1st Trimester Checklist!

Now that I am almost through my second trimester I thought I would go back in time to my first trimester and create a checklist for everyone just finding out they are expecting and have no idea what to expect or do! This isn't going to be a checklist telling you to book your first appointment etc. but more so some checklist items to help prepare for the new baby that will arrive in 9 short months.

Second trimester I was hit hard core with "nesting." The only thing I really want to do is literally clean/scrub and organize every little space in my home, car, office... Pretty much any thing you can think of I have already cleaned and organized and yet I still keeping going back for more! haha I have never felt this urge in my life and I really hope it never goes away! (It makes me feel productive!) But back to the subject...
As I reflect back to the first trimester I know how hard it can be for some. Morning sickness is no joke and sometimes you are just so exhausted to do anything and that's okay! You are growing a human being for heavens sake! But I know with my type A personality I am a planner and I love a good checklist to really keep me in line. Especially if this is your first baby you are probably researching everything to prepare for this huge change about to happen in your life! So lets get to it, behold a checklist for the first trimester!

1. Buy the pregnancy essentials. In the coming months your body is going to change and simple things won't be so simple for you. Look into purchasing the items below because they will make a huge difference!

- A know a lot of people opt for a pregnancy pillow but a body pillow is all i've really needed. (Plus you can put the extra money you saved into a baby saving fund.)

- Coconut oil is what i've been using to literally lather my entire body in at night. No one wants dry itchy skin, expecially with a growing belly and boobs. Lets be honest.

- Lets face it. Your body is changing every day and that includes your girls. They will grow. Fast. Don't be uncomfortable. Buy a new bra when you need it.

- I bought what to expect when expecting. Honestly I think their is a thing called "to much research" and I am not a fan of that. Don't scare yourself. Read only what you want to read. Skip the scary stuff. If I have a question its nice to look through the book and find answers.

- Buy a baby book. Or start a blog, and keep track of your pregnancy week by week. Sometimes its a pain to remember but you will thank yourself later. A journal is another great way to look back on how you were feeling.

2. Clean out a room for baby. I know a lot of people wait on this one but in my case the earlier the better. If you are anything like me you will spend weeks cleaning out one little room. It takes time and energy so prepare yourself.

3. Start a Baby fund. If you haven't already, now is a great time to start saving for your little bundle of joy! We all know having a baby costs money. Why not save as much as you can now to help prepare for after baby arrives!

4. Take a butt load of pictures. I am so sad that I didn't take more pictures in the beginning (probably because I looked like death and didn't want to move because of morning sickness.) Take as many belly pictures as you can so that later on down the road you can look back and really see how much your body has changed!

5. Look into insurance options and getting a free breast pump from your insurance. At least for me it was to early to order my free breast pump but I got all the information completed and sent in and the company sending the breast pump will email me when I can finally order. It was super simple and I was able to cross that off my list! (For info on the free pump I just went to Pinterest and searched for how to get a free pump from insurance.) Another thing that I started to do was call around and ask questions about insurance options for newborns. The last thing I want to do after having a baby is look for insurance. So I called and asked questions and got answers so that when the time comes I have a good idea of who I want to go with.

Please enjoy this free printable if you enjoy crossing items off a list!

(Copy and paste to word doc to print)

Not much to do in the first trimester but I hope some of you found this list useful! Enjoy every moment of your pregnancy because it really does go by so quickly! Thanks for stopping by.

Love Always,

The Crazy Collards

19 Weeks!

How far along: 19 weeks as of October 15, 2015!

Total weight gain/loss: Won't know until my next doctors appointment! 

Maternity clothes: Still going strong on those dresses and skirts! 

Sleep: I have been sleeping soooo much better! I don't know if it's because of the cold air which makes me sleep like a baby, or what but I've been sleeping like a champ! Also been having crazy dreams again.

Best moment this week: Just feeling all those kicks!

Food cravings: Still loving the spicy food this week! And I LOVE milk! Milk has never tasted so good to me!

Food aversions: Sandwiches 

Gender: Baby Girl! 

Labor signs: Nope! 

Pregnancy symptoms: Growing belly
My feet at the end of the day (probably doesn't help that I wear heels 99% of the time)
That's about it for this week!

What I miss: Sushi and playing soccer

What I am looking forward to: Still the 20 week appointment! I can't wait to see her again! 

Milestones: It's crazy to think that in less then a week I will be halfway through this pregnancy! 

One tip I could give a first time mom who is also 19 weeks along: Drink plenty of water!

5 Weeks!!

How far along: 5 weeks as of July 19, 2015!

Total weight gain/loss: 115.2

Maternity clothes: I bought my first pair of Maternity jeans not thinking I'd wear them now but I tried them on and... omg love! 
I HATE wearing pants. They are so uncomfortable to me so I am either always wearing a dress or workout clothes but when I tried those bad boys on for fun I think I could wear those pants! So comfy! Other then that I wouldn't say "Maternity" but I bought a few dresses for work that I can wear now and will be able to stretch throughout my pregnancy. 

