Non-alcoholic Watermelon Sangria

 
With summer at full speed I'm craving refreshing iced drinks.  Whether you're pregnant like myself or prefer something non-alcoholic, this Watermelon Sangria is sure to hit the spot!

 What You'll Need
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Watermelon
Blackberries
Mint
2 Limes
Club Soda (1 quart)
7 up (8 fl oz)
Pitcher

To Make
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Start by muddling mint and juice of half of a lime:
Add a handful of blackberries and muddle: 
Add chopped watermelon, lime slices and blackberries to pitcher:
 Pour in Club Soda followed by Sparkling Watermelon IZZE:
 Now for my secret addition ~ add 7up ~ trust me on this!
Stir together, pour over ice and ENJOY!



Summer Sale | Nursery & Baby Finds

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I hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend!  In the world or retail, July is a huge month for summer sales and this weekend retailers seem to be pulling out all the stops!  Above are some nursery and baby finds that I've come across while surfing the web ~ but hurry because some of these items are sure to sell out fast!  Also check out  these other promos going on:

Restoration Hardware ~ 20% off Everything
Serena & Lily ~ $50 off $300, $100 off $500 and $250 off $1000 (ends July 8th)
Pottery Barn ~ Free Shipping on almost everything (today only, July 6th)
Land of Nod ~ just added a ton to their summer sale, up to 65% off
Hanna Andersson ~ extra 30% off sale (ends today, July 6th)


What summer sale have you scored recently?

White Baby Cribs

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When it comes to baby, a crib is an absolute must!  I've rounded up my favorite white crib styles and am sharing what makes each a great choice for any nursery!  And soon I'll share what crib we finalized on (hint: it's one of the designs above!)
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VINTAGE STYLE CRIBS
Whether your going for sweet or whimsical a vintage crib will bring character to any space. 

1.  DaVinci's Jenny Lind Crib ($199)  This 3-in-1 convertible crib has been a classic for quite some time.  It's rounded spindles give a very sweet look while its delicate frame leans towards whimsy.  In person, the color is a slightly bluish white and personally I'd recommend removing the wheels as they cheapen the look.  Price point is great on this crib and would be perfect in a girl's nursery. 

2.  Ikea Hensvik Crib ($99)  This crib gets my best on a budget award!  Quaint and cute and not as bulky as other cribs on the market.  While it meets safety standards, I wouldn't call this an overly sturdy (bulky crib).  Also to note, there tends to be some debate about whether or not a standard crib mattress works for this crib (Ikea does sell their own) ~ so before purchasing do additional research. 

3.  Franklin & Ben Liberty Crib ($399)  This 3-in-1 convertible crib is made from American poplar hardwood and boasts a non-toxic staining and painting process.  In person the color is a true white and quality and craftsmanship is apparent!  It's the perfect mix of vintage and timeless and it's not-too girly design would work beautifully for a girl or boy's nursery.
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SPACE SAVING CRIBS
Perfect for small home and urban living, these space saving cribs can be a huge asset!  While they do give BIG on space, they won't accommodate standard mattress sizes which will also minimize your options for off-the rack crib bedding.  But if space is what you need, simply plan to purchase the coordinating mattress along with coordinating or custom crib sheets and bedding.

4.  Stokke Sleepi Crib ($799)  This unique oval frame crib is actually 4 beds in one, easily converting as your child grows.  By purchasing additional mattresses and adapter kits, this crib can turn bed and accommodate a child up to 10!  If luxury and longevity is your style this crib is a great long term investment for your baby boy or girl.

5.  Babyletto Origami Mini Crib ($249)  This crib's collapsible design allows for easy transport and storage making it a perfect choice for families on the go. Its budget friendly price point is also perfect if your looking for a secondary crib, either at home or at grandma's.

6.  Bloom Alma Mini Crib ($399)  This beautifully designed folding bassinet/mini-crib is perfect for the contemporary chic nursery!  It's patented no-tools required design allows for an almost instant set up.  Quality is apparent and the color is great!  Perfect for a boy or girl's nursery.
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MODERN STYLE CRIBS
These are some of my favorite

7.  Babyletto Hudson Crib ($379)  This 3-in-1 convertible crib is the perfect balance of mid-century modern meets simple.

