Loving Every Little Thing

Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Thank you Carter's for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.


I remember every minute of my pregnancy with Oaklyn. I remember the restless leg syndrome, the first kick, decorating the nursery, buying her first dress, every ultrasound, the heartburn... ohhh the heartburn! I also remember all the nights I couldn't fall asleep because of the anxious anticipation of her arrival. No one prepares you for what's to come once the bump turns into a bundle of joy. No one can prepare you for the new forms of emotional and physical exhaustion that come from parenting. The thought of that overwhelmed me and consumed me. The day I had Oaklyn, a wave of fear had swept over my entire being and suddenly I felt like the captain of a sinking ship. To be honest, the whole first year felt that way for me. I am so glad I took so many pictures of her, otherwise the whole year would forever remain as a cloudy blur to me.



When I found out I was pregnant with Cambria, I immediately knew that I wanted to do everything possible to enjoy the first year instead of jumping aboard that sinking ship again... There are so many amazing firsts that happen in the first year. From taking a bath to eating solid foods, and rolling over to pulling up onto furniture, every day is an adventure. I wanted so badly to be present during Cambria's first year and I desperately wanted to love every moment. I wanted to love the way she smelled after a bath and snuggle with her in a soft blankie. I wanted to enjoy the newborn sneezes and feel joy at the first belly laugh. More than anything, I just wanted to remember that it all goes by so incredibly fast so every moment is worth cherishing. So many people told me that same thing when I had Oaklyn, but it took me experiencing it to understand.


When I started going through all the old clothes we would be passing on to Cambria, I quickly discovered we needed A LOT more of the basics. All of the white onesies and neutral colored pants of Oaklyn's were clearly used the most. The fluffy dresses and cute rompers were always fun, but I knew immediately a trip to Carter's was in order to grab some darling pieces from the Little Baby Basics Collection. Carter's makes cute and comfy pieces for newborns and babies from sizes preemie to 24 months! I've heard form several different people that Carter's is one of the only places that actually carries preemie sized clothing too! I learned pretty quickly with Oaklyn that quality clothing is very necessary. It'll be used a ton and you want your baby to feel comfortable in it. Clothing from the Little Baby Basics line is soft, hold up during all of baby's adventures, and the prices are just right. 



When it comes to the basics, here are my favorites! First up is the bodysuit! Otherwise known as the onesie. Or, basically all babies wear in the first year, ha. It’s the ultimate basic for wearing by itself or layering under other outfits. They have expandable shoulders and snaps made to last. I also really love the easy outfit sets. It helps build baby's wardrobe with different pieces that all match! The tees also have expandable shoulders and the pants have a soft elastic waist. And lastly, I love all the bundles! They make it so easy to give shower gifts, and for mom to buy several pieces at once. You really can't go wrong with this line, so make sure to stop in to your nearest Carter's asap or check out the selection online! You can even get 20% off $40+ now through June 30th with code CART4342 online or 066944 in store!




From one mom to another, spend less time worrying and more time cherishing during the first year. By shopping the Little Baby Basics collection, you'll be able to spend more time loving every little thing and less time trying to figure out which baby clothes to get ;)

All my love,
Aleigh Joy
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Creating a Calm and Collected Home With Febreze ONE

Friday, May 11, 2018
Thank you to Febreze ONE for sponsoring this post. All opinions shared are mine alone. #ad #ONEStateOfMind


Once I got married, I realized pretty quickly how many smells, good and bad, are created in a home. From steaming vegetables, to stinky bathrooms, and dirty diapers, to sweaty gym clothes, a home can quickly become filled with pungent odors that aren't appealing to, well... anyone! As much as I tried, I just couldn't eliminate these odors all together. Hunter and I both work-out throughout the week, for several more years we will be dealing with diapers and potty messes, I make dinner every single day, and the drain will often smell funny, the kids will forget to wear deodorant, the list just goes on and on! I want my family to always feel comfortable in their home, not have to avoid their daily tasks, whether they cause stinky smells or not, I also want guests to feel welcome instead of running for a more pleasant environment. So, since the first week we got married, I have been on the hunt for the perfect air freshener for our home.


I've tried candles, plug-ins, and several room sprays but without fail, their overpowering scents and aerosols always make my allergies flare up. All of the heavy perfumes make my eyes itchy and watery and I find myself sneezing for a few days before the strong scents level out. I go back and forth between wanting a fresh smelling home and wanting to avoid the allergies all of the different products cause. Not only do strong scents bother me, but they bother others as well! The last thing I want is for people to be running for the door in my home because of the strong scents and overpowering sprays of different air fresheners. Febreze conducted a recent survey where they found 91% of people would be interested in trying an air freshener that doesn't contain aerosols, dyes, and heavy perfumes. The same survey also found that 90% of people can have an improvement in mood when they are in a fresh smelling environment. Because we were clearly lacking an air freshener that would help even the most sensitive of sniffers love the air they're in. Febreze created Febreze ONE! Febreze ONE provides a simpler, lighter, and fresher way to clear the air!


Febreze ONE fabric and air mist is a first-of-its-kind product containing no aerosols, no dyes, and no heavy perfumes. I love that it contains nature-inspired, single-note scents in Bamboo, Mandarin, and Orchid. Because they are nature-inspired, they smell much more natural than other air fresheners I have used. I love that I can feel comfortable spraying these scents around my home without worrying about guests and my own kids having a negative reaction to the scent. A few places that are perfect to spray it are on bed spreads, couches, simply in the air, bathrooms, curtains, and pillows. All of these things collect and gather old smelly scents over time and could really benefit from a little pick me up that Febreze ONE offers.


I also love that, with a little creativity, Febreze ONE makes for a unique and out-of-the-box gift for weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, and more! By pairing these fresh scents with other relaxing items, the receiver will be able to create their own "ONE state of mind." In this post I paired Febreze ONE with a sound machine, an adult coloring book and pencils, herbal tea, and a cutting board for a new mother to be able to relax and find some "me time" amidst the craziness motherhood brings. It would also be great for a bridal shower for a "night before the wedding relax kit." The possibilities are endless! Febreze ONE is much more than just an air freshener, it is the gift that keeps on giving. 
What do you think your favorite scent will be??
All my love,
Aleigh Joy 
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