Family

November 11, 2019

BARLOW BABY NUMBER FOUR!

Ahhh! I’m pregnant! I’ve been so happy and so excited and dying to share this news with all you girls with what feels like forever. It’s such a weird thing to try and live my life a certain way on social while hiding such big news! I’m so not used to that, and it’s felt weird not being able to be so open (especially on stories) with you!

I wanted to write a more candid post about this pregnancy filling you in on lots of details. There has been kind of a lot going on behind the scenes and so much to say with this pregnancy. So here it goes…

Was this pregnancy planned?

Yes! I always hoped that Eli wouldn’t be my last baby, and I knew we wanted more, but I was also very slow and mindful about when the right timing would be. We started having kids really early on, so I wasn’t in any rush with baby number four. Also..there is something really magical about Eli and I just wanted to soak up his littleness as much as possible! Things shift when a new baby comes along (in many great ways!) but that baby you once had is all of a sudden so much bigger than your new baby and I just wanted all the baby time with him. I also wanted to be at a slower paced place, not so many big projects, not so rushed. So we were very methodical and prayerful about the timing of this pregnancy and just so very grateful and happy that we have a new baby coming.

How far along? Due Date?

I am 14 weeks along, and due mid May. I’ve never had a spring baby and I’m just so excited to experience a baby in the spring! Also…to not be a hot sweaty mess at 9 months pregnant in August (*cough Bradley, *cough Eli).

Are you finding out the gender?

We are not finding out the gender. Crazy huh?! This one might need it’s own blog post sometime, but long story short – I feel really strongly that I want the focus of this pregnancy to be about the health of the baby and excitement for a new addition. I haven’t had great experiences finding out the gender of my babies in the past (or with comments from strangers around me…anyone remember this post?) so I feel really happy and content about not finding out. I’m going to be obsessed with this baby no matter what the gender!

<Eli is SO excited to be a big brother! When we told him we were having a baby he said “I need to be a strong big brother!” and dropped to the ground and started doing push-ups>

How have you been feeling?

This is a bit of a loaded subject. I’ve been feeling pretty dang good. I didn’t even notice that big of a drop in energy the first few weeks. I definitely relied on my 26 minute nap every single day, but I was already taking them 3-4x a week. I still had great energy in the mornings. I was exercising 5-6 times a week, runnings 3 days, strength training 2-3 days, and I was so grateful! Working out had become such a mentally healthy time for me. It was when I got the most inspiration and the most energy. I was in a groove and so happy I was able to keep it up while pregnant.

I have been getting nauseous at night. I got a little nauseous with Cash at night, and super nauseous with Eli. I had zero sickness at all with Bradley. When I get nauseous my mouth starts salivating a ton and it’s like my body pretends it’s going to throw up, but I never actually do. The extra saliva is so gross!

I only threw up once with Cash on the side of the road and that’s it. I don’t start getting nauseous now until closer to 10pm now (thank goodness) but it used to kick in around 5pm and I would just fling Costco pizzas at the boys, tell them all their homework was probably correct, and countdown the minutes to bedtime. I wore sea bands on my wrists that I thiiiink helped (maybe it was a placebo effect…don’t know don’t care). I did a dang good job of eating healthy all day until I started feeling sick and then I would have Garrett run to the taco truck around the corner to get me 5 more street tacos even though I had 3 of them for dinner. Then I would sit in my bed at 11 pm crying eating street tacos because I felt like stuffing food down me was the only way to make the nausea stop.

Which makes me feel like I need to write more about food…

Cravings

I haven’t had too many cravings. The aftertaste of candy or sugar makes me so sick (but hasn’t stopped me from eating the boy’s Halloween candy). I made a special trip to the grocery store to buy 15 cent Top Ramen for lunch one day because it sounded amazing, and it was.

One time I saw this butter lettuce and tomato salad on someone’s insta stories and it made me salivate so much I had to go to Trader Joes and make my own every day for lunch for a week straight.

I’ve been strangely obsessed with eggs. I eat 2 fried eggs every morning and they are so good. I also have a bag of saltines on my nightstand. One of my favorite late night snacks is saltines with cream cheese spread on top and Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute sprinkled on top (most underrated TJ’s seasoning IMO…better than Everything But The Bagel). Try it!

I do also live and die for bubbly water. I’ve been pouring myself a glass of Perrier with ½ a squeezed lime every night and it really helps my nausea.

The not so great part…

This pregnancy was going so well and so wonderful, except a few weeks ago I had a little bit of a scare. I started bleeding a little bit and panicked because that hadn’t happened at all with any of my other pregnancies. I called my Dr. and she told me to lay down and let her know if there was more. I stood up after about an hour and there was a huge gush of blood (no other way to describe it! Sorry if this is TMI) My Dr. told me to rush to the ER right away. At the ER they checked on the baby and the baby was totally fine, but I had a good size subchorionic hemorrhage along my uterus wall. The size of it was a big concern with my Dr. She said if it got any bigger it could cause the placenta to detach, resulting in a miscarriage. So I was put on strict bed rest for 7-10 days. She also said after bedrest I wouldn’t be able to exercise until the end of my second trimester, and then only short walks.

