As I mentioned in my announcement post last week, we found out I was pregnant really early and the symptoms set in almost immediately after I found out, actually, I’m pretty sure that they started the day before I found out because I was moody as hell.

I’m halfway through the second semester at the moment, but I figured I’d go back and recap how the first one went. And honestly, it was a little rough. And I’m sure most moms can relate to that.

This recap might be a little scattered because I was awful at writing things down while they were happening and It’s been a couple months. And it probably includes a dose of TMI… so… you’ve been warned.

February 2018 – Weeks 4 to 8:

I found out I was pregnant on January 29th, I was 4 weeks along (2 weeks since conception) and for most of February I was super moody and extra paranoid. It was hard for me to get excited or attached because I was honestly so scared that something was going to go wrong.

I’m a bit of a control freak and this was the first time in my life where I felt like something was completely out of my hands and it freaked me out a little. I still had a good amount of energy, so I threw myself into my work to keep me distracted from all the “what ifs”.

During week 6 I came down with a head cold, but luckily it didn’t last long and was probably the nicest cold I’ve ever had.

I ate really well in February, breakfast consisted of grapefruit or oranges with avocado and whole grain toast with scrambled eggs. Lunch was usually pretty light, salads, banana, smoothie, chicken, and rice. For dinner, we were still doing Hello Fresh three nights a week and tried to only eat out once a week.

I have primarily drunk water during my pregnancy but enjoyed virgin mojitos when we were around friends and family so they wouldn’t catch on.

You guys know I have a serious sweet tooth, but it’s pretty much non-existent and has been since mid-February. I actually lost 6lbs during my first trimester and have just this week finished gaining them back. But I’m considered slightly overweight so I’m hoping that that will help me stay on track for a healthy weight gain throughout the pregnancy.

I really didn’t have any morning sickness in February, other than feeling a bit tired, not wanting sweets, and having insanely sore breasts, I didn’t feel overly different. Oh, except the mood swings, those were extra real in the beginning, sorry, Matt!

And I also had to pee a lot more frequently and it’s only gotten worse since!

March 2018 – Weeks 8 to 12:

This is where the exhaustion hit. Like there were weeks where I didn’t get out of bed, for most of March I put myself together enough on one weekend day to make an appearance in civilization. The rest of it was spent in comfy clothes binge watching Jane the Virgin, Chicago Med, and Heartland.

I was pretty good about taking weekly photos and journaling until this point too, but then I just didn’t have the energy.

During week 8 I invested in a pregnancy pillow because I was not sleeping and it helped a ton. I used it regularly up until about a month ago when I was more comfortable without it, but I have a feeling I’m going to need it again real soon.

I threw up for the first time during week 9 when I was brushing my teeth, but otherwise, didn’t have any vomiting. My morning sickness was mostly that I didn’t want to be vertical since it made me a little nauseous.

We told our parents during week 10, you can watch the video of us telling Matt’s parents below!

My diet sort of went to shit this month, I made sure I was still getting my protein, fruits, and veggies, but pasta and french fries were my best friend.

I honestly wouldn’t say I’ve had real cravings for anything, Matt would say otherwise, but me feeling up to something and me being willing to commit a crime for something are two totally different things. I did have a major craving for fried chicken during a major snowstorm, good thing the closest KFC is less than 2 miles away, thanks, Matt!!!

Week 11 brought my normal prenatal blood testing and our first trimester screening (usually 3 parts). We were left a bit sour with our healthcare system after the screening ultrasound that ultimately caused us not to follow through with the rest of the screening and to look for other care options. See week 12.

In all honesty, this whole month was just a blur. I was exhausted and bored and that pretty much sums it up.

April – Weeks 12 to 14:

Week 12 brought a bit of a reprieve from the exhaustion, although I still had an afternoon nap during a couple of days. But it felt good to be up and about a bit more and I finally felt human again.

Around 11 – 12 weeks was when we started questioning whether or not a hospital birth was right for us and met with a birthing center. Ultimately, the birthing center was a little less right for us given the point we were at in the pregnancy, so we decided to stick with the hospital.

But the meeting with the birthing center really made us realize that we needed to be our own advocates in the healthcare world. As two young and healthy individuals, Matt and I hardly go to the doctor, and since our primary care provider is out of the system, we pay cash, which means we hardly dealt with our insurance at all prior to all this. So it’s been a bit of an eye-opener, I mean, we all know the system is broken, but you don’t realize just how broken until you’re using it.

So it was time to start getting the answers we needed from my regular OB/Midwife, drilling her with a million questions during our next appointment helped to give me some reassurance, which was needed. This period of research was very eyeopening and made me realize that while I have a fairly low pain tolerance, I do want to avoid an epidural if at all possible.

During week 13, we bought and set up our crib and dresser and got the nursery painted. I also started our registry. This made things start to feel really real!

However, by the time week 14 rolled around, I had another extreme wave of exhaustion that hit me and I spent a few days laying low.

While I still haven’t had any serious cravings, this was around the time when my love for Starbucks Bacon Gouda Sandwiches, strawberry banana smoothies, and watermelon heightened and I still love them all.

We told the rest of our family on Easter, just a few days after I hit 12 weeks. We also found out that 3 of our cousins are also expecting and we’re all due between mid-September and mid-November, so that’s fun! I didn’t really have cousins my age, so I’m excited that our little will!

I was able to wear my regular jeans throughout the first trimester with a few nights of the elastic band trick.

In all honesty, the first few months of pregnancy were not as bad as I was expecting, but they were also a blur and I should have done a better job documenting them. But I’m going to try and do better so these bumpdates are a little more organized in the future!

Things that Helped Me Survive the First Trimester:

• Pregnancy Playlist – This is a super soothing playlist and I usually put it on when I’m laying down to take a nap.
• JKY by Jockey Bras – Seriously, these were by far my best investment, in fact, I’m sad that I haven’t owned them before now! Do yourself a favor and get at least one even if you’re not pregnant! They’re not maternity/nursing bras, they’re just SUPER comfy sports-like bras that I want to live in forever! The wide tank top straps don’t add any strain to my neck and they’re the only way I’ve been able to sleep since my breasts have been so sore.
• Nature Made Prenatal Vitamins – Did you know you’re supposed to start prenatal vitamins as soon as you start trying to conceive? I didn’t, but I started taking them as soon as I found out. I tried these and the gummies, which I didn’t like at all. I did a fair amount of research and honestly, it was all super overwhelming, but these didn’t make me feel sick at all, so I’m calling that a win.
• Proof Tumbler – I’ve never been one to keep water on my bedside table, but I get so thirsty in the middle of the night now, that I need it. I’m a bit clumsy so I wanted something that had a lid and I’ve never loved the cups with the reusable straws because they gross me out a bit, so this one was perfect!
• Cocoa Butter Lotion – I honestly didn’t know how quickly my belly would grow or when I would start to show (it wasn’t until week 16 or so), but I’m determined to prevent stretch marks as much as possible so I started slathering this stuff on really early.
• Gilligan & O’Malley Joggers – I spent a good amount of time in sweatpants during my first trimester and these were my favorite, they are super soft and stretchy and best of all… POCKETS!
• Comfy Shirts – I really didn’t invest in many maternity clothes in the first trimester and still haven’t, but comfy shirts were a must since I did a lot of lounging. This one has been one of my favorites though.
• The Dress I’m Wearing in the First Photo – I’ve decided that I’ll pretty much be spending my summer in flowy maxi dresses and so far this is one of my favorites. It’s super cute, a great price, and comfortable. And it’s non-maternity but bump friendly, which means I’ll get use out of it next summer too!
• Native Deodorant – Getting pregnant was the final push I needed to quit my old deodorant and switch to one that was aluminum free. It isn’t so much about the pregnancy as it is about my future and making sure I have a long one with my family. Aluminum has been known to be a factor in developing breast cancer and Alzheimers, so for me, it was a no-brainer to switch. In fact, I just stocked up again today because there’s a sale code for 10% off available right now, use 10OFF at checkout!
• Pepcid – I didn’t have a ton of heartburn, but when I did, this was necessary. Zantac is also approved during pregnancy but it made me really sick.

The post First Trimester Bumpdate appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Our balloon gender reveal…

Balloon Gender Reveal

It’s been a little over a month since I announced that I was expecting and shared my first trimester bumpdate (second trimester is coming in a couple weeks!) and I’m finally getting around to posting our balloon gender reveal.

I have had this idea for quite some time, I absolutely love balloons, but I’m so over the balloon boxes and black balloons filled with confetti and I *thought* this would be a cute way to still incorporate them into the reveal.

We went to our Anatomy Scan at 7:00 am and these photos were taken around 6:00 pm, not peeking in the envelope was really hard for those 11 hours! Because we had absolutely no idea what we were having until these balloons told us.

Our friend and photographer, Taylor of t.Dow Photography did my hair for the shoot, so we had a few minutes to discuss how this balloon gender reveal would work. So here was the plan:

I gave Taylor the envelope the ultrasound tech has given us with the gender inside, she looked at it on the way to the shooting location.

I had purchased a variety of colored balloons earlier in the day, making sure to bring two of both the pink and blue in case one of them popped.

Taylor took the balloons and tied one of the gender colored ones around my hand and then placed the rest in my hand while we turned away. This meant that I wouldn’t be able to tell what we were having while taking photos but before the big reveal.

The idea was that when we were ready I would let go of the other balloons and the one that remained would tell us what we were having.

In my mind, I imagined the balloons gently floating away making for a beautiful photo for a canvas print. And I think that had it not been so windy, that’s what would have happened.

But Mother Nature had another plan.

It was soooooo windy and I didn’t really foresee how this wind might whip the balloons around and cause them to tangle, so when I let go, all of the balloons wrapped around and got caught up by the balloon I was still holding…

Which was kind of funny…

Mostly because Matt hated this idea and it kind of felt like he was getting his payback.

I shook them around a bit to try to set them loose, but it was a no go.

But I’m kind of happy that this plan didn’t work out so well because, honestly, this felt more right. You know, you can make as many plans as you’d like, but life doesn’t always agree with them and loves a good twist.

Taylor captured our emotions so wonderfully when this curveball came our way and these are images I’ll cherish forever.

The photo above was the moment we realized which balloon was caught up in all the madness…

It’s a GIRL!!!

Not at all what we were expecting, only about three people in our family thought it was a girl, so this was a big surprise and we couldn’t be more excited. In our immediate family, it’s predominantly males, so a little girl is going to be a blast!

Shoester is pretty excited too, even though he doesn’t exactly know what’s going on yet, he’s already been guarding the nursery and being extra snuggly.

Oh, and many of you might be wondering since I mentioned it in our announcement post a few weeks ago, that we’ve had baby girl’s name picked out for almost 13 years, and you’re probably wondering what it is, right? Well, I can’t wait for you all to meet our sweet little…

Evangeline. 

Shop This Post:

My Dress is from TJMaxx and I just bought it last weekend. I’m wearing a small in the photos. My belt and sandals are things I’ve had for years, but you can find similar ones with the buttons below!

