This Back-To-School Hack Takes The Stress Out Of Getting Dressed In The Morning

Featured, Kids + Parenting, Life Hacks

A few years ago, my kids made the switch from private school to public school. For years, they never had to give a second thought to what they were wearing day to day because it was always the same ol’ uniform.

Getting to choose their outfits every day was a big thing when we made the switch. We never really had to go “back to school clothes shopping” before, never had the tough decision of what to wear on the first day, and the second…. and the third…

So I was excited for them too.

That being said, I knew how our mornings could sometimes be chaotic and that even on the weekends or in the summer when they had the added task of picking out their own outfits– especially groggy and tired in the morning– it could sometimes become a bit stressful

That is why I came up with the idea to create a Back-To-School Lookbook for Delaina her first year in public school– and now going into our 3rd year– I can tell you first hand that it was possibly one of my most “genius” of ideas because she truly used it every week when picking out her clothes.

Making Your Own DIY Back To School Lookbook

Once back-to-school clothes shopping is complete, we set aside a day to do a little photoshoot.

We put together outfits with fun accessories on the floor (a la an Instagram flatlay) , mix and match them several different ways and take pictures of each outfit.

It can actually be a lot of fun mixing and matching and seeing how many different varieties of outfits you can come up with.

Once our photoshoot is complete, we send the photos to print at our local CVS or Walgreens via their App. You can often find a coupon code for this– so definitely check out available online coupon codes for prints before checking out.

We will then go and pick out a small photo album and fill it with the photos.

It is literally that easy.

Taking the time to mix and match and take pics can take a little bit of time depending on how many choices you’d like to have, but it is time well spent because it will save you countless minutes (and headaches) on busy school day mornings.

No need to send them back to go change because their clothes don’t match or deal with cries of there’s nothing to wear.

Just flip through the book, then through their wardrobe and – BOOM! – Ready for school!

Sanity Saving Subscription Boxes For the #MomLife

cori, Featured, Gift Ideas, Kid Style, P.S. Obsessed!!, Style, Videos

Subscription boxes seem to be all the rage these days. There is one for just about everything– and I mean who doesn’t love to get surprises in the mail??

Yesterday I visited the folks over at Better Connecticut to share a few of my favorite subscription boxes that specifically make the #MomLife a little easier– and in some cases, dare I say… a little more fab! 😉

[ Full Video At The End Of Post]

You can get the full details on these boxes below along with some exclusive coupon codes for Everyday Cori readers and Better Connecticut Viewers!

BEST SUBSCRIPTION BOXES FOR MOMS

Vine Box

Create a modern day wine tasting in your home

Pricing starting at $25/ per box

James and I strive to put date night on our calendar at least once a month– but if I’m being honest, the struggle to find the time, and the babysitter is sometimes a challenge. I know we aren’t alone in this. But I’m here to tell you that date night at home can be just as much fun– and Vinebox brings that “Napa”-like experience right to your doorstep.

Unlike your standard “wine of the month”, this one has a modern twist– they send you 3 glasses of freshly sealed wine from all around the world! The wine is curated by a professional sommelier ( fancy word for wine-expert ) and based on your own wine preferences, which you let them know when you sign up for the service.

These wines are not ones you will find at your local wine store, Vinebox is all about the hidden gems making truly great wines at their small vineyards around the world.

These sleek, dare I say sexy, boxes also include information cards that give a little background of where your wine comes from and also a few light bite suggestions for pairing.

Fab Fit Fun

Perfect seasonal surprise

$49.95/per box or $179/annually

I order a lot of things in the mail– like… A LOT! But if I’m being honest, most of the boxes that come in the mail with my name on it, aren’t actually for me specifically. They’re typically things like school supply, paper towels, birthday gifts and kids clothes– don’t even get my husband started on my Zulily addiction.

FabFitFun is a seasonal surprise in the mail that is a little bit of all the things we love– beauty, fashion, fitness, home decor– you name it and everything is FULL SIZE .