It was a very scary time for all of us, but we prayed a ton and Garrett and I always felt like things were going to be okay. Throughout this whole pregnancy I’ve said that the baby’s heath is my #1 concern. Bed rest was not one single iota of fun. I would literally wake up in the morning, stand to brush my teeth, wash my face, use the restroom, and then lay back in bed….until bedtime. I was totally down to do anything to keep the baby safe…but I did start going a little stir crazy. One time I watched a spider crawl all the way up our ceiling and drop down onto the bed next to me. That was the most excitement I had in TEN days.

But I have a class act husband and the world’s greatest friends. So many people stepped in to help. Garrett was an absolute hero – making lunches, driving to school, piano, scouts, soccer, football, laundry, bedtime, EVERYTHING. Members of my church brought me dinner and my sweet friends watched my kids, cleaned my kitchen, gave my kids rides, etc. The boys were so kind and understanding. They always came home from school and made sure I was laying down with my feet propped.

I did get some really great quality time with Eli. When he was home with me he would bring me books to read to him. And let’s be honest, we also watched freaking Coco for 5 days in a row and it was amazing.

How is the baby now?

After my last Dr’s appointment we are feeling so much happier and confident! The hemorrhage has diminished in size, my uterus and the baby are bigger now and the placenta is really well attached. The Dr. was very happy about what she saw and said as long as I still take things easy, everything should be just fine.

So now I’m going up and down the stairs slowly and trying not to stand too long at a time. I have to be honest…I’m pretty bummed I can’t exercise like I was before. The thought of getting out of the groove for so long and having to get back into it in 6-7 months later is really hard for me to wrap my head around. But I can do it. It’s going to be a mind over matter thing and all I really want is a healthy baby. I’m finally feeling good and confident that this will be a great pregnancy and it finally felt like the right time to share it with you all!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your excitement and love! It’s been hard keeping this from you girls but now I’m excited to share more with you!!

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Casual

July 14, 2018

MY TOP BABY PICKS FROM THE NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE

I know how crazy overwhelming it can be for expecting moms to prep for your first baby, or when you are entering the land of multiple kids! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2018 has so many good baby items this year I decided to dedicate an entire post to baby gear. From strollers to carseats to diaper bags, I was so impressed with their selection and sale prices. You can view my Ultimate Baby Registry Guide post here if you need even more direction on baby items I love and used!

BABY JOGGER CITY SELECT: Thee stroller. The ONE. This is my favorite stroller of all time and I included it on my Ultimate Baby Registry Guide. I did hours of research on it and I opened up my own Etsy shop and and sewed and sold cardigans in order to save up money to buy this stroller. It’s worth every cent and it’s $130 off and still in stock! It’s amazing because it grows as your family grows. You can always use it as a single, but it’s easy to pop on the second stroller when your second baby comes. I’ve had mine for 6 years and I couldn’t love it more.
PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM CHIC BLACK DIAPER BAG: A Petunia Pickle Bottom bag was the only thing I wanted when I was pregnant with Bradley! This bag is so beautiful and classic and the shape is great for holding all your baby gear. An amazing price at just over $100!
PREMIUM POP-UP PLAY PEN: Where on earth was this when Eli was a baby? How great would this be to take to the park, beach, or Grandma’s house? It even has a little sun blocker..so genius. On sale for under $50.
3-IN-1 INFANT LOUNGER: A baby lounger is a must with a baby, especially if you have other kids to take care of! I like that this one is lightweight and fold up super compact for storage or travel.
MUSTELA BABY LOTION ESSENTIALS KIT: We are huge Mustela fans. I think I own every one of their products. This is such a great kit for under $20! Perfect for a baby shower gift.
THE HONEST CO. FAUX LEATHER DIAPER BAG: This might actually be the chicest diaper bag I’ve ever seen.
NUNA STROLLER + INFANT SEAT TRAVEL SYSTEM: All the stroller/car gear you need for a baby in this deluxe travel system! A killer combo sale on this Nuna stroller, infant car seat, and carseat adapter. Amazing quality and the travel system will be $250 off during the sale! This is the infant seat I had with Eli and I loved it. It comes with a magnetic cover to cover the baby when you want and is so sleek and beautiful. You can view this car seat in my Ultimate Baby Registry Guide post.
CRANE AIR DROP HUMIDIFIER: We have gone through our fair share of humidifiers in our house and this one is my favorite. It’s out lasted all our others, and the smaller nozzle turns, allowing you can direct it right toward your baby’s crib- super helpful when your babies have colds or croup.
ADIN & ANAIS SWADDLE: These were a baby must have for use! Lightweight and perfect for swaddling. On sale for under $30- would make a great baby shower gift.
LITTLE GIRAFFE LUX BABY BLANKET: I had this baby blanket with Eli and it was as soft as a cloud! I love loved wrapping him up in it!
BOTTLE DRYING RACK: This one is super small and compact and still holds a ton of bottles- great if you have limited counter space like we did when Bradley was a baby in our first apartment!
CHEWBEADS: Bless who ever invented these. Cutest teething toys out there. Eli loved them!
QUILTED SLEEPSACK: My babies always slept better swaddled and this sleep sack keeps them nice and secure. They can’t wiggle their arms out and wake themselves up!
MICRO MAX 30 INFANT CAR SEAT: This is an ultra lightweight carseat, only 4 pounds! On sale for under $200!