My Dress || My Belt (Similar) || My Shoes || Confetti

Baby Girl Shoes (similar)

I wanted Matt to be comfortable and he actually wore his outfit to work the day we took pictures, so at least he didn’t have to go all out like our Paris Photos.

Matt’s Jeans || Matt’s Shirt (Similar) || Matt’s Shoes

The post Our Balloon Gender Reveal appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Clorox Company. All opinions are 100% mine.

Want to know How To Prevent Whites From Fading? From treating stains to how to wash them on a regular basis, follow these 6 simple steps to ensure bright whites for all of your linens!

How To Prevent Whites From Fading

Black may be your go-to shade for a night out, but when it comes to your daytime whites, you want them to be pure and bright. Clothes that become stained or just downright dingy can even make you look sloppy.

The good news is, those merlot or dreaded armpit stains don’t have to mean the end for your favorite wardrobe staples if you know a few tricks!

First and foremost, exercise caution: you should always read the cleaning instructions on your clothing tags, spot-test new treatments in discrete areas (in case of a bad reaction), and leave “dry clean only” clothes to the professionals.

For bleach-safe clothing, one of the easiest, cheapest, and most effective ways to brighten whites is with Clorox bleach. Available at Walmart or walmart.com for less than $3 a jug, Clorox Regular-Bleach₂ with CLOROMAX® adds a serious boost of whitening to your laundry load.

Simply add 1/2 cup of Clorox Bleach With Cloromax Technology per gallon of water to your bleach-able laundry load. You can pour it right into your washing machine’s bleach dispenser, and if yours doesn’t have one, add it in 5 minutes after the cycle has begun.

Just remember, not all clothes are bleach-friendly, so reading the care instructions is a must.

Not all stains or fabrics are created equally, but luckily, there are lots of ways you can tackle certain spots on all your garments! Try the following tips for keeping your white clothes glowing, no matter how much you wear them.

Even people with the most colorful closets like to don white pants, sundresses, and t-shirts from time to time, and when you do, make sure they’re as pristine as possible!

1. Treat stains ASAP. It’s Murphy’s law: the day you wear your billowing white blouse is the day you spill coffee all over it. If this happens to you, blot (don’t rub) the area with a paper towel or white cloth, since a colored one might bleed.

Then, dab it with either club soda, a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide, or white vinegar — whatever is available. Once home, treat the spot with stain remover before washing.

2. Know how to tackle different kinds of stains. Of course, some stains need a little extra attention. For stubborn grease stains, make a paste of baking soda and water and let it sit on the spot for 30-60 minutes.

Or, your oil-absorbing dish soap can do the trick if you apply it before washing. When it comes to those dreaded yellow armpit stains, there are several ways to handle them.

One is to apply vinegar to the discolored area, and another is to make a paste with baking soda and water and let it sit for a couple hours before washing.

Fun fact: it’s thought that the actual cause of the discoloration isn’t the sweat itself, but the deodorant mixing with the moisture. To prevent those icky marks from creeping in again, treat the underarm area of your shirts with stain remover every time you toss them in the laundry.

3. Launder every wear or two. Washing your whites every time you wear them (or every other time, if it’s just for a few hours) is especially helpful when it comes to preventing the buildup that leads dinginess or underarm stains.

4. Separate whites and colors. You learned this rule in college, and there’s simply no way around it. Whites and colors must be separated in order to keep the dyes from bleeding!

5. Wash your whites in warm water, if you can. If you can, clean your clothes in warm or hot water for the deepest clean possible. Again, make sure to read the instructions carefully, because shrinking or warping your whites defeats the purpose!

7. Make bleach your best friend. As mentioned above, a little bleach can demolish stains and general dinginess in all your bleach-safe clothes! I like Clorox Bleach With Cloromax Technology, which not only brightens whites, it eliminates as well as 99.9% of germs. (That’s also why I also love using it on my white linens.)  If you want your whites to be more brilliant (and cleaner!) than ever before, you should always keep a jug of Clorox by your washing machine.

The post How To Prevent Whites From Fading appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

It’s Amazon Prime Day! Let’s celebrate with some shopping! Here are some of my favorite Prime Deals happening right now!

Amazon Prime Day Deals

It’s Amazon Prime Day, which is pretty much Christmas in July! I’m already pretty addicted to Amazon Prime and it’s beautiful 2-day delivery and Free movies, but great deals like the ones rolling out over the next day or so make me even more excited about my Prime membership!

So from now until tomorrow evening, I’ll be updating this post with the best Amazon Prime Day Deals I can find! But, as we prepare to uncover all the savings Amazon is offering, it’s important that you’re prepared when the sale kicks off at 3 pm EST today!

The sale will run for 30 hours and new deals will be popping up ever 5 minutes and I’m sure many will sell out fast. So make sure you have your credit card added to your account ahead of time to make check out quick and easy!

There will also be special promotions for those who have an Echo or Echo Dot, just ask Alexa for the deals and she’ll guide you to them!

How To Be Prepared:

Get Amazon Prime – I’m sure many of you are already Prime members, but if you’re not, you’ll need to get a membership in order to take part in Amazon Prime Day. You can start your 30 Day Amazon Prime Trial now!

Get Amazon Assistant – This browser extension will help you compare prices and get deal notifications as they happen!

Get Amazon Shopping App – Chances are you’ll have to leave your computer at some point during the 30 hours of deals, but of course, you won’t want to miss a single one. Download the Amazon Shopping App to stay connected and up to date!

A new addition to the Prime Family this year is Prime Pantry, yes, it technically existed last year, but now it’s a set fee of $4.99 per month and you get free shipping on orders of over $40.00. You no longer need to FILL a box or pay a separate shipping fee like before!

We’ve been using it for the last two months and love it because things like spices and cereal are so much cheaper and they usually have great coupon deals too!

Since the sale hasn’t quite yet started, here’s a list of things rumored to go on sale at 9 pm tonight, but some of them may be lightning deals throughout the 30-hour period. Be sure to check out the Amazon Prime Day shopping page as well to stay up to date on great deals!

• Amazon Fire Stick – $19.99 (50% OFF)
• Echo Dot – $29.99 ($20.00 OFF)
• Echo – $69.99 ($30.00 OFF)
• Echo Spot – $99.99 ($30.00 OFF)
• Kindle Paperwhite – $79.99 ($40.00 OFF)
• Amazon Fire 10 – $99.99 ($50.00 OFF)
• Amazon Fire 8 Kids Tablet – $89.99 ($40.00 OFF)
• Coleman Road Trip Grill – $159.99 (Amazon Launch Product)
• Davinci Convertible Baby Crib – $189.99 (Amazon Launch Product)
• Skip Hop Baby Activity Center – $97.38 (Amazon Launch Product)
• 6 Qt Instant Pot – $58.99 ($41.00 OFF)

I will be adding more once Prime Day officially launches!

My Favorite Spotlight Deals

These items will go on sale at a specific time, all times are in EST. I will be updating the list throughout the sale! I have broken these deals down by category like Home, Kids, Fashion, etc. to make it a little easier for you to shop!

The post My Favorite Amazon Prime Day Deals appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Wrapping up the second trimester and sharing how I’m feeling, my favorite products so far, and answering some of your questions!

And just like that, my second semester has come and gone. Actually, it came and went a week ago or the week before depending on who you ask, but that’s just how crazy life has been!

The second semester was definitely easier than the first and I’m already starting to feel the aches and fatigue of the third trimester. But also happy that Evie is growing well and strong, even if my ribcage disagrees most nights.

I honestly can’t say that this semester was all that different from beginning to end other than the obvious growth in my baby bump. You might also recall that we didn’t announce until halfway through the second trimester, so everything is a bit jumbled, but I plan to do bumpdates every few weeks as we get closer to Evie’s arrival!

Earlier this week I took to my Instagram stories to let you ask me questions about my pregnancy and promised I would answer them in this post, so here they are!

How Are You So Cute?

I would say one of my besties is being a little too sweet because I sure haven’t felt cute lately… I feel sooo tired most of the time since a good night’s sleep is suddenly hard to come by. The humidity has been brutal the last few weeks, so I’ve pretty much given up on styling my hair, hence my naturally wild mane in the image above.

I’ve been feeling huge this last week, and I can’t believe I still have 11-ish weeks to go…

The dress I’m wearing in the photos is from Wren & Ivory, it’s non-maternity but baby bump friendly.

Does Evie Have a Middle Name?

Not yet! We have some ideas, but nothing set in stone. I can’t remember if I told you guys but I gave my husband middle name rights after the Gender Reveal photo session, I’ve given some input, but he’ll get the final call (within some parameters)… here’s to hoping I don’t regret it! However, once we do pick a middle name, I won’t be sharing it here on the blog, just so baby girl has some privacy.

How Late Can You Travel?

I have no travel restrictions in place beyond the recommended no flying after 36 weeks. However, I likely won’t be flying between now and the end of the pregnancy. I’m still hoping to do a couple weekend road trips before baby, but man, those weekends are disappearing FAST!

Any Cravings?

Still none really, and definitely nothing that’s been all day every day. I might decide I really want an iced tea or a cookie on an afternoon, but that’s nothing new from my pre-pregnancy life.

Are You Planning On Breastfeeding?

Yes and no. I am planning on pumping, but will not be directly breastfeeding, we also plan to supplement with formula as needed. I want her to get the additional nutrition benefits from my body, but direct breastfeeding itself has never appealed to me for a number of reasons which I won’t get into. I am of the opinion that fed is best, no matter how you do it.

The dress pictured above is the French Grey – Jaimi Maternity Cold Shoulder Knit Maxi Dress from Stitch Fix Maternity.

Are You Doing Maternity Photos?

I don’t think so. I’ve mentioned before that Matt hates photoshoots/photos and I felt like putting him through our announcement photos was enough “punishment”. I absolutely loved our announcement photos and got several of them printed and turned into canvases, at which point I started to realize that we are running out of wall space.

Matt and I have been together going on 13 years and we have a lot of photos of just the two of us and I felt like another session was unnecessary. AND I really wanted both studio photos as well as in-home newborn photos, so we’ll be splurging on a couple photoshoots this fall/winter instead.

How Is Shoester?

My first baby is doing quite well and getting excited to meet his little sister. He spends a lot of time in the nursery (which might be because he knows there are stuffed toys hidden in the closet). But so far he seems to know something is happening, he’s just not sure what yet. But I can’t wait until he meets her!

Have You Picked a Nursery Theme Yet?

We sure have! It’s travel-inspired of course! I’ve been picking up little things for baby girl’s room during my travels the last couple of years. I’m excited to mix those pieces in with some fun prints and photographs, other cute pieces, and some beautiful and fun hoop art my great aunt is making me.

Here’s a sneak peek at the nursery for those who are interested, I’m hoping to have it finished by Labor Day weekend and will post a full reveal then! But for those who are curious:

• Babyletto Lolly Crib from Amazon
• Babyletto Lolly Dresser from Amazon
• Braided Area Rug from Target
• Project 62 Table Lamp from Target
• End Table and Rocking Chair both purchased at Marshall’s

Now onto other things!

