Hello, readers! I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend so far. Last week seemed to last forever! Seriously, Wednesday and Thursday both felt like Fridays for me. Speaking of Friday - the baby spent the night with her paternal grandparents so mommy and daddy actually got to sleep in on Saturday.

Here's a look at things I shared this past week. Hope you enjoy them!

If Disney princesses #wokeuplikethis - An artist drew what the different Disney princesses would look like when they first wake up. Ariel is my favorite.

Things Ted Cruz looks like - The folks over at BuzzFeed rounded up all the things people have been comparing Ted Cruz to this campaign season.

2016 Presidential Candidates as Harry Potter characters - One word: Trumpridge.

Reading to Dogs - An animal shelter in Michigan brings in kids to read to shy, unsociable dogs. By the time they get through one children's book, the dogs have made considerable progress.

Impossible Dogs - I've been following Incidental Comics for several years now. He's so creative. Check him out!

Both of these dresses have been hanging out in my closet for a couple of weeks, which is rare because I'm the type to wear new clothes the very next day. One entire side of my closet is dedicated to dresses. They're such an easy way to look put together without trying too hard. I wore these at the beginning of the week before all the terrible weather and aftermath my area had.

One of the things I look for when buying new items is they're staying power. I'm not big on trends, especially if they're pricier. I tend to look for pieces that aren't going to go out of style after one season. Both of these dresses will have a lasting place in my closet.

I really can't believe it's taken me so long to wear this dress. I absolutely love it - from the almost '50s feel to the pattern and how it fits. This dress requires no help to look effortlessly chic. I paired it with my new go-to nude pumps and pearls. I would wear this dress on a date night, to a wedding or really any other occasion. It's lined, has a hidden back zipper and didn't wrinkle easily. I'm wearing a petite 8, and I should note that I didn't pay full price.

Details:
Dress - The Limited
Shoes - ShoeDazzle

This dress my husband actually picked out and ordered from eBay. He paid less than $10. It's a nice soft, stretchy material that stayed comfortable all day long (however, it definitely showed off my food baby after lunch). Because of the halter-style neck, I wouldn't wear it without some type of jacket for work, which is why I pulled out my favorite blue blazer. I got it several years ago from Charlotte Russe for less than $30. The three-quarter ruched sleeves make it easy to wear all year round, and it has a cute bow detail on the back. My shoes were a clearance Target find several years ago.

Details:
Dress: eBay
Blazer: Charlotte Russe old (similar, similar, similar)
Shoes: Target old (similar, similar)

I recently signed up for ipsy. It's a monthly service that sends you five sample beauty products in a cute little bag all for $10. They determine what to send you based on a so-called style quiz (you can retake it as many times as you want). The site also offers discounts on the products they send you samples of and does a lot of giveaways.

I got my first glam bag a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share my impression of the products I received. I'll be sharing them in order of my favorite to least favorite, tell you what I did or didn't like about each one and if I would order it again.

1. Jor'el Parker Eau so Divine perfume
Product Description - Feel like you've been whisked away with Eau so Divine! This calming perfume has notes of sandalwood, lily of the valley, Egyptian myrrh and Madagascar vanilla for a truly exotic scent experience.

I really, really like this perfume, which makes sense considering lilies are my favorite flower. The scent was complimentary with my body chemistry, not over-powering and lasted all day. I would definitely buy this perfume. Retail price ranges from $23-57.

2. tre'StiQue Baby Blush Stick in Bora Bora Coral
Product Description - A new generation cream-gel blush. Formulated to glide on skin with an elegant silky touch, leaving cheeks with a pop of soft color.

This cream blush was easy to apply. The color is pretty, although it is very light even for my skin tone. I combined it with a little powder blush in a slightly-darker shade to achieve my desired color. It lasted all day. These blush sticks retail for $34, which is above my makeup price range for blush.

