Family
Sweater // Jeans // Sandals // Baby Bag // Camisole // Sunglasses // Bella Band
- Nursing slip, I got mine at H&M (this one looks awesome too) and
- Nursing tanks in black and white (I’m wearing this now because it fits maternity too;)
- Comfy socks/white slippers (Don’t ask me why I love white slippers)
- Protein bars like KIND, etc for hubby
- Joggers in gray and black (I’ve found the Michael Stars one’s are the most flattering)
- Kimono and Robe
- Essential oils like lavender, peppermint and copaiba, will be coming with me
- Phone Charger
I’m also bringing his baby book to record things that happen during the labor, details etc. Here’s hoping I actually write these things down. The more kids I have, the harder it is to record ALL the special moments in a cute lil book! I’m making an extra effort to fill in a baby book since my older kids have been reaching for their baby books lately and reading them, and I cringe at some of the empty pages!
I was really intimidated at first at the whole idea of a hospital bag, but I remind myself, I won’t be staying there all week (Lord willing) and if needed, hubby can run home to get something. Basically, if I have my toiletries, pain meds, comfy socks, kimono, nursing tanks, and make-up I’m good! I’m pretty low-maintenance but hubby would differ with me. I’m excited for that day to finally come. In the meantime, weigh in with your must haves for the hospital?
Camisole (only $29!) // Pencil skirt from STORQ and a non-maternity version // Suede Jacket (finally back in stock!) // Cap Toe Heels // Lotus Earrings // Sunglasses
Naming #5 was NOT easy. I repeat. It was a STRETCH to think of a two-syllable name that would sound good with his four siblings. Not to mention all the four critics.
1. KEEP IT A SECRET this is number 1 for a reason. If you don’t want 3 relatives and 2 cousins twice removed opinions, keep the name to yourself.
2. Put all the cards on the table – family names, names you like, religious affiliation, etc. We happened to be reading the Old Testament in devotions and came across LOTS of names we considered for this baby. Its good to see all the names in the open and discuss them.
3. Have a TOP 10 I know its tempting to have 20 faves, but try and start with 10 and go from there. Our 4th child has three names, so keep 3 if you want!
4. Consider the syllables AND meaning. This child will have to live with this name, maybe forever, so make it easy to say with a positive meaning.
ANNND since we are still waiting on baby #5, I cannot divulge the name, I can however tell you I followed the above steps and you will have to stay tuned!
Speaking of waiting for baby . . . I’m loving this collagen powder that I swear is helping my nails and hair. Also, this ice roller (only $12!) is helping me fake a full night of sleep, this overnight reset oil-in serum, is warding off the wrinkles, and when bored, make PUMPKIN BREAD!
xx
Shalice
Girls Cape // Skinny Jeans // Taupe Faux Leather Booties
Boys Stripe Sweatshirt // Red Shorts // Sneakers
My Blazer// Dress // Sunglasses // Similar Booties
How do I find outfits for my kids? I focus on quality fabrics, patterns and clothes they will actually wear and love. When I see them get excited about a shirt or a cool pair of shoes, that’s when I know I’ve found something they not only like, but they’ll actually wear! And yes, it’s all found at Nordstrom!
I’m so thankful for Nordstrom curbside pick-up for days when I have to be at soccer practice, art class and tumbling class. Their customer service has won over this busy mama for over a decade. What are some of your Nordstrom faves?
Thank you Nordstrom for sponsoring this post!
Who told you to start your business?
My friend Karla @karlareed told me I needed to start sharing my outfits on Instagram because I had a knack. I told her I’d give it a whirl because I really needed an outlet from the daily mom grind of my husband working late and lotssss of diapers. It’s crazy how something so amazing started with a simple suggestion from a friend.
What were you doing before your business?
I was a full-time mom of 4 kids, ages ranging from 6 to 1. Before that, I was an event planner. I was knee deep in momlife and a much needed a creative outlet. I’d use nap time to take selfies and flat lays. It was so satisfying to use my creative side and I think it made me a better mom.
How did you know what to name your blog?
I went back and forth about naming my blog “Shalice Noel” because so many people don’t pronounce my name right, but I always loved my middle name. So, I put both together and I liked the ring of it. Shalice Noel was born.
What inspired you to start your business?
I remember sitting at the edge of my bed, praying a desperate prayer, “God I need to supplement our income. I’d love to work from home and it has to be a pretty special job because I have a houseful of children.” And with that, left the prayer and kept being a full-time mom. Fast forward two years, I heard about rewardstyle, signed up as fast as I could, and started to make commission checks. It almost brings tears to my eyes thinking about how grateful I was for my first check! I could stay home with my babies, share my love of fashion and get paid. It’s really special and I don’t take it for granted.
What is the most challenging thing about having an influencer business?
Staying creative and not comparing your business to someone else’s.
What would you tell yourself when you first started?
Haters gonna hate, keep taking risks, be kind and work hard!
Is there anything that helped your business?
