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Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin- Sensory Rice

January 28, 2021 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

We are tickled pink for all things Valentine’s Day lately! I made my own sensory rice for a Valentine’s themed sensory bin! Sensory bins are great for inhibiting cognitive development and fine motor skills. Vivian loved it and loved throwing the rice all over even more. It’s really awesome to see her mind working as she was playing with the rice.

What You Need:

-2.5 cups of Rice per color (any kind works, white rice is best)

-Food Coloring (10 drops per 2.5 cups of rice)

-1 tsp vinegar or rubbing alcohol per color

-Gallon Sized Ziploc bags

-Cookie Sheet

-Paper Towels

-Large container or Bin

Directions:

Place 2.5 cups of rice into a gallon Ziploc bag. You can do as many colors as you’d like.
Squirt 5-10 drops of food coloring in each bag. More drops = richer the color.
Pour 1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol or vinegar into the baggie. Rubbing alcohol tends to dry quicker.
Zip bag and shake it up!
Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place the rice on paper towels and let dry. It should only take 15 minutes if placed in the sun.
Put the dry rice into a bin (I used a large Tupperware container). Add any random object for pouring or playing in the bin!

*I totally recommend placing this on a sheet or doing this outside because the rice gets EVERYWHERE. You could also buy a cheap small inflatable pool to place it in!

Enjoy your Valentine Sensory Bin! Tag me on Instagram if you try it @firstcomesfamily.mama !

Walmart Pre-Black Friday Sales 2020

November 16, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

These sales are going on as of 11/16/2020!! Rounding up my favorite deals from Walmart, like the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush and Cast Iron 6.5 Quart Round Dutch Oven. All you have to do is click the item you want and it’ll take you directly to it!

Target Pre-Black Friday Sales 11/16

November 16, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Some of the best Target sales that are happening now, even before Black Friday 2020! Just click on the image of the item and it’ll take you right to it!

DIY Cake Smash Photos

September 24, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!

Since before I was pregnant, I knew that I wanted cute photos of our baby girl smashing a cake with a boho background. But, then a pandemic happened. Spoiler alert: There is no cake because I forgot it inside. LOL I was determined to capture special photos of our baby girl on her first birthday. With the help of Pinterest and my Hubby’s help, my dreams came true!

The Setting

The lighting in our house isn’t the best AT ALL. So I figured doing them outside is best because our back patio is perfectly shaded after 4 pm. If you are doing them inside, I recommend doing them in the area of your home that is the best lighted (near a big window or door). Morning light (soft yet bright) and evening light (before sunset) is the best lighting so adjust accordingly.

I also tried to use white banner paper because I read a tutorial that used it and well it sucked lol. SO I’d recommend a flat bed sheet of whatever color you’d like. We chose white!

To add the perfect minimal pop of decor, I made a eucalyptus garland and followed this tutorial. It came out so cute and is actually hanging in our guest room now! I ordered my eucalyptus here and trimmed it accordingly.

The Outfit

We were gifted

How I made my first $200 while blogging

September 7, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Welcome to my very first Income Report! I have been reading other bloggers income reports for years now and I can finally post one of my own. *cue excitement* Blogging takes A LOT of work and dedication in order to see a return on investment. It’s not a get rich quick scheme, you truly need to be passionate because who wants to read a blog post poorly written about something the writer could care less about!? So let’s get the show on the road.

I’ll start by giving you some background about First Comes Family. It is entirely ran by myself, Shieann. That’s it! I have created my website by myself, manage my social media by myself, and write each blog post all by myself. I currently would say I only do it part-time (about 10 hours a week) while I stay home with my toddler and manage my macrame Etsy shop. Back in January, I started to treat the blog like a business and began putting myself out there more (joining affiliate networks, pitching to brands for collars) and it is truly paying off.

Goals for September:

-Land another Sponsored Post

-Work on Pinterest growth to help with site views

Sooooo…. here it is!

August 2020 Revenue:

Review of 3 Different Sleep Courses

August 28, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

If you’re reading this, I’m sure you’re on your third cup of coffee and slept a total like less than 4 hours last night. How do I know that? Because I was in those exact shoes, girl. I remember hearing “Oh the newborn phase is the best, all they do is sleep” LOL Literally all I could do was laugh when I was told that because it certainly did not feel that way. The first month of our girl’s life was a blur, filled with sleeping for 30 minute increments…but it got better.

Sleep training was something I had no clue about until I found myself Googling “How to get your newborn to sleep”. That’s when I stumbled upon several sleep consultants who claim they can get your baby to sleep through the night. SOLD. Well, three different sleep consultants later…here I am sharing what I loved and didn’t love about each one.

first one up is…

The Baby Sleep Trainer

This was a recommendation from another mama who had success with it. I actually purchased The Baby Sleep Trainer book (you can grab it HERE) and read through it in a few days. We started our sleep training journey with this method at 4 months old when we placed her in her own crib. We had a lot of success getting Vivian adjusted to a sleep schedule and used to her own room.

