Valentine's Day Fun

February 4, 2015

Ah yes, right after Christmas we ventured into the store and found that they had already brought out stuff for Valentine's Day. I thought to myself: "Really? Already? I just survived the holidays!" 

I'm not sure about you all but money is a little tight from traveling and holiday expenses so we try to take it easy for a few months. So, I thought of a few ways you can still do something fun and different for Valentine's Day without breaking the bank: 

1.) The Jar. What's great about this is it's super easy and cheap to make. You can put any spin on it whether you make a gift for both of you and you both draw a stick and have to do that favor for one another (ie foot massage, back rub, etc.) or you can even make it spicier for when the baby is asleep for the evening. It's up to you! 

2.) Questionaire Picnic. You and your spouse write down 5-7 questions each that entail "would you?" Or "would you rather?" And make it cute or funny. Then as you're eating yall can each ask eachother one question at a time and it's a great way to laugh and relax. Now when it comes to the location of your picnic, whether you're on the East coast stuck inside because of the snow or on the West coast enjoying the beautiful weather, you can make it fun! Lay out the blankets, have sandwiches or whatever food you have packed into a cooler or basket. You can do this with the kids and make the questions super silly or make it just for mom and dad with a little spice! The options are endless! 

3.) Stargazing. This will obviously depend on your weather but it costs you nothing to do and can be fun! Find a map of all the constellations online and print it out. Then get some blankets and try to find them together! If it's warm out, bring a bottle of wine or sparkling juice (if you don't drink) outside with you. If it's cooler then you can do hot cocoa with or without peppermint schnapps to keep you warm! 

4.) Cooking together. This is one of my favorite things to do with my husband! We love spending time together and watching a recipe turn into a great meal we did together! BUT try a different spin on it. Ask your families for "family recipes" and the story behind it. Then decide who will cook the entree and who will do dessert. Then, start cooking! After you finish your dishes you can tell each other about the background story and how you made it! It's fun and you'll learn something new about each other's family. 

I hope you enjoy these few little ideas! I know I'll be doing one of these this year and I can't wait to surprise my hubby! Don't forget it's not how much you spend, but the effort you've put fourth. Have a Happy Valentine's Day! ❤️

Xoxo, 

Alex

What 2015 has in store for the Stoeckels

January 27, 2015

This year at a glance:

Every new year comes new adventures. Whether you're pregnant and will be welcoming a new baby or celebrating another year of your babys birth, it's all exciting! We have so much to look forward to and thought I'd share with you so far what is planned for the year. 

April:

One of my best friends is pregnant and wants a crash course in newborn care so she'll be flying out to AZ to see me and meet Aiden. It's been over a year since we've seen eachother so it's long overdue! 

My cousin is getting married in Michagin at the end of April/beginning of May. It's been 15 years since I've been back and it will be great to reconnect with family and introduce them all to Aiden and Karl. It'll be the first time Aiden will fly (he'll be about 8 months old by then) so I'm a little nervous. But, have no fear I'll do it and give all of you some tips and advice after we get back from our trip! 

June:

Babys baptism! I can't wait to plan this and have his God parents and aunt and uncle there. It's such a special time and an unforgettable memory. 

July:

When it comes to the 4th of July in my hometown, we don't mess around! There is so many fun things to do. The parade, rodeo, courthouse square vendors, great food and fun activities with the kids and the famous rodeo dance. It's a jam-packed weekend and we participate every year. Except this year will be different because Aiden is here and I can't wait to expose him to the fun! 

August: 

My baby turns ONE on the 13th! Holy cow! I can't believe it! So we will be doing a little family get together and the theme will be chosen soon! 

That same week my husband and I will be flying out to Texas to be in a good friend of mines wedding! We haven't been back to Texas in two years so it'll be great to catch up with friends and relax. Nana and Papa will be watching Aiden. ☺️

IF everything works out, I'll be also attending school online and on campus. Aiden will be in some form of childcare for half of the day when I have to go on campus. So I will be having my hands full. 

November:

House hunting. My husbands job does involve moving every few years. Luckily, this next job is still in AZ so we are only  moving from Chandler to Scottsdale. But, searching for a house with a one year old will not be easy. We are still playing with the idea of buying vs renting. Anyway, I'm hoping we find something we like and try to keep things less complicated. Especially with the holidays approaching.

December:

It's the best time of the year but I will have to be on my "A game." With finals, moving and the holidays it's going to be a bit crazy. 

That's a glance into our year so far! We look forward to sharing our adventures with you and we appreciate all of the support yall have given us! Much love! 

Xoxo, 

Alex

2015 best products for Mommies

January 25, 2015

Just for Mommies! 

Yes, you saw it correctly this is all about you! I know for me it's very easy to "let myself go" in a sense. You're so busy taking care of baby, the housework and your significant other that when you finally look in the mirror you think "when did I grow a mustache?" Or "why do I have caveman eyebrows?" So, I've decided to put together a little list of items that won't break the bank but help you look and feel great! 

