Stylish Diaper Bags {Under $100}

So one thing that I am a total sucker for is handbags.  No matter how much weight you gain or loose, handbags never outgrow you!

At first when I got pregnant I started looking for the "perfect diaper bag", unfortunately I don't have $400 to drop on a bag so after a really long search I finally convinced Ben to get me a Timi and Leslie bag.  I swear I am in love with it and have been since the day I got it!

As much as I love it, it was really expensive for us....it retailed for $160 but I was able to get it on Amazon for $120.  It was an awesome Christmas, baby, birthday present.

As much as I love this bag and use it a lot it doesn't always go with every outfit.  Ben also got me a new bag from TJ Maxx for the summer.  It's a really nice creamy white over sized cross-body bag.  I call it my Mary Poppins bag because honestly I could fit two Brynlees in there.  

I'm in the market for another bag for vacation so I've been on the hunt again! One thing that I want to touch on is the 'diaper bag industry' honestly I don't really see a difference between a tote and a diaper bag other then a diaper bag may possibly have more pockets.  Before you think that you need to go and buy any bag that has the name diaper attached to it think again.  Look at the function of a tote or hobo bag and see if it works for you.  There are a lot more choices of regular bags then diaper bags so don't feel restricted to a certain name.

Here's some of my favorite diaper bags that are all under $100

Stylish Diaper Bags by brittanystanly featuring canvas bags

Tote bag
kohls.com

Tote bag
ebags.com

Tote bag
kohls.com

Black handbag
amazon.com

Canvas bag
target.com

Tote bag
kohls.com

Tote bag
target.com

Jessica Simpson Sheila Crossbody Paprika - Zappos.com Free Shipping...
zappos.com

One Stop Shopper
ninewest.com

Fabulous Finds: Tops under $40

So pretty much everyone who reads our blog is on a limited budget, and even if you're not who wouldn't love to save a few pennies without having to sacrifice any of your style!

Here's just a few of some of my favorite tops that are under $40- pst....a couple of them are even under $20!


Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of layering.  I think it can be your saving grace to hiding some unwanted tummy and accentuating your curves.  Even in the summer time you can find ways to layer without dressing in a burka or like an eskimo.  The sleeveless tops can easily be made modest with a simple wonder tee underneath or layering with a cute cardigan.  And I'm totally in love with this color palette!  Perfect for summer with a pair of jeans or colored cropped pants- whatever your take you can make all of these easily chic.     


So ladies what are some of your favorite fashion finds at a great price?  


Happy Shopping! 

Fabulous Finds: Tops under $40 by brittanystanly featuring printed tops

Printed top
gap.com

Gauze top
target.com

Forever 21 top
forever21.com

Forever 21 jacket
forever21.com

Rare Find Top--Coming Soon!
downeastbasics.com

Healthy Recipes

So I have been doing really good working out and I have shaved 3 minutes off my mile in the last month.  I haven't lost more then a few pounds but I can see a difference in how my pants and clothes fit so I'm starting to actually see some progress!  I can also work out longer and harder then before without getting winded.  Thank goodness for World's Gym that is open 24/7!

One thing that I have really struggled with is finding food to eat.  I'm not a breakfast person, in fact it makes me feel down right sick.  I know it's super important to eat breakfast to kick start your metabolism for the day, but nothing ever sounds or taste good.  Right now I do either a slim fast shake, or a yogurt and a very small banana.  Check out some of the information that I found about why breakfast is important to both maintaining a healthy weight and weight loss.  These articles definitely got me going about how I need to start making time for breakfast and finding something that doesn't make me feel nausea all day.  

• The Many Benefits of Breakfast
• The Importance of Eating a Good Breakfast
• 27 Ideas for a Healthier Breakfast    
• Easy, Speedy Breakfast Recipes- I really loved this one because all of the recipes were completely realistic for me to accomplish and nothing fancy.  

I've always been good about eating lunch though (mainly because of skipping breakfast I am completely famished).  Most of the time I make a sandwich without the bread.  I get a slice of ham or turkey a slice of cheese, some cucumbers, carrots, and a tablespoon of ranch and I go to town.  It's quite good in my opinion and doesn't make me feel heavy afterwards.  For me personally I think that this is the most important meal of my day.  Because I don't eat dinner until after I work out because I like to eat with my husband when he gets home from work, I really have to make this meal count.  If I eat something bad for lunch I usually feel sluggish and have no motivation to hit up the gym.  Here are some recipes for when I am feeling in a rut with my breadless sandwich.

• Black Bean Soft Tacos
• Grilled Greek Chicken Sandwich
• Low Cal BLT Sandwich
• Turkey Pesto Wrap

Since I eat pretty late with Ben we actually keep it really simple most nights.  I know it's bad to eat after 7pm but it's nice to have that time with him to just relax and talk about the day so I will probably not be changing this habit anytime soon.  Pretty much grilled chicken and some kind of side is what we have or a turkey burger.  We don't have super nice dinners except for Saturday and Sunday those are the days I go all out because he doesn't ever work either of them.