Sleep: Not feeling as tired as I was last week but around 5:00 pm I can't wait for it to be bed time! 
I don't sleep as well at night anymore. :( I feel like I wake up every hour and have to toss and turn. I also have crazy, vivid dreams (nothing with baby) but I did have one dream where I went into labor! 
Also have to get up at least once in the middle of the night to pee. 

Best moment this week: Finally being able to pin baby stuff on Pinterest!!! I still can't believe I am actually pregnant! 

Food cravings: I'm not as hungry as I was previously. Nothing really sounds crazy good anymore.

Food aversions: Cereal grosses me out. 

Gender: Still think it's a boy. (Daddy will be so happy!) Come on baby girl, Mommy is still rooting for you! Twins? (: 

Labor signs: No, thank goodness.

Pregnancy symptoms: Slight cramping, boobs hurt like crazy, bloating. 

What I miss: Playing soccer to my best ability. (I am still playing & played until I was about 7 weeks but I tried to distance myself from getting hit) Every time I scored I wanted to yell, "you just got scored on by a pregnant lady!" Is that bad? haha!

What I am looking forward to: Still looking forward to our first appointment!! And also looking forward to having a cute baby bump!

Milestones: Another week down!  

One tip I could give a first time mom who is also 5 weeks along: Don't worry so much! 

4 Weeks!

How far along: 4 weeks as of July 12, 2015! 

Total weight gain/loss: 115

Maternity clothes: Nope! I am very bloated right now, so I like maxi dresses, peplum tops or anything that helps me look not so fat. (: 

Sleep: Cannot get enough!! Always so tired! Last night I fell asleep at 6:00 pm and enjoyed that sleep until 7:00 am! Very sleepy around 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm! Naps are my best friends! 

Best moment this week: Telling our families the news!! But as of right now, Grandma's, Grandpa's, Aunts, Uncles & Cousins have no idea! (: Hehe! 

Food cravings: Anything salty/cheesy, get in my belly!! 

Food aversions: Anything sweet sounds horrible. 

Gender: I am going to guess weekly on this just for fun! I think it's going to be a boy! I want a baby girl so bad but I just have this feeling! We will see if I change my mind from week to week.

Labor signs: No, thank goodness.

Pregnancy symptoms: Soooooo hungry & tired!

What I miss: I'm growing a little human inside of me! Whats to miss?! 

What I am looking forward to: Our first appointment on August 10, 2015!!! I wanna hear that little heartbeat!! 

Milestones: Officially one month down! 

One tip I could give a first time mom who is also 4 weeks along: The internet is a bad place right now. Stay away! Don't worry to much and know that God is with you every step of the way! (: 

Why I Chose to go Organic

I know what many of you are thinking... "Oh boy! Here goes another one!"

I know this because I was one of you. I was the one always criticizing those who chose to go organic saying things like, 

"You are spending extra money for nothing!"

"We've been eating this food all our lives and we turned out just fine!"

The truth is I watched a show(s) that changed how I see food entirely.

The earth is full of so much variety when it comes to food, and that food is full of rich vitamins and minerals our body needs to stay healthy and strong. So the thing that's hard for me to understand when it comes to our food these days is why are we completely changing how food is made? 

In the show(s) I watched it shows and explains just how the food companies these days work. They work with only one thing on their minds... money. They don't care about the farmers, the food or us. They only see the dollar signs. And that just didn't seem okay to me. 

We should know exactly what we are eating and exactly where it is coming from. I don't need a genetically modified chicken, or the poor cow that spent its entire life at a factory waiting to be killed for me to have that dollar cheese burger. They deserve more than that and so do I!

So organic is the way I went. 

I feel so much better knowing that my family is getting healthy, REAL, natural food. And my body is feeling the benefits as well. I have more energy when I make food from scratch and not a box. I have a better mood when I eat organic and I feel happy knowing that my body is getting what it needs. 

For those of you who think organic is too expensive, it really isn't. You will maybe be spending $2-$5 more for the same items you already purchase. In the long run your body will thank you for spending a little more for giving it a lot more.

If I had to give a few tips for those looking to change their lifestyle habits when it comes to food this would be it:

1. If it comes from a box, don't eat it. Rarely does it have any nutritional value for you.

2. Check how much sugar is in the daily items you eat. You'll be surprised. Many things you "think" are healthy really aren't. That "low fat" or "0 calorie" item you picked up really isn't that great for you. They usually replace the fat or calories with sugar making your liver work overtime to produce more insulin. And when insulin is being produced in large amounts it gets stored as fat. Quick fact: everything on a food label shows the daily value next to it besides sugar. Seems those food companies are being a little sneaky.

