Milk Friendly - the Button Down.

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Outfit Details:
Target Chambray Button Down Shirt (similar here and less expensive version here), Gap Eyelet Midi Skirt, Anthropologie Sandals (similar here), Mama & Little Alexa Teething Necklace

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Happy September, friends! I want to finish up this milk friendly series by sharing this super cute chambray button down top. I could go on and on about the versatility about this particular top, but I probably don't need to. It's obvious how useful a shirt like this is, right? You can wear it with quite literally anything - skirts, jeans, over dresses, under a tunic or sweater. I actually really love the denim on denim look. And it's suuuuuper milk friendly because you can unbutton and nurse so easily. I love this top and it was so worth the investment. Actually, I got mine from Target and I'm pretty sure it was under $30 but unfortunately it's no longer available - I've linked to a few similar styles below. Also, I've found that it's nice to have a button down like this one in one size larger than your normal size, just so that during those first few months with a newborn a top like this can still button up, if ya know what I mean ;) Also, this is the kind of top that transitions so beautifully into fall.

Happy Labor Day weekend, friends! Wear all the white you can!

Featured Piece:

Other Picks:

P.S. - If you're interested in other nursing-friendly essentials that you can shop in non-maternity stores, check out my posts on the tunic tee, the kimono and the cami dress.

A Bird's Eye View in Perdido Key!

Beach buddies!

I'm a little blinded here but I love this pic of me and my boys!

Our canopy crew!

I wish I would have gotten a picture of the end result - this guy was a true artist! Check out his tools strewn all over!

Matching jammies were a happy accident!

Dinner outside at The Gulf - a perfect restaurant for big groups and families. The kids could run around and play on the soft grass while we ate by the water.

All the daddies with their babes :)

We spent last week at Perdido Key Beach with friends! It's so great being able to connect with friends who have kids the same ages - they played together so well and we were all equally inconvenienced by our kid-whipped schedules. So it was great! It was especially nice to be able to put the kids down for bed at night and play games and eat dessert and catch up on life. Nothing like friends who totally understand your stage of life because they are right there alongside you. Also, I learned to play Settlers of Catan and I'm a little obsessed - anyone want to come over and play a tournament?!

The weather was unbelievably perfect and the view from the 12th floor condo was kind of unreal. I've never stayed so high up before and been able to drink in the view from above. The birds are so lucky, you guys. They see the world so beautifully!

That view actually really inspired me, gave me reason to pause. I don't take enough time to just let my mind be free. I am always busy, wrangling kids, writing, taking care of life things, and when I do get a free moment - I check my email, respond to messages, scroll Instagram, etc. But I never let myself just sit in the quiet. Think about it - when was the last time you just sat alone, quietly? I did that up on this 12th floor terrace with my feet kicked up and my heart high to the Heavens and I have to say, it was nourishing for my mind and soul. I can't remember the last time I really, truly gave myself enough room to let my mind wander and, I don't know, have original thoughts. I'm so busy during the day pouring my energy into my family and all my leftover mind space usually get put into this blog and my other writing work. But I haven't given myself freedom to think about whatever I want in such a long, long time. I've got to take time to do this more! I have a great brain. I almost forgot that.

With Labor Day coming up this weekend, I hope you are able to rest and relax and give yourself some quiet time to think! We are trying to decide if we take one last spontaneous trip to the beach, but the weather is looking a little rainy, so it might be hometown house projects for us :) Happy Labor Day weekend to you all! xx

Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash.

When I started doing Whole30 this time around, I asked on my Instagram for recipe recommendations. Thankfully, several people commented in that they love sweet potato/egg combinations, but I never really found any previously that I liked. I'm so glad I kept trying because thanks to you all, I finally landed on a breakfast hash that I LOVE. Stevie and I actually ate this for breakfast, lunch and dinner one day - that's how much we loved it (and also, we wanted to use up all our produce). But the combination of these flavors is seriously TO DIE FOR delicious - it tastes like something that you would order at a restaurant for a fancy brunch out. Seriously. Eat and enjoy! Plus, it's just a fringe benefit that this meal is completely Whole30-compliant! #winning

Ingredients:
- 1 yellowing plantain, sliced on a diagonal like a banana
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and shredded (I like to use a potato peeler)
- 1 link Aidell's Chicken & Apple chicken sausage, sliced (also like a banana)
- 1/2 avocado, sliced
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp. coconut oil (plus a little more if you need it)
- a pinch of salt and pepper

