak...but some liquid will escape upon impact when it is launched across the room or thrown from the high chair {not that my child would ever do such a thing!}.

Be sure to check out our 0-3 month "loves" here,
 3-6 month "loves" here,
and our 6-9 month "loves" here.

What am I missing?

Please share with me your favorite baby products!

Leslie Loves...{3.05}

Here we go...another edition of baby must-haves, so feel free to just click the "X" in the top right corner of your screen if you're not at an age/stage of your life to have an interest in these necessities.  However, I know hope there are people out there like me searching the world wide web high and low to find opinions from other mommas who have been there/done that and found products their babes can't live without {or at least make life a little easier!}.

These are our "MUST HAVES" for months six through nine...

1. Baltic Amber Necklace: although I wasn't sure about it at first, I will now admit I'm a true believer in the amber necklace for teething. After talking with our pediatrician about it, H wears his amber necklace all the time except for when he's sleeping. The reduced level of drooling is visibly noticeable when he's wearing his amber necklace. Most babies need a 10-11 inch necklace. You don't want it to be too loose because the babe could get his/her hand stuck in it, making it a choking hazard.  You can also get bracelet/anklet size. The key is to make sure it is worn against the skin because the warmth of the skin releases the oils from the amber.
2. Freshly Picked Moccasins: these are the only shoes we can keep on our little man's feet. H hates shoes and socks, but he doesn't seem to mind wearing these moccasins. We've had both the suede and the leather and love both. I know these are pricey for baby shoes, but the quality is exceptional. These are shoes that can most definitely be hand-me-downs to younger siblings! They're available at Nordstrom {free shipping!}, but if you pay attention {or sign up for email notifications}, you can catch them on sale for $45 at freshlypicked.com on occasion.
3. VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker: "Ring-a-ling...the animals sing!" I hear it over and over and over and over again...but it's ok because this thing keeps our babe entertained! H started playing with the front side of the walker {which is removable, so he could play with it flat on the floor} when he was 4-5 months old. He began pulling up to it around 7 months, and then he really started to push it between 8-9 months. The back wheels have two settings to control the speed.
4. JJ Cole Bibs: when H first started eating solid foods, we were using cloth bibs and constantly having a laundry basket full of dirty bibs...and then I finally found these tucked away in his closet. Game changer! These bibs are made of laminated canvas, so they wipe clean with a wet cloth {or a little scrubbing with a dish brush for sticky or dried foods}. They have a solid snap closure {3 options for adjustable size}, so H can't pull it off himself. Another big plus is that they're wide enough to provide full coverage from shoulder to shoulder.
5. Happy Knees Kneepads: the main level of our home is pretty much covered in hard wood floors or tile, so these kneepads were a necessity to protect Baby H's little knees when he started crawling.
6. Itzy Ritzy Sitzy Shopping Cart & High Chair Cover: we started out with one of these, but now we have two so we can keep one in each car. Yes, I am a little bit of that crazy germ-a-phobe mom who doesn't want her baby touching the icky high chair covered in caked-on, sticky food from the 7,000 other babies who previously used it...but even more than that, I love that this soft, fluffy cover gives my little guy some comfort {especially from those thin shopping cart bars}.
7. Wooden Blocks: a classic! While H doesn't use these to spell out words just yet {although he does love to mess up the words that Momma tries to spell!}, he loves to make lots of noise by banging them together {or on the floor}. These blocks are the perfect size for his little hands to hold {and throw}.
8. Banana Toothbrush: this is the toothbrush our pediatrician recommended {no toothpaste needed yet}, and it's been a success! H wasn't too interested in it at first, but now he actually likes to "brush his teeth" {i.e. chew on the toothbrush}.
9. Boon Bathtub Mat: the perfectly-sized mat to keep a slippery baby from sliding all over the bathtub. You can hang it from the shower head when you're not using it to prevent mildew.
10. Bath Spout Cover: I used to think this was one of those temperature-regulating products, and I swore I'd never have one because surely I'm capable of detecting the appropriate temperature for my babe's bath water...shows how much I knew about baby bath products! Ha. Bathtub injuries from falling into/head hitting the tub spout are all too common, so this is a necessity in preventing those accidents!
11. Stacking Rings: hands down, this has been H's favorite toy to-date. He's played with the rings since he could grasp them in his little hands. For the longest time, he'd just throw them and chase them. Now he's figured out how to stack them on the cone, and he is SO.PROUD when he gets them all in place...and then he dumps them off and starts all over again..and again...and again!
12. Poly-Vi-Sol Vitamin Supplement: when H started transitioning to solid {pureéd} food, we switched to this vitamin supplement to ensure he gets enough vitamin D and all the other nutrients he needs.
13. Board Books: our little guy is obsessed with books...especially pulling them all off the shelf and spreading them across the entire room! We love the board books at this stage because he can be as rough as he wants with them {including chewing on the pages}, and no damage is done!

