For the last three days I’ve had the JOY to spend three uninterrupted days with women from around the country at The Influence Conference. I met up with my sister-in-law, Amber, and good friend, Laura, for some much-needed girl time, a break from daily routines and time to think about the bigger picture in life rather than the day-to-day tasks. Did I mention this was my first overnight trip away from Ainsley? I had big plans for sleeping, but I … Read More
Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit Giveaway
Hi, friends! I have an exciting giveaway for you all today. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that the Baby Merlin’s Magic Sleep Suit was one of my must-have baby products for the first handful of months. I wasn’t kidding when I said that it made all the difference in how Ainsley slept. That girl didn’t like having her arms swaddled, and the Baby Merlin was just comforting enough to help her sleep without causing frustration from not being … Read More
Baby Sleep Contraptions: A Comprehensive Review
Alternately titled: I spent way too much on swaddles and sleep products so you don’t have to. There were so many times during the first three or four months of Ainsley’s life when I would have paid almost anything for a good night of sleep. We bought a lot (and I mean, a lot!) of different sleep “contraptions” that promised a great night of sleep for our infant. Some were super successful and others were a total flop. While I … Read More
When Life Needs White Paint
Sometimes I’m guilty of writing without really thinking about what I truly want to say. I’ll look at photos I’ve taken recently on my phone or camera, pick one that looks cute and write up a post without really thinking about the intention behind my words, because sometimes it’s easier to write about the surface stuff than write about the heart issues that lie deep below the shiny exterior. We’re semi-settled into our new small-town life in Iowa. Nine … Read More
When Breast Isn’t Best
Last week, I posted about breastfeeding (or rather, not breastfeeding and choosing to formula feed instead) on Espresso and Cream’s Facebook page. As I should have anticipated I got a lot of responses, some good and some filled with outrage. Because Facebook is short-form, I’m not sure my intent and thoughts behind my post were conveyed properly and with the clarity that I intended. I thought perhaps it was worth devoting a post to further clarification and explanation. When I … Read More
Big News!
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that the Hofmeyers are headed to Iowa! We’re moving back to our hometown for Joe’s job and couldn’t be more excited to be closer to BOTH sets of grandparents and lots of family. I’m nervous, excited, and a bit frazzled with all that we have going on. So if things are a little big quiet around these parts over the next couple weeks, hang with me! I’ll be back with lots … Read More
You Light Up My Life
Before I had a baby I was very skeptical about motherhood. I read post after post from moms who talked about how fulfilling and amazing it was being a momma to littles, and I worried that I wouldn’t find it nearly as gratifying and wonderful as others described. I wondered, to be totally honest, if I had the “mom gene.” We walked the road of infertility for two years before Ainsley arrived. Sometimes when you’re in the thick of charting … Read More
Turbans for Tots Giveaway!
Sorry for the radio silence around these parts, friends! This week is a quiet one for Espresso and Cream while I get some new content ready to go and take a little breather, but I wanted to pop in and share a little about a company that Ainsley and I have been loving lately. I discovered Turbans for Tots while scouring Etsy for cute baby turbans for Ainsley to wear. Girlfriend has some strange hair going on these days with … Read More
Stay Healthy, Mama
“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and healthy mama® , but, as always, all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #gethealthymama Having experienced a couple miscarriages before getting pregnant with Ainsley, I was more than a little paranoid about what I put in my body. I was constantly worried about doing something that would compromise the health of my baby and desperate for a little peace of mind when I wanted … Read More
My Must-Have Baby Products (Birth-4 Months)
I think I should preface this entire post by saying that baby products are a really personal thing, and by really personal I mean that it’s really personal for your baby. What works for Ainsley might not work for another little one. Heck, I’ve wasted enough money in the last four months by buying the wrong baby products that were a total flop with my baby boss. That said, I was super interested during pregnancy in what baby products were … Read More
When It’s Not “Love at First Sight”
Photo by Gina Zeidler As we were preparing for Ainsley’s arrival I heard a lot of people talk about the amazing “love at first sight” that you feel when your little one is born. People went on and on about how the minute you become a mom you are instantly changed and overwhelmed with all the feelings. Me? I was a little skeptical and more than a little worried about the whole thing. You see, when someone tells me that … Read More
Traveling With a Baby
We just returned from our first long vacation with Ainsley; in fact, we were gone for 10 days, the longest trip we’ve taken since our travels to Italy! I was more than a little nervous to be traveling with a baby, especially since our trip included a flight to Boise, a 2+ hour drive through the mountains of Idaho, and a couple different places to rest our head over the course of the trip. I researched about flying with a … Read More