Weight Gain:

As of today (29 weeks), I’m up about 7 lbs from my starting weight and up 13 lbs from my lowest weight during my pregnancy. Ideally, I’m hoping to only gain about another 10 lbs during the pregnancy to stay in the lower end of my expected weight gain. This should be doable based on how I’ve been tracking.

Emotions:

Holy hell. For the most part, the second trimester was a nice little reprieve from the hormones of the first, but the emotions made a strong comeback at the end of the second and the last couple of weeks have been a rollercoaster. I’m trying to keep them in check as best I can, but it seems like an inevitability I should just let run its course at this point.

Products I’m Currently Loving:

• Bio-Oil – A friend shared this product with me after my last bumpdate and I’m so glad she did! I’ve been using this as well as cocoa butter lotion to fend off stretch marks. And yes, I understand that stretch marks are for the most part genetic, but it won’t stop me from trying to prevent them. Even though this is an oil, it won’t leave any oil marks on your clothes if you apply it and get dressed right away.
• Audible – Yes, I loved Audible before, but with so much to do each day to get ahead on work and life before Evie gets here, I’ve begun cruising through more audiobooks and I’m so appreciative of the distraction. You can check out my Summer Reading List to keep up with what I’m reading!
• Nature Made Prenatal Vitamins – Did you know you’re supposed to start prenatal vitamins as soon as you start trying to conceive? I didn’t, but I started taking them as soon as I found out. I tried these and the gummies, which I didn’t like at all. I did a fair amount of research and honestly, it was all super overwhelming, but these didn’t make me feel sick at all, so I’m calling that a win.
• Native Deodorant – Getting pregnant was the final push I needed to quit my old deodorant and switch to one that was aluminum free. It isn’t so much about the pregnancy as it is about my future and making sure I have a long one with my family. Aluminum has been known to be a factor in developing breast cancer and Alzheimers, so for me, it was a no-brainer to switch. In fact, I just stocked up again today because there’s a sale code for 10% off available right now, use 10OFF at checkout!

Clothes I’m Currently Loving:

• JKY by Jockey Bras – Seriously, these were by far my best investment, in fact, I’m sad that I haven’t owned them before now! Do yourself a favor and get at least one even if you’re not pregnant! They’re not maternity/nursing bras, they’re just SUPER comfy sports-like bras that I want to live in forever! The wide tank top straps don’t add any strain to my neck and they’re the only way I’ve been able to sleep since my breasts have been so sore.
• Wren & Ivory – This has been my go-to for cute and comfortable dresses. The add new product to their boutique every Friday (which can be dangerous). All of their stuff is non-maternity, but a lot of it is bump-friendly!
• DL1961 Jeans – These are a bit pricey, to begin with, and I’ve lucked out finding a couple of pairs at Norstrom Rack, but so far they are the most comfortable Maternity jeans I’ve been able to find that actually fit me decently.
• Old Navy Rockstar Jeggings – These are non-maternity, but the elastic waistband and great price have made them my go-to jeans during this pregnancy. They have a bunch of different shades as well as some distressed options. Up until three weeks ago, I was able to get by with a pair that was a size up from my pre-pregnancy size, but then had to go 2 sizes up, however, the next size up will definitely be too big in the legs, so here’s to hoping I can stretch my current pair out for a while.
• Old Navy Maternity Scoop Neck Tee – These have been my go-to shirts for daily wear, they’re cheap so I don’t feel be when I inevitably destroy them while baking or eating dinner since I suddenly seem to have a hard time getting all of my food to my mouth…

The post Second Trimester Bumpdate appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

This post has been sponsored by Clorox. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Prepping The Nursery

It’s hard to believe that I’m over 75% of the way through my pregnancy with our daughter. And with less than 8 weeks to go and a million things to do, I’m trying to be as productive as possible. And that means prepping the nursery is at the top of the list.

Of course, there’s the fun part—buying ALL the things and decorating—BUT, all of those things need to be washed and cleaned before Evie can use them. A perfect project for a nesting mama.

So while we’ve made great progress in setting up our nursery, as we get closer, it’s important to clean it even if everything is new. I mean, think about it, all those toys, clothes, and furniture items have been boxed, transported, and handled by machines and people you don’t know, so it’s important to clean them!

But you also don’t want to use harsh chemicals when it comes to cleaning baby items. That’s why I’m excited about the new Clorox Free & Clear line, at Target!

These new products are fragrance- and chemical-free but work just as hard as the classic Clorox products that your family has come to depend on.

I’m not naive enough to think that I’m going to maintain a spotless home once Evie arrives, heck, it isn’t even spotless now. I’ve hit the point in pregnancy where bending over to pick something up is no longer worth it 😉

Seriously though, I dropped my sunglasses in a cafe today and just looked at my husband like “are you picking those up, or should I just say my goodbyes?”

So even though I know my house will not be 100% spotless all the time, it’s nice to have amazing cleaning products I can depend on for the messes baby throws my way and for the things she uses.

This new baby line that includes the Clorox Free & Clear Hard Surface Daily Wipes, Multi-Surface Cleaner, and Stain Remover delivers a powerful clean without harsh fumes or chemical residue. Learn More About These Products!

This means that the nursery, clothes, and other hard surfaces around the house stay clean and safe for baby. Try the new Clorox Free & Clear line for baby today and save 15% through August 18th with Cartwheel in the Target App!

Clorox Free & Clear Hard Surface Daily Wipes – These will likely be an item that I will keep on hand in the nursery once Evie arrives. I bought a utility cart at Target to store essentials next to the changing station for easy reach. These wipes will be kept there, too, so I can easily (and quickly) grab them for any nursery messes.

Clorox Free & Clear Multi-Surface Cleaner – This stuff is great. I’m using it to clean the nursery furniture, the windows, baseboards and more so that the room is sparkling clean when she gets here!

But I plan to keep it primarily downstairs in the living room and kitchen so I can easily grab a paper towel and tackle any messes that Evie decides to project our way 😉

Clorox Free & Clear Stain Remover – We all know that baby clothes need to be washed before they’re worn, and I think we all find out pretty early in an infant’s life that babies will go through a lot of clothes each week thanks to the messes they make.

This means that having a great stain remover on hand is a MUST! Because yes, there will be times when the cute lace romper just can’t be saved, but there are plenty of times when a little stain remover could save the onesie!

Target has definitely been my go-to place for all things baby related, from the adorable clothing and decor to the products that will save my sanity like the Clorox Free & Clear line, found at Target in the baby aisle with the other cleaning products.

These products would also make a fantastic baby shower gift for a new mama; pick up a cute basket from Target’s One Spot and some other great baby items, and you’ve got a wonderful (and super useful) gift on your hands!

Are you an expecting mama? What great uses do you have in mind for this new product line?

The post Prepping The Nursery appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

This FREE Emoji Pictionary Baby Shower Game Printable uses emoji images to guess the name of each book! It’s a fun and new game idea everyone will love playing!

Children’s Book Emoji Pictionary Baby Shower Game Printable

Raise your hand if you’ve been to a baby shower and played games that you’ve played at a million others. Yep, we all have. But this Children’s Book Emoji Pictionary is a fun, new shower game that is sure to be a hit and a little different than all the ones you’ve played before!

Emoji Pictionary games have been around for a little while now, but they’re still new enough that most people haven’t played one. This Children’s Book theme makes people think (but not too hard) and everyone always loves it!

The idea behind this game is that the emojis are hints to the title of a children’s book. There are 25 book titles in total that need to be filled in and most of them are classics that people of all ages should be able to figure out!

The person who has the highest number of correct titles once the time is up wins! Don’t forget to give them a prize – we love homemade sugar scrubs, lip balm, and wine as gift ideas!

I made this FREE baby shower printable for my own shower a few weeks ago and thought you guys might enjoy playing it too! I’ve included a few helpful notes about that game and then you can scroll down to the bottom of the post to get the came itself!

Tips For Playing Children’s Book Emoji Pictionary:

Have everyone start with their game sheet face down. This gives everyone a fair chance to compete!

Don’t forget the pens!

Time the game. This one might really depend on your audience, but I think 3 minutes is a good time for this game. With 5 minutes almost everyone will have filled out the sheet.

Have fun! Because that’s the important part!

Things To Know About This Baby Shower Game Printable:

It was designed to be printed on 8.5×11-inch sheets of paper.

It’s best when printed in color due to the small images.

The printable game sheet and answer key are two separate files, so make sure you get both, I did it this way so it was easier to print multiples of the game and just one of the answer key.

Get the FREE Printable Baby Shower Game!

Enter your email address in the form below to print! You will be taken directly to the PDF of the printable and receive an email copy as well. If you do not see a form, please click here to get to it! You’ll Also Need to Get the Answer Key, please click here to grab it!

Pin this Printable Baby Shower Game for Later!

The post Children’s Book Emoji Pictionary Baby Shower Game Printable appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Looking for ideas on what to wear to a baby shower? Here are 3 stylish and easy outfits for momma-to-be to wear for the occasion!

What To Wear To A Baby Shower

If you’re an expecting mamma, I’m sure you’ve asked yourself this question, but the answer depends on a few different things.

It’s important to think about your style, the theme or environment of the shower itself, AND the most important thing “What will I be comfortable in?”.

Today I’m partnering with Pink Blush Maternity to share three different looks to help inspire your wardrobe for your own baby shower! Pink Blush has become one of my go-to places for finding comfortable and fashionable items to show off my growing bump!

Keeping It Casual:

Baby Q’s are becoming all the rage, in fact, if you’re doing a co-ed shower, I think this is definitely the way to go!

These showers tend to be a little more relaxed which means that throwing on jeans is perfectly acceptable!

Chances are it will be hot out, so wear light layers or short sleeves on top!

Shop The Look:

• Pink Blush Coral Embroidered Crochet Mesh Kimono
• Pink Blush White Maternity Cami
• Pink Blush Destroyed Cropped Maternity Boyfriend Jean

This is such an easy outfit and one that you could wear on a regular basis. I’ve loved the side panel jeans throughout my pregnancy and Pink Blush has so many great Maternity Tops to pair with them!

Dress It Up:

This is probably the look that most women will be drawn to and that one that I would say best fits the atmosphere of a traditional baby shower. You know, women only with lots of food and baby shower games.

This is actually what I wore to my baby shower, we did a simple milk and cookies bar in the afternoon and I paired it with brown sandals, but you could easily dress it up with jewelry and dressier shoes for a dinner party shower.

Shop The Look:

Pink Blush Pink Polka Dot Maternity Midi Dress

This dress was a heavier material than I expected and the quality was great. It was super comfortable and an item that I can easily wear again after baby. If this dress isn’t quite your style, Pink Blush has hundreds of other Maternity Dresses you can choose from for everyday wear and even black tie affairs!

Let’s Go Boho:

Boho fashion is all the rage right now and what I love most about this simple ensemble is that you could get away with wearing it pretty much anywhere.