*The links above are to the online site where I found the product for the cheapest price as of July 6, 2016.



Be sure to check out our 0-3 month "loves" here.
And our 3-6 month "loves" here.

What is your very favorite baby product?   

Please share with me your baby "loves"...all ages and stages!

Leslie Loves...{3.04}

Perhaps this post should really be titled "Ryan Loves...," but I don't have a graphic for that {plus we all know I'm a fan of alliteration}, so we'll just stick with "Leslie Loves..."

The GreenPan

12-inch GreenPan with lid

Let's talk about how odd it is that I am raving about a cooking utensil. It's ok, you can go ahead and laugh...but don't dismiss this post just because you think know I am not exactly an expert in the kitchen. I promise this really is a legit "love" of mine {when it comes to cleaning it} AND Ryan's {when it comes to actually using it}.

Let me give you a little backstory regarding our pots and pans. I bought a ridiculously-expensive, super-shiny stainless steel set back when I lived by myself {from RueLaLa, of course!} because I wanted them to look pretty hanging on the rack above the island in my kitchen. They served that purpose very well, but I should probably note that they didn't get a whole lot of use on the stove. I wasn't about to part with my fancy cookware, so Ryan got rid of most of his when he moved to Texas. Turns out, when actually put to daily use, my beautiful pots and pans aren't exactly ideal for cooking...plus they're a nightmare to clean! My incredibly patient husband never complained, but I did notice that he used his tiny egg pan whenever possible just because it was so much easier.

I first heard of the GreenPan from Ryan's sister, Lacey, last year at my baby shower. She was going on and on about how nothing sticks to it, how easy it is to clean...and how affordable it is. I kind of forgot about that conversation, but my mom didn't! She bought a GreenPan for herself, and then she started singing its praises. Ryan used it once at her house and was adamant that he needed one. He finally got his own GreenPan for Christmas.

Sooooo....what's so fabulous about the GreenPan?

• It truly is non-stick.  Food slides right out of the pan. No joke.
• Cleaning it is a breeze.  It says that it is dishwasher safe, but I've been instructed by the husband not to put it in the dishwasher. It seriously takes me less time to completely hand wash {and dry} the GreenPan than it used to take me to just rinse the other pans before putting them in the dishwasher.
• It is affordable {all of these links are to Amazon because that was the best price as of 6/15/2016}:
• 12-inch {with lid}: $39.99
• 10-inch: $29.99
• 8-inch: $19.99

10-inch GreenPan

While doing some research for the best prices for the pans, I found this review that is incredibly helpful regarding how to care for your GreenPan to ensure that it lasts.  You should check out the full review, but here are the highlights:

"You should NOT baby these pans when cleaning them! I'm not suggesting breaking out a wire scrub brush, but you absolutely SHOULD use the abrasive side of a sponge. I also highly recommend scrubbing with baking soda once every several cooking sessions. Even when the pan looks clean, there is often a very thin layer of fat. The baking soda will strip it right off and revive the pan's nonstick quality. To do this I put a very small amount of water in the bottom of the pan, add enough baking soda to absorb most of it, and then scrub with a paper towel. You'll be shocked by how yellow the baking soda gets. Repeat until it comes out just as white as it went in.

