Stay Out of the Mom Zone

My friends have an ongoing joke about which one of us is going to get the mom-do first.  You know, the first one who decides to go for convenience over looks when you become a mom.  The first to chop their hair off like a boy.  The first to decide that it is too much trouble to have to style your hair every day.  It becomes a slippery slope...the "mom" cut, "the "mom" jeans, the "mom" wardrobe.  I am going to try my best to stay out of the "Mom Zone."

However, staying on top of trends is a daily struggle.  As you working moms know, you have a TON of new found time at home after baby bedtime.  It used to be your grocery store and boutique/mall time, but now you can't leave the house.  Online shopping has become my new best friend.  I have started ordering tons of things every time I see an online coupon from my favorite stores.  I usually end up returning 90% of it, but it is slowly filling the void in my closet where maternity clothes took over.  A second struggle I face when trying to keep up with the latest fashion is adding in the new guilt I feel buying something for myself instead of buying something for L.

So, I do not fancy myself a fashionista, but I am an excellent bargain hunter.  If I see something I like, I can almost always find a cheaper replica or the same product on a discount website.  I hope to relieve your new found guilt and lack of shopping time with a new series, "Stay Out of The Mom Zone."  Please email me looks you see and love, but want to find a cheaper version.

For example, I am in the market for some new boots and saw a picture of Kourtney Kardashian wearing these bad boys...

Since I need both brown and black boots this year, I thought I could kill two boots with one Kardashian.  Upon further research I found out she was wearing $2,000 Chanel boots...EEK! 

However, I found LOTS of similar two toned boots I love...

These range from $99-$715...they are listed from highest to lowest...

1.  Calvin Klein

2.  Stuart Weitzman

3.  Juicy Couture

4.  Hunter Boot

5.  Etienne Aigner

6.  Ciao Bella Tori

7.  Ciao Bella Tabby

I ordered #6 and LOVED them, but they were too tall...for you long-legged gals, try them out...they are SUPER comfortable! 

Which one is your favorite?

I always struggle with boots because I have the weeniest calves and ankles you have ever seen.  Too bad the teeny weeny part doesn't travel up to my thighs...They are normal size...Just picture a V-shape and that is my leg silhouette.  It is hot, I know, so don't be jeal.  Anyways, I JUST found out that Nordstroms has an option to search for a "narrow" shaft boot.  I will keep you posted on what I end up with. 

Email me your bargain shopping needs.  I am happy to be at your service.

Happy Birthday to...ARE YOU JOKING?

I recently went to a baby boutique because I had credit to spend.  I was on the hunt for a 1st birthday outfit for L.  I knew it is a couple months away, but I thought I would get her something super cute with the credit.  I found one of those HUMONGO pettiskirts and a cute top with a cupcake on it to match...I fell in love with it and had to have it.  Well, until I saw the price tag..It was pretty similar to the one below.  How much would you think this outfit costs?

La Bella Flora

I am walking through the store with the outfit in hand picturing L running around it while we sing Happy Birthday to her....Then, I see the price tag...$75...Wrong!  $125...Wrong!  $175...DING, DING, DING!  We have a winner!  It seriously made my jaw drop in the middle of the store.  I am sure the sales lady saw me since I was the only one in there at the time.  I have trouble spending that much money on a pair of jeans I will wear every day for two years.  I am still in shock over it.  Even with store credit, I just could not justify it.  I have been searching for a replica of it for less.  Any ideas?

I found one almost exactly like it at Zulily, but it was sold out!  What is Zulily, you may be asking?  If you are a expecting or new mom, you MUST know about Zulily. 

It is similar to Gilt that I posted about a few weeks ago, but it is ALL about babies, kids, and maternity products.  They post weekly deals from various companies.  Subscribe immediately for some super cute things with fantastic prices.  Here is the Bella Daniella skirt ($24.99) and top ($24.99) I found for a much better deal than the whopping $175.  I am sick I missed it!

Let me know if you find anything similar for a good price or any other preshrunken birthday outfits for that matter.