Different shoes and jewelry can easily take this look from backyard barbecue to garden party glam, it all depends on what you’re going for!

Shop The Look:

• Pink Blush Coral Embroidered Crochet Mesh Kimono
• Pink Blush White Solid Ruched Fitted Maternity Midi Dress

I wear this Kimono pretty regularly because not only do I LOVE it, but I get so many compliments on it every time I wear it! And trust me, when you’re third trimester falls in the head of summer and you’re sweaty and tired, a stranger telling you how pretty you look and how much they love your top always feels good!

Even though these styles are all maternity, most of these pieces work for your post-baby body too, which means you’re adding versatile articles to your closet that you can get tons of use out of for months and years to come!

If you’re a guest attending a baby shower, there’s no reason you can’t take inspiration from these styles as well. Unlike a wedding, it would be hard to steal the show from the glowing mamma with the baby belly 😉

The post What To Wear To A Baby Shower appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Wrapping up the third trimester and sharing how I’m feeling, my favorite products so far, and answering some of your questions!

Technically my third trimester isn’t over since Evie girl is still baking in my belly, but at 37 weeks she could arrive at any moment and I wanted to share how the last couple months of my pregnancy has gone for those who are interested.

I honestly can’t believe how fast this pregnancy has flown. They say the last month is the longest and feels like forever, but so far that doesn’t seem to be the case either.

Life is just hurdling along at light speed right now and it could slow down just a little because I still have a ton of work to do!

You might remember that I decided not to do maternity photos, but I did a few self-portraits earlier this week because I did want some nice photos to remember this special time in our lives and I’m so happy with how they turned out.

Thank goodness for camera timers and a dog that felt like cooperating for photos. Some of my favorites are scattered throughout the post 🙂 I shot these on my Sony a6000 with my 35mm and 16-70mm lenses, they were edited in Lightroom with The Pure Collection.

Last trimester you guys had a bunch of questions for me. This trimester that big question seems to be “How are you feeling?”. Honestly, I’m feeling pretty good overall, I’ve definitely hit the point of constant discomfort and my feet hate me, but all in all, it could be worse.

The heat and humidity hit my lower legs and feet hard with the swelling. And I had a stretch of really bad Charley Horses that caused trigger points in the soles of my feet.

Luckily, my momma came and worked some magic last week and while the trigger points are still painful and there, I haven’t had much swelling in almost a week.

However, my mom came to check my feet last week because we had a bit of a scare. I had a couple of days and nights where my feet and legs itched pretty badly and we had to have labs run to test for Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and of course, it took days to get the results so I spent them living in slight panic.

Luckily, the lab work came back negative and the itching what likely caused by oversensitive nerves from the swelling. Had it been positive, the doctor would have induced me this Thursday once I hit 37 weeks, hence the slight freak out.

But man, all the little things that can happen that you don’t know about can be scary, the biggest lesson I’ve learned during this pregnancy is to do a lot of research, ask a lot of questions, and be a strong self-advocate.

So let’s pick up from where we left off with the Second Trimester Bumpdate.

Glucose Test:

I failed my 1-hour glucose test which meant I had to do that extra not fun 3-hour test. It was miserable. I’ve fasted for 30 hours before, but 18 hours and being pregnant was so much worse. Luckily, I passed and needles no longer bother me… so there’s that.

I will say though, that when I failed the first test, it was a dark day. I know that it’s not something that was in my control, but it still sucked to feel like I had failed my child and she wasn’t even here yet.

I prompted me to do a lot of research and I’m grateful for the knowledge I have now, but I hope that all you mammas out there know that just because you have gestational diabetes, it doesn’t make you a failure and you’re not alone.

During my week of “unknown”, I turned to my month board on The Bump where there was a GD Support thread and it helped to talk with other women in the same position and to educate myself on the topic.

So it’s something I highly recommend doing if you find yourself looking for support and resources.

Does Evie Have a Middle Name?

Yep, Matt finally picked one. It’s not my favorite, but I like it, and he gets the final say so it is what it is.

We originally said no family names and while the name we chose isn’t technically a family name, it blends both of our mother’s middle names together and we felt it was a nice tribute to the incredible women who raised us.

It also happens to be a foreign variant of Matt’s grandmother’s name, so it’s really quite fitting.

A few middle names we toyed with but didn’t end up choosing were Rue, Clementine, Lennon, Rowen, and Maru. We really wanted a middle name with Rue in it, but none of them felt right, but she’ll still be our little Evie Roo even if it’s not her given name.

Again, I won’t be sharing her middle name on here to help provide some privacy for our little one.

Any Cravings?

Still no, that being said, my sweet tooth has come back with a vengeance in the third trimester and I’d be lying if I told you this kid wasn’t at least 25% Chick-fil-A. And a local restaurant has an amazing salad I could probably eat every day, but I usually only get it once a week.

Weight Gain:

Unfortunately, I didn’t stay on the track I wanted, but I’m still well within range for a healthy gain for my BMI which I’m pleased with. I gained almost 5lbs in 1 week a couple of weeks ago which had a lot to do with water retention and I think she had a bit of a growth spurt because my belly was noticeably bigger. I haven’t really gained since then though, so I’m 20lbs up overall.

Stretch Marks:

Things were going so well and then they happened. I know they’re hereditary and the lotions and oil or only deterrents, but they happened during a week when I got lazy with the lotion.

My mom said the same happened to her, she didn’t get them with me and was religious with her lotion, but got lazy for a week during her pregnancy with my brother and there they were.

Those first couple of days after they appeared were a struggle, first of all, it’s hard to see your body change like that, secondly, they freaking hurt. They were itchy with a burning sensation like a sunburn, I was not expecting that.

Products I’m Currently Loving:

Exercise Ball – This thing has been a serious help to my back pain and the bonus is that it helps your body prepare for labor by strengthening your pelvic floor and helping baby drop into position.

Red Raspberry Leaf – Many midwives and mothers claim that by drinking this tea or taking as a supplement, you’ll have an easier labor and that it helps to reduce nausea during pregnancy as well. It’s also commonly used to ease menstrual cramps, balance hormones, and increase fertility. Make sure to talk to your physician about it before making it part of your daily routine.

Silicone Rings – When my feet started swelling pretty regularly a few weeks ago, I knew there was a chance my hands wouldn’t be far behind and that it was probably best to take off my wedding ring so I didn’t risk it having to be cut off.

Plus it made for a great time for it to be sent away to be redipped. And then when we went out to dinner and the waiter asked if we wanted separate checks… I figured I’d invest in a few of these so I didn’t look like the pregnant mistress since my husband still wears his ring.

Waterproof Mattress Protector – We put this on a few weeks ago as a precaution. Several friends recommended I get one and it’s given me some peace of mind knowing that my memory foam mattress is a little more protected should my water break in bed or from post-partum recovery. It’s not at all crinkly and fits over our 12-inch thick mattress, so I’m really pleased with it.

P.S. We seriously have the most comfortable and amazing mattress EVER and it’s so cheap! We’ve owned 3 over the last 5 years for different beds and rooms and they’re incredible! Check them out!

Native Deodorant – Getting pregnant was the final push I needed to quit my old deodorant and switch to one that was aluminum free. It isn’t so much about the pregnancy as it is about my future and making sure I have a long one with my family.

Aluminum has been known to be a factor in developing breast cancer and Alzheimers, so for me, it was a no-brainer to switch. The Strawberry Rhubarb is my favorite and they just released their Pumpkin Spice Latte scent for fall!

Maternity Belt – I’ve had lower back pain for years and this belly sure hasn’t been helping, so I picked up this belt a couple of months ago and wear it when I’m out running errands or on my feet a lot around the house to help reduce the stress that added weight is putting on my back.

Theraworx – I mentioned that I’d been having horrible leg cramps earlier on and my midwife recommended taking a calcium supplement and using a magnesium lotion. As long as I remember to use both and stay well hydrated, I don’t seem to have any issues. But forget and it ends up being a very painful night.

I’m supposed to have about 3 weeks left which means that this will be my last Bumpdate and next time a post like this rolls around, I’ll be introducing you to our sweet baby girl! Crazy!

I also plan to share some free printables from my travel themed Baby Shower, My hospital packing list, as well as Evie’s Nursery Reveal in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

The post Third Trimester Bumpdate appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These Free Halloween Coloring Pages are an easy way to add entertainment to the spookiest month of the year! Print them right at home and let your kids color!

Halloween Coloring Pages

Halloween is full of frights and fun, and if you want the kids to get into the spirit (in a not-so-scary way!) check out these Free Halloween Coloring Pages that you can print so your kids can get creative.

With Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s a widespread favorite. There are so many things that are appealing about this holiday that it’s really no wonder why everyone gets excited about its arrival!

Those who like scares enjoy horror movies and the generally spooky atmosphere, not to mention all the creepy (or cute!) costumes that are worn for the occasion.

As for me, I love the fall weather, the foliage, the DIY decorations (pumpkin carving, anyone?), and making and sharing lots of pumpkin and apple recipes!

Oh, and let’s not forget about all that candy!

But the best part about any holiday is spending time with friends and family and making memories.

If you have kiddos at home, try planning some simple (non-sugar-related) activities that you can do together, like making art with these festive Free Halloween Coloring Pages.

Our everyday lives are filled with TV, video games, and iPhones, and sometimes it’s important to go back to some simple means of entertainment. The only reason you’ll need a computer is to search “Halloween Coloring Pages Printable,” print, and go!

In addition to coloring, you can do tons of other crafts with these Free Halloween Coloring Pages! So break out the art supplies and let your kids’ imaginations go wild.

Things To Make Your Halloween Coloring Pages Even More Fun:

• Craft Glitter
• Pom Poms
• Pipe Cleaners
• Glitter Crayons
• Metallic Crayons

Use these items to make the outlines come to life. Then cut them out for collages, mount them on construction paper — the list goes on.

These pages are a great source of entertainment for a kid-friendly Halloween party. If you’re a teacher, they can even be used for school crafts or projects.

Or, you can have the entire family show off their art skills — while you save money — by making some homemade decorations to put up around the house so it looks fun and festive!

Gather everyone together and get creative with these Free Halloween Coloring Pages! Arts, crafts, and family — there’s no better way to get into the Halloween spirit!

Get the FREE Printable Halloween Coloring Pages!

Enter your email address in the form below to print! You will be taken directly to the PDF of the printable and receive an email copy as well. If you do not see a form, please click here to get to it!

More Fun Halloween Ideas:

• Goosebumps Halloween Punch
• Halloween Party Playlist
• Halloween Scavenger Hunt Printable
• Easy Halloween Cupcakes

Pin these Halloween Coloring Pages for Later!

The post Halloween Coloring Pages appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Planning a kid-friendly Halloween party or a family craft day? This adorable Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable is perfect for preparing little bags of treats … and it’s free!

Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable

If you’ve got little ones who can’t wait to get into the seasonal spirit, surprise them with a festive “treat.” Download this precious Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable and let it inspire all sorts of fun!

This Bugs & Kisses graphic is perfect for sealing little bags filled with candy, and of course, Hershey’s Kisses.