1.) Facial care. Don't forget this is very important. You still want to look great even if you are only getting a few hours of sleep. Here are some things I'd recommend:

This mint julep mask is amazing! It gives a nice tingling feeling and rejuvenates your skin. You can pick this up at any drug store or store for about only $5! I do this at least twice a week! 

Makeup is an important part of every woman's routine. I had trouble finding a good foundation and bronzer that would literally stay on all day! I use the one by Stila everyday. It stays on through heat and keeps your face from getting glossy. It also has great coverage. (Especially when hiding those dark circles under your eyes.) You can get this online, through their store, or at an Ulta. It'll run about $36 but trust me, it's worth the money and it'll last you a few months. The next foundation Id recommend is by Mac. It's a little pricey and in a smaller bottle but this stuff covers everything and won't come off as well. I'd use this for winter seasons or if I'm going out for a fancy occasion. This bottle will run about $35 and it also comes in a powder too. The powder runs at about $32. You can buy this at Dillards, Sephora, or any Mac Cosmetics store. Finally, bronzer. Mac makes an awesome one and again, it stays on all day no matter what. This compact will run at about $28. You can also get it at any of the above stores where Mac Cosmetics are sold. 

2.) Hand care. Our hands are our life force. So it's very easy to neglect them. I don't know about you but after a full day of laundry, dishes, baths, and diaper changes, my hands feel pretty rough. At the end of every day, I'll put on the "Satin Hands" line by Mary Kay and...wow! It makes such a difference and your hands are silky soft. 

You can order this kit online, or through any local Mary Kay consultant and will only cost you about $35! 

3.) Nail care. Again, our hands are easily neglected. I would love to get a manicure every two weeks but let's face it, finding the time with baby and spending $40 every time can add up. I've tried almost every kind of nail polish and no matter what, by the end of the day, it's chipped. How annoying! So I thought I'd give the new "Sally Hansen Miracle Gel" polish a whirl. And yes, it works! This stuff will stay on for about 2 weeks with no chipping and is pretty easy to remove with extra strength nail polish remover. 

This little baby will run you about $17 and you can find them at any drug store or store. They have a large variety of fun colors. Some stores will sell it in this duo kit but I've found that most of the time it's sold separately. Just make sure before you paint your nails that they are buffed, clean, and dry. I recommend two coats of color and two coats of the clear. You'll also want to make sure each coat is 100% dry before putting another one on. 

4.) Eyelashes. If there is one thing I obsess about, it's long beautiful lashes! I've tried "Latisse" and it works but it's also $120/ bottle. It's not a very practical item to add into your budget every month. So, I've found another product that works just as well for half of the price. It's called "Infinite Lash." It runs at about $60 but it's a 3 month supply! You can order this online through their site: infinitelash.com 

Another thing I like to use is fake eyelashes. They add a little bit of "Wow" and can glamorize your look! "Ardell" makes SO many different lengths, shapes, and sizes. They can be a little difficult to apply at first but it just takes practice. 

Each set can run from $4-$7. You can purchase these at any drug store/store. 

5.) Body care. It's that time of year when everyone gets tan! Well, again finding time to go tanning whether at a pool or salon with baby can be very hard. I've used a lot of sunless tanning products and I can honestly say that none of them even come close to the tanning wipes by "LO'REAL" They give you a beautiful summer glow that doesn't look orange or streaky. It also has a refreshing scent and only takes minutes to apply after your shower. Just make sure to exfoliate beforehand. 

You can pick these up at any drug store/store for around $10. I love them! 

6.) Dental care. Another part of the body we seem to not pay too much attention to besides the usual brushing of 2-3 times a day. It never fails that when we realize we have a dentist appointment coming up, it's time to: brush, floss, mouthwash and whiten. I have been working on flossing everyday (if I remember) and using teeth whitening every other day. The best teeth whitening product in my book is the "Crest Advance White Strips." They are easy to apply, stay put and only go on for about 30 minutes. 

You can pick these up at any store and cost around $40. 

Well, these are my favorite products for mommies for 2015! I hope this helps remind you that YOU are important too and just doing a few extra things can make you feel like you again with a new "mommy" glow. Take care! And don't forget to follow me on Twitter: @newmomnewworld1 

Xoxo, 

Alex

5 months old

January 20, 2015

5 months o

Ok time, you can slow down now. Our sweet baby is 5 months old! I can't believe it. I know, I say that in almost every monthly update but its true. Each month that goes by, I am shocked at how much he learns and changes. Here are some milestones that you can look forward to for your baby. And don't worry, every baby grows and learns at his or her own pace.

~Rolling over and back over. He mastered this at about 4 months. Now, Aiden does it with ease! Just remember to ALWAYS keep an eye on them if they are on the floor doing tummy time. They are quick and can hurt themselves if you're not watching them like a hawk.