3. Olivia Palermo x Ciate London Paint Pot in Sundays - my off-duty nude
Product Description - The limited-edition Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London Nail Collection is inspired by the trendiest shades of the season. Formulated by the fashionista herself, this polish is a long lasting, durable, high-shine lacquer. It's all you need to achieve the look of polished perfection!

I've had my toenails painted with this polish for three days now (I rarely paint my nails because I work on a computer all day so it doesn't last). So far so good as far as chipping is concerned. However, it took three coats before it wasn't see-through and it took awhile to dry. In fact, I ended up getting out my hair dryer. The color is pretty, but I actually have an OPI polish that is basically the same color, and it only takes one coat. It's also cheaper than this one which retails for $24 so I won't be purchasing.

4. Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter
Product Description - Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter is a dermatologist recommended, luxurious body butter that leaves skin soft, supple and healthy all day. Available at ULTA Beauty and Target.

This body butter was really thick. It had a light scent that faded quickly. I can definitely tell a difference in my skin since I've been using it. You can get an 8 oz. jar of this at Target for about $15, so unless my skin is in seriously bad shape I doubt I'll be purchasing.

5. Mr. Write (Now) by theBalm Cosmetics in Jack B. Bronze
Product Description - We have a Mr. Write (Now) for every day of the week... and then some! Meet this new collection of attractive eyeliners that are truly easy on the eyes. These pencils deliver the long-lasting color you've been looking for, and have built-in sharpeners so they are always ready when you are. With high payoff, eight wearable shades, and a satin smooth texture, we understand why your eyes wander- but rest assured, your eyeliner won't!

This was my least favorite product simply because of the color. If you don't take the color into account, this eyeliner is great. It's easy to apply, goes on smooth and lasts all day. The bronze is a little too sparkly for my personal taste. However, they do have seven more colors. The retail price is $17. When I run out of my usual eyeliner, I might order this in mocha.

Overall, I was pleased with my first glam bag. The bag itself looks like a little love letter - so cute! And it's a great size; I'm using it to hold all my lipsticks so they're not just rolling around the bottom of my purse. I would recommend ipsy to anyone who wants to experiment with new products but doesn't want to feel like they're wasting a ton of money to do so.

I don't know about you guys, but this week seemed to drag by for me! Maybe it was missing a day of work in the middle of the week. Anyway, I'd like to share some of the things that got my attention this week.

What's in your cheese? - Turns out, maybe wood pulp.

Wild at Heart - As part of the February ratings period, one of our reporters put together a special four-part series about wildlife sanctuaries in our viewing area. She did an excellent job putting these pieces today. Check them out: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

30-Second Changes That Can Create Long-Lasting Happiness - This article was shared on my Facebook news feed at the perfect time. Simple changes that can go a long way!

photo courtesy of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency shared this photo on their Facebook page. Three troopers spent part of their day visiting with Logan, a little boy who's had eight brain surgeries since birth and wants to be a state trooper when he grows up. Proof there is still good in this world.

I discovered this cool music group this week. They take modern songs and retro-fy them. The results are incredible. Check them out at http://postmodernjukebox.com/.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

One of my goals with this series is to show that dressing for the newsroom can be fun and affordable and that the right purchases can carry you for years. One of the rules I set for myself when buying new clothes is that I have to be able to wear it at least three ways with items I already own. If I can't, I don't buy it. This week, all of my outfits have been comprised of mostly, if not all, old pieces. In the two that I'm sharing with you, only one item of clothing is new - as in first time worn.

I love girly details. This shirt is the only brand-new item I've worn this week. It's still in stock at The Limited and they're having a BOGO 1/2 off sale, not as much off as when I ordered it but still not bad. I'm wearing a petite small. It hits just below my waist, perfect to tuck into a skirt or wear loose over jeans on the weekend. The blazer I've had for several years. I found it on a clearance rack at Sears back when we had one and paid less than $20. I've linked to a couple of similar although pricier options below. The skirt is also several years old. I'm wearing it in a petite 8. It's lined, high-waisted and hits right above my knees. I've linked to a few cheaper options. My shoes came from Target. They're actually the same shoe as the leopard pair from last week.