These treat bags are so easy to assemble!

1. Simply print and cut them out.
2. Fold each in half like a tent.
3. Then use double stick tape to attach them to treat-filled cellophane bags!

An adorably ghoulish goody bag is the perfect way to share some sweets with your kiddos and their friends. Use them for get-togethers, to pass out to trick-or-treaters, or to bring to your little one’s classroom.

Of course, you can use this graphic for other crafts, too! Gather the youngsters and use the Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable to make cards, collages, or gift tags.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Paper Cutter
• Double Stick Tape
• Cardstock
• Cello Bags – The bags need to be 4 inches wide max.

Anyone who works with children, like teachers, nannies, and daycare employees, can have fun with this little project. After all, these Bugs & Kisses characters are too cute not to share!

Arts and crafts are one the best way to get everyone into the spirit and spend time together. I love free Halloween Printables — including these Halloween Coloring Pages — because you can do so many different projects with them.

Being creative is a good way to expand young minds. But most importantly, when you make things together, you’re also making memories together too.

Autumn is one of the best times of the year, bringing cozy weather, beautiful foliage, outdoor activities, and of course, Halloween! It’s also the shortest season, so you have to make the most of it.

But you might also enjoy making my Reindeer Food recipe for Christmas which also come with a free printable!

We’re finally into fall, so it’s time to start making the most out of every crisp, cinnamon-scented day.

With the day filled with costumes and candy around the corner, you should start feeling festive! Begin by making some crafts with this adorable Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable, something the whole family can enjoy.

Get the FREE Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable!

Enter your email address in the form below to print! You will be taken directly to the PDF of the printable and receive an email copy as well.

Pin this Halloween Printable for Later!

The post Bugs & Kisses Halloween Printable appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

I’ve been keeping something big from you all the last couple of weeks, actually, she’s sort of a tiny little thing. Our daughter, Evangeline, made her way into the world on September 30th, and we are absolutely smitten (and sleep deprived).

In my bumpdates over the last few months, I shared my pregnancy journey, which, for the most part, was fairly easy. Or at least, much easier than I anticipated.

Since my last bumpdate around week 37, life became increasingly uncomfortable and I began to understand how the fear of childbirth could no longer compete with the lack of sleep, need to pee every 2 seconds, and inability to breath fully because a tiny human was cramping my lungs. I wanted her out.

I actually didn’t try any of the induction myths though, except we did make some chili for dinner on the 29th, so maybe the spices kicked things off, but I don’t think so. I think she was just ready. We actually had a feeling she’d be arriving that weekend for several months.

That night, Matt and I stayed up until 9:30ish watching tv (if you haven’t checked out Single Parents yet, you should. Hilarious!) We went to bed and I woke up around 11:30 to go to the bathroom.

At that time, I was having some cramping and lower back pain and started my “bloody show”. The cramping made it hard for me to get back to sleep, but I tried to get some rest anyway.

Between midnight at 4:00 am, I labored at home. I took a shower, blow dried my hair, bounced on my exercise ball, and made sure everything was ready for the hospital. I had packed my hospital bag with the basics at 34 weeks and will share my packing list with you soon.

Around 4:00, my bloody show had a little more blood than I was comfortable with and Evie had settled down and wasn’t moving much, so we decided to go into labor and delivery just to be safe even though my contractions were only about 5 to 7 minutes apart.

When we arrived at the hospital for intake, I was only 3.5cm dilated and because I hadn’t had a cervical check done since 36 weeks, they weren’t able to tell if the dilation had happened within a few hours or a few weeks. So they gave me two hours to walk the hospital wing and labor in an intake room to see if I would make progress or if they would send me home until I did.

My contractions were between 4 and 6 minutes apart at this point and I was definitely in labor, but hospital policy is hospital policy. So I walked and the nurse offered to check how things were progressing about 90 minutes later around 6:15, no progress…

This was a little frustrating because I was clearly in labor and contractions were getting more intense and if they sent me home, the only thing that would change (that I would know of) was if my waters broke. Which doesn’t always happen naturally.

So I did one more lap and the nurse checked me again 30 minutes later and I was 5cm dilated. Hallelujah! I got to stay!

They quickly moved us over to a delivery room and it also happened to be shift change, so we got a new nurse (who was amazing), and she respected my birth preferences, which was great because our original nurse looked at me like an insane person for wanting a saline lock over an IV and intermittent monitoring.

The nurses told me that Evie was partially sunny side up and that was why I wasn’t dilating as quickly and why I was having severe back labor. It was also causing Contraction Coupling, this is when two or more contractions happen without a return to baseline in between. It sucked.

We had gotten into the room around 7:00 am, and I labored in the shower and on the ball and with the peanut for a few hours. The nurse had me lay with my chest and head on the ball on my knees to help Evie rotate into position.

My mom arrived around 9:30 am, and things went pretty quickly after that. I got blood drawn for my labs, labored on the ball, and things were intensifying. I believe it was around 11:30 or 11:45 am when my waters broke.

However, upon checking, I had a second waters sac, so the little one had broken, but not the big one which meant that we weren’t quite there yet. The nurse said that the doctor could rupture the other waters if I wanted to get things moving or we could wait it out.

I decided to wait it out for another 10 to 15 minutes to see if it would happen naturally. Something about a “knitting needle” being put up in there did not give me comfort.

After about 10 minutes, it was time for another check to see how I was progressing. I was at 8cm and my second waters broke during the check. At this point, I was entering transition and kind of wanted to die. I had absolutely 0 pain medication in me and this back labor meant business.

I had done a great job breathing through the contractions until transition at which point I definitely turned into a screamer. I knew it wasn’t the most beneficial method, but I couldn’t help it. Childbirth is a whole other level as I’m sure many of you know first hand.

At this point, the nurse also hooked me up to the monitors permanently to monitor Evie now that her swimming pool was gone and things were about to get very real.

My nurse told me that while things were progressing quickly and after checking me again around 12:15 pm, in which I was 10cm dilated, that first-time mothers usually pushed for a long time and she wanted to know how I was going to be the most comfortable. I told her I wanted to try the bar since I had heard that pushing on your back adds more strain.

She got the bar installed and told me to start pushing. Matt and my mother worked with me through the first few pushes and when the nurse came back into the room, she started moving REAL fast to get everything prepped for delivery.

I pushed while squatting with the bar for 10 minutes before my legs gave out and I laid on my back. I think the bar really helped move her down into position because after two pushes on my back, she was crowning and the nurse was paging the doctor to get there immediately.

My doctor came rushing in, trying to get all his gear on to delivery, and it meant I had to hold off pushing through a contraction (that was awful), but then the doc was ready and with the next couple of contractions she was out. I had to hold off on pushing a couple of times to prevent external tearing and to let the doc get her shoulders out.

But at 12:50 pm, little miss Evangeline came into the world after about 15 minutes of pushing and 13.5 hours of labor.

She weighed 6lbs 8oz (same as her Mumma did!) and was 20 inches long.

She was placed on my chest and Matt cut the cord and then the doctor continued to assess me. I was bleeding pretty good, but I didn’t have any external tearing.

The doctor said I had some internal tearing and didn’t think it was a lot at first so he attempted to numb things for some stitches but quickly realized that it was going to be an extremely painful procedure for me that way and recommended that we go to the OR to do it.

I did not love the idea of going to the OR, especially since my options were an epidural with light sedation or being fully put under with a breathing tube. But it was what I needed to do. I was losing blood and had so little energy so about 30 to 45 minutes after Evie was born, I was whisked away to surgery.

Now, throughout my whole pregnancy, I had a feeling that something was going to go wrong. In the beginning, I was worried about having a miscarriage and by the end, I was worried about her being stillborn. But I was also worried something would happen to me. I even wrote Matt a letter “just in case”. Thankfully, it’s still sitting unopened in my hospital bag which has only been half unpacked.

Evie came through the delivery perfectly, which I was most thankful for. I’m glad that the complications were on my end because I’m better equipped to deal with them. And even though this was a minor surgery all things considered, it was scary.

I was completely drained and exhausted and low on blood, nurses were running back and forth and doctors were explaining procedures and having me sign off on treatment while Evie squirmed on your chest. Then suddenly, she’s being handed over to Matt and I’m being moved to a transport bed.

I will never forget how I felt being wheeled out of that room. It felt like slow motion while I watched my husband sit on a bench by the window with our daughter while I was pulled away from them. I was terrified that I may never see either of them again, yet comforted knowing that at least they would have each other.

I know that sounds dramatic, but half my hormones had literally just fallen out of my body and my emotions were all over the place. But those moments gave me pause and that picture of Matt all alone with her is in my head every day as a constant reminder of how precious life is and what’s truly important.

Anyways, once we got into the OR, I had opted for the epidural as the anesthesiologist said it had fewer risks. Funny, I had an all natural birth just to have to have an epidural anyway. But overall, it was a healthier and safer option for Evie, which is why I chose to have a natural birth, to begin with.

I was awake for the entire thing, but partially sedated and very loopy. What was supposed to be a quick 10 to 15-minute stitch up actually took about an hour. Once the doctor got all up in there, he realized how severe my tearing was.

I can’t remember the medical term for it and some of the other staff had never even heard of it, but I had apparently had a 4th degree tear internally from my cervix to the opening of my vaginal cavity and the doctor could see the fatty tissue of my colon through the vaginal tear… lovely, right?

Luckily, he was still able to repair everything without any additional incisions or having to put me under with a breathing tube. So I was thankful for that. The surgical staff was so awesome, probably about 25% of that was the warm and fuzzies from the epidural, but they really were great and I had my mom text my father-in-law to go buy them all donuts.

So I guess that about covers it. I was back with Matt and Evie about 4 hours after she was born, which is when the photo of her and I way above was taken. It was the first time I really got to see her face and take her in since I couldn’t really see her when she was on my chest earlier in the day.

We had a 2-day hospital stay instead of just 1, and on October 2nd, we got to head home and introduce our pretty girl to her big brother, who still seems to question why we thought we needed another pet… especially such a loud one. But I think he loves her 😉

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of Evie to come and I’ll be sure to share my hospital packing list, my “4th-trimester” update, and her nursery reveal in the coming weeks! But in the meantime, thanks for being here and following along with our next big adventure.

The post Evangeline’s Birth Story appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These Baby Shower Favors are a Free Printable perfect for any travel themed baby shower. These Party Favors were designed to fit EOS lip balms.

Baby Shower Favors

If you’re planning a travel or hot air balloon inspired baby shower for someone, these EOS Hot Air Balloon Baby Shower Favors are an adorable way to celebrate!

This was the theme for my baby shower back in August and there were so many cute details – sorry it has taken me so long to share more of them – but, baby.

These travel inspired favors were one of my favorite things because they turned out so cute and the best part is that I’m sharing the FREE PRINTABLE with all of you!

I saw these Elephant Favors on Etsy and thought it was such a cute idea and knew we could make them with hot air balloons instead!