$ave $ome $crilla: Mobile Madness

There are DIY mobiles everywhere!  My Babies R Us Mobile is looking pretty ugly after seeing all of these.  What a great way to add some flare to your nursery!

I stumbled upon a great post on Trashy Decor while researching this topic.  They put together a list of DIY mobiles (a couple of them pictured below). 

I have seen the butterfly mobile they reference copied multiple times.  The $60 Pottery Barn Mobile (no longer available) inspired many crafty moms to try and recreate it. 

Pottery Barn Kids

Pick your fave copycat mobile below and click on the links to see how they did it.  These may be more high maintenance than you are looking for, but if you enjoy crafts, these are definitely for you!

Pretty Pink Monster

The Penny Parlor

Mama Tots (spent $8)

I love the 3rd one the best!  What a great idea to use a wreath base!

Please send in any of your own DIY nursery items!  Let me know if you try any of the above.

COUPON ALERT: 25% off entire purchase at The Loft

Start planning your maternity wardrobe for fall, shop now thru Sunday at the Loft and get 25% off your entire purchase.  No coupon  needed.

PS - I am so happy today because I not only get to meet one precious baby at lunch, but two!  Two of my great friends are at the same hospital and delivered 12 hours apart.  New friends for L!!!!

SALE ALERT: Gilt Groupe

Gilt is having a sale on maternity and nursing items featuring Boppy, Mayreau, and Elle Macpherson starting today at 11AM CST.  If you don't know about Gilt, you must join.  Maternity products are only a tiny part of their inventory, so check it out if you are prego or not.  They provide member-only shopping and it is free to join.  Here is a little blurb from their website:

Gilt Groupe provides instant insider access to today’s top designer labels, at up to 60% off retail. Become a member and find something new every day for women, men, kids and home as well as exclusive local services and experiences, and one-of-a-kind travel packages. Sign in and see what inspires you today.

Their sales are first come first serve.  Be ready at 11am! 

Go to Girls

To echo what I said last week in "Sweet Mint Studio," decorating on a budget is not always easy!  A few girls from my neck of the woods keep a great catch-all blog, Go to Girls.  They post recipes, fashion tips, decorating ideas, and more.  I wanted to share a recent Go to Girls post that is a really inexpensive way to spruce up a nursery or any room for that matter!  I have seen these trellis screens on a few blogs and wanted to make sure you knew about them!  GENIUS!

Click here for more details.

SALE ALERT: Piperlime

Back to school sale at Piperlime today until Wednesday. Infant/toddler/kids shoes, backpacks, and lunch boxes are 20% off.  Use code KIDSROCK at checkout.  I wish L was old enough for backpacks...I am loving that owl!

Sweet Mint Studio

If you are trying to decorate your nursery on a budget, this is no easy task!  The baby market can be a bit of a racket.  I ran across this great blog called Sweet Mint Studio that features decorating ideas, recipes, life lessons, and more.  Here is a sneak peak of her low cost idea for nursery wall art.  I just LOVE it! 

Click here to read how she did it.

Don't forget to enter the 10,000 hits giveaway!

Up in the Air 2

As promised in the first Up in the Air post, a few more useful travel tips from Larkin.  This time she weighs the pros and cons of buying a separate seat for your infant.  I definitely learned some things!

First Scenario – Buying your child a seat

Pros:

·         Your child has the comfort of the car seat (assuming your child likes the car seat).  Your child can just sit in the car seat and play or nap, but either way your hands are free.

·         If you are on a small plane that only has two seats on each side of the aisle, you do not need to sit by a stranger. It is just you and your child.

Cons:

·         Security takes a lot longer, because you have to disassemble all of your gear to get through security and then put it all back in place to get to your gate.

·         You might accidentally take someone or something out while getting on the plane while trying to lug a car seat and your carry-on bags.

·         The price of a child’s ticket is the same as an adult ticket.

One thing to remember if choosing this scenario is that you should be sure you have a stroller that is a Snap N' Go style when going through the airport.  This type of stroller means you won’t have to carry the heavy car seat plus your bags all by yourself.

Second Scenario – Infant in Lap

Pros:

·         It is easy to get on the plane.

