1. Step2 Lil Helper's Shopping Cart. Alec loves A. push toys and B. grocery shopping. He seriously lights up when I put him in front of the grocery cart. Lately, he's been adding a few items to my cart on his own accord… so I figure why not get him his own push cart and let him shop all around his play room every day.

2. Ikea Plush Veggie Set to go with the shopping cart. I chose a vegetable set because I am really trying to broaden Alec's diet. He is a super, super picky eater and usually only prefers cheese and carbs. I get most of our veggies in via organic baby food pouches, which is fine, but I would love it if he would start to eat a little more of what Kiel and I eat with our meals. Maybe a little imaginative play with his new shopping cart and veggies will help convince him into to try a few new things. 

3. Bear Slippers from Baby Gap. A must-buy in my book. Not all toddler socks have quality grip on the bottom so these are nice for traction while running around at home without shoes on, especially since we have mostly hardwood floors. (Plus they are pretty adorable.)

4. Melissa & Doug Animal Rescue Shape Sorting Truck. We love Melissa & Doug. Alec really gravitates towards the toys that they make. I picked out this particular item because we are working on our animal names/sounds and I figure this would be a fun and different way to explore and learn.

5. Ikea Smock for crafting. Alec and I made some home-made holiday gifts for his grandparents and, boy, would a smock have come in handy! We both had green all over.

6. Ikea Sidewalk Chalk because who doesn't love sidewalk chalk, especially at $1.99 a box.

7. Washable Fingerpaint. As Al gets older, I am excited to begin crafting/coloring/painting together. Might as well take this opportunity to stock up on supplies so when the time comes, I'll be ready. 

8. Ikea 20-Piece Train Set. I really reaaally think this one, in particular, is going to be a winner. "Choo-Choo's"are becoming a really exciting thing around here these days. And side note: Isn't IKEA amazing? All of the items listed above are below $10. #winning 

9. And not pictured… board books! We are avid readers in our home and although it has been more difficult to keep my little mover on my lap for a whole story these days.. we continue to browse a good book as much as we can. A few of our favorites include; Giraffes Can't Dance, Goodnight Train, and (both versions) My Mom/Dad Loves Me. 

Here's hoping this gift guide gave you an idea or two for the little people in your life! Happy Shopping!

1.Jo Malone. Need I say more. The most amazing smelling perfumes/candles/body oil… you name it. You can't go wrong, and the travel perfumes are the perfect size to pop in your purse. I particularly love the 'Peony & Blush Suede" scent.

2. A Seasonal Candle. Mrs. Meyers makes some seriously great stuff for a seriously great price. I am also a huge lover of the 'basil' scented hand soap. Another great place to purchase seasonal candles is Anthropologie. I love the Good Nature Soy Holiday Candle in Balsam and Cedar. 

3. Quality Hand Lotion. Every girl loves a good hand cream. Your hands take such a beating in the winter. The lotion above does wonders for my chapped knuckles. It's such a great winter staple. 

4. A light-hearted read that will make her laugh all winter long. 'Yes Please' is currently on sale at target for 30% off, where I also picked up Orange Is the New Black on paperback. Target's book section is seriously on point. 

5. Minnetonka Slippers to keep her toes cozy and warm. I have two pairs and they don't come off my feet from Fall to Spring. 

6. A Plaid Scarf. They are all the rage this season and Mango has a great selection. I also saw a couple great ones at Target and Forever21 for a steal.

7. Sleepwear. I especially love all the sleepwear at GapBody. Plus they are always offering 30-40% off around the holidays to card holders. You can't beat their deals. 

Happy Shopping! 

1. A French Press. My man has become a serious coffee lover over the last few years, especially since having a little one. Sleep is minimal at times and a good cup of coffee can really make or break your day. A few gents I work with swear by the french press and after trying a cup,  I am a believer. 

2. Urban Outfitters Pic Pod Mount. "Panoramic pics are cool, but they're kinda hard to get right...until now! The Panoramic Pic Pod Mount works with your panorama-compatible smartphone to create the perfect panoramic image. Just attach to your phone, wind up the pod, put it on the included tripod (or on any flat surface) and let it do its thing. The result is a optimum-quality panoramic image." With the amazing picture quality of smart phones these days, this mount could really come in handy, especially for travel. 

3. J.Crew Camp Socks. My husband is in love. He wears these bad boys all winter long. Great quality for a relatively good price, you can't beat it. 

4. A Nixon Watch. My man always rocks a watch. He has a pretty serious collection that has accumulated over the years, a watch for every occasion. He has at least three Nixon watches, all of which he and I both love. So classic looking, and a great quality product. 