For my shower, we did a travel theme and for the food, we did milk and cookies, but the cookies were different kinds from all around the world to stick with the travel theme – just in case you’re looking for more ideas!

We had such a good time, the decorations turned out amazing thanks to my mom and mother-in-law and we played some games, this Emoji Pictionary is my favorite!

You can also check out my What To Wear To A Baby Shower post to see what I wore to mine as well as a few other outfit ideas!

These Baby Shower Favors can be on the expensive side because the lip balms themselves aren’t cheap, so this is a great favor for smaller showers or if you really feel like splurging! Plus, they’re just so darn cute!

These printable favors are designed to be printed on 8.5×11-inch cardstock, to assemble them, you’ll need a few tools:

• White Cardstock
• Circle Cutter
• Paper Cutter

To assemble, you’re simply going to print, cute the favor cards out, then use the circle cutter to cut the circle out. From here all you need to do is open the lip balm, unscrew the top, then screw it back together with the favor card.

Pin These Baby Shower Favors for Later!

Get the FREE Printable Baby Shower Favors!

Enter your email address in the form below to print! You will be taken directly to the PDF of the printable and receive an email copy as well. If you do not see a form, please click here to get to it!

Let’s Connect!

I created a fun little group on facebook and I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can ask questions and see what’s new with Sugar & Soul! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #sugarandsoulco so I can see all the wonderful recipes YOU make from this site! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

The post Baby Shower Favors – Hot Air Balloon Printable appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages are an easy way to add entertainment to your child’s schedule.

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Want to get the kids in the holiday spirit? Present them with these Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Printables and get creative!

The thought of Thanksgiving is usually accompanied by images of lots of delicious food, and rightfully so. But the most important part of the holiday is about spending time with family, and crafting gets everyone together.

These Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages are a fun way to get everyone around the table — no cooking (or cleaning!) required. Instead, put out some crayons, markers, and colored pencils, and let everyone color to their heart’s content.

If you really want to go all out, grab the scissors, glue, construction paper, glitter, and pom-poms, too. It’ll be like a “buffet” of craft supplies, and everyone can customize their own pictures!

Let an adorable turkey, an overflowing cornucopia, and classic a Native American and pilgrim picture inspire some festive artwork. Plus, crafts like these a great way to make budget-friendly decorations that you can put around the house.

You and the kids can even present a little homemade “gift” to each of your Thanksgiving guests!

Things To Make Your Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Even More Fun:

• Craft Glitter
• Pom Poms
• Pipe Cleaners
• Glitter Crayons
• Metallic Crayons

But the best part about these Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages is the bonding time they can help create. Coloring is a simple past time that doesn’t involve screens or social media — instead, it encourages conversation.

Parents, let me remind you that coloring and crafting are super relaxing! Take a few minutes to do a fun project with your kids, and trust me, you’ll enjoy it, too!

Teachers, take note: Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Printables are a great activity to do in class. You can even tie them in with an interactive holiday history lesson.

Thanksgiving is about spending time with loved ones, and not only around food! Make art and memories with these Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Printables as the holiday approaches this season.

Make these Turkey Cupcakes, print off these coloring pages and have some fun!

Get the FREE Printable Halloween Coloring Pages!

Enter your email address in the form below to print! You will be taken directly to the PDF of the printable and receive an email copy as well. If you do not see a form, please click here to get to it!

The post Thanksgiving Coloring Pages appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These are the Best Gift Ideas for New Moms from loungewear to luxury, every new mom will love these thoughtful gift ideas that go beyond baby!

Best Gifts for New Moms

The holidays are upon us and I’m sure many of you have already started your holiday shopping (Yay you!) but for those of you who are still working on that list and have a new mom in your life this gift guide is for you!

As a new mom, I can tell you first hand, my life now revolves around my daughter. Which I’m totally okay with, but, sometimes it’s nice to feel like people still think about YOU and not necessarily about the baby (but really they’re always thinking about the baby).

I’ve collected some of my favorite gift ideas for new moms that go beyond baby, as in, no baby products will be recommended on this list. This list will focus on gift ideas that will treat the new mom herself and not her new status.

Wine & Spirits – The woman spent almost 10 months (possibly longer) without consuming alcohol and she might appreciate a nice bottle to have on hand after those really long days. Put it together in a small basket with these cute socks and adult sippy cup!

Loungewear – Everyone wants to be comfortable, but many new moms practically live in their pajamas and yoga pants (these ones are my favorite and one size fits all!), so a nice set of loungewear will be much appreciated. The Saturday/Sunday line is so comfortable and worth every penny! And this Mama Bear shirt is pretty cute too!

Mattress – Okay, hear me out, this might seem like a weird gift, but this mattress is the BEST (and the price is even better) and it will make those few minutes of sleep feel amazing! This is a great gift to get if you know the mom really well and know a mattress upgrade is something she could really use.

Spa Day – Every woman loves to be pampered so a gift card to a spa for a mani/pedi or a massage is a great idea. But you could also make a spa gift basket with a homemade sugar scrub, rejuvenating eye gels, and Pumpkin Mud Mask that smells like dessert!

Candles & Holders – The house might be a mess, but at least it can still smell good! This tealight holder set is something I get so many compliments on and it comes in several colors too! Pick up some scented tea lights to go with it! Or gift them this Sugared Pecans Scented Candle (YUM!)

Candy – For a small gift or stocking stuffer, go beyond her favorite candy (but get that too) and splurge on some of the fun candies from Sugarfina, these Champagne Gummy Bears are my favorite! She’ll be thankful for the little pick-me-up during those late night feedings.

Portable Photo Printer – It’s impossible not to take a million photos a day as a new mom and while we live in a digital world, sometimes it’s nice to have printed keepsakes. I love this Portable Printer because it lets me print right from my phone!

Drip Coffeemaker – Mama needs her coffee and she may not have time to run to Starbucks! I love my Chemex Coffeemaker because it’s easy to use, super chic looking, and makes a fine pitcher of coffee. Be a doll and get her a Yeti Insulated Mug to make sure her coffee is still hot when she finally gets to drink it 3 hours later. Or these SUPER cute enamel mugs for mom OR dad!

Audible Gift Card – If you’re not already using Audible yourself, check out my Beginner’s Guide, and then grab a gift card for the new mom in your life. She’s likely too busy to sit down and watch an episode of tv, but an audiobook in the background can go with her whether it’s in the car to an appointment, the kitchen to warm up a bottle, or the shower on the rare chance she gets one!

Mother’s Jewelry – This is always a big want for a lot of mothers, I personally don’t really wear jewelry, but I can appreciate the simplicity of a dainty piece of jewelry (which are super trendy right now) I thought this birthstone necklace and this mama bear bangle were super sweet pieces!

Pin this New Moms Gift Guide for Later!

The post Best Gifts for New Moms appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These Postpartum Recovery Products and Tips will help make your recovery easier so you can spend more time enjoying your new baby!

Postpartum Survival Products and Tips

It’s been just eight weeks since I had my daughter and I’m finally starting to feel relatively “normal” again. My postpartum recovery was not an easy one as you might have guessed from Evie’s Birth Story. But I learned a lot and was thankful for all the resources and information I received from my doctor, nurses, and other moms.

So I thought I would share some of that advice as well as some of the products that helped me survive the first few weeks after childbirth in case any of you are prepping for a baby too and aren’t quite sure what you’ll need.

My Best Tips for Postpartum Recovery

Do Not Skip Meds – I can’t tell you how important it is to set a medication schedule and stick to it. When you miss a dose, it can take a day to correct it. My first few days home were extremely tough because my meds got all out of whack and I was in a lot of pain. My mother finally took control of them and set me up with a schedule which helped immensly because I was at the point where I couldn’t even process mg and hours.

Lean Forward When You Urinate – I know this sounds weird, but if you lean forward and put your head between your knees, it will change the flow of your urine and reduce burning. I didn’t have any burning in the beginning, but about two weeks in it started and this tip was a saving grace for me.

Take A Shower Every Day – I’m not talking about a full shampoo and shave, I’m talking about a 3-minute rinse, you’ll be amazed at how much more human it makes you feel and it will help keep things clean and heal faster.

Drink ALL The Water – I thought I had to drink a lot of water when I was pregnant, but I have to drink so much more now. Especially for those who are nursing or pumping, you’ll need to stay extra hydrated in order to keep your supply up. It will also help with constipation and healing.

Sleep On A Towel – Your hormones are regulating and this means your body is experiencing a lot of change and for many, like myself, this led to night sweats. By sleeping on a towel, you can easily replace it in the middle of the night and not have to sleep in damp sheets.

Make Yourself Eat – I know how quickly the days go by and suddenly you’ve gone from waking up to almost dinner time and you know you didn’t eat lunch and you can’t remember if you had breakfast because that days all seem to run together. But you gotta eat. Make it a priority because you need your energy and strength to take care of your little one.

Take It Easy – On that first good day you’re going to feel like you can take on the world and by taking on the world I mean go up and down the stairs three times, make dinner, and put away dishes. Wait and have someone else do these things. I got a little over ambitious a few days postpartum and it set me back quite a bit. If you’re feeling good, just keep doing what you’re doing and add normal activities back in slowly and not all at once.

Let People Help – I know how overwhelming life can be after having a baby. Your emotions are all over the place, you’re physically and mentally exhausted, and you are in no condition to play hostess. But guess what, you coud probably benefit from the help and no one needs you looking all pretty to come watch the baby for an hour or two while you take a nap. However, don’t be afraid to speak up when it does get to be too much.

Enjoy Your Baby – I know you’re tired and I’m pretty sure that will never go away, so take advantage of it and enjoy all the snuggles and love your new son or daughter has to offer because they grow so fast.

Recovery Basics

I was not looking forward to the postpartum recovery period, in fact, in a lot of ways it worried me more than the actual birth. The birth was hard – but it was quick – and I feel totally justified in my concerns over the postpartum recovery.

By the end of week one, I was ready to trade in the day to day postpartum life for labor all over again – I was THAT miserable. It seemed like every time something would feel better a new issue would pop up. It was stressful and discouraging, to say the least.

These products are the basics, many of which you’ll begin using at the hospital after delivery and some you’ll want to stock up on ahead of time. Each hospital is different and may provide different things – I recommend asking your doctor about what your particular hospital offers so you can be prepared.

I also highly recommend asking your nurses for extras of some of the hospital provided supplies before being discharged.

Mesh Underwear – These things are life and I found them to be rather comfortable. I requested a few extra pairs before leaving the hospital and accidentally discovered that they were washable so I was able to rotate them for several weeks.

Always Discreet Underwear – Okay, let’s call them what they are – adult diapers – but trust me, you’ll be thankful you have them. The hospital pads can become quite bulky and this underwear can help provide peace of mind, especially at night.

The MomWasher – You should get a peri bottle at the hospital, but they is like a super version. It has an angled head for better spray and worked WAY better than the one I got at the hospital. This product is used to spray warm water on your hooha when you urinate to help dilute the urine and reduce burning – this is especially nice if you had any tearing. The peri bottle is also used to help clean yourself since wiping isn’t an option for a while.