BLUSH MARY JANE FRESHLY PICKED MOCS: Ahhh, these are so cute! And Freshly Picked’s on sale for under $40? Grab them while you can!
NIKE BABY TRACK SUIT: Under $30..does this come in my size?
DISTRESSED DESIGNER JEANS: Distressed skinny AG jeans for baby? Are you kidding?! I’d put my boys in these even though they say girls
STRIPED BABY HOODED OUTFIT: This outfit alone is really tempting me to have another baby!
ICE CREAM TEE AND LEGGING SET: So cute and cool!
NATIVES: Our favorite summer shoe!!
BABY BLING BOWS: So cute and tons of colors!

Make sure to check out:

MY NORDSTROM SALE WOMEN’S CLOTHING PICKS

MY NORDSTROM SALE BEAUTY PICKS

NORDSTROM SALE DRESSING ROOM TRY-ONS

Here is the clickable full list of all of my Nordstrom Sale Baby picks…

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Casual

June 3, 2016

HELLO SUMMER

SWIMSUIT TOP AND BOTTOMS VIA MODCLOTH | FLAMINGO | SUNGLASSES (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR COLOR AND STYLE)

Yesterday was Bradley’s last official day of kindergarten, and that means that summer is here in the Barlow house! It certainly felt like summer. We baked in the 90 degree sun at the park after school! Poor B was really sad for the year to come to an end. He loves school and loves getting to be with his friends.

This weekend I am going to put together a summer bucket list with the boys and write down everything we want to do while school is out. I really want to try to get out to the beach a few times a month. We loved spending so much time on the beach while we were in Hawaii, and the boys love it.

I wore this suit from ModCloth while we were in Hawaii last week, and I love it! I saw the suit in person about a month ago, and I couldn’t get it out of my head. When we booked our trip for Hawaii I knew that was one that needed to come with me. The pink and chartreuse are so cute and vibrant, and it is one of the most flattering high-waisted suits I’ve ever tried on. ModCloth makes so many really cute unique suits. I was pouring through all of their swim options and saw so many cute suits I had never seen before (like this one and this one). And I just couldn’t resist bringing along this blow up flamingo. Even though Garrett rolled his eyes at me, it was so fun to float around on at the beach. We made quite the spectacle on our way down to the ocean, but we had the cutest flotation device in all the land, so we didn’t care. ModCloth also had this cute watermelon float that I almost got instead!

Happy summer!

in partnership with Modcloth

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Family

May 28, 2016

INSTAGRAM ROUNDUP + MEMORIAL DAY SALES

Happy Memorial Day Weekend everyone! Don’t forget that the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale is still going on now through June 5th! In case you missed it, I put together a big roundup of my favorite items from the sale here. I broke it down into categories, so it’s easy to shop the things I’m loving right from the post. I’ve also rounded up all the best Memorial Day sales at the bottom of this post, and some of my favorites like Asos, J. Crew, Anthropologie, Old Navy, and Ann Taylor are having some amazing sales!

If you follow along with me on Instagram, you know I’ve been in Hawaii this past week. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the suits I’ve worn, and I haven’t been able to answer everyone’s questions while I’ve been gone, so I figured I would link to them all here and try to answer some of the questions that I’ve gotten!

SWIMSUIT | SUNGLASSES | SANDALS

This suit is the most adorable print! I tend to stick to solid color suits, but this print was too pretty to pass up. It goes low in the front, but the laceup in the middle keeps it from being too low. This also has a decent amount of support, unlike a lot of suits with this cut.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 6) | SUNGLASSES | NECKLACE

Another pattern I fell in love with was this suit! It’s just gorgeous. And the chicest tropical print I’ve ever seen. It isn’t too loud and obnoxious. I would say this is the most comfortable suit I wore in Hawaii. The fabric quality is amazing. It’s super soft and the torso is really long, which is hard to find. And there is amazing support in the bust. I also love the cut out in the middle. Cutouts are huge this season.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 6) | SUNGLASSES | LIPSTICK (in ‘Claudia’)

I don’t think I could pick a favorite suit, but if I had to….it might be this one. Soft, durable fabric, and the color is amazing. Even more beautiful in person. The torso is long on this one, and the crochet detailing is sexy without being too revealing.

