Lately I've found myself saying, "I am so glad I have this" or "What would I do without that?" So here are some of my absolute favorite things:
1. I Pads - Seriously, this is the best invention ever. I love being able to do anything and everything on a computer that I can throw in my purse, bring in the car, or snuggle up on the couch with. We limit screen time with our little ones, (and usually hide them in the house), but there have been many instances when our sanity was saved by this little invention.
2. My Pineapple Corer/Cutter - Wish I would have found this years ago. It works so well and all the pineapple juice stays inside the pineapple, which means and I can easily pour it into the blender for a smoothie for the kids.
3. Target Diapers - Yes, I know diapers. I have tried Pampers, Huggies, Wal-Mart, and Target. Not only are the Target diapers more affordable, (which is important when you have twice the diaper changes), but I have always been impressed with their absorbency. Plus, who doesn't love the cute polka dots?
4. Heated Mattress Pad - This is another great invention. I love jumping into a bed that is nice and warm. I usually don't use the blanket at night, unless it's a really chilly night, but love to cuddle up with a book before bed on my warm mattress pad.
5. Nutella - I wish I had never tried this. A couple years ago, at the downtown Farmer's Market, I had a crepe with Nutella and bananas and nearly peed my pants because of how good it was. My only rule is I won't buy this to keep in the house, (because I would eat all of it), but if I can find something to purchase that includes this delicious chocolate spread, I'm all in!
6. Baby Gap - Their clothes hold up so well and are appropriately sized. Plus, everything in that store is adorable! My new favorites are their snug tight jammies and their socks, which wear better than any other sock my kids have worn!
7. My Honda Odyssey - (Yes, I know I have mentioned this before in my blog!). If you asked me 5 years ago if I would ever be a mini van owner, I would have said NO WAY! I have to admit, I love our van. All kiddos can climb in and out without trouble. Someone have a dirty diaper? No problem, we can pull over and change them in the back of the van (which we have done many times). Going somewhere with Grandma and Papa? Pile in, we can all fit! We bought this van thinking we would be interested in selling it in 3 years-we may have to rethink that.
8. Shutterfly Photo Books - What a great way to organize photos over the years. You can spend hours picking out the perfect background, photo arrangement, and embellishments, or let Shutterfly do it all. I've never been disappointed. Plus there are always discounts available! I make one yearly for each kid after their birthday and I hope years down the road they will be glad I did.
9. Saucony Running Shoes - Years ago, I called these the "old people brand." Now I'm proud to wear Saucony on my feet. I have had two pairs now and love them over any other brand I have tried. I'm hoping to get many more miles out of my current pair.
10. The Fresh 20 Meal Plan - See previous post for details. What a great idea full of healthy, yummy recipes.
11. Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks - I don't even like coffee and always get decaf, but this is delicious. Good thing they aren't available year-round.
12. Leggings - 10 years from now I'll probably read this thinking, what the hell?! I wore leggings? But seriously, who doesn't love throwing on a pair of leggings and heading out the door for the day. You can dress them up or down, wear them with boots or flats, a skirt or dress, a long shirt or sweater. Plus I love comfort and for me, this is more comfortable than anything else I could wear.
13. Cross Over Purses - Again, this was always thought of as a "mom" purse, well I guess after 5 years of being a mom, I have decided this is the purse for me now, (at least when I'm out and about with the clan in tow). When you add more than one child to your family, this type of purse is valuable. I can contain my herd without my purse constantly sliding off my shoulder or a little one pulling it off. Free hands=quicker shopping/less chance for meltdowns! Yippee!
14. Keepy App - I came across this app by accident. My kids do art projects nearly daily at daycare and trot through the door with these projects in their hands each evening. My fridge quickly became full of the "keepers" and the others usually ended up in the recycling bin after every one was tucked in for the night. After a few weeks of staring at the ones on the fridge, they either joined the others in the recycling bin, or if they were REALLY good, became part of that child's scrapbook. I finally decided I wanted to do something else with the artwork that isn't scrapbook material so I downloaded this FREE app. I have a "folder" for each child and a picture of the artwork is uploaded into each folder. You can add notes/comments, share with friends or family members, or save and print off at a later time. You can also upload videos. Each one is dated and it's fun to look through previous works of art. There is a component you can pay for but I honestly don't know what that includes. I don't need any more features than what I have.
15. Vitamin D - At least weekly I recommend vitamin D supplementation to one of my patients. The benefits are countless and medical journals are frequently publishing new articles indicating the effects of low vitamin D levels. Like many other providers, I never took my own advice. I would predict at least 80% of us are vitamin D deficient and need a supplement, especially during the winter months, (unfortunately most insurance companies will not pay for a vitamin D level). I finally caved and started taking a supplement. Just after a couple weeks, I started to notice a difference in my energy level and other benefits. Hopefully it's more than just a placebo effect, but I plan on continuing.
Last but not least...
16. Coconut Oil - Another item I wish I would have known about years ago. The uses of coconut oil are numerous and I have tried many of them. It can be used for cooking, as a hair product, to remove cradle cap, as a diaper cream, as a lotion, to whiten and remove bacteria from teeth, for dandruff...The more virgin and unrefined, the better. So the next time you are at the store, pick some up.
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