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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Upgrading My Sleep With GhostBed Luxury Sheets

** This post is sponsored by GhostBed Luxury Sheets. All opinions are my own.

When we bought our home in July we went from a two-bedroom home to a three-bedroom house, and one of our first purchases was a bed so we could move our older bed to the guest room we now have. That meant it was finally also time to update our bedding, which I was excited about. I recently bought a new comforter set, and I was also in the market for new sheets when GhostBed reached out to me to try their Luxury Sheet Set. The sheets came at the perfect time!

GhostBed sheets are unique because of the way they are made using Supima Cotton and Tencel Fibers that make them breathable and lightweight. What are Tencel Fibers? According to GhostBed, they have a plant-based origin. “The fiber is extracted using an extremely eco-friendly closed-loop system.” They are also bacteria and allergen resistant. Supima cotton is made using longer, smoother, cleaner yarn. I am hopeful that these sheets will turn out to be more durable than the cheaper sheets we have used for the past year or so. (The previous set ripped in the wash.) After being washed, the GhostBed sheets have gotten more comfortable, which is promising.

I chose queen size GhostBed Luxury Sheet Set in gray to match my new comforter and bed. I am a fan of different shades of grays in my home decor, if you couldn’t tell. I immediately noticed that the fitted sheet has GhostGrip, which helps it stay on securely. I have never seen fitted sheets that are this easy to put on your mattress or that have this band. (You can see this GhostGrip in the video below.)

 

On our first night on the sheets I hopped into bed and noticed that the sheets were cool to the touch, but not too cool. It was a nice feeling for someone who my husband calls a radiator because I get so hot during the night. I have continued to stay at a comfortable temperature throughout the night since we started sleeping on the sheets. As a first-time mom to a newborn, getting as much sleep as I can is super important to me right now. Any product that can make my sleep better is appreciated!

If you’ve never heard of GhostBed, here are some facts to know:

  • You get free shipping on your order.
  • GhostBed offers a three-year limited warranty.
  • GhostBed sheets are a product of GhostBed by Nature’s Sleep, which makes a mattress that Consumer Reports rated very good or excellent in every category.

When was the last time you upgraded your sheets? Would you like to try GhostBed sheets?

 

Connect With GhostBed:

GhostBed Luxury Sheets

Watch the unboxing:

Inspiration From “The Year of Less” by Cait Flanders

**This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

My most recent Audible listen was “The Year of Less” by Cait Flanders, who apparently also has a popular personal finance blog I was not familiar with. This book was in my Audible recommendations after listening to “Girl, Wash Your Face,” which was also written by a blogger, Rachel Hollis. If you’re new around here, I am really into self-development books. I was intrigued by the idea of learning how a yearlong spending ban changed the author’s life. And while I wasn’t exactly moved by the stories of her life, nor did I follow the chronology of her story, I am now inspired by “The Year of Less” to try a spending ban again.

What I learned from “The Year of Less”

I can relate to feeling good about having some freedom to spend money lately after I restricted myself before our baby was born and during maternity leave. I knew I wouldn’t be bringing in my editing paychecks for three months and that my only income would be from blogging, so I cut back on spending unless it was necessary for the baby or Victoria. But now I want to be more mindful of how I am spending money again, because we have home-related expenses I want to save for, and I also want to save more in general. While it sounds so simple and obvious, I have been forgetting to save first and then spend, with the exception of my 401(k), HSA and childcare savings accounts. I want to stash more away in a separate savings for travel, and I want to save more for our children’s future.

While I haven’t set my specific rules for a new spending ban, I will be putting that together soon. I also want to declutter yet again. Cait’s advice for embarking on your own spending ban is to declutter first. She also took an inventory of all her belongings, but I don’t think I’ll go that in depth. I am always looking for items to declutter, but moving this summer opened my eyes to how much I didn’t know we had in storage because it was out of sight. While I can’t get rid of all of it because some of it belongs to Graham, I will be looking for what is mine and assessing whether I truly want to hang onto it.

One thing I realized I have been doing with my wardrobe for so long is buying items for the person I want to be vs. the person I am. This is a habit “The Year of Less” reminded me I was doing. When I look at the clothes in my closet, I don’t have much, but I don’t have much to wear on a daily basis because I own dresses and then lounging clothes, but nothing in between. I realized I need casual everyday clothes that I will actually wear during the week while working from home and running errands. Lately I have been wearing the same three pairs of shorts and same four tanks and tees, but when the weather changes I will be left with nothing to wear other than leggings. I will be purchasing some pants and attempting to create a sort of capsule wardrobe for the fall of items that I actually wear and will hopefully make excellent purchases that last. Wish me luck!