Details:
Skirt - old The Limited (similar, similar)
Shirt - The Limited
Jacket - old Sears (similar, similar)
Shoes - Target (lots of color options)

Black pants are a must for any female journalist's wardrobe, but who said they have to be boring? I found these high-waisted, nautical-inspired beauties on clearance last year. They are definitely more of a "trend" buy for me than usual but they're not so over-the-top that I can't see myself wearing them for a few more years. This pair is long sold out, but I linked to the only decently-priced similar pair I could find below (and I honestly wouldn't spend that much on them). My shirt is several years old, but LC Lauren Conrad can pretty much always be counted on to have this style shirt in some type of fun print like these pretty little bows I'm wearing. I linked to her current collection for your browsing pleasure below. My shoes are the same black wedges I shared a couple of weeks ago.

Details:
Shirt - old Lauren Conrad c/o Kohls (browse her current collection here)
Pants - old The Limited (similar)
Shoes - old Cato (similar, similar)

There are no truer words have ever been spoken, especially in this business. Deadlines are absolute. There is no wiggle room. You either make it or you don't. That being said, deadlines are probably one of the toughest things for fresh-out-of-school journalists to master, but it isn't a difficult skill to learn.

When you're first starting out, it's easy to fall into the trap of trying to write everything perfectly. There's nothing wrong with striving for perfection but it takes time and unless you start writing at 9 a.m. for a 5 p.m. deadline, time is something you probably don't have the luxury for. But don't worry - I've put together some tips to help both producers and reporters speed up your writing and meet your deadlines.

TIPS FOR PRODUCERS:

• Remember the 5 W's - who, what, when, where, why (and how if applicable), especially when you're turning a press release or wire story into a story for air.
• Summarize. In most cases, not every little detail has to be included in your story.
• 1 line = 1 idea. Stick to that philosophy and not only will your writing speed up but it will also keep it nice and concise.

TIPS FOR REPORTERS:

• Know your story before you leave the station.
• Outline your story. Having this skeleton to work with will speed up your writing process considerably.
• Talk to your interviews before you question them, while you're setting up.
• Take notes during your interview.

GENERAL TIPS:

• Make a to-do list. This is especially helpful for producers. It helps keep you organized. Plus, crossing things off the list feels pretty good (or maybe that's just me).
• Time yourself. Set mini-deadlines, and most importantly meet them!

These are all tips that I follow on a daily basis to help me meet my deadlines. You can read more tips on writing for deadlines here, here and here. If you'd like to work on speeding up your writing outside of work, check out these news writing exercises.

I'll leave you all with this from journalism.about.com: 

"...newsrooms move fast. Deadlines are constant. And being a terrific writer won't matter much if you can't get your stories in on time."

I watch a lot of ABC Family, or Freeform as it's now known. When they started showing previews for Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, my interest was piqued. And as luck would have it, the show comes on immediately following Pretty Little Liars, which I already watch, so it was only natural for me to tune into the premiere. And that was all it took. Tuesdays are now my current favorite TV night.

Shadowhunters is the story of Clary Fray. When her mother is put into a magical coma and kidnapped by a man who wants to take over the world, Clary discovers she's not as normal as she thought. She's thrust into the Shadow world and teams up with Jace, Alec and Isabelle to find her mother, dragging her best friend, Simon, along with her.

Clary learns that all the fairy tales are true and that she's part angel. In just 5 episodes, Clary has faced demons, vampires and werewolves.

I will say this - some of the graphics seem a little cheesy to me, but it's probably because I work in television and can't help but notice anything that has to do with a green screen.

There's some sexual tension going on between Clary and Jace; Simon is clearly in love with Clary but she only sees him as a friend; and Alec might be in love with Jace.

