5 minute makeup for busy moms

This post is sponsored by Lips by a Sparkling Southerner. I was given product for a review, but all opinions are my own.

If I know one thing, it's that all moms are busy. It doesn't matter if you're a stay-at-home-mom, a working mom, or like me, a work-at-home-mom. Moms are constantly juggling a lot. One thing we all have in common is that we want to feel good about ourselves. I've found that doing my hair and makeup and putting on spit-up free clothes really helps me feel like myself. 

That being said, I don't know how so many women have time to do extravagant makeup each day! I can barely manage to put on chapstick most of the time. And on the rare occasion that I do have time to put on a full face of makeup, I need to do it quickly before my two year old decides to put my curling iron in the toilet. (True story.)

I've found that a quick, 5 minute makeup routine is what works best for me. I've searched for products that do a lot and are easy and quick to apply. I hope this routine works as well for you as it does for me!

Foundation

I start my routine with a CC cream. I love this MaryKay CC cream. It helps even out my skin without having to wear a ton of makeup. Plus it's a great moisturizer for these cold, dry winter months. 

Eyes

Then I add my all-time favorite Lash Intensity Mascara. Seriously, this stuff is so good. Two quick coats and my eyelashes are long, separated and just overall amazing.  if I only have a minute for makeup, I'll just swipe this on my lashes and call it a day. 

Next, I add my tried-and-true eyeshadow. I have been wearing Covergirl's Mink Eyeshadow since high school and it's still my favorite. It's a great neutral color with some sparkle to it. I also like to add a bit of dark brown shadow into my crease just to give my eyes a little more depth. 

Lips

Finally, I add Lipsense on my lips to complete the look. I've always been a tad afraid of lipstick - way too many memories of kiss marks left of my cheeks from my Mom and Grandma. However, when I heard that Lipsense doesn't leave any sort of trail behind I was really excited to try it. 

I have very thin lips, which makes it hard to use conventional lipstick without using a brush to apply it. I LOVE that Lipsense goes on like a lip gloss with a wand. It's so much easier to apply that way! 

To use Lipsense, you add three layers of your color (I'm wearing Apple Cider here), wait about 5-10 seconds between each layer to allow it to dry. Then, you add the Lipsense gloss over the color to lock everything in. 

Be careful not to make your layers too thick or the gloss will be really sticky. I made this mistake a couple of times before I consulted a Lipsense Guru and she told me where I was going wrong. Which, is another plus to using Lipsense! Your distributor is always there to help.

Now I can kiss my babies all day and never leave a mark!

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Maralyn Autumn's Birth Story: A Cesarean Section Experience.

I've been debating if I wanted to share Maralyn's birth story here since it wasn't anything dramatic like Benson's. However, it was such a great c-section experience that I wanted to share it with others, so that if you find yourself in a c-section experience you don't have to be scared. 

Photos by Cami Nichelle Photography

A planned c-section is so different from an emergency c-setion (which I had with Benson, you can read about it here.) Everything is so calm and relaxed, instead of urgent and rushed. It's a completely different experience. I had great doctors and nurses both times, which helped immensely, but having a soothing atmosphere definitely helped this time around.

My c-setion was scheduled for 6:30 a.m. and the hospital wanted me to arrive two hours early. I was annoyed at first, but it ended up being nice because I was too excited and anxious to get a good night's rest. I was ready to go at 4:30!

When we arrived at the hospital we went straight into a room to get prepped. The nurses started taking my medical history and getting my IV in. Unfortunately, I don't do well getting IVs, and I got really light headed while they were getting it in. One of the nurses was so kind, she fanned me the entire time while taking my history.

After the nurses did their thing, the anesthesiologist came in to make sure I was ready for the spinal tap. I threw up every time I got an epidural with Benson, so the anesthesiologist recommended extra fluids to help. It was unpleasant to have the cold fluids pushed through my IV, but it was absolutely worth it because I didn't throw up after my spinal tap!

Around 6 a.m. they wheeled me into the operating room. It was a stark contrast to Benson's delivery because I could still move when I got there. I was able to move myself off of the bed and onto the operating table (which is really just another bed!). The anesthesiologist was very quick and she and the nurses all talked with me, asking about the baby and Benson while I was getting the spinal tap. It kicked in very quickly and within a few minutes I was numb.

The doctors arrived shortly after that and once they were all prepped, Jason was able to come in and sit by me. The biggest contrast between Benson's delivery and Maralyn's was being alert during the surgery.