5. A Good Read. Almost any man can appreciate a good by Stephen King and this one was on the best seller list in 2014.

6. Boots. Kiel and I don't have lots of extra money laying around for Christmas, but we each agreed that we were both in dire need of some boots this holiday season. I obviously picked out this pair, and he went with the pair linked above. Boots are such an everyday wardrobe staple. 

7. Slippers. I got this pair for Kiel two years ago for Christmas and I don't think he's gone a single day without wearing them yet. He is obsessed. He even wears them in the summer months. It's insane.

8. The Cone. 'The cone is the first music player that thinks. It listens to your requests, picks up on your habits, and learns your tastes to create the perfect soundtrack for any mood or moment'. Who wouldn't love this for Christmas?

MY Holiday Wishlist

This holiday season I will be posting a holiday gift guide every Friday in place of my standard Ten Things posts… I hope you enjoy them and maybe even get a few ideas for those that you love (or yourself).

1. Gap Pure Body Leggings. I don't know about you, but I LOVE the Gap. In past years I wasn't an avid customer, but once I became pregnant I truly fell in love with this store. The Gap's Maternity line was my go-to spot for all my basics during my pregnancy. Once I opened a gap card, the deals started rolling in and my cart is constantly full of clothes for the whole family. I particularly love their leggings because they are reasonably priced, incredibly slimming, and, best of all, they don't fade after several washes. I already have a few pairs of leggings, but you can NEVER have enough. Especially when you spend most of your time at home running after a one year old.

2. Happy Handmade Home. An awesome book including tons of cheap, DIY projects for your home, brought to you by the amazing girls of A Beautiful Mess. Kiel and I are always up for a good DIY project that is budget friendly and these girls offer just that.

3. Dark Olive Weekender Bag via Birdling Bags. A compartmentalized bag for travel, with innovative interior dividers and ample pockets. A weekender bag that actually keeps your things organized, check it out. Pretty amazing, right?!

4. Not That Kind of Girl. "A young woman tells you what she's learned about falling in love, feeling alone, being ten pound overweight despite only eating healthy food, having to prove yourself in a room full of men twice your age, and, most of all, having the guts to believe that your story is one worth being told." I love Lena Dunham. I love her hit show, Girls. I will probably love this book. 

5. A new set of sneaks! This pair, in particular, look like they would go with just about everything in my closet. I love new balance. I have a pair of grey 405's that I have been wearing for the last year or so that are pretty worn. It's time to up my game and splurge on a new pair to add to the collection.

6. J.Crew Factory Printed Flannel Pajama Set. As we are gearing up for winter, I am coming to the realization that Alec and I will be spending much more times indoors. I, for one, already attempt to stay in my pj"s for as long as physically possible, throughout the day, and now that the cold is upon us I am really wanting a few more comfy pajama sets to add to my collection. I love this set in particular. The print is fantastic and J.Crew never fails at making a quality product.

7. A yearly family membership to Longwood Gardens. I have only been a few times as an adult and I was amazed even then. Sooo much to see, soooo much to do. This would be a perfect place to take Alec during the week to get out the house and break up the day. We are always looking forward to a fun adventure. Their Indoor Children's Garden is great in the winter and they have an outdoor play area, called the Children's Corner, that I know my kid would totally love. Plus they really do it up for the holiday season and for a kid who loves lights as much as Alec, a membership really seems worth the price. This item is my ultimate holiday wish this year.

I know, I know. It's a little early to start thinking about holiday party attire… but is it? I feel like the holidays are so insane and who wants to scour the busy mall for an outfit, last minute, when they could easily get a sweet deal online, way ahead of time. Either way, one of my favorite online shops is having a party promotion and all holiday party attire is 25% off. 

Since becoming a mama and cutting back my hours at work, I always feel pretty guilty spending money on myself. However, I think I can splurge on one fun party dress this season, especially for under $100. ASOS has some really affordable finds and because they aren't your standard store at your local mall, you know your dress won't be the same as someone else's at your next Christmas party. Above were a few of my favorites, but there are many more fun, affordable options on their website. Happy Shopping! and Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Be safe! 

Ch-Ch-Changes! Good Morning Beautiful has a new look for the holiday season! Just a few subtle changes to keep things fresh around here. Hope you like the updates as much as I do.

Now, I will confess, I may be a little MIA over the next few weeks. For starters, the holiday season is among us, which means, we are busy busy busy. Tons of fun gatherings to attend and lots and lots of shopping to do! But hey, busy is a good thing right? I can't wait to catch up with family and friends over the next few weeks and ring in the new year with a bang!