Method:
1. Heat a skillet on medium (this one is my all-time favorite because it cooks so evenly), and add coconut oil. Wait until oil is melted completely.
2. Place all the plantain slices in the hot oil and cook for 2 minutes, flipping over and then cooking for another two minutes.
3. Once each side of the plantains is slightly browned, remove from the skillet and let cool on a plate. Divide the plantains between two plates for two servings.
4. Add the diced sweet potato and keep it moving around the skillet with a spatula. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes, until slightly wilted. Add a little extra coconut oil if you need more for your skillet.
5. Add the sliced chicken sausage. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, until heated well (I like mine to char a little bit, but you certainly don't have to let it cook that long since the meat is already pre-cooked).
6. Divide the sweet potato/chicken sausage mixture between the two plates. Top with two fried eggs and sliced avocado. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Bon appetit!

Notes:
- I've changed it up and added onions, spinach, baby kale, bacon and even cinnamon to this recipe - it all adds it's own flavor which is great! The options are really endless when it comes to a hash situation like this. I will say that the basic flavors of the egg, sweet potato, chicken sausage and plantain really "make" this dish - anything else that is added in just helps.
- You want to choose a yellow plantain that has begun to brown - this is when the fruit is sweetest. If you choose a green plantain, it won't be ripe enough and will make it very difficult to slice or cook with.
- You can also make this recipe with scrambled eggs instead of fried- just pour the eggs into the skillet with the sweet potato/chicken sausage mixture and allow them to cook together.

P.S. - I'm working on a Whole30 meal reference guide that will house all the Whole30-compliant meals that we have been eating. I'll be sharing that next week, so keep an eye out!

Milk Friendly - the Cami Dress.

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Outfit Details:
Pink Blush Cami Dress, Anthropologie sandals (last season, similar here and here), Stella & Dot earrings (sold out, similar here and here), Covet Letter Necklace

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Nursing a baby is a job. It's such an incredible privilege, one that I don't take for granted. I love that I am able to nourish my baby and care for his needs, but I would be lying if I said it was always so easy. Nothing about having a baby is easy. It's hard work, and breastfeeding certainly takes it's toll on my body. It often feels inconvenient. But in moments where I feel the frustration of being tethered to him, I remind myself that not everyone is able to fulfill their desire to breastfeed their children. I am so blessed to share this season of being so connected to my son, but I want everyone to know that no matter how they are able to feed their babies, fed is best. It's such an honor to nurture these precious little people however we are able to, whether it's with our bodies or with formula or with a combination. Everything that we as mothers pour into them physically and emotionally will produce who they become and that is such a sobering, humbling realization. And however we are able to nourish them is absolutely, completely wonderful and a life-changing investment for them.

That being said, I'm continuing with my Milk Friendly series and sharing another simple little trick up my sleeve when it comes to getting dressed to go out of the house with a nursing baby. When I'm online shopping, I often scan the "dresses" category of a website to look for dresses exactly like this Pink Blush dress shown in the pictures - something cami-style, with a v-neck and spaghetti straps. The reason why this kind of dress is so perfect for breastfeeding is because you can easily wear a strapless bra or bralette and easily pull down the straps when you need to feed your little one. But I also love how versatile this dress is and how it can be styled a bunch of different ways - with a long skirt over it so the top looks like a tank, with an oversized sweater over it so the dress looks like a skirt, with a threaded kimono worn over it or with cropped jeans under it - the possibilities are endless! You will seeing me wear this dress a lot this fall, because the rust color is perfect for the changing season and there is so much that can be worn with it. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Pink Blush has previously been known for its maternity clothes, but they carry so many other cute style that are for everyday life (and also nursing-specific) and I love that they are always including fresh trends for the season, so that this journey of motherhood doesn't have to be a frumpy one. Hurray for cute styles and clothes that make us feel relevant!

P.S. - You can see my other nursing-friendly essentials like the tunic tee and the kimono.

Featured Piece:

Pink Blush Rust Floral Button Front Dress

Thanks to my friends at PinkBlush for sponsoring this post and sending me the product. All opinions expressed are my own.