·         Saves you money.

Cons:

·         If your child is fussy or sleepy, there is nowhere for them to go other than your lap.

·         Your arms and hands are never free.

·         You might have a wiggly child that could cause you or your child to constantly bump the person next to you.

·         Not all airlines have the option for booking a child-in-lap ticket on their websites so you may have to call the airline to reserve the ticket.  The catch is that some airlines (ahem, American Airlines) charge you $20 when you call the reservations agent to make the reservations, even though there is no other way to do it.

If you choose this scenario, I would suggest using a Baby Bjorn.  This allows you to have your hands free for whatever you need and you are not constantly repositioning your child.  You do have to take your child out of the BABYBJÖRN to go through security. 

***Keeping it Simple side note*** - I had some friends that forbid me from buying one of these.  They told me, "You will not wear your baby."  My answer to them, "I do not rule anything out if it makes it more convienient."  Someone else recommended the Bjorn to me when you have multiple children saying it was much easier to be handsfree around the house.  Like my friends say, if you don't want to wear your baby out and about, no problem.  However, do allow exemptions for around the house and going through secutiy at the airport.  I think this is such a fantastic suggestion from Larkin.

Don't forget to enter for the Barefoot Designs giveaway.

You must complete all three things listed to qualify.  Click here for details.

GIVEAWAY: Barefoot Designs

Affordable custom-made baby clothes...I know this sounds too good to be true, but it isn't!

I have had Barefoot Designs in my head as a pending post for a while now.  Amy has such a great eye for fabric and the cutest designs!  She lets you pick the fabric, applique, monogramming, size, and design all for a price range of around $20-$45.  All of her options for outfits are posted on her facebook page and her blog. 

You must plan ahead though.  She has become so popular there is a 2-3 week wait before your outfit is shipped.  I congratulate her on her growing business!  She has just hired two seamstresses and embroiderer and is in the process of creating a website.  Both of these things should help with a quicker turn around time in the future.  She has started carrying other brands including Monag, J. Lisandra, and Mint and hopes to start a new Barefoot Designs custom bedding as well.

On top of the cute clothes, Amy is simply the sweetest!  She said, "I always pray for each sweet little one that I'm working on something for and send a hand written note telling the parents this and a bible verse. I feel like this is not just a business, but a calling to pray for God's little ones!"

I have a great UT Longhorns game-day outfit coming for L and will definitely post pictures of it when I get it.  My friend uses her all the time and the outfits are such great quality!  A few examples of her work below (yes, she does little boy clothes too, but I am partial to the girl stuff):

When I contacted Amy with a few questions about her company for this post, she was nice enough to offer a GIVEAWAY!  She is giving away a $15 gift certificate to use towards any outfit!

To enter you must do all three things listed below:

• "Like" Keeping it Simple on Facebook
• "Like" Barefoot Designs on Facebook
• Comment on this post with your thoughts about Barefoot Designs by clicking on comments at the bottom of this post 

 The winner will be randomly selected and announced next Monday (7/18)!  Good luck!

PS - Barefoot Designs is currently having a sale on monogrammed bloomers.  Get one pair for $10 or two for $16.  This is a great baby gift!!!

Minimizing Grocery Runs 2

After my Diapers.com post, I received a few emails from other moms talking about how much they love Amazon Mom (AM).  I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and what deals I have been missing out on!  I felt so out of the loop and was intrigued :)  Bear with me...

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the main event!  Ding Ding Ding Ding!

In this corner we have...

And in this corner we have...

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!  (I know, I know, a bit overkill for a match up between two baby sites, but the high school cheerleader in me couldn't let this one pass me by.  I promise to leave the Tootsie Roll and Whoop! There it is! off of all future blog entries)  Now that I have that out of my system...Here is how I think the two sites stack up...

***Before you read - I have researched this topic for a couple of weeks now and am more confused than when I started.  These loyalty programs are constantly changing.  I write about this topic with a headache :)

At first glance, it appears that AM has a much better member program.  I mean what about 30% off and free shipping doesn't grab you!  During my research, however, I found out that Amazon acquired the Diapers.com's parent company, Quisdi, in November 2010 (completed in April 2011).  If they are both the same company, why would they undercut themselves with prices?  Exactly!  They don't! 