Have you read “The Year of Less”? Have you ever done a spending ban? What did you learn from either?

Read “The Year of Less”**

Consider donating it when you’re done!

"The Year of Less"

Related posts:

Thoughts on “Girl, Wash Your Face”
Thoughts on “Joy of Less”

 

 

Baby Favorites and A Fail: 0-5 Months

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

These past five months have been the quickest of my life. How can my little Addi already be 5 months?! I enjoy reading posts about baby favorites because it gives me an idea of what I might want to check out for my own daughter, and items that others did not like. The baby favorites I am sharing below are used every single day, and we are happy with these purchases (or gifts). I would recommend these as gifts to friends who are expecting or as purchases for your own little one if you’re pregnant.

Our baby favorites for 0-5 months:

  • DockATot: This is one of our most used baby items. It can be used as a cosleeper or lounger and it has such a pretty cover. Of course, you can pick whichever cover you like. I’m going to be sad when she grows out of this, but I am considering getting the larger size. (This was gifted to us by DockATot, and I have a $10 off referral discount using this link.)
  • Activity Mat: At first she didn’t seem interested in this mat, but now that she is more active she loves it. She plays with it every single day. I like that she can kick the piano to play music.
  • Boon Lawn Drying Rack: This is another one of our most used baby items. We use this to dry her bottle parts and my pumping parts. My only regret is not registering for the larger size.
  • Boppy: When she was first born and I was getting the hang of breastfeeding I used this every single feeding, but now I use this more of a tummy time pillow or lounger for Addi. This is one of my favorite baby shower gifts.
  • Sleep sacks/bags: Addi sleeps well in sleeping bags and they keep her at a comfortable temperature. (I linked to an Ergobaby Classic Sleeping Bag that I was gifted by the company. This mention was not sponsored by them in any other way.)
  • Activity Center: This was a recent purchase when Addi started to need more entertainment. She loves it! It was super easy to put together and turns into a toddler play table later on.
  • Noise Machine: I didn’t think a noise machine was necessary when you could use an app, but then you need to leave your phone in the room and can’t get anything done. I also need my phone for other tasks. I am so glad I was gifted this at my shower.

Baby Product Fail

  • Rocker: We didn’t research rockers or swings well and bought this because it was on sale when Babies R Us was going out of business. She liked it at first and would nap in it, but she quickly lost interest. We don’t really use it right now, but we will continue to try for a bit longer.

Do you have any current baby (or pet or adult) favorites? Share them with me in the comments!

Shop my favorites**:

 

A Date Night to Remember With Johnnyswim

 

Graham and I don’t get many date nights. The last time we spent an entire evening to ourselves was on Valentine’s Day. Last weekend’s date to the Need to Breathe concert, for which Johnnyswim was opening, was a much needed night out for us and one that we looked forward to since I bought the tickets in March. If you have read this blog for a while, you know that we LOVE Johnnyswim’s music. I discovered them in 2013 when the duo were one of VH1’s You Oughta Know artists. At the same I worked at a newspaper and had mornings off to watch music videos before getting ready for the day. We have seen them live four times now: At the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, at the Space in Evanston, at the Vic Theatre in Chicago and now at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island.

It might make some people shake their heads, but we only went to the show for Johnnyswim. Seriously. We also booked the meet and greet VIP package because we knew they wouldn’t be playing for as long as the other times we’ve seen them, and we wanted more time with them. We had previously met them in Phoenix (for free) but this was worth it to us because it’s not like we get date often!

The show was set to start at 7 p.m. with Forest Blakk, and the meet the greet was scheduled to begin at 4:50. We arrived at 4:55 after rushing through Chicago traffic; it took us an hour to get there! We made it, though, and after security we waited for about 10 minutes to be escorted to the general admission pit area, where we would be taking photos with them. Then we waited another 15 or so minutes, but I figured this would happen, and we weren’t mad at all.

We took our opportunity to talk to them about Adelina, seeing them live, giving birth at about the same time (Amanda had their baby girl in April, too.) and about Graham’s job. They were as lovely as ever. After a few minutes of conversation, we said goodbye. It was a short but awesome encounter.

At 7, Forest Blakk took the stage. I had never heard of him, but I enjoyed the songs he played for us. I suggest checking him out!