Perineal Cooling Pads – So if you’re an expecting mama, I’m sure you’ve heard of “padsicles”, well I didn’t want to deal with making or using them and didn’t want to add any extra moisture down there. So I bought these. Were they pricey for what they are… yup. Were they worth every penny… abso-freaking-lutley! And they work great as cold compresses for foreheads and for relieving sore breasts during those first few weeks of breastfeeding and pumping.

Tucks Wipes – Many hospitals provide you with these, mine did not. You can use them to line your pad for temporary relief for tears and hemorrhoids.

Stool Softener – They should start you on stool softener at the hospital and it’s really important that you keep taking it once you get home and beyond your first bowel movement. At 8 weeks postpartum I was still taking them twice a day. I would also recommend having some Miralax on hand should things get backed up.

Sitz Bath – So this is an item that a lot of people swear by, but I honestly didn’t find it that helpful. And honestly, the reason I probably didn’t find it helpful was because I didn’t use it as I should have. I have a low attention span and it stressed me out to have to think about sitting on the toilet for 20 minutes 3 times a day.

Epsom Salt – There are a few uses for this stuff and it’s always good to have in the house anyway. You might want it for a sitz bath or in my case, I use it to help with clogged ducts (see breastfeeding/pumping section). Make sure to get plain Epsom salt, some of the essentials oils that are often found in Epsom are not recommended for postpartum healing or should not be used on your nipples if you’re breastfeeding or pumping.

Postpartum Belly Girdle – I am not using this as much as I should be, but I do think it’s been helpful when I do use it. There are a lot of different kinds out there, this is just the one I chose to use because I liked that it had different levels depending on the number of weeks you are postpartum. Using a girdle or belly band helps your abdomen realign while providing a light compression to help your uterus shrinks and your organs move back into place. It can also help reduce the sag of skin.

Extra Postpartum Comforts

These aren’t things you necessarily need during postpartum recovery and none of them are really treatment items, but they will make life a lot more comfortable during your recovery.

Heating Pad – Those cold gel packs are great for your vaginal area, but your back and breasts are going to ache too and heat will help them feel better.

ChapStick – I was surprised by how dry and dehydrated I was after giving birth and my lips saw the worst of it, so I highly recommend having a few sticks around the house that are easily accessible to you.

Pill Case – As I mentioned above, my mom had to get me on a schedule with my medications so my pain remained manageable. Having a pill case made a huge difference over having a pile of pill bottles. Everything was premeasured for me so I just had to pop the container for the time of day and I just had to refill the pill case every few days.

Robe – Having a short lightweight robe was so helpful to me. We had a lot of visitors during the first few weeks and since I spent a lot of time in my nursing bra and pajama pants, I could easily throw this on and be what I call “postpartum presentable”. It was also great during kangaroo care because I could do skin to skin with Evie and still have us both covered and warm.

Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff – Many of the more serious issues that can arise after birth impact blood pressure and this can be helpful to have on hand should you start having other symptoms. High blood pressure and a constant headache can be a sign of preeclampsia which can develop after delivery in mothers who didn’t have it during pregnancy. This is completely above and beyond, but doesn’t hurt.

Breastfeeding/Pumping Products

I mentioned in my second-trimester bumpdate that I would be exclusively pumping. I knew it was considered the hardest way to do things, but man, I had no idea just how hard it would be.

I am fortunate enough to have established a really great milk supply and by January I should have stashed away enough to begin weaning myself from the pump and still provide Evie with daily breastmilk until she’s 9 months old with formula supplementation.

Pumping has sort of dictated my life over the last two months and while it’s been a successful venture, it’s been a tough one. I suffer from chronic clogged ducts and most recently am being treated for Thrush.

So needless to say, I’ve needed to find ways to help with the discomfort and keep me going. Here are a few of my favorite items for nursing and pumping mamas.

I also highly recommend my Lactation Brownies Recipe for boosting you milk supply!

Wireless Nursing Bras – If you’re nursing or pumping, you’ll want to make sure to wear wireless bras because not only are they more comfortable than wired, but wired are believed to stunt bloodflow and in turn lower milk production.

Booby Tubes – I love these things because unlike my electrical heating pad (which I also love) I can heat these things up and stick them in my bra when I have clogs or aches and still move freely around the house.

Lecithin – I have been plagued with chronic clogs since around two weeks postpartum and this supplement has helped me cut down on the number of clogs I get and help the ones I do get break up faster.

Pumping Bra – Nobody has time to hold pump bottles for 20 to 40 minutes, it’s so much easier to go hands-free and a good pumping bra will allow you to put on your makeup, play with the baby, or just take a little “me time” to play on your phone. I love the brand because the material is comfortable and the sizing is super customizable which is great because it’s likely to change week to week as your body does.

Haakaa – If you’re breastfeeding, this is a great little device that can be used to catch letdown and collect milk that might otherwise be wasted. However, I use it to clear clogged ducts by putting Epsom salt and hot water in it and using it during a hot shower.

Earth Mama Nipple Butter – Your nipples will thank you for this stuff, end of story.

Bamboo Nursing Pads – I tried a few different kinds of disposable ones, but I found that they were awkward, expensive, and didn’t do an overly great job. Reusable ones can still leave some pretty awkward lines under your clothes (thank goodness it’s currently sweater sweason), but they do a much better job absorbing and they will cost less over time.

So there you have it, my favorite products that helped me through the postpartum recovery period and my best tips for you. If you’re just getting ready to give birth for the first time, Congratulations and Good Luck! If this isn’t your first rodeo, I’d love to know what products you found to be the most helpful!

The post Postpartum Recovery Products and Tips appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

These Free Christmas Coloring Pages are Sponsored by HP Hood, all opinions are mine.

These Free Christmas Coloring Pages are an easy way to add entertainment to your child’s holiday season.

Christmas Coloring Pages

Print some Free Christmas Coloring Pages to spark your child’s creativity this holiday season. And while the crayons are out, why not give it a go with them?

Personally, I think that when it comes to spending time together, everyone should “unplug.” That means when you sit down for family meals or gather for game night, electronics should be off.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit this is something I have to work on, myself. I’m constantly online, checking emails, updating my social media pages, or writing blog posts.

But after having my daughter Evie, I definitely have a new perspective on family time and non-electronic entertainment. She’s growing so fast, and I want to be present for as much of her childhood as possible.

These Christmas Coloring Pages bring back fond memories of doing crafts at my grandmother’s house as a child.

My brothers and I would sit around the table with our markers and crayons, and Nana would put out a plate of oven-fresh cookies.

During the holiday season, she’d serve us another treat: creamy Hood eggnog! We’d sip it alongside our cookies as we colored page after page.

Looking back as an adult, I have a new appreciation for Grandma’s company. She’d just sit with us for hours, and we’d talk while scribbling, sipping, and munching away …

… no phones, no TV,  just conversation.

To this day, the warm, spicy flavors of Hood eggnog bring me back to those cozy childhood holidays. In my opinion, Hood makes the best Holiday eggnog, and the season just wouldn’t be the same without it!

There are a few reasons I only trust Hood when it comes to eggnog. First off, I grew up on this brand and know that their products will always be delicious and top-quality.

But what I really love is the nostalgic taste of their Golden Eggnog. And when I’m in the mood for something different, they have three other amazing flavors!

There’s an occasion for each of Hood’s decadent varieties, and trust me,  they’re all worth a try!

Golden Eggnog: This 50-year-old recipe are top secret, and includes extra creamy milk, sugared yolks, and cozy spices. This is the one Grandma always had at her house!

Vanilla Eggnog: This mellow blend is made with vanilla extract for an extra-smooth treat. I add a splash of this stuff to my coffee in the wintertime.

Light Eggnog: Enjoy all of the flavor and none of the guilt with Light Eggnog, which has 55% less fat. I drink this one between get-togethers when I want to lighten up but still sip the flavors of the season!

Hood eggnog is only available for a limited time, so stock up now! If you’re wondering where to buy it, don’t worry — it’s carried by most major grocery stores on the East Coast.

What’s more, you don’t have to drink Hood eggnog to get your fix. Try adding the different flavors to festive baking recipes and dessert recipes, too!

If you’re looking for a good recipe using eggnog, try Eggnog French Toast, Eggnog Cheesecake, or Eggnog Waffles. It can even be the secret ingredient to some fabulous holiday desserts!

For more eggnog recipes, cooking recipes, and dinner ideas, check out Hood.com and follow @HPHood on Instagram and Facebook!

Needless to say, there’s a Hood eggnog flavor for everyone. So why not savor a little indulgence with your family this season?

Being together is what the holidays are all about. I hope these Christmas Coloring Pages inspire you to start making memories like the ones I have from Grandma’s house.

Christmas Coloring Pages Printable pictures are fun for kids, but most importantly, it’s an activity you can do together. Bake up some cookies, grab the crayons, and pour some Hood eggnog this season — it’s time to make memories!

The post Christmas Coloring Pages appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

This Free Printable Letter To Santa doubles as a coloring page and makes each child’s letter to the North Pole fun and unique!

LETTER TO SANTA

With just a couple of weeks left until Christmas, it’s time to get those that Letter To Santa out in the mail!

Writing a Letter to the big guy in the red suit was always a tradition when I was growing up as I’m sure it was for many of you.

It’s a tradition I’m excited to continue with my own daughter during the holidays!

Kids will love coloring this Free Printable Letter To Santa before filling it out and sending it to the North Pole!

I love this colorable Letter to Santa because it’s a little more interactive than the traditional letter kids might write or filling out telling Santa what they want for Christmas.

Not only can they add their Christmas list to the printable, but they can reflect back and talk about something “nice” they did this year.

Plus, I love that it encourages creativity with the coloring aspect!

Feel free to get extra creative with this Free Printable, use paint or glitter crayons, to add extra pizazz to your letters!

If your kids have fun filling out their Letter To Santa, they might also enjoy these Free Printable Christmas Coloring Pages!

This printable was designed to be printed on standard 8.5×11-inch paper. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to print!

Let’s Connect!

I created a fun little group on facebook and I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can ask questions and see what’s new with Sugar & Soul! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #sugarandsoulco so I can see all the wonderful recipes YOU make from this site! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

The post Letter To Santa – Free Printable appeared first on Sugar & Soul.

Treat your skin to a holiday treat with this Whipped Gingerbread Sugar Scrub! Everything you need is already in your pantry making it the perfect last-minute gift!

Gingerbread Sugar Scrub

This Gingerbread Sugar Scrub is such an easy and fun DIY beauty recipe and makes a great gift too!

I think it was 6th grade when everyone and their BFF wanted to smell like a vanilla dessert. Bath & Body Works probably had Vanilla Sugar, Vanilla Cupcake, Vanilla Cookie, and Vanilla Ice Cream body sprays all on the same shelf.

And a lot of preteen girls sprayed themselves with it until their parents couldn’t breathe.

But we’re grown up now and there’s a new sweet scent in town, Gingerbread. I love LOVE LOVE gingerbread.