My Sweet Sleeper

I actually won the “Guide to a better night’s sleep for babies 4-12 months” which I’d say is an intro to their 4-12 month sleep course. This was great for someone who didn’t know anything about sleep training! Unfortunately, I am an expert researcher and it was filled with things I already found during my midnight google searches. I can’t speak how their courses are but I do see they have group training which could be a more affordable option for a mama.

our winner…

Taking Cara Babies

I came across Taking Cara Babies on Instagram while while I was pregnant and loved following them. They share SUPER good tips on their posts about everything from feeding to traveling with kids. I took two course: Navigating 3-4 Months and ABC’s of Sleep (5-24 months). *Going to tell you right now that Navigating 3-4 Months wasn’t worth the money*…just fight through that 4 month sleep regression. BUT the ABC’s of Sleep was SOO worth it! I mean it was magic, Vivian only “trained” for one night… ONE NIGHT. She’s remained a good sleeper since we took the class at 10 months old. It is a bit of an investment but sleep is priceless in my opinion.

So the clear winner was Taking Cara Babies for us. I’m not sure if it’s because we implemented the techniques when she was a little older or because it’s truly magic. Either way, I’d much rather purchase a Taking Cara Babies course with our next babe.

So if you haven’t already, take a look at each sleep consultant and see which is the best fit for you. I know you’re desperate for sleep at this point but also don’t forget that they’re little babies and aren’t fully developed to understand sleep cycles like us. Give your little babe some grace, sleep will come mama.

Have you done any sleep courses?! Which one?

The Best Swimsuits for Moms

August 18, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

https://www.liketoknow.it/ltk/5kd75FMzILEadcBH7U6gRZ

If you’re reading this then I’m assuming you’ve had a kid or two and dreading swimsuit shopping. I’ve been there, actually I am there. Trying to find the right bikini that makes me feel like I have my 21 year old body back feels impossible. But, it doesn’t have to be that hard. There are so many cute and flattering options for every single body type. String bikinis aren’t the only thing in style… can we say hello high waisted EVERYTHING?!

One Pieces

One pieces are perfect for new mamas as they can hold everything in and still feel modest. I actually love one pieces regardless baby or no baby! Who doesn’t love being able to eat whatever they want and not worry about bloating.. right?! Here are my favorites!

High Waisted

We all have to be honest that this is our favorite trend returning from the 90’s: high-waisted anything! Can I get an amen?! I love high waisted swim suits because it hides the mom pooch and gives your body a nice curvy shape! I own a ridiculous amount of high waisted things because my but is just too dang big!

Cover Ups

I don’t know if I’m the only one who ends up spending so much time reapplying sunscreen to their toddler that they forget to apply it to. themselves. Happens every single time! Wearing a cover-up always help cover a quick sunburn and get back to the toddler marathon LOL

We live in Florida which means endless beach days and swimsuit season all year long! I’d love to see if you snagged one of the suits I recommended, tag me on Instagram @firstcomesfamily.mama .

First Birthday Gift Ideas

July 23, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

Time literally is flying this year. I actually forgot that my girl turned one almost 3 months ago! *cue tears* There seems to be an endless amount of toys for kids these das. Recently, I asked one of the Facebook mom groups I’m apart of what their most haves were and they did not dissappoint! Since our girl’s birthday was in the middle of a quarantine and a pandemic, we wanted toys that were interactive to help get any energy out.

SoftPlay Toddler Climber

Ever since our girl started walking, she has loved to climb things! This is a lifesaver. It’s soft and helps challenge heights for them. It’s not very high so if she does end up falling its not nearly as bas as it would be from the couch. This is 100% worth it and actually my top pick!

B. toys Toy Drum Set

Music has so many benefits for babies such as language development, understanding emotions, sensory enhancement, and brain activation. From the moment we put this out, she hasn’t stopped playing with it! I’s fun watching her understand the different sounds and volumes.

Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike

This thing is awesome because it grows with your child from 9 months old-5 years old! I love a toy that will go through multiple stages. The shade is important because it helps keep the shade out. We also love the cup holder for a drink during our cruises.

Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube

This sorting cube helps for with cognitive and motor skills. It’ll take some practice getting the right shape in each spot but it’s a winner once they get it. This can also be used as they get older to teach shapes and colors.

Melissa & Doug Rainbow Stacker Wooden Ring Educational Toy

Stacking toys help hand-eye coordination, cause and effect learning, as well as problem solving skills. We received this when she was 11 months old and by the time she was 12 months, she LOVED taking this apart and stacking them. She also loved that the rings were hard so we could clank them together.

