Collected & Cozy

Category: Destiny’s Delights

  • The baby blanket that almost was

    I was walking through meijer one day, perusing the craft section trying to find paint for a lamp revamp I planned on doing. When what to my wandering eyes should appear? A cake of yarn that claims it’s big enough to make a baby blanket. What?!!?

    As I admired the colors of the yarn, noting that they would pair beautifully with my cousins nursery, I bought it. Do I crochet? No. Do I knit? No. So I had to buy needles. I of course chose knitting, because I enjoy frustration.

    I buy the size needles it recommends. 2 straight needles. I head home and immediately started knitting. I dabbled in crochet and knitting when I was pregnant with my first. I think the only thing I crocheted was a winter hat that didn’t fit.

    Anyway, so I watch a YouTube video to “brush up on my skills” and get to work. When I tell you this was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I am NOT exaggerating. First of all, I had to cast on, I believe 80 stitches. 80 STITCHES! On the needles. Ok…James?

    The stitches didn’t even fit. I was fighting the yarn the whole time trying to keep it from popping off. After further research, I learned there were circular needles, so of course I ordered a set of those AND a crochet needle set because what’s a spontaneous hobby without going overboard with the supplies?

    My 4ft blanket squished on a 2ft needle. How did I not know this wouldn’t work? (Peep my comfort movie: Twilight)

    So I restarted on the circular needles. This was much easier on my hands and wrists…until my fingertips started hurting from the pointy ends of the needles. My hands were so tired, I had to take a break.

    So much easier on my wrists

    I decided crocheting a quick little crossbody purse would be fun and I’d feel accomplished. A 4ft x 4ft baby blanket was a huge undertaking, so I figured I’d start another project. If you can believe it, I did finish the crossbody purse!

    I’ve never used it. It just sits in our entryway table, but I made it! With my own 2 hands!

    Anyway, so back to the blanket, which remember I’ve already restarted once. I finished the crossbody so fast, I decide I’m going to crochet the blanket instead.

    I started from the other end of the cake just to keep my knitted blanket intact in case I didn’t like the crocheted look.

    Okay, now mind you, I’m trying to finish this before my cousin’s baby shower. I restarted this blanket 2 DAYS before the baby shower.

    So I fly through this blanket. I’m allllmmmooosssttt to the end of the yarn that begins my knitted portion of the blanket, when all chaos breaks loose. My yarn is a giant knot. I can’t undo it. I end up pulling it apart about 6 inches from my needle. Now I have to tie the yarn back together. I have no faith that I can tie it strong enough. So now I have an almost finished baby blanket, that was not finished in time for the shower (the baby isn’t here yet so technically I still have time), I have my entire “knitted” portion of the blanket left…and I just quit. It’s been sitting in my closet for a month. I came so close, but it’s still not completed. Maybe one day. And that day has to be before March.

    Update: I just measured and it is currently sitting at about 3ft x 2ft. I have to at least add another foot before calling it complete. In a perfect world, I would add another 2 ft…

  • Best Robot Vacuum for Dog Owners: Why We Tried Again After a Disaster

    Best Robot Vacuum for Dog Owners: Why We Tried Again After a Disaster


    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Well we tried life without a robot mop for about a month. We vacuumed almost everyday so we didn’t have crumbs but there’s nothing like waking up to freshly mopped floors every morning.

    We were scarred after a dog poop fiasco but now that there’s been enough time, and we had to manually mop the floors, we decided to buy another Roborock vacuum mop.

    I tried. I really did, but I can’t mop the floors every single day. I just don’t have the time or energy for all that.

    Our previous Roborock did his job, and he did it well. It wasn’t his fault our dog was having tummy issues.

    Our last robot lasted 1.5 years before “the incident” and while the robot still technically worked, no one would’ve wanted to get a secondhand poop vacuum, so we just tossed it.

    We definitely got our moneys worth out of that one and now we’ve decided to buy another. To us, buying a robot vacuum mop is more than worth it. The only thing our robot ever did wrong was live in a house with a sick dog.