~Teething. Prepare for massive amounts of drool. Im not kidding. I didn't even know they could produce so much. If you notice them doing this, constantly sticking objects in their mouths, coughing (dry, due to increase in swallowing saliva) and or tugging on their ear then yes, it's that time. This can also make them very fussy and uncomfortable. When you notice these things try to be proactive. Grab a cold teething ring from the refrigerator or freezer, teething tablets (Hylands are my favorite. They are ALL natural) or if they are really bothered, give them some tylenol. (I only do that when he's really hurting and I only give him a half of a dose (1.25 mL)

~Grabbing. Ah yes, start saying goodbye to pretty dangling earrings, necklaces and long curled hair. They will grab and pull as hard as they can and let me tell you, it HURTS. This is also good practice for you and your spouse to get in the habit of keeping things put up. Everything goes into their mouth and you do not want them to get ahold of something small and accidentally swallowing it.

~Crawling. Aiden isn't quite there yet but boy is he trying. I have to be sitting on the floor with him at all times because he tries, gets frustrated and then rolls. One time I turned my back for a second and he rolled off and smacked his head. Yes, he's fine but I will never do that again. This is also a very good time for you and your spouse to get on your hands and knees at their level and start "baby proofing." Anything that you think looks interesting for them to grab and put in their mouth is something you need to put away. Once they actually learn to crawl, they are like little tornadoes. Do it ahead of time. My husband and I will be doing that over the next few weeks and I'll talk about that more in my next post. 

~Active. This word describes my son very well. He's beginning to understand how things work like pressing a button on his toys creates them to makes noise, etc. We noticed he was becoming bored with tummy time after a while so we bought him a jumper. I would NOT recommend the ones that go in doorways or that have wheels on them. They have been reviewed and can be very dangerous. We bought the one made by "baby einstein" and he loves it. Its stationary and very secure. Not only does it make music, but he can turn 360 degrees and there are different toys at each turn for him to play with. Not to mention, he's strengthening his legs by bouncing up and down. Again, make sure you are keeping an eye on them anytime they are in devices like that. 

Enjoy this time, because its flying by! Hope you all are enjoying yourselves and parenthood!

xoxo,

Alex

Bedroom Getaway

January 19, 2015

Being a full time stay-at-home mom is tough work, Easily tougher than my 50+ hour work week at a medical institute taking care of patients. Our day never stops and we are always on call. Sometimes I'll find myself taking a break and letting my husband take over with the baby for a bit so I can shower and relax in our bedroom. I suddenly looked around and realized that we have a ratty old bed set and that our bedroom wasn't a cozy oasis anymore. It had just become another room we used to get dressed/undressed in and would pass out from exhaustion from the day. I wanted our room to be special where we both felt relaxed and comfortable in. That's when the light bulb went off. We need an upgrade...badly. 

So I spent the last two days (when the baby was napping) looking around for good ideas (pinterest never fails me) and good deals. I am not the type of person to drop $400-$500 dollars on bedding. That's where my best friend amazon came in. I found some great deals and totally upgraded our bedding for $160 including throw pillows. Yes, its possible but does take work. This included everything we would need for a California King bed which is very hard to do. Everything should be in by February and I could not be more excited! 

It's very easy to just let things go since your priority is baby. I didn't want to get into a rut with the house and being able to re-decorate gives you a fun project to look forward to putting together. Below is an easy diagram I used from Pinterest to create the look for the bedding. 

Here are some tips to remember while going through this process:

1.) Keep it gender neutral. Yes, its difficult. The old days of shabby chic and fluffy bedding are over. Make sure you are getting bedding that you AND your significant other will feel comfortable in and enjoy.

2.) Keep it simple. I'm not saying just two pillows and I'm definitely not saying to add 6-7 throw pillows. Men don't like or understand the need for them. 3 is just fine. You can get all kinds of fabric and patterns that remain neutral but add some flair. In fact, I'd recommend buying pillow inserts and then buying covers for them. That way when you want to change it up again, all you'd have to buy is different covers for them. I found these 18"x18" inserts on amazon for $6/ pillow! Totally worth it!

3.) Decor. When it comes to decorating the rest of the room, keep it mature looking. You don't want 10 collages on every wall. That'll make the room look smaller and cluttered. Ever heard of "less is more?" Well, its true. Again, keep it neutral and clean.

4.) Do a date night in the bedroom. Yes, one night a week try taking some snacks into your bedroom, get in pjs, and watch a movie while baby is sleeping. If you're anything like my husband and I its easy to just get in the habit of giving each other a kiss goodnight and falling asleep. Make your bedroom a space you both can enjoy and maybe even add some romance. TURN UP THE HEAT ;)

5.) Get some shade. Try hanging up some nice blackout curtains for extra privacy. They'll also do some saving on your energy bill and hey, there is nothing wrong with that! You can find some great ones on amazon.com or annaslinens.com. 

6.) Have fun with it. Involve your spouse in the process. They may not act very interested in doing it but they'll feel good when its all done and know they were apart of the project!

I hope you find these helpful and good luck on your next project! Don't forget to follow me on my twitter page for more updates @alexstoeckel29 or @newmomnewworld1

xoxo,

Alex