The way I see it, they are both excellent sites and provide the convenience of not having to go to the store. 

AM culminates three of Amazon.com's programs: Amazon Mom, Subscribe and Save, and Amazon Prime.  Different perks (free shipping, discounts, etc...) fall under the different programs. . You have to upkeep all of the requirements for each program (some require minimum orders and an annual fee).  AM allows you to set up an automatic diaper delivery at a specified time interval.  I found this great review when I was looking into this that helps clarify the pros and cons.

Ultimately, you will need to crunch the numbers for your specific household to know whether AM or Diapers.com is a better deal for you.  Because you have to reach monthly minimums for the perks with AM, it may end up being a wash with Diapers. 

I, personally, like to order things as I need them rather than having an automatic delivery, but that is just me. During my reseearch, it seems most mom's prefer AM based on discussion boards I have read. I have a fear of getting too many diapers of one size and having to deal with the return/exchange process. Since we all know I like to keep it simple, I will stick with Diapers.com for now.  I think their interface is cleaner, and I do not want to have to keep up with all of the Amazon Mom loyalty programs.  I would love to hear more opinions on this topic...Let me know if you disagree with my review.

Happy shopping with whichever your choose!  Both provide convenience of not having to run to the store and a variety of inventory!  I felt obligated to share with you this other great site that provides many of the same benefits as Diapers.com.

SALE ALERT: Semi Annual Sale at Diapers.com

We all know about my love fest with Diapers.com.  Click here to check out their MAJOR sale!  Stock up on baby items and baby gifts if you have a lot of showers coming up!

I will be hitting up the 15% off baby proofing since L will be crawling pretty soon.

COUPON ALERT: 40% off at Ann Taylor Loft

Stock up on maternity clothes at the Loft using code SHOP40!  Offer valid through July 4th online and in stores!

Don't forget to like Keeping it Simple on faceboook so you don't miss future Coupon Alerts

$ave $ome $crilla: Cinderella's Step Sister

The Bella Band was recommended to me to make my regular clothes last longer while I was pregnant.  People would go on and on about how wonderful these things were.  You could leave your pants unbuttoned or even unzipped and the magical band would cover up the bumps that showed through your shirts and hold up your pants. 

I immediately ordered a handful of them in different colors.  I thought the maternity angels were about to be delivered to my doorstep.  As UPS pulled away from the curb, I tore the bag open and immediately began trying them on with all of my pants.  At first, I was thrilled with them.  Tore off the tags, threw away the box, receipt and all!  But after the first outing, I realized I had been mistaken.

It could be that my rear sticks out further than Cinderella's evil step-sisters, but the bands kept riding up on me.



It made for some embarassing situations when my zipper was poking out underneath my shirt without me even realizing it.  I am sure people were utterly confused thinking how I could possibly be pregnant when it looked like I also had a boy part.

Just use the good ole rubber band trick.  It worked like a charm and save you some money on the bands ($26 a piece). 

The Bella Bands did come in handy to be used as cami's later in my pregnancy, but that was about it.

From Mary Poppins to Miss Hannigan

Deciding on child care was one of the most stressful parts of planning for L.  There are so many options at varying costs that make for a very tricky decision. 

Ya, I mean, Mary Poppins would be an ideal nanny, but probably costs more than you and your husband's annual salary combined.  Miss Hannigan, on the other hand, she couldn't pay you to send your baby to her. 

I want to offer two helpful suggestions I came across when I was researching that fall somewhere between day care and a nanny: 

• The State of Texas has a website where you can enter in your zip code to see licensed/registered child care facilities in your area.  Along with day cares, it lists people who run smaller childcare programs in their homes.  You get the comfort of home without the cost of a nanny and without the germs of a daycare.  Check to see if your state offers a similiar web tool.
• See if you can find a friend to nanny-share with you.  You both could pay less and the nanny makes more.  It is genius!  Might be a little difficult to find a nanny willing to take on multiple children, but definitely worth a shot if you decide daycare is not for you.