Johnnyswim’s set was also much shorter than when we have seen them in the past, but again, they weren’t the headliners, so we expected that. We were just grateful for our night out together and to hear them live again.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, they are amazing live. If you have a chance to see them in your area, do it! You can thank me later.

See Johnnyswim Live:

Johnnyswim Tour

Related posts:

Johnnyswim at the MIM
Johnnyswim at the Space
Johnnyswim at Vic Theatre

How to Become More Informed About Women’s Healthcare Choices

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetsTalkPlanB #CollectiveBias #ad

Since becoming pregnant last year, I have taken my healthcare decisions even more seriously. Throughout my adult life, and especially during pregnancy, I haven’t wanted to simply accept a certain route just because that’s what others told me to do. I put a ton of research into healthcare options when it comes to family planning, labor and delivery, and my body in general. I think too often we think there are no options instead of seeking out education and support. While we wanted to grow our family, I know not everyone has the same plan. This is especially the case for women facing a birth control failure. It has happened to friends in the past, and luckily they had access to emergency contraception. That’s why today I’m sharing my views on why it’s important to educate yourself about women’s healthcare choices as well as how to do so.

How to Become More Informed About Women’s Healthcare Choices:

We all have different family planning goals and preferred birth control methods, but it’s important to make choices beyond those. We need to consider what we would do if our preferred birth control methods fail or if you did not use birth control (by the way, you should always use a regular birth control method if you do not wish to become pregnant).

It’s important to do the following:

  • Research emergency contraception even if you think you’ll never need it. Plan B One-Step can help reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex. What does Plan B One-Step do? Plan B works mainly by delaying ovulation, which helps prevent pregnancy BEFORE it begins. The active ingredient, levonorgestrel, is the same ingredient in many common birth control pills but at a higher, single dose. It’s smart to read about Plan B ahead of time, because if you decide to take it for your emergency contraception, you would need to do it as soon as possible, and definitely before 72 hours have passed after unprotected sex.

  •      Read information from reputable sources. Learn about others’ experiences but don’t believe everything you hear. There are a lot of myths about Plan B One-Step. You should know that it is NOT an abortion pill, and it will not affect an existing pregnancy. It’s also not meant for regular birth control. Taking Plan B One-Step will not impact a woman’s future (or long-term) fertility.

  • Know how to access emergency contraception if you need it. There is no age restriction, and you do not need an ID or prescription to purchase Plan B One-Step, for example, and it’s available at Target next to the pharmacy. It’s on the bottom shelf on the aisle with other sexual health products. If you’re looking for the product and cannot locate it within the store, you can always ask the pharmacist and they will be able to help – no questions asked. You can also get a $10 coupon to use on Plan B One-Step.

  • Ask your medical provider(s) questions you might have. Clarify any concerns you have about how to take it or what it does. You must use Plan B One-Step as directed, and the box lists directions and other important information on the back. When it comes to anything related to my healthcare, I ask as many questions as possible until I feel comfortable with whatever option I choose.

  • Don’t worry about opinions but make decisions for your own well-being. Despite the plethora of resources available to explain emergency contraception, many people will have their own opinions about taking it. Do what is right for you, your family, your body and your health. While I personally have not used Plan B One-Step, I am grateful to know it’s an option that is available to women. I strongly believe women should have the right and ability to pursue the options that are best for them when they are in that situation. Know that if you find yourself in need of emergency contraception you are not alone: Half of the women who use Plan B are 18 to 24 years old and the other half are older than 25. The need can occur in all age groups and situations.

Do you think it’s important to know your healthcare options? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Learn more:

Plan B One-Step
Get $10 Off Plan B One-Step

 

Why Brookfield Zoo Is Worth A Visit

There are certain Chicago area spots that are worth repeat visits. For us, Brookfield Zoo is one of them.

You don’t need to have children to enjoy a day at Brookfield Zoo. In fact, we often see adults roaming the grounds with a beer in hand and not a worry about keeping a kiddo entertained. My brother- and sister-in-law visited over Labor Day weekend and Graham and I thought we might have some fun at Brookfield Zoo. Especially on a holiday weekend, it’s a good idea to visit an attraction with lots of space vs. a crowded site like Millennium Park or Sears Tower.

It was their first time meeting Addi, and they missed Miss V, so we were so happy they could spend so much time with them on a beautiful summer day.

Ashley just started a blog about fertility.

