Every Step of The Way...Freshly Picked Moccs

Anyone who knows me or has followed my social media knows I love Freshly Picked.

Long before I was pregnant or Susan Peterson rocked Shark Tank in 2014 and turned her business into a moccasin empire, I was a fan!

As I started having my own babies, my admiration turned to love! Freshly Picked has been a staple in my home from the moment I found out I was pregnant with Drew. 

These shoes have been my go to for all three of my babes...the first shoes they ever wore. The shoes that taught them to walk. The shoes that marked every holiday, special event, and adventure. This company forever has my heart. 

These adorable moccs with worn, dark footprints tell my favorite stories...the stories of my children's childhood. 

I love the memories each pair of moccs hold but that is not the only reason I love Freshly Picked...

The leather is the highest quality. Each pair of Moccs are so soft and cozy for little feet. They have an incredible elastic feature at the opening, making them super easy to put on and take off. AND they stay on your baby's feet! 

Comfy, great for learning to walk, high quality, and keep your babe looking all kinds of cute! If that's not winning, I don't know what is!

I get tons of questions and messages about my littles' mocc collection. I can honestly say, they are my all time favorite baby shoes. I am forever smitten with these amazing little shoes. 

Freshly Picked has been right beside us through every stage of my children's lives and has been with us every step of the way! 

If you've ever wanted a pair of moccs for your little or want to gift these to a special momma and babe...today is your lucky day! I've teamed up with this amazing company to give a pair of moccs to one lucky winner! 

Your pick...any color, any size, whatever your heart desires. Head over to my Instagram to enter. Good luck! 

*Disclaimer: The moccs were gifted to me by Freshly Picked in exchange for a review. All opinions in this post are my own.* 

Happy Birthday to You.

You don't see much of Andrew in my little "squares." 

He hates pictures. 

More than I ever thought possible (insert eye roll).

He doesn't like attention and let's me take center stage but he is always there...

On the sidelines. 

Refusing to take another photo.

Making dinner. 

Mowing the lawn. 

Playing with the kids. 

Making smart remarks and driving me crazy. 

He's always there...

Being Dad. 

Chasing the kids and making them laugh.

Forever patient and silly and singing Doc McStuffins or Coco. 

He's always there...

Providing for our family. 

Making sure we never run out of wine. 

And putting up with a whole lotta crazy (😳).

I know I don't tell him enough but I could not do this thing called life without him. 

So today is a mushy blog post because tomorrow, he turns 34 and I want to celebrate him. 

Happy Birthday, babe. We sure do love you. 

On Hold

A month back, I shared that we were getting ready for our next embryo transfer. We were just starting the process to add to our family. 

I had it all planned out (in true Justine fashion) and expected a Valentine's Day transfer. After blood work came back, we knew my hyperthyroidism was out of remission and expected a delay.

I'm not a medical professional but I can explain it the way I understand...hyperthyroidism (also known as Graves Disease) is when your thyroid is overactive and produces too much of a hormone called thyroxine. It increases my heart rate and metabolism. If not regulated during pregnancy, hyperthyroidism increases the chances of miscarriage, preterm labor, low fetal birth weight, and pregnancy induced hypertension. 

After meeting with my endocrynologist and reviewing my levels, I was put on medication that is not safe for pregnancy. There are medications that are safe to take while pregnant but some are known to cause adverse affects. Unfortunately for me, the medications we are using to control my thyroid and get it back into remission are contraindicated and have been known to cause birth defects. 

This means we have to put our transfer on hold for at least 3 months...until my thyroid is back in check. Then I'll be able to switch to a safer medication and transfer our little embryo. 

As frustrated and disappointed as I initially felt, I want to give this little embrie baby its best chance and that means waiting until momma is completely healthy. 

I'm looking for the silver lining and determined to see the positive. 

We are going to make the most of these next few months...enjoy our littles and soak up this time as a family of 5 before we get to hopefully add another little to our bunch! 

Sushi may be out (too high in iodine) but wine is A-OK! 😉 

Thank you for all the love, support, and messages. 

I Love You With Every Pizza My Heart...Valentine's Dinner

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day traditions with your family? 

