Little & Mighty Baby Style

Little & Mighty is a children's online boutique clothing store based in Austin, Texas

When Rachel from Little & Mighty reached out to me for a collaboration, I was thrilled. I hadn't heard of her boutique children's clothing store before, but a quick Google search fixed that and I LOVE their philosophy behind dressing kiddos: That they are little, mighty and should be celebrated! Plus, it's Texas-based (fear not, non-Texans! There's a full online retail store stocked with plenty of goodies for your wee ones) and I'm all about supporting local business owners, especially when they're moms like me.

So what's Little & Mighty's story? Three moms got together to create clothes that celebrate how unique each of our children are. They wanted to create a fun line that shows how fiercely independent each kid can be, displaying their own personalities right from the start. They wanted their clothing to inspire little ones to be adventurous and curious in the world around them. You'll find their prints full of nature's inspiration!

I mean, just check out these cute screen prints they have for your toddlers. So many cute critters and bright colors! Henry felt pretty mighty in his long sleeved shirt.

Have a baby? Me too. Don't worry, Rachel didn't leave out Otto! They have a whole baby section of onesies and t-shirts to fit your mightiest little one.

Aren't these shirts and outfits just the cutest?! If you have little ones or are looking for an awesome shower gift/children's birthday present idea, check them out!

*I was compensated and received free product to create this blog post. All opinions are my own and all text and images are copyrighted by An Uncomplicated Life Blog*
 

6 Affordable Essential Oils to Start With

Looking to get your feet wet with essential oils without spending too much money? Here are six affordable essential oils to start with!

I've gotten great feedback from y'all about my essential oils posts! The biggest theme I've noticed is that there is a TON of interest in exploring essential oils for ways to improve wellness, but people are reluctant to spend a lot of money on something they are unsure about. That makes complete sense! Therefore, I'm listing some of my favorite oils that are affordable, and the way they can promote your health and wellness.

First, the essential oils! Revive oils are my new go-to. Yup, I used to be with Young Living, but the expense of those oils were insane. I asked some of my oily gurus who they got their oils from and learned about Revive. They're therapeutic grade, indigestible essential oils that are NOT a multi-level-marketing structure. You can go on their website and buy them like you'd buy something on Amazon - no need to sign up for some membership! They have packages with diffusers and single essential oils, plus roller bottles and other lifestyle items. Use code Paige10 for 10% off your order and experience the same quality of Young Living or doTERRA without the obnoxious price (and minus the sales people always trying to get you to buy things...)

All of these oils listed blow are under $25. Even better? They're some of the most versitle oils to have on hand, too! I'd consider them the basics or "essentials" of an essential oil collection (see what I did there?!) If you're looking to explore oils or simply get your feet with with them, here's a great list of affordable options to start with!

Lemon
Where do I start with lemon?! It has so many great uses. I used it in the first trimester of my pregnancy to help reduce nausea by smelling it and applying it to my nostrils and behind my ears. It's an energizing oil, so I used it excessively in my third trimester and now as a new mom for a natural boost in the morning. You can add it to water or tea to aid digestion. You can add it to cleaning products or combine it with other oils to make your own in-home, nontoxic cleaning supplies. If you're looking to start with essential oils, lemon is a great place to start!

Eucalyptus
This is a fantastic oil to have around for winter cold season, and also if you suffer from seasonal allergies. It has a bright, fresh scent that clears the sinuses. Combine it with a carrier oil (such as grape seed oil or coconut oil) and apply it to your chest and bottoms of your feet when you have a cold for easier breathing. Same with allergies that block those nasal passages! I love this one because with two kiddos and a hubs with nasty allergies, someone's nose is ALWAYS running. This is a great, natural way to help clear those blocked nasal passages. It also smells great to diffuse in your home (I keep this oil going all night in the boys' room).

Grapefruit
Just like lemon, this oil is super versatile! Grapefruit is known for promoting weight maintenance and management, so it can be ingested. Add a few drops to water to flavor it or to enhance other foods and beverages. It's bright scent is also energizing, so smell it for an instant boost or apply it near your nose for a constant energy lift. It's also know as a mood booster because of it's cheery aroma, which is great to get you through the winter months!

Orange
Notice a trend here? Citrus is the way to go for affordable essential oils! Orange is great for cooking! You can use it for Asian orange chicken recipes and other savory dishes, or breads, muffins and cookies. The vitamin C in the essential oil is known to help promote your immune system. Just like lemon, you can add this oil to household cleaners or combine it with other oils to create your own all natural cleaning products.