 

Despite all the talk about fall lately, Chicago weather hasn’t gotten the memo. It’s still quite warm and humid, if I do say so myself as an Arizonan. We packed up a wagon, a stroller and a cooler bag full of snacks and drinks and make the trek to Brookfield. For our tickets we chose to build our own, and our three attractions were the dolphin show, the Butterflies! exhibit and Wild Encounters.

It was also Addi’s first time at Brookfield Zoo, not counting the time I went while I was pregnant, of course. We spent a solid six hours at the zoo, yet we didn’t make it to all three of our attractions. That’s something to consider when planning a visit: You might not have time for everything unless you are a fast walker! We took our time, had lunch at a cafe and let Victoria play in a fountain. It was a blast!

This peacock was making a run for it!

Who knew there was such a thing as a sloth bear?

Have you been to Brookfield Zoo? What’s your favorite local attraction in your city? Let me know in the comments!

Watch a video of our Brookfield Zoo visit:

Related posts:

Dinos & Dragons at Brookfield Zoo
First Visit to Brookfield Zoo

 

 

How I Organize My Baby Changing Station

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

How I Organize My Baby Changing Station

I like for all areas of my home to be neat and organized, and that’s become a challenge with two kids, but at least my diaper changing station is in order. When Addi was first born we weren’t even sure we would buy a baby changing table, but I’m so glad we chose this one from Wayfair. It has storage for toys, blankets, or whatever on the bottom, as well as space for three storage bins.

How I organize my baby changing station:

I wanted an animal theme room for the girls, so I registered for this adorable set. I use the bin on the left to store diapers and wipes, the middle bin for gas drops, thermometers, lotions, extra shampoo that isn’t in the bathroom and all sorts of care essentials, and the bin on the right for headbands and pajamas. Originally this last bin only held pajamas and clothes I wanted her to wear, but I moved headbands in here so that I remember to put them on her. She has quite a few, and they were almost all gifted to us by friends and family.

In the bottom section, I use three gray and white storage baskets from Target to store clothes and accessories. These have dividers so that the baskets are separated into three sections. In the first basket, I use the first section to hold clothes she hasn’t worn yet so I can remember to put them on her before she outgrows them. The second and third baskets are sizes 3 months and 3-6 months, which is currently fits into. I want her to wear these as much as possible, so I keep them under the changing station vs. hanging in her closet.

In the next basket I have bibs, hats and socks/shoes. She actually only has one pair of shoes, gold moccasins I found at Target. These divided baskets are perfect for storing such accessories! The final basket has more clothes: bottoms (shorts/pants), two-piece outfits, and keepsake onesies that she probably won’t wear again. (I’m still not sure what to do with them.)

In case you’re wondering, I have already gotten rid of her newborn clothes. I kept the onesie she came home from the hospital in as well as her Adelina onesie for sentimental reasons, but everything else I sold or gave away to my friend. I am constantly rotating her clothes in and out so she gets good use of them.

To the right of the baskets we have two rows of items: A row of swaddles and blankets and a row of towels and washclothes. This is where I have keepsake blankets, too, like her milestone blanket for photos and a blanket from the Chicago Cubs front office.

The top of the table has a pad and a cover, but sometimes I use a blanket over the pad, too. Lately we have been placing the sound machine in a corner because the table is currently in our room until we transition her out. The table is next to a window, and she loves looking at the tree as I change her. She is mesmerized by it. (Note: The window never opens and I have my hands on her the entire time.)

So far I this method of organizing my changing table has worked really well! If you have a baby, how do you organize your baby items?

Related post:

Baby Wish List Gift Guide For On-the-Go Parents

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Flora Family Photo Session

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

Graham and I have a tradition of taking photos around the time of our wedding anniversary to document our life together. It’s been so fun to capture the changes to our family: Over the past four years we’ve gone from just the two of us to a family of four. We have chosen to be photographed by Abigail Joyce Photography of the Chicago metro area for three of the past four anniversaries now. I love the style of her photos and she is really good with kiddos! We recently had our session in Elmhurst at a beautiful park that Abigail loves. I could immediately see why she shoots sessions there.

I chose our outfits based on a chambray toddler dress I saw at Target for V. Addi had a Carter’s chambray heart romper that matched it, and then we bought a similar-color Tommy Hilfiger shirt for Graham to wear so that our outfits all tied together. I paired her little romper with gold moccasins, but we also took those off for some shots because baby toes are the cutest. I wore a floral dress I purchased for Mother’s Day but never wore. (It’s no longer available, but it’s from the brand Xhilaration. My shoes are block heels by the brand A New Day.) I think our outfits looked nice together, if I do say so myself.