In the spring box I showed on Better Connecticut, there was a gorgeous rose gold necklace I LOVED, a super cute circular boho beach blanket and a body wash infused Spongelle sponge– that I had no idea I needed in my life until I opened the box and smelled it–soooo good! You can actually purchase it on TheGrommet.com, a site that very coincidentally was also on the same episode of Better Connecticut. They have some really unique stuff, totally worth checking out.

While most items in the Fab Fit Fun box are a bit of a surprise, the company did add some new customizable features this spring. Members can now personally select one item in their box and also add additional items to their box for up to 60% off retail price– making this seasonal surprise even SWEETER.

FAB FIT FUN $10 OFF COUPON CODE!

You can still order your Summer Fab Fit Fun box

get $10 off your first box use code:

BETTER10

Gwynnie Bee

The Netflix Of Style

Pricing starting at $49.99 for 1 item per month to $95 for 3 items per month

Give a Gift! $10 off of a gift subscription at Gwynnie Bee. Valid until 5/19/18

Remember when Netflix use to send DVDs to your house? (Am I aging myself here?) You would add DVDs to your list and they would send a few of them to you at a time & when you sent those back, they would then send you the next ones in your cue. Well, this box-o-style has been called the Netflix of fashion (sizes 2-32) because it operates just like that.

You log in, sign up and curate a “virtual closet” filled with stylish clothes from some great brands, such as: Rachel Roy, Vince Camuto, Eliza J. Then depending on which plan you choose, they will send 1-3 items per month right to your door step. You can wear the items as many times as you’d like. When you’re done, you pop them back in the mail in a prepaid envelope, send it back to Gwynnie Bee (they even take care of the dry cleaning!) and they then send you more fabulous items from your online closet.

And if you really find an item that you love so much that you don’t want to part with it? They give you the option to purchase it at a discount!

Home Chef

Confession: We dial up the pizza place so often, they know us by name. I’m not proud. It’s not that I hate cooking, I’m just reeeaaalllly bad at meal planning. I’ve tried (and failed) at “Meal Planning Monday” so many times, it’s just embarassing– but I have to admit when I do plan, we always eat and feel better.

Home Chef is a meal subscription service that takes the stress out of meal planning – and grocery shopping– because if you are like me you are always forgetting at least ONE ingredient– usually its things like shallots or fresh basil. Home Chef never forgets your shallots and basil ;), all ingredients are included, portioned out so no measuring needed, just a little chippity chopping and cooking and in around 30 minutes for $9.95 you have a truly amazing meal.

If you follow me on Intagram you may have seen how quickly Avery (my 3 year old) gobbled up those Korean Pork Medallions I showed on Better Connecticut. You guys, he asked for seconds and no I am not kidding!

Play! By Sephora

Sephora is a guilty pleasure for so many of us– but how hard is it to shop around for new beauty products when you have kids in tow?? IMPOSSIBLE!

For $10 a month, Sephora will send you 5 deluxe size samples, plus a fragrance – TO. YOUR. DOORSTEP.

The subscription also includes exclusive access to video tutorials of ways you can use those products, as well as a cute makeup pouch and …. drum rolls please…. 50 additional beauty points towards your next purchase!! Sephora-holics, you KNOW how much we covet those beauty points!

EasyKicks

Kids Nikes on demand

$20 per month/ per child

I first discovered EasyKicks a few months back, and as a mother of 3 kids who seem to be growing at rapid speed (including a tween who is particularly sneaker obsessed!), I instantly fell in love with this unique (and quite GENIUS) box subscription.

EasyKicks is a partner with Nike and for $20 per month/child you can select a pair of Nike or Converse sneakers for your kid (sizes 4C-7y), which they can then wear until they outgrow, wear out, or just want a new pair of kicks.

When they’re ready for a new pair, you can just ship them back to Easy Kicks in a prepaid envelope and select a brand. new. pair!!! – Doesn’t have to be the same style – or brand. You can go from Nike to Converse, high-top to low top… unlimited exchanges!

And the part that I really love about this service is that it also gives back! When they receive your kid’s used sneakers, those used sneaks are donated to kids in need OR if they are really beat up, they recycle them to make playgrounds for kids through Nike Grinds program!