Simon and Alec are my favorite characters. Simon because he's hilarious and Alec because, well, I've always liked dark, brooding characters.

The series is based on the books written by Cassandra Clare, but I haven't read any of them so I can't speak to whether or not the series is faithful to them. There's also a movie, which I haven't seen either.

A new episode of Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments comes on tonight at 9:00 EST on Freeform. If you're interested in watching past episodes, you can download their app.

It's very rare for me to put together an outfit that doesn't have some sort of pattern in it - whether it's an actual piece of clothing, my shoes or an accessory like a belt. I love polka dots, animal print, floral print, stripes, plaid ... and the list goes on and on. I feel like dressing for news can become very formulaic, and it can be easy to fall into a rut or feel like your personality is being covered up. Incorporating patterned pieces into my work wardrobe is my way of letting my personality play a role.

One thing I think everyone should have in their closets is a pair of trouser jeans. I bought this pair a couple of years ago on sale at Kohl's. My preferred style is wide leg. Trouser jeans are an easy way to achieve business casual, especially when paired with a silk button-up shirt. I absolutely love this rose petal print. It's part of The Limited's Valentine's Day collection. This particular shirt has sold out, but they have this style in other patterns. I'm wearing a petite small. You can't tell from this picture but this shirt is collared. The sleeves can also be worn undone. My shoes are also new. I've been looking for a pair of light nude-colored heels for awhile now. After reading several reviews, I signed up for ShoeDazzle and settled on the Beatrice. The shoe itself is comfortable; it has a built-in cushion for the ball of your foot. The heel is about an inch higher than I normally wear but by the end of the day my feet weren't killing me so I consider that a win. This shoe comes in several other colors as well.

Details:
Shirt: The Limited - sold out but they have the same pattern in a dress and skirt
Pants: Apt. 9 c/o Kohl's (similar)
Shoes: ShoeDazzle (exact)

I have really been into burgundy here lately. I ordered this dress from Old Navy in October. I wasn't expecting the quality to be as good as it is. It's a nice thick knit but not so thick I can't wear it all year. Since it's sleeveless, I paired it with my leather mixed media jacket. It's a few years old. I got it for all of $10 at TJMaxx in the dead of summer. It's one of my favorite fall/winter finishing pieces. The leather sleeves add just the right amount of edge to an outfit; it looks great over jackets, with skirts or paired with a graphic tee and jeans. I just got these leopard print heels. They're replacing an older pair I bought and just don't wear because of the way the platform is shaped (I feel like I'm rolling forward). These are super comfortable, have a little gold detailing on the inside, and show just a peak of toe cleavage. I also own them in black.

Details:
Dress: Old Navy (similar, similar)
Jacket: TJMaxx (similar, similar)
Shoes: Target (exact)

I wear jeans at least once a week to work. These are the same pair I featured last week. Here, I've got them rolled under to hit above my boots. I fell in love with this striped sweater the moment I saw it. The black going down the sides has a nice slimming effect and the lace detailing at the neck adds a nice feminine touch. This sweater is sold out but I linked to some nice options below. These black booties are one of my best/favorite buys from the fall. They're out of stock but I linked to a bunch of options.

Details:
Sweater: Hannah c/o Goody's (similar, similar)
Jeans: Arizona c/o JCPenny (exact)
Boots: Target (sold out but lots of options here)

This weekend is Valentine's Day, so chances are you'll be watching romance movies at some point this week. Or maybe your plan for V-Day is to cuddle up with your sweetheart and watch a movie. Whatever your plans, I've rounded up some of my favorite lovey-dovey movies, and I think you'll find there's a little something for everyone on this list.

Valentine's Day (2010)
Rated: PG-13
Let's start with an obvious one, although this movie doesn't seem to make any of the lists for best Valentine's movies I've seen. This movie has a litany of stars including Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Hillary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper, just to name a few. It's set in Los Angeles and follows several couples who break up and/or make up on, you guessed it, Valentine's Day. There's even an anti-Valentine's Day party thrown in.

Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Rated: PG
There are several different versions of this movie, including one from 1940 starring Sir Lawrence Olivier. Based on the novel by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice is the love story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy.

Becoming Jane (2007)
Rated: PG
Starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy, Becoming Jane is the story of Jane Austen. Basically, it's the real-life version of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy.

Warm Bodies (2013)Rated: PG-13
You're probably thinking, "How did a zombie movie make a list about romantic movies?" This is how. Warm Bodies is about how love helps reverse the zombification of R, played by Nicholas Hoult. This movie falls into three genres - comedy, horror and romance. There's blood, zombies, and John Malkovich. So if ooey-gooey romance isn't your significant other's thing, pop this in the Blu-ray.

RED (2010) & RED 2 (2013)
Rated: PG-13
On their surface, RED 1 and 2 are about a team of ex-government agents reconnecting to save the world. But at the core of each movie is the relationship between Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) and Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker). Both of these movies have an all-star cast, most notably John Malkovich as Marvin and Hellen Mirren as Victoria, but you'll also have the pleasure of watching Morgan Freeman in the first movie and Catherine Zeta-Jones in the second. Ladies, if your man's into action flicks, you can't go wrong with the RED's.

Valley Girl (1983)
Rated: R
First, let me start by saying I have no idea why this movie is rated R. Second, let me tell you that this is my token bad '80s movie for this list. Valley Girl is about a girl from the valley named Julie (Deborah Foreman) and her forbidden relationship with Randy (Nicholas Cage) who literally lives on the wrong side of the railroad tracks. As far as the rating goes, maybe it's the ridiculous v-shaped chest hair Nick Cage is rockin' on the beach...

Titanic (1997)
Rated: PG-13
No Valentine's Day movie marathon would be complete without Titanic. It's another case of people from different classes falling in love - Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and Rose, played by Kate Winslet. This is one movie I'm seriously sad to have missed seeing in theaters, not once but twice. It's also one of the few movies I never get tired of watching. I'll never let go, Jack...

Original Sin (2001)
Rated: R
This is definitely not a movie to watch with the kids. It's rated R for a reason - one of the best, tastefully done sex scenes I've ever seen. Luis Antonio Vargas, played by Antonio Banderas, unknowingly marries a con-woman, played by Angelina Jolie. He falls so in love with her that even when he learns the truth, he follows her, leaving his life of wealth behind.

Casablanca (1942)
Rated: PG
Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine. This classic black-and-white film starring Humphrey Bogart as Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa is the story of star-crossed lovers given a second chance. But like all good romantic dramas set during wartime, nothing goes the way they planned. Nobody does it quite like Mr. Bogart. Here's lookin' at you, kid.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Rated: PG-13
This one's for all you '90s kids. Here's the movie in a nutshell - boy meets girl; boy falls for girl, but girl can't date unless her sister does. So boy pays a guy to date girl's sister. Guy ends up falling for sister. Sister finds out the truth. How does everything work out? You'll just have to watch for yourself.

The Notebook (2004)
Rated: PG-13
Here's another movie no Valentine's Day marathon would be complete without. The story of Allie (Rachel McAdams/Gena Rowlands) and Noah (Ryan Gosling/James Garner) is based on the best-selling book by Nicholas Sparks. It follows their relationship from start to finish. Noah's unconditional, unending love for Allie is something I think everyone wants. This movie isn't just the lovey-dovey stuff; it shows the work that goes into a relationship. This is another movie I can watch over and over again. It wasn't over. It still isn't over.

Pretty Woman (1999)
Rated: R
This movie is rated R because, well, Julia Roberts plays a stripper. Vivian is hired by Edward (Richard Gere) for a week to, ahem, keep him company while he's on business in New York City. Spoiler alert - they end up falling for each other. This is the movie that put Julia Roberts on the map, and for good reason. She's phenomenal. Richard Gere's not bad, either.

