Join Totsy!

Okay, okay, I am a huge Gilt girl & Zulily...but now I am addicted to TOTSY!

I've seen nothing but cute stuff for baby & Mama and at STELLAR prices.
Take for instance this sexy cowl neck top shown below...$16.00 (originally $60)...a bargain!

Go! Sign up now & get your Totsy on!

Click here for your invite

xo

we love local...eco-STORE USA Review

We love supporting local businesses & I was over the moon when I found eco-STORE USA--based out of my home state, Michigan!!

The kind folks at eco-STORE USA generously sent us a slew of their amazing eco-friendly products to try out--all of which we love--especially the baby care line.

EcoSTORE USA’s baby care line is created using only the finest plant-based ingredients and essential oils to gently soothe, nourish and help protect baby’s sensitive skin. They offer healthy products that can help to relieve or avoid skin conditions, rashes and other chronic problems such as asthma and allergies. With Huxley's SUPER sensitive skin this is a mega-plus!!

I love being able to bathe Huxley knowing he isn't marinating in nasty chemicals & that I am treating his fragile baby skin with the best stuff out there--because let's be honest...we have enough to worry about as parents, am I right?


Like eco-STORE USA on Facebook!
Follow eco-STORE USA on Twitter!

xo

we made a Snow Baby!

It's safe to we have a Snow Baby on our hands, & Mama couldn't be any happier!
While Daddy prefers the surf & sand I could be completely content in the mountains--skiing until my legs are jello & face is numb.

The East Coast got hit with a few inches last night and I was so excited to finally be able to properly introduce Huxley to my long time friend. After a big lunch we all got bundled & headed out into the field behind our place to play---Matt even found a super awesome antique sled and Hux was all about it. It was quite the proud moment for me, really. Hux was in his element. He didn't want to go inside! But he finally agreed to & had hot milk (boobies) while I sipped some hot cocoa made with rice milk and Ovaltine...my favorite.

I'm thinking he is almost ready to get strapped to some boards to get his first ski lesson from Mommy!

We hope you are having a fun & safe weekend wherever you may roam!

xo

Huxley's Hutch Update

Huxley's room has gone through a MAJOR transformation from before until now & I thought I'd share his very much lived in little nook.

Despite him not sleeping in his crib...ever...he loves playing in his room.

Decor is a total mish mash of everything we like...pieces I've picked up from special places--mostly near the shore of Lake Michigan, paintings by Matt & I hang above his changing table, and the portrait of Matt as a baby was done by his Aunt. There is also another little print hanging by the doorway which was done by my Aunt's Great-Grandma. Pretty darn cool, right?

Here is a 360º of Huxley's room--note: this is what is looks like when it is straightened up a bit---it stayed this way for oh...halfway through the shoot & then Hux and Daddy wanted in on the fun! (or Huxley just wanted to play---he is in love with Hammy, his fake but ridiculously real looking hamster.)

xo

Hux's 1st Birthday Photos pt. 2

I will admit I am not a Super Mom.
This party wasn't Pinterest material.
I wasn't at my sewing machine for months in advance.
I didn't bake Huxley's cake.
(Thais of Dia Doce did!)

If it wasn't for my beautiful amazing friend Kristen this party would have been a bust.

The theme was an obvious choice...woodland, & it was pretty easy to conjure up cheap decor--
we left the Christmas tree up, sans ornaments, I bought some pussy willow from Whole Foods and put it in a pretty vase. Hux has tons of woodland friends so I tossed those here & there. I cut up fabric for streamers, bought balloons & Kristen handmade the adorable banner.

For foods & bevvies we did all finger foods and White Russians (milk on the rocks for the kiddohs). I kind of forgot how rich and unstomachable White Russians are...but hey, we had a big jug of vodka & lots of mixers so we got creative.

A huge thanks to Bla Bla & Mahalo for providing the cutest party favors everrrr.

Bla Bla gifted us stickers & finger puppets which were loved by all---such perfect little goodie bag additions. Mahalo sent us the Woodland Pack of masks---they are SO fun, and are awesome for parties or gifts--the bunny would be make a great Easter Basket present! Look for them on Gilt.com on February 27th to get yours for a seriously discounted price!

All & all the party was a success...I never thought I'd get so much joy watching a little creature destroy a cake...can we do it every year?

Let's!

[these are Huxley's GREAT Grandparents...I told you Matt comes from a good-lookin' bunch!]

[the mini-everything buffet...holy deliciousness.]

[fun little owl cupcakes!]

[goodies!]

[cake...his FAVE!]

xo

$10 off your first Vitacost.com Purchase

I'm a sucker for these sort of deals.
I took FULL advantage of Vitacost.com's $10 deal & stocked up on baby products for Huxley.
All you pay is shipping + any additional costs over $10...so you are essentially getting 50% off a ten dollar product...score!