This is a food label for yogurt. Lots of sugar for something you'd think would be healthy for you. 

Make sure you know the difference between added sugar and natural sugar. (Fresh fruits our natural sugar.) 

"According to data from the U.S. in 2008, people are consuming over 60 pounds (28 kg) of added sugar per year and this does not include fruit juices. In 2008 the average intake was 76.7 grams per day, which equals 19 teaspoons or 306 calories."

Recommended daily sugar intake:

• Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons).
• Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons).

http://authoritynutrition.com/how-much-sugar-per-day/

3. Soda is the devil. I do not drink soda. I haven't since middle school. Of course I’ll have a little sparkling cider here and there but I do not drink anything with carbonation on a day to day basis. It is SOOO bad for you people! I know it tastes so yummy and can even become addictive at times but get rid of it! Once you stop drinking it for a while you do not crave it and when you do have it, it does not taste the same. (When I have soda it literally burns, and I can feel it burn all the way down into my stomach!) My favorite saying of all time, "Soda makes you slow." (For all you athletes)

4. Not all calories are created equal. 60 calories in a soda is NOT the same as 60 calories in almonds. Soda will give you a fast sugar high followed by a crash of lost energy. Almonds will process in your body different giving you gradual energy throughout the day.

5. Water is everything. Don't forget to drink your 8 glasses a day. It changes everything!

Sorry this might be a long and boring post for many of you but I hope you decide to make a change for the better in your life. You WILL feel the difference I promise!

Here is a link to the show that changed my outlook on food:

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

Thank you for stopping by and be on the lookout for more posts later this week.

Love Always,

The Crazy Collards

Workout Lover

Long time no talk my friends!! Hope you are all having an amazing week so far! I thought I'd get a post up about one of my all-time favorite things in the world...

Workout clothes!

Guys, I could literally spend a million dollars on workout clothes.

I am all for the comfy and cute and workout clothes do just that!

Today I put together a simple workout outfit that can be easily recreated by anyone.

Enjoy! (Links to everything will be listed below)

Shorts

Bag

Top

Socks

Shoes (I bought these a while ago so this is the closest I could get)

I hope you enjoyed this post and get a little inspiration for your next workout outfit!

Love Always, 

The Crazy Collards 

3 Simple Hairstyles for the Lazy Girl In You

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

Today I am going to be showing you 3 simple hairstyles for you short hair ladies! (These work with long hair as well. Bonus!)

I love how easy my short hair is but I sometimes feel like I am always doing the same thing with it every day. So I played around for a while to find some different hairstyles that can be done just as fast but still give me the look that I actually went the extra mile on my hair. So let’s jump right into it.

You can do any of these with straight or curly hair. My hair is usually in messy curls so that’s what I’ll be working with today.

1. Twisted side

This little twist took me a minute to master but I finally figured out the trick!

I start by taking 2 pieces on one side of my hair.

I then twist each separate piece AWAY from my face. Make sure you twist each piece the same direction, away from the face. That is the trick.

I then twist each piece over the other until I run out of hair.

I then boddy pin it back and you’re done!

2. Braided half up

This is similar to the twisted side but instead of twisting you braid and on both sides.

I start by braiding one section of my hair (as you can tell I changed my part the middle), this time I will grab my longer pieces so that it can reach the back of my head after braiding.

I then do the exact same thing on the other side until I reach where my last braid ended.

I pin both sections together so they meet on the back of my head.

I fix my curls and I am good to go!

3. The 3 tuck

The next one takes a minute to get just right but once you master it, it turns out awesome! This is especially awesome for layers!

First you section out 3 pieces at the bottom of your hair and section them off.

I like to leave out a few pieces from the front.

Then start pinning. I twist and pin different sections making it look like an up do.

I make sure all pieces are how I want them and spray for hold.

I hope these are useful for some of you because I absolutely love them! Let me know if you tried any of these out and if they worked for you! Thanks for checking in!

Love Always,

The Crazy Collards

Simple Holiday Makeup

Hey everyone! I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend! Today I wanted to show you a super simple holiday makeup look. This can be worn day or night and literally takes 10 minutes at the most to do! I'm not sure if you guys enjoy these kinds of posts but they are my favorite to do so I hope you enjoy! (:

Alright, the first thing I do is make sure my face is clean and moisturized! 

The next step really helps speed the process up and helps make everything simple. I am going to start off by using a cream highlight and contour. To achieve this I am using Revlon's Photoready Concealer, I use a shade thats about 2 shades lighter than my foundation. To contour I used NYX HD Concealer, this time I used one 2 shades darker then my foundation. I then used my regular foundation (recently I went back to an oldy but a goody, Revlon Colorstay). I blended everything out using my Real Techniques Sponge. 