Pizza sure does have a special place in my heart and it's been our Valentine's Day dinner almost every year since Andrew and I have been together...except when I was pregnant and could only stomach Costco Hot dogs. 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is one tradition I was so excited to share with these little people. After all, I sure do love them with every PIZZA my heart. 😉

Who wouldn't absolutely love a heart shaped pizza? 

The best part is the Littles get to join in on the fun...after you've scrubbed them down!

How a-dough-able is this?!

Pizza Recipe (All Ingredients from Trader Joe's):

-Trader Joe's Pizza Dough

-Trader Joe's Organic Marinara Sauce

-Mozzarella Cheese

-Toppings (Whatever your little hearts desire...pineapple, pepperoni, ham, artichokes, jalapeño, options are endless)

Happy Eating! ❤️

Felt Letter Board & Bowls

Incredible Gifts with Incredible Bundles

Reading is an important part of our daily life. It is my favorite daily activity. It's a chance to snuggle up, slow down and reconnect, be silly, and enjoy time with my favorite littles. 

One of the best gifts that we receive are books and one of my favorite gifts to give are bundles of incredible books.  

Incredible Bundles is a gift company that specializes in creating the perfect baby and children's gift for any occasion and every holiday. This company makes gifting a breeze and so meaningful.

Gift Givers are able to choose from a variety of pre-designed  bundles or create their own unique bundle the way I did! 

I am a sucker for cute packaging and our bundle came in the cutest reusable storage box!  

My littles love to read...just like their momma! With Valentine's Day almost here, I wanted to surprise my little loves with books they would love so I created a bundle that focused on books about colors. By creating my own personal bundle, I was able to pick books that were appropriate for all 3 of my littles despite their age difference. It's the perfect gift for my little bookworms.

These bundles truly make the perfect gift for any occasion. There are Bundles to choose from...Diaper Bundles, Bath Bundles, Sleep Bundles, and tons more. My favorite are the book bundles. I love the Pre-Designed Book Bundles and the assortment of different options to Create A Bundle! And (drum roll, please)...shipping is fast and FREE. Mom Win!

My favorite thing about this company is that for every purchase made, Incredible Bundles donates a portion to a charity that supports children and families in need! That is the most incredible gift. 

            

Ok now for the fun part...I will be spreading the love this Valentine's Day with Incredible Bundles and doing a $50 gift card giveaway on Instagram later this week! Winner will be selected Sunday! Keep your eye out for this fun Bundle of love. 

*Disclaimer: This bundle was gifted to me by Incredible Bundles in exchange for a review. All opinions in this post are my own.* 

Valentines Day for the Littles

I'm told I am a bit extra when it comes to holidays...and I've decided I am totally ok with that. I embrace it. 

And now that it's February, I say YOMO (You Only Mom Once)!

If you are looking to make your littlest Vantine's hearts go pitter patter...bust out some decorations, adorable tableware, and a few heartfelt surprises! 

Decorations:

A little goes a long way...whether they are homemade or store bought, decorating sets the tone and gets everyone excited and feeling festive. We start out with store bought and add to our decor as we complete little projects & crafts throughout the month. 

Table, Mylar Love Balloon, Felt Letter Board

Adorable Tableware:

As usual, Replay Recycled wins again for the most festive and colorful flatware, cups, bowls, snack cups, and utensils. Absolutely perfect for meals, baking, and decorating during the holiday seasons. If you didn't catch my original Replay Post (Here) then I'll give you the cliff notes version of why I love this company...Microwave Safe, Dushwasher Safe, and good for the environment. Mom Win! 

All Replay Dishes pair nicely with hugs and a side of smooches! 

Give a Valentine! 

This year my littlest loves are getting heart shaped candy, heart shaped chalk, and Replay Snack Cups!

Surprises are definitely my love language! I love surprising my little loves and finding the perfect and most heartfelt gift. It's my thing. I don't know what says I love you more than all of their favorite things!

Enjoy this month with your little sweethearts! Xo. 

*Disclaimer: The Valentine's Day Collection was gifted to me by Re-Play in exchange for a review. All opinions in this post are my own.*