8.  Dwell Studio Mid Century French Crib ($799)  This crib is the perfect mix of modern style and sophistication!

9.  Pottery Barn Kids Harper Crib ($999)  This solid wood crib is great for the boy or girl nursery.  And if white isn't your thing, it's offered in a fun array of colors ~ check out coral & aqua!
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Would love to know in the comments below:
Which crib is your favorite?

aden + anais | swaddles


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In preparing for our twins I've fallen in love with the oh-so-versatile, functional and adorable aden + anais swaddle blankets.  They're lightweight, breathable and their generous (and I mean BIG) size is perfect for swaddling, but they're also the perfect stroller blanket, nursing cover and burp cloth.  An all-in-one blanket?!  What parent-to-be doesn't love that?!  Compared to other muslin swaddles I found, these were hands down the softest and by far the best quality.  With any newborn, messes are sure to be had and the last thing I want are a bunch of baby products that don't stand up to multiple washings.  In shopping for two newborns and having a small space, my philosophy is I'd much rather invest a little more money in good, quality products that can keep up with life with baby.  By investing up front, I won't have to continually spend money replacing items that don't last.  So, you can be sure I'll be adding these swaddles to my must have list. Above are some of my favorite designs, I love the whimsical feel they'll bring to you and to your baby.

What are your favorites?
Would love to hear from you in the comments below!

4moms Breeze vs joovy Room


So glad you're joining us for another baby HAPPY hour!  If you missed yesterday's post click here.  When it comes to baby gear, especially for first time moms like myself , the options can be overwhelming!  Since we're expecting twins and planning to stay in our small house, we've made the conscious decision to not make any unnecessary purchases that we ultimately don't need or have room for.  Because of this we had originally planned not to buy anything for quite sometime, that was until I ran into a sample sale at a local Buy Buy Baby.   And of all the things to buy for baby, I find it hilarious that a playard ended up being our first purchase.  When the Joovy Room, along with the 4moms Breeze, both happened to be 45% off retail due to being floor samples, it had me quickly weighing the options between the two.
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WHY I LOVE IT:  Hands down this is the easiest playard to set up and take down.  It opens and closes with one step...ONE step people!!  
No wonder they named it the Breeze!  It also has wheels making this function particularly helpful for small spaces like ours where a pack n play can quickly and easily be closed up and stored in a corner and rolled out of sight.  It's design is simple and non-fussy and comes equipped with a bassinet for infants, a leak proof changing pad and a convenient travel bag.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:  The minimalist features will be a pro for some and a con for others.  If you're expecting twins like us, the infant bassinet's maximum weight limit will practically make the bassinet obsolete soon after birth.  And while this thing is quality built and super sturdy it does make the Breeze heavy!  It's not a playard I would want to lug up and down stairs or on frequent trips visiting friends and family.  However, if you're like us and don't have a large home to carry it around, or not needing it for frequent travel, the easy set up and minimalist design is perfect! 
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WHY I LOVE IT:  This is perfect for those homes wanting a more stationary playard and makes a lot of sense for larger houses where the playroom may not be in close proximity to the nursery.  It's removable changing table makes changing baby easy and its additional storage allows for things like diapers and toys to be organized within the unit itself.  The built in accessories are another added bonus, including a night light and speakers for you to play personal music.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:  The all in one feature will be a pro for some and a con for others.  Take down and set up of this unit is time consuming and quite complicated.  Again, this is not a unit I would want to frequently take down and set up, especially if you have its storage area packed full.  But again, as a more stationary unit, either in a playroom or at Grandma's house, this option in one to consider!
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WHAT WE WENT WITH:


Ultimately, the one-step set up and take down of this unit along with it's minimalists features sold us on it!  While I LOVED the idea of a changing table on the Joovy Room, it really didn't make since with us having twins.  Purchasing a unit that came with a changing table and additional storage would make those features completely obsolete for our needs.  At the end of the day, we just need a playard for our newborn twins to nap in and later play in.  We'll keep it in our TV/ Playroom /Guest Room, but I LOVE that it can easily be wheeled into our kitchen or living room when needed.




You're Invited | Baby Happy Hour


It's time to beat the summer heat, so grab your favorite drink (I highly recommend a frozen fruit smoothie for the mom's to be) and join me daily for 
BABY HAPPY HOUR!  
In the afternoons I'll share a blog post focused on all things baby, from my favorite pregnancy must haves and baby products to DIYs and nursery decor.  Think of the afternoon as a baby palooza here at Iron & Twine.  For those of you not interested in the world of baby ~ no worries!  I'll continue to post normal Iron & Twine content in the mornings!

First up for Baby Happy Hour:  My Favorite Pregnancy Must Haves 
 Click HERE for the post!

Wishing you an oh-so-happy kind of day!


Pregnancy Must-Haves

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MATERNITY SUPPORT BELT 
As I get further into my own pregnancy, I'm finding back pain to be a real pain (pun intended ~ ha).  But seriously speaking, it's become a real daily inconvenience.  If you're in the market for one, I highly recommend going to a Maternity Store or Boutique to try on different styles as well as get fitted for size.

1.  After trying on multiple options, the Ultimate Single Maternity Belt ($40) was the best choice for me.  It seemed to give me the best support compared to the other styles I tried.  Pros: I love that the additional straps allow you to customize the support level and the price point was lower than other options I found.  Cons:  The material itself is quite rough and scratchy and not something you'd want to wear on your bare skin, but rather over clothing.  