Shoot me an email lifewiththehux @ gmail.com or leave a comment if you want me to hook you up!

xo

Birthday Photos & Contest Winner

I feel like I've been slacking in the blog department, but I blame it on the fact that I have a full-blown toddler.

Seriously.

It was like an overnight transformation where Hux went from this little bumbling wanna-be to a raging little kid who can climb, kick, play a kazoo, throw tantrums (what!?!?) and look so darn grown-up.

Granted, he's always been an old soul & never had an infantile look or sound to him, but aside from him still nursing---Huxley wants independence & utensils when he eats!!

Here are a few shots from the party...I have more to edit, mainly to show off the sweet goodies that Bla Bla sent us for party favors & the crazy awesome crafty skills of my friend Kristen--she won so many awards on Saturday. For real.

[Hux will not let go of his new baseball bat...thanks Uncle Jack!]

I also chose the winner of the Tyler's Coffee Giveaway on random.org...low & behold it was the FIRST entry...weird!

Congrats Crista!! Check your email, lady!

xo

Birthday Tradition

When we first discovered we were expecting, the financial reality hit us like a Mac Truck hauling bricks. As we started to get our place ready for the little bundle we found an old (some may say...vintage?) piggy bank which we promptly started to fill.

It was then the idea was born---every year for Huxley's birthday he will get a new bank that Mommy & Daddy will fill with spare change, and bills. When Hux is 18 he will get to open all of the banks and use that money for whatever he likes (new car, vacation, climbing gear, etc).

Right now he has 2 filled banks--we were a tad overzealous the first year, eh? For his 1st birthday he got a hand made bank from the lovely Sharon of SPI Hobbies. She personalized it to say "Hux's Stash" & painted the date 1-14-12 on the bottom.

It is the cutest darn thing & it is already full of birthday monies---we may have to start thinking Roth IRA or CDs.

If you want to start the tradition for your little one I totally encourage you to--and Sharon has been kind enough to extend to you 10% off your first bank from her shop on Etsy.
Promo Code: HUX10

xo

mmm cake!

So...we have a one year old on our hands now! What a day of celebrating we had on Saturday--we took Sunday off & did nothing but just enjoy our little family.

I will have more photos from the party on here soon but until then here is a little clip of Hux totally digging his vegan, gluten-free, fruit-sweetened carrot cake & might I add...it tasted AWESOME.

xo

goofy guy

Because we can...

[Hux in Daddy's Bonlook Glasses]

xo

mean green juice

I got the mister a Champion Juicer for Christmas, which we just started using last week--not sure why we weren't juicing up a storm Christmas morning...but either way, we are now.

Today I juiced up a pretty green palette & guess what---I didn't have to hold my nose to drink it. Score for me.
In fact--Huxley guzzled it!
Double score.

Mean Green Juice:
(all organic ingredients)

1 celery stalk
4 Granny Smith apples
A few bunches of kale
Hand full of baby spinach
One cucumber
1/2 a lime
2 springs of mint

Bottoms up!

xo

ps: During a pit-stop at IKEA for some impulse purchases & a quick lunch Huxley learned how to work a juicebox...I'm just blown away by how this mini-person catches on to things...seriously, what is next?

how to grow a monster child...

Hux is a hoss.
He has been since he was born--a whopping 9lb 8oz 21.5" giant boy.

Since day one we've struggled to keep weight on this kid, because he is ALWAYS moving.

No joke. Even as a tiny newborn he was always wiggling around & as he grew he learned quite quickly how to become mobile.

Even though he is slender at almost 12 months--he is barely tipping the scale at 20lbs, but Huxley is STRONG.
Every doctor who has examined him has noted how ridiculous his strength is--even at 4mos we were strong arming him to get a diaper on!

I've found a bunch of healthy finger food that Hux devours and thought I'd share some examples of his daily diet. We don't subscribe to any particular diet (Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc...) I consider our style Heathitarian:

Breakie
organic fruits (blueberries, bananas, oranges & mangoes are his faves)
bagel with veggie cream cheese

Lunch
Pizza bites
(you could make these with bagels, sauce & cheese or find them at your local co-op/Whole Foods)
YoBaby Yogurt

Snacks
Pirate Brands Original Tings Corn Sticks
Happy Tots Squeezy Pouch (LOVE these--they have Chia seeds in them which pack a huge nutritional boost)
Vegan Ginger Snap Cookies (Hux's favvvveeee)

Dinner
Dr. Praeger's Breaded Fishies with vegan Tarter Sauce
Organic Sweet Potato French Fries
Organic Ketchup
Steamed Organic Broccoli

Example Numero 2

Breakie
Organic Fruits (mandarin oranges & strawberries)
Ian's Gluten-Free French Toast Sticks with a touch of Michigan Maple Syrup
Local Chicken Sausage Links

Lunch
Earth's Best Chicken Nuggets
Organic Ranch Dressing
Organic Potato Puffs
Steamed Green Beans

Snacks
Gluten-Free Pretzels
Earth's Best Yogurt Squeezy Pouch

Dinner
Chicken Alfredo with Peas, Broccoli & Spinach

Beverages:
Throughout the day Hux nurses, he also gets fresh juiced organic apples & carrots or whatever else we may have juiced
Huxley also drinks Local Goat's Milk

These foods seem to work best for Hux. He can eat them effortlessly, and digest them without any issues. I am still green, and I know I could definitely offer even healthier options for Huxley, but he is thriving and happy and that truly is all that matters.

xo

avoiding winter

It is January...right?