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    The new robot patiently waiting to be used.

    We ended up going with the Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A. It’s basically the same one we had, but this one also has edge cleaning.

    Now, we do have some ground rules:

    #1 The robot only runs when we are awake so if there are any accidents, we can stop the robot and clean it up ourselves

    #2 We will keep up with the maintenance. While it is hands free cleaning, the tanks and trays need to be cleaned regularly so it doesn’t develop an odor and the machine is well taken care of overall

    Update: Just got word this robot cleans the tray! Which makes it even more maintenance free!

    That’s it. Those are the rules.

    What are your thoughts on robot vacuums? I never knew they made ones that mop too! They’re game changers.

  • The cute crossbody purse I made in 3 days as a beginner crocheter

    The cute crossbody purse I made in 3 days as a beginner crocheter


    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    In the midst of a baby blanket fiasco, I decided I’m going to start ANOTHER project. I rationalized with myself that I needed to “do something quick to feel accomplished.”

    You know what? I DID finish it quickly. (In my humble beginner crocheter opinion) And I DID feel accomplished.

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    I’ll link all the materials I used here, in case you’re intested:

    1. Yarn: Caron All Day Cotton in Eyes Blue
    2. Knitting Needles: Froggod Interchangeable Circular Needles
    3. Crochet Hooks: Flickzo Ergonomic Aluminum Crochet Hood Set
    4. Knitting/Crochet Accessories: Jupean Complete Knitting Accessories

    I obviously thought I was some kind of professional starting my second project, because I had a vision in my head of exactly what I wanted and I thought for a second I would just wing it.

    I started out knitting the bag, but it was taking FOREVER and I somehow kept adding stitches in each row.

    knitting mistake
    This was looking so pretty. I loved the texture, but I somehow kept adding stitches each time so it wasn’t straight on the edge.

    I came back to reality and realized I can piece this together using resources from people that actually know what they’re doing.

    So I start my research. I wanted a crossbody bag that was big enough to fit 2 diapers, a small pack of wipes, and other essentials like my phone, wallet and car keys. This was going to be my “mom bag.”

    I found a tutorial on youtube that was exactly what I was looking for. It was for a book sleeve, but I just measured my toddlers pull up so I knew what size I needed.

    As you can see, I switched to my crocket hooks, because my hands just cannot grasp the concept of knitting. This was a great decision, because I started flying through this bag!

    progress photo

    Here is the tutorial I used in case you’re curious and want to try it out!

    I finished the main portion of the bag and realized…this tutorial is for a book sleeve, not a purse. So then I was brainstorming how do I crochet a strap??

    finished body of the purse
    I finished the main portion in our closet because I needed light but didn’t want to wake our baby.

    Well, I obviously got cocky because I just started crocheting a strap and measured the chain against my body. Newbie mistake. Double crochet makes the strap a little longer, so it unfortunately ended up being an awkward length.

    I used it for one day and realized I needed to add a lining because the yarn was stretching with all of my stuff in it.

    finished crochet purse on my body

    So I called my mom up and asked for her sewing kit. I had leftover fabric from my Goodwill Bear Lamp flip so I was able to get started on a lining immediately!

    lining of purse

    This is my first ever crochet project that I completed. I love the color of yarn I chose. I love the way it looks sitting on our entryway table…but I honestly haven’t used it since I completed it.

    I’ll give it another go soon and see how it works out. I think I’m not the biggest fan of where it sits on me. The strap has stretched even more from when I didn’t have the lining.

    Finished crochet purse

    Either way, I’m proud of myself for completing it!

  • Postpartum Fitness Fridays Week 7: Showing up for myself

    Starting the week with an early morning Sunday workout was great. I planned a surprise party for my mother-in-law the Saturday night before, and if I wasn’t meeting a friend at this class, you already know I would’ve canceled!

    But I didn’t. I set my alarm. I woke up. I showed up.