Peppermint
If you read this post, you know that peppermint can be combined with lemon (also on this list!) and lavender (just didn't make the cutoff - it's $30) for a great blend that assists in allergy symptom relief. I also used this oil extensively throughout my pregnancy to provide some relief from my headaches. I'd keep a small bottle in my purse and sniffed to help in headache pain management, and would apply it to my temples and earlobes if it was a really rough day. It's a strong oil, so some prefer to use it with a carrier oil to dilute it before they apply it topically. I've also found that if you combine lemon, orange and peppermint oils in your diffuser, the blend does an excellent job of clearing out bad smells from your home. So if you have pets or if that trash has been sitting a day too long in the can, that's a great blend to diffuse for air freshness!

Wintergreen
Calling all my athletes! All my barre and yoga and running and weightlifting folks, listen up: You want this oil. I talked in this post about Panaway, and how awesome it is for aches and pains. While that's my favorite essential oil, it's not cheap (over $50). However, one of the key ingredients is wintergreen. Combine it with grape seed or coconut oil for a "icy hot" fresh smelling sports massage oil. It starts out warm and then cools the skin, and then feels fantastic on those overworked muscles. It's also a great breath freshener if you apply a drop to the back of your tongue. It works much better and lasts much longer without all the sugar (or aspartame) found in gums and mints!

Interested in purchasing one or several of these oils? It's super easy. Click here!

Essential oils can be expensive, but the truth is most are under $25! I had to cut this list way down to just 6 of my favorite affordable oils. Most Young Living singular essential oils are in the $15-$25 dollar range. Oil blends to tend to run more, but the great news is that you don't need to start with fancy blends to get properly introduced to the wellness benefits! Start with this affordable list, and see for yourself how essential oils promote your overall wellness.

How I Pack a Diaper Bag With Two Babies in Tow

Baby Otto's arrival means I have one of the most fun tasks known to motherhood: Two babies under two! Two times the diapers, two times the snacks/feedings, two times the toys and distractions needed, two times longer to leave the house... And a million times the snuggles and love. I think all moms and soon-to-be mamas will find this helpful, but especially if you'll be packing up a bag for an outing with two babies!

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Essentials:
First things first: Diaper bags are called that for a reason, and it's because the diapers are the most important part. There was ONE TIME I was caught without a diaper for Henry when he was an infant; by the time we got home, he was completely soaked from the waist down. I felt like the worst mom! Now, I check to make sure that I have Henry's and Otto's size in the bag before we leave the house! (Psssst! Amazon has a diaper delivery service for Pampers that GREATLY reduces the cost of diapers and sends them directly to your home! We've found that for our boys, Pampers offers the best fit.) Henry has one side of the bag, Otto the other. I try to keep two of Henry's diapers in the bag and four of Otto's, since Henry requires fewer changes.

Both boys use the same wipes, so we're good to go and easy peasy there. They also both use the same diaper rash treatment cream. THIS STUFF is a miracle - clears up diaper rash in one application, if you're in the market for such a thing. Each boy also has one change of clothes. One. I know some moms pack two or three, but I'm cramped for space and have honestly never needed more than one anyway, so one each it is! Henry hasn't needed a spare set in over a year, but the second I take his out to make room for more things, he'll need it so I make sure to keep a change available for him.

Food/Drinks:
Henry now eats all normal/human food, and can be cleaned up with a wipe, so he's pretty easy. I keep two kinds of snacks for him. Pro tip: these are snacks I like as well so I have a go-to if I need it! I still pack a bottle of water for him. Yes, he's a toddler still drinking out of a bottle. He can drink out of a typical glass, but that's not "mobile friendly" and I don't feel like enabling him to "make it rain" all over his baby brother in the backseat with a spill-able glass (not really glass, don't worry) so I still give him a bottle when we're out and about since the boy wont take a sippy. These bottles are his favorite!

Otto is breast fed so that's also pretty easy. Now me, I prefer to cover myself while publicly breastfeeding. More power to you if you want to openly breast feed in public! No shame in your game. But I'm not personally comfortable with it so I use a nursing cover. Other than that, I pack these combo burp clothes/bibs and Otto is ready to rock n' roll and nurse to his heart's content.

Toys/Distractions:
The final component of a good diaper bag! I have rattles and a teether for Otto, but he's also pretty easy to please with a boob. Typical boy... Henry is the real kiddo who needs activities. Books are always a good bet with Henry, so I just make sure to have some softcover titles available for him (much lighter than hardcover!) He also likes to build and stack things, so I try to keep these building blocks in the car. If it's inconvenient to bring the whole bag (they come with their own carrying case!) then I add a handful to the diaper bag. From there, I pray he doesn't go hog wild and throw them at anyone.

Having two children to get ready to leave the house is an enormous amount of work! Not only do you have to get yourself ready, but you're solely responsible for the many needs to two babies. It's easier if you pack ahead and pack smart! Hopefully, these tips on how to pack a diaper bag with two (or more!) babies in tow will contribute to successful outings with your little ones.