SWIMSUIT (I wear size 32 C/D) | SUNGLASSES | BABY ONESIE | BABY FEDORA

Such a beautiful floral print on this one. Ted Baker always gets florals right. And there is incredible support in the bust, since they are harder formed cups. The torso is a bit shorter on this one than a few of my others, but there is a tie in the back that helps keep the top up and secure.

SWIMSUIT (I wear a medium) | WATCH | HAT

I can’t even with this suit. A bow and stripes? Come on. It’s so amazing. Long torso, and the bow is so cute in person. I like to wear the removable straps with this one when I’m going to be walking around a lot to help hold the bow up, but that wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

SWIMSUIT TOP + BOTTOMS (both in a small) | SUNGLASSES | SIMILAR SANDALS | BABY ONESIE SUIT

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of high waisted suits, but this one was way more flattering than any other one I’ve tried on! The top provides a good amount of coverage and support, and the color of the suit is so pretty and vibrant.

SWIMSUIT (I wear a small/D) | SUNGLASSES | GOLD CUFF BRACELET | TASSEL BRACELET | LINK BRACELET

This is my favorite deep V suit I’ve ever worn. The support it offers is amazing! It provides padding in all the right places, and I felt so comfortable in it. The back is also cut really low with a cute bow, and I love it! Fantastic quality.

Have you gotten a chance to shop the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale yet? Here are some of my favorite pieces at amazing prices…

My favorite Vince Camuto lilac top (worn in this post) is on sale. It’s one of my absolute favorites, and it’s so easy to dress up or down.
My favorite Kate Spade shoulder bag sold out fast, but I love this Kate Spade crossbody, and this crossbody in white.
Brown leather sandals are so in right now, and this pair adds a touch of gladiator, which I love. These ones are simple, and perfect for everyday wear.
These black distressed jeans sold out way too fast, but I found some other pants that I loved. These Joe’s are a great pair of distressed jeans, and these flares are really flattering.

I’ve also put together a list of the Memorial Day sales going on this weekend at some of my favorites stores. All the sale details are listed below. I hope everyone has a nice relaxing weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend Sales:

Asos
Extra 20%
Use Code: HISUMMER
Dates: Now – 5/30

J. Crew
30% off your purchase
Use Code: WEEKEND
Dates: Now – 5/31

Anthropologie
Additional 30% off all sale items, online and in store
Dates: 5/26 – 5/30

Ann Taylor
50% off full-price purchase + extra 40% off sale styles
Use Code: SUMMER50
Dates: 5/26 – 5/31

Banana Republic
40% off purchase
Use Code: BRTAKE40
Dates: Now – 5/30

Free People
Extra 25% off all sale items
Dates: Now – 5/30

Joe’s Jeans
25% off the entire site
Dates: Now – 5/30

Loft
60% off summer faves and all sale styles + 40% off new arrivals
Dates: Now – 5/31

Macy’s
Extra 20% + free shipping at $50
Use Code: MEMDAY
Dates: Now – 5/30

Old Navy
Extra 50% off all tees, tanks, swim, and shorts
Dates: Now – 6/3

Pottery Barn
Extra 25% off
Use Code: SAVEMORE
Dates: Now – 5/30

Vince Camuto
Extra 30% off sale and clearance
Use Code: SALE30
Dates: Now – 5/30

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Dressy

May 6, 2016

THANKFUL “MOM”ENTS

WHITE DRESS C/O TERI JON | NAVY HEELS C/O NINA SHOES

BOYS SUITS

This Mother’s Day I am thrilled to be partnering with Teri Jon and Nina Shoes on a beautiful campaign that pays tribute to mothers everywhere. I have a very close relationship with Teri Jon, and I love what they stand for. They want to make every woman feel special and beautiful, and their dresses do just that.

PINK DRESS C/O TERI JON

I was lucky enough to be interviewed, along with four amazingly talented women in this video. It makes me tear up every time I watch it! I honestly get goosebumps at how special it is; you have to watch it!

Being a mom is my favorite job, hands down. You can see exactly how much it means to me in the video below..

Earlier this week I posted on Instagram encouraging everyone to share about the love for our mothers or what being a mother means to us by posting your own image/video with the hashtag #thankfulMOMents. Teri Jon has created a page on their site specifically for these posts, and they will automatically be loaded onto their site. The goal is to inspire women around the world to spread the love this Mother’s Day and show the world our gratitude for mothers and women everywhere. Now this is a cause I can definitely get behind!

photography by Sara Halpern Photography

In addition, Teri Jon is giving away a dream wardrobe prize! One lucky winner who posts using the hashtag #thankfulMOMents, tags 3 friends, and enters their email on Teri Jon’s giveaway page will win an amazing Teri Jon dress for themself and their mother/best friend! You can read more about the entry details here.