With Benson, I had labored for 30 hours and was so tired that I just wanted to sleep during the c-section. However, with Maralyn, I was awake and aware of what was going on around me. I'm not sure this was a great thing because I could feel and hear more than I did with Benson. It's really hard to describe what it's like because while you're numb you still feel pressure. I could feel them pulling on my body but it didn't hurt; it was almost like having your foot fall asleep, except it's almost your entire body!

The doctors had some trouble getting Maralyn's shoulders out, which again, felt super weird, but once they got her shoulders out it was smooth sailing and the official birth time was declared at 7:02 a.m.

After a quick exam to make sure everything was alright, Maralyn was wrapped up and handed to Jason. We got to look at her and admire how adorable she was. It was so fun getting to see my baby so soon after she was born. Benson had been immediately admitted to the NICU and I didn't get to see him for eight hours.

After a little bit the nurses took Maralyn off to be weight and measured (8 lbs 4 oz and 20 inches long) while the doctors finished the surgery. 

The absolute weirdest part of the c-section happened after the delivery. Neither Jason or I wanted to watch the process, but we did have to sit there and hear everything. There were so many weird sounds and we didn't know exactly what was really happening so it was hard to associate them with anything.

Jason says that at one point the doctors dumped a bucket of water into me and then sucked it back out. I distinctly remember hearing stapling sounds, and feeling pressure. I just remember thinking that  all I wanted was Jason to talk to me so I could be distracted. I think he heard my thought because a minute later he started asking me questions and just talking. We were both so grateful for a distraction!

After the surgery the nurses took me to the recovery room and I waited anxiously for them to bring Maralyn in. Our doctor went with her and Jason to do an exam while I went to recovery. It might have been an hour that they were gone, but the time passed quickly-

All-in-all we were only in the hospital for two and a half days. I truly enjoy being in the hospital with a newborn because you have so much help and no one expects you to do anything but love on your baby. It was extra sweet because Benson came and visited a couple of time and was completely enamored with his "bay-bee." He wanted to hold her every time he came.

Having a planned c-section was absolutely the best decision for our family. I felt so much calmer the last few weeks of pregnancy knowing it would end soon and I was able to make plans for our friends to watch Benson while we were in the hospital. I definitely preferred this to Benson's delivery!

If you have any questions or concerns about a c-section, I'm happy to share my experiences! Leave a comment or shoot me an email (rebekahanneblog @ gmail.com) I'd love to hear your experiences as well!

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Children Change Your Marriage by Amberley of A Prioritized Marriage

I'm so excited to have Amberly of A Prioritized Marriage guest posting today! She has a wealth of knowledge and advice on how to make your marriage amazing. If you don't already follow her go check out her blog! I'm posting over there today too. I hope you love her post as much as I do!


Once you have children, your marriage will never be the same. I've been hearing that statement for years now. Before we had kids, whenever someone would let me know that having kids changes your marriage, I wouldn't let myself believe them. I was determined to be different, and not to let the addition of little ones affect the relationship I have with my husband in any way. Now that we're parents, I'm forced to admit that I was wrong. Our 18 month old son and 2 month old daughter have done what I said that they would never do; they have changed our marriage. We are not the same people that we were two years ago before they came along. We are different as individuals and we are different as a couple.

Having children has brought a lot of new challenges and adventures to our lives. Some days are exciting and filled with lots of laughter, and others are rough and filled with tears and frustration. Whenever someone would tell me that children would change my marriage, it always felt like they meant it in a negative way. Some days are a struggle and the sleep deprivation and added stresses cause more tension, but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

Your love will multiply

When I was pregnant with baby number two, I would look at my little boy and wonder how I could possibly love another as much as him. I've had friends who are considering having kids express concerns about having to share the love that, until now, has been completely reserved for their husband. With each child, my heart has grown, kind of like the Grinch on Christmas morning, and I have more than enough love to share with my entire family. Becoming a mom didn't make me love my husband less, it made me love him more!

You will learn to be more intentional

Before we became parents, we were busy, but our schedules and our time were dictated by us. Now our lives revolve around two little ones who rely on us for all of their needs. For every minute of nap time and every minute between their bedtime and ours, we have to be intentional about what we're doing. With both of us working full time, we also have to be intentional with the time that we have to spend together as a family and with our kids. When we make every moment count, we are finding ways to make our marriage a priority and strengthening the relationship that we have with each other.