You've Got Mail (1998)
Rated: PG
This is Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks at their prime. They play two rival bookstore owners, Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly. In real life, they can't stand each other, but online it's a different story. This is a classic rom-com. Plus it's filled with the classic AOL "You've got mail!"

Dirty Dancing (1987)
Rated: PG-13
Nobody puts Baby in the corner. That should be all I have to say about this movie. Baby (Jennifer Grey) goes to a family summer camp where she falls in love with Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), the camp's dance instructor. When Johnny's partner gets knocked up, Baby has to fill in.


Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Rated: Approved
Let's end with one for the kids. This is a classic Disney film about two dogs from different backgrounds who fall in love despite the odds. They wind up in the pound, share a romantic spaghetti dinner and save Lady's family's baby from a giant rat.

There were so many more movies I could have added to this list but decided to stop at 15. What's your favorite movie to watch on Valentine's Day?

This week I've been pretty happy with the way all of my outfit choices have turned out, so I decided to share three different looks. I guess I've got Valentine's day on my brain because all of my choices have had something from the red family this week!
Let's start with this red and black look. These red pants were a Christmas gift, and one of my favorite items in my closet. Worthington is one of my favorite brands when it comes to work wear. These are their classic ankle pant. I'm wearing them in petite, FYI. I got the shirt on final clearance from The Limited. I already owned it in blush pink and loved it so much, I couldn't resist. It's the perfect combination of structure and flowiness. It has a silver zipper on the back, three-quarter length loose sleeves, and it's a nice light-weight fabric so I can wear it year round. I'm wearing it in petite. My black faux suede wedge pumps are one of the best shoe purchases I've ever made. I found these babies at Cato a few years ago and have worn them so much I'm about to have them resoled.

Details:
Shirt: The Limited (similar, similar)
Pants: JCPenny (exact)
Shoes: Cato (similar, similar)
Necklace: The Limited (exact)

This is an outfit I find myself wearing ALL THE TIME, both to work and around town. I bought this link pink oversized sweater from Old Navy during a flash sale about a month ago. The material is a little thin so I wear it with a white tank top underneath. My jeans are actually from the juniors' department at JCPenny. They're Arizona name brand. I'm wearing them in short. My ankle boots were a splurge buy but totally worth it. They're the perfect neutral shade of taupe. I literally wear them with everything. The heels are just chunky enough that they're comfortable to walk/stand in most of the day.

Details:
Sweater: Old Navy (lots of similar options here)
Jeans: JCPenny (exact)
Boots: Target (similar, similar, similar)
Necklace: (similar)

This skirt is one of my favorite pieces in my closet. I bought it on final clearance from The Limited, and honestly I couldn't find anything remotely close to its awesomeness to link to. It hits me about halfway down my shins and is high-waisted. The shirt is by Lauren Conrad. This is a style that I really like. In fact, I have at least three different versions. The neckline is pleated; it has a tasteful tie back; and the fit just works for my body type. This is the type of shirt that looks good tucked in with a skirt or worn loose with a pair of jeans or even shorts. My shoes are one of my statement pieces. I picked them up at TJMaxx several years ago for cheap. They're super comfy and surprisingly versatile, although this is the first time I've worn them since getting pregnant.

Details:
Shirt: Lauren Conrad c/o Kohl's (lots of similar options here)
Skirt: The Limited old
Shoes: Nine West c/o TJMaxx (similar, similar)

Last week was the deadline for the ABBY Awards, so I spent three days holed up in an edit bay working on our submissions. This is one of my favorite things to do because it gives me a chance to relive our greatest coverage of the past year and put it all together in a way that showcases the station's accomplishments. While I worked on many individual submissions as well, by far the biggest project of those three days was for Station of the Year. Below are some of my favorite pieces that went into that submission.

In early 2015, the threat of sequestration was a major concern for Ft. Rucker.


Late in the year, a blogger accused the Dothan Police Department of planting drugs on young black men several years ago, prompting coverage from around the country.