    If I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ll go again next Sunday. My friend will be out-of-state, and it was kind of a lot to workout 2 days in a row.

    I didn’t give myself any sort of break. Anyone who doesn’t practice yoga thinks that it is easy. I had the same bias.

    Listen to me and listen close. YOGA WORKOUTS ARE ONE OF MY HARDEST WORKOUTS EACH WEEK.

    The 2 yoga classes I took this week were both heated. They were both more advanced. I felt behind the whole time, but I got such a good workout in.

    I focused on my breath and movement. I made sure I was getting the most out of the class as I possibly could. And trust me. I got it.

    I ended the week the way I started with my bestie: solidcore. Somehow, the times worked out that I was working the same muscle groups, but they had different coaches so it wasn’t the same workout twice.

    Both coaches were pro coaches which I highly highly highly recommend taking. The flow of these made so much sense to my body and both were great with the instructions.

    I noticed the Sunday coach was very hands-on correction, and the Friday evening coach was more verbal.

    I ended the week feeling strong but sore. I’m noticing the muscles in my arms and shoulders. I’m liking what I see. No one around me has mentioned me looking different, but I see it and that’s all that matters.

    Workouts I completed:

    Sunday: solidcore signature50 hamstrings and triceps

    Monday: Yoga Sculpt & Flow

    Wednesday: Yoga Power Flow

    Friday: solidcore Signature50 hamstrings and arm wrap

  • Postpartum Fitness Fridays: Week 6 – Strength is showing up in quiet ways

    How I’m Feeling This Week

    Week 6 felt less about pushing harder and more about noticing changes. Not dramatic ones. Not flashy ones. But the kind that make you pause mid-workout and think, okay, something is different.

    I’m still tired. Sleep is still unpredictable. Life with two little kids is still loud and full. My body is starting to respond in ways that feel encouraging instead of frustrating and that’s a big mental shift for me.

    The Workouts I Did

    Tuesday — [ solidcore ] Signature50 (Inner Thighs & Arms)

    This was a 7am class, which meant waking up at 620am… after a rough night. My toddler ran into the baby’s room in the middle of the night yelling for Dada, which fully woke the baby. I was up with him for two hours trying to get him back down.

    I was exhausted. Cancelling would have made perfect sense.

    But I went anyway. I made it on time. I took the class. And I was home, showered, and ready for the day before my boys even woke up. That feeling of accomplishment carried me through the entire morning.

    Not every workout feels good physically but some feel really good mentally.

    Thursday — YogaSix Signature Hot

    I’ve taken this class before, and I distinctly remember it feeling much harder. This time? I didn’t sweat nearly as much, my balance felt more stable, and I actually left class feeling stronger than when I walked in.

    It was one of those moments where you don’t realize progress is happening until it’s already there. Six weeks ago, this class felt overwhelming. This week, it felt doable.

    Sunday — [ solidcore ] Hamstrings & Triceps

    I took this class with a friend, which always makes things more fun especially when you’re suffering on the machine together. There’s something about shared struggle that makes a hard class feel lighter.

    Total workouts this week: 3 classes

    Goal for next week: 3 classes

    Nothing fancy. Just consistency.

    Pelvic Floor & Core Check-In

    This week felt solid.

    During bicycles, I lowered my legs almost to the ground which is something I haven’t felt comfortable doing postpartum until now. I went slower than everyone else and focused on keeping my lower back pressed into the floor.

    It didn’t look impressive. It didn’t feel rushed. It felt controlled and that matters so much more right now.

    Postpartum core work has taught me that slower and intentional usually wins.

    A Real Moment From This Week

    I did not want to go to an early morning class on Christmas Eve. I talked it through with Jake, and since his gym was closed, he encouraged me to cancel.

    Waking up at 5:30am is hard especially when you’re dealing with baby sleep issues. Some days, rest really is the better choice.

    This week reminded me that listening to your body sometimes means moving and sometimes means not.

    A Small Win I Don’t Want to Forget

    I did a home workout on Christmas Eve before family came over.