EasyKicks Promo Code

Get $10 off your first month with EasyKicks

Code: Morning 10

Kiwi Crate

Fun and educational boredom buster

$19.95/per month

This is one that my daughter is particularly smitten with and can truly be a lifesaver on those summer days when the “I’m boooooorrred” crys begin to ring throughout the house.

Kiwi Crate sends monthly STEM crafting projects based on your child’s age. There are Kiwi crates for every kid– ages 3 all the way up to 16! These boxes come with easy to follow directions and all the supply necessary. I love that there is little to no waste and also no need to run out to the store– because there is nothing worse than scouring Pinterest, deciding to tackle an adorable craft and then finding out you are out of glue!

8 Fun Adventures To Have On Your Maui Family Vacation

picks, Travel

Our Maui family vacation remains one of our all time favorites because if was a great mix of fun and relaxation. Yes, I used the words “family vacation” and relaxation in one sentence and I meant every word.

When we visited Maui, our kids were young (toddler/pre-school age) and we were pleasantly surprised at just how much fun we all had exploring the island!

If you’re planning a Maui family vacation, below are 8 things we did with our kids that made for a fun and memorable trip we still talk about til’ this day!

Products from Amazon.com

8 Fun Maui Adventures With Kids

1. The Penguins And Parrots At The Hyatt Maui

While vacationing in Maui, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency as it was recommended to us as one of the best places to stay in Maui for families; and we truly did love it!

In addition to a beautiful pool and beach area, the Hyatt offers some great family dining as well as some adorable penguins, parrots and swans. The parrots and penguins are out every day and their feeding schedule is available at the front desk. My kids loved visiting during feeding time to learn more about the animals and their talents from staff members.

2. Watching The Island “Wake Up”

Traveling from the east coast to Maui definitely caused a little confusion with time, but also had it’s perks. We were up the first few days very, VERY early.

Like 4 am early. Turns out this is one of the most beautiful times to explore the island. We would get up and out early to splash in the quiet beaches and “watch the island wake up” at sunrise. It was gorgeous!

3. Authentic Hawaiian Luau

A Maui family vacation would not be complete without a luau experience. There are many to choose from in Maui. After researching, we chose the Feast At LeLe in Lahaina as it had the best reviews and was touted by many to be the most “authentic luau” on the island.

The Feast At LeLe kicked off by being greeted with a Lei and beverage (non-alcoholic beverages were available for the little ones).

There was a trio band playing live music and some hand crafted Hawaiian items for sale as everyone was seated. The kids loved the welcoming party atmosphere. The show and dancers were amazing, complete with a “fire swallower”– which was the most anticipated moment for Ry (7 years old).

The food is brought out in courses to allow you to experience a variety of Polynesian cuisine and we even got to celebrate our son’s birthday Hawaiian style!

While the food was good, this was the only down fall when traveling with picky eater. My son is a true foodie and loved trying everything, while my daughter on the other hand ate next to nothing. Other Luau’s may have more traditional food or a kids menu. If you have a picky eater in your group, this is just something to keep in mind.

4. Beachside Family Portraits

When traveling as a family, often one person is left out of the group photo as they the role of photographer (this is usually me)- or you ask a stranger, and well… it’s never easy to assess a strangers photography skills as they walk by- right? It’s a 50/50 shot.

I highly recommend hiring a family photographer in Maui and make it your annual family photo. The beaches and sunset backdrop make for gorgeous holiday cards too!

We chose the husband and wife team of Dimitri Photography on the recommendation of friend and fellow blogger, Sarah of The Ohana Mama.

Dimitri and Sandra chose the tucked away, DK Fleming Beach for our shoot. A “secret beach” of sorts that we may have never discovered, had it not been on their recommendation. Our pictures came out phenomenal, and was a beautiful way to remember our Maui vacation for years to come.

5. Surfing Lessons

Maui is the ultimate place to experience a little surfing and there are lessons available for beginners as well as experienced surfers.