Thank you to Teri Jon for sponsoring this post and for helping spread the love to moms and women everywhere!

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Casual

April 4, 2016

MEALTIME MADE EASY + A GIVEAWAY!

Confession: I have never owned a high chair. For Bradley and Cash I just used a little chair that attached to one of our normal chairs and figured that was good enough. But this time around I finally got a real live high chair and it is the biggest help. I didn’t know what I was missing with the other two! I opted to get the new 4moms High Chair and it has made mealtime around here so much easier. I am a huge fan of 4moms after using their mamaRoo. They thought of everything with that swing and they hit it out of the park with this high chair as well.

As a mom of three boys, so much of our day is spent in the kitchen fixing food, eating food, cleaning up food, and repeating it all an hour later. Everyone always seems to be hungry at the same time, so I’m grateful my 4moms high chair lets me hold Eli with one arm and disconnect the magnetic tray easily with the other. Magnetic. Did you guys catch that? Its absolutely as amazing as it sounds. I always multitask my way through mealtime, and this easy on easy off tray is such a help!

Sometimes when I can’t feed Eli his rice cereal fast enough, he swipes the spoon from me and takes matters into his own hands. This genius magnetic tray also has a magnetic bowl, so I don’t have to stress about him giving himself a rice cereal bath when I’m not looking.

We’re all like a little Eli fan club in our house, and he gets a kick out of being able to watch his big brothers. At dinner I scoot his high chair up to our table so that he can get in on all the action.

WHITE TOP | DISTRESSED JEANS (love these! less than $100!) | 4MOMS HIGH CHAIR c/o

ON ELI: STRIPED ROMPER BY JUNE & JANUARY

I do all my feedings on the tray cover of the high chair, and disconnect it to quickly rinse it off in the sink. So no matter how messy it gets introducing Eli to prunes, cleaning up the highchair is easy. Cleaning his face and hair on the other hand, might be a different story.

This high chair is something I actually love having in my kitchen because of its gorgeous modern design! How many baby items can you say that about? I am thrilled to be able to give one of these amazing high chairs to one of you! I’ve teamed up with 4moms to give one away over on my instagram (@leannebarlow) so head on over to enter to win! Make sure you are following me there and leave as many comments as you want tagging a different friend in each comment to enter! I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday on that instagram post.

in partnership with 4moms | photography by Kendra Maarse

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Family

January 20, 2016

AFTER THE BUMP SERIES: SIMPLE TRICKS FOR GETTING BACK INTO SHAPE AFTER HAVING A BABY

WHITE HALF ZIP TOP | BLACK LEGGINGS | FRONT ZIP SPORTS BRA | BLACK JACKET | NEW BALANCE SHOES

Women’s bodies are pretty incredible. We grow babies in our body, we push the babies out of our body, and we feed the babies…with our body. That’s a lot of work our bodies have to go through! Adjusting to life with a newborn can be busy and stressful. The desire to hit the gym and start exercising again, while great, can sometimes seem impossible. I’ve set my alarm for 6 am for two weeks in a row now, every night with the intention of getting up and working out from 6-7am before I need to get the boys ready for school. I’ve actually gotten up and done that one time in the two weeks. Sometimes I feel like if I don’t get to the gym by 6, my opportunity to exercise and be healthy is over for the day because now I need to get kids fed, dressed, driven to school, grocery shop, feed the baby, on and on.

After having Eli, I’ve realized that just because I can’t make it to the gym everyday doesn’t meant that I can’t be healthy. Here are a few tricks I’ve learned to fit into my everyday life while taking care of kiddos.

Exercise wherever you are.
Taking care of a baby isn’t for sissys. All day long you are hauling a 20+ lb baby carseat from the house to the car, from the car to the grocery store, back to the car into the school, etc. You are loading heavy groceries into the car, lifting your stroller, pushing your stroller up the hill to the school, carrying a baby on your hip, helping a toddler see over a tall fence, etc. I’m on my feet constantly and all that heavy lifting is definitely a workout!

If you haven’t had a chance to hit the treadmill, take your kids to the park and walk/jog next to them on the walkway. Sometimes I do stroller squats around the park while Cash plays at the playground (hold onto the stoller with both hands and lunge with each step you take). Park a little further from the school and make yourself walk up that hill for afternoon pickup. Incorporate exercise throughout your day…and chances are, you’re already getting a pretty good workout just taking care of the baby!

Invest in quality workout clothes.
I find it a whole lot easier to get out and exercise when I have workout clothes that I actually want to wear. Being already dressed in comfy running shoes or a cute sweat-wicking top makes it easier for me to get out and move around more. And get some nursing friendly options too! I’ve been looking all over for a good nursing friendly sports bra. I finally found this front zip sports bra at Zappos and I ordered it immediately. It was at my house in 2 days (free shipping!) and now it is so much easier to nurse Eli after a workout.