• Jerk Chicken Casserole
• Savory Turkey Burger
• BBQ Chicken Burger
• BBQ Chicken Pizza
• Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
• Black Beans, Corn, and Yellow Rice

Date Night

Ben's old roommate and our good friend Alan came down from Rexburg with his fiance Becca to watch Brynlee for us.  We only have been on one other date night when someone who wasn't family watched her, and it didn't go well so I had been really nervous to leave her with anyone.

Well since we hang out with Alan and Becca quite a bit now Brynlee has really gotten used to them and loves playing with them.  So they are one of a very few non relatives that we will ever leave Brynlee with.

It was such a fun date because we actually went somewhere and just had a blast.  Movies are fun but not really an activity where we can just goof around.

We went to this place called the Riot Zone in Rigby.  We played a game of mini golf and did the go-karts twice.  It was probably one of the funnest dates we've ever been on.

4th of July Celebration

We had such a fun day on the 4th of July! It was great being able to celebrate our nations Independence Day with some good friends that we really don't get to see that often.  We wanted to go up to Rexburg to see the parade there to see out good friend Alan and because his fiance Becca was dancing in it for the Haunted Corn Maze float.  They did a fantastic job dancing the Thriller and they were definitely committed with their scary Zombie costumes.  We really thought that Brynlee would be fine at the parade, but boy were we WRONG! The girl sleeps through the fire alarm that goes off nearly every other day but as soon as those fire trucks and ambulances went by the poor little thing was in tears.  I was able to calm her down and she fell asleep for just a little bit.  We then wanted to go see my old friends at Taco Bell so we walked down there because Brynlee was in a good mood again.  Little did we know that the National Guard float was going down the street spraying a water cannon at the crowd.  Well we saw them when Brynlee was sprayed in the face with a little bit of water.  She actually calmed down pretty fast with this one, because I started singing "Popcorn Popping On the Apricot Tree" in the middle of the street looking like a crazy person.  It's okay though it was totally worth it to see her cute smile again!  I swear she's probably going to be traumatized by the 4th of July.

We then went back home and crashed a little bit before Alan and Becca came over for dinner.  We chatted a ton and just had fun while munching on Chinese take-out and homemade cream cheese wantons.  Instead of going to the fireworks show just about 10 minutes from our apartment Alan brought over a bunch of fireworks in front of our building.  It was so much fun because I've never set off fireworks myself before.

I hope everyone else had just as much fun as we did! Also thank you so much to all the servicemen and women and their families for their efforts to keep this country safe and our freedoms in tact.  My family really appreciates everything that you contribute!

Here is a picture overload because I love taking pictures! Also Brynlee's Yaya got her the most adorable 4th of July romper so of course I found a reason to do a little photo shoot outside.

So how did you all celebrate the 4th of July?

Guest Post

Happy 4th of July!

My good friend Judith headed back east to D.C. for vacation so she asked me to do a guest post on her blog while she was away.  Head on over to Momma's Closet here to check out my latest post on 

some of the things that I have learned as a new mom.  

Have a great holiday! And a special thanks to all of the wonderful people who sacrifice so much for our freedom.  Whatever way you contribute in the armed forces or as family member I am so grateful for strength and sacrifices that you make for all of us to be able to live freely in this great country! 

God Bless!

Lets Go to the Carnival

We had a wonderful Saturday and it was probably one of the funnest ones in such a long time.  We started off the day by taking our family pictures at 11am before the wind picked up and that was so much fun! We bounced all around Rexburg with Whitney Ricks and just had a blast.  The cherry on top was that Brynlee was in a terrific mood and just wanted to have fun.

After that we stopped by to see some friends and then headed back to Idaho Falls where we completely crashed.  I was exhausted and felt a cold coming on so I took a nap while Ben picked up a little around the house.

Our friends Becca and Alan came down for a BBQ at our place and it was so yummy! After we ate we went and hit up a small little carnival here in IF.  It was actually a really fun carnival to, just the perfect size.  I'm not a big ride person but I love going and walking around and watching everyone else go on rides.

Brynlee went on the carousel for the first time and really liked it! I'm not very surprised though because she loves being tossed up in the air and just being thrown around, she's a very fun little girl.  We played a couple of games and won! We won 4 fish! When we were getting ready to leave Ben ran into a guy that he had met last summer selling Direct TV, they chatted a little bit and then he gave Brynlee a little stuffed mouse.  In all honestly it's a very creepy little mouse wearing a diaper, but the guy was really nice and gave it to her for free.

After the carnival we went back to our house and watched Aliens while I feel asleep.  I don't think my body is used to having so much fun all at once because now I'm fighting off a cold.

Last but not least...Brynlee is mobile! The video at the end was taken when she was 5 1/2 months old so now I don't need to coax her to move anymore...she just does it on her own.  As you can tell, I am very proud of my chicken little.