James and Ryan took a private lesson for beginners with Tide of Rivers To The Sea. They had a great time learning the basics and Tide was amazing with the kids- he even let Laina (3 yrs old) in on the fun. Rivers to the Sea is just one of many surfing schools on Maui, but we truly loved them and highly recommend! Run by brothers Tide and Kiva, they have taught some Hollywood celebs including: Zac Effron, James Gandolfeni and Amanda Bynes (before she went Cray-cray).

6. The Hawaii Tropical Plantation

The Tropical Plantation is open year round and offers a train ride through the plantation showing off the island’s agriculture and beauty including a gorgeous lake area and fresh coconut-tasting experience.

We visited during spring break/Easter vacation, while Maui was celebrating it’s annual AG Feast at their Tropical Plantation, which was fun! If you are visiting during that time of year as well, definitely look into this festive event.

7. The Lahaina Market Place

The Old Lahaina Market Place is a great place to check out some local handmade craftsmanship. From jewelry to soaps and wood carvings- this cute little village has it all. My kids loved going from shop to shop browsing all the local goods.

This market place is also the central point where many boat tours leave from. So you can make a day of it by booking a boat tour and then touring shops and grabbing a bite to eat!

8. The Road To Hana

This road-side experience was so amazing, I gave it it’s own in-depth post. In short? DO. IT.

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Looking for a romantic date night idea while visiting Maui? Check out our oceanside dining experience at the Marriott Wailea Beach.

Is Maui a good family vacation?

Maui offers families a great mix of fun, adventure and relaxation while on vacation. Kids love exploring Maui’s nature and learning about the Hawaiian Culture too.

Some family favorites include:
– Taking surf lessons
– Checking out the Lahaina Marketplace
– Visiting Aunt Sandy’s for a bite to eat along on the Road To Hana
– Finding rainbow trees

What is there to do in Maui with toddlers?

While known for its beauty and nature, there are still many things to do in Maui with toddlers. Some great activities to do with little ones are:
– Playing in the calm water and beaches early in the morning
– Checking out the Maui Ocean Center
– Attend The Feast Of Lele Luau- they’ll love being greeted with lei’s!
– Visit the penguins and swans in the Hyatt Hotel’s lobby

Toddler Bedroom Makeover: The Ultimate Race Car Themed Room

Home Decor + Organization, The Everyday

Read on to see how to transform a room from baby to toddler and make the ultimate race car themed room!

When you know you are done having kids, every milestone with that last baby feels bittersweet because ultimately, every first is also a last.

Whether your family is completed with one baby or five, you know what I’m talking about. And if you’re a parent and have never experienced this mourning of the firsts, I have a theory that maybe that means you aren’t in fact “done” wink

The Tough Transition – A Bittersweet Change

For me, parting with Avery’s nursery has been the hardest (so far). We transitioned his crib to a toddler bed as we did with our first two, probably about a year ago. But what we did not do, that we did do the first two times was give him a “big kid” room makeover to be excited about.

In retrospect, I admit that in ways this was for my own selfish reasons.

I loved the soft colorful pastels and whimsical travel theme we had so carefully created for him. Everything about that room made me smile. It always seemed like fresh-out-of-the-bath Baby Magic was wafting in the air. The colors made that one-of-a-kind sense of calmness you experience when you look at a sweet little babe peacefully sleeping come rushing back to me– HE’S MY BABY!

But the harsh reality that had become increasingly clear – Avery no longer felt nor appreciated that calm, peaceful, serene room. He loved his room when he was in the crib, but once we transitioned to a toddler bed he wasn’t a fan, and ended up in our room every.single.night– leaving us all cranky and tired in the morning.

SIGH.

It was time to let go, time to give him a room that was more representative of the “3 year old Avery”; a room he would be excited to show off and sleep in again. The room needed to trade in the soothing pastels for racing wheels and things that go vroooom!

So we partnered with Step 2 to begin the transformation– starting with the Step 2 Corvette Bed.

The Toddler Room Makeover

When we showed the big blue Corvette bed to Avery online he was instantly OBSESSED and the days leading up to having the bed delivered, he talked about it non-stop! It was clear right away this was going to be an exciting moment for him.