And since I’m older, I’ve moved on from body spray and into the world of great smelling exfoliators like this here Whipped Gingerbread Sugar Scrub.

This is seriously the best sugar scrub I’ve ever used and it makes for an awesome last minute gift for your girlfriends, sisters, or mom!

The best part about this scrub? There’s no need for any crazy essential oils, everything you need is right in your pantry! Awesome, right?

More Sugar Scrub Recipes You’ll Love!

• Peppermint Sugar Scrub
• Pumpkin Sugar Scrub
• Hazelnut Chocolate Sugar Scrub
• Sugar Cookie Body Scrub

This Whipped Gingerbread Sugar Scrub blends spices and moisture rich coconut oil with sweet exfoliating brown and pure cane sugars into an at-home skincare product that your body is sure to love as much as your nose and wallet!

Really though, you’re going to want to shower twice a day because this scrub smells and feels so good.

It’s great for those dry winter legs and tired feet and everyone’s going to be totally jealous of how awesome you smell and how great your skin looks!

So whip up a batch, it will only take you a few minutes and the women in your life will love you forever!

Or you know, keep it for yourself… you deserve it after all of this holiday craziness.

This will be my last post before Christmas, but before I sign off I want to wish all of you a wonderful couple of days whether you’re celebrating or not!

I’m looking forward to a little time away from my day job and the blog to enjoy some family time.

I’ll be making my signature Bourbon & Toffee Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip, and my Christmas Punch recipe for the holiday and I’ll be back on Friday to kick off the final week of the year with some killer cupcakes!

What You’ll Need For This Sugar Scrub Recipe:

• Cute Jar – If you’re planning on packaging this recipe up and giving it as gifts, cute jars are an absolute must! These cute little Weck jars are my favorite, but These Kate Aspen Jars are great too!
• Spoon – Tie a wooden spoon to the jar so it’s easier to get the sugar scrub out.
• Bakers Twine – I like using twine to dress them up for holiday gift giving!
• Gift Tags – These tags are such an adorable way to mark your scrubs as gifts!
• Coconut Oil – There are a lot of different coconut oils out there, you’ll want to use a cold-pressed refined coconut oil, this means it doesn’t have a coconut scent or flavor to it.
• Gingerbread Fragrance Oil – For a really strong and amazing scent, you’ll want to use a few drops of fragrance oil, I love this fragrance oil set, so many amazing scents and you can use them to make my Pumpkin Spice Sugar Scrub too!

Let’s Connect!

I created a fun little group on facebook and I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can ask questions and see what’s new with Sugar & Soul! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #sugarandsoulco so I can see all the wonderful recipes YOU make from this site! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!

This post was originally published in December 2014 and was updated with new photos in December 2018.

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Recapping the first few months as new parents with our daughter, Evangeline.

Yes, I’m fully aware that “trimester” indicates three, but the initial postpartum period is often referred to as the 4th trimester, for those who didn’t know.

I’m actually 16 weeks postpartum and I’ve been meaning to sit down for the last few of weeks to recap our new life with Miss Evie, but holidays and life have prevented me from doing so.

I know I shared some details about my recovery in my Postpartum Recovery Products a while back, but I’m going to take this opportunity to share in more of a journalistic way if that makes sense.

Really, me just spewing thoughts.

Do you know how everyone always says you’re never ready for children? At least this is what people always said to us when they would inquire as to why we didn’t have them yet and I would respond with “We’ll have them when we’re ready.”

But the thing is, we were ready.

We waited until we had done many of the things we wanted to do, we waited until we were financially set, and we waited until it felt right.

And while we were and are ready to be parents and I feel like for the most part, we’ve had a pretty successful go at it these last few months, this chapter in our lives has been hard.

I have never been so tired both mentally and physically.

And I still feel, even now, that we were ready, so I can’t imagine what life with a newborn is like for those who aren’t. For people like my parents who were just teenagers when I was born.

Like how the hell did they survive?

And to all the single parents out there, mad props, because parenthood sure isn’t for the weak.

I had a feeling that the postpartum recovery would be the worst part of pregnancy and I was right, especially when not only are you trying to recover, but you have this little life that fully depends on you for everything.

It’s a huge adjustment.

If you read Evie’s Birth Story, then you know about some of the physical challenges I was dealing with and it wasn’t until just a couple of weeks ago, around Christmas time, that I actually started feeling “normal”.

Those first three weeks or so were the hardest, the baby blues hit me big time (or maybe they just hit since I really have nothing to compare them to) and every day was a struggle to keep my shit together.

Luckily, Matt was home the first two weeks and took on the majority of the work around the house and with Evie so that I could focus on recovery.

But that third week was rough.

Leading up to it I had a lot of anxiety about being Evie’s sole caregiver during the day.

It was a huge adjustment for me.

Before Evie, I worked from home and for myself, and while I was busy and worked more than full time – my schedule was my own.

Those first few weeks were a dark period for me.

I was emotionally drained and hormonally imbalanced, everything set me off and everything was pointless.

But at the same time, those little baby snuggles are the best thing in the world.

I’m not sure if you can cry tears of happiness and frustration at the same time, but that’s what it felt like.

I felt like a hormonal monster and I was.

But I have always been good, and diligent, and driven when it comes to my work. And my new job was to take care of this little being the best that I could.

So that’s what I did.

I worked. I worked to build a bond with my daughter even in the moments when it didn’t come easy.

A week after Evie was born, a local woman took her own life quite horrifically and had attempted to take her 2-year-old son’s as well.

The public may never know for certain why she did it, but as a mom of two under two, I imagine she was suffering from postpartum depression.

Did you know that postpartum depression can develop anytime within the first year after birth and it can last years when left untreated?

I think being in a fragile state myself, this event really shook me and I promised myself that I would seek help when and if I needed it.

And I have.

Thankfully, the baby blues passed and I haven’t been hit with postpartum depression yet.

But help is still something we have needed and I’ve gotten better at asking for it.

Something I hardly ever did before.

Our family has been great about helping with Evie so we can nap, catch up on work, and even enjoy a date night here and there.

And those few hours each week have seriously been a saving grace.

It helps us not feel so far behind so that we can spend the time we do have with her fully focused on her.

In fact, Evie’s uncle is watching her right now so Matt can study for his CMA exam tomorrow and I can finish up this post four weeks after starting it.

These photos were taken by our high school friend, Vanessa Kelso, she owns Kelso Photography and was home visiting from Hawaii for a few weeks in October and I was excited that we were able to reconnect with her and have her photograph us in our home.

I’ll be honest though, I was not feeling my best when these were taken and when I first got them back, all I could see was my extra soft and bloated waist, enormous breasts (I can’t wait to be done pumping), and double chin.

But then I reminded myself that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. Because the images are truly beautiful and I’m so glad I have these keepsakes of such a hard but joyous time in our lives.

And one day, I hope Evie looks back on them and can tell just how much she was loved from the very beginning.

I’ve never had a ton of body confidence. But I’m much more comfortable with it now.

And by comfortable, I mean that for the most part, I really don’t give a crap what other people think.

I’m still in hibernation mode (it’s winter) and I’ve decided when I’m done pumping I’ll try and lose the last 5lbs, but until then – bring on the cake!

And I have a greater appreciation for it too.

So I try not to get too down about it. Although oftentimes easier said than done.

I’m trying to give myself a little grace and respect my body for what it’s gone through in the last year.

I honestly didn’t know what kind of mother I would be, and I guess I really still don’t, but I know what kind of mother I want to be. And I feel like I’ve actually found my rhythm in this new role. And hey, I’m not half bad 😉

Matt’s a pretty great dad too!

But on top of being a mom, I’m also an entrepreneur and work from home.

I’ve said a million times that I’m a workaholic. I’ve worked or gone to school 60 to 80 hours a week since graduating high school.

I did this for a number of reasons, but the biggest was to help set Matt and me up for when it was time to start our family.

These last couple week’s I’ve realized that I don’t need to kill myself day in and day out to do ALL the things.

I’ve already done it.

I did it then so I wouldn’t have to do it now.

I worked hard so that I could comfortably work from home while raising my little girl.

I need to stop making things harder than they have to be for myself.

I didn’t put in all hours so I could struggle with trying to balance work and motherhood.

I want the balance to come easy.

And by easy I mean that I want to put my daughter first and fit work in where I can AND be okay with that.

I need to not be so hard on myself. I need to stop valuing myself based on how well my business is doing.

As much as I love blogging, I love my family more and I need to make sure that they come first.

And yes, part of that is financial responsibility, but I have faith that it will all work out and that maybe reining in my work a little bit and establishing some boundaries is just what me and my business need.

And I know when all is said and done, I’ll be grateful that I took this time. That I stepped back from the work a little and gave my daughter everything I have.

Okay, so enough of me rambling about the scattered thoughts rattling around in my brain, I know you’re all really here for an update on the little one 😉

Evie is such a good baby.

Yes, she has her days (don’t we all), but for the most part, she doesn’t really fuss, she’s a really good sleeper (thanks to the Taking Cara Babies Newborn Class – lifesaver!), and she’s almost always all smiles and coos.

We had her newborn photos done by Danielle Brady Photography nine days after she was born, and it’s her photos that you’ll see from this point on.

Around a month old we noticed that Evie had some symptoms of reflux and started working to make her more comfortable.

Unfortunately, at her 2-month check-up, the reflux had caused her to drop a few percentiles.

She was still happy and healthy, her gas drops had really helped with the discomfort, but she just wasn’t gaining weight at the rate she should have been.

She’s a tiny little thing.

So we began a two week battle for weight gain, she was such a little rockstar with the new routine and feeding methods and the pediatrician called her a showoff for gaining almost 2 lbs in two weeks!

Now she is growing right along with her own healthy curve!

It’s hard to believe that she’s almost 4 months old and she’s weighing in around 11 lbs now.

And now she stands well with help and is almost sitting up on her own and is losing all her hair (wah) – basically growing up way too fast!

She’s such a happy girl and she’s hitting that stage where she’s starting to understand and really observe the world around her. And it’s so fun!

She’s the first of a lot of things for many people in our family – first daughter, niece, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, a great-great-granddaughter. To say she is cherished and loved (and possibly a little spoiled) would be an understatement.

She has brought so much joy to our lives these last few months (and definitely passed the Kon Mari test when we purged a couple of weeks ago 😉 )

Right now Evie loves milk, snuggles, fuzzy blankets, babywearing with dad, people-watching, Baby Rock Lullaby, her Halo Swaddle, and Mr. Fox.

She dislikes clothes (especially socks), burping, belly time, babywearing with mom.

Her and Shoe are still getting used to each other. She loves watching him but he wants nothing to do with her other than the occasional sniff.

Oh, but he does guard her pretty thoroughly.

I know he’ll come around and I think he’ll really love it once she’s mobile and dropping food from the table.

But right now he just wishes she’d share her toys with him.

So I guess that’s all for now. I know there’s no real order to this post. But I plan on sharing Evie’s nursery reveal in a couple of weeks since we just finished it last weekend and I also plan on doing a post about the baby items we can’t live without.

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