Should you burn something in the pan or otherwise need to remove something really stuck in there, baking soda is also a great choice. Add a larger amount of water to the pan, quite a bit of baking soda, and then boil over high heat until the baking soda dries out. Now scrub the dried soda out with a paper towel and the vast majority of whatever you've burned in there will come right off.

...

One final note: I see a lot of people mentioning that their food sticks "even when cooking at low heat" and that is in fact a huge part of the problem! Low heat gives proteins more time to bond with the surface of the pan. It only makes things worse. If you want to sear something, do it on high heat. Because once again, unlike a Teflon pan, these can handle it."  --Adam Machanic's review on Amazon

Whether you are a master chef like my husband or someone with limited cooking skills like me {hey, in my own defense, I do have a few meals that I can throw together if need be...and I bake much better than I cook!}, the GreenPan will work for you. My household is living proof!  :)

8-inch GreenPan

Have you used the GreenPan? 

Are you a fan?

Happy Cooking!

Leslie Loves...{3.03}

Wayyyyy back in January {although it actually feels like just a few weeks ago}, I said I would "definitely work on increasing the number of 'Leslie Loves...' posts." #TotalFail.  It's not because I haven't wanted to share my current loves and obsessions, but I haven't felt like I've had anything really "cool" to write about. Most of my "new finds" revolve around the little man that rules my world, so of course this edition of "Leslie's Loves..." is baby-related.

With all that being said, I give you our "MUST HAVES" for months three through six... 

1. Boppy Noggin Nest Head Support:  we used this when he was lying on the floor or in his crib to prevent him from getting a flat spot on the back of his head.  Now that I’m doing a little research on this, it says it’s not recommended for use in a crib. However, we did use it in his crib up until he could roll over. 
2. Fisher Price Kick & Play Piano Mat: this was by far his favorite toy for several months. Before he could roll over he was content to bat around at the toys and kick the piano keys for 30-45 minutes.  Even after he started rolling he was still happy playing on this mat, but he preferred to “play the piano” with his hands rather than his feet.
3. HoMedics Humidifier with Sound Machine:  this was the cure-all when Baby H was congested!  We use the sound machine part even when we don’t need the humidifier because our child does not sleep well without white noise. 
4. Infantino Spiral Car Seat Toy: H got to where he could actually reach the dangling toys between three and four months, and he plays with them more than we expected. The best thing about this toy: he can’t “lose” it because it’s attached and stays in place!
5. Crinkle Books: these soft books that make the crinkle noise when touched are guaranteed to capture a baby’s attention…for at least a little while. The "Puppy Tails" book is a favorite around our house.
6. Fisher Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat: we used this in place of a Bumbo chair. We loved it because it is useful for a much longer period of time than the Bumbo seat.  It has more back support than a Bumbo, so we were comfortable putting him in it around 3.5 months old.  Plus, it’s got plenty of room for babes to grow.  We’re still using it at 9.5 months to contain our very mobile baby when we need to get something done.  It comes with two toys attached to it, and these can easily be interchanged with other toys.  The only drawback is that it takes up more space than the Bumbo seat…but I’d say the pros far outweigh that one con.
7. WubbaNub Pacifier: this was a game-changer for us because it allowed H to put his paci back in his mouth by himself at night! The attached stuffed animal gives the babe so much more to grasp, so they’re capable of locating it in the crib and maneuvering it back into their mouth.  We found that H doesn’t really care if he gets the actual paci in his mouth…the legs/ears/tail of the giraffe seem to be equally sufficient.
8. On-the-Go Sound Machine: we keep this attached to H’s car seat.  He can press the buttons, which he LOVES to do…but it also has the white noise sound that helps him sleep.  It has four sound options: heartbeat, white noise, ocean and lullaby.  You can set a timer for it to automatically turn off or you can allow it to play until you manually turn it off.
9. D-Vi-Sol Vitamin D Supplement: breast milk doesn’t provide enough Vitamin D for optimal nutrition, so we used this to supplement. We mixed this in H’s early morning bottle to cover up the icky taste.

*The links above are to the online site where I found the product for the cheapest price as of June 2, 2016.



You can check out our 0-3 month "loves" here.



What did I miss?   


Please share with me your baby "loves"...all ages and stages!