You will become a stronger team

In the six years that my husband and I have been together, we've become a strong and cohesive team in a lot of different areas of our lives. We've paid off all of our debt and gotten on the same page financially, worked together to renovate our house and make it a home, supported each other in our own personal business endeavors and now we're raising two little ones together. Together we have been able to overcome obstacles as well as celebrate our accomplishments. Tackling everything as a team has deepened our connection and increased the love that we have for each other.

You will appreciate the time you have together

Our time spending quality time alone together is limited now more than ever. While our youngest was in the NICU, we realized just how much we were going to have to work to find time to work on our marriage. All of the time that we were spending together was spent taking care of our kids or the other responsibilities that are part of life. Having limited time to spend having fun and working on our relationship together has made rituals like date night that much more important to us. Whether it's holding hands and cuddling while we watch a show on Netflix, or putting our phones away so that we can talk and connect during dinner, we try not to take that time for granted.

You will see your spouse in a new light

I didn't think I could love my husband more, but that changed when he became a dad. Seeing the way our toddler looks up to his dad and watching the two of the interact makes my heart melt. The first time he held our daughter, they had an instant bond and my heart melted even more. He has a such a tenderness for our kids and when he is playing with them, I get a glimpse of his little kid heart. I learn new things about my man every day, both as my spouse and as a father.

You get to choose how you are going to let your new role as a parent affect your new role as a spouse. The attitude that you choose to have will determine your future as a married couple. Children bring new challenges that at times can be rough, but your children will also be one of the most rewarding things that you do together!

You might also enjoy reading; Parenting Can Strengthen Your Marriage and Our Families and Marriages Matter.

Amberly

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How to Fight Well by Katie of Warmth and Whimsy

Last Friday, I gave birth to my daughter, so I'll be taking a couple of weeks off to enjoy that newborn smell and figure out how to be a mom of two. I have some amazing ladies guest posting over the next few weeks. I hope you'll check out their blogs and get to know them! 

My husband and I are coming up on our two year anniversary and I can hardly believe how much time has passed. The first couple years of marriage are a very special time and it amazes me to see how far we have come, but I’ll also be the first to admit that these years can be hard. Learning to live and do life with another person brings up challenges in areas we’ve never before experienced. From preferences on how the dishwasher is loaded, to whose family we get to see at Christmas, all these little details are new terrain. Never before have we had to prioritize another person’s wants and needs to this degree and it doesn’t always come easy. But marriage can be hard in the best sense of the word. It’s the type of hard that refines and stretches us, but spits us out stronger, as a person, and as a team.

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in these first few years of marriage, is that arguments are inevitable, but how we disagree with our spouse matters. 

I think that disagreements are actually a healthy part of being together and if we agreed on everything 100% of the time, someone probably isn’t being completely transparent. Although fights never fun, it is important to learn how to work through these moments together. Peter and I aren’t perfect and continue to learn to grow as a team. But here are some techniques we use when trying to respectfully get through a disagreement :) 

Active Listening

Listening to understand, rather than to respond, has been a huge piece in our conflict-resolution strategy. It is so easy to go into defense mode and just look for reasons why your partner’s side of the story is wrong. Or, what I’m also guilty of, planning a response to their points instead of taking into consideration what they have to say. But this strategy tends to make neither person feel understood and prolongs the resolution process. Actually listen to why your spouse is upset and try to understand where they are coming from. Even if you completely disagree with them. This might sound like an obvious tip, but it is something that so quickly goes out the window in the heat of the moment. Truly listening will help move the conversation forward. 

Validate before explaining 

For me and Peter, conflict tends to stem from something along the lines of what we said isn’t what we meant. This gets us into a sticky situation because 1) we are frustrated that we were misunderstood and 2) we don’t feel the need to apologize because they were the ones who took it the wrong way (ha). But the key to this issue is to understand that despite the fact that we didn’t mean to hurt their feelings, we still did. It is important to validate your spouse’s emotions and apologize even if you didn’t mean to say something offensive. Once they feel like you understand why they were hurt, your partner will probably be more receptive to what you have to say.

Keep the conversation current 

In the heat of the moment, it is so easy to bring up past squabbles that have nothing really to do with the current situation. The time he said that mean thing three months ago, or the time she forgot to do the favor you asked last week, doesn’t actually need to be brought up again. This prevents you from solving the current issue by sidetracking to something that was already resolved. Try and keep the conversation on the current issue.