    I took that time for myself and my oldest came into the room after his nap, climbed onto the bed, and just watched me. No interruptions. No chaos. Just quiet curiosity.

    It felt like a small but meaningful moment: showing my kids that movement is part of life, not something I have to disappear to do.

    What I’m Working On Next Week

    Right now, I’m trying to figure out what earlier workouts look like as we work toward better schedules for the kids.

    Do I wake up and work out before Jake?

    Do I sleep a little longer and work out on his off days but still early enough to be home and showered before he leaves?

    No decisions yet. Just awareness and flexibility.

    Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

    Mine is to work out more, and technically, I started a month early. No regrets. This season has taught me that starting imperfectly still counts.

    Thanks for following along. See you next Friday.

  • The “Incident” That Led Us to Buying a Dyson Detect (Robot Vacuum Disaster)

    The “Incident” That Led Us to Buying a Dyson Detect (Robot Vacuum Disaster)


    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I woke one Friday morning feeling groggy. I made my way downstairs to find Jake cooking breakfast and making coffee.

    Just as I was about to sit down at the table, Jake turned to look at me and I immediately knew something was wrong.

    “What??” I asked him.

    “One of the dogs pooped last night and the robot smeared it.”

    DUN DUN DUN.

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    The Robot Vacuum Incident No Dog Owner Wants

    Our worst fear with the robot vacuum mop officially came true.

    There was dog poop smeared all over the main living area. It was mostly concentrated to our dining room rug, but that’s the first room it cleans, which meant the robot had just vacuumed and mopped poopy water all over the hard floors.

    It took me eight hours to clean and disinfect all the carpets and mop all the floors. I tried to clean the robot, but with each piece I took apart, I gagged more and more thinking about cleaning all the tubing at the hub since the poop water would’ve had to make it back to the dirty water tank.

    Finally when Jake got off work, I asked him what he thinks. He agreed. Toss it. Throw it away. Get the poopy vacuum out of this house!

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    Why We Replaced Our Robot Vacuum With a Dyson Detect

    At that point, I just wanted a vacuum I could trust around dogs, kids, and real-life messes. That’s what pushed us toward the Dyson V15 Detect and honestly, I wish we had switched sooner.

    Here are my thoughts:

    Why we chose the Dyson V15 Detect:

    • powerful enough for dog hair + everyday crumbs
    • cordless (no robot, no cords, no scheduling stress)
    • shows hidden dirt with the detect light
    • works especially well on hard floors
    • easy to empty (no… tubing 🤢)

    (SPOILER ALERT: IM OBSESSED)

    The dust canister is massive, which means I’m not emptying it mid-clean which is something that matters a lot when you’re vacuuming daily with dogs and kids.

    Vacuuming the whole downstairs feels like a workout since it’s decently heavy, but I think it weighs so much from the battery and size of the dust canister. I don’t really mind it though, it feels sturdy and powerful.

    Literally vacuuming in the pitch black. This picture doesn’t do the light justice. It’s addicting to see the crumbs and then see them disappear after vacuuming!

    Jake and I are both obsessed with vacuuming in the pitch black because it shows every little dust particle. It’s become a little game of how much crumbs can we pick up and how much cleaner does the floor look! It’s crazy how crumb-y and dirty a floor gets in just a few hours with 2 dogs, a toddler, and a crawling baby.

    I love the ease of just walking room by room without worrying about plugging in the cord. When not in use, the vacuum sits in a charging home on the wall in our laundry room so whenever we need it, it’s always charged. The battery lasts the entire downstairs, so I’m not rushing to finish before it dies or stopping halfway through a mess.

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    Stick Vacuum vs Corded Vacuum: My Honest Take

    I will say, it’s more for hard floors versus carpets. I still prefer our Shark vacuum for the area rugs and upstairs carpets.

    That said, I highly highly highly recommend this Dyson vacuum. I’m addicted to cleaning because of the detect light.