Birthdays remain my favorite although now I feel like so much research goes into what things are appropriate for each age. These toys have been LIFE SAVERS and keep my little girl busy for endless time. Hoping your kiddo’s birthday is extra special with one of these gifts!

3 DIY Activities for Babies

April 16, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I’ve been posting the DIY activities I’ve been doing with our 11 month old girl. With the influx of lockdowns in states across the country, we are home with our babies A LOT more. Now is the time to do all of those activities with your babies that you pinned months ago. Here are my 3 activities that we gave a go in the past week! These activities get their neurons firing and senses overloaded.

Keep in mind, the attention span is 3 to 5 minutes per year of age. So don’t be surprised if your little one only finds joy in these for a minute or so.

Mess Free Painting

You will need:

-Paper

-Gallon Baggies

-Paint (preferably washable)

-Packing tape (a strong tape)

Take a sheet of a paper and put dabs of paint all over it. Carefully place in a gallon bag and zip. Tape bag down flat on a high chair, table or the floor. Then let your babe “finger paint”, moving the colors around, feeling the texture and explaining each color. When finished, take out the paper of the bag and let dry!

Sensory Spagetti

Things you’ll need:

-1/2 box Spaghetti or any pasta

-Pot (for boiling spaghetti)

-Strainer

-Food Coloring

-Baggies

-Oil (vegetable/olive)

Okay, this has been our favorite. Cook spaghetti as you normally would but leave it a little more al dente so that it doesn’t mush. Strain pasta and let dry a little. Separate the pasta into baggies (as many colors as you’d like) and place 10-20 drops of food coloring with a 1/2 tbsp of oil into each bag and shake up! Once coloring is even on pasta, rinse and strain so theres no excess coloring on it. Lay on a pan with paper towels to dry and soak additional colorings. Then place in a tub/container and play! It’s fun to point out colors and let them feel the textures. Warning: they will probably eat it!!

Colored Bag Hanging

Things You’ll Need:

-Gallon Baggies

-Water

-Food Coloring

-Strong Tape (I used packing tape)

Fill each bag with about 3 cups of water. Place 5-10 drops of food coloring in each bag (as many colors as you’d like). Zip bags up and tape to a glass door or even the stove window! Babies will love squeezing and seeing the colors shine. Our girl loved this and we kept it up for a few days!

Sensory activities are a great way to introduce new things to your child. They help stimulate the brain and create nueron pathways to improve sensory processing. It may take a bit for time to gather these activities but I’m sure they’ll be a hit to keep our crazy kiddos busy!

Productive Things to Do While Staying Home

March 25, 2020 by firstcomesfamily Leave a Comment

I’ve been a stay at home mom for almost one year and the thing I’ve struggled with most is how to be productive. It has taken me this long to actually get a routine and structure to get things done. Having an idea of what your day will look like helps have a mental to-do list opposed to sitting in jammies while your toddler runs around. Now I’m no expert on being productive but here are a few tips you can implement to get going!

Meal Plan for the Week

This takes about 20-30 minutes a week to actually write down meal ideas for the week. Nothing takes the stress out of your kid’s “What’s for dinner?” than having it laid out in front of you. I have been meal planning since I started home and it helps me feel less scattered throughout the week. I love this meal planner from Rifle Paper Co.

Choose One Chore a Day

The easiest way to keep up the never ending cycle of a messy home is to chose one chore a day. For example, Mondays are dusting, Tuesdays are the floors, Wednesdays are bathroom sinks, Thursdays are kids rooms, Fridays are the kitchen. You could even pick a room a day to clean instead!

Laundry Each Day

Depending on the size of your family, aim for a load of laundry each day! If it’s just you, then pick 2 days a week to do it. The key is to not let it sit in the basket for days after they’ve been dried. We all know it takes 7-10 business days to fold and put away laundry. So a load a day will help keep it manageable and easy to fold especially while watching a new episode of the Bachelor.

Change out of your PJs

Okay this one is hard for me! BUT, I feel most productive if I immediately get dressed for the day when I wake up. I’m more apt to do more things throughout the day if I get out of my comfy pants and oversized tee. It also helps me feel put together and not so drab.

Turn off the TV

I’m guilty of leaving the tv on with Friends or The New Girl on in the background while I scurry around the house. Then I catch myself glued to an episode for longer than anticipated and before I know it, my little one is up from her nap. Try blocking times out where you turn the TV off and turn on music instead.

Exercise in the Morning

This is the hardest to do because we all want to stay in our comfy pants and drink coffee on the couch in the morning. Gear up and hit the gym in the morning! It’s a fact that you have more energy to last the whole day when you move your body in the AM.

What is your favorite way to stay productive?! How do you get things done? Share with me below!