Pack yourself healthy snacks.
I am always throwing fishie crackers and granola bars in my bag for the boys to snack on. If you don’t have something for yourself in your bag, chances are you are going to get starving (especially if nursing) and you are going to eat the extra bag of fruit snacks because you don’t have anything else. I always have a bag of nuts in my bag. They are filling and healthy. I buy this jar of unsalted nuts fills up two of the nut containers perfectly. It is so yummy!

Keep taking your vitamins.
Just because you aren’t pregnant anymore doesn’t mean you should stop taking your prenatal vitamins. I also take 3 of these biotin pills to help with my skin complexion and post baby hair loss (because hormones be crazy!). I take one Fenugreek pill everyday because it helps with my milk supply. I tend to lose my milk after 9 months, and this supplement has really helped keep my supply up. It might not be necessary/beneficial for everyone, but it has helped me.

Drink tons of water.
I’ve never been a big water drinker. It has no taste to me and it’s so hard for me to force myself to drink water. I’ve been flavoring my water with Mio and now I drink so much water! My guilty pleasure is the Mio Energy (black cherry flavor) mixed with a squirt of Mio lemonade. (it tastes like strawberry lemonade!) The Mio Energy gives me a much needed caffeine boost throughout the day. I know it isn’t the best option, because it does have an artificial sweetener, but I just do one squeeze into a giant thing of water…much less than the recommended serving. And it’s got to be healthier than Diet Coke, right?!

Prep your meals beforehand.
Diet is a HUGE part of getting and staying healthy. I always heard that and believed this, but it wasn’t until I started cutting down my sugar intake drastically that I actually saw how much diet helped even when I don’t have time for intense workouts. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (leannebarlow), you probably know that I eat pretty much the same thing everyday (with the exception of dinner). I’ve streamlined my diet so that I know exactly what I am going to be eating that day and barely have to even prepare it.

The trick is to do it all on Sunday night. I prep my breakfast and lunch Mon-Fri on Sunday nights. That way I can just grab the pre-made tupperware from my fridge and inhale it as I feed my own kids. I’ve listed out my recipes for breakfast and lunch below…

For Breakfast: Overnight Oats

1/2 C Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 C Greek Yogurt

(I love this Strawberry-Honey one. I just buy a quart of it at the grocery store)

1 tsp chia seeds

1/3-1/2 C Almond Milk

(I use the unsweetened kind. I do a little less than 1/2 cup. If it’s too dry when I go to eat it in the morning, I just add a little more)

Pour all the ingredients into a tupperware, mix it all up with a spoon, and stick in in the fridge. I make 5 at a time, so I do it all really quickly and don’t really use exact measurements. They last about 5-6 days in the fridge, so its perfect to make for the whole week. In the morning I just chop of some bananas or strawberries into it and add a small scoop of jam or a little honey and mix it all up. The chia seeds and the oats absorb the milk overnight, so it’s the consistency of oatmeal. Eating cold oatmeal might take a little getting used to, but I’m hooked! And it keeps me full till lunch.

For Lunch: Chicken Sausage Veggie Bowl

2 packages of Chicken Sausage (the Italian Style is my favorite)

2 C uncooked brown rice or quinoa

4 zucchinis (I do 2 yellow and 2 green)

3 sweet potatoes

Garlic Powder (to taste)

Salt/Pepper (to taste)

Feta Cheese

1 can of Roasted Red Peppers (I buy the ones that are pre sliced so I don’t have to chop them up each time)

This makes enough for 7 days worth of lunches for me.

On Sunday night I cut up all the sausage links (I cut them all along the center length-wise first, then across about 1/2″ wide), and throw them all in a big skillet with some EVOO to brown. While they are cooking I put my rice in the rice cooker, and I chop up all my veggies. I cut up my zucchini the same way I do the sausages, along the center and chopped. I peel the sweet potatoes and slice them 1/2″ thick, then cut each in half both ways, kind of like a mini pizza. Once my veggies are cut, I let them sit out on the counter for a bit so they all have a chance to dry from being washed. If I store them while they are still wet, they will get moldy faster. Once they are fully dry, I throw each one into a gallon ziploc bag with a paper towel inside (to absorb any extra liquid). I store all my cooked rice/quinoa and my cooked sausage in 2 separate tupperware containers and throw them in the fridge too.

When it’s time for lunch, I put the rice/quinoa in the bottom of my bowl (I do a little more than 1/2 a cup), and top with about 1/2 C of sausage, and about 1/2 C zucchini and 1/2 C sweet potatoes. Then I stick it in the microwave for 4 minutes. This is long enough to cook the veggies so I don’t have to dirty another pan just to cook them! Then I sprinkle lots of garlic powder, salt and pepper over the veggies, add a little feta cheese and roasted red peppers, and mix it all up.