I hope this helps for those of you experiencing child care anxiety.

POTENTIAL GIVEAWAY!!!

Don't forget to "like" Rocking Smocking before 8pm tonight to earn a giveway for Keep it Simple next week! She is going to let the winner choose from her collection ($36 item) based on the size they need.

GIVEAWAY POTENTIAL!!!

Okay my Keep it Simple Friends!  We have a chance at a giveaway!

You probably recognize this logo from the Smock-tions post the other day.  My friend, Lindsey, at Rocking Smocking has offered to have a giveaway for us if we can add 100 more "likes" on her facebook page today.  Right now she has 201, so we need to get to 301 by 8pm tonight.

Click here and get to "liking!"  Send this post to your friends!

COUPON ALERT: 25% off at Gap

Stock up on baby and maternity clothes from the Gap.  Also, think about buying baby clothes for next summer too.  Savings code: GAPSAVENOW, offer ends Friday.

$ave $ome $crilla: Smock-tions

This one goes out to everyone (except my friends that refuse to open facebook accounts)...mothers, expecting mothers, grandparents, fathers, aunts, uncles, and friends. 

I know I have mentioned I am cheap (shoot!  I mean thrifty) before.  Shopping, in general, is always a challenge.  I talk myself out of buying everything before I make it to the register.  It took me three trips to the same boutique during college to buy my first pair of designer jeans.  I almost broke into a cold sweat when they swiped my card. 

This is not a good quality when I want to go splurge on a precious outfit for L at the local specialty shop, and it is $70.  She may wear it twice?!?! 

Well, my friends, the cold sweats at the register can stop!  The newest craze on facebook is Smocked Auctions.  They hold auctions weekly and sell baby clothes at half the price.  Not to mention, if you (like me), love the rush of rolling the dice at the craps table, this is for you!  You must go and "like" their page on facebook to be able to participate.  Each page instructs you on how and when to bid on their items.  They have mostly smocked items, but have other things as well.  Here are a couple I have really liked: Smocked Auctions, Smock it to Me, and Rocking Smocking (the third one just started, so there are less people to compete with ;) )

Happy Smocking (just don't bid on the items I want...jk)!!!! 

Just received this item from Smocked Auctions!  Precious!



Back View

  

Front View

For other $ave $ome $crilla ideas, click here.

$ave $ome $crilla: Date Night

My husband and I can be a bit thrifty especially when it comes to babysitters.  We only like to hire one when we have exhausted our family members and really NEED one for a scheduled event.  I hate my brain for working like this sometimes, but after paying $30 for a sitter, I add it to the cost of my meal and think, "Man, that was not a $35 cheeseburger I just ate."

After a few months post-baby, we noticed that we were living under the same roof, but hardly sat down and actually had a conversation.   We were on diaper duty, preparing bottles, etc.  Early on in our marriage, we always thought getting out of the house just the two of us and having an uninterrupted conversation was important.  As mentioned before, the dilemma is that we are cheap (oops, did I say cheap, I meant thrifty) and it now costs us double to go to dinner.

YAHTZEE!  The date night idea was born.

We asked some of our friends, with a baby just about L's age, to establish a date night swap.  We trade off babysitting each other's baby.  It works out great!  Each couple picks out one date a month that works.  We go to their house to babysit and bring L with us so they can enjoy some adult beverages and not have to drive their little nugget home.  When we go to their house, we grab some take out and have our own little date night while they are out.  Everyone wins!  Two date nights a month, improved communication, and $60 richer!

Try it out with some of you baby friends.  Let me know what you think.  I wish you more luck than Tina Fey and Steve Carrell!

*Note - The only thing a little tricky about this is we have to wake L up to get back home...It is not ideal, but she goes back to sleep pretty quickly when we lay her in her crib.  I would recommend waiting until your baby is about 3 months or older to start this.  That is when L's bed time moved to around 7-730, so we could put her down and all our friends had to do was be an able body in case something went wrong.

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