Relationship before pride 

One of the biggest issues with Peter and I is, that we are both very stubborn. Neither of us wants to be the person to bring up the conversation or say sorry first. We would rather just brood about how the other person isn’t bringing it up (ha). Seriously though, when we first got married we would spend hours in the same house in silence because neither of us wanted to be the one to bring it up or apologize. But this gets us nowhere. We have learned that we care about eachother more than our pride, and that everything gets resolved faster if we own up to our portion. This doesn’t mean taking all the blame for the issue, but simply saying I’m sorry for hurting you, and ask to open up a discussion. 

Speak from logic, not emotion 

In the heat of a disagreement, it is really hard to react from logic instead of emotion. But saying things out of emotional impulse really just makes the problem worse. It opens space for hurt feelings and regret. When things get really heated, sometimes the best course of action is to take a break from the conversation. Not in the sense that you storm off and stop talking to them, but to say hey, I think we are both pretty worked up. Let’s take 20 minutes to think this through and then come back to it. This will help you both have fresh eyes and less adrenaline when you revisit the conversation. 

Bring up the little things 

Sometimes it is important to pick your battles and let some things roll off your back. But other times, it’s important to bring up the little things to avoid resentment. It can get especially toxic when little things that were never brought up start to build up over time. Then one day you leave the cap off the toothpaste and it turns into world war three. It’s not fair to either of you when you don’t confront your spouse on the little things. You just keep getting angrier and they have no idea what they are even doing to annoy you. The conversation is much less emotional when it is brought up right away.

Learning how to disagree is a huge part of a successful marriage. And although it takes time, patience, and quite a bit of messing up, it is an important area to continue working on. What conflict resolutions strategies have worked for you?

  <3 Katie

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Fall Wish List 2016

Affiliate links are used in this post. I may receive compensation when you click or purchase from these links. 

plaid shirt | gray booties | T-Shirt | plaid blanket scarf | Messy bun sweatshirt | Red Huntress Hunters | 

Trench coat | American Eagle distressed jeggings 

I can't even begin to tell you guys how excited I am to fit into clothes again! And fall is the perfect season to start wearing fun clothes after being pregnant. There are lots of layers to hide that mommy pooch and everything is super comfortable! It's going to be glorious!

I've rounded up a few of my must-haves for the season so that once this baby comes (and I know what size I am again) I can start buying exactly what I'll need.

Plaid shirt

Somehow,  I do not have a functional plaid shirt in my wardrobe! It's crazy because I love the laid-back feeling plaid offers and it's such a classic staple. I really want a red based plaid shirt and would even be tempted by a a buffalo plaid! 

Booties

I definitely have a good pair of booties that I'll be busting out for fall, but I don't have any gray booties so I'd love to add a pair to my collection! I like closed toe booties because the winter sneaks up on me quickly in Idaho and I like to be able to wear them for as long as possible. If you're in a warmer climate a peep-toe bootie would be a great summer to fall transition piece! 

T-shirt

I'm a t-shirt girl through and through. It's always the first thing I reach for and a new comfy loose fitting tee sounds just about perfect right now. I especially love that t-shirts make great building blocks for fall layers. A tee, scarf and jacket paired with some jeans and you're comfortable and perfectly presentable! 

Crew neck sweatshirt

I'm usually a hoodie girl, but I love the versatility of crew neck sweatshirts! They give off a very casual vibe, but can easily be dressed up by adding a collared shirt underneath. I also love the graphic sweatshirt option! I have seen a bunch of cute mom related ones floating around Instagram lately and I want them all! 

Plaid Blanket Scarf

These blanket scarves have been a huge thing for a couple of years now and somehow I still haven't picked one up! I like to see how trends play out before I invest in them because I don't want to drop a lot of money on something I'll wear for one season and then never wear again. Luckily I think I can add a plaid scarf to my closet because they don't seem to be going anywhere! Plus I've loved the look since it first came out a few years ago. 

Hunter Wellies

I have a navy pair of Hunter Wellies and I LOVE them. I wore them so much last winter that I want to add another pair to my closet. I love the red glossy wellies because they add a fun pop of color! I linked the Huntress boots because they have a wider calf and a shorter shaft for anyone, like me, who has thicker calves. My current Hunters hit me in the back of the knee, which can be annoying so I'd love to try out the Huntress to see if it solves that problem! 

Trench Coat

I absolutely love the classic silhouette of the trench coat. It's classy and can be dressed up or down so it's perfect for every occasion. However, you're going to have to spend a bit more if you want a nice trench, which is where I have the hardest time! Cheap trench coats aren't going to hold the shape as well as more expensive ones, so make sure you really love it before you buy! You can also mix up the length on a trench coat. I prefer a mid thigh trench coat because my small frame just drowns in anything longer, but you taller ladies can totally rock a mid-calf or ankle length trench without batting an eye!