We have the most perfect weather out today--almost 65 degrees!

Matt & I took Hux to the park today for the first time (I know, he has totally been neglected!!) but really, I am glad we waited, because there were so many kids...and those kids did not care about little tiny guys running about the place...Hux was getting tossed about and ran into, but he lovveeedddd it.

He had a little trouble running in his shoes since he's usually just in socks, but was so happy & just kept bumbling about, running up to kids to say, "Hi!" or check out there bike, pogo stick, juice box, toy..etc etc.

We definitely will be headed there again--especially if the weather stays the way it is--I can't believe it! Last year around this time I was a week overdue, giant, uncomfortable and we kept getting crazy snowstorms.

We hope you are having a lovely weekend as well, and send nothing but good things you way.

xo

life + Hux

Let's talk Hux.

He is going to be one in 10 days.

GULP.

We have a full blown toddler on our hands who can:

• climb
  
• eat all sorts of things edible & not
• laugh at his own farts...really?! really.
• get out of the bed on his own
• dance
• make all his new musical toys play & play & play
• use a sippy cup
• handle (the gym) daycare like a CHAMP
• open doors
• sign "all done" as well as wave, and show "sooo big"
• talk incessantly & sometimes sound like it's not gibberish
  
• he still LOVES The Beatles & Simon and Garfunkel...yep...that's my boy!
  

Hux is just awesome. It is fun being his Mama. Truly. He makes my day...everyday & is just the sweetest person to everyone he meets.

He rarely cries and is such a bruiser--he'll bonk his head or split his lip & not skip a beat.

Scares the CRAP out of me!

I look forward to all the adventures we will share when he gets a little bit older...and for the record, he only needs to gain 40 more pounds until Mama buys him his first whitewater kayak.

(Sorry Grandpa & Grandma!)

[Sweater c/o Bla Bla Kids]

xo

Valentine Face.

Does your beauty routine need a boost?
Mine did.
Super by Dr. Nicolas Perricone saved my face just in time for my 2nd favorite holiday...Valentine's Day.

Super's 3-Minute Facial with Ginger Gingerols (say it outloud...go ahead...it's fun!) is an easy addition to any primp ritual.

Mine being:

A.M.

• Wash face
• Apply moisturizer with SPF

P.M.

• Wash face
• Apply night-time moisturizer
  

(Some days when I have a few extra minutes I toss on some mascara & lip balm.)

The 3-Minute Facial is just that--a quick little boost that leaves your face looking va-va-VOOM! I personally enjoy the light tingle from the ginger as it stimulates my skin giving it a perfect fresh-face glow.

[extra glowy & ready for date night after just 3-Minutes!]

Thank you Dr. Perricone!!

xo

caffeine? yes, please.

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*
I was once in quite the dysfunctional relationship with caffeine.
Practically living off the stuff.
I worked at Starbucks. It was free. I was in heaven.
Then Matt & I got pregnant.
The smell of it made me ill.
Caffeine & I parted ways for a almost two years.

But now, thanks to Tyler's Coffee, we are now back on speaking terms.
Since I am still nursing Hux I can't drink an entire pot for breakfast & lunch like I once could, but I do enjoy a nice cup of good coffee while waking up & I can enjoy is without any nasty side-effects since Tyler's Coffee is acid-free
(which means it doesn't contribute to acid related issues such as damaged tooth
enamel, acid reflux, indigestion, upset stomach or heartburn).

So, hello again, Caffeine my old friend.
Welcome back.

Want to win an Free Pound of Tyler's Coffee?

Many Ways To Enter:

- Follow life with the Hux. on Twitter

-Follow life with the Hux on GFC

-Vote for life with the Hux. (one vote & entry daily)

- Tweet about the giveaway: I just entered to win FREE TYLER'S COFFEE http://lifewiththehux.blogspot.com/2012/01/caffeine-yes-please.html # giveaway @lifewiththehux

-Grab our Button & post it on your blog (leave the URL in your comment to confirm)

-Blog about the Giveaway (leave the URL in your comment to confirm)

*The winner will be chosen via random.org & announced on January 16th!*

Good luck!

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