The Wiregrass had its share of wild weather in 2015, most notably in April when strong storms led to the cancellation of the Toadlick Music Festival, in August when a tornado damaged several business in Troy, and in November when a microburst significantly damaged an area school.

In December, flooding forced many families out of their homes on Christmas Day and even resulted in two deaths.

Usually, the National Peanut Festival is the biggest event of the year for our area, but in 2015 unprecedented rainfall threw a monkey wrench in the week-long event. And although a majority of our coverage centered around cancellations, schedule changes and parking issues, we did still find a little time to have some fun.

For first-time parents, the first year of your baby's life is full of learning curves. You quickly start to build up resources - whether it's having a handful of trusted people you can ask about anything or creating a Pinterest board full of things you might one day need to know. In my almost 10 months of motherhood, I've done both of those things, and Google has become my best friend. I've also discovered several products along the way that have helped to make this first year go by smoothly.

Boogie Wipes - The name pretty much says it all, and I'm kind of ashamed that it took me so long to discover these magical boogie wipes. The cloths are soaked with saline so they're super moisturizing, and they're amazingly soft. Alexis hates having her nose wiped normally but doesn't get nearly as bent out of shape when I use one of these. I've even used them on my own nose! You can pick these up at any drug store for around $5.


Summer Infant SwaddleMe WrapSack - I am not ashamed to admit that I can not swaddle. It's hard, y'all! Thankfully, we were given several of the amazing SwaddleMe's as gifts. The best thing about these? You can use them even if your baby doesn't like having their arms restricted. The Velcro ensures that they stay snug and baby stays warm all night. You obviously won't use these once the baby starts rolling over, but I'm telling you - if you are swaddle-challenged like I was, these things are a life-saver and worth the $20.


Johnson & Johnson Baby Bedtime and Soothing Vapor Baths - Trust me when I say both of these bubble baths do exactly what they say they will. I use the lavender scented bath on a regular basis, along with the actual wash and lotion versions. We recently started using the soothing vapor bath. It smells like a very toned-down version of Vick's vapor rub, and with this constantly changing weather we've been having lately it's worked wonders with keeping Alexis' snot under control.


Dishwasher Baskets - Let's be honest. No one likes washing bottles. And while I hand-wash ours most of the time, there are some days that I just don't feel like it. On those days, I break out my handy-dandy dishwasher baskets, fill 'em up and set the dishwasher on the hour cycle. And these are not only good for bottle parts but also for pacifiers, teethers and the lids and nipples for sippy cups. They come in a variety of brands and colors. All are around the same price range and can be found at places like Toys R Us, Target and Walmart.


Orajel Nighttime Formula Teething Gel - Does this one even need an explanation? If your baby is like mine and has a hard time with teething, Orajel will be your friend. Just make sure you get the nighttime version. (You can read about our struggles with teething here.)


Munchkin Formula Dispenser - This is something I would never have thought I needed, but how wonderful it has been to have! This little guy has three sections; each one can hold up to nine ounces of formula. It's the perfect take-along for a day in town, and I don't have to worry about keeping pre-made bottles cool. You can pick up these formula dispensers at Babies R Us, Target or Walmart among other places for around $5.

Raz Baby Raz-Berry Silicone Teether - We've tried a lot of teethers, and the result is generally the same - disinterest after only a few minutes. But the raz-berry is different. I don't know why, but it is. So if you've tried traditional gel teethers or even the Dr. Brown's version with no luck, give this one a try. We got ours at Walmart for around $3.

Cloud B Gentle Giraffe on the Go - I've saved the best for last. We call this guy the singing giraffe. He has four different settings - sleep, play, relax and calm. When it comes to bedtime, he's a game changer. We went from 20-30 minutes of crying and fighting to 10 or less. This guy also has a Velcro strap on the back so we can hook him onto the carseat for long rides. There are other versions of these soothers available. All cost around $25.

What products would you add to this list?