Distressed jeans

I think I may be the last person alive to own a pair of distressed denim, but I'm so picky about it! I haven't found the right pair for me. I love this pair from American Eagle, which is where I buy all my jeans. I love that the distressing is backed so you don't see my legs. Winters in Idaho are really cold and I try not to expose any skin; I want a pair of jeans that can be worn year round. 

What's on your fall wish list? Did I miss any great fall staples?

3rd Trimester Woes: Because Pregnancy is Tough

Affiliate links are used in this post to link to similar items of what I'm wearing. I may receive compensation when you click or purchase from these links. 

Denim Jacket. Similar shirt. Leggings. Similar Shoes

Today's post won't inspire you to dress your 3rd trimester bump in the cutest way possible. And it won't tell you how beautiful and glamorous pregnancy is (mostly because it isn't). I'm going to be super real with all of you today because pregnancy is really hard and sometimes we all just need to remember that. Feel free to laugh or cry along with me as I just vent a little bit about how tough the last few weeks of pregnancy really are!

The truth about the 3rd trimester:

• You are going to swell up like a water balloon. My ankles are gone and have been replaced with canckles and my fingers are stubby sausages. I bought compression socks and have to rock them on the regular. It's so not glamorous. 
• Nothing fits. At. All. I have one pair of workout shorts that fit right now, but they only stay up when I use a belly band. I've been not so patiently waiting for cooler weather to kick in so I could bust out these maternity leggings, which I'm in love with. 
• You will be jealous of anyone who has a baby before you. You'll also be super happy for them and will stalk all their newborn photos, but in the back of your mind you're just thinking "Why couldn't that be me?!?!"
• Sleep eludes you. I tossed and turned until 12:30 a.m. last night dreading having to wake up six hours later. I guess it's just prep for all the middle of the night feedings that will start soon!
• You can't do as much as you think you can. I had a lofty goal to clean out the fridge on Saturday. I got maybe a third of the way through before I had to call in Jason for reinforcement. Then I had to rest on the couch for like an hour before I had the energy to do anything else. 
• Everything hurts. I've been to the chiropractor so many times in the last few weeks simply because I can't lay down without pain. I love leaving the office feeling good but the pain comes back a couple hours later after I pick up my toddler and mess up all that hard work. 
• You can't reach anything that isn't at arm level. Well, you could bend down to get things, but let's be real, will you be able to get back up? 
• You have zero control over your emotions. I swear I snap at Jason like 20 times a day, and then I can't figure out why he's frustrated. I'm in a good mood now, so he should be too right? Oh yeah, I was freaking out five minutes ago and I'm the only one who has bounced back from that...and barely remembers it. 
• Pregnancy brain is so, so real. I cannot, for the life of me, remember simple things -- things I've known since I was a kid escape my brain and it takes 10 minutes to figure it out. Or, I'll take a step to go and do something super important and I instantly can't remember what I was going to do. Make lists people! 
• You simultaneously want your baby to get here asap, but you're super stressed about having a baby. I'm the type who thinks at 37 weeks baby can come any time, but I just realized that I'll have a baby by next Saturday and the thought has me panicked! Am I really ready? Do we have everything? Where's the carseat? Please stay in baby girl, I still need to do so much!!!

What do your pregnancies look like? Are you still running a 5K at 37 weeks or are you all about lounging on the couch and trying not to move? (I'm the latter, in case you were curious!)

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What's on my baby registry as a second-time mom

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As a first time mom I tried to be really practical when building my baby registry, but I had no idea what I needed! I consulted my mom friends and sister-in-laws to see what they found most helpful, but I still wasn't sure what would actually be helpful once we had our baby.

Building my registry as a second-time mom has been so great because I know which items I don't want to live without and which items I can pass up. I'm also excited because there a few products that I didn't include on my first baby registry that I really want this time!