We posed near a gorgeous weeping willow tree that I adored, as well as a pond. I am in love with the scenery and the photos Abigail captured! These are special because they are the first professional photos we have of us with our girls.

 

 

As I have written about before, I highly recommend Abigail Joyce Photography if you’re looking for a couples, family, newborn or maternity photography in the Chicago area.

Do you take photos with your partner or family every year?

Shop the post**:

Chambray Toddler Dress

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Infant Chambray Heart Romper
This romper is under $6!

Related posts:

My maternity session with Abigail Joyce Photography
OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY PHOTOS
OUR LITTLE SECRET

ABOUT ABIGAIL:

Abigail is a Chicago based newborn photographer specializing in newborn photography, maternity photography, and children’s portraits. She meets with clients both on location or in-home, as well as her studio in Westchester, Illinois. She plans to open a studio in Oak Park.

Note: This post was not sponsored.

 

 

Summer Stroll at the Chicago Botanic Garden

 

 

If you’re ever going through a stressful time, a walk around the Chicago Botanic Garden might be in order. I was overwhelmed and emotional recently, and I finally asked for help. My mother-in-law drove to Chicago to spend a week with us helping in any way she could. And boy did she help. She worked on our yard. She took the girls to the park so I could get work done or shower. She helped feed and take care of both of them. She helped Graham empty and clean our old apartment so he could turn over the keys. And most importantly she was there for us as emotional support. On one of her last days here we decided to thank her with a trip to the Chicago Botanic Garden. She is a garden and nature lover (It runs in the Flora family!), so we knew she would be in heaven.

 

It happened to be the most perfect summer day for a family walk. I had only ever visited the garden during the fall and I enjoyed seeing it in a different yet just as colorful season. Lately I have been gathering ideas from all sorts of sources on how to update my front and back yards as well as my home. The Chicago Botanic Garden is the perfect place to get that inspiration.

I felt right at home in the cactus greenhouse, one of several greenhouses at the garden. V, who is herself an Arizona girl like me, was right at home, too.

I fit right in walking around another greenhouse with my palm print shorts.

We had lunch at the cafe in between exploring Chicago Botanic Garden. I gobbled up a garden burger in 10 seconds flat. It was delicious!

We let the garden paths led us around to our next discovery. V wanted to carry around our map, which we didn’t really use. After walking around for what seemed like miles, we made a pit stop in the gift shop, where my sweet mother-in-law bought us a pineapple plant to add to our collection. She really is an angel.

 

I think after this visit the garden became my favorite place in the Chicago area. Honestly, I could share about a hundred more photos of this place, but you should really just experience it for yourself. And lucky for me we liver closer to it now that we bought our home.

Chicago Botanic Garden has free admission but parking is $20 or more. It’s definitely worth it!

Have you been to the Chicago Botanic Garden?

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Related posts:

Night of 1,000 Jack-O’-Lanterns
Fall at Chicago Botanic Garden

 

Free in Chicago: Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory

I’ve wanted to visit Lincoln Park Conservatory since we moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, but I didn’t make it until this summer. My cousins visited for a week recently and I thought they’d enjoy Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory are both free. I would suggest both to visitors and locals looking for affordable things to do in Chicago, especially for families. You can pack lunches and enjoy your food just about anywhere, and you can save by either taking public transit or using SpotHero to find a lower-cost parking spot nearby. (Parking at the zoo is a bit expensive at $20-$35.) Use my SpotHero link and you can get a $7 credit!

There are upgrades happening at the zoo right now, including improvements to the lion enclosure. It was a 90-degree and humid day, so after strolling along and enjoying shaved ice, I suggested going into the conservatory for some shade.

I could have spent a lot longer wandering around the conservatory and the zoo if it weren’t too warm for the baby to be outside that long. I suggest that you have kiddos in strollers you bring a clip-on fan and plenty of sun protection during the summer. We took many breaks in the shade, too.

The conservatory is beautiful and peaceful.

You can find plenty of picnic and photo opportunities outside of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, too! I love finding new views of the city that I haven’t seen before.

 

Have you visited the Lincoln Park Zoo or Conservatory? Add it to your Chicago list!

Related posts:

Lincoln Park Zoo Visit

Lincoln Park Zoo, Take 2

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

 

 

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