    Who I Think the Dyson V15 Detect Is (and Isn’t) For

    This vacuum is great if you:

    • have dogs or shedding pets
    • mostly hard floors
    • want something quick for daily messes
    • don’t want to deal with cords or robot scheduling

    It might not be for you if:

    • your home is mostly carpet
    • you want one vacuum to deep-clean thick rugs
    • you prefer something lightweight above all else

    For us, it’s 100% worth it.

    We bought ours refurbished directly from Dyson to save money, and it looked brand new straight out of the box. No issues so far.

    You can buy the Dyson V15 Detect directly from the Dyson site like we did or they’re sold on Amazon if that’s your preferred shopping spot.

    So now I’m curious, what are your thoughts on stick vs corded vacuums?

    I really think there’s a time and place for both. If your home is mostly carpet, a corded vacuum still wins. But if you’ve got mostly hard floors? A stick vacuum is an absolute game changer.

  • Postpartum Fitness Fridays: Week 5

    How I’m Feeling This Week

    I feel like I’ve been saying this over and over, but I feel so strong. I also just feel good. I feel good. I look good. I’m liking the changes I’m seeing in my mood and my body. They say other people start to notice around week 6 of working out so we’ll see if anyone close to me notices my body changing.

    Workouts I did

    Monday: Y6 Sculpt & Flow

    This was a 6am class and I was one of the last people to show up. (I’m so bad at hearing my alarm. Luckily my husband tapped me.) I loved the playlist and the workout! It was so much fun. 

    Wednesday: Lagree at home lower body and core

    This was way harder than Solidcore. I don’t know if it’s because I was alone in a room instead of super load music and a coach yelling at me but I really struggled. 

    Also, to add context, when I was working out the first time after my first child, my husband bought me a lagree machine, which is very similar (in my opinion) to Svetlana. I’ve only used it a handful of time, but I was very grateful to have it this day. I see myself using it more often now that I’ve proven to myself I can just hop on and do it.

    Friday: [ solidcore ]  inner thighs and back

    The inner thighs workouts are killer. I’m feeling muscles I didn’t even know existed during these exercises. 

    Total workouts this week: 3 classes

    Goal for next week: 4 classes

    Pelvic Floor & Core Check-In

    During oblique exercises at Solidcore my hips were killing me. It’s not my hip bone. I feel like it’s a tendon or something. I noticed the day after my class, I was limping if I stepped a certain way because I’d get a super sharp pain. I only felt it on my knees though. If I moved up to my feet during the exercises, it didn’t bother my hips. 

    Real Moment from this Week

    I was so sore from the Sculpt & Flow class that I canceled my Tuesday morning barre class. Then I went ahead and just canceled Solidcore on Wednesday since it was Christmas Eve and I didn’t feel like going to a 6am class on Christmas Eve. 

    Small Win

    Even though I canceled 2 classes this week, I squeezed in time for a home workout on Christmas Eve before family came to visit!!

    What I’m Working on Next Week

    I’m going to work on preventing hip pain during obliques. It’s a problem when my obliques aren’t the obstacle in an exercise, but my hips are what are causing me to take lots of breaks. (Not that breaks are bad. It’s just annoying that the targeted area isn’t the one causing the fatigue.)

    Thanks for following along, see you next Friday!

    How was your Christmas/Holiday? 

  • Postpartum Fitness Fridays: Week 4

    Postpartum Fitness Fridays: Week 4

    Workouts I did

    Tuesday: PureBarre Empower

    Wednesday: Y6 Power Flow

    I had so much fun with this class. The music was upbeat and current. The yogi was making jokes the entire time. I did poses I’ve never even heard of!

    Friday: Signature50

    Total workouts this week: 3 classes

    Goal for next week: 4 classes

    Pelvic Floor & Core Check-In

    I’m feeling really strong this week. I know I still need to work on the actual core engagement while working out, but (and I know I keep saying this) I can really tell that I’m getting stronger. I was able to lower my leg all the way to the floor during deadbugs this week.