When my husband started helping me. I think we grew closer in our relationship and his business know-how helped strengthen my business overall.
What tools or apps have helped your business?
If I had to narrow it down to two, Lightroom for photo editing and Freshbooks for accounting.
I hope you guys enjoyed this and it answered some of the questions you’ve had about how and why I got started in this crazy blogging and influencer world. Like I said above, if you have more questions about any topic, send them on in because I’d like to start doing more reader-inspired posts!
The LiketoKnow.it book is avail Sept 18, on Amazon, pre-order your copy today. I’m sure you will enjoy readying everyone’s story as much as I did.
girls stripe dresses // red sandals
older boys stripe sweatshirt // red shorts // boys sneakers
younger boy’s A OK tee // graphic jogger pants // boys sneakers
I’m so excited to partner with Nordstrom Back to School for kids. I’m loving all their laid-back pieces to add to my kids’ wardrobe this fall. I honestly love shopping for their autumn staples just as much as my own and Nordstrom makes it too easy.
I’m
How to Prepare Your Youngest When He will no longer be the Youngest
his jeans // polo // hat // shoes // Reid’s shorts // Reid’s tee // Sneakers
Preparing your family for a new baby is both fun, but a little worrisome as well. We don’t really know how the kids will adjust to their new roles. Our kids have been pretty close in age, so the transition for them was not dramatic. However, now with our fifth, we have an age gap of 5.5 years between our youngest and the newborn. He is used to being the baby in the family and it’s all about to change. We’ve been researching how to best prepare him for his transition from baby brother to BIG brother. Here is some advice we’ve found:
Before the baby is born:
· Tell him how special he is as a big brother. Explain how he’ll be able to teach his little brother how to draw rocket ships, build Lego’s, play soccer, make paper airplanes, etc.!
· When the baby is born, have a gift prepared for each older sibling that is “from” the baby. We will be purchasing Lego sets and stuffed animals for each one. Also, have the kids give a “birthday gift” to the baby. Make sure to pack it ahead of time so the kids can bring it with them when they come to meet the baby for the first time. Make sure to have the camera ready to capture the moment they present the gift as well.
· Have your child make a drawing to frame and hang in the baby’s room. I especially love this one!
After the baby is born:
· Make sure to take pictures of both the new baby and the older siblings. Also take plenty of individual pictures of each child as well.
· Have a few small gifts prepared for the older children when the baby receives gifts from friends/family.
· Make sure to continue to snuggle with your older children and give them individual attention when you have the opportunity.
· Invite the kids to sit next to you when nursing. Remind the kids how good they were at eating. Also, open up the photo album of when the older kids were born. They love seeing what they looked like as babies.
We’ll see how our youngest transitions. So far, he’s pretty excited. In fact, all the kids are pretty excited. For that, we are thankful.
We bought a car!
My teenage dream was to have a suburban and six kids. I’m not sure why I decided this was my family goal, but my vision was set. Ever since we discovered we were pregnant with number 5, we found our beloved 7 passenger SUV to be lacking some much-needed cargo space. After researching, friendly conversation and a little negotiation, Reid and I agreed on a car! Reid will admit he still wants a smaller SUV, but alas, I won. Who can turn down a dream I’ve had since I was 15, let alone a 36-week pregnant woman! We drove home with a silver Yukon XL and I believe we got a pretty good deal on it. Read on.
How did you buy it?
We decided to try Hertz Rent2Buy, which works like this: You reserve the car online, rent it for a couple days and if you decide to buy it, they waive the rental fee. So we reserved a silver Yukon XL, but when we picked up the car, they brought us a gold one instead. We decided to pass on the gold and wait for our first color choice—the silver 2017 GMC YUKON XL. We ended up looking all over the web, craigslist and local dealerships until Reid found a silver one online at Hertz Car Sales in San Diego. We liked how responsive they were and, yes, the price was a big deciding factor—they sell under KBB value. Bonus!
We made a day trip to San Diego to look at the car and ultimately decided to bite the bullet and purchase it. Ironically, once the kids learned the new car rules, like no eating, no crayons, no drinking, they actually decided they liked our old car better. Oh well. It’s my dream. I’m super happy and can’t wait to pack for a long road trip! Big Sur, Omaha, Vail…
GIRLS
Uniqlo really is a one-stop-shop for all things back to school. They’ve been around since 1984 (started in Japan—so cool!), which tells me they must be doing something right. And their prices are so reasonable. They actually design and manufacture every single item they sell, which is what keeps prices down.
Because I’m all too knowledgeable on how rough my kids, in particular, are on clothes and shoes, I’m all about an affordable retailer with good quality items! I was also happy to discover they sell baby onesies as well. If you’re looking for simple clothes at a great price-point, check out Uniqlo now! Ps. I did purchase this dress and trench to match my daughters and still can’t believe how affordable and chic their clothing is! Now, if I could only convincing Reid we need to go to Paris was just as easy. Ha!
All opinions are my own. Thank you Uniqlo for sponsoring this post!