3 Ways I Use Essential Oils Everyday.

I used to think essential oils were just hocus pocus. My mom has been using them to treat all kinds of ailments since before they were "in" so I never really understood why they were so important. Whenever I felt sick as a teenager, she would rub some on my feet, whenever it was flu season she would diffuse and whenever I had a headache she would anoint my head with something to ease the tension. I used to think it was kind of silly but I also kind of liked it, because, you know, it showed she cared about me. I honestly figured any relief that I experienced was just due to placebo effect.

Now that I'm a mom, I totally empathize with her. Trying to do the right thing by my family, especially using oils to prevent and help treat aches, pains and tension is something that I picked up from her. My mom always tries to do things the most natural way first, and as I am getting older I can see why. There are so many toxins and endocrine-disrupting chemicals in our medicines, cleaning supplies and daily-used products - it's nice to be able to swap out some of the harmful ones with something more natural and botanically-based. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you gotta use bleach to get a clean bathroom! But sometimes a little peppermint oil on the temples can be just as effective as taking Tylenol in order to overcome a headache.

I don't think essential oils are a cure-all for everything. But I do think they are an awesome tool that can be used alongside traditional approaches. I especially love how applicable they are in zillions of ways - especially in preventing sickness and treating pain. I am not an oil salesperson (although I admit I've fallen in love with Doterra so much that the thought has crossed my mind!), but I wanted to share some of the ways I've been incorporating oils into my daily routine over the past year.

1. Diffusing:
I love diffusing essential oils and I usually diffuse in several rooms of the house everyday. I have this kind of diffuser in all the bedrooms of our house (including Stevie's office!) and this one in our kitchen/living room. During the day I like to diffuse citrus-y oils, because they give me energy and clarity of mind. With two boys to take care of and this blog to keep up with, I am often switching gears throughout the day, and I love diffusing "Wild Orange" and "Balance" together to keep myself focused. At night I love diffusing "Serenity" to promote restful sleep, especially in the boys' rooms.

My newest favorite diffuser recipe:
Intention: (don't laugh - I named it!)
- 2 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Ylang Ylang
- 2 drops Bergamot
- 2 drops Rosemary
- 2 drops Peppermint
- 2 drops Wild Orange

2. Spray:
Since having a c-section and some wicked stretch marks, I've been using a spray concoction to (hopefully) lighten up my marked bod. These oils are especially helpful in healing and restoring skin - I followed this recipe from my friend Savannah (you should follow her @MamaTribe account if you're into oil DIYs!) and I modified it a bit to my liking. To make, fill up a 2 oz. glass spray bottle (I got mine here on Amazon), add the oils listed below, then top off the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil (basically this is just coconut oil that stays in a liquid state). I spray this on my belly and c-section incision every time I get out of the shower, then rub it in.

Smooth Skin Spray:
- 20 drops Helyscrism
- 25 drops Frankinscense
- 25 drops Lavender
- 15 drops Wild Orange
- 15 drops Grapefruit
- 15 drops Cedarwood
- 7 drops Geranium

3. Rollerballs:
Another way I use oils everyday is by making my own little rollerballs. I name them all different things and I make sure that each one is diluted enough to use on Everett, too. (I need to make another one for his toddler self called "Chill, child".) He loves when I roll a mix of Lavender + Frankinscense on his feet before he goes to bed at night to promote restful sleep (just make sure to put on socks, so you don't have oily sheets!) Here is an easy guide for safely diluting oils to use on children.

I have lots of these rollerballs that I use on a daily basis, but my favorite one is for anxiety*. If I need to calm down, I roll this one on the back of my neck, behind my ears, and on my wrists. I do it a few times a day, and make sure to take a few deep breaths and breathe the oil in, as well. When I am regularly doing this, I am much more balanced and at peace. Which I'll admit, has been very, very necessary this past year :)

Stay Calm:
- 25 drops Bergamot
- 10 Clary Sage
- 15 Ylang Ylang
- 15 Lavender
- 10 Frankinscense
- 10 Cedarwood
*I never use this rollerball on my children, since it is not diluted enough for them.

I have loved using my oils over the past year (and believe me, I've had many moments with my mom where I admit she was doing the "cool" thing with oils before it was cool ;) If you're interested in more oil uses and recipes, I have tons of them and am happy to share! Please let me know in the comments if this type of post is interesting to you and if you'd like to hear more! I would be glad to put together a little series focusing on the way our family uses essential oils.

P.S. - Here is a great post about using EO's in the home, courtesy of my friend Savannah!