    Real Moment from this Week

    We moved our baby out of our room, because he wasn’t sleeping through the night. Wednesday night I was having trouble sleeping. I still wasn’t asleep by 1am. Then I started freaking out since our baby was in another room. I ended up sleeping on the nugget in his room until he woke up around 3am. I’m convinced he woke up because he smelled me. Long story short. I saw every hour of the clock that night and only had solid sleep between 5-8:30am…so I cancelled my 6am Classic class on Thursday morning. 

    Small Win

    I did a shoulder stand in Power Flow class this week! I didn’t even know that was a thing. I also did a back bend (wheel pose) which I haven’t done since high school!!

    What I’m Working on next week

    Figuring out what a good schedule is. For all of us. Should I work out early in the morning and wake the boys up? Should I stick with working out after my husband gets off work? 

    Thanks for following along, see you next Friday!

    What’s the last thing you had to cancel because you were so sleep deprived?

  • Baby & Toddler Christmas Gifts 2025: What We’re Putting Under the Tree This Year

    Baby & Toddler Christmas Gifts 2025: What We’re Putting Under the Tree This Year


    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Christmas feels extra special this year. My toddler is talking about “Santy Claus” and running around admiring every decoration he sees. My baby is mesmerized by the lights and crawling through the entire house. (Side note: He’s already pulling up and pushing chairs around. We might have another walker by the end of the year!!)

    Now that our family has started asking for gift ideas, I figured it was time to put together a list of gifts I know my boys will love and enjoy. Today I’m sharing what we’re getting for my baby and toddler for Christmas 2025, in case you’re looking for inspiration for your own little guys in your life.

    Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

    We love choosing one special gift for the boys each Christmas, and this year we’re going with a Toniebox!

    If you’re looking for the best shared gifts for siblings or screen-free toddler gifts for Christmas 2025, a Toniebox is such a cozy, practical option that both my boys will enjoy for years.

    Baby

    100 First Words LeapFrog

    • Why I chose it: We’re getting my toddler a leap frog to help him with early reading, so I thought it would be fun for my baby to get something similar. He already loves similar books like his nursery rhyme story book and his elmo book, so I know he enjoys anything that talks, sings, or lights up.

      Farm Animals Touch and Feel Book

      • Why I chose it: My baby loves the touch and feel books that we already have and he loves a foldable barn with animals. This is a smaller book that I’m picturing as our diaper bag book for restaurants.

        Mickey Mouse Tonie

        • Why I chose it: We went to Disney recently and our baby really enjoyed it. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Mickey Mouse right??

          Baby Einstein Push & Pop Book

          • Why I chose it: I figured my baby would like this one when I ordered it, but I received confirmation during library story time when he couldn’t stop popping the button on a pop-it toy so looking forward to seeing him play with this one.

          Dinosaur Matching 2 Piece Set

          • Why I chose it: This one is more for me than for the boys. I love giving matching sets at Christmas. They look so cute and cozy in their little sweat outfits, and they are a staple in our house. These are what I ordered, and they work but I will say they’re thinner than I anticipated. These will be great lounging around the house outfits.

          Dinosaur Onesies & Pants

          • Why I chose it: Again, this one is for me. No ones ever really excited to get clothes, but I’m always excited to give them. Especially when they’re cute!

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            Toddler

            LeapFrog Laptop

            • Why I chose it: He is always trying to play with our laptops and says he is “working” so I bet he will really enjoy having his own computer.

            Frozen Little Golden Book

            • Why I chose it: He specifically asked for this because a picture of the Frozen book cover is on the back of another one of his Little Golden Books. Anna, Elsa, and Olaf are his current obsession. I know for a fact he will love getting this book for Christmas
            • I don’t have a picture of this one because we ended up just giving him this book since he was so excited for it. It is already well-loved and read at least once a day!

            Elsa Tonie

            • Why I chose it: The Elsa Tonie tells the full Frozen story and since he asks to watch the movie every day, I’m hoping this will help us gently reduce screen time while still giving him something he loves.