Next I quickly threw on some blush, and highlight and did my eyebrows. You can see me doing this in my "Everyday Makeup".

I am in love with this eye look for this winter. It is so simple and can pretty much be worn with ANYTHING! I start out by using my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. (I only do my right eye so you can see the difference)

I start off by using the shade "Tease" and blend that all over my lid and into my crease.

I then spray a flat shader brush with a makeup setting spray and pick up the color "Half Baked". I pack this all over my lid. Spraying your brush helps to intensify the color.

With a more defined crease brush I used the color "Snakebite" and focused that into the outter "V". I then took a blending brush and made sure everything was blended together. I then went in with "Bootycall" and highlighted my brow bone and the inner part of my eye. The eyeshadow is complete! 

The next thing I did was create winged eyeliner. I don't usually go for eyeliner but I felt like it really brings the look together and makes it look a little more glam. 

I topped everything off with some mascara, and the eye look is complete! Simple right?

The final step to bring everything together is the lips. I wanted to do 3 different lip combos so you can have a choice for what you feel most comfortable in. I went with a nude, red, and a dark purple. I personally love me some dark lips but I know its not for everyone.

Here is the nude lip. I used ELF's lip crayon in "In The Nude", topped with Revlon's lipgloss in 

"Peach Petal"

Here is the red lip. I used NYX lip liner in "Auburn" followed by NYX Xtreme Shine lip cream in "Absolute Red".

The third and final look is the dark purple. I used NYX lip liner in "Plum" followed by NYX Simply Vamp Lip Cream in "Bewitching", and topped off with NYX Butter Gloss in "Devil's Food Cake". (As you can tell Courtney loves her some NYX lip products.) 

Those are the completed make up looks! I hope you enjoyed and i'll be sure to do more makeup looks for you guys because they're my favorite! Have a safe weekend!

Love Always,
The Crazy Collards

Organizing Freak: Daily/Weekly Lists

   Hello everyone, today I am excited to let you all know about some of my cleaning/organizing tips and tricks. I decided I wanted to split this into three sections so that it won’t be such a long post. The three sections will include:

1. My daily/weekly lists

2. Home organization

3. Money management

   These will include everything that I do to help keep my life organized, clean and stress free (as much as I can control anyway). Please let me know what you think and if you have any tips and tricks to share with me I’d love, LOVE to hear them. I am always on the hunt for new things!

I hope some of you find these useful in your home/life because it saves me so much time and I don't know what I’d do without it!

   When it comes to cleaning I am a freak about it! It’s been this way since I was little (I used to be the little girl who cleaned and organized her room for fun.) Though I had my years where I gave in to the mess, but anyway I just like things to be my way when it comes to organizing. So I’ve made up a system over the years that helps me stay organized for just about anything! So I’d like to share my weekly/daily lists that I use, Enjoy!

Okay first things first, I love a good list! Lists make my world go round and without them id be lost! I make list for just about everything! For example:

-Grocery list
-Daily to do lists
-Spending/Savings list
-Cleaning list
and the list goes on and on (no pun intended). So below I attached some documents that you can print at home to help with your life! These are the outlines for my lists based on how I like things so feel free to change it up to help fit your needs.

Daily To-do list:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_TNFRyEEEyKMUtmeFQ0V2V3VU0/edit?usp=drive_web

Daily Cleaning List:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_TNFRyEEEyKRWNfeEtMTHBEOTg/edit?usp=drive_web

I also love to use weekly list. These lists usually help me speed up the process of daily decisions. The most frequent ones I use are OOTW (outfit of the week) & Weekly meals. Using the OOTW helps me get out of the door faster in the morning and helps me catch an extra 5 min of sleep. If I didn’t use this I’d be wasting so much time trying to find something to wear. The weekly meal plan helps me plan my grocery list and I don’t have to think of something to cook last minute and helps my family know what’s on the menu. Below I attached the outline for what I love to use, again feel free to change it up to fit you.

OOTW:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_TNFRyEEEyKaU9NR1hvMVpRdFE/edit?usp=drive_web

Weekly Meals:

(The same as OOTW but I just change the title and put in the meals I am planning.)

Every Monday I spend some time putting together the lists for the week and printing them out. After I print them out I place them in my “Weekly Folder”. This is where I keep all of my documents and I can refer back to them easily during the week/day. Pinterest helps me out A TON during this process because I can refer back to it for meal and outfit ideas. 

I also use a planner, because what organizing freak doesn’t have a planner? I LOVE the layout of this planner and will always repurchase it. They used to sell it at Target but I can't find it any longer, so I purchase it off Amazon. You can find it here. This I keep color coordinated to help with both monthly items and daily items. This is where I put reminders, what bills need to be paid, and any other activities that we have on the schedule. Below you can check out how I use my planner.

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into what I love to use. Let me know your feedback and any tips you have!

Love always,
The Crazy Collards

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