Here are all the little changes we made to his room and how we made it entirely his own – a big boy room for my growing toddler!

1. Added a Blue Corvette Bed

The Corvette bed was pretty easy to assemble. It can be used with a toddler/crib mattress or a twin mattress. When used with the toddler mattress there is a small built-in race track at the bottom of the toddler mattress. We decided to go straight to the twin though because we didn’t want Avs to be tempted to play when it was time to go to sleep.

The headlights on the front of the car bed light up with an easy push button and make the perfect nightlight. This is probably Avery’s favorite feature. He loves putting them on at bedtime and off in the morning.

Despite me mourning my baby-days, it ended up being a lot of fun adding accents and details to the room, like the matching Corvette dresser, tire toy box and wall decor . I was even able to keep and incorporate some of the decor from his nursery into this new big kid theme because after all– cars are a means of travel– right?? Right! Globe & framed map stay!

2. Hang up Race Car Wall Decor

This light up Route 66 sign also doubles as a nightlight. It’s super cute and Avery loves it too!

3. Tire Treads Light Switch

It’s all in the details. This light switch resembles tire treads from the race car. Perfect!

4. Add Shelf Decor

I brought things over from the nursery, which made the transition easier for me. I love the industrial look of Avery’s name letters. They look like something you’d see in a car factory.

5. Auto Repair Price List

This sign could not have been any more perfect for his room. Even the descriptions are the same kind of humor as a toddler’s.

6. Toolbox Themed Toy Box

Then I found this super cute MATCO Tools themed toy box. It has lots of storage in it, and it’s made just Avery’s size.

7. Add Stoplights

Can you tell how much fun I had? This stop-light desk lamp fits perfectly in his room’s decor. And I was so excited to find the Sinclair Dino sign.

Future Ideas for His Room

Eventually I would like to paint his white dresser a dark blue to match the bed, but for now it is pretty much complete! And I am happy to report that Avery has slept in his room every single night since getting the bed and room makeover– without protest.

He loves bringing friends and family into his new room to show it off, annnd I’d be lying if I didn’t say it has been pret-ty amazing not having to sleep with little feet kicking me in the face all night.

Corvette bed available at Walmart

Shop The Post

Oh, right! There was one thing Avery insisted we kept exactly the same.

We had plans of replacing all of the pastel pennant flags with checkered raceway ones, but when we took down the pennants on this wall above he freaked out and demanded we kept this the same. It’s the wall he wakes up looking at and if my baby boy wants towake up facing happy pastels and his framed “You Are My Sunshine” picture for the next few months –or years, that is A-ok in my book 😉

More Home Decor Ideas

I had so much fun redecorating his room. Here are some more home decor articles you will enjoy too.

Kids Holiday/New Year Style: Ditching Traditional Red For Classy Navy, Sequins and Tulle

Kid Style

Let’s be honest– between sports practices, playdates and school days– kids spend a lot of time in casual clothes.

This is part of what makes getting them all gussied up for holiday gatherings and photos so special.

We parents spend countless hours browsing before selecting the winning (often coordinating) holiday styles for our families.

For us, our girly-girl typically anchors the look and the boys’ outfits follow suit. We’ve done many years of gorgeous classic Christmas-reds, but then we fell in love with a gorgeous Navy Sequin Tulle Party Dress that made us decide to ditch the red.

How gorg is this dress?

Pink Princess Navy Blue Tulle Party Dress Review-12 The multicolor sequin bodice glistens with gold, pink, and purple hues, and the satin skirt with tulle overlay and puffy crinoline lining makes it a little girl’s dream.

Laina loves it so much that she is begged to wear it to her Christmas concert. She paired it with the leather moto-jacket herself. This kid has an eye for style.

More and more we are seeing nontraditional colors popping up in stores– The Children’s Place and H&M both have some super cute PINK styles in their line this year– and the added bonus to choosing a dress like this one for holiday is that it can easily be worn again for other celebrations like New Year’s parties, Sweet 16’s, weddings, etc.

Pink Princess has hundreds of special occasion dresses to choose from, including many popular boutique brands at affordable prices– and yes, you can still snag a dress for Christmas! Their extensive inventory of little girl dresses and little boy suits makes it possible for most orders to ship the next business day!