            Olaf Tonie

            • Why I chose it: He talks about Olaf just as much as he talks about Elsa, so I know he’ll love the figurine. The story is Olaf’s Frozen Adventure which hasn’t held his attention to watch, but I bet he’ll be more inclined to listen to it.

            Moana Tonie

            • Why I chose it: Moana is quickly becoming another favorite princess. He’s constantly asking us to sing “How Far I’ll Go” and “You’re Welcome.”

            I Spy Christmas

            Jack Skellington Tonie

            • Why I chose it: If you know my toddler, this one was a no brainer. He’s absolutely obsessed with “Nightmare” and if “This is Halloween” just played on repeat constantly, he would be ecstatic.

            2 Piece Set

            • Why I chose it: I saw these matching outfits and just couldn’t resist. Dinosaurs are kinda our thing, if you can’t tell.

              I hope this gift guide gave you helpful ideas as you plan for Christmas 2025 with your own baby or toddler!

              What are your favorite Christmas gifts for babies and toddlers this year? Share your ideas in the comments. Your suggestions might help another mom who’s still searching for the perfect gift! If you found this post helpful, feel free to save it or share it with a friend who’s shopping for little ones too!

              P.S. I decided to make a photo album with all of our photos from Disney as a combined gift as well. My boys love looking at photos on my phone so I’m hoping they’ll enjoy their very own album.

            1. Postpartum Fitness Friday: Week 4

              How I’m Feeling This Week

              I can tell I’m stronger and I’m noticing changes in my body. I can see the definition forming.

              Workouts I did

              Sunday: [solidcore] Signature50

              6am class!! I went to a 6am class with my friend and was able to get a workout in before we drove 1.5 hours back to our hometown for a baby shower.

              Monday: PureBarre Classic

              Signed up for a challenge. 12 classes this month. 2 of each class + 4 of my choice. 12 classes total

              Wednesday: PureBarre Empower

              Now THIS is a workout. Classic is a workout, but Empower is a whole other beast. I was so sore on Thursday and Friday. 

              Friday: Y6 Restore

              This candlelight restore class was exactly what I needed. An hour of calm stretching and meditation.

              Total workouts this week: 4 classes

              Goal for next week: 4 classes

              Pelvic Floor & Core Check-In

              I really need to work on engaging my core for all the exercises. I still don’t know if I’m doing it correctly. Some times it feels great and other times I feel like I’m coning which is a big no-no. I don’t want to irritate my diastasis recti. Otherwise I’m feeling pretty good. During step-ups in the Empower class I could tell my right side hip flexor was struggling so I’m hoping continuing to strengthen will help it catch up.

              The restore yoga class felt great during the workout, but I must’ve overstretched my right hip. On Sunday morning, I woke up and was limping because my left outer hip was sore and felt like it was giving out. I’ve been told my multiple PTs that I am very flexible and I need to be careful when stretching. Clearly I didn’t listen.

              Real Moment from this Week

              I was up by 5:30am on a Sunday morning. I had a workout completed before the sun even came up!

              Small Win

              This is going to make me sound crazy…I was running late to yoga. I always check in on my phone as I’m walking in the door. As I’m rushing to the lockers, the woman at the front desk kinda shouts for my name. I tell her, and she says, “Oh it looks like you checked in on your phone. I know you missed check-in last time so I wanted to make sure.” Uhhh, I’ve never seen this lady before, and I know I check-in on my phone every single time. It’s apart of my ritual as I’m walking in. Instead of arguing with her, I just let the comment in one ear and out the other. I’m working on my patience, and this was a big win for me. I’m choosing my battles and this one wasn’t worth the fight.

              What I’m Working on next week

              Not overdoing it. I’m excited to workout, and I fear I might be overdoing it a little. I definitely overstretched my muscles in yoga. I need to remember that I’m still healing from birth. I don’t want to hurt myself. I want to be stronger.

              Thanks for following along, see you next Friday!

              What other hobbies do you have? I’ve recently started crocheting and I love it!