2.  Another option I really liked was the Upsie Belly, Belly Support by Belly Bandit ($69.95).  Pros: I loved the uber soft bamboo viscose material that this model was made of, plus it comes with its own hot/cold insert.  Cons:  Maybe it's because I'm carrying twins, but this model just didn't give me the ultimate, heavy-duty support I craved.  And the price point is one of the hightest.  If you're only experiencing moderate back pain, I'd highly consider this as an option.
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WATER BOTTLE
One of the most important things during pregnancy is to stay hydrated.  I've found that having a water bottle near by encourages continuous drinking, which of course keeps you and baby healthy, minimizes round ligament pain and helps combat dry, itchy skin by hydrating you from the inside out.

3. The Eddy by Camelbak ($14) has become my go-to reusable water bottle.  I love that it comes in a wide range of fun colors and is the perfect size for drinking at home or hydrating on the go.  I also love that it comes with a straw ~ perfect for my fruit smoothies.
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 Soothing Shower Gel
With the heightened sense of smell during pregnancy, a soothing shower gel is a must.  Find a fragrance that relaxes and soothes you and your ever changing body.  I promise whether before bed, or before the start of your day, this is a daily investment you'll appreciate.

4.  Pure Grace by Philosophy ($24 for 16oz), while a splurge, is one of my favorites!  It's aroma leaves you with a subtle clean scent that's not too overpowering for your heightened sense of smell. 

5.  Baby Grace by Philosophy was given to me as a gift and I absolutely LOVE it!  It's exactly what my tired body needs and the aroma is completely soothing.  I'm not sure if this has been discontinued, as I couldn't find it too many places online.  However, I have seen this on store shelves.  If you happen to find it ~ buy it!
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 LOTION
There's a lot of conflicting info out there about what lotion and oils are best for your baby bump and what best minimizes stretch marks.  After talking to multiple doctors and plenty of moms, I continually hear that there isn't a secret perfect ointment that will prevent stretch marks ~ DARN!  But rather the important thing is to keep your belly and body moisturized with drinking plenty of water and regularly applying lotion.  The lotion, while it doesn't have magic powers, will help with the dry, itchy skin that comes with a growing belly.  But should you find that perfect potion, let me know!

6.  Mama Bee Belly Butter by Burt's Bees ($13) has become my before bed time bump ritual.  I like its thick consistency of cocoa, shea and jojoba butters.  But most of all, I love that it's fragrance free!  And to be completely honest, the name alone had me sold.

7.  Having combated eczema for years, Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($10.99 for 18fl.oz.) is my hands down favorite and best bang for your buck!  Trust me, I've tried it all! 
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 HEATING PADS
Even though I'm pregnant during the summer months, I still find a heating pad does wonders for my achy back!  Whether after a walk, or an afternoon of running errands or doing housework, sitting down to a glass of ice water with a heating bad on my lower back instantly relieves pain and stress.

8.  The Origin's Hug ($45) was a recent splurge and I'm obsessed with it!  I purchased the Ginger one, which isn't showing online, however my Macy's store had them in stock, but any of their fragrances are divine!  Pros: I love it's soft quilted cover and the wide coverage it gives on my back.  It easily heats in the microwave and the fragrance is long lasting (my mom has one and it still smells amazing after a year!)  Cons:  Price point, but it really is worth the cost!

10.  The Original Bed Buddy ($9.99) has been my favorite for years.  Pros: easily heats in the microwave and price.  Cons:  The size of this is perfect for the over the shoulders or on your tummy (which is NOT recommended during pregnancy).  In wanting a heat pad for my back during pregnancy it does the trick, but I wish it gave a slightly wider coverage.  For moderate or pin pointed back aches, this one is great ~ if you need fuller coverage go with the option above.
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Comfortable Walking Shoes
I can't stress enough how therapeutic walking has been during my pregnancy.  I honestly feel better on days when I get outside and go for a walk.  I find it helps my circulation and steadily builds back muscles that accommodate my growing bump.  There's plenty of other benefits and given your doctor gives you the go-ahead, I highly recommend making walking a priority during pregnancy! Whether exercising or walking the aisles of the grocery store, a comfortable pair of tennis shoes is a must.  If you don't have a good pair already, invest in some that will work for you during and after pregnancy.

9.  Due to knee pain pre-pregnancy, I became a recent Mizuno convert and have liked the Mizuno Women's Hitogami Running Shoe ($99).  Paired with foot insoles, they've worked great during my pregnancy as well.    
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These are my personal Pregnancy Must Haves and  
I'd love for you to share your Past or Present Pregnancy Favorites in the comments below!