I’m not a huge cook, and I came up with this recipe bit by bit over the past year. I wanted a way to eat lots of veggies but not have to take a lot of time to cook them each day, and this way works!

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So don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s hard work taking care of kids, and chances are you are getting more exercise then you are giving yourself credit for!

*Photography by Kendra Maarse Photography. In collaboration with Zappos.

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Casual

December 21, 2015

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE HOLIDAYS

GRAY SWEATER | STRIPED LOUNGE PANTS

BRADLEY: SWEATPANTS (SIMILAR)

CASH: SWEATER (SIMILAR)

At the beginning of December, we sat down as a family and made a list of all of the fun Christmas activities we wanted to do throughout the month leading up to Christmas. I’ve done this with the boys for the past 3 years and it really helps us feel like we soak up the joy of the season without the month passing us by before we even get to really enjoy it.

I try to get most of my shopping and decorating done in November so that we have time to do small simple activities with the kids. One of my favorite activities is cuddling up in some comfy clothes and reading christmas books to the boys while listening to Christmas music. Our house was built in 1913, and our fireplace doesn’t work anymore (boo!) and our house gets pretty dang cold. I grabbed a warm sweater for Cash and some soft sweatpants for Bradley from Gap Factory to wear around the house. I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was, so I added a sweater and lounge pants to my cart for myself. (my pants are only $16!) I haven’t shopped at Gap Factory online before and I was blown away by the prices. I love that I could get a little something for all of us to keep cosy while we do our fun Christmas activities. You have to browse through their site and see these prices!

Here are a few of the other activities on our list that we have done this year. My suggestion is to keep the activity simple but build up the excitement for your kids. Even something as simple as reading books by the tree can become a fun memory for them.

Make gingerbread houses
Drive around to see Christmas lights
Read Christmas books
Listen to Christmas music (every night!)
Drink hot cocoa
Write letter to Santa
Ready the nativity story from the bible
Ice skating
Christmas countdown chains
Tree lighting at The Americana
Donate old toys to the thrift store
Visit Santa
Make teacher gifts
Bake/frost sugar cookies

in collaboration with Gap Factory

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Beauty

December 15, 2015

THE GIFT OF RELAXATION- 3 TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE DECEMBER

The holidays are always crazy. There are so many fun activities to go to and parties to attend…but preparing for them takes a lot of time and energy. Three years ago I was tired of being so stressed out the entire month of December, so I made a few changes in how I prepared for holiday parties and it has made such a difference! I’ve followed suit every year since then and I am really able to enjoy the weeks leading up to Christmas, rather than spend them stressed out and frazzled.

I look forward to holiday parties probably more than the average person. I love getting dressed up and going to parties! But the truth is I’m usually trying to get dinner for the kids, pick up the babysitter, nurse the baby while putting on my makeup, etc. So even getting ready (my favorite part) can become stressful! Today I’ve partnered with GLAMGLOW to share 3 things I do early in the month of December to make getting holiday-party-ready stress free!

GET A MANICURE
After having Eli I struggle to even find time to paint my nails! And even if I do, they end up chipping 2 days later because I’m constantly working around the house with my hands. So early in the month of December I get a gel manicure (either with Eli in my baby wrap while the kids are in school, or early in the morning on a Saturday when Garrett is home). It is so nice not to have to try and paint my nails last minute as I’m running out the door.

GIVE MYSELF A GLAMGLOW MUD MASK
I used to never ever go to bed without washing my face. But so many late nights have taken their tole, and I’ve become guilty of quickly scrubbing my my face with a makeup remover wipe and climbing in bed. My complexion tends to be dry and uneven because of this, so I’ve been using this GLAMGLOW mud mask all throughout this month. My favorite mask is the GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD Tinglexfoliate Treatment mask. It’s a quick application and I only have to leave it on for 10 minutes. So I throw it on before I nurse Eli at night, a time where I can actually sit and relax. The mask starts working right away and gets tingly, and my skin is super clean after I wash it off. I can tell a difference in the tightness of my skin as well. I’m so paranoid about getting wrinkles, I love this aspect about the mask. The results are instant! By spending just a few minutes taking care of my skin with GLAMGLOW, my skin is fresh, glowing, and ready for holiday party makeup. The great thing about these masks is that they don’t interfere with any other skincare products, so they work great for all skin types (which makes for a perfect gift as well!).

DO MY HAIR AND MAKEUP FIRST
I always have a million things I’m trying to take care of before I leave at night for a party. On the days that I leave my hair and makeup very last, I’m always the most stressed and wishing I had more time to spend on it. This year I started to do my hair and makeup early in the day and it has made a big difference. Sometimes I will have my makeup completely done and my hair curled before I pick up Cash from preschool. This probably sounds crazy, but I have the most free time in the mornings while the kids are in school. By the time dinner rolls around, all I need to do is freshen up my lipstick, blush, and spray my hair a bit. So get yourself ready first and I promise you’ll enjoy your night a whole lot more.

created in partnership with GLAMGLOW

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Beauty

December 11, 2015

AN AFTERNOON OF PAMPERING WITH LIVING PROOF

With the holidays in full swing, I’ve really been focusing on amping up my beauty routine. I’ve been to a few Christmas parties and I have another one tonight to attend, so I’ve wanted to make sure that my hair, makeup, and nails are consistently “holiday party ready”. But let’s face it, I’m busy with three kids and work as it is – throw the holidays into the mix and I have zero time left for pampering!