Also, I recently purchased and downloaded the PHOTOSHOP + DSLR BUNDLE from A Beautiful Mess. I have been following this blog for quite some time, and I find it so incredibly inspiring. The co-founders, Emma Chapman and Elsie Larson, are seriously dynamite and their careers have really taken off over the last year or so. You can read more about them here. Anywho, I have really been wanting to hone in on my photography skills for quite a while now and when I saw they were offering online lessons for a decent price I jumped on it. Not only is this program affordable, but it's also all online and I can go through each lesson at my own pace (which is a must when you have a wild toddler to look after!). As you can probably see, my photos are quite amateur and I have tons of learning to do. My husband has been super helpful with teaching me the basics of photography and our camera, but I am super excited to truly learn how to take a quality photo in manual mode. I am hoping all this online education will raise the bar a bit and enable me to make some serious upgrades with the blog.

I am going to do my best to stay on top of things amongst all this craziness, but I make no promises. Cheers to the start of an awesome holiday season. I hope you all pack in as much fun as possible!

And one more thing, I recently discovered the Afterlight app and it's an awesome way to upgrade your iPhonography. It offers 56 unique filters, 66 natural textures, and 128 frames. Check it out, it's worth the 99 cents I promise.

Below are a few pictures I took and manipulated with the app.

xo- L

Shop Mango

 

I've known about the shop, Mango, for quite some time, but I had forgotten about it until just recently. I came across that stunning brown leather jacket on Pinterest and clearly had to know where it was from. What is even more amazing is that Mango is having a promotion from October 16th through the 22nd, 30 % off coats, cardigans, and sweaters. Sighhh, if only there beautiful scarves were included, because let me tell you, that plaid scarf on the top right, has my name all over it. Christmas wishlist I suppose. 

'MOM' Style

I am finding as I get older ( And as I chase after a wee babe) that some of my pre-baby clothes just aren't A. appealing to me anymore and B. unrealistic on a daily basis. These days I am constantly on the lookout for comfy, yet stylish, clothing that is practical for my everyday  'mom' routine and easy on the wallet. I just recently came across a new line at Loft, called Lou and Grey. Let me tell you people... it's been a real game changer for me. I've never been a huge Loft shopper, but this collection alone, has seriously won me over (To the point where I may or may not have opened myself a LoveLoft credit card). Check it out.

Gift Ideas For The Man In Your Life

Everlane Weekender Bag 

Only $95 and comes in 6 different colors!

Timex Military Watch

From J.Crew with multiple straps to choose from!

Vans Canvas Washed Sneaks

Seriously, only $60 at J.Crew!

Gap Patch-Pocket Hooded Parka

A serious staple in every man's wardrobe, only $118!

Homeland Season 1 on DVD

The most thrilling show on television!

SheInside

Super cozy sweaters for the cold winter season from sheinside.com.

All under $50

Holiday Party Chic

For the girl on a budget
C'mon Get Happy One Shoulder Dress in Black

Only $38

For a formal affair

French Connection Maxi with Bead Trim

Work appropriate attire

Oasis Animal Trim Shift

Celebration in the city

Black Scalloped Peplum Dress

Only $69

Affordable Fall Purchases!

BDG Lifeboat Knit Dress from UO $39

Fun to rock, day or night

BDG Cigarette Mid-Rise Corduroy from UO in Hunter $39

Super cute with ankle boots

Longline Polka-dot Sweater in Heather Grey for $19.80

I love the button detail along the back

J.Crew Factory Double Surge Mini in Red, on sale for $34.99

Perfect for a Christmas holiday party

Chunky Knits from Romwe

Romwe, a recent online store discovery, carries some of the cutest and most affordable chunky knits out this season. Not to mention, 15% off any orders over $80 before October 31st. 

Here are a few of my favorites...

Want List

Just a couple of things I've been lusting over lately.

House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst Button Earrings

Anthropologie Perpetual Bloom Towels

Artifactuprising Instagram Photobook

Frankie Magazine Subscription

Music Note Map of the World

NEED.

An amazing discovery, thanks to Pinterest

"The iShower, a water-resistant music system for use as you get squeaky clean, is now shipping for $100. Despite its name, the iShower should have no trouble playing the compatibility game, thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity with support for up to five paired devices. What's more, you won't need to bust out the tools to install the iShower, as the mounting system's built-in adhesive lets you pretend to be a handyman without doing any real work -- the unit can also be hung over the shower head if you're wary of sticky residue. The music system runs on three AA batteries and provides up to 15 hours of sudsy listening time, and there's even a built-in clock, for those unfortunate mornings when you need to cut the rock operas short. " 

Featured on www.engadget.com

Amazing right?!?  This will quickly be added to my want list.