Baby products I won't live without

• Bottle Brush: My sister-in-law gave me this bottle brush when I was pregnant with Benson and I put it on my registry again for baby girl because it was a life saver! It's great because it also works on sippy cups! I bet I'll have one of these in my kitchen for years to come!
• Car Seat Cover: I love car seat covers because they keep people away from your newborn, especially when it's germ season! My car seat cover with Benson was a little more accessible than I would have liked, I had one mom lift it up and let her daughter, who had snot running down her face, look at Benson when he was barely a month old. I got all kinds of momma bear crazy. I love that this one keeps baby completely covered and that it triples as a nursing cover and cart cover. Plus it's light weight and easy to pack in your diaper bag. 
• Burp Rags: My friend made me the most amazing burp rags when I had Benson and I asked her to make me some again this time around because I seriously can't live without them. They are a towel on one side so they hold up and clean up so much more than a conventional burp rag! I wish she sold them so you could all enjoy the amazingness! These terry cloth burp rags might be similar, but I've never used them-fair warning. 
• Hooded Towel: I did not think this was a necessity when I had Benson, but luckily someone smarter than me gifted me one! We used a regular towel for the first few months but I always felt like Benson was freezing after his bath. The hood really helped keep his head warm when we transferred him from the bathroom to the bedroom. I love all the styles, or animals, that this line offers. Isn't the fox so cute?
• Pumping/Nursing Bra: I bought a couple of nursing bras before I had Benson but ended up buying this one after a couple days at home. I wasn't able to nurse Benson, I but pumped for five months (you can read about my breastfeeding journey here). Having a hands-free pumping bra is a must. I love that this one also works as a nursing bra, so that I don't have to buy two separate bras; I can just use this one until I decide what will work best.
• Baby swing: This is an item that I didn't get as much use out of as I thought I would with Benson, but I still wouldn't pass up. When we got home from the hospital and got Benson out of his carseat I had no idea where to put him. I didn't want him on the floor and I didn't want him tucked away in our room in his bassinet where we wouldn't get to be with him. It finally dawned on me to put him in the swing! #FirstTimeMom A lot of babies love swings so it's definitely nice to have on hand. Plus it's a great place for baby when you need to use your hands...or go to the bathroom!

What I didn't use the first time, but want this time

• Video Monitor: As a first-time mom, I did not see the value in a video monitor. I figured I would be able to hear Benson and go in and check on him. Now, I know how much it stinks to walk into the room when you aren't needed and then your baby wants nothing more than to get up. I have been price comparing video monitors and decided to add this one to my registry because the Amazon reviews are really good and it's fairly inexpensive, compared to other video monitors. 
• Pacifier Clip: Although Benson wasn't a huge pacifier baby he used one when he slept for the first few months and I spent way too many hours during the middle of the night holding Benson's pacifier in his mouth because he would spit it out and then be upset. These pacifier clips from Baby Refuge are so cute and are all made from real leather so you know they'll hold up. But better yet, a portion of the profits from each clip is donated to help children refugees. The cute husband and wife team behind Baby Refuge just had their first child, a beautiful little girl, and I think it's awesome that they're working so hard to help other children throughout the world. They're also offering all Rebekah Anne readers a discount that will drop everything to just $10!! Use the code: "under10!" for 32% off your order. The code is only good for 5 day (expires Sept. 3) so don't wait! For $10 it's totally worth it!
• Diaper Cream Brush: I actually saw this on my friend's baby registry and was insanely jealous! First, applying diaper cream is just gross. Second, we buy the big jars of diaper cream and I can't use it without getting it underneath my fingernails, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. My friend said that it saves her from that exact problem, so this was quickly added to my registry. It's definitely something you can live without, but it's so nice to have! 
• Baby formula dispenser: If you formula feed I would highly recommend getting one of these. I tried to be thrifty and just use tupperware to hold our formula when we went out and it was a mess. Every. Single. Time. I love that you can scoop the perfect amount of formula into these then just dump it into the bottle later. 

What I'd skip 

• Toys: I carried around a rattle in my diaper bag for months that Benson didn't touch. Newborns aren't really into toys for a while and people will get them for you no matter which ones you register for. The only toy I would register for is a play mat. Benson spent so much time on his and he used it for a long time. He still pulls it out and tries to play with it! 
• Books: I got so many books at my baby shower with Benson and I am so grateful because I had no idea which ones were good, but again he didn't touch them for a long time and every time I tried to give him one he just chewed on it. I'd save this as a first birthday present and then get all the books you loved as a kid. Your one year old is a little less likely to destroy them. 
• First aid kit: For the most part you will get everything you need from the hospital. Our hospital gave us a bulb, nail clippers, thermometer, brush and comb, sponge/scrubber for baths and more. The only things we needed to buy ourselves were medicine like gas drops, saline solution and Tylenol. I would definitely buy these before baby comes, even if you don't plan to use them for a while. It's nice to have it on hand when you need it.

Good luck to all you mommas out there compiling registries!