Baby's on the Brain {not mine}

So I have officially lost my mind. My bestie is having another baby which is kind of like me having a baby without the morning sickness. The first time around we were both having babies around the same time so we were no help for each other unless we just needed a good cry. This time though I can be that friend who really gets to help and I could not be more thrilled. Plus since I can no longer have any more children I can easily live vicariously through her and still get good rest at night. Of course this now has me thinking BABY all the time. There really is so much good stuff out there now. It's probably good so many wonderful things did not exist when I was having my children. We could not have afforded it all then and I am sure I would have wanted to go overboard. Anyhow these would be my picks for my baby that's not really my baby and yes since my baby doesn't really exist an ivory rug makes perfect since. Oh, and my friend knows I am baby crushing big time and is perfectly okay with it. I am her hope for day time naps after all.

baby wrap | baby carrier | swaddle blanket {this is genius} | best blankets ever {my go to baby gift} | slippers | extra bedding | art | rocker {didn't have one when I had my babies, but might have been nice} | rug  | stroller/bassinet {it's amazing how stunning they are now}

13 minutes of sheer bliss {a review}

So I did what I thought I would never do... buy a really nice hair dryer. I am not a hair person. I like having good hair, I have hair crushes, but I am not one that is actually any good at doing it. Same with makeup, but that's another whole issue. Anyhow, my what I thought was a good dryer from Ulta died. I think I paid maybe around $45.00 for a couple of years ago. I then had to resort to using my dryer from college that I bought at discount at CVS. My sweet sister who often stays with us informed me recently that there are blow dryers that actually work and aren't crap. HA. After she bought this flat iron which I LOVED I went online to buy it too, but then came across this blow dryer and had an additional 25% off coupon code so I bit the bullet after reading glowing reviews. When it came I was amazed at the packaging. I had no plastic to dig through and twist ties to undo. It then came time to test this bad boy out. I have course wavy/straight/curly hair. It's so thick that my hairdresser asked me to start requesting two time slots when I want it styled. Not such a big deal since I get my hair cut only a once a year which I am trying to get better at. My sister also informed me I should have it cut every 8 weeks or so. I tend to wear my hair straight, because it is easiest. Not the easiest to actually do, but I only wash my hair once a week because it is that dry so wearing it straight keeps my do looking good longer. After a wash I normally wait about 30 min or so to air dry it a bit then blow dry it with a round brush. It goes pretty straight this way and often can forgo a straightener if I use my go to product. The actual blow drying takes at least 25 min on a really good day, but can easily take 35. Now to the new dryer... after a good wash and using my favorite product I blew dry my hair from being only towel dried so it was still rather wet. I used the nozzle which was new to me and used my same round brush. It took me only 13 minutes! I know it will be even shorter as I get more used to using the nozzle attachment. This is freeing for me!!! To be honest I would skip out on certain activities like swimming for the sheer fear of having to redo my hair. It is a pain to say the least and if I don't do something with it it becomes one big frizz ball. Maybe closer to summer I will invest in the straightener too. The humidity can be killer.

Hair Products I swear by:

Shampoo

Conditioner

to Detangle

to Prep

to Maintain my week and on occasion plus {please don't think I am gross}. I use this product even right after a blowout to gain volume. It's not the cheapest, but lasts forever. I only use a tiny bit each time. It even gives Ellie's fine hair a boost. I'm pretty much obsessed with it and I have tried tons of dry shampoos.

*by the way the 25% off code just popped up on the site's screen while I shopped. I assume it does that for everyone?

UPDATE: Ellie's 10 minute plus hair took only 3 minutes! Her's is fine and perfect.

Smile

Yesterday I had an itch to take some photos of the kiddos. It was rather chilly, as in freezing, outside so we pushed the dining table out of the way and made a sort of studio. The kiddos donned some of their new favorite duds and did their thing. I must say I am a bit partial to these two. Of course they had me get in on the fun so they could be a photographer too. Ellie sure does looked quite pained with my kiss. Ha.

Ellie: top | pants {similar} | shoes {similar}

KJ: top | pants | belt {crewcuts} | shoes {Gap}

Me: top {new favorite, plus bought this one} | leggings | shoes{but dreaming of owning these}