Another one of my go-to online shopping spots is Amazon– of course… because… PRIME! They also have a lot of styles from one of my all-time favorite girl’s formal brands, Oh-lala-Couture.

Their trendy dresses are some of the fluffiest, fullest tutu dresses I’ve ever seen, and they make girls feel like they walked right out of the pages of a fairytale book.

Blue sequin Devin dress| Pink & champagne sequin dress| Wow pouf dress

My daughter wore her 1st classic red Oh-lala-Couture dress practically everywhere, from holiday parties paired with ballet flats and a cardigan, to a Taylor Swift concert paired with a denim jacket and boots.

Available to rent at Rainey’s Closet

Rainey’s Closet is a site I also recommend checking out! They have a TON of Tutu Du Mode dresses (like the one above) & other high end styles available to RENT for a fraction of the price. $200 dresses for $45? SIGN. ME. UP– right??

Below are even more non-traditional holiday dresses I love for this year’s holiday!

* This post was originally posted 12/17/2015 in partnership with Pink Princess and has been updated to include a new variety for 2106

5 Reasons You Should Hand Over School-Style Reins To Your Kids– TODAY!

Kid Style

This post is sponsored by Levi’s Kids.

There is but a small, deliciously sweet window of time when we parents have full control over our kid’s #OOTD’s.

I remember, getting Delaina ready to go out to eat when she was–oh, around three and a half.

The fall chill had set in and I had to break it to her that, no, she would not be leaving the house in her favorite princess dress. She didn’t put up too much of a fuss. We packed our bags and we were out the door.

Then BAM! We got settled in the restaurant and she whipped out an entire outfit, accessories and PLASTIC HEELS from her tiny little backpack and began to change – AT. THE. TABLE.

Kid– 1 / Mom– 0

The lesson? When it comes to kids and style, you can either fight it or embrace it. That night I learned to embrace it.

She put her dress up clothes OVER the warm clothes I had picked out, we laughed until tears streamed down our faces and noshed on French fries.

C’est La Vie!

To this day, Laina is our little fashionista and has strong opinions on what she will and will not wear.

So when we are setting up for a new season, like Back To School– we have learned to compromise.

I get to pick out the essential basics that I know will get a lot of wear and tear (like the Levi’s Kids denim jacket and jeans you see here), she gets to make the outfit her own.

This isn’t always easy, but there are benefits to handing over the styling reins to our kids…

It Gives Glimpses Into Their Personality And How They Feel

The outfits Laina styles are always all encompassing of her personality– sweet and sparkly with a ton of moxie.

So I try my best not to intervene with her vision (as long as it is weather and event-appropriate).

They Learn To Match Colors And Patterns

….. (well, sometimes).

They Gain Confidence And Independence

They Get To Define Comfort

Levi’s is my go-to for denim because they are comfy– but also cause they last for-ev-er! Seriously. I think they get better with each wash– both kids and adults. Over 4 years, my husband has worn thin his favorite Levi’s and patched them up TWICE. He refuses to get rid of them. True. Story.

Laina feels the same way about these Levi’s Kids knit denim skinny jeans she is wearing above. From the minute she put them on, she couldn’t stop raving about how soft and comfortable they are (they feel like cotton leggings)– because if there is anything she haaa-aates– it is restricting clothing.

And really, who could blame her? Don’t we all?

They Learn From Their Hits And Misses

While I’m actually quite impressed with the way Laina styled up these pieces. Sometimes what she picks out is a little…. dare I say, quirky?

But I’ve learned that just like big hair in the 80’s and wearing our clothes backwards in the 90’s, we must trust that things like– the basketball socks and sandals {shivers} of 2015 (that my son has been wearing all summer long!), will teach them how to learn from their mistakes.

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What are some of those most outrageous outfits your kids have put together?

Levi’s® is for kids who know they were born bold and aren’t afraid to show it. Give your kids classic American style and effortless cool when they head back to school. The Levi’s Kids Collection is available at Levi.com. #LevisKids