I was so excited when Kelly from Studio K convinced me to put my busy schedule on pause for an afternoon of pampering at her salon earlier this week and to tell me about a hair product line that would help carry me through the rest of this crazy month. She is absolutely the sweetest, and even held Eli while I got my hair washed! I’m so glad I carved out some “me” time for an hour. I got a much needed trim, an amazing blow out, and talked with Kyle, my stylist, and Kelly, about how to maintain salon quality hair when I’m constantly on the go. Kelly told me all about the Living Proof products that they use in their salon.

Living Proof products use a special molecule that creates a thin invisible shield around every strand of hair. This shield protects hair from damaging heat from styling and repels oil and dirt so that it stays cleaner longer. Cleaner hair for a longer amount of time means my favorite thing- less washing. I’ve made it my personal mission to perfect the art of the ‘once a week wash’, so I’m really excited to put these products to the test and see if they really can keep my hair cleaner longer.

I left Studio K with a bag full of all the Living Proof products that they used on my hair and I can’t wait to test them all out myself. I’m most excited about the dry shampoo. I’ve tried so many that work ok, but have yet to be blown away by one. I’m putting Living Proof to the test through the rest of the party season. I will let you know how they hold up to my dirty hair when I only have 10 minutes to make it look fresh and amazing before a party or shoot!

Shop my look below…

*Photography by Kendra Maarse Photography. In collaboration with Living Proof.

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Family

December 3, 2015

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: HOW TO SHOP HER STYLE

PAJAMAS | GOLD INITIAL NECKLACE | ELI’S JAMMIES (similar) | BUTTON-UP TOP

Girlfriends, Mommas, sisters, your hairdresser, your brother’s new girlfriend….these are the people I love to shop for. I’ll take any excuse I can get to get something pretty and wrap it up to make it even prettier. I love the idea of thinking about the specific woman I am shopping for and really honing in on her personal style. My mom’s style is minimal and dainty. My sister-in-law is girly and chic. My girlfriends and I are doing a secret santa this year, and the friend I picked has the most impeccable classic and timeless style.

Nordstrom is my one-stop-shop for all these women and their various styles. I love that I can go to one place and find the perfect dainty earrings for my mom, on-trend floppy hat for my sister-in-law, and classic clutch for my girlfriend. I don’t have to worry if I get the wrong size or color, because with Nordstrom’s fast and free shipping and returns and exchanges, I can relax and knowing that they will be sure to get the gift that us just right for them without any hassle.

I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite gifts and grouped them by style, so hopefully it gives you a good direction when finding the perfect gift for the women on your list. All of my picks are $100 or less (most of them less than $50!).

Shop my picks by clicking on the item or the text links below

CLASSIC

GIRLY

MINIMALIST

in collaboration with Nordstrom

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Family

December 2, 2015

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: FOR KIDS & BABY

Eli is drooling and gnawing on his hands all the time now. These teethers from Dr. Brown’s are easy for small hands to hold, and such a cute design!
I don’t shop very often in the little girls department….but if I did I don’t know if I could pass these up. Can I get them in my size please?
My pediatrician said that I could start Eli on rice cereal. (he has “happy baby acid reflux”. He spits up constantly, but it doesn’t bother him) So many baby spoon designs give me carpal tunnel, but these spoons from Dr. Brown’s don’t hurt my hand to grip, and fit easily in tiny mouths.
Bradley has been begging me for a new backpack. We got the one he has now 3 years ago for preschool and its starting to fall apart. This one is quite the upgrade from Lightning McQueen!
What comes after rice cereal? Baby food! (stop growing up, stop growing up) This food masher is compact and simple. Meals are always a rush to get everyone fed and happy, so I don’t have time to bust out a whole blender contraption. I’m going to need a masher like this one from Dr. Brown’s that is compact and easy to clean.
Both my boys have Natives and we love them. These new designs look like they might be even better. Smaller holes so less sand gets inside, and a washable fabric instead of rubber to prevent odors. Cash had literally worn holes in the bottoms of his rubber ones, so I might have to try this kind next.
Mr. Eli loves his paci, and Mr. Giraffe helps him keep it in when I can’t reach it while driving. I also like that you can unclip the paci and interchange them. He’s a paci snob, so just one kind of paci doesn’t do the job.

SHOP THE POST by clicking any image below

thank you to Dr. Brown’s for sponsoring this post

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